DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:02:57 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/national/anarchist-mindset-nitin-nabin-hits-out-at-rahul-gandhi-over-protest-against-cec-703047.html Varanasi Oct 8 IANS BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Thursday slammed Rahul Gandhi the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha over protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar saying that if the Opposition has any courage it should resign from the seats it won through elections conducted by the Election Commission of IndiaThe remarks came after Rahul Gandhi led another protest towards Jantar Mantar on Wednesday Rahul Gandhi Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Opposition MPs were detained by the Delhi Police after a bus carrying them was stopped near Janpath as INDIA bloc MPs sought to protest against CEC Gyanesh KumarSpeaking to reporters Nitin Nabin said I would say these are people with an anarchist mindset who know only how to spread poison in society After all this very Election Commission conducted the elections in KeralaIt also conducted the elections in Tamil Nadu where they came to power If he has the courage Rahul Gandhi should first resign The public is fully watching the game he is playing This Leader of Opposition is engaged in shielding infiltrators he saidThey are trying to take away the rights of the people We are trying to give them their rights back I believe that people who belong here have the right to the countrys resources he addedNabin also praised the Uttar Pradesh government for the arrangements at the Kashi Vishwanath TempleI belong to Bihar and coming here to Varanasi is part of our traditions I would say that the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor has been constructed in a great way The devotees also like it It is a great experience For this I would like to congratulate PM Modi and CM Yogi he saidThe BJP national president offered prayers at the Baba Vishwanath Temple He will interact with youths at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth and later hold a review meeting with party officebearers on preparations for the upcoming elections at Gokul DhamIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/anarchist-mindset-nitin-nabin-hits-out-at-rahul-gandhi-over-protest-against-cec-703047.html Thu, 08 Oct 2026 11:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-directs-criminal-action-against-six-cbi-officers-over-false-statement-in-court-703048.html New Delhi Oct 8 IANS The Delhi High Court has directed the initiation of criminal complaint proceedings against six CBI officers for allegedly placing a materially false statement before the court regarding correspondence with the administrative ministry in connection with a proposed challenge to the discharge of an IRS officer in a disproportionate assets casenbspA singlejudge Bench of Justice Madhu Jain passed the direction while allowing a criminal appeal filed by Ashok Kumar Aggarwal an Indian Revenue Service IRS officer against the order of the Special Judge PC Act Rouse Avenue Courts which had declined to initiate proceedings under Section 340 of the CrPC against the concerned CBI officersThe High Court directed the Special Judge to make a written complaint against Sushil Dewan Vineet Vinayak Amit Kumar Raman Tyagi Prem Kumar Gautam and Md Azad for the alleged commission of offences punishable under Section 191 read with Section 193 of the IPC and Section 209 IPCThe complaint has been directed to be transmitted to the concerned jurisdictional Magistrate within four weeks of receipt of the judgmentThe case arose from the CBIs prosecution of Aggarwal in a disproportionate assets case under the Prevention of Corruption Act The prosecution was based on a sanction order passed on November 26 2002The Delhi High Court in January 2016 had held the sanction invalid following which the Special Judge discharged Aggarwal in March 2016 The CBI thereafter considered challenging the judgment before the Supreme Court A legal opinion rendered by the Ministry of Law and Justice on June 8 2016 had stated that there appeared to be no reasonable ground to pursue the matter before a higher forumThe opinion was communicated to the CBI through the Department of Personnel and Training DoPT on July 1 2016 Aggarwal subsequently sought the release of documents seized during the investigationIn its reply filed on August 2 2016 the CBI opposed the release of certain documents stating that correspondence with the administrative Ministry with respect to further legal action in the matter is underwayThe Special Judge subsequently directed the CBI to file a clearcut reply disclosing whether any appeal or revision had been filed or was pendingAggarwal subsequently moved an application under Section 340 of the CrPC on August 8 2016 alleging that the statement was factually incorrect as there was no actual correspondence with the administrative ministry at that stage and the CBI had already received the Ministry of Law and Justices opinion against pursuing the matter before a higher forumThe High Court found that on August 8 itself the CBI forwarded a proposal to the DoPT seeking reconsideration of the matter and further legal opinionIn an additional reply filed on August 9 the CBI stated that it had in principle decided to challenge the January 2016 judgment and that the proposal had been forwarded to the DoPT on August 8It further found that the successive drafts of the CBIs reply were significant The second draft expressly stated that the DoPT had turned down the CBIs proposal to file a special leave petition SLP before the Supreme Court but that statement was deleted and replaced with a handwritten assertion that correspondence with the administrative ministry was underwayThis concerned alteration changed the very factual position sought to be presented before the Court the High Court observedThe High Court prima facie attributed the handwritten alteration to then CBI HoZ Head of Zone Vineet Vinayak and found that Sushil Dewan subsequently incorporated the alteration into the final reply filed before the court belowIt also observed that the contemporaneous record showed different degrees of involvement of the other officers including Prem Kumar Gautam Amit Kumar Md Azad and Raman Tyagi in preparing vetting processing and approving the replyThe High Court rejected the CBIs contention that its statement was merely an incorrect assertion rather than a false one observing that an internal proposal awaiting approval could not be represented as correspondence already underway with the administrative ministryThe CBI was entitled to seek reconsideration obtain another opinion and pursue such remedy as was available in law However its right to do so did not permit an internal proposal awaiting approval to be represented as a correspondence already underway with the Ministry the High Court saidIt also disagreed with the reasoning that the CBIs subsequent reply filed on August 9 2016 had corrected the earlier statementIt observed that the additional reply itself recorded that the proposal was forwarded to the DoPT only on August 8 thereby distinguishing between internal consideration and actual transmission of the proposal Thus even when both replies are read together the inconsistency between the assertion made in the reply dated 02082016 and the factual position as on that very date remains unexplained the High Court saidIt also rejected the view that no action was warranted because Aggarwals application for the release of documents had initially been allowed and he had suffered no prejudice Referring to a Supreme Court judgment the High Court said that expediency under Section 340 CrPC has to be assessed with reference to the impact of the alleged offence on the administration of justice and not merely the injury suffered by an individual litigantThe subsequent institution of an SLP and the order dated 21012019 setting aside certain directions for return of documents must be considered in their proper context the High Court said adding that those developments could not retrospectively establish that correspondence with the administrative ministry was underway on August 2 2016The High Court held that the disputed assertion was material because it was used to justify the continued retention of documents seized from Aggarwal and was capable of influencing the courts decision on his applicationIt further held that the successive drafts file notings and the officers participation provided a reasonable foundation for allegations under Section 191 read with Section 193 IPC and Section 209 IPCThe threshold for directing a complaint under Section 340 of CrPC is therefore satisfied Justice Jain said setting aside the Special Judges order and allowing Aggarwals applicationIt directed that the complaint be placed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Central Tis Hazari Courts where an earlier court complaint against Sushil Dewan had been adjourned sine dieThe concerned Magistrate was directed to proceed independently and ensure that parallel proceedings concerning the same allegations are not institutedThe High Court clarified that the competent court would decide the matter independently on the material placed before it and would not be influenced by the observations made in its judgment for the purpose of directing the complaintIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-directs-criminal-action-against-six-cbi-officers-over-false-statement-in-court-703048.html Thu, 08 Oct 2026 11:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tejashwi-yadav-leads-patna-protest-against-sir-demands-cec-gyanesh-kumars-resignation-703070.html Patna Oct 8 IANS RJD leader and Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav joined the Mahagathbandhans protest in Patna on Thursday against the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls and the functioning of the Election Commission The Opposition had announced a twoday statewide agitation with Aakrosh Marches held at block headquarters on October 7 followed by demonstrations at district headquarters and a march towards Lok Bhawan in Patna on October 8nbspThe protests were organised over what Opposition parties describe as irregularities in the SIR exercise and their demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh KumarTejashwi Yadav led the Patna march as Mahagathbandhan leaders and workers took to the streets raising slogans against the Election Commission and demanding action against Gyanesh KumarDuring the protest Tejashwi Yadav climbed onto a police barricade following which a scuffle broke out between protesters and police personnelThe administration had erected barricades on routes leading towards the Lok Bhawan area and deployed additional security personnel to maintain law and order and regulate trafficRJD leader Bhai Virendra and other Opposition leaders also participated in the demonstrationTejashwi Yadav said the Opposition had repeatedly raised questions about the functioning of the Election Commission and had now come together to protest against issues related to the SIR processThe Opposition has alleged that the revision resulted in the deletion or exclusion of names of genuine voters from electoral rollsTejashwi Yadav has also accused the Election Commission of acting in favour of the BJP and demanded Gyanesh Kumars resignation These are allegations made by the Opposition and have been denied by the Election Commission and the BJPOpposition parties have demanded that the Election Commission respond to their concerns regarding the electoral roll revision and explain the action taken on complaints raised during the processIn view of the protest security was tightened in the state capital PatnaPersonnel from the Rapid Action Force RAF Central Reserve Police Force CRPF and Bihar Police were deployed at key locations while multiple barricades were erected around the Secretariat police station and on routes leading towards Lok BhawanThe administration also deployed watercannon trucks and strengthened trafficmanagement arrangements to prevent disruption and maintain public order during the marchTejashwi Yadav has also questioned the Election Commission over the transfer of Rs 10000 to womens bank accounts ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections asking what action the poll panel took regarding such transfers during the election periodIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/tejashwi-yadav-leads-patna-protest-against-sir-demands-cec-gyanesh-kumars-resignation-703070.html Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/no-immediate-relief-for-punjab-govt-as-sc-defers-plea-against-cbi-graft-probe-linked-to-cm-manns-osd-703071.html New Delhi Oct 8 IANS The Punjab government on Thursday failed to secure immediate relief from the Supreme Court against the Punjab and Haryana High Courts order directing the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI to probe allegations of corruption involving Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns OSD Rajvir Ghuman and others as the hearing on its plea was adjourned till FridaynbspnbspA Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu deferred the hearing after Justice Datta said the case file had reached the Bench late and Justice Nagu did not get the opportunity to examine the papersSenior advocate Vikas Singh appearing for the Punjab government requested that the matter be taken up on Friday and sought protection against any precipitative action in the meantimeHowever the Justice Dattaled Bench questioned how an interim order could be passed when it had not yet read the fileWhen we havent read the file how can we it remarkedThe matter was accordingly listed for Friday with the Punjab government not getting any immediate interim protection against the High Courts directionsThe development assumes significance as the CBI has already registered an FIR in the case and initiated its investigation pursuant to the High Courts orderOn Tuesday the CBI conducted coordinated searches at eight locations across Chandigarh and Punjab including the Chief Ministers camp office in Sector 2 Chandigarh and premises linked to Ghuman in Sangrur and MohaliOn Wednesday Ghuman and other associates were summoned by the CBI to appear before its Chandigarh office in connection with the probeThe Punjab government has challenged the High Courts October 5 order directing the CBI to take over the matter arising from three letters written by the Enforcement Directorate ED to the Punjab DGPThe High Court had directed the CBI to register a case and submit a status report within two months besides directing the Punjab government and police to extend full cooperation to the investigating agencyThe ED had written three letters to Punjab Director General of Police DGP Gaurav Yadav alleging that Manns OSD Rajvir Ghuman and his associates Nitin Gohal and Bir Devinder were involved in corruptionThe federal antimoney laundering agency had claimed that they were interfering in administrative transfers and postings besides government tenders and had called for registration of an FIRAfter the Punjab Police did not register a case on the basis of the ED communications advocate Nikhil Saraf filed a PIL before the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a CBI probeThe petition had alleged that the ED communications contained serious allegations concerning persons linked to the Punjab Chief Ministers Office and sought a fair and independent investigation free from the influence of the Punjab Police and Punjab VigilanceWhile ordering the CBI probe the High Court directed the central investigating agency to submit its status report within two monthsIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/no-immediate-relief-for-punjab-govt-as-sc-defers-plea-against-cbi-graft-probe-linked-to-cm-manns-osd-703071.html Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-calls-for-global-framework-on-cyberfraud-deepfakes-asks-govts-telcos-financial-cos-to-team-up--703075.html New Delhi Oct 8 PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for a global framework to tackle crossborder cyber frauds and the growing threat of deepfakes urging governments technology companies telecom operators and financial institutions to come together for a mechanism to prevent such frauds before they reach the people He said India has gained considerable experience in tackling cyber frauds and is ready to share its learnings with the worldModi warned that cyber frauds and cyber crimes do not respect borders and asserted that technology achieves scale only when it gains trustnbspTechnology achieves scale only when it gains trust And you all know that cyber fraud and cyber crimes do not respect borders They have already crossed boundaries he said while addressing the India Mobile Congress 2026Highlighting the crossborder nature of cyber crimes he said a person sitting in one country with the help of a fraudster in another country can commit a crime in a third countryModi also flagged the growing challenge posed by deepfakes and said countries need to work together on a global framework to address such emerging threatsTherefore it is necessary that we work on a global framework for this Governments technology companies telecom operators and financial institutions all will need to connect with this framework I urge the GSMAnbsp and telecom operators across the world come let us create a global mechanism that can stop such fraud before it reaches the people Modi saidnbspIndustry body GSMA represents mobile network operators and companies across the global ecosystemnbspModi said strengthening the security framework around telecom and digital technologies was equally crucial for their rapid expansion with phone and network security becoming prioritiesnbspHe said India has learnt a lot from its experiences in this direction and is always ready to share its experiences with the worldnbspFor an ordinary citizen he said trust means knowing who is calling whether a message is genuine or fake whether a payment is safe and whether personal data is securenbspMobile phones had evolved beyond being a means of communication and had become an important tool for governance and delivery of public services the PM noted and emphasised the need to strengthen safeguards against cyber threats in a growing digital ecosystemnbspModi also highlighted Indias experience with digital governance and said Direct Benefit Transfer had enabled nearly Rs 50 lakh crore to be sent directly to beneficiaries mobilelinked bank accounts He said nearly Rs 5 lakh crore had been saved from going into the wrong handsnbspModi asserted that he was determined to stop wrong practicesnbspNow tell me those whose illgotten income has stopped will they love Modi Did I do the right thing or not Should it be done or not Should all these wrong practices be stopped or not No matter how much they shout or scream I am determined to get it done he vowedHe observed that had the old system prevailed Rs 5 lakh crore of the government would have gone into leakages filling the pockets of such peopleModi has stopped this he said adding that the money is now reaching rightful beneficiaries and being used for the right causesnbspThe prime Minister also said that India had moved from being a consumer to a creator in the telecom sector and was advancing towards designing products and owning technology and intellectual property in the countrynbspHe said the India Mobile Congress had an important role to play in shaping the roadmap for the next decade of the mobile market not just in India but globallynbspModi was speaking at the inaugural session of 10th edition of the India Mobile Congress IMC being held in New Delhi during October 710nbspCommunications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Bharti group Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal Reliance Jio Infocomm Chairman Akash Ambani and Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla were among those present at the inaugural sessionnbspOrganised jointly by the Department of Telecommunications DoT and the Cellular Operators Association of India COAI IMC 2026 centres on the theme Scale Without Boundaries highlighting Indias growing mettle in digital innovation nextgeneration connectivity and technologyled growthnbspThe event focuses on nextgeneration digital infrastructure technologyled economic growth inclusive digital access and secure ecosystems It brings together global technology leaders policymakers industry experts startups investors and innovators to discuss emerging opportunities across the digital ecosystemThe 2026 edition will cover nine anchor sectors including 5G and 6G nextgeneration AI networks semiconductors nonterrestrial networks cybersecurity quantum communication enterprise transformation circular economy and ESG and electronics manufacturingnbspIt will also deliberate on four new areas smart mobility stadium experiences industrial robotics and transport technology The event is expected to draw over 15 lakh attendees from more than 100 countries with participation from 500plus partners and exhibitors over 600 startups and 900 thought leaders It features more than 2000 technology use cases and over 120 sessionsnbspAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-calls-for-global-framework-on-cyberfraud-deepfakes-asks-govts-telcos-financial-cos-to-team-up--703075.html Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-arrests-chandigarh-mc-sanitary-inspector-in-bribery-case-703108.html Chandigarh Oct 8 IANS The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI has arrested a Sanitary Inspector working with the Municipal Corporation MC Chandigarh in connection with a bribery case officials said on ThursdaynbspAccording to the investigating agency the case was registered on Wednesday October 7 against the accused Sanitary Inspector following allegations that he had demanded an illegal gratification of Rs 14 lakh from a contractor for processing and clearing pending as well as future bills of the complainants firmThe CBI further said that the accused allegedly threatened the complainant with withholding the firms bills and getting its tender cancelled if the demanded bribe was not paidOfficials said the agency subsequently laid a trap on Wednesday based on the allegations and caught the Sanitary Inspector redhanded while he was allegedly demanding and accepting Rs 5 lakh as part payment of the total bribe amountThe accused was accepting the money from a contractor engaged with the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh when CBI officials intervened and arrested him officials saidThe agency said the Rs 5 lakh was being paid as part of the Rs 14 lakh gratification demanded by the accused for processing and clearing the pending and future bills of the contractors firmFollowing the arrest the CBI also conducted searches at the residential and office premises of the accused Sanitary Inspector as part of its investigation into the bribery allegationsDuring the searches officials recovered incriminating documents as well as documents related to immovable property the agency saidThe CBI is examining the documents and other material recovered during the searches as part of the ongoing investigation into the allegations against the accused officialThe arrested Sanitary Inspector is scheduled to be produced before the Competent Court at Chandigarh later in the day officials saidFurther investigation into the matter is underway officialsIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-arrests-chandigarh-mc-sanitary-inspector-in-bribery-case-703108.html Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/battle-between-two-ideologies-in-country-oppn-wants-to-spread-anarchy-gaurav-bhatia-703109.html New Delhi Oct 8 IANS BJP National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Opposition parties saying the country is currently witnessing a battle between two ideologiesnbspHe claimed that on one side is an ideology that respects constitutional values and serves the people while on the other is the Opposition which he alleged is weakening the Constitution and creating an atmosphere of anarchyAddressing a press conference Bhatia said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has served the people of the country within the constitutional framework for the last 25 years first as Chief Minister and then as Prime Minister while respecting the basic spirit of the Constitution He said PM Modis political journey was a source of inspiration and contrasted it with what he claimed was the Oppositions attempts to create an atmosphere of anarchy through its statementsnbspThe BJP spokesperson also raised the issue of municipal elections held in Punjab and levelled serious allegations against the Aam Aadmi Party AAP Citing a Supreme Court decision he said a threemember Bench of the apex court had cancelled elections held in 50 municipal wards in PunjabBhatia said the development raised questions about the direction in which a party that had entered politics with the slogan of Swaraj was headingnbspHe alleged that under the AAP government in Punjab the election process involved the misuse of government machinery and that Opposition candidates were not even allowed to file their nomination papersnbspHe said the state government was responsible for the municipal elections held in May 2026 Taking cognisance of complaints and facts that emerged during the election process the Supreme Court constituted a onemember factfinding committee headed by a retired judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court he saidAccording to Bhatia after examining and investigating the complaints the committee submitted its findings to the Supreme Court He said the findings raised serious concerns regarding the functioning of the democratic systemnbspHe alleged that people associated with the AAP had misused government machinery to prevent candidates from Opposition parties from contesting the electionsnbspBhatia said that if a candidate was not even given an opportunity to file nomination papers it directly raised questions about the democratic processnbspHe also questioned allegations made by Opposition leaders including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal that democracy in the country was in danger or being murderedHe asked the Opposition to explain the basis of such allegationsnbspThe Opposition is making allegations regarding the end of democracy but what is the basis of these allegations When the Supreme Court itself takes cognisance of serious matters related to the election process and takes necessary action the Opposition should have faith in constitutional institutions Bhatia saidnbspThose who talk about protecting democracy and the Constitution should also take a look at the functioning of their states and their political parties he addednbspHe said the Oppositions allegations lacked a solid basis and maintained that strengthening democracy required all political parties to respect the electoral process constitutional institutions and the rule of lawHe appealed to Opposition parties to present their views on the basis of facts and evidence rather than making allegationsnbspBhatias remarks came amid a broader political confrontation between the ruling BJP and Opposition parties over issues concerning democratic institutions elections and the functioning of the Election CommissionnbspThe Opposition has repeatedly raised concerns over the electoral process while the BJP has rejected the allegations and accused Opposition parties of undermining constitutional institutionsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/battle-between-two-ideologies-in-country-oppn-wants-to-spread-anarchy-gaurav-bhatia-703109.html Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-seeks-state-wise-data-on-regulation-monitoring-of-rehab-centres-for-children-with-disabilities-703125.html New Delhi Oct 8 IANS The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre to collect and place on record statewise information on the regulation registration and monitoring of rehabilitation centres and other establishments catering to children with disabilitiesnbspA Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana passed the directions while hearing a Public Interest Litigation PIL filed by disability rights lawyer Rahul Bajaj and child rights activist Zaheer Abbas JanThe CJI Kantled Bench asked the Union government to coordinate with all states and Union Territories UTs and compile comprehensive data on the implementation of statutory safeguards governing such institutionsnbspThe Supreme Court directed the Centre to place on record by way of an affidavit details regarding the constitution and functioning of statutory authorities under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities RPwD Act 2016 formulation and notification of minimum standards for mental health establishments and the inspection and monitoring mechanisms in place for rehabilitation facilitiesDuring the hearing Bajaj submitted that rehabilitation centres for Persons with Disabilities are required to obtain compulsory statelevel registration under the RPwD ActnbspHe stressed the need for empirical data to ascertain whether the designated statutory authorities have actually been constituted across the states and whether they are actively discharging their regulatory and monitoring functionsnbspAverring to the Mental Healthcare Act 2017 Bajaj submitted that only 10 states and UTs have so far notified the requisite minimum standards for mental health establishmentsTaking note of the submissions the CJI Kantled Bench directed the Centre to coordinate with the state governments and UT administrations and furnish the requisite information before the Supreme CourtnbspThe matter has been listed for further hearing on October 22 The petition has highlighted alleged systemic failures in the implementation of statutory safeguards under the RPwD Act the Rehabilitation Council of India RCI Act 1992 and the Mental Healthcare ActAccording to the plea despite the existing legislative framework children with disabilities continue to face concerns arising from the functioning of unregistered institutions inadequate infrastructure shortage of qualified professionals and lack of effective regulatory oversightnbspThe petitioners had contended that institutions providing facilities to Persons with Disabilities are required to be registered under Section 50 of the RPwD Act which prohibits any person from establishing or maintaining such an institution without obtaining a certificate of registration from the competent authorityThe plea claimed that a large number of institutions functioning for Persons with Disabilities are not registered under the law thereby preventing effective supervision and accountabilitynbspIt also raised concerns over the implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act which envisages State Mental Health Authorities and minimum quality standards for mental health servicesnbspThe petitioners had further relied on findings from a surprise inspection conducted by the Child Welfare Committee Srinagar in 2025 at a child development centreAccording to the plea the institution lacked registration under the RPwD Act and the RCI Act and suffered from inadequate infrastructure insufficient qualified staff and poor programme implementationnbspThe petitioners have sought effective implementation of statutory provisions governing registration regulation and monitoring of rehabilitation and mental health facilities catering to children with disabilitiesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-seeks-state-wise-data-on-regulation-monitoring-of-rehab-centres-for-children-with-disabilities-703125.html Thu, 08 Oct 2026 18:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-firmly-on-track-to-cross-100-gw-of-wind-capacity-by-2030-pralhad-joshi-703127.html Chennai Oct 8 IANS Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday that with 5920 GW of installed capacity as of September 30 2026 India is firmly on track to cross 100 GW of wind capacity by 2030 laying a strong foundation for global leadership in wind energy production and exportsnbspInaugurating the 8th edition of Windergy India 2026 here the minister highlighted the immense potential of wind energy in the country and the vast opportunities it offersnbspHe said that Indias wind energy sector has demonstrated strong momentum with the highestever annual installation of 605 GW achieved in FY2026 We are confident that annual wind energy installations will surpass this record in FY2027 marking another important milestone in Indias wind energy journeyThis continued growth will strengthen the foundation for achieving our national ambition of 100 GW of installed wind energy capacity by 2030 and further accelerate the development of Indias wind energy sector With a strong project pipeline and a supportive policy framework India is wellplaced to build on this momentum and achieve the scale required for the next phase of wind energy growth the minister addednbspSenior officials from the Government of India and several state governments representatives of wind energy associations and industry leaders were also present on the occasionWindergy India 2026 brings together the global wind energy ecosystem on a common platform featuring participation from around 400 exhibitors representing more than 20 countries 500 delegates and dedicated country pavilions from Denmark Germany and SpainnbspTamil Nadu Energy Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar underscored the states pivotal role in wind energy development and the proactive steps taken to promote new initiatives such as the state repowering policyRepresentatives from various state governments were felicitated for their exceptional leadership in advancing wind energy development through land facilitation timely clearances and the resolution of RightofWay RoW issuesKey international and domestic agreements including the IWTMABWE Global MoU the IWTMAPTB LoI and the IWTMAOECD collaboration were announced to drive technological advancement in the Indian wind sector Additionally reports titled Energy Transition in Tamil Nadu and Reimagining Contractual Mechanism for Indian Wind Sector were released during the inaugural ceremonyParticipants were encouraged to utilise Windergy India 2026 as a dynamic platform for meaningful collaboration technology exchange and new partnerships The scale of Indias wind energy ambition requires the collective efforts of the government industry academia research institutions and international partnersIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-firmly-on-track-to-cross-100-gw-of-wind-capacity-by-2030-pralhad-joshi-703127.html Thu, 08 Oct 2026 18:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/testing-purpose-703128.html Chandigarh Oct 8 nbsp Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday lashed out at the BJPled Central government after CBI raids on his OfficeronSpecial Duty OSD and others in a corruption case saying that this indicates the saffron partys election campaign has begun in the pollbound statenbspThe Central Bureau of Investigation CBI on Tuesday registered a corruption case involving an OSD to Mann and five others on the Punjab and Haryana High Courts directions and searched several locations including the chief ministers camp office officials saidEarlier the high court noted that the material submitted by the Enforcement Directorate against the officers prima facie indicated their involvement in corruption and directed a CBI probenbspWhile interacting with reporters after the launch of the Hunar Punjab portal here Mann was asked about the CBI raidsnbspThe BJP has started its election campaign This is their way he repliednbspThe CBI search means that the Punjab Assembly elections will be held on time he said taking a swipe at the BJPnbspMann alleged that whenever an election is due in a nonBJPruled state the Central agencies start raid operations months aheadnbspCiting examples he said that the Enforcement Directorate raided close associates of Mamata Banerjee a few months before the West Bengal electionsnbspAAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia were arrested in a fake scam ahead of elections in DelhinbspSimilarly Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was raided ahead of Assembly polls in the state Raids were conducted on Congress leaders in Haryana Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh ahead of elections in these states Mann saidnbspWhen pointed out that the CBI action followed high courts directions the chief minister said CBI has cases pending for 1015 years Do they ever take such quick actionnbspMann said he had entered politics to serve Punjabis not to loot PunjabThey will find nothing here There is no corruption money in our homes People of Punjab know everything They know with what purpose we entered politics Mann saidnbspHe said the BJP is trying to create fear and tarnish the image of an elected government through Central investigative agencies however no matter how many raids they conduct they will not find even a single rupee of corruption in our possessionnbspMann said his partys politics is about giving people their rights creating employment strengthening public services and putting Punjab back on the path of progressnbspThe chief minister said the people of Punjab had repeatedly rejected the politics of fear and intimidationnbspThey can conduct raids send agencies and create pressure but they cannot raid the hearts of Punjabis or silence their voices People of Punjab will continue to stand with truth and development he saidnbspReplying to another question Mann said he was not afraid of any investigation and would continue to face every challenge with courageWe are not going anywhere When we get a summons from the CBI we will face the investigation he statednbspOn the Punjab and Haryana High Courts order the CBI has registered a corruption case against OSD Rajbir Ghuman and five others namely Nitin Gohal Jitin Gohal alias Raja Romi Raja Mahajan Bir Devinder and R S Nagra for allegedly influencing the appointments of IAS and IPS officers in return for pecuniary advantagenbspOn Monday the state government approached the Supreme Court challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Courts direction on a petition filed by advocate Nikhil SarafnbspnbspThe CBI on Tuesday raided eight locations linked to Ghuman and other accusednbspAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/testing-purpose-703128.html Thu, 08 Oct 2026 18:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rbi-raises-repo-rate-by-25-bps-to-550-amid-challenging-global-environment-703041.html New Delhi Oct 7 IANS The Reserve Bank of Indias Monetary Policy Committee MPC meeting led by Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Wednesday announced to raise key policy rate by 25 basispoints bps taking it to 550 amid a challenging global environmentnbspSDF rate stands adjusted at 525 per cent and the marginal standing facility range and the bank rate to 575 per cent said the RBIAfter the threeday brainstorming Malhotra said that global inflation is projected to increase sharply prompting monetary policy tightening by the major central banks across the worldThe Central Bank had kept the repo rate unchanged at 525 per cent for quite some time The rate hike comes amid challenging factors including rising inflation and crude oil prices above 100 a barrel driven by the West Asia crisisnbspThe sixmember committee concluded its threeday review against a backdrop of escalating domestic inflation and shifting global macroeconomic pressuresEconomists had expected an increase in the repo rate for the first time since February 2023With inflation nearing 5 per cent economists see further monetary tightening in the upcoming RBI MPC meetingsSBI Research said the balance of risks tilted decisively toward a 25bps rate hike by the RBI at this juncture as broadening inflationary pressures worsening global macros evolving liquidity conditions and a renewed global repricing of risks make the case for preemptive action strongerIt would be prudent for us to act preemptively rather than be behind the curve said economists at SBI ResearchAdditionally CPI inflation rose to 482 per cent in August from 445 per cent in July While strong El Nino conditions and belownormal October rainfall could pose further risks to Rabi outputIn addition rising crude oil prices inflation and higher bond yields globally narrowed the Reserve Bank of Indias room to hold rates unchangedIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/rbi-raises-repo-rate-by-25-bps-to-550-amid-challenging-global-environment-703041.html Wed, 07 Oct 2026 10:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rahul-priyanka-booked-for-forcibly-entering-akashvani-bhawan-703042.html New Delhi Oct 7 IANS The Delhi Police has received a complaint against Lok Sabha Leader of Oppositon Rahul Gandhi Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the INDIA bloc MPs accompanying them for forcibly entering the Akashvani Bhawan officials said on Wednesday adding that an FIR has been registered in the matternbspEarlier on Tuesday the Gandhi siblings and other INDIA bloc leaders were detained by the Delhi Police during the Oppositions protest against the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar Hours later they were releasedThe two leaders were among the protesters who gathered in Akashvani Bhawan premises after being stopped from marching towards the Election Commissions officeAmarinder Singh Raja Warring the outgoing chief of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee PPCC was also seen alongside Rahul Gandhi as police officials asked the protesters to end their sitinThe police had earlier warned that the demonstration at Akashvani Bhawan would not be permitted to continue through the nightProtesters were asked to leave the premises with police saying those who refused would be detainedThe demonstration was centred on the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls with opposition parties also demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh KumarDuring the demonstrations Rahul Gandhi Priyanka Gandhi and other MPs were stopped on Parliament Street near Akashvani Bhawan and the NITI Aayog office as they attempted to move towards the Election Commission officeAfter the police prevented them from proceeding the leaders sat on the road and continued their protestRahul Gandhi and Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee were later seen climbing over a police barricadeThe Congress leaders subsequently entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises through the reception gate despite being stopped by policeRahul Gandhi Priyanka Gandhi and Congress MP Deepender Hooda were later seen sitting under a tree inside the premisesIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/rahul-priyanka-booked-for-forcibly-entering-akashvani-bhawan-703042.html Wed, 07 Oct 2026 10:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/adityanath-hails-modis-25-years-in-public-service-says-he-has-presented-india-as-powerful-country--703043.html Lucknow Oct 7 PTI Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modis 25 years in public service saying his journey from becoming Gujarat chief minister in 2001 to leading the country has transformed India into a strong and capable nation Modis journey had been from village to global and was aimed at bringing change in the lives of every citizen he statedToday marks 25 years of an extraordinary journey that began when Narendra Modi took oath as Gujarat chief minister in 2001 at a time when the state was reeling under a devastating disaster and facing serious challenges Adityanath said addressing the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha herenbspHe also virtually attended Prime Minster Modis Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha event being held in DelhiRecalling the situation in Gujarat when Modi assumed office Adityanath said the state was facing a calamity while the country was also concerned about attempts by antisocial and antinational elements to create disorder and anarchyFrom those circumstances Modi ji began his journey and presented Gujarat as a model state before the country and the world he saidAdityanath said Modi during his tenure as prime minister presented India as a capable and powerful country before the world and instilled confidence among citizensHighlighting Indias economic growth he said the country once counted among the Fragile Five had now entered the worlds top five economiesThe chief minister also cited the growth of Indias start up ecosystem saying the country now had more than 25 lakh start ups compared with only a few thousand a decade agoToday our youth is filled with confidence Their talent is our strength and their confidence is the countrys capability he saidAdityanath also credited the Modi government with expanding infrastructure and connectivity including highways expressways railways airports and dedicated freight corridorsnbspHe said trains such as Vande Bharat Amrit Bharat and Namo Bharat were providing worldclass facilitiesReferring specifically to Uttar Pradesh he said the state had moved from a situation where one mafia operated in each district to a development model based on one district one medical college and one district one productHe also praised welfare schemes such as Jan Dhan accounts Direct Benefit Transfer and free foodgrains saying government assistance was now reaching beneficiaries directly without middlemenAdityanath said India had also made significant strides in semiconductors defence manufacturing and higher education reducing its dependence on other countriesnbspWhatever appeared impossible earlier has been made possible he saidThe chief minister said Modis 25year journey represented 25 years of continuous and tireless service and called it a matter of pride for the people of Uttar Pradesh that the prime minister represents Varanasi in ParliamentHe also recalled that when Modi became Gujarat chief minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who represented Lucknow was the prime minister while Modi is now the prime minister and an MP from Uttar PradeshWithout discrimination if anyone has taken the spirit of sabka saath sabka vikas to the ground in independent India that name is Narendra Modi Adityanath saidModi has been continuously serving as head of government first as chief minister of Gujarat for three terms and subsequently as prime minister of India after winning three Lok Sabha elections since October 7 2001Earlier in a post on X Adityanath said Modis life and leadership have been marked by an unwavering commitment to public service and the principle of nation firstAdityanath said it was a matter of immense joy for everyone that Modi had completed 25 glorious years as the head of governmentThe prime minister has remained continuously dedicated to taking Indias identity selfrespect and glory to new heights the chief minister saidAdityanath said Modis 25 years of national dedication reflected his unwavering commitment to public service strong determination visionary leadership and the spirit of putting the nation firstThe life of the prime minister inspires the people of the country to build a developed selfreliant and empowered India he saidThe chief minister extended his heartfelt congratulations to Modi on completing 25 years on the path of uninterrupted service to the nationAdityanaths post was accompanied by the hashtag 25YearsOfSevanbspIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/adityanath-hails-modis-25-years-in-public-service-says-he-has-presented-india-as-powerful-country--703043.html Wed, 07 Oct 2026 11:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/punjab-corruption-case-cbi-summons-cm-manns-osd-for-questioning-703044.html Chandigarh Oct 7 IANS Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns Officer on Special Duty OSD Rajbir Singh Ghuman was summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigations CBI Chandigarh office on Wednesday in connection with the probe into alleged corruption linked to the Chief Ministers OfficenbspThe CMs OSD and other associates have been asked to appear before the CBI at its Sector 30 office at 230 pmThe development comes a day after the CBI registered an FIR against Ghuman and five others and carried out coordinated searches at eight locations across Chandigarh and PunjabThe searches included the Chief Ministers camp office in Sector 2 in Chandigarh and premises linked to Ghuman in Sangrur and MohaliThe case follows an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directing the CBI to register a case and investigate allegations flagged by the Enforcement Directorate EDThe allegations relate to purported irregularities in government transfers and postings including those involving IAS and IPS officers as well as government policies tenders licences and landrelated mattersThe CBI has named Ghuman along with Nitin Gohal Jitin Gohal alias Raja Romi Raja Mahajan Bir Devinder and RS Nagra in the caseThe investigating agency has also referred to unidentified public servants and private individuals according to the FIRDuring Tuesdays searches the CBI reportedly seized laptops mobile phones and documents which are being examined as part of the investigationThe Punjab government has challenged the High Courts direction before the Supreme Court Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has rejected the allegations and accused the BJPled Centre of using Central investigative agencies for political purposesPursuant to the orders of the Honble Punjab and Haryana High Court and receipt of report from ED the CBI has registered an FIR to investigate the allegations of corruption against OSD to Punjab Chief Minister and his associates a spokesperson for the CBI said TuesdayIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/punjab-corruption-case-cbi-summons-cm-manns-osd-for-questioning-703044.html Wed, 07 Oct 2026 13:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/we-will-do-it-pm-modi-gives-new-slogan-to-make-india-developed-nation-by-2047--703045.html New Delhi Oct 7 PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gave a new slogan We Will Do It for realising the dream of making India a developed country by 2047 saying the goal will be achieved through visionary policies and hard workAddressing the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha on his completion of 25 years as head of government Modi also said that one of the biggest challenges the country faces is the division of society along the lines of votesBut when a farmers field lacks water does the problem affect only one caste When there is no electricity does darkness fall only on one community The answer is no If the problem belongs to everyone the solution must be for everyone he saidThe prime minister said the dream of a developed India that people are seeing today will surely come trueThere is no reason for India to stop A hundred years ago there were less than 40 crore of us today we are more than 140 crore The 140 crore citizens together will build a developed India by 2047 and we certainly will We Will Do It he saidViksit Bharat by 2047 We Will Do It Top 3 Economy We Will Do It Selfreliant We Will Do It Global Manufacturing Hub We Will Do It Hosting the Olympics We Will Do It Step into space We Will Do It This energy this enthusiasm this confidence is extraordinary he saidHighlighting his governments achievements in different sectors Modi said what once seemed unimaginable has become possibleWho would have thought that 25 crore people could rise out of poverty within a decade yet India made it happen he saidThat is why I believe in the strength and potential of 140 crore Indians After 25 years of experience I can say with confidence that we are witnessing Indias transformation right before our eyes he saidReferring to Captain Smit Machchhar an Indian pilot with flydubai who foiled an attempt by his copilot to crash an Israelbound flight despite being stabbed the PM said the world is talking about Indias pilot today and a day will come when the world will talk about madeinIndia aircraftThese goals will be achieved through visionary policies and relentless hard work India may have challenges but we also have 140 crore solutions he saidModi has been serving continuously as head of government first as chief minister of Gujarat for three terms and subsequently as prime minister of India after winning three Lok Sabha elections since October 7 2001Modi said when he took oath as Gujarat chief minister on October 7 2001 he never imagined this milestone would comeI bow before the people of India for their trust in me For me people are God hardworking BJP workers are my strength he saidHe also expressed gratitude to all colleagues of BJP NDA and all those who hold immense reverence for democracy He said that while his wellwishers encouraged him critics taught him to look withinnbsp IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/we-will-do-it-pm-modi-gives-new-slogan-to-make-india-developed-nation-by-2047--703045.html Wed, 07 Oct 2026 13:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/going-to-jantar-mantar-will-keep-fighting-irrespective-of-firs-announce-kharge-rahul-gandhi--703046.html New Delhi Oct 7 IANS Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that INDIA bloc leaders were heading to the designated protest site at Jantar Mantar to continue their agitation against Chief Election Commissioner CEC Gyanesh Kumar while vowing not to bow down irrespective of cases lodged against themnbspThe development came after the Congress President hosted a lunch meeting for the INDIA bloc leaders at a restaurant in JanpathSpeaking to reporters Kharge said Today we will hold a sitin protest at Jantar Mantar Until our demands are met we will continue to hold such protestsThe mistakes that have been done by the Election Commission with Prime Minister Narendra Modis support are an attempt to finish democracy in the country They dont even pay heed to the Constitution It is our responsibility to take the peoples message across the country That is why we the leaders of all INDIA bloc parties want to unitedly tell the citizens that we will keep fighting for the protection of our rights which are being snatched away irrespective of the number of cases filed against us he saidKharge made the remarks with reference to Delhi Police receiving a complaint against Rahul Gandhi Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other INDIA bloc MPs accompanying them for forcibly entering the Akashvani Bhawan during their protest on Tuesday officials said on WednesdayAn FIR has been registered in the matter officials saidWe wont be scared by anyone and will keep fighting Kharge assertedRahul Gandhi added As I said yesterday around 300 MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha wanted to meet the CEC yesterday He did not meet us The Delhi Police stopped us and yesterday they said that we cannot protest thereSo our plan today is to go to the designated protest site Jantar Mantar and sit there again and tell the country that for us Gyanesh Kumar is not the legitimate Election Commissioner of the country he addedRahul Gandhi reiterated his remarks from Tuesday saying PM Modi along with Home Minister Amit Shah RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Gyanesh Kumar have together finished the countrys democracyas I said yesterday this is treason and action will be taken against those involved in this Gyanesh Kumar will have to resignRegarding the FIR he remarked I have 45 FIRs against me My goal is to have 100 I want 100 FIRs to be filed against me Every FIR is a medal for meIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/going-to-jantar-mantar-will-keep-fighting-irrespective-of-firs-announce-kharge-rahul-gandhi--703046.html Wed, 07 Oct 2026 16:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/not-eyeing-3-but-403-seats-akhileshs-cryptic-tweet-creates-stir-raises-suspense-on-3rd-rs-seat-703033.html New Delhi Oct 6 IANS Samajwadi Party SP national president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday stated that his partys ultimate focus is on the entire 403 seats of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly rather than just three seatsnbspnbspThe SP supremo took to X to share a cryptic post creating a stir in the political circles with many insinuating that the party has laid out its plan to not challenge the BJP in the Rajya Sabha elections for the eight seatnbspA day ago when the BJP announced eight candidates for biennial Rajya Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh multiple reports suggested that SP was mulling fielding third candidate in the poll fray As per existing Assembly strength the BJP has the numbers to easily win 7 Rajya Sabha seats while SP commands numbers to bag 2 seatsSP has so far nominated two candidates party general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav and Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani for the Rajya Sabha elections They also filed their nomination papers in the presence of SP chiefThe biennial elections for ten Rajya Sabha seats are scheduled for October 16 The terms of the sitting members expire on November 25The Bharatiya Janata Party BJP announced the names of eight candidates for the upcoming biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh earlier on MondayDharampal Singh Radhakant Ojha Prakash Pal Vidyasagar Sonkar Gopi Krishna Pandey Priyanka Singh Rawat Ram Pratap Singh Chauhan and Shruti Gangwar are the BJPs eight Rajya Sabha picks who will seek election to the Upper House from Uttar PradeshThe list of candidates shows the partys calibrated approach to address the demographic considerations and caste equations while giving adequate weightage to womens representation Shruti Gangwar and Priyanka Singh Rawat are the partys two women nominees in the list of eight candidatesThe Samajwadi Party SP has 101 lawmakers in the 403member Legislative AssemblyIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/not-eyeing-3-but-403-seats-akhileshs-cryptic-tweet-creates-stir-raises-suspense-on-3rd-rs-seat-703033.html Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-letters-to-punjab-dgp-mann-govt-moves-sc-against-hc-ordered-cbi-probe-703034.html New DelhiChandigarh Oct 6 IANS The Punjab government has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Courts order directing the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI to probe allegations of corruption involving Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns OSD Rajvir Ghuman and othersnbspnbspAs per details available on the apex courts official website a Special Leave Petition SLP has been filed by the State of Punjab through its Home Department and registered as Diary No 624642026The petition was filed in the early hours of Tuesday October 6 and is currently listed as pending The state government has approached the Supreme Court a day after the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered that the matter arising from three letters written by the Enforcement Directorate ED to the Punjab DGP be handed over to the CBIThe High Court also directed the CBI to register a case and submit a status report within two monthsThe ED had written three letters to Punjab Director General of Police DGP Gaurav Yadav alleging that CM Bhagwant Manns OSD Rajvir Ghuman and his associates Nitin Gohal and Bir Devinder were involved in corruptionThe central antimoney laundering agency had claimed that they were interfering in administrative transfers and postings besides government tenders and had called for registration of an FIRAfter the Punjab Police did not register a case on the basis of the ED communications advocate Nikhil Saraf filed a PIL before the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a CBI probe In his petition Saraf had argued that the ED letters contained serious allegations concerning persons linked to the Punjab Chief Ministers Office and sought a fair and independent investigation free from the influence of the Punjab Police and Punjab VigilanceHe had also sought an investigation into the alleged money trail and appropriate action against those found guiltyWhile directing the CBI probe the High Court ordered the investigating agency to submit its report within two months and directed the Punjab government and police to extend full cooperation to the CBIMeanwhile Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon welcomed the High Courts decision to hand over the matter to the CBI and attacked the Mann government over the allegationsSpeaking to the media in Chandigarh on Monday Dhillon said the development had exposed the reality behind a government that claims to follow a zerotolerance policy towards corruptionHe demanded that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should resign immediately alleging that the government had lost the moral right to remain in powerDhillon said the ED had written to the Punjab DGP three times but the Punjab Police did not register an FIR following which the matter reached the High Court through a PILHe expressed hope that the CBI would conduct a fair and transparent investigation and questioned why the government had allegedly resisted an investigation despite repeated communications from the EDDhillon demanded that the Punjab government and the police provide all necessary records to the CBI and extend full cooperation so that the investigation could be completed within the twomonth deadline fixed by the High CourtIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-letters-to-punjab-dgp-mann-govt-moves-sc-against-hc-ordered-cbi-probe-703034.html Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/we-will-keep-fighting-throw-these-thieves-out-kharge-as-india-bloc-protests-against-eci-703035.html New Delhi Oct 6 IANS Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said the Opposition would continue its fight to save democracy as INDIA bloc MPs marched from Parliament towards the Election Commission of India ECI headquarters demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner CEC Gyanesh KumarnbspThis is a fight we will keep fighting and we will throw these thieves out We are fully determined to save democracy and we are fighting for democracy and nothing else Kharge said during the protestThe INDIA bloc MPs holding Tricolours and banners carrying messages such as Save Democracy raised slogans against the CEC BJP and RSS as they proceeded towards the ECI officeCongress leader Supriya Shrinate alleged that Gyanesh Kumar had made changes to Form 6 arbitrarily which she claimed could only have been done through legislationGyanesh Kumar is the name of the person who has left no stone unturned in destroying the democracy of this country Gyanesh Kumar arbitrarily changed Form 6 a change that could only have been made through law He said this change was made on the orders of the Supreme Court The Supreme Court yesterday made it clear that it had not given any approval for the change The fact is if people are raising their voices why are they not allowing it Shrinate saidMamata AITC MP Saugata Roy said the Opposition was not concerned by the BJPs defence of the CECNo no what the BJP says does not bother us because they are the ruling party and they will defend Gyanesh Kumar with whose help they have been winning elections so we are not concerned They said that there is no clearance from the SC on the changing of the format of Form 6 Roy saidCongress leader Ragini Nayak said the protest was aimed at protecting the democratic process and the ConstitutionThis is the time to save democracy and protect our democratic process from the assault on the Constitution of India and vote theft I believe it is amazing that the whole Opposition is united and marching against the ECI the fact is their misleading deeds are revealed she saidCongress MP Ranjeet Ranjan said the Opposition had three key demands the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision SIR and conducting elections through ballot papersThere are three demands Gyanesh Kumar should resign SIR should be cancelled And elections should be conducted through ballot papers The whole country is witnessing this they are taking away the rights of lakhs of voters she told IANSKharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi along with several other INDIA bloc leaders staged a dharna after being stopped from proceeding to the ECI headquartersSamajwadi Party SP MP Akhilesh Yadav NCP SP MP Supriya Sule Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee and SP MP Dharmendra Yadav were also seen raising slogans as they proceeded towards the poll panels officeDelhi Police and other security forces were placed on alert in view of the protest while barricades were erected outside the ECI officeThe DMK and the Aam Aadmi Party AAP did not participate in the Oppositions marchIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/we-will-keep-fighting-throw-these-thieves-out-kharge-as-india-bloc-protests-against-eci-703035.html Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-bloc-protest-mps-try-to-push-open-gates-of-akashvani-bhawan--703036.html New Delhi Oct 6 IANS The INDIA bloc MPs tried to push open the gates of the Akashvani Bhawan as they intensified their protest against the Election Commission of India ECI demanding Chief Election Commissioner CEC Gyanesh Kumars resignationnbspHolding Tricolours and banners reading Save democracy the INDIA bloc MPs on Tuesday commenced their protest march from Parliament to the ECI headquarters The Opposition leaders raised slogans against the CEC BJP and the RSS as they marched towards the ECI headquartersIn view of the protest Delhi Police and other security forces had been placed on alert Barricades were also set up outside the ECI officeLeader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi along with several other INDIA bloc leaders were also briefly detained after they were stopped from heading towards the ECIs officenbspnbspGandhi was stopped by several layers of police barricades while attempting to proceed towards the ECI headquarters He subsequently climbed onto one of the barricades and waved a large national flag drawing loud slogans of support from the INDIA bloc leaders and workers gathered at the spotPolice have instructed security forces to be fully prepared to deal with any situation Necessary arrangements have been made to control the crowd and maintain law and ordernbspThe polices objective is to maintain peace and order during the protest and prevent any untoward incidents officials saidSection 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS has been imposed in and around Jantar Mantar Under this restrictions may be imposed on certain activities and gatherings in the areanbspThe administration has appealed to the public to follow the prescribed rules and cooperate with security arrangementsEarlier Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said the Opposition would continue its fight to save democracy and asserted that the INDIA bloc was determined to continue its protestThis is a fight we will keep fighting and we will throw these thieves out We are fully determined to save democracy and we are fighting for democracy and nothing else Kharge saidIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/india-bloc-protest-mps-try-to-push-open-gates-of-akashvani-bhawan--703036.html Tue, 06 Oct 2026 13:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/president-murmu-honours-first-batch-doctors-of-aiims-bilaspur-703037.html BilaspurManali Oct 6 IANS President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday honoured 92 doctors from the 2020 batch at the first convocation ceremony of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS in Bilaspur in Himachal PradeshnbspThe doctors received their degrees dressed in traditional kurtapyjama and caps The President presented gold medals to five students who topped their respective categories and distributed degrees among the other graduating doctorsThe ceremony began with a group photograph of the graduating batch The AIIMS administration had prescribed the attire for both male and female graduates for the convocationPresident Murmu arrived at the AIIMS Bilaspur helipad at around 1035 am and proceeded directly to the convocation venueUnion Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu were among the senior leaders who attended the ceremonyDuring the event the AIIMS administration presented President Murmu with a traditional Ransingha as a commemorative memento She was also presented with idols of Baba Balak Nath and Shri Naina Devi as ceremonial giftsThe convocation ceremony marks an important milestone for the institute and the first batch of MBBS students who have completed their medical education at AIIMS BilaspurAfter her Bilaspur engagement President Murmu is scheduled to travel towards Manali On October 7 she will visit the Hidimba Temple and the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang in the LahaulSpiti districtThe visit to the tunnel is part of the Presidents official programme announced by the Presidents Secretariat From 8 pm on Tuesday until noon on Wednesday the movement of regular vehicles from Palchan towards the Atal Tunnel Rohtang will remain closed No vehicles of any kind will be allowed to proceed along the designated route during this period the local administration saidThe administration has appealed to local residents and tourists to plan their travel accordingly and use alternative routes if necessaryIn view of the Presidents visit security and traffic arrangements have also been tightened The Atal Tunnel which provides allweather connectivity between Manali and the Lahaul Valley is an important infrastructure link in the region The Presidents visit comes after her proposed visit to the tunnel during her earlier Himachal Pradesh tour in April was cancelled because of adverse weather conditionsPresident Murmu who is staying in the picturesque tourist resort Manali is scheduled to conclude her Himachal Pradesh visit on October 8 and return to New DelhiPrime Minister Narendra Modi visited AIIMS Bilaspur on October 5 2022 and inaugurated the institution The foundation stone of the hospital was also laid by the Prime Minister in October 2017 and was established under the Central sector scheme Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha YojanaAIIMS Bilaspur constructed at a cost of more than Rs 1470 crore is a stateoftheart hospital with 18 speciality and 17 super speciality departments 18 modular operation theatres and 750 beds with 64 ICU bedsSpread over 247 acres the hospital is equipped with 24hour emergency and dialysis facilities Also specialist health services are being provided by the hospital through health camps in inaccessible tribal and high Himalayan regions like Kaza Saluni and KeylongLikewise Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the strategically important allweather Atal Tunnel connecting Manali to the LahaulSpiti valley on October 3 2000 Atal Tunnel is the longest highway tunnel in the world The 902kmlong tunnel connects Manali to the LahaulSpiti valley throughout the yearEarlier the valley was cut off for about six months each year owing to heavy snowfall The tunnel is built with ultramodern specifications in the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas at an altitude of 3000 metres 10000 feetThe tunnel reduces the road distance by 46 km between Manali and Leh and the time by about four to five hours The South Portal of the Atal Tunnel is located at a distance of 25 km from Manali at an altitude of 3060 metres while the North Portal of the tunnel is located near Teling village in Sissu in the Lahaul Valley at an altitude of 3071 metres It is a horseshoeshaped singletube doublelane tunnel with a roadway of eight metres It has an overhead clearance of 5525 metres The tunnel has been designed for a traffic density of 3000 cars a day and 1500 trucks per day with a maximum speed of 80 km per hourIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/president-murmu-honours-first-batch-doctors-of-aiims-bilaspur-703037.html Tue, 06 Oct 2026 13:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-declares-nehru-place-district-centre-no-hawking-no-vending-zone-allows-90-vendors-at-designated-site-703038.html New Delhi Oct 6 IANS The Delhi High Court has declared the Nehru Place District Centre except for a designated portion as a Nohawking zone and Novending zone while permitting 90 identified vendors to operate from an alternative site till the Town Vending CommitteeII TVCII takes a decision on their vending rightsnbspnbspA Division Bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Dinesh Bhatt passed the direction while dealing with a batch of petitions and a contempt case concerning hawking and vending activities in the Nehru Place areaThe High Court said that photographs taken as recently as September 26 placed on record by both the petitioners and respondents left no manner of doubt that the declaration of Nehru Place District Centre as a nohawking and novending zone deserved to be confirmedThe judgment took note of the protection available to certain vendors under the Street Vendors Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending Act 2014 as well as a recent Supreme Court decision stressing the need to provide workable alternatives to vendors displaced from novending zonesThe High Court said In terms of the aforesaid decision if the street vendors are vending in a Novending zone the MCD or the concerned authority has a duty to assist them in moving from a Novending zone to a vending zone so as to provide the street vendors with a workable alternative from where they can earn their livelihoodThe Delhi High Court was referring to the Supreme Courts April 9 2026 decision which held that the removal of vendors must be carried out with care fairness and responsibility and that authorities should actively assist them in shifting to designated vending zonesThe Justice Singhled Bench noted that more than 400 vendors were presently vending in the Nehru Place District Centre most of whom are clearly unauthorised It identified 90 vendors as having the relevant protection or recognition in the connected proceedings 62 vendors associated with Manushi Sangathan 22 vendors in WPC 68232017 and six vendors in two other connected petitionsUnder these circumstances bearing in mind that the TVCII is about to be constituted and these vendors have been vending in this area for several years the abovementioned vendors shall be permitted to vend at Site X marked in the map below the judgment saidThe High Court directed the 90 vendors listed in Annexure A to move to the designated Site X by October 12 2026It clarified that the TVCII after its constitution would decide whether vendors were entitled to Certificates of Vending and if so the area where they would be permitted to vend The decision has to be taken within two months of the constitution of the TVCIIInsofar as the Nehru Place District Centre area except the identified portion above as marked X the entire Nehru Place District Centre is declared as a Nohawking zone and Novending zone the Justice Singhled Bench saidIt further directed that after October 12 the Municipal Corporation of Delhi MCD would be free to remove all unauthorised vendors from the areaIt also directed the Delhi Fire Services to conduct an inspection of the Nehru Place District Centre after the unauthorised vendors were removed and file a compliance reportThe Delhi Police have also been directed to cooperate with the MCD and DDA to ensure compliance with the judgment The matter will be listed on November 30 for consideration of the compliance report of the Delhi Fire Service IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-declares-nehru-place-district-centre-no-hawking-no-vending-zone-allows-90-vendors-at-designated-site-703038.html Tue, 06 Oct 2026 15:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/everyone-involved-in-vote-theft-will-be-investigated-rahul-gandhi-703039.html New Delhi Oct 6 IANS Asserting that all those involved in vote theft will be investigated Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that what Prime Minister Narendra Modi Home Minister Amit Shah CEC Gyanesh Kumar and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat have done to the country is treasonnbspEveryone will be investigated he said in a statement issued after high political drama close to Nirvachan Sadan where more than 300 Opposition MPs were allegedly prevented by police from marching towards the Election Commission of Indias officeGandhi led the 300 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Opposition MPs including those from the BJD in a march from Parliament towards the Nirvachan Sadan a distance of about one kilometreWe wanted to meet the CEC and the Election Commissioners but we were stopped and prevented from going there Gandhi told reporters about 50 yards from the Commissions officeHe along with his sister and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi and other leaders sat on a dharna inside the Akashvani Bhavan which is adjacent to the ECI office after being stopped from marching aheadGandhi said PM Modi HM Shah RSS chief Bhagwat and CEC Gyanesh Kumar had destroyed the countrys democracy through vote chori and everyone across the country knows about itHe said that even the policemen on duty on Tuesday told him that they knew what was happening in the countryThe entire country knows that it has been hijacked by PM Modi HM Shah RSS chief Bhagwat with the help of CEC Gyanesh Kumar through vote chori said GandhiWhat has been done to my country is treason and nobody is going to escape he saidThe Leader of Opposition asked why MPs who represent the voice of the country could not meet the CEC or the Election CommissionersDont know why 300 MPs were stopped And we have been made to sit here just 50 yards away from the ECI office he said asking what purpose democracy served if MPs could not meet the Election CommissionersEarlier speaking to media persons during the march Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that those who schooled CEC Gyanesh Kumar on vote theft were the biggest thievesHe said that PM Modis government was bent on destroying the Constitution and that people in the country now realised that their votes were being stolen and their freedom was being erodedIn a social media post Kharge said that the EC could not stand for Election CompromisedHe emphasised that the Opposition would not allow democracy to be sold and would hold the BJP accountable IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/everyone-involved-in-vote-theft-will-be-investigated-rahul-gandhi-703039.html Tue, 06 Oct 2026 19:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/result-of-bjps-frustration-arvind-kejriwal-after-cbi-raids-punjab-cms-camp-office-703040.html New Delhi Oct 6 IANS Aam Aadmi Party AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP after the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI raided the Punjab Chief Ministers camp office in Chandigarh for evidence in a graft case linked to the CMs Officer on Special Duty OSD calling it the result of BJPs frustrationnbspThe CBI took over the investigation into alleged corruption involving Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns OSD Rajbir Singh Ghuman and other associates and conducted searches at eight locations in Chandigarh Mohali Jalandhar and other citiesIt also registered an FIR against Punjab CM Manns OSD and five othersIn a post on the social media platform X Kejriwal said The CBI raid on the Punjab Chief Ministers office two months before the elections is the result of the BJPs frustrationEver since the BJP government came to power at the Centre it has always pushed Punjabis aroundbe it the farmers movement the issue of Punjabs water or the Punjab University issue And now its even pushing around their elected Chief Minister he addedThe AAP chief remarked that because the BJP cant win elections by contesting in Punjab so it wants to fight the elections with the help of EDCBIHowever he expressed confidence in the AAPs victory in the upcoming Assembly polls in the state saying But Punjabis have made up their minds and they will respond to the BJPs CBI raid in the upcoming elections by electing Bhagwant Mann with 100 seats and making him Chief Minister againDuring the searches the CBI collected incriminating evidence such as laptops mobile phones and documents and sent them to a forensic lab for extracting data linked to the alleged bribery and impropriety a CBI official said in a statementThe probe agency said it registered an FIR in the matter following orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and receipt of a report from the Enforcement DirectorateThe CBI has booked six persons including two public servants middlemen and associates namely Rajbir Singh Ghuman Officer on Special Duty OSD to the Chief Minister Punjab Nitin Gohal Jitin Gohal alias Raja Romi Raja Mahajan Bir Devinder RS Nagra and unknown public servants and private personsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/result-of-bjps-frustration-arvind-kejriwal-after-cbi-raids-punjab-cms-camp-office-703040.html Tue, 06 Oct 2026 21:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/swiss-president-guy-parmelin-accorded-ceremonial-welcome-at-rashtrapati-bhavan--702933.html New Delhi Oct 5 IANS Swiss Confederation President Guy Parmelin was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on MondaynbspPresident Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly welcomed the Swiss Confederation President upon his arrival at the Rashtrapati BhavanParmelin arrived in India on Monday for a threeday State visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi The visit is set to focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade investment science technology innovation and mobilitynbspnbspAccording to the Ministry of External Affairs MEA President Parmelin is accompanied by a highlevel delegation comprising senior officials and business leaders This will be his first State visit to India and his second visit to the country this yearnbspHe had earlier visited India in February 2026 to participate in the AI Impact Summit in New DelhiLater in the day Prime Minister Modi and President Parmelin will hold bilateral discussions to review progress in cooperation across a wide range of areas including trade and investment science technology and innovation mobility culture and peopletopeople contactThe two leaders will also exchange views on regional and global developments including cooperation in multilateral foraDuring his visit President Parmelin will also meet President Droupadi Murmu who will host an official banquet in his honour External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar will also call on the Swiss PresidentThe visit assumes particular significance as President Parmelin will participate in the second IndiaEFTA Prosperity Summit on October 7 The event will mark the first anniversary of the IndiaEFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement TEPA coming into forceThe MEA highlighted Switzerlands importance as an economic partner stating that among the European Free Trade Association EFTA countries Switzerland is Indias largest trade and investment partnerThe ministry also underlined the longstanding ties between the two countries and the importance of regular highlevel exchanges in taking the relationship forwardIndia and Switzerland share longstanding friendly relations This visit will further strengthen bilateral relations building upon the regular highlevel exchanges and deepen cooperation in new areas of mutual interest the MEA saidThe visit comes against the backdrop of sustained highlevel engagement between India and Switzerland The last State visit of the President of India to Switzerland took place in 2019 while Prime Minister Modi paid official visits to Switzerland in 2016 and 2018IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/swiss-president-guy-parmelin-accorded-ceremonial-welcome-at-rashtrapati-bhavan--702933.html Mon, 05 Oct 2026 10:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sir-row-removal-of-ineligible-voter-names-essential-for-indias-security-unity-says-cm-yogi-702936.html Lucknow Oct 5 IANS Amid nationwide protests against Chief Election Commissioner CEC Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday extended his support to the exercise saying that identifying and removing ineligible names from voter lists in accordance with rules is essential for Indias security unity and integrityThe Chief Minister also made a special appeal to young voters who have recently turned 18 to get their names registered on the electoral rollsCM Yogi in a post on social media platform X said India has been the guardian of democratic values for ages The Special Intensive Revision SIR conducted by the Election Commission of India is a vital effort to further strengthen its democratic heritage The systematic verification of deceased permanently shifted and duplicate entries is essentialHe further said All conscious voters should note that identifying and removing ineligible names illegally entered in the voter list in accordance with the rules is imperative for Indias security unity and integrityThe Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also appealed to young people to actively participate in the electoral processMy appeal is that every young friend who has completed 18 years of age must get their name added to the voter list Let us become partners in building a pure empowered and transparent voter list he saidCM Yogis remarks come at a time when Congress and other opposition parties have intensified their protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR exerciseThe opposition parties staged protests at several places across the country including at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Sunday They have accused the Election Commission of using the SIR process to exclude voters and alleged that the exercise could benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party BJPOpposition parties have also alleged that the CEC has compromised the fairness of the electoral process and have demanded that the SIR exercise be withdrawn The ruling party however has rejected the allegationsMeanwhile the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday two writ petitions challenging decisions related to the SIR process The petitions reportedly question decisions allegedly taken without the concurrence of the other two Election CommissionersIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/sir-row-removal-of-ineligible-voter-names-essential-for-indias-security-unity-says-cm-yogi-702936.html Mon, 05 Oct 2026 10:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cecs-resignation-sir-rollback-ballot-papers-kharge-lists-3-non-negotiable-cong-demands--702948.html New Delhi Oct 5 IANS Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday listed the partys nonnegotiable demands over the recent controversy surrounding the Election Commission of India ECI which also include the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner CEC Gyanesh KumarnbspINDIA Blocled protests are being staged across various states to demand the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rollsTaking to X Kharge said The Congress Partys 3 demands are nonnegotiable First the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar Second the cancellation of SIR Third conducting elections on Ballot PaperAcross the country Congress workers and INDIA Bloc partners are on the streets over these three issues Whichever Civil Society Members and Youth Organisations are struggling on these issues in various places across the country we stand with them he saidReferring to the incident of harassment of female journalists in Delhi during the antiCEC protests the Congress chief said On the other hand the BJP has harassed female journalists in Delhi which is highly condemnable The dictator is extremely panicked get ready for another chapter in the distraction tacticsThree women journalists have filed complaints against Delhi Police personnel alleging sexual misconduct while being detained during the protests at Jantar Mantar on SaturdayThe police on Sunday stated that the complaints have been transferred to the Crime Branch for an impartial enquiryMeanwhile the Raj ThackerayUddhav Thackerayled Opposition organised Garjana Morcha in Mumbai against the ECIThe BJP and Shiv Sena hit back at the demonstration and said that it was a display of double standards and a publicity stuntIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/cecs-resignation-sir-rollback-ballot-papers-kharge-lists-3-non-negotiable-cong-demands--702948.html Mon, 05 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-seeks-eci-response-on-plea-questioning-cec-gyanesh-kumars-exercise-of-poll-panel-powers-702949.html New Delhi Oct 5 IANS The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre and the Election Commission of India ECI on a plea challenging the manner in which the powers of the poll panel are being exercised and questioning whether Chief Election Commissioner CEC Gyanesh Kumar can individually exercise or represent powers vested in the multimember poll bodynbspnbspA Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana also sought responses from the three Election Commissioners after senior advocate Vikas Singh appearing for the petitioner submitted that the credibility of the ECI had been undermined and that the CEC was acting contrary to the statutory framework governing the poll bodyVikas Singh contended that some interim measures were required arguing that the present functioning of the ECI had left citizens feeling unsafe Today the very CEC as a constitutional authority is acting in a manner which is completely contrary to the statute under which he is appointed the senior counsel submittedHowever the CJI Kantled Bench said that the top court would first require authenticated information on the allegations stating that it could annul any decision if it is subsequently found to be unlawfulLets first have authenticated information on that the allegations We can always annul any decision the Supreme Court saidSingh alternatively urged the apex court to direct that until the next date of hearing decisions of the ECI should be taken only unanimously However the CJI Kantled Bench said that the Commissioners were expected to take unanimous decisions and in the absence of unanimity the matter was required to be decided by majorityIt also cautioned that the petitioner was relying on a news report and said that it would like to hear the ECIs response News reports may be fully or partially correct We will like their response the apex court said adding that it would seek responses from the concerned respondents and examine whether the law had been followedAs per the case status reflected on the official website of the apex court the matter is tentatively listed for hearing on October 26 The plea seeks enforcement of the collective decisionmaking framework governing the ECI and a writ in the nature of quo warranto concerning the authority under which the CEC has reportedly acted in the name of the poll panelIt contends that Article 324 of the Constitution vests the superintendence direction and control of elections in the Commission and not in an individual CEC while relying on Section 18 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment Conditions of Service and Term of Office Act 2023 which provides for collective decisionmakingThe plea has relied on contemporaneous written communications and file notings attributed to Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi who allegedly recorded objections between October 2025 and August 2026 concerning decisions and steps allegedly taken in the name of the ECI without their approvalThe objections as detailed in the petition relate to communications and orders allegedly issued without the poll bodys approval the absence of agendas before and minutes after meetings foreign travel undertaken without approval changes to Form 6 access to the electoral roll database and filing of appeals before tribunals in West BengalThe plea also refers to concerns reportedly raised by the two Election Commissioners over the gradual centralisation of the electoral roll database and changes in the work allocation of the poll bodys IT establishmentThe petitioner has sought a declaration that powers vested in the ECI under Article 324 cannot be exercised or represented as an act of the poll body except in accordance with the constitutional and statutory framework governing the CommissionThe plea also seeks declaratory and mandatory directions to ensure compliance with the collective decisionmaking framework besides production and preservation of relevant records concerning the disputed decisionsMeanwhile the ECI has maintained that the reported differences between the Commissioners do not amount to an institutional rupture and that internal objections and written notes are established mechanisms in a multimember constitutional bodyIn a statement the poll panel has also said that its decisions including those relating to the SIR exercise were unanimous and that differences raised by Commissioners form part of the normal deliberative and administrative processIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-seeks-eci-response-on-plea-questioning-cec-gyanesh-kumars-exercise-of-poll-panel-powers-702949.html Mon, 05 Oct 2026 13:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mamata-faction-moves-calcutta-hc-over-special-officers-refusal-to-use-party-funds-702950.html Kolkata Oct 5 IANS The original but minority faction of the Trinamool Congress led by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee on Monday approached a singlejudge bench of the Calcutta High Court against the courtappointed special officer who is not permitting her to operate three party bank accountsnbspIn its petition filed before the singlejudge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya the Mamata faction accused the Special Judge Subrata Talukdar retired of not permitting withdrawal of money before the forthcoming Durga Puja festival The petition said the faction is not able to pay house rents and even salaries to the office employees before the festive season as a result of thisThe Mamata Banerjee faction of Trinamool Congress has requested the court to allow the use of party funds from the three bank accounts and also sought an urgent hearing in the matter Despite admitting the petition Justice Bhattacharyya rejected the plea for an urgent hearingThe matter is likely to be taken up after the court reopens following the festive vacationIn the petition the Trinamool Congress faction claimed that the courtappointed special officer has sought information on whether the new name and electoral symbol allotted to this faction were only for the bypolls for the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly Constituencies scheduled for TuesdayThe West Bengal Police had put the three accounts of the Trinamool Congress held with a private bank on freeze on charges of illegal transactions Challenging the move the Mamata Banerjeeled faction approached the Calcutta High CourtThe bench of Justice Bhattacharyya then appointed a special officer to manage those bank accounts On July 9 this year Justice Bhattacharyya ordered that the Mamata Banerjeeled faction of Trinamool Congress would have control over those bank accounts for the time beingHowever Justice Bhattacharyya further ruled that the faction would not be able to spend money unbridled and the courtappointed special officer will pay Trinamool Congress for its daily operations and salaries Justice Bhattacharyya also ruled that this order will be in force till January 29 next yearThe matter was again heard last month Since the accounts were held in the name of All India Trinamool Congress neither of the two factions of Trinamool Congress should have the right to operate them considering that the Election Commission of India ECI recently froze both the name All India Trinamool Congress and the partys original electoral symbol of Flowers ampamp GrassHowever Justice Bhattacharyya did not accept the argument of the state government counsel on the grounds that the ECI decision pertained to the name and electoral symbol of the party and that the Commissions decision was not finalHe maintained that the right of the Mamata Banerjeeled faction to use the account through the courtappointed special officer would continue till January 29 2027IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/mamata-faction-moves-calcutta-hc-over-special-officers-refusal-to-use-party-funds-702950.html Mon, 05 Oct 2026 13:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/koel-mallick-officially-joins-bjp-to-file-nomination-for-rs-seat-vacated-by-her-today-702956.html Kolkata Oct 5 IANS Rukmini Mallick popularly known as Koel Mallik an actressturnedpolitician and former Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP on Monday morningnbspOn Sunday the BJP announced her name as its candidate for the forthcoming bypoll for the Rajya Sabha seat which was vacated by her earlier this yearnbspOn Monday BJPs state general secretary Shashi Agnihotri handed over the party flag to Koel at the BJP state office in Salt Lake The others present on the occasion were the BJPs media department convener Anupam Ghosh and coconvener Chandrashekhar Basotia Mallik will file her nomination papers in the West Bengal Assembly on MondayIn the last few months West Bengal has been going through a journey of development We want more work to be done in West Bengal I want to be involved in the development of West Bengal I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for nominating me as a Rajya Sabha candidate for the party I will be filing my nomination today she saidnbspHowever Koel Mallik refused to make any adverse comment about the leadership of her former party Trinamool Congress led by former Chief Minister Mamata BanerjeenbspThe bypoll for the vacant Rajya Sabha seat will be on October 16To recall in February this year Trinamool Congress announced the name of Koel Mallick as a candidate for the Rajya Sabha along with former Director General of West Bengal Police Rajeev Kumar former West Bengal tourism minister and singerturnedpolitician Babul Supriyo and Supreme Court of Indias senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy as candidates for the Upper House of the Indian ParliamentnbspThe Rajya Sabha elections were held in March this year Mallick had been a Rajya Sabha member since then However she did not attend any session of the Parliament even onceAfter the defeat of the Trinamool Congress in the West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year the partys erstwhile Rajya Sabha members started resigning one after another Sukhendu Sekhar Roy Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik were the first three erstwhile Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha members to resignnbspHowever within a month of their resignations they got reelected as BJP candidates from the seats vacated by them After that in July this year Mallik also resigned from the Upper House of ParliamentSince then speculation started surfacing on whether she would also be reelected from the seat vacated by her but as a BJP candidate The speculations on this count surfaced because of the actions of the actressturnedpoliticiannbspShe met the Indian VicePresident and Rajya Sabha Chairperson CP Radhakrishnan in New Delhi on July 16 and submitted her resignation to him Soon after resigning from her post as MP she met Union Minister Bhupender YadavnbspThe meeting further ignited speculation of her joining the BJP and getting reelected to the Rajya Sabha as a saffron candidateIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/koel-mallick-officially-joins-bjp-to-file-nomination-for-rs-seat-vacated-by-her-today-702956.html Mon, 05 Oct 2026 14:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/you-dont-want-it-to-be-too-hot-you-dont-want-it-to-be-too-good-eam-jaishankar-on-us-china-rivalry-702915.html New Delhi Oct 4 IANS External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar on Sunday compared the USChina rivalry to a Goldilocks scenario quipping that You dont want it to be too hot you dont want it to be too goodnbspIn the context of a USChina rivalry I think we are looking at what is often called a Goldilocks scenario You dont want it to be too hot you dont want it to be too good You want it somewhere in between at the right temperature the EAM said in his address at the Munich Security ConferenceJaishankar also raised a question about where this leaves emerging and middle powersI would argue that today most of them are focused on diversifying and derisking in every sense of the term not just their economy or their security but also building more resilient supply chains In many ways they are working out new arrangements they are developing agendabased cooperation And the operating principle for emerging and middle powers should be and perhaps is already a reasonable degree of convergence he notedJaishankar contended that having an identity of views or a very strong congruence of interest is too high a bar today and that if there are enough touch points that is good enough for countries to work togetherHe noted that through the process of derisking diversifying hedging slowly a new architecture is coming into placeNow the question flows from that as to who cooperates with whom And obviously amongst the emerging and middle powers to the extent that they dont have a direct clash of interest They have an obvious interest in strengthening their interstate cooperation But it is also natural that they would have cooperation with the United States and of course also with China he saidDuring his remarks he also highlighted that the third way will become more of a norm than exceptionHe noted that many countries that until now may have been secure in the first way or the second way would be much more open to the third wayAnd the third way at one level can be staying away from others but since that is not possible in a much more interdependent world I think how to engage while hedging while diversifying So what will come into increasing practice will be the idea of multialignment The idea that countries will have relationships with players that may not always be easy to harmonise nevertheless are a reality or a compulsion for countries the EAM highlightedHe said Its a sort of strategy of advancing by hedgingAnd one will then have to look at what the consequences of this are for multilateralism a multilateralism which is already under visible pressure because the main multilateral body the United Nations is very visibly gridlocked EAM Jaishankar notedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/you-dont-want-it-to-be-too-hot-you-dont-want-it-to-be-too-good-eam-jaishankar-on-us-china-rivalry-702915.html Sun, 04 Oct 2026 17:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/modi-govt-achieved-historic-milestone-hm-shah-hails-deportation-of-narco-trafficking-kingpin-navpreet-singh-from-turkey-702806.html New Delhi Oct 3 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday lauded the Modi government for securing the deportation of narcotrafficking kingpin Navpreet Singh from Turkey describing it as a historic milestonenbspHM Shah took to social media X and said Modi govt has achieved a historic milestone by securing the deportation of hardened narcotrafficking kingpin Navpreet Singh from TürkiyeHM Shah said Singh had obtained Turkish citizenship using the fake identity of Navab Virk and continued to smuggle heroin and methamphetamine from Afghanistan to IndiaObtaining Turkish citizenship under the fake identity of Navab Virk he had continued to smuggle heroin and methamphetamine to India from Afghanistan Our agencies tracked him down ripping apart veil after veil to unmask his true identity and secured his deportation Today he has been brought back to India and put behind bars in connection with cases involving drug trafficking and other crimes he is accused of Congratulations to all the agencies for this success he saidThe Home Minister congratulated all the agencies involved in the operation and reiterated the governments commitment to tackling drug traffickingModi govt is committed to destroying every narcocartel before Dec 2029 HM Shah addedEarlier in April close aide of gangster Dawood Ibrahim and suspected drug trafficker Mohammad Salim Dola was brought back to India from TurkeyHM Shah had then said that the Narcotics Control Bureau had achieved a breakthrough in securing Dolas return from Turkey He said Dolas arrest reflected the governments resolve to bring narcotics fugitives and members of organised crime syndicates to justiceEarlier in May the Delhi Police Special Cell in coordination with the Central Bureau of Investigation had also extradited fugitive Prabhdeep Singh from Azerbaijan in connection with a major narcotics case involving the recovery of 358 kg of heroinPrabhdeep who had been absconding since 2023 was brought back to India from Baku by a threemember Special Cell team after completion of extradition formalities police saidIndia and Turkey signed an extradition treaty in 2001 which came into force in June 2002 The agreement allows both countries to seek the transfer of fugitives wanted in terrorism and other serious criminal casesIn previous cases Turkey has assisted India in deporting individuals linked to extremist networks including suspected Islamic State operatives Such cases are often coordinated through Interpol using Red Notices and other established proceduresIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/modi-govt-achieved-historic-milestone-hm-shah-hails-deportation-of-narco-trafficking-kingpin-navpreet-singh-from-turkey-702806.html Sat, 03 Oct 2026 11:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cjp-stresses-non-violence-urges-citizens-to-join-oct-10-delhi-protest--702813.html New Delhi Oct 3 PTI The CJP on Saturday stressed that its proposed October 10 protest in Delhi would be peaceful and urged every citizen seeking free and fair elections to join the agitation if Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar does not resign The Cockroach Janta Party CJP has been demanding Kumars resignation citing alleged irregularities in the electoral processes and the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision SIR exerciseIn a statement released here on Saturday CJP founder and convener Abhijeet Dipke said citizens and movement members from every corner of the country would converge in New Delhi and launch a mass protest at Jantar Mantar if Kumar did not step downIf Gyanesh Kumar doesnt resign cockroaches from across India will march to Delhi and protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10 Dipke saidAnd if the Delhi Police tries to stop us wherever they stop us will become our Jantar Mantar Ours will be a peaceful protest We will walk on the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi he saidThe Delhi protest would strictly follow a nonviolent philosophy drawing structural inspiration from historic civil disobedience to protect public faith in democratic institutions according to the statementThe CJP leadership said bureaucratic blockades would not deter the movement pointing to previous prolonged demonstrations and recent detentions as proof of its resolveThis is a fight to save our democracy Dipke said Every citizen who wants free and fair elections must join us on October 10nbspThe statement followed a protest held by the CJP at Mumbais Shivaji Park on Friday where thousands of people gathered despite police restrictions to demand Kumars resignation over the alleged electoral roll irregularitiesThe Mumbai protest also featured calls for a fresh agitation in Delhi if Kumar did not step downAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/cjp-stresses-non-violence-urges-citizens-to-join-oct-10-delhi-protest--702813.html Sat, 03 Oct 2026 11:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cong-chief-kharge-urges-pm-modis-immediate-intervention-as-ktaka-faces-severe-drought-702814.html New Delhi Oct 3 IANS Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said that he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over the severe drought in Karnataka seeking their personal and urgent interventionSharing the letter dated October 1 on X on Saturday Kharge said The State is facing one of its gravest drought situations in recent years with a 58 per cent rainfall deficiency as of September widespread crop losses and severe distress for lakhs of farming familiesHe mentioned that Karnataka has sought Rs 370530 crore in assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund SDRF and National Disaster Response Fund framework against estimated losses of Rs 1874823 croreThe Congress chief also shared the requests made to the Prime Minister regarding the situation urging declaration of drought immediate assessment to protect the farmers and support for drinking water securityA Central team should be deputed specifically to visit Kalyana Karnataka without further delay to verify the drought damage on the ground Kharge saidDemanding the release of Rs 370530 crore he said Sanction and release the full amount sought by Karnataka under NDRF and SDRF norms without arbitrary reductionHe also demanded protection for small and marginal farmers and said Calculate input subsidy on the basis of Karnatakas updated Bhoomi land records rather than the outdated 2015 to 16 Agriculture Census so that no genuinely eligible farmer is excludedTreat the 11 additional taluks presently undergoing Ground Truthing along with any further qualifying taluks as part of a single continuing drought event for Central assistance Kharge saidThe Congress President also urged the Centre to provide enhanced support for drinking water security and the cost of substitute power particularly in view of historically low reservoir levels in the Cauvery and hydel catchmentsHe also demanded the government ensure fair and urgent assistance to KarnatakaRelease assistance to Karnataka on merit and with utmost urgency uninfluenced by political considerations keeping in mind the scale of distress confronting over 31 lakh farming families across the State Kharge saidDrought relief is a humanitarian imperative and must rise above political differences between the Centre and the State I hope the Government of India will act with urgency and compassion and extend timely assistance to Karnataka providing muchneeded sustenance fodder water and livelihood security to millions of affected citizens he addedIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/cong-chief-kharge-urges-pm-modis-immediate-intervention-as-ktaka-faces-severe-drought-702814.html Sat, 03 Oct 2026 12:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/will-help-people-where-truth-is-being-crushed-rahul-gandhi-after-launching-satyagraha-platform-702852.html New Delhi Oct 3 PTI Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that truth is being suppressed and that it was his responsibility to ensure this did not happen as he launched thenbsp Satyagraha digital platform to consolidate issuebased protests unfolding across the country He urged people to register their protests against the government on the Satyagraha platform which he launched a day after the 157th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi to ensure help for people wherever truth was being crushed Across the country people are fighting for their rights and too often fighting alone Gen Z students farmers Adivasis Dalits women every struggle has its own story But a lone voice is often easier to silence Satyagraha is an initiative to bring these voices together on one map he said in a post on XnbspInvoking Mahatma the Congress MP said Bapu taught us that truth is our greatest weapon But an even greater weapon is standing together with the truth If you too are fighting against any injustice share your story It will take just two minutes Gandhi said their protest will find a place on the Satyagraha map adding You will see who else like you is fighting their own battle And I will do whatever I can in Parliament on the streets through letters wherever I am needed to stand with you As the leader of the opposition that is my responsibility Tell me the story of your Satyagraha he said In a video posted along with it the Raebareli MP said As you all know truth is being suppressed all across the country and there are multiple protests happening across the countrynbsp Noting that protests on land womens rights Dalit rights OBC rights education and exams are taking place across the country he saidnbsp We want to help organise these protests put them together on one map and work together with you to see if we can help you resolve what youre fighting for Take a look at the Satyagraha website Fill out the form Enroll your movement on the website and we will try to see how we can support you Well be in touchAs the leader of the opposition its important for me to help people resist where truth is being crushed The truth is important Its important at the highest levels but its important that we fight for it in every corner of the country Gandhi said in his video message Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh underscored that the Satyagraha website aims to bring various resistance under a single platform as he slammed the police action on people on Friday protesting against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in which at least 700 were detainednbsp nbspYesterday we all witnessed how on Gandhi Jayanti the Home Ministers police displayed barbarity against people peacefully protesting on the path shown by Bapu he said This government formed illegally through stolen votes continued to detain citizens students and Congress workers preventing them from holding peaceful protests even though it is our constitutional right But no one is intimidated or suppressed by this The protests continue today as well and people will keep raising their voices he added Ramesh said Rahul Gandhi aims to unite all those voices no matter who is resisting or where Our unity is our greatest strength The Congress Party stands with every citizen or organization raising their voice against this government he addednbspIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/will-help-people-where-truth-is-being-crushed-rahul-gandhi-after-launching-satyagraha-platform-702852.html Sat, 03 Oct 2026 15:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-registers-3-firs-over-anti-cec-gyanesh-kumar-protests-702854.html New Delhi Oct 3 IANS The Delhi Police registered at least three FIRs in connection with protests held in the national Capital demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls officials saidTwo of the FIRs were registered at the Parliament Street Police Station while another case was registered at the Connaught Place Police Station according to officialsThey added that the cases have been registered under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS which pertains to disobedience of an order duly promulgated by a public servantNo individual or organisation has been specifically named as an accused in any of the FIRs officials said However they added that the details of the organisers as well as organisations that had proposed or participated in the demonstrations have been included in the contents of the casesThe FIRs were registered following a day of protests across central Delhi where Opposition activists students and members of youth organisations attempted to march towards Jantar Mantar to raise their demandsPolice detained over 1000 protesters as they tried to cross barricades and make their way towards the designated protest site according to officials Those detained from the streets were taken away in buses arranged by the Delhi Police and transported to different police stations across the cityAmong those detained were former Delhi Chief Minister and senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi AISA president Neha Bora and Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav The detainees also included several AAP leaders civil society activists members of Leftbacked student organisations and workers associated with the Congress youth wingThe protests were organised amid demands for accountability over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise and calls for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh KumarThe Delhi Police had earlier said that permission had not been granted for the proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar and had put extensive security arrangements in place across central DelhiIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-registers-3-firs-over-anti-cec-gyanesh-kumar-protests-702854.html Sat, 03 Oct 2026 15:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-books-mumbai-firm-officials-in-rs-9344-crore-loan-fraud-case-702857.html Mumbai Oct 3 IANS The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI conducted searches at multiple premises in Mumbai and registered a Rs 9344 crore bank fraud case against officials of Hanjer Biotech Energies on the complaint of Punjab National Bank an official said on SaturdaynbspThe CBI conducted searches on Friday at multiple premises linked to the directors of Hanjer Biotech Energies in Mumbai the CBI said in a statementThe CBI registered the instant case on September 30 2026 on the complaint of Punjab National Bank SAM Branch Mumbai against Hanjer Biotech Energies its directors and guarantors unknown public servants and unknown private personsThe accused were booked for offences of criminal conspiracy for cheating and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act resulting in alleged wrongful loss of approximately Rs 9344 Crore to the bankIt was alleged that the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy obtained term loan of Rs 135 crore on the invoices of its related party and divertedsiphoned off the funds for other purposes for which it was not sanctioned causing loss to the bank the CBI saidDuring the searches on Friday incriminating bank documents and property documents relevant to the investigation were recovered and seizedInvestigation is continuing to ascertain the full extent of the conspiracy identify the role of all involved persons including public servants and private individuals and trace the enduse of the loan funds the CBI saidIn a separate case on Friday the CBI arrested an Executive Engineer of the Central Public Works Department CPWD Mumbai his relative and three officials of a Mumbaibased real estate group in a Rs 50 lakh bribery case related to the issuance of a NoObjection Certificate NOC for a land parcelVikrant Verma Executive Engineer CPWD Mumbai Saurav Gupta Vermas relative based in Pune and Arvind Semwal Vice President Baya Company were among those named in the FIR by the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI on Thursday an official saidThe arrested accused were produced before the Special CBI Judge in Mumbai on Friday the official said in a statement IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-books-mumbai-firm-officials-in-rs-9344-crore-loan-fraud-case-702857.html Sat, 03 Oct 2026 17:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-has-launched-schemes-for-every-farmers-need-nirmala-sitharaman-702720.html Madanapalle Oct 2 IANS Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced comprehensive schemes addressing every major requirement of farmers with the objective of transforming their lives and strengthening agricultural livelihoodsnbspShe said farmer welfare has remained at the centre of governance under PM Modi citing initiatives such as the PMKisan Samman Nidhi for direct benefit transfers and Kisan Credit Cards for institutional creditnbspThe Finance Minister was addressing the foundation stonelaying ceremony of the Rayalaseema Global Horticulture Hub and the Indian School of Agriculture at Madanapalle in Annamayya districtAndhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan Human Resource Development Minister Nara Lokesh and others attended the programmenbspSitharaman said ensuring the uninterrupted availability of essential agricultural inputs had remained a priority of the governmentnbspShe noted that despite global challenges including the Covid19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions in West Asia that pushed import costs of urea to around Rs 3000 per bag farmers continued to receive it at Rs 300 per bag with the Centre providing a subsidy of about Rs 2700 per bagnbspThe Union Minister said climateresilient agricultural practices were being promoted through scientifically developed seed varieties capable of withstanding extreme heat and dry spellsShe said the GOBARdhan initiative converts rural waste into clean biogas while solar pumps under the PMKUSUM scheme provide farmers with reliable solarpowered electricity for irrigationnbspSitharaman added that the PM Fasal Bima Yojana provides crop insurance protection against losses and unforeseen risksnbspThe Finance Minister said the Centre in coordination with state governments had expanded support across agriculture and allied sectors by deploying mobile veterinary units and veterinary services to strengthen dairy and fisheries livelihoodsShe said that following the mandate received by the National Democratic Alliance NDA in 2024 the Governments of India and Andhra Pradesh were committed to transforming Rayalaseema into Ratnala Seema land of gems and prosperitynbspReferring to the proposed horticulture initiative Sitharaman said Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had envisioned an ambitious Rs 1 lakh crore project across 10 districts including eight districts of Rayalaseema and two adjoining districts to establish a worldclass Global Horticulture HubShe said the initiative was being launched with the support of PM Modi and financial assistance from multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank ADBnbspAccording to the Minister the project aims to introduce worldclass technologies and improve wateruse efficiency in agriculturenbspSitharaman said that on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti and Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti two transformative initiatives had been launched the development of the Global Horticulture Hub across 10 districts and the establishment of the Indian School of Agriculture at MadanapalleShe said these initiatives reflected the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi Lal Bahadur Shastris call of Jai Jawan Jai Kisan and the vision of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari VajpayeenbspThe Finance Minister added that PM Modi has consistently placed the dignity welfare and sustainable empowerment of farmers at the core of governanceIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-has-launched-schemes-for-every-farmers-need-nirmala-sitharaman-702720.html Fri, 02 Oct 2026 20:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-emptied-pockets-of-those-who-looted-public-money-cm-adityanath-hits-out-at-oppn-702721.html Lucknow October 2 IANS Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday attacked the Opposition saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emptied the pockets of those who used to loot public money while crediting him for ensuring that funds meant for the poor directly reached their bank accounts through government schemesnbspThe Chief Minister made the remarks while speaking after a theatre performance based on Namo Seva Ankahi Kahaniyan Untold Stories held as part of the ongoing Seva Sankalp Abhiyan in LucknowAddressing the gathering CM Adityanath said Today we can say that in our country no person can sleep hungry because through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana the Prime Minister is providing free foodgrains as a minimum guarantee for every poor personnbspWhether we look at infrastructure the startup ecosystem or the Mission Rozgar in every sector new schemes have come for the youth Worldclass institutions have been established IITs have been set up medical colleges have been built and engineering institutions have been established he addedReferring to the PMKisan Samman Nidhi scheme CM Adityanath said It is for the first time farmers have been included in the agenda of a government under PM Modi and they are benefitting from the schemenbspThe Chief Minister also added that infrastructure including highways expressways railways metro systems and airports has expanded under the Bharatiya Janata Party BJPled Central governmentnbspIn the past no Prime Minister could claim that even a person wearing simple rubber slippers could travel by air Prime Minister Modi did not merely speak of this he turned it into reality he assertedLaunching an attack on previous Samajwadi Partyled Uttar Pradesh government CM Adityanath said When Jan Dhan accounts were being opened the Opposition used to mock the initiative asking what purpose empty bank accounts would serve Today it has become evident that Prime Minister Narendra Modi emptied the pockets of those who used to loot public money and ensured that funds meant for the poor reached their bank accounts directly It is only natural for those who used to pocket public money to feel aggrieved and oppose these measuresUnder the leadership of Prime Minister Modi every sector that he has stepped into has achieved a new identity in this New India the Chief Minister addednbspReferring to devastation caused during the 2002 earthquake in Gujarat CM Adityanath said In such a situation PM Modi undertook the responsibility of Gujarat as Chief Minister Soon the state was gripped with riots Despite such critical times his visionary leadership transformed Gujarat into a model statenbspThe Chief Minister alleged that between 2004 and 2014 the country was gripped by a sense of mistrust due to the corruption anarchy and inaction of the Congressled UPA governmentThere were significant challenges on the economic front as well as regarding internal and external security India was counted among the fragile five economies and had lost respect in the world In 2014 however the rural population the poor farmers the youth and women placed their faith in the leadership of PM Narendra Modi CM Adityanath saidnbspHe added that since 2014 the country has undertaken a journey of servicenbspThe journey has been undertaken not on the basis of caste religion community region or language but with the goal of making India prosperous schemes used to be made earlier too but they could not be implemented effectively at the grassroots level he saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-emptied-pockets-of-those-who-looted-public-money-cm-adityanath-hits-out-at-oppn-702721.html Fri, 02 Oct 2026 20:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-pays-tribute-to-lal-bahadur-shastri-on-birth-anniversary-recalls-jai-jawan-jai-kisan-legacy-702646.html New Delhi Oct 2 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid homage to former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary saying his simplicity and dedication to the nation remain deeply inspiringPM Modi took to social media X and said Homage to Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji whose simplicity and dedication to the nation remain deeply inspiringThe Prime Minister also released a video highlighting Shastris contribution to the country and recalled his iconic slogan Jai Jawan Jai KisanLal Bahadur Shastri came and gave the message of Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Every farmer stood up PM Modi saidRecalling Shastris personality and leadership PM Modi said that merely taking his name evokes a feeling of immense reverence among peopleFrom taking the name of Lal Bahadur Shastri a feeling of immense reverence arises in our minds His gentle personality fills every citizen with great pride Lal Bahadur Shastris speciality was that from the outside he appeared humble but from within he was determined like a rock he saidHe in just oneandahalf years together with the farmers and soldiers gave the mantra to achieve success PM Modi addedEarlier in the day the Prime Minister paid tribute to Shastri at Vijay Ghat in New Delhi on the occasion of his birth anniversaryUnion Education Minister Pralhad Joshi also remembered the former Prime Minister and said his simplicity humility and decisive leadership continue to inspire the nationRemembering former Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri ji on his birth anniversary His simplicity humility and decisive leadership continue to inspire the nation His unwavering commitment to the country and his deep faith in the strength of our farmers and soldiers remain an enduring legacy Joshi saidMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid tribute to Shastri describing him as a leader known for his simplicity and dedication to the nations serviceHumble tributes to former Prime Minister of India Bharat Ratna Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri ji on his birth anniversary A leader of remarkable simplicity who dedicated his life to the service of the nation and whose slogan of Jai Jawan Jai Kisan continues to inspire us CM Fadnavis saidLal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti is observed every year on October 2 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Indias second Prime Minister Known for his humility integrity and dedication to public service Shastri played a significant role in shaping India during a challenging periodBorn Lal Bahadur Shrivastava he dropped his caste surname at a young age to distance himself from the caste system The title Shastri meaning scholar was an academic degree awarded to him by Kashi Vidyapeeth in 1925His iconic slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kisan highlighted the vital contributions of Indias soldiers and farmers The day is observed to remember his life leadership and enduring contribution to the nationIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-pays-tribute-to-lal-bahadur-shastri-on-birth-anniversary-recalls-jai-jawan-jai-kisan-legacy-702646.html Fri, 02 Oct 2026 10:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/section-163-imposed-across-new-delhi-several-metro-station-gates-closed-ahead-of-jantar-mantar-protest-702647.html New Delhi Oct 2 IANS Delhi Police on Friday imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita BNSS across the New Delhi district ahead of a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar officials saidnbspSecurity was heightened at Jantar Mantar with police personnel and water cannons deployed at the siteThe order restricts gatherings of five or more people processions demonstrations picketing and dharnas without prior written permission from the authoritiesThe restrictions also prohibit the carrying of firearms weapons lathis sticks swords brickbats and other potentially dangerous objects Raising slogans and delivering speeches as part of unauthorised gatherings have also been barredDCP Sachin Sharma said Section 163 of the BNSS is currently in force in the district and appealed to people to comply with the restrictionsSpeaking to reporters DCP Sharma said Section 163 is in force in New Delhi I would like to inform everyone that any kind of unauthorised sitin or protest is not allowed here Please follow the law act lawfully and cooperate with the policeMeanwhile Delhi Metro services have also been affected in view of the proposed mobilisation Entry and exit at several metro stations will remain closed until further notice while interchange facilities will continue to be available at Rajiv Chowk Mandi House New Delhi and Central Secretariat stationsThe stations listed for closure of entry and exit include Janpath Patel Chowk Central Secretariat Rajiv Chowk Seva Teerth Mandi House Lok Kalyan Marg INA Chawri Bazar Ramakrishna Ashram Marg and New DelhiMeanwhile several student and youth organisations have announced a protest at Jantar Mantar coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar The groups have raised concerns over the functioning of the Election Commission and its handling of electoral rollsThe proposed mobilisation has been announced by the All India Students Association AISA Students Federation of India SFI and Democratic Youth Federation of India DYFI Delhi Police have not granted permission for the proposed march Despite this the organisations have indicated that they intend to proceed with the mobilisation A member of one of the organisations said around 1500 people are expected to participateThe proposed protest comes amid broader criticism from activists and student groups over the Election Commissions handling of electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision SIR exerciseSeparately Abhijeet Dipke founder of the Cockroach Janta Party CJP movement has announced a Jail Bharo Andolan at Mumbais Shivaji Park on October 2 at 4 pmDipke had earlier claimed that Mumbai Police had denied permission for the groups proposed protest against CEC Kumar He subsequently announced that the organisation would hold the mobilisation on Gandhi JayantiMumbai Police however said it was not empowered to grant permission for a gathering at Shivaji Park in view of a 2013 Bombay High Court order Police also stated that the area falls within a designated silence zoneIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/section-163-imposed-across-new-delhi-several-metro-station-gates-closed-ahead-of-jantar-mantar-protest-702647.html Fri, 02 Oct 2026 10:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/protest-against-cec-aaps-atishi-bharadwaj-and-sanjay-jha-students-among-500-detained-702649.html New Delhi Oct 2 PTI The Delhi Police detained more than 500 protesters including AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj Sanjeev Jha Atishi and Sanjay Singh as well as activists of some student outfits during a protest against the CEC at Jantar Mantar on Friday Political parties and members of AISA SFI NSUInbsp nbspand other student bodies are protesting to demand Chief Election Commissioner CEC Gyanesh Kumars resignation over the alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls and mass deletion of votersPolice said they stopped AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh at North Avenue preventing them from proceeding to the protest siteBharadwaj in a post on X said he and Jha were detained despite the peaceful protest He urged party workers and supporters to continue the agitation and reach Jantar MantarA source in the police said around 700 people from SFI tried to reach Jantar Mantar and were stopped at the Ashoka Road roundabout with many of them detainedAnother police official said around 500 protesters including AAP leaders AISA SFI and other student organisations were detained from and near Jantar Mantar Earlier an official had said the number of detainees was about 150Internet services have also been suspended at the protest site and in surrounding areasSFI general secretary Aishe Ghosh said several DYFI and SFI activists have been detainedDelhi Police is not being able to stop crimes in the capital but when it comes to protection of someone like Gyanesh Kumar they get down on the streets Ghosh saidShe added This is not democracy If police think they can stop the movement by detaining us we want to tell them that this is just the startnbsp Several NSUI activists were also detained from the siteProtesters were also seen crossing barricades at Firoz Shah RoadIn a video message Bharadwaj said police told them that permission had not been granted for the protest but questioned why permission was needed to hold a demonstration in a democracy when Jantar Mantar is a designated protest siteHe also said the party had submitted letters seeking protest permission about a week earlier Bhardwaj said We are exercising our democratic right to raise our concernsnbsp He said several metro stations near Jantar Mantar had been closed and appealed to people to travel to the nearest open metro station and if possible walk to the protest siteThe Delhi Metro has closed entry and exit at 12 stations including Rajiv Chowk Central Secretariat and Jantar Mantar Internet services have also been suspended around Jantar MantarAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/protest-against-cec-aaps-atishi-bharadwaj-and-sanjay-jha-students-among-500-detained-702649.html Fri, 02 Oct 2026 13:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/opportunity-to-forget-past-mistakes-sp-chief-welcomes-those-willing-to-defeat-bjp-702651.html Lucknow Oct 2 IANS Samajwadi Party SP President Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said he would welcome leaders from rival camps willing to join the oppositions efforts to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP into his party saying that elections are a time to forget past mistakesnbspInteracting with reporters here the SP chief said This is the time for Rajya Sabha elections and elections are a time for coming together It offers an opportunity to forget past mistakes stand with others and stand up for principlesIf anyone feels that our democracy our Constitution and our countrys economy are under attack due to rising inflation E20 being blended into petrol if they believe these are wrong decisions by the Centre thenit is a time to come together before the Rajya Sabha and Assembly elections That is why we should forget all bitterness during this time he addedThose who have been deviated from their path those of our friends who want to join uswe will forget everything that took place in the pastAkhilesh Yadav also came out in support of the INDIA blocs proposed Save Democracy march even as the BJPled NDA continues to criticise him for skipping the opposition alliances recent meeting in New DelhiEveryone should unite to Save Democracy Together we must come forward to save this beautiful country its rich history of democracy and our Constitution he saidHe also launched an attack on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanathled government over flooding issues being faced by those residing in areas near the Gomti RiverI am saddened by the fact that many families living along the banks of the Gomti River are facing a crisis There has been waterlogging in the area for months This government is asleep Those who wanted to create smart cities and clean the rivers ended up cleaning out the budget but the rivers remain uncleaned he saidOn Gandhi Jayanti Akhilesh Yadav underlined that Mahatma Gandhi showed us the path of truth nonviolence and taught us the spirit of sacrificeFather of the nation Mahatma Gandhi ji worked towards fostering goodwill brotherhood and mutual love in society and he forced the British to leave India Today on his birth anniversary as we remember Mahatma Gandhi jis contributions we take a resolve to work towards fulfilling his goal to ensure that the last person the poorest person is connected to the mainstream he saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/opportunity-to-forget-past-mistakes-sp-chief-welcomes-those-willing-to-defeat-bjp-702651.html Fri, 02 Oct 2026 15:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-to-hear-plea-challenging-individual-exercise-of-powers-by-cec-gyanesh-kumar-on-monday-702652.html New Delhi Oct 2 IANS The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday a petition challenging the manner in which the powers of the Election Commission of India ECI are being exercised and questioning whether Chief Election Commissioner CEC Gyanesh Kumar can individually exercise or represent powers constitutionally vested in the multimember poll panelnbspAs per the cause list published on the official website of the apex court a Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana is slated to take up the matter on October 5The matter was mentioned before the CJI on September 29 by senior advocate Vikas Singh following which the CJI said List it next weekThe plea seeks enforcement of the collective decisionmaking framework governing the ECI and a writ in the nature of quo warranto concerning the authority under which the CEC has reportedly acted in the name of the poll panelThe petition contends that Article 324 of the Constitution vests the superintendence direction and control of elections in the Commission and not in an individual Chief Election Commissioner It further relies on Section 18 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment Conditions of Service and Term of Office Act 2023 which provides for collective decisionmaking with matters on which there is no unanimity to be decided by majorityThe plea has relied upon contemporaneous written communications and file notings attributed to Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi who allegedly recorded at least 14 objections between October 2025 and August 2026 concerning decisions and steps allegedly taken in the name of the ECI without their approvalThe objections as detailed in the petition relate to communications and orders allegedly issued without the poll bodys approval the absence of agendas before and minutes after meetings foreign travel undertaken without approval changes to Form 6 access to the electoral roll database and filing of appeals before tribunals in West BengalThe plea also refers to concerns reportedly raised by the two Election Commissioners over the gradual centralisation of the electoral roll database and changes in the work allocation of the poll bodys IT establishmentThe petitioner has sought a declaration that powers vested in the ECI under Article 324 cannot be exercised or represented as an act of the poll body except in accordance with the constitutional and statutory framework governing the CommissionThe plea also seeks declaratory and mandatory directions to ensure compliance with the collective decisionmaking framework besides production and preservation of relevant records concerning the disputed decisionsMeanwhile the ECI has maintained that the reported differences between the Commissioners do not amount to an institutional rupture and that internal objections and written notes are established mechanisms in a multimember constitutional body The poll panel has also said that its decisions including those relating to the SIR exercise were unanimous and that differences raised by Commissioners form part of the normal deliberative and administrative processIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-to-hear-plea-challenging-individual-exercise-of-powers-by-cec-gyanesh-kumar-on-monday-702652.html Fri, 02 Oct 2026 15:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/lashkar-kill-rs-3-000-crore-drug-haul-highlight-intelligence-first-security-strategy-702653.html New Delhi Oct 2 IANS The Indian security agencies carried out two major operations this week which included the killing of a top LashkareTaiba operative and a huge drug bust to the tune of over Rs 3000 crorenbspThe operations conducted in Jammu and Kashmir and Lakshadweep were both driven by Intelligence sharing and coordination In both these cases the Intelligence was precise and actionable and this helped the agencies carry out the operations successfullyAn official explained that Indias Intelligence grid has come a long way Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been clear that Indias Intelligence systems must be constantly upgraded so that they keep up with the times and remain effective the official saidOn Tuesday night the Armys 15 Chinar Corps responded immediately to actionable Intelligence about the presence of LashkareTaiba terrorist Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa Ali Asif Fauji in Jammu and Kashmirs Budgam The entire operation was based on Intelligence inputs and this led to the killing of the terroristOn September 25 the Indian Coast Guard ICG and Gujarat ATS seized 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine worth Rs 3000 crore after intercepting an Iranian dhow with five Pakistanis onboard at Lakshadweep This operation too was based on actionable IntelligenceAnother official said that there has been a major revolution when it comes to Intelligence gathering and sharing While groundlevel Intelligence remains the biggest draw there is solid integration of technology that has taken place Terror threats are evolving and hence it is important to keep up with the times For instance the use of Artificial Intelligence AI by terror groups is a big challenge in the months to come the official saidWith neighbours like Pakistan India is bound to face challenges on a daily basis Gone are the days when Intelligence units only dealt with terror groups and their traditional styles of operation Today India deals with propaganda warfare narrative battles disinformation campaigns narcotic smuggling and the use of drone technology illegal immigration and infiltrations just to name a few To counter all these acts of terror against the country Intelligence plays a major part officials sayAn Intelligence Bureau official said that while technology is very important groundlevel intelligence is something that one cannot do away with Operations against the naxalites and those that are carried out in Jammu and Kashmir are very groundlevel driven Unless one has their ears to the ground it is hard to battle such issues the official saidToday what is central to national security is the combination of groundlevel and technological Intelligence India has today adopted an intelligencefirst model to counter the emerging threatsnbspOfficials say that the Narendra Modi government has given maximum emphasis to national security Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor NSA Ajit Doval have given clear instructions about strengthening Indias Intelligence grid Indias not just looking at the current situation but is developing a system that would remain strong and secure even in 2047 officials sayIn the earlier days the Intelligence agencies would gather analyse and then pass on information Today it is also about data analysis cyber monitoring and predictive analysisnbspOfficials say that there have been technological advancements in the field of Intelligence However this cannot eliminate the need for human beings in this field While the technology may help in identifying threats it cannot interpret the consequences This is where human judgment comes into play If the interpretation of the Intelligence is not correct then it could end up in escalation that could have consequences that are counterproductive to Indias national security officials sayAt the recently held National Security Strategies NSS conference Home Minister Shah directed the agencies to develop standard operating procedures to tackle the various national security challenges He said that this should be done on the basis of AIdriven analysis of information that is available on the Multi Agency MAC platformnbspOfficials say that the evolution of Intelligence gathering has evolved considerably over the last five years The MAC and military networks have integrated AI and machine learning software which help in predicting risks of escalation classifying signals and also detecting threatsnbspSecurity analysts say that the bridging together of Human Intelligence HUMINT and Technological Intelligence TECHINT is the biggest shift that has been made by the Narendra Modi government taking into account the various challenges This means that both HUMINT and TECHINT are no longer running on parallel tracks but are feeding one another analysts sayThere is a bidirectional flow when it comes to Intelligence gathering and analysis What the algorithm predicts is being validated by humans and this allows the security agencies to outpace threats with high speed and verifiable decisions an official saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/lashkar-kill-rs-3-000-crore-drug-haul-highlight-intelligence-first-security-strategy-702653.html Fri, 02 Oct 2026 15:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cleanliness-central-to-quality-of-life-satnam-singh-sandhu-702693.html DW Bureua Chandigarh October 2 Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu on Thursday said cleanliness was an important part of quality of life and called for greater public participation in maintaining sanitation and civic infrastructureSandhu made the remarks while participating in a cleanliness drive at the Sector 26 Grain Market on Gandhi Jayanti The drive was held under the leadership of Mahendra Nath Pandey BJPs Chandigarh incharge and former Union Minister as part of the Sewa Sankalp AbhiyanChandigarh BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra former president Arun Sood and Mayor Saurabh Joshi were among those who participated in the drive along with party workers local representatives and residentsSandhu said the Swachh Bharat Mission launched on October 2 2014 had evolved from a government programme into a nationwide public movement He said governments were responsible for providing sanitation infrastructure while citizens had a role in maintaining cleanliness and using such facilities responsiblyAccording to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti rural India had more than 1222 crore individual household toilets as of September 17 2026 More than 569 lakh villages had achieved ODF Plus status with solid waste management arrangements in over 538 lakh villages and liquid waste management systems in more than 565 lakh villagesThe Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs said doortodoor waste collection covered 97 per cent of urban wards in 2026 while waste processing had increased from 16 per cent in 2014 to 81 per centA ministry review in May 2026 said 65 per cent of the 26 crore metric tonnes of waste identified across 2482 dumpsites had been remediated reclaiming nearly 9000 acres Chandigarhs Dadumajra dumpsite is among those undergoing remediationAt Delhis Bhalswa dumpsite 9907 lakh metric tonnes had been remediated as of July 31 2026 the ministry saidSandhu said cleanliness was particularly important in busy markets because of its impact on public health and the livelihoods of traders vendors and consumers He urged shopkeepers and visitors to dispose of waste responsibly and help maintain cleanliness in the market https://dailyworld.in/national/cleanliness-central-to-quality-of-life-satnam-singh-sandhu-702693.html Fri, 02 Oct 2026 16:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/hero-sjoba-tsd-rally-2026-flagged-off-at-st-johns-high-school-702712.html DW Bureau nbspChandigarh Oct 2 The ceremonial flagoff of the Hero SJOBA TSD TimeSpeedDistance Rally2026 was held at St Johns High School here on Friday ahead of the twoday motorsport eventThe rally organised by the St Johns Old Boys Association SJOBA under the aegis of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India FMSCI will officially begin from Doaba Group of Colleges on October 3 and conclude on October 4A total of 35 cars and 15 motorcycles are participating in the rally according to SJOBA president Nikhil Deep Singh Jaspal The event also includes a Bikers ClassThe flagoff ceremony was preceded by a Super Special Stage SSS in which fourwheelers and twowheelers participatedClerk of the Course SPS Ghai said the TSD format tests navigation precision time management and coordination between drivers and codriversThe rally will also feature a Night Stage for the first time and cover routes through parts of Mohali SBS Nagar Rupnagar Hoshiarpur and Garhshankar https://dailyworld.in/national/hero-sjoba-tsd-rally-2026-flagged-off-at-st-johns-high-school-702712.html Fri, 02 Oct 2026 19:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/omcs-hike-commercial-lpg-and-aviation-fuel-prices-from-october-1-702582.html New Delhi Oct 1 IANS Stateowned oil marketing companies OMCs have increased commercial LPG rates by Rs 6250 per 19kg cylinder effective from Thursday in line with firming international benchmark pricesnbspApart from that aviation turbine fuel ATF prices were also increased by Rs 16 per litre ATF prices for domestic airlines have been increased to Rs 137 per litre from Rs 121 per litreHowever the latest hike follows an increase of Rs 628 per litre or 546 per cent in September and Rs 5 per litre in August ATF accounts for up to 40 per cent of an airlines operating costs which makes fuel prices a key component of carriers expensesMoreover commercial LPG prices were increased by Rs 6250 per 19kg cylinder following a Rs 950 increase in September after rates were cut by Rs 192 in August and Rs 18350 in JulyCommercial LPG prices had surged to a record high in June amid disruptions to global energy supplies and elevated international prices In addition rates had risen by Rs 1373 per 19kg cylinder between February and June from Rs 174050 to Rs 311350 before declining in July and AugustHowever prices of domestic LPG are kept unchanged at Rs 942 Prices of these segment cylinders had risen by Rs 89 per cylinder between March and June amid supply disruptions linked to the West Asia crisis and a surge in international energy pricesThe latest revisions are based on movements in international benchmark prices and the rupeedollar exchange rateATF and LPG prices are revised on the first day of every month and may vary across states due to local taxes such as VATAdditionally fuel petrol and diesel prices that were increased earlier in May also have remained unchangedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/omcs-hike-commercial-lpg-and-aviation-fuel-prices-from-october-1-702582.html Thu, 01 Oct 2026 10:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-arrests-jharkhand-businessman-son-in-rs-734-crore-gst-scam-case-702584.html Ranchi Oct 1 IANS The Enforcement Directorate ED has arrested Jamshedpur businessman Gyanchand Jaiswal alias Bablu Jaiswal and his son Raj Jaiswal in connection with a GST fraud case involving approximately Rs 734 crore officials said on ThursdayThe ED arrested the two late Wednesday night after raiding several locations in Jamshedpur Adityapur Gamharia and Kolkata After conducting medical examinations the ED team brought them to RanchiAccording to the officials they will be produced in court later in the dayThe ED said that this case involves the alleged use of fake invoices to obtain input tax credit ITC without any actual purchase or sale of goodsThe agency is also investigating transactions made through shell companies and the associated money flow During Wednesdays operation the ED searched premises linked to Gyanchand Jaiswal as well as the premises of his auditor Sanjay Parekh and other individuals officials saidThey further mentioned that the investigating team examined business documents GSTrelated records banking and financial transaction documents and electronic devicesThis ED action was taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA officials saidThe investigating agency suspects that largescale misuse of ITC was allegedly carried out through shell companies and paper transactions The initial investigation into the case was conducted by the Directorate General of GST Intelligence DGGI JamshedpurThe investigation revealed the misuse of ITC through shell companies and fake invoicesAccording to a 2024 order of the Jharkhand High Court Gyanchand Jaiswal was arrested in June 2024 in a case registered under the GST Act and was subsequently remanded to judicial custodyThe ED investigation has reportedly uncovered several companies and fraudulent transactions linked to this networkThe agency also took action against several other businessmen from Jamshedpur and Kolkata in connection with this case in 2025 The ED is now interrogating the two arrested accused to gather information about the alleged fraudulent GST transactions and the associated money flowIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-arrests-jharkhand-businessman-son-in-rs-734-crore-gst-scam-case-702584.html Thu, 01 Oct 2026 11:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/citizens-wont-tolerate-vote-chori-india-bloc-committed-to-protecting-democracy-cong--702597.html New Delhi Oct 1 PTI The Congress on Thursday said the chorus of voices against the capture of the electoral system is getting louder and asserted that citizens will no longer tolerate vote chori in any formnbspCongress general secretary incharge communications Jairam Ramesh said the INDIA bloc is committed to protecting the Constitution and democracynbspIn an interview to a leading national daily Former CEC OP Rawat has questioned the SIR and the violations committed by the ECI It is the first time since Independence that so many eligible voters have lost their vote Nearly 14 crore voters have already been disenfranchised by the SIR Ramesh said on XIndias EC used to be the gold standard but its credibility has been destroyed In his Rawats view the 2 ECs should have done more to stop the CECs illegal decisions the Congress leader saidThe chorus of voices against the capture of the electoral system is getting louder Ramesh said and asserted that citizens will no longer tolerate vote chori in any formnbspIn another post tagging Congress leader Rahul Gandhis post on illegal Form 6 changes he said Form 6 changes were introduced by the CEC unconstitutionally in midJuly 2026nbsp to remove Gen Z voters from the electoral roll Clearly the move was orchestrated by the PMHM Narendra ModiAmit Shah duoSlamming the way the SIR has been carried out Rawat told The Hindu that this is the first time since Independence that so many eligible electors had lost their voting rightsnbspElection Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi should have forced a vote to annul any decisions they disagreed with during Commission meetings given that they held the majority and the CEC has no veto Rawat was quoted as sayingnbspThe Congress attack comes a day after the opposition INDIA bloc announced joint save democracy marches in all districts and five major rallies demanded that future polls be held with ballot paper and appealed to the Supreme Court to expedite cases of SIR and electoral malpracticesnbspAt a meeting attended by leaders of as many as 19 political parties that lasted over threeandahalf hours it was decided that all opposition MPs will march to the Election Commission on October 6 and the leaders would meet the President to highlight the issues related to alleged irregularities in voter list revisionnbspThe opposition grouping discussed the demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumars resignation and said they will not relent till he is oustednbspThe meeting came days after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi objected on record at least 14 times over the past 10 months to decisions and orders on the SIR Special Intensive Revision that they said were issued without their knowledge or recommendationnbspUnder fire over the red flags raised by two of its commissioners over the SIR process the EC has asserted that differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberations in any institution and all its orders carry full legal sanction and follow established statutory proceduresnbspAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/citizens-wont-tolerate-vote-chori-india-bloc-committed-to-protecting-democracy-cong--702597.html Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-hails-upscs-century-long-legacy-as-celebration-of-youths-aspiration-trust-of-every-indian-702599.html New Delhi Oct 1 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday participated in the centenary celebrations of the Union Public Service Commission UPSC at Bharat Mandapam and hailed the institutions centurylong legacy describing its journey as a celebration of the aspirations of millions of young Indians and the trust placed in it by the peopleThe programme marked the culmination of yearlong celebrations that commenced on October 1 last year to commemorate 100 years since the establishment of the UPSC in 1926On the occasion the Prime Minister released a UPSC Centenary Commemorative Coin a commemorative stamp and a book titled 100 Landmark Judgements Shaping the Policies of UPSC and Public Service Commissions in IndiaAddressing the gathering PM Modi also praised Captain Smit Machchhar an Indian national working with flydubai the lowercost sister carrier of Emirates Airlines for his bravery during an incident on WednesdayThe incident that occurred yesterday Captain Smit of India demonstrated remarkable patience presence of mind and courage Indeed as the Prime Minister of Israel stated today an Indian prevented a 911style tragedy PM Modi saidThis feat by Smit fills us with pride Today I also spoke with his father Bhupendra his mother Gita and his wife Sonal He is currently undergoing treatment Today the entire world is proud of him I urge my fellow citizens to pray for Smits long life and excellent health and to salute Smit who has brought glory to India he addedSpeaking about the UPSC PM Modi said the centenary was not merely an occasion to celebrate the completion of 100 years but also an opportunity to recognise the institutions contribution to the countryToday is not only a celebration of 100 years of the UPSC but also a celebration of its legacy It is a celebration of the aspiration that millions of young people live every year It is a celebration of the trust that every Indian has in this institution he saidI want to congratulate everyone who is involved in this journey They have taken the institution to a new height the Prime Minister addedRecalling the history of the civil services and the role of prominent leaders PM Modi referred to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and his association with the civil service examinationWhen I was viewing the gallery in 1920 Subhas Chandra Bose passed through this process so all the information is there I noticed that at that time there was British rule but they used to have papers in Sanskrit he saidSubhas Babu had written in the Sanskrit language On this occasion I will remember Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel They did not have the challenge of becoming free or independent but they had the challenge of running the country PM Modi saidReferring to Sardar Patels contribution to institutionbuilding the Prime Minister said The steel frame the country needed at that time Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had given that steel frame He made this institution a main pillar of independent India and empowered itPM Modi further said As part of this 100year journey a memorial a postage stamp and a coin have just been released here A compilation of 100 important case laws has also been released I pay my respects to all the distinguished personalities associated with this 100year journey and extend my best wishes to all of you I was just visiting a small gallery that has been set up here I would also urge all of you to visit it it will take only 1015 minutes so please do take a lookThe UPSC completed 100 years on Thursday According to the Press Information Bureau the commissions institutional journey began on October 1 1926 when Indias first Public Service Commission was constituted as an advisory body whose chairman and members were appointed by the Secretary of State in LondonOver the century that followed the commission evolved in terms of its structure status and responsibilities eventually becoming an independent constitutional bodyThe centenary programme witnessed participation of stakeholders from across the country including chairmen and members of State Public Service Commissions senior officers of the Government of India academicians UPSC officials and other dignitariesThe event was part of a twoday programme organised by the UPSC on September 30 and October 1 to mark the completion of a century of its institutional journey IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-hails-upscs-century-long-legacy-as-celebration-of-youths-aspiration-trust-of-every-indian-702599.html Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rahul-gandhi-is-pre-eminent-fraudster-in-indian-politics-bjp--702620.html New Delhi Oct 1 PTI The BJP on Thursday slammed Rahul Gandhi for attacking the Election Commission and the government on the issue of SIR saying the Congress leader is a preeminent fraudster and an inauthentic politician who relies on lies and misinformation to conduct his politics Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here senior party leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar said Rahul Gandhi is neither a protector of secularism nor is he a protector of the Constitution He is a protector of his own family interest Gandhi calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a deshdrohi was the ultimate sign of his fake and inauthentic politics designed to mislead people the Keralam BJP president chargednbspGandhi on Thursday said the online version of Form 6 which is used for fresh voter registrations was changed illegally and asked who at the Election Commission ordered Tata Consultancy Services to make the change and who at the company signed off on itCongress general secretary incharge communications Jairam Ramesh claimed that the change in Form 6 was orchestrated by the PMHM duonbspHitting back Chandrasekhar said Rahul Gandhi is a preeminent fraudster in Indian politics Rahul Gandhi is an inauthentic politician who relies on lies and misinformation without any positive agenda to conduct his politics nbspGandhi has a pattern of creating stories and misinformation he allegedHe is a living breathing practitioner of the philosophy of Joseph Goebbels who was Adolf Hitlers propaganda minister he saidnbspGandhi claimed that EVMs were systematically hacked That was proved to be wrong He said democracy is being stolen That has been repeatedly proved to be wrong especially when his party was winning elections the BJP leader addednbspChandasekhar accused Gandhi of hypocrisy and double standards on the Special Intensive Revision SIR of the electoral rollsnbspRahul Gandhi says Chief Election Commissioner CEC Gyanesh Kumar is a BJP agent He says the SIR process is against democracy while the sitting home minister of the Congress government in Keralam has publicly acknowledged how SIR was responsible for weeding out bogus voters from the states electoral rolls the BJP leader saidnbspGandhis own party recognises and accepts that the SIR was important to ensure the integrity of the electoral rolls and also to ensure that elections are free and fair he saidnbspThe chief election officer who conducted the SIR in Keralam is PS private secretary to the chief minister the BJP leader saidnbspShould the BJP say that he is an agent of the Congress We will not We know what lines should be crossed and what lines should not be crossed in a democracy But Rahul Gandhi does not have such compulsion he addednbspChandrasekhar said Gandhi claims that the countrys youth is dissatisfied with the Modi government and positions himself as a messiah and protector of Indian youth and their rightsnbspBut he omits to tell you that when the Congress went out of power at the centre in 2014 it left a labour force where over 70 per cent of youth did not have education or skillsnbspHe omits to tell you that the highest unemployment in the country today is in Keralam governed by the Congress He omits to tell you that in the last twelve years of the Modi government youth have seen in this country unprecedented opportunities opportunities for skilling and entrepreneurship the BJP leader addednbspChandrasekhar alleged Gandhi keeps making baseless allegations of corruption hoping that something sticksHe talked about the Rafale scam Pegasus Justice Loya cases Everything went to the court system and everything was exposed as being a lie he saidnbspThe BJP leader described Rahul Gandhis politics as lie 100 per cent falsehood 100 per cent and also being exposed 100 per centnbspAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/rahul-gandhi-is-pre-eminent-fraudster-in-indian-politics-bjp--702620.html Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bki-man-deported-from-uae-arrested-by-nia-for-punjab-vhp-leaders-killing-in-2024-702627.html New Delhi Oct 1 IANS The National Investigation Agency NIA arrested an accused a fugitive deported from the UAE over the targeted killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad VHP leader Vikas Prabhakar in Punjab in 2024 an official said on ThursdaynbspHarwinder Kumar alias Sonu son of Chaman Lal was taken into custody soon after he landed at Delhi airport after deportation from the UAE the NIA saidThe accused was involved in providing logistical support and funds to the perpetrators and had been wanted by the NIA said an official statementPrabhakar was shot dead by operatives of the terror organisation Babbar Khalsa International BKI at a grocery shop at Roopnagar in Nangal on April 13 2024 in an attempt to create communal unrest at the behest of its Pakistanbased chief Wadhawa Singh alias Babbar said an officialHarwinder Kumar was deported from the UAE to India on Thursday after vigorous diplomatic efforts Following his arrival in India he was arrested by the NIA at Indira Gandhi International Airport and produced before the Special NIA Court for further legal and custody proceedings the statement saidThe NIA had registered the case RC062024NIADLI on May 9 2024 and has so far filed three chargesheets in the matter it saidThe present arrest follows the arrest of another UAEbased accused Manveer Ram on August 13 2026 the NIA saidManveer Ram who was allegedly involved in supplying weapons used in the crime was intercepted at Amritsar Airport and subsequently arrested by the NIA the statement addedThe NIA investigation revealed that the conspiracy to kill Prabhakar was allegedly hatched by Germanybased BKI operatives Harjit Singh alias Laddi and Kulbeer Singh alias SidhuThe investigation established that Harwinder Kumar identified as accused number 7 in the charge sheet while operating from the UAE played a crucial role as a logistics provider and financer for the BKI operatives based abroadHe acted as a recruiter and handler arranged weapons and facilitated their delivery to the shooters involved in the killing of Prabhakar the NIA saidHe also received and transferred terror funds in connection with the conspiracy acting on the directions of Harjit Singh and Kulbeer SinghThe deportation of Harwinder Kumar from the UAE and his subsequent arrest by the NIA demonstrate the Agencys resolve to pursue fugitives involved in terrorism cases and bring them back to India to face the due process of law said the statementThe development is also the result of coordinated efforts of the various agencies involved in facilitating the return of fugitives to India it saidIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/bki-man-deported-from-uae-arrested-by-nia-for-punjab-vhp-leaders-killing-in-2024-702627.html Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-files-second-charge-sheet-in-reliance-home-finance-case-702642.html New Delhi Oct 1 IANS The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI filed a second charge sheet in the Reliance Home Finance Ltd RHFL case on Thursday before the Special Judge for CBI Cases Mumbai against 11 accused including three top executives of the Anil Ambaniled Reliance ADA Group according to an agency statementnbspThe top executives include RHFL Director and CFO Amit Bapna RCL Group MD and Vice Chairman Amitabh Jhunjhunwala and Reliance Power Ltd CFO Suresh NagarajannbspThe seven companies on the list are Reliance Infrastructure Ltd Reliance Power Ltd Reliance Big Entertainment Pvt Ltd Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd Reliance Business Broadcast News Holdings Ltd Reliance MediaWorks Financial Services Pvt Ltd and Kunjbihari Developers Pvt Ltd and one private person Vijay Napawaliya CA and Statutory Auditor of RHFL The accused have been chargesheeted for offences of criminal conspiracy and cheating under the IPC the statement saidThe Investigation conducted so far has revealed that funds amounting to Rs 742916 crore borrowed by Reliance Home Finance Ltd were allegedly diverted through intermediary and conduit entities to various Reliance ADA Group companies in violation of the terms and conditions stipulated by lenders thereby causing wrongful loss to the lending banks and financial institutions and corresponding wrongful gain to the accused persons and related entities according to the statementEarlier the CBI had registered the case on the basis of complaints received from Union Bank of India erstwhile Andhra Bank and other Public Sector Banks of the consortium The first charge sheet was filed in the case on July 9 against four accused persons With the filing of this charge sheet a total of 15 accused persons including senior officials and Group companies have been chargesheeted in the case so far Further investigation is continuing to ascertain the role of other accused persons and to investigate other allegations the statement saidThe CBIs Banking Securities Fraud Branch Delhi has registered nine FIRs against Reliance Communications Ltd RCom Reliance Home Finance Ltd RHFL Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd RCFL Reliance Telecom Ltd RTL and Reliance Capital Ltd RCL on the basis of complaints received from various Public Sector Banks LIC and EPFOnbspThe CBI had earlier filed six charge sheets in the Reliance ADA Group cases The present charge sheet is the seventh and the CBI has so far arrested seven accused personsThe investigation in these cases is being monitored by the Supreme Court IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-files-second-charge-sheet-in-reliance-home-finance-case-702642.html Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/shivraj-singh-chouhan-flays-cong-alleges-party-spreading-confusion-after-multiple-electoral-defeats-702469.html New Delhi Sep 30 IANS Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday criticised the Congress and the INDIA bloc accusing them of refusing to introspect after successive electoral setbacks and instead resorting to confusion falsehoods and fabricated allegationsnbspAddressing a press conference at the Bharatiya Janata Partys Central office here Chouhan said the country had expected the Congress to apologise for its mistakes and engage in selfreflectionnbspInstead both Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi continue to spread confusion and make unfounded chargesHe pointed to the INDIA alliance meeting held on the same day noting that several key allies were absentnbspAkhilesh Yadav MK Stalin and Arvind Kejriwal did not attend while Uddhav Thackeray joined only virtually and there was no information about Hemant Soren The DMK has even indicated it will not sit with the Congress wherever the latter is presentnbspChouhan described the INDIA blocs condition as fragmented quoting the line Ek dil ke tukde hazaar huenbspThe Union Minister asserted that the INDIA alliance is not prepared to accept Rahul Gandhi as its leader calling the current effort the LoPs 50th attempt to relaunch himselfHe noted that at the Congress Working Committee meeting Rahul Gandhi had repeatedly said Trust me believe in me which according to Union Minister Chouhan showed that even the Congress lacks confidence in himnbspChouhan termed the proposed Save Democracy March from October 2 to 8 a Save Dynasty March aimed at protecting dynastic politicsnbspHe said the people are no longer willing to accept Parivarvaad dynasty politicsReferring to the Congress double standards Chouhan added that the party raises the slogan Loktantra Zindabad when it wins and Chunav Aayog Murdabad when it losesnbspDefending the purification of electoral rolls Union Minister Chouhan said a clean voter list is the soul of democracynbspHe questioned how opposing the removal of names of deceased persons duplicate entries and noncitizens could serve democratic interestsHe recalled that the Congress had dismissed elected governments more than fifty times imposed the Emergency and changed Chief Ministers of various states frequentlynbspHe said that people now vote on the basis of performance and work not for those involved in corruptionnbspConstitutional institutions including the Election Commission and the Judiciary function independently and it is the people who decide who becomes Prime Minister or Chief Minister not any individual leaderIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/shivraj-singh-chouhan-flays-cong-alleges-party-spreading-confusion-after-multiple-electoral-defeats-702469.html Wed, 30 Sep 2026 20:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-us-president-trump-hold-productive-conversation-review-bilateral-cooperation-across-key-sectors-702471.html New Delhi Sep 30 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke with US President Donald Trump over phone reviewing bilateral cooperation in trade defence energy and critical technologies sectors Reaffirming their commitment to take the IndiaUS Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership forward the two leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues including efforts to promote global peace and securitynbspHad a productive conversation with President Trump We reviewed our bilateral cooperation in trade defence energy critical technologies and other areas We agreed to maintain close engagement to take our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership forward PM Modi posted on X after the phone callnbsp We also exchanged views on regional and international issues including ongoing efforts to advance global peace and security he addednbspAccording to the Prime Ministers Office PMO both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the IndiaUS Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and agreed to maintain close engagement to deepen cooperation for the benefit of the people of both countries The leaders also exchanged views on regional and international developments and discussed ongoing efforts to promote global peace and security Both leaders agreed to remain in touch the PMO statednbspAs reported by IANS earlier senior officials in the US administration have outlined an ambitious roadmap for expanding IndiaUS ties signalling that Washington is working towards a Presidential visit to India early next year and sees New Delhi as one of its closest strategic partners In June in separate exclusive interviews with IANS at the White House US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor described the relationship as stronger than ever highlighting growing cooperation in trade defence energy critical technologies and the IndoPacificRubio said the administration was working towards Trumps visit to India next year I look forward to returning myself before the end of the year and setting up a presidential visit in the early parts of next year he said Asked if the visit would take place next year Rubio replied Were hoping Thats what were working towards sometime early next year to have the President comeThe officials underscored the importance of the personal relationship between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi India is such a close partner and ally of the United States and the relationship between the Prime Minister and the President couldnt be closer which I think is really important in diplomacy Rubio said Gor described the relationship between the two leaders as one of the big anchors of IndiaUS ties The President and Prime Minister are great friends and thats something that goes back years ago and its something that will continue to go years ahead he saidHe also praised PM Modis leadership saying He is incredibly dynamic Hes incredibly handson and hes resultsdriven In a way I see a lot of similarities between him and President Trump because they both love being handson and getting things done and accomplishing things fast Rubio and Gor also pointed to the broadening scope of bilateral cooperation I think we have so much aligned and in common that we can build and work on together our interests on economics on supply chains on critical minerals on energy on security on freedom of navigation Rubio said Were aligned on so many thingsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-us-president-trump-hold-productive-conversation-review-bilateral-cooperation-across-key-sectors-702471.html Wed, 30 Sep 2026 20:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-bloc-meets-joint-agitation-amid-sir-row-impeachment-notice-against-cec-on-agenda--702384.html New Delhi Sep 30 PTI Top leaders of the INDIA bloc met here on Wednesday to finalise an action plan for a joint agitation over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise and to press for CEC Gyanesh Kumars resignationSources said the draft notice for a fresh bid to move a motion in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha for the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner CEC was ready and would be deliberated upon for approval at the meetingnbspCongress president Mallikarjun Kharge former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi AICC general secretaries Jairam Ramesh and K C Venugopal the TMCs Mamata Banerjee and leaders from parties such as the SP CPI CPIM NCPSP and Shiv Sena UBT among others were present at the meetingnbspWhile the DMK and the AAP skipped the meeting SP chief Akhilesh Yadav also did not attend on account of nominations for Rajya Sabha polls in Uttar PradeshnbspSpeaking about the meeting Venugopal had said on Tuesday The Congress wants to hold a massive agitation to save democracy in the country with the help of all political parties There will be valuable suggestions from leaders of the INDIA bloc tomorrow after that we will sit and formalise the clear action plan for the future agitation nbspWe will coordinate between the INDIA bloc agitation programme and that of the Congress he had told reportersnbspThe issue of alleged irregularities in the SIR is being seen by the opposition INDIA bloc as an opportunity to close ranks and corner the governmentnbspThe meeting comes days after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected on record at least 14 times over the past 10 months to decisions and orders on the SIR Special Intensive Revision that they said were issued without their knowledge or recommendationnbspUnder fire over the red flags raised by two of its commissioners over the SIR process the EC has asserted that differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberations in any institution and all its orders carry full legal sanction and follow established statutory proceduresnbspThe last meeting of the INDIA bloc had taken place on June 8 Stressing unity against the BJP the INDIA bloc members had unanimously decided to demand then Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhans resignation over the NEETCBSE row and to write to the Chief Justice of India on the SIR exercise and vote lootnbspAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/india-bloc-meets-joint-agitation-amid-sir-row-impeachment-notice-against-cec-on-agenda--702384.html Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-bypolls-likely-to-decide-relationship-dynamics-between-cong-tmcs-mamata-faction--702385.html Kolkata Sep 30 PTI The October 6 assembly bypolls in West Bengal offer a unique test of whether the tactical cooperation between the Congress and the Mamata faction of the TMC translates into electoral support in Nandigram and what the two outfits achieve while contesting separately in Rejinagar For former chief minister Mamata Banerjee the polls also pose a parallel strategic question â should her faction rebuild its organisation independently after a vertical split in the party following the BJPs win in the assembly elections in May and reclaim its traditional political space or accommodate the Congress cooperation with which could help consolidate votes against the ruling partyIn Nandigram the Mamata factions candidate withdrew from the contest after meeting Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari following which Banerjee left without a candidate announced support for Congress nominee Milan Pradhan The move came after the Election Commission allotted new names and symbols to the rival TMC factions amid their respective claim over the mother partys identityWe are doing this to strengthen the INDIA bloc Banerjee had said while announcing her support for PradhanNandigram carries particular significance for Banerjee The constituency along with Singur was central to her political rise through the antiland acquisition movements while the subsequent TMCCongress alliance helped end the Left Fronts 34year rule in 2011 A decade later however Banerjee herself lost in Nandigram to Adhikari in the 2021 assembly electionsThe present contest has therefore brought together questions of Banerjees political legacy the future of her faction and the broader opposition equation in West BengalSenior Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya said the TMC leadership had initially approached the Congresss central leadership in the beginning of September before the bypoll schedule was announced proposing that the Congress contests Nandigram and the Trinamool Congress fights in RejinagarThe party high command sought time and subsequently consulted state leaders about the proposal Bhattacharya saidThe state leadership he said concluded that it was not the right time for an alliance with the TMCThe Congress later announced candidates in both the seatsCongress state spokesperson Suman Roy Chowdhury also maintained that the TMCs proposal was a sign of its political desperationThe TMC when in power had never made such a proposal even when there was a possibility of fighting the BJP together Now that it is defeated and alone it appears to have realised the importance of the Congress he saidThe debate reflects a larger dilemma for the Congress in West Bengal During the TMCs 15year rule around 56 Congress MLAs were poached by the TMC further weakening its organisational baseA TMC leader however denied that any such proposal was made to the Congress high commandFormer state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also echoed Suman Roy Chowdhury saying Our party has to rebuild its own organisation in West Bengal As Mamata Banerjee has lost assembly elections and her party has split she wants an alliance with the Congress after trying to wipe out the party in the last 15 years Another section of the grand old party however looks at the arithmetic differently arguing that tactical cooperation could consolidate antiBJP and minority votes in constituencies where the parties draw from overlapping support basesThe question is not about a permanent alliance Wherever there is a possibility of consolidating antiBJP votes we have to examine whether tactical cooperation can help a state Congress leader saidBut opposition to any understanding with the TMC remains strong within the CongressThe TMC had been the biggest promoter of the BJP in West Bengal It is because of the TMC that the Congress has weakened in the state over the years Aligning with the TMC will be suicidal another senior Congress leader saidIn Rejinagar Congress and Banerjees faction are contesting separately turning the seat into a test of how much political ground each can hold without the others supportFor the Congress the contest could show whether it can expand its support base without the TMCs backing and for Banerjee it could offer an early indication of whether her faction can retain its traditional support despite the loss of the familiar party name and symbolOur fight in Rejinagar will demonstrate whether our supporters remain with us despite the temporary dispute over the partys name and symbol a senior TMC leader saidThe two contests therefore offer different questions for the two partiesFor the Congress a significant performance in Nandigram with the Mamata factions support could strengthen the argument for constituencyspecific cooperation while a stronger showing in Rejinagar could reinforce those seeking an independent organisational rebuildNandigram is an experiment If TMC supporters actually transfer their votes to a Congress candidate it will show that cooperation has an electoral meaning beyond political statements a state Congress leader saidFor Banerjee the results could provide an indication of whether the Congress can serve as a useful tactical partner in select constituencies or whether her faction can rebuild its electoral base without relying on the partyThe results will not establish causality but they could influence the internal arguments in both parties political analyst Biswanath Chakraborty saidThe October 9 verdict may not settle the CongressTMC alliance question but it could shape the terms in which that debate is conducted hereafterWith the states opposition space getting reshaped after the assembly elections and the TMCs organisational rupture Nandigram and Rejinagar could offer an early indication of whether Congress and Banerjees Mamata All India Trinamool Congress are heading towards a working accommodation continued rivalry or an uneasy combination of bothAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-bypolls-likely-to-decide-relationship-dynamics-between-cong-tmcs-mamata-faction--702385.html Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/16-day-operation-behind-lakshadweep-drug-haul-govt-determined-to-shield-youth-from-narcotics-shah-702418.html New Delhi Sep 30 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the seizure of more than 500 kg of drugs and the arrest of five Pakistani nationals in the Arabian Sea off Lakshadweep was the outcome of 16 days of effective coordination among Indian security agenciesnbspReacting to the Indian Coast Guards interception of the vessel carrying drugs Shah also said the Narendra Modi government was determined to protect the countrys youth from the scourge of drugsUpholding a stellar example of coordination and cooperation among agencies the 16daylong operation also seized an Iranian boat Shah said in a post on XIn a joint operation involving the Gujarat AntiTerrorist Squad ATS Indian Coast Guard and central intelligence agencies 526 kg of methamphetamine and heroin were seized from an Iranian boat in Indias Exclusive Economic Zone EEZ he saidThe vessel was intercepted 160 nautical miles northwest of Lakshadweep and 490 nautical miles southwest of Mumbai Five Pakistani nationals have been arrested with further investigation underway to identify the wider network and its intended receivers Shah saidPakistans role in narcotics smuggling once again came to light following the massive seizure in the Arabian Sea of LakshadweepThe seizure followed an extensive operation by the security agencies against suspected narcotics trafficking in the Arabian Sea The operation highlights the role of coordinated surveillance and intelligencesharing among agencies in tackling drug smuggling through Indias maritime routesThe ICG intercepted a Pakistani vessel off the Lakshadweep coast in the Arabian Sea after a hot pursuit seizing 526 kg of highgrade narcotics valued at over Rs 3000 crore and apprehending five Pakistani nationals on September 25Acting on inputs regarding an illicit consignment traversing key maritime corridors ICG established radar contact with the suspicious dhow west of the Lakshadweep archipelago before initiating a hot pursuitSpecialised boarding teams executed a highseas tactical assault securing the vessel and detaining all five crew members without incident the ICG said in an official statementA thorough search of the dhow yielded the illicit drugs including highgrade heroin and methamphetamineThe ICG officials said that the five Pakistani nationals were apprehended following a dramatic chase across international watersAfter sustained aerial and surface tracking the Coast Guard units engaged in hot pursuit as the vessel attempted evasive manoeuvres Specialised boarding teams executed a highseas tactical assault securing the vessel and detaining all five crew members without incident the ICG saidThe Coast Guard reaffirmed its mission readiness stating that Bharatiya Tatrakshak remains resolutely postured to secure national maritime frontiers combat organised crime and dismantle transnational cartels in support of the nationwide drugfree India campaignThe apprehended vessel and the crew have been escorted to Mumbai harbour where a multiagency probe is underway The agencies are now trying to map out the syndicates financial trail and domestic contribution networksThe Narendra Modi government had launched a massive campaign against drugs with the promise that India would be drugfree Home Minister Shah had recently said that in order to accomplish this mission the agencies would work at the district level as wellAn official said that with major cities under the radar of the agencies the Inter Services Intelligencebacked narcotics cartels had decided to move operations to smaller towns The target is to break 100 major international and interstate drug syndicates which have been indulging in narcotics smuggling in IndiaStatistics show that between 2014 and 2026 over 118 crore kg valued at around Rs 184 lakh crore has been seized by the various agencies in the countryThis has been a result of close coordination between the state and central agencies Further the agencies have also been coordinating with their international counterparts to bring back drug lords and their cronies who are operating from across the bordersAuthorities said that between 2014 and 2026 4247 lakh kg of drugs valued at Rs 89896 crore had been destroyed Annual narcotics seizures reached an alltime high in 2024 when 1330 to 1691 tonnes were seized marking a 55 per cent increase over 2023An Intelligence Bureau official said that the government has been working closely with other countriesDuring all conversations that are held with international leaders India has been clear on its commitment to dismantle the drug networkFurther destroying the narcotics cartels also deals a severe setback to the terror networks The terror networks are completely reliant on the money earned through narcotics trade Hence dealing a blow to the narcotics cartels automatically becomes a setback for the ISIcontrolled terror groups which look to hit India the official saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/16-day-operation-behind-lakshadweep-drug-haul-govt-determined-to-shield-youth-from-narcotics-shah-702418.html Wed, 30 Sep 2026 14:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/lovely-professional-university-protest-hc-seeks-status-report-from-punjab-govt--702422.html nbspChandigarh Sep 30 PTI The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday sought a status report from the Punjab government on a probe into the violence and vandalism that erupted at Lovely Professional University in Phagwara days ago The matter came up for hearing before the bench headed by Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra in the High Court on a plea by Lovely Professional University LPU BTech student Ravi Raj seeking a CBI probe into the vandalism and violence at LPUnbspSpeaking to the media after the hearing Additional Solicitor Advocate General Satyapal Jain said the High Court has sought a status report on the Punjab Polices investigationnbspA complete status report has been sought what action has been taken who are the culprits what action has been taken against them what action is being taken Jain saidnbspThe next hearing is on October 8nbspJain said it was important to identify those behind spreading the misleading information on campus as he expressed apprehension that a planned conspiracy appears to be behind itnbspRaj the petitioner submitted that an unverified post was circulated among the students on the night of September 26 claiming that a female student had been raped on the campus and sent homenbspStudents gathered outside the girls hostel and later blocked National Highway44 according to the pleanbspLater a large number of outsiders carrying swords rods and sickles with their faces covered reached the LPU campus and broke open the varsity main gates destroyed CCTV cameras looted shops and set several places on firenbspIn the petition the LPU student submitted that the relevant rules of the IT Act should have been enforced when the misleading rumours spread on the campusnbspLPU students held a massive protest on Sunday Also they blocked a stretch of the New DelhiAmritsar Highway outside their campus over claims that an outsider had raped a female student on the university premisesnbspViolence also broke out on the campus with students saying that some outsiders with their faces covered indulged in vandalism damaged property ransacked shops and also set several places on fire on the LPU campusnbspNormalcy returned to the LPU campus on Monday with many students heading home after classes were suspended for 10 daysnbspAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/lovely-professional-university-protest-hc-seeks-status-report-from-punjab-govt--702422.html Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ballot-voting-instead-of-evms-pre-sir-rolls-for-future-polls-india-bloc-lists-6-demands-702427.html New Delhi Sep 30 IANS As the key stakeholders of the INDIA bloc met on Wednesday in the national capital for chalking out a roadmap for nationwide protests against the Election Commissions flawed and partisan approach the Congress party called for the rollback of Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls asserting that the ballot belongs to people of the countrynbspCongress President Mallikarjun Kharge while addressing the INDIA bloc members in his opening speech listed out six demands stating that all the parties stand united on those issuesIndias democratic system was built on the principle of one person one vote one value and that the principle was facing a serious threat he saidPutting forth six demands Kharge called for going back to voting through ballot paper instead of EVMs thereby ensuring the purity and sanctity of electorates choiceKharge said First the preSIR electoral roll should be used for future elections Complete transparency in every electoral roll revision including constituencywise and boothwise information on additions deletions and correctionsSecond he called for due reasoning and an effective appeal mechanism before any legitimate voter is removed from the rollThird protection of eligible voters from exclusion caused by administrative failures inadequate documentation or lack of awareness Fourth voting through ballots instead of EVMs Fifth simple and accessible voter registration for our young citizens particularly firsttime voters read the other demandsThe sixth demand is maintaining institutional accountability and the Election Commission that commands confidence across the political spectrumKharge also said that Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly shown proof of vote chori in multiple states from Haryana to Maharashtra but the EC tried to gloss over itInstead of acknowledging our complaints the Commission looked the other way In a democracy institutions must earn public trust through transparency he statedEchoing a common sentiment against alleged irregularities in ECs SIR exercise the INDIA bloc allies asserted We will not allow transparency to be replaced by secrecy And we will not allow the fundamental principle of our Republic one person one vote one value to be weakenedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ballot-voting-instead-of-evms-pre-sir-rolls-for-future-polls-india-bloc-lists-6-demands-702427.html Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/govt-should-take-responsibility-du-students-intensify-protests-over-womens-safety-702439.html New Delhi Sep 30 IANS Students from Delhi University have intensified their protests over rising cases of crime against women in the national capital taking to the streets with posters and placards challenging restrictions imposed on women and demanding accountability for incidents of sexual violenceThe protests which have gained widespread attention for their sharp slogans and wordplay have largely brought together students from several colleges including the Shyama Prasad Mukherji College for Women Miranda House Lady Shri Ram College LSR Kamala Nehru College and Gargi CollegeThis comes after the gangrape of a 17yearold girl near Kalkajis Aastha Kunj Park earlier this month The incident has renewed longstanding concerns and anger among students over the safety of women in Delhi particularly their freedom to move around the city without fearStudents have also used humour satire and familiar Delhi expressions to voice their anger and question the prevailing conditions Among the slogans that have gained attention is the line 1 kachori 2 samosa in mardon ka kya bharosaThe protesters have also displayed placards and raised slogans that range from sarcastic and creative to direct and confrontational including My favourite season will be the fall of patriarchy and Abort PatriarchyA student speaking to IANS said that the protests were aimed at demanding greater responsibility from the government and the right of women to move freely and safely in public spacesWe want the government to take responsibility for all the rape cases Why cant we go outside Being able to walk safely outside is our right and we are here to demand it the student saidAnother protester said the students were taking to the streets because they wanted safety and questioned why women should be forced to remain indoors because of the threat of sexual violenceWe are here out on the streets for our safety If girls were safe here a gang rape would not have happened in Kalkaji Till when will we stay indoors Why should we be confined to our homes the protester saidAnother student alleged that the government had failed to take concrete measures to ensure the safety of women and said the protesters wanted stronger action against those accused of sexual violenceThe government has not done anything concrete for the safety of women We want to be able to walk freely We want strict action against the rapists the student saidWhat initially began as separate protests at individual womens colleges rapidly grew into a broader studentled movement across the UniversityHundreds of students gathered at the Faculty of Arts on September 28 while thousands later marched through North Campus in what has emerged as one of the largest student mobilisations on the issue of womens safety at Delhi University in recent yearsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/govt-should-take-responsibility-du-students-intensify-protests-over-womens-safety-702439.html Wed, 30 Sep 2026 16:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/will-make-punjab-free-of-chitta-by-december-2029-says-amit-shah-at-jalandhar-rally-702441.html Jalandhar Sep 30 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday promised to make Punjab free of the illicit chitta synthetic drug trade before December 31 2029 saying the BJP would contest the next Assembly elections in the state primarily on the issue of a drugfree PunjabnbspAddressing a massive antidrug rally in Jalandhar city he urged the mothers and the youth of Punjab to extend support to the BJP in the next Assembly elections by voting for the lotus symbol promising to free the state from the illicit drug tradeWhy has the need arisen today to make Punjab drugfree Because the Aam Aadmi Party government has allowed the chitta trade to operate openly he saidHis address marked the culmination of the BJPs 13day Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra which covered all 117 Assembly constituencies in the stateI have come today to tell the people of Punjab that there are several issues in the states elections issues concerning farmers industry law and order and womens safety But the Bharatiya Janata Party will contest the upcoming election solely on the issue of making Punjab drugfree he said in his nearly 20minute address in HindiWithout mincing words the Home Minister said Someone who gets intoxicated and insults the Gurus cannot free Punjab from the scourge of drugs It cannot liberate Punjab Only the BJP is capable of freeing Punjab from drugs The BJP has already demonstrated this We launched a nationwide campaign for a drugfree India From 2004 to 2014 the Congress was in power in those 10 years 26 lakh kg of narcotics were seized nationwide Then came Modi jis government between 2014 and 2024 PM Modis government seized Rs 12 crore kg of drugs The Congress had seized narcotics worth Rs 40000 crore but in contrast the BJP seized drugs of Rs 190000 croreDescribing his visit to Jalandhar for the antidrug campaign as a matter of great honour HM Shah said Punjab was known across the country for two major contributions ensuring food security and safeguarding the nations bordersWhenever the country needed food Punjabs farmers filled our granaries and continue to do so even today he saidHe said Punjab had also made immense sacrifices for the countrys security both before and after Independence Whether it was before Independence or after it whenever the question of security arose Punjab was always ready with its response The sacrifices of Punjabis not only secured our freedom but also helped protect Indias borders after Independence HM Shah saidThe BJP said the campaign covering nearly 4000 km was aimed at mobilising public support against drug abuse in the stateCalling for a united fight against drugs HM Shah said the people of Punjab were waging a decisive battle against the menaceHe said the BJP had launched the statewide yatra to unite people and raise awareness about drug abuse particularly among the youthThe Home Minister also said the Centre would take steps to disrupt the drug supply chain in Punjab and strengthen efforts of Central agencies to check crossborder smugglingBefore addressing the rally HM Shah met families affected by drug abuse and listened to their experiencesThe BJP had earlier brought several drugaffected families before the media including those who had lost their children to addictionPosing a question to the gathering Can AAP make Punjab drugfree HM Shah replied I have just met the families of those who have lost their lives to drug addiction A mother holding photographs of her two young sons in her lap said Stop this I couldnt save mine but save someone elses son And AAP has no shame Those who insult the Gurus while being intoxicated cannot free Punjab from the scourge of chittaThe campaign under the slogan BJP da Naara Nasha Mukauna Saara also highlighted issues of law and order and corruption besides drug abuse The rally comes ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections with the BJP seeking to make the drug menace a major political issue in the stateIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/will-make-punjab-free-of-chitta-by-december-2029-says-amit-shah-at-jalandhar-rally-702441.html Wed, 30 Sep 2026 16:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/nia-raids-five-locations-in-bengal-in-bangladesh-based-jmbs-sleeper-cell-case-702298.html Kolkata Sep 29 IANS The National Investigation Agency NIA was conducting raids and search operations at five locations in different corners of West Bengal on Tuesday in connection with an ongoing investigation to crack the sleeper cells of an underground Bangladeshi fundamentalistcummilitant outfit JamaatulMujahideen Bangladesh JMB in the statenbsp nbspSources aware of the development said Tuesdays raid and search operations were in relation to a case registered in neighbouring Assam and the NIAs actions at those five locations in West Bengal were based on specific information secured by the central agency sleuths in the matterThe locations where Tuesdays raid and search operations were conducted included Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas district Harirampur in South Dinajpur district and a couple of pockets in East Burdwan districtLast week the NIA sleuths arrested a youth in Assam on suspicion of being a militant The investigators found that the arrested youth was an active member of JMB During interrogation he admitted that a module of that Bangladeshbased militant organisation was quite active in West BengalHis interrogation also revealed that JMB was working to create sleeper cells in West Bengal where several youths from a particular community were being brainwashed to join that banned Bangladeshbased outfitThe documents seized by the NIA sleuths from the youth arrested in Assam revealed further details about the active JMB module Armed with that information the NIA sleuths were conducting raids and search operations in different locations in West Bengal since morningTo recall in July this year the sleuths of the Special Task Force STF of West Bengal Police arrested a youth Hamid Mondal having links with both terrorist groups JaisheMohammed JeM as well as with Shahzad Bhatti Network SBN a Pakistanbased terroristcriminal groupHe had been residing in West Bengal with fake Indian identity documents for quite some time His latest assignment was collecting details of the movements of the West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu AdhikariLater based on the information provided by him during interrogation the STF sleuths arrested some of his associates which included a young woman Arpita Sarkar who was mainly used for honeytrapping influential peopleIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/nia-raids-five-locations-in-bengal-in-bangladesh-based-jmbs-sleeper-cell-case-702298.html Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-should-resign-for-pressuring-cec-full-disclosure-of-changes-in-voters-list-must-kharge-702307.html New Delhi Sep 29 PTI Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumars immediate removal over alleged SIR irregularities and also demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modis resignation on moral grounds for pressuring the poll panel chiefIn his opening address at the Congress Working Committee CWC meeting here Kharge also put forward five demands of his party including making public the complete data regarding every major change made to the electoral rolls and providing political parties with the electoral rolls and relevant data in a simple format and in a timely mannernbspKharge also demanded an independent and timebound inquiry wherever evidence of serious discrepancies emergesnbspThat voters whose names have been removed must be fully informed and given an opportunity to appeal and there must be such transparency in the critical data and decisions related to the election process so that no party has grounds to claim that information is being withheld the Congress chief saidnbspMost importantly the voters of India must have confidence that their vote is secure Kharge saidnbspWe do not view this issue merely as a battle to win or lose an election Elections come and go and governments change but democracy and the Constitution are enduring This is the foundation of Indian democracy We must convey to every citizen that in a democracy the most powerful person is the ordinary voter not the prime minister the chief minister or a leader in power he saidnbspThe CWC meeting chaired by Kharge is being attended by former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi party general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Jairam Ramesh KC Venugopal Sachin Pilot Mukul Wasnik and senior leaders P Chidambaram among others attended the meetingChief ministers of Congressruled states DK Shivakumar Karnataka V D Satheesan Kerala A Revanth Reddy Telangana and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Himachal Pradesh also participated in the meetingnbspAddressing the crucial meeting Kharge said electoral rolls must be transparent the election process fair institutions independent and the vote of every eligible citizen secureThis is the spirit of the Constitution this is the soul of democracy The Congress will never shy away from this democratic responsibility We must do whatever it takesfrom the streets to Parliamentto ensure this he saidnbspHistory bears witness that ten years ago this very prime minister devastated Indias economy with the decision of Notebandi demonetisation And now ten years later he is destroying our robust democracy through a conspiracy of Votebandi voter disenfranchisement the Congress chief saidnbspKharge said the poor bear the brunt of all the flawed policies of the PMnbspHe said the vote is the most powerful weapon for the poor Dalits the underprivileged and the exploited sections of societynbspThat is why Modi ji wants to take away this right but we will not allow that to happen he stressednbspKharge said two Election Commissioners themselves have described the CECs actions as arbitrary and improper and the entire nation is now aware that his consistent efforts have been aimed at benefiting the ruling partynbspUnder these circumstances he has no right to remain in office and should be removed immediately Furthermore the prime ministerunder whose pressure he acted in this mannershould himself resign on moral grounds Kharge saidNoting that elections in five states are coming up the Congress chief said it is crucial to ensure that no voter is deprived of their rightsnbspWe must guarantee that every individuals vote is secure and the elections are fair thereby maintaining the publics trust in Indias electoral process Only then will Indias future remain secure and democracy continue to flourish he saidnbspKharge pointed out that during the Constituent Assembly debates BR Ambedkar described the right to vote as the most fundamental element of democracynbspYet today the exact opposite is happening The protector has turned into the predator The very entity empowered by the Constitutiontasked with being the guardian of the peoples votehas become a plunderer of votes How can the nation place its trust in a Chief Election Commissioner whom his own colleagues do not trust he saidnbspIn December 1988 then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 to empower the youth he saidnbspIn contrast we have Prime Minister Modi who is so aggrieved with Gen Z that he has hatched a conspiracy to disenfranchise the youth He quietly altered the rules regarding Form 6 This is entirely illegal Kharge allegednbspKharge also hailed Rahul Gandhi for raising the issues related to vote chori saying they have all now proven to be genuinely correctnbspThe meeting comes days after The Indian Express claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected on record at least 14 times over the past 10 months to decisions and orders on SIR that they said were issued without their knowledge or recommendationUnder fire over the red flags raised by two of its commissioners over the SIR process the EC has asserted that differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberations in any institution and all its orders carry full legal sanction and follow established statutory proceduresnbspAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-should-resign-for-pressuring-cec-full-disclosure-of-changes-in-voters-list-must-kharge-702307.html Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/idfc-bank-scam-ed-conducts-more-searches-in-chandigarh-mohali-panchkula-702336.html Chandigarh Sep 29 IANS The Directorate of Enforcements ED Chandigarh Zonal Office II has conducted search operations at 14 premises across Chandigarh Mohali and Panchkula in connection with its money laundering investigation into the embezzlement of Rs 645 crore of public funds belonging to the Haryana government the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and other government accountsnbspThe ED initiated investigation under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA 2002 on the basis of a First Information Report FIR registered by the Haryana Police in February concerning discrepancies in balances of bank accounts of the Development and Panchayat Department of Haryana maintained with IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance BankThe searches covered various jewellers and their associated entities including Malik Jewellers KLG Jewels and its associate entities MB Gold Traders Sham Jewellers and Sunder Jewellers besides Gourav Kansal who allegedly acted as a middleman in routing and layering the proceeds of crimeThe investigation has revealed that the allegedly embezzled public funds were routed and layered through the bank accounts of various jewellers and projected as business transactionsThese transactions were allegedly carried out in connivance with the accused to conceal and project the proceeds of crime as legitimate fundsThe investigation has further revealed that the jewellers were allegedly involved in laundering the proceeds of crime generated from the bank accounts of various departments of Haryana and the Chandigarh administrationThe proceeds of crime are also alleged to have been laundered by jewellers which allegedly reached accused IAS officers and other government servants involved in the IDFC First Bank fraudThe CBI has filed a third chargesheet before the Special Court in Panchkula naming six Haryanacadre IAS officers and other government servants in connection with the fraudEarlier the ED had arrested four accused for their alleged involvement in the offence of money launderingThe agency has also attached seized and frozen movable and immovable assets of approximately Rs 211 crore in connection with the investigationThe ED has further filed a prosecution complaint against 14 accused in the Special Court of PMLA in PanchkulaThe latest searches have resulted in the recovery of further evidence relating to the routing layering concealment and projection of proceeds of crime through various entities and bank accountsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/idfc-bank-scam-ed-conducts-more-searches-in-chandigarh-mohali-panchkula-702336.html Tue, 29 Sep 2026 16:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-seeks-centres-response-on-upi-charges-above-rs-2-000-declines-interim-stay-702238.html New Delhi Sep 28 IANS The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice on a plea challenging the Centres recent decision to impose Merchant Discount Rate MDR on specified highvalue Unified Payments Interface UPI transactions above Rs 2000 while declining to immediately stay the implementation of the framework at this stagenbspnbspA Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana sought responses within four weeks from the Union government the Reserve Bank of India RBI the National Payments Corporation of India NPCI and the UPI ampamp Services Steering Committee in the matterThe plea filed by advocate Anjan Datta through advocate Ashutosh Dubey challenges the Centres Gazette Notification dated September 14 2026 issued under Section 10A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007 as well as the framework announced on September 15 for imposing MDR on specified persontomerchant P2M UPI transactions above Rs 2000nbspAdditional Solicitor General ASG N Venkataraman appearing for the Union government submitted that the charges would come into effect from October 15 and that 96 per cent of transactions would not face the chargeThe Centres law officer also said charges for essential services had been capped at Rs 5 It is not an expropriation ASG Venkataraman submitted explaining that the proposed charge was a settlement fee between payment aggregators and banks and that the government was not receiving any part of itnbspHe further submitted that banks incur costs while processing electronic transactions and that credit and debit card transactions attract charges while UPI payments have so far been exempted from such charges adding that the levy was necessary to keep the UPI ecosystem functioning efficientlyAfter hearing the submissions the CJI Kantled Bench sought the relevant facts and material on affidavit and posted the matter for hearing after four weeksnbspThe counsel appearing for the petitioner sought an interim stay on the implementation of the framework arguing that allowing the charges to take effect could give rise to corruption However the Supreme Court declined to grant a stay at this stagenbspThe plea challenges the proposed 04 per cent MDR on specified P2M UPI transactions above Rs 2000 capped at Rs 300 for transactions of Rs 75000 and above with separate rates for certain sectorsThe petitioner has claimed that the framework is arbitrary and discriminatory and imposes a nationwide financial burden without adequate statutory safeguardsnbspThe plea contends that the challenge is not to the objective of maintaining secure and resilient payment infrastructure but to the manner in which the financial burden has been created classified and distributed without disclosure of the complete operative instrument statutory source underlying cost study methodology and safeguardsIt has questioned the basis for fixing the Rs 2000 transaction threshold Rs 1 lakh monthlyreceipt classification differential sector rates and Rs 75000 cap claiming that the empirical basis for these classifications has not been disclosednbspThe petition has also questioned the threshold itself highlighting that a transaction of Rs 2001 would attract a percentage charge while a Rs 2000 transaction would not The petitioner has further challenged the role of the UPI ampamp Services Steering Committee in determining the framework arguing that essential ratemaking and classification decisions cannot be subdelegated without clear legislative policy standards publication and regulatory supervisionThe plea seeks production of the complete record relating to the decision including the statutory basis constitution and authority of the UPI ampamp Services Steering Committee its decisions and minutes and the legal basis for prescribing the rates and distributing MDR among private ecosystem participantsnbspIt also seeks quashing or suspension of the framework insofar as it imposes MDR on UPI transactions above Rs 2000nbspAlternatively the petitioner has sought reconsideration of the framework after transparent consultation publication of empirical data and an impact assessment along with safeguards for micro and small enterprisesThe Centre has maintained that the revised framework is aimed at ensuring the financial sustainability of the UPI ecosystemnbspThe Union Finance Ministry had said that a small fee on highvalue merchant transactions would help fund infrastructure cybersecurity and support for small merchants in Tier IIIVI towns and rural areasnbspThe Centre has also maintained that UPI would remain free for customers and that persontoperson transactions would continue to remain free irrespective of the transaction amountIt said merchants earning up to Rs 1 lakh per month through UPI QR codes would continue to enjoy zero charges while more than 95 per cent of merchant payments below Rs 2000 would remain freenbspThe RBI has also described the introduction of MDR on largevalue UPI transactions as a step towards strengthening the longterm sustainability of the digital payments ecosystem while maintaining that all UPI transactions would remain free for usersIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-seeks-centres-response-on-upi-charges-above-rs-2-000-declines-interim-stay-702238.html Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/lpu-student-protest-traffic-on-nh-44-restored-situation-under-control-say-police-702239.html Phagwara Sep 28 PTI Traffic movement on the National Highway44 in Punjabs Phagwara which had been blocked by the protesting students from Lovely Professional University for over 15 hours has been restored police said on Monday adding that the situation has been brought under control Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann directed DGP Gaurav Yadav to visit the university and take stock of situation according to official sourcesStudents of Lovely Professional University LPU in Phagwara allegedly went on a rampage on the campus on Sunday vandalising property and blocking a stretch of the New DelhiAmritsar highway outside their campus over claims that an outsider had raped a female student on the university premisesnbspReferring to the protests BJP leader and former Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu accused the AAP government in the state of sending miscreants to LPU ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shahs rally on September 30 in JalandharnbspnbspThe university sits right on the highway connecting Jalandhar and PhagwaraHe alleged that the AAP is rattled by the massive support of people to the BJPs antidrug yatras while blaming the Bhagwant Mann government for allowing riots in Jalandhar to disturb the scheduled rallynbspHe further claimed that police adopted a lax approach eventually allowing miscreants to start arson and vandalism leaving police personnel and students injurednbspBhagwantMann ArvindKejriwal and msisodia allegedly sent miscreants in LPU just to settle scores After Sh Ashok Mittal left AAP the party allegedly hatched a sinister plan to force LPU to shut down Bittu alleged in a post on X late Sunday nightnbspnbspRajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal is the founder chancellor of LPUAmit shah jis rally is also set to take place in Jalandhar on September 30 and the government knows the attendance will be in lakhs AAP is rattled by support BJP is receiving from people of Punjab and is allowing riots in Jalandhar to disturb the rally Bittu allegednbspHe said the central government is monitoring the situation closelynbspOnly a few months remain The government is set to change and officials will have to be held accountable the former minister saidThe traffic movement on the national highway resumed in the intervening night of Sunday and Monday Jalandhar Police Commissioner Satinder Singh said adding that the situation was peacefulA police force remained deployed outside the LPU on Monday morningnbspSeveral students could be seen leaving the campus for their homes after LPU authorities suspended classes for 10 days starting MondaynbspMidterm examinations have also been postponed until further noticenbspThe LPU also allowed students to go home during this period if they wish to do so and after consulting their parents or guardiansStudents who stay back are advised to stay inside their hostelsplaces of residence and avoid unnecessary movement or involvement in any unrest activities in the interest of their own safety the university saidnbspAnother wave of violence during the day erupted in the evening after the protesting students pelted stones at police personnel and attacked their vehicles leaving several cops injured on Sunday officials saidnbspA heavy force led by ADGP M F Farooqui entered the campus late Sunday night and a flag march consisting of senior officers and other personnel was taken out Jalandhar Police Commissioner Satinder Singh DIG Jalandhar Range Naveen Singla and Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora were among the officers who accompanied the forceOn Sunday evening police were trying to evict the protesters blocking NH44 outside the campus since 8 am when some students allegedly threw water bottles at them They also clashed with police who resorted to lathi charge prompting the students to run towards the campus according to policenbspHowever once inside the students allegedly started to indiscriminately pelt stones at the police the officials saidnbspPolice on Sunday said a rape case was registered against an unknown person on a complaint by the students and an SIT has been formed to investigate the matter even though the university described the claims of the crime taking place on the campus as rumoursThe violence on LPU campus came a day after students of Chitkara University in Patiala allegedly set a police vehicle afire over unverified claims that two female students had committed suicide on the university premisesnbspViral videos on social media also showed the protesters purportedly students damaging window panes and flower pots on campus and setting some objects on fire with cries of we want justice echoing in the backgroundAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/lpu-student-protest-traffic-on-nh-44-restored-situation-under-control-say-police-702239.html Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/absolutely-impermissible-delhi-hc-cautions-jail-warden-against-unnecessarily-beating-inmates-702264.html New Delhi Sep 28 IANS The Delhi High Court has cautioned a jail warden against resorting to unnecessary beating or violence against inmates observing that such conduct is absolutely impermissible and warning that stern action would follow if such behaviour is repeatednbspnbspA Bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Dinesh Bhatt made the observations while viewing CCTV footage of an incident inside a jail complex in which a warden was seen hitting inmates with a danda thick stick after they had already dispersed following a quarrel and returned to their respective cellsnbspIn its order the High Court recorded that the footage recorded on June 26 from around 915 am showed a quarrel involving around 1012 inmates in an open area of the jail complexnbspWarden Sagar was seen using the danda to hit the inmates to force them to disperse following which they entered separate cellsroomsnbspAfter the situation had been controlled the use of violence and beating was totally unnecessary the Justice Singhled Bench observednbspIt noted that the warden subsequently returned with additional staff members brought the inmates out of their cells and again started hitting them with the dandanbspThe Delhi High Court said that this second instance of beating was completely unnecessary and uncalled for particularly as the inmates had already dispersed and returned to their cellsThere is no audio accompanying the said footage and according to the warden who is present in Court the inmates were using abusive language while addressing him the order saidnbspHowever the High Court made it clear that even if the inmates had used abusive language it could not justify beating them with a danda after they had returned to their cellsEven if that was so hitting the inmates with a danda especially when they had dispersed and had returned to their cells was unnecessary as none of the inmates was armed when they came out from their respective cells the Justice Singhled Bench saidnbspThe Delhi High Court also took note of the submission made by the Delhi Police that the inmates were reportedly found in possession of a knife and a suwa needle However after examining the CCTV footage the High Court observed that it did not show any threat being posed by the inmates to the warden during the second incidentnbspHence it is reiterated that the use of violence and beating after the situation had been controlled was totally unnecessary the order saidnbspThe Justice Singhled Bench specifically cautioned Warden Sagar over his conduct and said that violence against inmates could not be used unnecessarilynbspMr Sagar the warden has been cautioned that use of unnecessary beating or violence with inmates cannot be resorted to and is absolutely impermissible the order said It further warned that in future if such conduct is repeated the Court would not hesitate in taking stern action against such unnecessary use of violencenbspFollowing the High Courts observations the warden unconditionally tendered an apology and expressed regret over his conductnbsp IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/absolutely-impermissible-delhi-hc-cautions-jail-warden-against-unnecessarily-beating-inmates-702264.html Mon, 28 Sep 2026 18:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-mann-attends-jashan-e-inquilab-at-pau-on-bhagat-singhs-birth-anniversary-702273.html DW Bureau nbspLudhiana Sept 28 2026 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday attended the statelevel JashaneInquilab programme at Punjab Agricultural University PAU in Ludhiana to mark the birth anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat SinghAddressing the gathering Mann said the state government was working to preserve the legacy of Bhagat Singh and other freedom fighters He highlighted initiatives including naming the Mohali airport after Bhagat Singh installing a 30feethigh bronze statue at NishaneInquilab Plaza in Mohali and developing the ShaheedeAzam Bhagat Singh Heritage Complex at Khatkar KalanThe Chief Minister said the Rs 52crore heritage complex is being developed as a heritage learning and cultural tourism destination The project includes the ancestral house and replica house a courtroom experience heritage street recreated village setting library exhibition areas and displays depicting Bhagat Singhs life and the freedom movementAccording to Mann the complex will also have an auditorium audiovisual and interpretation systems a Tourist Facilitation Centre cottages guest house restaurantcafeteria parking and landscaped areas Work on civil and interior finishes exhibits lighting landscaping and other visitor facilities is currently being completed he saidMann said the project is intended to promote heritage education and tourism and provide a venue for commemorative and academic activities He said the complex would be opened to the public soonThe Chief Minister also spoke about various initiatives of the state government including free electricity for around 90 per cent of households the opening of around 1100 Aam Aadmi Clinics and the recruitment of more than 70000 youth in government jobs He also said 18 toll plazas had been closed resulting in savings of around Rs 63 lakh a day for commutersOn agriculture Mann said the area under canal irrigation had increased from 26 per cent to 80 per cent since his government took charge He also highlighted the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana which provides cashless medical treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh per family and the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana under which eligible women receive financial assistanceThe Chief Minister said the government was also undertaking road and educationrelated projects and constructing sports stadiums as part of efforts to provide young people with alternatives to drugsThe programme also featured cultural performances and a play based on the lives of Bhagat Singh Sukhdev and Rajguru Punjabi singers Ranjit Bawa and Kulwinder Billa performed during the event while traditional dhadi jatha performances were also heldThe play Gagan Damama Bajio portrayed the revolutionary journey and sacrifices of Bhagat Singh and his comrades The cultural programme was attended by youngsters families and others who gathered to mark the martyrs birth anniversary https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-mann-attends-jashan-e-inquilab-at-pau-on-bhagat-singhs-birth-anniversary-702273.html Mon, 28 Sep 2026 21:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/railways-diesel-use-falls-sharply-as-electrification-nears-100-pc-hm-shah-702182.html Ahmedabad Sep 27 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday cited a sharp decline in diesel consumption and a rapid expansion of railway electrification to highlight changes in Indian Railways since 2014Speaking at a railway programme in Sabarmati HM Shah said diesel consumption for railway operations had fallen from 293 crore litres in 201516 to 108 crore litres in 202425 and said the eventual target is to bring diesel use for traction down to zeroThe figures cited by the Home Minister are consistent with data released by the Railway Ministry which said diesel consumption for traction fell by 185 crore litres between 201516 and 202425The ministry attributed the reduction primarily to the expansion of electric tractionHM Shah also pointed to the pace of electrification saying only around 75 km had been electrified annually in 201011 compared with 7188 km in 202324He compared Indias electrification level with other countries saying The country had reached a level close to complete electrificationRailway Ministry data puts Switzerland at 100 per cent India at 996 per cent China at 82 per cent Spain at 67 per cent France at 60 per cent and the UK at 39 per centThe Home Minister also cited increases in the railway safety budget and locomotive production capacity putting the rise at 67 per cent and 66 per cent respectivelyHe referred to the expansion of biotoilets and LHB coach production claiming that 97 per cent of the biotoilets and 87 per cent of LHB coach production had been achieved during PM Modis governmentOn railway investment in Gujarat HM Shah said The state had received Rs 589 crore annually during 200914 compared with a railway allocation of Rs 17366 crore for 202627The Home Minister attributed the changes to the Modi governments emphasis on electrification indigenous manufacturing and railway infrastructure saying the figures represented a significant shift in the scale of investment and modernisationIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/railways-diesel-use-falls-sharply-as-electrification-nears-100-pc-hm-shah-702182.html Sun, 27 Sep 2026 18:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cec-gyanesh-kumar-ecs-sandhu-joshi-meet-form-6-sir-decisions-clarified-702108.html New Delhi Sep 26 IANS The Election Commission of India ECI on Saturday sought to quell reports of differences within the poll panel with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi holding a full commission meeting at Nirvachan Sadan in New DelhinbspIn a detailed press note accompanied by a photograph of the three commissioners the EC addressed allegations concerning its internal functioning the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls voter enrolment and its technology systemsThe statement came days after The Indian Express reported on September 23 that Sandhu and Joshi had raised objections to several decisions and orders linked to the SIR exercise The reports triggered a wider political controversy with Opposition parties questioning the functioning of the Commission and demanding greater transparencyThe EC maintained that the June 24 2025 order launching the SIR across states and Union Territories was approved unanimously by all three commissioners It said subsequent schedules related to the exercise were also issued with unanimous approval The Commission further noted that the Supreme Court had upheld the original SIR orderOn Form 6 used for enrolment of new voters the EC addressed concerns over a declaration introduced during the SIR process requiring applicants to establish their linkage with the previous SIR through their parents names The Commission said the declaration had been upheld by the Supreme Court Outside the SIR exercise it clarified forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules 1960 would continue to be usedThe Commission also responded to questions surrounding 97 voters in Goa who had initially been left out of the electoral rolls It said the Chief Electoral Officer Goa had directed Booth Level Officers to conduct housetohouse visits and collect the necessary forms Of the 97 voters 81 had already submitted Form 6 for inclusionOn ECINET concerns had been raised about access to electoralroll databases and the functioning of the portal The EC said field officials receive rolebased access in accordance with their statutory powers It announced a review of ECINET by a committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from an IIT or IIITThe Commission also clarified that a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary concerned the redistribution of work involving an officer on deputation related to the officers functioning rather than any policy concerning the EC or its IT divisionAs part of measures to strengthen internal procedures the EC said agendas for Commission meetings would be circulated in advance and minutes issued thereafter It also stated that directions issued by commissioners to officials would be complied with meticulously The EC further extended SIR deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra while reiterating that its major decisions had been taken collectively and unanimouslyIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/cec-gyanesh-kumar-ecs-sandhu-joshi-meet-form-6-sir-decisions-clarified-702108.html Sat, 26 Sep 2026 19:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-interacts-with-seva-yatris-travelling-from-varanasi-to-vadnagar-highlights-grassroots-service-viksit-bharat-vision-701975.html New Delhi Sep 25 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday interacted via video conferencing with participants of the Seva Yatra travelling from Varanasi to Vadnagar under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan The Seva Yatris shared their experiences from their journey including their interactions with villagers and beneficiaries of various government schemesnbspThe participants spoke about how welfare schemes were benefiting people across different age groups including children women and the elderly They also shared stories of beneficiaries they had met during their journey and described the warm welcome and hospitality extended to them by villagersInteracting with the participants PM Modi said such yatras provide an opportunity to understand the country at the grassroots level and help the younger generation experience Indias diversity He noted that travelling through villages and spending time with local communities gives participants an opportunity to learn about peoples lives their aspirations and the impact of various initiativesA group of Seva Yatris currently in Agra shared their experiences with the Prime Minister and said they were energetic and carrying out their responsibilities effectively One participant narrated an interaction with a beneficiary in UnnaoThe participant recalled that an elderly woman had asked them where they were going When they told her that they were travelling to meet PM Modi the woman expressed her gratitude to the Prime Minister for helping her get a pucca house under a government schemeThe Prime Minister also interacted with Seva Yatris from Raisen in Madhya Pradesh who were travelling towards Vadnagar A participant named Pradeep told PM Modi that he was their inspiration and said the participants would cover more than 20000 km during their motorcycle journeyDuring the interaction PM Modi noticed that several participants were wearing saffron turbans presented to them by villagers He asked whether the villagers had given the turbans to them and praised the warm welcome and hospitality extended by the local communitiesHe also reminded the participants about road safety and asked whether they wore helmets while riding their motorcyclesYou are all wearing saffron turbans did the villagers present them to you The villagers accorded you such a warm welcome and showed you such great hospitality I offer my respects to the villagers PM Modi saidBut you dont drive wearing this turban do you You wear a helmet while driving right Please dont mistake the turban for a helmet he addedPM Modi also heard about beneficiaries who had benefited from government healthcare initiatives He was told about a family that had used the Ayushman Bharat scheme for the treatment of their young daughter The participant said the girl had received treatment and was now healthyThe Prime Minister also interacted with groups of Seva Yatris from Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh who were travelling from Varanasi towards Gujarat He urged the participants to inspire people to contribute towards the goal of building a Viksit BharatWe should inspire people to make Viksit Bharat then everyone should do something to make it possible You all should note down experiences and it will help you all PM Modi saidHe said that the participants were travelling through different villages and at several places were getting an opportunity to stay overnight with local communitiesYou are travelling across different villages and at several places you also get the opportunity to stay overnight The experience of living among the villagers experiencing their hospitality and connecting with their families during these days PM Modi saidHe also interacted with participants from Sagar in Madhya Pradesh The yatris said they were enjoying the journey and shared experiences of women whose lives according to them had changed with the help of various government schemesThey spoke about improvements in the economic conditions of beneficiaries and explained how welfare initiatives were helping people at the grassroots levelDuring the interaction PM Modi also spoke about the importance of social reform and cited the example of Mahatma GandhiWhen we look at the life of Mahatma Gandhi while he fought against the British and led the freedom movement he was also a great social reformer He constantly raised his voice and took action against the evils present in society PM Modi saidHe said political workers should continue working towards social reform and should not limit themselves to electoral considerationsWe as political workers must also keep working for continuous reform in our society we shouldnt just focus on our vote banks or let things run on autopilot he saidThe Prime Minister also emphasised the need to ensure dignity and respect for sanitation workersWe must ensure that our brothers and sisters involved in sanitation work receive dignity and respect and that we embrace them the immense service they render to society deserves to be honoured These values should be instilled in every household and in the life of every individual he saidReflecting on the significance of the journey connecting Vadnagar and Varanasi PM Modi said he had interacted with the yatris travelling from Vadnagar on Thursday and was meeting those travelling from Kashi towards his village on FridayYesterday I spoke to yatris from Vadnagar and today with my Kashi who are going to my village I got the opportunity to talk to them You are doing the work Its a matter of good fortune Vadnagar gave me morals and Kashi filled unlimited colours of service he saidBetween these two cities you are carrying out such a huge seva campaign PM Modi addedHe said the participants were carrying the spirit of patriotism and service and expressed satisfaction over their dedicationI am satisfied that you all are doing the same These colours are of patriotism and service You all have feelings to make this country Viksit Bharat PM Modi saidHe also referred to photographs and updates from the journey saying he had been observing images showing the condition of places before and after service activitiesToday the way you all are doing with dedication when I was doing trackers and was seeing all the pictures of before and after I feel satisfied with what you all are doing he saidPM Modi also remembered Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya on his birth anniversary and highlighted his contributions to the ideological and organisational development of the BJPToday is the birth anniversary of Pt Deendayal He gave us a lot of lessons As Seva Yatris we should continuously do the work Pt Deendayal Upadhyay was the one who gave us the vision of Swadeshi he saidHe said BJP workers were proud of the inspiration provided by Deendayal Upadhyaya and noted the scale of the ongoing Seva YatraEvery BJP worker is proud that Pt Deendayal gave us inspiration and we are all walking on that path of service Its a big thing that you all are travelling through 20 different routes 1000 Seva Yatris 1000 villages seeing lakhs of people All this is a great experience of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat PM Modi saidPM Modi further said Every journey and every experience gained during a journey guides me like a guru even today These journeys have taught me a great dealnbsp Right where you are going Vadnagar my own journey began there at the age of 17 or 18 First to discover myself to achieve my goal and then in the service of society and the nation In these journeys whoever I met whichever familys house I stayed in everyone has taught me somethingOn Thursday the Prime Minister interacted with participants of the Seva Yatra travelling from Vadnagar to Varanasi and praised their journey as an initiative focused on grassroots engagement and serviceDuring that interaction he asked the participants about their experiences on the road their interactions with local communities and the new lessons they had learned during the journey Drawing from his own organisational experience PM Modi also acknowledged the challenges faced by the participants including changing weather conditions and frequent movement between locationsThe Seva Yatra began on September 17 as part of the wider Seva Sankalp Abhiyan which has been organised to highlight PM Modis 25 years of public life The participants are travelling through towns districts talukas and villages with the programme focusing on community service and public engagement at the grassroots levelThe twoway motorcycle yatras between Varanasi and Vadnagar involve young participants travelling through multiple states districts and villages During the journey the Seva Yatris have been engaging with local communities and participating in various serviceoriented activitiesThese activities include cleanliness drives interactions with beneficiaries and residents and programmes at schools hospitals nursing homes and other community locations The journey is scheduled to continue until October 7The Seva Yatris are stopping at different communities and participating in activities based on local needs These include cleanliness drives at ponds temples schools parks hospitals and other public places along with beneficiary interactions youth dialogues Gram Sabha Samvad and Gau SevaThey are also participating in tree plantation activities under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative while using the journey to interact with local residents and understand their experiencesThe Seva Sankalp Abhiyan through these activities aims to combine service communication youth participation social welfare cultural engagement and community mobilisation across the routes connecting Varanasi and VadnagarIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-interacts-with-seva-yatris-travelling-from-varanasi-to-vadnagar-highlights-grassroots-service-viksit-bharat-vision-701975.html Fri, 25 Sep 2026 11:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-to-hear-plea-alleging-cjp-leaders-circulated-deepfake-image-of-woman-with-pm-modi-701987.html New Delhi Sep 25 IANS The Delhi High Court on Friday agreed to hear a plea seeking immediate removal and blocking of an alleged AIgenerated and morphed image of a woman shown alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the petitioner accusing Cockroach Janta Party CJP leaders Saurav Das Abhijit Dipke Ashutosh Ranka and Ratna Singh of circulating the imagenbspnbspThe matter was mentioned before Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya by advocate Umesh Sharma who submitted that an FIR had already been registered in connection with the incidentThe High Court assured that the matter would be taken up for hearing on FridayAccording to the petition the woman has alleged that the CJP leaders and their associates unauthorisedly obtained her photograph and used Artificial Intelligence AI faceswapping tools to morph her face onto a highly vulgar and compromising image alongside Prime Minister Narendra ModiThe petitioner has alleged that the morphed image was printed on physical banners and displayed during CJP demonstrations at Jantar Mantar where sexually suggestive and derogatory slogans were allegedly raisedThe plea further alleged that videos of the banners and the alleged incident were uploaded on Instagram and other social media platforms and that the morphed images were subsequently uploaded and circulated on pornographic websitesThe petitioner has described the alleged incident as a vicious coordinated cyberassault public character assassination and deepfake generationAccording to the petition the alleged incident took place in July during protests organised by the CJP at Jantar Mantar The petitioner stated that she approached the police on September 23 after facing severe online harassment and threats of sexual assaultThe Delhi Police registered an FIR at the Cyber Police Station New Delhi on September 24 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS and the Information Technology ActThe petition claimed that despite registration of the FIR the cyber authorities have not taken immediate steps to secure the takedown or blocking of the allegedly viral deepfake contentIt further said that the continued circulation of the images has subjected the petitioner to continuous lifethreatening intimidation rape threats and severe mental traumaThe plea has sought directions to the authorities to immediately trace block and remove the alleged morphed and explicit images from social media platforms and pornographic websitesThe petitioner has also sought protection of her life liberty and bodily integrity besides preservation of electronic evidence relating to the alleged cyberassaultThe four CJP leaders Saurav Das Abhijit Dipke Ashutosh Ranka and Ratna Singh have been named as respondents in the petition along with the Delhi government and Meta Platforms India Pvt LtdThe petition stated that the alleged material remained accessible online despite the registration of an FIR prompting the petitioner to approach the High Court and seek urgent interventionIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-to-hear-plea-alleging-cjp-leaders-circulated-deepfake-image-of-woman-with-pm-modi-701987.html Fri, 25 Sep 2026 12:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-congress-chief-gaurav-gogoi-detained-during-protest-seeking-cec-gyanesh-kumars-removal-702024.html Guwahati Sep 25 IANS Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi and several senior party leaders were detained by police on Friday after they attempted to cross barricades during a demonstration in Guwahati demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner CEC Gyanesh KumarnbspThe protest was organised by the state Congress unit as part of its campaign against CEC Gyanesh Kumar after a recent investigative media report was published on the inner workings and dissent within the Election Commission of India ECI over the Special Intensive Revision SIR voter data and new voter registrationThe demonstrators assembled at the partys state headquarters Rajiv Bhawan before setting out in a procession towards the office of the Chief Electoral OfficerThe protesters were also planning to burn an effigy of the Chief Election Commissioner as part of the demonstrationPolice had deployed barricades near the Congress headquarters to prevent the procession from moving furtherTension briefly escalated when Gogoi and other senior leaders tried to move past the police cordonFollowing the attempt to breach the barricades police detained Gogoi along with other protesting leadersThe Congress has been raising questions over the functioning of the Election Commission and has sought the removal of Kumar from the post of CECFridays demonstration in Assam is part of the partys wider political campaign against the poll panelCongress leaders have stressed that the electoral process requires greater transparency and accountability while the Election Commission has maintained that its actions are governed by established legal and constitutional proceduresThe detention of the senior Congress leaders came as the party stepped up its protests in the state with workers and leaders participating in the march from Rajiv BhawanThere was no immediate official statement from the Election Commission on the specific allegations raised by the protestersThe Congress is expected to continue raising the issue through political programmes and public demonstrations with the party seeking greater scrutiny of the functioning of the poll machineryThe incident also comes amid heightened political activity in Assam where parties are intensifying their organisational and electoral campaigns ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha bypoll in the stateIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-congress-chief-gaurav-gogoi-detained-during-protest-seeking-cec-gyanesh-kumars-removal-702024.html Fri, 25 Sep 2026 16:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modis-25-years-of-service-assam-launches-innovation-challenge-702028.html Guwahati Sep 25 IANS Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday announced the launch of the North East Seva Fast Innovation Challenge aimed at encouraging young innovators and startups from across the country to develop scientific and technologydriven solutions to key problems confronting the statenbspTalking to reporters here Chief Minister Sarma said the innovation challenge is an important component of the states Seva and Sankalp Abhiyan being undertaken on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modis 25 years of public serviceHe added that the Assam government has identified around 50 specific problems relating to agriculture irrigation transportation urban management and other sectors and invited young people from Assam the Northeast and other parts of India to develop workable solutionsThe idea is that the young generation should develop scientific models showing how these problems can be solved CM Sarma saidThe Chief Minister said the state government would select the best two or three models and provide support beyond financial assistanceHe added that relevant government departments would also provide data and other necessary support to innovators so that their ideas could be converted into practical solutionsOnce an idea is converted into a solution the state government will integrate such solutions with its policies wherever appropriate and help the concerned startup grow into a company CM Sarma saidHe added that the challenge was being organised in Assam for the first time and would be open not only to youngsters from the state but to the entire Northeast and the countryLet the problems be from Assam and the solutions come from across India he saidChief Minister Sarma expressed hope that the initiative would generate enthusiasm among young innovators and could subsequently be organised annually if it proves successfulHe thanked and congratulated the states Startup Department and Education Department for initiating the programmeThe Chief Minister said the challenges had been framed around practical issues faced by the state government and people with the objective of encouraging innovation and developing solutions that could eventually be implemented on the groundIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modis-25-years-of-service-assam-launches-innovation-challenge-702028.html Fri, 25 Sep 2026 17:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-directs-meta-to-remove-deepfake-image-of-woman-with-pm-modi-issues-notice-to-cjp-activists-702033.html New Delhi Sep 25 IANS The Delhi High Court on Friday directed Meta Platforms to remove within 24 hours objectionable content concerning a woman who alleged that an AIgenerated and morphed image of her alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi was circulated online after being displayed during a CJP protest at Jantar MantarnbspA singlejudge Bench of Justice Girish Kathpalia also directed the Delhi Police to provide complete protection to the petitioner and issued notice to CJP activists Saurav Das Abhijit Dipke Ashutosh Ranka and Ratna Singh on her plea seeking urgent removal of the allegedly objectionable contentThe Delhi High Court directed the police to file a status report detailing the action taken in the matter and posted the matter for further hearing on October 14In order to ensure that she is provided complete police protection it is directed that today she will disclose her exact residential address to the IO present in Court And IO shall forthwith transmit the address to SHO of the area in which petitioner resides IO shall also transmit a copy of this order to the said SHO who is directed to ensure complete police protection to the petitioner in all possible and practical manner Justice Kathpalia orderedDuring the hearing the Delhi Police informed the High Court that an FIR had already been registered in connection with the alleged circulation of the content and submitted that action would be taken expeditiouslyDelhi Police accepts notice and submits that since FIR was registered yesterday itself the action shall be taken as expeditiously as possible the order recordedThe High Court further directed the registry to redact all the impugned web links from the petition and its annexuresHowever it directed the petitioner to hand over the pictures and videos concerned along with the web links to the investigating agency in electronic formIt also orally observed that the petitioner would have the right to claim compensation from the organisers of the demonstration and made it clear that filing of the petition would not preclude her from claiming any other relief available to her in lawAccording to the petition the petitioner alleged that her photograph was unauthorisedly obtained and used with AI faceswapping tools to create a highly vulgar and compromising image showing her alongside Prime Minister Narendra ModiThe petitioner further alleged that videos and images were uploaded on Instagram and other social media platforms while the morphed images were subsequently uploaded and circulated on pornographic websitesAccording to the plea the alleged incident took place in July during a CJP protest following which the petitioner approached the police on September 23 after facing severe online harassment and threats of sexual assaultThe Delhi Police registered an FIR at the Cyber Police Station New Delhi on September 24 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS and the Information Technology ActThe plea claimed that despite registration of the FIR immediate steps had not been taken to secure the takedown or blocking of the allegedly viral content It further alleged that continued circulation of the images had subjected the petitioner to continuous lifethreatening intimidation rape threats and severe mental traumaThe petition sought directions to the authorities to trace block and remove the alleged morphed and explicit images from social media platforms and pornographic websites besides seeking protection of her life liberty and bodily integrityIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-directs-meta-to-remove-deepfake-image-of-woman-with-pm-modi-issues-notice-to-cjp-activists-702033.html Fri, 25 Sep 2026 19:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rahul-gandhi-speaks-to-iit-bombay-students-family-assures-support-for-justice-701839.html Mumbai Sep 24 IANS Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi spoke to the family of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode over the phone and assured them of his support in their pursuit of justice Maharashtra Congress said on ThursdayAccording to the Maharashtra Congress Gandhi expressed solidarity with the family and assured them of all possible support in seeking justice for SahilFollowing Sahils death his family has levelled serious allegations against the IIT Bombay administration and certain officials The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is currently investigating the caseThe Youth Congress is also scheduled to hold a press conference on Thursday afternoon regarding the matter The organisation is expected to announce its future strategy and the next course of action concerning the caseMeanwhile regular classes resumed at IIT Bombay on Wednesday days after the death of the secondyear student triggered protests on the campus sources saidThe Mumbai Police on Wednesday said the investigation into Sahils death was being conducted impartially and that all possible angles were being examined The police also appealed to people to refrain from spreading misinformation about the caseFollowing the unfortunate demise of Sahil Ravindra Wakode 20 a student of IIT Bombay a case was registered at Powai Police Station The case has subsequently been transferred to the Crime Branch Mumbai as DCB CID CR No 1242026 officials saidThe investigation has been entrusted to an ACPrank officer and is being closely supervised by DCP DetectionI Crime Branch they addedMeanwhile IIT Bombay professor Suryanarayana Doolla who has been named in connection with Sahils death was sent on leave amid the ongoing investigation sources said on WednesdaySahils parents have demanded the immediate arrest of Doolla A case has been registered against him on allegations including abetment to suicide and castebased discrimination following the students deathWakode a secondyear BTech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering was found hanging in his hostel room on the Powai campus on the evening of September 18 The incident took place hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during a midsemester examinationIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rahul-gandhi-speaks-to-iit-bombay-students-family-assures-support-for-justice-701839.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/punjab-govt-moves-hc-against-ed-raids-court-appointed-warrant-officer-to-submit-report-today-701840.html Chandigarh Sep 24 IANS The Punjab government has approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the ongoing Enforcement Directorate searches at the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority GMADA and other locations in the state prompting the court to appoint a warrant officer to monitor the operationsnbspnbspThe matter came up for an urgent hearing before Justice Sanjay Vashisth late Wednesday night with the proceedings continuing till early hours The high court appointed a seniorrank warrant officer and authorised him to visit the search locations at any timeHe has been directed to submit a status report to the court by 2 pm on ThursdayThe court was informed during the hearing that ED search and seizure operations were underway and that some senior government functionaries had allegedly been detained The state also submitted that the ongoing action had brought government functioning to a standstillThe court directed the Chandigarh Director General of Police and the Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police to make necessary security arrangements for the warrant officerThe ED searches being carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act began at the GMADA headquarters in Mohali near here on Tuesday and were extended to several other locations in Punjab Chandigarh Panchkula and DelhiThe agency is probing alleged irregularities in land acquisition changes in land use and financial concessions extended to private real estate entitiesThe ED has alleged that the suspected undue gains to private entities and corresponding loss to the exchequer could exceed Rs 100 crore The searches have also covered premises linked to Tirupati Infraprojects Pvt Ltd and associated companiesThe agency has been examining records relating to land acquired by GMADA and decisions concerning changes in land use and dues payable to the authority The ED action has triggered a political confrontation between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the BJPled CentreThe Aam Aadmi Party AAP has accused the Central government of using investigative agencies to put pressure on Punjab officials allegations which have not been established by the courtThe AAP on Wednesday said the BJP has lost political ground in Punjab and is now resorting to Central agencies to intimidate Punjabis and AAP leaders It said the Centre is trying to disrupt GMADAs functioning and create hurdles for the Bhagwant Mann governments welfare schemes including the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar YojnaCentral agencies cannot manufacture political support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP in Punjab the party saidIn a statement the AAP said Arvind Kejriwals exposure of the Election Commissions functioning had further rattled the Modi government which was now resorting to pressure tactics against PunjabisIt said the BJP and the Centre were simultaneously trying to create hurdles in the functioning of GMADA and obstruct the governments welfare initiatives The BJP is unable to stop the welfare schemes through political means so attempts are now being made to create administrative pressure and obstacles The people of Punjab will not allow these tactics to succeed the AAP saidThe party said the BJP could deploy as many agencies as it wanted but neither raids nor intimidation could weaken the resolve of Punjabis AAP will stand with Punjab and fight every attempt to obstruct the functioning of the Bhagwant Mann government stop its welfare schemes or suppress the voice of the people the party added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/punjab-govt-moves-hc-against-ed-raids-court-appointed-warrant-officer-to-submit-report-today-701840.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cjp-gives-cec-gyanesh-kumar-48-hours-to-resign-threatens-nationwide-agitation-701864.html New Delhi Sep 24 IANS The Cockroach Janata Party CJP on Thursday demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar within 48 hours and warned of a nationwide agitation if he does not step downnbspAddressing a press conference CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said If within 48 hours Gyanesh Kumar doesnt resign the Cockroach Janata Party will start a nationwide agitation We wont step back till the time Gyanesh Kumar resignsDipke launched a sharp attack on the CEC following reports about differences within the Election Commission of India ECI over decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rollsAbhijeet Dipke said Yesterday a report came out regarding the Election Commission which shows that Gyanesh Kumar the Chief Election Commissioner is the biggest traitor of this country He is the biggest antinational Gyanesh Kumar is the biggest antinational of this country and he should resign immediately Now why is he antinational Because he is undermining Indias democracyHe alleged that the functioning of the Election Commission under Kumar had undermined democracyWhat did democracy mean in our country Democracy meant that the people would choose the government the people would decide whom they want to vote for But ever since Gyanesh Kumar became the Chief Election Commissioner the government has been deciding who will vote and who will notIs this democracy What kind of definition of democracy is this You have completely turned democracy upside down This is not democracy this is autocracy And the biggest criminal in this the biggest antinational is Gyanesh Kumar he saidDipke further referred to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and alleged that the results and subsequent developments involving several political leaders showed a patternTo understand this we will have to go back to 2024 In the 2024 elections the BJP could not achieve a majority The panic button was pressed when they failed to secure a majority They had come down to 240 seats when they were raising the slogan of 400 paar After that they realised that the mood of the country was changing he saidHe alleged that several Chief Ministers and political leaders who had campaigned together in 2024 were subsequently defeatedThis cannot simply be a coincidence You can see a pattern All the Chief Ministers who had come together in 2024 and campaigned together how were they eliminated one by one he saidDipke further alleged that voter deletions had affected constituencies associated with several political leadersHe claimed that 50000 votes were deleted from former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees constituency while she lost by around 15000 votesHe also claimed that one lakh votes were deleted from former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalins constituency and that he lost by around 45000 votes In Delhi he alleged that 40000 votes were deleted from former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals constituency where he claimed Kejriwal lost by around 40005000 votesHe also alleged that the Election Commission had played a role in the split of Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackerays party and the allocation of its election symbolUddhav Thackerays party was split and its election symbol was taken away by the Election Commission The Election Commission very cleverly and proactively took away that election symbol and gave it to a proxy party which you could call a shell company he allegedDipke further alleged that similar developments had taken place involving other political parties and accused the ECI of favouring the BJPSo who is the person most responsible for this The real culprit the real criminal behind all this is Gyanesh Kumar He has not only rigged elections across the country but has also proactively ensured that the BJP remains in power he allegedCJP coconvenor Saurav Das also criticised the functioning of the electoral systemThey have turned the country into a huge joke under the current system This system is corrupt this system is broken The youth of the country is demanding change They are saying Change is required fundamental change is required Das saidHe said that the right to vote was an important instrument available to citizens to bring about changeBut how will the system change If your right to vote which is the only tool you have to bring about change in your life is taken away from you or stolen from you then how will change come he askedIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/cjp-gives-cec-gyanesh-kumar-48-hours-to-resign-threatens-nationwide-agitation-701864.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 15:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sdach-to-introduce-skill-based-ayush-courses-701867.html DW Bureau Chandigarh September 24 Shri Dhanwantry Ayurvedic College amp Hospital SDACH Sector 46 has announced skillbased courses in the AYUSH and healthcare sectors under the Ministry of AYUSHs Skill India initiativeThe courses include a oneyear Panchkarma Technician course and threemonth courses in Garbhini Mittra and Ayurveda Masseur BSc Nursing Ayurveda and Multi Task Worker courses will be offered in affiliation with Shri Krishna AYUSH University KurukshetraSDACH General Secretary Dr Naresh Mittal said the courses would be introduced after completion of the affiliation process Admissions are scheduled to begin on October 15 with classes from November 1Those completing the courses will receive certificates from the Healthcare Sector Skill Council HSSC an industryled certification body promoted by the National Skill Development CorporationThe college is also hosting a twoday training workshop on Shalakya Tantra with a focus on ENTrelated subjects The workshop being held on September 24 and 25 in collaboration with Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth RAV has 35 to 40 doctors participating from different parts of the countryMittal said experts from the All India Institute of Ayurveda Delhi the National Ayurveda Institute Panchkula and institutions in Gujarat and Sonipat are participating as resource personsHe said SDACH had received a Rs 10crore grant under the Ministry of AYUSHs Centre of Excellence programme for AYUSH management of pain disorders Four products have been developed and patented under the project he saidConstruction of a 250bed hospital has also begun under the project according to Mittal The proposed facility will have an integrated healthcare approach involving different AYUSH systems https://dailyworld.in/national/sdach-to-introduce-skill-based-ayush-courses-701867.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 16:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/possibility-of-reformation-sc-commutes-death-sentence-of-man-convicted-of-raping-killing-six-year-old-stepdaughter-701868.html New Delhi Sep 24 IANS The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the conviction of a man for repeatedly raping his sixyearold stepdaughter and throttling her to death but commuted his death sentence to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life without remissionnbspnbspA bench of Justices Vikram Nath Sandeep Mehta and Vijay Bishnoi held that the prosecution had established the offences under Sections 302 3762f 3762n 376AB and 201 of the Indian Penal Code IPC besides Sections 5 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act beyond reasonable doubtThe Justice Vikram Nathled Bench said that although the crime was of the utmost gravity and involved the sustained sexual violation of a child by her guardian and her killing to conceal the offence the mitigating circumstances and the possibility of reformation meant that the death sentence could not be sustainedWe are of the view that this is not a case in which the sentence of death ought to be sustained the Supreme Court saidIt added that the intermediate sentence of imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life without remission is available and is adequate to answer the gravity of the crime The apex court held that an ordinary life sentence carrying the prospect of remission after 14 years would be inadequate in the facts of the caseThe gravity of the crime and in particular the sustained sexual violation of a child by her guardian and her killing to conceal that violation is such that a sentence of imprisonment for life carrying the ordinary prospect of remission after fourteen years would be wholly inadequate to the ends of justice the judgment saidThe top court commuted the death sentence imposed on the appellant under Sections 302 and 376AB of the IPC to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life without remissionThe other sentences and fines imposed for the remaining offences were affirmed and all substantive sentences were directed to run concurrentlyThe case arose from the prosecution of Waris for allegedly subjecting his stepdaughter to repeated sexual assault inside the family home and subsequently throttling her to death The mother of the victim who was the wife of the appellant was the solitary eyewitness to the events inside the houseThe Supreme Court recorded that the victim was about six years old and that the offences were committed within the four walls of the matrimonial home The postmortem examination found that the child died of asphyxia due to throttling and also recorded a fresh tear at the fourchette with oozing of blood which the autopsy surgeon opined was indicative of sexual assaultThe trial court had convicted Waris and sentenced him to death for the offences under Sections 376AB and 302 of the IPC The Madhya Pradesh High Court subsequently affirmed the conviction and confirmed the death sentence holding that the case fell within the category of the rarest of rare casesDuring the proceedings before the Supreme Court an issue arose concerning the manner in which the mother of the victim had been crossexamined at the trial The legal aid counsel representing the appellant had been appointed on the same day on which the witnesss evidence was recorded The Supreme Court had therefore directed further crossexamination of the witness in 2025 observing that the original procedure had caused prejudice to the appellant in the matter of her crossexaminationThe further crossexamination was conducted on June 14 2025 by counsel of the appellants choice after the defence was provided the complete record in advanceThe apex court bench subsequently held that the defect had been adequately remediedIt also relied upon the medical evidence and the mothers testimony in affirming the conviction It recorded that the medical evidence independently established that the childs death was homicidal and caused by manual strangulation while the injury recorded during the postmortem examination was consistent with recent penetrative sexual assaultOn the question of sentence the Supreme Court observed that the appellant had spent about eight years in custody including seven years under the shadow of the death sentence It held that the possibility of his reformation had not been excluded by the prosecution and that the sentence of imprisonment for the whole of his remaining natural life without remission would meet the ends of justiceThe top court described the substituted sentence as a sentence of the utmost severity second only to the sentence of death and said it would confine the appellant in prison for the whole of the remainder of his life without the prospect of release by remissionIt is a sentence proportionate to the gravity of his crime and it reflects the abhorrence with which the law regards what he did while stopping short of the taking of his life in a case in which the possibility of his reformation has not been foreclosed the Justice Vikram Nathled Bench said IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/possibility-of-reformation-sc-commutes-death-sentence-of-man-convicted-of-raping-killing-six-year-old-stepdaughter-701868.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 17:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/for-indias-next-trillion-dollars-of-growth-the-east-must-rise-gautam-adani-701883.html Kolkata Sep 24 IANS Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani said on Thursday that for several decades much of Indias economic momentum has been driven by the western and southern corridors of the country but the next chapter must create new centres of gravity however challenging it may benbspFor Indias next trillion dollars of growth the East must rise And this is where Bengal becomes essential to fulfil the vision of Viksit Bharat And in my view no location in India has Bengals combination of advantages Gautam Adani said in his address at the Indian Chamber of Commerce hereHighlighting the strategic advantage that the state enjoys he pointed out that to Bengals west lie the mineral and industrial heartlands of Odisha Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh To its north and east lies the gateway to Indias Northeast Through the Bay of Bengal lie some of the fastestgrowing markets of Southeast Asia and the IndoPacific with access to 60 per cent of the global GDP and 65 per cent of the global populationIn the language of infrastructure Bengal is not simply just another market It is a strategic national node waiting for the expansion of its potential networks And this is how at Adani we see the promise of Bengal the billionaire industrialist saidHe said that the Adani Groups commitment to West Bengal goes far beyond individual projectsOver the coming decade our intent is to deploy over one lakh crore rupees across Bengal This will span ports logistics power generation power transmission and distribution roads bridges and ropeways green cement as well as hyperscale data centres Gautam Adani saidHe further stated that development cannot ultimately be measured only in cargo volumes megawatts tonnes or terabytes as its true measure must remain deeply humanHe cited this as the driving force behind the groups commitment to create the Adani Arogya Mandir a 2000bed worldclass medical institute in New Town Half of the beds in this hospital will be dedicated to those who cannot afford quality medical careBut while we build for Bengals future we must also honour what makes Bengal timeless and that is its ghats its literature its architecture its festivals and its extraordinary cultural confidence It is therefore our privilege to support the revitalisation of the iconic Kumartuli Ghat build a curated Durga Puja programme to celebrate Bengals artistes take Maa to audiences across the world and support the conservation of the historic Writers Building the Adani Group Chairman saidRecalling the start of his entrepreneurial journey 30 years ago Gautam Adani said Mundra in the West was to become my first karmabhoomi Today with the same humility and sense of responsibility it is my prayer to Maa that Bengal in the East becomes my second karmabhoomiNot because Bengal must become another Gujarat but because Bengal must become the strongest version of Bengal itself drawing upon its geography its intellect its industrial legacy and its historic ability to awaken the nation he added IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/for-indias-next-trillion-dollars-of-growth-the-east-must-rise-gautam-adani-701883.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 18:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/harpal-singh-cheema-approves-110-new-junior-resident-posts-at-aims-mohali-701892.html DW Bureau Chandigarh September 24 Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has approved the creation of 110 new Junior Resident JR posts at Dr BR Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences AIMS SAS Nagar Mohali taking the total sanctioned strength from 97 to 207According to the state government the approval follows the expansion of postgraduate medical courses at the institute The Baba Farid University of Health Sciences and the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences have granted affiliationapproval across 24 departments taking the annual postgraduate intake at AIMS Mohali to 69 seatsCheema said the institutes requirement for Junior Residents has been projected at 147 for the 202627 academic session 177 for 202728 and 207 for 202829 based on the threeyear postgraduate training cycleThe institute currently has 97 sanctioned JR posts The government said the existing resident strength of 114 over the threeyear cycle was based on an annual intake of 38 academic residentsCheema said the additional posts were approved to meet the requirement for the current academic session Seven regularpostdiploma Junior Residents are also scheduled to complete their tenure and be relieved during the session including six in October and one in December 2026The Department of Medical Education and Research had submitted the proposal for creation of the posts the government said https://dailyworld.in/national/harpal-singh-cheema-approves-110-new-junior-resident-posts-at-aims-mohali-701892.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 19:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rs-624-crore-released-to-over-7-lakh-widows-destitute-women-in-punjab-701895.html DW Bureau Chandigarh September 24 Around Rs 624 crore has been released during the current financial year under Punjabs Financial Assistance Scheme for Widows and Destitute Women benefiting more than seven lakh women Social Security Women and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur said on ThursdayShe said the state government has made a budget provision of more than Rs 1200 crore for the scheme for 202627Dr Baljit Kaur directed department officials to intensify awareness campaigns at the grassroots level to ensure that eligible women are able to access the scheme She said Anganwadi workers Sewa Kendras panchayats urban local bodies and fieldlevel staff should help identify eligible beneficiaries and provide information about the schemeThe minister also directed officials to ensure timely delivery of financial assistance and prevent delays in processing benefitsShe said beneficiaries and their families can approach their nearest District Social Security Office Sewa Kendra or concerned government office for information about the scheme and the application processThe minister said the department would continue to monitor the implementation of the scheme and review its delivery at the field level https://dailyworld.in/national/rs-624-crore-released-to-over-7-lakh-widows-destitute-women-in-punjab-701895.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 19:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rahul-gandhi-to-visit-tn-in-october-for-chhatron-ki-goonj-interaction-with-students-701753.html Chennai Sep 23 IANS Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit Tamil Nadu in the first week of October for an interaction with college students under the Chhatron Ki Goonj programme according to plans discussed by state Congress leadersnbspnbspThe visit forms part of Gandhis outreach to students as the Congress begins preparing for the 2029 Lok Sabha election The programme is intended to give college students an opportunity to speak directly with him and raise matters that concern themTamil Nadu Congress president Manickam Tagore is planning a large event for Gandhis visit A meeting at the partys headquarters Sathyamurthy Bhavan in Chennai discussed the proposed programmeTagore chaired the meeting attended by Congress leaders They decided to organise the student discussion during the first week of October though the party has yet to announce the date or venue The colleges that will take part have also not been identified publiclyThe state Congress will have to work out how students are selected the number who can attend and the format of the discussionDetails of Gandhis wider itinerary in Tamil Nadu have not been released and it is unclear whether he will address any other gatherings during the visitThe Chhatron Ki Goonj programme is centred on conversations with students in different statesThe planned Tamil Nadu event would bring that outreach to college campuses in a state where the Congress is seeking to strengthen its engagement with young people ahead of the next parliamentary electionNo agenda for the Chennai interaction has been announced so far That leaves open which subjects students may raise and how much of the event will be devoted to their questionsCongress leaders are expected to provide further information once the programmes arrangements are finalised The meeting at Sathyamurthy Bhavan marks an initial step in organising the visit State party leaders will now coordinate the venue student participation and other arrangements before releasing a formal scheduleFor Congress the event offers a chance to hear from students as it shapes its political outreach for 2029 For those taking part it would provide an opportunity to put their views to the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Further details including the date and location are expected from the party in the coming days IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/rahul-gandhi-to-visit-tn-in-october-for-chhatron-ki-goonj-interaction-with-students-701753.html Wed, 23 Sep 2026 12:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-raids-16-locations-in-kolkata-delhi-bengaluru-in-money-laundering-fema-violations-case-701755.html Kolkata Sep 23 IANS The Enforcement Directorate ED on Wednesday carried out simultaneous raids and search operations at 16 locations across Kolkata Delhi and Bengaluru in connection with a multicrore money laundering case linked to alleged financial irregularities foreign exchange violations and the acquisition of a corporate entitynbspThe ED officials have been conducting raids and search operations at two locations in Kolkata since Wednesday morningSources said the central agency conducted searches at two locations in Kolkata including the residences of directors of two corporate entities in Ballygunge and New Alipore in south Kolkata Investigators are examining bank accounts and corporate records as part of the probeAccording to sources the case involves allegations of largescale financial irregularities fraud in the name of foreign exchange transactions and laundering of substantial amounts of money Based on these inputs ED teams launched coordinated searches across multiple citiesSources said the searches are linked to suspected contraventions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act FEMA and alleged irregularities in the utilisation and movement of funds used for acquiring control of McNally Bharat Engineering Company Ltd MBECLThe premises being searched are reportedly associated with entities and individuals connected to MBECL and its acquisition process including several private companiesThe agency is also examining whether the insolvency resolution process may have been used to facilitate the indirect regaining of control of the company by persons who could potentially be ineligible under Section 29A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016Search and seizure operations were underway at the time of filing this reportBesides Kolkata similar raids and search operations are being conducted in Delhi and Bangalore by separate teams of ED officials In total 16 locations are being raided by the central agency officialsIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-raids-16-locations-in-kolkata-delhi-bengaluru-in-money-laundering-fema-violations-case-701755.html Wed, 23 Sep 2026 12:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ai-can-provide-solutions-but-asking-right-questions-should-be-your-responsibility-prez-murmu-to-students-701769.html Vadodara Sep 23 IANS President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday called for a multidisciplinary approach in higher education saying complex contemporary challenges such as climate change artificial intelligence poverty alleviation and democracy could not be addressed through a single field of studynbspAddressing the 75th convocation of the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in Gujarat President Murmu said the universitys range of academic disciplines placed it in a position to bring together different streams of knowledgeFrom arts to science technology to medicine law to social work fine arts to performing arts management to journalism this university is providing education in many fields of knowledge she saidPresident Murmu said problems confronting society were increasingly interconnected and required knowledge from multiple disciplinesClimate change is not only a subject of environmental studies Artificial intelligence is not only a subject of computer science Health is not only a subject of medicine or medical science Poverty alleviation is not only the subject of an economist Democracy is not only the subject of political science she saidToday solving all important problems requires a multidisciplinary approach she addedThe President said students needed to develop different forms of understanding and perspective rather than limiting themselves to their own academic specialisationsWe need the curiosity of a scientist the sensitivity of an artist the perspective of a historian an understanding of economics and the consciousness of sociology she notedPresident Murmu said higher educational institutions such as MS University are expected to keep moving in this direction and help students in applying knowledge across disciplinesHer remarks came at a convocation where candidates from a wide range of faculties were awarded degrees and postgraduate diplomasThe universitys faculties include Arts Science Education and Psychology Commerce Technology and Engineering Medicine Law Fine Arts Family and Community Sciences Social Work Performing Arts Management Studies Journalism and Communication and PharmacyAccording to the convocation declaration 229 candidates were found qualified for Doctor of Philosophy degrees while 2857 qualified for Masters degrees 8863 for Bachelors degrees and 657 for Postgraduate DiplomasPresident Murmu also spoke about the need for students to exercise judgement while adopting rapidly changing technologiesArtificial intelligence can provide solutions but asking the right questions should be your responsibility she saidShe added that technology could provide speed but students had to decide the direction in which it should be usedThe President urged students to combine technological capabilities with human values and constitutional principlesShe said educated citizens were expected to incorporate the ideals of justice liberty equality and fraternity enshrined in the Constitution into their lives and workplaces IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/ai-can-provide-solutions-but-asking-right-questions-should-be-your-responsibility-prez-murmu-to-students-701769.html Wed, 23 Sep 2026 14:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-yogi-distributes-appointment-letters-to-3-567-teachers-principals-in-lucknow-701698.html Lucknow Sep 22 IANS Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday distributed appointment letters to 3567 selected teachers and principals appointed through Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission for various posts in secondary schoolsnbspThe appointments include principals headmasters lecturers PGT and assistant teachers TGT The appointment letters were distributed at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in LucknowAddressing the gathering Yogi Adityanath congratulated the newly appointed teachers and principals and their families on the occasionI wholeheartedly congratulate all of you on becoming a part of the Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Department I also congratulate your teachers parents and all your family members on this occasion he saidThe Chief Minister said that the newly appointed teachers would have a significant role in shaping the future of students through guidance and mentorshipAs I told you if each teacher among you interacts with 100 students every year then 3567 teachers means you will interact with more than 35 lakh children in a year This means you have the ability to guide them Your guidance and mentorship will lay the foundation for a new India he saidRecalling Indias historical educational legacy Yogi Adityanath said the country was considered a Vishwaguru when it was home to prestigious centres of learning such as Takshashila and NalandaIndia has this heritage from a very long time There is a need to identify it and understand it he saidHe said the government could create an environment for setting up industries and facilitate their establishment but innovation and employment would ultimately depend on the students trained by teachersThe government can build laboratories but whether those laboratories conduct excellent research and prepare students for it will be decided by the students trained by you he saidThe Chief Minister also stressed the importance of specialised training for those entering the teaching profession He said an administrative officer might discharge administrative responsibilities effectively but would not necessarily be a good teacher without appropriate training Similarly police officers would also need training to become teachersReferring to reforms in recruitment examinations CM Yogi said that Prashant Kumar has been appointed Chairman with the responsibility of tackling the cheating mafia and ensuring that talented students were not deprived of opportunitiesHe said the appointment was linked to Kumars track record in the Uttar Pradesh Police and aimed at reforming the functioning of commissions and boardsAccording to the Chief Minister more than 5297 youths had received appointment letters from him during the previous weekIn the last nine years we have distributed appointment letters to 95 lakh people he saidTaking a jibe at the opposition he also referred to the Saifai Syndicate and said they should count the number of appointments made by the government adding that if they did not know how to count they could learn it from Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal YadavIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-yogi-distributes-appointment-letters-to-3-567-teachers-principals-in-lucknow-701698.html Tue, 22 Sep 2026 13:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/big-schemes-pointless-if-womens-safety-cant-be-ensured-says-priyanka-gandhi-on-jamui-case-701709.html Wayanad Kerala Sep 22 IANS Condemning the Bihar students molestation case Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday said that the Central and state governments should figure out ways to ensure womens safety at a time when crimes against women are increasing with each passing daySpeaking to reporters in Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi said Its horrible and crimes against women are increasing Crimes against women are just increasing Its become unsafe for women It was always unsafe it has just become more and more increasingly violent towards womenI think theres no point talking about big schemes and programmes if we cant even ensure the safety of women on our streets So its really something that all of us need to think about Wherever there are state governments and especially the central government they need to think about how they are going to ensure that women feel safe she addedPriyanka Gandhis remarks came as the Jamui molestation incident sent shockwaves across Bihar and beyondThe incident took place late on Saturday evening in the Madwa Pahar area of Jamui district where a minor girl student was allegedly stopped and molested by a group of youths while returning from the area A male student accompanying her was also allegedly assaulted according to the FIRThe matter came to light after a video of the incident began circulating on social media on Sunday evening prompting the district administration to contact the victims family and register a caseJamui police have arrested Nandan Yadav the alleged prime accused in the molestation and harassment of a minor girl student following a police encounter in which he sustained a gunshot injury to his leg officials said on TuesdayHe has been admitted to a hospital for treatmentInvestigators identified Yadav through a viral video of the incident Police said he was the youth seen wearing a red gamchha in the footage that surfaced on social mediaPolice have also arrested Ramashish Chaudhary who is accused of circulating the video online With the latest arrests five people have been taken into custody in connection with the case so far including three juvenilesAdditionally police said FIRs have been registered against operators of 120 social media profiles across multiple platforms for alleged violations related to the circulation of the content They said that the individuals are accused of sharing the video or disclosing information that could reveal the identity of the minor victimIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/big-schemes-pointless-if-womens-safety-cant-be-ensured-says-priyanka-gandhi-on-jamui-case-701709.html Tue, 22 Sep 2026 15:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/punjab-ed-conducts-searches-in-delhi-chandigarh-mohali-over-gmada-scams-701710.html Chandigarh Sep 22 IANS The Enforcement Directorate ED conducted searches in Delhi Chandigarh Mohali and Ludhiana in connection with alleged scams in Greater Mohali Area Development Authority GMADA and the related money laundering an official said on TuesdaySearches were conducted at GMADA office and office of Vikas Garg Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary to unearth evidence related to alleged multiple scams including GMADA auctions and waiver of External Development Charges EDC and interest charges due from builders and developers the ED said in a statementThe searches were conducted in connection with some FIRs registered by probe agenciesEarlier Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party AAP government in the state saying the corruption prevailing in GMADA has been exposed by none other than its own Member of Parliament MPThe admission by the AAP MP regarding bribery and the exploitation of the system by the bureaucracy in GMADA is clear evidence that the Mann government is completely steeped in corrupt functioning Dhillon said in a statement last monthHe said that the fact that an AAP Member of Parliament himself has acknowledged corruption in GMADA is clear evidence of the governments corrupt functioningDhillon added that corruption is not limited to GMADA alone but is rampant across PunjabnbspThis corruption and loot have broken the backs of common people traders and the poor in the state he saidHe alleged that no work is being done in the states tehsils without paying bribesnbspHe added that former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had claimed that Rs 20000 crore would come into the state exchequer from mining but the revenue remained limited to just Rs 600 croreWhere did the remaining Rs 19400 crore go The people of Punjab are well aware of the answer he saidDhillon said the AAP government which claims to follow a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption must answer how it can continue to govern when its own MP describes government institutions as hubs of lootSuch a government the Punjab BJP President said has no moral right to remain in powernbspHe added that the people of Punjab will hold the AAP government accountable for its loot and corruption and will oust this deeply dishonest government from power in 2027IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/punjab-ed-conducts-searches-in-delhi-chandigarh-mohali-over-gmada-scams-701710.html Tue, 22 Sep 2026 16:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/nta-undergoing-structural-reforms-cbt-transition-for-neet-ug-under-consideration-centre-to-sc-701690.html New Delhi Sep 22 IANS The Centre has told the Supreme Court that the National Testing Agency NTA is being strengthened through a functionalvertical structure the appointment of senior government officers and the creation of specialised professional positions as part of ongoing reformsnbspIn an additional affidavit filed before the apex court in the batch of petitions concerning reforms in the functioning of the NTA the Union Ministry of Education said a total of 14 officers including a Joint Secretary four Directors a Joint Director two Deputy Secretaries two Under Secretaries two Section Officers and two Assistant Section Officers were posted to the examination body in August 2026The affidavit was filed in compliance with the Supreme Court order directing the Ministry of Education to place on record details of the process being followed for implementation of the recommendations of the HighLevel Committee of Experts HLCE headed by former ISRO Chairman K RadhakrishnanThe Centre said the NTA is being restructured into a functionalvertical structure to enable domainspecific capability building replacing the earlier system in which personnel were deployed into examwise verticalsThe functionalvertical structure enables domainspecific capabilitybuilding within each core area of competence whereas in the earlier structure the human resources of NTA were deployed into specific examwise verticals the affidavit statedIt said the NTAs apex leadership is now headed by an officer of the rank of Secretary to the Government of India serving as its Director General while proposals to upgrade the post of DG from Joint Secretary level to Additional Secretary level and create five senior Joint Secretarylevel positions are under active considerationThe Centre further said the NTAs senior leadership now draws officers from multiple services including the Indian Administrative Service Indian Police Service Indian Revenue Service and Indian Statistical Service among othersThe affidavit said domain specialists are also being recruited from the open market in areas including technology human resources assessment research and development test centres candidate experience information security test security and vigilanceThe full new institutional establishment of the National Testing Agency covering the entirety of the Government cadre and the professional cadre required for the strengthened mandate is presently under active consideration and will be operationalised after due consideration of the final recommendations received from the HPTF it saidThe Centre informed the Supreme Court that the HighPowered Task Force HPTF constituted on July 27 under the chairmanship of former UIDAI Chairman Nandan Nilekani has commenced its work and held discussions with stakeholders including the NTA Director General and the Department of Higher EducationThe HPTF has also consulted K Radhakrishnan chairman of the HighPowered Steering Committee overseeing implementation of the HLCE recommendations the affidavit saidIt added that the Radhakrishnanled HLCE had made 101 recommendations covering reforms in national common entrance testing longterm institutional reforms digital education testing and periodic monitoring by the Ministry of EducationOn physical infrastructure the Centre said dedicated office space measuring 5552453 square feet had been allotted to the NTA in the Government of India Press building at Minto Road New DelhiThe fifth floor and parts of fourth and sixth floor of the said building have been allotted to the National Testing Agency comprising of 5552453 square feet of office space it saidAccording to the affidavit confidential operations of the NTA had been shifted to the newly allotted government premises over the previous monthThe Centre said the new facility would ensure that the NTAs functional verticals and apex leadership operate from a secured government premises while its confidential operations division could be structured with the level of security recommended by the HLCESecurity arrangements at the confidential area have also been strengthened with 39 personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force CISF deployed at the Minto Road facility for security access control and screeningThe affidavit said security measures include frisking Xray baggage screening machines and Door Frame Metal Detectors DFMDs at entry and exit pointsThe Centre also told the apex court that Standard Operating Procedures SOPs recommended by the HLCE had been defined for key stages of the examination cycle including questionpaper setting translation printing packing tracking movement examinationday protocols opening of trunks examinationcentre security and return movement and computation of resultsThe complete granular Standard Operating Procedures are for reasons of operational security not being placed on the public record the affidavit saidIt added that measures already placed before the top court included QRcode tracking and Aadhaar authentication of question papers security protocols for transportation and storage examinationcentre security Aadhaarbased biometric and face authentication multilayer frisking mobile jammers CCTV monitoring use of AI tools and a fivetier oversight structureThe affidavit said the HPTF is currently considering among other issues the possible migration of NEETUG from the penandpaper mode to computerbased testing CBTThe possible migration of NEET UG from the penandpaper mode to ComputerBased Testing including the design of the transition the sequencing the infrastructure prerequisites and the equity implications for rural women and lowconnectivitydistrict candidates is under consideration it saidThe Centre said a national examinationgrade CBT infrastructure strategy was also being formulated to address the geographic gap in testcentre availability and standardise examinationgrade specificationsThe transition to CBT would require structured consultation and concurrence of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Medical Commission it addedThe Union government told the Supreme Court that it remained committed to strengthening the integrity and credibility of examinations conducted by the NTAThe Union of India respectfully places on record its firm and continuing commitment to the integrity credibility and continued strengthening of the national examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency the affidavit statedThe development comes days after the Supreme Court said it may visit the NTA office to assess on the ground whether its examinationconducting system was functioning effectively including its manpower and other arrangementsA Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe had stressed that recommendations for institutional reforms should be implemented and not remain confined to reportsThe apex court had also directed the Joint Secretary coordinating with the HPTF to file an affidavit detailing the progress made in implementing the proposed reforms and ordered that the affidavit be uploaded on the NTAs official website for students and other stakeholdersThe matter is listed for further hearing on October 9IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/nta-undergoing-structural-reforms-cbt-transition-for-neet-ug-under-consideration-centre-to-sc-701690.html Tue, 22 Sep 2026 13:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mayawati-takes-dig-at-akhilesh-yadav-over-pda-chariot-questions-sps-saffron-shift-701618.html New Delhi Sep 21 IANS Bahujan Samaj Party BSP chief Mayawati on Monday targeted Samajwadi Party SP chief Akhilesh Yadav over the partys PDA Chariot ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections questioning its colour scheme and electoral strategyThe SPs Rath Yatra is part of its preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections and is centred on its PDA Pichhde ie Backward Classes Dalits and Alpsankhyaks ie Minorities formulationTaking to social media platform X in Hindi Mayawati said the PDA Chariot promoted by the SP chief featured less of the partys traditional red colour and more of the RSSBJPs saffron colourThe Samajwadi Party SP chiefs PDA Chariot features less of the SPs own red color and more of the RSSBJPs saffron color In such a situation the discussion among people is whether this is all about constantly changing colours like a chameleon for the sake of vote gains or whether the SP chief has lost faith in securing votes from Muslims she said in the tongueincheek postShe further claimed that the Muslim community in Uttar Pradesh was aware of what she described as the SPs electoral recordIn any case the Muslim community in Uttar Pradesh in particular is fully aware of this bitter reality Despite giving the SP the majority of onesided votes in the previous elections this party SP was still unable to prevent the BJP from forming governments in both UP and at the Centre So why waste votes by giving them to this party time and again In this matter they are now swiftly shifting their stance toward the BSP much like the Brahmin community among the upper castes Mayawati claimedMayawati further added Because the BSP has several times in UP demonstrated the establishment of an ironclad rule of lawparticularly in matters of crime control and law and order alongside outstanding achievements in broad public interest public welfare and development which the state urgently needs for the welfare and wellbeing of all sections of societyMayawati further said that SP should also make sure to inform the public about the true reality of their PDA nowAt the same time the SP should also make sure to inform the public about the true reality of their PDA now Because in electoral selfinterest so far they have sometimes described PD as Backward Dalit sometimes as Pandit and in an attempt to portray themselves as Ambedkarites they have worn BSPs bluecoloured attire and gotten photos taken However people immediately rejected this by calling it fake Ambedkarism she saidShe said that the BSP is an Ambedkarite partyIn contrast the BSP is an Ambedkarite party with the policy and principle of Sarvajan Hitay Sarvajan Sukhay for the welfare of all sections of society and it advocates for everyone to live a life of selfrespect and dignity with roti bread rozgar employment and the like That is why the BSP commands respect across all sections of society Mayawati added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mayawati-takes-dig-at-akhilesh-yadav-over-pda-chariot-questions-sps-saffron-shift-701618.html Mon, 21 Sep 2026 11:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-to-hear-on-nov-16-contempt-case-against-arvind-kejriwal-others--701621.html New Delhi Sep 21 PTI The Delhi High Court on Monday listed for hearing on November 16 its criminal contempt case against AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal Manish Sisodia Sanjay Singh and others over vilifying social media posts against Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma A bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Arun Bhardwaj granted time to Kejriwal and others to file their replies in the matterKejriwals senior counsel submitted that he was yet to receive the entire material forming the basis of the contempt casenbspThe bench asked the registry to supply the material which was stated to be incomplete and said reply if any to be filed in four weeks The court also listed on November 16 a separate contempt petition by lawyer Ashok Chaitanya against Kejriwal and others including AAP leader Gopal Rai and journalist Saurav Das for allegedly being part of an orchestrated social media campaign against Justice SharmaOn May 19 the court had issued notice to Kejriwal and other politicians on the suo motu contempt case initiated against them by Justice Sharma and had granted them four weeks to file their responsenbspIt had then appointed senior advocate Rajdipa Behura as amicus curiaeJustice Sharma had on May 14 initiated criminal contempt proceedings against Kejriwal Sisodia Singh and other AAP leaders including Durgesh Pathak Saurabh Bharadwaj and Vinay Mishra over their vilifying social media posts against her in relation to the excise policy casenbspThe judge also initiated contempt proceedings against X user Devesh VishwakarmanbspSubsequently lawyer Ashok Chaitanya also filed a contempt petitionnbspIn the contempt order Justice Sharma had asserted that the former Delhi chief minister orchestrated a calculated campaign of vilification against her on social media instead of pursuing his legal remedies and clarified that the CBIs petition against the discharge of all accused persons would now be taken up by another benchThe judge took exception to several social media posts by the proposed contemnors that attributed political allegiance and affiliation to her and allegedly targeted her by posting a misleading edited video of a speech she gave at an educational institution in VaranasinbspShe also noted the wide circulation of clips from the court proceedings in the case stating that the proposed contemnors were creating a parallel narrative and remaining silent was not judicial restraint but a surrender before a powerful litigantnbspOn February 27 the trial court discharged Kejriwal Sisodia and 21 others in the liquor policy case as it ruled that the case was wholly unable to survive judicial scrutiny and stood discredited in its entiretynbspAfter Justice Sharma dismissed their applications seeking her recusal in the CBIs petition against their discharge in the case on April 20 Kejriwal Sisodia and Pathak had written a letter to Justice Sharma saying they would not appear before her personally or through a lawyer and would follow Mahatma Gandhis path of SatyagrahaAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-to-hear-on-nov-16-contempt-case-against-arvind-kejriwal-others--701621.html Mon, 21 Sep 2026 12:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mamata-banerjee-seeks-urgent-sc-listing-of-her-plea-over-ecis-freeze-on-tmc-name-symbol-701622.html New Delhi Sep 21 IANS Trinamool Congress TMC chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday sought urgent listing of her plea in the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of Indias ECI decision to freeze the partys name and election symbol amid the ongoing dispute between rival factionsnbspnbspMentioning the matter before Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant senior advocate Kapil Sibal who appeared on behalf of Mamata Banerjee sought urgent listing of the pleanbspThey ECI issue a bypoll notification and in the middle of notification they freeze the symbol We want urgent listing Sibal submitted At this the CJI said that the rival side would also have submissions to make and assured that the matter would be considered for listingnbspBoth sides will have something to say When the matter is listed then argue We will try to list CJI Kant saidnbspThe plea has been filed by Mamata Banerjee challenging ECIs interim decision to freeze the name All India Trinamool Congress and its reserved Flowers and Grass election symbol amid the dispute between the rival factions of the partynbspThe ECI had on Thursday passed an interim order barring both factions from using the TMCs existing name and symbol observing that there were two rival groups claiming to be the recognised political party and that the dispute required a substantive determination under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols Reservation and Allotment Order 1968 The poll panel subsequently allotted alternative names and symbols to the two factions for the upcoming byelectionsnbspMamata Banerjeeled faction was allotted the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the football player symbol while the rival faction was allotted the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and the envelope symbolnbspThe ECIs interim arrangement applies to the October 6 byelections in West Bengal including the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies The Mamataled faction has challenged the ECI decision in the Supreme Court with the plea questioning the freezing of the partys established name and symbol pending the final determination of the disputenbspMamataled faction has maintained that it does not accept the ECIs interim order while the rival camp led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee has claimed control over the partys organisational and legislative structures The dispute had also spilled over into Parliament where 20 rebel TMC Lok Sabha MPs had broken away and aligned themselves with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India NCPI claiming recognition as a separate parliamentary groupnbspThe Mamataled faction had challenged the delay by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in deciding disqualification petitions against the 20 rebel MPs under the antidefection law On August 25 the Supreme Court had issued notice to the 20 rebel MPs on a plea filed by TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee while refraining from issuing notice to the Lok Sabha SpeakernbspSolicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Speaker had informed the top court that notices had already been issued to the 20 MPs in the disqualification proceedings The apex court had thereafter sought responses from the rebel MPsnbspThe TMC has maintained that the MPs were elected on its symbol and that their subsequent decision to join another political formation attracts the provisions of the antidefection law However the rebel faction has claimed the support of more than twothirds of the TMCs Lok Sabha MPs and sought recognition as a separate parliamentary groupnbspThe dispute over the partys organisational control subsequently reached the ECI with both sides staking claim to the TMC name and symbol The poll bodys interim order said the temporary arrangement was intended to place the rival groups on an even footing and protect their respective rights and interests until a final determination of the disputenbspIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/mamata-banerjee-seeks-urgent-sc-listing-of-her-plea-over-ecis-freeze-on-tmc-name-symbol-701622.html Mon, 21 Sep 2026 12:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/danam-nagender-moves-sc-against-telangana-hc-disqualification-order-701624.html New Delhi Sep 21 IANS Former Telangana MLA Danam Nagender on Monday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Telangana High Courts order disqualifying him as a member of the Legislative Assembly under the antidefection lawnbspThe matter was mentioned before Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi who sought an urgent hearingAfter hearing the request CJI Kant agreed to list Nagenders Special Leave Petition SLP on WednesdayNagender has challenged the Telangana High Courts decision which set aside the order passed by Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar dismissing petitions seeking his disqualification and declared him disqualified as an MLA with effect from April 23 2024In a judgment delivered on September 18 a Division Bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin held that Nagender stood disqualified under paragraph 21a of the Tenth Schedule read with Article 1912 of the Constitution after he contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Secunderabad constituency as a candidate set up by the Congress despite being elected as a BRS MLAThe High Court also declared the Khairatabad Assembly seat vacant and directed that a copy of its order be communicated to the Secretary to the Telangana Legislative Assembly and the Election Commission of IndiaThe judgment came on petitions filed by BJP Legislature Party leader Alleti Maheshwar Reddy and BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy challenging the Speakers March 11 2026 decision dismissing the disqualification petitionsThe High Court decision recorded that Nagender was elected as a BRS MLA from Khairatabad in December 2023 and subsequently filed his nomination on April 23 2024 as a Congress candidate for the Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency where he campaigned against the BRS candidateThe High Court held that the prolonged pendency of the disqualification proceedings meant that the matter need not be remanded to the Speaker for a fresh decisionIt observed The present case is one where the disqualification proceedings have lingered on for more than oneandhalfyears and by now almost the three year term of the Legislative Assembly has expiredIt further held that Nagender stands disqualified from 23042024 as a member of the Telangana Legislative Assembly having contested the Lok Sabha elections as a Congress candidate despite being a BRS memberThe High Court rejected the argument that subsequent conduct of Nagender or the absence of disciplinary action by the BRS could negate the disqualificationIt said that silence of the party in question or lack of internal disciplinary action by it and the subsequent conduct of the member would not efface the disqualification incurred by Nagender by contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as a Congress candidate despite having been elected as a BRS MLAThe High Court also held that the Speaker had misread the law by treating conduct outside the House as falling outside the scope of his powers under paragraph 21a of the Tenth ScheduleThe High Court said the object of the Tenth Schedule was to curb the evil of political defections motivated by lure of office or other similar considerations which endanger the foundations of our democracy IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/danam-nagender-moves-sc-against-telangana-hc-disqualification-order-701624.html Mon, 21 Sep 2026 13:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/congs-muslim-league-maoist-character-exposed-says-bjp-slams-buffoonery-at-rahuls-indore-event-701634.html nbspNew Delhi Sep 21 PTI The BJP on Monday lashed out at the Congress over former vice president Hamid Ansaris remarks citing former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehrus views on Hindu rightwing communalism alleging that they expose the opposition partys Muslim League Maoist characterThe ruling party also attacked Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his Chhatron Ki Goonj event in Indore saying he had demeaned his constitutional post with clownish caricaturenbspAnsari while speaking at an event commemorating late constitutional expert and author A G Noorani at the India Islamic Cultural Centre on Saturday referred to Nehrus view that the real danger to India was not communism but Hindu rightwing communalism cited in Nooranis 2019 book The RSS A Menace to IndiaAddressing a press conference on Monday BJP MP and national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said Ansaris remarks have thoroughly exposed that Congress has become Muslim League Maoist Congress in totalitynbspHe said the former vice presidents comment also suggests that Nehru considered communism a threat while the Congress has now shifted towards ultraleftnbspToday the Congress has gone ultraleft It has taken a dive into communism which Nehru considered a threat he saidnbspHe further said Congress leaders should think before citing Nehru claiming they may not have read what the former prime minister had written in his booksnbspTrivedi said Ansari has not just dug up buried ghosts of history but breathed life into them He alleged that the Muslim leaders endorsed by the Congress have Leaguelike sentiments ideas which have now become exceedingly prevalent within the grand old partynbspResponding to a query regarding alleged antiwomen remarks by Keralam Islamic scholar Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar Trivedi asserted that the Congress must oppose such sentiments alleging that the party has been an obedient follower of the cleric despite claiming to be flagbearers of Smash the PatriarchyMusliyar the Grand Mufti of India sparked widespread controversy in August after allegedly stating that women should remain confined to their homes and stay out of the public sphere nbsp nbspResponding to a query about Congress leader Rahul Gandhis Chhatron Ki Goonj event in Indore Trivedi attacked the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha saying whether he is qualified to remain in the constitutional post is a yaksha prashna crucial questionnbspHe has demeaned the post of leader of opposition compromising grace and gravitas for clownish caricature In simple Hindi he has descended to jokarai buffoonery he saidnbspWhen there is lack of creativity downfall is inevitable his events have gone from humorous poetry sessions to laughter shows and from laughter shows to standup comedy and in standup comedy vulgarity has crept in The Congress has descended into utter obscenity Trivedi saidHe said the Congress should consider if it still represents the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi Lokmanya Tilak Rajendra Prasad C Rajagopalachari Madan Mohan Malaviya Sardar Patel and Pranab MukherjeeSuch lows were never witnessed during the times of Jawaharlal Nehru or Indira ji This the lowest the Congress has stooped to in its 140 years he said adding that Gandhi had lowered not only the dignity of Parliament and the post of leader of opposition but also that of his own familynbspTaking a swipe at the Congress student wing NSUI he said it failed to open its account at Panjab University Chandigarh and Delhi University Todays youth is with the ABVPs Gyan Sheel and Ekta knowledge character and unity and not with ignorance obscenity anarchy and vulgarity On Rahul Gandhis remarks on education Trivedi said people would decide whether the Congress leaders statements are stupidity or cunningnbspHe questioned whether the Congress had developed any new model in this regard pointing out that education is a concurrent subject Tell me what model you Congress have established in states where you are in power In Karnataka Telangana Himachal Pradesh what is the entrance examination process And when you were in power in Rajasthan what was the process nbspSpeaking at his youth outreach programme Chhatron Ki Goonj in Indore on Saturday Gandhi said only students can oust hatred from the country and not Andhbhakts a term used by BJP detractors for supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi PTI ADInbsp ARB ARBAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/congs-muslim-league-maoist-character-exposed-says-bjp-slams-buffoonery-at-rahuls-indore-event-701634.html Mon, 21 Sep 2026 15:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/powerful-testament-to-ambition-of-new-india-nitin-nabin-on-delhi-meerut-expressway-701636.html New Delhi Sep 21 IANS BJP National President Nitin Nabin on Monday travelled by road from Delhi to Meerut and highlighted the transformation brought by the DelhiMeerut Expressway saying the project demonstrated how a longstanding vision could be turned into reality through modern infrastructurenbspTaking to X Nabin said While travelling from Delhi to Meerut by road today I experienced firsthand how a vision can truly be turned into reality A journey that once took over 3 hours can now be covered effortlessly in just 45 minutesHe said the expressway had become an important part of the daily lives of lakhs of commuters and described the project as an example of the scale and speed of infrastructure development in the countryThe DelhiMeerut Expressway has become an integral part of the everyday lives of lakhs of commuters Built under the Bharatmala Pariyojana it contains Indias first 14lane expressway section and stands as a powerful testament to the scale speed and ambition of New India Nabin saidReferring to his experience as the Road Construction Department RCD Minister of Bihar the BJP chief said good road connectivity goes beyond simply linking two locations and can have a direct impact on peoples everyday livesHaving served as the RCD Minister of Bihar I have seen closely how a good road does more than connect two points on a map It connects a farmer to a market a student to a school and a patient to a hospital in time Nabin statedHe also linked the development of modern infrastructure with Prime Minister Narendra Modis 25 years of public service saying such projects show the kind of India taking shape before usAn India where longheld dreams of worldclass connectivity are becoming real and where modern infrastructure is driving us firmly on the fast lane to a Viksit Bharat he addedNabin arrived in Meerut on Monday for a twoday tour of western Uttar Pradesh This marks Nabins first visit to western Uttar Pradesh since assuming the role of National PresidentUpon his arrival in Meerut on Monday a large number of BJP workers welcomed him at the Kashi Toll PlazaMeetings are lined up with former officebearers Members of Parliament MPs and Members of the Legislative Assembly MLAs from Western Uttar PradeshDiscussions during these meetings will centre on the state of organisation preparations for the upcoming elections and feedback received from the grassroots levelGiven the BJPs recent changes to its organisational structure and the appointment of district incharges this visit by the partys chief is also considered crucial for assessing the activity levels of the new organisational team IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/powerful-testament-to-ambition-of-new-india-nitin-nabin-on-delhi-meerut-expressway-701636.html Mon, 21 Sep 2026 15:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bike-taxi-riders-seek-clear-registration-process-relief-on-challans-701652.html DW Bureau nbspChandigarh Sep 21 A delegation of the Tricity Bike Riders Union met senior BJP leader and BJP National Council member Sanjay Tandon on Monday and raised issues related to biketaxi operations registration and challans in ChandigarhLed by Union president Sahil the delegation sought a clear mechanism for registration and a transparent framework for operating bike taxis The riders said enforcement action and challans were affecting their livelihoods and urged authorities to provide a lawful mechanism to continue their workTandon said the concerns of the riders should be addressed through dialogue and a practical approach He assured the delegation that he would take up the issues with the concerned departmentsThere is a need for clear guidelines and a transparent system so that riders understand their rights and responsibilities and can work in accordance with the rules Tandon saidThe delegation claimed that enforcement action had intensified after the suspension of licences of major private appbased aggregators in Chandigarh It cited reports of 231 vehicles being challaned and 16 impounded between September 9 and 12The riders also discussed the recently launched Bharat Taxi service in Chandigarh which includes bike services and follows a cooperative model They said they were willing to comply with applicable rules and sought a sustainable avenue for employmentChandigarh BJP leaders Ravinder Thakur and Pradeep Yadav who accompanied the delegation also assured the riders that their concerns would be raised with the administration https://dailyworld.in/national/bike-taxi-riders-seek-clear-registration-process-relief-on-challans-701652.html Mon, 21 Sep 2026 18:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/forest-hill-resort-honoured-as-best-golf-resort-701258.html DW Bureau nbspChandigarh Forest Hill Resort FHR has been conferred the CHEFEX India Recognition for Best Golf Resort at the CHEFEX India Recognitions 2026 organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry PHDCCInbspForest Hill Golf Resort President Birender Gill and WWICS Group HR Head Aman Ghumman received the honour on behalf of the resortDevinder Sandhu Founder of Forest Hill Resort said the resort aims to develop as an ecofocused destination combining golf nature leisure and adventure tourismLocated near Chandigarh in the Shivalik foothills the resort offers a range of outdoor and naturebased activities including trekking horse riding boating fishing bird watching camping and offroadingThe resort has also undertaken initiatives related to ecological conservation and rewilding according to the releaseThe recognition acknowledges the resorts contribution to golf tourism hospitality and experiential travel in the region https://dailyworld.in/national/forest-hill-resort-honoured-as-best-golf-resort-701258.html Sun, 20 Sep 2026 14:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/priyanka-gandhi-raises-womens-safety-concerns-after-delhi-teens-gang-rape-and-murder-701009.html New Delhi Sep 19 IANS Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday raised concerns over womens safety in Delhi following the alleged gang rape and murder of a teenage girl questioning the lack of accountability over crimes against womennbspPriyanka Gandhi took to social media X and said In Delhi all limits of cruelty were crossed against a 17yearold girl and after that she was brutally murdered Just a few days earlier another minor girl was raped No one in the country is willing to take responsibility for womens safety only empty talk about womens development is offered Hundreds of women face atrocities and violence but they cannot hope for concrete action against the perpetrators FIRs arent even filedBoth society and the government have completely failed in granting women their rights to safety freedom and equality she saidLeader of the Opposition LoP in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had also raised the issue on Friday night describing the incident as unfortunate and questioning the responsibility of authorities for ensuring womens safety in the national CapitalLoP Rahul Gandhi took to social media X and said In Delhi a 17yearold girl was gangraped murdered and her body was dumped in an open field Such a horrific act of brutality in the capital and the police had no clue for days Its unfortunate that Delhi is no longer the capital today it has become a terrifying daily story for womenAmit Shah ji Delhi Police is under your control Ultimately whose responsibility is womens safety Or has the job of Delhi Police been reduced to just intimidating and threatening ordinary citizens Because the criminals are roaming around fearlessly LoP Gandhi saidRahul Gandhi also called for strict action and punishment against the rapists and murderers of the minor girlThe beasts must be arrested immediately strict action and punishment must be taken and accountability for this criminal negligence must be fixed India cannot move forward without womens safety LoP Gandhi saidThe minor girl was allegedly gangraped and murdered by four persons including three juveniles in Delhi with police saying the accused subsequently abandoned her body in an open areaParts of the victims decomposed body were later found to have been eaten by stray dogsAccording to police the incident came to light on September 13 when the girls severely decomposed body was discovered near Jaipal Ranas field along Kushak Road in the Swaroop Nagar area of North Delhi The condition of the body was such that police could not initially determine the victims genderPolice said the victim was acquainted with the accused and had been travelling with them in a tempo During the journey the group allegedly consumed alcohol before the girl was sexually assaulted She was subsequently stabbed to death after which her body was allegedly dumped in the open fieldInvestigators said stray dogs had eaten parts of the body while one of the victims hands was found detached from the rest of the bodyPolice said the girls family had not lodged a missing person complaint During questioning her relatives reportedly told investigators that she would sometimes leave home and return after staying away for several daysA case was registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act Since there were no apparent eyewitnesses and the identities of the suspects were initially unknown police began examining CCTV footage from the areaInvestigators analysed footage from more than 50 CCTV cameras installed along the suspected crime scene and adjoining routes During the exercise police noticed a tempo moving in the vicinity around the relevant period However its registration number could not be identified clearly because of poor visibility and darknessThe investigators subsequently tracked the vehicles movements through footage from several locations A nightlong operation was conducted during the intervening night of September 15 and 16 following which the tempo was tracedPolice then identified and questioned its driver The investigation eventually led to the apprehension of four persons allegedly connected with the incident including three juvenilesThe adult accused has been identified as Shivam alias Sudama alias Chuchu a resident of Khadda Colony police said The three juveniles apprehended in connection with the case are aged 16 and 17According to police two knives allegedly used during the crime clothes purportedly worn by the accused and the tempo have been recovered IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/priyanka-gandhi-raises-womens-safety-concerns-after-delhi-teens-gang-rape-and-murder-701009.html Sat, 19 Sep 2026 10:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/lop-rahul-gandhi-to-reach-indore-for-chhatron-ki-goonj-outreach-event-today--701013.html Indore Sep 19 IANS Leader of Opposition LoP in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will arrive in Indore on Saturday for the Congress Chhatron Ki Goonj outreach programme with the party seeking to turn the event into a major platform to raise issues concerning students education recruitment and unemployment in Madhya PradeshnbspAccording to the Congress LoP Gandhi is scheduled to leave Delhi at 1210 pm and reach Indore Airport at around 145 pmSenior Congress leaders including Madhya Pradesh incharge Harish Choudhary state Congress president Jitu Patwari Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Umang Singhar and MLA Arif Masood will receive him at the airportAfter the reception LoP Gandhi will leave for the Radisson Hotel at around 205 pm and is scheduled to reach there by 230 pmCongress workers have planned receptions at five points on the route including Lavkush Square MR10 Square Vijay Nagar Square and near the Radisson HotelHe will remain at the hotel until around 530 pm before leaving for Bharat Jodo Maidan opposite Regional Park where the Chhatron Ki Goonj programme will be heldLoP Gandhi is scheduled to spend around twoandahalf hours at the venue with his stage programme expected to last about an hourThe Congress has been projecting the programme as a studentfocussed initiative and is expected to raise concerns related to examination irregularities education and employmentThe event has also acquired a political edge following the earlier dispute over the venue The programme was initially proposed at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium but was later shifted to the ground opposite Regional Park after permission for the stadium was not grantedThe Congress and BJP have traded allegations over the venue issue adding to the political significance of LoP Gandhis visit to Madhya PradeshThe event is part of Gandhis wider Chhatron Ki Goonj outreach with previous editions held in Kota Dehradun Prayagraj and PuneAfter the programme LoP Gandhi will leave directly for the airport at around 8 pm and is scheduled to depart for Delhi at 9 pm reaching the national Capital at around 1030 pmMeanwhile the Indore Police have made extensive security and traffic arrangements for the visit The traffic diversion plan will come into effect from 1 pm and remain operational until the programme concludesIndore police have also imposed several security conditions covering crowd management entry and exit parking medical facilities surveillance and emergency arrangements at the venueAhead of LoP Gandhis visit Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari said the programme would provide a platform for young people to raise their concernsToday is the day of meaningful dialogue with the voices questions and dreams of the youth in Indore Come witness the questions related to education opportunities and rights reaching the platform of democracy Patwari saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/lop-rahul-gandhi-to-reach-indore-for-chhatron-ki-goonj-outreach-event-today--701013.html Sat, 19 Sep 2026 11:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-only-g20-nation-to-fulfil-all-paris-cop21-commitments-ahead-of-schedule-pm-modi-701017.html New Delhi Sep 19 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India is the only G20 country that has fulfilled all the commitments made at the Paris COP21 Summit ahead of schedule highlighting the countrys progress in renewable energy clean mobility and other areas of environmental protectionHe made the remarks after inaugurating the international conference on The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics where he outlined Indias achievements in addressing climate change and protecting the environment while integrating its traditional environmental values with modern developmentSpeaking at the event PM Modi said India is the only country in the G20 and I am stating this right in front of the top leaders of the G20 India is the only country that has fulfilled all the commitments made at the Paris COP21 Summit ahead of schedule I am talking about the strength of India Nonfossil fuel solar energy capacity curbing carbon emissions on every parameter Indias performance is a subject of positive discussion across the world todayHe said initiatives and international platforms such as the vision of One Sun One World One Grid the International Solar Alliance CDRI Global Biofuels Alliance International Big Cat Alliance and Mission LiFE Lifestyle for Environment are serving as platforms for Indias dedicated commitments towards climate action and environmental protectionIndia is moving forward by integrating its ancient values of environmental protection into a modern vision Over the past years India has made extraordinary progress in every field and sector associated with the environment Our major focus has been on renewable energy and it has played a significant role in protecting the environment he saidPM Modi highlighted the expansion of Indias solar energy capacity saying that around 12 years ago the countrys solar power capacity was approximately 2 gigawatts while it has now crossed 160 gigawattsUnder the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana we launched a mission to make homes themselves the centres of solar power generation Under this scheme rooftop solar panels have been installed in more than 50 lakh households so far This is greater than the total number of households in many countries around the world For this the government has provided financial assistance of up to around Rs 80000 per household Under the PMKUSUM scheme the government has worked to install solar pumps in the fields of 30 lakh farmers he saidThe Prime Minister also highlighted the governments efforts to promote energy efficiency through LED bulbs saying that the initiative has helped conserve electricity after LED bulbs were distributed to households in very large numbersThrough solar energy alone PM Modi said India has succeeded in curbing nearly 20 crore tonnes of carbon emissionsHe said India has also made significant progress in other clean energy sectors pointing to the growth of wind and hydro power as well as the countrys efforts to expand nuclear energy generationAlong with solar energy India has achieved major milestones in other clean energy sectors as well Over the past 12 years the countrys wind energy capacity has increased threefold There has been substantial growth in hydro energy capacity And now the country is progressing swiftly on nuclear energy generation And those who keep delivering long lectures on the environment when I take the work on nuclear energy forward they will line up in the courts to stall it he addedToday India is progressing rapidly in areas such as clean mobility and green hydrogen Just a few days ago Indias first hydrogen train was flagged off and it is the worlds longest hydrogen train This marks the beginning of a new era in clean mobility he saidHighlighting the rapid growth of electric mobility in the country PM Modi said the number of Electric Vehicles in India has increased dramatically over the past 12 yearsIn the last 12 years the number of Electric Vehicles in our country has surged by nearly 950 times 950 times In the year prior to 2014 fewer than 3000 EVs were sold in India just 3000 In contrast nearly 25 lakh 25 million EVs were sold in India last year This means India is seizing the opportunity of the EV revolution with full vigour which is also benefiting the environment he saidHe also referred to the FASTag system on highways and expressways saying that the technology has reduced waiting time at toll plazas and consequently helped curb fuel wastageThe Prime Minister also highlighted the expansion of Indias Metro rail network comparing the present network with the situation before 2014Up until 2014 our country had a Metro network of roughly 250 kilometres spread across only 5 cities Today Metro trains operate in more than 20 cities across the country and India has joined the ranks of nations worldwide that possess a Metro rail network exceeding 1000 kilometres he saidPM Modi also spoke about efforts to promote natural farming and climateresilient agriculture He said that under the National Mission on Natural Farming 24000 clusters covering nearly 125 lakh hectares have been formed across the countryHe further said that nearly 3000 varieties of climateresilient crops have been developed highlighting the focus on strengthening agricultural practices in response to changing environmental conditionsUnder the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign PM Modi said crores of trees have been planted across the country and that the treeplanting movement continues to progress steadilyIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-only-g20-nation-to-fulfil-all-paris-cop21-commitments-ahead-of-schedule-pm-modi-701017.html Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/no-single-honest-recruitment-before-2017-cm-adityanath-distributes-appointment-letters-for-up-govt-posts-701023.html Lucknow Sep 19 IANS Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday took a swipe at the previous Samajwadi Party government and alleged that there was not a single honest recruitment in the state before 2017nbspCM Adityanath made the remarks during the distribution of appointment letters to candidates selected for various departmental posts by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission UPPSC and Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission UPSSSCAsserting that the UP government has issued appointment letters to 95 lakh youth so far the Chief Minister targeted the previous SP governmentHe said To those who created an uproar regarding the distribution of appointment letters prior to 2017 I ask them to take notewe are going to issue appointment letters to another 1 lakh youth within the next six monthsBefore 2017 riots occurred in UP every other day curfews lasted for months and no one was safe the thengovernment had discredited the entire recruitment process by appointing their own family members and relatives in recruitment boards and commissions the UP CM allegedHe added Not a single recruitment drive was conducted honestly back then due to which the youth were forced to migrate No one would offer opportunities to individuals from Uttar Pradesh the situation was dire for youngsters hereCM Adityanath further remarked that due to the ailing mindset of the government at the time UP itself became a Bimaru ailing stateUttar Pradesh was not sick it was the mindset of the governments that was sick and their modus operandi was corrupt he saidWithout taking any name the Chief Minister said that before 2017 a certain individual was appointed as the Chairman of the UP Public Service Commission who was not even qualified for the roleWhen the outcry grew the court had to order that he be sent to jail and made to rot there for life They previous government had created an identity crisis for the youth of Uttar Pradesh Those who failed to deliver are now raising questionsWe are going to provide jobs to not just one lakh but even more young people in the coming six months he assertedIn a veiled attack on SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle and party MLA Shivpal Yadav CM Adityanath said In the past the unclenephew duo used to set out brazenlyacting like dacoitsto loot and plunder these job opportunities Today they are acting like preachers but after 2027 they wont even remain that as wellThe Chief Minister underlined that UP will never tolerate those who harm the youth of the state and play with their futuresThe state will never accept those who created an identity crisis for UP turned a state known for its festivities into one plagued by turmoil jeopardised the safety of daughters drove farmersthe providers of foodto suicide and abandoned the citizens of UP to starve he addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/no-single-honest-recruitment-before-2017-cm-adityanath-distributes-appointment-letters-for-up-govt-posts-701023.html Sat, 19 Sep 2026 15:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-cm-vijay-urges-pm-modi-to-change-chennai-airport-operator-cpi-opposes-move--701029.html Chennai Sept 19IANS The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday proposed replacing the Airports Authority of India AAI as the operator of Chennai airport saying that the state requires a more efficient and globally competitive aviation facility to support its industrial growthnbspChief Minister C Joseph Vijay raised the proposal in a letter sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August according to reportsHe underlined the need to develop worldclass airport infrastructure and improve management standards as Tamil Nadu steps up efforts to attract domestic and international investmentsThe Chief Minister reportedly identified passenger handling aircraft movements and cargo capacity as the three major areas requiring urgent improvement at Chennai airportThe state believes that deficiencies in these sectors could affect Chennais ability to meet rising aviation demand and compete with other major investment destinationsBy suggesting a change from the existing AAI management the state government is understood to be considering the possibility of bringing Chennai airport under a different operator potentially involving privatesector participationThe proposal follows the state governments decision to abandon the planned greenfield airport project at Parandur in Kancheepuram districtWith the Parandur project dropped the state government considers the modernisation and expansion of the existing airport crucial to Tamil Nadus future developmentOfficials say that a highquality international aviation hub is necessary to serve the states expanding manufacturing trade tourism and logistics sectorsMeanwhile the Communist Party of India CPI has strongly opposed the proposal and urged the state government to withdraw itThe CPI described the attempt to replace AAI as a move towards privatising an important public assetThe CPI said that shortcomings in airport administration should be addressed by strengthening passenger amenities improving flight operations expanding cargohandling facilities and upgrading road connectivityTransferring management to a private operator was not the appropriate solution it addedHighlighting the airports financial performance the party said AAI had recorded a net profit of Rs 6522 crore during 202526Chennai airport alone reportedly generated a profit of around Rs 49248 crore in 202425The CPI said that the airport should remain under publicsector control especially following the cancellation of the Parandur projectIt called upon the Centre and state governments to expand and modernise the existing facility under AAI management while ensuring that the airports revenue continues to remain a public resource IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-cm-vijay-urges-pm-modi-to-change-chennai-airport-operator-cpi-opposes-move--701029.html Sat, 19 Sep 2026 17:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mayawati-opposes-proposed-upi-charges-says-additional-burden-will-hit-common-people-700928.html New Delhi Sep 18 IANS Bahujan Samaj Party BSP chief Mayawati on Friday expressed concern over the proposed increase in UPI charges saying that imposing an additional financial burden on the public would ultimately hurt common people and increase their expensesThis comes as starting October 15 India will introduce a 04 per cent Merchant Discount Rate MDR on select persontomerchant UPI transactions above Rs 2000 which is to be absorbed by businesses rather than everyday consumersMayawati took to social media platform X and said that although the proposed system may not be officially accepted as a tax giving it any other name would not change its impact on the publicAfter initially promoting UPI digital transactions the governments new system of charging fees on such transactions appears to people to be akin to a profiteering capitalist tax which is understandable and likely to cause public unease and anger she saidWhile this system of imposing additional financial burden on the public is not accepted as a tax no matter what name is given to this system which will be implemented on October 15th it will ultimately be the common people who will be hit hard and their expenses will increase Mayawati said in her postShe further said that a large section of the countrys population continues to face poverty and inflation while their children struggle with illiteracy unemployment and uncertaintyFurthermore it is well known that the majority of the countrys population is suffering from immense poverty and skyrocketing inflation and their children are suffering from illiteracy unemployment and chaos In such a situation it would be appropriate if the governments policies and actions are less commercial and more welfareoriented If the government doesnt care about the hardships and suffering of the people then who will she saidMayawati also welcomed the Uttar Pradesh governments announcement to convert around 14500 schools in the state into smart schools at a cost of around Rs 300 croreAlong with this the announcement by the UP government to convert around 14500 schools of the state into smart schools at a cost of around Rs 300 crore is a good thing but before imparting socalled smart education to the children their basic education needs etc should be fulfilled ie proper arrangements for a roof over the heads of school children benches chairs books toilets playgrounds cleanliness etc and the government should also sympathetically consider whether all this will be possible in around Rs 2 lakh per school she said in the postIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mayawati-opposes-proposed-upi-charges-says-additional-burden-will-hit-common-people-700928.html Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/nia-sentences-nine-accused-including-eight-bangladeshis-to-life-imprisonment-in-human-trafficking-case-700929.html New Delhi Sep 18 IANS The Special Court for NIA Cases in Hyderabad has convicted and sentenced nine accused including eight Bangladeshi nationals to life imprisonment in a 2019 human trafficking case involving Bangladeshi women who were trafficked into India and subsequently forced into prostitutionAccording to the National Investigation Agency NIA the special court in its order passed on September 17 also imposed a total fine of Rs 137000 on the convicted accused It further awarded three months of simple imprisonment in default of payment of the fineThe case pertains to a human trafficking network that trafficked Bangladeshi women into India by luring them with promises of lucrative employment and decent wages before forcing them into prostitutionThe original case was registered by the Telangana Police at Pahadi Shareef Police Station in Hyderabad following an operation in September 2019 During the operation three Bangladeshi women were rescued from a brothel being operated in Jalpally village while another woman was rescued from a house in Mahimood Colony Balapur HyderabadThe NIA subsequently took over the investigation and reregistered the case on October 12 2019 as RC032019NIAHYDDuring the investigation the involvement of the accused in the trafficking network was established The NIA subsequently filed a chargesheet against 12 accused including absconding accused A1 A3 and A7 on October 17 2020The accused were arrested from different locations including West Bengal and Telangana during 2019 and 2020The accused sentenced by the court were Ruhul Amin Dhali A2 Mohd Yousuf Khan alias Md Imran A4 Bithi Begum alias Khadija Shaik A5 Imamul Ghazi alias Mohd Rana Hussain A6 Mohammed Al Mamun A8 Sojib Shaik A9 Suresh Kumar Das alias Sagor A10 Mohd Abdulla Munshi alias Abdul Sarkar A11 and Mohd Ayub Shaik A12They were prosecuted under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code IPC the Foreigners Act 1946 and the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act 1956 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/nia-sentences-nine-accused-including-eight-bangladeshis-to-life-imprisonment-in-human-trafficking-case-700929.html Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mamata-led-tmc-submits-names-symbol-choices-to-ec-under-strongest-protest--700930.html nbspNew Delhi Sep 18 PTIÂnbsp The Trinamool Congress led by its founder and chairperson Mamata Banerjee submitted its response to the Election Commissions interim order that temporarily removed the All India Trinamool Congress AITC name and its flowers and grass symbol from the ballot for the October 6 bypolls in West Bengal The party emailed its choices of new names and symbols for the upcoming elections to the poll panel at 1136 pm on Thursday and submitted them under strongest protest according to sourcesnbspIn its interim order issued on Thursday night the Election Commission directed the two sides in the dispute over the All India Trinamool Congress AITC not to use the party name and its flowers and grass symbol for the upcoming West Bengal bypolls and asked them to submit their preferred names and symbols by Friday morning Ânbsp nbspThe EC said the proposed name could be similar to All India Trinamool Congress and the symbol must be chosen from the list of free or available symbols notified forindependents and registered unrecognised political parties Ânbsp nbspThe bypolls to Rejinagar and Nandigram are scheduled for October 6Ânbsp nbsp nbspThe poll panel said the time available was not enough to complete the proceedings under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols Reservation and Allotment Order 1968 but noted the urgency of the party name and symbol for the upcoming byelections ÂnbspnbspThe EC said the interim arrangement was made specifically to cover the upcoming bypolls and would remain in force until the dispute is finally determined under Paragraph 15 of the Symbols OrdernbspnbspnbspThe EC order comes against the backdrop of a rebellion that began in the TMC legislature party after the Assembly poll defeat in May and later spread to Parliament In June 58 rebel MLAs elected expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of Opposition instead of the Mamata camps nominee Sovandeb Chattopadhyay and secured recognition from the Assembly Speaker marking the partys first split in its 28year historynbspnbspFive days later the revolt reached Parliament with 20 Lok Sabha MPs led by senior leader Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar joining the littleknown NCPI and writing to Speaker Om Birla backing the BJPled NDA as a separate bloc deepening the rupture in the partys parliamentary ranksnbspnbspnbspThe move is a setback for Mamata whose handdrawn symbol has been central to TMCs journey since its formation in 1998 after breaking away from the Congress The flowers and grass symbol became a potent expression of the partys grassroots identity for the last 28 yearsnbsp PTInbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/mamata-led-tmc-submits-names-symbol-choices-to-ec-under-strongest-protest--700930.html Fri, 18 Sep 2026 11:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/law-and-order-situation-not-normal-congress-mp-manish-tiwari-on-asis-killing-in-amritsar-700931.html Chandigarh Sep 18 IANS Congress MP Manish Tiwari on Friday expressed concern over the killing of Assistant SubInspector ASI Harjit Singh in Amritsar saying the incident showed that the law and order situation in Punjab was not normal and called for stronger measures by both the Centre and the state governmentnbspReacting to the killing Tiwari said it was extremely sad and unfortunate that a policeman was shot multiple times and lost his life while on dutyIt clearly shows that the law and order situation is not normal Punjab is a border state and there is interference from external forces particularly our neighbouring country Pakistan Drugs and weapons also come through drones Tiwari saidHe said ensuring a strong and robust law and order situation in Punjab was the responsibility of both the Central and state governments particularly in view of the states border location and the challenges posed by the flow of drugs and weaponsMeanwhile police officials said ASI Harjit Singh was shot dead by two unidentified motorcycleborne men while he was on duty at the Grain Market in Bhagtanwala AmritsarAccording to police the incident took place around 3 am when the assailants approached the officer and fired multiple bullets at him from pointblank range Singh was rushed to a nearby private hospital following the attack where he was declared brought dead He was a resident of Tarn Taran districtPolice have begun investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the identity of the assailantsSpeaking separately on the drug situation in Punjab Tiwari said the state continued to face a serious problem and referred to what he described as the emergence of narcoterrorism after the end of the era of terrorism in Punjab in 1995When the era of terrorism ended in Punjab in 1995 Pakistan started an era of narcoterrorism It took about oneandahalf decades for people to fully understand what was happening he saidTiwari said that by 20092010 people had begun to recognise what he described as a coordinated conspiracy aimed at weakening Punjab and the country He added that successive governments had subsequently attempted to address the problemBut if anyone says that Punjab does not have a drug problem today they are misleading the people of Punjab Tiwari said adding that the issue was not confined to Punjab and that the wider northern region including Chandigarh Himachal Pradesh Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana faced a serious drug problemIn a separate statement Tiwari also reacted to the Election Commission of Indias interim order freezing the Trinamool Congress name and election symbol He said the partys symbol had been in existence since its inception in the 1990s and alleged that freezing it was actuated by mala fide and undermined the essence of parliamentary democracyThe order will have to be studied in detail and once we study the order in detail we will come back with a more structured response he saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/law-and-order-situation-not-normal-congress-mp-manish-tiwari-on-asis-killing-in-amritsar-700931.html Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-searches-seven-locations-in-jharkhand-odisha-in-jharkhand-state-co-operative-bank-scam-case-700933.html Ranchi Sep 18 IANS The Enforcement Directorates ED Ranchi Zonal Office conducted search and seizure operations at seven locations in Jharkhand and Odisha in connection with its money laundering investigation into the alleged Jharkhand State Cooperative Bank scam the agency said on FridaynbspThe searches carried out under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA were part of its ongoing probe into what it described as a largescale fraud allegedly perpetrated against the banks Seraikela branchAccording to the ED businessman Sanjay Kumar Dalmia allegedly carried out the fraud in connivance with then officials of the JSCB The agencys search operation covers premises linked to the ongoing investigation into the alleged financial irregularities and suspected proceeds of crime arising from the caseED Ranchi is conducting search and seizure action us 17 of PMLA in the case of the Jharkhand State Cooperative Bank Scam at a total of 7 locations in Jharkhand and Odisha the agency statement saidThe agencys latest action comes amid several ongoing investigations being handled by its Ranchi Zonal Office into alleged financial crimes and money laundering in Jharkhand The ED is empowered under the PMLA to conduct searches and seize material relevant to its investigationnbspFurther details regarding the material recovered during the searches were not immediately availableThe ED had also conducted searches in several states in connection with its probe into the petrol bomb attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh RSS office in Ranchi in June this yearThe agency had carried out simultaneous searches at four locations in Delhi Bihar Jharkhand and Karnataka as part of its investigation into suspected money laundering and financial transactions allegedly linked to the case The probe was connected to a case registered by the National Investigation Agency NIA according to officialsDuring those searches ED teams examined documents digital devices and other material relating to allegedly suspicious financial transactions The agency was also examining whether illegal funding or moneylaundering channels were used in the planning or execution of the attackThe petrol bomb attack took place on the night of June 16 when petrol bombs were hurled at the RSS provincial headquarters in Ranchis Nivaranpur area The NIA registered a case in connection with the incident under RC012026NIARNC IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-searches-seven-locations-in-jharkhand-odisha-in-jharkhand-state-co-operative-bank-scam-case-700933.html Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-stays-punjab-and-haryana-hc-ruling-declaring-it-acts-section-147a-unconstitutional-700934.html New Delhi Sep 18 IANS The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the operation of a Punjab and Haryana High Court judgment which had declared Section 147A of the Income Tax Act 1961 unconstitutional and set aside reassessment notices issued by jurisdictional Assessing OfficersnbspnbspA bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran passed the interim order while hearing a special leave petition SLP filed by the Union of India and other Income Tax authorities challenging the High Court judgment passed on September 10In the interim the apex court directed that the assessment proceedings shall not proceed further until the final disposal of the main matter and ordered that the case be listed for final hearing on December 3The impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court shall remain stayed on the condition that the assessment proceedings shall not proceed further till the final disposal of the main matter the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench orderedThe proceedings stemmed from a batch of petitions before the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the constitutional validity of Section 147A of the Income Tax Act introduced retrospectively with effect from April 1 2021 through the Finance Bill 2026The petitioners had sought a declaration that Section 147A was ultra vires Articles 14 191g and 265 of the Constitution They also challenged notices issued under Section 148 of the Act contending that the notices had not been issued through the automated allocation mechanism prescribed under Section 151A of the Act and the scheme framed thereunderThe High Court in its judgment pronounced on September 10 had held that the retrospective introduction of Section 147A could not override the existing statutory framework requiring randomised allocation and faceless proceedingsA Division Bench of Justices Deepak Sibal and Rupinderjit Chahal had observed that Section 147A sought to clarify that an Assessing Officer for the purposes of Sections 148 and 148A would mean an officer other than the National Faceless Assessment Centre or an assessment unit referred to under Section 144B It recorded that the Supreme Court in an earlier order passed on April 10 had set aside earlier judgments in the matter on the limited ground that the legislative position had subsequently been altered and remitted the cases to the respective High Courts for fresh considerationThe apex court had then left open all questions concerning the validity scope effect retrospectivity and applicability of the amended provision while granting an interim stay on further assessment or reassessment proceedings pursuant to the impugned noticesAfter examining the challenge afresh the Punjab and Haryana High Court said it had no hesitation to declare Section 147A of the Act to be unconstitutional It further held that even independently of Section 147A the notices issued under Section 148 by the jurisdictional Assessing Officers were not sustainable because they had not been issued through the process of randomised allocation and in a faceless manner as mandated under Section 151A of the Act read with the scheme dated March 29 2022 It accordingly directed that the notices issued under Section 148 to the petitioners be set aside and allowed the batch of writ petitionsThe Union government the Central Board of Direct Taxes CBDT Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax and the National Faceless Assessment Centre NFAC subsequently approached the Supreme Court against the judgmentIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-stays-punjab-and-haryana-hc-ruling-declaring-it-acts-section-147a-unconstitutional-700934.html Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/nitin-nabin-donates-three-months-salary-to-bihar-cm-relief-fund-amid-floods-700971.html Patna Sep 18 IANS Bharatiya Janata Party BJP National President Nitin Nabin on Friday expressed concern over the severe flood situation in Bihar highlighting relief measures being undertaken by the state government assistance from the Centre and his personal contribution towards relief effortsNabin said the government was assisting floodaffected families through financial aid relief camps and cropdamage assessment He added that the entire government machinery was working to ensure timely relief and necessary assistance reached those affectedAs part of his contribution Nabin donated Rs 635 lakh equivalent to three months of his salary as a Rajya Sabha MP to the Chief Ministers Relief FundHe said the state government had already provided more than Rs 550 crore in financial assistance to floodaffected families at the rate of Rs 7000 per familyAccording to Nabin arrangements have been made in affected areas for relief camps community kitchens medical facilities and fodder for livestock He said teams of the National Disaster Response Force NDRF and State Disaster Response Force SDRF had been deployed and were prepared for rescue operations Crop damage assessment is also underway to determine assistance required by affected farmersNabin said the flood situation was being continuously monitored and that the government was working to ensure relief reached affected people without delayReferring to the Centres assistance he noted that Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had visited floodaffected areas met victims and reviewed relief and rescue operationsHe assured floodaffected families of his commitment to supporting them during the crisis and said all possible assistance would continue to be providedSevere floods have affected around 50 lakh people in 88 blocks across 15 districts in Bihar this year Nabin added that the state government had remained engaged in relief and rescue operations and had provided food to around 162 crore people through more than 1000 community kitchensnbsp IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/nitin-nabin-donates-three-months-salary-to-bihar-cm-relief-fund-amid-floods-700971.html Fri, 18 Sep 2026 16:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-concept-of-dharma-different-from-western-notion-of-religion-bhagwat-700978.html Ujjain Sep 18 PTI RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said Indias understanding of the concept of dharma was distinct from Western notions of religion asserting that the country has not discriminated among different faiths and this was its understanding of secularismAddressing around 1700 Gen Z participants at the Yuva Dharma Sansad here Bhagwat said he was happy to see youngsters discussing dharma at a time when some considered it an old peoples affairOur state has always been intermingling It does not discriminate among its people This is the meaning of panthnirpekshata for us he saidBhagwat said the Western concept of secularism emerged from conflicts between rulers and religious authorities and therefore did not fit the Indian context in the same mannerThe Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief said India had traditionally viewed material and spiritual aspects of life together rather than separating themDistinguishing between dharma and religion Bhagwat said that the two should not be treated as synonymousDharma is above religion he said adding that while the latter binds the former liberates and leads to moksha salvationHe noted that the English language had no exact equivalent for the Indian concept and the word religion had historically been used to explain it to Western audiencesBhagwat said religion could become sectarian when separated from dharma which he described as being based on truth compassion purity and selfdisciplineDharma is not something to be discovered it has to be recognised and practised he saidHe described dharma as a principle that sustains the universe promotes the progress of all and determines duties while taking into account the nature of every living being and objectThe RSS chief further noted that dharma was reflected in human conduct and urged the young participants to shed prejudices if they wanted to understand itHe also linked dharma with environmental responsibility saying human beings had a duty to protect nature Destruction of forests and environmental degradation amounted to adharma unrighteousness Bhagwat assertedHe urged young people to respect other forms of worship while remaining committed to their own traditionsBhagwat said Indias tradition sought to unite people rather than divide them and maintained that the country had historically tried to help even those who differed from it or caused it difficultiesReferring to his recent visits to New York Toronto and London Bhagwat said people there and Indian entrepreneurs had sought the dharmic view on business and wealth creationBhagwat said they were concerned that their businesses were generating not only happiness but also sufferingHe questioned the pursuit of excessive wealth at the cost of family life citing the example of people leaving home at 5 am and returning at midnight in order to earn more money only to find that their children hardly know the people who come to their place on holidaysHe said such an imbalance in development was unhealthy comparing it with the growth of only one part of the body while the rest remained unchangedExplaining the dharmic approach to business Bhagwat said it involved giving back to societynbspHe cited the tradition of business communities building dharamshalas and charitable hospitals where people were provided services without being charged comparing them with corporate social responsibility CSR initiatives of todayHe said dharma flourished through human sacrifice and giving and quoted a Sanskrit saying to stress the importance of sacrifice for fulfilment in material and spiritual lifeBhagwat said there was no restriction on earning wealth but people should retain only what was necessary for themselves and share the rest with othersYour life should move forward in such a way that the lives of others also move forward he said stressing that ones livelihood should not cause suffering to othersCiting a Buddhist teaching Bhagwat said dharma meant refraining from causing pain to others earning ones livelihood efficiently and ensuring that ones earnings did not come by depriving or harming othersBhagwat said India had remained economically prosperous for about 1600 years without the kind of environmental damage seen today and referred to the countrys long agricultural traditionHe also urged the youth to become successful as well as purposeful and contribute to creating a world marked by happiness and peaceAround 300 scholars teachers researchers and religious leaders are participating in the Yuva Dharma Sansad organisers saidThe RSS has stepped up its outreach to Gen Z following a massive students protest over NEET exam paper leaks at Jantar Mantar in Delhi which brought youth discontent to the fore and led to the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra PradhanChief Minister Mohan Yadav will attend the concluding session on September 19The threeday event organised by Sevagya Sansthanam is the sixth edition of the Yuva Dharma Sansad following events in Kashi Ayodhya Mathura Haridwar and Kanchipuram The event will be held in Dwarka next yearnbspAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-concept-of-dharma-different-from-western-notion-of-religion-bhagwat-700978.html Fri, 18 Sep 2026 16:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-fostering-resilience-innovation-to-achieve-viksit-bharat2047-rajnath-singh-700986.html Kochi Sep 18 IANS Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday that the Prime Minister Narendra Modiled government is serving the nation with a special focus on fostering resilience innovation and a sense of national identity among citizens to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat2047Speaking at an event in Kochi Kerala the Defence Minister asserted that before 2014 India faced challenges such as corruption and misgovernance which had weakened the morale of the people and the nations progress in the last 12 years has been shaped by its ability to convert challenges into opportunitiesOver the last 12 years the world has faced a pandemic such as Covid19 and witnessed several wars which have had a profound impact on the global economy Despite global challenges we are moving steadily on the path towards becoming a selfreliant and developed nation he saidRajnath Singh stated that Operation Sindoor is proof of Indias willingness to cross the border to eliminate those who threaten the sovereignty and integrity of the country He added that Maoism too has been brought to an endOn the governments aim to continuously bolster indigenous capabilities the minister stated that indigenous defence production which was just Rs 40000 crore in 2014 has now reached nearly Rs 180 lakh croreHe added that defence exports have risen from nearly Rs 600 crore to around Rs 40000 crore with Indian equipment reaching around 100 countriesVoicing the nations resolve to work tirelessly towards its goals with courage and determination Rajnath Singh described youth as the countrys greatest strengthOur youth are building startups creating unicorns developing drones building hydrogen trains and making rockets and satellites They are leaving no stone unturned to make India a developed nation he saidRajnath Singh emphasised the importance of making the younger generation more aware of Indias history culture and heritageHe said greater awareness among youth would contribute to stronger national consciousness and help build confidence in Indias place in the worldHe called upon the youth to contribute to Indias economic social and technological transformation saying that a confident capable and socially inclusive India can emerge as a developed nation and play a greater role in shaping the future of the worldOn the crucial role of media in todays times the Defence Minister stated that journalism is rightly called the fourth pillar of democracy terming an independent and impartial press as one of the strongest instruments for ensuring accountabilityThe role of the media is not merely to report the news It is also to ask difficult questions bring the truth before the people and hold those in power accountable he saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-fostering-resilience-innovation-to-achieve-viksit-bharat2047-rajnath-singh-700986.html Fri, 18 Sep 2026 17:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-fadnavis-welcomes-jarange-patil-ending-hunger-strike-says-12-out-of-his-13-demands-accepted-700890.html Sambhajinagar Sep 17 IANS Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday expressed relief and satisfaction after Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil ended his hunger strike on its 20th daynbspAddressing media he welcomed the development noting that the government had proactively engaged with the activist to resolve the standoff peacefullyWe are glad that Manoj Jarange Patil has called off his hunger strike We had urged him to do so Out of his 13 demands 12 have been accepted by the government One demand could not be fulfilled due to legal constraints which was duly communicated to him he statedThe Chief Minister assured that the commitments made by the cabinet subcommittee would be strictly fulfilled The state government will hold necessary meetings and take required administrative steps to implement these promisesReaffirming the states commitment to Maratha community Fadnavis emphasized that our doors remain open and claimed that no previous administration has taken as many concrete decisions for the welfare of the Maratha community as the current governmentExtending appreciation to key leaders including Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and legislator Prasad Lad for their mediation CM Fadnavis highlighted that the agitation concluded peacefully without disturbing upcoming festive celebrationsEarlier Jarange Patil on Thursday at Patoda in Beed district announced the suspension of his 20day hunger strike following his discussion with a government delegation comprising Ministers Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Dadaji Bhuse MLAs Prasad Lad and Suresh Dhas and the Beed District Collector Following the talks Jarange Patil granted the government a 90day deadline demanding the implementation of the Satara Gazette within three months He warned that if the government betrays them he will march to MumbaiAnnouncing the suspension of his hunger strike he clarified that the agitation would continue asserting that the battle would not stop until it succeeded Giving a threemonth ultimatum for the Satara Gazette implementation he stated that antagonising the Maratha community is unacceptableHe remarked that despite any mistakes by Minister Vikhe Patil people should treat him with affection and expressed similar sentiments toward DCM Eknath Shinde He added that he would not stay silent if ministers criticised them and noted that officials who previously avoided talks had finally come to negotiate emphasising that the communitys dignity is more important than reservationsThe government delegation gave him assurances including implementation of the Satara Kolhapur Pune and Aundh Gazettes within three months by issuing a Government Resolution GR issuance of a revised GR to grant Kunbi certificates in accordance with the Hyderabad Gazette continued validation of certificates issued per the Hyderabad Gazette no reduction in the 58 lakh Kunbi records found by the Shinde Committee and validation of the revoked Kunbi certificates of four elected representatives from Marathwada IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-fadnavis-welcomes-jarange-patil-ending-hunger-strike-says-12-out-of-his-13-demands-accepted-700890.html Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/no-one-can-accuse-him-of-corruption-hm-shah-on-pm-modis-public-life-700894.html Vadnagar Sep 17 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modis political opponents could not accuse him of corruption as he highlighted what he described as his clean public life during a birthday event in VadnagarnbspAddressing a gathering at Sharmishtha Lake during the launch of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan HM Shah said PM Modi had spent 25 years in public life without facing allegations of corruption from his opponentsHe also linked what he described as PM Modis personal integrity to the absence of a visible political family network around himFor 25 years of public life there has not been a single stain on his kurta Even his opponents even those in the Opposition cannot accuse Modi ji of corruption HM Shah saidHe compared PM Modis political career to a lotus saying that despite operating in a difficult political environment he had maintained a clean recordShahs remarks formed part of a broader account of PM Modis personal life political career and years in government as the Prime Minister turned 76 on ThursdayThe Seva Sankalp Abhiyan has been launched to mark his birthday and 25 years in public life with the campaign scheduled to continue until October 7The event in Vadnagar included a Maha Aarti at Sharmishtha Lake a march to Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple the launch of the VadnagartoVaranasi service journey and a cleanliness campaignA bike yatra linking PM Modis birthplace with Varanasi his parliamentary constituency was among the central activities of the programmeI have worked with PM Modi closely from his organisational years in Gujarat through his tenure as chief minister and subsequently as prime minister he saidShah also pointed to PM Modis personal simplicity and family background He said that despite 25 years in public office there was little public knowledge of PM Modis relativesModi jis family is known to the entire country because Modi ji has considered India his family Shah said adding that PM Modi regarded the countrys people as his familyThe Home Minister also used the occasion to contrast PM Modis public life with what he said were earlier practices surrounding public awards and recognitionHe said that when he had been in Delhi from 2010 to 2013 Padma Awards had often involved recommendations from influential circlesThe awards have subsequently come to recognise people working for communities across different states and regions he saidShah ended his address by saying that PM Modis life could be summed up in two words Bharat First He had dedicated himself to the welfare of the country and its people he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/no-one-can-accuse-him-of-corruption-hm-shah-on-pm-modis-public-life-700894.html Thu, 17 Sep 2026 13:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/foundation-of-semiconductor-industry-laid-in-india-now-is-the-time-to-grow-ashwini-vaishnaw-700899.html New Delhi Sep 17 IANS Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday that the foundation of the semiconductor industry has been laid in India and now the industry needs to grow furthernbspSpeaking to IANS on the sidelines of the SEMICON India 2026 here the minister said whether it is materials machinery additional new fabs ATMP units design or talent development the effort is to develop all of these within IndiaHe said that Semicon 20 will build the semiconductor industry over six pillarsThe six pillars under Semicon 20 are Design Machines and Materials Setting up more Fabs Further strengthening the ATMPOSAT industry Research and Development and Talent DevelopmentIn Semicon 10 we had lots of startups trying to see how we can design the chips We had a goodsuccess More than 105 startups participated in it and about 20 of them got VC funding of about Rs 800 crore That was just the beginning said the ministerIT Secretary S Krishnan said that this event is much bigger than last yearWe have close to about 40000 delegates registered We have nearly 600plus companies participating in the exhibition We have delegates from about 52 countries participating and more than 300 of these companies participating in the exhibition are overseas companies This reflects the kind of confidence that the world has in India as a destination for semiconductor manufacturing Krishnan told IANSProjects supported under Semicon 20 will generally have a duration of up to six years while the scheme will initially remain open for applications for three years The India Semiconductor Mission ISM will be the nodal agency for Semicon 20 It will invite applications undertake technical and financial appraisal recommend applicants and oversee implementationA midterm assessment will be conducted after three years of implementation or as required to evaluate the schemes impact and consider modifications or continuation it saidMeanwhile the government has notified all six pillars of the Semicon 20 Scheme marking a significant step towards strengthening Indias semiconductor design and manufacturing capabilitiesThe scheme builds on the momentum generated by the first Semicon India Programme and provides fiscal and infrastructure support across the semiconductor value chain from chip design fabrication and packaging to equipment materials research and development and talent development IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/foundation-of-semiconductor-industry-laid-in-india-now-is-the-time-to-grow-ashwini-vaishnaw-700899.html Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tata-sons-board-votes-to-reappoint-chandrasekaran-for-third-term--700900.html Mumbai Sep 17 PTI Tata Sons board on Thursday voted to reappoint N Chandrasekaran for a third fiveyear term as chairman weeks after he told directors he did not intend to seek reappointment people familiar with the deliberations said a reversal driven by regulatory pressure on the groups holding company The shift follows the Reserve Bank of Indias rejection last week of Tata Sons application to surrender its registration as a nonbanking financial company a decision that revives the prospect of a stock listing the company had spent more than a year trying to avoid including by repaying more than Rs 21000 crore in debtBoard members reasoned that continuity of leadership would reassure prospective investors ahead of any listing process sources said Potential investors typically seek assurance on management continuity once a company embarks on an initial public offeringTata Sons Nomination amp Remuneration Committee will formally ask Chandrasekaran 63 to reconsider the decision he communicated to the board in August a decision made before the RBIs ruling and under a different set of assumptions about the companys regulatory pathNoel Tata chairman of Tata Trusts which together with affiliated trusts controls about 66 per cent of Tata Sons voted against the reappointment but the resolution carried on a majority vote sources saidNoel Tata has opposed a listing since at least February when the position was reportedly among the conditions he attached to backing Chandrasekarans previous term renewalShapoorji Pallonji Group which holds roughly 18 per cent of Tata Sons and was founded by Noel Tatas fatherinlaw has favoured a listingAs a consequence of Thursdays vote the chairmanselection process already initiated by the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust would be paused or discontinued according to sourcesTata Sons and Tata Trusts did not immediately comment on the outcome of the board meetingThe RBI classified Tata Sons as an upper layer nonbanking financial company in September 2022 under its scalebased regulatory framework a designation requiring listing within three yearsThe deadline lapsed in September 2025 while Tata Sons request to deregister as a core investment company which would have exempted it from the listing rule remained pending The central bank rejected that application on September 11Chandrasekaran has led Tata Sons since 2017 when he succeeded Ratan Tata as interim chairman following the boards ouster of Cyrus Mistry and was reappointed for a second term in 2022His planned departure announced to the board in August followed months of friction with Noel Tata over the listing question and capital allocation at newer group ventures including Air India Tata Digital and BigBasket which have posted lossesThe board first deferred a decision on his third term in February after Noel Tata raised those concerns during a nearly threehour meeting at Bombay HouseTata Sons had been exploring succession candidates in anticipation of Chandrasekarans exit with reports naming Tata Steel chief executive TV Narendran Tata Sons group chief financial officer Saurabh Agrawal and National Stock Exchange chief executive Ashish Chauhan as contenders alongside other internal namesAn eventual Tata Sons listing could rank among the largest IPOs in Indian history Even a 1 per cent stake sale has been estimated at Rs 1500020000 crore implying an overall valuation near Rs 20 lakh crore or roughly USD 230 billion for the conglomerate which holds controlling stakes in more than a dozen listed companies across steel automobiles software services hospitality and aviation along with sizable unlisted operationsAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/tata-sons-board-votes-to-reappoint-chandrasekaran-for-third-term--700900.html Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-raids-six-locations-in-kolkata-in-chit-fund-scam-case-700779.html Kolkata Sep 16 IANS The Enforcement Directorate ED was conducting simultaneous raids and search operations at six locations in Kolkata on Wednesday in connection with a multicrore chit fund casenbspSources aware of the development said a team of ED officials accompanied by the Central Armed Police Forces CAPF reached the house of a businessman in the Narkeldanga area in North Kolkata at around 7 amIt is learnt that the said businessman collected public deposits promising lucrative returns and invested them in various sectorsLater five other teams of ED the investigation arm of the Union Finance Minister conducted raids at five other locations in North and South Kolkata in connection with the same chit fund caseSources said the public deposits were collected in the name of a Ponzi entity APM Group which collected money and invested in various sectors but through another corporate entity that mainly acted as a shell companyIt is learnt that raids and search operations were conducted on charges of embezzlement of money deposited in that chit fund scheme According to sources in addition to the residence of the Ponzi entitys owner similar raids are also being conducted at the houses of the owners linkmenSources said that the modus operandi of the forgery by the said entity was the same where first huge public deposits were collected through different multilevel marketing schemes promising investors of lucrative returns and then the collected money was invested in different sectors through a shell entityThese public deposits sources said were collected without proper authorisation from the concerned regulatory authoritiesAt the time the report was filed the raid and search operations at the six locations were continuing and ED officials were also questioning different persons linked to the Ponzi entitySince 2012 West Bengal has been a hotbed of Ponzi entities including Sudipto Senowned Saradha Group and Gautam Kunduowned Rose Valley Group among othersThe ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI have been conducting separate probes into the activities of many such entities for a long time and have also arrested several top leaders of Trinamool Congress for links to themIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-raids-six-locations-in-kolkata-in-chit-fund-scam-case-700779.html Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/anurag-thakur-credits-centre-for-kishau-dam-breakthrough-questions-cong-over-six-decade-delay-700782.html New Delhi Sep 16 IANS BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Wednesday credited the Centres efforts for resolving the longpending Kishau Dam Project issue and criticised Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for taking credit for the development questioning why successive Congress governments had failed to resolve the matter over the past several decadesThakurs remarks came a day after the Chief Ministers of six states signed a Memorandum of Understanding MoU on Tuesday September 15 paving the way for the longpending 422 MW Kishau Multipurpose ProjectSpeaking to reporters Thakur said the project had remained unresolved for nearly six decades despite several Congress governments at both the Centre and state levelsThis was a sixdecadeold problem Several Congress governments came and went from the Centre to the states but they could not resolve this issue Under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi the Union Home Minister and the Union Jal Shakti Minister held meetings with the Chief Ministers of six states and resolved this issue he saidThakur said the agreement would not only help address the countrys future water requirements but also contribute towards meeting its power needs He described the agreement among the Centre and six states as an example of cooperative federalism and intergovernmental coordinationThey have also taken a major step to meet the huge water requirements that will arise for future generations along with addressing the power requirements When we talk about cooperative federalism and cooperation between governments this is a living example of strengthening that spirit The Central government along with the Chief Ministers and governments of six states has resolved this issue through the Kishau Dam Project he saidTaking a swipe at the Himachal Pradesh government over the issue of credit for the project Thakur said As far as the cost is concerned the Centre is bearing 90 per cent of the expenditure Yet some people are trying to take credit If the Himachal Chief Minister wants to take credit he should explain why Congress governments could not resolve this issue in the past 5060 years he addedThe MoU for the Rs 15000crore Kishau Multipurpose Project was signed by Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu along with Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma and Delhi CM Rekha GuptaUnion Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil were also present at the signing of the agreementThe signing of the MoU marks a significant step towards taking forward the 422 MW multipurpose project which has remained pending for several years due to differences over its financial burden and distribution of benefits among the participating statesFollowing the signing of the agreement the Kishau Multipurpose Project will now be placed before the Union Cabinet for approval Once the necessary approval is secured the project can move ahead towards its implementationThe Kishau Project is intended to provide benefits related to hydropower generation and water supply while also addressing the longterm requirements of the participating states IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/anurag-thakur-credits-centre-for-kishau-dam-breakthrough-questions-cong-over-six-decade-delay-700782.html Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/union-minister-shivraj-singh-chouhan-visits-flood-hit-areas-of-bihar-to-review-relief-operations--700798.html Patna Sep 16 PTI Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited floodaffected areas of Vaishali district on Wednesday during his daylong tour of Bihar to review relief and rescue operations in areas hit by the deluge officials saidAccompanied by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary the Union agriculture minister inspected the floodaffected Terasia and Saraipur villages in Vaishali district by boat and tractor He also interacted with the floodaffected people there Officials said he will assess crop damage and meet local farmers to hear their concernsAccording to a statement by the Disaster Management Department on Wednesday around 4974 lakh people in 15 districts of Bihar have been affected by floods as heavy rainfall in Nepal and in the state swelled rivers already flowing above their danger marksThe affected districts are Patna Bhojpur Saran Vaishali Bhagalpur Begusarai Buxar Samastipur Munger Katihar Lakhisarai Khagaria Purnea Madhepura and ArariaAfter visiting Terasia and Saraipur villages Chouhan told reporters This is the worst flood so far I have been informed that the water level this time is nearly one foot higher than what it was during the 2016 floods I also witnessed the losses suffered by farmers Asserting the state government was extending all possible help to the floodhit people he said I have come here on the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take stock of the situation on the ground and assess the extent of the damage Following the visit I will hold a review meeting with officials of the departments concerned Another Central team will also visit Bihar to assess the damage caused by the floods The Central Government will extend all possible assistance to the state government in dealing with the situation Later in the day Chouhan will chair a review meeting with the Bihar chief minister and senior officials to assess flood relief operations and assistance for affected farmersAfter that the Union minister will visit the flood relief camp at Nawabgarhi in Munger and interact with people sheltered there Later he will visit Bhagalpur to inspect the Kojikaraiya embankment and then visit the relief camp set up at Bhagalpur Polytechnic CollegeReacting to Chouhans visit RJD MP Manoj Jha criticised the Centre for its delayed response to the floodYou took far too long to show up Bihars plight is not on their minds Now they are arriving today I hear they are coming by a chartered plane It would have been far better had the money been spent for flood victims he saidA couple of days ago Bihars Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav accused the Centre of adopting a stepmotherly attitude towards the state in providing flood relief as he slammed Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Union ministers for failing to secure aid for people hit by the delugeThe engines of the doubleengine government in Bihar have failed I am not aware of how often the chief minister talks to PM Modi and wonder why he has not been able to secure central assistance There are many Union ministers from Bihar but none has the influence to bring central help to the state he had saidAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/union-minister-shivraj-singh-chouhan-visits-flood-hit-areas-of-bihar-to-review-relief-operations--700798.html Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pil-in-sc-questions-centres-decision-to-impose-mdr-on-upi-transactions-above-rs-2-000-700827.html New Delhi Sep 16 IANS A Public Interest Litigation PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the Centres recent framework permitting Merchant Discount Rate MDR on specified highvalue Unified Payments Interface UPI transactions above Rs 2000 alleging that the move is arbitrary discriminatory and imposes a nationwide financial burden without adequate statutory safeguardsnbspThe plea filed by advocate Anjan Datta through advocate Ashutosh Dubey has challenged the Gazette Notification published on September 14 2026 under Section 10A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007 as well as the framework announced on September 15 for imposing MDR on specified persontomerchant P2M UPI transactions above Rs 2000According to the petition the new framework proposes a 04 per cent MDR on P2M UPI transactions above Rs 2000 capped at Rs 300 for transactions of Rs 75000 and above with separate rates for certain sectorsThe challenge is not to the legitimate objective of maintaining secure and resilient payment infrastructure It is to the manner in which a nationwide compulsory payment burden has been created classified and distributed without publication of the complete operative instrument statutory source underlying cost study minutes methodology safeguards or enforceable antipassthrough mechanism the plea statedThe petitioner has claimed that the framework proposed to take effect from October 15 creates different thresholds and categories without disclosing the empirical basis or principles underlying themThe Rs 2000 transaction threshold the Rs 1 lakh monthlyreceipt classification the differential sector rates and the Rs 75000 cap are unsupported in the public domain by disclosed data or determining principles the plea statedThe petition further claimed that a transaction of Rs 2001 would attract a percentage charge while a Rs 2000 transaction would not describing such cliffs as capable of distorting behaviour and creating unequal treatment among similarly placed merchantsThe plea also questioned the manner in which the detailed MDR framework has allegedly been introduced contending that essential ratemaking and classification decisions cannot be delegated to an unincorporated steering committee without clear legislative standards publication and regulatory supervisionEssential ratemaking and classification choices cannot be subdelegated without clear legislative policy standards publication and regulatory supervision the petition statedThe petitioner has sought production of the complete record relating to the decision including the statutory basis constitution and authority of the UPI and Services Steering Committee its decision and minutes and the legal basis for prescribing rates and distributing MDR among private ecosystem participantsThe PIL has also sought quashing or suspension of the framework insofar as it imposes MDR on UPI transactions above Rs 2000Alternatively it has sought reconsideration after transparent consultation publication of empirical data and an impact assessment along with safeguards for micro and small enterprisesThe PIL comes amid the Centres explanation that the revised framework is aimed at making the UPI ecosystem financially sustainableThe Union Finance Ministry said on Wednesday that UPI processed 245 billion transactions in August 2026 and that a small fee on highvalue merchant transactions would help fund infrastructure cybersecurity and support for small merchants in Tier IIIVI towns and rural areasThe ministry has maintained that UPI remains free for customers and that persontoperson transactions will continue to remain free irrespective of the amountIt has also said merchants earning up to Rs 1 lakh per month through UPI QR codes will continue to enjoy zero charges while over 95 per cent of merchant payments below Rs 2000 will remain freeThe Reserve Bank of India RBI has separately described the introduction of MDR on largevalue UPI transactions as an important step towards strengthening the longterm sustainability of the digital payments ecosystem while stressing that all UPI transactions will remain free for usersIn his PIL filed under Article 32 of the Constitution the petitioner asserted that he has no personal interest in the matter and has approached the apex court in public interest given the widespread use of UPI among consumers and small merchants across the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pil-in-sc-questions-centres-decision-to-impose-mdr-on-upi-transactions-above-rs-2-000-700827.html Wed, 16 Sep 2026 18:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mayawati-congratulates-bsp-workers-as-party-secures-19-seats-in-rajasthan-civic-polls-700713.html New Delhi Sep 15 IANS Bahujan Samaj Party BSP chief Mayawati on Tuesday congratulated the partys officebearers and workers after BSP candidates won 19 seats in the municipal elections held in RajasthanMayawati said the party could have secured an even better result but alleged that several BSP candidates suffered defeat by narrow margins during recounting due to irregularities in the government machineryTaking to social media platform X Mayawati wrote in Hindi loosely translated In the municipal elections held in Rajasthan the BSP has also succeeded this time by getting its councillors elected to 19 seats and many candidates were forcibly defeated in the recount by a margin of just a few votes due to irregularities in the government machinery otherwise the party could have achieved an even better result here For this the party has extended hearty congratulations and best wishes to all the small and big officebearers and workers of the BSPThe BSP chief also pointed out that the party had performed better than before in the recently held local body elections in Punjab and some other statesAlthough before this in local body elections held in Punjab and some other states of the country as well the party has achieved better results than before and they too are worthy of congratulations she saidMayawati expressed hope that the party would build on these performances and deliver stronger results in the forthcoming Assembly elections and the next Lok Sabha electionsIt is hoped that in the upcoming Assembly general elections there and in the Lok Sabha general elections in the country all those people will surely bring even better results for their party she addedMeanwhile the ruling BJP emerged as the leading party in Rajasthans urban local body elections finishing ahead of the Congress in terms of wards won The BJP secured 4179 wards compared with 3613 won by the Congress and obtained clear majorities in four of the states 10 municipal corporationsThe Congress party however secured a majority in the Bikaner Municipal Corporation and registered a significant victory in the Jhalawar Municipal Council which is considered a stronghold of former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mayawati-congratulates-bsp-workers-as-party-secures-19-seats-in-rajasthan-civic-polls-700713.html Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bihar-floods-cong-urges-govt-to-carry-out-relief-rescue-operations-without-delay-700718.html New Delhi Sep 15 PTI In the wake of the devastating floods in Bihar the Congress on Tuesday urged the government and the administration to carry out relief and rescue operations without delay and ensure that essential aid reaches the affected families as soon as possible Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the loss of lives due to floods in Bihar is extremely heartbreakingnbspMy deepest condolences to the bereaved families Around 50 lakh people in 15 districts are affected by the floods and daily life has been disrupted in thousands of villages In this hour of crisis the governments priority should be to ensure that relief and assistance reach every affected family he said in a post in Hindi on XnbspThe government and administration must spare no effort in relief rescue medical assistance and rehabilitation efforts and ensure that aid reaches the affected families without delay Kharge saidHe appealed to all Congress workers to step forward in the affected areas and provide every possible help to the peoplenbspThe entire country stands with Bihar in this difficult time Kharge saidLeader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also appealed to Congress workers to step forward and provide all possible assistance to the affected peoplenbspThe loss of lives due to the devastating floods in Bihar is extremely heartbreaking I express my deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this disaster My sympathies are with all those affected by this tragedy Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on XnbspI appeal to Congress workers to step forward and provide all possible assistance to the affected people At the same time I expect the government and administration to carry out relief and rescue operations with full promptness and ensure that essential aid reaches the affected families as soon as possible Gandhi saidnbspCongress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the news of the devastation caused by the horrific floods in Bihar is extremely heartbreakingnbspLakhs of people in the state are affected by the floods There has been a significant loss of lives and property May God grant peace to the departed souls My deepest condolences to the affected families the Congress general secretary saidShe appealed to the government to expedite relief and rescue operations so that help can reach the affected people as soon as possiblenbspI urge Congress workers to assist the affected individuals to the best of their ability The entire nation stands firmly with those impacted by this disaster Priyanka Gandhi saidnbspNearly 50 lakh people in 15 districts of Bihar have been affected by floods as heavy rain over the past few days further swelled rivers already flowing above their danger marks officials said on MondaynbspThe state has recorded 1127 mm of rain so far in September around six per cent above normal the local weather office saidnbspAn official said incessant rain in the catchment areas of rivers flowing from Nepal into Bihar coupled with heavy rainfall has caused several rivers and streams to flow above their danger marksAccording to the Disaster Management Department 4967 lakh people in 15 districts have been affected by floodsThe affected districts are Patna Bhojpur Saran Vaishali Bhagalpur Begusarai Buxar Samastipur Munger Katihar Lakhisarai Khagaria Purnea Madhepura and ArariaAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/bihar-floods-cong-urges-govt-to-carry-out-relief-rescue-operations-without-delay-700718.html Tue, 15 Sep 2026 11:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/punjab-police-take-bishnoi-aide-into-custody-at-delhi-airport-after-deportation-from-canada-700720.html Chandigarh Sep 15 IANS In another breakthrough against transnational organised crime Punjab Polices AntiGangster Task Force AGTF has taken custody of Karamveer Singh a close associate of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi on his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International IGI Airport in New Delhi following his deportation from CanadanbspnbspDirector General of Police Gaurav Yadav said Karamveer Singh had provided logistical support and a hideout to Anmol Bishnoi in the US He was wanted in the first information report FIR registered in Mohali under relevant sections of the IPC the Arms Act and the Passport ActA Look Out Circular LOC was initiated by AGTF Punjab on September 3 He said the accused has a criminal history involving cases related to murder attempt to murder robbery extortion Arms Act offences and other criminal activitiesFurther investigation is underway to uncover his wider criminal network and activitiesLast week the AGTF and Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell OFTEC with the assistance of Central agencies secured the extradition of fugitive criminal Amritpal Singh alias Amrit Dalam a key operative of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang from MoldovaThe accused is wanted in multiple cases of murders attempt to murder the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPA the Arms Act narcotic offences etcAmritpal Singh was detained by Moldovan authorities on February 24 while he was attempting to cross the Otaci state border towards Ukraine following which the extradition process against him was initiated through OFTEC PunjabDuring these proceedings the Court of Chisinau granted the extradition of Amritpal Singh to India on May 26 His appeal against the extradition order was also rejected by the Court of Appeal Centru on July 16 thereby making the extradition order finalThe accused was taken into custody by the team of Punjab Police from Chisinau Airport in Moldova and arrived at the IGI Airport on September 12This is the firstever extradition secured by Punjab Police from a European country marking a significant milestone in our fight against organised crime the DGP had said while adding the operation marks the successful culmination of Operation Eastern Reach a sixmonthlong intelligenceled international manhunt involving sustained surveillance strategic intelligence gathering and close coordination with national and international agenciesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/punjab-police-take-bishnoi-aide-into-custody-at-delhi-airport-after-deportation-from-canada-700720.html Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pakistan-claims-masood-azhar-in-afghanistan-but-indian-agencies-track-his-shifting-hideouts-700721.html New Delhi Sep 15 IANS Pakistans Federal Investigation Agency FIA announced a fresh bounty of PKR 70 lakh on JaisheMohammed JeM chief Masood Azhar maintaining that the terrorist leader is hiding in Afghanistan a claim intelligence agencies and global observers view as an attempt to evade scrutiny by the Financial Action Task Force FATFnbspThe move comes at a time when Pakistan remains under scrutiny over its actions against terror financing and militant groups Security officials and Pakistan observers however believe the increased bounty is aimed at creating an impression of action against Azhar while keeping his actual whereabouts away from international scrutinyWhile announcing the hike in the bounty the FIA maintained that Azhar is in Afghanistan and not in Pakistan a claim that has repeatedly been rejected by the Afghan TalibanIndian intelligence officials also claim that Azhar is very much in Pakistan An Intelligence Bureau official said that their tracking clearly reveals that he is very much in PakistanDuring Operation Sindoor he was very much in Bahawalpur but not at the JaisheMohammed headquarters that was hit At the time of the operation he was immediately shifted to the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalpindi He has been on and off at the facility as he suffers from chronic renal failure the official saidAnother official said that Azhar has been moved multiple times within Pakistan after the Operation Sindoor was launched last year The Jaish chief has not returned to Bahawalpur since the operation and has instead been shifted between at least three or four locationsHe is never kept in one place for long due to security reasons When he was at the Rawalpindi hospital a mysterious explosion had taken place during which he suffered minor injuries the official addedThe officials said Azhars frequent shifting is driven not only by security concerns but also by mounting pressure from the FATFThe ISI cannot afford to lose Azhar especially at a time when the JeM is on a rebuilding spree Azhar has consistently put out audio clips urging cadres and potential recruits to remain brave and fight valiantly against the Indian forces in Jammu and KashmirHe is a polarising figure and the ISI needs to keep him safe Moreover with tensions so high with the Taliban the possibility of Pakistan moving him to Afghanistan is impossible the officials saidAnother official said that intelligence tracking by India suggests that Azhar is very often housed at a facility in Nawabshah City in the Sindh Province He also has another safe house at Skardu which is located in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir PoKThe PoK region is on the boil due to the protests This led to a change in strategy when it came to recruitment The ISI has stopped recruitment in PoK for now and has focused on the rest of Pakistan to pick up youth to join terror groups such as the LashkareTaiba and JaishThis also prompted Pakistan to move Azhar away from PoK and send him back to Nawabshah He is currently moved between Nawabshah and Rawalpindi officials sayPakistan observers say that the increased bounty is only to hoodwink the FATF Pakistans claims that Azhar is in Afghanistan are incorrect and the ISI is not going to risk keeping him there at a time when relations between the two countries have deteriorated the experts sayThis is however not the first time that the FIA has announced a bounty on Azhar In 2021 a bounty of PKR 50 lakh was announced by the FIA Even at that time Pakistan claimed that he is not on its soil After the 2021 bounty nothing much changed where the Jaish and Azhar were concernedAzhar has overseen the JeM adapting new tactics in Jammu and Kashmir such as transitioning towards hybrid warfare and setting up proxy frontsTo evade scrutiny of the FATF the Jaish operated under proxy terror outfits such as the Peoples Anti Fascist Front PAFF This outfit has claimed responsibility for deadly ambushes on the Indian security forces in the dense forest areas of Poonch and RajouriOfficials say that the current focus of Pakistan is to keep Azhar safe and also away from the eyes of the FATF While he had put out several audio clips to boost the morale of his cadre the ISI has deliberately asked him to stop doing so at least for some timeIslamabad wants to give the impression that Azhar is out of the country and Pakistan has nothing to do with him at least until the FATF meetings scheduled between October 26 and 30 in Paris are complete an official saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pakistan-claims-masood-azhar-in-afghanistan-but-indian-agencies-track-his-shifting-hideouts-700721.html Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/compromised-pm-modi-again-surrendering-to-us-pressure-rahul-on-govts-upi-move--700722.html New Delhi Sep 15 PTI Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the Modi government has quietly paved the way for imposing fees on UPI transactions and that a compromised Prime Minister Narendra Modi was once again surrendering to American pressure The Congress raised questions over the governments notification on UPI transactions claiming that the stage is clearly being set for people to pay a fee for such transactions and asking whether this is being done to open digital payments for American firms to appease US President Donald TrumpnbspIn a post in Hindi on X Gandhi alleged that the Modi government has quietly paved the way for imposing fees on UPInbspNow MDR can be levied on merchant UPI transactions above Rs 2000 Even if these transactions account for just 5 of the volume they make up nearly 65 of UPIs total transaction value Gandhi saidnbspThe government says no fees will be charged to customers But where will the fees imposed on shopkeepers ultimately come from Added to the prices straight out of the customers pocket the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha saidnbspAmerican payment companies have long opposed Indias zeroMDR policy Gandhi saidnbspNow the Modi government has opened the path to changing the policy in exactly that direction Gandhi claimedJust like with the US Trade Deal Compromised PM Modi is once again surrendering to American pressure the former Congress chief allegedThe Congress alleged that the government has yet again shown complete lack of honesty and transparency and has broken the trust of usersThe opposition partys attack came after the government directed banks and payment system providers not to levy charges on Unified Payments Interface UPI transactions of up to Rs 2000 or on payments made through RuPay debit cardsnbspHowever the government has not specified whether charges would be applicable to transactions above Rs 2000 to be paid by merchants So far there has been no charge on UPI transactions irrespective of the amountnbspReacting to it Congress general secretary incharge communications Jairam Ramesh said Just as we warned on August 6 2026 to which the Honble FM herself had deemed it fit to respond the Modi Government is now using new laws bulldozed through Parliament to start the process of charging for UPI A notification has just been issued under the amended Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007 that prohibits banks and providers from charging only for UPI transactions under Rs 2000 But there is NO explicit protection for any transaction above this cap Ramesh said on XnbspThe stage is clearly being set for all of us to pay a fee for UPI transactions he claimednbspTomorrow the cap itself might be changed with another such notification there is no longer a guarantee in the law For all we know the government can introduce a charge for daily persontoperson transactions as well Ramesh saidThe Modi government has yet again shown complete lack of honesty and transparency and has broken the trust of users Is all of this being done to open digital payments for American companies to appease President Trump the Congress general secretary saidnbspAs per a gazette notification dated September 14 no bank or system provider would impose whether directly or indirectly any charge on a person making or receiving a payment through RuPay debit card or UPI transaction of up to Rs 2000nbspThe notification follows an amendment to section 10 A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007 which provides an enabling framework for imposing a Merchant Discount Rate MDR on payments through UPI and other notified electronic payment modesnbspThe amendment Bill was passed by Parliament during the Monsoon Session which concluded on August 13 2026 Following the passage of the Bill the government had said the UPI and Services Steering Committee headed by the National Payments Corporation of India NPCI would decide on the MDR ratesnbspExplaining the rationale for imposing charges the government in a statement said with exponential transaction volumes the system requires significant and continuous upgrades in cybersecurity fraud prevention and infrastructurenbspCharges were required for market expansion and self sustainability it had saidnbsp It is necessary to increase competition by encouraging more companies to expand their operations which requires a selfsustaining revenue model it had saidnbspReliance on subsidies alone is not viable for the next wave of growth it had said adding that a balanced framework is required to ensure that UPI remains robust inclusive and futurereadynbspUPI is operated by the National Payments Corporation of India NPCI an initiative of the Reserve Bank of India RBI and the Indian Banks AssociationnbspLast month the Congress had attacked the government over the Taxation and Other Laws Amendment Bill before it was passed asking whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking to dilute UPI and open the digital payments sector to American businesses under pressure from his good friend Donald TrumpnbspRamesh had said the Modi governments latest bill removes the statutory guarantee that keeps UPI transactions freenbspIt opens the door to Merchant Discount Rate MDR charges which can easily be expanded to all payments in the future Ramesh had saidThe cost will inevitably be borne by ordinary people who will now have to pay to use UPI transactions he had saidnbspFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said the Merchant Discount Rate on digital transactions applies to merchants and not to customers and the MDR charge would support banks and fintech companies to invest more on infrastructure and securitynbspHitting out at Ramesh over his remark that ordinary people may have to pay more for using UPI Sitharaman had said the UPI and Services Steering Committee headed by NPCI is yet to decide on the MDR which would happen only after Parliament passes the Taxation and Other Laws Amendment Bill 2026nbspReplying to Ramesh Sitharaman had said Before spreading a canard JairamRamesh ji please consider this Merchant Discount Rate MDR applies only on the merchants and not on the end userscustomers It will support the Banks amp Fintech to invest more on infrastructure innovation amp security All users of UPI will reap the benefits of this investmentAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/compromised-pm-modi-again-surrendering-to-us-pressure-rahul-on-govts-upi-move--700722.html Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bpsc-bpssc-aspirants-stage-protest-in-patna-demand-cancellation-of-exams-700733.html Patna Sep 15 IANS A large number of students staged a massive protest in Patna on Tuesday demanding the cancellation and reconduct of the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission BPSC Combined Competitive Examination and the Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission BPSSC Main Examination for the recruitment of 1799 Police SubInspectorsnbspThe protesting aspirants gathered near JP Golambar and raised slogans against the state governmentnbspCarrying banners and posters they demanded an impartial investigation into alleged irregularities in both examinationsOne of the posters carried by the protesters read Neither will foul play in exams be tolerated nor will playing with our future be acceptedThe students said that if an investigation establishes any wrongdoing both examinations should be cancelled and conducted again for all candidatesAs the protesters attempted to march towards the Chief Ministers residence and the Raj Bhavan police personnel put up barricades near JP Golambar to stop them However the protesters broke through the barricades and attempted to move ahead leading to a scuffle between the students and policenbspSome aspirants were seen climbing over the barricades while continuing to raise slogansMore than 200 police personnel have been deployed around Gandhi Maidan to prevent the protesters from proceeding furthernbspSecurity arrangements have also been strengthened at Dakbungalow Crossing where the route has been blocked with barricadesThe BPSSC conducted the main written examination in May 2026 for the recruitment of 1799 Police SubInspectors Around 35857 candidates appeared for the examinationFollowing the exam complaints of alleged malpractice and irregularities were raised at some examination centresQuestions were also raised after a photograph of the question paper reportedly surfaced on social media following the May 27 examination at Government Girls High School in PurneaDuring the police investigation a teacher Mrityunjay Kumar was arrested According to police Kumar allegedly photographed the question paper after the examination had concluded and sent the image to a relativeThe Economic Offences Unit EOU subsequently took up the investigationnbspThe agency has obtained photographs of the question paperbooklet and has sought a response from the BPSSC regarding the authenticity and source of the imagesThe protesting students maintain that the questions surrounding the transparency and integrity of the examination process must be investigated impartiallyThey have demanded that the authorities establish the facts through a fair inquiry and take appropriate action if irregularities are confirmedThe aspirants are continuing their protest in Patna pressing for the cancellation and reconduct of both the 70th BPSC Combined Competitive Examination and the BPSSC Main Examination for 1799 SubInspector posts IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bpsc-bpssc-aspirants-stage-protest-in-patna-demand-cancellation-of-exams-700733.html Tue, 15 Sep 2026 15:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/new-wave-of-start-ups-shaping-up-indias-defence-landscape-rajnath-singh-700737.html New Delhi Sep 15 IANS Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday made a strong pitch for supporting innovation and technological advancement in all sectors including defence cyber security Artificial Intelligence AI and others to strengthen Indias defence propects and secure strategic advantage over global peersTerming technology as one of most powerful tools of 21st century the Defence Minister said that it has the power to shape countrys future and make it selfreliantRajnath Singh made these remarks while addressing the DRDOIndustry Synergy Meet VIMARSH 2026 in the national capital themed Varta Se VikasHighlighting that a new wave of defence startups is rising in India the Defence Minister said These startups are giving a fresh direction to the modern defence landscape in areas like drone technology artificial intelligence and cyber security Todays innovation is tomorrows military capabilityWhoever leads technology today will gain a strategic advantage in future warfare he addedRajnath Singh also urged the nation and its youth to inculcate a habit of selfconfidence and selfreliance saying that a country having its own technology will always have the power to shape its own futureIndias Startups and MSMEs have emerged as new flagbearers of innovation From deep tech to futuristic technologies these enterprises are scripting a new story of selfreliance in the defence sector From research to manufacturing the role of MSMEs and Startups is extremely crucial in building Aatmanirbhar Bharat he saidThe Defence Minister also called for increased collaboration between the research institutions like DRDO the industry and also the Armed Forces for accelerating technology development and achieving selfreliance in defence sectorThe defence sector plays a decisive role in achieving the goal of Developed India 2047 When DRDOs technology the industrial worlds manufacturing capability the innovation of startups and the aspirations of the youth unite in one direction Indias military capability will reach new heights This is the Collective Strength of the New India Rajnath Singh said in a post on social media platform X IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/new-wave-of-start-ups-shaping-up-indias-defence-landscape-rajnath-singh-700737.html Tue, 15 Sep 2026 17:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/hindi-playing-vital-role-in-strengthening-public-communication-good-governance-amit-shah-on-hindi-diwas-700672.html New Delhi Sep 14 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday extended heartfelt greetings to citizens on the occasion of Hindi Diwas highlighting the role of the language in public communication good governance and national integration while calling for the empowerment of all Indian languagesnbspIn a post on X HM Shah said Heartfelt greetings to all fellow citizens on Hindi Diwas As the official language Hindi is playing a vital role in strengthening public communication good governance and national integrationHindi which moves forward alongside all Indian languages is now also becoming the language of technology and research On the occasion of Official Language Day I pay my respects to all the great personalities who have made an unforgettable contribution to enriching Hindi Let us on this occasion resolve to empower all Indian languages including Hindi he addedDefence Minister Rajnath Singh also extended his greetings describing Hindi as an important expression of Indias culture civilisation and valuesSingh posted on X Hindi is not merely a language but a powerful expression of Indias culture civilization and life values It is the language that weaves our diversity into the thread of unity Enhancing the glory of Hindi is an act of honoring our rich linguistic and cultural heritage Let us resolve to preserve promote and propagate Hindi and make it even more robust in the fields of knowledge science technology and innovation Heartfelt greetings to all Hindi enthusiasts on Hindi DiwasUnion Minister Nitin Gadkari also wished people on the occasion posting on X Heartfelt wishes to all on Hindi DiwasUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his greetings emphasising the languages connection with Indias cultural identity and national unityHeartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all Hindi enthusiasts and residents of the state on Hindi Diwas Hindi is a powerful expression of our cultural consciousness national unity and Indian identity Let us all come together and resolve to honor promote and widely use the Hindi language posted CM Yogi on XnbspHindi Diwas is observed every year on September 14 to commemorate the adoption of Hindi in the Devanagari script as the official language of the Union by the Constituent Assembly on September 14 1949 The observance of Hindi Diwas began on September 14 1953 and has continued since thenIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/hindi-playing-vital-role-in-strengthening-public-communication-good-governance-amit-shah-on-hindi-diwas-700672.html Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-building-collapse-hc-refuses-urgent-listing-of-plea-over-demolition-of-adjoining-structure--700675.html New Delhi Sep 14 PTI The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to urgently list a plea raising concerns over the MCDs decision to demolish the building adjoining the Satya Niketan hostel that collapsed last week A lawyer told a bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia that the authorities proceeded with the demolition without removing the debris from the hostels basement and some people may still be trapped The lawyer mentioned the matter for an urgent hearingThe court observed that the authorities must have conducted an audit before demolishing the adjoining building and asked the lawyer not to file a petition in airWhats the source of information that there are persons below the debris How do you know They must have conducted some type of technical audit before deciding to demolish the adjoining building Its all your guesswork that there might be some people You should have some basis of making such submissions the court told the lawyerStating that the plea would be listed on its turn the bench added Whats so urgent You should not file the petition just in air What is the technical information available to younbspThe building at Satya Niketan which housed a boys payingguest accommodation near Delhi Universitys South Campus collapsed on September 6 while repair work was underwayThe high court on September 7 ordered a highlevel MCD inquiry into the building collapse incident at Satya Niketan that left seven people dead and made it clear that the government cannot evade responsibilityIt said the incident was not only unfortunate but it also evoked deep concern about inadequate housing facilities including hostels run by Delhi University or the government safety and security of students and notsoadequate measures employed by the MCD and other authorities to regulate such PG facilitiesOn September 8 the civic authority began a controlled demolition of the building adjoining the collapsed hostel after terming it dangerousThe building housed a girls payingguest accommodation and was evacuated after the collapse of the neighbouring fivestorey structurenbspAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-building-collapse-hc-refuses-urgent-listing-of-plea-over-demolition-of-adjoining-structure--700675.html Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rahul-gandhis-brics-menu-post-triggers-backlash-from-bjp-leaders-sp-supports-lops-views-700688.html New Delhi Sep 14 IANS BJP leaders have reacted to Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition LoP Rahul Gandhis recent posts on the BRICS Summit with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis saying the Congress leader was unable to appreciate the countrys diplomatic achievements However the SP stressed the need to respect Indias diverse food traditionsnbspReacting to LoP Gandhis posts on the BRICS dinner menu Fadnavis said the Congress leader appeared to be unable to appreciate the countrys diplomatic achievementsI believe that when someone is narrowminded and feels hurt even by their own countrys success they make such statements Fadnavis claimedThe Maharashtra Chief Minister said the unanimous adoption of the Delhi Declaration was among the biggest achievements of the BRICS Summit pointing out that China Russia and other member countries had signed the declarationThe biggest success of BRICS is that the Delhi Declaration was issued unanimously with China Russia and all other members signing it he saidThe Global South strongly welcomed the declaration that directly condemned Pakistan and terrorism There cannot be a greater strategic or diplomatic victory than this he addedAfter an allvegetarian meal was served at the BRICS Summit dinner in New Delhi LoP Gandhi sought to highlight Indias dietary diversity saying that a large majority of Indians eat nonvegetarian foodFor the record 80 of Indians are nonvegetarian Indian nonvegetarian food is delicious As are my sisters chole bhature Gandhi wrote on his social media handles He also shared a picture of chole bhature on a dining tableIn Madhya Pradesh Minister Vishwas Sarang also criticised LoP Gandhi over his post concerning the BRICS dinner menu saying the he should rise above partisan politics when commenting on an international eventHe is the Leader of the Opposition in the worlds largest democracy When an international event is being held we should rise above party politics and express our views Sarang saidHe said Gandhi should focus on the substantive issues discussed at the summit rather than the food served at the dinnerHe should talk about the issues discussed at the BRICS Summit but he is talking about the food menu I wonder who his advisers are and when he will understand Sarang saidMeanwhile SP MP Awadhesh Prasad took a different view stressing the need to respect Indias diverse food traditionsAll kinds of food should be respected Our country is a large and diverse nation with different types of attire and different kinds of food We should respect all kinds of food Our traditions and beliefs should also be preserved Prasad saidThe reactions came amid a political debate over LoP Gandhis remarks following the BRICS dinner with leaders offering sharply contrasting views on whether the focus should be on the menu or the broader diplomatic outcomes of the summit IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/rahul-gandhis-brics-menu-post-triggers-backlash-from-bjp-leaders-sp-supports-lops-views-700688.html Mon, 14 Sep 2026 14:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/need-to-ensure-that-powers-granted-to-constitutional-institutions-are-not-misused-cm-at-up-lokayukta-event--700692.html nbspLucknow Sep 14 PTI Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said the greatest strength of democracy lies in the trust an ordinary citizen places in constitutional institutions and it must be ensured that powers granted to them are not misused and that action is taken against habitual frivolous complainants He was speaking at the 50th foundation day celebration of the Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta hereAdityanath said good governance also depends on public trust underlining If there is no public trust we cannot achieve the goal of good governance nbspTo attain those goals it is essential that even the person at the very last rung of the social ladder can look up to various constitutional bodies with a sense of pride and trust the chief minister saidHe said The greatest strength of democracy lies in the trust an ordinary citizen places in any constitutional institution In a democracy nothing can stop an organisation from moving forward if it lives up to the trust of the common people Adityanath also said merely establishing an institution will not solve the problem what matters is the kind of results we deliver as per the publics sentimentsnbspEven the most ordinary citizen should be able to come forward without hesitation and in accordance with the rules obtain the desired outcome right before their eyes within a stipulated timeframe Ultimately this is the biggest criterion of democracy that we live up to the publics trust Adityanath saidnbspHe added that with this very consideration in mind the framers of the Constitution established a parliamentary democracy for IndianbspA fundamental principle of this system is that if an elected representative loses the publics trust the government fallsnbspRepresentatives must go back to the people every five years If an individual fails to respect the publics sentiments during this time people have the right to replace their representative and give others a chance in the next election That is precisely why the framers of our Constitution incorporated this provision Adityanath saidnbspHe stressed that every individual should be treated with equality and without discrimination Resolution of complaints should be based on merit with emphasis on the satisfaction of the complainantnbspCiting the example of transformation in the Public Distribution System PDS Adityanath said that when he became chief minister in 2017 the highest number of complaints were related to food grain distribution under the PDSnbspSixty out of 100 people used to complain about the PDS he saidnbspWe installed ePOS machines and linked them to a central monitoring screen at headquarters If anyone attempted to divert rations at any of the 80000 fair price shops the system will alert us leaving zero possibility for malpractice The result Today when 500 people come to see me not a single one has a complaint regarding the PDS There are zero complaints he saidThe chief minister also referred to matters related to the Revenue Department He said that In 2017 nearly 34 lakh cases related to land disputes demarcation inheritance and mutation were pending leading to unnecessary disputesAround 6 lakh inheritancerelated cases alone were pending Timelines were fixed for disposal of all such matters It was decided that if a landuse issue was not resolved within 30 days it would be treated as deemed approved with accountability fixed on the concerned authority in case of errorsnbspOver the last nine and a half years 34 lakh cases have been resolved although another 9 lakh cases also emerged during the same periodIssues relating to inheritance demarcation and similar matters were addressed Adityanath said that public grievances are resolved within stipulated timelines through platforms such as IGRS CM Helpline and Janata DarshannbspHowever he pointed out that some individuals also submit unnecessary complaints Some people come and say they do not have a personal grievance but want to complain against someone When evidence is sought they hesitate Sharing an experience he said that one individual had lodged a complaint against a schoolnbspWhen the complaint was found to be false during investigation the complainant demanded that all schools in the district be investigated he said adding that such false complaints should be rejectednbspSuch complaints waste the time of the system as well as that of honest individuals genuinely seeking justice the CM saidnbspAdityanath emphasised that elements misusing grievance redressal systems should be kept at a distancenbspTo establish any institution as a symbol of trust even the person at the lowest level should be able to express confidence with dignity that his or her problem will be resolved It must also be ensured that powers granted to institutions are not misused and that action is taken against habitual frivolous complainants the chief minister saidnbspHe noted that many issues have been systematically addressed over the years Referring to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana he recalled that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of opening Jan Dhan accounts after assuming office in 2014 the opposition mocked the initiative Today the strength of Jan Dhan accounts is evident to allReferring to the difficulties faced by a former prime minister in ensuring welfare delivery he said Funds are now transferred directly into beneficiaries bank accounts through DBT Trust is the real strength of democracy Democracy is of the people by the people and for the people Its true test is that every person should receive what rightfully belongs to himnbspAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/need-to-ensure-that-powers-granted-to-constitutional-institutions-are-not-misused-cm-at-up-lokayukta-event--700692.html Mon, 14 Sep 2026 16:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-seizes-flats-fds-worth-rs-1344-crore-in-mumbai-goa-over-united-services-club-fraud-700693.html Mumbai Sep 14 IANS The ED attached 13 immovable and movable properties including flat plot fixed deposit and bank balance worth Rs 1344 crore in Mumbai Goa and Madhya Pradesh in connection with a financial fraud linked to functionaries and CA of United Services Club an official said on MondayThe action was taken by the Enforcement Directorate ED Mumbai Zonal Office under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 PMLA against assets belonging to Bernadette Bharat Varma Bharatkumar Shankarlal Varma and others said an ED statementnbspThe investigation by the federal agency was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by Mumbai Police under various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS 2023 in the matternbspThe ED Investigation revealed that Bernadette Varma being Deputy Secretary Finance of United Services Club in connivance with her husband Bharatkumar Shankarlal Varma openedgot opened various fakedummy bank accounts in the name similar to the originalregular vendors of the Club and transferred around Rs 77 crore into such accountsThese funds representing Proceeds of Crime were further diverted to the personaljoint bank accounts of Bernadette Varma Bharat Varma and their family members and associates the ED saidInvestigation by the ED also revealed that Bernadette Varma and her husband utilised the Proceeds of Crime in acquiring several immovable properties and also invested a part of the same in fixed deposits with various banksThe ED said Proceeds of Crime to the tune of Rs 11 crore were transferred to the bank account of Jyotirgamay Foundation Trust from where funds were subsequently diverted to the bank accounts relating to Chandra Prakash Pandey his family members and firms controlled by Chandra Prakash Pandey who was a Chartered Accountant relating to US Club including related personsEarlier 35 properties amounting to Rs 3451 crore were attached on March 20 in the case the statement said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-seizes-flats-fds-worth-rs-1344-crore-in-mumbai-goa-over-united-services-club-fraud-700693.html Mon, 14 Sep 2026 17:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modis-leadership-vision-and-commitment-made-brics-summit-resounding-success-eam-jaishankar-700694.html New Delhi Sep 14 IANS External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar on Monday described the 18th BRICS held in New Delhi as a resounding success lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership for bringing countries from diverse geographies and cultures together around shared interests and common groundThe BRICS India Summit was clearly a resounding success It came as BRICS marked its 20th year What drove it was PM Modis leadership vision and commitment Countries came together from different geographies and diverse cultures They were inspired by the desire to find common ground We witnessed progress in bridging divides and harmonizing differences Conversations remained open and constructive said EAM Jaishankar while sharing his thoughts in a video posted on XThe External Affairs Minister EAM further said that the summits robust outcome reflected a shared resolve among BRICS members to advance the interests of the Global South He also highlighted the global resonance of Prime Minister Modis emphasis on peace dialogue and diplomacy saying the summit reflected the growing traction of these principles worldwideThe resulting consensus was articulated in a robust outcome Its message was about a strong and united BRICS standing up for the Global South Our teams worked 247 to make this happen and by doing so they really made India proud The world is responding to PM Modis call for peace dialogue and diplomacy This is what we saw at the BRICS India Summit EAM notedAs BRICS chair in 2026 India hosted the twoday 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from September 12 to 13 bringing together leaders of BRICS members partner countries and outreach inviteesBRICS comprises Brazil China Egypt Ethiopia India Indonesia Iran Russia Saudi Arabia South Africa and the United Arab Emirates Belarus Cuba Bolivia Kazakhstan Malaysia Nigeria Thailand Uganda Uzbekistan and Vietnam are BRICS partner countriesOn Sunday Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that discussions over the past two days strengthened belief that BRICS has been an ecosystem of solutions He also called for translating all outcomes into timebound actionsOur discussions over the past two days have further strengthened our belief that BRICS is not merely a grouping of nations but an ecosystem of solutions We hope that the New Delhi Declaration adopted at this summit will provide a clear direction for our shared vision and future cooperation We must translate all outcomes into timebound actions and lastmile impact We will work together to ensure that our framework moves beyond mere documentation and creates an impact in real life said PM Modi in his concluding remarks at the BRICS Summits session on Resilience Innovation Cooperation and Sustainability at the Bharat Mandapam in New DelhiPM Modi expressed gratitude to BRICS leaders for their active participation and valuable contribution to the summit He said that the ideas and suggestions of BRICS leaders have lent prevalence and depth to the groupings cooperation The Prime Minister said that the world leaders participation at the summit reflects the growing relevance openness and inclusiveness of BRICSBRICS is poised to enter its third decade The world now expects not just ideas and commitments but concrete results from us I am confident that through our collective efforts we will certainly live up to these expectations I extend my best wishes once again to China as the next host of BRICS I especially commend all of you and your teams for making the New Delhi Summit a success PM Modi stated IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modis-leadership-vision-and-commitment-made-brics-summit-resounding-success-eam-jaishankar-700694.html Mon, 14 Sep 2026 17:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/decision-on-trinamool-symbol-bengal-bypoll-result-will-shape-mamatas-future-political-path-700697.html New Delhi Sep 14 IANS Trinamool Congress founder and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to stay out of poll contest in next months Assembly byelections despite being urged and encouraged by colleagues both former and present renewing discussions over her larger political interestsnbspHer 15 years of uninterrupted rule ended this year with the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP winning convincingly and her close aideturnedbitter adversary Suvendu Adhikari anointed the Chief MinisterSince then the 71yearold leader has on occasions reiterated her intent to rebuild her organisation and simultaneously strengthen the Opposition INDIA platform emphasising unity against the BJP juggernautInterestingly she has now extended a hand of alliance towards archrival Communists and the Congress from where she broke out in 1998After the disintegration of Trinamool Congress Mamata Banerjeeled faction is now involved in a bitter fight with the rival Trinamool group led by Ritabrata Banerjee to retain the original party name and its logo of twin florets which she claims to have created herselfPolitical circles in West Bengal are aware of the influence the former Chief Minister enjoyed in grassroots that led to the fall of the Left Front government in 2011 after ruling uninterruptedly since 1977But now allegations of fraud embezzlement bribery extortion and smuggling rackets have plagued the Trinamool Congress even as rival groups clashed in quest for powerWhile she occasionally did exhibit an iron hand publicly chiding party members dissolving and recreating leadership committees she was largely seen as watching helplessly while her nephew Abhishek Banerjee assumed control of the organisationThis has been voiced openly by party turncoats and covertly by others still in her factionShe had also admitted that the responsibility of running the administration did perhaps cost the organisation somewhat and promised to rebuild the party from grassrootsSimultaneously Mamata Banerjee has linked her fight with the broader INDIA bloc the acronym for Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance INDIA bloc her followers credit her withThough parties like Arvind Kejriwalled Aam Aadmi Party AAP and MK Stalins Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam DMK have since ended ties some leaders believe that Mamatas personal relation may be convince them to return for 2029 Lok Sabha electionMany of the constituents who stand against the Congress leading the platform see in Mamata Banerjee an alternative who may perhaps be more involved in regional politics than for a strong panIndia footprintBut some analysts say Mamatas insistence on strengthening the INDIA bloc reflects her strategy to position herself as a national Opposition leaderMeanwhile the upcoming West Bengal byelections will be a crucial test of her factions strength and her ability to rejuvenate the party or fulfil any national ambitionByelections in West Bengal will be held on October 6 at Rejinagar and Nandigram Assembly constituencies after winners Humayun Kabir and incumbent Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari resigned from the respective seatsWhile the former chose to retain Naoda Adhikari chose to represent Bhabanipur where he defeated his predecessor and oncementor Mamata Banerjee by more than 15000 votes against his victory margin of less than 10000 votes over runnerup Pabitra Kar of Trinamool CongressKabir had extended an invitation to Mamata Banerjee to contest from Rejinagar asserting that he can ensure her victory from the seat and leaders of the Ritabrataled faction insisted they would not field a candidate in Nandigram if Mamata chose to contest herselfKabir representing his Aam Janata Unnayan Party AJUP won Rejinagar by a margin of more than 58000 votes clinching 5162 per cent of the mandateIn Naoda the margin was of less than 28000 votes where the AJUP Chief got just about 39 per cent of the mandateInterestingly though both these seats are in Murshidabad district where Muslims comprise an estimated 70 per cent of the total population the BJP finished runnersup pushing the Trinamool to the third spot portraying the overall polarisation witnessed this timeAmid the change Mamataled Trinamool faction now links her fight for the party symbol and Opposition unity to the broader INDIA alliance saying that Opposition solidarity is essential to counter the BJPs dominance once she asserts power over her own party IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/decision-on-trinamool-symbol-bengal-bypoll-result-will-shape-mamatas-future-political-path-700697.html Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-speaking-hindi-globally-fills-us-with-pride-cm-fadnavis-700700.html Navi Mumbai Sep 14 IANS Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modis commitment to Indian languages stating that hearing the Prime Minister speak Hindi on global platforms fills the nation with pridenbspHe was speaking at the Hindi Diwas celebration and the 6th All India Official Language Conference organised in Navi Mumbai an event attended by Union Home Minister Amit ShahAddressing the gathering CM Fadnavis apologised for his late arrival before highlighting the significance of hosting the national convention in Maharashtra He noted that while such conferences were once mere formalities Home Minister Amit Shah spearheaded the effort to rotate them across different statesReflecting on language policy history Fadnavis pointed out that Hindi was widely used for official work during the British era before both Hindi and English were designated as official languages in 1963 He stated that since PM Modi assumed office mother tongues and official regional languages have received unprecedented respect across the countryYou must learn your mother tongue and the New Education Policy NEP ensures this by promoting education in local languages alongside additional Indian languages CM Fadnavis saidRecalling history he noted that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee then an opposition leader was among the first to address the United Nations in Hindi He added that writer Munshi Premchand played a pivotal role in making conversational Hindi acceptable for official workAddressing the conference Home Minister Amit Shah emphasised the importance of regional languages asserting that Marathi deserves deep respect He highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modis administration granted classical language status to MarathinbspHM Shah praised Maharashtras diversity describing it as the most multilingual state in IndiaQuoting freedom fighter and social reformer Vinoba Bhave he noted If I had not used Hindi I could not have reached every village in Kashmir Assam and Kerala with the revolutionary message of Bhoodan and Gramdan It was the official language that enabled me to communicate with people across the nationReiterating the central governments focus on language preservation through the New Education Policy the Home Minister emphasised that foundational learning in ones mother tongue is essential for a childs holistic growthDescribing Maharashtra as the land of Veer Savarkar he emphasised that Savarkar was not only a freedom fighter and social reformer but also one of the most learned linguists of his time He built upon Lokmanya Tilaks call for the purification of the Marathi language and coined numerous words that were previously absent in Indian languageswords that found natural acceptance in Marathi and other national languagesnbspHM Shah added that the Ministry of Home Affairs honoured Savarkars linguistic legacy in Hindi through the Shabd Sindhu initiative IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-speaking-hindi-globally-fills-us-with-pride-cm-fadnavis-700700.html Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-showed-leadership-in-strongest-consensus-not-loudest-voice-says-rajnath-singh-on-brics-summit-700671.html New Delhi Sep 14 IANS Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that the success of the 18th BRICS Summit has indeed left an indelible mark on the international stage adding that the New Delhi declaration signed was a testament to Indias growing global influenceThe 18th BRICS Summit 2026 took place on September 1213 at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi with a theme Building for Resilience Innovation Cooperation and Sustainability The member states unanimously adopted the New Delhi DeclarationTaking to X Rajnath Singh said The historic BRICS Summit has successfully concluded in New Delhi Under the visionary leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi India underlined Resilience Innovation Cooperation and Sustainability as its foremost priorities as BRICS ChairnbspGuided by these priorities India has laid special emphasis on connecting BRICS cooperation directly with the common people This inclusive and humancentric approach became the hallmark of BRICS Summit in New Delhi he saidnbspSpeaking about the signing of a landmark BRICS 2026 New Delhi Declaration Singh called it a big achievement and said It is not just a document it is a statement of Indias growing global influence under the leadership of PM ModiIndia has put the Global South at the centre not at the margins championing a more inclusive representative and balanced world order Rooted in our civilisational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam India has once again shown that leadership is not about having the loudest voice but the strongest consensus As India leads the world listens he saidI congratulate PM Modi for the super success of BRICS Summit in New Delhi Its success has indeed left an indelible mark on the global stage the Defence Minister addedThe BRICS nations adopted the New Delhi Declaration The declaration commended India for hosting the OutreachBRICS Plus Dialogue segment of the 18th BRICS Summit asserting that Indias chairship has injected new impetus to strengthen international cooperation and solidarityThe leaders of member countries reaffirmed their commitment to the BRICS spirit of mutual respect and understanding sovereign equality solidarity democracy openness inclusiveness collaboration and consensusBRICS countries reaching consensus on a Joint Statement on the very first day of the summit has been labelled as a major diplomatic breakthrough considering the sharply divergent geopolitical positions among various countriesThe declaration also featured a strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack and consensus was reached on adopting a zerotolerance approach towards terrorismThe New Delhi Declaration highlighted that building on two decades of BRICS the member countries further commit themselves to strengthening cooperation in the expanded BRICS under the three pillars of political and security economic and financial and cultural and peopletopeople cooperation and to enhancing our strategic partnership for the benefit of our people through the promotion of peace a more representative fairer international order a reinvigorated and reformed multilateral system sustainable development and inclusive growthIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-showed-leadership-in-strongest-consensus-not-loudest-voice-says-rajnath-singh-on-brics-summit-700671.html Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-held-15-bilateral-meetings-in-three-days-as-brics-summit-wraps-in-new-delhi-700643.html New Delhi Sep 13 IANS The highly successful 18th BRICS Summit hosted by India at New Delhis Bharat Mandapam once again showcased Prime Minister Narendra Modis tireless energy and commitment towards nation as he not only attended and addressed the summit sessions but also held as many as 15 sitdown bilateral meetings with the visiting Heads of State and government from Friday till late Sunday afternoonnbspThis is in addition to a number of pull aside meetings with various world leaders and leaders of international institutions who attended the BRICS sessions and the OutreachBRICS Plus Dialogue segment of the summitPrime Minister Modi began the diplomatic sprint on Friday afternoon as he held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Bharat MandapamIt was followed by bilateral meetings with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Antonio Guterres the Secretary General of the United Nations UN the same eveningOn Saturday PM Modi began the day by hosting Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali for bilateral discussions at the Hyderabad HouseIt was followed by meetings with Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vietnam Prime Minister Le Minh HungPrime Minister Modi then welcomed the BRICS leaders from member countries as they arrived at Bharat Mandapam to attend the summitA closed session on Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism followed next with PM Modi addressing the samePM Modi then witnessed the Bharat Innovates exhibition with BRICS leaders engaged in the customary family photograph session and also participated in the joint tree plantation with the leaders on the lawns of Bharat MandapamThe significant bilateral with Chinese President Xi Jinping was PM Modis next engagementThe day ended with the Prime Minister hosting a gala dinner for the visiting leaders at the same venueOn Sunday PM Modi met the leaders of BRICS Partner Countries and Outreach Invitees and engaged in a family photo session before addressing the session on Resilience Innovation Cooperation and Sustainability Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth at the summit hallBacktoback bilateral meetings followed next for PM Modi as he met Kazakhstan Prime Minister KassymJomart Tokayev Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr Egyptian President Abdel Fattah ElSisi South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye Nigeria VicePresident Kashim Shettima and Uganda VP Jessica Alupo at the Bharat MandapamIn between the bilateral sitdowns PM Modi also had crucial discussions with the participating leaders and heads of several institutions who participated in various BRICS meetingsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-held-15-bilateral-meetings-in-three-days-as-brics-summit-wraps-in-new-delhi-700643.html Sun, 13 Sep 2026 19:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/uttar-pradesh-has-moved-from-one-district-many-mafia-to-odop-rajnath-singh-700644.html New Delhi Sep 13 IANS Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday praised the Yogi Adityanath government for leading a decisive change in Uttar Pradeshs administration and turning its character from mafiaruled to developmentoriented statenbspHe said that the state whose identity once revolved around mafia raj riots and lawlessness is now being known around the world as one of peace and prosperityAddressing a gathering of the Khatik community the Defence Minister said Uttar Pradesh has left behind the identity of One District Many Mafia and is now known for initiatives like One District One Dish and One District One Product ODOP Products such as Hathrass hing asafoetida Firozabads glass sculptures Mathuras peda and Aligarhs locks are gaining global recognitionHe further stated that Uttar Pradesh is advancing rapidly on the path of development with the doubleengine government while recalling the times when mafia raj prevailed in Uttar Pradesh roads were in a dilapidated state and an atmosphere of insecurity existedCrediting CM Yogi Adityanath for the change he said that Uttar Pradesh is gaining recognition the world over for development and its infrastructure of global standingLauding the bravery of the Khatik community in safeguarding the citizens from British rulers he said In 1946 when Direct Action Day was announced and Hindus in Bengal were being targeted many members of the Khatik communityled by Gopal Pathastepped up to the front lines and worked to protect Hindus In 1857 during the First War of Independence fought in Meerut members of the Khatik community confronted the British with great valour The British subjected the Khatiks to severe oppression during their rule yet the Khatiks sacrificed everything for Indias independenceHe also called upon the community to stay united for societys safety at large while cautioning people against any attempts to divide or create riftsThe Defence Minister also sought to convey the message Scatter we shall fall united we shall shine and urged everyone to cultivate and foster the spirit of love and cooperation among themIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/uttar-pradesh-has-moved-from-one-district-many-mafia-to-odop-rajnath-singh-700644.html Sun, 13 Sep 2026 19:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-ethiopian-counterpart-discuss-ways-to-strengthen-strategic-partnership--700555.html New Delhi Sep 12 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed Ali held a meeting on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Saturday and discussed ways to strengthen the strategic partnership across various sectorsDuring the meeting the two leaders reviewed progress across key sectors including economic cooperation defence and security partnership and capacity building according to the statement released by Ministry of External Affairs MEAPM Modi and Abiy Ahmed Ali also discussed regional and international developments of mutual interest They reaffirmed their commitment to close cooperation in multilateral foraDuring the meeting PM Modi expressed appreciation for Ethiopias participation in the 18th BRICS Summit and noted that its presence helped in reinforcing the collective voice of the Global SouthIn a statement shared on X Ministry of External Affairs MEA stated PM Narendra Modi met Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi Both leaders discussed avenues to further strengthen the IndiaEthiopia Strategic Partnership across sectors including economic defence and security sectors Both reiterated their collective voice for the Global South Both leaders also exchanged perspectives on regional and international developments of mutual interestPM Modis meeting with Abiy Ahmed Ali took Indias ties with Ethiopia on a new trajectory Ethiopia expressed their keenness for stronger defence cooperation with India Ethiopia welcomed Indian industry and investment Ethiopia particularly welcomed Indian mining companies according to Government of India sourcesPM Abiy Ahmed Ali arrived in New Delhi on Friday to attend the 18th BRICS Summit He was warmly received by Minister of State MoS for Defence Sanjay SethAs BRICS Chair 2026 India is set to host the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from todayWhile extending a warm welcome to the visiting leader the Ministry of External Affairs MEA wrote on X Cordially welcome PM Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia on his arrival in New Delhi to attend the 18th BRICS Summit He was received by MoS Sanjay Seth at the airport India and Ethiopia share a Strategic Partnership and are working together to advance cooperation among BRICS countriesIndias BRICS chairship is guided by the theme Building for Resilience Innovation Cooperation and Sustainability reflecting PM Modis vision of a peoplecentric approach rooted in the spirit of Humanity First In addition to these areas the leaders will discuss strengthening intraBRICS cooperation on common priorities and share perspectives on global and regional matters of mutual importanceBRICS comprises Brazil China Egypt Ethiopia India Indonesia Iran Russia Saudi Arabia South Africa United Arab Emirates BRICS partner countries are Belarus Cuba Bolivia Kazakhstan Malaysia Nigeria Thailand Uganda Uzbekistan and VietnamIn December last year PM Modi was on a twoday visit to Ethiopia During the visit PM Modi held talks with PM Abiy Ahmed Ali addressed the joint session of Parliament and visited the Adwa Museum PM Modi was also conferred with Ethiopias highest civilian honour the Great Honour Nishan of EthiopiaIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-ethiopian-counterpart-discuss-ways-to-strengthen-strategic-partnership--700555.html Sat, 12 Sep 2026 12:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/brics-at-its-coming-of-age-moment-must-work-now-towards-new-and-ambitious-agenda-pm-mod-700570.html New Delhi Sep 12 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that the BRICS grouping currently celebrating its 20th anniversary has reached its coming of age moment and now must work towards a new and ambitious agenda for the next two decadesnbspnbspIn his welcome remarks at the opening BRICS session on Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism in New Delhi on Saturday PM Modi extended a warm welcome to BRICS leaders and said that Indias BRICS chairship is based on a peoplecentric and humanityfirst approachResilience innovation cooperation and sustainability have been our priorities Alongside these priorities we have placed special emphasis on connecting BRICS cooperation with the common people With this vision in mind more than 350 meetings were organised We had the opportunity to welcome your teams to approximately 30 cities highlighted PM ModiHe emphasised that BRICS has established a distinct identity on the global stage and said that the bloc is not against anyone and must work to move forward with the approach of taking everyone along He called for the establishment of a BRICS Continuity and Implementation mechanismThis years BRICS summit marks a historic milestone We are celebrating the 20th anniversary of BRICS In human life the age of 20 marks the beginning of a new phase of maturity and responsibility It is a stage where dreams are joined by duties and capabilities find a new direction Today BRICS too has arrived at its coming of age moment Over the past 20 years BRICS has established a distinct identity on the global stage We respect each others perspectives and move forward through consensus We are not against anyone rather we strive to move forward with the approach of taking everyone alongThe time has now come to translate our unity and consensus within BRICS into tangible outcomes on the global stage For the next 20 years we must work toward a new and ambitious agenda We must begin this within our own working systems Since the BRICS presidency rotates every year our institutional momentum should not be disrupted because of it Therefore I propose the establishment of a BRICS Continuity and Implementation Mechanism This would enable the followup of all initiatives and outcomes through the Troika arrangement stated PM ModiHe noted that the Global South remains in the front row of global crisis but in the back row when it comes to decisionmaking He urged BRICS nations to jointly formulate 10 proposals for a global governance reformWhile strengthening BRICS we must also chart a course for global reform The current structure of global governance resembles a pyramid power and decisionmaking are concentrated at the top while the lower tiers consist of nations that are affected by these decisions yet unable to shape themToday the Global South stands in the front row of global crisis but in the back row of decisionmaking We must transform this pyramid of privilege into a platform of partnershipone where every nation has a voice every member has a stake and the development of humanity lies at the heart of every endeavour To this end I propose that we jointly formulate 10 proposals for global governance reform aiming to shape them into a BRICS reform roadmap by the time of the next Summit PM Modi told the gathering of BRICS leaders IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/brics-at-its-coming-of-age-moment-must-work-now-towards-new-and-ambitious-agenda-pm-mod-700570.html Sat, 12 Sep 2026 15:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/president-murmu-meets-iranian-counterpart-reiterates-indias-commitment-to-enduring-peace--700573.html New Delhi Sep 12 IANS President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday reiterated Indias commitment to the pursuit of enduring peace through dialogue and diplomacy during a meeting with her Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian in New DelhinbspPresident of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr Masoud Pezeshkian met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan The two leaders discussed the longstanding bonds of friendship between Iran and India including our strong cultural and peopletopeople ties The President reiterated Indias commitment to the pursuit of enduring peace through dialogue and diplomacy the Presidents Secretariat stated on XPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India and Iran should move forward with a longterm and winwin strategy PM Modi made the comment following his meeting with the Iranian President on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New DelhiPM Modi also noted that President Pezeshkians visit is more special as he is visiting India for the first timeFrom Bishkek to Delhi the productive discussions continue Happy to have met Dr Masoud Pezeshkian the President of Iran This visit is more special because it is his first visit to India PM Modi stated on XWe talked about the IndiaIran friendship We believe that we should move forward with a longterm and winwin strategy The prevailing situation in the region was also discussed India remains steadfast in its commitment to the pursuit of enduring peace he addedDuring their discussions PM Modi also pressed on safeguarding freedom of navigation and commerce and the safety and wellbeing of seafarersThis was the second meeting between the two leaders in under two weeks They had met earlier on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek on August 31As the two leaders discussed various aspects of the bilateral relationship Prime Minister Modi also thanked Iran for its regular highlevel participation in BRICSrelated meetings despite the challenging circumstancesHe noted the potential for BRICS in building the spirit of resilience innovation cooperation and sustainability among countries in the Global SouthAccording to the Ministry of External Affairs MEA PM Modi also thanked President Pezeshkian for his participation in the Leaders Session of the BRICS Business Forum IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/president-murmu-meets-iranian-counterpart-reiterates-indias-commitment-to-enduring-peace--700573.html Sat, 12 Sep 2026 17:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/haryana-govt-announces-higher-monthly-honorarium-enhanced-benefits-for-rural-sanitation-workers-700497.html Chandigarh Sep 11 IANS The Haryana government has announced a series of financial and welfare benefits for Gramin Safai Karmis including an increase in their honorarium higher uniform and washing allowances compensation for duties outside their villages and compassionate appointments for a family member in the event of death while on dutynbspThe benefits were conveyed by the Director Development and Panchayat Department Haryana in an official memorandum dated September 10 issued to Deputy Commissioners Chief Executive Officers of Zila Parishads and district and blocklevel development and panchayat officials across the stateUnder the decision Gramin Safai Karmis will receive arrears arising from an increase of Rs 2100 in their monthly honorarium from January 2026 The honorarium was increased from Rs 16000 to Rs 18100 with arrears payable for the period up to June 30 2026The government has also approved the release of outstanding honorarium for October 2023 covering eligible sanitation workers who were not paid for that month during the strike period The order lists 48 workers in Dhand 54 in Farukhnagar 25 in Sihma and 15 in Nizampur taking the total to 139 workers subject to verification of official recordsIn another major decision sanitation workers assigned duties outside their villages will be entitled to an allowance of Rs 200 per day The amount will be paid by the concerned Block Development and Panchayat Officer BDPO office from petty expenses for such deploymentsThe government has also increased the annual uniform allowance by Rs 2000 raising it from Rs 4000 to Rs 6000 The annual washing allowance has been increased by Rs 500 from Rs 1000 to Rs 1500The order further provides that if a Gramin Safai Karmi dies while on duty one family member will be offered an appointment on compassionate groundsTo protect families from being exploited by private agencies BDPO offices have also been directed to assist the families of deceased sanitation workers in completing EPF and ESI deathclaim paperworkThe government has additionally directed that the monthly honorarium of Gramin Safai Karmis must be disbursed by the seventh day of every month In case of delay a penalty of Rs 2500 will be payableThe decisions were issued with the concurrence of the Finance Department Haryana according to the memorandum signed by Sushil SarwanIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/haryana-govt-announces-higher-monthly-honorarium-enhanced-benefits-for-rural-sanitation-workers-700497.html Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-says-brics-summit-will-see-positive-meaningful-discussions-on-global-issues-700498.html New Delhi Sep 11 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said leaders from across the world will gather in New Delhi over the next few days for the BRICS Summit expressing confidence that the highlevel meeting will witness positive and meaningful discussions on various issues with the welfare of the world in mindnbspOver the next few days leaders from around the world will gather for the BRICS Summit I am confident that the Summit will see positive and meaningful discussions on various issues with the welfare of the world in mind PM Modi said in a post on X in HindiThe Prime Minister also shared a Sanskrit shlok verse highlighting the importance of cultivating relationships with virtuous people and promoting dialogue and goodwillA person should always live among the virtuous and cultivate their company A person should engage in discussion and foster friendly relations with the virtuous because mutual goodwill dialogue and friendly relations strengthen peace and cooperation loosely translated from SanskritAs BRICS Chair 2026 India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 1213 bringing together leaders of BRICS Member and Partner Countries as well as Outreach InviteesDuring the summit leaders are expected to exchange views on strengthening intraBRICS cooperation on common priorities and share perspectives on global and regional matters of mutual importance according to a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs MEAEarlier on Thursday night the venue for the summit Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi was being readied to host the highprofile gathering with representatives and leaders from across the world expected to come together from September 12 to 13This is Delhi This is the moment With its heritage glowing and Bharat Mandapam gearing up the capital puts the finishing touches in place for the 18th BRICS Summit the official X handle of the 18th BRICS Summit said on ThursdayDelhi is gearing up for the 18th BRICS Summit Soon the world will meet at one table it said in an earlier post on X IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-says-brics-summit-will-see-positive-meaningful-discussions-on-global-issues-700498.html Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-records-2051-voter-turnout-till-10-am-in-final-phase-of-urban-local-body-polls-700501.html Jaipur Sep 11 PTI Rajasthan recorded a voter turnout of 2051 per cent till 10 am on Friday in the second and final phase of the urban local body elections amid reports of EVM glitches at some polling booths officials saidAccording to State Election Commission data Dhorimanna municipality in Balotra district recorded the highest turnout of 4438 per cent till 10 am while Udaipur Municipal Corporation registered the lowest at 1206 per centEVMrelated glitches were reported at some polling booths in Jaipur Jhunjhunu Pushkar and a few other places in Rajasthan on Friday during the initial hours of voting in the second and final phase of the urban local body electionsnbspThe malfunctioning of electronic voting machines EVMs also led to disruptions and protests at some placesPolling began at 7 am for 147 urban local bodies with more than 87 lakh voters eligible to decide the fate of 18266 candidates Voting will continue till 6 pmnbspAccording to the State Election Commission 8760884 voters are eligible to cast their votes at 9758 polling booths for 4774 wards across six municipal corporations 24 municipal councils and 117 municipalitiesnbspFormer chief minister Ashok Gehlot cast his vote along with his wife Sunita Gehlot son Vaibhav Gehlot and daughterinlaw Himanshi Gehlot at a polling station in Jodhpurs Mahamandir areaAfter casting his vote Gehlot targeted the BJP government and said Some forces are trying to weaken the Constitution There is a need to strengthen the Constitution further people should teach it BJP a lessonGehlot alleged that the situation in Rajasthan was very serious and claimed that the ruling BJP had done nothing in the last twoandahalf yearsnbspThe BJP meanwhile lodged a complaint with the district election officer in Jodhpur alleging violation of the model code of conduct at a polling station in Ward 82 where Gehlot cast his votenbspThe party alleged that a member of the polling team got up and touched Gehlots feet when he arrived at the polling station It claimed the act reflected political bias and sought action against the polling personnel concernedRajasthan BJPnbsp president Madan Rathore cast his vote in Sumerpur in Pali districtChief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma in a social media post before polling began appealed to people to exercise their franchiseEvery single vote strengthens the foundation of the citys development better facilities and a brighter future Sharma said He also urged firsttime voters to participate enthusiastically and encourage others to voteIn Jaipur a dispute occurred at a polling station set up in ward 114 after supporters of an Independent candidate objected to the presence of a Congress candidate inside the station Police reached the spot following the disputenbspIn Jhunjhunu district Independent candidate Ashok Sharma was allegedly attacked ahead of polling in Chidawa municipality Sharma alleged that three motorcycleborne men assaulted him and injured him on the head Police were looking into the matternbspFormer minister and BJP leader Anita Bhadel was among the early voters The Ajmer South MLA expressed confidence that the BJP would perform well in the electionsnbspThe six municipal corporations going to polls are Jaipur Ajmer Jodhpur Kota Udaipur and PalinbspJaipur Municipal Corporation with 150 wards is the largest civic body in this phase It has 2433 lakh voters and 2256 polling booths with 723 candidates in the fraynbspThe first phase of polling was held in 162 urban local bodies on September 9 and recorded a voter turnout of 7641 per centElections to Rajasthans 309 urban local bodies are being held in two phases Counting of votes for councillor posts will be taken up on September 14Mayors and chairpersons will be elected on September 21 while deputy mayors deputy chairpersons and municipal vicepresidents will be elected on September 22nbspAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-records-2051-voter-turnout-till-10-am-in-final-phase-of-urban-local-body-polls-700501.html Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/young-india-has-moved-beyond-cynicism-building-tomorrows-enterprises-fm-sitharaman-700520.html Mumbai Sep 11 IANS Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday dismissed doubts over Indias demographic dividend and said the young minds of the country have simply bypassed their cynicism and gone ahead and built itnbspAddressing the Global Fintech Festival 2026 here FM Sitharaman said Indias younger generation is already writing tomorrows code building enduring enterprises and proving that Indias greatest demographic advantage is an active unstoppable realityShe also asserted that the countrys young population is already driving innovation entrepreneurship and economic growth and does not require validation from traditional measures of productivityFM Sitharaman said the energy and ambition displayed by thousands of participants at the event reflected the strength of Indias demographic advantageWe are seeing it translate into monumental strides from building the worlds most powerful digital public infrastructure with UPI processing billions of transactions to standing tall as the fastestgrowing major economy and breaking frontiers in space exploration she saidShe pointed to the scale and diversity of participation at the Global Fintech Festival noting that around 8000 organisations were represented According to her fintech firms accounted for 20 per cent of participants financial institutions 25 per cent technologyrelated entities 43 per cent and support services 12 per centThe minister also cautioned against emerging risks from artificial intelligence large language models and cyber threats saying technology had become capable of influencing societies and even electoral outcomes She warned that attacks by rogue operators and agentic groups could target entire national systemsAgainst this backdrop FM Sitharaman stressed the need for a balanced regulatory framework that protects innovation while addressing risks She said she had discussed with the Reserve Bank of India ways to pursue softtouch regulation without curbing innovationWelcoming the RBIs recognition of the Unified FinTech Forum as a selfregulatory organisation under the SROFT framework she said the move demonstrated the central banks ability to respond in time to the evolving needs of the fintech sectorIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/young-india-has-moved-beyond-cynicism-building-tomorrows-enterprises-fm-sitharaman-700520.html Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/satya-niketan-collapse-absconding-accused-surrenders-before-delhi-court-700525.html New Delhi Sep 11 IANS Advocate Shubham Tyagi who had been evading arrest in connection with the Satya Niketan building collapse case surrendered before the Patiala House Court on Friday a day after the court dismissed his anticipatory bail pleanbspThe Delhi Police has sought two days custodial interrogation of Tyagi and coaccused Sudhanshu Lovenish Kumar who is associated with the operation of the payingguest PG facility at the buildingThe development comes after Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Partap Singh Laler of the Patiala House Court rejected Tyagis anticipatory bail plea on Thursday saying that material collected during the investigation prima facie contradicted his claim that he was merely an investor in the PG businessThe court had recorded that a separate rent agreement showed Tyagi as a colessee of the second and third floors of Building number 14 at Satya Niketan Market in Moti BaghII where the boys PG was being operatedThe building collapse on September 6 had claimed seven lives including five students and two labourers while several others sustained injuriesThe FIR was registered at South Campus Police Station under Sections 105 290 and 125a of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS initially against unknown accusedThe investigation subsequently led to the arrest of building owners Urmila Gupta Hari Ram Gupta and Mahesh Gupta alias Sanjay contractor Sanoj and PG operator Sudhanshu Lovenish KumarTyagi had claimed before the court that he was an advocate practising at Patiala House Courts had no criminal antecedents and was only an investor in the PG business run by his friend Lovenish KumarHe had contended that he was neither the owner of the building nor had any control or decisionmaking authority over its structureHowever the prosecution produced a rent agreement dated September 6 2025 executed between building owner Urmila Gupta and Tyagi for the second and third floors of the buildingThe court said that the agreement was executed on the same day as another rent agreement relied upon by Tyagi contained substantially identical terms and was attested by the same notaryIt also noted that Tyagi had signed Lovenish Kumars agreement as a witness and Lovenish Kumar had similarly signed Tyagis agreementThe court had also relied on the statement of injured PG occupant Nitish Chib who said that he had taken accommodation from Tyagi and Lovenish Kumar and was paying Rs 14500 per monthAccording to the statement construction work had been underway in the basement for around 10 to 12 days before the collapse while iron rods were also being cut on the ground floorThe students had objected to the construction noise following which Tyagi and Lovenish Kumar told them that renovation work was underway and that the PG would be extended to the basementThe court had said that the statements were relevant at the anticipatory bail stage to examine Tyagis claim that he had no knowledge of the construction activity and was merely involved financiallyHowever the court had clarified that it was not recording any final finding on whether the offence under Section 105 of the BNS relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder was ultimately made out against TyagiIt had also said that the investigation was at a nascent stage and that aspects including the extent of the partnership between Tyagi and Lovenish Kumar the flow of rent collected from students and their knowledge or consent regarding the structural work required further investigationThe Satya Niketan collapse had also prompted proceedings before the Delhi High Court over alleged regulatory and municipal lapses with the High Court directing inspections of PG accommodations amid concerns over the safety of such establishments in the national capitalWith Tyagis surrender the police are now seeking his custodial interrogation along with that of Lovenish Kumar as part of the ongoing investigationIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/satya-niketan-collapse-absconding-accused-surrenders-before-delhi-court-700525.html Fri, 11 Sep 2026 17:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-presents-putin-russian-translation-of-tamil-literary-treasure-thirukkural--700531.html New Delhi Sep 11 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a Russian translation of the Thirukkural to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the start of their meeting at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on FridayThe Thirukkuṟaḷ a classic Tamil language text written by great Indian Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar contains 1330 short couplets called Kurals and is hailed as one of the greatest literary creations around the world Each of the Kurals is made up of seven words The book which contains teachings on virtues wealth and love is recognised for its universality and secular nature The book has been translated into Russian by Naira MkrtchyanThe Tamil literary treasure has also inspired and influenced several foreign scholars including renowned Russian author Leo TolstoynbspPresented President Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural which carries the eternal wisdom of the great Thiruvalluvar across languages and borders PM Modi posted on XRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Denis Manturov and several other officials were present during the meeting Prior to the meeting PM Modi and Putin warmly greeted each other once again showcasing the shared friendship that has grown enormously over the last 12 yearsEarlier in the day Putin arrived in New Delhi to attend the 18th BRICS Summit set to be hosted by India on September 1213 Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh received him at the airport in New DelhiAccording to sources both leaders will review progress in bilateral cooperation in a range of fields including political economic defence energy space mobility and peopletopeople tiesThe key is to meet the ambitious bilateral trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030 expanding industrial cooperation including collaboration in the rail sector and tunneling developing steel value chain more B2B opportunities besides broadening access to the Russian marketSpeaking from Moscow during a virtual briefing hosted by Sputnik India on Tuesday Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov highlighted the close ties shared between both countries and leaders calling engagements between President Putin and PM Modi as pragmatic He said that both leaders discuss issues of the global agenda and bilateral ties in an open and constructive mannerHe will take part in the BRICS Summit in all the formats under the auspices of the BRICS Summit and at the same time there will be a very significant for both countries part of bilateral contacts with Prime Minister Modi You know that our two leaders Indian and Russian leaders are in very close personal contact They are very pragmatic in their relationship and they are as sincere as to be able to discuss in a very open and constructive way the most sensitive issues of the global agenda and our bilateral relations Of course it opens additional horizons for our cooperation he saidPutins visit comes amid continued highlevel engagement between India and Russia and follows his meeting with PM Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SCO Summit in Kyrgyzstans Bishkek on August 31 Immediately after their meeting the two leaders travelled in the same car to the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games in Bishkek IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-presents-putin-russian-translation-of-tamil-literary-treasure-thirukkural--700531.html Fri, 11 Sep 2026 17:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/shortcoming-in-electoral-roll-is-my-responsibility-credit-for-accuracy-goes-to-blos-cec-gyanesh-kumar-700543.html Ahmedabad Sep 11 IANS Chief Election Commissioner CEC Gyanesh Kumar on Friday said any shortcoming in the electoral roll would be his responsibility as the head of the Election Commission of India while credit for ensuring that the rolls remain accurate and updated should go to Booth Level Officers BLOsIf there is any shortcoming in the electoral roll the responsibility as the head of the family is mine but the credit for making the roll proper and accurate goes to our BLO brothers and sisters Kumar said while interacting with the states BLOs at an Interaction with Booth Level Officer programme held at Gujarat Universitys Atal Kalam HallKumar described BLOs as the most important members of the Election Commissions family saying that for a voter the officer who visits their home or speaks to them over the phone is the reflection of the Election CommissionHe said BLOs play a crucial role in reaching crores of voters across the country and ensuring proper registration corrections in electoral rolls and participation in pollingMore than 11 lakh BLOs are working across the country to facilitate an electoral process involving the rights and expectations of around 90 crore voters The Election Commission is using training programmes meetings and digital platforms such as ECINet to maintain regular communication with its fieldlevel personnel he saidKumar also stressed the need to keep electoral rolls accurate Political parties and their Booth Level Agents participate in the verification process while BLOs identify cases involving Absent Shifted Dead Duplicate and Foreigner ASDDF voters Every eligible Indian citizen who has completed 18 years of age should have their name included in the electoral roll he maintainedReferring to the Special Intensive Revision SIR process Kumar said the Election Commission undertakes revisions from time to time to maintain the purity and accuracy of electoral rollsBLOs visit voters homes establish direct contact and verify the required information Processes including verification of documents mapping and hearings are used to make the rolls more accurate he saidThe CEC urged BLOs to regularly check electoral rolls in their areas and ensure that newly eligible voters are added Whenever you get time check the electoral roll in your area and complete the necessary process to ensure that the names of young people who have completed 18 years of age are added to the electoral roll This is the greatest service to the democracy of the country he saidExplaining the safeguards in the polling and counting process Kumar said EVMs and VVPATs are checked during mock polling in the presence of candidates polling agents before voting beginsAfter polling the EVMrelated result procedures are completed in the presence of candidates agents and the required documents are signed he saidDuring counting the votes recorded in EVMs are verified against the votes mentioned in Form 17C in the presence of candidates counting agentsPolitical parties candidates or their agents have opportunities for verification at every stage of the electoral process making the process highly transparent he saidHe said Indias democracy is unique not only because of its size but also because of its depth diversity and vibrancyReferring to high voter turnout in recent elections Kumar said Voter awareness and the efforts of election personnel helped strengthen democracyGujarat Chief Electoral Officer Sandeep Sagale while welcoming Kumar said direct interaction between the countrys highest election official and Booth Level Officers was a golden opportunityHe said BLOs are an important link between the Election Commission and citizens and ambassadors of democratic participationGiving importance to the experiences challenges and suggestions of BLOs working on the ground alongside a technologybased electoral system would help make the election process simpler more transparent and effective he addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/shortcoming-in-electoral-roll-is-my-responsibility-credit-for-accuracy-goes-to-blos-cec-gyanesh-kumar-700543.html Fri, 11 Sep 2026 18:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-rejects-pre-arrest-bail-plea-of-abhishek-banerjees-pa-in-land-sale-case--700433.html New Delhi Sep 9 PTI The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of TMC leader Abhishek Banerjees personal assistant Sumit Roy in the Salboni land scam case where West Bengal government land was allegedly sold and the sale proceeds were deposited in the partys accountA bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana also vacated its earlier order of August 6 by which it had stayed Roys arrestConsequently Roy can now be arrested for custodial interrogation in the case The bench heard the submissions of senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan appearing for Roy and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the state government before declining relief to the accusedDuring the hearing Sankaranarayanan said Roy has not been named as an accused in the FIR and strongly opposed the prosecutions plea for his custodial interrogationnbsp The bench examined a report submitted by the state police regarding the interrogation of RoynbspThe solicitor general had furnished a note concerning the interrogation which was also shared with the petitioners counselHe said Roy had been evasive during questioning and referred to substantial cash deposits made contemporaneously with the alleged transactionsnbspAt first blush the material placed before the bench could appear serious Sankaranarayanan said but questioned the manner and sequence in which Roy had been interrogatednbspHe said Roy had been questioned for approximately 88 hours but had not been confronted with material which directly established his involvement in the alleged land transactionsnbspThere is nothing in these 88 hours of questioning which has distilled down to these half a dozen pages of questions the senior lawyer saidHe said Roy had not been shown deposit slips contemporaneous banking records bearing his signature or handwriting or other material identifying him as the person who allegedly made the depositsnbspSankaranarayanan also submitted that Roy had not been confronted with any complainant or alleged victim claiming that money had been paid to himnbsp The allegation apparently is that government land was being sold to private persons Those purchasers would be the affected persons he addedHe further said Roy had not been confronted with any material establishing a link between alleged forged documents payments received from victims and the cash deposits relied upon by the investigating agencynbspA substantial part of the arguments centred on cash deposits allegedly made in the account of All India Trinamool Congress AITCnbspSankaranarayanan said that Roy was being questioned about transactions in the political partys account even though the criminal case was not against the partynbspThe petitioner was confronted only with deposits in the AITC account not deposits in his personal account or in the account of any relative or associate he saidnbspHe said TMCs accounts are audited and disclosures are made to the Election Commission and approximately Rs 4217 crore had been deposited in the party account during the relevant periodIf they believe there is anything wrong with those deposits they have to question the party These questions have nothing to do with me he saidnbspHe said Roys personal bank account was opened only in 2019 and that the largest deposit he had personally made was Rs 60000nbspJustice Bagchi however questioned the submission that Roy had no connection with the cash deposits pointing to contemporaneous deposits in the account of a political partynbsp Justice Bagchi said that the bank statements indicated cash deposits associated with a PAN number linked to RoynbspHe indicated that if the deposits were found to form part of the proceeds of an alleged crime they could become relevant to the investigationnbspAt one stage Justice Bagchi said that the bench was giving Roy the longest rope by protecting him from arrest to explain the circumstances emerging from the probenbspnbspRoys lawyer however said the investigation had turned into a fishing and roving inquiry into the political partynbspSankaranarayanan described Roy as a small minion in the system and said he had cooperated with the investigation to the hiltnbspThe solicitor general strongly opposed the grant of anticipatory bail maintaining that the investigating agency required an opportunity to interrogate Roy in custodynbspWe can ask haphazard questions he said while responding to the defences objections regarding the sequence of interrogationThe case relates to allegations of illegal transfer and sale of government land in the Salboni areaThe prosecution has alleged that government land was transferred to private individuals through forged title documents and with the alleged involvement or complicity of local political and influential personsnbspIt has further alleged that proceeds connected with the transactions were subsequently deposited in accounts linked to the then ruling partyThe case was registered under provisions relating to cheating criminal breach of trust forgery use of forged documents and criminal conspiracy Agencies https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-rejects-pre-arrest-bail-plea-of-abhishek-banerjees-pa-in-land-sale-case--700433.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 16:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-supports-a-safe-sustainable-space-domain-pm-modi--700434.html New Delhi Sep 10 PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India supports a safe secure and sustainable space domain anchored in international law underlining that scientific data must serve the common good with openness and integrityVirtually addressing the first International Space Summit Modi also said that ISROs technologies and partnerships serve not only India but the wider worldThe prime minister said for centuries space inspired peoples imagination and now it shapes life on earth from climate and crops to oceans and communitiesThe promise of space is infinite Our responsibility is collective As orbits become more crowded technologies more powerful and actors more numerous our choices must be clear cooperation over confrontation sustainability over shortterm gain and inclusion over exclusion he saidModi said Indias approach is rooted in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam One Earth One Family One Future and this spirit must now travel beyond the planetWe support a safe secure peaceful and sustainable space domain anchored in international law dialogue and multilateral cooperation Scientific data must serve the common good with openness and integrity he saidThe prime minister said Indias space journey reflects this philosophy and the Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO which stands at the heart of this journey has earned global admiration for its excellence and costeffective missionsnbspHe said its capabilities serve farmers and fishermen weather forecasting disaster management and navigationMore than 430 satellites from 34 countries have travelled to space aboard Indian rockets ISROs technologies and partnerships serve not only India but the wider world he saidModi said behind this global trust is the dedication and hard work of generations of Indian scientists engineers and techniciansWorking day and night they have built ISROs global reputation mission by mission success by success and given India a place of pride among spacefaring nations he saidThe prime minister said the Chandrayaan3 made India the first nation to land near the lunar south pole and AdityaL1 is unlocking the secrets of the SunHe added that last year an Indian astronaut visited the International Space StationLooking ahead we aim to establish an Indian space station by 2035 and send an Indian to the Moon by 2040 In all these efforts our guiding principle has been clear their benefits must reach all humanity he saidAlongside ISRO Modi said Indias private space sector is also surging in a big way and the energy of enterprise is joining the excellence of ISROFrance has been a trusted partner since the Indian space programme began at Thumba in the 1960s Today our cooperation spans earth observation and advanced technologies uniting scientific excellence with human purpose We invite France and the world to be cotravellers in Indias next space frontier he saidThe prime minister thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for inviting him to the summitLet the space summit in Paris send a clear message we will explore together innovate together and protect space together for all humanity and for generations to come I convey my best wishes to all the participants he saidAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/india-supports-a-safe-sustainable-space-domain-pm-modi--700434.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 16:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jaspal-s-dhillon-relaunches-human-rights-and-democracy-forum-700436.html DW Bureau Chandigarh September 10 Veteran humanrights activist Jaspal S Dhillon on Thursday announced the relaunch of the Human Rights and Democracy Forum HRDF as a nonpartisan platform to provide free legal aid document alleged rights violations and promote constitutional safeguards and institutional accountability across PunjabDhillon who will head the Forum as chairman said the decision to revive HRDF was prompted by complaints from young people and families regarding alleged illegal detention false criminal cases custodial violence excessive use of force and denial of due processAddressing a press conference at the Press Club Sector 27 Dhillon said the Forum would examine cases involving custodial violence illegal detention denial of fair hearings issues concerning women and children medical negligence and other alleged violations of fundamental rightsThe HRDF will provide free legal assistance through a panel of lawyers and help affected persons pursue remedies through courts and other lawful mechanisms It will also establish a Truth Archive to preserve and digitise records related to humanrights cases subject to legal and privacy requirementsDhillon also claimed that 37 alleged fake encounters had taken place in Punjab during the past oneandahalf years and said the Forum would examine such cases through documentation and legal processesThe organisation plans to establish units across Punjab within two months and subsequently expand across India and overseas It has invited lawyers doctors teachers journalists professionals students and members of the diaspora to support the initiative https://dailyworld.in/national/jaspal-s-dhillon-relaunches-human-rights-and-democracy-forum-700436.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 16:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/-punjab-governor-distributes-sports-kits-to-32-specially-abled-students-700448.html DW Bureau Chandigarh September 10 Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria on Wednesday distributed sports kits to 32 speciallyabled schoolchildren at Punjab Lok Bhavan under the Haste Khelte initiative of the Competent FoundationThe initiative aims to promote sports among children with disabilities and provide them with equipment according to their sporting disciplines including badminton javelin shot put cricket fencing and footballSpeaking on the occasion Kataria said such initiatives provide children with the resources and encouragement to discover their abilities and pursue their sporting aspirations He appreciated the Competent Foundation for supporting young athletes and helping remove barriers to their participation in sportsSenior BJP leader and Competent Foundation chairman Sanjay Tandon said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that talented children irrespective of their circumstances or disabilities get the equipment and opportunities needed to pursue their sporting goalsThe beneficiary students are from various government schools in Chandigarh https://dailyworld.in/national/-punjab-governor-distributes-sports-kits-to-32-specially-abled-students-700448.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 20:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-election-system-follows-constitution-laws-strictly-cec-gyanesh-kumar-700452.html Ahmedabad Sep 10 IANS Indias electoral process is conducted with strict adherence to the Constitution election laws and instructions of the Election Commission of India ECI Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said on Thursday describing the system as a vast and transparent mechanism that sustains the worlds largest democracynbspHe was speaking at a special interaction with enlightened citizens on Conducting Elections in India The Largest Democracy in the World organised at the Ahmedabad Management Association AMAnbspExplaining the scale of the electoral exercise CEC Kumar said India has around 90 crore voters and that conducting Lok Sabha elections is the worlds largest electoral processAround 18 crore personnel are engaged in election duties during a general election and managing such a large electorate and workforce reflects the distinctive capacity of Indias election system he emphasisednbspCEC Kumar said the three principal stages of the electoral process are preparation of electoral rolls polling and countingnbspAround 12 lakh Booth Level Officers BLOs verify electoral rolls by visiting voters homes Continuous verification is carried out to ensure that eligible voters are included while ineligible names are removed he addedHe stressed that the basic objective of the electoral system is to ensure that every eligible person becomes a voter and that no ineligible person is included in the electoral rollnbspThe Chief Election Commissioner also highlighted the participation of political parties and candidates at different stages of the processnbspBooth Level Agents participate in the verification of electoral rolls while mock polls are conducted on Electronic Voting Machines EVMs before actual polling begins he saidHe added that EVMs are not connected to the internet WiFi or BluetoothnbspA mock poll is conducted in the presence of representatives of candidates before voting starts and actual polling begins only after the functioning of the machines has been verified he saidThe CEC also added After polling the total number of votes cast is recorded in Form 17C and the EVMs are sealed according to the prescribed procedure During counting the EVM results are also verified in the presence of counting agents of candidatesCEC Kumar said that technology is increasingly being used to improve communication within the election machineryIntegrated digital platforms such as ECI Net are being used for faster and more effective communication across the extensive election network Communication that was earlier carried out through multiple applications has been integrated into a more effective digital system he addedHe also urged young people and other citizens to participate actively in the democratic processEvery eligible citizen aged 18 years or above should register as a voter and exercise their right to vote he said adding that greater citizen participation strengthens democracyCEC Kumar said that elections to the President and VicePresident Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies are conducted within the constitutional framework and prescribed legal proceduresManaging elections across a vast geographical area involving crores of voters is a distinctive feature of Indias democratic system he addedDuring his twoday Gujarat visit CEC Kumar also visited the historic Adalaj Stepwell after visiting Gandhi AshramHe observed the architecture and intricate carvings of the worldfamous stepwellGandhinagar Collector Ravindra Khatale and Adalaj Sarpanch Pragnyesh Patel welcomed CEC Kumar and presented him with a mementoCEC Kumar also interacted with BLOs from Kumar and Kanya Primary School at Dantali and primary schools in Jamiyatpura Shertha and ManekbaCentral government tour guide Girish Gupta provided Gyanesh Kumar with information about the history and architecture of the Adalaj StepwellGujarat Chief Electoral Officer Sandeep Sagale and Archaeology Department Assistant Superintendent Dineshkumar Meena were also present during the visitIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-election-system-follows-constitution-laws-strictly-cec-gyanesh-kumar-700452.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 22:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/disaster-management-has-transformed-under-pm-modi-hm-amit-shah-700453.html New Delhi Sep 10 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi there has been a comprehensive transformation in both the approach and methodology of disaster management over the last 12 yearsnbspChairing the third meeting of the Governing Body of the National Institute of Disaster Management NIDM HM Shah said the Modi government has completely transformed the entire disaster management system set the goal of Zero Casualty and taken the country towards achieving this objectiveWe have also successfully faced several disasters with Zero Casualty which is a major achievement he saidnbspHome Minister Shah said that earlier disasters were viewed only from the perspective of relief and rehabilitationnbspToday we have entered a new era based on three pillars risk reduction early warning systems and Zero Casualty This is a matter of pride for all of us said the Home MinisternbspHe said that in this direction the Whole of Government approach is increasingly becoming an integral part of our work cultureWhenever a disaster occurs all government departments actively respond Now with the strength of new research we should take this process forward with greater speed and ensure continuous monitoring he saidnbspJust as a Whole of Government approach has been adopted in dealing with disasters we must also move forward with a Whole of Government approach to further strengthen the disaster management system he saidPrime Minister Modi has also laid special emphasis on environmental protection he saidnbspHM Shah said that ultimately environmental protection is the most effective means of preventing disastersnbspEnvironmental protection risk reduction resilience and a broad national vision are enabling India to gradually emerge as a model for the world he saidnbspHome Minister Shah said that there was a time when the predecessor of NIDM the National Centre for Disaster Management was lying almost inactive in a corner of Krishi BhawannbspHowever in 2003 the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee took the historic decision to give it a new lease of life Keeping in view the wide scope of the subject and the need for coordination among various agencies it was decided to bring the institution under the Ministry of Home Affairs said HM ShahnbspPrime Minister Modi has played a significant role in revitalising the institution The NIDM has emerged in its present form with a transformed and strengthened role before the country said Home Minister Amit ShahIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/disaster-management-has-transformed-under-pm-modi-hm-amit-shah-700453.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 22:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/over-12-feared-trapped-as-portion-of-under-construction-building-collapses-in-gujarat--700392.html Gandhinagar Sep 10 IANS Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya visited Gandhinagar Civil Hospital on Wednesday night and reviewed the treatment of workers injured after a portion of the underconstruction Boski The Empire commercial building collapsed in the Kudasan area with more than 12 people suspected to be trapped under the debrisAt least five injured workers were shifted to the Civil Hospital for treatment following the incident while rescue teams continued efforts to locate and evacuate those believed to be trapped at the construction siteSoon after receiving information about the accident Pansheriya sought an update on the situation and directed the health authorities including the Gandhinagar Civil Hospital administration to ensure immediate and comprehensive medical treatment for the injuredThe minister later reached the Civil Hospital and met the injured workers to assess their conditionHe also held discussions with doctors and hospital officials and directed them to ensure that all injured persons receive timely treatment without any difficultyPansheriya also met family members present at the hospital and offered them reassuranceOur entire medical team is working to save them conducting tests such as Xrays and blood tests If any problems arise later all specialist doctorsincluding those for spinerelated issues orthopaedics and surgerieshave been called in Pansheriya saidThe Health Minister directed officials to give priority to every person injured in the accident and ensure that no delay or difficulty occurs during treatmentThe department has made arrangements for specialist doctors nursing staff medicines and medical equipment at the Civil HospitalA local resident at the site said the exact number of workers present when the structure collapsed was not immediately knownI do not know about the entire incident but after the slab collapsed I received a phone call informing me about it I do not know how many people were present when it happened but around seven or eight people were brought here and I am unsure how many others are still inside the local saidThe incident occurred at around 915 pm when a portion of the structure being erected at the construction site reportedly collapsedPolice fire brigade personnel and emergency teams rushed to the site after receiving information about the accident and launched a rescue operationAmbulances were also deployed to transport injured workers for medical treatment The state government said the health department was coordinating with the district administration and other agencies involved in the rescue operation and was monitoring the situationSpecialist medical teams have been kept ready at the Civil Hospital to provide further treatment to those rescued from the site IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/over-12-feared-trapped-as-portion-of-under-construction-building-collapses-in-gujarat--700392.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mayawati-frees-newphew-akash-anand-from-bsp-after-father-in-law-quits-politics--700393.html nbspLucknow Sep 10 PTI BSP chief Mayawati on Thursday said her nephew Akash Anand has been completely freed from the party shortly after his fatherinlaw and former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth announced his retirement from politicsnbsp She questioned whether Anand whose personal and family interests she said appeared to outweigh his political career and the partys interests could effectively work for the BSP while remaining doublemindedMayawati said Anands failure to repost her earlier X post showed his greater attachment to family ties than the BSP and its movementnbspTherefore the people in the party feel that just as he was relieved of all the important responsibilities of the post of national coordinator on September 3 2026 he should now also be completely freed from the party from today Therefore if Akash Anand wants to remain independent in the party he is free to do so that is he has now been completely freed from the party Mayawati posted on XMayawati also described Siddharths decision as a correct step taken late and said his retirement had been sought by the party in the larger interest of the Bahujan Samaj Party its movement and AnandToday the announcement by Ashok Siddharth to retire from politics is a correct step though taken very late Mayawati saidnbsp Earlier former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth announced his retirement from politics and social life after BSP chief Mayawati linked his retirement to any future reinstatement of responsibilities to her nephew and his soninlaw Akash AnandnbspIn an emotional post on X Siddharth said he was retiring from political and social life right now adding that if he ever had to give his life for Mayawati it would be a matter of pride for himMayawati further said that had Siddharth taken the decision earlier the BSP the Bahujan community and movement as well as Anand would not have had to face continuous adverse circumstancesnbspnbspShe said she had been compelled to take tough decisions involving Siddharth amid preparations for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections particularly as the party aimed to return to power in the state for a fifth timenbspShe said the BSPs Ambedkarite political tradition was based on sacrifice struggle and keeping personal and family interests away from the movement and that all party workers should rise above personal ambitions and the desire for positionsnbspnbsp Mayawati also questioned Siddharths intentions saying his announcement should have come immediately after her call for him to retirenbsp nbspIf Ashok Siddharth had even a little genuine concern for the bright future of his soninlaw Akash Anand and the larger interests of the BSP and its Ambedkarite Bahujan movement he would have announced his retirement without delay she saidnbspnbspShe alleged that the delay showed that Siddharths ambitions and intentions had not changed completelynbspnbspMayawati also slammed Anand for not reposting her earlier X post linking his future responsibilities in the party to his fatherinlaws retirementnbspShe said Anand had earlier reposted posts from her social media account to demonstrate his loyalty but had not done so in this case despite the post being in his own interestnbspnbsp Mayawati said this indicated that both Siddharth and Anand were more attached to personal and family interests than to the success of the party and its movementnbspnbsp She questioned whether Anand could effectively serve the BSP while remaining caught between his family ties and the interests of the partynbspnbspIf Akash Anand is less concerned about the real interests of the party and the movement and his own political career and more attached to family relationships then it is natural to ask how he can work for the good of the BSP and the movement while remaining doubleminded she saidnbspnbsp Mayawati then announced that Anand had been completely freed from the BSPnbspnbspThe development came a week after the BSP removed Anand as its national coordinator at a nationallevel meeting of party officebearers in Lucknow on September 3 Mayawati had then said he needed greater political maturity and would not be given major organisational responsibilities for the time beingnbspnbspOn Wednesday Mayawati had said the BSP would consider restoring Anands responsibilities only if Siddharth completely retired from politicsnbspSiddharth who was expelled from the BSP on August 2 over alleged repeated indiscipline and antiparty activities announced his retirement on ThursdayIn his announcement Siddharth said Mayawatis wishes were more important to him than anything else and that he had remained committed to the BSPs mission for 35 yearsnbspMayawati on Thursday also urged BSP workers to remain focused on the partys objective of returning to power in Uttar Pradeshnbsp nbspShe called on party workers to confront political opponents and work with full commitment towards establishing the BSPs iron rule in the state based on law and order and development with the principle of Sarvajan Hitay Sarvajan Sukhay welfare and happiness of all as the overarching goalAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/mayawati-frees-newphew-akash-anand-from-bsp-after-father-in-law-quits-politics--700393.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/calcutta-hc-gives-conditional-approval-to-mamata-banerjees-friday-meeting-in-sreerampore-700405.html Kolkata Sep 10 IANS A singlejudge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday gave conditional approval for a political programme of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Sreerampore in Hooghly district on FridaynbspThe Mamata Banerjeeled Trinamool Congress faction has planned a political programme at Sreerampore on Friday where the main speaker will be the former CM The faction also wanted to first organise a public meeting at Sreerampore to be followed by a rallyBut as the police denied permission for the programme the Trinamool Congress faction approached the Calcutta High Court seeking nod for the sameThe matter came up for hearing before the Calcutta High Courts singlejudge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharya on Thursday and at the end of the hearing Justice Bhattacharya gave conditional approval for conducting the rally at SreeramporeHowever despite allowing the Mamata Banerjeeled faction to conduct the public meeting there Justice Bhattacharyas bench did not give permission for the rally The court accepted the argument of the police that if the rally proposed from Mahesh to Sreerampore Court was permitted it would create heavy traffic congestion on the busy Grand Trunk RoadJustice Bhattacharya has also imposed some restrictions on the public meeting at Sreerampore to be addressed by Mamata Banerjee The court has fixed the time limit for the meeting from 1 pm to 3 pm At the same time the court has specified that not more than 2000 people would assemble at the meeting venueJustice Bhattacharya also made it clear that no provocative remarks that could hurt anyones religious sentiments would be made at the meetingHe directed the state administration to deploy adequate police forces to ensure no untoward incident takes place during the programmeA list of the volunteers names along with their phone numbers will have to be submitted to the police by 8 pm on Thursday Justice Bhattacharya ruledSince the Assembly election which marked a landslide defeat for Trinamool Congress Mamata Banerjee restricted her outdoor political activities to the state capital of Kolkata Sreerampore will be her first outdoor meeting in the district after the electionsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/calcutta-hc-gives-conditional-approval-to-mamata-banerjees-friday-meeting-in-sreerampore-700405.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-issues-notice-on-pil-seeking-time-bound-probe-one-year-trial-in-kidnapping-and-abduction-cases-700411.html New Delhi Sep 10 IANS The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the Centre and state governments on a Public Interest Litigation PIL seeking directions for timebound investigation and speedy trial of cases involving kidnapping and abduction particularly those concerning childrennbspnbspA Bench of the Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued the notice on the plea filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar UpadhyayThe notice is returnable in four weeks and the matter has been listed for further hearing on November 6The petition seeks directions to the Centre and states to formulate Standard Questionnaires and a Special Investigation Procedure for cases of kidnapping and abduction and ensure that such investigations are conducted by an officer not below the rank of ACPSHO to facilitate timebound investigationIt also seeks establishment of Special Courts on the lines of courts dealing with cases involving MPs and MLAs to ensure that kidnapping and abduction cases are decided within one yearThe PIL further seeks directions to assess the entire property of kidnappers abductors and their family members and invoke provisions relating to money laundering benami property and black money wherever applicable It has also sought confiscation of movable and immovable properties of perpetrators and their family members who are directly or indirectly involved in kidnapping and abductionThe petitioner has sought a declaration that sentences in kidnapping and abduction cases should be consecutive and not concurrent in order to create a deterrentAccording to the plea around 15000 missing cases are registered every year in Bihar since 2013 with many involving children while only around 50 per cent of the children are recoveredThe petition refers to National Crime Records Bureau NCRB data to contend that the maximum cases of human trafficking have been registered in Odisha Bihar Telangana and Maharashtra It states that Odisha has recorded the highest number of cases involving trafficking of minor boys followed by Bihar while Rajasthan has reported the maximum cases of trafficking of minor girlsThe PIL contends that trafficked children are forced into begging child labour prostitution and other illegal activities and that delayed registration of FIRs and ineffective investigation significantly reduce the chances of safely recovering kidnapped childrenIt further states that such delays expose children to risks including trafficking sexual abuse forced labour illegal adoption child marriage and organ trafficking It contends that the alleged inaction of authorities deprives children of their rights to life liberty dignity education and protection from trafficking and exploitation besides denying them equal protection of laws through inconsistent police practicesThe plea further states that the cause of action continues as thousands of children remain untraced investigations are frequently delayed or ineffective and no comprehensive statutory or administrative framework has been established to ensure mandatory and uniform police response throughout the countryThe petitioner has cited several incidents to highlight the alleged failure to prevent kidnapping and abductionAccording to the plea in June 2026 the Delhi Police arrested 13 persons and rescued five infants aged between five days and four months from an alleged interstate network operating across Delhi Haryana Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh and GujaratThe petition alleges that newborn babies from economically vulnerable families were abducted and sold for Rs 810 lakh for illegal activities It also refers to the alleged abduction and subsequent sexual assault and murder of a 10yearold girl in Delhis Mehrauli area in June and the abduction of a onemonthold baby girl from her sleeping mothers lap in Hyderabad later that monthThe plea further refers to alleged incidents involving the abduction and assault of a minor boy in Rajasthans Karauli trafficking and sexual exploitation of a minor girl in Sri Ganganagar and the taking away of seven tribal children from Udaipur on the pretext of providing free education before they were rescued from GoaThe petitioner has contended that delayed registration of FIRs and ineffective investigation significantly reduces the likelihood of safely recovering a kidnapped child and increases the risk of trafficking sexual abuse forced labour illegal adoption child marriage organ trafficking and other forms of exploitationThe PIL also states that families of missing children face severe psychological trauma emotional distress financial hardship and prolonged uncertainty while the children are deprived of their constitutional rights to life liberty dignity security and educationThe plea has referred to the Lok Sabha passing the Trafficking of Persons Prevention Protection and Rehabilitation Bill 2018 and also cited a May 2026 Supreme Court direction concerning mandatory registration of FIRsThe petitioner has argued that the issue transcends individual grievances and raises a matter of grave public importance warranting intervention by the Supreme Court to protect the constitutional rights of children across the countryThe PIL was filed contending that the Centre and states had failed to take adequate steps to prevent kidnapping and abduction and sought coordinated measures for effective investigation prosecution asset tracing and deterrent punishment IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-issues-notice-on-pil-seeking-time-bound-probe-one-year-trial-in-kidnapping-and-abduction-cases-700411.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-building-collapse-pg-operator-arrested-police-probe-lease-agreement-repair-work--700322.html nbspNew Delhi Sep 9 PTI A PG operator has been arrested in connection with the collapse of a fivestorey building in Delhis Satya Niketan that left seven people dead as police are probing the role of the leaseholders of the building on lease and the construction and repair work carried out there sources said on WednesdaySudhanshu one of the two business partners running the Hostel Daze PG was arrested during the investigation and is being questioned by police sources saidnbspPolice sources said the building owner Mahesh had leased the property to Sudhanshu and his business partner Shubham Tyagi in August 2025 The duo subsequently started operating the premises as a paying guest accommodation under the name Hostel DazenbspTyagi is currently absconding and efforts are underway to trace him the sources said A labour contractor Sanoj has already been apprehended in connection with the case He is being brought from Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh to Delhi for questioning over the construction and repair work carried out at the buildingnbspThe development comes as investigators scrutinise the rent agreement under which the PG was being operated According to a police source the agreement stated that the PG operators would not be responsible for any casualties or risk to tenantsnbspIt also purportedly said the hostel would not be liable to pay compensation for personal injury loss or damage to belongings caused by circumstances beyond its control including sealing fire earthquake and heavy rainnbspThe agreement also contained clauses related to nonrefund of hostel fees and security money and empowered the operators to evict tenants for indiscipline misconduct nonpayment of dues or other violations Parents and guardians were barred from entering tenants rooms according to the document Police had earlier said the basement had been undergoing repairs for eight to 10 days after waste and water accumulated there following days of rainnbspRepair work was also underway on the ground floor for an extension allegedly for commercial purposesnbspOn Monday a Delhi court sent building owner Hariram an 81yearold retired Indian Air Force sergeant and his 75yearold wife Urmila to 14 days judicial custody while their 52yearold son Mahesh was remanded to police custody for two daysnbspDuring questioning Mahesh told police that he looked after the maintenance of the building on behalf of his parents an officer had saidnbspThe collapse occurred around 1 pm on Sunday and police received information about it at 134 pm The structure comprising a ground floor and four upper floors housed several students and other residentsAccording to the FIR a local enquiry found that the building was several years old and that additional floors had been constructed allegedly for rental income Investigators are probing whether the additional construction had placed pressure on the existing structurenbspThe tragedy has triggered concerns among students living in the South Campus area over the safety of PG accommodations with many raising questions about building standards and maintenancenbspAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-building-collapse-pg-operator-arrested-police-probe-lease-agreement-repair-work--700322.html Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/will-ask-greater-noida-magistrate-to-explain-notice-to-student-over-jantar-mantar-protest-sc--700334.html New Delhi Sep 9 PTI The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would seek explanation from the Greater Noida executive magistrate for issuing a notice to a student there over his participation in the CJPled Jantar Mantar protest Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant questioned how the executive magistrate could issue such a notice when the top court has earlier directed that no penal action would be taken against studentsA lawyer mentioned the matter before a threejudge bench led by CJI Kant asserting that experiment was being done on students and that the notice which was also revoked subsequently was contrary to the top courts ordernbspYou are absolutely right There is no question of taking action against our youth We have passed a clear order the CJI statednbspWe are surprised how can the magistrate issue a notice when we have already annulled No penal action against any student It was a clearcut order added the CJI CJI Kant asked the lawyer to place the facts on record and said We will ask for explanation Let him explain The bench also comprised Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V MohananbspA student of Gautam Buddha University GBU who allegedly participated in a CJPled protest at Delhis Jantar Mantar was served a notice by the Greater Noida Executive Magistrate seeking a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh for maintaining peace officials said on Tuesday adding that the order was later revokednbspThe student Akshat Tripathi however denied the allegations and claimed that he had participated in the protest peacefully and was not attending university classes at the timenbspThe notice was issued on September 4 under Section 130 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita BNSSIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/will-ask-greater-noida-magistrate-to-explain-notice-to-student-over-jantar-mantar-protest-sc--700334.html Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-announces-month-long-seva-sankalp-abhiyan-to-mark-pm-modis-25-years-of-public-service-700337.html New Delhi Sep 9 IANS The Bharatiya Janata Party BJP on Wednesday announced that it will conduct a special monthlong campaign titled Seva Sankalp Abhiyan starting September 17 to mark the completion of 25 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modis public life and servicenbspBJP National President Nitin Nabin addressing a press conference at the party headquarters announced that PM Modi will complete 25 years of public service on October 7 To mark this occasion the BJP will conduct a special monthlong campaign from September 17 which is the Prime Ministers birthday to October 17Prime Minister Modis journey of service began on October 7 2001 when he assumed office as the Chief Minister of Gujarat Over the past 25 years he has worked continuously guided by the mantra of public service to national service Nabin saidThe Prime Ministers public life is characterised by his unwavering focus on his objectives and resolutions from day one and his persistent efforts to bring them to fruition he addedThe BJP President asserted that when PM Modi assumed charge of the top office in 2014 the atmosphere in India was marked by despair and policy paralysisDuring that period he said the Indian economy was counted among the Fragile Five however now India ranks among the worlds fastestgrowing major economies and the countrys stature and prestige on the global stage have steadily risenPM Modis journey began as an ordinary BJP worker and today he discharges his responsibilities as the nations Pradhan Sevak Clear vision firm resolve and continuous efforts to bring about positive societal change have shaped this journey he saidNabin stated that under PM Modis leadership the country has strengthened its cultural identity and heritage alongside its development Citing the Ram Mandir Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and the Somnath and Mahakal corridors he said the Modi government has worked to preserve restore and develop the nations cultural heritageAdditionally referring to Narendra Modis tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat the BJP chief mentioned how he worked to ensure water supply to the people through the Narmada project while also making efforts to establish the state as a major hub for development and investment through the Vibrant Gujarat initiativeLinking the Prime Ministers development journey from Gujarat to the national level Nabin noted that this same vision drove the implementation of largescale development schemes across the countryWhile the nations youth once faced an atmosphere of despair a sense of hope and optimism emerged after 2014 he saidCiting the rise of startups and unicorns he noted that India now ranks among the worlds leading nations for startups He asserted that the countrys youth are no longer merely job seekers but have emerged as job creatorsHighlighting sports initiatives like Khelo India and Fit India he noted that Indian youth are now representing the nation across various fieldsThe BJP chief further mentioned that PM Modi has championed the concept of womenled development and highlighted the continuous efforts made to enhance womens economic participation by referencing schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao to Lakhpati DidiHe also mentioned the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam noting that it represents a significant step toward providing political representation to women and ensuring their participation in policymakingNabin added that Prime Minister Modi has transformed the traditional perspective regarding border areasPreviously border villages were referred to as the countrys last villages but the government redefined their role and importance by designating them as Indias first villages he addedThe BJP observes Prime Minister Modis birthday as Seva Diwas Day of Service In this spirit a monthlong Seva Sankalp Abhiyan will be organised this year from September 17 to October 17 It is the BJPs responsibility to take the message of public service to as many people in society as possible Through this campaign Prime Minister Modis work spanning 25 years of public life encompassing service development and nationbuilding will be highlighted to the public Nabin saidThe Prime Ministers 25year journey of service should be viewed not merely as a series of political achievements but as an unwavering commitment to serving the people and the nation the BJP chief said while calling upon party workers and the general public to join the campaign IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-announces-month-long-seva-sankalp-abhiyan-to-mark-pm-modis-25-years-of-public-service-700337.html Wed, 09 Sep 2026 13:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/up-govt-to-move-sc-against-allahabad-hc-order-quashing-students-nsa-detention-700342.html New Delhi Sep 9 IANS The Uttar Pradesh government will challenge the Allahabad High Courts order quashing the detention of a 24yearold student activist under the National Security Act NSA and directing the recovery of Rs 5 lakh compensation from the salary of the Gautam Buddha Nagar District Magistrate and other officials Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court on WednesdaynbspThe submission was made by SG Mehta before a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant during a hearing related to a showcause notice issued by the Greater Noida officials against a student of Gautam Buddha University over a campaign for the CJP protestThe Solicitor General said that the High Court order was being challenged before the Supreme Court by way of a Special Leave Petition SLPThe development comes days after a Division Bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Achal Sachdev of the Allahabad High Court allowed a habeas corpus petition filed by Akriti Chaudhary and quashed her detention under the NSAThe High Court held that Chaudharys continued incarceration under the NSA was violative of her rights under Article 21 and directed that she be set at liberty if she was not wanted in any other case It also directed that Rs 5 lakh be paid to Chaudhary as compensation and recovered from the salary of the District Magistrate Gautam Buddha Nagar as well as other officials found responsible right down to the SHO of the Police Station who had prepared the initial report warranting her detentionThe matter arose from labour unrest in Gautam Buddha Nagar in April 2026 when workers protested over low wages long working hours and inadequate pay The state government claimed that Chaudhary had acted as an agent provocateur and that her actions and dissemination of information contributed to the violence that erupted from April 13However Chaudhary contended that the proceedings against her were an attempt to stifle her freedom of speech and expression and that there was no material to justify her detention under the stringent provisions of the NSAThe High Court found that the alleged violence had commenced only after Chaudhary was taken into custody It also examined WhatsApp conversations and observed that the Uttar Pradesh government had failed to point to a single message or video clip showing that she had incited violence or disclosed a conspiracy to provoke rioting arson or destruction of propertyIt further observed that the videos relied upon by the state authorities showed people gathered peacefully and did not indicate that the crowd was armed or agitated Any detention under the NSA is an exception It is not a substitute to ensure that a person who may receive bail on account of merits of his case is still detained in custody under a concocted reasoning by the State the Allahabad High Court saidThe High Court also held that the grounds of detention were repetitive speculative and are only opinionbased and lacked material to support the District Magistrates conclusions It found that a notice issued under Section 130 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita BNSS appeared to have been prepared after Chaudharys arrest describing the procedure as ex post facto the arrest and nothing more than a shamOn the issue of compensation the High Court criticised the conduct of the Gautam Buddha Nagar District Magistrate observing that the officer was expected to examine the material carefully before invoking the NSA against a female student activist It said the conduct of the District Magistrate was worthy of derision and held that the officer had desired to set an example out of the Petitioner and deter others from exercising their right to freedom of speech and expression in public spaces in support of the labourersThe High Court further said that the District Magistrate was guilty of violating his oath of allegiance making the case fit for imposing compensation It also observed that the state government must recognise that peaceful agitation is protected by the Constitution and described allowing protests as akin to a safety valve in a pressure cooker helping release accumulated public grievances rather than allowing them to build up to a point where violence becomes inevitableThe matter has now reached the Supreme Court with the Uttar Pradesh government indicating that it will challenge the Allahabad High Courts judgmentIANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/up-govt-to-move-sc-against-allahabad-hc-order-quashing-students-nsa-detention-700342.html Wed, 09 Sep 2026 16:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/opportunity-to-transform-financial-sector-through-agentic-ai-and-quantum-technology-cm-fadnavis-700346.html Mumbai Sep 9 IANS Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that Maharashtra is committed to delivering the benefits of emerging digital financial technologies to common citizens farmers women entrepreneurs startups and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises MSMEsnbspHe stated that Agentic AI and Quantum Technology will provide a new direction to financial inclusionSpeaking at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 here the Chief Minister highlighted the immense potential of Agentic AI tokenisation and quantum technology to revolutionise the financial sectorCM Fadnavis recalled that during last years Global Fintech Fest the state expressed its resolve to make Maharashtra the countrys first Tokenised State Moving decisively in that direction the state government has initiated work on drafting the Maharashtra Digitisation and Exchange of Land Token Asset Act DELTA Act This legislation will establish the necessary legal framework for blockchainbased tokenisation of land and real estate assets Experts from SEBI BSE NSE industry technology law and academia are actively participating in this processTokenisation he noted converts capital locked in real estate into productive economic opportunities boosting transparency liquidity and economic growth by unlocking illiquid assets The Chief Minister asserted that the future of global finance is taking shape in India particularly in Mumbai As the nations financial capital Mumbai is rapidly advancing toward becoming an emerging global fintech capitalReferring to this years theme Potential of Impact he stressed that converting technological capabilities into realworld impact is the need of the hour Having established a global benchmark through the Unified Payments Interface UPI India must now focus on democratising access to credit investments ownership rights and financial informationCM Fadnavis noted that modern technology holds the power to provide highquality financial insights to an industry in Kolhapur a farmer in Vidarbha or a woman entrepreneur in Pune on par with major financial institutionsElaborating on Agentic AI the Chief Minister envisioned a future where an entrepreneurs AI assistant could assess financial needs and recommend optimal solutions while farmers receive financial advice in their mother tongue However he emphasised that while AI works for citizens ultimate control must remain in human handsHighlighting Maharashtras financial technical and infrastructural strengths CM Fadnavis pointed out that Mumbai hosts the countrys largest financial ecosystem Pune serves as a hub for technical talent and Navi Mumbai is emerging as a centre for data infrastructure and global connectivity The state is building a robust ecosystem around artificial intelligence data centres Global Capability Centres GCCs startups and universitiesHe urged industry leaders to view Maharashtra not merely as a market but as a laboratory for innovation The CM invited solutions in agriculture MSMEs urban development healthcare mobility financial inclusion fraud prevention and public finance management assuring full state support for largescale testing Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi India has set a global standard for digital financial infrastructure and the world is eagerly watching Indias next financial revolutionReaffirming the states commitment CM Fadnavis assured that Maharashtra will act as a pioneer serving as the largest realworld testbed for nextgeneration fintech solutions and striving to realise PM Modis vision of turning Mumbai into the fintech capital of the worldDuring the event in the presence of the Chief Minister agreement documents were exchanged between Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA SEBI the National Stock Exchange NSE and the Enforcement Directorate ED regarding their expansion in BKC IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/opportunity-to-transform-financial-sector-through-agentic-ai-and-quantum-technology-cm-fadnavis-700346.html Wed, 09 Sep 2026 17:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jail-or-hell-adityanath-warns-those-becoming-a-threat-to-women-in-uttar-pradesh-700350.html Varanasi Sep 9 IANS In a warning to goons and mafias Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that those who become a threat to womens safety will have to choose between jail or hellnbspCM Adityanath made the remark during an event to facilitate working women in VaranasiAddressing a gathering he credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing global recognition to the holy city Kashi is the foundation for all the developmental works carried out across the country under PM Modis leadership in the past 12 years he saidThe Chief Minister stated that approximately one lakh projects are either underway or have been completed in VaranasiCM Adityanath said Before 2017 people were concerned about the safety of their daughters while sending them to school Similarly women were concerned about their safety in the absence of toilets at their homesHe added that during the regime of the previous government people were similarly concerned about income roads connectivity healthcare and job opportunitiesToday the double engine BJP government has created a system where the schemes will not only be made but it will be ensured that they reach the people by removing the barriers on its way he assertedThe CM emphasised We have given a strong foundation for womens safety in the state in the form of Mission Shakti Under this women police personnel have been deployed and an integrated women beat system has been created in the stateWe have urged for 20 per cent of mandatory female admissions in the UP police force he said while claiming that in 2017 the force consisted of only 10000 women police personnelToday that number has increased to 44000 and will soon reach 50000 he assertedCM Adityanath mentioned that the UP government is creating three women police battalions of Pradeshik Armed Constabulary PAC at Badaun Lucknow and Gorakhpur and all three have been named after women warriorsWhen we had launched the Mukhyamantri Samuhik Vivah Yojana mass wedding people from the Samajwadi Party SP laughed at us calling it an insult to the daughters Today more than five lakh girls have been married under the scheme he saidHe further stated that the Kasturba Gandhi Vidyalayas in the state which earlier functioned from class sixth to eighth have now been extended from sixth to 12th standardWe have now reserved seats for girls even in Sainik schools he addedThe CM announced that girl students who emerge toppers in the Board exams will be distributed scooters under a scheme named after Queen of Jhansi LaxmibaiAt every village a digital entrepreneur will be hired at the Panchayat level under Project Ganga The digital entrepreneur will be able to implement schemes and provide job opportunities We are going to create 4000 such women entrepreneurs under this scheme he mentionedHe further emphasised that women are being provided equal opportunities across manufacturing banking and service sectors in the state The women workforce has increased from 12 per cent to 36 per cent in Uttar Pradesh the Chief Minister underlinedInvoking the Nari Shakti Vandhan Adhiniyam Amendment Bill he said If the Bill is passed women will get the opportunity to comprise one third of the representatives in both the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha by 2029Attacking the opposition parties he said Many leaders will come and attempt to divide the society but when it comes to taking action against a Mafia they would refrain from doing soBut now goons and mafias have been warned that if they attempt to interfere with the safety of our daughters they will have to choose between jail or hell the Chief Minister remarked IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/jail-or-hell-adityanath-warns-those-becoming-a-threat-to-women-in-uttar-pradesh-700350.html Wed, 09 Sep 2026 18:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-to-inaugurate-several-development-projects-in-gujarat-maharashtra-today-700217.html New Delhi Sep 8 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat and Maharashtra on Tuesday and launch various development projects in both the statesnbspAt around noon the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stones inaugurate and dedicate to the nation various development projects worth more than Rs 35000 crore in VadodaranbspHe will also address the gathering on the occasionAt around 545 pm the Prime Minister will inaugurate Global Fintech Fest GFF 2026 in Mumbai and address the gathering as wellIn Vadodara the Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation three important sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor WDFC covering 326 route kilometres and developed at a cost of more than Rs 20700 crore These include the New Sanand N New Makarpura New UmbergaonNew Saphale and New Saphale New JNPT sectionsThe officials said that the direct connectivity of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority JNPA will facilitate faster movement of EXIM cargo strengthen connectivity between industrial centres and ports reduce logistics costs and help decongest Mumbais railway networkWith the commissioning of these sections the Dedicated Freight Corridor DFC network will stand fully operational across its entire length The dedicated freight infrastructure will further strengthen the countrys logistics ecosystem by improving multimodal connectivity reducing transit time and facilitating seamless movement of cargo across different regions the officials saidThe Prime Minister will also flag off freight train services from New Sanand North New Makarpura New Umbergaon and New JNPT Mumbai In addition he will flag off a new passenger train service between Tanda Road and Vadodara PratapnagarPM Modi will dedicate to the nation the JobatTanda Road new rail line developed as part of the Chhota UdepurDhar project The new rail line will connect remote and tribal areas of Alirajpur with the national rail networkHe will also lay the foundation stone for three railway projects spanning 329 kilometres and costing more than Rs 9700 crore These include the VadodaraRatlam third and fourth lines Miyagam KarjanChorandaMalsar gauge conversion and the VishwamitriDabhoi doubling projectnbspThe projects will enhance passenger and freight capacity ease congestion and strengthen connectivity between Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh officials saidThe Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for three National Highway projects costing around Rs 1780 crore These include sixlaning of the KamrejChalthan section of NH48 construction of additional structures including major bridges over the Tapi and Narmada on the VadodaraSurat section of NH48 and gradeseparated structures at Abhava Mindhola and Khajod junctions on NH53He will also lay the foundation stone for and inaugurate various Government of Gujarat projects worth around Rs 2600 crore Major projects for which the foundation stone will be laid include Vadodara Urban Development Authority Ring Road Phase II and a 110 MW floating solar project at Kadana Dam construction of the new office of Vadodara Municipal Corporation among othersnbspProjects to be inaugurated include housing projects under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana PMAY and a watersupply project for 11 villages in eastern Vadodara among othersIn Mumbai the Prime Minister will inaugurate Global Fintech Fest GFF 2026 one of the worlds largest and most influential annual fintech conferencesThe seventh edition of the Global Fintech Fest is being held from Tuesday September 8 to Friday September 11nbspSince 2020 GFF has emerged as an international thought leadership platform bringing together policymakers regulators central banks financial institutions fintechs technology companies investors academia and other global stakeholders to deliberate on shaping the future of financeThe theme of GFF 2026 is Potential to Impact Agentic AI Tokenisation Quantum Trusted Connected Global Systems for Inclusive FinanceOfficials said that the GFF 2026 has been designed as a convergence point for policy regulation technology capital and industry on a common platformnbspIt seeks to build on Indias leadership in digital payments and financial inclusion and move from potential to impact The discussions will focus on how Agentic AI programmable finance quantum technologies and other critical and emerging technologies can create trusted inclusive and measurable outcomes for citizens enterprises and economies globally officials saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-to-inaugurate-several-development-projects-in-gujarat-maharashtra-today-700217.html Tue, 08 Sep 2026 11:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/lop-rahul-gandhi-condoles-death-of-manipuri-singer-demands-swift-investigation-justice-700219.html New Delhi Sep 8 IANS Leader of Opposition LoP in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday expressed condolences to the family of Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh who died after being assaulted by a group of delivery workers and dhaba staff outside his apartment in DelhiLoP Rahul Gandhi called for a swift investigation into the incident and demanded that those responsible be brought to justiceTaking to social media platform X LoP Gandhi said Chongtham Vikram Singh ji a renowned musician from Manipur went downstairs to ask some men to lower the noise outside his home He was beaten to death for itA father killed outside his own home in his own countrys capital After many such incidents every Northeast family in Delhi is asking the same question today Are we safe here he saidLoP Gandhi further questioned the Union Home Ministry and Delhi Police over the incidentWhat are Shahs MHA and Delhi Police doing to stop this growing lawlessness especially against people from the Northeast There must be a swift investigation and the culprits must be brought to justice My condolences to Vikram jis family LoP Gandhi saidA 54yearold Manipuri musician died after a group of delivery workers and dhaba staff allegedly assaulted him when he objected to their shouting and consumption of alcohol outside his apartment in Kilokari village in the early hours of Monday officials saidPolice have arrested seven men and apprehended a juvenile in connection with the caseThe Sunlight Colony Police Station received a PCR call regarding the assault on C Vikram Singh a native of Manipur who had been residing in Kilokari village for several yearsA preliminary enquiry revealed that Singh had objected to a group of men allegedly creating a nuisance outside his residence He sustained injuries after the men allegedly assaulted him with blows and punches police saidSinghs son Yaiphaba rushed him to Holy Family Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries according to officialsPolice have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assault and Singhs deathThe North East Students Society Delhi University NESSDU condoled Singhs death and described him as a respected Manipuri musician who had built his life in Delhi around music for the last 20 yearsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/lop-rahul-gandhi-condoles-death-of-manipuri-singer-demands-swift-investigation-justice-700219.html Tue, 08 Sep 2026 12:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-unveils-rs-35-000-cr-projects-in-vadodara-marks-completion-of-western-dedicated-freight-corridor-700234.html Vadodara Sep 8 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday unveiled and dedicated a series of rail road housing water supply and urban development projects worth more than Rs 35000 crore in Vadodara with the completion of key sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor WDFC emerging as the central feature of the eventnbspAddressing the gathering Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said the projects would strengthen connectivity and logistics infrastructure while expanding access to housing water supply and urban amenities across the stateHe welcomed PM Modi to Vadodara and said The Prime Minister had come to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for development works worth more than Rs 35000 crore in a single dayThe three WDFC sections dedicated to the nation cover 326 route kilometres and have been developed at a cost of more than Rs 20700 croreThey comprise Sanand NorthMakarpura New UmbergaonNew Saphale and New SaphaleJawaharlal Nehru Port Authority JNPATheir commissioning completes the WDFC across its full length and provides direct freight connectivity to JNPA aimed at speeding up exportimport cargo movement reducing logistics costs and easing congestion on Mumbais railway networkPM Modi also flagged off freight train services from New Sanand North New Makarpura New Umbergaon and New JNPT MumbaiA new passenger service between Vadodara and Tanda Road was also flagged off while the JobatTanda Road railway line developed as part of the Chhota UdepurDhar project was dedicated to the nationThe line is intended to connect remote and tribal areas of Alirajpur with the national rail network Patel said the Dedicated Freight Corridor would make the movement of Gujarats agricultural produce industrial products and other goods faster and easierHe also pointed to Vadodaras role in the wider infrastructure network referring to the Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya and the manufacturing facility for C295 military transport aircraft as developments associated with the cityThe Prime Minister also laid the foundation stones for three railway projects covering 329 km and costing more than Rs 9700 croreThese include the third and fourth lines between Vadodara and Ratlam gauge conversion of the Miyagam KarjanChorandaMalsar section and doubling of the VishwamitriDabhoi sectionThe projects are aimed at increasing passenger and freight capacity reducing congestion and strengthening connectivity between Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh Three National Highway projects costing around Rs 1780 crore were also included in the programmeThey cover sixlaning of the KamrejChalthan section of NH48 additional structures including major bridges over the Tapi and Narmada on the VadodaraSurat section of NH48 and gradeseparated structures at Abhava Mindhola and Khajod junctions on NH53Sixlane flyovers at Kandari Chokdi and Luvara Patia were also inaugurated Projects of the state government worth around Rs 2600 crore were also unveiled or inauguratedThese include Phase II of the Vadodara Urban Development Authority Ring Road a 110 MW floating solar project at Kadana Dam and a new Vadodara Municipal Corporation office besides housing projects under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and a watersupply project for 11 villages in eastern VadodaraPatel also highlighted Gujarats housing and drinkingwater programmes saying more than 1653 lakh houses had been provided to beneficiaries in urban and rural areas under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and that drinking water had been extended through the Nal Se Jal programmeThe state had also sought to involve citizens in preparations for the Prime Ministers visit through cleanliness and environmental activities Sanitation workers and residents participated in cleaning roads public places and surrounding areas while 20 lakh saplings were distributed for plantation and other environmental activities he saidPatel also referred to developments in space railways defence and indigenous manufacturing while describing what he called recent advances under the leadership of the Prime MinisterHe cited Skyroot Aerospaces VikramI Indias hydrogenpowered passenger train the C295 military transport aircraft the commissioning of three indigenous naval warships and recent defence missile testing He also said defence production had reached around Rs 178 lakh croreThe Chief Minister said the state would continue to work towards the development of a Viksit Gujarat as part of the broader goal of Viksit Bharat 2047His remarks came as the state hosted PM Modi for a programme combining major transport infrastructure with projects focussed on housing water supply renewable energy and urban development IANSnbsp https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-unveils-rs-35-000-cr-projects-in-vadodara-marks-completion-of-western-dedicated-freight-corridor-700234.html Tue, 08 Sep 2026 14:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/strong-chargesheet-will-be-filed-within-two-weeks-kiren-rijiju-on-manipur-musicians-murder-700249.html New Delhi Sep 8 IANS Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday assured of strict action against the accused in the alleged murder of a Manipuri musician saying that he has spoken to Delhi Police who in turn have said that a strong chargesheet in the case will be filed within two weeksnbspThis comes a day after Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh died after allegedly being assaulted by a group of delivery workers and dhaba staff outside his apartment in Delhi after he objected to them making noiseSpeaking to reporters Kiren Rijiju called the incident very tragicI have spoken with the IGP of the South Delhi range as well as the DCP and Joint Commissioner of Delhi Polices Special Cell for the North East All eight individuals involved in the incident have been arrested Police officers have also met the family of musician Vikram Singh Arrangements have been made to transport his mortal remains to Manipur tomorrow he saidRijiju said that according to the background information gathered by the investigators all the eight individuals work at a dhaba and as delivery workersAll eight of them belong to different states and communities and work hereThe dispute broke out at night over music and noise he saidThe police have told me that they will file a strong chargesheet within two weeks he addedFurther Kiren Rijiju hit out at Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for the latters post on X regarding the incidentTaking to his social media account the LoP had said Chongtham Vikram Singh ji a renowned musician from Manipur went downstairs to ask some men to lower the noise outside his home He was beaten to death for itA father killed outside his own home in his own countrys capital After many such incidents every Northeast family in Delhi is asking the same question today Are we safe here he saidReacting to it the Union Minister said Whenever a murder takes place or someone becomes a victim why should one look at which state they belong to They are all citizens of India The people from our North East are also Indians This is not a matter to play politicsRijiju praised the immediate action taken by the police He said The accused had fled but the Delhi Police acted swiftly and apprehended them in a very short timeExtending his condolence to the family of the victim he said Strict punishment should be given to the accused so that people realise that we cant take such incidents lightlyI assure that the action against the accused will be strict and it will be taken at the earliest he statedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/strong-chargesheet-will-be-filed-within-two-weeks-kiren-rijiju-on-manipur-musicians-murder-700249.html Tue, 08 Sep 2026 16:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sachin-pilot-meets-rahul-priyanka-after-punjab-appointment-2027-poll-strategy-discussed-700252.html Jaipur Sep 8 IANS Congress leader and former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot met Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Delhi on Tuesday shortly after being appointed the partys Punjab InchargenbspPilot shared picture of his meeting with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and said Met with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi this morning and expressed my gratitude to them for entrusting me with the responsibility of PunjabnbspI am fully confident that through collective effort a strong organisation and the energy of our party workers the Congress will return to power in Punjab Our efforts will be driven by complete dedication and commitment towards building a better future for Punjab and protecting and upholding the rights of every section of society including farmers and the youth the former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister said while marking his location address as 10 Janpath New DelhiRahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi also congratulated Sachin Pilot at 10 Janpath in New Delhi on assuming his new responsibilityThe meeting described as a courtesy call also focused on the political and organisational challenges facing the Congress in Punjab and preparations for the 2027 Assembly elections party sources saidnbspPilots appointment comes at a crucial time for the Punjab Congress which is seeking to strengthen its organisation and regain lost political groundnbspThe Congress faces the immediate challenge of bringing different factions together and improving coordination among senior leaders MLAs and grassroots workers in PunjabCongress sources said the meeting at 10 Janpath included an initial discussion on the Congress roadmap for Punjab organisational activities and preparations for the 2027 pollsnbspThe Congress however has not officially released details of the closeddoor discussionsnbspPilot is expected to visit Chandigarh shortly where he will hold meetings with senior Punjab Congress leaders legislators and party workers to assess the organisational situation and chalk out the next course of actionThe Punjab assignment marks a significant expansion of Pilots organisational responsibilities beyond RajasthannbspHis ability to unite the state party unit and build an effective electoral strategy will be closely watched ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly electionsnbspA successful stint in Punjab could also strengthen Pilots position within the Congress at the national level while the immediate challenge remains to convert the high commands confidence into organisational momentum on the groundIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sachin-pilot-meets-rahul-priyanka-after-punjab-appointment-2027-poll-strategy-discussed-700252.html Tue, 08 Sep 2026 17:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/karnataka-cm-shivakumar-orders-action-against-co-op-society-secretary-after-93-farmers-crop-insurance-claims-rejected--700254.html Bengaluru Sep 8 IANS Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday directed officials to dismiss the Secretary of a cooperative society for allegedly failing to deposit crop insurance premiums paid by farmers with the District Central Cooperative DCC Bank resulting in the rejection of insurance claims of 93 farmersnbspShivakumar issued the direction after a farmer from Ittanahalli village in Jewargi taluk of Belagavi district approached him and complained that the insurance premiums paid by the farmers through a selfhelp society had not been remitted to the DCC Bank As a result the farmers had received messages informing them that their crop insurance claims had been rejectedThe Chief Minister who was on a surprise visit to the Yeshwanthpur APMC market here early in the morning examined the list of farmers who had paid their insurance premiums and directed officials to take action against the society secretary for the alleged negligenceDuring his visit Shivakumar interacted with onion garlic potato and coconut growers traders and mandi owners at the market and sought details about the problems faced by farmersThe Chief Minister questioned farmers about several issues including whether they were being stopped by police while transporting their produce whether they were receiving payments on time whether market intermediaries were charging commissions the cost of cultivation per acre and whether their produce was being weighed accuratelyHe also personally checked the weighing of onions at the marketFarmers told Shivakumar that traders in markets in Kalaburagi Bidar and Vijayapura charged commissions of Rs 8 to Rs 10 while traders at the Yeshwanthpur APMC market did not charge them a commission This they said was one of the reasons they preferred bringing their produce to YeshwanthpurThe farmers also said inadequate rainfall this year had severely affected onion production Normally they harvest around 150 to 200 bags of onions per acre but this year the yield had fallen to around 50 bagsThey said excessive rainfall could also cause onions to rot in the fields while transporting the produce to the market could become economically unviable if prices failed to cover transportation costsA farmer from Challakere taluk in Chitradurga district told the Chief Minister that although he had paid Rs 6500 per hectare towards crop insurance he had not received any benefit under the schemeAfter hearing the complaint Shivakumar directed officials to collect the farmers details and examine the matterSeveral farmers appreciated Shivakumar for visiting the APMC market and listening to their grievancesOver the last 30 years no Minister or Chief Minister has come to the market to enquire about farmers problems It is very satisfying to see you personally visiting the market and reviewing the situation a farmer told himShivakumar also interacted with mandi traders and asked them how much they were paying to the APMCOne trader said they were paying 60 paise for every Rs 100 while another said the payment was Rs 1 for every Rs 100The Chief Minister warned traders against collecting any additional amount from farmersIf anyone is collecting more money inform me I will take action against them he saidShivakumar also raised concerns about traders who purchase agricultural produce directly from farmers without bringing it to the APMC marketHe said some traders allegedly fix a price and then manipulate the weight while purchasing produce directly from farmersThe Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that traders purchasing directly from farmers do not resort to any manipulation in weighing the produceDuring his interaction with Anjanappa an onion farmer from Hosahatti village in Kudligi Shivakumar asked about the availability of water for cultivationThe farmer said he had constructed a house on his agricultural land and had applied three times for an electricity connection but had not received one He added that several other houses in the area were facing a similar problemShivakumar directed officials to collect the details and assured the farmer that the issue would be resolvedYou need not worry Electricity connections will be provided to everyone he said adding that people facing such problems could submit applications during his public service programmesThe Chief Minister also enquired whether the women in the farmers families were receiving Rs 2000 per month and 10 kg of rice under the State governments guarantee schemes The farmers said they were receiving the benefits and that the schemes had provided them considerable reliefAfter the inspection CM Shivakumar posted a video of the surprise visit on his X handle captioning it Responding to the Voice of Farmers and TradersIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/karnataka-cm-shivakumar-orders-action-against-co-op-society-secretary-after-93-farmers-crop-insurance-claims-rejected--700254.html Tue, 08 Sep 2026 17:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mp-govt-orders-inquiry-into-police-action-against-protesting-intern-doctors--700258.html Bhopal Sep 8 IANS The Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday ordered an inquiry into the alleged cane charge and use of water cannons on intern doctors protesting over their stipend in BhopalnbspThe development came amid a widening protest by intern doctors across the state with routine outpatient services being shut at government hospitals even as emergency services continued to functionConfirming the report Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla to IANS that the doctors had sought an impartial probe into Mondays police action and that he had taken up the matter with the Bhopal Police Commissioner Sanjay KumarThe doctors wanted a fair investigation and punishment for those responsible I spoke with the Police Commissioner and orders have been issued for an inquiry The Deputy Commissioner of Police will conduct the inquiry and the report will be presented before the Chief Minister Mohan Yadav returns Deputy CM Shukla saidHe added that those found to have mistreated the doctors would face actionSpeaking about the stipend issue Deputy CM Shukla said that dialogues between the representatives of intern directors and the administration is underway to resolve the issueThe police action took place on Monday when the protesting interns marched towards Chief Minister Mohan Yadavs residence to press for an increase in their stipendThe doctors alleged that police used lathis and water cannons to stop themThe incident has since become a fresh point of confrontation between the protesting doctors and the state government even as efforts are being made to bring the issue to the negotiating tableIn Bhopal the interns continued their sitin at Kamala Park through the nightSecurity was strengthened around the Chief Ministers residence and roads leading to it were barricadedThe protest also affected services at Hamidia Hospital where routine OPDs remained closed on TuesdayPatients and attendants were seen waiting at the hospital with several facing difficulties in getting consultations and undergoing examinationsThe Junior Doctors Association JDA has extended support to the interns over the alleged police actionThe doctors are seeking an immediate increase in stipend and action against officials responsible for the alleged use of forceGandhi Medical College Dean Kavita Singh who met the protesting interns also questioned the use of water cannonsThe use of water cannon was wrong I also did not like it she saidSingh noted that she had gone to take the interns to a meeting with the Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla but they refused to leave the protest site and instead demanded that Shukla come to the spot and hear their grievancesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mp-govt-orders-inquiry-into-police-action-against-protesting-intern-doctors--700258.html Tue, 08 Sep 2026 17:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-to-launch-rs-35-000-crore-projects-in-vadodara-tomorrow-700168.html Vadodara Sep 7 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Tuesday inaugurate and dedicate infrastructure projects worth over Rs 35000 crore in Vadodara highlighted by the commissioning of the final key sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor WDFC completing the freight network along its entire routenbspPM Modi will reach Vadodara around noon on September 8 and dedicate three WDFC sections covering 326 route kilometres and developed at a cost of more than Rs 20700 crore The sections are Sanand NorthMakarpura New UmbergaonNew Saphale and New SaphaleJawaharlal Nehru Port Authority JNPAThe commissioning will provide direct freight connectivity to JNPA facilitating faster movement of exportimport cargo between industrial centres and the port The dedicated infrastructure is also expected to reduce logistics costs cut transit times and ease congestion on Mumbais conventional railway networkThe WDFC runs from Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to JNPA in Maharashtra and forms a major freight link between northern industrial centres and the western coastDuring the programme the Prime Minister will flag off freight train services from New Sanand North New Makarpura New Umbergaon and New JNPT He will also flag off a new passenger train service between Vadodara and Tanda Road benefiting passengers from Vadodara Chhota Udepur and Alirajpur districtsPM Modi will dedicate the JobatTanda Road new railway line developed under the Chhota UdepurDhar project to the nation The line will connect remote and tribal areas of Alirajpur with the national railway networkThe Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stones for three railway projects spanning 329 km and costing more than Rs 9700 crore These comprise the third and fourth lines between Vadodara and Ratlam gauge conversion between Miyagam Karjan Choranda and Malsar and doubling of the VishwamitriDabhoi sectionThe projects are intended to increase passenger and freight capacity reduce congestion and improve rail connectivity between Gujarat and Madhya PradeshOn the road infrastructure front foundation stones will be laid for three National Highway projects costing around Rs 1780 croreThese include sixlaning of the KamrejChalthan section of NH48 additional structures including major bridges over the Tapi and Narmada on the VadodaraSurat section of NH48 and gradeseparated structures at Abhava Mindhola and Khajod junctions on NH53Two sixlane flyovers at Kandari Chokdi and Luvara Patia will also be inaugurated to improve road safety at identified black spots on NH48 Projects worth around Rs 2600 crore by the state government will also be covered during the visitThese include the foundation stone for Phase II of the Vadodara Urban Development Authority Ring Road a 110 MW floating solar project at Kadana Dam and a new Vadodara Municipal Corporation officeHousing projects under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and a watersupply project covering 11 villages in eastern Vadodara are among those to be inaugurated In the eveningLater PM Modi will travel to Mumbai where he is scheduled to inaugurate the Global Fintech Fest 2026 at around 545 pm and address the gatheringIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-to-launch-rs-35-000-crore-projects-in-vadodara-tomorrow-700168.html Mon, 07 Sep 2026 14:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/calcutta-hc-quashes-arrest-warrant-against-mahua-moitra-700169.html Kolkata Sep 7 IANS The Calcutta High Court on Monday quashed an arrest warrant issued against the Trinamool Congresss Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra by a court in West Bengals Nadia districtnbspBesides quashing the arrest warrant issued against Moita a division bench headed by Justice Debangshu Basak also transferred the related case from the jurisdiction of the Krishnanagar district court to that of the MPMLA court at Bidhannagar in North 24 Parganas districtIt also quashed the other related orders of the Krishnanagar District Court in this particular caseThe twotime Krishnanagar MP was accused of making controversial and insulting comments about the Indian Army and the Union Home Minister Amit ShahApart from that some of her comments on women wearing tulsi wood necklaces burqa and hijab also created controversyA resident of Krishnanagar filed a case in connection with the remarks under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS 2023 and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita BNSS 2023The Krishnanagar MP was accused of degrading the modesty of women besides inciting conflict between different religious groups hurting religious sentiments and intimidating them The Krishnanagar court had summoned Moitra several times in this case but as she did not appear an arrest warrant was issued against herMoitra approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the arrest warrant and it had already given an interim stay on the implementation of the arrest warrant in the previous hearingnbspThe matter came up for hearing again on Monday afternoon and this time the division bench quashed the warrant and also transferred the related caseIn fact Moitras counsel Ark Nag had earlier raised the question of whether the Krishnanagar court had the jurisdiction to hear the case against her since she was an MP and had argued that the related case against her should be heard in the MPMLA court The division bench accepted his argumentIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/calcutta-hc-quashes-arrest-warrant-against-mahua-moitra-700169.html Mon, 07 Sep 2026 16:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/two-groups-clash-at-hyderabad-pub-police-file-3-cases-700134.html Hyderabad Sep 7 Two people were injured in a brawl at a pub in Hyderabads Jubilee Hills officials said The incident took place during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday at a pub located in a hotel in the Jubilee Hills area where two groups reportedly clashed resulting in damage to property and parked vehicles and injuries to two peopleTelangana Congress Rajya Sabha member Anil Kumar Yadavs brother Arvind Yadav was also present during the scufflePolice have registered three separate cases in connection with the incident Two cases were registered against the groups involved in the clash while another case was filed against the management of the pub Cara Cara Pub for allegedly operating beyond the permitted hours officials saidThe situation reportedly turned violent when the two groups clashed inside the pub Bouncers intervened after the establishments property was allegedly vandalised during the altercationHowever the situation escalated again after the groups moved towards the parking area A large number of people were seen allegedly engaging in a violent confrontation in the parking lot where parked cars were damaged and people were assaultedA video of the incident has also gone viral on social media purportedly showing a group of people pushing a person to the ground and repeatedly beating him during the altercationPolice said the incident occurred after 1 am on Sunday which was beyond the permissible operating hours of the pub Following the incident police registered a suo motu case against both groups for the offence of affray and other related acts involving fighting and causing disturbanceSeparately on the complaint of Wasim Khan police registered another case alleging that the complainant and his friend were assaulted in the parking area while they were leaving the premises and proceeding towards their residenceAccording to the complaint the accused persons allegedly intercepted the vehicle in which Wasim Khan and his friend were travelling assaulted them and damaged the carFurther investigation is underway to establish the sequence of events and the individual roles of those booked in the three cases IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/two-groups-clash-at-hyderabad-pub-police-file-3-cases-700134.html Mon, 07 Sep 2026 10:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-likely-to-receive-more-rain-today-weather-to-turn-drier-from-tomorrow-700138.html New Delhi Sep 7 Delhi is likely to witness another spell of rainfall on Monday with the India Meteorological Department IMD forecasting showers at several places across the national capital The weather department said a lowpressure area over southwest Uttar Pradesh and adjoining areas continued to influence weather conditions over Delhi and surrounding regions Parts of the national capital received rainfall on Sunday bringing some relief from the prevailing humid conditionsAccording to the IMD forecast Monday is expected to be the wettest day of the week Very light to light rain is likely at many places while isolated areas may receive moderate showers Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are also expected during the morning and forenoon hours Another spell of light rain could occur from the afternoon to eveningThe maximum temperature in Delhi on Monday is likely to remain between 33 degree Celsius and 35 degree Celsius while the minimum temperature may settle between 23 degree Celsius and 25 degree CelsiusFrom September 8 rainfall activity is expected to decrease with the capital likely to experience partly cloudy skies The maximum temperature on Tuesday is forecast to remain between 33 degree Celsius and 35 degree Celsius while the minimum temperature could be between 24 degree Celsius and 26 degree CelsiusOn September 9 and 10 the maximum temperature is expected to remain around 32 degree Celsius to 34 degree Celsius with minimum temperatures likely to stay between 24 degree Celsius and 27 degree Celsius The weather is expected to remain generally cloudy on September 11 and 12 with daytime temperatures ranging between 31 degree Celsius and 33 degree Celsius No rainfall has been forecast for these two daysDelhi recorded significant rainfall during the preceding 24hour period Safdarjung received 298 mm of rain while Palam recorded 356 mm The highest rainfall reported in the bulletin was 50 mm at IGNOU UniversityThe showers had earlier caused waterlogging in several parts of the capital Areas such as Geeta Colony and Akbar Road reported accumulation of rainwater during the morning affecting normal movementThe impact of the rainfall was also felt across the wider National Capital Region Several important stretches in Gurugram experienced waterlogging slowing traffic and causing inconvenience to commutersMeanwhile Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta carried out a surprise inspection of Sadhbhavana Park and adjoining roads on Saturday to take stock of local conditions IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-likely-to-receive-more-rain-today-weather-to-turn-drier-from-tomorrow-700138.html Mon, 07 Sep 2026 10:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/fellow-worker-stabs-19-year-old-man-to-death-at-delhi-factory-700139.html New Delhi September 7 A 19yearold man was stabbed to death by a fellow worker at a factory near Chauhan Bangars Millat Mosque in the Jafrabad police station area of Northeast Delhi triggering panic in the locality The deceased identified as Sahil a resident of Amroha in Uttar Pradesh and son of Faheem worked and lived at a factory owned by Azam Khan son of Ghaus Mohammad in Bangar Gali No 4According to the police at around 1015 pm on Sunday Jafrabad police station received information from JPC Hospital about a man who had been brought there with stab injuries Doctors declared him brought deadDuring the preliminary investigation police found that Sahil was allegedly stabbed by a fellow employee at the factory Police and Crime Branch teams reached the spot and initiated an investigationThe Forensic Science Team also visited the scene and collected evidence as part of the investigation Police said a case has been registered at the Jafrabad police station under Section 1031 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS Police teams have been deployed to identify and apprehend the suspect Further investigation is underwayMeanwhile in another incident in East Delhi a young man was allegedly beaten to death with sticks and rods by unidentified persons in the Mayur Vihar Phase3 area which falls under the jurisdiction of the New Ashok Nagar police stationPolice received information about the incident at around 5 am on Sunday and immediately reached the spot The area was cordoned off and an investigation was launched However several hours after the incident the identity of the deceased remained unknownPolice took the body into custody and preserved it for a postmortem examination Officials are also checking missing persons records at nearby police stations to establish the victims identityAccording to the police the preliminary investigation suggests that the incident may have been linked to personal rivalry robbery or another dispute However the exact motive will be established only after the accused are identified and apprehendedFurther investigation into the case is underway IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/fellow-worker-stabs-19-year-old-man-to-death-at-delhi-factory-700139.html Mon, 07 Sep 2026 10:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ktaka-drought-declaration-row-bjp-accuses-cong-govt-of-arbitrary-action-bias-against-farmers-700144.html Bengaluru Sep 7 Karnataka BJP President and MLA BY Vijayendra on Monday accused the Congressled state government of acting arbitrarily in drought management and alleged that discrimination in declaring droughthit taluks had exposed the governments irresponsible approach towards farmers and people in distress Reacting to a statement issued by Muddebihal Congress MLA CS Appaji Nadagouda alleging discrimination in the declaration of droughthit taluks Vijayendra said the Congress governments approach to drought management and extending assistance to farmers had been laid bareHe asserted that the Congress government had become bankrupt due to corruption and maladministration and had consequently thrown transparency to the winds in various matters while attempting to evade responsibilityThe BJP has already strongly objected to the government declaring only 101 taluks as droughthit when more than 190 taluks are facing droughtlike conditions Vijayendra saidAccording to the BJP state chief Nadagoudas statement provided clear evidence and proof supporting the BJPs allegations Instead of acknowledging the issue and correcting the mistake he alleged Vijayapura district incharge Minister MB Patil had attempted to divert public attention by offering an explanation for Nadagoudas statementVijayendra said the statements by Nadagouda and Patil had brought the internal differences and shortcomings within the Congress government into the public domainWhatever your internal prestige battle or political rivalry may be first focus on responding to the difficulties faced by the people including drought management Vijayendra saidHe warned that if the government failed to address the hardships of farmers and the public the day when people themselves take to the streets against this government is not far awayNotably senior Congress MLA Appaji Nadagouda had alleged that the government has deliberately excluded two taluks in his Assembly constituency from the list of droughtprone areas He further alleged that Minister for Large and Medium Industries M B Patil out of personal enmity ensured the exclusion of regions represented by himMLA Nadagouda has warned of staging a protest if the Chief Minister and the senior Congress leadership fail to rectify the injustice immediatelyResponding to the allegations Minister M B Patil hit back stating that on both occasions when the team studying drought visited Nadagoudas constituency the MLA was away and is now resorting to making false allegations in the name of farmers Minister Patil said that MLA Nadagouda is targeting him without reason and needs treatment for his mental health IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ktaka-drought-declaration-row-bjp-accuses-cong-govt-of-arbitrary-action-bias-against-farmers-700144.html Mon, 07 Sep 2026 10:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-vijay-set-to-answer-oppn-charges-in-tamil-nadu-assembly-today-700146.html Chennai Sep 7 IANS The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly is expected to witness a heated sitting on Monday as Chief Minister Joseph Vijay is scheduled to respond to the Oppositions allegations over the lawandorder situation in the statenbspThe House will reconvene at 930 am after a threeday break on September 4 5 and 6 Speaker JCD Prabhakar has announced that there will be no Question Hour However the government is scheduled to introduce an amendment Bill before taking up other listed businessnbspThe Assembly had earlier witnessed an intense debate on the demands for grants for the Police and Fire and Rescue Services departments both held by the Chief MinisternbspLeader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin and AIADMK legislature party leader Edappadi K Palaniswami strongly criticised the governments handling of law and ordernbspUdhayanidhi alleged that Tamil Nadu had moved into reverse gear during the first 116 days of the new government He claimed that nearly 550 criminal incidents had been reported during this period including about 200 murders more than 300 cases of sexual assault eight policerelated deaths and 10 suspected honour killingsnbspPalaniswami also accused the government of failing to curb murders and robberies He alleged that offences targeting women and children had risen since the new administration assumed officenbspIntervening during the debate CM Vijay said he would provide a detailed reply to every question raised by opposition members The Chief Minister also challenged the DMK legislators to remain in the House and listen to his response instead of staging a walkoutnbspWith CM Vijay now preparing to answer the charges the sitting is likely to produce sharp exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches The Chief Minister is also expected to announce additional measures relating to policing public safety and fire and rescue servicesnbspAfter his reply the Assembly will take up demands for grants concerning the Forest Commercial Taxes Stamps and Registration Environment and Climate Change departments Ministers handling these portfolios will respond to the debate and announce new initiativesnbspThe current Assembly session has continued for 18 days with debates on government spending and departmental performance dominating proceedingsnbspMondays sitting is being closely watched as Vijays response is expected to set the tone for the concluding phase of the sessionIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-vijay-set-to-answer-oppn-charges-in-tamil-nadu-assembly-today-700146.html Mon, 07 Sep 2026 10:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/satya-niketan-building-collapse-cm-rekha-orders-fir-against-owner-strict-action-against-negligent-officials--700147.html New Delhi Sep 7 IANS Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday announced major action following the Satya Niketan building collapse saying an FIR has been registered against the building owner and strict action will be taken against officials found guilty of negligence or oversightnbspThe Chief Minister also directed authorities to immediately seal buildings in Delhi having a fifth floor as part of measures to prevent similar incidentsSpeaking to reporters Gupta said the building was an old structure and its pillars had weakened after the basement became waterlogged eventually leading to the collapseIt was a very old structure The pillars weakened after the basement became waterlogged leading to the collapse of the entire building Action has already been taken in this case and action will also be initiated against the building owner she saidGupta said the building located immediately behind the collapsed structure had been completely evacuated and would be demolished as a precautionary measureNo public activity will be permitted in buildings that are not certified structurally safe We will not allow students to reside in unsafe PG accommodations Gupta saidShe added that students evacuated from the affected area had been provided accommodation and that the government was taking care of their needs and wellbeing The government was also in direct contact with the parents of those affected by the tragedyStrict action will be taken against any officials found guilty of negligence or oversight she saidThe Chief Minister visited the site again on Monday morning to review security arrangements and the ongoing rescue and relief operationsFollowing the incident Gupta directed that an FIR be registered against the building owner and ordered strict action against MCD officials found responsible She also instructed authorities to immediately seal buildings having a fifth floor and conduct intensive inspections of nearby PG accommodations and other buildings She further said that any violations detected during the inspections will invite sealing actionMeanwhile Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said around 80 to 90 per cent of the debris had been cleared manuallySpeaking to reporters Sirsa said Right now it appears that about 80 to 90 per cent of the debris has been cleared manually Because the adjacent building is in a dangerous zone the situation is extremely challenging Therefore the NDRF is carrying out the work very methodically The Honourable Chief Minister has instructed both the Commissioner and the Chief Secretary that all responsible officialsregardless of their rankmust be suspended immediatelyStrict action must be taken The students have been accommodated at different locations from here Going forward all public utilities will also have to provide a structural audit so that no one can arbitrarily gamble with the lives of children he saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/satya-niketan-building-collapse-cm-rekha-orders-fir-against-owner-strict-action-against-negligent-officials--700147.html Mon, 07 Sep 2026 10:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-raids-trinamool-rajya-sabha-members-newspaper-office-other-premises-700148.html Kolkata Sep 7 IANS An Enforcement Directorate ED team on Monday began major search operations at the Kolkata office of the Urdu newspaper AkhbareMashriq which is owned by the Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Nadimul HaquenbspSources aware of the development said that besides the main office of AkhbareMashriq at Park Circus in central Kolkata simultaneous raids and search operations are being conducted at six other locations in Delhi Ranchi and Kolkata that are linked to HaqueThe total of the seven locations where the ED raids are being conducted since Monday morning also included the residence of the Trinamool MP at Darga Road in south Kolkata ED officials have also reportedly reached the residence of Haques soninlawBesides Kolkata AkhbareMashriq has editions from Delhi Ranchi Asansol Siliguri Bhopal Lucknow and SrinagarAlthough ED officials have remained tightlipped over the details behind the raid as per preliminary information available it is in relation to alleged illegal transactions carried out through the bank accounts of the media entityThe financial probe agency has come to investigate allegations of financial transactions in the newspapers bank account for which no correspondence has been found It is learnt that the investigating officials have detected serious irregularities in the accounts of the media entity hinting at money launderingThe ED sources said had decided to interrogate Haque his family members and the other directors of the media entity in this connectionOn early Monday the ED officials accompanied by a contingent of Central Armed Police Forces CAPF personnel arrived at AkhbareMashriqs Park Circus office While the ED officials along with some CAPF personnel entered the office premises the other CAPF personnel surrounded the officeThe offices main entrance was locked to prevent anyone from getting in or coming out of the office The raids and search operation were ongoing and as indicated by sources this operation might be continued for quite some timeHaque had been a Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member since April 2012 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-raids-trinamool-rajya-sabha-members-newspaper-office-other-premises-700148.html Mon, 07 Sep 2026 12:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-allows-urgent-hearing-on-plea-challenging-swatantra-bhardwajs-arrest-700149.html New Delhi Sep 7 IANS The Delhi High Court will hear on Monday a habeas corpus petition filed by selfstyled influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj who is currently in custody in connection with the alleged assault of the father of a minor activist during a protest at Jantar MantarnbspnbspThe matter was mentioned before Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya by Bhardwajs counsel advocate Umesh Sharma who submitted that the accused has been in custody for the past three days and contended that his arrest was illegalThe High Court allowed the request for urgent listing of the habeas corpus plea for MondayAccording to the petition Bhardwajs arrest and subsequent custody are unlawful and he should be released forthwithThe plea comes a day after a Delhi court remanded Bhardwaj to one day of judicial custody following the completion of his oneday police custody in connection with the alleged assaultDuty Judicial Magistrate First Class JMFC Anjali Singh passed the order after Bhardwaj was produced before the court through video conferencingThe Delhi Police had sought 14 days of judicial custody However the court remanded him to judicial custody for one dayBhardwaj was earlier sent to one day of police custody after being produced before the judge concerned at the Karkardooma Court complex on SaturdayHe was detained in Uttar Pradeshs Bulandshahr district on Friday hours after representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party CJP met senior Delhi Police officials and demanded his immediate arrestAccording to the police Bhardwaj is accused of assaulting Sanjay Kumar father of a minor protester during a CJPled demonstration at Jantar Mantar in JulyDelhi Police had earlier said the injuries suffered by Kumar were simple in nature and were caused by a steel braceletHowever the police later added provisions of the SCST Prevention of Atrocities Act and criminal intimidation to the FIR registered in connection with the alleged assaultThe demand for invoking an attempttomurder charge was also raised by the CJP with police stating that the provision would be considered after obtaining an expert medical opinionA fresh FIR was also registered against Bhardwaj under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act on the complaint of the minor activist who alleged online rape threats and harassmentThe case also invokes relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS and the Information Technology ActEarlier Bhardwajs counsel Umesh Sharma had accused the Delhi Police of acting completely outside standard legal procedures in securing his police remandThe established law requires that whenever someone is arrested they must be produced before the jurisdictional area magistrate within 24 hours Yesterday we waited outside the courtroom of the jurisdictional magistrate Upon discovering that the presiding judge was on leave we approached the designated link magistrateHowever the police circumvented this by producing him via video conferencing before an entirely different designated SCST court and secured a oneday police remand Sharma had told reportersThe controversy had erupted after a purported viral video in which Bhardwaj allegedly claimed that he had physically assaulted the father of a minor activist during the Jantar Mantar demonstration and allegedly boasted that he was let off because of his political connectionsAmid the outrage Bhardwaj later told the media that he had allegedly acted in selfdefenceUnion Minister and Lok Janshakti PartyRam Vilas LJPRV chief Chirag Paswan had also said that his name was misused by Bhardwaj in the purported videoPaswan said he had filed an official complaint against Bhardwaj and would ensure justice for the minor victim and her familyThe CJP had staged a protest outside the Parliament Street Police Station demanding action against Bhardwaj and seeking the addition of attempttomurder criminal intimidation and SCST Act provisions to the caseIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-allows-urgent-hearing-on-plea-challenging-swatantra-bhardwajs-arrest-700149.html Mon, 07 Sep 2026 12:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-minister-sudivya-kumar-passes-away-700082.html New Delhi Sep 6 Jharkhand minister Sudivya Kumar died at Mercy Hospital in Giridih after his health suddenly deteriorated late Saturday night plunging the city into grief The minister breathed his last at the hospital located near the cityâs bus stand where he had been brought after complaining of chest pain According to the information available Sudivya Kumar had been away from Giridih for the past several days and had returned to the district just two days ago During the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday he was at his residence in Harsingraiyadih when he complained of chest painFollowing the complaint he was rushed to Mercy Hospital during the night Doctors examined him and immediately began treatment However despite medical efforts he could not be savedSudivya Kumar was serving as Jharkhandâs minister for Higher and Technical Education Urban Development and Housing Tourism Art and Culture and Sports and Youth AffairsThe news of his sudden demise triggered widespread grief across Giridih As the news spread a large number of people gathered at the hospital Party leaders and workers along with members of the general public reached the spot following the news of the ministerâs deathSenior officials also arrived at the hospital The district magistrate superintendent of police and Dhanbad SSP along with several other officials reached the spot as the city mourned the lossThe Jharkhand Mukti Morcha JMM expressed deep shock and sorrow over the untimely demise of its leader in a post on its official X handleâThe transience of lifeâThose who were our companions just yesterday are now only memories with us today The uncertainty of life has once again left us in profound sorrow and griefâThe party described Sudivya Kumar as a âdedicated comradeâ of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and a minister in the Jharkhand governmentâHis departure is an irreplaceable loss for the party the government and Jharkhand His struggles service and contributions will always be rememberedâ the JMM saidThe party also offered heartfelt condolences to his family and prayed for peace for the departed soulBJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo also paid tribute to the late minister and expressed his condolencesSudivya Kumarâs sudden demise has left political circles party workers and residents of Giridih in deep shock and mourning IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-minister-sudivya-kumar-passes-away-700082.html Sun, 06 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/demand-surges-for-tn-assembly-visitor-passes-ahead-of-cm-vijays-reply-in-house-700084.html Chennai Sep 6 Visitor passes for Mondays Tamil Nadu Assembly proceedings are in heavy demand as students and members of the public seek to watch Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay respond to the debate on demands for grants for the Home Department Online reservations for school and college visitors were almost full by Saturday evening reflecting heightened interest in CM Vijays scheduled reply on September 7 Assembly officials said the 11 am to 1130 am viewing slot had been completely booked while only a few seats remained for the 1030 am to 11 am slot as of 730 pm on Saturday Officials attributed the rush primarily to the Chief Ministers presence in the House and the significance of the Home Department debate The department covers crucial areas including policing law and order public safety and internal security making the governments response one of the closely watched moments of the session Students wishing to attend the proceedings must register through the dedicated facility available on the Assemblys official website The arrangement allows educational institutions and individual students to reserve seats in advance subject to availability and entry regulations Visitors can follow the proceedings from two types of seating facilities inside the Assembly hall Eight boxstyle galleries provide five seats each while benches placed on both sides of the hall can collectively accommodate about 100 to 150 people at a time An Assembly official said that public attendance had risen sharply since the TVKled government assumed office The number of visitors increases further whenever Vijay attends the session as many people are keen to see the Chief Minister in person and observe the functioning of the legislature According to the official between 2000 and 3000 people now watch the Assembly proceedings each day The figure includes visitors attending through different viewing slots during the day rather than the number accommodated inside the galleries at any single time The packed reservations also point to growing curiosity among young people about legislative debates and the new governments performance inside the House so far The exceptional demand for Mondays passes underlines the public attention surrounding Vijays administration and its handling of the Home portfolio With the most soughtafter slot already filled and remaining seats disappearing quickly officials expect the galleries to remain crowded when the Chief Minister delivers his reply IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/demand-surges-for-tn-assembly-visitor-passes-ahead-of-cm-vijays-reply-in-house-700084.html Sun, 06 Sep 2026 10:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/man-beaten-to-death-with-sticks-in-delhis-mayur-vihar-phase-3-probe-on-700087.html New Delhi Sep 6 A man was allegedly beaten to death with lathis and sticks in East Delhis Mayur Vihar Phase 3 area early Sunday morning officials said According to the police an investigation has been launched to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal assaultThe incident took place within the jurisdiction of the New Ashok Nagar police station at around 5 am following which a police team reached the spot and began examining the circumstances that led to the mans deathAccording to the initial information available with the police the man succumbed to his injuries at the spot after being beaten However the exact circumstances preceding the assault and the events that resulted in the attack have not yet been ascertainedPolice officials are investigating the sequence of events and attempting to establish what happened immediately before the assault Investigators are also working to determine the circumstances that led to the confrontation and the subsequent deathThe identity of the deceased has not been established so far Police are making efforts to identify the victimAt present police have not disclosed details regarding the possible motive behind the attack or the identities of the people allegedly involved in the assaultSpeaking to IANS a security guard identified as Nandlal Yadav said that he witnessed the incident at around 4 am and claimed that two men were involved in the assaultThere were two men One was involved in beating the deceased with sticks and rods They threatened me when I confronted the attackers I came back and made a call to the police Yadav told reportersFollowing the information received about the incident a police team reached the location and is currently examining the spot as part of the ongoing investigationInvestigators are collecting evidence from the scene examining other available material and speaking to local residents about the incidentFurther details are awaited IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/man-beaten-to-death-with-sticks-in-delhis-mayur-vihar-phase-3-probe-on-700087.html Sun, 06 Sep 2026 10:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/three-coaches-of-mahananda-express-derail-in-bihars-arrah-no-casualties-reported-700094.html Arrah Bihar Sep 6 Three coaches of the Sikkim Mahananda Express derailed on the up line near Bihars Arrah Railway Station on Sunday morning triggering panic among railway officials and staff However no casualties or passenger injuries were reported in the incident officials said The 15483 Alipurduar JunctionDelhi Sikkim Mahananda Express derailed on the up line approximately 200 metres from platform number two The trains engine SLR and H1 bogie were reported to have derailedThe incident caused widespread concern and railway officials and staff immediately rushed to the spot and launched rescue restoration and repair operationsAccording to officials the Mahananda Express had arrived at platform number two of Arrah railway station at 412 am on its way to DelhiIt has been reported that a technical problem during the operation of the train resulted in its signal shifting towards the Sasaram lineThe train subsequently moved ahead and derailed on the up line at a location approximately 200 metres away from the stationAfter receiving information about the derailment railway personnel immediately reached the site and began rescue and restoration workTeams worked to bring the affected coaches back into position and reassembled the three derailed units including the engine SLR and H1 coachRail operations have been disrupted following the incident with railway authorities working to assess the condition of the track and signal system before normal train movement can be restoredA railway technical team has reached the site and is currently inspecting the track signalling arrangements and other relevant railway infrastructureOfficials are also investigating the circumstances that led to the signal shifting towards the Sasaram line and how the train subsequently proceeded in the wrong directionRailway authorities are working on a war footing to restore normal train operations and clear any disruption caused by the incidentOfficials and technical teams are assessing the situation at the site and undertaking the necessary restoration work IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/three-coaches-of-mahananda-express-derail-in-bihars-arrah-no-casualties-reported-700094.html Sun, 06 Sep 2026 12:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rains-forecast-rains-in-12-districts-of-tamil-nadu-today-700095.html Chennai Sep 6 Widespread rain has brought relief from oppressive heat across several parts of Tamil Nadu while the Regional Meteorological Centre forecast moderate showers in 12 districts on Sunday Several districts received rain on Saturday after a spell of hot and largely dry weatherIn Sivaganga blazing sunshine during the day gave way to showers at night leaving water accumulated on some roads Heavy rain was reported in Kalappur Chathurvedimangalam Piranmalai and Surakudi near SingampunariResidents of Sattur and nearby Chinnapalli Mettamalai Chinnakamampatti and Irukkankudi in Virudhunagar district welcomed the rainfall which arrived after several monthsModerate rain was also reported in parts of the Coimbatore metropolitan area producing cooler conditions Perambalur town and several surrounding areas including Arumadal Kavulpalayam Eraiyur Perali and Thuraimangalam experienced showers that brought down temperaturesIn and around Ulundurpet in Kallakurichi district hot winds prevailed during the day before evening rain provided muchneeded respite Tirunelveli witnessed a sudden sunshower while bright sunshine continuedModerate rainfall in Andipatti Chakkampatti and Theppampatti in Theni district cheered farmersStrong winds and heavy rain lashed Thuvarankurichi near Manapparai in Tiruchi district for the second consecutive day Heavy showers also fell over parts of Tiruvarur district including Sannanallur Poonthottam Peralam Thirukkottaram and Andipandal Farmers engaged in paddy cultivation said the rain was beneficial to their fieldsRainfall was recorded in Mayiladuthurai town Kuthalam Mangainallur and Komal Although it eased the heat the showers caused concern among farmers waiting with harvested paddy bags at procurement centresModerate rain also occurred in Thanjavur Poondi Ammapettai Saliyamangalam Surakkottai and KatturAcross the affected districts the change in weather was most noticeable after sunset when clouds gathered following intense daytime heatThe rain offered comfort to residents and helped standing crops in several farming belts However cultivators who had already completed harvesting remained vulnerable because paddy stored in the open could be damagedThe Met Department said moderate rain was likely in the Western Ghats districts of the Nilgiris Coimbatore Tiruppur Dindigul Theni Tirunelveli Tenkasi Virudhunagar and Kanniyakumari Madurai and Sivakasi were also expected to receive showers Chennai and its suburbs may experience moderate rain during the evening or nightHowever interior Tamil Nadu is likely to remain dry for the next four days with maximum temperatures rising up to four degrees Celsius above normal in some places IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rains-forecast-rains-in-12-districts-of-tamil-nadu-today-700095.html Sun, 06 Sep 2026 12:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/up-cm-yogi-visits-flood-affected-chitrakoot-distributes-relief-materials-to-800-families-700108.html Chitrakoot UP Sep 6 IANS Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday visited Chitrakoot district and took stock of the situation in floodaffected areas and reviewed relief and rehabilitation measures undertaken by the administrationHe ordered authorities to provide immediate relief materials as well as a new residence to those affected by the floodAddressing the gathering CM Yogi said I have come today to assure all of you that in this hour of disaster you are not alone Whether it is an ordinary family a trader a math a temple or the ghats whatever loss anyone has suffered the government will make arrangements to provide support and assist everyoneIf a poor persons home is affected by floods or fire if someones home is affected their entire house burns down or gets washed away in the flood if they are eligible under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana give them a home under that or else under the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana immediately provide a new house and land lease documentThe Chief Minister also accused the Samajwadi Party SP of taking away the money meant for floodrelief measuresBefore 2017 whenever floods occurred the then government would not even take notice The Samajwadi Party government would allegedly misappropriate the relief funds leaving the poor vulnerable and deprived without adequate assistance If someone raised a strong objection they were reportedly given only dry bread he claimedContrasting the situation under the current BJPled state government CM Yogi said Now the government has taken a firm stand on flood relief When we came to power in 2017 I visited floodaffected areas to inspect the relief efforts and asked what assistance was being provided to affected families I was told that dry bread was being distributed I asked the administration if they could continue with dry bread I ordered them to provide a flood kit with all the necessary materials to the flood victimsThe Chief Minister distributed relief material among 800 families affected by the recent floods He also provided land allocation certificates to families rendered homeless by the disaster enabling them to secure land for residential useIn addition eligible floodaffected families received financial assistance from the State Disaster Response Fund SDRF to help them recover from flood lossesOn Saturday CM Yogi visited Varanasi and inspected the floodaffected areas of the city He also conducted an aerial survey of the impacted areas in the districtIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/up-cm-yogi-visits-flood-affected-chitrakoot-distributes-relief-materials-to-800-families-700108.html Sun, 06 Sep 2026 16:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/deeply-concerned-rescue-ops-underway-on-war-footing-says-delhi-cm-gupta-on-building-collapse-700111.html New Delhi Sep 6 IANS Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday expressed concern over the building collapse in RK Purams Satya Niketan area saying that every possible effort is being made to safely rescue those trapped and she is closely monitoring the situationIn a tragic incident a building collapsed near the Shiv Mandir in the Satya Niketan area Two people were rescued while several are feared trapped in the debris officials saidTaking to X CM Gupta said Deeply concerned by the building collapse incident at Satya Niketan RK Puram Teams from DDMA NDRF Delhi Fire Services Delhi Police MCD CATS and Civil Defence are carrying out rescue operations on a war footingShe said that the adjacent building has been vacated as a precautionary measureEvery possible effort is being made to safely rescue those trapped and provide immediate assistance to the affected families The situation is being closely monitored and all concerned agencies are working in coordination The safety and wellbeing of every citizen remain our highest priority the Chief Minister addedDelhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also expressed concern over the incident and said efforts are underway to safely rescue those trappedThe heartbreaking incident of the building collapse in Satya Niketan is extremely distressing Relief and rescue operations are ongoing to safely rescue the people trapped in the debris An ardas to Waheguru Ji that He protect all those trapped in the debris and swiftly reunite them safely with their families In this sorrowful and difficult time my deepest condolences are with the affected families Sirsa posted on XDelhi Police said that a rescue operation has been launched at the site The number of people trapped will be confirmed laterAccording to the officials several students were residing in the building which was operating as a Paying Guest accommodationThe search and rescue operations are on and further details are awaited officials saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/deeply-concerned-rescue-ops-underway-on-war-footing-says-delhi-cm-gupta-on-building-collapse-700111.html Sun, 06 Sep 2026 16:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/swatantra-bharadwaj-sent-to-one-day-judicial-custody-for-claiming-to-assault-minor-protestors-father--700113.html New Delhi Sep 6 IANS Selfstyled influencer Swatantra Bharadwaj who claimed to have physically assaulted a student protestors father during the Cockroach Janta Party CJPled Jantar Mantar demonstration was sent to one day judicial custody on Sunday after he was produced before a court via video conferencingnbspA day earlier Delhi Police had secured a oneday police custody of the accusedHowever Bharadwajs counsel Umesh Sharma accused the police of acting completely outside standard legal proceduresThe established law requires that whenever someone is arrested they must be produced before the jurisdictional area magistrate within 24 hours Yesterday we waited outside the courtroom of the jurisdictional magistrate Upon discovering that the presiding judge was on leave we approached the designated link magistrate However the police circumvented this by producing him via video conferencing before an entirely different designated SCST court and secured a oneday police remand he told reporters before the hearingBharadwaj was held by Delhi Police from Uttar Pradeshs Bulandshahr district on FridayEarlier the police had assured that it would arrest the accused under sections of the POCSO Act the SCST Act and attempt to murder within 72 hours following an agitation by the CJP outside the Parliament Street Police Station in New Delhi on FridayThe CJPs agitation was also joined by Azad Samaj Party chief and MP Chandra Shekhar Purnea MP Pappu Yadav and the Indian Youth CongressA controversy erupted after Bharadwaj in a purported viral video allegedly claimed to have cracked the skull of the father of the minor Nishu Azad during the demonstration at Jantar Mantar and boasted that he was let off by the Delhi Police as he has political connectionsThe agitators had sought the registration of an FIR against Bharadwaj under stringent sections and immediate arrest of the accusedMeanwhile Union Minister and LJPRV chief Chirag Paswan on Friday claimed that his name has been misused by the accused in the purported viral videoPaswan said that he has lodged an official complaint against the accused Bharadwaj and will ensure justice to the minor victim and her familyIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/swatantra-bharadwaj-sent-to-one-day-judicial-custody-for-claiming-to-assault-minor-protestors-father--700113.html Sun, 06 Sep 2026 16:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/summit-begins-with-call-to-make-276-lakh-biodiversity-management-committees-700114.html Chandigarh Sep 6 IANS With the call to make more than 276 lakh biodiversity management committees across the country the twoday 16th national meet of the State Biodiversity Boards SBBs and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils UTBCs began here on SundaynbspOrganised by the National Biodiversity Authority NBA the summit brings together chairpersons and member secretaries of SBBs and UTBCs from across the country along with senior officials experts and scientistsnbspThe inaugural session was presided over by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria amid the presence of Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and Haryana Minister for Environment Forest and Wildlife Rao Narbir SinghnbspAddressing the gathering Governor Kataria highlighted Indias rich biological heritage and traditional environmental ethosnbspHe emphasised that ecological security is closely linked with food and water security livelihoods and sustainable development and underlined the importance of combining traditional knowledge and community participation with contemporary approachesnbspThe Governor drew attention to the ecological significance of the wetlands riverine ecosystems and agricultural biodiversitynbspHe stressed the importance of strengthening biodiversity management committees and Peoples Biodiversity Registers and called for stronger coordination among biodiversity institutions and local communitiesnbspIn his address Union Minister Yadav highlighted Indias longstanding environmental ethos and referred to initiatives under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi like Mission LiFE Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Amrit Sarovar and the Green Credit ProgrammenbspIndia takes along its scientific prowess as well as traditional community wisdom together in this conservation journey he saidnbspReferring to the Biological Diversity Act of 2002 the Union Minister said the Biological Diversity Amendment Act 2023 and the Biological Diversity Rules 2024 have further strengthened and streamlined the biodiversity governance frameworknbspHe urged the states and Union Territories to align their rules institutional mechanisms and implementation processes with the amended frameworknbspUnion Minister Yadav appreciated Indias progress in fulfilling its international biodiversity commitments including the submission of the seventh national report to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the first national report on the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing ABSnbspEmphasising implementation at the grassroots Bhupender Yadav called for making the more than 276 lakh biodiversity management committees functional and effectivenbspHe also called for Peoples Biodiversity Registers to evolve into dynamic planning instruments for local bodies enabling information on local biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge to contribute to local planning and sustainable developmentnbspOn access and benefit sharing the Union Minister noted that the National Biodiversity Authority has shared more than Rs 200 crore of ABS funds with farmers local communities biodiversity management committees state biodiversity boards Union Territory biodiversity councils and research institutionsnbspHe emphasised that ABS should deliver tangible benefits to communities while contributing to conservation and sustainable livelihoodsnbspThe event saw the release of knowledge products including the document on last one year achievements of the National Biodiversity Authority giving an overview of the ABS scheme and efficient distribution of these funds among the stakeholdersnbspSpeaking on the occasion Minister Rao Narbir Singh highlighted Haryanas efforts towards conservation and restoration and emphasised the importance of strengthening biodiversity governance at the state and local levelsnbspHe highlighted the role of biodiversity management committees in the state in conserving local biodiversity and called for enhanced training and capacity building of local communitiesIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/summit-begins-with-call-to-make-276-lakh-biodiversity-management-committees-700114.html Sun, 06 Sep 2026 17:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/prez-murmu-to-honour-48-teachers-with-national-teachers-awards-today-700034.html New Delhi Sep 5 President Droupadi Murmu will confer the National Teachers Awards on 48 school teachers at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Saturday as the country marks Teachers Day on September 5 Short documentaries highlighting the exemplary work and achievements of each awardee will also be showcased during the event providing an insight into their contributions to school education and the impact they have made in the lives of their studentsThe Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education organises the nationallevel function every year on Teachers Day to honour some of the best teachers from across the country with the National Teachers Awards The awardees are selected through a rigorous transparent and online selection process designed to recognise teachers who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to their professionThe National Teachers Awards aim to celebrate the unique contribution of some of the finest teachers in the country and acknowledge those educators who through their dedication hard work and commitment have not only helped improve the quality of school education but have also enriched the lives of their studentsFor the National Teachers Awards 2026 eligible teachers were invited to submit online selfnominations through the Ministry of Educations portal The nomination process was open from June 15 to July 20 allowing teachers from across the country to participate in the selection processThis year a total of 48 school teachers have been selected by the Department of School Education and Literacy through a threestage selection process conducted at the District State and National levelsThe 48 selected awardees represent a diverse group of teachers from across the country They have been selected from 27 States seven Union Territories and six organisations of the Central GovernmentAmong the 48 teachers chosen for the National Teachers Awards this year 26 are male and 22 are female reflecting participation from educators working across different regions and administrative areas of the countryThe National Teachers Awards are intended to recognise teachers whose sustained efforts have contributed significantly to creating better learning environments and improving educational outcomes The annual awards also seek to encourage innovation dedication and excellence in teachingThe award ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan will bring together the selected teachers to celebrate their contribution to the education sector The screening of short documentaries on the awardees will further highlight their work achievements and the difference they have made through their teaching practicesIn Himachal Pradesh 26 teachers will be honoured with the State Teacher Award for their significant contributions to student education the enhancement of educational quality and shaping the future of the next generation This group includes 21 school teachers and 5 college teachers Within the Department of School Education 15 teachers have been selected for the General Award in the NonTribalHard Area categoryAdditionally in Uttar Pradesh 81 teachers who have made impactful contributions to the education sector will receive the State Teacher Award and the Chief Ministers Teacher Award from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath The award ceremony will be held at the Yogiraj Baba Gambhirnath Auditorium in Gorakhpur This group consists of 61 teachers from the Basic Education Department and 20 from the Secondary Education Department IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/prez-murmu-to-honour-48-teachers-with-national-teachers-awards-today-700034.html Sat, 05 Sep 2026 10:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-ncr-braces-for-another-spell-of-rain-thunderstorms-temp-likely-to-remain-below-normal-700040.html New Delhi Sep 5 DelhiNCR residents woke up to overcast skies and pleasant weather on Saturday as the national Capital and neighbouring areas prepared for another round of rain and thunderstorms The India Meteorological Department IMD has forecast light to moderate showers across the region with thunderstorm and lightning activity likely during the morning as well as afternoon and evening hoursThe forecast comes a day after Delhi witnessed heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds with gusts reaching nearly 60 kmph in some parts of the city Fridays downpour also resulted in waterlogging at several locations affecting traffic movement and causing inconvenience to commutersThe IMD attributed the continuing wet conditions to a wellmarked lowpressure area positioned over central parts of northern Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas of south Uttar Pradesh The weather system is expected to remain nearly stationary for the next two days allowing moistureladen conditions to persist over Delhi and the surrounding National Capital RegionFor Saturday Delhi is expected to remain generally cloudy with one or two spells of light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning from the early morning to the forenoon Another spell of rain and thunderstorm activity is likely during the afternoon and evening according to the weather departmentThe maximum temperature is likely to remain between 29 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature is expected to range from 24 degrees Celsius to 26 degrees Celsius Both are likely to remain lower than the previous days levels due to the continuing rainfallNoida is also likely to experience cloudy conditions and intermittent rain The districtwise forecast indicates one or two spells of light to moderate showers with thunderstorms during the morning followed by another spell in the afternoon or eveningSimilar conditions have been forecast for Gurugram where cloudy skies and thunderstorms are expected in two spells The first spell is likely from the early morning to the forenoon while another round may occur during the afternoon and eveningGhaziabad is also expected to receive rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning at different times during the day The city recorded a maximum temperature of 349 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 271 degrees Celsius during the previous 24hour periodFaridabad too is likely to remain under the influence of the weather system with rain and thunderstorms expected during the morning and evening The city recorded a maximum temperature of 344 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 283 degrees Celsius along with 45 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hoursAccording to the extended forecast rainfall is expected to gradually decline from September 6 when only very light showers are likely From September 7 to September 10 weather conditions are expected to turn mainly dry with partly cloudy skiesThe wind direction is also forecast to shift from southeasterly to northwesterly indicating the gradual establishment of drier conditions As the rainbearing system moves away temperatures are expected to rise gradually with maximum readings returning to around 33 degrees Celsius35 degrees CelsiusThe IMD has advised commuters to remain cautious warning of possible traffic disruptions water accumulation in lowlying areas and an increased risk of road accidents during periods of heavy rain Residents have been advised to check traffic conditions before travelling and follow official traffic advisories IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-ncr-braces-for-another-spell-of-rain-thunderstorms-temp-likely-to-remain-below-normal-700040.html Sat, 05 Sep 2026 10:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/prez-murmu-to-honour-48-teachers-with-national-teachers-awards-today-recognising-their-contribution-to-education-700043.html New Delhi Sep 5 IANS President Droupadi Murmu will confer the National Teachers Awards on 48 school teachers at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Saturday as the country marks Teachers Day on September 5Short documentaries highlighting the exemplary work and achievements of each awardee will also be showcased during the event providing an insight into their contributions to school education and the impact they have made in the lives of their studentsThe Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education organises the nationallevel function every year on Teachers Day to honour some of the best teachers from across the country with the National Teachers AwardsnbspThe awardees are selected through a rigorous transparent and online selection process designed to recognise teachers who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to their professionThe National Teachers Awards aim to celebrate the unique contribution of some of the finest teachers in the country and acknowledge those educators who through their dedication hard work and commitment have not only helped improve the quality of school education but have also enriched the lives of their studentsFor the National Teachers Awards 2026 eligible teachers were invited to submit online selfnominations through the Ministry of Educations portal The nomination process was open from June 15 to July 20 allowing teachers from across the country to participate in the selection processThis year a total of 48 school teachers have been selected by the Department of School Education and Literacy through a threestage selection process conducted at the District State and National levelsThe 48 selected awardees represent a diverse group of teachers from across the country They have been selected from 27 States seven Union Territories and six organisations of the Central GovernmentAmong the 48 teachers chosen for the National Teachers Awards this year 26 are male and 22 are female reflecting participation from educators working across different regions and administrative areas of the countryThe National Teachers Awards are intended to recognise teachers whose sustained efforts have contributed significantly to creating better learning environments and improving educational outcomes The annual awards also seek to encourage innovation dedication and excellence in teachingThe award ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan will bring together the selected teachers to celebrate their contribution to the education sector The screening of short documentaries on the awardees will further highlight their work achievements and the difference they have made through their teaching practicesIn Himachal Pradesh 26 teachers will be honoured with the State Teacher Award for their significant contributions to student education the enhancement of educational quality and shaping the future of the next generationnbspThis group includes 21 school teachers and 5 college teachers Within the Department of School Education 15 teachers have been selected for the General Award in the NonTribalHard Area categoryAdditionally in Uttar Pradesh 81 teachers who have made impactful contributions to the education sector will receive the State Teacher Award and the Chief Ministers Teacher Award from Chief Minister Yogi AdityanathnbspThe award ceremony will be held at the Yogiraj Baba Gambhirnath Auditorium in Gorakhpur This group consists of 61 teachers from the Basic Education Department and 20 from the Secondary Education DepartmentIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/prez-murmu-to-honour-48-teachers-with-national-teachers-awards-today-recognising-their-contribution-to-education-700043.html Sat, 05 Sep 2026 10:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/dengue-swine-flu-cases-surge-in-tamil-nadu-doctors-urge-vigilance-ahead-of-monsoon-700046.html Chennai Sep 5 Tamil Nadu is witnessing a sharp increase in dengue and swine flu cases compared with last year prompting doctors to urge greater vigilance and stronger preventive measures as the monsoon season approaches Public Health Department data show that 13573 dengue cases were reported across the State between January 1 and August 30 this year with nine deathsWhile the fatality rate remains relatively low health experts are concerned about the noticeable rise in infections during July and AugustMonthly figures show 1722 dengue cases in January 1322 in February 1228 in March 1201 in April and 1062 in MayCases began climbing again in June when 1384 infections were recorded followed by 2339 in July and 3315 in AugustThe increase is particularly significant compared with last year Dengue cases rose from 1880 in July last year to 2339 this July while August infections jumped from 1832 to 3315Chennai has reported the highest number of cases accounting for 2584 of the Stateâs 13573 infections between January and August Coimbatore follows with 1999 casesThe rise has raised concerns because the monsoon period is still aheadTamil Nadu recorded 25533 dengue cases last year when the annual caseload declined considerably from the higher levels seen between 2022 and 2024Swine flu infections have also increased Tamil Nadu has recorded more than 1500 cases this year and ranks second among States in the country in terms of infectionsHealth data also indicate a substantial rise compared with recent years particularly during June July and AugustThe increase in August has been especially striking with swine flu cases climbing from just 46 during the corresponding month last year to 645 this yearGovernment doctors said Chennaiâs high population density and inadequate adherence to publichealth precautions were contributing to the spread of infectionsPeople suffering from swine flu should isolate themselves for at least five days they said Doctors also advised people with fever or respiratory symptoms to avoid crowded public places wear masks where appropriate and seek timely medical attentionFor dengue prevention authorities have stressed eliminating stagnant water and mosquitobreeding sites around homes and workplacesDoctors said environmental cleanliness mosquito control public awareness and early treatment would be crucial in preventing a further surge during the coming rainy months IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/dengue-swine-flu-cases-surge-in-tamil-nadu-doctors-urge-vigilance-ahead-of-monsoon-700046.html Sat, 05 Sep 2026 10:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-shah-to-begin-3-day-goa-visit-today-to-focus-on-mha-review-anti-narcotics-drive--700050.html Panaji Sep 5 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah will undertake a threeday visit to Goa from Saturday during which he is scheduled to chair a Ministry of Home Affairs MHA meeting participate in the Western Zonal Council meeting and address a press conference focussed on narcotics controlAccording to the schedule Shah will arrive in Goa on Saturday and will remain in the state until September 7His visit will include a series of official engagements dealing with internal security antinarcotics measures Centrestate coordination and regional administrative issues along with programmes related to the Bharatiya Janata PartyOn September 6 Shah will chair a meeting in the morning to review various issues concerning Goa across different divisions of the Ministry of Home AffairsThe meeting is expected to cover a range of statespecific matters as well as issues falling within the jurisdiction of the Union Home MinistryLater in the afternoon Shah will address a press conference on narcotics The interaction will focus on measures being taken to tackle drug trafficking strengthen the countrys antinarcotics framework and intensify efforts to combat the illegal movement of drugsDuring his stay in Goa the Union Home Minister will also inaugurate the Bharatiya Janata Partys newly constructed state office building Atal Bhavan Following the inauguration he is scheduled to chair a meeting of the sparty State Core Committee where organisational and political matters are expected to be discussedOn September 7 Shah will participate in the meeting of the Western Zonal Council an important platform for coordination and discussion among states and Union Territories in the western regionThe Western Zonal Council meeting will bring together representatives from Goa Gujarat Maharashtra and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu The council provides a forum for the participating states and Union Territory to deliberate on matters concerning regional development administrative coordination and issues requiring interstate cooperationThe meeting is also expected to facilitate discussions on matters of common interest among the participating states and the Union Territory with an emphasis on improving coordination and addressing regional concerns through cooperative mechanismsFollowing the Western Zonal Council meeting Shah will attend the Goa Police Presidents Colours Award Ceremony at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in TaleigaoThe Presidents Colours are considered among the highest honours conferred on uniformed services in recognition of distinguished service professional excellence and significant contributions to national security and public serviceIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-shah-to-begin-3-day-goa-visit-today-to-focus-on-mha-review-anti-narcotics-drive--700050.html Sat, 05 Sep 2026 10:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-interacts-with-national-teachers-award-winners-discusses-innovative-teaching-student-confidence-700052.html New Delhi Sep 5 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday interacted with the winners of the National Teachers Awards discussing innovative teaching practices the use of technology in classrooms and ways to build confidence among studentsPM Modi met the awardwinning teachers at his official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg where he spoke with them about adapting teaching methods to changing times and making greater use of evolving technologies to meet the needs and expectations of the new generationDuring the interaction the Prime Minister asked a teacher about the methods she uses to prepare students for public speaking and help them overcome hesitation while expressing themselvesThe teacher responded that confidence is essential while speaking in public while also admitting that she felt nervous in the presence of the Prime Minister because of his auraSeeing your aura my aura is going down sir the teacher replied drawing a lighthearted response during the interactionOne should not have an aura for public speaking PM Modi jokingly asked You already have a good aura sir the teacher repliedAnother teacher spoke about her efforts to create awareness about breast cancer among people Referring to the issue PM Modi recalled initiatives undertaken when he served as the Member of Parliament from Varanasi saying that these efforts had focussed on increasing awareness about breast cancer and encouraging people to undergo regular health checkupsThe Prime Minister noted that awareness efforts can bring about meaningful changes in society when people become conscious of the importance of preventive healthcare and take the initiative to get themselves examined regularlyDuring the meeting the National Teachers Award winners shared their experiences from their teaching careers and spoke about the different approaches they have adopted to make classroom learning more engaging and interesting for studentsThe teachers also discussed innovative techniques they used to make lessons easier to understand and encourage greater participation among studentsThey shared examples of activities and initiatives undertaken beyond their regular teaching responsibilities including various forms of social work carried out for the benefit of their communitiesInteracting with the awardees PM Modi appreciated their dedication to the profession of teaching and praised the remarkable enthusiasm and commitment they have demonstrated over the yearsThe Prime Minister also acknowledged that their sustained efforts and contribution to education had been recognised through the National Teachers Awards which celebrate teachers who have made a significant difference to the learning experiences and lives of their studentsMeanwhile President Droupadi Murmu will confer the National Teachers Awards on 48 school teachers at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Saturday as the country marks Teachers Day on September 5The National Teachers Awards aim to celebrate the unique contribution of some of the finest teachers in the country and acknowledge those educators who through their dedication hard work and commitment have not only helped improve the quality of school education but have also enriched the lives of their studentsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-interacts-with-national-teachers-award-winners-discusses-innovative-teaching-student-confidence-700052.html Sat, 05 Sep 2026 11:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/nia-chargesheets-13-accused-in-ghaziabad-espionage-case-700053.html Lucknow Sep 5 IANS The NIA filed a charge sheet against 13 accused in the Special Court Lucknow Uttar Pradesh in connection with the Ghaziabad Espionage case that involved passing on sensitive information about prohibited areas to sources in an enemy country an official said on SaturdaynbspIt has been established that the accused illegally trespassed into approached and accessed prohibitedsensitive areas of vital importance installed spy cameras and transmitted sensitive information including photographs and videos with geotagging to entities based in an enemy country the NIA said in the charge sheetA Detailed Investigation Report DIR against 5 juveniles in conflict with the law has already been submitted before the Juvenile Justice Board JJB Ghaziabad on May 18 in connection with the espionage matter the official said in a statementThose named in the latest charge sheet are Praveen Raj Valmiki Shiva Valmiki Ritik Gangwar Sameer Shooter Durgesh Nishad Naushad Gagan Kumar Vivek Shivraj Meera Thakur and Shane Iram Mahak in NIA case No RC012026NIALKW Ghaziabad Espionage Case before the Special Court NIA Lucknow Uttar Pradesh under sections 612 and 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act and sections 13 17 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention ActThe case was initially registered as FIR No 762026 dated March 14 at Kaushambi Police Station Commissionerate Ghaziabad under sections 612 and 152 of the BNS and sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets ActDuring the investigation police added section 18 of the UA P Act So far 21 accused persons have been arrested in the case the statement saidThe investigation has established that the accused persons entered into a criminal conspiracy to commit illegal acts and serious offences prejudicial to the sovereignty unity and integrity of India the NIA saidThe accused also facilitated such enemystatelinked entities in procuring and using Indian SIM cards for unlawful activities and actively assisted them in obtaining photographs and videos of sensitive installations along with their precise GPS coordinates which has the potential to endanger the sovereignty unity integrity and security of the nation said the NIAIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/nia-chargesheets-13-accused-in-ghaziabad-espionage-case-700053.html Sat, 05 Sep 2026 15:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/decolonisation-must-mean-wider-archives-more-languages-harder-questions-fm-sitharaman-700056.html New Delhi Sep 5 IANS India is now selfassured and no longer waits for anyone elses permission to study and understand its own heritage Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday calling for a broader and more rigorous approach to the countrys intellectual historynbspAddressing the FIHCR Annual History Prize Awards Ceremony ampamp the Dr SL Bhyrappa Memorial Lecture here FM Sitharaman said India was revisiting its inscriptions studying its maritime trade history and returning to its contributions to mathematics while presenting these stories with both real pleasure and real precisionThe finance minister said this process should form the essence of decolonisation which cannot merely mean replacing one prescribed textbook with anotherIt has to mean a wider archive more languages harder questions and a much larger circle of scholars who actually get heard FM Sitharaman saidReflecting on the contribution of Kannada writer and thinker Dr SL Bhyrappa FM Sitharaman said he never sought to mobilise an army of followers but instead focused on refining the way human beings perceive truthReferring to Bhyrappas philosophical idea of Satya mattu Soundarya meaning truth and beauty she said the pursuit of intellectual inquiry was particularly important for a civilisation as old as IndiaFM Sitharaman described this process as an act of intellectual swaraj She said political freedom had given Indians the right to govern themselves while intellectual freedom must give them the right to know themselvesIt is meaningful that India came to celebrate Dr SL Bhyrappa His doctoral thesis bore a title that defined his entire destiny Satya mattu Soundarya Truth and Beauty the finance minister statedLet the churning continue and let evidence rigour and conscience have the final word FM Sitharaman said adding that India should collectively move towards a golden era of intellectual swarajIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/decolonisation-must-mean-wider-archives-more-languages-harder-questions-fm-sitharaman-700056.html Sat, 05 Sep 2026 16:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/manish-tewari-urges-governments-to-be-more-tolerant-journalists-to-be-responsible-700059.html Chandigarh Sep 5 IANS After two journalists were allegedly assaulted by the Delhi Police for raising questions during a recent event attended by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta Congress MP Manish Tewari on Saturday urged governments to be more tolerant while asking journalists to show increased responsibilitynbspSpeaking to IANS in Chandigarh Tewari said It is deeply unfortunate that governments are becoming increasingly intolerant In Delhi a journalist was treated brutally for asking questions while in Sangrur a retired officer was picked up from a park for a social media post These are not good signs for democracyTherefore on one hand governments need to be more tolerant while on the other journalists need to show more responsibility This is because until this coordination comes into the place the democracy wont be strengthened the Congress leader said while emphasising that criticism is an important part of democracyWhile stressing that any kind of criticism should be based on facts Manish Tewari also expressed caution over the use of filthy language on social media platformsToday the kind of abusive language people use on social media it needs to be seriously discussed It is not good for a democracy he saidMeanwhile the Congress MP also spoke about the poor condition of infrastructure during the Monsoon seasonIt is unfortunate that in Chandigarh the roads get washed away whenever it rains We call it a beautiful city but just look at the condition of Chandigarhs roads after a single spell of rain The administration needs to take a serious view of this and about the kind of work undertaken by the contractors he saidNoting that similar cases of waterlogging have been reported from several airports across the country Tewari asked What kind of infrastructure are we building in the country that even portions of expressways sink during rainfall In such a situation how is the country expected to developIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/manish-tewari-urges-governments-to-be-more-tolerant-journalists-to-be-responsible-700059.html Sat, 05 Sep 2026 17:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-hails-role-of-teachers-in-shaping-students-building-social-progress-700060.html Chennai Sep 5 IANS Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Saturday paid rich tributes to teachers for their contribution to shaping generations of students and building a progressive society saying their role extended far beyond classroom educationnbspIn a message marking Teachers Day CM Vijay said teachers played a crucial role in nurturing young minds instilling values and preparing students to become responsible citizens capable of contributing to the countrys developmentTeachers Day is observed in India to commemorate the birth anniversary of former President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan an eminent philosopher scholar and educationistExtending his greetings on the occasion the Chief Minister recalled Radhakrishnans contribution to education and wished teachers across the StateCM Vijay said teachers worked selflessly to secure a prosperous future for students and deserved recognition for the enormous responsibility they carried in moulding the younger generationHighlighting the wider role of educators CM Vijay said teaching was not merely about imparting academic knowledge but teachers enlightened young minds and helped cultivate discipline humanity fraternity and a sense of social responsibility among studentsThey also encouraged children to pursue their dreams identified and nurtured their talents and provided the guidance necessary for them to build successful lives he saidAccording to CM Vijay the influence of teachers ultimately went beyond the individual development of students and contributed to the progress of society and the nation as a wholeTheir efforts in preparing responsible skilled and socially conscious citizens were integral to building an inclusive and progressive societyThe Chief Minister called upon people to appreciate the invaluable work being carried out by teachers who remained committed to educating and guiding students despite the challenges associated with the professionHe said the dedication and guidance provided by teachers could determine the direction of a students future and enable young people to realise their potentialCM Vijay expressed the hope that the selfless commitment of teachers and their continued guidance would make the future of students brighter and help them emerge as responsible members of societyHe also conveyed his heartfelt Teachers Day greetings to educators who continued to dedicate themselves to the education character formation and overall development of students across Tamil NaduIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-hails-role-of-teachers-in-shaping-students-building-social-progress-700060.html Sat, 05 Sep 2026 17:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/harsimrat-badal-courts-arrest-outside-cms-house-700061.html Thousands of women of the Istri Akali Dal led by Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal today marched to the residence of chief minister Bhagwant Mann to demand his immediate resignation as well as registration of a criminal case against his wifeThe police put up heavily fortified barricades to stop the Istri Akali Dal members led by the Bathinda MP MLA Ganieve Kaur and the women wing president Biba Hargobind Kaur from marching towards the chief ministers residence following which they staged a sitin on the road and courted arrest The women continued to hold a spirited protest even after the senior leaders were detained and raised slogans Guru Dokhi Bhagwant Mann Murdabad and Jija Saali di Jodi 5 karoriAddressing the women Mrs Harsimrat Badal said the chief ministers office had become a den of corruption where crores were being sought by the latters wife to let off a predator against whom two women had filed rape and kidnapping chargesnbsp She said recent audio and visual evidence had revealed how Gurpreet Kaur Manns brotherinlaw had sealed a deal with a colleague of the accused rapist and media influencer Guri Chahal for Rs five crore Everyone has seen how Gurpreet Manns relative Amardeep Grewal negotiated with the predators colleague while sitting in a restaurant with the CMs wife and even shared a picture of the latter to establish his credentialsAsserting that the Aam Aadmi Party government did not believe in the satkar of the maawandheeyan of Punjab but instead had become a party to protecting a balatkaari Mrs Badal said the culprit was also promised transfer from the Amritsar jail to Patiala jail and even assured he would be referred to a hospital where he would be supplied drugs freely We have also seen how following the sealing of the deal with the chief ministers wife the accused was let off within two months and was also allowed to flee to the United StatesBrandishing a packet of celphos tablets the Bathinda MP asked Mann to clarify his stand that he would rather consume the poison than let even Rs one rupee in corruption touch him or his family membersAsserting that the SAD would launch a mass movement across the State until Gurpreet Kaur Mann was not arrested she also demanded the arrest of all other accused in the case besides the dismissal of the police officers who had filed cancellations reports to favour the rape accused and facilitate his release from jailMrs Badal also called for extending protection to the rape victims who had registered complaints against the media influencer besides demanding a CBI probe into the entire incidentDailyWorld https://dailyworld.in/national/harsimrat-badal-courts-arrest-outside-cms-house-700061.html Sat, 05 Sep 2026 17:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-hails-isros-gslv-f17-launch-carrying-eos-05-as-proud-moment-for-india-700021.html New Delhi Sep 4 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO on the successful launch of the GSLVF17 rocket carrying the EOS05 Earth observation satellite describing the achievement as a matter of national pridePM Modi took to his social media X and said Yet another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a proud moment for our nation The successful launch of GSLVF17 carrying EOS05 Indias firstever imaging satellite from Geosynchronous orbit is a reflection of the excellence innovation and growing capabilities that define Indias space sectorThe growing partnership between ISRO and Indian industry is adding new strength and scale to our space programme and expanding Indias capabilities across the entire space ecosystem he saidThe GSLVF17 rocket lifted off successfully from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota Andhra Pradesh at 255 am IST on Friday in a predawn launch The EOS05 satellite was subsequently placed into its designated subgeosynchronous transfer orbitISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan expressed satisfaction over the missions outcome saying the GSLVF17 had precisely injected the advanced Earth observation satellite into its intended orbitMission Director Thomas Kurian described the achievement as a significant milestone for the GSLV programme He said the mission marked the 19th flight of the GSLV and carried a specially configured Earth observation satellite capable of providing nearrealtime imagingKurian also pointed out that EOS05 is the heaviest satellite that the GSLV has placed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit or subGTO orbit He credited the successful launch to years of extensive preparation and dedicated efforts by scientists engineers and other teams involved in the missionThe EOS05 mission is designed to strengthen Indias Earth observation capabilities The satellite is expected to provide a continuous view of the country from an altitude of nearly 36000 km above the Earth supporting advanced imaging and observation applicationsThe GSLVF17 launch vehicle is 517 metres tall and has a liftoff mass of approximately 4205 tonnes making it one of Indias major operational launch systemsScience and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh also welcomed the successful mission stating that Indias space programme continues to achieve new milestones and reinforce the countrys standing as a major global space powerEOS05 is a stateoftheart Earth Observation satellite and Indias first imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit enabling advanced imaging across visible infrared multispectral and hyperspectral bands Jitendra Singh wrote on XIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-hails-isros-gslv-f17-launch-carrying-eos-05-as-proud-moment-for-india-700021.html Fri, 04 Sep 2026 10:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/shameful-day-for-country-cjp-seeks-fir-against-man-who-admits-to-grievously-injuring-protestors-dad-in-viral-video-700030.html New Delhi Sep 4 IANS The Cockroach Janta Party CJP on Friday marched towards the Parliament Street Police Station in New Delhi seeking the registration of an FIR under stringent sections and arrest of a man who in a viral video claimed to have assaulted the father of a student protester during the demonstration at Jantar Mantar The man boasts in the video that he was let off by the Delhi Police as he has political connectionsnbspAccusing the police of allegedly shielding criminals the CJP called it a shameful day for the country and democracySpeaking to reporters on way to the police station CJP coconvener Saurav Das said Nishu who is a minor had participated in our protest at Jantar Mantar from the beginning itself Her father Sanjay ji also used to accompany her During our peaceful sitin protest some members of a criminal gang entered and undertook violence They broke Sanjay jis head using a metal braceletHe said that when an initial FIR was registered against the accused the outfit urged the police to invoke charges like attempt to murder and Sections of SCST Act because they belong to a Dalit family and there is a caste angle to thisBut the police didnt do anything like that When we pressurised the police they told us to get an order from the court Since then there hasnt been much progress in this case Now a podcast interview video has gone viral where this goon openly claimed that he committed an attempt to murder yet no charges were invoked against him that he wasnt kept in the police station and he was freely roaming around In that same interview he targeted Nishu and threatened her saying We will see her too Saurav Das claimedHe further said So today we are going to the Parliament Street police station where we will speak to senior police officials and ask them why criminals like him are wandering out in the open in DelhiPolice have themselves said that 2800 hardened criminals were present during the protest Then why no action was taken against themHe said that Nishu and her father will accompany them to the police station where they will demand the identification and arrest of such goons under stringent Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023All the proof is available reels where Nishu is being mocked her father is being threatened have all been providedbut police are sheltering the accused which is not acceptable to us he statedHe added Today we have just come to speak to the police we will see what to do nextCJP coconvener Ashutosh Ranka said Now the condition in the countrys capital has become such that goons are openly admitting that they broke open Sanjay jis head It was a complete attempt to kill him He himself is admitting that an attempt to murder case should be made against him but the Delhi Police under the protection of a politician did not take any action against that personThe accused allegedly claimed in the viral video that he escaped jail after a call from a politicianToday is a shameful day for the country and democracy where goons are openly claiming that they have attempted to kill someone and still no action is being taken against them because they are politically connected Ranka told reportersThe CJP leader echoed that the goons who have self identified themselves should be immediately arrestedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/shameful-day-for-country-cjp-seeks-fir-against-man-who-admits-to-grievously-injuring-protestors-dad-in-viral-video-700030.html Fri, 04 Sep 2026 12:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/air-india-a320-lost-all-3-hydraulic-systems-at-36-000-feet-aaib-recommends-action-against-pilot-failing-dope-test--700031.html nbspNew Delhi Sep 4 PTI An Air India Airbus A320 carrying 145 people suffered nearsimultaneous loss of all three hydraulic systems while cruising at 36000 feet on a PhuketDelhi flight on August 4 triggering an autopilot disconnect a brief stall warning and an altitude upset that injured 24 people AAIB said in a preliminary investigation that sought action against pilotincommand for testing positive for banned drugs upon landingnbspThe report did not establish that the pilotincommands drug abuse contributed to the hydraulic failure or the altitude upset AAIB said its investigation into the technical and other aspects of the accident remains underwaynbspWith no adverse weather reported at the time investigators are examining the aircrafts hydraulicsystem failure and other factors The 10page report of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau AAIB said the aircraft suffered the nearsimultaneous loss of its green blue and yellow hydraulic systems The hydraulic systems recovered within seconds and the flight continued to Delhi where it landed safely But the incident caused extensive damage inside the cabin including cracked ceiling panels dislodged overhead bins broken handrails and damage to a crew seat and emergencyexit handlenbspThe report disclosed that the pilotincommand tested nonnegative for a psychoactive substance in a confirmatory test conducted after the flightThe copilot tested negative AAIB recommended that the aviation regulator take appropriate action to prevent the abuse of psychoactive substancesnbspThe confirmation of use of psychoactive substance is a serious concern and AAIB recommends appropriate actions by DGCA on priority nbspFlight AI 2379 operated by an Airbus A320251N registered VTEXO departed Phuket International Airport at 0141 UTC 0711 IST on August 4 with 137 passengers including three infants six cabin crew and two pilots At 0340 UTC 0910 IST the aircraft entered the Kolkata Flight Information Region and was instructed by air traffic control to climb from 34000 feet to 36000 feetAt 040243 UTC while cruising at 36000 feet the aircraft detected a loss of pressure in its green hydraulic system Four seconds later the flightcontrol system detected the loss of the blue and yellow systems as wellnbspThe autopilot disconnected almost immediately and a continuous repetitive chime sounded Three seconds later the aircraft generated a stall warning lasting about two secondsThe copilot who was flying the aircraft initially responded to the event before the pilotincommand took over the controls During the episode the aircraft gained about 372 feet and subsequently lost about 292 feet from its assigned altitude The blue hydraulic system recovered at about 040252 UTC followed several seconds later by recovery of the yellow and green systems Flightcontrol surfaces subsequently returned to normal operationAAIB said the aircraft had been flying at 36000 feet with the seatbelt signs switched off when the event occurred leaving passengers and cabin crew vulnerable to the sudden aircraft movementThe cabin supervisor informed the cockpit crew that passengers and crew members had been injured The pilots assessed the situation and decided to continue to Delhi rather than divert to the nearest airportnbspThe crew later requested medical priority from Delhi air traffic control which provided the necessary assistancenbspThe aircraft landed safely on runway 11L at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport at 0530 UTC 1100 IST and taxied under its own power to its parking bay arriving at 0537 UTC Airport medical teams treated 24 people 20 passengers and four cabin crew Twenty were discharged after treatment for minor injuries while four people with serious injuries were admitted to hospitalsnbspThe aircraft itself suffered damage largely confined to the cabinnbspAmong the damage documented by investigators were cracked or deformed ceiling panels across several rows dislodged passengerserviceunit panels broken handrails detached overheadbin doors a broken emergencyexit handle and a lavatory commode uprooted from its original positionThe investigation is also examining the aircrafts maintenance historyBefore departing Phuket maintenance personnel conducted a preflight inspection and recorded no new discrepancies apart from an existing Minimum Equipment List MEL itemThe aircraft had been dispatched under MEL item 292301A relating to the Power Transfer Unit PTU which had been invoked on July 28 a week before the accident The A320 has three independent hydraulic systems green blue and yellow which normally provide hydraulic power to major flightcontrol and other aircraft systems The PTU is an auxiliary source for the green and yellow systems and is designed to operate automatically when there is a 500psi pressure differential between those systemsnbspAAIB said relevant hydraulic components were removed from the aircraft for further analysisThe aircrafts postflight report recorded warnings including low pressure in the green hydraulic system followed by the blue and yellow systems autopilot disconnection and flightcontrol elevator faults Both the cockpit voice recorder and flightdata recorder were recovered and downloaded for further analysisThe preliminary report separately highlights the results of postflight medical testingBoth pilots underwent breathanalyser examinations after arriving in Delhi with satisfactory results They were also tested for psychoactive substancesnbspThe copilots sample was negative The pilotincommands initial sample was nonnegative and a blood sample was subsequently sent to a pathological laboratory for confirmation That confirmatory result was also reported as nonnegativenbspAAIB has not stated in the preliminary report what substance was detected or whether it had any operational effect on the flight The pilot 34 held a valid Airline Transport Pilot Licence and had logged about 5055 hours of flying all on the A320 according to the report The 32yearold copilot held a Commercial Pilot Licence and had about 1394 hours of total and A320 flying experiencenbspBoth pilots had rested for nearly 22 hours before the flightAAIBs interim safety recommendation specifically calls on Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCA to take measures to prevent abuse of psychoactive substances nbspInvestigators said no adverse weather was reported by either the flight crew or air traffic control at the time of the eventnbspWeather forecasts for the Bhubaneswar area relevant to the aircrafts position during the altitude upset did contain provisions for temporary thunderstorms and rain later in the forecast period But AAIB said there was no adverse weather report from the crew or ATCThe investigation is therefore examining both the aircrafts technical systems and other operational factors rather than attributing the event to turbulenceThe AAIB has recovered crucial evidence interviewed the flight and cabin crews and obtained maintenance operational fuel and oil records as well as relevant airtrafficcontrol data Frances Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety BEA representing the state of design and manufacture under international accidentinvestigation rules appointed an accredited representative to assist the investigationA team of technical experts assigned by BEA from Airbus inspected the aircraft in India from August 13 to 15 Investigators subsequently collected hydraulic components and fluid samples for testingnbspAAIB said the evidence and records obtained from the operator airport authorities air traffic control and other stakeholders are still being scrutinisednbspThe bureau stressed that its investigation is intended to determine the probable causes and contributing factors and not to apportion blame or liability nbspThe report is preliminary and subject to change A final report will be issued after the investigation is completednbspIn a statement Air India said it continues to extend full cooperation to the investigation including providing access to all relevant operational maintenance and technical recordsnbspOur pilots undergo rigorous training regular proficiency checks medical examinations and other regulatory assessments in accordance with applicable national and international requirements it saidnbspFollowing the incident Air India has started voluntary drug testing of 100 per cent of its pilots PTI RAM ANZnbsp VHI VHIAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/air-india-a320-lost-all-3-hydraulic-systems-at-36-000-feet-aaib-recommends-action-against-pilot-failing-dope-test--700031.html Fri, 04 Sep 2026 13:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/digital-arrest-crackdown-cbi-raids-89-locations-across-20-states-under-operation-chakra-iv-3-held-700032.html New Delhi Sep 4 IANS The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI has launched a nationwide crackdown on organised syndicates involved in digital arrest crimes conducting coordinated searches at 89 locations across 20 states under Operation ChakraVI the national probe agency said on FridaynbspDuring the operation the CBI arrested three persons in Haryana and Kolkata for their alleged roles in receiving layering and dispersing the fraud proceeds it saidThe CBI has taken over several digital arrestrelated cases registered in different states In three such cases investigators carried out extensive searches based on detailed financial and technical analysisThe probe involved scrutiny of bank accounts online account access data and other digital trails to identify the movement of fraud proceeds and trace the handlers and beneficiaries of the syndicatesOne of the cases relates to BITS Pilani where the victim was allegedly kept under digital arrest for three months and defrauded of Rs 767 crore by scammers posing as police officers In another case in Gujarat a victim was digitally detained for three months by individuals impersonating police officers and allegedly defrauded of Rs 1924 crore The third case registered in Karnataka involves a victim who was kept under digital arrest for a month and allegedly cheated of Rs 1545 crore the CBI saidThe searches resulted in the seizure of banking documents accountrelated records digital devices and other material considered crucial to the investigationThe seized evidence is being subjected to forensic examination to establish the broader financial and technological infrastructure used by the syndicates to operate across state boundaries said the agencyThe CBI also arrested three accused during the operation Their examination allegedly revealed their roles in receiving layering and dispersing the proceeds of the fraudAccording to the agency Akash a resident of Haryana received Rs 195 crore of the defrauded money in his bank accountInvestigators found that he had opened the account himself and transferred the funds to other accounts on the same day indicating his alleged direct involvement in laundering the proceedsRaja Karmakar of Kolkata allegedly received Rs 15 crore of the fraud proceeds in his firms account Jyoti Rani whose account received part of the defrauded amount allegedly withdrew some of the money in cash and transferred the remainder to other accounts to conceal its trail the agency saidThe action comes amid growing concern over the spread of digital arrest fraud in which cyber criminals impersonate police officers government officials and other lawenforcement personnel to intimidate victims and force them into transferring large sums of moneyThe Supreme Court has also directed the CBI to take concerted action against perpetrators and the wider networks facilitating such crimesThe CBI said efforts are continuing to identify and apprehend other members of the wider network Further investigation is underway with the agency maintaining that it will pursue those involved in digital arrest crimes and organised cybercrime in accordance with the Supreme Courts directionsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/digital-arrest-crackdown-cbi-raids-89-locations-across-20-states-under-operation-chakra-iv-3-held-700032.html Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/direct-uttarakhand-cm-to-ensure-fir-against-those-involved-in-purification-incident-kharge-to-nadda--699936.html New Delhi Sep 3 PTI Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Rajya Sabha Leader of House J P Nadda over the purification that took place after his rally in Haldwani last month asking him to direct Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to ensure that an FIR is filed against those involved in the incident Kharge reminded Nadda of his assurance when he had raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha that after an investigation strict action will be taken against whoever is found guiltyYou may recall that on August 13 2026 in the Rajya Sabha with great sadness and anguish I raised the issue of purification related to untouchability after my public meeting in Haldwani on August 8 2026 Kharge said in his letter in HindiIn response to my intervention you stood up in the House and said Sir what Honourable Khargeji has said is truly a very sad subject It is not only sad for the Congress Party but it is sad for all of us Whatever has happened will definitely be investigated I want to say that the Bharatiya Janata Party never supports such an activity I condemn it and the National President will also look into it thoroughly The hurt caused to your sentiments is a matter of regret for all of us Kharge saidThe Congress president said that Nadda had stated that after the investigation strict action will be taken against whoever is found guilty The Honourable Chairman of the Rajya Sabha C P Radhakrishnan also expressed grief over this incident he saidKharge said he is surprised that even after 24 days of this incident not even a First Information Report FIR has been filed against the organisations and individuals involved in this heinous act in HaldwaniThe most objectionable aspect of this incident was that at the Ramlila Maidan site where I addressed the rally purification was carried out contrary to the spirit of the Indian Constitution and human values It is generally understood that this purification process is directly linked to untouchability Kharge said in his letter to Nadda dated September 2Citing examples of untouchability being practised Kharge recalled that Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar took water from a pond during the Mahad movement and even back then individuals driven by casteist arrogance performed a purification ritual nbsp accompanied by the chanting of mantras using 108 pots of gomutra and gobarMerely chanting mantras or performing a havan does not sanctify such a casteist act of purification Kharge said I wish to state clearly that this issue transcends my personal self or the office of the Indian National Congress President it is deeply connected to the sentiments of crores of people who confront this harsh reality on a daily basis It is essential to teach such wrongdoers a lesson the Congress chief saidTherefore this outrage is not mine alone but an expression of those crores of people it concerns a mindset that directly affects a specific section of society he saidnbspFor this very reason I raised this issue in the House to draw the governments attention to it Kharge saidI therefore urge you once again in light of these facts and the assurances given in the Rajya Sabha to direct the chief minister of Uttarakhand to ensure that an FIR is registered against the individuals and organisations involved in the purification incident that took place at Ramlila Maidan following my public meeting in Haldwani Kharge saidnbspEarlier this week the had accused the BJP of perpetrating social injustice and protecting those who discriminate against Dalits after an FIR was filed in Uttarakhand against Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the alleged purification of the venue where party chief Kharge addressed a rally Calling the FIR against Gandhi an attempt to divert attention and suppress voices the opposition party said it will give a fitting response to it through democratic and legal meansCongress workers protested at several places over the registration of the case against Gandhi and demanded its withdrawal and a case against those behind the purification act at the venue of Kharges rally in HaldwaniThey also filed complaints across Uttarakhand demanding registration of cases under the SCST Act against those involved in the alleged purification act BJP workers also staged protests in Uttarakhand and burnt Gandhis effigiesThe BJP accused the Congress of doing petty politics over the issue due to upcoming assembly polls and called Gandhi the most antiDalit leadernbspThe FIR was registered against Gandhi on Saturday following a complaint by a member of the Valmiki community in Haldwani alleging that the Congress leader at a recent press conference gave a casteist spin to a religious ritualA political row erupted after some individuals allegedly performed a purification yajna at the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani on August 11 following a public meeting there by Kharge on August 8At a press conference in New Delhi on August 29 Gandhi had criticised the incident and demanded registration of an FIR under the SCST Act against those responsible for the purificationnbspAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/direct-uttarakhand-cm-to-ensure-fir-against-those-involved-in-purification-incident-kharge-to-nadda--699936.html Thu, 03 Sep 2026 11:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/raghav-chadhas-name-marked-shifted-in-punjab-sir-rolls-alleges-aaps-politics-of-revenge-699938.html New Delhi Sep 3 IANS Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha on Thursday accused the Aam Aadmi Party AAPled Punjab government of deliberately marking his voter identification record in Mohali as permanently shifted in the draft electoral rolls prepared under the Election Commissions Special Intensive Revision SIR alleging that the action violated guidelines meant to safeguard the names of public representativesnbspChadha who was elected as an AAP Rajya Sabha member from Punjab in 2022 joined the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP in April this year along with six other AAP MPs invoking the antidefection merger provisionTaking to X Chadha said The AAP government in Punjab has now taken its politics of revenge to the Draft Electoral Rolls I am a sitting Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab with my voter ID registered in Mohali Punjab Yet my name has been classified as shifted in the draft electoral rollsThe BJP leader however pointed out that the rolls currently under discussion were only draft electoral rolls and not the final version adding that corrections could still be made during the ongoing Claims and Objections processThankfully these are only the Draft Electoral Rolls not the Final Electoral Rolls Names are corrected during the Claims and Objections process which is ongoing The Final Electoral Rolls will be published in October 2026 I am already in the process of availing the remedies provided under SIR guidelines he saidThe Rajya Sabha member claimed that the classification did not appear to be a mere clerical mistake describing it instead as a clear case of political vendettaWho marked me as shifted An official of AAPs Punjab Government Who verified that classification Again an officer of AAPs Punjab Government Who processed it at higher level Once again the same AAPs Punjab Government official Chadha allegedHe further claimed that officials at different operational levels of the electoral revision process from the Booth Level Officer BLO to the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab are Punjab government officialsChadha said the BLO is ordinarily a junior Punjab government employee while the Assistant Electoral Registration Officers AEROs Electoral Registration Officers EROs and District Election Officers DEOs involved in the process are also state government officials He added that the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab is a Punjabcadre IAS officerThese officers know AAP Government controls their transfers postings and careers once their electoral duty ends They know who can transfer them and who can make their lives difficult This is how the AAP government applies political pressure through state officers to execute the political revenge he allegedChadha also said that the alleged action against his electoral record was part of a larger pattern of retaliation against leaders who had left the AAPThe Rajya Sabha member claimed that since he left the corrupt Aam Aadmi Party its leadership had been burning with anger and alleged that the Punjab Police and the administrative machinery of the state government had been used against those who had chosen to leave the partyIt has unleashed the Punjab Police and the Punjab Governments administrative machinery against those of us who refused to remain silent Other MPs who left AAP and joined the BJP have also been targeted by Punjab Govt This wrongful classification is only the latest act in that political vendetta Chadha saidChadha also referred to Paragraph 4d of the Election Commission of Indias Detailed Guidelines for SIR which he said provides for a protected list of public representatives whose names have been identified or flagged during the electoral revision processThe provision states All names of member of judiciary public representatives holders of declared offices and personalities from fields of arts culture journalism sports and public services etc earlier flagged in the electoral database are to be included in the Draft Electoral Rolls so that necessary documents can also be collected during the period of Claims and ObjectionsChadha argued that as a sitting Member of Parliament from Punjab his name should have remained included in the draft electoral rolls even if it had been flagged for any reasonI am a sitting Member of Parliament from Punjab If at all my name was flagged Paragraph 4d required my inclusion in the draft electoral rolls The instruction was not overlooked It was wilfully violated in my case he saidAAP may run the Punjab Government but Punjabs Draft Electoral Rolls are not its private property he addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/raghav-chadhas-name-marked-shifted-in-punjab-sir-rolls-alleges-aaps-politics-of-revenge-699938.html Thu, 03 Sep 2026 11:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-abhishek-alleges-bjp-goons-vandalised-tmc-office-in-kolkata-ruling-party-denies-charge--699939.html Kolkata Sep 3 PTI TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday alleged that armed BJP men barged into the partys Camac Street office here early on Thursday and vandalised the premisesBanerjee claimed that the intruders ransacked the office damaged furniture and electronic equipment and took away mobile phones of party workers present thereThe BJP however rejected the allegations with its Baranagar MLA Sajal Ghosh asserting that no party worker was involvedIn a post on X Banerjee shared purported CCTV footage of the incident and asked whether the West Bengal governor the Union home minister and the Prime Ministers Office would act or continue to look the other wayThe Diamond Harbour MP also urged the judiciary particularly the Calcutta High Court to take serious note of the incident and act to uphold the rule of law in the stateTargeting West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and the ruling BJP Banerjee asked why he was so scared of the TMC and him that such intimidation was allegedly required If this is how the opposition is to be treated in West Bengal through violence vandalism and intimidation then the chief minister has no moral authority to remain in office He must resign Banerjee saidCalling the incident political thuggery he said every attack and act of intimidation would be remembered and nothing will be forgottenBanerjee also alleged that despite repeated calls and emails from TMC workers and lawyers the Kolkata Police did not respond for nearly two hours demanding immediate arrests and an investigation into who planned organised and directed the alleged attackThe Mamata Banerjeeled TMC alleged that the incident took place around 430 am when a group of men carrying weapons entered the office and assaulted its workers before vandalising the premisesnbspIt claimed that an air purifier printer television and several pieces of electronic equipment were taken away The BJPs Baranagar legislator dismissed the allegations saying I can say with responsibility that no one from the BJP is involved in this incidentHe questioned why TMC workers were present at the office at that hour and alleged that the incident was staged to remain in the political spotlightThe TMC released CCTV footage purportedly showing the alleged vandalism and demanded that those seen in the clip be identified and arrested The authenticity of the footage could not be independently verifiedThe alleged incident comes amid a widening political confrontation over Banerjees Camac Street office which has emerged as a flashpoint between the TMC and the BJP in recent daysLast week Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials accompanied by police attempted to remove a TMCbranded billboard on the premises alleging that it had been installed illegally and posed a safety risk TMC workers allegedly obstructed the civic teams operation triggering a political rowLater police and fire department officials inspected the building for possible deviations from the sanctioned plan and examined its firesafety arrangements Officials said certain shortcomings had been found and indicated that a notice would followThe latest incident has further sharpened the political battle between the TMC and the BJP in West Bengal with the rival camps trading allegations of intimidation administrative overreach and failure to uphold the rule of law PTI BSM PNTnbsp BDC 09030952Agencies https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-abhishek-alleges-bjp-goons-vandalised-tmc-office-in-kolkata-ruling-party-denies-charge--699939.html Thu, 03 Sep 2026 11:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/upcoming-ftas-to-help-india-gain-access-to-75-pc-global-trade-at-rates-lower-than-competitors-piyush-goyal-699966.html New Delhi Sep 3 IANS Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that combined with upcoming free trade agreements FTAs and efforts to deepen market access India could gain access to 75 per cent of global trade at rates lower than competitorsnbspIndias nine FTAs spanning economies with about 60 trillion GDP will provide preferential access to nearly twothirds of global trade Goyal said at an event here calling for a focused inclusive and nationwide effort to maximise the utilisation of FTAs to expand Indias trade across the world and ensure that the benefits of enhanced market access reach businesses across the countryAddressing the National Workshop on Leveraging FTAs an Outreach Programme the minister emphasised the need for a concerted effort to translate Indias expanding network of FTAs into greater export opportunities for businesses across the countryThe initiative should rapidly take roots across the country and reach the last person smallest businessperson trader entrepreneur startup and woman entrepreneur across all 780 districts big and small said GoyalEvery contribution big or small would be invaluable in achieving the larger objective of transforming India from a largely inwardlooking domestic economy into an international player of significance he addedThe other FTAs that India would conclude over the next few months and couple of years include with Canada Mexico Chile Mercosur SACU GCC and Israel together with efforts to review ASEAN Korea and Japan or take other steps to secure greater market accessGoyal further said India was passing through an important phase of its economic journey and highlighted the firstquarter GDP growth of 78 per cent at constant prices He said achieving 78 per cent GDP growth amid uncertainty and tremendous turmoil around the world was a significant achievementHe urged people not to be guided by the naysayers The minister said the GDP numbers were not made by the government ministers or bureaucrats but were determined through an elaborate groundup and independent process run by the Ministry of Statistics which has been in place for decadesGoyal said the trading patterns of the United States and European Union were different with entirely different costs of operation and labour costs India therefore had to assess the rates paid by competing countries such as Vietnam and Bangladesh in other marketsHe said that as soon as the United States was able to provide India a preferential rate in comparison with Indias competition the trade pact would be finalised and the finer details announcedIndia has set a 1 trillion export target for the current year representing about 16 per cent growthIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/upcoming-ftas-to-help-india-gain-access-to-75-pc-global-trade-at-rates-lower-than-competitors-piyush-goyal-699966.html Thu, 03 Sep 2026 14:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-ug-2026-delhi-hc-directs-nta-to-release-cbi-witnesses-results--699978.html New Delhi Sep 3 IANS The Delhi High Court has directed the National Testing Agency NTA to declare within 24 hours the NEETUG 2026 reexamination results of two candidates whose results were withheld over allegations linked to the question paper leak observing that they had not been named as accused in the CBI chargesheetnbspA singlejudge Bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh said that the candidates could not be treated as persons against whom criminal culpability had been established as the chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI was yet to be tested in accordance with law At this stage therefore the petitioners cannot be treated as persons against whom criminal culpability has been established or as having been found guilty of any illegality the High Court saidJustice Singh was hearing a petition filed by Aditya Vinod Swami and another seeking release of their NEETUG 2026 ReNEET results and permission to participate in the ongoing counselling processThe petitioners had initially appeared for NEETUG 2026 conducted on May 3 but the examination was subsequently cancelled following allegations of a question paper leak They thereafter appeared in the ReNEET examinationThe CBI investigated the alleged leakage and after completing its probe filed a chargesheet in which the two petitioners were named as witnesses and not accusedThe NTA subsequently issued showcause notices to the petitioners on July 5 and withheld their ReNEET resultsDuring the hearing counsel appearing for the NTA submitted that the examination agency had withheld the results after the CBI informed it that several candidates had allegedly received or shared the question paper of the May 3 examination However the CBI submitted that the petitioners had received the question paper and had the mens rea to commit the alleged illegalityIt was also submitted that money had been paid by them for obtaining the question paper The CBI further stated that it had taken a liberal view by not arraying the students concerned as accused and had instead cited them as witnesses in the chargesheetHowever the Delhi High Court said that the allegations in the chargesheet were yet to be established through evidence The chargesheet filed by the CBI is yet to be tested in accordance with law and the allegations contained therein would necessarily have to be established by leading appropriate evidence the order saidThe Delhi High Court observed that the petitioners were at a nascent stage of their academic careers and held that withholding their results merely on the basis of allegations yet to be tested would cause serious prejudice to themThe petitioners ought to be permitted to know their results and subject to the outcome of the proceedings participate in the further rounds of counselling conducted by the NTA it saidThe order also recorded that denying them an opportunity to participate in counselling at this stage could result in consequences that may not subsequently be adequately remediedAccordingly the Delhi High Court directed the NTA to declare the petitioners results within 24 hours of uploading of the order and permit them to participate in further rounds of counselling subject to their otherwise fulfilling the applicable eligibility criteriaIt also permitted the petitioners whose counselling results had not yet been declared to apply offlineThe Delhi High Court clarified that its order would not prevent the authorities from proceeding against the petitioners in accordance with law if warranted After disposing of the interlocutory application Justice Singh directed that the main petition be listed for January 8 2027IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-ug-2026-delhi-hc-directs-nta-to-release-cbi-witnesses-results--699978.html Thu, 03 Sep 2026 17:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rahuls-chhatron-ki-goonj-event-in-indore-postponed-to-sept-19-after-stadium-nod-denied-cong--699905.html Indore Sep 2 PTI The Congress on Wednesday said that party leader Rahul Gandhis Chhatron Ki Goonj event in Indore earlier planned to be held on September 12 has been postponed to September 19 due to the state governments denial of permission to use a citybased stadium as the programme venue State Congress president Jitu Patwari made this announcement during a meeting held to take stock of the preparations for the eventHe said that the state government denied permission to hold the Chhatron Ki Goonj at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here due to which the event will now be held on September 19 instead of September 12The party will now find a new venue for the event and make preparations accordinglynbspEarlier Patwari wrote a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav requesting him to make the stadium available for the September 12 eventnbspIn the letter he said that Rahul Gandhis programme is not a typical political event but a public dialogue focused on important issues such as the countrys future the dreams of youth the right to education and the security of the education system Nehru Stadium falls under the jurisdiction of the Indore Municipal CorporationnbspMayor Pushyamitra Bhargava said that the Madhya Pradesh High Court has clearly stated that only sports activities or statelevel government programmes can be permitted at the stadiumnbspCity Congress President Chintu Choukse warned of holding a protest if permission for Gandhis programme at Nehru Stadium was not grantednbspThe Congress is trying to mobilise 50000 students from Indore and surrounding areas for the Chhatron Ki Goonj programmeChhatron Ki Goonj is a studentdialogue campaign launched by the Congress under which programmes are being organised in various cities across the countryThrough this campaign the Opposition party is attempting to corner the ruling BJP on issues such as exam question paper leaks costly education irregularities in government recruitment and unemploymentOver the last three months the party organised the event in Kota Rajasthan Dehradun Uttarakhand Prayagraj Uttar Pradesh and Pune MaharashtraAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/rahuls-chhatron-ki-goonj-event-in-indore-postponed-to-sept-19-after-stadium-nod-denied-cong--699905.html Wed, 02 Sep 2026 17:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/retd-air-marshal-jeetendra-mishra-of-operation-sindoor-fame-to-be-first-ceo-of-ram-temple-699906.html Ayodhya Sep 2 IANS Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra is set to become the first Chief Executive Officer CEO of Ayodhyas Ram Temple people familiar with the Trusts decision said on WednesdayThe former officer held several commanding positions in the Indian Air Force and was the chief of its Western Command during Operation SindoorThe decision to finalise Air Marshal Retds name for the top post was taken during the deliberations at the highprofile meeting comprising Trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das newly appointed treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri and othersThe appointment of Ram Temples first CEO brings the curtain down on screening of monthlong process to screen more than 5000 applications for the top postRetired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra will take charge of the post as the temple has been marred by controversy over alleged siphoning off of donationsThe process for appointing the CEO began on July 6 A total of 5585 applications were screened by the selection committee A total of 111 candidates were selected for online interviews while 16 candidates were called to Ayodhya for facetoface interviewsEarlier in the day the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust appointed three new members to the Trust on Wednesday one of whom is a relative of former Vishwa Hindu Parishad VHP leader Ashok SinghalDelhibased Mahesh Bhagchandka Ayodhyabased Madan Mohan Pandey and Shikohabadbased Nirmala Yadav were appointed as new members of the TrustThe appointment of the temple CEO comes in the wake of raging controversy over embezzlement of temple donations that led to the arrest of eight people and the resignation of Champat Rai as General SecretaryThe Trust has maintained that the CEO will function independently without any government interference and will report to its General Secretary The temples top official is expected to formulate longterm plans for temple and donations managementIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/retd-air-marshal-jeetendra-mishra-of-operation-sindoor-fame-to-be-first-ceo-of-ram-temple-699906.html Wed, 02 Sep 2026 17:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-sends-11-member-rescue-team-55-tonnes-of-humanitarian-aid-to-nepal-699882.html New Delhi Sep 2 IANS The fifth aircraft carrying an 11member rescue team with specialised equipment and 55 tonnes of essential medicines has departed for Nepal External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar announced on WednesdayThe aid supports the ongoing response to catastrophic flash floods that struck Nepal following a glacial collapse in Tibet on August 26nbspTaking to X EAM Jaishankar said The fifth Indian aircraft has departed for Nepal It is carrying a 11member rescue team with specialised equipment and 55 tonnes of essential medicinesIndia has rushed over 68 tonnes of emergency relief materials and specialised rescue teams to support Nepal following devastating flash floodsDeliveries include blankets sleeping bags heavyduty tarpaulins plastic sheeting and hygiene kits The supplies also include essential medicines food packets solar lamps water purification tablets and portable generatorsEarlier on Tuesday the Nepal authorities announced that over 1000 people have now been confirmed dead following last weeks devastating floods in Nepal even as bodies swept away continue to pile up along riverbanks in different districtsThe number of bodies recovered so far has reached 1003 the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority NDRRMA said in its latest update The highest number of bodies 321 were recovered in southern Chitwan district followed by 216 in Nawalparasi EastAccording to Nepal Police as many as 4606 people remain unaccounted for including 583 foreigners suggesting that the death toll could rise furtherNepali authorities said efforts are underway to locate people who remain unaccounted for at various hydropower projects along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districtsAt the request of the Nepali government India and China have sent technical teams to assist in search and rescue operations inside hydropower tunnelsMeanwhile a 19member Indian forensic team has begun analysing DNA samples in coordination with Nepali forensic experts to help identify the people killed in the tragedynbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-sends-11-member-rescue-team-55-tonnes-of-humanitarian-aid-to-nepal-699882.html Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/up-cm-yogi-to-launch-upcos-today-to-safeguard-rights-pay-of-outsourced-workers-699883.html Lucknow Sep 2 IANS Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will launch the Uttar Pradesh Outsourced Services Corporation UPCOS in Lucknow on Wednesday marking a significant step towards protecting the interests safeguarding the rights and pay of outsourced personnel ensuring greater service security and introducing transparent human resource management for employees engaged through outsourcingHighlighting the objective of the new initiative CM Yogi Adityanath took to X and said Transparency through technology security through system and respect for the labour of every employee this is the new identity of New Uttar PradeshThe Uttar Pradesh government has also constituted an outsourcing commission as part of its efforts to streamline the system and strengthen safeguards for outsourced employees across departmentsThe Chief Ministers Office said in a statement that further measures would soon be taken to ensure that every outsourcing worker receives a minimum honorarium along with guaranteed access to various forms of social security The government has also made budgetary provisions to facilitate the implementation of these measuresAccording to the Chief Ministers Office the government has also made provision of funds in the budget for the incentive and increase in honorarium of Anganwadi Asha workers cooks village watchmen and KotedarsApart from this in the month of August the Yogi government took an important decision in the interest of outsourced personnel working in Uttar Pradesh Transport Corporation and increased their honorarium by 5 per cent from JulynbspAccording to Minister of State for Transport Independent Charge Dayashankar Singh this increase was made in the honorarium of computer operator accountant cum tally operator and programmerThe benefit of this increase will be given to 249 computer operator employees working in the Transport Corporation Their honorarium will increase from approximately Rs 20655 to Rs 21420nbspSimilarly the honorarium of 35 Accountant cum Tally Operator personnel has also been increased and their salary will be approximately Rs 20 thousand to Rs 26 thousand in the order of seniority At the same time the honorarium of 26 personnel working on the post of programmer will increase from Rs 42000 to Rs 43313IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/up-cm-yogi-to-launch-upcos-today-to-safeguard-rights-pay-of-outsourced-workers-699883.html Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/notice-issued-to-abhishek-banerjee-for-fire-safety-lapses-at-his-kolkata-office--699887.html Kolkata Sep 2 IANS West Bengal fire services department on Tuesday night slapped a notice alleging severe fire safety norms irregularities at the Trinamool Congress general secretary and the partys Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjees Camac Street office in Central Kolkata which is already in the midst of controversies in connection with FIRs lodged over the August 27 clash during the removal of an allegedly illegal billboard from the roof of that building on August 27The notice from the state fire services department was served on the same day when Abhishek also the nephew of the former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was questioned for over six hours at the local Shakespeare Sarani Police Station in connection the August 27 clashes in which Abhishek Trinamool Congresss Rajya Sabha member Derek OBrien and their associates have been accused of forcefully preventing the Kolkata Municipal Corporation KMC staff and Kolkata Police personnel from removing that illegal billboardOn August 31 a team of state fire services department officials inspected the fire safety facilities at that office and on the basis of that inspection a notice was served on Tuesday night alleging several lapses in the fire safety arrangements at that officeIn the notice a written response has been sought within 48 hours citing six types of irregularities in the fire safety system The fire department said that the fire safety certificate expired on August 10 and in addition to that there were multiple flaws in the fire safety system in Abhisheks office on the 7th and 8th floors of the said building sources aware of the development saidIn the notice the state fire services department has also sought an explanation as to why the said office should not be sealed because of inadequate fire safety arrangementsIncidentally after facing a marathon interrogation for six hours earlier in the day Abhishek claimed that all these administrative actions initiated against him were out of a political vendetta He also claimed that he would not bow down in front of such pressuresnbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/notice-issued-to-abhishek-banerjee-for-fire-safety-lapses-at-his-kolkata-office--699887.html Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-raids-12-locations-across-four-states-in-parimatch-betting-probe-699888.html Mumbai Sep 2 IANS The Directorate of Enforcement ED on Wednesday conducted searches at 12 locations across Maharashtra Rajasthan DelhiNCR and Gujarat under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA as part of its ongoing investigation into the Cyprusbased illegal online betting platform ParimatchnbspThe searches were carried out at five locations in Maharashtra two in Rajasthan one in Gujarat and four locations across DelhiNCR in connection with the case involving Parimatch and othersAccording to the investigation agency the premises searched included those linked to payment companies allegedly involved in converting betting proceeds into cash through Cash Management System CMS agentsThe searches also covered Chartered Accountants CAs and Company Secretaries who allegedly facilitated the transfer of proceeds out of the country through illegal remittances and sham Overseas Direct Investment ODI transactionsPayment gateways that allegedly handled the collection and disbursement of funds including payins and payouts on behalf of Parimatch were also among the premises covered during Wednesdays searchesThe latest action comes months after the EDs Mumbai Zonal Office conducted searches at 17 locations across Maharashtra Rajasthan Delhi Gujarat Daman and Uttar Pradesh in May this year in connection with the same investigationDuring the raids the agency seized movable assets worth around Rs 156 crore including cash amounting to nearly Rs 12 crore The ED also froze approximately Rs 38 crore lying in various bank accounts Several incriminating documents and digital devices were recovered during the search operationsThe ED initiated the investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the Cyber Police Station Mumbai against Parimatchcom for allegedly duping users through online betting operationsAccording to investigators the platform lured investors with promises of high returns and is suspected to have generated more than Rs 3000 crore in a yearThe investigation revealed that Parimatch and its associates allegedly operated through a complex network of mule accounts payment intermediaries and financial inclusion channels to collect layer and transfer user fundsInvestigators also found that the platform advertised through leading quickcommerce applications and circulated promotional material along with grocery deliveries to attract and onboard new users These advertisements were strategically displayed during app usage and order placementsThe ED said it has so far frozen assets worth Rs 112 crore in the case Further investigation is underwayIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ed-raids-12-locations-across-four-states-in-parimatch-betting-probe-699888.html Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sir-aimed-at-helping-bjp-win-polls-sc-must-stop-bulk-deletions-sibal--699897.html New Delhi Sep 2 PTI Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Wednesday alleged that the SIR being carried out by the Election Commission is an exercise aimed at helping the BJP win elections and urged the Supreme Court to stop the bulk deletions taking place under itnbspThe former Union minister also alleged that the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls that is ongoing in various states is aimed at helping the BJP win electionsnbspSibals remarks came over a report in The Indian Express which claimed that in Godda district of Jharkhand BJP agents are seeking to delete voters mostly from the minority community with Booth Level Officers who are employees of the state government headed by the JMMCongress raising red flags over the issuenbspIn a post on X Sibal said Politics of exclusion BJP agents Target Muslims seek bulk deletions Supreme Court needs to stop this nbspSIR is an exercise To manipulate the voters list Help BJP win elections the Independent Rajya Sabha MP said Later addressing a press conference Sibal said that in Jharkhand there were bulk forms called form 7 being filed by BJP workersnbspYou can file bulk forms in the sense you can get 45 take 45 of them or 100 of them or even 400 of them You can file the forms and you can say that this name should be deleted You dont have to give any reason for it and if it is found to be false it doesnt matter Sibal saidIn this particular report in a national newspaper when investigation was done the names that were targeted belonged to the Muslim community he saidnbspAnd those people have been interviewed and they have said theyve been living there for years their families have been living there for years So if this is the way things are going to be done whats the point of having an election nbspIt has been found that those Muslims whose names were sought to be deleted by bulk forms by BJP workers were actually living there for years many of them ever since Independence he saidnbspAnd therefore this is a very serious issue and if courts dont take care of this issue if courts just believe that the SIR exercise is by a neutral Election Commission of India then I think we are in deep trouble this democracy will be in deep trouble Sibal said For example in Delhi itself about 45 lakh to 47 lakh names have been cut have been deleted Now how many will be restored I dont know but thats almost 2324 per cent of the entire electorate of Delhi which is 15 crore he saidnbspIn Uttar Pradesh 205 crore names have been cut and cores of names are being cut like this Sibal saidSo far about five to six crore names have been cut overall ever since this process of SIR started he saidAnd the investigation shows that these are all motivated bulk forms that are being filed by BJP workers that has been established both in the social media through evidence as well as by national newspapers So where do we go from here Sibal saidAnd this is going to happen in every state where an election takes place Luckily in this particular case in Jharkhand even the BLO Booth Level Officer is objecting because the opposition is in power so the BLO is objecting But where they are in power who will object he saidUltimately who is a BLO He is a school teacher a government school teacher He will do what he is told I mean not everybody but if people at high places can be pressurednbsp a school teacher can easily be pressured So where do we go from here I wanted to bring this to the notice of this country that its time that the nation wakes up he saidnbspHis remarks come a day after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi slammed the Election Commission as BJP Kursi Bachao Aayog and Vote Chori AayogKharge and Gandhi said the ruling partys conspiracy to hollow out Indias democracy through vote chori has come out in the open for which people will punish themnbspHe said people have understood the BJPs conspiracy and they are now uniting against the theft of votes and will punish those behind itnbspWith more than 206 crore electors excluded from Maharashtras draft electoral rolls after the SIR exercise Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP and the Vote Chori Aayog keep changing their tactics and will continue to do so as their goal is to ensure the BJPs victory at any costnbspGandhi said that for a government built on vote chori people are not important and that is why the BJP neither listens to them nor obeys their commandAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/sir-aimed-at-helping-bjp-win-polls-sc-must-stop-bulk-deletions-sibal--699897.html Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/nc-bjp-stage-protests-against-each-other-in-srinagar-jk-police-foil-marches-699900.html Srinagar Sep 2 IANS The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday foiled separate protest marches of the ruling National Conference NC and the opposition BJP in Srinagarnbsp The Bharatiya Janata Party had planned a gherao of the civil secretariat and the NC was to protest at the BJP office but both marches were foiled after protesters of the two parties clashed with security forcesSenior NC leaders including Health and Education Minister Sakina Itoo MLAs Tanvir Sadiq Salman Sagar Ahsan Pardesi Shamima Firdous Hilal Parray and others marched towards the Jawahar Nagar office of the BJP shouting slogans for restoration of Article 370 statehood and other constitutional guarantees to JampampKPolice and the security forces stopped the NC protesters near the Rajbagh police station as barricades had been erected on the road to prevent the marchThe NC protesters clashed with the police and some of them were taken into preventive custody as they were not allowed to move towards the BJP office in Jawahar Nagar areaNasir Aslam Wani advisor to the Chief Minister told reporters on the sidelines of the NC protest that the government is compelled to stage a protest as key issues including restoration of statehood and rationalisation of reservations remained pending despite waiting for two yearsHe said NC has been patiently waiting for the commitments made to the people to be fulfilled Understand why we are compelled to stage this protest For two years we have been sitting patiently and waiting with the hope that the promises made to us would be fulfilled People had expected statehood to be restored after the elections but no concrete discussion had taken place on the issueWe had full hope that statehood would be restored but there has been no discussion on it he saidOn reservation rationalisation he said the Cabinet had approved the matter and forwarded it to the Lieutenant Governor but the issue remained pendingThis is an issue directly linked to the future of our youth but it is also being delayed and no decision has been taken on it he saidWani stated that the government was informed that certain queries had been received from Delhi and that the matter was subsequently returned to the Cabinet for a responseWe were told that there were some queries from Delhi and that the matter had been returned to the Cabinet he saidHe also questioned the delay in appointing the Advocate General saying several matters were being held up The situation has reached such an extent that even the Advocate General has not been appointed yet So what are we protesting aboutThose who are responsible for working should do their work he saidThe BJP protesters led by the Leader of Opposition LoP in the Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma and General Secretary JampampK party affairs Ashok Koul gathered at the Lal Chowk city centre to start the protest march to gherao the civil secretariat in the Batmaloo area of the cityHeavy deployment of police and security forces had been made at Lal Chowk and along the road leading to the secretariatThe BJP protesters were stopped at Jahangir Chowk The protesters tried to breach the barricade but their attempts to breach the barricade were foiled and they were prevented from moving towards the secretariatSpeaking to reporters LoP Sunil Sharma said that the large number of people joining the BJP protest was proof of the failure of the Omar Abdullahled NC government He alleged that the NC government has not fulfilled even one of the promises it made to the people in the partys election manifestoIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/nc-bjp-stage-protests-against-each-other-in-srinagar-jk-police-foil-marches-699900.html Wed, 02 Sep 2026 16:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-files-another-chargesheet-against-19-accused-for-misappropriation-of-haryana-govt-funds-699902.html Panchkula Sep 2 IANS The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI on Wednesday filed a chargesheet the third one in the court of the Special Judge dealing with CBI cases here against 19 accused in the case relating to misappropriation of Haryana government funds totalling Rs 504 crore maintained at IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance BanknbspThe latest one was filed against six Indian Administrative Service IAS officers of Haryana Cadre three officers of IDFC First Bank and one officer of AU Small Finance Bank and nine other officials of the state government for offences of criminal conspiracy cheating destruction of evidence forgery using false documents as genuine falsification of accounts criminal breach of trust and abetment under BNS and for offences of bribery and criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption ActThe CBI said the investigation established that the accused public servants in connivance with the accused bankers of IDFC First and AU Small Finance Banks orchestrated and executed the fraudulent scheme in a planned sequence The funds of eight government departments from various empanelled banks were transferred into specific branches of both banks where the accused bank officers are working as part of the conspiracy by opening the bank accounts in the bank branches In this process the guidelines of the State Finance Department on financial prudence and fraud prevention were violatedThe funds from these accounts were misappropriated through fraudulent means and transferred to third parties who were not connected with government departments The amounts so transferred were layered through multiple bank accounts and converted into cash and the accused wrongfully enriched themselves said the CBIEight departments and organisations of the government the Department of Panchayat the Municipal Corporations of Panchkula and Kalka the Haryana School Shiksha Pariyojna Parishad HSSPP the Haryana Labour Welfare Board HLWB the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board HSAMB the Haryana State Pollution Control Board HSPCB and the Haryana Power Generation Corp Ltd HPGCL were affected by this scamThe CBI had taken over the investigation from the state Vigilance and AntiCorruption Bureau at the request of the state governmentEarlier the CBI had chargesheeted 18 other accused in this case which included bank officials of IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank public servants of the government private individuals and private companiesWith the filing of Wednesdays chargesheet the total number of people chargesheeted in the case rose to 37The agency has conducted 54 searches and seized incriminating evidence including gold worth Rs 20 crore in this case and arrested 26 accused so farThe CBI has also taken over two other related cases from Chandigarh one pertaining to Chandigarh Smart City Limited CSCL and another of the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh and the Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technology Promotion Society CREST The chargesheets have already been filed in both these cases All three cases would remain under further investigation against other suspects and accusedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cbi-files-another-chargesheet-against-19-accused-for-misappropriation-of-haryana-govt-funds-699902.html Wed, 02 Sep 2026 17:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/gdp-growth-exposes-jhooth-ki-goonj-spread-by-people-immersed-in-despair-pm-modi-699803.html New Delhi Sep 1 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a veiled swipe at the Opposition saying Indias latest gross domestic product GDP growth figures have exposed the Jhooth Ki Goonj echo of lies being spread by those he described as people immersed in the depth of despairnbspPM Modi shared a reel on Instagram with the caption 78 per cent growth Strong numbers Even stronger confidenceIn his message the Prime Minister congratulated the people of the country saying the growth rate reflected their determination and hard workMany congratulations to the countrymen 78 per cent growth The country is filled with joy But I congratulate the countrymen for their willpower for their hard work it is a reflection of collective strength The world is engulfed in war news of war is coming from all around Surrounded by global crises supply chains are completely disturbed From the Covid period in 2020 until now nowhere is stability visible Despite that India is progressing at a fast pace he saidOn the other hand inside India too people immersed in the depth of despair Jhooth Ki Goonj are engaged in spreading despair all around Crossing all these things piercing through all those matters the country has achieved 78 per cent growth We have to maintain this speed we also have to grow the Prime Minister addedPM Modis reference to Jhooth Ki Goonj came against the backdrop of criticism directed at Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhis Chhatron Ki Goonj campaign by the political satirical group Jhooth Ki GoonjThe BJP had also invoked the same phrase while attacking Gandhis campaign claiming that several statements made by him at four separate events associated with the Congress campaign were inaccurate The party said that out of 40 statements made by Gandhi at least 29 were false and 11 were misleadingThe Prime Minister stressed the importance of building an Atmanirbhar Bharat and promoting the Swadeshi movement and Vocal for Local initiativeIf you are going to any foreign country then stop If you are getting married abroad then you should stop it We should live by the mantra of Wed in India If it is not necessary then we should not buy gold he saidThe more we emphasise Swadeshi and Atmanirbharta I am firmly convinced that when 100 years of independence are completed we will hand over a Viksit Bharat to our youth he addedIndia remains the worlds fastestgrowing major economy with a 78 per cent growth in the AprilJune quarter of FY27 which places it ahead of every other large economy in the comparisonIndias economy continues to grow strongly with demand rising across the income spectrum and Julys vehicle market provides the clearest window into that change Domestic passengervehicle sales reached 458 lakh units up 343 per cent from a year earlier and the strongest July on record according to official figuresIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/gdp-growth-exposes-jhooth-ki-goonj-spread-by-people-immersed-in-despair-pm-modi-699803.html Tue, 01 Sep 2026 11:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/commercial-lpg-cylinder-gets-dearer-jet-fuel-prices-hiked-699830.html New Delhi Sep 1 IANS Stateowned oil marketing companies OMCs have hiked the prices of 19kg commercial LPG cylinders by Rs 950 while aviation turbine fuel ATF prices for domestic airlines have risen 546 per cent or Rs 628 per litre effective from TuesdaynbspThe price of ATF has been raised from Rs 115 per litre to Rs 12128 per litre which is the second consecutive monthly increaseIn addition ATF prices had been increased by Rs 5 per litre earlier in August after being cut by a similar amount in JulyMoreover jet fuel accounts for around 3540 per cent of an airlines overall operating expenditure in India making ATF prices a key cost for domestic carriersThe latest hike is expected to increase fuel costs for domestic airlines and could put pressure on airfares although ticket prices also depend on passenger demand competition and available network capacitySeparately Mahanagar Gas Ltd MGL has increased CNG and domestic PNG prices in Mumbai citing a sharp rise in input gas prices linked to international indices amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle EastCNG prices have been raised by Rs 2 per kg to Rs 88 in Mumbai while domestic PNG prices have increased by Rs 1 per standard cubic metre SCM with the new rates effective from September 1In view of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East which has resulted in a significant increase in input gas prices linked to international indices MGL has announced a revision in the prices of CNG the PSU company said in a statementThe LPG price hike comes after the government last week fixed maximum cooking gas production targets for individual public and privatesector refineries and upstream companiesEarlier in August in an order the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry specified maximum LPG production levels for 21 refineries and upstream companies with combined production potential set at 63810 tonnes a dayIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/commercial-lpg-cylinder-gets-dearer-jet-fuel-prices-hiked-699830.html Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/fresh-customs-banking-reforms-on-cards-towards-viksit-bharat-fm-sitharaman-699833.html Asheville Sep 1 IANS India is preparing further customs and banking reforms including riskbased import screening and a highlevel review of the banking sectors role towards building a developed India Union Minister for Finance ampamp Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman saidnbspIn an exclusive interview with IANS on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers meeting here FM Sitharaman said the next phase would build on changes already made in direct and indirect taxationWeve done quite a few things about the direct and indirect taxes Customs weve done some well have to do more Well be taking those up she saidThe government is working to make the movement of imported goods through Indian ports more seamless the Finance Minister saidA key proposal involves deploying scanners and concentrating checks on highrisk importers Other consignments could then be cleared automatically reducing delays for businesses and easing congestion at portsWe are trying to bring in scanners and have highrisk importers alone go through them and the rest of them can be cleared automatically FM Sitharaman saidA lot of reforms in the customs area she addedThe approach would allow customs authorities to focus their scrutiny on higherrisk imports while facilitating faster clearances in other casesHowever FM Sitharaman did not provide a timetable for introducing the scanners or implementing the proposed automatic clearance systemThe government has also appointed a highlevel committee to examine the banking sector and its future role in achieving Indias development goalsThe banks of course weve appointed a highlevel committee to look into banking for Viksit Bharat she told IANSThat committee will also give its report she added without indicating when its recommendations would be submittedAsked about the next stage of the governments wider reform programme FM Sitharaman said changes would be taken up as requirements emergedWell we take it as we go along according to herThe Finance Minister said the Centre had worked with state governments to improve the business environment and reduce the compliance burden on citizens and companiesI think together with the states I will also credit the states many of them who have come forward to make doing business a bit easier she saidWe as you know have reduced a lot of compliance burden on the citizens whether it is by reforming the Acts by simplifying the regulations and also by removing archaic laws she addedMore than 1000 laws had been removed and about 40000 regulations simplified according to the Finance MinisterThe government was also maintaining regular consultations with industry businesses and trade while pursuing bilateral trade and investor protection agreementsConstantly we are engaging with the industry with businesses with trade FM Sitharaman saidAlso the way in which bilateral trade agreements are being signed we are now pushing ahead with investor protection agreements as well she addedFM Sitharaman said confidence in the Indian banking system was reflected in foreign deposits and investments made by Indians living overseas The indicators showed a positive story about trust in Indian banks and the countrys macroeconomic position she saidThe proposed reforms come as India reported 78 per cent growth in the first quarter of the 202627 financial year Manufacturing grew by 92 per cent while the financial and professional services sector expanded by 121 per centFM Sitharaman also cited the expansion of UPI NPCI systems and QRcode payments as factors helping small and mediumsized businesses gain access to global markets She said reforms across government departments and the financial sector had brought out the robustness of the Indian economyIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/fresh-customs-banking-reforms-on-cards-towards-viksit-bharat-fm-sitharaman-699833.html Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cjp-to-sc-calling-off-sept-5-protest-after-developments-on-closure-of-firs-699847.html New Delhi Sep 1 PTI The Cockroach Janta Party on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it has called off its September 5 protest following developments on the closure of FIRs registered against students who participated in the NEET paper leak protestsnbspCJP coconvenor Saurav Das appeared before a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana to inform the court about the decisionnbspnbspDuring the hearing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the top court to use its powers to close all FIRs against NEET protesters between July 20July 25 across countrynbspHe told the bench that the Centre is committed to honour the assurance given to the CJP leaders and provide compensation to the families of students who ended their lives after the cancellation of the NEET exam Mehta told the court that it will pay compensation to families of the students whonbsp died and sought three months to work out the modalitiesnbspThe CJP had called for a protest march in Delhi on September 5 Teachers Day It had accused the Centre of failing to honour the promises made on July 25 to persuade the group to withdraw its 36day agitation against irregularities in exams and the NEET paper leaknbspnbspAccording to the CJP the march was to be led by families of students who committed suicide following the cancellation of the NEET exam and the subsequent retest as well as those who were allegedly subjected to police excesses during the July agitationnbspAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/cjp-to-sc-calling-off-sept-5-protest-after-developments-on-closure-of-firs-699847.html Tue, 01 Sep 2026 15:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-energy-solutions-becomes-highest-esg-scored-utility-company-globally--699865.html Ahmedabad Sep 1 IANS Adani Energy Solutions Ltd AESL on Tuesday said it has achieved the distinction of being the highest ESGscored company globally in the Utilities sector as assessed by SampampP Global after its latest reviewnbspFollowing the completion of SampampP Globals latest Media and Stakeholder Analysis MSA review the governancerelated assessment that had previously been impacted was corrected thereby resulting in a significant enhancement of the companys ESG standingIndias largest private transmission and distribution company secured an ESG Score of 90 out of 100 placing it at the top of the global utilities sector against the industry average of 41Prior to this review Adani Energy Solutions score was 81 The companys disclosurebased Corporate Sustainability Assessment CSA score has also increased by 17 points yearonyear to 90 said the Adani Group companyBeing recognised as the highest ESGscored utility company globally by SampampP Global is a proud milestone for AESL and a strong validation of our commitment to sustainable growth AESL CEO Kandarp Patel saidAt AESL sustainability is integrated into our everyday decisionmaking processes This achievement reflects the dedication of our teams across the organisation who continuously work to strengthen our environmental performance social impact governance standards and disclosure practices he addedAESLs performance reflects strong outcomes across all three ESG dimensions with Environmental scoring at 93 Social at 89 and Governance ampamp Economic at 84 significantly outperforming industry averagesKey drivers of AESLs performance include Product Stewardship Climate Strategy and Human Capital Management said the companyAESL is the countrys largest private transmission company with a cumulative transmission network of 29739 ckm and 143425 MVA transformation capacityIn its retail electricity distribution business AESL serves approximately 13 million consumers in metropolitan Mumbai and the industrial hub of Mundra SEZAESL is ramping up its smart metering business and is on course to become Indias leading smart metering integratorIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-energy-solutions-becomes-highest-esg-scored-utility-company-globally--699865.html Tue, 01 Sep 2026 18:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/kiren-rijiju-visits-museum-of-yugoslavia-pays-tribute-to-tito-ahead-of-nam-meeting-in-belgrade-699727.html New Delhi Aug 31 IANS Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju visited the Museum of Yugoslavia and the House of Flowers the mausoleum of former Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito in Belgrade Serbia as he arrived in the country to lead Indias delegation at a highlevel commemorative meeting of the NonAligned Movement NAMnbspSharing details of his visit on X Rijiju said the sites offered an opportunity to gain insights into Yugoslavias political history cultural heritage and the life and legacy of TitoVisited the Museum of Yugoslavia ampamp the House of Flowers Titos Mausoleum in Belgrade Serbia A significant historical site offering insights into Yugoslavias political history cultural heritage ampamp the life ampamp legacy of Josip Broz Tito Rijiju postedDescribing the visit as a meaningful experience the Union minister said it provided an opportunity to reflect on the history that shaped the regionRijiju is in Belgrade to head the Indian delegation at the HighLevel Commemorative Meeting marking the 65th anniversary of the First Conference of Heads of State or Heads of Government of the NonAligned Movement The meeting is being held from August 31 to September 1 under the theme The Legacy of NonAlignment Lessons for Todays WorldEarlier on Sunday Rijiju also paid floral tributes at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Belgrade ahead of the NAM meeting He said he also interacted with members of the Indian community in Serbia and appreciated their contribution towards strengthening ties between India and SerbiaBefore the NAM Meeting paid floral tributes at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi ji in Belgrade Serbia Interacted with members of Indian community appreciating their contribution towards strengthening IndiaSerbia ties he said in another post on XThe commemorative meeting assumes significance as it marks 65 years since the first NAM conference which was held in Belgrade in 1961 India was among the founding members of the movement and has continued to underline its commitment to the principles and values associated with nonalignmentAccording to the Ministry of External Affairs the NonAligned Movement brings together 121 developing countries and continues to serve as a platform of historical significance The ministry has said India remains committed to the movements principles and valuesRijijus visit to the historic sites associated with Yugoslavia and Tito comes against the backdrop of the anniversary meeting highlighting the historical connection between Belgrade and the evolution of the NAM as a major grouping of developing nationsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/kiren-rijiju-visits-museum-of-yugoslavia-pays-tribute-to-tito-ahead-of-nam-meeting-in-belgrade-699727.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/fight-against-casteist-mentality-will-be-waged-with-full-force-cong-slams-fir-against-rahul--699728.html New Delhi Aug 31 PTI The Congress on Monday lashed out at the BJP after an FIR was filed against Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks about a shuddhikaran ceremony at the venue where party chief Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally in Uttarakhands Haldwani and asserted that the fight against casteist mentality will be waged with full forceAfter the FIR the opposition party said the Congress will give a fitting response to it through democratic and legal meansReacting to the FIR Congress general secretary incharge Uttarakhand Kumari Selja said No action against those who conducted the purification ritual after Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge jis public meeting but an FIR against Leader of Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi ji for raising his voice against that casteist act Is this the justice of the BJP government nbspFirst the purification was carried out and then the Uttarakhand BJP president openly defended it she said in a post in Hindi on X And now when Rahul Gandhi demanded legal action against the culprits the BJP government in Uttarakhand has instead filed a case against him Selja saidnbspThis is no coincidence but it is a deeply serious example of the BJPRSSs antiDalit and antiConstitution mindset she allegednbspShri Rahul Gandhi ji raised the same question that Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge ji himself had already raised in Parliament that this act of purification made him feel the sting of untouchability and humiliated him she saidnbspBut look at the BJP governments approach Raise questions about those who conducted the purification FIR Talk about Dalit dignity FIR Raise your voice for the Constitution FIR Selja said nbspWhy is Prime Minister Narendra Modi silent on this entire matter Selva askednbspThe BJPRSS should dispel this illusion that the fear of cases will make Rahul Gandhi or the Congress back down she said This is the Gandhi family which has a history of sacrifice and dedication for the country Neither FIRs nor the pressure of power can intimidate or silence this voice she assertednbspThe Congress will give a fitting response to this through democratic and legal means Selja saidThe fight against the casteist mentality behind the purification and for the protection of Dalit dignity and the Constitution will be waged with full force she saidnbspAn FIR has been registered against Rahul Gandhi following a complaint by a member of the Valmiki community in Haldwani alleging that the Congress leader gave a casteist spin to a religious ritual held at the venue of the AICC chiefs programme police said on SundayThe FIR has been registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS concerning the promotion of enmity between groups and deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989 has also been invoked police saidAmit Kumar a resident of Jawahar Nagar and a Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas member claimed in the complaint filed at the Haldwani police station that he was present during the ritual and cleanliness drive and Gandhis remarks made in Delhi at a press conference on August 29 hurt the sentiments of the community He accused Gandhi of portraying those associated with the ritual as practising untouchability and being antiDalitnbspIn the complaint Kumar claimed that he belongs to the Scheduled Caste community and that people from different sections of society including Scheduled Castes were involved in the ritual which according to him had no connection with Kharges castenbspA political row erupted after some individuals allegedly performed a purification yajna at the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani on August 11 following a public meeting held there by Kharge on August 8nbspWhile the Congress has termed the incident a reflection of the BJPs antiDalit mindset the BJP defended the action claiming that the venue was left littered after Kharges rally and that slogans were raised which were inappropriate for a religious sitenbspAt a press conference in New Delhi on August 29 Gandhi criticised the incident and demanded registration of an FIR under the SCST Act against those responsible for the purificationCongress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra subsequently joined the demand for action describing the incident as a reflection of a reprehensible and shameful mindset and alleging that it amounted to a violation of the SCST ActAgencies https://dailyworld.in/national/fight-against-casteist-mentality-will-be-waged-with-full-force-cong-slams-fir-against-rahul--699728.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/matter-of-pride-for-every-indian-uzbekistans-highest-honour-for-pm-modi-draws-praise-from-parties-699733.html New Delhi Aug 31 IANS As Uzbekistan conferred its highest honour on Prime Minister Narendra Modi politicians across party lines including the BJP and its allies welcomed the move describing it as a matter of pride for every IndianSpeaking to IANS BJP leader Narottam Mishra said the honour was not just a matter of pride for the BJP but for every citizen of the countryThis is a matter of pride for every Indian citizen not just for the Bharatiya Janata Party Modi ji is a world leader and the Prime Minister of India who has been honoured by many countries around the world We are all proud of him he saidBJP MLA Gopal Bhargava said the honour was a recognition of the entire countryThis is a matter of pride for us that the Prime Minister has received this honour It is not just for the Prime Minister but an honour for all the people of the country for all Indians he saidShiv Sena spokesperson Shaina NC said the honour represented global recognition for IndiaThis is not just an award it is a world salute to Bharat Congratulations to Prime Minister Modi and 140 crore Indians Our party Shiv Sena clearly believes that when you receive this kind of highest order of friendship it is a salute to all those Indians who believe in the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister to strengthen civilizational ties and bonds with Central Asia she addedBihar Minister Mithilesh Tiwari said All the countries in the world are influenced by the foreign policy of respected Narendra Modi ji Wherever Modi ji goes he is welcomed in every country This increases the pride of the countryA day ago Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Uzbekistans highest honour the Oliy Darajali Dostlik Order by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent in recognition of his contribution to strengthening bilateral tiesThis marked another addition to the growing list of highest honours for PM Modi bestowed on him globallyPM Modi has received over 30 prestigious international honours making him the most internationally decorated Indian leader in history This total spans state decorations scholastic awards and environmental accolades from nations and organisations across the globeIn July Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto conferred the countrys highest honour the Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia upon the Indian Prime MinisterIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/matter-of-pride-for-every-indian-uzbekistans-highest-honour-for-pm-modi-draws-praise-from-parties-699733.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 11:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-refuses-to-stop-cjps-sept-5-protest-march-asks-petitioner-to-approach-centre-699739.html New Delhi Aug 31 IANS The Supreme Court on Monday refused to pass any interim orders against the proposed September 5 protest march announced by the Cockroach Janta Party CJP observing that there was no compelling reason at this stage to presume that the demonstration would lead to any law and order problemnbspA Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notice on an application challenging the proposed march but declined to list the matter before September 5The matter was posted for detailed hearing on September 10 along with other pending matters relating to the student protests The application was filed by retired Delhi Police officer Rajendra Singh who sought directions against holding largescale demonstrations or protest marches in sensitive areas of the national Capital without requisite permissionAppearing for the applicant advocate Rizwan Ahmed raised apprehensions over the proposed march from India Gate to the New Delhi Police Headquarters particularly in view of the upcoming BRICS Summit in the national CapitalThe counsel submitted that the proposed demonstration had been announced through social media and to his knowledge the organisers had not sought permission from the authoritiesThe counsel also questioned how such a protest could be held without permission and raised concerns over the possibility of a law and order situation on the eve of the international summitHowever the CJI Kantled Bench declined to presume that the proposed demonstration would result in any untoward incidentAt least as of now we will presume and we have no reason to doubt that everybody will act and behave in a very responsible manner and in a peaceful and lawful manner So right now for us there are no compelling circumstances to presume that anything wrong will happen the apex court observedThe Supreme Court observed that maintenance of law and order was ultimately the responsibility of the police authorities and asked the applicant to approach the Centre with his grievances and apprehensionsWe are not calling upon anyone who is not a party before us Approach the Central Government the CJI Kantled Bench saidThe counsel pressed for an urgent hearing before the proposed march arguing that the organisers could not be made a party as the CJP did not have a registered office or letterhead He also questioned how a protest could be held without requisite permission and urged the top court to consider the issue before September 5However the CJI Kantled Bench remained disinclined to preempt the actions of the organisers observing that the Union and Delhi authorities would have to ensure that law and order was maintained within the legal frameworkThe Supreme Courts observations came after the CJP announced a peaceful protest march from India Gate to the New Delhi Police Headquarters on September 5 alleging that the Centre had failed to honour commitments made to young people on July 25The party had said the march would be led by families of deceased NEET victims and victims of alleged police brutality and would be joined by students and young citizens from across the countryIn its statement announcing the march the CJP alleged that the government had delayed implementation of commitments made to the youth and had avoided giving clear assurances even before the Supreme CourtThe party had also referred to the August 18 proceedings before the Supreme Court claiming that the apex court had repeatedly sought a list of FIRs registered across the country so that it could consider the issue of their collective quashingThe CJP had alleged that the government had not given a clear commitment on the issue and said its written assurance to the organisation was still awaitedWe announce a peaceful protest march from India Gate to the New Delhi Police Headquarters on September 5 led by the families of the deceased NEET victims and victims of police brutality and joined by students and young citizens from across the country the party had saidThe CJP had said it was being forced to return to the streets over what it described as a vishwasghaat betrayal with the GenZ generation and families who had lost their childrenThe party had appealed to students youth organisations and young citizens to gather at India Gate and participate peacefully in the marchThe Supreme Court is now scheduled to hear the application in detail on September 10 along with other pending matters concerning the CJPlinked student protestsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-refuses-to-stop-cjps-sept-5-protest-march-asks-petitioner-to-approach-centre-699739.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mayawati-cautions-voters-against-freebie-culture-and-politics-of-deception-ahead-of-2027-up-polls-699749.html Lucknow Aug 31 IANS With Uttar Pradesh Assembly election 2027 around the corner the Bahujan Samaj Party BSP chief Mayawati on Monday hit out at rival parties over what she described as attempts to influence voters through freebies attractive promises and preelection announcementsnbspnbspShe urged the electorate to remain vigilant against efforts to secure votes by offering personal benefits She also instructed the party workers and leaders from state level to boothlevel committees to speed up preparations for bringing the BSP back to power in Uttar PradeshReviewing the partys election preparedness at a meeting in Lucknow Mayawati reviewed progress on candidate selection organisational strengthening and boothlevel activities She called upon party workers to accelerate campaign efforts and work more effectively to expand the BSPs outreachThe BSP supremo said party leaders and workers must counter the tactics of rival parties and work with full strength to ensure the BSP forms the next government in the stateShe expressed concern over attempts by the political parties to sway voters particularly women through freebies incentives and electiontime promisesnbspAccording to her repeated instances of governments failing to fulfil commitments after elections have made it necessary to warn voters in advance against what she termed electoral deceptionMayawati appealed to voters to exercise their franchise freely without any influence from rival parties She said the issue should be viewed not merely from a political point of view but also from the perspective of national and public interestShe criticised governments in various states for alleged unfulfilled promises betrayal of public trust and negligence towards public welfare asserting that the BSP continues to oppose such practicesShe also referred to growing public dissatisfaction saying even younger generations including Gen Z and Gen Alpha are increasingly speaking out against what they perceive as antipeople policies and are facing legal and administrative action in the process Governments she said have a constitutional responsibility to work for citizens throughout their tenure rather than relying solely on poll season announcementsTargeting governments over inflation poverty unemployment and underdevelopment Mayawati said these challenges were forcing many people from Uttar Pradesh to migrate to other states in search of opportunities She argued that electoral promises made during campaigns often fail to provide lasting solutions to citizens problems and amount to little more than political rhetoricHighlighting the BSPs record in office she claimed that her government had worked continuously without waiting for electoral considerations and had delivered significant achievements in social transformation and economic empowermentThe meeting also discussed preparations for the October 9 death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram Mayawati directed party workers to organise the programme with full dedication to the movements missionnbspShe said the event would be held at the Kanshi Ram Memorial complex near the Buddha Smriti Upvan on Lucknows VIP Road and would draw participants from across the state including western Uttar PradeshIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mayawati-cautions-voters-against-freebie-culture-and-politics-of-deception-ahead-of-2027-up-polls-699749.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-uzbekistan-elevate-ties-to-comprehensive-strategic-partnership-pm-modi-699683.html Tashkent Aug 30 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that the ties between India and Uzbekistan have been elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic PartnershipIn his remarks after being conferred with Uzbekistans highest honour the Oliy Darajali Dostlik Order PM Modi hailed President Shavkat Mirziyoyevs efforts to strengthen ties between the two nationsOur ties have continuously strengthened thanks to your visionary leadership and your friendship towards India They are successfully scaling new heights and as a result our relationship has now been elevated to the level of a Comprehensive Strategic PartnershipPM Modi dedicated the award to the centuriesold friendship and shared heritage between the two nations and said that it is an honour for all 14 billion IndiansIt is a moment of great pride for me to be honoured with Uzbekistans highest award You used a word Dostlik with which the people of India are also very familiar There is hardly a family in our country that does not use the word Dost friend a hundred times a day and today you have truly embodied the essence of Dostlik Dostlik means friendship This very word perfectly encapsulates the core sentiment underlying the relationship between India and Uzbekistan he saidThis honour is not for a single individual it is an honour for all 14 billion Indians On behalf of all my fellow citizens I express my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Uzbekistan the government and my friend the respected President I accept this high honour with deep humility and respectfully dedicate it to the centuriesold friendship and shared heritage between our two nations he addedPM Modi was conferred with Uzbekistans highest honour by the Uzbek President in recognition of his contribution to strengthening bilateral tiesPM Modi expressed Indias readiness to remain steadfast in upholding its friendship with Uzbekistan He said that India and Uzbekistan will serve as a united voice for the Global SouthWhile an award certainly brings pride and honour I am fully aware that it also carries a profound responsibility a responsibility I deeply feel as I accept this award today From this historic soil of Uzbekistan I wish to assure the people of Uzbekistan that India will never shy away from its responsibilities and will remain steadfast in upholding this friendship Together and with unwavering dedication our two nations will serve as a united voice for the Global South We will spare no effort in working for the welfare of the Global South and will strive wholeheartedly to fulfil the mission of advancing the wellbeing of all humanity PM Modi saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-uzbekistan-elevate-ties-to-comprehensive-strategic-partnership-pm-modi-699683.html Sun, 30 Aug 2026 16:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-hands-over-fourth-consignment-of-relief-materials-to-flood-hit-nepal-699684.html Kathmandu Aug 30 IANS India has handed over relief materials for flood victims in Nepal brought by its fourth flight carrying relief suppliesThe fourth flight carrying 11 tonnes of relief supplies has arrived in Nepal with the materials handed over to the concerned authorities as part of ongoing support following the devastating floods the Indian External Affairs Ministry saidThe consignment includes a tunnel technical team equipped with searchandrescue equipment as well as a team of forensic experts for DNA analysis The relief supplies include blankets sleeping bags tarpaulins plastic sheets and hygiene kitsEarlier External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote on social media platform X that the fourth Indian flight had touched down in Kathmandu It brings essential supplies and technical capabilities to support Nepals ongoing rescue and relief operations he wroteBefore the departure of the Indian Air Force IAF C130 aircraft for Nepal Minister Jaishankar wrote on X that the plane was carrying a tunnel technical contingent equipped with searchandrescue equipment a team of forensic experts and forensic equipment for DNA analysis and relief supplies including blankets sleeping bags tarpaulins plastic sheets and hygiene kitsAdditionally 16 trucks carrying equipment for a 230foot singlelane modular steel bridge have reached Nepal Minister Jaishankar saidHe also announced that equipment for the installation of seven more Bailey bridges would soon be supplied while technical teams for their installation are expected to arrive shortlyAccording to the ministry a total of 685 tonnes of relief materials comprising essential medicines portable generator sets food packets water purification tablets and technical equipment have been airlifted to KathmanduOur support to the relief and rescue efforts continues Minister Jaishankar saidMeanwhile the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority NDRRMA said the massive flood on August 26 has so far claimed 734 lives while 2498 people remain out of contact including 589 foreignersIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-hands-over-fourth-consignment-of-relief-materials-to-flood-hit-nepal-699684.html Sun, 30 Aug 2026 16:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-pg-2026-exams-held-over-265-lakh-candidates-appear-re-exams-at-two-centres-on-sep-5-699685.html New Delhi Aug 30 IANS The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences NBEMS successfully conducted the NEETPG 2026 examinations on Sunday with more than 265 lakh candidates taking the entrance test across the country in a secure and seamless processnbspThe examinations were slated for 273 lakh candidates at 1111 examination centres across 339 cities covering all 36 states and Union Territories As per official estimates a total of 265980 candidates appeared in the examinationsThe successful conduct of the examination across 1111 centres in 339 cities reflects the extensive coordination among examination authorities medical institutions faculty security agencies technology teams and other stakeholders involved in the nationwide exercise the examination body buoyed over the smooth test said in a statementThe nationwide examinations were by and large seamless and smooth barring a technical disruption in Jaipur where it couldnt be completed for 2445 candidates due to power supply issuesThe reexamination of the affected candidates will be conducted in Jaipur on September 5 in the second halfExpressing regret over the inconvenience caused to the affected candidates the NBEMS said that steps have been taken to provide fair and equitable opportunity to all students and the affected ones will be provided with venue details and other examinationrelated instructions soonThe NBEMS further said that the examinations were supported by realtime monitoring and adequate security measures A total of 2527 faculty members were appointed as Independent Appraisers to oversee the conduct of the examination In addition more than 700 senior faculty members including Deans Directors Medical Superintendents and senior professors were deployed as Flying Squad membersTo strengthen coordination and monitoring 16 NBEMS Regional Command Centres were made operational across the countryThe examination centres were also placed under live CCTV surveillance which was continuously monitored from the NBEMS Command Centre at its Headquarters in Dwarka A dedicated team of 190 personnel from NBEMS and TCS was deployed for realtime surveillance and monitoringThe NBEMS in its statement also appreciated the cooperation patience and trust of the candidates while acknowledging the efforts of personnel and institutions associated with the conduct of NEETPG 2026IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-pg-2026-exams-held-over-265-lakh-candidates-appear-re-exams-at-two-centres-on-sep-5-699685.html Sun, 30 Aug 2026 16:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/nepal-flash-floods-congress-expresses-solidarity-says-india-will-continue-to-be-trusted-partner-699648.html New Delhi Aug 29 IANS The Congress on Saturday sent its deepest condolences and expressed solidarity with the people of Nepal following the devastation caused by the flash floods which have claimed over 650 lives and have left hundreds missing The party said that India is ready to assist the Himalayan nation as a trusted partner in times of crisisAccording to Nepals National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority NDRRMA a total of 626 bodies recovered from the floods had been collected as of Saturday at 10 amIn a statement the Congress party said On behalf of the people of India the Indian National Congress conveys our deepest condolences and solidarity with the people of Nepal in the wake of the devastating flash floods that have claimed hundreds of lives and caused severe economic and humanitarian damage Our thoughts are with the bereaved families and all those still awaiting news of their loved onesStressing the longstanding ties with the neighbouring nation the party said India and Nepal share a civilisational bond that predates the modern nationstate rooted in common faith culture and the Himalayan ecology that has bound our peoples for millenniaIt was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who first institutionalised this kinship through the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship envisioning a relationship defined by openness and mutual careThe Indian people are ready to assist tangibly in a way that the people of Nepal see fit and we will continue to be a trusted partner of Nepal as it steers through this crisis Congress addedMeanwhile India has rushed tonnes of emergency humanitarian aid and specialised rescue teams to Nepal following catastrophic flash floodsEarlier in the day Nepalese President Ramchandra Paudel expressed gratitude for the support extended by the Indian government following the devastating flash floods in Nepal that left hundreds dead and caused widespread destruction He also thanked his Indian counterpart Droupadi Murmu for her concernPresident Paudel also conveyed condolences over the tragic loss of Indian lives in the aftermath of the catastrophic flood on WednesdayThe massive flash flood that struck Nepal on Wednesday originated in the Tibetan region of China It swept through the transboundary Bhote Koshi River leaving a trail of destruction in the countryThe bodies are being recovered from riverbanks in several downstream districts along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems including Rasuwa Nuwakot and Dhading Chitwan Gorkha Tanahun Nawalparasi East and Nawalparasi WestThe officials said that the death toll is expected to rise as the search and rescue operations continueIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/nepal-flash-floods-congress-expresses-solidarity-says-india-will-continue-to-be-trusted-partner-699648.html Sat, 29 Aug 2026 16:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rajnath-singh-tells-youth-to-rely-on-constitutional-means-to-bring-about-change-699649.html Lucknow Aug 29 IANS Calling upon students to help build Viksit Bharat by 2047 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday emphasised the importance of constitutional methods in bringing about social transformation and questioning injusticeAddressing students at the convocation ceremony of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Lucknow Rajnath Singh said Dr Ambedkars mantra of Educate Agitate and Organise means acquiring knowledge questioning injustice not by violence but through constitutional means and uniting to bring about change through democratic methodsHe said that Dr Ambedkar in his final speech to the Constituent Assembly had clearly stated that social and economic objectives must be pursued through constitutional meansBabasaheb had warned that when democratic and constitutional avenues are available resorting to violence anarchy or unconstitutional methods cannot be justified said Rajnath Singh describing such methods as a grammar of anarchy that must be abandonedAsserting that the world is changing rapidly with new technologies and innovations creating fresh opportunities the Defence Minister urged the students to remain committed to continuous learning and adaptabilityThose willing to continuously learn and acquire new skills will be best equipped to progress in a rapidly evolving world he saidHe said that universities should focus on shaping young minds inspired by the ideals of justice equality liberty and fraternity enabling them to contribute meaningfully to nationbuildingHighlighting the importance of holistic education he stated that true education develops the ability to think and understand while honing practical and problemsolving skillsUnderscoring the importance of collective effort in nationbuilding Rajnath Singh said that while individual efforts can contribute to progress a united resolve can accelerate the pace of development manifoldHe called upon the students to work as part of Team India contributing towards the shared goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047On the significant progress made in the education research and innovation ecosystem over the past 12 years Rajnath Singh said that expenditure on research and development has doubled the National Education Policy has been introduced after 34 years and Indian youth are excelling in international Olympiads launching startups building unicorns and developing advanced technologiesHe added that India is increasingly becoming a global innovation powerhouse as it has risen in the Global Innovation Index and emerged as the worlds thirdlargest startup ecosystemHe assured that the Government will continue to create an ecosystem where the youth can explore innovate experiment create and develop solutions for a better societyIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rajnath-singh-tells-youth-to-rely-on-constitutional-means-to-bring-about-change-699649.html Sat, 29 Aug 2026 16:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-pg-2026-to-be-held-for-over-273-lakh-medical-graduates-tomorrow-699650.html New Delhi Aug 29 IANS The National EligibilitycumEntrance TestPost Graduate NEETPG 2026 will be held across 1300 centres in 340 cities across the country on Sunday with more than 273 lakh medical graduates expected to appear in the exam an official saidThe National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences NBEMS had released NEETPG 2026 admit card on August 26 the official saidA total of 273183 candidates had registered for NEETPG 2026 representing an increase of more than 125 per cent compared to the previous year the official said adding that the exam will be conducted in a single shiftClearing NEETPG allows doctors to secure seats in various advanced medical courses across government and private colleges and pursue courses including MD Doctor of Medicine and MS Master of SurgeryEarlier Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda reviewed the preparedness for NEETPG 2026The Union Minister directed all stakeholders to ensure a smooth secure transparent and technologyenabled examination processFor maintaining the integrity of the exam the authorities are relying on an extensive security framework which includes CCTV surveillance biometric verification frisking signal jammers dynamic computer allocation live monitoring through central and regional command centres and deployment of more than 60000 examination personnelNadda urged candidates not to be misled by rumours or fraudulent claims relating to the examinationHe highlighted that the final question paper is selected through a highly secure encrypted and timebound process shortly before the commencement of the examination with multiple layers of technological and operational safeguards ensuring its confidentiality until the scheduled start timeAny claim of prior access to the question paper by anyone is therefore entirely false and intended to mislead candidates Union Minister Nadda saidHe advised aspirants to rely only on official communications issued by NBEMS and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and to promptly report any suspicious activities or attempts at unfair practicesUnion Minister Nadda during the highlevel review meeting assessed the preparedness of the NBEMS technology partners and other agencies involved in conducting the examinationAccording to a press statement officials briefed him on examination logistics candidate facilitation measures security arrangements and the technologydriven interventions introduced for this years testUnion Minister Nadda asked officials to ensure that every effort is made to uphold the highest standards of fairness integrity and securityHe also told them to ensure a candidatefriendly examination experienceSeveral studentcentric reforms have been introduced this yearAccording to information candidates could indicate three state preferences for test centres with their correspondence state as the mandatory first preferenceThe information regarding the test city was communicated nearly three weeks in advance With this communication students got sufficient time to plan travel and accommodation officials addedThe examination pattern has also been revised to 180 questions to be completed in 210 minutes This would ensure that candidates have more time per questionAadhaarbased authentication has been integrated during both registration and examinationSimilarly irisbased biometric verification will serve as a backup where fingerprint authentication failsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-pg-2026-to-be-held-for-over-273-lakh-medical-graduates-tomorrow-699650.html Sat, 29 Aug 2026 16:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/after-cm-adhikaris-instruction-kolkata-police-register-suo-motu-fir-against-mamata-banerjee-699647.html Kolkata Aug 29 IANS Following the instruction from West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari earlier in the day the Kolkata Police on Saturday registered a suo motu FIR against former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over violation of a Calcutta High Court order at the foundation day rally of Trinamool Congress student wing Trinamool Chhatra Parishad TMCP on FridaynbspIn the FIR registered at the Hastings Police Station in South Kolkata the former Chief Minister has been accused of violating the Calcutta High Court order which imposed some restrictions on organising the TMCP rally at Cathedral Road in central Kolkata on FridayIn the FIR she has also been accused of continuing the programme at Cathedral Road beyond the time limit prescribed by the Calcutta High Court In the FIR charges have been brought against Mamata Banerjees followers for engaging in scuffles with the police personnel present there and also obstructing them from performing their dutiesOf the restrictions set by the Calcutta High Court for the rally the most important was that the rally should be restricted to a single lane and the second lane should be kept free for traffic movement The Calcutta High Court had fixed the rally time between 12 noon and 3 pmBut in reality it was witnessed that both the lanes were blocked for a substantial period of time since the programme started thus creating tremendous traffic congestion in the area At the same time the programme continued well beyond the courtfixed limit of 3 pm according to the policeMamata Banerjee has also been accused of inciting her followers to violate the courtimposed restrictions According to the police because of her instigation her followers were encouraged to violate the courtimposed restrictions and also enter into scuffles with the police personnel present thereEarlier in the day CM Adhikari informed that he has directed the police to register an FIR against his predecessor in the matter Adhikari said that he had also directed the police to approach the Calcutta High Court in the matter informing the latter of how the courtfixed restrictions were violatedThe Court clearly directed them to conduct the rally keeping one of the two lanes free for traffic movement The former Chief Minister assembled people and blocked both the lanes I have directed the police to register an FIR in the matter I have also directed the police to approach the Calcutta High Court in the matter The matter will not be taken so easily the Chief Minister said earlier in the dayIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/after-cm-adhikaris-instruction-kolkata-police-register-suo-motu-fir-against-mamata-banerjee-699647.html Sat, 29 Aug 2026 16:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/nepal-floods-eam-jaishankar-discusses-relief-and-rescue-efforts-with-mea-officials-indian-missions-in-kathmandu-and-beijing-699518.html New Delhi Aug 28 IANS External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday held a meeting with officials of the Ministry of External Affairs MEA and the Embassies in Kathmandu and Beijing to discuss the relief and rescue efforts for Nepal in the wake of the deadly floodsDuring the meeting MEA officials informed about the relief supplies that will be sent to Nepal Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal and other officials were present during the meetingFollowing the meeting EAM Jaishankar said Discussed the relief and rescue efforts underway in Nepal today Our Embassies in Kathmandu and Beijing provided an updated picture in respect of the status and wellbeing of Indian nationals The concerned MEA Divisions apprised us of the further relief supplies to be sent to Nepal We give highest priority to this issueThe meeting comes as catastrophic flash floods in Nepals Bhote Koshi River have led to the death of 469 people while 977 people remain out of contactAddressing a press briefing on the Nepal disaster here on Thursday MEA spokesperson Jaiswal said that India will send Bailey bridges to assist Nepal in the rescue and relief efforts after the flash floods He said that India has sent 475 tonnes of relief material to Nepal through two aircraftTwo aircraft with humanitarian assistance have been sent to Kathmandu A C130J aircraft took off yesterday Wednesday at around 830 pm carrying 10 tonnes of relief material including temporary shelters blankets hygiene kits solar lamps medicines etc And then this morning a C17 aircraft departed with 375 tonnes of supplies comprising 285 tonnes of relief items such as tents blankets hygiene kits solar lamps dewatering pumps kitchen sets gensets etc eight tonnes of medicines and one tonne of food items he saidIn total across the two departures by air India has sent 475 tonnes of emergency supplies aimed at supporting Nepals ongoing rescue and relief operations Let me say that further assistance is also being considered We are also mobilising Bailey bridges to assist in rescue and relief efforts he addedThe floods believed to have been triggered by an avalanche on a transboundary river between Nepal and China upstream of the Bhote Koshi River have left a trail of destruction along the riverbanks downstream sweeping away several human settlements roads hydropower projects and transmission infrastructure among other facilitiesAccording to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority NDRRMA 469 bodies have been recovered from various districts with the highest number 178 bodies recovered in Chitwan district followed by 110 in Nawalparasi East Likewise 44 bodies were recovered in Gorkha 37 in Nuwakot 28 in Tanahun 27 in Nawalparasi West 23 in Dhading and 12 in Rasuwa the authority saidOf the 977 people out of contact 517 are foreign nationals The MEA said on Thursday night that as many as 290 Indians remain out of contact in the aftermath of the deadly floods in the Bhote Koshi River The United States said that approximately 90 Americans may have been affected by the floods in Nepal while China said that nearly 100 Chinese nationals remain missing on the Nepali sideAmong those out of contact 127 Nepalis residing abroad are also missing according to the authority The latest update also said that those out of contact include 28 Nepal Police personnel 45 Nepal Army personnel 13 Armed Police Force personnel 15 Customs Office staff and four Immigration Office staffAt least 73 people have been injured in the disaster including 43 in Rasuwa three in Dhading and 27 in Nuwakot the authority saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/nepal-floods-eam-jaishankar-discusses-relief-and-rescue-efforts-with-mea-officials-indian-missions-in-kathmandu-and-beijing-699518.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/trinamool-billboard-row-mamata-banerjee-led-faction-approaches-calcutta-hc-699520.html Kolkata Aug 28 IANS The faction in the Trinamool Congress led by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday approached a special singlejudge bench of the Calcutta High Court in connection with the row over the removal of an illegal billboard from the roof of the partys MP Abhishek Banerjees office on Camac Street in Central KolkatanbspTrinamool Congress counsel Kishore Dutta the former advocate general of West Bengal drew the courts attention to the matter The special singlejudge bench of Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury gave permission to file a case in the matterHowever a decision on Trinamools plea for a hearing on an urgent basis on Friday is pendingThe petitioners counsel informed Justice Basu Chowdhurys bench that on Thursday at 445 pm Kolkata Municipal Corporation KMC staff went to the said Camac Street office and started dismantling the billboardDutta also informed the court that the office of the Calcutta High Courts Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakrabarty was informed about the matter on Thursday and the latter asked the petitioner to draw the attention of Justice Basu Chowdhurys singlejudge benchAfter that Trinamool Congress counsel requested the bench to hear the case as soon as possible on an urgent basisHowever Justice Chowdhury asked the Trinamool Congress counsel to first register the case and approach his bench with the case number The judge also observed that he would not be able to hear the matter until the case number was availableJustice Chowdhury also said that a hearing in the matter will be conducted on Friday but only after the case number was available He also asked the petitioner to inform other parties in the case namely KMC and Kolkata Police about the matterOn Thursday tension broke out on Camac Street after KMC officials accompanied by Kolkata Police personnel reached the office of Abhishek Banerjee the partys Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member and also the nephew of Mamata Banerjee to remove an illegal billboardThe billboard was removed ultimately after two rounds of scuffles between the cops and Trinamool Congress activists On Thursday Abhishek informed that he would approach the Calcutta High Court in the matterIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/trinamool-billboard-row-mamata-banerjee-led-faction-approaches-calcutta-hc-699520.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ex-mill-sugar-prices-fall-20-per-cent-retail-prices-too-start-declining-govt-699521.html New Delhi Aug 28 IANS Exmill sugar prices in India have declined by around 20 per cent while retail sugar prices have also started coming down and given the normal transmission of changes through the supply chain retail prices are expected to follow the downward movement in prices shortly the Ministry of Consumer Affairs Food Public Distribution said on FridaynbspThe government has been closely monitoring sugar prices stocks and movement across the country and has taken a series of proactive measures to ensure that the benefit of adequate availability reaches consumers The downward trend in exmill and retail prices reflects that the sharp spike in prices witnessed recently was primarily on account of hoarding and speculation although the country carries adequate stocks of sugar the ministry statement saidA nationwide drive for physical verification of sugar stocks at mills has reaffirmed the comfortable availability position In several cases sugar mills were found to be holding stocks higher than those declared in their monthly returns submitted to the government The verification exercise has established that there is no shortage of sugar in the country and there is no justification for panic buying or excessive stocking it saidIn some cases sugar mills were also found to be resorting to short selling which means selling less sugar than the quantity allocated to them under the monthly quota Such practices tend to unnecessarily constrain market supplies despite adequate physical stocks the statement saidThe government has also observed that in certain cases sugar sold by mills at the beginning of the month was being dispatched or lifted by buyers only towards the end of the month This practice contributed to artificial scarcity in the market To address such issues and ensure that sugar reaches the market in a timely manner the government has decided to introduce a fortnightly sugar allocation system from September replacing the existing monthly quota system Under the fortnightly quota mills will be required to sell at least 40 per cent of the allocation in the first week and the remaining quantity in the succeeding weekSugar mills have already been directed to ensure that sugar sold is dispatched from the mill within seven days of sale The combination of fortnightly quota allocation and mandatory dispatch within seven days will significantly improve the movement of sugar through the supply chain It will ensure that sugar moves quickly from mills to dealers and ultimately to consumers while discouraging unnecessary accumulation and speculative holding of stocks Bulk consumers of sugar have also been advised not to accumulate stocks in excess of their operational requirementsSugarcane crushing for the new season will also commence from October 15 and it is expected that more than 10 LMT of sugar will be produced during the month The government has also permitted sugar mills to sell sugar produced during October without restriction ensuring that newseason production becomes available in the domestic market at the earliest Sugar production is expected to be around 45 LMT in November providing substantial additional supplies for domestic consumption the statement addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ex-mill-sugar-prices-fall-20-per-cent-retail-prices-too-start-declining-govt-699521.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/reminds-us-of-the-importance-of-family-values-andhra-governor-cm-greet-people-on-raksha-bandhan-699532.html Amaravati Aug 28 Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu have greeted people on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan on Friday Governor Abdul Nazeer conveyed his heartiest greetings and good wishes to the people He said the festival of Raksha Bandhan celebrates the sacred bond of love affection and mutual respect between brothers and sisters âIt reminds us of the importance of family values care protection and lifelong companionshipâ he said and wished this auspicious occasion would strengthen the bonds of love and unity among families and bring happiness peace and prosperity to allChief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also greeted people on Raksha Bandhan âMay this Raksha Bandhan festival a symbol of the bond between brothers and sisters fill your life with joy health and happiness On this Rakhi Pournami I sincerely wish that it spreads light in your lives fills them with bonds of loveâ he said in a post on XDeputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also conveyed his wishes to women âOn the occasion of Raksha Bandhan Rakhi Pournami which stands as a symbol of the affection and bond between brothers and sisters I extend my heartfelt wishes to all sistersâ he saidâRakhi Pournami is an emotionally charged symbol of the ties relationships and responsibilities intertwined with the Indian family system It is a festival that fosters a sense of brotherhood honors women and provides reassuranceâ the Deputy CM saidâOn this Rakhi Pournami we reiterate the coalition governments commitment to advancing womens safety and empowerment in the state The coalition government is already successfully implementing initiatives such as Deepam2 which provides three free gas cylinders per year Talli Ki Vandanam and Stree Shakti schemesâ he addedThe Jana Sena leader said the state was steadily progressing towards realising the dream of developing tribal villages Already 426 tribal hamlets have been connected by roads Through Adavitalli Baata Phase2 the government has initiated measures to further expand these roads âTo protect tribal women from the genetic disease Sickle Cell Anaemia we are establishing a special blood bank in Araku On this Rakhi Pournami we affirm our resolve to move forward toward the upliftment and empowerment of girls and womenâ Pawan Kalyan addedFormer Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy greeted women âYour love and affection are my greatest strength and give me immense courage I will always remain grateful for the warmth and affection you shower upon me as your brotherâ he saidThe YSR Congress Party chief wished that their lives are filled with happiness love strong bonds and good health IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/reminds-us-of-the-importance-of-family-values-andhra-governor-cm-greet-people-on-raksha-bandhan-699532.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/amid-row-over-daughters-remarks-telangana-minister-ties-rakhi-to-cm-699533.html Hyderabad Aug 28 Telanganaâs Minister for Forest Environment and Endowment Konda Surekha who faces disciplinary action over her daughterâs outbursts against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy tied him Rakhi on Friday on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan Apart from Surekha Minister for Panchayat Raj Rural Development Women amp Child Welfare Danasari Seethakka also tied Rakhi to the Chief Minister Amid the buzz that Surekha may be dropped from the Cabinet she called on the Chief Minister at the latterâs Jubilee Hills residence and tied him a RakhiSurekhaâs daughter Sushmitha has recently made certain remarks against the Chief Minister at a programme at Parkal in Warangal district She had accused the Chief Ministerâs family of corruptionIn response to the notice by the Disciplinary Committee of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee TPCC the minister had stated that she canât be held accountable for the views expressed by her daughter She asked the panel to take back the noticeTaking strong view of the ministerâs reply the Disciplinary Committee has reportedly recommended strong action against her for the indisciplineMeanwhile Minister for Panchayat Raj Rural Development Women amp Child Welfare Danasari Seethakka also tied Rakhi to the Chief MinisterRevanth Reddy treats Seethakka as her own sister and has publicly declared on several occasions their bond is stronger than blood relationState Womens Commission Chairperson Gadwal Vijayalakshmi members chairpersons of various corporations representatives of the Brahma Kumaris Mahila Congress leaders and students from the Government High School for Visually Impaired Girls in Malakpet also tied Rakhis to Chief Minister Revanth ReddyEarlier the Chief Minister extended heartfelt greetings to all sisters of the Telangana State on the occasion of the Rakhi PurnimaThe Chief Minister wished that everyone would celebrate the Rakhi festival which symbolises a strong bond between brothers and sisters with joy and happiness The CM hoped that every household would be blessed with happiness prosperity and good healthCM Revanth Reddy stated that the Peoples Governmentâ is striving to achieve the goal of economically empowering women and transforming them into millionaires A slew of welfare schemes and development programmes were already launched as part of the governments ambitious resolve to promote one crore women as crorepatis he saidGovernor Shiv Pratap Shukla also extended his warm greetings to the people on the joyous occasion of Raksha BandhanThe Governor said that Raksha Bandhan celebrates the sacred bond of love affection trust and togetherness between brothers and sisters as the Rakhi symbolises not only protection but also mutual respect care and unwavering supportHe wished that the festival would bring happiness peace prosperity and harmony to every family and strengthen the spirit of love and togetherness in society IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/amid-row-over-daughters-remarks-telangana-minister-ties-rakhi-to-cm-699533.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/indian-sim-cards-sent-to-pakistan-via-dubai-to-access-whatsapp-groups-delhi-police-bust-spy-module-699535.html New Delhi Aug 28 The Delhi Police Special Cell has busted a Pakistanbased espionage network that used Indian SIM cards procured through local contacts to access WhatsApp groups and allegedly gather sensitive information officials said on Friday The Special Cellâs Northern Range arrested a Delhibased couple Mohammad Sahil and his wife Sameera for working with Pakistani intelligence operatives since 2024 Police said the couple was also tasked with recruiting people for reconnaissance of cantonment areas at different locations in IndiaAccording to investigators the network procured Indian SIM cards through local contacts and sent them to Pakistan via Dubai The SIM cards were used there to activate WhatsApp accounts which Pakistani intelligence operatives subsequently used to gain access to Indian WhatsApp groups and approach Indian users for sensitive informationPolice said eight Indian SIM cards were sent to Pakistan through Dubai during 2024 and 2025 The couple was reportedly paid around Rs 30000 by Pakistani handlers for the cardsThe case came to light after the Special Cell received information about an ISIbacked Pakistani intelligence operative network active in DelhiNCR A team led by Inspectors Anuj Nautiyal and Chandan Kumar under the supervision of ACP Rahul Kumar Singh developed the intelligence and identified the alleged local linksSahil was arrested from Sarai Kale Khan During the forensic examination of his mobile phone police found incriminating conversations with Pakistani agentsDuring interrogation Sahil allegedly told investigators that he came in contact with a Pakistani agent on Instagram in 2024 through Sameera whom he later married The agent subsequently introduced the couple to a Pakistani intelligence operative who allegedly recruited them into the network after promising financial benefitsPolice said Sahil and Sameera provided logistical support to the network and were asked to recruit additional individuals for espionagerelated activities and field operationsSahil was assigned to recruit people for reconnaissance of cantonment areas and gather details about Army personnel whose courtmartial proceedings were pending before tribunalsFollowing Sahilâs interrogation police arrested Sameera who said that she played a key role in arranging and supplying Indian SIM cards to the Pakistani handlersTwo mobile phones used in the activities were recovered Their forensic examination reportedly revealed WhatsApp chats and other conversations between the couple and Pakistani handlersPolice said interrogation of the accused provided insights into the alleged modus operandi of the Pakistanbased operatives and their coordination with local contacts through digital communication platformsThe Special Cell said the operation helped disrupt the alleged espionage activities of the Pakistanbased network and uncover its local support structure in DelhiNCR IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/indian-sim-cards-sent-to-pakistan-via-dubai-to-access-whatsapp-groups-delhi-police-bust-spy-module-699535.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bihar-leaders-celebrate-raksha-bandhan-extend-greetings-to-people-699538.html Patna Aug 28 On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary celebrated the festival with his sisters who tied Rakhis on his wrist  Sharing photographs and a message on the social media platform X Choudhary said his sisters tied Rakhi with love and blessingsThe Chief Minister extended his greetings to the people of Bihar and prayed for happiness peace prosperity and wellbeing in the lives of all sisters and families He said the festival of brothersister love affection and trust should further strengthen family values and relationshipsEarlier on the occasion of Sawan Purnima CM Choudhary offered prayers to Lord Satyanarayan Bhagwan He prayed for the happiness peace and prosperity of the people of Bihar and expressed hope that the state would continue on the path of developmentCM Choudhary also shared the traditional mantra Jai Shri Satyanarayan Bhagwan Victory to Dharma destruction to AdharmaBihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary celebrated Raksha Bandhan at his Patna residence Sisters from the Brahma Kumaris organisation tied Rakhis to him He expressed gratitude for their affection and blessings and extended his greetings to the people of the stateLeader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav also conveyed his Raksha Bandhan wishes to the people of Bihar He described the festival as a symbol of unbreakable love affection trust and emotional bonds between brothers and sistersHe urged people to pledge on the occasion to respect and protect sisters daughters and women regarded as mother figuresJan Suraaj Party founder and Bankipur MLA Prashant Kishor also celebrated Raksha Bandhan at the party office where women tied Rakhis to him Kishor expressed his gratitude to the women who participated and extended his good wishes to them on the occasionThe festival of Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated across Bihar and the country with joy warmth and affection On this special occasion brothers and sisters are coming together to celebrate their bond of love and protection with sisters tying rakhi on their brothersâ wrists and exchanging heartfelt wishes IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bihar-leaders-celebrate-raksha-bandhan-extend-greetings-to-people-699538.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/seven-missing-andhra-fishermen-return-home-after-25-days-699544.html Amaravati Aug 28 Seven fishermen from Andhra Pradesh who went missing at sea early this month safely returned home on Friday officials said The fishermen from Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district who had ventured into the sea for fishing on August 3 and subsequently went missing reached KakinadaThe fishermen who were found safe near Shankarpur fishing harbour off the West Bengal coast on Wednesday had a happy reunion with their families after 25 daysOfficials brought the fishermen back from West Bengal MLA V Kondababu MLC Rajashekhar and district officials received the fishermenThe fishermen set sail on a mechanised boat from Odalrevu fish landing point on August 3 but lost contact with their families four days later after they went deepsea fishing off the Andhra coast in search of tuna The fishermen were scheduled to return on August 12 and as they did not come back families became anxious and approached the authorities A massive search operation was launched in the Bay of Bengal for the missing fishermenOn Tuesday the search operation was intensified with the deployment of 15 Coast Guard vessels and four helicopters An extensive search operation was conducted in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard ICG the Navy and other relevant departments with support from the Central government On Wednesday afternoon local fishermen near the Shankarpur fishing harbour off the West Bengal coast found the boat with the missing fishermen on board They gave a cellphone to the missing fishermen who spoke to their family members in Andhra Pradesh confirming that they were safe The fishermen said that they were stranded at sea after the boat engine developed a technical snagThe fishermen on board the missing boat were identified as Kopanathi Ramakrishna Kollati Yesudasu Palepu Santa Rao Kollati Srinubabu Karri Rambabu Sangani Tatarao and Kataadi Satish KumarThe fishermen said they survived without food for more than three days in the sea before reaching the West Bengal coast IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/seven-missing-andhra-fishermen-return-home-after-25-days-699544.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/i-know-where-ias-officer-gyanendra-is-priyank-kharge-hits-back-at-kumaraswamy-699549.html Bengaluru Aug 28 Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Friday hit back at Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy over his allegations concerning IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar asserting that he knows the officerâs whereabouts and there is no need for him to disclose them to the BJP or JDS Home Minister Kharge was responding to Union Minister Kumaraswamyâs criticism over the alleged disappearance of Gyanendra Kumar who was reportedly associated with the recruitment examination process by the Karnataka State Public Service KPSC Reportedly his whereabouts are unknownKumaraswamy had questioned Khargeâs earlier statements about the officer and alleged that the government was protecting himAddressing reporters in Bengaluru Kharge asked âHas the IAS officer run away or is he with us What does Kumaraswamy know about itâKharge added that he knows where the officer is and has no obligation to disclose the information to Kumaraswamy or the BJPKharge said the officer had submitted a written request seeking leave and questioned whether the government should disbelieve an official who had formally sought permission He said the documents relating to the leave were available and added that the government would ascertain the facts when Gyanendra Kumar returnedâIf an officer asks for leave in writing should we not believe him How do we know whether he is lying When he comes back we will enquire whether he was lyingâ Kharge saidKharge also launched a sharp attack on Kumaraswamy and the JDS questioning whether the party needed to target him to remain politically relevantâAll these days I was needed by the BJP Now I am wanted by the JDS If they want to stay relevant by making allegations against me let them do itâ Kharge saidHe also referred to Kumaraswamyâs earlier criticism of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh RSS asking whether the JDS and BJP had forgotten his description of the RSS as a âpoisonous snakeââWhat should I comment about those who throw away principles and ethics for powerâ Kharge asked referring to the BJPJDS allianceKharge further alleged that attacking him had become a way for BJP and JDS leaders to gain political mileageâIf they scold Priyank Kharge they will get marks from Keshava Kripaâ he said referring to the RSS office in Bengaluru and alleged that leaders were making statements in the hope of getting political promotionsThe Home Minister also questioned Kumaraswamy over the Centreâs contribution to Karnataka and asked what the Union Minister had brought to the stateâIf you want to talk about the KPSC scam the BJP and JDS can talk about it But who made suspended KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar a member of the KPSC Who appointed him as chairmanâ Kharge askedHe also raised allegations circulating about Sahukarâs political connections and appointment including an unverified claim that he had paid Rs 200 crore to become KPSC president He also questioned Kumaraswamy about the presence of former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and State BJP President BY Vijayendras photographs at the residence of Shivashankarappa SahukarâIs it true These are allegations being made about by your own friendsâ Kharge said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/i-know-where-ias-officer-gyanendra-is-priyank-kharge-hits-back-at-kumaraswamy-699549.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/driver-killed-as-bus-rams-into-truck-on-delhi-mumbai-expressway-in-rajasthans-dausa-699554.html Jaipur Aug 28 A horrific road accident occurred on the DelhiMumbai Expressway in Rajasthanâs Dausa district on Friday leaving a bus driver dead and 21 passengers injured The accident took place on Raksha Bandhan turning the journey of families travelling home for the festival into a scene of panic and mourning The accident occurred in the morning near Gudhaliya village under the jurisdiction of Kolwa police stationAccording to preliminary information a sleeper bus operated by a private travel company was travelling from Ahmedabad to Delhi when it rammed into a truck moving ahead The collision was so severe that the front portion of the bus was completely mangledThe bus driver died on the spot while 21 passengers sustained injuriesThe loud impact alerted nearby villagers who rushed to the accident site and began helping passengers trapped inside the busPolice teams from Kolwa and Sadar police stations also reached the spot after receiving information about the crashAmbulances were arranged to transport the injured to Dausa District Hospital where they are undergoing treatmentDausa Superintendent of Police Piyush Dixit visited the accident site and took stock of the situationPolice officials and local residents worked together to rescue passengers and clear the affected areaThe accident caused traffic congestion on the DelhiMumbai Expressway for some timePolice deployed cranes to remove the damaged bus and truck from the road and subsequently restored the movement of trafficPolice have begun investigating the circumstances that led to the collision Further details regarding the cause of the accident and the condition of the injured passengers are awaitedRecently in another horrifying accident three women were run over by a speeding car on the JaipurBandikui Expressway near Booj village in Jaipurâs Jamwaramgarh area on August 23 The women were clearing weeds along the expressway Two women died on the spot while the third succumbed to her injuries during treatment IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/driver-killed-as-bus-rams-into-truck-on-delhi-mumbai-expressway-in-rajasthans-dausa-699554.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pakistani-drug-cartels-seek-to-tap-punjabs-unemployed-youth-for-courier-network-police-launch-crackdown-699560.html New Delhi Aug 28 The narcotic cartels that are operating from Pakistan are increasingly scouting for unemployed youth in Punjab to pick up and deliver drugs Tarn Taran in Punjab a purported hub of cross border smuggling has been the primary focus of the narcotic cartels Most of the drugs are dropped off here and 99 per cent of the deliveries are reportedly undertaken by dronesAn Intelligence Bureau official said that these cartels have been luring youth in very large numbers to be their couriers What has been luring the youth into doing work for these cartels is the huge sum of money that they get paid The payments for each pick and delivery ranges between Rs 20000 to Rs 40000This is huge money and the unemployed youth are easily lured by these cartels the official explained Moreover the youth easily agree because the job is easier when compared to the earlier style of operations the official addedBefore the drones were used these couriers had to wait near the border areas evade security and then collect the drugs from the person coming from the Pakistani side Thanks to these highly sophisticated drones the narcotic cartels are able to dodge security agencies most of the timesFurther the drones drop off the narcotics deep into Indian territory thus making it easier and less risky for the couriers to pick upAn official while explaining the scale of operations undertaken by the narcotics mafia says that every day there are nearly 20 attempts made to drop off the drugs Even if 15 attempts go through it is a huge success for the cartels Moreover for the unemployed youth the more the merrier as they get to earn much more the official saidAnother official said that the cartels have a pool over nearly 100 to 150 youth across the border areas who pick up and deliver drugs Each of these youth are allowed just two to three pickup and deliveries per month The youth are rotated regularly so that they do not come under the radar of the agencies the official saidThe youth who get to pick up and deliver drugs thrice a month too are happy as they get to earn in the range of Rs 60000 to Rs 120000 each month depending on the quantity they deal with officials sayAnother headache is the use of juveniles for such operations There are youth in the age group of 14 to 16 who have been employed for this jobJuveniles are not tried like adults under the Indian Penal Code or Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS Moreover the punishment for juveniles is reformative in nature and they are sent to detention and reform facilities and not to prison Further the levels of suspicion when it comes to 14 or 16 yearold is very less and this helps them evade security much easily officials sayThe Punjab police have upped the ante and have been cracking down on the supply chains However the challenge remains in tackling the deliveries that are made by using drones The Pakistan based cartels have superior drones and their technology is advancedThe newer drones are in fact linked to satellites and this helps in getting real time information about the security set up at the border areas This technology also helps in immediately recalling the drone if information suggests that there is a chance of it being shot down by the Indian security agenciesThe recruitment of the youth remains a major challenge It is the money that they are offered which has led to the employment of such a large number of youth The kind of money they earn if they do three pickups and deliveries is far more than what they would earn if they did a regular job an official explained IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pakistani-drug-cartels-seek-to-tap-punjabs-unemployed-youth-for-courier-network-police-launch-crackdown-699560.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-neighbour-emerges-as-mastermind-behind-elderly-couples-murder-bodies-hidden-in-box-bed-699562.html Jaipur Aug 28 The Rajasthan Police have solved the murder mystery surrounding the death of an elderly couple in Punavali village under the Saira police station area According to police the crime was committed with the intention of robbing the couple The alleged mastermind was their neighbour Kushal alias Khushi PaliwalFive accused have been arrested while a sixth suspect has been detained Police have also recovered the vehicle allegedly used in the crimeAccording to District Superintendent of Police Amrita Duhan the deceased Lahrilal Paliwal and his wife Radhabai lived in PunavaliOn the night of August 11 their son Manohar Lal who lives in Gujarat spoke to Radhabai over the phone When the couple could not be found at home the following day relatives and others began searching for them On August 14 their bodies were found inside a storage chest or bedding box kept in the housePolice investigation revealed that Kushal had allegedly been planning the crime for around a year and a half Police said he had taken loans from individuals and banks and was struggling to repay them Facing financial difficulties he allegedly decided to target the couple knowing that they often lived alone and kept jewellery and cash at home On August 9 Kushal allegedly arrived in Punavali with his associates Chandan Yadav Vikas Kharwad and Dilip ChaudharyThe group reportedly conducted a recce of the coupleâs house and the surrounding area Afterwards they travelled via Gogunda towards Panariyo Madri On their return they stayed at a hotel near the Gogunda toll plaza where police said they finalised their planKushal allegedly later involved his cousins Kishan Paliwal and Jeevan Paliwal in the scheme On August 10 Kushal and Chandan reportedly visited Lahrilalâs house againAs a neighbour Kushal was allowed inside and Radhabai served the two men a meal During the visit police said Kushal concealed a hammer that he found inside the house under his clothes However after noticing movement around the premises the two men left On the morning of August 11 Kushal and Chandan returned to the coupleâs house but left when they found the door locked Later that night Kishan and Jeevan allegedly arrived at the house on the pretext of showing a horoscope Lahrilal was upstairs at the timeAccording to police the two men distracted Radhabai allowing Kushal to enter the house and hide in the bathroom Kushal later messaged Kishan and Jeevan instructing them to leave Late that night Kushal allegedly opened the door and allowed Chandan Dilip and Vikas to enterPolice said the accused then went upstairs and killed Lahrilal by striking him on the head with a hammer Radhabai was allegedly strangled while she was sleeping in a downstairs roomThe accused then reportedly placed both bodies in plastic bags and hid them inside the storage compartment of a bed covering them with beddingUsing Radhabaiâs keys they allegedly opened the wardrobe and stole jewellery and cash Police said the accused also took the coupleâs mobile phones and later discarded them on a highway while the devices were still switched onInvestigators believe the suspects attempted to stage the scene to make it appear that the couple had left the house voluntarily During the investigation police analysed call records and location data from the deceased coupleâs mobile phones and questioned local residentsTechnical analysis and other investigative leads eventually directed investigators towards a suspicious car Police said the vehicle had been seen in the area on the nights of August 911 and again at around 5 am on August 12 Its presence was also recorded at the Kherwara toll plazaActing on information about the vehicle police expanded their investigation and allegedly established the involvement of Kushal Paliwal and his associatesThe arrested accused were identified as Kushal alias Khushi Paliwal 26 of Punavali currently residing in Surat Chandan Yadav 27 of Samastipur Bihar currently residing in Surat Dilip Chaudhary 30 of Surat Kishan Paliwal 21 of Punavali and Jeevan Paliwal 21 of Punavali Police have recovered the vehicle allegedly used in the crime while a sixth accused has been detained IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-neighbour-emerges-as-mastermind-behind-elderly-couples-murder-bodies-hidden-in-box-bed-699562.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:27:00 +0530