DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Tue, 30 Jun 2026 01:39:11 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-vijay-to-hold-first-joint-conference-with-district-collectors-police-officers-today-689421.html Chennai June 29 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay will hold his first joint conference with District Collectors and senior police officers on Monday since assuming office launching a twoday review of governance law and order and development priorities ahead of the presentation of the revised Budget for 202627 The June 2930 conference will bring together District Collectors and senior police officials from across the state to deliberate on 43 key governance issues covering public administration policing welfare agriculture health education and infrastructureChief Secretary M Sai Kumar held a preparatory interaction with Collectors and senior officials on Sunday ahead of the conference A major focus of the joint sessions will be strengthening law and order through measures to curb drug trafficking cybercrime illegal mining illicit liquor and tobacco sales corruptionfree public service delivery and crimes against womenOfficials will also review the execution of pending warrants monitoring of habitual offenders handling casterelated issues and the speedy disposal of cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO ActThe conference will also assess the implementation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act protection of senior citizens welfare of migrant workers road safety initiatives and the functioning of the Singapenn Adiradi Padai schemeCivic issues such as stray dog management and the efficiency of the Public Distribution System will also come up for discussionSeparate sessions for District Collectors will evaluate districtwise performance across key departments In the agriculture sector discussions will cover the Agristack farmersâ registry digital crop surveys farmersâ markets and Farmer Producer Organisations FPOsRevenue administration will come under review through discussions on online revenue services issuance and transfer of pattas identification of land for public infrastructure projects and disaster preparednessThe government will also deliberate on the retrieval of encroached temple lands and measures to improve civic amenities around templesOther agenda items include expansion of rooftop solar projects and green energy initiatives tuberculosis control screening for noncommunicable diseases higher education enrolment prevention of ragging school enrolment and infrastructure promotion of Tamil in administration the functioning of eSevai and Aadhaar centres MSME loan disbursement drinking water supply housing schemes including housesite pattas and the Maaman Seer Scheme welfare measures for unorganised workers and persons with disabilities restoration of water bodies eviction of encroachments and tourism development The conference is expected to set the governmentâs administrative priorities for the coming months IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-vijay-to-hold-first-joint-conference-with-district-collectors-police-officers-today-689421.html Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tet-2026-paper-leak-oppn-walk-outs-of-maha-assembly-citing-govts-lack-of-concrete-response-689437.html Mumbai June 29 IANS Launching a scathing attack on the Maharashtra government the Opposition staged a walk out from the Assembly on Monday to protest against the recurring paper leaks in crucial examinations like NEET and TET saying that it has severely tarnished the states reputation nationwidenbspThe Opposition demanded the suspension of Question Hour seeking a debate on the Teacher Eligibility Test TET paper leaks As the Assembly proceedings commenced Opposition members moved an adjournment motion demanding an immediate discussion on the systemic failure to secure examination integrityAddressing the House Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar highlighted the immense emotional and financial toll on aspirantsnbspLakhs of students and teachers spend years working hard to prepare for these examinations However continuous paper leaks are completely washing away their hard work The government must answer to the people of Maharashtra as to why it repeatedly fails to conduct these exams transparently Wadettiwar saidnbspHe further asserted that the recurring papers leaks have created a deep sense of insecurity among millions of students parents and educatorsWadettiwar called for an exhaustive deep investigation into the TET 2026 paper leak case He demanded that investigators trace the entire supply chain including the paper setters involved corporate entities and private companies handling administrative logisticsnbspWhile acknowledging that three suspects have already been arrested Wadettiwar pointed out that emerging links connect the accused to networks in other states proving that an interstate racket is activeWadettiwar levelled grave political charges against the ruling Mahayuti alliance by recalling past examination scandals He specifically cited Abhishek Sawarikar an accused in the 2018 TET scam alleging that individuals involved in such scandals were later respectfully inducted into the BJPnbspRaising suspicion over corporate involvement the Congress leader questioned Are these examination scams administrative oversights or are they systemic statesponsored fraudsEmphasising that the future of Maharashtras youth hangs in the balance Wadettiwar demanded an extensive dedicated debate in the House alongside a clear road map from the government detailing stringent legal action against the culprits and foolproof preventative measures for the futurenbspAssembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar said that he had rejected the Oppositions notice for taking up adjournment motion on the TET paper leak issuing citing that it cannot be taken up today as the supplementary demands will be discussed in the House He also brought to the Oppositions notice that they have not given him notice under relevant rules seeking the suspension of Question HourSchool Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse said the Maharashtra government has taken the TET paper leak issue seriously and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has already announced a probe by a Special Investigation TeamnbspHowever the Opposition was not happy with the ministers reply citing that the government has failed to offer a definitive concrete strategy to counter the crisis or allow the Opposition to fully outline their stance Thereafter the Maha Vikas Aghadi staged a dramatic walkout from the Assembly in protestIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tet-2026-paper-leak-oppn-walk-outs-of-maha-assembly-citing-govts-lack-of-concrete-response-689437.html Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/drug-free-tn-womens-safety-dominate-cm-vijays-review-meeting-with-top-officials-689468.html Chennai June 29 DrugFree Tamil Nadu womenâs safety and the effective implementation of government welfare schemes dominated Chief Minister C Joseph Vijayâs review meeting with IAS and IPS officers on Monday as the TVK government held its first major administrative conference since assuming office The Chief Minister also reviewed the law and order situation across the state and outlined governance priorities during the highlevel meeting at Namakkal Kavignar Maligai in the SecretariatThe twoday conference brought together Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal senior secretaries to the government District Collectors Superintendents of Police Range Deputy Inspectors General Inspectors General of Police and senior Forest Department officials to assess the performance of key departments and review action plansAccording to official reports CM Vijay directed that the conference be conducted in three sessions covering the functioning of 28 government departmentsThe first session attended jointly by District Collectors and senior police officers focused on law and order district administration and the implementation of flagship government initiativesThe Chief Minister reviewed measures to strengthen womenâs safety and curb crimes such as chainsnatchingDiscussions also focused on improving accountability and transparency in policing enhancing intelligence gathering speeding up the execution of arrest warrants and closely monitoring habitual offenders rowdies and persons released on bailOfficials also assessed the prevailing law and order situation across districts including strategies to prevent casterelated conflicts and maintain communal harmonyA detailed review was held on the functioning of the Singappen Special Task Force progress in disposing of cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act and measures to tackle cybercrimes targeting women and childrenThe governmentâs DrugFree Tamil Nadu initiative also figured prominently during the meeting Officials reviewed awareness campaigns against narcotics in educational institutions enforcement against illicit liquor and steps being taken to curb the sale of banned tobacco productsThe second session of the conference has been reserved exclusively for District Collectors to review the implementation of welfare schemes and identify challenges in ensuring that government benefits reach the publicA third session involving Collectors and Indian Forest Service officers will focus on forest conservation and environmental managementThe conference will conclude on Tuesday with an address by Chief Minister Vijay who is also expected to present awards and commendations to District Collectors police officers and Forest Department personnel for outstanding performance IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/drug-free-tn-womens-safety-dominate-cm-vijays-review-meeting-with-top-officials-689468.html Mon, 29 Jun 2026 19:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pakistans-interior-ministry-orders-arrest-of-afghan-nationals-without-valid-visas-from-july-10-689469.html Islamabad June 29 Pakistans Ministry of Interior has ordered the immediate arrest of any Afghan national found living in the country without a valid visa from July 10 local media reported on Monday In an order issued to the Chief Secretaries of all provinces and the Islamabad Capital Territory the ministry said that the directive has been issued as per the decisions taken during a review meeting on the Illegal Foreignersâ Repatriation Plan IFRP on June 1 the daily Dawn reportedIn the notification the ministry said that during the meeting all provincial governments special area governments and the ICT Administration were directed to expedite the repatriationdeportation of Afghan nationals including visa overstay cases and to ensure strict implementation of the IFRPWith effect from July 10 2026 any Afghan national found residing in Pakistan without a valid visa shall be arrested immediately it readIt further said that necessary directives must be issued to all Deputy Commissioners district administrations police and other law enforcement agencies to ensure effective implementation of these ordersThe ministry has also ordered to prepare a report which has details about the number of Afghan nationals without valid visas in Pakistan action taken against them and their present status as of July 11The deportation drive launched by Pakistan in 2023 was renewed in April last year when the government rescinded hunÂdreds of thousands of residence permits for Afghans and warned them of arrests if they did not leaveOn May 22 United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned against the continued forced repatriation of Afghan refugees and asylumseekers from host countries to Afghanistan calling it a violation of international human rights and refugee lawAfghan women children and men continue to be pushed out of countries where they had sought safety forcing them to return to Afghanistan against their will and exposing them to grave risk he saidAccording to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR nearly 270000 Afghans have been deported to Afghanistan since the beginning of the year mainly from Iran and Pakistan with relatively smaller numbers from Turkey and Tajikistan This comes in addition to the over 12 million Afghan refugees deported from Iran and 150000 from Pakistan last yearThe UN human rights agency stressed that women and girls individuals affiliated with the former Afghan government and its security forces media workers civil society and members of the LGBTIQ community remain at grave risk of reprisals and human rights abusesReturning individuals at serious risk of human rights violations involuntarily to Afghanistan runs contrary to the core international law principle of nonrefoulement I urge States to abide by their international legal obligations and protect Afghans by not taking any action that exposes them to irreparable harm upon return Turk said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pakistans-interior-ministry-orders-arrest-of-afghan-nationals-without-valid-visas-from-july-10-689469.html Mon, 29 Jun 2026 19:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/railway-authorities-carry-out-eviction-drive-in-kolkatas-park-circus-station-area-689352.html Kolkata June 28 The railway authorities have conducted a significant eviction operation at the Park Circus station area in Kolkata clearing illegal shops from land owned by the Indian Railways Earlier this month the authorities issued notifications to the proprietors of these shops and local vendors instructing them to vacate their shops from the station premises and the surrounding lands in the Sealdah South Section of Eastern Railway However due to their noncompliance a bulldozer was deployed on Saturday night to demolish these shopsA large number of police Railway Protection Force RPF and Rapid Action Force RAF were deployed for this driveAfter the change of government in the state the Railways have been conducting drives to evict encroachments in the station areas Similar drives were held at several stations including Howrah Sealdah Dum Dum Jadavpur and Habra This time the drive was also launched at Park Circus station in KolkataLate Saturday night the Park Circus station premises were surrounded by railway police and the RAF Security was tightened to prevent any unrest First the Railways used loudspeakers to announce instructions to vacate the station area and railway land Some time was given to the traders to remove their belongings However none of the traders in the station area moved their goods After that a bulldozer was brought in and the illegal shops were demolished one by oneThe Park Circus station area has always been congested It is alleged that a large number of illegal shops had mushroomed at the station premises over the years The Railways have never been able to evict illegal hawkers at that station which is located in a minority communitydominated area There were allegations that railway passengers used to face harassment and crimes at various times while travelling to that stationAfter the BJP government came to power in the state it was decided that illegal hawkers would be evicted from the station premises The eviction drive lasted for about two and a half hoursMeanwhile the Kolkata Municipal Corporation KMC has also taken steps to remove illegal encroachments and shops under several flyovers across the cityIt was learnt that the KMC has issued notices to illegal hawkers to remove their shops from under the Sealdah flyover in North Kolkata and Sukanta Setu in the southern outskirts of the city Those who have illegally encroached on spaces under these two bridges have been asked to move out within the next seven days The KMC will take action in accordance with the provisions of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Act 1980 as mentioned in the notice IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/railway-authorities-carry-out-eviction-drive-in-kolkatas-park-circus-station-area-689352.html Sun, 28 Jun 2026 13:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/leaders-cutting-across-party-lines-in-telangana-pay-tributes-to-narasimha-rao-689358.html Hyderabad June 28 Leaders cutting across party lines in Telangana paid rich tributes to former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao on his 105th birth anniversary on Sunday Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy in a message paid tributes to the former Prime Minister acknowledging his âenduring contributions to the building of modern IndiaâHe hailed Narasimha Rao as a freedom fighter a polyglot and a visionary leader who ushered in economic reforms and steered the nation effectively through challenging timesThe Chief Minister stated that the services and ideals of PV Narasimha Rao a beloved son of Telangana a leader who made the nation proud and a brilliant intellectual would always serve as an inspiration for future generationsTelangana Pradesh Congress Committee TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud called Narasimha Rao one of Indiaâs most visionary statesmen âA scholar reformer and transformative leader his bold economic reforms in 1991 reshaped Indiaâs future and laid the foundation for a stronger globally competitive nation His wisdom administrative excellence and unwavering commitment to public service continue to inspire generations Remembering his remarkable legacy with gratitude and respectâ the state Congress chief posted on âXâLeaders of the ruling Congress the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi BRS Bharatiya Janata Party BJP and family members of the late leader visited PV Gnana Bhoomi PV Ghat on the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake here to pay floral tributesThey recalled the services of the late leader who was posthumously conferred the Bharat Ratna in 2024Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy former Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya state BJP president Ramchander Rao Narasimha Raoâs grandson and BJP leader NV Subhash were among those who visited PV GhatKishan Reddy said that Narasimha Rao was a visionary who paved the way for economic reformsâThe initiative and vision he demonstrated as Prime Minister regarding economic and policy reforms paved the way for the nations development His role in building modern India is truly memorableâ he saidBRS working president KT Rama Rao also paid rich tributes to Narasimha Rao hailing him as a pioneer of economic reforms a polyglot and a statesmanâIt is a matter of pride for all of us that PV Narasimha Rao who steered the nation out of a massive crisis during a turbulent period was born in Telanganaâ he said and recalled that the KCR government celebrated the centenary of Narasimha Rao on a grand scale Rama Rao said the BRS government named the Veterinary University after him renamed Necklace Road as PV Marg and installed a towering statue of him to commemorate his enduring legacyState BJP president Ramchander Rao stated that Narasimha Rao was a leader of immense intellect and foresight and the great architect of Indias economic reformsHe was the first Prime Minister from outside the NehruGandhi family to complete a full fiveyear term in officeâHowever the Congresss first family could never come to terms with this they believed that the right to the Prime Ministers office belonged solely to their family That is why even after completing his term as Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao did not receive the respect he deserved within the Congress partyâ he saidHe alleged that Narasimha Raoâs mortal remains were not even permitted to be kept at the Congress headquarters in Delhi for the public to pay their final respectsThe Congress insulted PV Narasimha Rao the architect of Indias economic liberalisation and historic economic reform and tried in every way to erase his legacy the BJP leader said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/leaders-cutting-across-party-lines-in-telangana-pay-tributes-to-narasimha-rao-689358.html Sun, 28 Jun 2026 14:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/our-vision-is-to-make-indian-ocean-into-ocean-of-opportunity-pm-modi--689371.html Victoria June 28 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the Indian Oceans security sustainability and prosperity are shared responsibilities of nations as he stressed that Indias vision for it is to make it an Ocean of OpportunityAddressing a joint press meet with Seychelles President Patrick Herminie following their meeting PM Modi said We believe the Indian Ocean is our shared home Its security sustainability and prosperity are our shared responsibility This sentiment is the basis of our MAHASAGAR visionIndia wants the Indian Ocean to pave the way for economic prosperity along with maritime security he saidThe message of my visit to Seychelles is clear India envisions an Indian Ocean where economic prosperity grows alongside maritime security where our partnerships are based on mutual respect and trust rather than size and where we move forward not merely in proximity to one another but together Our vision is to make the Indian Ocean into an Ocean of OpportunityPM Modi expressed gratitude to President Herminie for the warm welcome and honouring him with the Guardian of the Blue Horizon awardI express my heartfelt gratitude to President Herminie for our warm welcome and gracious hospitality Being honoured by him with the Guardian of the Blue Horizon is a matter of immense joy for me and 14 billion Indians While humbly accepting this honour I dedicate it to all those countries that are fighting the challenge of climate change and consider environmental conservation their duty towards future generationsHe noted that the Indian Ocean has nurtured the ties between India and Seychelles for years and has fostered trade culture and human connections between the two nationsMy visit takes place at a historic occasion as Seychelles marks 50 years of its independence and we celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Seychelles Over the course of these 50 years we have transformed friendship into trust trust into cooperation and cooperation into public welfare The Indian Ocean has nurtured the relationship between India and Seychelles for centuries its waves have continuously fostered trade culture and human connections between us he saidPM Modi announced that India and Seychelles will continue to explore new opportunities for the industries of both nations and efforts will be made to enhance connectivity between the two nationsThe joint vision issued during the Presidents visit to India in February of this year has laid the blueprint for our future partnership Building upon this our cooperation across all sectors is strengthening Today we discussed making our economic cooperation more resilient and futureready We will continue to explore new opportunities for the industries of both our nations Efforts will also be made to enhance connectivity between India and Seychelles This will not only boost our trade but also strengthen ties with East Africa and the Indian Ocean regionPM Modi termed digital technology an effective means to bridge the distance between the two nations and announced that India will share its successful experiences in digital public infrastructure with SeychellesIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/our-vision-is-to-make-indian-ocean-into-ocean-of-opportunity-pm-modi--689371.html Sun, 28 Jun 2026 16:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pinarayi-vijayan-seeks-sc-monitored-probe-into-ram-temple-embezzlement-case-689372.html Thiruvananthapuram June 28 IANS Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday demanded a Supreme Courtmonitored probe into allegations of largescale financial irregularities in donations collected from devotees and the public for the construction of the Ram Temple in AyodhyanbspnbspIn a Facebook post the senior CPIM leader and former Chief Minister described the reports of alleged financial misconduct as extremely serious and said they raised disturbing questions about the misuse of peoples faith and religious sentimentsHe alleged that those who had exploited public devotion for political gains had also engaged in organised financial fraud under its coverVijayan claimed that the trustees of the Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust had close links with organisations affiliated to the Sangh Parivar and said they were dutybound to explain how the money collected from millions of devotees had been spentHe asserted that the public had the right to know where the donations had gone The Opposition leader also called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to respond to the allegations noting that he had played a prominent role in the Ram Temple consecration ceremonyHe said the trust constituted by the Union government through an official parliamentary notification was now under a cloud of suspicion making accountability and transparency imperativeAccording to Vijayan the controversy surrounding the temple funds reflected what he described as the true character of Sangh Parivar politicsHe alleged that public faith had been exploited not only for political purposes but also for financial gainCalling for an impartial investigation Vijayan urged the Central government to order a highlevel inquiry under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court He maintained that only an independent judicially monitored investigation could establish the truth fix accountability and restore the confidence of millions of devotees who had contributed to the temple projectThe remarks made through his official Facebook post have added a fresh political dimension to the controversy over the management of donations collected for the construction of the Ayodhya Ram TempleEight people have been arrested by the SIT which is probing the caseIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pinarayi-vijayan-seeks-sc-monitored-probe-into-ram-temple-embezzlement-case-689372.html Sun, 28 Jun 2026 16:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ram-temple-embezzlement-police-recover-jewellery-documents-from-tinnu-yadavs-house-689375.html Ayodhya June 28 IANS Police on Sunday recovered jewellery and documents from the house of accused Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav after searches were conducted at the residences of all eight accused arrested in connection with the alleged misappropriation of donations and offerings at the Ram MandirnbspThis comes after the eight individuals were sent to threeday judicial custody on Friday They will stay in jail till June 29 and will be produced before a city court again on MondayAccording to police sources some cash and property documents were also recovered from the house of Yadav who is associated with the temple managementBy evening the police will complete an assessment to determine exactly what has been recovered from the premises of each accusedLater at night the investigators will decide whether to seek police custody of the accused again during the court hearing tomorrowOfficials have recovered some items from the residence of each accused and all the recovered materials are currently being verifiedEarlier in the day accused Tinnu Yadavs neighbour Tara Devi speaking to IANS referred to him as a brother and expressed faith in his innocenceAsserting that Yadav was a good person she claimed He is being framedKrishna Nand Tiwari a neighbour of accused Anukalp Mishra said Action is being taken brother Mishra or whoever is involved in this whoever has committed theft or wrongdoing they should be given the strictest punishment They should be ashamed of their act especially since it is related to God They have betrayed the faith of crores of devoteesAbout the accused he said Though he Mishra didnt come across as such a kind of person but one can never gauge anybodys intentionsAnother neighbour Anurag said he had known Mishra for around a year He was a person of good nature we used to greet each other whenever we met But I dont know if he had any malicious intention he told IANSA total of eight accused have been booked for alleged theft at the temple and all were subsequently arrested The FIR was registered at Ayodhya Kotwali police station on Thursday based on a complaint filed by Krishna Mohan a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra TrustThose named in the case include Ramshankar Yadav Trust employees Anukalp Mishra Lavkush Mishra Manish Yadav Karunesh Pandey Ramashankar Mishra and Avinash Shukla and retired bank employee Subhash SrivastavaThe filing of the case came soon after a threemember SIT flagged several irregularities at multiple levels in its preliminary reportThe police state that the entire episode of alleged theft will be uncovered based on interrogation of the accused and CCTVbased evidence If more names are revealed in the investigation action will be taken against them as wellThe preliminary probe has highlighted key roles played by each accused at various levels The role of Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav is particularly under increased scrutinyIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ram-temple-embezzlement-police-recover-jewellery-documents-from-tinnu-yadavs-house-689375.html Sun, 28 Jun 2026 16:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tripura-state-cooperative-bank-posts-rs-78-crore-net-profit-marks-7th-consecutive-year-of-profitability-689379.html Agartala June 28 Stateowned Tripura State Cooperative Bank TSCB has reported a record net profit of Rs 7808 crore for the financial year 202526 registering its seventh consecutive year of profitability senior bank officials said on Sunday TSCB Chairman Nagadhiraj Dutta and Managing Director Bhajan Chandra Roy highlighted the bankâs growing contribution to Tripuraâs rural economy and its continued financial growthDutta said the bank earned an operating profit of Rs 16608 crore during the 202526 fiscal registering a 40 per cent increase over the previous financial year 202425 âThe bankâs net profit stood at Rs 7808 crore in 202526 recording a growth of 103 per cent compared to the previous financial year 202425 This is the seventh consecutive year of profitability and the highestever net profit in the history of the Tripura State Cooperative Bankâ Dutta told IANSThe Tripura State Cooperative Bank Ltd was established on January 21 1957 making it the oldest cooperative bank in the Northeastern region The bank was set up under the Bombay Cooperative Societies Act and has since played a significant role in promoting cooperative banking and rural development in the stateThe TSCB Chairman further said the bankâs total business volume reached Rs 695092 crore during 202526 an increase of approximately Rs 28911 crore over the previous financial yearAt present the bank operates through a network of 67 branches and provides banking services through 12 ATMs across Tripura The 43rd Annual General Meeting AGM of the Tripura State Cooperative Bank was held at Nazrul Kalakshetra in Agartala on SaturdayAddressing the AGM Tripura Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy said cooperatives play a crucial role in strengthening the rural economy and that the TSCB has been making significant contributions to the socioeconomic development of people living in rural areas across the stateThe Finance Minister said the bank has been working to make small and marginal farmers as well as unemployed youth selfreliant by extending financial assistance under various schemes of the Central and state governmentsHe said the TSCB has been playing an important role in strengthening and enriching Tripuraâs rural economy Highlighting the bankâs performance Singha Roy said its CreditDeposit CD ratio stands at 66 per cent which is significantly higher than the stateâs average CD ratio of 55 per cent He stressed the need to further improve customer service quality and simplify lending procedures to enable small traders entrepreneurs and people to access institutional credit more easilySpeaking on the occasion Cooperation Minister Shuklacharan Noatia said the primary objective of the cooperative movement is to strengthen the rural economy and accelerate the stateâs financial developmentHe observed that cooperatives have a vital role to play in achieving the vision of a developed India and noted that many selfhelp groups SHGs in Tripura are becoming selfreliant by availing loans from cooperative banks and undertaking various incomegenerating activitiesDuring the programme the dignitaries unveiled the Annual Report of the Tripura State Cooperative Bank for the financial year 202526Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy inaugurated the new ATM counter of the bankâs Vikramnagar branch while Cooperation Minister Shuklacharan Noatia launched the bankâs mobile banking service on the Apple App Store On behalf of the TSCB a dividend amounting to Rs 1683 lakh was handed over to the Tripura governmentTSCB Chairman Nagadhiraj Dutta also presented the bankâs annual report for the financial year 202526 during the AGM IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tripura-state-cooperative-bank-posts-rs-78-crore-net-profit-marks-7th-consecutive-year-of-profitability-689379.html Sun, 28 Jun 2026 17:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sengottaiyan-defends-appointment-of-jana-nayagan-producer-as-tns-delhi-representative-689382.html Erode Tamil Nadu June 28 Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KA Sengottaiyan on Sunday defended the state governmentâs decision to appoint K Venkata Narayana a producer of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijayâs film Jana Nayagan as the Tamil Nadu governmentâs Special Representative in New Delhi Responding to criticism from the opposition Sengottaiyan said there was nothing wrong with the governmentâs decision to nominate Venkata Narayana for the postâAppointing government representatives is a policy decision Everyone in India has an equal right to that Therefore there is nothing wrong with the appointmentâ he saidThe Minister added that all those appointed by Chief Minister Vijay would work solely in the interests of Tamil Nadu and strive to represent the state effectively before the Union governmentThe State government recently issued an order appointing Karnataka native Venkata Narayana as its Special Representative in the national capital for a period of one year from the date he assumes officeBesides being a businessman Venkata Narayana is also one of the producers of Jana Nayagan Vijayâs final film before entering fulltime politicsThe appointment has however triggered sharp criticism from the Opposition DMK with senior leaders questioning both the choice of the appointee and the message it sends at a time when Tamil Nadu is engaged in several interstate disputes with KarnatakaDMK Rajya Sabha MP Tiruchi Siva in a post on X described the appointment as âsurprising and shockingâ pointing out that Venkataraman is from Karnataka He questioned whether the newly appointed representative would firmly safeguard Tamil Naduâs interests particularly on the contentious Mekedatu dam project proposed by Karnataka across the Cauvery riverSiva recalled that Chief Minister Vijay had categorically assured the Tamil Nadu Assembly that his government would never permit the Mekedatu project arguing that it would adversely affect irrigation and the livelihoods of farmers in the Cauvery delta In that context he said the government owed the people a clear explanation and assurance that the stateâs interests would remain fully protected despite the appointmentSenior DMK leader and Lok Sabha MP A Raja also launched an attack on the government accusing it of rewarding influential individuals with key positions while sidelining experienced policymakers and public representativesIn a strongly worded statement Raja questioned the governmentâs priorities and took a swipe at the ruling dispensationâs promise of ushering in âchangeâââChangeâ seems to have a pleasant fragrance Are we expected to hold our noses or should we remove the foul smell Long live democracyâ Raja remarked sarcasticallyThe appointment has emerged as the latest political flashpoint in Tamil Nadu with the Opposition demanding greater clarity on the rationale behind appointing a Karnataka native to represent the stateâs interests in New Delhi while the government has maintained that the decision was well within its executive powers and made solely in the interests of Tamil Nadu IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sengottaiyan-defends-appointment-of-jana-nayagan-producer-as-tns-delhi-representative-689382.html Sun, 28 Jun 2026 17:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/india-inc-gives-thumbs-up-as-gst-turns-10-689384.html New Delhi June 28 As GST considered the biggest tax reform since Indiaâs independence completes 9 years on July 1 it has also gained nearuniversal acceptance among businesses as a simple and trusted digital ecosystem according to the latest Deloitte Survey The next phase GST 20 will move beyond digitalisation to an intelligent predictive and integrated framework with businesses seeking AIdriven compliance dataled dispute reduction and a seamless unified taxpayer experience the report statedGST continues to enjoy strong and growing confidence across India Inc with more than 99 per cent of businesses reporting a positive and neutral experience and negative sentiment dropping to near zero down significantly from 5 per cent in 2025 and 10 per cent in 2022 This trust is driven by key improvements such as digitalisation of compliance 69 per cent automation of tax processes 54 per cent and the stabilisation of einvoicing and eway bill systems 48 per cent alongside greater transparency consistency and ease of doing business the report observedMSMEs are increasingly embracing quarterly return filing considering this as the top GST initiative which is evidenced by a sharp increase in positive response for implementation of the scheme from 12 per cent in 2023 to 67 per cent in 2026 the report statesThus it is evident that technologyled administration is pivotal as organisations increasingly depend on digital systems for enhanced accuracy speed and predictabilityThe impact of rate rationalisation is strongest in consumer 64 per cent and life sciences and healthcare 58 per cent but remains structurally driven with few sectors reporting no change in consumption Overall despite sectorspecific nuances expectations converge on a more simplified intelligent GST system the report pointed outGST replaced as many as 17 central and state taxes along with 13 cesses with a unified indirect tax system designed to create a common national market across India and eliminate double taxationFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has pointed out that the rollout of Goods and Services Tax GST 20 with rate cuts across the board has injected fresh momentum into Indiaâs growth story by enhancing household purchasing power easing business operations and simplifying tax administrationBy rationalising slabs and lowering rates across a range of consumer goods the reform has delivered tangible savings for households freeing up disposable income and helping stimulate demand she remarkedAfter beginning with multiple slabs of 5 12 18 and 28 per cent along with a cess on luxury and demerit goods the government introduced a revamped twotier framework from September 22 2025 Under the new structure most goods and services fall under either the 5 per cent or 18 per cent slab while a separate 40 per cent rate has been retained only for luxury and âsin goodsâ such as sugary drinksThe number of registered taxpayers has more than doubled over the past nine years rising from 665 lakh at launch to around 16 crore in 2026 reflecting greater formalisation of the economyAverage monthly GST collections have also nearly doubled from Rs 89700 crore in 201718 to Rs 185 lakh crore in FY26 with annual revenues surging to Rs 2227 lakh crore which represents an over 8 per cent jump over the previous year IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/india-inc-gives-thumbs-up-as-gst-turns-10-689384.html Sun, 28 Jun 2026 17:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/three-cases-filed-in-connection-with-clashes-in-amaravati-689386.html Amaravati June 28 Police in Andhra Pradeshs Amaravati capital region have registered three cases with regard to Saturdayâs clashes during a visit by leaders of the opposition YSR Congress Party A case under the SCST Prevention of Atrocities Act was registered against YSRCP leaders on a complaint by Manikyam a resident of PenumakaYSRCP leader and former minister Ambati Rambabu has been booked on a complaint by Tadepalli Circle Inspector Virendra Babu for allegedly restraining a police officer from performing his dutiesPolice have also registered a case against leaders of the Telugu Desam Party TDP on a complaint by YSRCP leader Narayana Murthy for damaging the window panes of carsA visit by YSRCP leaders and members of the CRDA Farmers Protection Committee to the capital region on Saturday led to tension and clashesAccording to the YSRCP the delegation visited Undavalli and nearby Penumaka following an invitation from farmers who have been protesting for several days against what they describe as forced land acquisitionThe leaders alleged that farmers are facing pressure for refusing to surrender their lands and claimed that soil was dug up around their fields preventing them from continuing cultivationThe YSRCP alleged that TDP activists attacked its leaders farmers and vehicles by pelting stones and throwing eggs Several vehicles were reportedly damaged during the violence The opposition also claimed that some police personnel deployed at the spot suffered injuries while trying to control the situationMeanwhile the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Botsa Satyanarayana on Sunday condemned the attack on YSRCP leaders and demanded stern action against those involved in it He alleged that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is running the government with the police and not with public supportHe told the media in Visakhapatnam that the law and order in the state has deteriorated and that there is a jungle raj in the state He said YSRCP MLCs and former ministers were going to Penumaka on the invitation of locals to observe the manner in which they are being harassedWhile they were on their way TDP goons stopped the convoy and attacked it The farmers had told our leaders about the harassment being meted out on them and our team was visiting them which is a democratic process The manner in which they carried out the attack shows that they are guilty of the charges of harassing the farmers who did not part with their land he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/three-cases-filed-in-connection-with-clashes-in-amaravati-689386.html Sun, 28 Jun 2026 17:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/this-is-why-people-dont-want-to-see-them-in-power-rijiju-roasts-congress-over-dictatorial-boast-689304.html New Delhi June 27 IANS Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday took a swipe at the Congress party and questioned its democratic integrity and adherence to the nations constitutional traditions while pointing to a dictatorial boast by a senior party leaderKiren Rijiju took to his social media handle on X to highlight the grand old partys disregard and disrespect for the nations democratic values and shared a remark by Pawan Khera Chairman Media ampamp Publicity Department of the Congress party where the latter allegedly made a threatening claim that the BJP leaders will be confined to their homes if the Congress govt comes to powerIf Congress comes to power BJP leaders will not even be able to step out on the streets read the X post shared by Kiren Rijiju attributing the remarks to Congress spokesperson Pawan KheraRijiju further said Thats why people wont bring such a dictatorial Congress party to power again Everyone has freedom of expression but Congress is literally abusing PM Modi 24X7The controversy over alleged intimidation emanated from Congress leader Pawan Kheras media interaction on June 25 when the nation commemorated the anniversary of the 1975 Emergency widely considered a blot on democracyCongress leader Pawan Khera when questioned about the Emergency said Let our government come to power When we will recount these 1215 years BJP leaders will not be able to step out on the streets without security I am telling you thisthey will need protection even to come out in publicDemocracy is under threat under the present regime the media is being muzzled democratic institutions are being ruined All this has been recorded and will come to haunt them he further said speaking to newsmen in OdishaThe Emergency was declared in India on June 25 1975 and lasted for almost two years until March 21 1977 It was proclaimed by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi During that period all civil liberties were suspended the press was censored and many Opposition leaders were jailed for voicing dissentThe BJP observed June 25 as the Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas Constitution Murder Day with many Union Ministers and Chief Ministers of partyruled states describing it as the darkest day of democracyIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/this-is-why-people-dont-want-to-see-them-in-power-rijiju-roasts-congress-over-dictatorial-boast-689304.html Sat, 27 Jun 2026 16:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bharat-taxi-aims-to-expand-to-500-cities-within-two-years-hm-amit-shah--689305.html Gandhinagar June 27 IANS Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that Bharat Taxi plans to expand its cooperative mobility platform to more than 500 cities and towns across India within the next two years describing the rollout as the next phase of the organisations national expansionnbspSpeaking at the launch of Bharat Taxi in Gujarat HM Shah said the platform had already begun operating on a trial basis in several locations and had now formally commenced services across the states major citiesnbspToday it has been formally launched in Gujarat From today Bharat Taxi has officially commenced operations in all the major cities of Gujarat in all three categories twowheelers autorickshaws and fourwheelers he saidHM Shah said the organisation had already enrolled around seven lakh Sarathis or drivermembers who are shareholders in the cooperativenbspOutlining its expansion roadmap he said Bharat Taxi would rapidly extend operations across the country over the coming monthsnbspVery soonI want to say from this stage today within one and a half to two years we will reach more than 500 cities and there will hardly be any place left We will reach everywhere he emphasisedThe Home Minister named several cities where the cooperative platform is expected to begin operations shortlyWe will reach Nagpur Pune Mumbai Lucknow Chandigarh Jaipur and Kolkata Before July 31 Bharat Taxi will have reached all seven of these locations he saidnbspHe said the cooperative model would continue to underpin the expansion with drivers becoming members and shareholders rather than remaining independent contractorsnbspI am very happy that today you have become a part of the family of seven lakh Sarathis and a part of Bharat Taxi he saidHM Shah linked the initiative to the wider cooperative movement promoted by the Ministry of CooperationOur beloved leader and the Prime Minister of the country Narendra Modi gave us the mantra of Prosperity through Cooperation To realise that mantra in the fields of mobility and transportation the cooperative movement is today expanding its reach he notednbspCongratulating the newly enrolled members from Gujarat HM Shah said By joining this you have paved the way for your prosperity your dignity and your security expressing confidence that Bharat Taxi would emerge as a major cooperative organisation in Indias transport and mobility sectorIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bharat-taxi-aims-to-expand-to-500-cities-within-two-years-hm-amit-shah--689305.html Sat, 27 Jun 2026 16:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sonia-gandhi-questions-centres-stance-on-gaza-says-it-harms-indias-moral-standing-689308.html New Delhi June 27 IANS Congress Parliamentary Party CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday launched a sharp attack at Modi government over its position on the Gaza conflict alleging that its stony silence and inaction are not just morally reprehensible but also inexplicable from a national interest perspectiveIn an opinion article published in The Indian Express Gandhi argued that Indias present approach has distanced the country from its longstanding foreign policy traditions and historical allies while weakening its standing on the global stageShe claimed that New Delhi has alienated itself from Palestine Iran and the wider West Asia region while allowing Pakistan to project itself as a mediator in regional affairsThe spirit of Indian nationhood demands that it speaks up for Palestinians whose children have been so brutally targeted and the calculus of national interest demands that India respond to the global public opinion against the Israeli regimes genocidal actions in Gaza and its brutal displacement and dispossession of lakhs of Palestinian families in the occupied West Bank she wroteThe Modi governments continued silence simply cannot be explained rationally or morally Gandhi addedReferring to findings of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory Gandhi said that in September 2025 the commission concluded that Israeli authorities were committing genocide against Palestinians in GazaShe further stated that in June 2026 the same commission now headed by Justice retired S Muralidhar a distinguished Indian jurist reiterated that Israeli actions were intended to destroy the very existence of Palestinians in Gaza by targeting childrenDescribing the commissions findings Gandhi wrote The 94page report is a harrowing read with grim details on the extent of the devastation perpetrated by Israel in Gaza and the genocidal intent underpinning its actions At least 20000 children have been killed and another 44000 have been wounded many for lifeShe further alleged that children had been deliberately targeted during the conflictShe also claimed that the destruction of healthcare facilities including paediatric hospitals had resulted in a 300 per cent increase in miscarriages and childbirthrelated complicationsRecalling the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel Gandhi described it as a dastardly horrific and absolutely unacceptable attack However she argued that the Israeli military response over the past twoandahalf years had been marked by wanton cruelty and barbaritySenior Israeli leaders down from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his senior cabinet colleagues themselves have called for the complete siege and total annihilation of Gaza denounced the Palestinians as animals who have no right to exist and defined success for Israel as hundreds of thousands fleeing Gaza Gandhi wroteDespite what she termed clear genocidal intent Gandhi alleged that the support extended by US President Donald Trumps administration had enabled Israel to continue its military campaign in GazaShe also said the United Nations had been unable to act decisively because of American obstruction although its agencies had documented alleged Israeli war crimesThe Congress leader pointed out that several countries historically aligned with the Western bloc including France the United Kingdom Canada and Australia had recognised Palestinian statehood after years of inaction She also noted that South Africa had approached the International Court of Justice alleging violations of the 1948 Genocide Convention by IsraelShe further said several European countries had imposed restrictions on arms exports to Israel while a number of Latin American nations had either downgraded or severed diplomatic ties with the countryReferring to international legal proceedings Gandhi stated that the International Criminal Court had issued arrest warrants against the Israeli political leadershipShe also claimed that many countries maintaining close ties with India had recognised Israels actions in Gaza as genocideAmidst the growing public backlash against Israel and the international communitys cognisance of the unjustifiable brutality unleashed on Gaza India remains a lone voice of silence she assertedHighlighting Indias historical foreign policy approach Gandhi said the country had long been recognised for its commitment to postcolonial solidarity national sovereignty and international peaceToday we are exceptional in our continued indifference to the flagrant violation of the global rulesbased order to the suffering of our fellow peoples in the Global South and to the abasement of human dignity that is on open display in Gaza and the West Bank she wroteReiterating her criticism of the Central government she said Modi governments silence and inaction are not just morally reprehensible but also inexplicable from a national interest perspectiveThe Congress leader further argued that India was moving deeper into Israels strategic sphere at a time when according to her much of the international community was distancing itself from the countryShe described Prime Minister Modis visit to Israel undertaken shortly before Israels military action against Iran and the assassination of senior Iranian political leaders as a bewildering strategic decisionWe have alienated ourselves from our historical allies in Palestine Iran and the larger Middle East We have distanced ourselves from global public opinion And we have let Pakistan of all countries itself a state that has and continues to harbour dreaded terrorists swoop in to claim the space of a mediator a role to which we would have a natural claim given our historically friendly ties with all players Gandhi wroteConcluding her article Gandhi alleged that Indias departure from its traditional foreign policy had yielded little beyond the friendship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sonia-gandhi-questions-centres-stance-on-gaza-says-it-harms-indias-moral-standing-689308.html Sat, 27 Jun 2026 16:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/priyanka-gandhi-seeks-probe-into-ram-temple-donation-theft-689316.html Wayanad June 27 IANS Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday described the alleged theft of donations collected for the Ram temple in Ayodhya as tragic and shameful saying the government must conduct a thorough investigation and ensure accountability not only for those who allegedly stole the money but also for those entrusted with safeguarding the offerings made by devoteesnbspResponding to the controversy during her visit to her Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency Priyanka said millions of people across the country had contributed to the temple out of faith and devotion making it imperative that every rupee donated by devotees be protectedShe said it was really tragic that people from all over the country made donations in good faith and that if they had made those contributions it was the responsibility of those who collected and managed the funds to ensure they were kept safeCalling the allegations shameful the Congress leader said the matter could not be brushed aside as an isolated incident and deserved a credible and impartial probeShe said that the government had to investigate this thoroughly and that if women poor people and ordinary devotees had made donations with faith and sacrifice those funds must be protected She added that if the money had been collected there was also the responsibility of keeping it safePriyanka stressed that accountability should extend beyond identifying those directly involved in the alleged theft to examining whether there had been lapses in the systems responsible for protecting the donationsHer remarks come amid mounting political attention over the alleged disappearance of funds collected for the Ram temple with the Opposition demanding transparency in the handling of public donations made for one of the countrys most significant religious projectsThe issue has triggered a fresh political debate with the Congress seeking answers on the safeguards in place for devotees contributions from across the countryPriyanka said public trust should never be compromised and that those responsible for collecting and managing such donations owed the people complete transparency and accountabilityIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/priyanka-gandhi-seeks-probe-into-ram-temple-donation-theft-689316.html Sat, 27 Jun 2026 19:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-mamata-banerjee-calls-for-meeting-on-july-21-689177.html Kolkata June 25 At a time when the Trinamool Congress is plagued with internal conflicts party supremo Mamata Banerjee has called for a gathering in Kolkata on July 21 to hold its annual Martyrs Day rally On the call of North Kolkata Trinamool District President Kunal Ghosh a proMamata Trinamool meeting was held at Rammohan Library on Thursday There Mamata spoke to party workers present via Kunals phone for 12 minutes and called for a gathering on July 21Mamata Banerjee said she hopes to receive permission on July 21 and they will hold a meeting that day She added that she will share the details on that day and even if there are five workers she will be in that meeting She called upon everyone to gather on that dayA public interest litigation PIL has already been filed in the Calcutta High Court drawing attention to the fact that Trinamools Martyrs Day meeting was held on July 21 2018 in violation of the High Courts order In view of this the court has ordered notices to be sent to Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool general secretary Abhishek BanerjeeIn the meantime Mamata Banerjee called for preparations for the July 21 rally for the first time after being ousted from power in the state According to many in political circles even though she said this at the North Kolkata committee meeting Mamata actually wanted to send a message to party workers across the entire state organisation to stand unitedThe Trinamool Congress holds its annual Martyrs Day rally in Kolkata on July 21 TMC chief Mamata Banerjee addresses a public meeting during the rally to commemorate the 13 people who were killed during a demonstration by the West Bengal Youth Congress then led by Mamata Banerjee on July 21 1993When the Trinamool was in the opposition during the Left Front era there were large gatherings on July 21 at Mamatas call But after a decade and a half in power now the opposition Trinamool is apparently in a state of disarrayAs a result it remains to be seen what the gathering will be like on July 21 at Mamatas call Even if the leaders distance themselves from Mamata Banerjee it remains to be seen whether Mamata Banerjees emotion still works among Trinamool workersOn the one hand Mamata spoke about the change of leadership in the camp and on the other hand she addressed the attack on her party workers She also mentioned the attack on her familyMamata said some people have been dishonest to save themselves and their families and questioned whether if one is raised by their mother they would not look after her when she is sick As soon as Mamata said this the Rammohan Library erupted in applauseMamata also gave a message to the partys rebel camp in Parliament and in the state Assembly saying that those with common sense should return and those who think they will continue like this will be neither here nor thereThe Trinamool leader also raised the issue of Abhishek Banerjee being summoned by the Enforcement Directorate and the states Criminal Investigation Department and of going to court on every issueMamata said âImagine what is happening to their family adding that she has already thrown out her two brothersâ She said not everyone is equal in all families but Abhisheks parents live with her and today Abhishek has to go to court regularly while CID and ED are calling him every dayIt is worth mentioning that Uluberia Purba MLA Ritabrata Banerjee has led the way in breaking up the Trinamool Congress in the state AssemblyWith the support of over 60 MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee is now the Leader of the Opposition Without naming him Mamata also attacked Ritabrata saying there is a BJPsponsored CPIM leader and that the CPIM did one good thing by expelling him from the party IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-mamata-banerjee-calls-for-meeting-on-july-21-689177.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kejriwal-to-visit-ayodhya-ram-temple-today-questions-sit-probe-689206.html New Delhi June 26 AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Friday where he will offer prayers and meet seers a day after questioning the SIT probing the alleged donation theft Kejriwal questioned the Special Investigation Team SIT formed to probe the alleged theft of donations at the temple calling it an âeyewashâ as no FIR has been registered in the matter so farHe arrived in Ayodhya on ThursdaySpeaking to reporters the AAP Chief said âAccording to media reports these people have stolen Lord Ramâs sandals garlands lamps jewellery diamonds and gems and even the offerings made to the Lord Cash amounting to Rs 200 crore and around 2 kg of silver have also allegedly been stolenââI am extremely pained to hear all this and there are crores of devotees who are saddened with all thisâ he addedBefore departing for Ayodhya Kejriwal said âI am leaving for Ayodhya now tomorrow I will offer prayers at the Ram Temple as well as Hanumangarhi I will also meet the seers at HanumangarhiâReferring to a previous video posted by him he added âI had said yesterday that even if Rs 100 is stolen an FIR is lodged against it In this case crores of rupees have been stolen and though a part of the amount has been recovered still no FIR has been filedâThe AAP Chief said that an SIT cannot be formed without an FIRâIt is mentioned in the CrPC Code of Criminal Procedure that an SIT will be formed after the FIR is registeredâ Kejriwal stressedFurther questioning the formation of the SIT in the matter he said âThis SIT has been formed on the basis of which law The team doesnât have any power to conduct a probe Therefore this SIT formation is just an eyewash and a way to deceive peopleâThe AAP Convener alleged that the SIT has been formed in order to âprotect big namesââIt SIT is questioning the workers such a huge theft that has been carried out for such a long time would not have been possible without the support of influential peopleâ he allegedKejriwal said that the alleged stealing of so many sacred items from Ayodhyaâs Ram Temple has hurt the sentiments of crores of HindusMeanwhile commenting on the alleged Ram Mandir donation pilfering controversy Vishva Hindu Parishad VHP President Alok Kumar said on Thursday that an FIR should be registered immediatelyHe too stressed that any diversion of offerings made to Lord Ramâs temple amounts to an injury to the faith of the Hindu community IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kejriwal-to-visit-ayodhya-ram-temple-today-questions-sit-probe-689206.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 11:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-cm-orders-inspection-of-fortis-hospital-after-patient-complaint-discrepancies-found-689221.html New Delhi June 25 IANS Acting on a complaint received during a public grievance hearing Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ordered an immediate inspection of Fortis Hospital in Shalimar BaghA team of officials conducted an onthespot inspection of the facility and observed discrepancies prompting the government to order a thorough examination of the findingsAny irregularity established during the inquiry shall invite strict action Every hospital in Delhi is dutybound to serve patients with responsibility and integrity and there can be no compromise with a patients right to timely and dignified care the Chief Ministers office said in a statementThe inspection follows a complaint lodged during the CM Jan Sunwai programme a public grievance redressal initiative launched by the Delhi government in February 2026 to provide citizens with a platform to raise concerns regarding government services and civic amenities The portal and mobile application allow residents to register complaints with various departments including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi the Delhi Development Authority and Delhi Police on a single platformThe Chief Minister has previously emphasised that such public hearings are not mere formalities but meaningful mechanisms for understanding peoples expectations and addressing them effectivelyShe has directed officials to ensure timebound resolution of grievances and has been actively involved in personally hearing residents complaints particularly from her Shalimar Bagh constituencyFortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh has been at the centre of a longstanding legal battle regarding alleged medical negligence in a highprofile case dating back to 2017The Delhi High Court recently ordered a fresh inquiry into the qualifications of two doctors associated with the hospital after a child suffered severe and irreversible brain damage during treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit The Delhi Medical Council had previously barred the two doctors from identifying themselves as neonatologists or superspecialists pending an inquiry into their credentialsThe latest government inspection indicates heightened scrutiny of private healthcare facilities in the national capital aligning with the Chief Ministers stated vision of making Delhi the most developed health centre in the country where every citizen has access to convenient medical servicesThe inspection teams findings will be thoroughly examined and the government has warned of strict action if any irregularities are foundThe Chief Minister has been a vocal advocate for patient rights and quality healthcare having earlier stated that the government remains committed to ensuring prompt and transparent redressal of citizens issuesIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-cm-orders-inspection-of-fortis-hospital-after-patient-complaint-discrepancies-found-689221.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/amit-shah-to-chair-10th-ncord-meeting-unveil-anti-narcotics-vision-document-689223.html New Delhi June 26 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the 10th apexlevel meeting of the NarcoCoordination Centre NCORD in the national capital on Friday Organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs MHA and the Narcotics Control Bureau NCB the meeting will bring together representatives from Central ministries state governments and drug law enforcement agencies to review and strengthen efforts to combat drug trafficking and drug abuse across the countryDuring the meeting Amit Shah will release the Narcotics Control Vision Document 20262029 prepared after extensive consultations with various stakeholders The document is expected to serve as a roadmap for tackling the drug menace through coordinated measures with a focus on demand reduction supply reduction and rehabilitationThe Vision Document will outline strategies to address emerging challenges including the growing threat of synthetic drugs and darknetbased drug trafficking It will also provide a framework for strengthening awareness campaigns treatment facilities and rehabilitation services for those affected by substance abusenbspThe Home Minister will also release the NCB Annual Report 2025 and inaugurate newly constructed NCB zonal offices in Jammu and GuwahatiIn addition Amit Shah will launch the Online Drug Disposal Fortnight Campaign under which around 209500 kg of seized narcotics valued at approximately Rs 6000 crore are expected to be destroyed across the country in accordance with prescribed legal proceduresAccording to the Ministry of Home Affairs the meeting is aimed at reinforcing the Centres zerotolerance policy against drug trafficking and advancing the vision of a DrugFree India It will also serve as a platform to review the collective efforts of various stakeholders and chart a roadmap for strengthening narcotics control over the next three yearsEarlier in the day on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking HM Shah extended his greetings to all those engaged in the countrys fight against drugsHM Shah took to social media X with NashaMuktBharat and said Extending best wishes to all the warriors in our national battle against drugs on International Day Against Drug Abuse India under Modi Jis leadership has mounted the strongest fight against the global challenge of drug abuse by eliminating narcocartels ruthlessly and healing the affected individuals with the care and empathy they deserve May this day reinforce our commitment to shield our young generation from drugsIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/amit-shah-to-chair-10th-ncord-meeting-unveil-anti-narcotics-vision-document-689223.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 14:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-intensifies-statewide-energy-saving-drive-across-govt-offices-mandates-acs-at-24-degrees-689231.html Gandhinagar June 26 The Gujarat government has launched a statewide energy conservation campaign across all government and semigovernment offices public sector boards corporations and public buildings making it mandatory to set air conditioners ACs at a default temperature of 24 degrees Celsius and requiring departments to prepare energy efficiency action plans within 45 days The campaign jointly launched by the states Energy and Petrochemicals Department and Roads and Buildings Department aims to reduce unnecessary electricity consumption without affecting official work while improving energy efficiency financial discipline and environmental sustainabilityThe government has also announced that offices showcasing outstanding performance in electricity conservation will be recognised under the initiativeAccording to the guidelines all lights fans air conditioners and computer systems must be switched off after office hours during weekends and on public holidaysHeads of offices have been directed to ensure that electrical equipment in the cabins of officers on leave or field duty is also switched off through daily monitoringEvery major department will appoint a nodal officer to oversee the implementation of the measures In line with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency BEE notification the default temperature setting of air conditioners in all government offices has been fixed at 24 degrees CelsiusTo minimise electricity wastage caused by manual operation occupancy sensors and timerbased automation control systems will be installed in office corridors meeting rooms parking areas and toiletsWater coolers will also be switched off after office hours at 6 pm and restarted only after 9 amThe government said all conventional lighting in government buildings will gradually be replaced with energyefficient LED lights while future procurement will prioritise only 5star rated electrical equipmentAs part of measures to reduce energy consumption in urban areas municipal corporations and municipalities will synchronise street lighting operated through the Centralised Control Monitoring System CCMS with the astronomical timings of sunrise and sunset a move expected to save about 60 minutes of electricity every dayOn a pilot basis alternate street lights will also be switched off between midnight and 4 am during periods of low trafficThe guidelines also encourage greater use of staircases instead of lifts in multistorey government buildings through awareness campaigns and postersDepartments have been advised to maximise the use of natural daylight during office hours to reduce dependence on artificial lighting Government offices with suitable open spaces have been asked to plan the installation of solar power systemsThe Gujarat Energy Development Agency GEDA will inspect existing solar installations on government buildings and ensure that nonfunctional systems are restored and operate at their intended capacityThe government said all departments must submit an Office Energy Efficiency Action Plan to GEDA within 45 daysThey will also be required to submit quarterly energy consumption reports and undergo mandatory annual energy audits by thirdparty auditorsThe initiative is being implemented under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the leadership of Energy and Petrochemicals Minister Rushikesh Patel officials saidThe government said the campaign is intended to promote energy efficiency sustainable development costeffectiveness and increased use of renewable energy across the public sector while maintaining operational efficiency IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-intensifies-statewide-energy-saving-drive-across-govt-offices-mandates-acs-at-24-degrees-689231.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/telangana-cm-reddy-guv-urge-people-to-stay-away-from-drugs-689238.html Hyderabad June 26 Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Friday appealed to people to stay away from drugs and strive towards building a healthy society On the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking the Chief Minister and the Governor in their messages called upon people to say no to drugsChief Minister Revanth Reddy urged everyone to strive towards building a healthy society by staying away from drugs In a message to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking he called upon everyone to work towards creating a drugfree society by fostering positive thinking and values among the youthHe noted that drugs not only ruin individual lives but also shatter families thereby negatively impacting society and leading to lawandorder issues He emphasised that awareness vigilance and a sense of social responsibility are crucial for controlling drug abuse and curbing illicit traffickingThe Chief Minister appealed to everyone to participate and cooperate in achieving the goal of a DrugFree TelanganaGovernor Shiv Pratap Shukla called upon everyone to join hands in preventing drug abuse and promoting a healthy lifestyle for a drugfree societyDirector General of Police CV Anand in his message stated that drug abuse not only harms individuals but also affects families and societyâLet us join hands to spread awareness support prevention and encourage a healthy drugfree lifestyle Together we can build a safer and stronger Telanganaâ he posted on âXâIn another post the DGP stated that drug eradication is not merely the responsibility of the police alone He said that it is a movement that requires the collective effort of the entire society to move forward unitedlyâIn the fight against drugsâ I urge everyone to increase awarenessâ and call upon all citizens to stay vigilant and become partners in building a drugfree Telangana The fight against drugs is not the responsibility of the police alone it is a collective movement that requires the active participation of every section of societyâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/telangana-cm-reddy-guv-urge-people-to-stay-away-from-drugs-689238.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/muharram-inspires-us-to-walk-on-path-of-truth-say-andhra-governor-cm-689241.html Amaravati June 26 Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu have said that Muharram inspires people to walk on the path of truth In their messages on the occasion of âYoumeAshooraâ or 10th Muharram the Governor and the Chief Minister called for emulating the spirit of MuharramâMuharram the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar holds a special place in the hearts of Muslims worldwide Muharram commemorates the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain the grandson of the Holy Prophet who sacrificed his life at the altar of true beliefâ Governor Abdul Nazeer saidâRemembrance of goodness and sacrifice is the true meaning of Muharram It is a time of deep reflection remembrance and spiritual devotion Let us emulate the spirit of Muharram embodying humanism which is the core principle of Islamâ he saidChief Minister Chandrababu Naidu stated that Muharram inspires us to walk the path of truth no matter the hardships we face âMuharram embodies the spirit of sacrifice On this occasion let us commemorate the sacrifice of Imam Hussain who fought for truth and justice without regard for his own life I hope that Muharram brings peace to everyone and shows the way of righteousnessâ he saidFormer Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy also posted his message on social media âMuharram Ashura is a sacred day commemorating the supreme sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain who laid down his life for the sake of truth and justice On this occasion I sincerely hope that our Muslim brethren will move forward with love compassion and a spirit of brotherhood following the path of peace sacrifice and humanity shown by Hazrat Imam Hussainâ he saidTelangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla extended his âheartfelt wishesâ to all on the solemn occasion of Muharram âMay the sacrifice of Imam Hussain at Karbala inspire us to uphold justice truth compassion and harmonyâTelangana minister for transport and backward classes welfare Ponnam Prabhakar said that Muharram is a symbol of the spirit of sacrifice and patienceâMuharram is observed to commemorate the sacrifice made by the Prophets grandson Hazrat Imam Hussain it stands as a symbol of goodness and sacrificeâ he saidDirector General of Police C V Anand said in his message that Muharram reminds us of the timeless values of sacrifice courage compassion and justice âMay this sacred occasion inspire peace unity and harmony among all communities Wishing everyone a peaceful and blessed Muharramâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/muharram-inspires-us-to-walk-on-path-of-truth-say-andhra-governor-cm-689241.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/cpi-m-defends-past-policy-as-liquor-row-widens-689245.html New DelhiThiruvananthapuram June 26 The political battle over the VD Satheesan governments proposal to reduce the tax on lowalcohol beverages intensified on Friday with the CPIM mounting a robust defence of its earlier liquor policy even as religious leaders called for caution and wider consultations on the contentious issue Seeking to draw a clear distinction between the Left governments policy and the present proposal CPIM State secretary MV Govindan said the LDFs objective had never been to facilitate multinational liquor companies but to promote valueadded agricultural production that would benefit Keralas farmersSpeaking to the media in Delhi Govindan said the concept of producing lowalcohol beverages formed part of the LDF governments policy during his tenure as Excise MinisterThe idea he explained was to utilise agricultural produce such as cashew apples and other farm commodities to create valueadded products that could improve farmers incomesThe policy he said had been discussed in detail before it was formulatedAccording to him liquor companies including Bacardi approached the government only after the policy was in place seeking distribution rightsThe LDFs focus he maintained was on encouraging production using locally available agricultural raw materials rather than facilitating the sale of branded products of multinational companiesHe argued that the issues of production policy and taxation were being deliberately conflated by criticsWhile the earlier policy related to agriculturebased production the present controversy centered on the governments proposal to revise the tax structure for lowalcohol beverages he saidGovindan also clarified that he was no longer Excise Minister when the matter was referred to the Assembly Subject Committee in January 2022 and that the file had not been processed during his tenureQuestioning the present governments handling of the issue Govindan said it was unusual that the file reportedly reached the Chief Minister within three days of the new government assuming office and criticised the decision to include the proposal in the Budget without wider consultations with coalition partners or the OppositionThe controversy also drew reactions from religious leadersSyed Jifri Muthukoya Thangal President of the Samastha EK faction reiterated that Islam prohibited all forms of liquorAt the same time he acknowledged that framing liquor policy was the prerogative of the elected government and said they do not expect a policy should be formed on Muslim doctrineWelcoming Chief Minister VD Satheesans decision to initiate wider discussions on the issue Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany of Thalassery described the move as commendable and stressed that no policy on alcoholic beverages should create the impression of encouraging substance abuse underscoring the need for caution and social responsibilityWith the government expected to consult coalition partners before taking a final call the debate over Keralas evolving liquor policy is poised to remain at the centre of the states political discourse IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cpi-m-defends-past-policy-as-liquor-row-widens-689245.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/i-have-no-connection-with-cm-shivakumar-ktaka-bjp-chief-on-cross-voting-row-689247.html Mangaluru June 26 The crossvoting row in Karnataka took a dramatic turn on Friday with BJP State President and MLA BY Vijayendra visiting the pilgrimage centre of Dharmasthala and asserting that he has no connection whatsoever with Chief Minister DK Shivakumar He also dismissed allegations that he had encouraged crossvoting in the recently concluded Legislative Council elections Speaking to reporters after offering special prayers at the Dharmasthala temple Vijayendra said There are no business links between Vijayendra and CM Shivakumar There is no closeness either I have given the respect due to him as the KPCC President and as the Chief Minister of the state I am repeatedly clarifying that there is no connectionVijayendra said false propaganda had been spread against him following the crossvoting episodeI have prayed to God regarding the propaganda being carried out against me I have prayed for the wellbeing of those indulging in this act he addedStanding in this sacred place I want to clarify that after the crossvoting rumours were spread about business dealings between CM Shivakumar and me and about our alleged closeness Social media discussions even claimed that I had engineered the crossvoting The media has also been discussing these allegations I know that some of our own people are behind this campaign I want to make it clear that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then BJP National President Amit Shah entrusted me with the responsibility of serving as the BJP State President Holding this position I can never stoop to such a level he saidAddressing the controversy surrounding the Council elections Vijayendra said the Congress was deliberately spreading speculation about BJP MLAs to create suspicion among party workers and the publicI want to convey to our 63 MLAs that the Congress party is deliberately floating the names of our legislators in connection with crossvoting A situation has been created where our MLAs are being viewed with suspicion by the people in their constituencies he saidThose who betrayed the party are being closely watched by our national leadership The truth will come out one day If I had done anything of that sort it would also amount to betrayal These allegations are far from the truth This discussion should end today In the coming days I will tour the state No matter how strong the Chief Minister is despite his money and muscle power the BJP will come to power in Karnataka I will spend the next two years strengthening the party and the organisation he assertedVijayendra said it did not matter whether the election was conducted through a secret ballotAt the Centre we have our government and they are also gathering information Whoever has betrayed the party cannot be ignored I have not yet seen the report on crossvoting submitted by the factfinding committee headed by BJP MLC CT Ravi he saidHe further alleged that the party had received information that expelled BJP MLA ST Somashekar had been in touch with three BJP legislatorsHe may speak according to his whims and fancies but the truth will come out Vijayendra remarked when asked about his allegations that Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje is responsible for crossvoting Somashekar had also stated that the internal differences between Vijayendra and the Leader of Opposition R Ashoka were also responsible for crossvoting Vijayendra said the state was facing several pressing issues and that the BJP would focus on raising those concerns through protests and public campaignsI am saying this with confidence not arrogance I have faith in the party organisation and lakhs of BJP workers This Congress government which is antipoor and antipeople will be uprooted from the state he saidExplaining the purpose of his visit to Dharmasthala Vijayendra said the BJP had fielded senior leader Lingaraj Patil who had served the party for nearly four decades and OBC Morcha President Raghu Kautilya from the Madivala community in the Council electionsRaghu Kautilya secured 29 votes and Lingaraj Patil received 27 votes and both emerged victorious However the crossvoting during the Council elections caused immense pain to BJP workers across the state and me Since I was deeply shocked I suggested that a BJP Legislative Party meeting be held in Dharmasthala and that MLAs take an oath regarding crossvoting he saidI am an emotional person and I expressed what came to my mind However senior party leaders felt the matter should not be taken that far and advised that it be referred to the party high command which would ultimately bring out the truth Respecting their opinion I came here as a devotee he addedReferring to former Minister KS Eshwarappas criticism Vijayendra recalled the political developments of 2019In 2019 when the CongressJDS coalition government was in power 17 MLAs resigned and joined the BJP reposing faith in the leadership of former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa In the subsequent byelections 15 of them won After Eshwarappas statement several MLAs called me expressing their disappointment he saidEshwarappa may have forgotten that during Siddaramaiahs tenure as Chief Minister more than 18 Hindu workers were killed Hundreds and thousands of Hindu activists were booked in criminal cases and attempts were made to intimidate them Those MLAs joined hands with us during that period enabling the BJP to come to power and provide good governance Eshwarappa himself became the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Perhaps he has forgotten that Vijayendra remarkedHe also said that former Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda had spoken to him only after the crossvoting controversy eruptedSadananda Gowda called me one day after the crossvoting Before that he had not given the party any specific information regarding the issue he saidSpeaking about his recent engagements Vijayendra said he had spent the last two to three days in New Delhi meeting senior national BJP leaders before travelling directly to Mangaluru and later visiting DharmasthalaThis morning I offered special prayers at the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Manjunatha along with MLAs and senior party leaders he saidI prayed to God for relief from the droughtlike situation prevailing in Karnataka I prayed for good rains prosperity for farmers fair prices for their produce and better days ahead for them he saidAlong with that I also prayed that whenever elections are held in Karnataka a propeople government under our leadership should come to power a government that protects the interests of Hindus and ensures the allround development of the state Vijayendra added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/i-have-no-connection-with-cm-shivakumar-ktaka-bjp-chief-on-cross-voting-row-689247.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/cross-voting-row-amid-leadership-questions-ktaka-bjp-chief-sees-differences-ending-soon-689249.html Mangaluru Karnataka June 26 The political row over the recent Karnataka Legislative Council crossvoting intensified on Friday with BJP State President and MLA BY Vijayendra asserting that his time is good and expressing confidence that the differences within the party leadership would soon be resolved It may be noted that following the crossvoting Vijayendras leadership has come under scrutiny with allegations that he has joined hands with Chief Minister DK ShivakumarSpeaking to media representatives after visiting the famous pilgrimage centre of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Vijayendra dismissed speculation over internal dissent and said he has been closely observing developments within the party over the past twoandahalf yearsMy time is good I have been observing everything for the last twoandahalf years and I know what is happening If I cannot take the senior leaders into confidence then I am unfit to be the State President I have not committed any wrongdoing nor is there any need to disrespect senior leaders The partys national leadership has entrusted me with this responsibility and everything will be resolved in the coming days he saidClarifying his role as the State BJP chief Vijayendra said he was appointed to strengthen the party organisation and not with the objective of becoming the next Chief MinisterI have been made the State President to strengthen the party organisation not to become the next Chief Minister I am working as part of a team If maintaining coordination is considered a crime then that is my only offence I have immense faith in my party and its workers he statedOn the controversy surrounding crossvoting in the Legislative Council elections Vijayendra said he was unsure whether Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had any role in the episode but maintained that BJP legislators had not crossvoted on their ownI do not know whether DK Shivakumar had any role in the crossvoting or not However none of our MLAs crossvoted voluntarily Whoever may have conspired behind it the truth will come out he saidIn a lighter vein Vijayendra remarked DK Shivakumar is a multitalented Chief Minister Whoevers house he visits he makes them feel as though he is one among their own family membersSpeaking on the proposed Bidadi Integrated Township Project Vijayendra said the BJP would continue its agitation in support of farmers and oppose any move to displace themWe will fight for the farmers in the Bidadi township issue The BJP will not allow farmers to be uprooted from their lands We will announce our future course of protest in Bengaluru he saidReferring to the Comptroller and Auditor General CAG report on the Gruha Lakshmi scheme Vijayendra alleged financial irregularities in the implementation of the flagship welfare programmeThe CAG report has pointed out irregularities in the Gruha Lakshmi scheme There are Guarantee Implementation Committees from the State level to the district level and crores of rupees of public money are being spent on these committees If such irregularities have taken place what were these committees doing The government should send the Guarantee Committee chairpersons home and instead work in coordination with government officials he allegedOn the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls Vijayendra accused the Congress of spreading misinformationThe Congress is indulging in misinformation regarding the SIR exercise We are creating awareness about SIR in every Assembly constituency across the State and party workers have been assigned the responsibility for the campaign he saidExpressing concern over the prevailing droughtlike conditions in Karnataka Vijayendra said he had offered prayers at Dharmasthala for timely rainfall and the welfare of farmersThere is a severe droughtlike situation in the State I prayed that the State receives adequate rainfall farmers lives improve and they receive scientific and remunerative prices for their crops he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cross-voting-row-amid-leadership-questions-ktaka-bjp-chief-sees-differences-ending-soon-689249.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/chhattisgarh-takes-first-step-towards-uniform-civil-code-689260.html Raipur June 26 In a significant move that could reshape the stateâs legal and social landscape the Chhattisgarh government has formally initiated the process of implementing a Uniform Civil Code UCC The Cabinet has approved the constitution of a highlevel committee chaired by Justice retired Ranjana Prakash Desai that will be tasked with preparing a draft law thereby fulfilling one of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP governmentâs major electoral promises With this decision Chhattisgarh joins a select group of states actively working on statespecific versions of the UCCThe neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh has already initiated the process and a Bill is likely in the forthcoming Monsoon Session of the AssemblyThe fivemember committee in Chhattisgarh will be chaired by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai a former Supreme Court judge known for her leadership of key constitutional and legal panelsAlongside her the committee comprises retired bureaucrats seasoned legal experts and senior advocatesTheir mandate is to examine the current legal framework assess the feasibility of a Uniform Civil Code in Chhattisgarh and submit comprehensive recommendations to the governmentThe formation of this committee marks only the beginning of a complex and sensitive process Over the coming months the panel is expected to undertake a detailed study of personal laws governing marriage divorce maintenance inheritance succession adoption and guardianship across different communitiesIt will also review landmark judgments of the Supreme Court and High Courts consult with legal scholars engage with social organisations and hold discussions with representatives of various religious communities to ensure that diverse perspectives are taken into accountThe governmentâs move is being seen as both a legal and political milestoneWhile the UCC has long been debated at the national level its implementation at the state level will still take timeBy setting up this committee Chhattisgarh government indicated its intent to harmonise personal laws with constitutional principles of equality and justice while also navigating the sensitivities of cultural and religious diversityThe draft legislation once prepared will likely spark wideranging discussions and debates shaping the contours of how personal laws are interpreted and applied in the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/chhattisgarh-takes-first-step-towards-uniform-civil-code-689260.html Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sudheeran-returns-to-familiar-turf-puts-satheesan-govt-on-defensive-689153.html Thiruvananthapuram June 25 Veteran Congress leader VM Sudheeran has once again emerged as a thorn in the side of the VD Satheesanled Kerala government publicly attacking the proposed tax structure for lowalcohol beverages in the State Budget and demanding that the provision be dropped when the Finance Bill is introduced in the Assembly A former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Lok Sabha member Speaker and Minister Sudheeran has for decades built his political identity around two causes opposition to liquor proliferation and resistance to mineral sand miningBoth issues resurfaced sharply on Wednesday as he questioned the governments handling of the tax structure for low alcohol beverages and sought greater clarity on the states mining policySudheeran on Thursday said the proposal should have been discussed within the Congress and the UDF before finding a place in the BudgetHad a policy decision been taken after proper consultations the present controversy could have been avoided he arguedClaiming that he had already conveyed his concerns to the Chief Minister and the Excise Minister he said public doubts and anxieties surrounding the proposal remained unaddressedThe government should not take decisions that affect its credibility Matters should be handled transparently and explained clearly to the public without creating unnecessary controversies he saidThe intervention has political resonance because Sudheeran has often adopted his most vocal antiliquor stance when the Congress is in powerDuring the Oommen Chandy government between 2011 and 2016 he played a pivotal role in the bitter internal battle over liquor policy that eventually led to the closure of hundreds of bars across the stateBy the time the UDF demitted office in 2016 fewer than three dozen bars were functioning in KeralaA decade later however the liquor landscape has changed dramaticallyDuring the two successive LDF governments led by Pinarayi Vijayan the number of bars climbed to nearly 900Sudheeran repeatedly wrote to Vijayan expressing concern over the expansion but his appeals yielded little responseHis latest criticism has also extended to the governments mineral sand mining policyPointing to what he termed continuing ambiguities Sudheeran demanded an unequivocal declaration that mining activities would not be permittedHe also reminded the UDF leadership that it should remain faithful to positions championed by the then Opposition Leader VD Satheesan while criticising the previous LDF governmentWith a senior leader once again questioning policy decisions in public the UDF government faces the familiar challenge of managing dissent from one of the partys most persistent consciencekeepers IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sudheeran-returns-to-familiar-turf-puts-satheesan-govt-on-defensive-689153.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/cong-writes-to-prime-minister-over-new-fcra-rules-seeking-immediate-withdrawal-689155.html New Delhi June 25 Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal penned a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday raising the partyâs âvehement objectionâ to the notification of new Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment FCRA rules and demanded its withdrawal with immediate effect He termed the latest amendments as âdraconianâ and stated that they would stifle the autonomy of NGOs particularly those run by minority community membersThe Congress leader claimed that the Central government was trying to monetarily cripple small NGOs by bringing in harsh financial punishments and said that the mandatory disclosure of social media accounts was nothing but âcreeping surveillanceâNotably the Union Home Ministry notified the new FCRA rules recently The new amendments have tightened the rules governing foreign funding received by NGOs under FCRA and also require greater disclosure from the organisations including details of their social media accounts and their areas of operationVenugopal in his letter to PM Modi stated that these amendments will severely cripple the autonomy and hamper the regular functioning of civil society organisations especially those run by minority institutionsâAfter the failed attempt to introduce an Amendment to the FCRA in March 2026 in the Lok Sabha the government is yet again trying to bring in amendments that give it powers to seize properties of institutions whose licenses are cancelledexpiredâ he statedHe further said that it was shocking to know that the legislation was now being pushed through the back doorâWe reject this draconian step The government must allow civil society groups and minorityrun institutions to function without fear or threatâ he notedâThe relentless weaponisation of FCRA over the past few years has already led to cancellation of thousands of licences depriving millions of Indians of crucial aid in healthcare education and livelihood generation A vibrant democracy requires an independent and empowered civil society and not a subjugated oneâ the Congress MP wrote in the letter while urging the Prime Minister to immediately withdraw the FCRA amendments IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cong-writes-to-prime-minister-over-new-fcra-rules-seeking-immediate-withdrawal-689155.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-bjp-files-complaint-against-state-election-commission-over-parallel-voter-revision-exercise-689159.html Bengaluru June 25  The Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party BJP on Thursday submitted a complaint to State Chief Electoral Officer V Anbu Kumar seeking urgent intervention against what it termed a parallel unauthorised and conflicting Special Intensive Revision SIR process allegedly initiated by the Karnataka State Election Commission SEC The BJP delegation comprised Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy BJP State Spokesperson Prakash Shesharaghavachar State Convenor of the BJP Legal Cell Vasanth Kumar Bengaluru North District President S Harish and Bengaluru Central District President Saptagiri Gowda The delegation visited the office of the Election Commission of India ECI near KR Circle in Bengaluru and submitted the complaintSpeaking to reporters after submitting the complaint Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said the Election Commission of India had already undertaken the Special Intensive Revision process to identify and remove duplicate voter entriesThe Election Commission of India is already conducting the SIR exercise If a person has multiple entries in the electoral rolls those entries will be identified and removed It does not matter whether the voter belongs to the BJP Congress or any other party Every individual is entitled to only one valid entry in the electoral roll he saidReferring to allegations that the ongoing revision exercise could lead to the deletion or addition of voters based on vested interests Narayanaswamy said such concerns should be addressed within the framework of the Election Commission of IndiaThe question we are raising is this when the ECI has already issued guidelines and is conducting the SIR exercise how can the State Election Commission undertake a similar exercise in 27 wards of Bengaluru Who authorised it Carrying out such an exercise without the consent of the Election Commission of India is completely wrong he allegedNarayanaswamy further accused the Congress government in Karnataka of influencing the State Election CommissionThis is being done at the instance of the Congress government The State Election Commission cannot function above the Election Commission of India Unfortunately the SEC appears to have become a puppet in the hands of the state government This is unacceptable he allegedDemanding that the exercise be withdrawn immediately he said the voter revision process should be conducted only under the supervision of the Election Commission of IndiaThe SIR exercise should be carried out under the monitoring of the ECI There is no need to create panic among voters All political parties will be treated equally in the revision process The Congress government is unnecessarily creating fear and confusion among the people he claimedNarayanaswamy warned that legal action could be initiated if the exercise continuedWe have already submitted a complaint to Chief Electoral Officer V Anbu Kumar We are also forwarding the complaint to the Election Commission of India for appropriate action If this continues legal action will be taken against both the state government and the State Election Commission We will await the ECIs response and decide our future course of action accordingly he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-bjp-files-complaint-against-state-election-commission-over-parallel-voter-revision-exercise-689159.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/work-for-one-hour-extra-every-day-telangana-cm-to-govt-employees-689172.html Hyderabad June 25 Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday appealed to all state government employees to work for an extra hour every day to achieve more productive outcomes in administration especially in enhancing state revenues The Chief Minister stressed that illegal activities should be curbed and leakages should be plugged to generate more revenueAddressing a meeting after signing MoUs with banks to provide insurance coverage to all government employees the Chief Minister said that the hard work of employees will only help in the successful implementation of welfare schemesStating that employees trust is the governments strength he said all employees should work an extra hour each day to increase the state governments revenue He added that the increased revenue would be used for employees welfare and that earning a good reputation for the government is also in the hands of state employeesHe called upon all employees to come together to make Telangana the number one state in the country The government has accorded top priority to maintaining law and order and attracting investments to the state the Chief Minister said and assured that the government will stand by the employeesThe Chief Minister highlighted the governments commitment to provide insurance coverage to all government employees as well as outsourcing and contract workers After handing over Rs 1 crore insurance payout to the families of 45 Singareni workers who died in accidents the state government decided to extend similar insurance coverage to all employeesHe said it was the responsibility of the government to provide financial support to the families of employees who died suddenly and that such a big insurance scheme would instil courage and a sense of reassurance in employees families in difficult timesHe said this was why the government signed an agreement with bankers today to provide accident insurance for state government employeesCM Revanth Reddy appealed to employees to bring their demands and grievances to his notice as the government is ready to address themThe Chief Minister blasted the KCR government for landing the revenue surplus Telangana into bankruptcy amassing a debt of Rs 811 lakh crore in just 10 yearsHe recalled that during the BRS rule employees were never paid salaries on the first day of every month He said that despite hurdles his government was ensuring that employees received their salaries promptlyThe Chief Minister took strong exception to the oppositions use of the term Gumpu Mestry group leader in a negative sense He stated that in fact he is a group leader of government employees who are active in bridging connections with common people and poorer sections and added that this group is his strength and also his prideStating that he had not taken a single days leave in the last 30 months the Chief Minister said he was visiting Delhi only to protect the states interestsHe added that today all the plans envisaged by the government are fructifying and his only agenda is to resolve peoples issues and lead the state on the development path aiming to achieve a 3trilliondollar economy by 2047 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/work-for-one-hour-extra-every-day-telangana-cm-to-govt-employees-689172.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 23:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/up-cm-yogi-to-unveil-rs-22479-crore-development-projects-in-dhanghata-today-689089.html Lucknow June 25 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to visit the Dhanghata Assembly constituency on Thursday where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for a total of 65 development projects valued at Rs 22479 crore giving a significant boost to infrastructure and public welfare initiatives in the region According to the official programme the Chief Minister will arrive at the Baijunathdham Shiv Temple situated in Baswari village under the Hansar Bazar block at around 4 pm During the visit he will also address a public gathering and interact with local residentsOfficials said that out of the total projects 17 development works worth Rs 5442 crore will be formally inaugurated while foundation stones will be laid for 48 additional projects involving an investment of Rs 17037 crore The projects are expected to contribute to the overall development of the constituency and improve public amenities in the areaAhead of the Chief Ministerâs visit Dhanghata MLA Ganesh Chauhan on Wednesday inspected the event venue along with senior administrative officials During the review he emphasised the importance of ensuring adequate facilities and smooth arrangements for members of the public attending the programmeThe inspection covered various aspects of the preparations including parking facilities traffic management plans security measures and the helipad arrangements Chauhan issued necessary directions to the concerned departments and officials to ensure that all arrangements are completed efficiently and without any inconvenience to visitorsFollowing confirmation of the Chief Ministerâs programme from the Chief Ministerâs Office the district administration stepped up preparations and put all concerned departments on alert Officials are working in coordination to ensure the successful conduct of the eventDistrict Magistrate Alok Kumar and Superintendent of Police Sandeep Kumar Meena are personally overseeing the preparations and monitoring the arrangements at the venue The administration has been conducting regular reviews to ensure that all logistical and securityrelated requirements are met well before the Chief Ministerâs arrivalThe District Magistrate said that three SubDivisional Magistrates SDMs have been deployed specifically to supervise and coordinate the arrangements at the venue IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/up-cm-yogi-to-unveil-rs-22479-crore-development-projects-in-dhanghata-today-689089.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/vijay-govt-to-involve-private-companies-in-running-500-electric-buses-in-tn-689091.html Chennai June 25 The Tamil Nadu government has proposed floating a fresh tender to induct 500 electric buses for Chennai Madurai and Coimbatore under the Gross Cost Contract GCC model after Germanybased funding agency KfW approved the cancellation of an earlier procurement process The previous tender floated in 2024 envisaged private companies supplying and maintaining the buses for a fixed period while state transport corporations would operate the services However the transport department sought to cancel the tender in March this year and KfW which is funding the project approved the request on June 18With the cancellation now cleared the department has submitted a proposal to KfW seeking approval to implement the project under the GCC model under which private concessionaires will procure own and operate the buses They will also employ drivers and other staff collect passenger fares and share an agreed portion of daily revenue with the state transport corporationsTransport department officials said the proposal is awaiting KfWâs response Officials believe the GCC model will significantly reduce the financial burden on transport corporations by eliminating major expenditure on vehicle procurement maintenance fuel and employee salariesThe model has already been adopted by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation MTC which currently operates more than 600 buses under similar arrangementsThe operating cost under the existing GCC contracts is around Rs 77 per kilometre for nonairconditioned electric buses and Rs 81 per kilometre for airconditioned busesThe MTC has also floated four separate tenders to expand its electric fleet These include procurement of 20 doubledecker airconditioned electric buses 1300 standard airconditioned electric buses and 220 smaller airconditioned buses to strengthen first and lastmile connectivity across ChennaiHowever the proposed expansion of the GCC model has drawn criticism from employee unions K Arumuganainar general secretary of the CITUaffiliated Tamil Nadu State Transport Employees Federation alleged that the policy amounts to gradual privatisation of public transportHe argued that state transport corporations should continue to procure and operate buses directly warning that greater dependence on private operators could weaken the financial health of transport undertakings in the long run similar to what he claimed had happened in the power sectorMeanwhile MTC has also come under scrutiny after reducing bus operations across Chennai during the past week On Tuesday alone 162 scheduled services were reportedly cancelled While officials attributed the cuts to administrative reasons employees claimed shortages of drivers conductors and spare parts were responsible MTC currently operates 3858 scheduled services every day across 686 routes IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/vijay-govt-to-involve-private-companies-in-running-500-electric-buses-in-tn-689091.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/acb-raids-ex-tn-minister-ev-velus-properties-in-disproportionate-assets-case-689094.html Chennai June 25 The Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and AntiCorruption DVAC on Thursday conducted searches at multiple properties linked to former Public Works and Highways Minister EV Velu as part of an investigation into allegations of disproportionate assets and suspected irregularities in the award of government contracts during the previous DMK regime Officials are carrying out simultaneous raids at Veluâs residences and other premises in Chennaiâs Alwarpet and his home district of TiruvannamalaiAccording to sources the searches covered 13 locations associated with the senior DMK leaderVelu who currently serves as the DMKâs Chief Whip in the Tamil Nadu Assembly held the crucial Public Works and Highways portfolios in the previous government The departments were responsible for executing several major infrastructure projects including roads bridges and public buildingsThe anticorruption action follows recent allegations by a group of contractors who claimed they were compelled to pay bribes to secure contracts from the Public Works and Highways Department during the previous administrationThe contractors had publicly levelled the accusations in recent interviews prompting demands for a detailed investigation into the tendering processSources said the ongoing searches are linked to a preliminary inquiry into allegations that Velu amassed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income while serving as a ministerInvestigators are believed to be examining financial records property documents and other materials that could help establish whether any irregularities occurred in the awarding of government contractsOfficials have not yet released an official statement detailing the evidence collected or the specific offences being investigated The searches were continuing at the time of writingThe raids assume political significance as they come weeks after the change of government in Tamil NaduChief Minister C Joseph Vijay had recently told the State Assembly that his government would pursue a zerotolerance approach towards corruption and ensure stringent action against those found guilty of graft irrespective of their political affiliationThe searches are expected to intensify the political confrontation between the ruling TVK government and the opposition DMK which has consistently denied allegations of corruption against its leadersThe outcome of the investigation is likely to be closely watched with further legal and political developments expected in the coming days IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/acb-raids-ex-tn-minister-ev-velus-properties-in-disproportionate-assets-case-689094.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/raghav-chadha-demands-punjab-cm-bhagwant-manns-resignation-fir-amid-video-row-689100.html New Delhi June 25 IANS BJP Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha on Thursday demanded the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and called for an FIR against him under the AntiSacrilege Law due to an alleged controversy involving an objectionable videoSpeaking to reporters Chadha said the truth behind the sacrilegerelated video involving Bhagwant Mann which he alleged was attempted to be concealed through a fabricated forensic report by the Punjab government has now been exposedThe truth behind the sacrilege video involving GuruDhokhi Bhagwant Mann which was sought to be concealed through a fabricated forensic report by Bhagwant Mann and the Punjab government has now come out in the open he saidHe further claimed that doubts regarding whether the video was real or artificially generated have now been clearedOne thing has become very clear Those who were confused about whether the video was real or AIgenerated fake or genuine now have clarity If the video was not real there would have been no need for Bhagwant Mann and the Aam Aadmi Party to commission a fabricated forensic report to hide it Chadha allegedThe BJP leader also accused the Aam Aadmi Party of hurting religious sentiments and targeting religious institutionsIt is unfortunate that the AAP government challenged Akal Takht Sahib and made several objectionable remarks They also ran paid social media campaigns against it Obscene remarks were made and the entire Sikh community has been hurt he saidChadha further questioned Sikh legislators within the ruling party asking whether they stood with the Sikh religious leadership or with the Chief MinisterI want to ask all Sikh MLAs whether they have faith in Sikh principles or whether they are standing with Bhagwant Mann who is allegedly acting against the Gurus They must choose he saidHe also demanded a thorough investigation into the alleged manipulation of forensic evidenceThere should be a detailed investigation into how the fabricated report was procured and which officers were involved Does it also involve money laundering Everything is now under the scanner and must be investigated he addedChadha further demanded accountability and legal actionThe Sikh community is demanding two things today First Bhagwant Mann who is allegedly acting against Sikh principles and Gurus should immediately resign as Chief Minister Second an FIR should be registered against him under the AntiSacrilege Law he saidMeanwhile political tension continues to mount in Punjab following the controversy surrounding the viral video allegedly showing objectionable conduct involving Sikh religious imageryThe Akal Takht had recently declared Bhagwant Mann antiSikh in connection with the matter further intensifying the political and religious falloutIn response the Punjab government had earlier presented a forensic report claiming the video was doctored and that the individual in the footage was not the Chief Minister asserting that it was circulated to malign himHowever the situation took a new turn after Gurugram Police registered a case and arrested individuals allegedly involved in forging the forensic report Police have claimed that a wider conspiracy to manipulate digital evidence has been uncovered in relation to the caseIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/raghav-chadha-demands-punjab-cm-bhagwant-manns-resignation-fir-amid-video-row-689100.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/constitutional-values-were-severely-tested-during-emergency-says-vp-radhakrishnan-689103.html New Delhi June 25 Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Thursday marked Samvidhan Hatya Diwas by paying homage to the people who raised their voices in defence of democratic and constitutional values during the Emergency period of 1975 This comes as India is commemorating the 51st anniversary of the Emergency declaration by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25 1975In a post on X Vice President Radhakrishnan said On Samvidhan Hatya Diwas I pay my humble tributes to all the brave souls who stood firm in defence of democratic values and safeguarded the spirit of our Constitution during one of the darkest chapters in Indias history The Emergency declared in 1975The Emergency stands as a solemn reminder of a time when constitutional values were severely tested Civil liberties were suspended freedom of expression was curtailed and institutions central to our democratic framework were undermined he saidWith the Constitution as our guiding light let us reaffirm our unwavering commitment to its ideals and continue to build an India rooted in justice liberty equality and fraternity the Vice President addedMeanwhile the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP will observe Samvidhan Hatya Diwas Constitution Murder Day across Bihar Haryana and several other parts of the country on Thursday to commemorate the anniversary of the Emergency imposed by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975As part of the nationwide observance the party has planned a series of programmes highlighting what it describes as the impact of the Emergency on democratic institutions and civil libertiesThe 1975 Indian Emergency 25 June 1975 â 21 March 1977 was a 21month period when the Indira Gandhi government suspended key democratic norms and civil liberties under the Constitution It is widely regarded as one of the most controversial and authoritarian episodes in independent Indias history often called a dark chapter for democracy IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/constitutional-values-were-severely-tested-during-emergency-says-vp-radhakrishnan-689103.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/mahayutis-overspending-derailing-maharashtras-financial-legacy-shiv-sena-689105.html Mumbai June 25 The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray UBT on Thursday claimed that the Mahayuti governmentâs move to present supplementary demands of Rs 9770640 crore barely three months after the annual budget 202627 exposes the deterioration in Maharashtras financial discipline The party said that with public debt soaring to nearly Rs 11 lakh crore an annual interest burden of Rs 60000 crore and arbitrary spending from the state treasury the economy of the Maharashtra government has completely collapsedThe Thackeray camp in a scathing editorial in the partys mouthpiece Saamana taunted that the present situation mirrors an economics student who attaches supplement after supplement to their answer sheet during an exam only to barely secure a passing grade when the results are announced âMaharashtraâs supplementary champion government is publicly making a mockery of the states devastated economy by setting records in supplementary demandsâ it remarkedThe editorial argued that for any government having to hold out a begging bowl for supplementary demands right after the budget is highly embarrassing The state governmentâs financial planning has completely derailed due to reckless extravagance on nonproductive activities Maharashtra once enjoyed an excellent reputation for its financial discipline but over the last four years this reputation has completely withered away During these past four years the Mahayuti government has gone on a relentless spree of bringing supplementary demands of nearly Rs 5 lakh crore This is a world record for extrabudgetary spendingâ said the editorialThe Thackeray camp said that ideally supplementary demands should be utilised just days before the next budget if allocated funds run short at the end of the fiscal year or if a new scheme is suddenly launched Today however allocations are intentionally concealed in the main budget and thousands of crores are later demanded through supplementary routes to serve political motives This time the government has crossed all limits With nine full months remaining until the next budget the governmentâs revenue and expenditure estimates collapsed within the first three monthsâ it commentedThe editorial said ironically when the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA was in power and presented significantly lower supplementary demands leaders of the current regime who were then in the opposition criticised them fiercely alleging a total breakdown of financial discipline âToday those very opposition leaders serve as the states Chief Minister and Finance Minister Despite supplementary demands crossing Rs 5 lakh crore in four years under their watch they no longer view it as financial indisciplineâ it addedThe Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena sarcastically said the SupplementaryChampion government is setting a record for supplementary demands and publicly humiliating the economy of a state that was once renowned for its financial discipline The government is out in the open singlehandedly dismantling the economic legacy of a state once revered for its financial rectitude IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/mahayutis-overspending-derailing-maharashtras-financial-legacy-shiv-sena-689105.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/neet-retest-not-just-end-of-ordeal-ntas-student-centric-focus-presents-model-for-future--689113.html New Delhi June 25 IANS The retest of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test NEETUG was conducted with all fairness and without any major hiccups on June 21 across the country by the National Testing Agency NTA the central agency under the Ministry of Education for conducting multiple nationallevel competitive exams for admission to higher institutionsnbspThis came as major relief for over 22 lakh medical aspirants as well as the NTA particularly in light of intense criticism and backlash after the cancellation of the May 3 NEET exams due to paper leaks The exams also marked an end to the ordeal for students and their parentsnbspFor conducting the NEET reexaminations the NTA not only plugged all gaps but also created a robust framework to ensure smooth examinations and addressed the concerns of anxious and distressed students by adding a human touch to its preparationsnbspThe NTA made extensive arrangements ranging from essentials like drinking water to a series of thoughtful measures to extract the best out of the competing students Many education experts saw the exams not just a big success but as something designed entirely around studentsA look at the humane steps undertaken during the June 21 retest showed NTAs commitment to studentsClean drinking water to counsellingWhen students walked into examination centres for the NEET UG reexams they were greeted not just by invigilators but by a carefully designed environment built around their comfort dignity and peace of mindThe NTA undertook a series of thoughtful studentfirst measures to ensure that every candidate could perform at their best free from stress physical discomfort or logistical anxietyCool Comfortable and WellLitEvery examination centre was equipped with adequate lighting fans and power backup systems to ensure uninterrupted comfort throughout the sessionHydration as a right not a privilegeStudents were permitted to carry their own clear transparent water bottles into the examination hall a practical measure that respected candidates individual needs and reduced unnecessary anxiety during a highpressure sessionMedical and diabetic accommodationsBasic first aid and medical support were stationed at centres Diabetic candidates were permitted to carry permitted items such as fruits and sugar tabletsBallpoint pen provided at exam centresTo streamline entry and reduce the risk of malpractice NTA provided black ballpoint pens at the venue Students were relieved of carrying stationery and the examination hall was kept free of unnecessary itemsMore time for examsThe examination window was also extended by 15 minutes from 200 pm to 515 pm ensuring that invigilation formalities did not eat into the students actual testtaking time Every minute of the exam belonged to the studentThe question booklet itself was redesigned with four pages of rough workspace double that of earlierTeleMANAS A helpline for the heartPerhaps the most quietly significant initiative was the integration of TeleMANAS Helpline 14416 the governments mental health support service as part of the examination ecosystemThose students experiencing examrelated stress or anxiety were made to interact with the trained counsellors who not only comforted them with valuable guidance but also helped lift their spiritsThe string of measures undertaken by the NTA shows that there was a fundamental shift in the way competitive examinations are conducted The exams focus was not just on conducting smooth exams but also on handholding students the moment they walked into the examination centresMore than 20 lakh candidates appeared for the NEETUG reexaminations on June 21 at more than 5000 centres across the country and also 14 centres abroad The reexaminations also saw the NTA mobilising Central machinery and engaging various government departments to conduct the exams Around seven lakh officials including police teams observers and examination staff were mobilised across the country and this was done in just one monthThe scale of extensive preparations by the NTA also earned it praise from various quarters including a plethora of students who appeared relieved and relaxed over the successful execution of the reexaminationsPrime Minister Narendra Modi also applauded the successful conduct of the NEETUG reexamination on Wednesday He said that the exercise demonstrated a wholeofgovernment approach and was organised smoothly and with integrityPM Modi speaking at the cabinet meet on Wednesday commended all the ministers involved in the exercise for foolproof planning and execution and urged that the same coordinated model be adopted for similar occasions in the futureIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/neet-retest-not-just-end-of-ordeal-ntas-student-centric-focus-presents-model-for-future--689113.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-bjp-flags-rs-225-crore-gruha-lakshmi-scam-calls-it-state-sponsored-cybercrime-689117.html Bengaluru June 25 Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Thursday alleged that a massive fraud amounting to Rs 225 crore has taken place under the states Gruha Lakshmi scheme terming it a case of statesponsored cybercrime and demanding an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI and central cybercrime agencies In a statement issued Ashoka claimed that details emerging from the alleged scam indicate systematic manipulation of beneficiary data and financial transactions He criticised Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for maintaining silence on the issue and alleged that the fraud could not be dismissed as a mere technical lapse by government officialsAccording to Ashoka the alleged irregularities came to light through a data dump analysis of departmental records rather than through routine audits He claimed that software algorithms had been manipulated to facilitate the transfer of funds to accounts belonging to deceased beneficiaries and in some cases to the same bank accounts repeatedlyThe BJP leader further alleged that certain beneficiary accounts were repeatedly changed over two years with some accounts being reactivated after several months and others receiving payments intermittently He claimed that such patterns indicated a systematic operation involving digital manipulation and possible money launderingAshoka also alleged that while records relating to 211 lakh deceased beneficiaries had been identified digital data concerning another 77376 deceased beneficiaries had not been made available by the department He questioned whether efforts were being made to alter or delete cyber logs related to these accounts and sought an explanation from the governmentAccusing senior officials and political leaders of being complicit in the alleged fraud Ashoka said the matter involved serious cybercrime concerns and required an independent investigation He called for a probe to determine the IP addresses from which the alleged data manipulation was carried out and to identify the network through which funds were allegedly divertedDemanding immediate intervention by central investigative agencies Ashoka said the alleged Gruha Lakshmi scam should be handed over to the CBI and specialised cybercrime authorities for a comprehensive investigationThe Karnataka government has not yet responded to the latest allegationsFurther R Ashoka has criticised the Karnataka government over the condition of hostels run for students from backward classes and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes alleging that while crores of rupees are being spent on renovating the Kumarakrupa Guest House in Bengaluru basic facilities in government hostels remain neglectedIt can be noted that Chief Minister Shivakumar is renovating the 160yearold Kumara Krupa guest house to transform it into his official residencecumofficeAshoka questioned the governments priorities asking whether there was money available for luxury renovations and amenities at Kumara Krupa guest house but not for the maintenance of hostels housing students from economically weaker sectionsHe alleged that students in many hostels were being forced to live without adequate infrastructure and basic amenities According to him the situation has worsened due to the absence of a fulltime minister for the Social Welfare Department and the lack of attention from district incharge ministersAshoka urged CM Shivakumar to personally visit government hostels across the state and assess their condition IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-bjp-flags-rs-225-crore-gruha-lakshmi-scam-calls-it-state-sponsored-cybercrime-689117.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/never-forgive-never-forget-pm-modi-on-51st-anniversary-of-emergency-689119.html New Delhi June 25 IANS On the 51st Anniversary of the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhis government in 1975 Prime Minister Narendra Modi called its imposition a grave sin and darkest chapter in the history of Indian democracy Targeting Congress he asked citizens to never forgive nor forget those who imposed itnbspIn a post on Instagram titled 51st Anniversary of the Emergency know why it remains the darkest chapter in the history of Indian democracy PM Modi highlighted how the period oppressed the rights of citizens and the mediaHe said All opposition leaders were arrested Any form of political dissent was severely crushed Thinkers writers journalists social workers students and ordinary citizens were jailed and tortured The Constitution was trampled upon nefarious attempts to bring the judiciary under political control were madeMedia was curtailed Those who refused to follow the diktat were shut down or intimidated into silence Fundamental rights were suspended he addedThe Prime Minister remarked that during the Emergency period Parliament was reduced to a rubber stampEvery institution that was meant to protect the citizens was turned against them he firmly statedPM Modi also drew attention to those who fought against the draconian laws of the Emergency by keeping the flame of resistance alive at great personal costHe said People from every background and across every ideology came together to protect democracy and the constitutional valuesI too had the honour of being a part of the antiEmergency movement the Prime Minister mentionedFurther he underlined that the mass movement to resist the Emergency forced the then Congress government to bow before the spirit of Jan ShaktiThe Emergency was lifted Elections were called Those who had imposed it lost badly he addedCriticising the Congress PM Modi said The grave sin of the Emergency sits permanently on the forehead of those who imposed itToday we salute every person who stood firm the democracy survived because of them he addedAddressing the citizens he said Never Forgive Never ForgetIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/never-forgive-never-forget-pm-modi-on-51st-anniversary-of-emergency-689119.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/not-a-single-mla-will-leave-sharad-pawar-assures-stability-amid-op-tiger-shockwaves-689126.html Pune June 25 Asserting total control over his legislative flock Nationalist Congress Party SP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday dismissed rumours of an impending rebellion within his party ranks Speaking to reporters while accompanied by his grandnephew Yugendra Pawar the veteran politician clarified Not a single one of our MLAs is going anywhere Pawarâs statements come at a time when Maharashtras political circles are on high alert following a massive political earthquake Over the weekend Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief leader Eknath Shindeâs faction successfully executed a coordinated defection dubbed Operation Tiger engineering the exit of six out of nine Lok Sabha Members of Parliament MPs from the Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena UBTThe massive defection has drastically altered the numbers in Parliament and sent shockwaves through the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA coalition sparking fears that the ruling Mahayuti alliance comprising the BJP Shindeâs Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawarâs NCP might next target Sharad Pawars remaining 10 MLAsMeanwhile with a defiant dig at rival leaders like NCP Ajit Pawar legislator Baba Atram who claimed that the Sharad Pawar factionâs remaining MPs are ready to split NCPSP MP Supriya Sule threw down an open gauntlet Give us the five names you claim are leaving If you cant stop the rumors Or better yet invite usâall eight of our remaining MPs will show up together Why dont they ever dare to invite me to these discussionsAddressing reports regarding the absence of 13 MLAs from a recent crucial MVA meeting Sule clarified that the MLAs had already informed party state chief Shashikant Shinde in advance dismissing any speculation of an internal rift She also reaffirmed the strength of the national INDIA bloc and statelevel MVA alliance I spend a lot of time in Delhi The opposition alliance is incredibly robust We meet at Congress President Mallikarjun Khargeâs office every single morning at 1000 AM to align our daily strategy floor management and speakersâ said SuleSule emphasised that political rivalries should be kept out of the cooperative sectors Take the Mumbai Bank elections for example people from all political parties coexist there Coops and financial institutions shouldnt be turned into political battlegroundsâ she said Sule also targeted the Central government over reports that the history of the 1975 Emergency would be aggressively introduced into school textbooksEducation experts are ringing alarm bells that the government is repeatedly misusing the NCERT Forcing a singular political ideology onto the next generation is highly dangerous for the unity and intellectual growth of our countryReacting sharply to reports that the six rebel UBT parliamentarians originally intended to join the BJP but were steered toward Dy CM Shindes camp through the backroom intervention of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Sule launched a scathing attack on the ruling dispensation I honestly wonder if democracy has ceased to exist in this country Breaking homes and splitting parties has become the norm These MPs were elected just two and a half years ago and the next general elections are scheduled for 2029 What was the absolute hurry Sule questionedSule reminded the ruling party of democratic traditions pointing out that opposition parties like Congress have historically offered unanimous support to the government on crucial legislative matters such as the passage of the GST bill without requiring political coercion What is the need for such vandalism and destruction of parties If there is no opposition left and everyone joins the government who will speak for the common citizens she asked IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/not-a-single-mla-will-leave-sharad-pawar-assures-stability-amid-op-tiger-shockwaves-689126.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-to-flag-off-300-new-state-transport-buses-today-689131.html Chennai June 25 IANS Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is set to flag off 300 newly procured diesel and CNG buses for the states transport corporations at a ceremony to be held at the Secretariat in Chennai on Thursday marking a major addition to the public transport fleetnbspnbspTamil Nadu operates eight stateowned transport corporations comprising the Metropolitan Transport Corporation MTC Chennai Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation TNSTC divisions at Villupuram Kumbakonam Salem Coimbatore Madurai and Tirunelveli and the State Express Transport Corporation SETC which operates longdistance intercity servicesnbspThe newly inducted fleet has been procured for seven of these transport corporations excluding the State Express Transport CorporationnbspThe buses will be deployed to strengthen public transport services across different regions of the state and improve connectivity for daily commutersnbspThe fleet consists of both diesel and CNGpowered buses reflecting the governments efforts to modernise public transportation while expanding services in urban and rural areasnbspThe induction is expected to replace ageing vehicles and enhance the reliability safety and comfort of passenger services operated by the state transport undertakingsnbspThe launch of the buses was initially expected to take place on June 22 coinciding with Chief Minister Vijays birthday In preparation for the event the new buses had already been transported from various parts of Tamil Nadu to Chennai and parked at key locations including the Koyambedu and Kilambakkam bus terminalsnbspHowever the inauguration was subsequently rescheduled and the Chief Minister will now formally commission the fleet at Thursdays eventnbspTransport department officials said the buses would be distributed among the seven transport corporations based on operational requirements and passenger demandnbspOnce flagged off the vehicles are expected to be deployed in a phased manner across different districts to augment existing services and improve fleet availabilitynbspThe induction of the new buses forms part of the Tamil Nadu governments ongoing efforts to upgrade the states public transport network improve commuter experience and ensure better accessibility through an expanded and modernised fleetnbspThe addition is also expected to help transport corporations meet increasing passenger demand while improving the efficiency of bus operations across the statenbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-to-flag-off-300-new-state-transport-buses-today-689131.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/more-than-17-pc-of-assams-families-pay-zero-electricity-bills-cm-himanta-sarma-689140.html Guwahathati June 25 IANS Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that 176 per cent of households that have installed rooftop solar panels under the Centres PM Surya GharMuft Bijli Yojana are now paying zero electricity bills highlighting the growing impact of the flagship renewable energy programme in the statenbspIn a post on social media platform X the Chief Minister said the scheme has brought about a significant transformation in Assam by reducing electricity expenses for thousands of households while strengthening the states clean energy transitionSeventeenpointsix per cent of Assams solar households have paid zero electricity bills This is the transformation which PM Surya Ghar has brought about in Assam which stands among the top five states in the country in implementing the scheme CM Sarma saidAccording to the Chief Minister the PM Surya Ghar initiative is ensuring both energy security and economic benefits for consumers by enabling households to generate electricity through rooftop solar installationsThe scheme has helped beneficiaries substantially cut their monthly power bills with a sizeable section recording zero expenditure on electricityThe state government has been actively promoting rooftop solar adoption in coordination with the Centre encouraging eligible households to install solar panels and avail themselves of financial assistance under the schemeOfficials believe the programme will not only reduce dependence on conventional sources of power but also contribute to Assams longterm renewable energy goalsCM Sarmas remarks come as Assam continues to expand its renewable energy footprint and improve access to clean and affordable powerThe Chief Minister asserted that the states performance in implementing the PM Surya Ghar scheme has placed Assam among the countrys leading performersThe PM Surya GharMuft Bijli Yojana aims to accelerate rooftop solar adoption across India by providing subsidies for residential solar installations reducing household electricity costs and promoting sustainable energy generationThe Centre has projected the scheme as a key initiative to increase renewable energy capacity while easing the financial burden on consumersIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/more-than-17-pc-of-assams-families-pay-zero-electricity-bills-cm-himanta-sarma-689140.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/lefts-ideological-dilemma-over-national-awards-continues-689144.html Thiruvananthapuram June 25 The Padma awards ceremony this week was a celebration of national achievement However in Kerala it also revived a familiar question that surfaced when the honours were announced earlier this year what happens when one of Indias highest civilian awards comes calling for a Communist icon such as VS Achuthanandan The question has once again come into focus following the posthumous conferment of the Padma Vibhushan Indiaâs secondhighest civilian award on the former Chief Minister a leader whose political life was defined as much by unwavering ideological convictions as by his enduring popularity among ordinary peopleWhen the award was announced in January seven months after he passed away the reaction across Kerala was largely one of approvalAdmirers saw it as overdue recognition for a leader who despite spending decades within the Communist movement carved out a political identity that often transcended party linesThe veteran leaders family also welcomed the honourThat however was where the consensus endedThe CPIM while acknowledging Achuthanandans stature was reportedly uncomfortable with the acceptance of the awardParty leaders pointed to a longstanding Communist tradition of declining state honours recalling instances where senior leaders had refused such recognitions in the pastThe development inevitably brought back memories of another awkward moment in 2022Former Health Minister KK Shailaja had been selected for the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award after winning international praise for Keralas handling of the Covid pandemicThe recognition was widely celebrated but the CPIM decided that she should not accept the awardAs a disciplined party leader Shailaja obligedThe contrast has become even more striking this yearWhile several distinguished personalities from Kerala including superstar Mammootty accepted national honours with pride the states largest Left party once again found itself debating whether recognition from the establishment sat comfortably with Communist ideologyFor many observers therein lies the paradoxIn a political landscape where individuals and institutions often compete for honours and accolades the CPIM remains perhaps the rare organisation that receives an award and then finds itself explaining why it would rather not embrace itFor admirers of VS Achuthanandan the Padma Vibhushan is a tribute to a peoples leader For the party he served all his life it appears to be yet another ideological dilemma IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/lefts-ideological-dilemma-over-national-awards-continues-689144.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/cross-voting-due-to-bjp-infighting-says-expelled-ktaka-mla-st-somashekar-689146.html Bengaluru June 25 Expelled BJP MLA ST Somashekar on Thursday alleged that Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje was responsible for the crossvoting by BJP legislators in the recent Karnataka Legislative Council elections attributing it to internal rivalry within the party Speaking to reporters here he also claimed that internal rivalry between BJP State President BY Vijayendra and Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka contributed to the crossvotingUnion Minister Shobha Karandlaje is responsible for the crossvoting She does not like either Vijayendra or Ashoka and that is the main reason for what happened Due to political illwill she got it done and is directly responsible for it he allegedSomashekar further claimed that the crossvoting was part of a conspiracy aimed at forcing Vijayendra and Ashoka to step down from their positionsFor every disaster in the party Shobha Karandlaje is responsible She has targeted both Vijayendra and Ashoka If she is taken to Dharmasthala first the truth will come out he saidDefending his own actions Somashekar reiterated that he openly voted for the Congress candidate in the Council pollsI have already stated that BJP leaders did not even contact me as a matter of courtesy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar invited us assured us of funds for constituency development and released those funds I voted for the Congress candidate and I am openly admitting it he saidChallenging BJP leaders Somashekar said If they have the capacity let them find out who crossvoted Let Shobha madam provoke me I will have my answers readyThe expelled MLA also blamed the internal power struggle between Vijayendra and Ashoka for the outcome of the electionMy analysis is that Ashoka may have tried to defeat Vijayendras preferred candidate while Vijayendra may have attempted to defeat Ashokas candidate In this backdrop both leaders should go to Dharmasthala and take an oath before Lord Manjunatha he saidHe added that the BJPs 63 MLAs need not take any oath at Dharmasthala contrary to what Vijayendra suggestedCommenting on reports submitted by Vijayendra and Ashoka to the BJP high command regarding the crossvoting episode Somashekar said efforts were being made to fix responsibility on certain individualsThey want to pin the blame on someone It is an internal matter of the party and they can do what they want he remarkedSomashekar maintained that the crossvoting was a direct result of infighting within the state BJP leadershipIt is certain that the crossvoting happened because of the rivalry between Vijayendra and Ashoka Both leaders should have gathered all BJP MLAs before the election and taken steps to prevent such an outcome In my opinion they failed to do so he saidDrawing a comparison with the Congress Somashekar said the ruling party had managed its legislators more effectively ahead of the electionThe Congress leadership brought all its MLAs together before the polling trained them and took each legislator into confidence Anticipating the possibility of crossvoting they took all necessary precautions he saidIn contrast BJP leaders did not do anything of that sort They did not issue a whip to their MLAs I have been informed by BJP legislators that they were contacted by party leaders only about an hour before polling began he addedMeanwhile BJP State President BY Vijayendra is reaching Dharmasthala today and is scheduled to offer special prayers on Friday June 26 Vijayendra had earlier proposed holding a BJP Legislature Party meeting at the pilgrimage centre but senior party leaders reportedly opposed the moveKarnataka Assembly Opposition leader R Ashoka along with State party President and MLA BY Vijayendra on Tuesday met the party President Nitin Nabin in New Delhi and briefed him on the alleged crossvoting by BJP legislators during the recently concluded Karnataka Legislative Council electionsThe BJP leadership has constituted a factfinding exercise to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the alleged crossvoting which has triggered political debate within the party following the Legislative Council elections IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cross-voting-due-to-bjp-infighting-says-expelled-ktaka-mla-st-somashekar-689146.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/row-after-mea-says-passport-is-not-proof-of-citizenship-cites-passport-act-hc-ruling-689147.html New Delhi June 25 The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday clarified that the passport has never been proof of citizenship after a controversy erupted on the issue a day before It said this position has been there since the Passport Act came into force It is not that it was decided in the last 12 yearsThe ministry said a passport is mainly a travel document and its legal status has remained unchanged for many yearsThe issue gained attention after an MEA official said at a Passport Seva Divas event on Wednesday that a passport should primarily be understood as a document for travelThat comment drew criticism from opposition leaders lawyers and commentators who questioned how a document issued by the government after checks and verification could fail to establish citizenship on its ownIn response to the backlash the MEA issued a clarification saying the position was not new and had nothing to do with the present government It said Indian law has never treated a passport as final proof of citizenshipIt was not decided yesterday that a passport is not proof of citizenship It was not even decided in the last 12 years The Passport has never been a proof of citizenship The Passport Act 1967 says that passports can be given to noncitizens the ministry saidThe ministry also pointed to judicial precedents particularly a Bombay High Court judgment delivered in 2013 which held that possession of a passport alone does not automatically establish Indian citizenshipâJudgments of the Bombay HC from 2013 have made it clear that a passport is not proof of citizenship Please inform and educate your audience rather than amplify uninformed quips and commentary the MEA statement saidThe legal issue arises from the relationship between the Passports Act 1967 and the Citizenship Act 1955 Although a passport is issued by the government and generally reflects the holderâs nationality citizenship is ultimately determined under the Citizenship Act In some cases a person may still face scrutiny over citizenship even if they possess a passportSection 20 of the Passports Act allows the Central Government to issue a passport or travel document to a noncitizen if it considers the action necessary in the public interest This is an exception to the general rule that passports are issued to Indian citizensAgain Section 21 permits the government to delegate certain powers under the Act to officers authorities state governments or Indian diplomatic and consular officials subject to prescribed conditionsThe Bombay High Courtâs 2013 ruling is often cited in this context The court said that documents like passports Aadhaar cards and birth certificates can be important evidence but they do not amount to unquestionable proof of citizenship It stressed that citizenship must be examined according to the law made by ParliamentThe Supreme Court has also distinguished between identity documents and proof of citizenship in different cases While it has recognised the value of documents such as Aadhaar for identification it has made clear that such documents do not by themselves determine citizenshipCourts have similarly held in several cases that when citizenship is disputed the burden is on the individual to establish their status through documents such as birth records family lineage papers or naturalisation certificates rather than relying only on a passportThe MEAâs clarification has also triggered political reactionsRajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal asked what document ordinary citizens should rely on if a passport is not accepted as proof of citizenship Public commentary also added to the debateLyricist and commentator Javed Akhtar questioned the logic of the governmentâs position saying authorities would normally verify nationality before issuing a passportThe governmentâs position is that if citizenship is disputed the matter must be decided under the Citizenship Act not simply on the basis of possessing a passportAlthough the MEA says it is only restating an established legal principle the episode has renewed public discussion about the difference between identity documents travel documents and legal proof of nationality in India IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/row-after-mea-says-passport-is-not-proof-of-citizenship-cites-passport-act-hc-ruling-689147.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/calcutta-hc-rejects-abhishek-banerjees-petition-to-fast-track-hearing-on-foreign-travel-plea-689045.html Kolkata June 24 IANS A singlejudge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday turned down a plea by the Trinamool Congress general secretary and the partys Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee for a fasttrack hearing on his petition seeking the courts permission to travel abroad for ophthalmic treatmentnbspOn Tuesday Banerjee the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee moved a petition at the Calcutta High Courts singlejudge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharya seeking permission to travel abroad for ophthalmic treatmentAlong with the petition seeking the courts permission to travel abroad a plea was also moved for a fasttrack hearingnbspHowever on Wednesday Justice Bhattacharyas bench clearly stated that there was no reason to grant a fasttrack hearing and also observed that the matter will come up for hearing in the normal coursenbspIn the recent past following an order of another singlejudge bench of the Calcutta High Court the Criminal Investigation Department of the West Bengal Police questioned Abhishek Banerjee twice in an ongoing probe into the MLA signature mismatch case The case relates to the signatures of some Trinamool Congress legislators on a crucial resolution pertaining to appointments for some slots in the West Bengal Assembly which are reserved for the opposition benchThen the singlejudge bench of Justice Kaushik Chanda also granted Abhishek Banerjee interim protection from coercive police action including arrest but under certain conditions one of them was a bar on his overseas travel without prior court permissionnbspSo amid that restriction Banerjee on Tuesday approached the bench of Justice Bhattacharya with a petition seeking permission for foreign travel for treatment purposes as well as to fasttrack hearing in the matterNow although the main petition seeking permission for foreign travel has been admitted the plea for fasttrack hearing has been rejectednbspIn October 2016 Abhishek Banerjee was involved in an accident on his way back to Kolkata from a party programme in Murshidabad district He suffered serious injuries to his eye in that accident He first visited several hospitals in the country and later sought treatment abroadIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/calcutta-hc-rejects-abhishek-banerjees-petition-to-fast-track-hearing-on-foreign-travel-plea-689045.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/telangana-cm-warns-congress-leaders-against-negligence-on-sir-689046.html Hyderabad June 24 IANS Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday warned of strict action against Congress party leaders not following the party instructions with regard to the ongoing process of Special Intensive Revision SIR of electrical rolls by the Election Commission of India ECInbspParticipating in a Zoom meeting on SIR with party leaders Chief Minister Reddy instructed Ministers MLAs MPs and constituency incharges to be extra vigilant on SIR in the wake of the reports of possible deletion of genuine voters from the voter listHe warned that the incharges will be replaced with new ones if they failed to implement the partys instructionsnbspWe will not tolerate any negligence and are observing the performance of the incharges for 10 days a release from the Chief Ministers Office CMO quoted him as sayingnbspCM Reddy also appealed to the party Sarpanches to organise the SIR and create awareness among people in the villagesnbspThe SIR issue is a very serious matter Some leaders are being negligent about the SIR he saidThe Chief Minister made it clear he will not remain a silent spectator when the party suffers damage as he had already received districtwise reports regarding the SIR awareness meetingsnbspCM Reddy instructed the leaders to organise more awareness meetings on SIR and entrusted the incharge ministers with more responsibilities to make the meetings successfulnbspThe Chief Minister emphasised that the voting rights of the poor should be safeguarded during the SIR If the poor lose their votes they will also lose their Aadhaar and ration cards he saidCM Reddy stated that all leaders should strictly adhere to party directivesnbspTelangana Pradesh Congress Committee TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud AICC incharge for Telangana Meenakshi Natarajan Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka AICC Secretary Sachin Sawant and other leaders attended the meetingnbspMahesh Kumar Goud said that Congress cadres have a key role in protecting the rights of all genuine voters He said there was a need to remain alert and keep an eye on the strategies of the BJPFlagging the deletion of voters in West Bengal he underlined the need for the party cadres to remain vigilantnbspThe meeting was held a day before the launch of the enumeration exercise in the state by the ECInbspBoothLevel Officers BLOs will carry out doortodoor verification across the state from June 25 to July 24IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/telangana-cm-warns-congress-leaders-against-negligence-on-sir-689046.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-minister-sirsa-demands-punjab-cm-bhagwant-manns-arrest-over-video-row-689047.html New Delhi June 24 IANS As the row over Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns purported video intensifies Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has called for his arrest raising strong objections over the recent reports of Punjab officials allegedly forcing fabricated forensic reports of the clipnbspThe Delhi Minister also cited arrests and cases against those who submitted a fabricated forensic report calling it an attempt to suppress a matter hurting Sikh sentimentsnbspAddressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here on Wednesday Sirsa levelled serious allegations regarding Punjab politics and a controversy concerning the Sikh faithThe five Singh Sahibans high priests of the Akal Takht Sahib issued an order directing that no Sikh should maintain any association with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann This order was issued following the emergence of a video showing Bhagwant Mann splashing alcohol onto the sacred image of the Guru Sahibans he saidnbspHe noted that the surfacing of this video has caused deep anguish and resentment within the global Sikh community as no Sikh can tolerate the disrespect shown to the Guru SahibansnbspOn January 5 2026 the Akal Takht Sahib had summoned Bhagwant Mann and allowed him to present his side At that time Bhagwant Mann had claimed that the video was created using AI and was not genuine However subsequent forensic examinations conducted by two separate agencies revealed that the video was entirely authentic Sirsa saidFollowing this the Delhi Minister said that on June 15 2026 the Akal Takht Sahib declared Bhagwant Mann a Gurudrohi traitor to the Guru and an adversary of the Khalsa Panth expelling him from the Sikh community An order was also issued directing Sikhs worldwide not to maintain any form of relationship with himnbspInstead of Bhagwant Mann expressing remorse his minister Harpal Singh Cheema held a press conference on June 18 2026 claiming that the video was fake Sirsa statednbspThe Minister claimed that a forensic report was prepared after examining 1191 frames concluding that the video was not AIgenerated although certain parts of the video remained a subject of disputeSirsa also alleged that Swapan Sharma a Haryana Commissioner close to Bhagwant Mann held a meeting at a hotel alongside SP Jashandeep and through an intermediary named Harpreet regarding matters linked to the Gurugram forensic labnbspHe claimed that a financial transaction took place during this meeting and a fabricated forensic report was procured using the Aam Aadmi Partys alleged black money in an attempt to discredit the videoThis entire affair reflects a disregard for Sikh sentiments as certain individuals are attempting to construct a false narrative through the power of money These activities constitute an attempt to challenge the supremacy of the Akal Takht Sahib he addednbspDuring the press conference the Delhi Minister added that the mindset currently visible in Punjab mirrors the oppressive mentality of the Mughal eranbspHe also targeted Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal and his associates stating that the party and its leaders are acting against the sentiments of the Sikh community and the Akal Takht by commissioning fabricated reports using financial cloutnbspThe entire endeavour is an attempt to undermine the supremacy of the Akal Takht Sirsa addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-minister-sirsa-demands-punjab-cm-bhagwant-manns-arrest-over-video-row-689047.html Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tmc-bank-accounts-under-scanner-as-cyber-police-probe-five-years-of-transactions-688972.html Kolkata June 23 IANS The cyber police in West Bengals North 24 Parganas district has launched a detailed investigation into three bank accounts belonging to the Trinamool Congress TMC that were recently placed under debit freeze following police directionsnbspSources familiar with the investigation at the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station under the Bidhannagar City Police said officers are scrutinising inward and outward transactions in these accounts over the past five years The probe is focused on tracing the sources of incoming funds as well as identifying the destinations where money was transferred from the accountsInvestigators are also examining other aspects linked to the accounts including the dates on which they were opened the names under which they were registered and the identities of authorised signatories who operated them over the yearsThe transaction records are being closely analysed considering allegations that extortion proceeds and illegal commission money were deposited into these accounts Investigators are also probing claims that the funds generated through such activities were subsequently routed from the accounts for other unlawful purposesThe investigation follows complaints filed by several rebel TMC legislators at the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station In their complaints the legislators alleged that money collected through extortion had been parked in the three bank accountsBased on these complaints the police registered an FIR and initiated an investigation As part of the first phase of the probe authorities directed the bank to impose a debit freeze on all three accountsA few days earlier the partys former treasurer and former sports and power minister in the Mamata Banerjeeled government Aroop Biswas had written to the private sector bank requesting that the accounts be frozen In his communication he cited a dispute over control of party funds arising from an internal conflict within the Trinamool CongressMeanwhile a faction of the Trinamool that continues to remain loyal to former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the decision to freeze the accountsIn its petition the party sought the courts intervention to ascertain under whose authority and on what grounds the debit freeze was imposed on the three accountsIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tmc-bank-accounts-under-scanner-as-cyber-police-probe-five-years-of-transactions-688972.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/have-received-8-lakh-affirmations-for-proposed-ucc-bill-draft-likely-by-july-5-mp-minister-688974.html Bhopal Jun 23 IANS More than nine lakh suggestions have been received and documented regarding the Uniform Civil Code UCC so far Around 90 of these suggestions have expressed strong support for the implementation of UCC Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav told his cabinet colleagues on TuesdaynbspnbspState Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Chaitanya Kumar Kashyap sharing the major outcomes of the cabinet meeting with media said that Chief Minister Mohan Yadav informed them Support has come from many women and men of the minority community as well Many Muslim women have also extended their backing to the Uniform Civil Code Minister Kashyap saidnbspHe added that the remaining issues are being compiled After incorporating all feasible suggestions by June 30 the draft of the Uniform Civil Code will be finalised by July 5 The Minister described the UCC outreach as a massive and significant public campaignnbspSuggestions were sought from every district and every citizen The state government sent over 3 crore SMSs to people across various sections of society Through this extensive exercise more than nine lakh suggestions have been received he informednbspHe further revealed that a highpower committee on UCC which is headed by a Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desa is meticulously examining all suggestionsnbspThe committee is considering every input The final draft of the Bill will be prepared after thorough review and will be submitted to the government by July 5 If possible the government will introduce the Civil Code Bill in the upcoming Assembly session Kashyap addednbspThe Minister emphasised that this widespread consultation reflects the governments commitment to inclusive and participatory governance He noted that the response from citizens particularly the significant support from minority communities demonstrates broad acceptance of the Uniform Civil Code across Madhya PradeshnbspThe minister assured that the government remains dedicated to incorporating public feedback and moving forward with the legislation in a timebound mannernbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/have-received-8-lakh-affirmations-for-proposed-ucc-bill-draft-likely-by-july-5-mp-minister-688974.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-asks-young-civil-servants-to-lead-journey-towards-viksit-bharat2047-688978.html New Delhi June 23 IANS Highlighting the vision of Viksit Bharat2047 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday interacted with 183 Officer Trainees of the IAS 2024 batch and urged them to dedicate themselves to nationbuilding with a strong sense of purposenbspEmphasising the importance of datadriven governance the Prime Minister urged the young officers to constantly evaluate their contribution towards nationbuilding and derive satisfaction not from positions held but from measurable outcomes achievedSpeaking at a session held at Seva Teerth PM Modi expressed confidence that the young officers attached as Assistant Secretaries in various Ministries and Departments would use their energy talent and dedication to play a pivotal role in taking Indias development journey to new heightsThe young Officer Trainees shared their experiences from their field training and their attachment to MinistriesThe Prime Minister said that after two years of field exposure and administrative learning they now stand at a crucial stage where their decisions will shape not just their own careers but the future of crores of citizensHe emphasised that the real test of public service begins by handling reallife situations with integrity sensitivity and commitmentThe Prime Minister urged the young civil servants to dedicate themselves to nationbuilding with a strong sense of purpose innovation and citizencentric governanceHe urged the officers to always remember the human impact behind every administrative filenbspHe said that every file represents the aspirations concerns and lives of countless citizens Stressing the mantra of Nagrik Devo Bhava he called upon officers to place citizens at the center of every decision and ensure governance remains empathetic responsive and inclusiveCalling for a wholeofgovernment approach the Prime Minister stressed that major developmental challenges cannot be solved in silos He further noted that effective coordination across departments is essential for achieving meaningful and lasting outcomesHighlighting the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 the Prime Minister noted that every policy and administrative decision over the coming decades must contribute towards building a Viksit BharatHe stressed that Indias priorities today include Aatmanirbhar Bharat Make in India manufacturing growth energy security and creating opportunities for youthThe Prime Minister underlined the transformation in governance over the last decade noting that administration has moved from a processcentric model to a resultoriented approachHe cited the growing role of digital governance artificial intelligence and technology in improving service delivery enabling citizens to access services with ease and transparencyThe Prime Minister said data must not be viewed merely as numbers but as a reflection of the collective lives challenges and aspirations of millions of people He asked officers to regularly verify whether policies are effectively translating into outcomes on the groundPrime Minister also highlighted the growing role of women in nationbuilding noting that more than 40 per cent of the current batch comprises women officersJitendra Singh Minister of State Personnel P K Mishra Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Shaktikanta Das Principal Secretary2 to the Prime Minister TV Somanathan Cabinet Secretary Rachna Shah Secretary DoPT Sriram Taranikanti Director LBSNAA and other senior officers were also present during the interactionIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-asks-young-civil-servants-to-lead-journey-towards-viksit-bharat2047-688978.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/complete-shutdown-in-ladakh-on-lab-amp-kda-call-688983.html Leh June 23 A complete shutdown was observed in Ladakh on Tuesday on the call given by the Leh Apex Body LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance KDA to protest the delay by the Centre in fulfilling the demands of the UTâs people The shutdown affected normal life in both Leh and Kargil districtsMarkets business establishments and commercial activities remained closed in several areas as people extended support to the shutdown callHowever transport services largely remained operational to minimise inconvenience to the public and touristsThe bandh was called by the LAB and the KDA to protest what they described as delays in implementing assurances made during a meeting held with Union government representatives in New Delhi on May 22The groups have also expressed dissatisfaction over what they termed as the failure to accurately reflect agreedupon points in the official minutes of the meetingLeaders of the two organisations alleged that key issues concerning Ladakhs political and constitutional future were either omitted or inadequately reflected in the official record of discussions leading to growing mistrust among stakeholders in the regionThe agitation is linked to a set of longpending demands pursued by the LAB and the KDA including constitutional safeguards for Ladakh protection of land and employment rights greater local participation in governance and other measures aimed at safeguarding the interests of the regions residentsThe bandh call was announced following a meeting of the joint core committee of the LAB and the KDA which expressed dissatisfaction over the outcome of recent engagements with the Centre and warned against further delays in addressing the concerns raised by Ladakhs representativesLAB Chairman Kukreja Dorjey described the shutdown as one of the most significant regionwide protests witnessed in Ladakh in recent months reflecting continuing public concern over unresolved issues relating to governance constitutional safeguards and regional representationThere were no reports of any major untoward incidents during the shutdownIn addition to statehood the representatives of the LAB and the KDA have demanded inclusion in the 6th Schedule of the Constitution and protection for the unique culture and heritage of the region IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/complete-shutdown-in-ladakh-on-lab-amp-kda-call-688983.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-bjp-to-submit-report-on-cross-voting-in-council-polls-to-party-chief-nabin-688984.html New DelhiBengaluru June 23 Karnataka BJP President and MLA BY Vijayendra on Tuesday said that the party would submit a comprehensive report to its national leadership regarding the alleged crossvoting and violation of the party whip by some BJP legislators during the recent Legislative Council elections It can be noted that crossvoting by at least three BJP MLAs which could be as many as six in favour of the Congress in the Council elections held on recently has left the party redfaced especially at a time when several opposition MPs elsewhere in the country appear to be breaking away from their parties and extending support to the National Democratic Alliance NDASpeaking to reporters in New Delhi Vijayendra said he along with Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka MLC Ravi Kumar who was in charge of the election and other party leaders would meet BJP National President Nitin Nabin and brief him on the developmentsWe will submit a detailed report on what transpired during the Legislative Council elections and the instances of crossvoting by some of our legislators Vijayendra saidHe added that the party had already initiated an internal inquiry into the matter According to him a factfinding committee headed by senior BJP leader CT Ravi has been constituted to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged violation of the party whipThe committee will submit its findings to us and the report will subsequently be forwarded to the national president he saidVijayendra further stated that he had informed the BJP national leadership about the developments immediately after the election results were declaredThe day after the election I personally called the national president and briefed him about the situation He had sought certain details and we requested an appointment We are here today to present the report he saidResponding to a question regarding former Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowdas remarks on the issue questioning the state leadership Vijayendra said he was not fully aware of the context of the former Chief Ministers statement However he disclosed that Sadananda Gowda had spoken to him over the phone recentlyHe had called me a few days ago It is my practice to return calls made by senior leaders Once I return to Bengaluru I will meet him personally Vijayendra saidOn reports and suggestions that a BJP Legislature Party meeting should not be held at the Dharmasthala temple town Vijayendra said he had already conveyed his views on the matterI have expressed my opinion The final decision should be taken by Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka after consulting all party legislators and leaders he saidIt can be recalled that the Congress registered a landslide victory by winning 5 out of the 7 Karnataka Legislative Council seats in the elections held on June 18 2026 The BJP secured the remaining 2 seats while the NDAaligned JDS faced a major setback losing their candidate due to significant crossvotingOne of the BJP candidate did not secure the required number of votes in the first round and eventually won with the help of secondpreference votes further embarrassing the party IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-bjp-to-submit-report-on-cross-voting-in-council-polls-to-party-chief-nabin-688984.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/inga-ruginiene-resigns-as-lithuanias-prime-minister-688992.html Vilnius June 23 Inga Ruginiene on Tuesday resigned as Lithuanias Prime Minister after just over nine months in power The outgoing cabinet held its last meeting on Tuesday during which ministers unanimously approved a resolution on their resignation local media reported During the meeting Ruginiene said Despite all the difficulties we have much to be proud of and each of you has made a significant contribution to the welfare of our state and the improving lives of our peopleToday we take the decision to resign and return the governments powers to the President of the Republic she addedSpeaking to reporters after the meeting Ruginiene spoke about her time in office Lithuanian public broadcaster Lithuanian Radio and Television LRT reportedShe said In politics you can learn many things â how to look good how to speak fluently â but you cannot learn courage or humanity She noted that empathy the ability to listen to the people and the courage to act were the qualities that helped her not to lose her way during difficult choices and responsibilitiesShe suggested that some people were unsettled by the fact that she did not fit the established stereotypical image of what a prime minister should be how they should speak how they should behave how they should look However she stated that she had never believed a leader should be built as per someone elses readymade templateInga Ruginiene rejected claims that she as being sacrificed by her own party saying the transition was a normal political process according to LRT reportThe resignation resolution will be given to Lithuanias President Gitanas Nauseda on Tuesday Nauseda will ask the outgoing cabinet to continue in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed Under the coalition agreement the President must submit a candidate for PM to parliament within 15 days Social Democratic leader Mindaugas Sinkevicius has been nominated for PMs positionAfter getting approval by parliament the incoming prime minister will have up to 15 more days to present a cabinet and government programme for parliamentary endorsement The new ruling majority includes the Union of Democrats For Lithuania the Social Democrats and the Lithuanian Farmers Greens and Christian Families UnionAt least four ministerial portfolios will have change in leadership under the coalition agreement the Democrats will take agriculture energy and health portfolios while Social Democrats will have environment ministry Ruginiene is expected to take up the role of Lithuanias minister of social security and labour in the new cabinetPrior to assuming office as Lithuanias PM in September 2025 Inga Ruginiene served as Minister of Social Security and Labour in the 19th government She has experience in leadership roles including serving as the President of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation Vice President of the European Trade Union Confederation ETUC Vice President of the International Trade Union Confederation European Region ITUCPERC and Chairperson of the Lithuanian Federation of Trade Unions of the Forest and Forest Industry She has been a Member of Lithuanias Parliament Seimas since 2024 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/inga-ruginiene-resigns-as-lithuanias-prime-minister-688992.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/mp-cm-announces-ex-gratia-for-chhindwara-road-accident-victims-family-injured-688906.html Chhindwara Jun 22 IANS Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed profound grief over the tragedy and announced immediate exgratia financial assistance to the next of kin of the deceased and to the injured In a post on X he stated that the road accident near Temni Khurd is extremely tragic and extended his condolences to the affected familiesnbspHe directed authorities to provide 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased 1 lakh each to the seriously injured and 50000 each to the other injured persons However the administration has yet not released the names of those who died in the accident or critically injured personsnbspThe Chief Minister prayed for peace to the departed souls and strength for the bereaved families while wishing speedy recovery to those injured The accident occurred on Monday morning claiming lives of five labourers in the headon collision between an overloaded pickup truck and a truck near Temni Khurd village on the ChhindwaraBetul National HighwaynbspnbspAccording to police the accident occurred around 10 am mangling the pickup vehicle badly and scattering debris across the road with its wheels blown away Eighteen other workers sustained injuries several of them critical Civil Surgeon Dr Sushil Dubey confirmed that among the deceased were three women and two men all labourers from Machhera villagenbspOne injured worker is in critical condition and is being referred to the Medical College in Nagpur for specialised treatment A team of 20 to 25 doctors is attending to the injured at Chhindwara District Hospital Police and administrative officials reached the spot immediately and are investigating the cause including possibilities of high speed and overloadingnbspnbspThe truck driver has been detained for interrogation and families of the victims have been informed The victims were travelling in the pickup truck when the collision occurred Officials are questioning the injured workers to ascertain the exact circumstances of the journey and the sequence of events leading to the crashnbspThe district administration has assured comprehensive support including medical care and compensation as announced to all affected familiesnbspnbspAs the probe continues authorities are working to ensure that such tragedies are prevented through better road safety protocols in the futureIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/mp-cm-announces-ex-gratia-for-chhindwara-road-accident-victims-family-injured-688906.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 14:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/uk-prime-minister-keir-starmer-announces-resignation-688907.html London June 22 IANS Keir Starmer on Monday announced that he is stepping down as the British Prime Minister and leader of the governing Labour PartynbspMaking a statement outside 10 Downing Street Starmer said that he will however remain in post as Prime Minister until a new Labour leader is chosen in the coming weeksnbspThe question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question and I accept that answer with good grace Every decision Ive taken has been about putting the country I love first That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour party I have spoken to His Majesty the King this morning to inform him of my decision said StarmerAfter having led the Labour party to a massive election win in July 2024 the first in 14 years Starmer has been facing criticism for the policies adopted by his governmentnbspStarmer however said on Monday that he aimed to change Britain for the better and to build a fairer country with dignity and respect where everyone is seen everyone is valued and wealth and opportunity is available to all not just the privileged fewA page in our countrys history turned after years of disappointment and despair the chance to change the lives of millions of people for the better Thats what I came into politics for The journey to that point was not easy Six years ago I inherited a Labour party that was politically financially and morally bankruptnbspI was told time and time again that my party was finished that we were consigned to history that a majority at the general election let alone a landslide majority was impossible We proved those people wrong because we changed our party ripping out the poison of antisemitism restoring trust on the economy defence and national security and becoming a party that once again stood proudly with God against our national flag he said on MondayStarmer has come up hard against the reality that the support isnt there the Observer reported over the weekendnbspThe truth is everyone knows this is no longer a sustainable proposition Theres a sadness to it all of course but sometimes theres just an inevitability in politics and as Boris Johnson said When the herd moves it moves it mentionednbspIt is anticipated that Andy Burnham could replace Starmer as the countrys next PM with the number of MPs supporting him for the Labour leadership having increased after his victory in the Makerfield byelection last weekIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/uk-prime-minister-keir-starmer-announces-resignation-688907.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 14:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-closes-plea-on-withheld-cbse-result-after-centre-issues-fresh-policy-for-gulf-based-private-students-688910.html New Delhi June 22 IANS The Supreme Court on Monday disposed of a plea filed by a CBSE Class 12 private candidate from Saudi Arabia after the Centre informed it that a fresh national policy had been notified to address the concerns of students affected by the cancellation of CBSE examinations in West Asian countries due to warrelated tensions and security concerns prevailing in the regionnbspA bench of Justices SVN Bhatti and Vipul M Pancholi took on record the policy notified on June 21 and the statement made by Solicitor General SG Tushar Mehta that the petitioners result had already been declared and communicated to himThe matter arose out of a petition filed by Pransu Jigarkumar Patel a CBSE Class 12 Improvement Examination candidate from Al Jubail in Saudi Arabia who had approached the top court seeking the declaration of his result after it was withheld despite a special assessment scheme framed for students affected by examination cancellations in West Asian countriesDuring the hearing SG Mehta appearing for the Union government informed the Justice Bhattiled Bench that CBSE examinations had been cancelled across seven Gulf countries affecting two categories of students regular school candidates and private candidatesThe Centres secondhighest law officer submitted that while regular students could be assessed under the existing evaluation framework based on school records private candidates faced a distinct difficulty as they had no school to provide internal assessment data such as quarterly halfyearly and preboard examination marks which formed the basis of the assessment scheme issued on March 27To address this gap the Centre framed a separate formula for private candidates under the newly notified policyAccording to the policy for subjects in which examinations were cancelled marks would be calculated by assigning 40 per cent weightage to theory marks obtained in the Class 10 Board examination and 60 per cent weightage to theory marks secured in the Class 12 Board examinationSG Mehta further informed the Supreme Court that the petitioners result computed under the new formula reflected marks higher than his earlier performance He added that the result had been communicated to the student through email and would also be updated on DigiLockerThe policy also provides an option for students dissatisfied with the assessed marks to appear in the next regular examinationCounsel for the petitioner acknowledged that the result had been declared but requested the apex court to protect the students right to obtain copies of answer scripts and seek reevaluation in accordance with CBSE rules However the Justice Bhattiled Bench observed that such reliefs were not part of the original prayers sought in the writ petitionDisposing of the plea the Supreme Court clarified that if the petitioner had any surviving grievance he would be at liberty to pursue appropriate remedies in accordance with lawThe litigation stemmed from the cancellation of several CBSE examinations including mathematics English and computer science in parts of the Gulf region due to warrelated tensions and security concerns While the CBSE had announced an assessment scheme for affected students the petitioners result remained withheld because he appeared as a private candidate and lacked the schoolbased assessment records required under the original frameworkEarlier this month the Supreme Court had issued notice to the CBSE and its Regional Officer in Dubai after the petitioner argued that the continued withholding of his result had jeopardised his admission prospects for a BTech programme and violated his rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution The petition filed through advocate Vineet Jindal had sought directions to the CBSE to declare the result under the assessment scheme applicable to West Asian countries or alternatively conduct a special examination for the cancelled subjectsIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-closes-plea-on-withheld-cbse-result-after-centre-issues-fresh-policy-for-gulf-based-private-students-688910.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kejriwal-hails-punjab-women-ahead-of-july-1-fund-transfer-688911.html New Delhi June 22 IANS Aam Aadmi Party AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Monday extended his heartfelt congratulations to the mothers sisters and daughters of Punjab ahead of the disbursement of financial assistance under the state governments Mukhya Mantri MawanDhiyan Satkar Yojana and called it the worlds largest women empowerment programArvind Kejriwal took to social media X and said Heartiest congratulations to all the mothers sisters and daughters of Punjab On July 1st the payment for three months will be credited to their accounts in a single installmentEvery woman from the General category will receive 3000 and every woman from the SC category will receive 4500 If there is more than one woman in a family each of them will receive this honorarium This is the worlds largest womens empowerment program he saidMeanwhile Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had earlier announced that the first installment under the Mukhya Mantri MawanDhiyan Satkar Yojana would be released on July 1 through Direct Benefit Transfer DBT Under the scheme women from SC families will receive financial assistance at the rate of Rs 1500 per month amounting to Rs 4500 for three months Women from the General category will receive Rs 3000 for the same periodAccording to the Punjab government the payment includes pending dues from April along with advance assistance ensuring that beneficiaries receive support for three months in a single transfer The scheme is aimed at enhancing the financial security of women and providing regular monetary assistance to eligible beneficiaries across the stateThe initiative is being viewed as a major welfare programme of the Bhagwant Mannled government with lakhs of women expected to benefit from itMeanwhile on June 12 Arvind Kejriwal claimed that Punjab Assembly elections may be held in November this year as against the expected February 2027Kejriwal also projected Bhagwant Mann as the partys chief ministerial face saying We have to make him the chief minister againAddressing a roadshow in Bathinda alongside CM Mann and senior party leaders including Manish Sisodia and Punjab AAP president Aman Arora Kejriwal had thanked people for the AAPs impressive performance in the civic polls held last monthIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kejriwal-hails-punjab-women-ahead-of-july-1-fund-transfer-688911.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ancient-gift-from-bharat-to-humanity-vp-radhakrishnan-at-international-yoga-day-event-in-leh-688791.html Leh June 21 IANS Participating in the 12th International Yoga Day celebrations in Leh Ladakh Vice President CP Radhakrishnan called upon citizens to make yoga an integral part of their daily lives for a healthier happier and more peaceful society while terming it Indias gift to humanitynbsp nbspAddressing the gathering amidst the majestic Himalayan landscape of Ladakh the Vice President said Yoga is much more than a form of physical exercise and represents an ancient gift from Bharat to humanityHe noted that through years of meditation austerity and spiritual inquiry Indias sages developed a holistic system that nurtures the body calms the mind and elevates the soulRadhakrishnan highlighted that the global recognition of yoga received renewed momentum under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose call at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014 led to the adoption of 21 June as the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations with the support of over 175 member nationsReferring to this years theme Yoga for Healthy Ageing he said Advances in healthcare and rising life expectancy have brought new responsibilities for societyCiting the India Ageing Report 2023 he observed that by 2050 nearly onefifth of Indias population will be elderly as he emphasised the need to ensure that added years to life also mean added life to years and described yoga as a powerful tool for promoting physical health mental wellbeing and active ageingMoreover he observed that life at high altitudes demands endurance discipline and adaptability qualities that yoga helps cultivate He remarked that the people of Ladakh have long exemplified resilience simplicity and harmony with nature values that resonate deeply with the philosophy of yogaExpressing his admiration for the people of the Union Territory the Vice President said that during his interactions in the region he found them to be calm peaceful kind and deeply connected to nature While people here already embody many qualities associated with healthy living the continued practice of yoga would help sustain their vitality and enable them to realise their fullest human potential he statedLadakh Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and Lok Sabha MP Mohmad Haneefa were among those present at the event along with other leaders senior civil and military officials yoga practitioners students and members of the local communityEarlier in the day Radhakrishnan visited the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre MIMC Devachan Campus in Leh and expressed deep appreciation for the institutions outstanding contribution towards education healthcare social welfare environmental sustainability and the promotion of yoga and meditation in LadakhAlso he commended the leadership of Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena and observed that the MIMC has emerged as a shining example of how spiritual wisdom and humanitarian action can come together for the welfare of humanity https://dailyworld.in/politics/ancient-gift-from-bharat-to-humanity-vp-radhakrishnan-at-international-yoga-day-event-in-leh-688791.html Sun, 21 Jun 2026 16:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/parliamentary-panel-to-meet-soon-to-discuss-economic-situation-688794.html New Delhi June 21 IANS The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance will be meeting soon to discuss the evolving economic situation in the country amid the uncertainties due to the West Asia crisisnbspCommittee Chairman Bhartruhari Mahtab said Despite the serious headwinds Indias economy is emerging in a better way There are certain very good indicators where household savings also increased in comparison to last yearnbspHowever the challenge is that private investment is not picking up even though government investment is increasing to spur the economic growth rate This challenge has to be addressed he addednbspThe committee has decided to meet again towards the third week of this month and will also prepare a report with recommendations to the governmentnbspnbspAccording to a Lok Sabha bulletin the Standing Committee on Finance has chosen Evolving Economic Conditions in the Country as an additional subject for detailed examination during the year 202526Parliamentary committees select subjects that they have up to take up for discussion shortly after they are constituted But they have the freedom to select additional subjects keeping in mind evolving circumstancesMeanwhile the minutes of the RBIs monetary policy committee meeting released on Friday show that India has been able to withstand the disruptions of the West Asia crisis because of the strong fundamentals of the economyMPC member Nagesh Kumar said The Indian economy entered the West Asia crisis with much stronger macroeconomic fundamentals than most previous economic crises including the global financial crisis the taper tantrum or Covid19 Before the conflict started at the end of February the Indian economy was enjoying a goldilocks moment of robust growth and very benign inflationnbspEmphasis on fiscal consolidation over the past years has helped in bringing down the fiscal deficit from 65 per cent of GDP in 202223 steadily to 44 per cent by 202526 This provides some fiscal space to address the challenges posed by the West Asia crisis including through supporting economic growth by sustaining and even enhancing public investment to mitigate any weaknesses in private consumption due to rising costs and to absorb rising subsidies for absorbing the high crude pricesnbspnbspThe minutes further state that reservoirs holding above 20 per cent higher water levels than the 10year average could help to mitigate the possible shortfalls in the monsoon In any case over time Indian agriculture has tended to be less affected by monsoon fluctuations with growing resilienceHowever the RBI said the inflation outlook remains vulnerable to prolonged supplychain disruptions arising from the conflict in West Asia and uncertainty over the spatial and temporal distribution of the southwest monsoonnbspnbspMPC member Prof Ram Singh stated RBIs analysis indicates a clear relationship between energy prices and domestic inflation If crude oil prices are higher by 10 per cent than the baseline assuming full passthrough to domestic product prices inflation could turn out to be higher by around 50 bps Inflated crude import bill expands our CADHowever since the meeting took place the US and Iran have signed a peace deal which has resulted in a sharp decline in crude prices to around 75 a barrel and this is expected to bring down inflation going aheadnbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/parliamentary-panel-to-meet-soon-to-discuss-economic-situation-688794.html Sun, 21 Jun 2026 17:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/uk-pm-starmer-may-possibly-resign-on-monday-688795.html London June 21 IANS UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to resign on Monday and is reportedly preparing to present a timetable for an orderly departure from Downing Street British media reports saidnbspStarmer who has long insisted he would fight any challenge to his leadership now recognises his position is untenable after speaking with his government ministers party funders and trade union leaders over the past two days the Observer reportedStarmer has come up hard against the reality that the support isnt there the daily cited a source as telling it The truth is everyone knows this is no longer a sustainable proposition Theres a sadness to it all of course but sometimes theres just an inevitability in politics and as Boris Johnson said When the herd moves it movesThe number of MPs supporting rival Andy Burnham for the Labour leadership has increased after his triumphant victory in the Makerfield byelection last week Italian news agency Adnkronos reportedEarlier in the morning British Trade Secretary Peter Kyle told Sky News that Starmer was spending the weekend reflecting on the political realities he faces Speaking on behalf of the government Kyle refused to offer guidance on the Prime Ministers plans or what he himself would suggest to himAsked if Starmer truly intended to resign on Monday Kyle replied that he had no reason to believe so adding that the Labour leader would reflect on what it means to put the country first at a time like thisDuring the interview Kyle did not dismiss the idea that a change in Downing Street was imminent after Burnhams victory Stating that he had spoken at length with Starmer on Friday Kyle declared that he was certain that the Prime Minister had had conversations with a very wide range of people including myself and that he is working very hard this weekendI believe he is taking time to reflect on the political realities challenges and opportunities he faces I think thats what people expect him to do at this timeIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/uk-pm-starmer-may-possibly-resign-on-monday-688795.html Sun, 21 Jun 2026 17:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/dharmendra-pradhan-helps-bengal-girl-with-broken-ribs-appear-in-neet-ug-re-exam-688796.html New Delhi June 21 IANS In a heartwarming gesture Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday helped a critically injured NEET UG aspirant appear for the examination in Kolkata with special arrangements a move that drew appreciation from the candidates familynbspShrishti Dubey appeared for the examination at Binodini Girls High School in Dhakuria Kolkata in a separate room with medical support and a standby ambulance at the examination centre following Pradhans intervention an official saidAs she began writing the examination Pradhan called Shrishtis father and inquired about his daughters condition and progressnbspShreeram Shiwji Dubey a primary school teacher thanked the Union Minister for his assistancenbspIt is all because of you that my daughter is giving the exam he said expressing his gratitudenbspThe students mother also thanked the Minister for coming to her daughters aid after she met with an accident on June 14nbspWe had given up hope that she would ever be able to give the exam The doctors encouraged us to submit a special application seeking permission for her to appear in the exam in hospital attire and with medical attachments she saidPradhan expressed hope that Shrishti would perform well and make her parents proud by becoming a doctornbspI will try and meet you when I come to Kolkata Pradhan told Dubey over the phonenbspEarlier in his request to Pradhan the students father said Sir my daughter Shrishti Dubey Roll No 460xxxxxxx is supposed to appear for the NEET examination on June 21 2026 at Binodini Girls High School Dhakuria Centre Code 4608306She underwent a major road traffic accident on June 14 where nine of her ribs were broken and she suffered severe lung injuries She underwent major vascular surgery and was under artificial ventilation She has now been extubated and is in a state of recovery She is determined to appear for the NEET examination and needs your support Dubey saidnbspSir ILS Hospital will provide the necessary medical support including a doctor paramedics and other required arrangements I request you to please allow my daughter to sit for the examination he saidIt will be a great help if you inform the centre to provide her with a seating space a chair and a table on the ground floor as she will be in hospital attire and to allow her to carry necessary medical attachments such as a chest drain he addednbspMore than 20 lakh students across the country appeared for the National EligibilitycumEntrance Test NEET UG 2026 reexamination on Sunday under multilayered security arrangements put in place by the National Testing Agency NTAnbspThe reexamination was necessitated following the cancellation of the May 3 examination due to alleged irregularitiesIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/dharmendra-pradhan-helps-bengal-girl-with-broken-ribs-appear-in-neet-ug-re-exam-688796.html Sun, 21 Jun 2026 17:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/six-killed-in-ammonia-leak-at-tiruvallur-seafood-unit-cm-vijay-orders-probe-688797.html Chennai June 21 IANS At least six workers were killed and several others hospitalised after a suspected ammonia gas leak at a seafood export processing unit near Periyapalayam in Tamil Nadus Tiruvallur district on Sunday officials saidnbspThe Tamil Nadu government has ordered an immediate investigation into the incidentnbspnbspAccording to police and official sources the leak occurred at a seafood processing and export facility where a large number of migrant workers were employednbspAround 120 workers including women from Assam Odisha and Jharkhand were reportedly within the factory premises when the incident took placenbspAuthorities said the suspected ammonia leak originated from the units refrigeration or processing system and quickly spread across parts of the facility Workers exposed to the gas began experiencing severe breathing difficulties dizziness and irritation Some reportedly suffered bleeding from the mouth and nose indicating the intensity of the exposurenbspnbspPanic gripped the premises as workers rushed out in search of safety while others collapsed after inhaling the gasnbspnbspEmergency response teams police personnel and local authorities reached the spot and launched rescue operations The affected workers were initially shifted to nearby private hospitals for emergency treatmentnbspPolice sources had earlier reported that one worker had died while undergoing treatment However as rescue and medical efforts continued the death toll rose to at least sixnbspSeveral others remain in critical condition and are receiving intensive medical care Doctors treating the victims said many had suffered serious respiratory complications due to inhalation of the toxic gasnbspThose requiring advanced treatment were later transferred to the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in ChennaiChief Minister C Joseph Vijay expressed concern over the incident and directed officials to provide all necessary medical assistance to the affected workers He also ordered the constitution of a threemember inquiry committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the leaknbspThe Chief Minister instructed the panel to conduct an immediate inspection and submit a detailed report within 24 hours The investigation is expected to examine safety protocols maintenance procedures and possible lapses at the facility Police have registered a case and further investigations are underway Officials are also assessing whether violations of industrial safety regulations contributed to the disasternbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/six-killed-in-ammonia-leak-at-tiruvallur-seafood-unit-cm-vijay-orders-probe-688797.html Sun, 21 Jun 2026 17:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rani-durgavati-university-convocation-president-murmu-urges-students-to-use-education-for-nation-building--688828.html Jabalpur June 21 IANS President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday participated in the 36th Convocation Ceremony of Rani Durgavati University here as the chief guest delivering an inspiring address that emphasised the transformative power of education for both individual growth and national developmentnbspnbspSpeaking at the event President Murmu highlighted the critical role of education in uplifting communities particularly tribal populationsnbspShe stressed the need to ensure that tribal youth have equal opportunities to participate in modern development while preserving their unique cultural identity and traditional knowledge systemsEducational institutions like Rani Durgavati University should make special efforts in this direction she said adding that a comprehensive study and dissemination of tribal knowledge and crafts would benefit the entire nationnbspThe President noted that higher education institutions are not merely centres of learning but also hubs of innovation and researchnbspShe called upon universities to foster creative thinking scientific temper and an entrepreneurial spirit among studentsnbspShe further urged educational institutions to instil pride in Indian culture traditions and languages advocating a harmonious blend of modernity and tradition for balanced national progressPresident Murmu encouraged research in areas vital to society such as environmental conservation womens empowerment the development of marginalised sections cleanliness and social harmonynbspShe said such focused studies would greatly aid in formulating effective development plans for the countrynbspAddressing the graduating students directly the President advised them to make the eternal values of Indian culture truth nonviolence compassion service and honesty the foundation of their livesnbspUse your education and talent not only for personal success but for the greater good of society she saidShe urged the youth to understand the challenges faced by underprivileged and rural communities and work towards empowering them and bringing them into the mainstream of developmentnbspDescribing the students as architects of the nations future President Murmu called upon them to contribute to realising the dream of Viksit BharatnbspShe highlighted emerging opportunities in digital technology startups green energy space research and modern infrastructure encouraging young graduates to make their mark globally while fulfilling their responsibilities towards environmental conservation and sustainable developmentShe advised young people to seize these opportunities and establish themselves on the global stagenbspShe further urged them to fulfil their responsibilities towards protecting the environment and promoting sustainable developmentIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rani-durgavati-university-convocation-president-murmu-urges-students-to-use-education-for-nation-building--688828.html Sun, 21 Jun 2026 19:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rahul-gandhi-slams-nta-over-neet-goof-up-as-nagpur-students-exam-centre-allotted-in-abu-dhabi-688784.html New Delhi June 20 IANS Leader of Opposition LoP Rahul Gandhi tore into the National Testing Agency NTA on Saturday over a shocking anomaly in the admit card of a NEET National Eligibility cum Entrance Test aspirant just a day ahead of the reexaminationsComing down hard on the examination body Rahul accused it of gambling with the childrens future and said that despite bungling up on the previous occasion it didnt get its act together thereby burdening the already stressed children and their parentsThe controversy erupted after a NEET aspirant in Nagpur was reportedly found to have been allotted an examination centre in Abu Dhabi for the retest scheduled on June 21 2026 The mega blunder by NTA has hogged national attention and is drawing backlash and criticism from the student communityNagpurbased candidate named Abdullah Mohammad Talib discovered the discrepancy while downloading his ReNEET 2026 admit card from the official website Instead of being assigned a centre in his city his admit card mentioned an examination centre in Abu Dhabi UAEAs the matter kicked up a row the NTA sought to downplay the issue and assured that the grievance is being addressed and the candidate will be allocated a centre in Nagpur after due verification in the next few hoursRahul Gandhi expressed dismay over the embarrassing incident happening just a day before exams and over students emotional turmoilHe said that the student being at the receiving end of NTAs mismanagement cried all night and is reluctant to take the examsWhat kind of stress is this Can you even imagine The NTA is actually just testing the patience of the countrys children and their parents Rahul said in a post on XHitting out at the broken education system the Congress leader said that he raised the matter earlier also during his interaction with students in Kota and said This is nothing but extortion of an entire generations money time and mental peaceFurther stepping up the heat on the NTA he said Stop gambling with our childrens future They deserve a sensitive responsible and accountable education system and exam authorityIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rahul-gandhi-slams-nta-over-neet-goof-up-as-nagpur-students-exam-centre-allotted-in-abu-dhabi-688784.html Sat, 20 Jun 2026 14:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-to-release-23rd-pm-kisan-instalment-from-west-bengal-today-688786.html New Delhi June 20 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi PMKisan scheme on Saturday from Hooghlys Tarakeswar in West Bengal transferring financial assistance directly to eligible farmers across the countrynbspIn Gujarat more than 5128 lakh farmers are set to benefit from the latest instalment with direct financial assistance exceeding Rs 1025 crore to be credited into their bank accountsThe nationwide transfer under the instalment will amount to over Rs 18880 crore benefiting more than 944 crore farmer families across India through Direct Benefit Transfer DBT according to official detailsIn Gujarat the schemes implementation will be marked by a statelevel PM Kisan Utsav Diwas at the Town Hall in Gandhinagar under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupendra PatelAgriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani and Minister of State Ramesh Katara will be present at the event which is part of the states coordinated rollout of the central schemeAs part of the national programme the Prime Minister will release the instalment and interact virtually with farmers across the country addressing beneficiaries during the event in West BengalOfficial figures show that since the launch of the PMKisan scheme 22 instalments have already been disbursed with more than 11 crore farmers receiving cumulative assistance exceeding Rs 428 lakh crore across IndiaThe programme will be broadcast live at Agricultural Science Centres market yards Farmer Producer Organisations Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras and Primary Agricultural Credit Societies District taluka and villagelevel events have also been arranged to facilitate viewing of the Prime Ministers addressMeanwhile ahead his twoday visit to West Bengal starting Saturday Prime Minister Modi on Friday made social media posts in Bengali elaborating on the details of his visitHe said he would be present in West Bengal for various programmes on June 20 and 21 He noted that June 20 was particularly noteworthy as it marked West Bengal DayIn his post PM Modi said that the 23rd instalment of PMKISAN would be disbursed from Tarakeswar benefiting farmers across IndiaHe added that major Central Government schemes related to agriculture would also be launched including Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana Agri Stack as part of the Digital Agriculture Mission National Mission on Natural Farming and Pradhan Mantri DhanDhanya Krishi Yojana These he said would benefit the hardworking farmers of West BengalPM Modi further stated that on June 21 he would attend a programme in Kolkata on the occasion of International Yoga DayIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-to-release-23rd-pm-kisan-instalment-from-west-bengal-today-688786.html Sat, 20 Jun 2026 14:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-cm-assures-free-dtc-travel-for-neet-ug-candidates-tomorrow-688790.html New Delhi June 20 IANS On the eve of the National EligibilitycumEntrance Test NEET UG 2026 retest Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that all candidates will be allowed to travel free of cost on DTC buses on Sunday and their family members will be able to wait in special cooling zones outside all 97 examination centresExtending her best wishes to students and their families for the medical entrance test Chief Minister Gupta said the Delhi government has ensured that no family faces unnecessary difficulties related to transportation heat or long waiting hours on the day of the examShe said that to avail free travel on DTC buses the candidates will only need to show their valid NEET admit card to the bus conductorThe Chief Minister said a total of 97 examination centres have been designated for the NEET examination in the city and special cooling zones are being established by the district administration near all these centresShe said this is the first time that special waiting arrangements have been made keeping in mind the comfort and convenience not only of students appearing for the examination but also of their parents and family membersChief Minister Gupta noted that while candidates remain inside the examination halls the concerns heat and discomfort faced by parents waiting outside for several hours often go unnoticedRecognising this human aspect the Delhi government has created cooling zones around the examination centres where parents will have access to seating and resting facilities along with clean drinking water lime water ORS tea and firstaid support she saidThe Chief Minister said the Delhi Government remains committed to providing every possible support and convenience to students during their education and competitive examinationsWhen parents feel comfortable and reassured it also has a positive impact on students helping them appear for the examination with greater confidence she saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-cm-assures-free-dtc-travel-for-neet-ug-candidates-tomorrow-688790.html Sat, 20 Jun 2026 17:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/president-murmu-lauds-landmark-sickle-cell-mission-in-madhya-pradesh--688740.html Omkareshwar June 19 IANS Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh witnessed a historic moment on Friday as President Droupadi Murmu participated in the International Sickle Cell Day commemoration aimed at eliminating one of the most challenging genetic disordersnbspAddressing the gathering the President described the observance as a meaningful effort in tackling a pressing health sector issue and praised the remarkable progress achieved under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission She highlighted that the missions target of screening 7 crore individuals from newborns to those up to 40 years of age was accomplished ahead of schedulenbspCalling it one of the largest genetic disease screening initiatives in the world President Murmu noted that such a feat reflects the nations commitment to public health The mission has already detected approximately 25 lakh patients and identified over 20 lakh carriers of sickle cell disease a scale that she said demands deeper understanding and sustained healthcare supportnbspThe President commended both the Central and State governments for not only identifying patients and carriers but also ensuring proper healthcare facilities for themnbspShe particularly lauded Madhya Pradeshs contribution citing the record screening of over 4 lakh women during the Swasth Woman Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan held between September 17 and October 2 2025 This initiative she said exemplifies the states proactive role in combating the diseasenbspPresident Murmu also drew attention to the Sickle Mitra initiative launched by the Madhya Pradesh government last year on International Sickle Cell Day Through this programmr representatives from government and nongovernment institutions voluntary organisations and NCC cadets have been trained to spread awareness and extend assistance to patientsShe expressed confidence that such collective strength and active participation across states will help India achieve its national goal of eradicating sickle cellrelated diseases well before 2047nbspThe commemoration at Omkareshwar thus became not only a celebration of progress but also a reaffirmation of Indias determination to overcome genetic health challenges through missionmode action community engagement and unwavering political willnbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/president-murmu-lauds-landmark-sickle-cell-mission-in-madhya-pradesh--688740.html Fri, 19 Jun 2026 15:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/calcutta-hc-serves-contempt-of-court-notices-to-mamata-banerjee-abhishek-banerjee-688744.html Kolkata June 19 IANS The Calcutta High Court on Friday served contempt of court notices to former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee the Trinamool Congress general secretary and Lok Sabha membernbspnbspThe notice pertains to the Trinamool Congress annual Martyrs Day rally in central Kolkata on July 21 2025 which contravened the Calcutta High Courts 2018 order that prohibited political parties from obstructing any major or important road junctions in the citynbspRecently a contempt of court petition challenging the Trinamool Congress annual Martyrs Day rally was filed before a Calcutta High Court division bench headed by Justice Arijit BanerjeeA preliminary hearing in the matter was conducted on Friday following which the division bench directed that contempt of court notices be served on both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek BanerjeenbspThe next hearing in the matter will be on July 3nbspTo recall in 2018 the erstwhile Calcutta High Courts division bench of Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya and Justice Arijit Banerjee ruled that no political rally in the city should block any main and important junctionThe erstwhile division bench also ruled that a part of the road should always be kept open for pedestrians and vehicles Ambulances and other emergency services must be ensured free movement and if necessary alternative roads must be arranged to divert vehicles the erstwhile division bench rulednbspThe court in 2018 had also directed the police to inform the public in advance through the media about traffic diversion plans In addition the court said that legal action would be taken against the culprits if there is vandalism noise or violence during the political meeting or political rallyRecently another petition was filed in the Calcutta High Court claiming that the 2018 court order was completely violated in the Trinamool Congress Martyrs Day rally on July 21 last year In the petition it was also claimed that the Martyrs Day rally by the previous ruling party was conducted by completely blocking an important junction at Esplanade in Central Kolkata causing immense inconvenience to the publicnbspThe contempt of court notices were served on Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee in relation to the fresh petitionIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/calcutta-hc-serves-contempt-of-court-notices-to-mamata-banerjee-abhishek-banerjee-688744.html Fri, 19 Jun 2026 15:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/cong-to-blame-for-india-blocs-downfall-muslim-league-its-only-ally-left-in-south-sudhanshu-trivedi-688748.html New Delhi June 19 IANS INDIA bloc is going downhill and is staring at an existential threat primarily because of Congress opportunistic and selfserving politics said BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi on FridaynbspTrivedis scathing criticism came in the backdrop of a debacle for Congress candidate in Rajya Sabha polls in Jharkhand despite the CongressJMM alliances comfortable numerical strength in the AssemblyThe shocking loss for the Congress candidate has triggered a blame game among the key allies including Congress JMM and CPI ML leaders thereby exposing the underlying fissures and faultlines within the INDIA alliancenbspBJP Rajya Sabha MP when questioned about the INDIA blocs viability during a press conference said that the alliances composition is at risk due to increasing rifts and fighting within the Congress party and that the party is to blame for thisINDIA bloc is fast losing relevance as there is nothing left about India in the alliance After snapping ties with DMK Congress only ally left in South India is the Indian Union Muslim League IUML he pointed out while questioning the foundations and principles on which it was formednbspMocking the erstwhile Congressled UPA he wondered about its current status and whether it had gone into radioactive decaynbspHe said that the Congress party must introspect on why the grand old partyled coalitions dont withstand the test of timeQuestioning its opportunistic tendencies Trivedi said that Jharkhands results were no surprise but a fallout of its conduct during the Bihar electionsnbspA JMM minister had stated on record that Hemant Sorenled party was backstabbed and betrayed during Bihar Assembly elections by their own alliance partner as it first promised them a share in seat allocations and then reneged on the same at will the BJP leader said suggesting that the coalition had broken down long back ago and what happened in Rajya Sabha polls yesterday was mere outcome of that opportunismWhen questioned on Congress cadres celebrating Rahul Gandhis birthday and equating him with Lord Parshuram he said that it was up to him and his partymen to shape his legacynbspPandit Jawahar Lal Nehru used to celebrate his birthday as Childrens Day Congress MP and his supporters can see how they want to remember him he saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cong-to-blame-for-india-blocs-downfall-muslim-league-its-only-ally-left-in-south-sudhanshu-trivedi-688748.html Fri, 19 Jun 2026 15:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/india-set-to-excel-defence-production-export-targets-ahead-of-schedule-rajnath-singh-688749.html Nagpur June 19 IANS Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday announced that India is rapidly moving toward absolute selfreliance in safeguarding its national interests by eliminating its dependence on critical importsnbspSpeaking after laying the foundation stone for the 10000Tons Aluminium Extrusion Press at the Ordnance Factory Ambajhari in Nagpur a unit of Yantra India Limited YIL the Defence Minister asserted that taking control of securityrelated necessities is an absolute imperative in todays volatile geopolitical climate Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was also present at the ceremonyA nation capable of meeting its own requirements moves forward with the greatest confidence towards safeguarding its interests the Minister stated emphasising that the new facility represents a monumental shift from importreliance to robust domestic manufacturingnbspThe Defence Minister shared highly encouraging financial milestones highlighting that India is well on track to achieve its midterm goals ahead of schedule Driven by the four core pillars of technology workforce knowledge and national faith Indias defence ecosystem has undergone a massive transformation over the past decadeTotal Defence production has risen to a record Rs 178 lakh crore in Financial Year FY 202526 up from just Rs 46000 crore in 2014 Defence exports skyrocketed to an alltime high of Rs 38424 crore in FY 202526 compared to less than Rs 1000 crore in 2014 said the ministernbspHe added that the nation is poised to meet its upcoming targets of Rs 3 lakh crore in defence production and Rs 50000 crore in defence exports much earlier than anticipatedReflecting on the structural reforms within the sector Rajnath Singh lauded the success of corporatising the old Ordnance Factory Board OFB into Defence Public Sector Undertakings DPSUsnbspThe operational autonomy granted to these units has yielded exponential growth as the OFBs production rose to Rs 26282 crore in FY 202526 from Rs 12755 crore in the precorporatisation year of FY 201920 Defence exports for these units rose from a meagre Rs 81 crore before corporatisation to Rs 4561 crore in FY 202526 with host unit YIL contributing Rs 397 crore to this figure While acknowledging that the nature of warfare is evolving rapidly theThe Defence Minister noted that conventional hardware remains as vital today as it was in 1947 and will retain its relevance leading up to 2047nbspHighlighting the success of MadeinIndia equipment during Operation Sindoor he emphasised that a strong militaryindustrial base requires continuous Research ampamp Development RampampD and Capital Infusion Investing in modern machinery introduces vital technological links improves manufacturing efficiency and ensures toptier qualityThe proposed 10000Tons Aluminium Extrusion Press will be one of the most advanced facilities in the country It is designed to manufacture large highly complex aluminium alloy profiles capable of withstanding extreme conditions The output from this facility will directly feed into modern fighter jets and aviation structures advanced missiles space programmes railways transportation and other strategic industrial applications said the government releasenbspEchoing these sentiments CM Fadnavis called the project a giant leap towards the vision of Aatmanirbhar Selfreliant and Viksit Developed Bharat He noted that the growing collaboration between DPSUs and the private sector is unlocking unique capabilities for New India positioning Nagpur as a vital hub for indigenous defence manufacturingIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/india-set-to-excel-defence-production-export-targets-ahead-of-schedule-rajnath-singh-688749.html Fri, 19 Jun 2026 15:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/operation-tiger-succeeds-six-shiv-senaubt-mps-defy-party-whip-move-to-join-shinde-faction-677720.html New Delhi June 18 IANS In a major political upheaval rocking Maharashtra politics the Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena UBT has suffered a crippling blow as six of its nine Lok Sabha Members rebelled to bypass a crucial party whip on ThursdaynbspnbspThe highstakes defection marks the definitive success of the Eknath Shinde factions meticulously executed plan codenamed Operation Tiger The internal fracture came to light during a parliamentary party meeting convened by Shiv SenaUBT at its office in Parliament House at 1100 amDespite a strict whip issued a day prior compelling mandatory attendance only three Lok Sabha members and one Rajya Sabha member showed up Those who attended the meeting included Sanjay Raut Rajya Sabha Anil Desai Arvind Sawant and Rajabhau Waje while Sanjay Dina Patil Sanjay Deshmukh Sanjay Bandu Jadhav Omraje Nimbalkar Bhausaheb Wakchaure and Nagesh Patil Ashtikar staged a complete boycott of the meetingAccording to sources the rebel faction has already filed an application before Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to be recognised as a separate bloc paving a clear legal path for their formal merger with the Eknath Shindeled Shiv SenanbspSources said the dissenting lawmakers passed an internal resolution detailing ideological differences as the driving force behind their exit It says the leadership has drifted significantly from the original Hindutva ideology established by party founder Balasaheb Thackeray The resolution explicitly notes growing anxiety within the rank and file regarding a potential fullscale merger of Shiv SenaUBT into the Congress party highlighting that the regional party was never envisioned to lose its identity to a national outfitThe MPs further referenced recent statements by senior leader Sanjay Raut suggesting that regional parties like the Trinamool Congress should merge with Congress amplifying fears that a similar fate awaited the Thackeray groupnbspAnticipating public outrage and potential lawandorder issues across Maharashtra security has been beefed up substantially outside the residences of the defecting MPs Local police forces have set up heavy bandobast security deployments outside several properties including Mumbai North East MP Sanjay Dina Patils residence to prevent any untoward incidents Sources indicate that Sanjay Jadhav is slated to take up the leadership mantle of this newly formed parliamentary breakaway groupFollowing an open threat issued by Shiv SenaUBT MP Sanjay Raut all the rebel MPs will receive Yplus security The Maharashtra Home Department which is keeping a close watch amid the ongoing political turmoil in the party has ordered the State Intelligence Department to bolster their securitynbspAs the political drama shifts from party offices to parliamentary corridors both camps are readying their legal machinery The Shiv SenaUBT leadership has initiated the process of issuing immediate showcause notices to the six absent MPs giving them a brief window of a few hours to respond Failure to provide a valid rationale will prompt the UBT group to officially petition Speaker Om Birla for their disqualification under the antidefection lawInsiders from the Shinde faction claimed that because the six MPs represent a strict twothirds majority of the partys total Lok Sabha strength 6 out of 9 the antidefection whip does not legally bind them once their separate group status is acceptednbspSources within the Shinde camp revealed that they are keeping their cards close to their chests and will not release any evidence or formal announcements for the next 48 hours to carefully counter the legal strategies of the Thackeray campnbspWith Shiv Senas Foundation Day approaching on June 19 the rebel group is highly anticipated to formally integrate into Eknath Shindes faction cementing a dramatic shift in the numbers game within the Lok SabhaIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/operation-tiger-succeeds-six-shiv-senaubt-mps-defy-party-whip-move-to-join-shinde-faction-677720.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/madhya-pradesh-on-high-alert-ahead-of-president-droupadi-murmus-five-day-visit-to-state-677656.html IndoreOmkareshwar Jun 17 IANS Security has been tightened across Madhya Pradesh in view of President Droupadi Murmus scheduled twoday visit to OmkareshwarnbspDirector General of Police Kailash Makwana has instructed police officials in all districts to remain extra vigilant and ensure smooth maintenance of law and order during this period President Murmu is on fiveday visit to Madhya PradeshnbspnbspShe is set to arrive in Omkareshwar via Indore on June 18 On her arrival she will offer prayers and have darshan at the revered Jyotirlinga shrine The following day on June 19 an official event will be held to mark World Sickle Cell DaynbspTo facilitate the visit traffic arrangements in Omkareshwar will undergo major changes from June 17 until 12 pm on June 19nbspThe President will be welcomed at Indore airport by ministers public representatives and senior officials The mode of her travel from Indore to Omkareshwar by helicopter or road is yet to be finalised and will depend on weather conditionsnbspnbspThe administration in Indore has already made elaborate preparations for her arrival senior officials saidnbspThe official confirmation of her proposed visit is yet to be announced by the Presidents secretariatnbspSpeaking to IANS Khandwa district magistrate Rishav Gupta appealed to devotees for cooperation saying The Presidents visit is scheduled for June 18 and 19 at Omkareshwar On June 18 she will offer prayers at the Jyotirlinga There may be some inconvenience to the public during this period and we request everyones supportnbspHeavy vehicular movement has been diverted through alternative routes to avoid congestion Vehicles en route from Indore to Khandwa will take routes via MhowManpurDhamnodKhargone SimrolMandleshwarKasrawadKhargone or BarwahaMandleshwarKasrawadKhargonenbspSimilarly traffic moving from Khandwa towards Indore will proceed via BhikangaonKhargoneKasrawad while vehicles from Mandleshwar will use the KasrawadKhalghat route Small vehicles arriving from Indore will be directed to park at Trenching Ground and Tamrakar Parking via BarwahaMortakkaSanawad from where devotees can walk for darshan and the holy dipVehicles coming from the Mundi side will also park at the same locations via Sanawad Buses from both Indore and Khandwa will be parked at Mortakka A section of the road will be temporarily declared a novehicle zone while the Presidents convoy passes throughnbspThe local administration has made comprehensive arrangements to ensure the visit goes smoothly while minimising inconvenience to devotees and the general publicnbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/madhya-pradesh-on-high-alert-ahead-of-president-droupadi-murmus-five-day-visit-to-state-677656.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/resign-face-voters-sanjay-raut-issues-ultimatum-to-rebel-faction-677657.html New Delhi June 17 IANS The Shiv SenaUBT Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the ruling Mahayuti alliance alleging that a massive horsetrading operation dubbed Operation Tiger is underway to slice away opposition lawmakers ahead of the Maharashtra legislatures upcoming monsoon sessionnbspnbspFlanked by only three of the partys nine newly elected Lok Sabha MPs Arvind Sawant Mumbai South Anil Desai Mumbai South Central and Rajabhau Waje Nashik Raut in a highvoltage press conference attempted to project a defiant front against intense speculation that a significant chunk of Uddhav Thackerays legislative flock is on the verge of defecting to the Chief Minister Eknath Shindeled factionRaut claimed that opposition MPs are being offered staggering sums to switch sides claiming that chartered flights were prepared to ferry dissident lawmakersnbspI have solid information that Rs 15 crore each was being delivered to MPs as an advance Charter flights were kept ready at three locations including Nanded and Pune to bring them to Delhi But let me clear one thing Operation Tiger is not going to be that easy Breaking the Shiv SenaUBT is impossible because we are the real tigers he remarkednbspRaut dismissed rumours that six to seven UBT MPs had already arrived in Delhi to submit a breakaway letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om BirlaHe asserted that a false narrative was being orchestrated by the BJP and the Shinde camp to destabilise the partys morale ahead of the June 19 Foundation Day celebrationsnbspAddressing the rumoured dissidents directly Raut issued a stern warning reminding them of the groundlevel backing that secured their recent electoral victories under the Mashaal Flaming Torch symbol Raut revealed that during an internal party review meeting headed by Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday all elected representatives had sworn absolute loyaltynbspOur MPs explicitly took oaths in the name of Saibaba Tulja Bhavani Balasaheb Thackeray and their own families promising they would never betray the mandate he disclosedAccording to Raut only four Lok Sabha MPs were physically present at the June 14 meeting Arvind Sawant Rajabhau Waje Anil Desai and Sanjay Dina Patil The remaining five MPs attended the proceedings via video conferencing where they made dramatic sacred vows of allegiance to Uddhav ThackeraynbspOne MP took an oath in the name of Sai Baba four separate times He said I am with you I swear by Sai Baba my wife is sick I swear by Sai Baba I will come to meet you in two days I swear by Sai Baba I will stay with you until I die I swear by Sai Baba Another MP swore on his daughters life and a third swore by Goddess Bhavani When people take such sacred oaths we are forced to trust them he explainedBalasaheb loved them like sons and Uddhav ji treated them like brothers yet they chose to betray them They are utter cowards treachery is running in their veins You were elected entirely on our symbol and through Uddhav Thackerays sheer hard work No one has the right to be dishonest If what happened in the past is repeated the people of Maharashtra and the Shiv Sainiks will not remain silent Whatever street violence has to happen will happen said RautIn another explosive revelation Raut alleged that the ruling alliance was weaponising active legal cases to psychologically coerce MPs into switching sides He specifically named Osmanabad MP Omraje Nimbalkar MP Omraje Nimbalkars fathers murder trial is currently underway and the verdict is expected soon He was explicitly given an offer If you want this judicial verdict to swing in your favour switch over to our party This is the level of pressure being applied he notedRaut dared If anyone wants to go they must first resign from their parliamentary seats sacrifice their posts and face the electorate again The people of Maharashtra are watching and they will not stay silent this timeDespite Rauts fierce posturing the visual reality of the press conference added fuel to the political fire With only Sawant Desai and Waje standing by his side the absence of the remaining five Lok Sabha MPs did little to fully quieten the rumoursnbspThe crisis stems from growing internal friction within the UBT faction with sections of the leadership allegedly disgruntled over the expanding administrative control wielded by Aaditya ThackerayWhile MP Rajabhau Waje clarified to reporters that his presence in Delhi was strictly for scheduled parliamentary committee meetings the Shinde faction claimed the structural shift is already finalised Shindeled Sena MLA Kripal Tumane fuelled the fire earlier in the day claiming The final deal is done At least 16 MLAs and 7 MPs from Uddhav jis side are in direct contact with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Only the formal date of execution remainsTo legally guard against a split Shiv SenaUBT group leader Arvind Sawant and Chief Whip Anil Desai confirmed they have officially written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla preemptively alerting the secretariat of unauthorised antiparty movements The party has also issued a strict legislative whip mandating the attendance of all parliamentary members for an emergency meeting on ThursdaynbspWith the historic 60th anniversary of the Shiv Senas founding just 48 hours away on June 19 the political theatre in Delhi indicated that the battle for the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray has escalated into a ruthless war of attritionIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/resign-face-voters-sanjay-raut-issues-ultimatum-to-rebel-faction-677657.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/aadhaar-enrolment-surpasses-population-reeks-of-larger-demographic-conspiracy-says-cm-himanta-sarma-677661.html Guwahati June 17 IANS Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday raised concerns over Aadhaar enrolment figures in certain districts of the state claiming that the number of Aadhaar cards issued has exceeded the projected population in some areas a development he described as a potential demographic red flag in the border statenbspIn a post on the social media platform X CM Sarma said that Aadhaar saturation in a few districts has crossed the 100 per cent mark indicating that more Aadhaar cards have been issued than the estimated population of those districtsIn certain districts of Assam Aadhaar enrolment has surpassed the total population which in a border state like ours reeks of a larger demographic conspiracy the Chief Minister wrotenbspCM Sarma said the state government has already taken steps to prevent ineligible individuals from obtaining Aadhaar cardsnbspAccording to him restrictions have been imposed on the issuance of Aadhaar to persons above the age of 18 yearsnbspTo ensure no undeserving person acquires Aadhaar we have placed restrictions on its issuance to people above 18 years he addedThe Chief Minister also shared a graphic highlighting what he termed as a red flag stating that Aadhaar saturation above 100 per cent in certain districts effectively means that more Aadhaar numbers have been generated than the actual projected populationnbspThe remarks come amid the Assam governments ongoing efforts to tighten scrutiny over identity documents and strengthen verification mechanisms particularly in districts bordering BangladeshThe state government has repeatedly expressed concerns over illegal infiltration and demographic changes in border areas Over the past few years the Assam government has introduced several measures aimed at improving the verification process for issuance of government documents and welfare benefitsnbspOfficials have maintained that Aadhaar enrolment must be carried out in accordance with prescribed guidelines to ensure that only eligible residents receive the identity documentnbspThe latest statement by the Chief Minister is likely to trigger a fresh debate on population data Aadhaar enrolment patterns and identity verification in Assam especially in districts where enrolment figures have reportedly crossed the projected population benchmarkIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/aadhaar-enrolment-surpasses-population-reeks-of-larger-demographic-conspiracy-says-cm-himanta-sarma-677661.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/it-shows-toolkit-mindset-bjp-blasts-cong-rahul-over-organising-stir-ahead-of-neet-re-exams-677663.html New Delhi June 17 IANS The Bharatiya Janata Party BJP on Wednesday launched a scathing critique of Congress and Rahul Gandhi over its proposed nationwide campaign on NEET paper leaks just days ahead of reexaminations and said that such irresponsible and insensitive conduct smacks of a toolkit mindsetnbspThe NEET UG retest is slated for June 21 following the cancellation of May 3 exams over paper leaksnbspnbspThe Congress party has announced nationwide student conventions starting from Rajasthans Kota on Wednesday to protest the governments inability to conduct fair examinationsDuring a press conference at party HQ BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi lambasted the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi for timing their stir just ahead of NEET reexams questioning their real intentions and machinations He also accused them of misusing and exploiting students sentiments for furthering their own political ambitionsnbspThere are many opportunities to do politics you can do it after June 21 when the examinations are over I want to ask you why have you chosen this moment only The pupils whom you are taking along for the student convention show that you just want to fulfil your political ambition he saidTrivedi further pointed out that the government is being considerate and sensitive to students concerns and has made elaborate efforts to conduct the retest in all fairness but the Opposition is acting with utmost insensitivity and resorting to cunning tacticsnbspWhen the students are engrossed in their studies are in the final stages of preparation for the impending exams why does Rahul Gandhi want to stoke apprehension and fear in the minds of wards regarding NEET reexams he askedFurther taking potshots at Rahul the BJP leader said that you have failed as a student as a working professional you failed in your entrepreneurial stint and made yourself a disaster in politics but why do you want to play with the lives and future of studentsnbspSudhanshu Trivedi posed fourpointed questions at the Congress party demanding why the party chose Kota in the first place given the huge number of students preparing for competitive examinations herenbspWhy do you want to distract students divert their attention from crucial examinations Do you want to imperil their career and dreams he askedTrivedi further said that during the Congress government in Rajasthan 19 paper leaks happened but when the BJP came to power it not only ensured zero paper leaks but also cracked down on more than 400 suspectsnbspHe also claimed that Kotas coaching institutes and PG guest houses owners were being intimidated and forced to send their students to participate in the Congresss student conventionnbspThis shows the toolkit mindset of Congress it is a planned and plotted campaign by the Congress party to spread anarchy and chaos the BJP leader assertedHe also said that the protest over paper leaks is nothing but Congresss toolkit strategy to stoke anarchy as per the partys established designs in the past and attempts to derail the processnbspNotably Rahuls student convention in Kota against NEET paper leaks is slated for later this evening at Shri Ram Rangmanch in Dussehra Ground The proposed stir has already triggered political confrontation with the Congress accusing the Modi govt of crushing the aspirations of millions of young studentsIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/it-shows-toolkit-mindset-bjp-blasts-cong-rahul-over-organising-stir-ahead-of-neet-re-exams-677663.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ex-left-minister-lists-ldfs-mistakes-leading-to-kerala-loss-677565.html Thiruvananthapuram June 16 In a candid admission after the Left Democratic Frontâs LDF electoral setback former Minister P Rajeev has acknowledged that several political assessments of the CPIM went wrong including the campaign slogan âWho else is there apart from the LDFâ which the party now believes failed to strike the intended chord with voters Rajeev a senior CPIM leader and Industries Minister in the second Pinarayi Vijayan government was among the 13 ministers who lost in the Assembly elections that dealt one of the Leftâs biggest setbacks in recent yearsThe remarks have triggered discussions within political circles as they reflect an internal admission of mistakes after the defeatAccording to Rajeev the party has concluded that the slogan created a different perception among the peopleInstead of strengthening the LDFâs appeal it gave rise to a feeling among voters that the front was projecting itself as the only alternative he saidHe also admitted that the party failed to take a firm enough stand against SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan and that there were lapses in handling the issueâIt is not possible to undo things like pressing a button on a computerâ Rajeev said adding that the experience had taught the party lessons on how to respond to similar situations in the futureThe remarks have revived an old criticism against the Kerala CPIM that the party often changes its position after political circumstances force it to do so Critics point to the partyâs earlier opposition to tractors computers and selffinancing professional colleges issues that later became accepted realities and they themselves became the biggest supporters of itThe pattern opponents argue has been one of resisting changes initially and later accepting them when the ground situation changesRajeevâs admission is being seen in that context as the party begins another course correction after an unexpected defeatOn the Sabarimala gold theft issue Rajeev said the partyâs approach should have focused on taking action rather than getting entangled in organisational technicalitiesThe defeat came despite confidence among Rajeev and his cabinet colleagues that Pinarayi Vijayan would script history with a third consecutive termInstead the LDF faced a major electoral reversal forcing the party to revisit its strategy messaging and organisational functioning IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ex-left-minister-lists-ldfs-mistakes-leading-to-kerala-loss-677565.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/trying-to-satisfy-heirs-of-nehru-family-ktaka-bjp-chief-on-priyank-kharges-rss-remarks-677569.html Bengaluru June 16 Karnataka BJP President and MLA BY Vijayendra on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Minister Priyank Kharge defending the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh RSS and accusing the Congress leader of targeting the organisation for political gains It can be recalled that Minister Kharge had written a letter to RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat questioning the legal adherence of the body and seeking a written replyIn a strongly worded statement Vijayendra alleged that Priyank Kharge belonged to a family that had benefited from the acquisition of assets worth nearly Rs 5000 crore belonging to the Associated Journals Limited which published the National Herald newspaper through the Young Indian companyDefending the RSS Vijayendra said the organisation had grown into the worlds largest voluntary body through its commitment to transparency national service dedication and sacrificeThe RSS has become the worlds largest organisation because of its unwavering commitment to transparent conduct and national dedication All its activities are direct open and transparent and are carried out in the public domain he saidThe BJP leader further alleged that several extremist organisations operating under minority identities were engaged in antinational activities and receiving illegal foreign donations He claimed that the state Home Department possessed information regarding such activities and questioned why Priyank Kharge had not sought explanations from those organisationsRSS does not function secretly like madrasas Institutions that spread religious fanaticism and encourage opposition to nationalism do not seem to catch your attention Since your politics depends on the vote bank emerging from such sources how can you be expected to show commitment or moral responsibility towards preventing antinational activities Vijayendra saidReferring to recent questions raised about the RSS and its registration status Vijayendra said RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had already provided an appropriate response to such criticismsHe accused Priyank Kharge of criticising the RSS as part of his political strategy in an attempt to please the NehruGandhi familyYour political capital today consists of making childish attacks on the RSS and thereby trying to satisfy the heirs of the Nehru family If this gives you some distorted sense of satisfaction continue doing it I only feel pity because it is like spitting at the sky Vijayendra remarkedHe further claimed that Priyank Kharge was under the illusion that every criticism of the RSS would generate headlines and provoke reactions adding that such misconceptions would soon disappear IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/trying-to-satisfy-heirs-of-nehru-family-ktaka-bjp-chief-on-priyank-kharges-rss-remarks-677569.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/video-neither-matches-my-height-nor-build-punjab-cm-on-objectionable-clip-677581.html Chandigarh June 16 IANS A day after the Sikh clergy pronounced an edict against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over his objectionable video he clarified on Tuesday that the video neither matches his height nor build and called it a conspiracy and false propaganda to defame him and AAPnbspI revere Sri Akal Takht Sahib as supreme but some at religious posts peddle false propaganda for their political masters said CM Mann in a video messagenbspThe Akal Takht on Monday directed the Sikh community to ostracise CM Mann over a video that they said hurt Sikh sentimentsThe Chief Minister was declared guilty of sprinkling alcohol on portraits of Sikh Gurus as portrayed in a viral video that Gargaj said was neither AIgenerated nor doctored However the Chief Minister in the message strongly rejected the viral video showing him sprinkling alcohol on portraits of Sikh GurusnbspThe Sikh clergy declared CM Mann Guru Dokhi antiGuru and Khalsa Panth Virodhi anticommunity They also summoned all Sikh legislators across the political parties and cabinet ministers before the Akal Takht the highest temporal seat of Sikhs on June 29 in connection with an antisacrilege law recently passed by the legislatureAkal Takht jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj pronounced the edict from the faseel Akal Takht podium after the Sikh clergy held a meeting in AmritsarnbspOn January 4 a complaint was filed against CM Mann regarding a video which purportedly showed him making comments on the Guru ki Golak a gurdwara donation box and disrespecting the pictures of the Sikh Gurus and slain militant Jarnail Singh BhindranwalenbspCM Mann was summoned and had appeared before the Akal Takht on January 15 for allegedly making derogatory remarks on Sikh tenets He was the third Chief Minister to be summoned by the Akal Takht after Parkash Singh Badal and Surjit Singh BarnalaIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/video-neither-matches-my-height-nor-build-punjab-cm-on-objectionable-clip-677581.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/cid-questions-abhishek-banerjee-in-pre-poll-violence-incitement-case-677582.html Kolkata June 16 IANS Trinamool Congress general secretary and the partys Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday appeared before the West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department CID at Bhabani Bhavan in Kolkata in connection with an FIR lodged over alleged inflammatory remarks and threats made to Union Home Minister Amit Shah before the Assembly electionsnbspAt the time the report was filed he had been questioned for almost two hours by CID sleuths investigating the matterBanerjee was supposed to appear at the CIDs headquarters at Bhabani Bhavan in South Kolkata by noon on Tuesday However he appeared at Bhabani Bhavan a few minutes before the deadline signed the visitors register at the entrance gate and went inside to face the interrogationThis is the third consecutive day he has been questioned in any case by an investigating agencyOn Monday he was questioned by the officials of the Enforcement Directorate ED for over 11 hours in connection with the multicrore cashforschooljob case in West BengalBefore that on Sunday he was questioned by CID sleuths for eight and a half hours in connection with the CIDs ongoing probe in the signature mismatch case The case revolves around allegations of forgery involving the signatures of Trinamool Congress legislators on a state Assembly resolution nominating Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of Opposition Discrepancies on the submitted documents prompted the CID probeAnd now again on Tuesday he is being questioned by the CID in connection with a case in which he has been accused of inciting violence and threatening Union Home Minister Amit Shah before the recently concluded Assembly polls in the stateIn this particular case an FIR was registered against Banerjee last month at the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station under the Bidhannagar City Police Officers of the cybercrime police station had been conducting the probe earlier until the investigation was handed over to the CID on June 11IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cid-questions-abhishek-banerjee-in-pre-poll-violence-incitement-case-677582.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-bjp-councillor-sreelekha-accuses-two-shane-nigam-films-of-plagiarising-her-stories-677587.html Thiruvananthapuram June 16 Keralaâs first woman Director General of Police and now BJP councillor R Sreelekha has alleged that the stories of Malayalam actor Shane Nigamâs films Dridham and Bhoothakaalam were copied from her works After her retirement she later joined the BJP and became a councillor in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation elections last yearIn a social media post Sreelekha claimed that the recently released policethemed film Dridham was made by copying her storyShe said the core storyline of the film was taken from her short story Karinkudi Police Station which she had written years ago and was published in Mathrubhumi WeeklySreelekha said she realised the similarity between her story and the film only after watching DridhamShe also shared the link to the audio version of the story that she had uploaded on her official YouTube channel for those who had not read itThe former DGP also raised similar allegations against another Shane Nigam starrer the critically acclaimed and awardwinning film BhoothakaalamShe alleged that the movie was based on an experiencebased story titled Bhootha Bhavanam which she had shared on her official YouTube channel three years agoAccording to Sreelekha the similarity was evident even in the titles of the two worksShe shared links to both her stories through her YouTube channel while raising allegations against the filmmakersA notable connection between the two films she pointed out is that both feature Shane Nigam as the lead actorHowever Sreelekha clarified that while she had made complaints against the filmmakers she had a special affection for Shane NigamShe said she had liked the actor ever since watching the film ParavaThe BJP leader added that she sees Shane as similar to a young police officer who had worked with her and whom she considered like a younger brotherReferring specifically to Shaneâs role as a police officer in Dridham Sreelekha said the character reminded her of a policeman named Mohammed who used to gift her mango saplings pure honey and gheeSreelekhaâs allegations have opened a fresh debate in Malayalam cinema over claims of story ownership and originality IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-bjp-councillor-sreelekha-accuses-two-shane-nigam-films-of-plagiarising-her-stories-677587.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ed-launches-raids-at-9-locations-in-chhattisgarh-over-bharatmala-compensation-dmf-scams-677593.html Raipur Jun 16 IANS In a coordinated operation the Enforcement Directorate ED conducted simultaneous raids at nine locations across Chhattisgarh on Tuesday targeting alleged irregularities in the Bharatmala Project compensation scam and the District Mineral Foundation DMF fund misappropriation sources saidnbspThe raids described as rapidfire by sources are focused on highvalue scams involving land compensation under the Bharatmala highway project and the diversion of DMF funds meant for tribal welfare and miningaffected areasnbspThe action comes amid growing allegations of largescale corruption involving officials contractors and middlemennbspThe ED teams specifically targeted premises linked to an accused in Dhamtari district Sources indicate that the accused is under scrutiny for his alleged role in the Bharatmala compensation irregularitiesnbspThe agency is probing how inflated or fraudulent land compensation claims were processed causing significant losses to the exchequernbspThe ED carried out searches in Durg in connection with the DMF scam The probe revolves around the alleged siphoning and misuse of funds collected under the DMF which are intended for the development of miningaffected communities Several locations in Durg are being examined for financial trails and documentary evidencenbspAn ED team has also reached Korba a major coalmining hub as part of the multicity operation The presence of the central agency in Korba has triggered speculation about possible links between DMF fund diversion and influential local players in the mineralrich districtnbspThe Enforcement Directorate is gathering documents digital records and financial transactions related to both scams Officials believe the two cases may have overlapping networks of beneficiaries So far no arrests have been reported but sources say further action is likely based on the evidence recovered during the daylong searchesnbspThis major crackdown has sent ripples across the states political and bureaucratic circlesnbspThe Bharatmala Project a flagship national highway development initiative has been mired in controversies over land acquisition and compensation in several states while DMF funds have repeatedly come under the scanner for poor utilisation and alleged embezzlement in Chhattisgarh As the searches continue authorities are maintaining tight security at all raided premises Further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progressesIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ed-launches-raids-at-9-locations-in-chhattisgarh-over-bharatmala-compensation-dmf-scams-677593.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/anant-singh-gunjan-singh-get-anticipatory-bail-in-gopalganj-arms-brandishing-case-677475.html Patna June 15 IANS The special MPMLA court in Gopalganj on Monday granted anticipatory bail to Anant Singh and Bhojpuri singer Gunjan Singh in a highprofile case related to the alleged brandishing of weapons and performance of obscene songs during a public ceremony in BiharnbspThe matter pertains to an Upanayan Sanskar thread ceremony organised on May 2 in Semrao village under the jurisdiction of Mirganj Police StationnbspControversy erupted after a video from the event went viral on social media allegedly showing weapons being displayed openly and objectionable songs being performed during the ceremonyFollowing the circulation of the video police registered an FIR against several individuals including Anant Singh and Gunjan SinghnbspThe anticipatory bail pleas were heard by the special MPMLA court presided over by ADJ3 in GopalganjnbspAfter hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence the court granted relief to all named accusednbspDefence counsel Kumar Harshvardhan Pathak argued before the court that the viral video appeared edited and suspicious in natureHe further contended that investigators had neither produced any Forensic Science Laboratory FSL report nor recovered any weapons allegedly used in the incidentnbspAccording to the defence the FIR was registered without adequate evidence and the allegations were based primarily on an unverified viral clip circulating on social medianbspThe courts decision has provided significant legal relief to both Anant Singh and Gunjan Singh while the investigation into the matter continuesAuthorities have already transferred the probe to the Criminal Investigation Department for further investigationnbspAttention is now focused on the CID inquiry and the findings that may emerge from the forensic and investigative review of the viral video and related allegationsnbspAnant Kumar Singh is an MLA from Patnas Mokama Assembly constituency He has been facing charges of murder and criminal conspiracy in the Dularchand Yadav murder case that took place during the runup to the Bihar Assembly Election 2025He was lodged in jail and is currently on bail in that case tooIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/anant-singh-gunjan-singh-get-anticipatory-bail-in-gopalganj-arms-brandishing-case-677475.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/abhishek-banerjee-appears-before-ed-in-bengal-school-job-case--677476.html Kolkata June 15 IANS Trinamool Congress general secretary and the partys Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee on Monday turned up at the Enforcement Directorate office to face interrogation in the multicrore cashforschooljob case in West BengalnbspHe was asked by the investigating officials of the central agency to appear for interrogation by noon on Monday However Abhishek also the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee turned up at the EDs Salt Lake office a little before 11 am which was much before the scheduled deadlineWhile entering the EDs office he refused to reply to any query from the waiting media personsnbspThere was no extra security at the CGO complex and no special deployment of police or Central Armed Police Forces CAPF was there on MondaynbspEarlier during the previous Mamata Banerjeeled Trinamool Congress regime in West Bengal Abhishek had turned up at the EDs office to face interrogation in various cases There were elaborate security arrangements both inside and outside the central government office CGO Complex at Salt Lake where the ED regional office is located Then traffic movement in that area was majorly restricted and the presence of media persons within the CGO complex was also restrictedHowever on Monday it was a normal day at the CGO complex when he turned up for interrogationnbspIncidentally Abhishek Banerjees name was in the charge sheet filed by the CBI which is conducting a parallel probe into the school job case However he was not named as an accused there His name also appeared in the charge sheet filed by the ED in its investigation of the caseIn the ED chargesheet the name of Leaps ampamp Bounds Private Limited surfaced of which Abhishek Banerjee was the Chief Executive Officer CEO earliernbspThe CBI probe in the Bengal schooljob case was first ordered by the erstwhile Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay who is currently the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP Lok Sabha member from Tamluk constituency in East Midnapore districtnbspLater the ED also made a suo motu entry into the matter by registering the Enforcement Case Information ReportsIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/abhishek-banerjee-appears-before-ed-in-bengal-school-job-case--677476.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-issues-notice-on-plea-challenging-bihar-ministers-reappointment-without-legislative-membership-677477.html New Delhi June 15 IANS The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice on a public interest litigation PIL challenging the reappointment of Bihar Panchayati Raj Minister Deepak Prakash despite him not being a member of either House of the state legislaturenbspnbspA bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana issued notices to the respondents including the Election Commission of India ECI Deepak Prakash and the Bihar government and posted the matter for further hearing on July 15The PIL filed by social activist and whistleblower Rakesh Kumar Singh raises a key constitutional question regarding the scope of Article 1644 of the Constitution which permits a nonlegislator to serve as a minister for a maximum period of six months during which he or she must secure membership of the legislatureThe petition challenges the constitutional validity of Deepak Prakashs reappointment as Panchayati Raj Minister and seeks issuance of a writ of quo warranto questioning the authority under which he ontinues to hold ministerial officeAccording to the plea Deepak Prakash was first inducted into the Bihar Cabinet on November 20 2025 despite not being a member of either the Bihar Assembly or the Legislative Council The petitioner contended that he continued to function as a minister for nearly five months without becoming a legislator The petition stated that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar resigned on April 15 resulting in the dissolution of the Council of Ministers and cessation of Deepak Prakashs ministerial tenure After a gap of 22 days he was reappointed as Panchayati Raj Minister in the newly constituted government headed by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on May 7 though he had still not secured membership of either house of the state legislatureThe petitioner argued that the reappointment amounts to a colourable exercise of constitutional power aimed at indirectly extending the sixmonth constitutional grace period available to a nonlegislator ministerRelying on the Supreme Courts judgment in SR Chaudhuri versus State of Punjab 2001 the plea contended that the exception under Article 1644 is a onetime constitutional privilege and cannot be repeatedly invoked through resignation cabinet reshuffles change of Chief Minister dissolution of a ministry or reappointmentThe petition submitted that allowing repeated appointments of unelected individuals to ministerial office would undermine parliamentary democracy representative government collective responsibility and electoral accountability It further alleged violations of Articles 14 1642 1644 and 141 of the Constitution along with broader principles of constitutional morality and the rule of lawThe PIL seeks a declaration that Deepak Prakashs reappointment is unconstitutional and void and raises the larger issue of whether an unelected individual can repeatedly occupy a ministerial post without first obtaining a democratic mandate through election or legislative membershipThe controversy over Deepak Prakashs ministerial continuance comes amid recent Bihar Legislative Council elections in which all 10 candidates were elected unopposed Notably Deepak Prakash was not among the NDA nominees for the vacant Council seats despite continuing as Panchayati Raj Minister His exclusion from the ruling alliances list of candidates triggered speculation over his political future and intensified questions over his continuance in the Cabinet without being a member of either House of the Bihar LegislatureIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-issues-notice-on-plea-challenging-bihar-ministers-reappointment-without-legislative-membership-677477.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bikram-majithia-gets-bail-in-confrontation-case-677481.html DW Bureau Chandigarh 15 June An Additional District and Sessions Court on Monday granted bail to senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia along with his associates Jodh Singh Samra and Jatinder Pal Singh in a case arising from an alleged confrontation at the Majitha police stationEarlier Majithias legal adviser Bikramjit Bath who was also named in the FIR was discharged after the Special Investigation Team SIT informed the court that his involvement in the case was not required Bath a practising advocate had accompanied Majithia to the police station in his professional capacity to obtain a copy of an FIR registered against Akali supporter Jobanpreet SinghBaths inclusion in the case had triggered protests by members of the Amritsar Bar Association who alleged that lawyers were being targeted Following the protests senior police officers constituted an SIT which later concluded that Bath was innocentThe controversy stemmed from the detention of Jobanpreet Singh in connection with cases related to recent municipal council and nagar panchayat elections Shiromani Akali Dal leaders alleged that Singhs detention was illegal and politically motivated claiming that his family had not been informed about his arrestAfter learning of the alleged detention Majithia accompanied by party workers and farmer leaders staged a protest outside the Majitha police station accusing the police of acting arbitrarilyAccording to the police Majithia and his supporters subsequently entered the police station premises and attempted to secure Jobanpreet Singhs release The police alleged that during the incident Majithia snatched a mobile phone from a subinspector and tore official documents A case was thereafter registered against Majithia and others on charges including obstructing public servants in the discharge of their duties and creating a disturbance at the police stationCounsel for Jobanpreet Singh Amanbir Singh Sayali said the police failed to produce CCTV footage of the alleged storming of the police station and the ensuing commotion despite directions from the court https://dailyworld.in/politics/bikram-majithia-gets-bail-in-confrontation-case-677481.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/fertiliser-price-hike-deepens-tn-farmers-woes-ahead-of-cultivation-season-677403.html Coimbatore Tamil Nadu June 13 A steep rise in the prices of key chemical fertilisers and pesticides over the past few weeks has sparked concern among farmers across Tamil Nadu with cultivators warning that the increased input costs could severely impact agricultural operations ahead of the crucial Aadi Pattam and Kuruvai cropping seasons According to farmer organisations the prices of several commonly used fertilisers have witnessed substantial increases between late May and June A bag of potash now costs Rs 2200 compared to Rs 1800 earlier while super phosphates price has risen from Rs 600 to Rs 800 The price of complex fertilisers such as factomfos has jumped from Rs 1500 to Rs 2100 and ammonium sulphate has increased from Rs 950 to Rs 1400 The surge in fertiliser prices comes at a critical time when farmers in the Cauvery delta and other agricultural regions are preparing for seasonal sowing operations Farmer representatives fear that the additional burden could push many small and marginal cultivators into debt K Balakrishnan Secretary of the agricultural wing of Kausika Neerkarangal said changes in the fertiliser subsidy mechanism have left farmers increasingly vulnerable to fluctuations in international markets He noted that until a few years ago the Union government maintained Maximum Retail Prices MRP for most fertilisers and absorbed global price increases through subsidies to manufacturers Farmers were largely insulated from international price volatility under the earlier system Now only urea and DAP continue to receive extensive price support while subsidies for several other fertilisers are fixed As a result any increase in global prices is directly reflected in retail prices paid by farmers he said Farmer organisations have urged the Centre to restore stronger subsidy support and stabilise fertiliser prices They have also called on the Tamil Nadu government to increase Minimum Support Prices MSP for agricultural produce and promote farming practices that reduce dependence on chemical inputs In addition agricultural groups have sought greater emphasis on sustainable farming methods They have recommended training programmes to help farmers produce lowcost organic inputs on their own farms and called for agricultural extension officers to be trained by institutions such as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research ICAR and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University TNAU Agriculture Department officials acknowledged the increase in fertiliser prices attributing it largely to prevailing global market conditions While direct price regulation remains difficult officials said awareness campaigns under the âKhet Bachao Abhiyanâ launched on June 1 are encouraging farmers to adopt organic alternatives and reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers With sowing activities set to gather pace in the coming weeks farmers say timely intervention is essential to prevent rising cultivation costs from affecting agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/fertiliser-price-hike-deepens-tn-farmers-woes-ahead-of-cultivation-season-677403.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 11:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/blame-game-stalls-rajasthan-local-body-polls-as-july-31-deadline-nears-677408.html Jaipur June 13 Rajasthanâs Panchayats and urban local bodies have been without elected representatives for several months with the election process yet to begin despite a High Court directive to complete polls by July 31 So far no poll notification has been issued It has been almost seven months since the High Court first intervened however the election process has been trapped in a pack of files commissions and official correspondence Every institution involved appears to have found someone else to blameThe State Election Commission says it is waiting for reservation details The state government says reservations for Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes and women can only be finalised after the OBC quota is determinedThe OBC Commission meanwhile is still collecting districtlevel data to complete its exercise The High Court had originally directed the state to conduct Panchayat and civic body elections by April 15 As the deadline approached the Bhajanlal Sharma government sought more time and secured an extension The new deadline was fixed at July 31With less than two months remaining however the electoral process appears nowhere near the finish line The issue of delay is now in court again Former MLA Sanyam Lodha and others recently filed a contempt petition arguing that despite judicial directions elections have still not been held The petition seeks action against the State Election Commissioner and senior officials of the Commission The Election Commission has already published voter lists and sought reservationrelated data from the Panchayati Raj and Local SelfGovernment departmentsThe OBC Political Representation Commission has asked district collectors for updated information needed to conduct surveys The state government has responded that reservations for SCs STs and women cannot be finalised until the OBC exercise is completed The ball keeps moving from one court to another but nobody is taking the shotNow there comes a Constitutional Question Former State Election Commissioner Madhukar Gupta argues that local body elections cannot be treated as optional exercises If Lok Sabha and Assembly elections cannot be postponed Panchayat and municipal elections should not be delayed either Elections are like examinations nobody wants to take them but they are mandatory he saysGupta points out that states such as Punjab eventually conducted local body polls only after strong interventions from the High Courts and the Supreme CourtFormer Chief Secretary and State Election Commissioner Indrajit Khanna goes further According to him failure to conduct local body elections on time creates an unconstitutional situation His warning underscores a growing concern governments change courts intervene and commissions exchange letters while voting exercises and democracy remain in limbo IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/blame-game-stalls-rajasthan-local-body-polls-as-july-31-deadline-nears-677408.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 12:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-bjp-alleges-diversion-of-anna-bhagya-grains-after-lokayukta-raids-677410.html Bengaluru June 13 Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra on Saturday alleged largescale diversion of food grains under the stateâs flagship Anna Bhagya scheme following recent Lokayukta raids in Bengaluru In a statement Vijayendra said a joint operation conducted by the Lokayukta at various Food Corporation warehouses in Bengaluru had uncovered the illegal sale of hundreds of quintals of ration rice and ragi meant for beneficiaries of the Anna Bhagya schemeAddressing Chief Minister DK Shivakumar Vijayendra said the government must take responsibility for the alleged scam involving the diversion of food grains meant for poor families to the black market The government must be held accountable for this massive scandal in which food meant for the poor is allegedly being diverted and sold illegally he saidVijayendra demanded the immediate arrest of those behind the alleged racket including corrupt officials allegedly involved in the operation and called for strict legal action against all those responsibleHe claimed that as many as 35000 bags bearing the Anna Bhagya scheme logo were found in a private warehouse According to him investigators also uncovered a network involved in polishing and repackaging rice before selling it in the open marketThe discovery of 35000 bags carrying the Anna Bhagya logo in a private warehouse and the exposure of a technical network involved in polishing and repackaging ration rice are clear indications of the involvement of senior officials in the department Vijayendra allegedThe BJP leader further pointed to the absence of CCTV surveillance in warehouses serious lapses in inventory management and accounting and the discovery of 860 undocumented bags of rice as evidence of what he termed administrative failure by the Congress governmentKarnataka Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka also accused the Congress government of failing to safeguard food grains meant for poor beneficiaries under the Anna Bhagya scheme alleging largescale diversion and illegal sale of subsidised rice and ragiThe rice meant to fill the stomachs of the poor is ending up in the hands of black marketeers Congress leaders who claim to do politics in the name of the poor are allowing Anna Bhagya rice meant for beneficiaries to be illegally transported to private warehouses resulting in a scam worth crores of rupees he allegedReferring to a recent Lokayukta raid Ashoka said another major scam involving the Congress government had been exposed He alleged that hundreds of quintals of Anna Bhagya rice and ragi had been illegally diverted from Food Corporation warehouses in different parts of Bengaluru to private storage facilitiesThe Karnataka government has not yet responded to the allegations IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-bjp-alleges-diversion-of-anna-bhagya-grains-after-lokayukta-raids-677410.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/terror-suspect-detained-after-ib-ats-stf-joint-raid-in-ups-saharanpur-677411.html Saharanpur UP June 13 In a joint operation multiple security and investigative agencies detained a youth from Nanauta town of Uttar Pradeshâs Saharanpur district for questioning over suspected terror links According to reports teams from the Madhya Pradesh AntiTerrorism Squad ATS Uttar Pradesh ATS Meerut Special Task Force STF and the Intelligence Bureau IB jointly conducted the operation and took a youth identified as Naeem Abdullah into custodyOfficials said Abdullah was immediately taken to an undisclosed location on Friday where he is being subjected to intensive interrogation Sources said that investigating agencies had been monitoring him for some time over suspected international contacts and his digital activitiesAccording to officials the youth had been under surveillance due to his alleged suspicious contacts and online activities During the operation his mobile phone and other electronic devices were seized and sent for forensic examination A team of experts is currently working to retrieve and analyse digital data from the seized devicesReports suggest that Abdullah is also being questioned in connection with a case registered in Madhya Pradesh However investigating agencies have not yet shared any official details regarding the matterThe joint team carried out the operation under strict confidentiality The sudden arrival of multiple security agencies created a stir in the area and drew a large crowd to the scene Citing national security concerns officials prevented bystanders from recording videos of the operationDespite the gathering of onlookers security personnel maintained control of the situation and completed all required procedures without any disruptionAt present various investigative agencies are conducting a detailed probe into all aspects of the case Officials said that an official statement will be issued only after the investigation is completed and all facts have been verified Attention is now focused on the agencies next course of action and any further disclosures that may emerge from the probeEarlier on Friday a terror probe unfolded in Madhya Pradesh after the ATS arrested a 35yearold man from Bhopal for allegedly being in touch with overseas handlers with investigators probing whether he was moving towards a lonewolf attack modelAccording to media reports the accused identified as Mohd Faraz is a resident of the Qazi Camp area in Old Bhopal He was arrested by the ATS near Nanhe Bees mosque in a highly confidential operation Sources said the action was carried out with such secrecy that even senior local police officers and personnel from the police station concerned were reportedly not informed in advanceAccording to ATS sources Faraz had allegedly become highly radicalised and was consuming extremist material sent from abroad Investigators claim to have recovered a PDF file containing alleged jihadi literature from his mobile phone which they suspect originated from PakistanThe agency is examining whether he was acting alone or was part of a larger network The ATS is also investigating whether the accused was planning to travel to Afghanistan for alleged specialised training Sources further claimed that he had been undergoing martial arts training raising concerns among investigators that he may have been physically preparing for a violent act IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/terror-suspect-detained-after-ib-ats-stf-joint-raid-in-ups-saharanpur-677411.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-lop-ashoka-claims-dharmasthala-charges-baseless-demands-cong-apology-677418.html Bengaluru June 13 Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka on Saturday alleged that attempts to tarnish the reputation of the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala pilgrimage centre had failed and accused the Congress government of being part of a conspiracy against the religious institution In a statement Ashoka said The truth never dies and those who target Sanatana Dharma do not succeed A massive conspiracy against Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala a sacred centre of faith for millions of devotees has finally collapsed he saidAshoka alleged that a group of leftleaning ideological affiliations backed by the Congress government had orchestrated a campaign to defame the temple town Referring to the complainant in the case Chinnayya he claimed that the Congress had used him as a front in an alleged conspiracy to malign the institutionThe BJP leader further accused former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of giving prominence to what he described as false allegations instead of standing by the truth Instead of supporting the truth Siddaramaiah rolled out the red carpet for those making false claims Time itself has delivered justice to those who attempted to shake the foundations of faith Ashoka allegedHe recalled that the BJP had organised the Dharmasthala Chalo protest campaign to oppose what it termed antiSanatana policies and to defend the institution According to him recent developments had vindicated the partys standAshoka demanded that the Congress government publicly apologise to the people of Karnataka for allegedly attempting to tarnish the reputation of Dharmasthala and hurt the sentiments of devoteesHe also called for action against those allegedly responsible for the episode and said the BJP would continue its agitation until the alleged masterminds behind the controversy were brought to justiceKarnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra on Friday alleged that a major conspiracy had been hatched to tarnish the reputation of the revered Dharmasthala Sri Manjunatheshwara Temple in Mangaluru district and hurt the religious sentiments of HindusState BJP General Secretary and senior MLA V Sunil Kumar has demanded that the Karnataka government immediately make public the report of the Special Investigation Team SIT constituted to probe the Dharmasthala caseIn a major twist in the ongoing Dharmasthala skull case Chinnayya popularly known as the mask man who had earlier made allegations in the mass grave case has claimed that he was used as part of a conspiracy to malign Dharmasthala the prominent Hindu pilgrimage centre in Karnataka IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-lop-ashoka-claims-dharmasthala-charges-baseless-demands-cong-apology-677418.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sabarimala-gold-scam-row-devaswom-special-pleader-kb-pradeep-resigns-677419.html Thiruvananthapuram June 13 Devaswom Special Government Pleader KB Pradeep whose appointment had created a major embarrassment for the VD Satheesanled UDF government resigned on Saturday The resignation came after Chief Minister sought his removal amid criticism over appointing the lawyer of a company linked to the Sabarimala gold theft case to handle crucial Devaswom mattersPradeepâs appointment as Special Government Pleader for the Devaswom Department in the Kerala High Court had triggered a political storm with opposition parties questioning the propriety of giving a key legal position to a lawyer who had represented Smart Creations a Chennaibased company under scrutiny in the Sabarimala gold scam caseThe controversy intensified as the government had created the post of Special Government Pleader a position that did not exist earlier with critics alleging that the post was created specifically for PradeepUntil now the Devaswom Department had only a Senior Government PleaderSmart Creations had come under the scanner of investigators in connection with the alleged theft of gold from the Sabarimala templeâs goldplated structuresThe company was linked to the prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty with allegations that panels removed from the shrine were taken to its facility where the gold was separated and allegedly diverted for other worksPradeep had earlier appeared before the media defending Smart Creations arguing that there was no wrongdoing and that the company did not have the technical facility to add gold over an already goldplated surfaceDevaswom Minister K Muraleedharanâs defence of the appointment added to the controversyHis remark that âsomeone who knows the weaknesses of the accused can be usefulâ drew sharp criticism from the Opposition which said the statement appeared to justify appointing a lawyer associated with the defence side to represent the governmentFormer Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday slammed the way things are going in the new administration saying that the appointment of Pradeep explains everythingThe resignation is the second controversy to hit the new UDF government over appointmentsEarlier Electricity Minister Sunny Josephâs brotherinlaw had resigned from his personal staff following criticism over his appointment IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sabarimala-gold-scam-row-devaswom-special-pleader-kb-pradeep-resigns-677419.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/from-distance-to-dialogue-a-changed-pinarayi-vijayan-emerges-after-political-turbulence-677429.html Thiruvananthapuram June 13 For nearly a decade Pinarayi Vijayanâs style of functioning as Keralas Chief Minister was defined by authority distance and a carefully controlled public presence But recent developments suggest a noticeable change in the body language of the veteran leader who once appeared almost unreachable to the media and others Soon after assuming office in 2016 Vijayan discontinued the weekly Cabinet media briefing a practice that had existed in Kerala politics for several decadesHe made it clear that he would speak to the media on his own terms and not according to the demands of journalistsFor long periods the Chief Minister maintained a distance from the press rarely engaging in open interactionsIn his first term when Ockhi waves struck the state capital coast line in 2017 it was after several days that he reached the place and had to literally make a quick exit following the wrath of the locals for his late arrivalDuring his second term critics repeatedly accused him of becoming inaccessible particularly during moments when public empathy was expectedHis absence from the scenes of several tragedies including deaths caused by wild animal attacks became a recurring point of criticismHowever the political landscape changed dramatically after the Left Democratic Front suffered a major setback in the Assembly electionThe defeat triggered criticism not just from his own allies but also from sections within the CPIM where voices emerged questioning the style of governance and the growing perception of arrogance surrounding the administrationThe pressure intensified further after central agencies stepped up investigations connected to cases involving his family including questioning related to his daughterThe political atmosphere around Vijayan became increasingly challenging with even questions being raised in some quarters about whether he should continue in a key leadership roleAgainst this backdrop the recent change in Vijayanâs public appearances has drawn attentionVijayan early this week was seen visiting the home of a family grieving the death of a member in a wild animal attack an outreach that contrasted with the criticism that he had remained distant during similar tragedies in the pastAnother change came in Kozhikode when Vijayan on Saturday morning made a surprise appearance before the mediaThe interaction was striking not merely because he spoke but because of the manner in which he did soThe familiar image of him as Chief Minister who would make a statement and walk away appeared absentThe body language was noticeably different more restrained more patient and less confrontationalHe stayed through the interaction instead of making the abrupt exits that had become associated with his media appearances during the previous decadeWhether this marks a permanent transformation or a response to changing political circumstances remains to be seenBut the shift in public perception is already evident a leader once known for keeping a distance from the public gaze now appears to be making an effort to reconnect and questions have come if this comes a bit late as even in his home town Kannur things have changed dramatically IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/from-distance-to-dialogue-a-changed-pinarayi-vijayan-emerges-after-political-turbulence-677429.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 15:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-hails-12-years-of-nari-shakti-women-led-development-677268.html New Delhi June 12 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday highlighted the achievements of women across various sectors and reaffirmed the governments commitment to womenled development marking what he described as 12 Years of Nari Shakti under the NDA governmentUsing the hashtag 12YearsOfNariShakti the Prime Minister said Over the last 12 years the NDA Government has worked to further womenled development And this is visible across sectors From financial inclusion and entrepreneurship to education healthcare sanitation housing sports science and governance women are playing a prominent role across diverse sectorsHe added that the governments efforts have been guided by the principles of dignity opportunity and empowermentThe efforts of the NDA Government are rooted in dignity opportunity and empowerment They have helped create an environment where women can realise their full potential and contribute even more strongly to nationbuilding he saidIn another post the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over the growing presence of women in emerging sectors such as science space technology and innovationI am particularly happy to see Indias Nari Shakti make a mark in sectors like science space and innovation Their growing participation in emerging fields such as drone technology is opening new avenues of opportunity and transforming development landscape across the nation Our Government is actively supporting Self Help Groups which are going a long way in making women financially independent PM Modi saidCalling women the cornerstone of nationbuilding PM Modi said Indias women power is the cornerstone of nationbuilding Today our mothers sisters and daughters are enhancing the glory of Maa Bharati across every sector through their remarkable talent and skillsOver the last decade several flagship schemes aimed at womens empowerment have been launched to improve access to healthcare education financial services and livelihood opportunities Among them the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana has emerged as a major tool for encouraging women entrepreneurs Since its launch in 2015 the scheme has provided collateralfree loans to millions of beneficiaries By March this year loans worth more than Rs 40 lakh crore had been disbursed with nearly Rs 17 lakh crore going to women beneficiariesOther initiatives including the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana and the Womaniya initiative have strengthened womens access to banking savings and entrepreneurial opportunities Of the more than 58 crore Jan Dhan accounts opened so far around 33 crore belong to womenThe government also highlighted programmes such as Lakhpati Didi which aims to help women achieve sustainable annual incomes of at least Rs one lakh and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao which has contributed to an improvement in the national sex ratio at birth from 918 in 201415 to 929 in 202425With sustained policy support and innovative programmes women are playing a pivotal role in shaping a selfreliant and inclusive economyIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-hails-12-years-of-nari-shakti-women-led-development-677268.html Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-to-hear-meenakshi-natarajans-plea-against-rajya-sabha-nomination-rejection-today-677271.html New Delhi June 12 IANS The Supreme Court is set to hear on Friday a plea by Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan challenging the rejection of her nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha election from Madhya PradeshnbspA vacation Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Atul S Chandurkar on Thursday assured an early hearing on Friday after senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Natarajan sought urgent listing of the matterDuring the mentioning Singhvi contended that Thursday was the last date for withdrawal of nominations and argued that if the matter was not heard urgently the petitioner would have to wait for six years to seek effective reliefThe senior counsel also urged the apex court to stay the declaration of the election result pending adjudication of the disputeHowever the Justice Mishraled Bench declined to pass any interim order at this stage and said that the matter would be taken up for hearing on FridaySenior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing on behalf of the Returning Officer and senior advocate DS Naidu appearing for the Election Commission opposed the plea for urgent interventionThe Congress leader has moved the apex court against the rejection of her nomination papers by the Returning Officer following objections raised by the Bharatiya Janata Party BJPAccording to the objection Natarajan allegedly failed to disclose details of a case pending before a Telangana court in the affidavit filed along with her nomination papersThe BJPs objection was based on a petition filed by former corporate executive A Srilatha before the Fourth Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrates Court in Hyderabad The petition alleged that Natarajan had extended political patronage to Kumbham Shivakumar Reddy against whom Srilatha had levelled allegations including molestation and criminal intimidationNatarajan has denied the allegations describing them as part of a political conspiracy and has opposed Srilathas petition before a Hyderabad courtEarlier the Congress leader had alleged that the Returning Officers were compromised and acting at the behest of the government The Congress leader who was the partys lone Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh claimed that efforts were being made to subvert democracy through the rejection of her nomination She had also launched a sharp attack on the BJPled Centre alleging that the Returning Officers were functioning as spokespersons of the ruling dispensation rather than as independent constitutional authoritiesIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-to-hear-meenakshi-natarajans-plea-against-rajya-sabha-nomination-rejection-today-677271.html Fri, 12 Jun 2026 11:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/women-led-development-model-scripting-new-chapter-of-empowerment-in-nari-shakti-hm-shah-677290.html New Delhi June 12 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that the increased thrust on the womenled development model under the Modi government is yielding instrumental results and scripting a new chapter in the respect safety and empowerment of Nari ShaktiThe Home Minister listed a slew of schemes launched for the welfare of women and also to enhance their participation in contributing to national development in the past 12 years and hailed Indias daughters for making their mark in diverse sectors ranging from sports to space to the armed forcesThe Home Ministers celebration of Naari shakti comes in the backdrop of the Modi government completing 12 years in power since its inception in 2014Taking to his X handle HM Amit Shah said From Beti Bachao Beti Padhao to over 10 crore gas connections under the Ujjwala scheme and more than 12 crore toilets the dignity and convenience of women have been accorded the highest priorityThrough the Mudra scheme 70 of women have been linked to selfemployment by providing loans without collateral Lakhpati Didi Crorepati Didi and selfhelp groups have made them economically selfreliant he further stated highlighting the governments focus on womens empowermentHe also stated that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam passed by the Modi government in 2023 has paved the way for 33 participation of women in politicsEarlier in the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the achievements of women across various sectors reaffirming the governments commitment to womenled developmentThe Prime Minister using the hashtag 12YearsOfNariShakti said on X Over the last 12 years the NDA Government has worked to further womenled development And this is visible across sectors From financial inclusion and entrepreneurship to education healthcare sanitation housing sports science and governance women are playing a prominent role across diverse sectorsFurther calling them the cornerstone of nationbuilding PM Modi remarked Indias women power is the cornerstone of nationbuilding Today our mothers sisters and daughters are enhancing the glory of Maa Bharati across every sector through their remarkable talent and skillsIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/women-led-development-model-scripting-new-chapter-of-empowerment-in-nari-shakti-hm-shah-677290.html Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-to-chair-niti-aayog-governing-council-meeting-today-677165.html New Delhi June 11 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre here on ThursdayThis years theme is Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat 2047 focusing on the wellbeing and development of every Indian regardless of age region gender or socioeconomic background according to an official statementThe Governing Council Meeting will deliberate on the approach to realise this vision and translate it into concrete measurable outcomes for every citizen across the country the statement saidAccording to the officials this meeting will bring together Chief Ministers and Lt Governors to discuss the Inclusive Human Development Framework anchored around four core pillars of foundational human capital and futureready skills productive employment entrepreneurship and decentralised growth health nutrition and wellbeing and equity and dignity for allnbspMeasures for promoting entrepreneurship enhancing skilling and creating sustainable employment opportunities across the country will also be deliberated upon in the meetingThe discussions will further focus on collectively charting an implementation roadmap that leverages key enablers including governance digital public infrastructure DPI convergence partnerships and datadriven systems alongside a structured mechanism to track short medium and longterm outcomes ensuring accountability and measurable impactnbspA key thrust will be on aligning state visions with the National Vision on Inclusive Human Development reinforcing a unified and collaborative approach toward equitable and sustainable growthThe Governing Council of NITI Aayog will also focus on the recommendations of the 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries held from December 26 to 28 2025nbspRecommendations were made during the conference on five key themes which include Early Childhood Education Laying the Foundation Schooling Building Blocks Skilling FutureReady Workforce Higher Education Knowledge Economy and Sports ampamp Extracurricular Beyond ClassroomsThe 11th Governing Council Meeting will be attended by Chief Ministers of states and UTs Lit GovernorsAdministrators of Union Territories Union Ministers as Exofficio Members and Special Invitees and the Vice Chairman Members and the CEO of NITI AayogMeanwhile Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday on a threeday visit to participate in the Governing Council meeting of NITI AayogThe visit his second to the national capital since assuming office last month is being closely watched amid expectations of key political and administrative engagementsAmong those who accompanied him were personal aide Jegadheesh Vishnu Reddy Rajkumar Jegadheesh Awasthi assistant Rajendran and other officials attached to the Chief Ministers officeSources indicated that Vijay is expected to address the gathering and present Tamil Nadus priorities and concerns before the councilHis participation comes at a time when the newly elected Tamil Nadu government is seeking greater financial support from the Centre for infrastructure projects welfare initiatives and developmental programmesAdditionally Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said he would actively participate in the upcoming meeting and raise issues of concern to the stateWe are attending the meeting and I will present matters relating to Karnatakas interests The Prime Minister had assured me of his cooperation on the day I assumed office We will work together in the interest of development he saidIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-to-chair-niti-aayog-governing-council-meeting-today-677165.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-govt-reviews-re-employment-of-retired-officials-consultants-to-create-jobs-for-youth-677111.html Chennai June 10 IANS In a significant move aimed at cutting government expenditure and expanding employment opportunities for young people the Tamil Nadu government has initiated a comprehensive review of consultants advisers and retired officials currently serving in various departments on reemployment or contractual arrangementsnbspThe Human Resources Management Department has directed all department Secretaries to furnish detailed information regarding consultants advisers and retired personnel engaged by their respective departments The exercise is expected to help the government assess the necessity of such appointments and determine whether administrative functions handled by them can be reassigned to regular government employeesOfficial sources said the review is part of a broader effort by the government to evaluate appointments made during the previous DMK regime and examine their relevance under the present administrationThe findings are expected to form the basis of a policy decision on the future of such engagementsThe move comes at a time when nearly 35 lakh vacancies reportedly remain unfilled across government departments boards corporations and public sector institutions in the state The TVKled government is understood to be exploring ways to fill these vacancies through fresh recruitment thereby creating employment opportunities for qualified youth awaiting government jobsSources noted that several departments had engaged advisers consultants and retired officials over the years particularly for specialised assignments requiring technical or domain expertise In some instances consultants were appointed on lucrative contracts with monthly remuneration running into several lakhs of rupeesTamil Nadu Secretariat Association President K Venkatesan welcomed the governments initiative stating that the association had consistently opposed largescale reemployment of retired officials and the increasing dependence on consultants in government departments He said the association had repeatedly urged successive governments to prioritise regular recruitment and provide greater opportunities to young aspirants seeking public sector employmentHowever senior officials cautioned that many departments continue to rely on consultants for specialised services Departments such as Law Finance and Municipal Administration they noted engage legal experts financial advisers and subject specialists whose expertise often supports key policy decisions and administrative functions Officials said any decision to reduce or discontinue such appointments would require careful planning to ensure that essential services and administrative processes are not disruptedGovernment sources indicated that a final decision would be taken after all departments submit their reports The consolidated findings are expected to be placed before Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay who will take a call on the future course of actionIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-govt-reviews-re-employment-of-retired-officials-consultants-to-create-jobs-for-youth-677111.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/trinamool-moves-calcutta-hc-against-cid-action-at-party-offices-677115.html Kolkata June 10 IANS The Trinamool Congress TMC on Wednesday moved the Calcutta High Court challenging the alleged actions by the state Criminal Investigation Department CID at its party offices on Tuesday with regard to the legislators signatures mismatch casenbspIn the petition filed at the singlejudge vacation court of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya on Wednesday morning the fourtime party Lok Sabha member and senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee said raids and search operations were conducted in the absence of the main witnesses of the case and also scanning important party documents that were there at the two party offices where the simultaneous raids and search operations were conductedIn its petition Kalyan Banerjee also pointed out that the raids and search operations were conducted by ignoring the fact that the first hearing on the petition filed by Trinamool Congress general secretary and the partys Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee challenging the CID summons to him is scheduled for WednesdayJustice Bhattacharyya had admitted the petition and the matter will come up for hearing on Thursday At the same time Abhishek Banerjees earlier petition challenging the CID summons and also seeking protection from coercive police action including arrest which was originally scheduled later on Wednesday will also be heard on Thursday by another singlejudge bench of Justice Kaushik ChandaOn Tuesday afternoon the CID sleuths conducted simultaneous raids and search operations at a party office adjacent to the residence of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Kalighat in South Kolkata and another office at Camac Street in central Kolkata where Abhishek Banerjee also the nephew of Mamata Banerjee used to operate fromAbhishek Banerjee had already dodged three notices for interrogation from the CID in relation to the state investigating agencys ongoing probe in the case of mismatches in the signatures of some Trinamool Congress legislators on a crucial resolution regarding appointment for key slots in the West Bengal assembly which are reserved for the opposition benchIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/trinamool-moves-calcutta-hc-against-cid-action-at-party-offices-677115.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/home-minister-amit-shah-to-launch-land-port-management-system-today-677025.html New Delhi June 9 In a move to improve border and internal security Union Home Minister Amit Shah will launch a Land Port Management System LPMS on Tuesday The LPMS is a stateoftheart digital platform designed to integrate operations across land ports into a unified system It enables secure realtime exchange of logistics and regulatory information bringing land ports at par with digital systems operational at airports and seaports the official said in a statementThis initiative underscores the Prime Minister Narendra Modiled Union governments commitment to smart border management enhancing efficiency transparency and security in crossborder trade and passenger movement through technologydriven solutions an official statement saidOn this occasion the Union Home Minister will also inaugurate the newly developed stakeholder accommodation facilities at the Dawki Meghalaya and Srimantapur Tripura Land Ports further reinforcing infrastructure support for border security personnel and other valuable stakeholdersThe launch of LPMS will be a landmark step in Indias journey towards modern technologyenabled smart border management system reflecting the nations strategic focus on strengthening trade facilitation connectivity and national security and Viksit Bharat by 2047As a neutral and open platform LPMS will facilitate seamless coordination among various stakeholders including government agencies and private operators thereby reducing delays and enhancing operational efficiency it addedThe system introduces endtoend digital workflows for cargo and passenger processing including slot booking payments tracking and singlewindow clearances it saidFully integrated with key national platforms such as Indian Customs Electronic Data Interchange Gateway ICEGATE Unit Linked Insurance Plan ULIP and the motor vehicle ecosystem LPMS will enable interoperable efficient and transparent border managementThe Land Ports Authority of India LPAI a statutory body under the Ministry of Home Affairs Department of Border Management is responsible for developing and managing land ports to facilitate trade connectivity and regional cooperation the statement saidAt present the LPAI operates 15 land ports across Indias international borders Attari Punjab and Dera Baba Nanak Punjab along the IndiaâPakistan border Rupaidiha Uttar Pradesh Raxaul Bihar and Jogbani Bihar along the IndiaâNepal border Darranga Assam along the IndiaâBhutan border Petrapole West Bengal Dawki Meghalaya Sutarkandi Golakganj and Mankachar Assam Agartala Srimantapur and Sabroom Tripura along the IndiaâBangladesh border and Moreh Manipur along the IndiaâMyanmar border IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/home-minister-amit-shah-to-launch-land-port-management-system-today-677025.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 06:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-cm-to-launch-singappenn-special-task-force-for-women-child-safety-today-677026.html Chennai June 9 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay will formally launch the Singappenn Special Task Force a dedicated police unit established to strengthen the protection of women and children across the state on Tuesday The inauguration will take place at 5 pm at the Jawaharlal Nehru Rajarathinam Sports Stadium in Chennai The creation of the specialised force was among the first major announcements made by Vijay after assuming office as Chief MinisterThe initiative reflects the governmentâs commitment to enhancing the safety of women and children through focused policing rapid intervention and improved coordination among law enforcement agencies said officials Senior IPS officer K Bhavaneeswari has been appointed as the first Inspector General IG of the Singappenn Special Task ForceThe newly formed unit comprises more than 30 police personnel including a Superintendent of Police two Deputy Superintendents of Police four Inspectors and several other officers and staff membersTo give the force a distinct identity the government has introduced a specially designed uniform Women police personnel and women SubInspectors attached to the task force will wear blue shirts paired with khaki trousers They have also been provided with black caps and black shoes The unique uniform is expected to make the force easily identifiable while carrying out its duties across the stateThe Singappenn Special Task Force was originally scheduled to be launched on May 29 with the Chief Minister expected to inaugurate the unit on that day However the programme was postponed at the last moment due to administrative reasonsWith the formal inauguration now scheduled for Tuesday the specialised force is expected to commence operations immediately thereafterFollowing the launch ceremony in Chennai Singappenn personnel will be deployed across Tamil Nadu and begin functioning in all districtsOfficials said the task force has been created to provide a stronger and more coordinated response to crimes against women and children Apart from addressing complaints and ensuring swift intervention in emergencies the force is expected to focus on preventive policing surveillance victim assistance and awareness initiativesThe launch of the Singappenn Special Task Force is being seen as one of the flagship lawandorder initiatives of the Vijay government By creating a dedicated unit focused exclusively on the safety and welfare of women and children the government hopes to strengthen public confidence in policing and create a safer environment across Tamil Nadu IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-cm-to-launch-singappenn-special-task-force-for-women-child-safety-today-677026.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 07:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-cm-vijay-to-launch-singappenn-special-task-force-for-women-child-safety-today-677027.html Chennai June 9 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay will formally launch the Singappenn Special Task Force a dedicated police unit established to strengthen the protection of women and children across the state on Tuesday Designed as a dedicated police unit focused on the protection of women and children the force is expected to play a proactive role in crime prevention public safety and community engagement across the StateThe inauguration will take place at 5 pm at the Jawaharlal Nehru Rajarathinam Sports Stadium in Chennai The creation of the specialised force was among the first major announcements made by Vijay after assuming office as Chief MinisterThe initiative reflects the governmentâs commitment to enhancing the safety of women and children through focused policing rapid intervention and improved coordination among law enforcement agencies said officials Senior IPS officer K Bhavaneeswari has been appointed as the first Inspector General IG of the Singappenn Special Task ForceThe newly formed unit comprises more than 30 police personnel including a Superintendent of Police two Deputy Superintendents of Police four Inspectors and several other officers and staff membersTo give the force a distinct identity the government has introduced a specially designed uniform Women police personnel and women SubInspectors attached to the task force will wear blue shirts paired with khaki trousers They have also been provided with black caps and black shoes The unique uniform is expected to make the force easily identifiable while carrying out its duties across the stateThe Singappenn Special Task Force was originally scheduled to be launched on May 29 with the Chief Minister expected to inaugurate the unit on that day However the programme was postponed at the last moment due to administrative reasonsWith the formal inauguration now scheduled for Tuesday the specialised force is expected to commence operations immediately thereafterFollowing the launch ceremony in Chennai Singappenn personnel will be deployed across Tamil Nadu and begin functioning in all districtsOfficials said the task force has been created to provide a stronger and more coordinated response to crimes against women and children Apart from addressing complaints and ensuring swift intervention in emergencies the force is expected to focus on preventive policing surveillance victim assistance and awareness initiativesThe launch of the Singappenn Special Task Force is being seen as one of the flagship lawandorder initiatives of the Vijay government By creating a dedicated unit focused exclusively on the safety and welfare of women and children the government hopes to strengthen public confidence in policing and create a safer environment across Tamil Nadu IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-cm-vijay-to-launch-singappenn-special-task-force-for-women-child-safety-today-677027.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/deve-gowda-lauds-pm-modi-says-surpassing-nehrus-record-reflects-evolution-of-indian-democracy-677042.html Bengaluru June 9 Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda on Tuesday stated that PM Narendra Modi becoming the longest continuously serving democratically elected Prime Minister after surpassing the record of Jawaharlal Nehru reflects both the strength and evolution of Indian democracy while crediting his leadership for what he described as uncompromising protection of national interest and sustained public support In a detailed reflection in an article in The Times of India Deve Gowda said PM Modiâs extended tenure surfaces Nehruâs record and demonstrates that Indian democracy has not only survived but has also thrived over time He noted that Nehru was chosen as the countryâs first Prime Minister in 1947 under extraordinary circumstances from among several equally capable leaders adding that Mahatma Gandhiâs moral authority over the freedom movement played a decisive role in that transition Nehru he said carried the legacy of the independence movement into the first general election in 1952Deve Gowda observed that the Congress party at the time functioned as a dominant political force with minimal opposition noting that around 53 political parties contested the first general elections but their influence remained limited He contrasted this with the contemporary political landscape stating that by the time Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014 and returned for a third term in 2024 India had transformed significantly in terms of size diversity and economic complexityHe said it would not be exactly prudent to suggest that becoming Prime Minister in 1952 was easier than in 2014 or 2024 adding that even by 1996 when he himself became Prime Minister Indiaâs political environment had already become more competitive questioning and matureDeve Gowda further said that unlike dynastic or privileged political backgrounds leaders such as PM Modi and himself did not have access to inherited political capital patronage or social advantage that could serve as a springboard into national leadership He added that his own tenure lasted only about 11 months and expressed surprise at PM Modiâs continued political endurance with no sense of exhaustion in him or in the people who have elected him describing it as a distinctive feature of his leadershipHe highlighted statistical comparisons between the past and present noting that the 1952 elections involved 53 political parties whereas Narendra Modi contested in a political environment involving 2593 parties in 2024 He also pointed to the rise in voter numbers from about 17 crore in Nehruâs time to around 83 crore by 2014 and over 146 crore in presentday IndiaOn governance and representation Deve Gowda said Nehruâs Cabinet did not fully reflect Indiaâs social and cultural diversity even in his later terms and noted that proposals such as those of the Kaka Kelkar Commission on backward class representation were not implemented at the time In contrast he said the current Cabinet under PM Modi reflects greater diversity citing representation from Other Backward Classes Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes along with increased participation of womenHe also referred to legislative developments such as the Womenâs Reservation Bill stating that efforts are underway to expand womenâs representation in Parliament and move toward a more inclusive democratic structureDeve Gowda further said that India today is a far more noisy and loud democracy compared to Nehruâs era with expanded awareness of caste constitutional rights civic rights gender issues and environmental concerns He observed that citizens are now more educated and engaged and that democratic accountability is significantly higher than in the early decades after IndependenceHe added that Nehru operated in an era with limited press coverage whereas modern leaders face constant scrutiny through television and social media platforms He described this as continuous and often intense public examination that did not exist in earlier decadesPraising PM Modiâs governance Deve Gowda said the Prime Minister has ensured that India remains a robust democracy and one of the fastestgrowing economies He also credited welfare policies and decisionmaking during national security challenges stating that PM Modi has been uncompromising when it comes to the nationâs interestsHe further said PM Modi functions not only as the executive head but also as a chief counsellor of the nation engaging with citizens across different sections of society He cited programmes such as Mann Ki Baat as examples of outreach that connect leadership directly with the publicConcluding his remarks Deve Gowda said PM Modiâs success is rooted in constant public engagement openness to scrutiny and sustained democratic endorsement adding that his leadership reflects endurance adaptability and continued electoral legitimacy in a rapidly changing India IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/deve-gowda-lauds-pm-modi-says-surpassing-nehrus-record-reflects-evolution-of-indian-democracy-677042.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/birsa-munda-continues-to-guide-nation-in-pursuit-of-social-justice-v-p-radhakrishnan-677046.html New Delhi June 9 Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Tuesday paid homage to tribal freedom fighter and social reformer Birsa Munda on his death anniversary and said that his legacy will remain a source of inspiration for the generations to come Birsa Munda is revered as one of Indias most prominent tribal leaders and freedom fighters Born in 1875 in presentday Jharkhand he led the historic Ulgulan or Great Tumult against British colonial rule and the exploitative land policies imposed on tribal communitiesIn a post on X Vice President Radhakrishnan said On the martyrdom day of Bhagwan Birsa Munda I pay my respectful tributes to the revered Dharti Aaba whose life symbolised courage selfrespect and an unwavering commitment to justice Through the historic Ulgulan he awakened the spirit of resistance against oppression and inspired tribal communities to safeguard their rights identity and dignityVP Radhakrishnan said that it remains a matter of deep personal reverence that he had the opportunity to pay tributes to Birsa Munda at his birthplace Ulihatu on the first day of assuming office as Governor of Jharkhand and again recently as Vice President of IndiaBhagwan Birsa Mundas sacrifice and ideals continue to guide the nation in its pursuit of social justice empowerment and inclusive development His legacy will remain a lasting source of inspiration for generations to come the Vice President addedThrough his movement Birsa Munda mobilised thousands of tribal people to fight for their rights identity and traditional land ownership Although his movement was centred in the Chotanagpur region Birsa Mundas legacy resonates strongly across several states including Assam which is home to a large tribal population and a significant number of tea tribe communities whose ancestors migrated from the Chotanagpur plateau during the colonial eraMany members of Assams tea garden community trace their roots to regions associated with Birsa Mundas struggle and continue to regard him as a symbol of resistance dignity and empowerment His contributions to the cause of tribal rights have received increasing recognition in recent yearsThe Union government has designated November 15 Birsa Mundas birth anniversary as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas to honour the contributions of tribal freedom fighters and celebrate Indias rich tribal heritagePolitical leaders social organisations and tribal groups across Assam also paid homage to the legendary leader recalling his role in championing the rights of indigenous and marginalised communitiesBirsa Munda died in British custody on June 9 1900 at the age of 25 but his legacy continues to inspire generations across the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/birsa-munda-continues-to-guide-nation-in-pursuit-of-social-justice-v-p-radhakrishnan-677046.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajnath-singh-to-review-combined-graduation-parade-of-air-force-academy-in-hyderabad-on-june-13-677052.html New Delhi June 9 IANS Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will attend the Combined Graduation Parade CGP of 217 Course which will be held at Air Force Academy AFA Hyderabads Dundigal on June 13 the Ministry of Defence MoD announced on TuesdayMarked by military precision the event will commemorate the successful completion of the precommissioning training of Flight Cadets across various branches of the Indian Air Force IAF the Ministry said in a statementnbspRajnath Singh will be the Reviewing Officer RO for the paradeDuring the ceremony Singh will confer the Presidents Commission on the graduating trainees The ceremony includes the presentation of Wings and Brevets upon successful completion of training to the Flight Cadets of the IAF officers and trainees of the Indian Navy Indian Coast Guard and Socialist Republic of Vietnam according to the MinistrynbspThis CGP will also mark the commissioning of the first batch of women cadets from the National Defence Academy NDA Pune who passed out on May 30 2025 and joined AFA for branchspecific trainingThe Defence Minister will also present the Presidents Plaque to the Flight Cadets standing first in the overall order of merit in Flying Navigation stream and Ground Duty branchesnbspThe Ministry further mentioned that the Akash Ganga and Air Warrior Drill Team AWDT will present displays to mark the beginning of the CGP These will be interspersed with flypasts led by Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP SinghnbspThe flypast featured four types of trainer aircraft the Pilatus PC7 MkII Hawk Kiran and Chetak The ceremonys major attractions included aerial displays by the SU30 MKI the Sarang helicopter display team and the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team SKATIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajnath-singh-to-review-combined-graduation-parade-of-air-force-academy-in-hyderabad-on-june-13-677052.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-gears-up-for-census-140-lakh-enumerators-to-be-trained-ahead-of-household-survey-677059.html Chennai June 9 Tamil Nadu has begun extensive preparations for the nationwide Census exercise with around 140 lakh enumerators set to undergo a monthlong training programme from the last week of June ahead of the household enumeration scheduled between August 1 and August 30 The Census operation one of the largest administrative exercises undertaken in the country will involve school teachers corporation staff and employees from various government departments who have been identified as enumerators for doortodoor data collection across the StateAs part of the preparatory process nearly 2700 districtlevel field trainers are currently undergoing specialised training These trainers will in turn conduct detailed sessions for the enumerators equipping them with the procedures and techniques required for accurate household enumerationM Sundaresh Babu Director of Census Operations Tamil Nadu said the field trainers had been appointed at the request of the Directorate of Census Operations and would play a crucial role in ensuring uniformity and accuracy in data collectionâAbout 2700 fieldlevel trainers are being trained this week They will subsequently impart training to nearly 140 lakh enumerators who will be engaged in the household Census exercise across Tamil Naduâ he saidOfficials said each enumerator would be assigned approximately 200 households during the monthlong survey Based on this estimate the Census operation is expected to cover nearly 280 crore households across the state making it one of the most extensive datagathering exercises undertaken by the governmentBefore the commencement of field enumeration residents will have an opportunity to participate in a selfenumeration phase from July 17 to July 31During this period households can voluntarily submit their details online reducing the time required for field verification and improving the efficiency of the survey processThe houselisting phase which marks the first stage of the Census will collect detailed information on households and living conditions Enumerators will gather data on the number of residents in a household housing characteristics access to basic amenities ownership of vehicles and other household assets among other socioeconomic indicatorsOfficials said the information collected during the exercise would serve as a crucial database for planning policy formulation and the implementation of welfare and development programmes in the years ahead IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-gears-up-for-census-140-lakh-enumerators-to-be-trained-ahead-of-household-survey-677059.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-bjp-chief-accuses-cong-of-shedding-crocodile-tears-over-deve-gowda-rs-nomination-issue-677061.html Bengaluru June 9 Karnataka BJP President and MLA BY Vijayendra has launched a sharp attack on Congress leaders stating that there was no need for what he termed âcrocodile tearsâ over former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda not being considered for a Rajya Sabha nomination Vijayendra was responding to Karnataka Congress incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala and KPCC President BK HariprasadIn his statement on Tuesday Vijayendra alleged that Congress leaders have forgotten the partyâs past actions against Deve Gowda including attempts to weaken his political career He said it was the Congress party that once tried to bring down a Prime Minister who held the countryâs highest constitutional office and accused it of continuing âdirty politicsâ despite such historyHe further said that Congress leaders were now engaging in âfake concernâ for Deve Gowda which he described as âridiculousâ Vijayendra claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party has always treated Deve Gowda with respect and dignityReferring to recent political developments Vijayendra said Deve Gowda has supported the BJPled NDA alliance and believes that national integrity and development are best ensured under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi He said Congress leaders are unable to accept this political alignment and are attempting to use Deve Gowdaâs name for political purposesHe also stated that the Prime Minister himself has in Parliament spoken emotionally about Deve Gowdaâs contributions and praised his public service Vijayendra said that such respect reflects a strong personal and political bond and that attempts to create mistrust in this relationship amount to âdistorted politicsâ by Congress leadersConcluding his statement Vijayendra said that the people of Karnataka understand the political reality and are not misled by what he called Congress attempts to create friction between leadersCongress General Secretary and Karnataka InCharge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Monday criticised the BJP and JDS leadership over the reported denial of Rajya Sabha nomination to former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda calling the development politically âastonishing and eyeopeningâUnion Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy on Monday hit out at Congress leaders over their remarks on the reported denial of a Rajya Sabha nomination to former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and termed AICC General Secretary and Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala a wasooliwalaOn the other hand Karnataka State Congress President BK Hariprasad on Monday speaking to the media in Bengaluru described the BJPâs reported decision to deny a Rajya Sabha ticket to Deve Gowda as a betrayal of the people of the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-bjp-chief-accuses-cong-of-shedding-crocodile-tears-over-deve-gowda-rs-nomination-issue-677061.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-speaker-to-address-commonwealth-parliamentary-meet-today-676873.html New Delhi June 8 Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta will address the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association CPA India Region ZoneII North Zone Conference in Chandigarh on Monday The conference themed Role of Aware Society and Legislators in Realising Future Challenges and the Goal of Viksit Bharat 2047 is scheduled to take place from June 8â9 at the Haryana Legislative Assembly said the officialThe twoday regional conclave will bring together Presiding Officers Speakers and legislators from across northern India to brainstorm on aligning legislative efforts with this longterm national roadmapThe conference serves as a vital collaborative forum to deliberate on strengthening parliamentary institutions improving modern legislative practices and promoting seamless democratic cooperation across the region said the statementBy gathering key decisionmakers under one roof the event aims to create an actionable dialogue between elected representatives and the public Participants will analyse upcoming socioeconomic hurdles and design proactive governance frameworks to meet the evolving needs of a rapidly developing nation it saidRepresenting the Delhi Legislative Assembly Gupta will actively participate in these highlevel sessions to share insights on empowering citizens and expanding public participation in the legislative processThrough a constructive exchange of parliamentary best practices the attending dignitaries aim to establish a stronger roadmap for lawmakers to effectively address regional issues ultimately ensuring that both a vigilant society and dedicated legislators work in tandem toward the vision of a transformed India by 2047 said the statementEarlier Gupta joined Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in launching the inaugural issue of VidhanChetnaâ a quarterly journal of the Delhi Legislative Assembly along with the momentous release of the proceedings of the Central Legislative Assembly 19241930 published in 89 volumesThe Delhi Speaker said the landmark event represented a vital bridge between Indias rich parliamentary legacy and its contemporary legislative evolutionGupta who chaired the event said the ceremony underscored a deep commitment to preserving institutional history while fostering modern democratic discourse IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-speaker-to-address-commonwealth-parliamentary-meet-today-676873.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/internet-suspended-in-parts-of-jaipur-ahead-of-encroachment-removal-drive-676875.html Jaipur June 8 The district administration has temporarily suspended Internet services in several parts of Jaipur Rajasthan ahead of a major encroachment removal drive scheduled for Monday The move has been taken as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order as the Jaipur Development Authority JDA will undertake a campaign to widen the road running parallel to the railway line from the Nandpuri Underpass in Jagatpura to its sanctioned width of 80 feetOfficials said that rumours misinformation or inflammatory content could be circulated through social media and internetbased platforms potentially disrupting public order Hence Jaipur Divisional Commissioner V Sarwan Kumar has issued the orderUnder the directive 2G 3G 4G and 5G mobile Internet services remained suspended in designated areas from midnight on Sunday until 12 midnight on Monday The order covers not only mobile data services but also bulk SMS and Internetbased messaging platforms Access to social media applications including WhatsApp Facebook and X will also be restricted during the shutdown periodEssential government and emergency services may remain exempt in accordance with regulations The suspension will be enforced across the Jaipur Police Commissionerate and adjoining district areas In Jaipur North the affected police station jurisdictions include Ramganj Galta Gate Manak Chowk Subhash Chowk Amer Brahmapuri Nahargarh Kotwali Jalupura Sanjay Circle Shastri Nagar Bhattabasti Vidyadhar Nagar and Jaisinghpura Khor In Jaipur East Internet services will remain suspended in the police station areas of Bassi Kanota Tunga Adarsh Nagar Transport Nagar Jawahar Nagar Jamdoli SMS Hospital Gandhi Nagar Lalkothi Motidungri Airport Malviya Nagar Jawahar Circle Bajaj Nagar KhoNagorian Sanganer Pratap Nagar Ramnagariya and Malpura GateAdditional police personnel have already been deployed in sensitive locations while cyber teams have been activated to monitor social media activityOfficials warned that strict action will be taken against anyone found spreading rumours misinformation or content that disturbs public order The administration has appealed to citizens to maintain peace and communal harmony avoid sharing unverified information and comply with official directives Violators will face legal actionAs part of the roadwidening project the JDA is set to remove five religious structures located within the roads rightofway To ensure smooth execution of the drive additional police forces have been requisitioned from the Jaipur Kota and Bharatpur ranges Security has also been tightened in sensitive areas including the Walled CityAccording to Anand Sharma Deputy Inspector General of the JDA Vigilance Branch 134 encroachments along the same route were removed on May 22 Following that operation management committees and concerned individuals associated with the affected religious structures were given time to voluntarily relocate themWith the deadline now over the administration will proceed with removal Officials stated that although revenue records indicate the roads sanctioned width is 80 feet several stretches currently measure only 2530 feet due to encroachmentsThe approximately 15kilometre stretch connects the Nandpuri Underpass to Jagatpura and passes through six major residential colonies The administration maintains that widening the road will significantly ease traffic congestion on Hare Krishna Marg and improve connectivity between Nandpuri and Jagatpura The project is expected to benefit residents of more than 50 nearby colonies including Malviya Nagar and other rapidly developing residential areas IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/internet-suspended-in-parts-of-jaipur-ahead-of-encroachment-removal-drive-676875.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/india-bloc-leaders-to-meet-in-delhi-today-amid-frictions-dmk-absent-left-unhappy-676878.html New Delhi June 8 Twentythree political parties have confirmed their participation in the INDIA bloc meeting being held in New Delhi on Monday The meeting comes at a time when the coalition is facing growing internal strains with key ally DMK staying away and Left parties expressing dissatisfaction over recent developments within the allianceThe gathering branded as the âINDIA janbandhanâ meeting is expected to deliberate on the allianceâs future course including preparations for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and coordination on key political issuesThe meeting will be held at the Constitution Club and is seen as an important exercise in opposition unity at a time when parties in the alliance are seeking to strengthen cooperation against the ruling governmentCongress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said 23 parties had confirmed their participation in the meeting He noted that while some alliance partners would not be present they continue to share the coalitionâs opposition to the Centreâs policiesâThere are some parties that have expressed their inability to attend this particular meeting for their own reasons even though they have conveyed their strong opposition to the Modi governmentâs policiesâ Ramesh said in a post on XAccording to sources the meeting was convened following discussions among alliance partners and at the insistence of the Trinamool Congress West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the partyâs national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee are expected to attend the gatheringTrinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Derek OâBrien underlined the allianceâs commitment to collective action quoting Rameshâs post and stating âMeeting with a common purpose and clear intent INDIA united Many parties look forward to meeting in the spirit of camaraderieâHe further emphasised that the allianceâs strength lies in its diversity âLike India itself the âINDIA janbandhanâ continues to stand united through its diversityâ he addedOutlining the agenda Ramesh said opposition parties were united in their criticism of several actions of the government including âactions that are snatching away the right to vote for millions of Indians assaulting the Constitution daily attacking Opposition leaders through investigative agencies seriously damaging the livelihoods of crores of Indians breaking household budgets through relentless price rise betraying the hopes and aspirations of lakhs of youth dampening investment climate and compromising the national interest by its foreign policyThe INDIA bloc meeting is expected to conclude with discussions on strengthening coordination among constituent parties and shaping a common political strategy ahead of future electoral contests IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/india-bloc-leaders-to-meet-in-delhi-today-amid-frictions-dmk-absent-left-unhappy-676878.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-vijay-to-launch-singappenn-special-task-force-for-women-child-safety-tomorrow-676879.html Chennai June 8 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay will formally launch the Singappenn Special Task Force a dedicated police unit established to strengthen the protection of women and children across the state on Tuesday The inauguration will take place at 5 pm at the Jawaharlal Nehru Rajarathinam Sports Stadium in Chennai The creation of the specialised force was among the first major announcements made by Vijay after assuming office as Chief MinisterThe initiative reflects the governmentâs commitment to enhancing the safety of women and children through focused policing rapid intervention and improved coordination among law enforcement agencies said officials Senior IPS officer K Bhavaneeswari has been appointed as the first Inspector General IG of the Singappenn Special Task ForceThe newly formed unit comprises more than 30 police personnel including a Superintendent of Police two Deputy Superintendents of Police four Inspectors and several other officers and staff membersTo give the force a distinct identity the government has introduced a specially designed uniform Women police personnel and women SubInspectors attached to the task force will wear blue shirts paired with khaki trousers They have also been provided with black caps and black shoes The unique uniform is expected to make the force easily identifiable while carrying out its duties across the stateThe Singappenn Special Task Force was originally scheduled to be launched on May 29 with the Chief Minister expected to inaugurate the unit on that day However the programme was postponed at the last moment due to administrative reasonsWith the formal inauguration now scheduled for Tuesday the specialised force is expected to commence operations immediately thereafterFollowing the launch ceremony in Chennai Singappenn personnel will be deployed across Tamil Nadu and begin functioning in all districtsOfficials said the task force has been created to provide a stronger and more coordinated response to crimes against women and children Apart from addressing complaints and ensuring swift intervention in emergencies the force is expected to focus on preventive policing surveillance victim assistance and awareness initiativesThe launch of the Singappenn Special Task Force is being seen as one of the flagship lawandorder initiatives of the Vijay government By creating a dedicated unit focused exclusively on the safety and welfare of women and children the government hopes to strengthen public confidence in policing and create a safer environment across Tamil Nadu IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-vijay-to-launch-singappenn-special-task-force-for-women-child-safety-tomorrow-676879.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjps-rajya-sabha-candidates-satish-poonia-alka-gurjar-to-file-nominations-today-676892.html Jaipur June 8 BJP candidates Satish Poonia and Alka Gurjar will file their nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha elections on Monday The two leaders are scheduled to leave from the BJP State Headquarters and proceed to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly to complete the nomination process in the presence of senior party leaders and workers Meanwhile BJP Rajasthan President Madan Rathore described the nomination of Poonia and Gurjar to the Rajya Sabha as a matter of pride for the partyHe said both leaders have consistently worked for the organisation and would get an opportunity to contribute at the national level through the Upper House Rathore called upon party workers to strengthen outreach efforts and ensure that government schemes reach every section of societyChief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma said Poonia and Alka Gurjar have served in the organisation consequently Rajasthan will greatly benefit from their entry into the countrys Upper HouseFurther Rajya Sabha candidate Dr Satish Poonia stated that our organisation honours hard work and dedication I too began as an ordinary worker and the organisation has accorded me respect and opportunities at every step of the wayExpressing gratitude to the top leadership state leadership and party workers she remarked that it is only through the good wishes of the workers that she has received the opportunity to go to the Rajya SabhaAnother Rajya Sabha candidate Dr Alka Gurjar stated that this significant opportunity has come about thanks to the trust placed in them by the party workers She affirmed that they would all work collaboratively for the doubleengine government and the development of RajasthanThe BJPâs Central Election Committee announced Poonia and Alka Gurjar as its Rajya Sabha nominees from Rajasthan Their candidature replaces Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu whose term ends on June 21 and comes as part of a broader list of 11 nominees across statesVoting for the three Rajasthan seats will be held on June 18 with the BJP anticipated to secure two seats based on current assembly strengthPolitical observers see the choice of Poonia a prominent Jat leader and Gurjar a wellconnected Gurjar face as a calculated bid to consolidate support among two electorally significant groups in Rajasthan The Jat and Gurjar communities influence many Assembly constituencies and the BJPâs move counters Congressâ own strong leaders from these groups This social balancing is also linked to the partyâs positioning for the 2028 state elections IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjps-rajya-sabha-candidates-satish-poonia-alka-gurjar-to-file-nominations-today-676892.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 11:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/dont-rush-for-sowing-till-june-15-rainfall-intensity-to-increase-after-june-18-maharashtra-govt-676912.html Mumbai June 8 IANS The Maharashtra government has appealed to farmers not to rush their sowing activities even though the monsoon has arrived in South Konkan however its overall intensity and progress across the state will remain sluggish until June 15nbspThe Meteorological Department has clarified that while there is a possibility of thunderstorms and gusty winds in parts of Vidarbha Marathwada Khandesh and Central Maharashtra until June 15 these showers do not yet appear sufficient to support widespread sowing As dry spells are expected to follow premature sowing could result in financial losses for farmers said the government release issued on late Sunday eveningPrecipitation is anticipated to pick up across several regions of Maharashtra after June 18 In particular the Konkan coastal strip and the Ghat mountainous regions show a highly positive outlook for receiving aboveaverage rainfall by the end of June Rainfall activity is highly likely to intensify over the next three to four days in the Konkan and Ghat areasFor the rest of the state the forecast indicates a continuation of isolated thunderstorms Citizens have been urged to take necessary safety precautions regarding lightning and sudden weather variations said the releaseFarmers are eagerly awaiting the monsoon However this is an El Niño year While there is a 22 per cent probability of average rainfall our primary focus is to ensure that farmers in Marathwada and other droughtprone regions are not forced into doublesowing resowing The governments emphasis will be on maximising crop yield with minimum water thereby minimising losses said the Chief Minister Devendra FadnavisThe state advisory comes when farmers across Maharashtras cashcrop belts soybean cotton and pulses often rush to sow immediately after the first premonsoon showers However agricultural experts and the state administration strongly discourage sowing until the soil receives at least 75 to 100 mm of cumulative rainfall and moisture penetrates deep enough to sustain seed germination If a dry spell follows the initial showers as predicted here until midJune the sprouted seeds wither in the dry soil This forces impoverished farmers to buy a second round of expensive seeds and fertilisers plunging them deeper into credit traps said the agriculture department sourcesCM Fadnaviss explicit mention of an El Nino year carries heavy political and administrative weight El Nino transitions typically suppress Indian monsoon currents leading to prolonged dry spells and uneven distribution Regions like Marathwada Beed Latur Osmanabad and Vidarbha are historically droughtprone and highly reliant on dryland farming A failed initial sowing season in these pockets severely dents agrarian output and escalates rural economic distressThe Chief Ministers statement underscores a strategic shift from traditional moisture reliance to defensive agronomy By warning farmers beforehand via state machinery the administration aims to mitigate initial seed capital losses The focus on maximising yield under lower rainfall signals that the Agriculture Department will likely push for shortduration crop varieties microirrigation systems dripsprinkler and contingency crop planning if the dry spell extends past late JuneIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/dont-rush-for-sowing-till-june-15-rainfall-intensity-to-increase-after-june-18-maharashtra-govt-676912.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-12-years-of-garib-kalyan-guided-by-antyodaya-ensuring-benefits-reach-the-deprived-676928.html New Delhi June 8 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday highlighted the several transformations India has witnessed in the last 12 years and said that the Centres efforts have been inspired by Antyodaya with the welfare of the poor and underprivileged remaining at the core of the governments effortsnbspStressing the guiding principle behind these initiatives is Antyodaya PM Modi said that the government ensures that the benefits of development reach those who had remained deprived for decadesTaking to the social media platform X with the hashtag 12 Years Of Garib Kalyan PM Modi highlighted various welfare initiatives launched during his tenure and their impact on improving the lives of millions across the countryOver the last 12 years India has witnessed many transformations and at the core of these changes is the welfare of the poor and downtrodden We have always been inspired by Antyodaya and our effort has always been to ensure that the benefits of development reach those who were left behind for decades the Prime Minister wroteHe noted that several flagship programmes including Jan Dhan accounts Direct Benefit Transfer DBT Swachh Bharat Mission Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Jal Jeevan Mission and Ayushman Bharat were launched with the objective of providing dignity opportunity and improved living standards to citizensFrom Jan Dhan accounts and Direct Benefit Transfer to Swachh Bharat PM Awas Yojana Jal Jeevan Mission Ayushman Bharat and more every initiative has been driven by a simple objective of ensuring people have dignity and opportunity he saidThe Prime Minister also underscored the role of technology in enhancing governance and delivering welfare benefits efficientlyThrough Direct Benefit Transfer and digital platforms support is reaching people directly and transparently This has reduced leakages improved efficiency and strengthened trust in governance This is how the journey of furthering Garib Kalyan has become a collective movement towards human empowerment and realising our dream of a Viksit Bharat he saidMeanwhile Prime Minister Modi is set to achieve a significant milestone in Indian political history by becoming the countrys longestserving elected Prime MinisternbspOn June 10 he will complete 4399 consecutive days in office surpassing the record held by Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who served 4398 days as an elected Prime Minister following the countrys first general electionsHaving first assumed office on May 26 2014 Modi has led the country through three consecutive Lok Sabha mandates Under his leadership the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP secured a majority in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections returned with an even larger mandate in 2019 and retained power again in 2024Nehru served as Prime Minister from August 15 1947 after India gained Independence However his tenure before the first general elections was as the head of the interim government His elected term officially began on May 13 1952 and continued until his death on May 27 1964 spanning 4398 daysWith the completion of 4399 consecutive days in office on June 10 PM Modi will surpass that record marking a notable moment in the history of independent IndiaIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-12-years-of-garib-kalyan-guided-by-antyodaya-ensuring-benefits-reach-the-deprived-676928.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-cm-rahul-gandhi-kharge-mourn-death-of-aicc-secretary-suraj-hegde-676932.html Bengaluru June 8 Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has expressed deep condolences over the demise of AICC Secretary and Vice President of the State Guarantee Scheme Implementation Committee Suraj Hegde Suraj Hegde was the grandson of the late D Devaraj Urs a revered leader who implemented the significant land for the tiller policy effectively in the state In his condolence message the Chief Minister said he was deeply shocked by the news of Suraj Hegdeâs sudden passing He noted that it is difficult to believe that a young leader like him has passed away at such an early ageShivakumar said Suraj Hegde had been actively involved in party organisation as AICC Secretary and had also served as incharge of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry contributing significantly to the Congress organisational structure He described his death as an irreparable loss to the Congress partyThe Chief Minister further observed that Suraj Hegde like his grandfather and former Chief Minister D Devaraj Urs was committed to the cause of backward classes workersâ rights and social justice He added that Suraj entered politics through organisational work in the National Youth Congress and was performing effectively as Vice President of the State Guarantee Scheme Implementation CommitteeShivakumar prayed for peace to the departed soul and conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved family members wishing them strength to bear the lossLeader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi stated Deeply saddened by the passing of Suraj Hegde ji As AICC Secretary and Former InCharge of the Indian Youth Congress he worked with a deep belief in the partyâs idealsThe Youth Congress was not just an assignment for him He mentored young Indians who today carry forward the Congressâs commitment to justice and democracy Rahul Gandhi statedHis demise is an irreparable loss to the Congress family My condolences to his family his colleagues and every Congress karyakarta whose life he touched he statedAICC President Mallikarjun Kharge stated Deeply shocked and saddened by the untimely demise of Shri Suraj Hegde a young and promising leader who served the party with dedication as an AICC Secretary Suraj was very close to my family and I have known him since his teenage years Watching him grow into a committed leader deeply devoted to the organisation was truly heartening He made immense contributions to the Youth Congress while carrying forward the rich legacy and values of Devaraj Urs with sincerity and commitment he statedMy heartfelt condolences to his family friends and supporters during this difficult time May they find the strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss Kharge saidKarnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President BK Hariprasad also expressed deep sorrow over the untimely demise of Suraj HegdeIn his condolence message Hariprasad said he was deeply saddened upon hearing the news of Hegdeâs sudden passing He noted that Suraj Hegde had dedicated his life to the upliftment of backward classes Dalits and marginalised communities and had in true spirit carried forward the legacy of former Chief Minister D Devaraj Urs who is remembered for his commitment to equality and social justiceHariprasad said that Hegde who was always committed to public service played a significant role in ensuring the effective implementation of the state governmentâs guarantee schemes at the grassroots levelHe added that Hegdeâs demise is an irreparable loss to the state as well as to the Congress family Extending his condolences he conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family members relatives friends and admirers and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soulAICC General Secretary and Karnataka Incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala stated Tragic Unbelievable and deeply Sad Shri Suraj Hegde AICC Secretary and Vice Chairman of Karnataka Govt Guarantee Committee is no moreA dear friend a comrade in arms an organiser par excellence a dedicated father amp husband a life committed to Congress ideology a true inheritor of Devraj Ursâs legacy an affable and likeable human being with easy charm and accessibility Suraj was many things to many people and something to everyone Surjewala statedI met him two days ago after the announcement of Rajya Sabha and Council seats He would only say âDonât worry bhai everything will be fine You keep doing what you do he statedWe will miss you dearly Goodbye my friend Spread the cheer and easy smile wherever you go he stated emotionallyMy heartfelt condolences to the family friends and all his admirers across the country he statedFormer Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee CWC Member Siddaramaiah also expressed deep shock over the sudden demise of Congress youth leader Suraj Hegde describing it as a major loss to the party and the stateSuraj Hegde was actively involved in the Congress organisation at the national level and had served in key positions including AICC Secretary KPCC Vice President and Vice President of the State Guarantee Committee He was regarded as a dedicated young leader within the party structure Siddaranaiah statedHe was the grandson of the late former Karnataka Chief Minister D Devaraj Urs and was seen as carrying forward a legacy of peopleoriented politics with commitment and concern for public welfare he statedSiddaramaiah noted that Suraj Hegde had the potential to take on greater responsibilities in politics in the coming years and said his untimely demise has caused an irreparable loss to the Congress party as well as to Karnataka he saidSiddaramaiah also conveyed that he shares the grief of the bereaved family and prayed for peace for the departed soul IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-cm-rahul-gandhi-kharge-mourn-death-of-aicc-secretary-suraj-hegde-676932.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-restores-telangana-police-constable-aspirants-candidature-676934.html New Delhi June 8 IANS The Supreme Court has restored the candidature of a police constable aspirant in Telangana holding that the state recruitment authorities acted arbitrarily in denying him appointment on the basis of a criminal case arising out of a failed relationship that was subsequently compounded before a Lok AdalatnbspnbspA Bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Manmohan while allowing an appeal filed by Gajula Thirupathi set aside a Telangana High Court Division Bench judgment which had upheld the cancellation of his provisional selection for the post of Stipendiary Cadet Trainee Police Constable SCTPCThe appellant had disclosed in his application that he was previously booked under Sections 417 420 and 506 read with Section 34 of the IPC in a case lodged by a woman who alleged that he had promised to marry her but later married another womanThe case was subsequently compounded before a Lok Adalat in 2015Despite the disclosure the Telangana State Level Police Recruitment Board cancelled his provisional selection treating the allegations as involving moral turpitude and concluding that he was unsuitable for appointment in the police forceIn its order the Justice Misraled Bench observed that while employers are entitled to assess the suitability of candidates even after acquittal or discharge in criminal cases such decisions must not be arbitraryThe state and its officers cannot act arbitrarily Therefore when such a decision is subjected to judicial review to ensure that the same is not held arbitrary in our view it must be demonstrated that a there exists material on record to indicate that an offence involving moral turpitude was indeed committed and b there exists material against the candidate even though he may have succeeded in earning an acquittal or a discharge the apex court saidIt recorded that the appellant had made a full and truthful disclosure of the criminal case and that there was no allegation of suppression of factsThe Supreme Court took exception to the recruitment authorities reasoning that the compromise before the Lok Adalat amounted to an admission of guiltThe statement that the compromise amounts to admission of guilt is without any basis Further the statement that the appellant compromised because he was guilty is completely perverse and defies logic the Justice Misraled Bench observedThe top court stressed that the allegations stemmed from a relationship between two consenting adults and cautioned authorities against drawing adverse conclusions solely on that basisAuthorities would have to be sensitive to the changing times in the context of premarital relationships Such premarital relationships are common today Moreover physical relationship between two consenting unmarried adults cannot and should not by itself be a ground to draw an adverse impression about the character of the person in that relationship it saidThe apex court further observed that not every relationship culminates in marriage and merely because a relationship failed to result in marriage could not automatically lead to a conclusion that one party had cheated the otherHolding that there was no material to suggest that the compromise had been obtained through threats or coercion it said the recruitment authorities had no basis to infer adverse character traits from the caseThe decision of the Screening Committee to deny appointment to the petitioner is arbitrary and was justifiably set aside by the learned Single Judge of the High Court the top court held restoring the singlejudge order directing reconsideration of the appellants appointment The appeal was accordingly allowed and the Telangana High Court Division Bench judgment was set asideIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-restores-telangana-police-constable-aspirants-candidature-676934.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/three-candidates-of-tdp-file-nominations-for-rajya-sabha-polls-676943.html Amaravati June 8 Telugu Desam Partyâs three candidates for Rajya Sabha elections filed their nominations on Monday Sana Satish Bashyam Ramakrishna and Chintakayala Vijay filed their papers before the returning officer at the State Legislative Assembly They were accompanied by TDP leaders and workers Before filing nominations they visited TDPâs central office and paid tributes to party founder and Late Chief Minister NT Rama RaoThe TDP on Saturday announced its candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls The party has renominated Sana Satish who is one of the four Rajya Sabha members retiring this month The TDP named educationist Bhashyam Ramakrishna and a younger face Chintakayala Vijay as the other candidatesUnder the seatsharing arrangement among the National Democratic Alliance NDA partners the TDP is contesting three seats leaving the fourth seat for Jana Sena Party JSPLingamaneni Ramesh filed his nomination papers as a Rajya Sabha candidate of the JSP on SaturdaySatish a close associate of TDP national working president Nara Lokesh was sent to the Upper House on a truncated term oneandahalf years ago Belonging to the Kapu community the businessmanturnedpolitician was aspiring for a Lok Sabha ticket in 2024 However the party could not give him the ticket After the coalition came to power he was sent to the Rajya Sabha in the byelection held in December 2024 due to the resignation of Mopidevi Venkatramna of the YSR Congress PartyBhashyam Ramakrishna is a prominent educationalist and entrepreneur who founded the Bhashyam group a private educational network with operations in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana He is a Kamma a socially and politically powerful caste to which TDP national president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu belongsRamakrishna was an aspirant for a Lok Sabha ticket from Guntur in 2024 but the party could not nominate him due to various reasonsChintakayala Vijay is the son of Andhra Assembly Speaker Ayyanna Patrudu A backward class member from north coastal Andhra Vijay is one of the younger leaders considered close to Lokesh He was also an aspirant for a Lok Sabha ticket from Anakapalli but he was not given the opportunity as the TDP had to leave the seat for the BJPMeanwhile Vijay said in a statement that CM Chandrababu Naidu and Lokesh have proven that those who stand by the party during difficult times are duly recognisedHe stated that he would remain forever indebted to Chandrababu Naidu and Lokesh for giving him the opportunity to be a Rajya Sabha candidateâI will uphold the trust Mr Lokesh has placed in me and discharge the new responsibilities with dedicationâ he saidâOn behalf of my family which has stood by the party since its inception I extend my gratitude to everyoneâ he addedElections for four Rajya Sabha seats are scheduled to be held on June 18The vacancies from Andhra Pradesh arose due to the retirement of Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy Nathwani Parimal Pilli Subhaschandra Bose all belonging to YSR Congress Party and Sana Satish of the TDPThe NDA is sure to win all four Rajya Sabha seats going by its overwhelming majority in the Andhra Pradesh AssemblyIn the 175member state Assembly the TDP holds 135 seats while its allies Jana Sena and BJP have 21 and 8 seats respectively The YSR Congress Party has only 11 seats IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/three-candidates-of-tdp-file-nominations-for-rajya-sabha-polls-676943.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/india-bloc-candidates-file-nominations-for-two-jharkhand-rs-seats-mlas-show-unity-676944.html Ranchi June 8 Candidates of the ruling INDIA bloc on Monday filed their nominations for the biennial Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand scheduled to be held on June 18 Jharkhand Mukti Morcha JMM nominee Baijnath Ram and Congress candidate Pranav Jha reached the Assembly along with top alliance leaders and MLAs to submit their nomination papersChief Minister Hemant Soren was present on the occasion along with Congress central observer and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel several ministers of the state government senior Congress leaders and MLAs of the RJD The alliance put up a show of unity during the filing reiterating its claim of winning both seatsBefore filing the nominations all alliance leaders and MLAs arrived at the Assembly together Political observers view this as a show of strength and an attempt to send a message of unity among legislators ahead of the Rajya Sabha electionsIn recent days there had been discussions and differences within the ruling alliance over the selection of candidates After the Congress announced its nominee some JMM leaders had asserted the partyâs claim on both seats However following talks at the top level the alliance adopted a joint strategy and reached a consensus on the candidates from both partiesAt a meeting of alliance MLAs held at the Chief Ministerâs residence on Sunday it was decided to extend joint support to Baijnath Ram and Jha After the meeting alliance leaders had claimed they had sufficient numbers to ensure victory in both seatsLeaders of the JMM and Congress have said that all MLAs of the alliance are united and there is no apprehension of crossvoting in the electionMeanwhile BJPbacked candidate Parimal Nathwani on Monday also reached the Assembly along with BJP and allied MLAs to file his nominationPolling for both Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand will be held on June 18 and the results will be declared the same day after the counting of votes IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/india-bloc-candidates-file-nominations-for-two-jharkhand-rs-seats-mlas-show-unity-676944.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kharge-at-india-bloc-meet-we-defeated-delimitation-bills-must-strengthen-unity-676947.html New Delhi June 8 IANS Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday hailed the united fight against the Narendra Modi government leading to the failure of malicious bills on delimitation in the Lok Sabha and urged the members of the INDIA bloc to strengthen the spirit and resolve to corner and confront the ruling dispensation on multiple pressing issues before the nationnbspKharge making his opening remarks at the INDIA bloc meet sought to share a strategic blueprint for rebuilding the Opposition alliance in the wake of recent setbacks in Assembly elections and also sought active contribution and deliberations from the respective stakeholders in making it a viable and tenable front against the Central governmentOn April 17 2026 we demonstrated our unity and solidarity in the Lok Sabha in a very decisive manner when we all came together firmly to defeat the Modi governments malicious bills on delimitation Now we must strengthen that same spirit even further and move forward so that we can confront the many political economic social and foreign policy challenges facing the country due to the Modi governments misgovernance he saidThe Congress chief also lambasted the BJPled NDA government on a host of issues including assault on the Constitution misuse of investigative agencies for bullying political rivals while raising alarm over the economic climate in the country particularly in light of the West Asia crisisKharge stated that new investments are not coming in at the pace required to generate new jobs private monopolies are growing in many sectors and the future of MSMEs is in serious crisisOur foreign policy has been completely compromised and those traditional values that India has long staunchly supported have not been upheld he claimedThe Congress leader termed issues like SIR and misuse of agencies for furthering political objectives as deeply concerning and also accused the Centre of discriminating against nonBJP governmentsHe said that SIR took away the voting rights of millions of people while the assault on the Constitution goes unabatedKharge pointed to the price rise of essential goods creating havoc for the common man and said that the economic environment in the country has turned extremely negativeHe also flayed the government over paper leaks and claimed that the dreams and aspirations of youth were being ruined due to the complete mismanagement of the examination systemThe hopes and aspirations of our lakhs of youth are being betrayed Atrocities against the weaker sections of society especially in BJPruled states continue relentlessly he remarkedIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kharge-at-india-bloc-meet-we-defeated-delimitation-bills-must-strengthen-unity-676947.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/jharkhand-rs-polls-industrialist-nathwani-enters-fray-with-nda-backing-confident-of-victory-676962.html Ranchi June 8 Industrialist Parimal Nathwani has entered the fray in the biennial elections to two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand Nathwani though contesting as an Independent candidate is backed by NDA MLAsAhead of filing his nomination on Monday Nathwani met BJP legislators and those from allied parties He visited the residence of BJP MLA Navin Jaiswal in Ranchi where discussions were held with NDA leaders on election strategy and supportSpeaking to the media Nathwani avoided commenting on numbers but expressed confidence of victoryâI am an old Jharkhandi and people here have seen my work I am confident of winning the election and getting another opportunity to serve the stateâ he saidNathwani has earlier served two terms as a Rajya Sabha member from Jharkhand He said he had undertaken several development works during his previous tenure and hoped legislators would support him based on his track recordLeader of Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly Babulal Marandi said the party had decided to support Nathwani after assessing the situation He noted that the BJP did not have adequate numbers to secure a Rajya Sabha seat on its own and backing Nathwani was part of a broader strategyMarandi described him as a tested candidate who has represented Jharkhand before in the Upper HouseMeanwhile leaders of the ruling alliance criticised the BJPâs move JMM leader and state minister Sudivya Kumar alleged that the BJP was trying to indulge in horsetrading of MLAs through the Rajya Sabha elections Congress in charge of Jharkhand K Raju also made similar allegations saying the BJP was attempting to influence the democratic processMonday is the last day for filing nominations for the two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand The Congress has fielded Pranav Jha while the JMM has nominated Baijnath Ram as its candidateNow with a third candidate in the fray the battle for the Rajya Sabha has become interesting IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/jharkhand-rs-polls-industrialist-nathwani-enters-fray-with-nda-backing-confident-of-victory-676962.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 15:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kumaraswamy-attacks-congress-on-deve-gowda-rs-row-targets-surjewala-676964.html Bengaluru June 8 Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy on Monday hit out at Congress leaders over their remarks on the reported denial of a Rajya Sabha nomination to former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and termed AICC General Secretary and Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala a wasooliwala In a sharp statement Kumaraswamy further targeted Randeep Singh Surjewala accusing him of political hypocrisy and urging him to first âremember Congressâs past actionsâ before commenting on JDSHe alleged that Surjewala has turned Karnataka into an ATM through extortion He should focus on suppressing the internal conflicts and conspiracies within his own party and government instead of speaking about Deve GowdaHe alleged that in 1997 Congress leaders had conspired to remove HD Deve Gowda from the post of Prime Minister calling it a betrayal that âKarnataka people have questioned for decadesâHe further referred to the 2019 political developments in Karnataka alleging that Congress had âbackstabbedâ HD Kumaraswamy by toppling the coalition government despite earlier forming an allianceKumaraswamy also accused the Congress of practicing double standards saying the party projects secularism externally while engaging in castebased and opportunistic politics internally He criticised Congressâs alliances in other states including Tamil Nadu alleging postpoll opportunismDefending Deve Gowda Kumaraswamy described him as a âtowering national leaderâ and the only Prime Minister from Karnataka stating that it was inappropriate to politicise his name for electoral gainsHe further accused Congress leaders of political opportunism and internal factionalism urging them to focus on their own partys issues rather than targeting Deve Gowda and JDSThe statement comes amid ongoing political exchanges between JDS and Congress following discussions around Rajya Sabha nominations and alliance dynamics in Karnataka politicsOn the other hand Karnataka State Congress President BK Hariprasad on Monday speaking to the media in Bengaluru described the BJPâs reported decision to deny a Rajya Sabha ticket to former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda as a betrayal of the people of the stateâThis is not just an insult to Deve Gowda and the JDS party but an insult to the entire stateâ he saidCommenting on the BJP leadershipâs decision to deny Deve Gowda a Rajya Sabha nomination Hariprasad said âThe BJP and NDA alliance after taking support from the JDS for the passage of various laws has betrayed Deve Gowda that no one would have imagined This is an insult to the people of KarnatakaâHe further said that the people of the state would respond appropriately in the coming days adding that such actions would have political consequencesRandeep Singh Surjewala on Monday criticised the BJP and JDS leadership over the reported denial of Rajya Sabha nomination to Deve Gowda calling the development politically âastonishing and eyeopeningâIt can be noted that the BJP has announced staunch RSS man Prof M Nagaraj as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha election highlighting his long academic administrative and organisational experience IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kumaraswamy-attacks-congress-on-deve-gowda-rs-row-targets-surjewala-676964.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 15:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/showed-world-class-excellence-across-different-dimensions-of-performance-cm-satheesan-condoles-salim-kumars-death-676817.html Kochi June 7 Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Sunday paid an emotional tribute to veteran actor Salim Kumar describing his death as not merely the loss of a gifted artist to Malayalam cinema but a deeply personal loss of âa brotherâ The beloved actor who passed away late Saturday night at a private hospital in Kochi following health complications will be laid to rest at his residence in North Paravur on Sunday evening He was 56In a heartfelt condolence message CM Satheesan said Malayalam cinema has lost one of its most talented performers while he has lost a cherished friend and brotherHe recalled Salim Kumar as a person who never hesitated to express his political convictions and remained steadfast in defending his beliefs regardless of personal consequencesThe Chief Minister said the actor had repeatedly demonstrated that he was capable of excelling in every form of acting âSalim Kumar showed worldclass excellence across different dimensions of performance While one side of his face brought laughter to audiences the other carried emotions that could move people to tearsâ Satheesan saidThe actorâs mortal remains were placed at the North Paravur Town Hall on Sunday morning where thousands of admirers gathered to pay their final respects Members of the Malayalam film fraternity political leaders and people from all walks of life visited the venue to offer their condolencesThe body will be taken to his residence by 1 pm and funeral rites will be held at 3 pm before he is laid to rest later in the eveningSalim Kumar is survived by his wife Sunitha and sons Chandu and AaromalTributes continued to pour in from across Kerala and beyond Superstar Mammootty shared an emotional message on social media mourning the loss of a colleague and close friend âYour departure is an endless sorrow my brotherâ Mammootty wrote âSalim you made people laugh think cry and reflect Now you leave us with only tearsâHundreds of fans gathered outside the hospital after news of his death broke hoping to catch a final glimpse of the actor whose performances entertained and touched generations of MalayalisActors Shwetha Menon Ramesh Pisharody Dileep and several other members of the Malayalam film industry visited the hospital and later paid their respects at the public homage venueOne of Malayalam cinemaâs most versatile performers Salim Kumar first won audiences over with his unique comic timing before establishing himself as a powerful dramatic actorHe received the National Film Award for Best Actor in 2010 for his acclaimed performance in Adaminte Makan Abu which also earned him the Kerala State Film Award He had earlier won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actor for Achanurangatha Veedu and later earned recognition as a filmmaker with Karutha Joothan winning the 2017 Kerala State Film Award for Best StoryWith a career spanning decades and hundreds of memorable performances Salim Kumar leaves behind a legacy that transcends genres As Kerala prepares to bid farewell to one of its most beloved artists tributes from fans colleagues and public figures continue to underscore the profound impact he made on Malayalam cinema and society IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/showed-world-class-excellence-across-different-dimensions-of-performance-cm-satheesan-condoles-salim-kumars-death-676817.html Sun, 07 Jun 2026 10:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/police-raid-trinamool-councillors-house-in-central-kolkata-676829.html Kolkata June 7 The police have raided the residence of Trinamool Congress councillor Mohammad Jasimuddin in Jorasanko in central Kolkata officials said on Sunday The officers of the Jorasanko police station reached his house adjacent to College Street along with Central forces While the Central force jawans were standing outside the house police officers tried to enter the house to question the councillorHowever it was reported that the Trinamool leader had not opened the door The exact reason for the police raid was unclear More details were awaitedJasimuddin is a Trinamool councillor of ward number 39 of Kolkata Municipal Corporation KMC There are several complaints against him in the area People in the area have been miffed at his actions about real estate development The police arrested a person close to the councillor from that area on Saturday on charges of molesting a minorThe officials came to the councillors house in the morning and it is reported that the police want to question Jasimuddin in the context of the case filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act 2012According to local sources the police reached Jasimuddins house at around 6 am But no one had opened the door The police were still waiting near the house for a responseHearing that the police had gone to the councillors house locals in the area slowly started gathering there Many were standing near the house with eggs in their hands They said that they wanted to throw them at the councillor who harassed and troubled themSo far seven Trinamool councillors of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation have been arrested by the police over various charges including extortion corruption and involvement in post2021 election violenceOn Saturday Councillor Bappaditya Dasgupta was caught in Patuli There are allegations of extortion against Bappaditya as well When he was taken to the police station local BJP workers and supporters gathered there and protested against the councillor The slogan Chor Chor thief was also raisedMeanwhile on Sunday morning the police raided the house of another councillor in Kolkata IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/police-raid-trinamool-councillors-house-in-central-kolkata-676829.html Sun, 07 Jun 2026 13:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-cm-flags-uncertain-future-of-medics-working-in-uae-seeks-pm-modis-intervention-676848.html Thiruvananthapuram June 7 Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs assistance and intervention in addressing the economic plight and uncertain future of Indian paramedics predominantly from the southern state working in the UAE In a letter to the Prime Minister Satheesan said that the Indian healthcare professionals including nurses are facing a host of visarelated issues in the Gulf nation due to the prolonged faceoff between the US and Iran in the region and this is making it difficult for them to obtain employment visit and dependent visasMaking a specific reference to an Iranian hospital in Dubai he said that the healthcare workers from the state are facing an extremely distressing situationFurther raising concerns over a possible threat to their job and livelihoods due to certain restrictions in the conflicthit zone the Kerala CM said that many of them are on the verge of completion of their grace period and said that they may face âforced deportationâ upon expiry of their stay in the UAEMany affected individuals are currently nearing the end of their grace period and fear that they may be compelled to leave the UAE potentially jeopardising their future employment opportunities and professional licensing he wrote in the letter flagging an imminent threat to the livelihoods of scores of medicsThe situation has caused immense anxiety among numerous Malayali families whose lives and childrens education are rooted in the UAE he addedSatheesan demanded that the Ministry of External Affairs engage with the Embassy of India in the UAE and relevant UAE authorities to explore a fair and compassionate resolution on humanitarian groundsThe Kerala CM also highlighted the contribution of Indian healthcare workers in the entire Gulf nation including the UAE in ensuring seamless healthcare and also fighting emergent situationsâThese professionals served with dedication and distinction including during the Covid19 pandemic when they stood on the front lines of healthcare deliveryâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-cm-flags-uncertain-future-of-medics-working-in-uae-seeks-pm-modis-intervention-676848.html Sun, 07 Jun 2026 16:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/separation-is-final-dmk-leader-rs-bharathi-rules-out-reconciliation-with-congress-676849.html Pudukottai Tamil Nadu June 7 Senior DMK leader RS Bharathi on Sunday firmly ruled out any possibility of a future political reconciliation with the Congress asserting that both parties had completely parted ways and that his party cadre would never accept it back in the alliance Speaking to reporters in Pudukkottai Bharathi said there was no longer any political relationship between the two parties and dismissed speculation about a future reunionHe maintained that the separation was final and argued that the grassroots workers of the DMK would strongly oppose any attempt to restore ties irrespective of decisions taken at the leadership levelBharathiâs remarks came in response to recent criticism from Congress leaders regarding the DMKâs performance and alliance politicsTaking a swipe at Congress leader Manickam Tagore Bharathi suggested that Congress leaders should first examine their own electoral standing before commenting on other partiesThe veteran DMK leader and former Rajya Sabha member also turned his attention to the upcoming local body elections expressing confidence in his partyâs organisational strengthChallenging political rivals including BJP leaders Bharathi called for the polls to be conducted as early as January and dared opponents to prove their popularity at the grassroots levelIn local body elections voters choose candidates based on their individual merit and public service If our opponents are confident of their strength let them win even a single mayoral postâ he saidReiterating the DMKâs ideological position Bharathi ruled out any future alliance with the BJP and insisted that the party remained committed to its Dravidian principlesHe also criticised the growing trend of political defections saying Tamil Nadu was witnessing the emergence of an âAya Ram Gaya Ramâ culture a reference to politicians frequently changing parties for personal gainAccording to Bharathi leaders who switch allegiances in pursuit of positions and power rarely enjoy longterm political success He predicted that many recent defectors would eventually return to their original political homes once political circumstances changedBharathi also sought to downplay the recent electoral success of actorturnedpolitician Vijayâs Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK Describing the partyâs victory as a temporary phenomenon rather than an ideological endorsement he argued that a majority of voters had not supported TVK He attributed the partyâs rise largely to personalitydriven politics and social media influence while predicting that its popularity would eventually face the test of governance and public expectations IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/separation-is-final-dmk-leader-rs-bharathi-rules-out-reconciliation-with-congress-676849.html Sun, 07 Jun 2026 16:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kmc-trinamool-councillor-arrested-in-minor-girl-molestation-case-676855.html Kolkata June 7 The Bengal Police on Sunday arrested Mohammad Jasimuddin a Trinamool Congress councillor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation KMC on charges of molestation and harassment of a minor girl With this a total of eight Trinamool Congress councillors of KMC have been arrested over various charges since the change of government in the stateJasimuddin is a Trinamool councillor of ward number 39 in Jorasanko area in central Kolkata He was arrested from his house in the afternoon Police and Central forces were at his house since early morning Allegedly the Trinamool leader was not opening the door and after waiting for almost six hours the police forced open the door from outside entered the premises and arrested JasimuddinThere is tension in the area over the entire incident His followers are protesting outside while BJP supporters have also joined the protest and threw eggs at the arrested councillorAccording to the police a case has been registered against Jasimuddin under multiple sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act 2012 and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNSAccording to local sources Jasimuddins close associates were involved in the harassment of a minor girl in the area three years ago That minor is now a college studentOn Saturday she was harassed again in the Kalabagan area and was threatened to withdraw the old case After that the girls family members filed another complaint with the Jorasanko police station A person close to Jasimuddin was arrested in connection with the incident on Saturday night Police have filed a case against five people including the councillorBy 6 am on Sunday officers of Jorasanko police station had reached Jasimuddins house The Central forces surrounded the house outside and it was alleged that the gate of the house was locked from inside Despite the polices calls no one opened the door Around noon a key maker was called to the spot After this the door was opened and the councillor was brought out By then many people had gathered outside Among them were the councillors followers as well as BJP workers and supporters Jasimuddin was taken out of the house and taken into a carJasimuddin was previously with the CPIM He joined the Trinamool Congress before municipal corporation elections in 2015 He won two consecutive elections on a Trinamool ticketAccording to Trinamool sources he was an associate of former MLA Vivek Gupta who did not get a ticket from Jorasanko in the 2026 Assembly elections IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kmc-trinamool-councillor-arrested-in-minor-girl-molestation-case-676855.html Sun, 07 Jun 2026 16:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bumpy-ride-for-india-bloc-dmk-to-skip-meet-jmm-and-cpi-m-miffed-with-cong-conduct--676858.html New Delhi June 7 IANS The INDIA bloc meeting scheduled for June 8 in the capital seems to be heading into trouble even before its commencementnbspWhile Congress and the embattled Trinamool Congress TMC are more than willing to close ranks against the ruling BJP dispensation particularly in light of imminent biennial elections for Rajya Sabha many key allies of the alliance including DMK JMM and CPI M have either chosen to boycott it or vent ire over the grand old partys movesnbspDMK a key ally of Congress in Tamil Nadu has already announced to skip the Congressconvened meeting of the INDIA bloc after the latter ditched it post the Assembly election debacle and joined the ewly ormed TVKled governmentSpeaking to IANS DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai said that his party has decided to boycott the INDIA bloc meeting because we do not want to be in a place where the Congress is presentnbspThe Congress are backstabbers They stole our work and the sweat and toil of the workers of the DMK party and then switched camps It is opportunism at its best It would be an insult to all the DMK cadres if the party participates in or is seen at a place where the Congress is a part he saidnbspHowever he mentioned that DMK has made it very clear that it will listen to the voices of other parties We listen to their views on how to go forward and ensure that the common man in the country does not suffer Annadurai addedA day ahead of the meeting the cracks within the Opposition camp have begun to deepen with more allies expressing displeasure with the way of functioning and the highhandedness approach of the Congress partynbspJMM is upset with the Congress over the unilateral announcement of a candidate for one of two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand while CPIM shot off a letter to party president Mallikarjun Kharge over the partys conduct particularly during the Kerala pollsIn Jharkhand two Rajya Sabha seats are up for grabs JMM wanted to field its own candidate in both seats but Congress nixed its plans by fielding its own candidate The CongressJMM alliance though has the requisite numbers to win both seatsnbspCPIM is furious with the Congress over the latters style of canvassing during the Kerala electionsnbspIn his letter to Kharge CPIM general secretary MA Baby has sought clarification from the Congress on claims made by some of its leaders that the Left party had an understanding with the BJPnbspM A Baby flagged this issue in a strongly worded letter to Congress president Mallikarjun KhargeMeanwhile CPIM leader Hannan Mollah stressed that as the largest party in the alliance the Congress has a major responsibilitynbspAny biggest party in a coalition has a key role in holding the front together But unfortunately Congress leaders are not showing the required maturity he told IANSnbspAttacking party leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi he said If you want to lead you have to carry everyone along If you abuse your partners who will remain with you Rahul Gandhi criticises CPIM in one place and DMK in anothernbspIf you want to keep these parties together and lead the alliance you have to represent everyone Other leaders may say different things but as the leader of the front you cannot behave in a way that damages unity he notedMollah said that the Congress should know how to build up a front for which one needs to be serious have the capacity to take everyone along and speak sensibly One cannot be a leader without these he emphasisednbspThe behaviour of Congress is damaging the alliance he claimednbspThe INDIA bloc meeting is likely to be attended by about 15 Opposition parties including Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah NC TMC chief Mamata Banerjee her nephew Abhishek Banerjee and others NCP SP is unlikely to be physically represented at the meeting and so is the Shiv Sena UBT Both may join the meeting virtuallynbspHowever the voices of differences and dissent within Congresss overbearing attitude are bound to create roadblocks as well as hindrances even before the Opposition bloc chalks out its strategy for further faceoff with the ruling dispensationIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bumpy-ride-for-india-bloc-dmk-to-skip-meet-jmm-and-cpi-m-miffed-with-cong-conduct--676858.html Sun, 07 Jun 2026 17:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-congratulates-praggnanandhaa-on-historic-norway-chess-triumph-676781.html Chennai June 6 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Saturday congratulated Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa for creating history by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess tournament describing the achievement as a moment of pride for both Tamil Nadu and the nation In a statement Vijay hailed the 20yearold chess prodigy for his remarkable performance at the Norway Chess 2026 tournament held in Oslo Norway where he secured the championship title with a decisive victory over Germanyâs Vincent Keymer in the final roundThe Chief Minister noted that Praggnanandhaa had achieved several milestones during the tournament including defeating reigning world No1 Magnus Carlsen twice and registering four consecutive victories in a single Norway Chess campaign He said the young Grandmaster had set new records while showcasing exceptional skill and determination against some of the strongest players in the worldâHeartfelt congratulations to Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa for becoming the first Indian to win the Norway Chess tournament and for bringing immense pride to Tamil Nadu and Indiaâ Vijay said in his messagePraggnanandhaaâs victory marks a historic milestone for Indian chess Widely regarded as one of the brightest talents of his generation the Chennaiborn player has been rewriting records since childhood He became the worldâs youngest International Master at the age of 10 and went on to earn the Grandmaster title at just 12 years 10 months and 13 days making him one of the youngest Grandmasters in chess historyPraggnanandhaaâs rise on the international stage gathered momentum in 2022 when he defeated Magnus Carlsen in an elite online rapid tournament attracting worldwide attention The following year he reached the final of the FIDE World Cup finishing runnerup and becoming one of the youngest players ever to contest the title match The performance also earned him a coveted berth in the Candidates Tournament the pathway to the World Chess ChampionshipThe Norway Chess title is widely regarded as the biggest achievement of Praggnanandhaaâs career so far By overcoming a field featuring many of the worldâs topranked players and becoming the first Indian champion in the tournamentâs history the young Grandmaster has further cemented his place among the elite of world chess while inspiring a new generation of Indian players IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-congratulates-praggnanandhaa-on-historic-norway-chess-triumph-676781.html Sat, 06 Jun 2026 13:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nadda-slams-kharge-cites-major-health-gains-in-nfhs-6-under-modi-govt-676793.html New Delhi June 6 Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Saturday strongly countered Congress president Mallikarjun Kharges criticism of the Narendra Modi government over healthcare and nutrition indicators asserting that the latest National Family Health Survey NFHS6 data demonstrates significant improvements in Indias public health landscape over the past decade In a series of posts on X Nadda accused the Congress leader of presenting a selective interpretation of the survey findings and said that public health should not be reduced to political rhetoricâShri Kharge jiâs halfknowledge is dangerous Public health is too important to be reduced to political rhetoric Selective reading may serve politics but facts serve the nationâ Nadda saidThe Union Minister argued that NFHS6 data highlights substantial progress in maternal healthcare under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra ModiComparing the latest survey with NFHS3 conducted in 200506 Nadda pointed to a rise in firsttrimester antenatal registration from 439 per cent to 762 per cent institutional deliveries from 387 per cent to 906 per cent and births attended by skilled health personnel from 466 per cent to 913 per centâThese are not mere statistics They represent millions of mothers receiving timely care safer deliveries and better health outcomes The real story of Indiaâs healthcare journey is one of progress not pessimismâ he saidNadda also highlighted improvements in several other health indicators According to him full immunisation coverage has increased to 871 per cent health insurance coverage has risen from 49 per cent to 602 per cent and the use of hygienic menstrual protection has reached 792 per centHe further noted that child stunting has declined from 48 per cent to 293 per cent compared to the NFHS3 period The Minister said these gains reflected sustained investments in healthcare nutrition sanitation financial inclusion and lastmile service deliveryHe contrasted the latest figures with what he described as poor outcomes during the Congressled United Progressive Alliance years alleging that decades of policy failures had left India with weak healthcare access and poor health indicatorsNaddas remarks came in response to Kharges post on X on Thursday in which the Congress president accused the BJPled government of concealing crucial health data and failing women and childrenKharge claimed that one in five children suffers from acute malnutrition onethird of children are underweight and over 84 per cent of children aged six to 23 months do not receive adequate nutrition He also cited NFHS5 figures showing that 57 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 are anaemic and one in five women is undernourishedNadda however maintained that NFHS6 reflects measurable improvements in healthcare access maternal and child health services and social protection âFacts matter Outcomes matter NFHS6 speaks for itselfâ the Union Minister saidWhile acknowledging that challenges remain Nadda said denying progress would undermine the efforts of frontline health workers and beneficiaries across the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nadda-slams-kharge-cites-major-health-gains-in-nfhs-6-under-modi-govt-676793.html Sat, 06 Jun 2026 15:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/vdcs-in-jampks-doda-district-given-specialised-training-in-automatic-weapons-guerrilla-warfare-676800.html Srinagar June 6 Village Defence Committee VDC members in Jammu and Kashmirâs Doda district have been given specialised training in handling automatic weapons and techniques of guerrilla warfare VDC members of Doda district have expressed confidence in tackling any security challenge following specialized training in handling automatic weapons and guerrilla warfare techniques officials said on SaturdayAs part of efforts to strengthen security in farflung border villages the Special Operations Group SOG of Doda Police conducted a training programme for VDC members from villages adjoining Himachal Pradeshâs Chamba districtA police spokesperson said the initiative was aimed at enhancing internal security and improving the preparedness of local defence volunteers to effectively counter possible terrorist activities in vulnerable areasThe training led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Operations Amit Kumar focussed on the handling of SelfLoading Rifles SLRs recently issued to VDC members and imparted skills related to guerrilla warfareThe programme was held at Lower Bheja village and attended by VDC members from Katyara Sharekhi Upper Bheja Bharai Butla and Sehad villagesAround 150 VDC members including two women volunteers from the remote Athkhar Valley of Bhaderwah participated in the training session he saidNot only male members but female members of the VDCs have shown eagerness in getting training to handle automatic weapons in order to protect themselves and their families from terroristsVDC members said they had been assisting security forces in antiterror operations since 1997 and remained committed to safeguarding their villages and maintaining the countryâs sovereignty Officials said the specialized training programme is part of a broader strategy to strengthen grassroots counterterrorism preparedness in Doda districtThe initiative equips local volunteers with combat skills weapon handling expertise and tactical knowledge to support security forces in remote areas Security officials said the strengthening of VDCs coupled with sustained antiterror operations in higher reaches forms a multilayered security framework aimed at preventing terrorist infiltration denying support networks and ensuring lasting peace in the regionIn Jammu and Kashmir VDCs are communitybased selfdefense groups first established in the mid1990s to protect remote and vulnerable areas against militant attacks They act as a force multiplier for formal security forcesVDCs were first formed in 1995 in the erstwhile Doda district now Doda Kishtwar and Ramban VDCs provided arms and training to local residents largely exservicemen to defend their villagesFollowing the January 2023 terror attacks in Rajouri the Union Ministry of Home Affairs revamped and rechristened these units as Village Defence Guards VDGsEach VDGVDC is provided with a gun and 100 rounds of ammunition Under the revamped VDG policy members receive fixed equal monthly remuneration directly credited to their bank accounts resolving historical salary disputesThey are heavily concentrated in border and hilly terrains across the Jammu division particularly in districts like Rajouri Poonch Kishtwar and DodaThe idea of forming VDGs did not pick up in the Valley and they have been restricted to various remote areas of Jammu division only IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/vdcs-in-jampks-doda-district-given-specialised-training-in-automatic-weapons-guerrilla-warfare-676800.html Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pakistan-is-hardly-an-interlocutor-they-are-just-courier-service-ex-army-chief-naravane-on-iran-us-war-676803.html Kolkata June 6 Former Indian Army chief General Retired MM Naravane on Saturday said that Pakistan is hardly an interlocutor and is merely acting as a courier serviceâ amid its attempts to position itself as a mediator between the United States and Iran His remarks come at a time when Pakistan has been trying continuously to project itself as a mediator in the USIran war and had facilitated interactions between the two countries a few months agoSpeaking to reporters Gen Retd Naravane said âThere is no question of anybody being overlooked or not overlooked And Pakistan is hardly an interlocutor they are just a courier serviceâCommenting on the IranUS conflict and its potential impact on global trade and security Gen Naravane said that national security and economic security are closely interconnectedâNational security has always been linked to economic security In fact it is the economy that drives everything else Therefore our effort has always been to be selfsufficient and selfreliant of course within the context of global trade It is not possible to completely isolate ourselves from the shocks that occur across the world However our efforts are focussed on diversifying sources and supply chains and giving importance to our domestic production so that we are prepared for any future shocksâ he saidHighlighting the need for adaptability in a rapidly changing world the former Army chief noted that geopolitical uncertainties are not a new phenomenonâThe global situation has always been in a state of flux It is not something that has happened only today In the past as well situations at the global level have always been dynamic Therefore the need of the hour is to adapt to these changes While adapting we must always keep our national interests in mind and consider what is good for the country and its people If that remains our guiding principle then all decisions taken will serve the longterm interests of the nationâ he saidOn the modernisation of the Indian Armed Forces he described it as a continuous processâMilitary modernisation is an ongoing process it never ends This is part of the continuous modernisation efforts of the Army Navy and Air Force The focus will be on acquiring indigenous equipment as much as possibleâ he saidResponding to questions about IndiaBangladesh relations Gen Naravane expressed confidence that bilateral ties are improving despite periodic challengesâRelations between countries always experience ups and downs A downturn should not necessarily be viewed negatively After a low phase there is often an upward movement again I believe the trajectory of relations between India and Bangladesh is once again moving upwardâ he saidAddressing the issue of border fencing along the IndiaBangladesh border Gen Naravane said the project has been underway for more than a decadeâThere is nothing new about it Border fencing with Bangladesh has been an ongoing effort for over a decade It is a particularly challenging border to fence because of the riverine nature of the terrain The work has continued for a long time and the stretches that remained especially between West Bengal and Bangladesh are now being covered so that the entire border can eventually be fencedâ he saidOn the growing role of drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAVs in modern warfare Gen Naravane said recent conflicts have demonstrated their strategic importanceâNot just quadcopters but all kinds of UAVs have played a major role in the wars we have witnessed in recent years from Ukraine to the present conflict involving Iran and the US Learning from these experiences the Indian Armed Forces have significantly increased their focus on procuring drones for the Army Navy and Air Force In this area indigenous companies and MSMEs have a major role to play in producing drones in large numbersâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pakistan-is-hardly-an-interlocutor-they-are-just-courier-service-ex-army-chief-naravane-on-iran-us-war-676803.html Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/issue-will-be-sorted-says-cm-shivakumar-on-ramalinga-reddys-resignation-676400.html Bengaluru June 5 Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday responded to Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddys resignation announcement saying the issue would be resolved through discussion and that there was ânothing to worryâ It can be noted that Minister for Water Resources Ramalinga Reddy on Friday announced his decision to resign from the Karnataka Cabinet alleging that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had gone back on his promise regarding the allocation of the Bengaluru Urban portfolioThe development is perceived as a setback for Chief Minister Shivakumar who has just assumed the role The development also comes a day after the allocation of portfoliosSpeaking in Bengaluru Shivakumar described Reddy as a close friend and senior colleague and said he would personally speak to him to resolve the matterâRamalinga Reddy is my colleague he is a senior leader and a close friend He has said that he is unable to work while travelling to rural areas under the Water Resources Ministry and has requested another portfolio I will discuss with him and sort out the issue There is nothing to worryâ Shivakumar saidHe further added that Reddy is among his closest cabinet colleagues and reiterated that the matter would be resolved amicablyState Congress President BK Hariprasad also reacted to the development stating that Reddy was unhappy and that discussions would be held to address his concernsâRamalinga Reddy is sad He is a senior leader of the party I will speak to him and we will sort it out There is no problemâ Hariprasad saidResponding to questions about internal dissent emerging soon after the cabinet formation Hariprasad said such situations sometimes occur in politics and should not be seen as a major issueHe also dismissed concerns that the controversy coming ahead of Congress leader Rahul Gandhiâs visit to Bengaluru would impact the party saying the matter would be handled internally and that Reddy would not insist on the resignation being acceptedMeanwhile AICC Secretary Abhishek Dutt met Ramalinga Reddy at his residence and attempted to pacify himTension was also reported outside Reddyâs residence in Koramangala where a large number of supporters gathered and raised slogans alleging injustice to their leader urging the party high command to intervene and resolve the issue IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/issue-will-be-sorted-says-cm-shivakumar-on-ramalinga-reddys-resignation-676400.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/woman-among-three-killed-in-armed-attack-on-manipur-village-houses-set-ablaze-676428.html Imphal June 5 At least three people including a woman were killed after unidentified armed assailants attacked a tribalinhabited village in Manipurâs Kangpokpi district on Friday officials said A police official said that armed cadres belonging to an unidentified group launched an attack on Loibol Khullen village The assault was met with retaliation by another armed group triggering a fierce exchange of fire between the rival factions that lasted for nearly half an hourThree villagers including a woman were killed during the crossfire The deceased have been identified as Letkhongam Haokip his wife Tinmary Haokip and Jangminlal HaokipFollowing the incident panicstricken residents fled their homes and took shelter in nearby forested areas to escape the violence the official saidAt least seven houses were reduced to ashes in the attack while substantial damage was also inflicted on civilian properties in the villageAdditional security forces led by senior officials have rushed to the area and launched a combing operation to nab the perpetratorsThe Kuki Inpi Manipur KIM the apex body of the Kuki tribal community in the state strongly condemned the attack and demanded an immediate investigation to identify and apprehend those responsibleIn a statement KIM Secretary Information and Publicity Janghaolun Haokip said that the deliberate killing of innocent people and the destruction of homes and livelihoods constituted a grave violation of human dignity and fundamental human rightsâThe deliberate targeting of civilians and the destruction of homes can never be justified under any circumstances KIM extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and expresses its unwavering solidarity with the affected residents of Loibol Khullen villageâ the statement saidThe KIM urged the government of India and the security agencies concerned to immediately launch a thorough investigation into the incident apprehend the perpetrators and ensure that justice is delivered without delayThe tribal body also called upon the authorities to take urgent measures to safeguard vulnerable villages and prevent further attacks on innocent civilians IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/woman-among-three-killed-in-armed-attack-on-manipur-village-houses-set-ablaze-676428.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/world-environment-day-andhra-cm-rides-bicycle-urges-people-to-plant-more-trees-676430.html Visakhapatnam June 5 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu rode a bicycle here on Friday on the occasion of World Environment Day The Chief Minister enthusiastically participated in the bicycle ride along with several other participants from the Andhra University AU campus to Novotel Hotel covering a distance of 55 kmThe 76yearold led the bicycle rally aimed at creating awareness about greenery and pollution controlThe Chief Minister who rode a bicycle for about 22 minutes made an appeal to everyone to use bicycles to reduce carbon emissions and at least plant one sapling to protect natureStating that cycling should become a way of life the Chief Minister said a dedicated cycling track is being laid in Visakhapatnam He said the government is taking measures to increase greenery in Visakhapatnam by 50 per cent âWe will implement measures across all sectors starting from the port to reduce pollution in Visakhapatnamâ he saidHe earlier planted a sapling at Andhra University Engineering College grounds The officials briefed him on the plantationEmphasising the need to protect the environment the Chief Minister stated that green coverage in Tirumala has reached almost 90 per cent He noted that green coverage at Andhra University stands at only 25 per centHe asked the ViceChancellor to take measures to increase greenery The Chief Minister said the AU campus should become a model for greenery and environmental sustainabilityHe directed that AU be transformed into a Net Zero campusThe CM voiced concern over the increasing temperature and the ecological balance getting disrupted âWe are facing extremes either intense heat or cyclonesâ he saidStating that the AU campus has 450 acres of land he called for generating solar energy to meet all its energy needsHe said trees should be planted in open spaces and solar panels installed on buildingsThe Chief Minister said that the AU campus should be transformed into a biodiversity park âSolid waste management measures must be implemented Arrangements should be made to produce biogas from waste Waste should be sent for recycling under the Swachh Patham initiative Wastewater management systems must be implemented Wastetoenergy plants should be utilisedâ he said adding PNG and electric stoves should be used for cookingThe Chief Minister suggested a team of professors should be constituted to implement the Net Zero policy He said AU should be developed to guide other educational institutions in implementing the Net Zero policy âWe are preparing a blueprint for the universitys development Students should be active partners in the universitys developmentâ he saidLegislative Assembly Speaker Ayyanna Patrudu district public representatives and officials participated in the programme IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/world-environment-day-andhra-cm-rides-bicycle-urges-people-to-plant-more-trees-676430.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sharda-devis-rs-nomination-reflects-bjps-commitment-to-womens-empowerment-manipur-cm-676451.html Imphal June 5 Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday said that the nomination of state BJP President Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi for the June 18 election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat from the state reflects the partyâs commitment to empowering women and ensuring greater participation of women in public life and governance The Central Election Committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP on Thursday approved the candidature of Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi for the Rajya Sabha election from Manipur as part of the biennial elections to the Upper House of ParliamentThe Rajya Sabha election has been necessitated as the term of the sitting member from Manipur Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba of the BJP is set to end on June 21Expressing his gratitude to the BJP central leadership for nominating Sharda Devi as the partyâs candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections the Chief Minister in a Facebook post said âMy heartfelt congratulations to Smt Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi ji on this significant responsibility Her nomination reflects the partyâs commitment to empowering women and ensuring greater participation of women in public life and governanceââI am confident that she will effectively represent the aspirations of the people of Manipur and contribute towards the vision of a Viksit Manipur and Viksit Bharatâ Singh saidReacting to her nomination for the Rajya Sabha seat Sharda Devi said that if elected to the Upper House of Parliament her foremost priorities would be the restoration of lasting peace in Manipur and the rehabilitation and resettlement of people displaced by the ethnic violence that has affected the stateâI am deeply humbled and grateful to the BJP leadership especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party President Nitin Nabin for reposing their faith in me and giving me the opportunity to contest the Rajya Sabha elections from Manipurâ she told the media on FridaySenior BJP leader and the stateâs Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh also congratulated Sharda Devi on being chosen by the party high command as the BJP candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from ManipurIn a Facebook post Govindas Singh said âThis nomination is a testament to your dedicated leadership tireless hard work and unwavering commitment to the progress of our state We are confident that you will be a strong and effective voice for the people of Manipur in the Upper House Wishing you grand success in this new responsibilityâElections to 24 Rajya Sabha seats across the country including four from the Northeastern region will be held on June 18The polls are scheduled for seats from Manipur Meghalaya Arunachal Pradesh Mizoram Karnataka four seats Andhra Pradesh four seats Gujarat four seats Madhya Pradesh three seats Rajasthan three seats and Jharkhand two seats IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sharda-devis-rs-nomination-reflects-bjps-commitment-to-womens-empowerment-manipur-cm-676451.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/assam-cabinet-expansion-12-mlas-sworn-in-as-ministers-676462.html Guwahati June 5 IANS Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya on Friday administered the oath of office and secrecy to 12 ministers in the cabinet headed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma completing the formation of the new state government following the NDAs emphatic victory in the recently concluded Assembly electionsnbspnbspThe swearingin ceremony was held at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati in the presence of Chief Minister Sarma senior BJP leaders legislators and government officialsThe 12 legislators who took oath as Cabinet Ministers were Ashwini Ray Sarkar Ashok Singhal Bimal Borah Biswajit Daimary Jayanta Malla Baruah Kaushik Rai Keshab Mahanta Krishnendu Paul Nilima Devi Pijush Hazarika Ranoj Pegu and Susanta BorgohainnbspWith the latest induction the strength of the Council of Ministers has risen to 17 including Chief Minister Sarma and the four ministers who had already been sworn in earlier Ajanta Neog Rameswar Teli Atul Bora and Charan BoroThe composition of the new cabinet reflects a blend of continuity and change with the BJP leadership retaining several experienced ministers from the previous government while inducting fresh facesnbspSenior leaders such as Ashok Singhal Pijush Hazarika Jayanta Malla Baruah Ranoj Pegu Bimal Borah and AGP leader Keshab Mahanta have retained their Cabinet berths signalling the partys confidence in their administrative experienceAt the same time Ashwini Ray Sarkar Biswajit Daimary Nilima Devi and Susanta Borgohain have entered the Council of Ministers for the first time Daimary had served as Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly in the previous termnbspThe new ministry also marks the exit of some ministers from the previous government including Chandra Mohan Patowary Jogen Mohan and Urkhao Gwra BrahmaFormer Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass has been appointed Speaker of the AssemblynbspPolitical observers view the cabinet formation as an effort to maintain administrative continuity while expanding regional and social representation within the government The ministry was constituted weeks after Sarma assumed office for a second consecutive term as Chief Minister following the NDAs decisive victory in the 2026 Assam Assembly electionsIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/assam-cabinet-expansion-12-mlas-sworn-in-as-ministers-676462.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/arbitrariness-of-private-schools-should-be-halted-kejriwal-on-punjabs-move-to-cap-fee-hike-676468.html New Delhi June 5 IANS Two days after the Punjab government unveiled a proposed regulatory framework to cap annual fee increases of private schools at five per cent Aam Aadmi Party AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the arbitrariness of private schools should now come to a haltnbspnbspThe proposed legislation in Punjab will mandate refunds of excess fees collected from parents wherever schools breached the annual limit in the past three years and prescribe stringent penalties that can ultimately lead to cancellation of a schools recognitionIn a video posted on X Kejriwal said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann recently announced that a law will soon be implemented in Punjab under which no private school will be able to increase fees to more than five per cent in a year which includes all kinds of fees like library development etcnbspThe most important thing is all those schools which have increased more than 15 per cent of their fees in the last three years will have to refund the excess amount he addedGiving an example Kejriwal said If any school has increased 50 per cent fees in the last three years it has to refund 35 per centnbspHe claimed that such a law is being implemented for the first time in the history of Indias education systemnbspHave you ever heard a private school refunding your fees back to your bank account he askednbspEarlier when we AAP had the government in Delhi we had refunded the fees of students The same thing is now taking place in Punjab he mentioned while emphasising that every parent dreams of providing quality education to their kidsHighlighting that the quality of education is improving in Punjabs government schools he cited that the state has topped the NITI Aayogs School Education Quality Report 2026 Punjab surpassed even Kerala he remarkednbspMaintaining that all private schools are not bad Kejriwal said Certain private schools charge arbitrary fees regarding various aspects of the schools which become a burden on parents This is a big step which will come as a relief for both parents and studentsI think the arbitrariness of private schools across the country should now come to a halt he assertednbspFurther the AAP chief urged for the implementation of a similar law across the countryIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/arbitrariness-of-private-schools-should-be-halted-kejriwal-on-punjabs-move-to-cap-fee-hike-676468.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-cong-crisis-unhappy-minister-muniyappa-refuses-to-take-charge-of-food-ministry-676472.html Bengaluru June 5 IANS In another setback to the newly formed Karnataka government under DK Shivakumar veteran Congress leader and Minister KH Muniyappa has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the allocation of the Food and Civil Supplies Department and announced that he will not assume charge of the ministrynbspThe senior minister has also urged the partys high command to step in to rectify the wrong done to himnbspThe move follows a similar development in which senior Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced his resignation citing displeasure over portfolio allocationSources stated that the ministers are unhappy with AICC President Mallikarjun Kharges son Priyank Kharge and former CM Siddaramaiahs son Yathindra Siddaramaiah getting plum postsnbspnbspSpeaking in Devanahalli in Bengaluru Rural district on Friday Muniyappa said he would not take charge as Food Minister I will not take charge of the Food Department he statednbspHe added that the party high command should recognise the seniority of leaders and correct the issues with the portfolio allocation Until then I will not take charge of the ministry allotted to me he reiteratedMuniyappa who previously served as a Union Minister in the then UPA governments at the Centre said he has extensive administrative experience He stressed that the responsibility lies with the high command to ensure proper allocation of portfolios and to communicate decisions that uphold leadership seniority and public trustnbspHe also said that Mallikarjun Kharge should have taken steps to accommodate all leaders He is in a position like a mother and should have taken everyone along I believe he will address and correct the issue Muniyappa saidThe minister further stated that he has brought the matter to the attention of Rahul Gandhi AICC General Secretaries Randeep Singh Surjewala and KC Venugopal as well as former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and current Chief Minister DK Shivakumar He expressed hope that the leadership would resolve the issuenbspMuniyappa clarified that he does not wish to criticise anyone personally but insisted that mistakes in portfolio allocation should be corrected by the party high commandHis strong reaction comes shortly after similar dissent from Ramalinga Reddy further intensifying concerns within the Karnataka Cabinet over portfolio distribution and adding pressure on the DK Shivakumarled government amid internal disagreementsnbspA seventime Member of Parliament and current MLA from Devanahalli Muniyappa hails from the Dalit community and is regarded as one of the seniormost leaders in the Karnataka CongressnbspA former Union Minister he is known for his loyalty to the party and his peoplefriendly approach He previously served as Minister for Food and Civil Supplies His daughter M Roopakala Shashidhar is a twotime MLA representing the KGF seatnbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-cong-crisis-unhappy-minister-muniyappa-refuses-to-take-charge-of-food-ministry-676472.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/munirs-quest-for-absolute-control-risks-pushing-pakistan-deeper-into-unrest-676473.html New Delhi June 5 Pakistan is a democracy but only technically After Asim Munir took over as the chief of the Pakistan Army he has managed to get almost all institutions under his control While major agencies such as the ISI are under the control of the Pakistan Army Field Marshal Asim Munir now proposes to get all the police forces under him An official said that the proposal is to have a single command and every major institution relating to security would under the control of the Pakistan ArmyMunir has become the allimportant man in Pakistan and today even has a say over the countryâs budgetThe Pakistan budget which is the need of the hour for the people owing to a collapsed economy has been facing delays due to unwarranted demands by the ArmyMunir wants the defence spending to increase multifold a demand that the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif government has been resisting Both sides have not been on the same page and the Sharif government feels that defence allocation has to be lower and more has to be spent for the peopleOfficials say that Munir does not care about Sharifâs point of view and hence has been sparring over defence spending Munirâs demand is that defence spending should be increased by 25 per cent which the government feels is unreasonableMunir has been linking all his decisions to the failure on the part of the security forces to rein in the Balochistan Liberation Army BLA and TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTPHe feels that if all the security forces work under one command there would be better coordination and enhanced Intelligence sharingWhile Munir cites militancy as the reason the fact is that he wants absolute control of the country He feels that he could rein in the BLA and TTP if all forces come under one command and do not remain under state controlThe army chief wants to take away the distinction between the civilian law enforcement agencies and the external defence forcesIf he manages to enforce this then he has complete control over the provincial governments as well an official explainedAn Intelligence Bureau official said that all this has a lot to do with Munirâs failure as an army chief He has failed the people by taking over the political class He has not managed to rein in the TTP or BLA Ties with the Afghan Taliban have vanished under his watch And yes there was Operation Sindoor which left him exposed the official addedAnother official said that Munir is once again being blind to the real problems Such a decision would have a disastrous effect on the already troubled regions of Sindh Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KPThe people are already distressed and in regions such as Balochistan and KP the people are in an all out war against the Pakistan establishmentThe official said that the people here are distressed by the lack of development in the region They have been complaining that all their rich resources are being taken away and diverted to cities such as Islamabad Karachi and RawalpindiEven the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor Project CPEC is being opposed in Balochistan as they feel that they would benefit nothing out of itThis explains the large number of attacks by the BLA on this project which has left Beijing fumingPakistan watchers and experts say that Munir feels controlling the security forces of these regions would have him and his army in control It may work but very briefly and eventually the anger of the already distressed people will take overThe regions which are already witnessing large scale violence will only witness an increase in the number of attacks the experts say They also add that the Pakistan army chief is flirting with danger and his bid to have complete control over everything will eventually backfire badly IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/munirs-quest-for-absolute-control-risks-pushing-pakistan-deeper-into-unrest-676473.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/annamalai-floats-new-youth-centric-movement-after-bjp-exit-to-contest-next-tn-polls-676480.html Chennai June 5 Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai on Friday announced his departure from the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP and launched a new youthfocused movement âWe the Leadersâ He said the movement would eventually be transformed into a political party later and would contest the next Tamil Nadu Assembly elections In a video message Annamalai said his decision stemmed from a desire to pursue the mission that had originally drawn him into public life He stated that he had joined the BJP to bring positive change to Tamil Nadu and improve the lives of the people but had now chosen a different political pathAnnamalai said he had informed the BJP leadership of his intention to leave the party in December 2025 According to him senior leaders had requested that he remain with the party until the completion of the Tamil Nadu election process before formally stepping down He added that he had consulted top BJP leaders before taking the final decisionWhile expressing the highest respect for Prime Minister Narendra Modi Annamalai revealed that he had disagreed with the BJP on several issues over the past 18 months He also reiterated his longstanding view that the BJP should contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on its own hinting at his differences over the tieup with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam AIADMKHe maintained that he did not want to become a problem for the party and therefore chose to move onAnnouncing the launch of âWe the Leadersâ Annamalai said his new outfit would contest the upcoming elections in the state Describing his political journey as a âsolo battleâ he said he was attempting to create a new path for himself while remaining committed to Tamil Naduâs identity and aspirationsThe former IPS officer said he wanted to walk alongside ordinary people and focus on politics centred on public welfare He argued that national parties often fail to fully understand the sentiments and expectations of the people of Tamil NaduAnnamalai also launched a sharp attack on the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay saying politics should not be confined to a single family Declaring that there was âno place for cult and dynasty politicsâ he said he was determined to move beyond personalitydriven politics and build a peoplecentric political alternative in the stateHe further claimed that several prominent personalities including superstar Rajinikanth had urged him to join them politically but he had chosen to chart his own courseAnnamalai had resigned from the BJP and the partyâs national president Nitin Nabin on Friday accepted the resignation from the primary membership of the party His announcement has further fuelled expectations that the former IPS officer may finally reveal his next political move after several days of speculation about a possible departure from the BJPAhead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections this year Annamalai had quit the party positions over the BJPâs move for a prepoll alliance with the AIADMK in the state Despite quitting the party positions he had taken part in the campaigning of the party in the assembly pollsA former Karnataka cadre IPS officer Annamalai resigned from the Indian Police Service in 2019 before entering politics Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP in 2020 and quickly rose through the ranks Within a year he was appointed Tamil Nadu BJP president becoming one of the youngest state chiefs in the party and a prominent face of its expansion efforts in the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/annamalai-floats-new-youth-centric-movement-after-bjp-exit-to-contest-next-tn-polls-676480.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/hema-malini-extends-birthday-wishes-to-yogi-adityanath-praises-his-support-for-mathura-development-676505.html Mumbai June 5 Actress and Mathura MP Hema Malini has extended warm birthday wishes to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on his 54th birthday Taking to Instagram she praised the CMâs continued support for the development of Mathura The veteran actress appreciated his understanding of the constituencyâs needs and highlighted his cooperation in advancing various development initiatives Sharing her picture with Yogi Adityanath Hema wrote âAll prayers for Yogi ji CM of UP on his Janam Din today As MP of Mathura it is always a pleasure interacting with him about my constituencyâs development He understands my needs as he shares my vision for Mathura and is always ready to help May God grant him a long healthy life and many more years of service to the nation myogiadityanath happybirthday Mathura chiefministerâIn the picture the âSholayâ actor dressed in a saree is seen receiving a bouquet from Yogi AdityanathVeteran actress Jaya Prada also extended her greeting to Yogi Adityanath She wrote on Instagram âHearty congratulations and best wishes to the successful Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh respected Mr Yogi Adityanath on his birthday Your dedication to public service is inspiring Your strong transparent and dedicated leadership in public interest has given new direction to Uttar Pradesh Praying for your good health and longevity to Lord Shri Ram myogiadityanathâDefence Minister Rajnath Singh Bahujan Samaj Party BSP president Mayawati and several other prominent leaders also took to social media to extend birthday greetings to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Singh tweeted âHeartiest birthday wishes to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ji Due to his strong resolve and tireless efforts Uttar Pradesh is today moving rapidly on the path of progress and prosperityâInterestingly Yogi Adityanath celebrated his 54th birthday along with World Environment Day by planting a sapling under the âEk Ped Maa Ke Naamâ initiative The plantation drive took place at his residence in Lucknow IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/hema-malini-extends-birthday-wishes-to-yogi-adityanath-praises-his-support-for-mathura-development-676505.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rs-polls-rahul-gandhi-kharge-arrive-in-bengaluru-for-aicc-chiefs-nomination-amid-ktaka-cong-crisis-676509.html Bengaluru June 5 Amid the crisis faced by the new Congress government led by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge arrived in Bengaluru on Friday to take part in the filing of nomination by Kharge for the Rajya Sabha election from the state Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to take part in the filing of nomination by Mallikarjun Kharge for the Rajya Sabha election from Karnataka at the Vidhana Soudha along with senior leaders Pawan Khera and Mansoor Ali KhanUpon their arrival Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge were accorded a warm welcome by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar State Congress President BK Hariprasad and former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee CWC member SiddaramaiahLater Rahul Gandhi planted a sapling and watered it upon his arrival at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru from Delhi on Friday ahead of attending the nomination filing event of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge for the Rajya Sabha electionsChief Minister DK Shivakumar AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Minister MB Patil and other senior leaders were present on the occasionIt can be recalled that Minister for Water Resources Ramalinga Reddy on Friday announced his decision to resign from the Karnataka Cabinet alleging that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had gone back on his promise regarding the allocation of the Bengaluru Urban portfolioThe development also comes a day after the allocation of portfoliosSpeaking from his Koramangala office in Bengaluru Reddy said he would submit his resignation and leave it to the leadership to decide whether to accept it or notHe further claimed that during the current government formation process he was promised the Bengaluru Urban portfolio after 25 years and was persuaded to accept the arrangementHe alleged that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and his brother DK Suresh had personally assured him at his residence that the promise would be honoured He said that despite repeated assurances he was later allocated the Water Resources portfolio instead of Bengaluru UrbanIn another setback to the newly formed Karnataka government veteran Congress leader and Minister K H Muniyappa has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the allocation of the Food and Civil Supplies Department and announced that he will not assume charge of the ministry Senior minister has also urged the high command to step in rectify what has gone wrongA seventime Member of Parliament and current MLA from Devanahalli Muniyappa hails from the Dalit community and is regarded as one of the seniormost leaders in the Karnataka Congress A former Union Minister he is known for his loyalty to the party and his peoplefriendly approach He previously served as Minister for Food and Civil Supplies IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rs-polls-rahul-gandhi-kharge-arrive-in-bengaluru-for-aicc-chiefs-nomination-amid-ktaka-cong-crisis-676509.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/modi-govts-12-year-journey-reflects-new-indias-rise-shashank-mani-676519.html DW Bureau Rahul chaubey DeorianbspMarking the completion of 12 years of the Narendra Modiled government at the Centre Deoria MP Shashank Mani along with party office bearers visited Gayatripuram in the city and interacted with intellectuals while highlighting the major achievements of the government over the past decadeAddressing the gathering Shashank Mani said that the country is witnessing a historic phase under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi These 12 years are not merely a period of governance but the story of Indias transformation into a stronger selfreliant and globally respected nation Under Modi Jis leadership India has removed the word impossible from its dictionary he saidHe stated that the governments vision of Antyodayaupliftment of the last person in societyhas reached the grassroots level More than 80 crore people are receiving free ration over 12 crore toilets have been built 4 crore pucca houses constructed and nearly 10 crore Ujjwala gas connections distributed Through the Jal Jeevan Mission tap water has reached around 15 crore households Ayushman Bharat has provided health coverage of up to 5 lakh to nearly 55 crore citizens These are not just figures they represent transformed lives he addedHighlighting Indias economic growth the MP said that India has risen from being the worlds 10th largest economy in 2014 to the 5th largest economy today and is steadily moving toward becoming the third largest economy in the world He further noted that under the Make in India initiative India has emerged as the secondlargest mobile manufacturing hub globallySpeaking about the digital revolution Shashank Mani said India has become a global leader in digital payments through UPI Today more than 1400 crore UPI transactions are taking place every month showcasing the strength of Indias digital ecosystem he saidOn infrastructure development he said that more than 53000 kilometres of National Highways have been constructed during the last 12 years Vande Bharat trains expansion of airports waterways Bharatmala and Sagarmala projects have accelerated Indias growth Optical fibre connectivity and 4G5G services have now reached nearly six lakh villages he saidReferring to national security the MP stated that surgical strikes and air strikes demonstrated the strength and determination of a New India that knows how to respond decisively He also mentioned the abrogation of Article 370 saying it integrated Jammu and Kashmir more closely with the national mainstreamShashank Mani further said that Indias successful leadership during the G20 Presidency elevated the nations stature on the global stage Today no major international issue can be discussed without Indias participation he remarkedTalking about cultural and spiritual revival he said the longawaited construction of the Ram Temple had become a reality while projects like the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Mahakal Lok and Kedarnath redevelopment restored the pride of Indias spiritual heritage He also emphasized that Yoga and Ayurveda have gained worldwide recognition under the Modi governmentTwelve years ago India was often associated with delays and indecisiveness Today the nation is recognized for performance delivery and determination This remarkable transformation is the result of Prime Minister Modis visionary leadership and the hard work of 140 crore Indians he addedAmong those present on the occasion were Nagar President Ramesh Verma Media Incharge Prabhakar Tiwari Sudhir Srivastava Nagar Mahamantri Sudhir Madhesia along with intellectuals and dignitaries including Kailash Nath Chaturvedi BD Pandey Omprakash Singh Kushwaha Anand Mani Vijay Prasad Devanandan Yadav and Udaybhan Tiwari https://dailyworld.in/politics/modi-govts-12-year-journey-reflects-new-indias-rise-shashank-mani-676519.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/smart-border-project-to-create-impregnable-security-grid-hm-shah-to-bsf-jawans-676526.html Agartala June 5 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday reiterated that the government will establish an impregnable border security grid by launching the Smart Border Project equipped with drones modern cameras and advanced surveillance technologiesnbspAddressing BSF personnel at the Lankamura Border Outpost along the IndiaBangladesh border in West Tripura district the Home Minister said that the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 would not be possible without ensuring the countrys securityHM Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working towards making India a developed nation by 2047 Before achieving complete development and fulfilling the Prime Ministers vision it is essential to ensure a fully secure nationnbspHe added that the country is not only dealing with traditional challenges of war or conflict but also facing serious threats such as drug smuggling human trafficking cattle smuggling youth drug abuse and the circulation of fake currency that affects the national economyLauding the role of BSF personnel in guarding sensitive borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh HM Shah said the countrys citizens appreciate the dedication perseverance and commitment of BSF jawans ften more than that of ministers and bureaucratsnbspReferring to the Smart Border Fencing initiative which is proposed to be implemented at around 78 selective locations across different states where BSF and SSB are deployed he said the project is in its finalisation stage and a pilot project will be launched next yearHe further said the fullfledged Smart Border Project will be implemented after evaluating the shortcomings identified during the pilot phasenbspBorder security will be ensured in totality not in a fragmented manner the Home Minister saidnbspHM Shah noted that the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh present different challenges particularly in relation to drug smuggling infiltration human trafficking and the dropping of arms and narcotics via drones along with other malicious activities originating from across the borderThe Home Minister said the government is fully aware of the issues faced by BSF personnel and their families and has taken several measures to address their concerns and improve welfare conditionsnbspHe also asserted that the government will not tolerate demographic changes in West Bengal Tripura and Bihar due to infiltration and said the Centre is taking steps to strengthen border management and bridge existing gaps in security arrangementsnbspAt the beginning of his address HM Shah paid tribute on the death anniversary of Madhav Sadashivrao Golwalkar the second Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh widely revered as Shri GurujiThe Home Minister said Shri Guruji dedicated his entire life to nationbuilding characterbuilding and the preservation of Indian culture and left behind a legacy of ascetic discipline that continues to inspire generationsnbspDoing great work but never seeking recognition he had immense dedication towards the development of the country its security culture history language and heritage and inspired lakhs of karyakartas across the nation HM Shah saidReiterating that Guruji laid a strong ideological foundation for cultural nationalism and established service as the greatest force in nationbuilding HM Shah said the RSS under his leadership carried out public awakening across all spheres of national life and elevated national consciousness to new heightsnbspHe added that Gurujis ideas of selfreliance Swadeshi and national resurgence will continue to inspire the younger generation to always work in the interest of the nationnbspAmong those present at the event were Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka Secretary Border Management Rajendra Kumar Director General of BSF Praveen Kumar and Inspector General of BSF Tripura Frontier Alok Chakraborty https://dailyworld.in/politics/smart-border-project-to-create-impregnable-security-grid-hm-shah-to-bsf-jawans-676526.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/stir-in-ktaka-cong-after-reddys-resignation-hk-patil-calls-it-warning-bell-for-shivakumar-govt-676535.html Bengaluru June 5  Veteran Congress leader and former Karnataka Minister HK Patil said on Friday that Ramalinga Reddys resignation was a warning bell for the Shivakumar government Referring to reports in the media he said he had seen the news about Reddyâs resignation and later spoke to him over the phoneSpeaking to the media in Bengaluru Patil said Ramalinga Reddy is his friend and that he had personally contacted him to understand the situation He said Reddy had conveyed his views during the conversation and urged that the leadership should take immediate attention to the matterPatil later posted on X I request my friend Sri Ramalinga Reddy again to reconsider his stand in larger interest of party His resignation is a massive wake up call I urge the relevant leaders to bestow their serious attention to resolve this matter justlyHK Patil one of the seniormost leaders and a close associate of Siddaramaiah has not been chosen for the council of ministers who took oath with Chief Minister DK Shivakumar He has said that he was hopeful of making it to the cabinet in the second phase Former Minister KN Rajanna responding to the developments in Madhugiri town said the allocation of portfolios has been a matter of discussion and added that Ramalinga Reddyâs resignation issue is already âold newsâ He said the media should focus on fresh developmentsRajanna also questioned certain portfolio allocations asking why Eshwar Khandre had not been given the Forest Ministry that he earlier held during the Siddaramaiahled government He further asked why G Parameshwara had been given the Revenue portfolio instead of Home which he had handled earlierHe said opportunities are given based on timing and circumstances and added that whichever responsibility is assigned leaders must work in the interest of the people and deliver effective administrative performanceWhen asked about Ramalinga Reddyâs resignation Rajanna reiterated that it was old news and advised journalists to ask about any new developmentResponding to a question on whether the âtroubleshooter is now facing troubleâ in a reference to CM Shivakumar Rajanna said âWhich troubleshooter are you referring to It is the media that created that imageâMinister Eshwar Khandre said that party leaders would speak to Ramalinga Reddy and expressed confidence that he would withdraw his resignationMeanwhile Minister Priyank Kharge said that Ramalinga Reddyâs services were important for the party and the state He added that whatever the issue the party high command would resolve itVeteran Congress MLA RV Deshpande said that Reddy is a good person and described the matter as an internal issue that would be resolved within the party IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/stir-in-ktaka-cong-after-reddys-resignation-hk-patil-calls-it-warning-bell-for-shivakumar-govt-676535.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/common-man-in-search-of-good-politics-annamalais-new-x-profile-after-quitting-bjp-676538.html Chennai June 5 Moments after declaring his formal exit from the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP K Annamalai sought to rebrand himself as a âcommon citizenâ aspiring to bring decisive and transformational change in Tamil Naduâs Dravidiandominated politics Annamalai having emerged as the most popular face of BJP in the runup to Assembly elections updated his profile on X and described himself as âA common man in search of good politicsâThe copturnedpolitician has made it clear that he will dissociate from the conventional politics of the state and will rather focus on leading a movement backed by people a move that will âclean upâ casteentrenched politics in the state and also challenge the dominance of Dravidian ideology which has remained prevalent for over five decadesDuring his policing career he earned the epithet of Singham owing to his unique style and hopes to replicate the same on the political battlefieldSome signs of this deeply harboured desire were visible during his sixyear stint with the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP when he undertook aggressive campaigns to expand the partyâs footprint in a state traditionally dominated by Dravidian parties for nearly five decadesAnnamalai in his resignation letter to the BJP high command also spoke out about the dichotomy between the common man and the elite in politics and stated that he wanted to change this notionâI wanted to change the notion that politics is a path only for the elite and a select few not for the common man Iâm extremely thankful to the BJP leadership for trusting a very young and raw me with great responsibility and leadership positionsâ read excerpts from his resignation letterHe also stated that the people of Tamil Nadu have been fatigued by the general political discourse for many decades and yearned for changeâSome positive change happened in the past decade but they couldnât hold their groundâ he notedWith his formal exit from the BJP the newbie politician will go solo in steering a campaign based on the peoples power hoping to bring âmajor disruptionâ in the stateâs entrenched political systemAnnamalaiâs âcommon manâ pitch is expected to resonate with the public at large an experiment attempted in other states before however how this will pan out in the absence of any organised structure and welloiled party machinery is yet to be seen IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/common-man-in-search-of-good-politics-annamalais-new-x-profile-after-quitting-bjp-676538.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/namo-oxygen-parks-open-delhi-cm-rekha-gupta-vows-plantation-of-15-lakh-saplings-676557.html New Delhi June 5 IANS Inaugurating 18 Namo Oxygen Parks Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday announced plans to plant more than 15 lakh saplings and hit out at the previous governments for not taking serious measures to improving the citys environmentnbspShe jointly inaugurated the Namo Oxygen Parks with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and launched a series of environmental initiatives under the nationwide campaign Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam on the occasion of World Environment Day 2026 a statement saidUnion Minister Yadav said the 18 Namo Oxygen Parks have been developed and inaugurated in Delhi to serve as urban green lungs that improve air quality enhance biodiversity and provide recreational spaces for citizensnbspChief Minister Gupta called upon citizens to join the green drive to plant 15 saplings in a longterm sustained mannernbspShe suggested creation of local caretaking committees to nurture the saplings so that these grow into trees that clean the environmentShe said the Delhi government is just over a year old and during this period Prime Minister Narendra Modi Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav have given valuable guidance on combating pollutionnbspThe event held at Namo Oxygen Park in Maidangarhi marked a significant step towards strengthening urban greening improving air quality and promoting communityled environmental stewardship in the National Capital Territory a statement saidIn a message on social media platform X Chief Minister Gupta said On the occasion of World Environment Day in the dignified presence of the Union Minister Bhupender Yadav ji the Mega Plantation Drive was inaugurated and 18 Namo Oxygen Parks were dedicated to the residents of DelhinbspI urge all Delhi residents to join the esteemed Prime Minister narendramodijis One Tree in the Name of Mother campaign plant a sapling care for it and become a part of the Green Delhi Mission she addedIn another video message the Chief Minister said that this year the Delhi government will take proactive measures to counter pollution including walltowall carpeting of all the roads to check dust cloudsnbspEarlier Union Minister Yadav said that the Delhi government in coordination with the Commission for Air Quality Management CAQM is taking active measures to address major sources of air pollution including road dust vehicular emissions and industrial pollutionHe added that these measures include installation of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems deployment of Air Pollution Control Devices mechanised deep cleaning of roads and accelerated transition towards electric mobilitynbspThe Union Minister noted that urban greening initiatives are being undertaken across the country through the development of Namo Vans and similar ecological assets https://dailyworld.in/politics/namo-oxygen-parks-open-delhi-cm-rekha-gupta-vows-plantation-of-15-lakh-saplings-676557.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 17:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/former-andhra-mla-arrested-in-land-grab-case-in-hyderabad-676582.html Hyderabad June 5 Cyberabad Police have arrested former MLA from Andhra Pradesh Bolla Brahma Naidu in a case relating to the alleged conspiracy to grab prime government land worth about Rs 1000 crore The YSR Congress Party YSRCP leader the main accused in the case who was allegedly absconding has been arrested in Kancheepuram in Tamil NaduIt came a day after the Telangana High Court rejected Naiduâs petition seeking anticipatory bailAccording to police the case concerns an alleged attempt to encroach upon 10acre government land in Survey No 18 of Gandipet and to regularise it by creating and using forged Government Orders GOs fake revenue records and other fabricated documentsThe case was registered on May 23 at Narsingi Police Station on a complaint lodged by Gandipet tahsildar N Srinivas ReddyNarsinghi Police and Cyberabad Police Economic Offences Wing have so far arrested some accused as part of the investigation into the case Among them were Nimmal family members Radhakrishna and his driver Prabheen KumarAccording to the evidence collected during the investigation Bolla Brahma Naidu Bolla Ramesh Radhakrishna and Nimmal family members conspired to create fake government orders falsified official documents and forged records to illegally acquire government landAccording to the details that came to light during the investigation it was found that Brahma Naidu had made financial transactions of about Rs 12 crore as part of this conspiracy The investigation revealed that Rs 4 crore was paid to Nimmals family members Rs 4 crore to Radhakrishna and another Rs 4 crore to other related persons These funds were found to have been used to create illegal land rights through fake government permits and false documentsAccording to police Telangana High Court rejected Brahma Naiduâs bail plea considering the seriousness of the case the stage of investigation and prima facie evidenceSubsequently the absconding main accused Bolla Brahma Naidu was identified and arrested on Friday in the Kancheepuram area of Tamil Nadu as part of joint operations by Narsinghi Police and Cyberabad EoW Police the police said in a release on FridayBrahma Naidu is currently in police custody and will be produced before the Honble Court as per legal procedure it saidInvestigations are continuing into financial transactions related to the case fabrication of forged documents misappropriation of names and signatures of government officials as well as the roles of other persons involved in the conspiracy IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/former-andhra-mla-arrested-in-land-grab-case-in-hyderabad-676582.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 17:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-inaugurates-lays-foundation-of-development-projects-worth-rs-18-800-crore-in-surat-676600.html Surat June 5 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth around Rs 18800 crore in Surat marking one of the largest infrastructure investment programmes undertaken in the city in recent yearsnbspThe projects span key sectors including transport connectivity industrial infrastructure power distribution healthcare and urban development aimed at strengthening Surats role as a major economic and industrial hub in GujaratAccording to official details released by the Prime Ministers Office the Prime Minister dedicated to the nation key packages of the eightlane accesscontrolled VadodaraMumbai Expressway which are expected to significantly improve highspeed connectivity between Gujarat and Maharashtra and enhance logistics efficiency across western IndianbspHe also laid the foundation stone for the fourlaning of critical sections of National Highway56 a project designed to improve road connectivity across tribal regions and enhance access towards the Statue of Unity corridorIn the industrial and utilities segment the Prime Minister inaugurated and dedicated multiple infrastructure projects including power transmission expansion systems aimed at strengthening Gujarats interstate electricity evacuation capacity under national grid improvementsnbspHealthcare infrastructure in Surat also received a major boost with the inauguration of a 200bed Employees State Insurance Corporation ESIC hospitalThe facility is designed to provide secondary healthcare services including emergency and trauma care diagnostic support and specialised treatment services for workers and their familiesnbspThe Prime Minister also reviewed and launched several industrial and urban infrastructure initiatives in the Surat region including developments linked to petroleum chemicals petrochemical investment regions and industrial estates aimed at improving operational efficiency and environmental compliance systemsDuring the visit Prime Minister Modi also undertook a review of ongoing industrial operations at Hazira in Surat district a key industrial and defence manufacturing hub that hosts largescale engineering and production facilitiesnbspHazira has emerged as a strategic industrial zone in Indias manufacturing ecosystem particularly in heavy engineering and defence production and has been a focal point of recent infrastructure expansion and industrial capacity upgradesThe visit forms part of a broader Gujarat and Union Territory tour that also includes development programmes in Daman and Lakshadweeplinked infrastructure projects with total investment commitments across regions exceeding Rs 20000 crorenbspThe Surat projects are expected to contribute to longterm improvements in urban mobility industrial output power reliability and healthcare access reinforcing the citys position as a key node in Indias western economic corridorIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-inaugurates-lays-foundation-of-development-projects-worth-rs-18-800-crore-in-surat-676600.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/1st-world-yogasana-sports-championship-to-be-hosted-in-ahmedabad-today-pm-modi-to-attend-virtually-676115.html Ahmedabad June 4 The 1st World Yogasana Sports Championship will take place in Gujarats Ahmedabad starting Thursday Hosted at the EKA Arena the event brings together 400 athletes from more than 60 countries to compete in traditional artistic rhythmic pairs and team Yogasana eventsThe fiveday event June 48 will bring together participants from countries including the United States Ghana Kenya Malaysia Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan marking the first global championship for Yogasana as a competitive sportEarlier on Wednesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X and said Yoga is gaining tremendous popularity across the world Tomorrow on 4th June a very special competition the 1st World Yogasana Sports Championship 2026 commences in Ahmedabad This platform has brought together Yoga enthusiasts from around the world It is a significant milestone on the global sporting roadmap for Yogasana I will be joining the event via technology as well at around 640 PM tomorrow evening My compliments to those who have organised such an innovative event and best wishes to all taking part he addedSupported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports the Ministry of Ayush the Sports Authority of India SAI the Sports Authority of Gujarat Gujarat Tourism and the Gujarat Yogasana Sports Association the championship is being seen as an important milestone in the effort to establish Yogasana as an internationally recognised sporting disciplineHosts India will field a 122member contingent Athletes will compete across six age categories SubJunior 10 to 14 years Junior 14 to 18 years Senior 18 to 28 years Senior A 28 to 35 years Senior B 35 to 45 years and Senior C 45 to 55 years for both men and womenThe competition will feature individual events artistic events and traditional group categories The organisers will also introduce an electronic scoring system at the global level for the first time aimed at improving transparency and consistency in judgingThe championship will be overseen by 32 international judges and 51 national judgesSpeaking ahead of the event Yogasana Bharat president Udit Sheth said the championship would provide a major platform for athletes and help take Yogasana to a wider global audienceDelighted to see us hosting this pioneering World Yogasana Championship at Eka Arena Ahmedabad with 60plus countries Itâs a fantastic platform for the Indian national team and to take Yogasana sport to the world perhaps Indiaâs greatest contribution to the world of sports Sheth saidWorld Yogasana general secretary Dr Jaideep Arya described the event as a landmark moment for the disciplineThe World Yogasana Championship is more than a competition it is a defining moment in the evolution of Yogasana as a global sport For the first time athletes from more than 60 countries will come together on one stage to demonstrate the athleticism discipline and artistry that Yogasana represents he saidThe championship will begin with an opening ceremony on Wednesday The competition will be broadcast live on Doordarshan from 9 am to 9 pm daily and streamed on the broadcasters YouTube channel from June 4 to 8 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/1st-world-yogasana-sports-championship-to-be-hosted-in-ahmedabad-today-pm-modi-to-attend-virtually-676115.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-ncr-braces-for-rainy-spell-as-monsoon-advances-towards-india-676117.html New Delhi June 4 DelhiNCR is likely to witness a prolonged spell of wet and unsettled weather through Friday with forecasts indicating intermittent rainfall thunderstorms lightning and strong winds The changing weather pattern is likely to provide relief from intense summer heat keeping temperatures below the seasonal average during the first week of June According to the India Meteorological Department IMD the national capital will experience partly cloudy to generally cloudy skies over the next few days A yellow alert has been issued for Thursday and Friday warning of light rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms lightning and gusty winds Wind speeds are expected to reach 4050 kmph with occasional gusts touching 60 kmphAlthough no weather alert has been announced for Saturday similar atmospheric conditions are likely to continue Meteorologists have attributed the expected rainfall to normal premonsoon activity which typically influences northern India during JuneThe anticipated showers are expected to prevent temperatures from crossing the 40degree Celsius mark for at least the next six days Weather officials predict that daytime temperatures will remain between 36 degrees Celsius and 39 degrees Celsius during the opening week of the month offering residents a coolerthanusual start to June Historically average maximum temperatures during the first nine days of June hover around 40 degrees CelsiusRecent observations from Safdarjung the cityâs primary weather station reflected this trend The station recorded a maximum temperature of 391 degrees Celsius slightly below the seasonal norm The minimum temperature stood at 274 degrees Celsius marginally above averageMeanwhile the southwest monsoon will reach Kerala on Thursday marking the commencement of Indiaâs annual fourmonth rainy season The arrival of the monsoon is a major meteorological milestone as it plays a vital role in supporting agriculture replenishing water reservoirs and sustaining economic activity across the countryThe IMD has forecast widespread rainfall across several regions including Kerala and Coastal Karnataka where heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected in the coming days Weather systems active over the Arabian Sea Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas are creating favourable conditions for rainfall across large parts of southern eastern northeastern and northwestern IndiaThe advancement of the monsoon is being closely monitored as its progress influences farming operations water availability and overall weather patterns nationwide As southern states receive the seasonâs first substantial rains northern regions such as DelhiNCR are also likely to benefit from increased moisture and premonsoon showers IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-ncr-braces-for-rainy-spell-as-monsoon-advances-towards-india-676117.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nia-raids-ex-trinamool-mla-saokat-mollas-residence-in-bengals-south-24-parganas-676131.html Kolkata June 4 The National Investigation Agency NIA on Thursday raided the house of former Trinamool Congress MLA Saokat Molla in South 24 Parganas district NIA officials went to Saokats house in Jibantala village in ââthe Canning block of the district The search operation began in the presence of a large number of Central force personnel The investigators are also searching the party office adjacent to Saokats houseHowever it was initially reported that Saokat was not at home at the time of the raid The investigators were questioning his son Imran Molla Saokats wife and daughter were also in the houseAccording to NIA sources the search operation is in connection with the investigation into the bomb blast incident in the South Bamunia area in the same districtThe blast occurred a few days before the state Assembly elections in which one person died and several others were injuredNawsad Siddiquis party Indian Secular Front ISF had demanded an NIA investigation into the incident Later the NIA took over the responsibility of the investigation As part of the probe the NIA was conducting the raid at Saokats house and his party office Sources said that Saokat fled the house before NIA officers came for the raidMore details are awaitedEarlier the NIA had arrested several people including Trinamool leader Wahidul Islam in the investigation of the bomb blastSaokat is a former Trinamool MLA from Canning Purba constituency He was elected from this constituency twice in a row in 2016 and 2021He contested the 2026 Assembly election from the Bhangar constituency in South 24 Parganas district but lost to ISF candidate Nawsad Since then he has not been seen much in public However on Wednesday after Ritabrata Banerjee was recognised as the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Saokat went to the Assembly and met him He is known to be close to Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and helped him gain ground in South 24 Parganas district as a party strongman IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nia-raids-ex-trinamool-mla-saokat-mollas-residence-in-bengals-south-24-parganas-676131.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/white-paper-sparks-cm-satheesan-lop-vijayan-face-off-in-kerala-assembly-676146.html Thiruvananthapuram June 4 A sharp exchange erupted between Chief Minister VD Satheesan and Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan in the Assembly on Thursday over the preparation of the White Paper on Keralaâs financial position The confrontation began after Vijayan alleged that the White Paper was not prepared by the Finance Department and was a political documentHis remarks came after CM Satheesan said that several previous White Papers had also carried political dimensionsVijayan said the government had no right to expect the Opposition to follow its approach and alleged that the issue was a violation of proceduresâThis is not about following your policy The question is whether proper procedures were followedâ Vijayan said following which Opposition members raised slogans in the HouseReplying to the Opposition leader Satheesan said Vijayanâs remarks were political in nature and that he had criticised the White Paper without even examining it fullyâThe Opposition leader has a preconceived notion We have our own method of functioningâ Satheesan said and asked Vijayan to first read itEarlier former Finance Minister KN Balagopal had raised objections over the White Paper alleging that official documents had been shared with outsiders for its preparationHe claimed that such a process was against established procedures and that confidential financial information should not have been handled in such a mannerBalagopal said the Finance Department should have prepared the document after taking its officials into confidence and sought a ruling from the SpeakerResponding to the allegations Satheesan said there was no breach of secrecy and that no confidential document had been leakedâThese are all documents available in the public domain The report was prepared under the leadership of the Finance Department and was approved by the Cabinet Expert assistance was taken only for analysisâ the Chief Minister saidSatheesan maintained that the White Paper was an assessment of Keralaâs financial health and not a political documentâThe question before us is what is the actual financial condition of Kerala Many earlier White Papers had political content but this is not a political documentâ he saidThe heated exchange over the White Paper marked the first major confrontation between the government and Opposition during the Assembly session turning the stateâs financial crisis into a political battle IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/white-paper-sparks-cm-satheesan-lop-vijayan-face-off-in-kerala-assembly-676146.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/those-after-power-go-with-shivakumar-those-who-want-to-strengthen-party-join-me-ktaka-cong-chief-hariprasad-676157.html Bengaluru June 4 Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee KPCC President BK Hariprasad said on Thursday that those seeking positions and power may align with Chief Minister DK Shivakumar while those focused on strengthening the organisation are welcome to work with him in building the party structure He made the remarks while speaking to the media after meeting Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara in Bengaluru The statements are likely to stir controversy âWhoever wants power let them go behind DK Shivakumar Whoever wants to organise and strengthen the party can come with me Let us share responsibilities and move forward together I will assure party workers of this and stand with themâ Hariprasad saidHe further said that party workers need not be concerned about organisational changes and that he would take responsibility for their welfareâThose who want to strengthen the party can come with us Those who have worked at different levels in the government and organisation should join hands for strengthening the partyâ he addedReferring to the national leadership Hariprasad said senior leaders including Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi have been working to strengthen the organisationâThey are striving to build the party If we want to strengthen their efforts we should also come to the streets and participate in strugglesâ he saidReiterating his earlier point Hariprasad said there was no hidden meaning in his statement and that it should be understood in the context of organisational responsibilitiesâWhoever wants power and posts can go with DK Shivakumar Whoever wants to strengthen the organisation and support the leadership of Sonia Gandhi Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge can come with me There is no hidden meaning in thisâ he clarifiedHe added that the organisational work of the party would be taken forward in an expedited manner and assured party workers that he would stand by them in all situationsThe sources stated that the statements are intended towards former ministers who are indulged in intense lobbying for cabinet posts in the Shivakumar government Meanwhile Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara visited the Sadashivanagar residence of BK Hariprasad who has been appointed as the new President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee and conveyed his congratulations IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/those-after-power-go-with-shivakumar-those-who-want-to-strengthen-party-join-me-ktaka-cong-chief-hariprasad-676157.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/islam-friendly-gym-in-keralas-palakkad-sparks-debate-676160.html Palakkad June 4 A fitness centre at Puthunagaram in Keralas Palakkad has triggered a public debate after announcing that it would be converted into an Islamfriendly gym functioning in accordance with Shariabased guidelines The announcement now deleted initially shared through the Instagram profile of Nawaz Muthu T said the gym which has been operating for the past 15 years would undergo certain changes to introduce a new set of rules for its membersAccording to the announcement the proposed changes include a complete ban on music inside the gym separate workout timings for men and women and a dress code requiring members to ensure that their awrah parts of the body that are required to be covered according to Islamic guidelines remains covered while exercisingThe gym management said men and women would not be allowed to work out together and separate schedules would be arranged to maintain the guidelinesWomen members would be required to wear clothing including hijab that covers the body as per the stated religious requirementsThe move is being described by the management as Keralaâs first Islamfriendly gymThe announcement has attracted widespread attention and intense discussions on social media following which the original video posted on Instagram was removedThe development has triggered reactions from different sections with supporters viewing it as a fitness space aligned with religious preferences while others have raised questions over the nature and scope of such separate facilitiesThe background of the gym owner and further details about the proposed changes are not immediately clearConcerns have also been raised by some sections over whether the centre will remain limited to fitness activities or whether it would introduce any other forms of trainingThe controversy has brought renewed attention to the emergence of specialised fitness spaces based on religious or cultural preferences and the debate over their role in public life IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/islam-friendly-gym-in-keralas-palakkad-sparks-debate-676160.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nec-plenary-session-begins-in-shillong-amit-shah-chairs-key-meeting-676167.html Shillong June 4 IANS The 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council commenced in Shillong Meghalaya on Thursday with Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairing the highlevel meeting attended by chief ministers governors and senior officials from across the eight northeastern statesnbspThe plenary session being held at the State Convention Centre in Shillong is focusing on key issues related to regional development connectivity infrastructure investment tourism power education and interstate cooperation in the NortheastAssam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared a photograph from the meeting on the social media platform X describing HM Shah as the Architect of Peace in modern IndiaIn his post CM Sarma wrote Team North East with the Architect of Peace in modern India Adarniya Amit Shah ji the Chairman of North Eastern Council 73rd Plenary of NEC ShillongThe meeting brings together the chief ministers and governors of Assam Meghalaya Arunachal Pradesh Nagaland Manipur Mizoram Tripura and Sikkim to deliberate on developmental priorities and review the progress of ongoing projects in the regionOfficials said the plenary is expected to discuss strategies for accelerating economic growth improving connectivity and strengthening coordination among the northeastern statesThe council is also likely to review recommendations submitted by various sectorspecific task forces constituted to identify growth opportunities and address developmental challenges in the regionThe annual plenary session serves as the apex policymaking forum of the North Eastern Council enabling the Centre and the northeastern states to jointly chart development strategies and monitor the implementation of major projectsUnion Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M Scindia wrote on his X handle United in our resolve to realise a stronger more prosperous RisingNortheastEarlier Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the meeting would focus on regional cooperation and the implementation of recommendations made by different task forces working in sectors such as tourism agriculture sports investment promotion and infrastructureThe NEC functioning under the Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region DoNER plays a key role in planning funding and coordinating projects aimed at promoting balanced and sustainable development across the NortheastIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nec-plenary-session-begins-in-shillong-amit-shah-chairs-key-meeting-676167.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/after-canada-shift-khalistan-groups-find-new-platform-in-azerbaijan-676174.html New Delhi June 4 Justin Trudeauâs exit as Canadian Prime Minister marked a significant turning point in IndiaCanada relations During Trudeauâs tenure bilateral ties had deteriorated considerably largely due to differences over the Khalistan issue India had repeatedly urged Canada to act against proKhalistan elements operating from its soil but these concerns were often not addressed with Trudeau facing domestic political constraints Under Prime Minister Mark Carney however both India and Canada have recognised the issue and acknowledged the need to address itMore importantly both India and Canada increasingly view Khalistani extremism as a threat to their national security This changing assessment has prompted Khalistanlinked groups to alter their strategy Instead of operating primarily from Canada they are now seeking to expand their activities across multiple countries and are increasingly relying on pressure groups and think tanks to amplify their narrative Among the organisations drawing attention in this context is the Baku Initiative Group BIG a think tank backed by AzerbaijanThe BIG has traditionally centred its activities around anticolonial narratives In recent years however it has increasingly organised largescale events that provide a platform for separatist causes This aligns with the objectives of Khalistan groups which continue to advocate for the creation of a separate Khalistan state carved out of PunjabAccording to an official this reflects a calculated shift in strategy by Khalistan elements Faced with mounting pressure from India these groups are seeking new avenues to sustain their activities having realised that countries such as Canada the United States and the United Kingdom can no longer be viewed as safe havensKhalistanlinked groups are increasingly working with the BIG to amplify their demands on international platforms âThis collaboration forms part of a broader global strategy aimed at keeping the Khalistan movement relevant and visibleâ an official saidAs part of these efforts an event titled âThe Baku Conference Racism and Violence Against Sikhs and Other National Minorities in India The Realities on the Groundâ was held in Baku on January 16Global Khalistani figures from Canada the US and the UK were in attendance along with Ramesh Singh Arora the Minister for Human Rights and Minority Affairs for Pakistanâs Punjab Province All those who attended the conference observed a moment of silence for slain terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar Further this thinktank has also published papers such as âThe Khalistan Movement Past Roots Global Dimensions and Modern LandscapeâOfficials say âThese publications are circulated in international networks The aim is to widen the reach of the Khalistan movement and drum up an antiIndia narrative Disinfo Lab a group of researchers who investigate Infowarfare and Psywar has amplified this newfound bonhomie in detailâIt also refers to a conference titled June 1984 Amritsar Events Indiaâs Transnational Repression Against Ethnic Minorities in the Context of Genocide The event was hosted at the same venue in Baku where the January 16 conference had taken place Notably Azerbaijan has only a very small Sikh population making the choice of venue particularly significantAccording to Disinfo Lab the hosting of international conferences on alleged Sikh genocide by a country with virtually no Sikh community points to a broader statebacked agenda rather than a purely humanitarian concern The report further argues that the emerging PakistanAzerbaijanTurkey axis plays a significant role in these developments It notes that both Baku and Islamabad view Armenia as an adversary and have experienced tensions in their relations with IndiaThe BIG was established on July 6 2023 at the initiative of Air Centre an Azerbaijani think tank The first agenda was to speak out against French colonialism BIGâs copublisher is the Sikh Federation International SFI In March 2026 the SFIâs legal counsel Prabjot Singh drafted a joint report in which he referred to Nijjar as an activist He also demanded sanctions on Indiaâs Intelligence chiefs while calling for Indiaâs INTERPOL Red Corner Notices against Khalistani operatives to be treated as persecutionAn Intelligence Bureau official said that Khalistanlinked groups appear to be recalibrating their strategy in response to changing circumstances In countries such as Canada these groups have often been associated with incidents of violence By aligning with organisations such as BIG they are attempting to present a different image of the movement on international platforms According to the official the emphasis is increasingly being placed on claims of persecution and on raising what they describe as human rights concerns relating to SikhsâThese efforts bear the hallmarks of a strategy backed and coordinated by Pakistanâ the official saidIslamabad has been regularly engaging with Azerbaijan in recent years Pakistanâs Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif recently flew to Baku for the World Urban Forum and set up a joint working group on trade and investment Pakistan backs Azerbaijan against Armenia in the OIC In turn Azerbaijan backs Pakistan by condemning India as it did post Operation Sindoor Pakistan also gets Bakuâs backing on the Kashmir issueAnother official says that Azerbaijan appears to be making the same mistake that the UK and Canada had committedThe Khalistan elements are adept at infiltration They usually begin by building a narrative around the alleged persecution of Sikhs in India Over time they seek to penetrate political systems as was seen in Canada The official said that these countries need to view the issue in a broader context Such elements comprising terrorists and gangsters eventually establish narcotics and extortion networks in the countries they infiltrate âAzerbaijan is the latest destination in this effortâ the official added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/after-canada-shift-khalistan-groups-find-new-platform-in-azerbaijan-676174.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-govt-announces-rs-10-lakh-ex-gratia-for-families-of-malviya-nagar-fire-victims-676175.html New Delhi June 4 IANS The Delhi government on Thursday announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the people killed in the tragic Malviya Nagar fire incident and said that arrangements are being made to transport the mortal remains of the deceased back to their homesnbspThis came as Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited Max Hospital in Saket on Thursday and met the victims injured in the Malviya Nagar fire tragedy in which 21 people lost their livesnbspnbspA massive blaze engulfed the hotel allegedly operating without a valid Fire No Objection Certificate NoC in a congested lane of Malviya Nagar areanbspTwentyone people died in the tragic fire at the Hotel Flourish Stays in Malviya Nagar Of these 21 nine were Indians while 12 were foreigners from countries such as Bangladesh Liberia Nigeria and MozambiquenbspCM Gupta interacted with the injured and their family members and reviewed the ongoing treatment with the attending doctors She directed officials to extend all necessary assistance according to the Chief Ministers Office CMOThe CMO statement further stated that the medical expenses of the injured will be facilitated in coordination with the hospital authorities to ensure that every patient receives the best possible carenbspAn ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased and those who have been seriously injured will receive Rs 5 lakh in assistance Arrangements are being felicitated to transport the mortal remains of the deceased to their native homes the CMO saidnbspThe Delhi Government stands firmly with every affected family We pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and for strength to the bereaved families during this difficult time the statement addedThe blaze affected the basement ground floor and the other 5 floors of the building with heat and smoke damage while an investigation into the incident is ongoing according to the Delhi Fire ServicesnbspThe fire erupted during the early morning hours and quickly spread through several levels of the multistorey buildingnbspRescue teams managed to evacuate 47 people from the building while 26 injured individuals continue to receive treatment at various hospitals across the citynbspMeanwhile the Delhi Police have arrested Lavkesh Bajaj the owner of the hotel building where the fatal fire broke out on Wednesday Bajaj was taken into custody hours after authorities launched a search operation to trace him and his wife against whom a Look Out Circular LOC had earlier been issuedThe arrest comes as investigators probe alleged safety violations regulatory lapses and possible negligence that may have contributed to the scale of the tragedy Authorities are examining whether mandatory fire safety measures were in place and whether the property was operating in accordance with legal requirementsnbspThe Municipal Corporation of Delhi MCD currently governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP has also assured strict action against those found responsibleAccording to officials action against those found guilty is expected within a week of the reports submissionnbspPolice have registered a case under provisions related to culpable homicide and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS Investigators are focusing on allegations that serious negligence and violations of safety regulations may have played a role in the high casualty countIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-govt-announces-rs-10-lakh-ex-gratia-for-families-of-malviya-nagar-fire-victims-676175.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pmk-claims-theft-of-hard-disk-from-tn-power-utility-hq-demands-probe-676185.html Chennai June 4 PMK President Dr Anbumani Ramadoss on Thursday demanded a thorough investigation into the alleged theft of hard disks containing sensitive data from the headquarters of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board TNEB claiming that the incident may be linked to an attempt to destroy evidence of past corruption and irregularities In a statement Anbumani expressed shock over reports that multiple hard disks containing crucial official records had gone missing from the power utilityâs headquarters in ChennaiHe described the alleged theft of sensitive government data from one of the stateâs most important public institutions as a matter of serious concern and said it reflected a failure in safeguarding critical recordsAccording to reports cited by the PMK leader as many as 18 hard disks were allegedly stolen from computers at the TNEB headquartersHowever only eight hard disks have reportedly been mentioned in the complaint filed with the policeAnbumani questioned the discrepancy and alleged that the actual number of missing hard disks could be much higher than what has been officially disclosedHe further claimed that the missing storage devices were believed to contain information relating to coal procurement contracts administrative decisions and records connected to alleged irregularities in the electricity sectorGiven the nature of the data he said suspicions had arisen that the theft could have been part of a larger conspiracy to erase evidence of corruption within the power utilityThe PMK chief also raised concerns about security arrangements at the TNEB headquarters He argued that access to the premises is tightly controlled and that it would be difficult for outsiders to enter and remove official equipment without assistance from insidersThis he said raises questions about possible involvement of officials or employees in the incidentAnbumani also referred to allegations that surveillance cameras installed at the headquarters had remained nonfunctional for more than five years If true he said such a prolonged failure of monitoring systems at a key government office was unacceptable and required immediate scrutinyDescribing the power sector as one of the most corruptionprone sectors in the state the PMK leader urged the Tamil Nadu government to order a comprehensive investigation into the alleged theft identify those responsible and determine whether the disappearance of the hard disks was intended to conceal evidence of wrongdoingHe also sought answers on why surveillance systems were allegedly left inoperative for years despite the sensitivity of the records housed at the facility IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pmk-claims-theft-of-hard-disk-from-tn-power-utility-hq-demands-probe-676185.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ghaziabad-madrasa-demolition-reflects-changing-india-says-bjp-mla-676189.html Ghaziabad June 4 BJP MLA Nand Kishor Gurjar from Ghaziabads Loni on Thursday strongly supported the ongoing antiencroachment actions against illegal constructions including unauthorised madrasas and land grabbers He asserted that such measures reflect what he described as a changing India rooted in cultural unity and the values of Sanatan traditionsHis remarks came a day after authorities carried out demolition proceedings against the alleged illegal Madrasa Jamia Arabia Ishatul Islam in Dasna and initiated action against unauthorised madrasas in the Khoda areaIn one of the largest antiencroachment operations undertaken in recent months the Ghaziabad administration on Wednesday launched a major demolition drive at Madrasa Jamia Arabia Ishatul Islam located in Kallugarhi village of Dasna Acting on court directives and revenue department orders officials deployed six bulldozers to remove structures that authorities claim were built illegally on government landCommenting on the action Gurjar called for strict enforcement of the law across Uttar Pradesh and said authorities should continue taking action against illegal encroachments and activities that violate legal provisionsSpeaking to IANS Gurjar said Whether it is madrasas illegal land grabbers or anyone giving Jihad teachings nothing will be tolerated This is a changing India This is the era of Sanatan values The Partition happened based on religion and culture Some people had said that they wanted to live in India and follow the culture and traditions however some of them are now dreaming about GhazwaeHind and brutally murdering othersHe further said However now India is changing and all Sanatan followers are united People are watching everything and they want peace I am sure that the Chief Minister will ensure strong enforcement across all the districts of Uttar PradeshAccording to Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandar the madrasa in Kallugarhi village had allegedly been constructed on approximately 14 to 15 acres of government land Officials estimate the value of the land to be between Rs 20 crore and Rs 25 croreThe District Magistrate stated that the institution had already been sealed earlier and that Wednesdays demolition operation was conducted as part of the implementation of eviction orders issued under the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Rules 1952Authorities have also ordered the recovery of nearly Rs 123 crore as compensation in connection with the encroachment Officials said that after completion of the demolition process possession of the land will be formally transferred to the Land Management CommitteeDM Mandar emphasised that the entire exercise was being carried out in accordance with court orders and revenue records He further revealed that Farooq who allegedly operated the madrasa is currently abscondingA criminal case has been registered against him and multiple teams have been deployed to locate and apprehend him Officials said efforts are underway to trace his whereabouts and take further legal action IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ghaziabad-madrasa-demolition-reflects-changing-india-says-bjp-mla-676189.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/saudi-based-cbse-candidate-moves-sc-over-withheld-class-12-improvement-exam-result-676193.html New Delhi June 4 IANS A Class 12 student who appeared for the Central Board of Secondary Educations CBSE Improvement Examination from Saudi Arabia has moved the Supreme Court seeking directions for the declaration of his result alleging that it continues to remain withheld despite a special assessment scheme framed for students affected by examination cancellations in West Asian countriesnbspThe writ petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution by Pransu Jigarkumar Patel contended that the nondeclaration of his result has jeopardised his higher education prospects and deprived him of admission opportunitiesAccording to the plea Patel appeared as a private candidate in the CBSE Class 12 Improvement Examination 2026 from Al Jubail in Saudi Arabia in the subjects of Physics Chemistry Mathematics English and Computer SciencenbspThe petition stated that during the examination period the CBSE cancelled several examinations including Mathematics English and Computer Science due to warrelated tensions and security concerns prevailing in the Gulf regionnbspRecognising the disruption faced by students in West Asian countries the CBSE had issued an assessment scheme on March 27 for the declaration of Class 12 results in the affected region The scheme provided for evaluation based on Quarterly HalfYearly and PreBoard Examination performance and also contemplated the conduct of special examinations wherever necessaryHowever when the CBSE declared the Class 12 results on May 13 the petitioners result was not announced and his status was reflected as RL Result LaternbspThe plea said that despite repeated representations to the CBSE on May 17 May 21 and May 30 seeking the declaration of the result under the assessment scheme or permission to appear in a special examination no response was receivedThe petitioner repeatedly approached the respondents authorities requesting a declaration of his result either by applying the Assessment Scheme or by permitting him to appear in a Special Examination However no response has been received and the result continues to remain withheld the petition statednbspIt added that the continued withholding of the result has caused serious prejudice to the petitioners academic careernbspAccording to the plea Patel had applied for admission to a university for a BTech programme in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence and had paid the requisite registration feeAccording to the plea the varsity required candidates to update their Class 12 result status by June 1nbspDue to the failure of the Respondents to declare the result the Petitioner has been deprived of the opportunity to complete the admission process and is also unable to apply to other institutions the petition said The petitioner alleged that the action of the authorities was arbitrary unreasonable and discriminatory violating his fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the ConstitutionThe petition further said that the petitioner had initially approached the Delhi High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution However according to the plea the matter was not treated as an urgent case during the court vacation period and was not listed before the Vacation BenchnbspThat in these circumstances the Petitioner has no efficacious alternative remedy except to invoke the extraordinary writ jurisdiction of this Honble Court seeking appropriate reliefs for declaration of his result and protection of his academic future the petition saidSeeking urgent intervention the petitioner has prayed for directions to the CBSE to declare his Class 12 Improvement Examination result by applying the assessment scheme issued for West Asian countries In the alternative the plea filed through advocate Vineet Jindal has sought directions for conducting a special examination for the cancelled subjects and for the grant of consequential reliefsIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/saudi-based-cbse-candidate-moves-sc-over-withheld-class-12-improvement-exam-result-676193.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/dk-shivakumar-to-take-oath-as-karnataka-cm-today-675980.html New Delhi June 3 DK Shivakumar is scheduled to take oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka at 405 pm on Wednesday at the Glass House in Lok Bhavan Bengaluru According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the office of the Chief Ministerdesignate Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Shivakumar and the members of the new cabinet at the ceremony scheduled to be held at the Glass House in Lok Bhavan on Wednesday eveningSeveral senior Congress leaders including AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi AICC General Secretary Organisation KC Venugopal and Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala are expected to attend the eventThe ceremony will also be attended by Chief Ministers Deputy Chief Ministers and Pradesh Congress Committee presidents from various states besides Members of Parliament and senior party leadersIn a notable move the guest list includes representatives from diverse sections of society Religious leaders representing different faiths have been invited along with students from the Government School at Doddalahalli in KanakapuraDaily wage workers civic workers farmer leaders representatives of Dalit organisations leaders of Backward Class organisations womens selfhelp groups women leaders and youth leaders have also been invited to participate in the eventThe invitees further include members of the media the film industry the judiciary the sports fraternity theatre personalities writers artists industrialists business leaders and representatives of the hotel industryThe broadbased invitation list is being viewed as an attempt to underscore the new governments commitment to inclusive governance and engagement with various sections of society as DK Shivakumar prepares to assume office as Karnatakas Chief MinisterEarlier on Tuesday Shivakumar said a ânew era for youthâ would begin in the state under his leadership while acknowledging that the responsibilities ahead would not be easyHe described his elevation to the top post as a victory for Congress workers and pledged to work with dedication for the people of KarnatakaâThe party has allowed a worker not a leader I am deeply obliged by the faith and confidence reposed in me I know the road ahead will not be easy and there will be difficult times but I have to manage them and continue working hardâ he saidShivakumar said the people of Karnataka had placed their trust in him and that he would strive to discharge his responsibilities with sincerity and commitmentâThe world has seen India through Bengaluru Karnataka is a very important state and wherever I go people tell me how significant it is Therefore I must take every section of society along with meâ he saidEmphasising inclusive governance he said his government would work for farmers women youth and all sections of society âI will take every section of society together from farmers to women and youth A new era for the youth will begin in Karnatakaâ he addedReflecting on his political journey Shivakumar described his rise to the Chief Ministerâs post as the result of perseverance and hard workâIt has been a tough journey Though it was delayed it was not denied This is not about Shivakumar alone it is about every Congress worker who stood by the party and believed in its democratic traditionsâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/dk-shivakumar-to-take-oath-as-karnataka-cm-today-675980.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 08:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-police-arrest-another-trinamool-councillor-on-extortion-corruption-charges-676003.html Kolkata June 3 Within 24 hours of the arrest of a Trinamool Congress councillor another councillor of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation KMC has been arrested on charges of extortion and corruption The total number of Trinamool councillors of KMC to be arrested over corruption charges has risen to three said the police on WednesdayAccording to a senior officer of the Kolkata Police officers of Garfa police station arrested Arijit Das Thakur a councillor of ward number 106 of KMC on Tuesday nightHe was accused of extorting money from local promoters and businessmen by threatening themA written complaint was filed that he had been trying to extort money by influencing construction and businessrelated matters in the area for a long time The police arrested him after the primary investigation revealed the truth The officers of Garfa police station first summoned the councillor for questioning Later after a long interrogation they arrested himEarlier on Tuesday the police arrested Trinamool councillor Sachin Singh of ward number 36 of Kolkata Municipal Corporation KMCAccording to Lalbazar Kolkata Police headquarters sources there are allegations of extortion against the arrested councillor On Tuesday afternoon police personnel from Narkeldanga police station went to arrest Sachin At that time a section of local residents protested in front of his house They alleged that Sachin was also involved in threatening and beating up opponentsAccording to police sources Sachin was accused of postpoll violence in 2021 after state Assembly election results were declared That year he won the KMC elections on a Trinamool Congress ticket for the first timeOn May 23 the Thakurpukur police arrested Sudip Polle a Trinamool councillor of Ward No 123 of Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Chairman of Borough No 16 in an extortion caseSince the BJP formed a government in the state there has been a crackdown on illegal and criminal activities involving the Trinamool Congress leaders The police have been active in taking action against antisocial elements and often acting against Trinamool Congress leaders against whom allegations of breaking the law were raised In the last one month a large number of Trinamool councillors across the state have been arrested by the police across the state on charges of corruption and extortion IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-police-arrest-another-trinamool-councillor-on-extortion-corruption-charges-676003.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/always-helped-congress-move-forward-leaders-hail-dk-shivakumar-ahead-of-ktaka-cm-oath-ceremony-676009.html New Delhi June 3 Congress leaders praised DK Shivakumar on Wednesday ahead of his scheduled swearingin as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka with Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar pointing out that Shivakumar has consistently played a key role in strengthening the party Speaking to IANS Wadettiwar said Whenever the party has faced trouble in the state he has always helped Congress move forward He is known even outside his state as a fighting leader At the same time his identity is also that of a leader who shares in others joys and sorrowsââHe never compromised on his attachment to the Congress party He has always said I would prefer to go to jail but I will not join the BJP He remained firm on this and today one who fights wins People now recognise this about him I am happy that such a fighting leader is becoming the Chief Minister of Karnataka todayâ he addedMadhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari who arrived in Bengaluru for the ceremony praised Shivakumarâs role in both governance and party organisationEvery resident of Karnataka takes pride in Karnatakas economic progress and development under Siddaramaiahs tenure DK Shivakumar played a crucial role in bringing the Congress party to power He also set an example by respectfully and graciously supporting and accepting the tenure of Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister Both these aspects are excellent examples of mutual respect and cooperation in politics Patwari saidSenior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao said the leadership transition was the result of a long political process within the partyLast 21 years there has been a process going on in Karnataka the next Chief Minister PCC president and also Chief Minister Siddaramaiah DK Shivakumar Finally the high command has decided to replace Siddaramaiah because he has already accepted highcommand work So he has been accommodated in the Congress Working Committee And the next Chief Minister is DK Shivakumar Definitely both will continue Whatever the preelection promises they will definitely conduct welfare programs in the interest of the people he saidMeanwhile BJP Bihar State President Sanjay Saraogi said the selection of the Chief Minister was an internal matter of the Congress party but claimed the political atmosphere in Karnataka was turning against the ruling partyWe wish them well It is an internal matter of the Congress party who becomes the Chief Minister and who does not However in Karnataka an atmosphere is being created against the Congress party and the current situation shows that in the upcoming elections common people and voters are looking towards the Bharatiya Janata Party he saidDK Shivakumar is scheduled to take oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka at 405 PM on Wednesday at the Glass House in Lok Bhavan Bengaluru Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Shivakumar and members of the new CabinetThe ceremony is expected to be attended by senior Congress leaders including AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi AICC General Secretary Organisation KC Venugopal and Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh SurjewalaChief Ministers Deputy Chief Ministers Pradesh Congress Committee presidents from various states MPs and senior party leaders are also expected to attendThe guest list further includes religious leaders students from Government School Doddalahalli in Kanakapura daily wage workers civic workers farmer leaders representatives of Dalit and Backward Class organisations womenâs selfhelp groups women leaders and youth representatives IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/always-helped-congress-move-forward-leaders-hail-dk-shivakumar-ahead-of-ktaka-cm-oath-ceremony-676009.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-lok-bhavan-turns-police-fortress-shivakumar-all-set-to-assume-charge-676010.html Bengaluru June 3 Lok Bhavan and its surrounding areas have been turned into a police fortress ahead of the swearingin ceremony of DK Shivakumar as Chief Minister along with his Council of Ministers on Wednesday in Bengaluru More than 2000 police personnel have been deployed to provide security and ensure that no untoward incidents occur in and around Lok Bhavan Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh will directly monitor the security arrangements Three Joint Commissioners of Police and 20 Deputy Commissioners of Police DCPs will be on the ground coordinating security operations with the deployed personnelFor the programme to be held at Lok Bhavan only VIPs and VVIPs possessing valid vehicle passes will be permitted to drive their vehicles directly to the premises All dignitaries have been advised to take their seats at least one hour before the commencement of the eventVehicles of dignitaries arriving without vehicle passes will be stopped near Thimmaiah Circle and no private vehicles will be allowed beyond that pointTo ensure the safe transportation of such dignitaries from Thimmaiah Circle to the main venue at Lok Bhavan special sixseater electric golf carts have been arranged The police have already obtained the official list of dignitaries who have been issued passes and are carrying out verification checksAs Shivakumar is set to be sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka his supporters and Congress workers have put up massive flex boards banners and cutouts at several locations across the city to congratulate the Chief MinisterdesignateIn particular Congress workers in Sumanahalli under the Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituency have erected a gigantic 100foottall cutout of DK Shivakumar and are grandly celebrating the occasionMeanwhile welcome banners and flex boards have been installed along the route from Kempegowda International Airport KIA to the city to greet the party high command and distinguished leaders from various states who are arriving for the swearingin ceremony From the airport toll plaza to Bengaluru city highways and trafficcongested stretches are lined with flex boards featuring photographs of various political leadersThe Congress Kisan Cell Karnataka brought a garland made of Rs 20 currency notes to present to DK Shivakumar who is set to take oath as Karnataka Chief Minister IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-lok-bhavan-turns-police-fortress-shivakumar-all-set-to-assume-charge-676010.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/abhishek-banerjee-approaches-calcutta-hc-challenging-cid-summons-in-mla-signature-mismatch-case-676016.html Kolkata June 3 IANS Trinamool Congress General Secretary and the partys Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday approached a singlejudge vacation bench of the Calcutta High Court challenging the summons from the Criminal Investigation Department CID of the West Bengal Police for interrogation in the signature mismatch casenbspThe case involves a mismatch in the signatures of some of the partys MLAs on a resolution nominating party MLAs to four crucial slots in the Assembly which are reserved for the opposition bench in the HouseThe singlejudge bench of Justice Apurba Sinha Roy has admitted his petition seeking protection from coercive police action including arrest in the case The matter will come up for hearing on FridayInitially Abhishek Banerjee was summoned at the CID office on June 1 However instead of appearing on that day he sought 15 days to appear on the pretext of his physical condition after being assaulted by the public at Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on the afternoon of May 30However in the evening of June 1 the CID sleuths served him a second notice asking him to appear at the CID office on June 8On June 8 Abhishek Banerjee and his aunt the former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are scheduled to be in New Delhi to attend a meeting of the opposition INDIA blocA few days ago Abhishek Banerjee had sent a letter to the office of the new Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly Rathindra Bose naming Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of Opposition Nayna Bandopadhyay and Asima Patra as the two deputy leaders of the opposition and Firhad Hakim as the Chief Whip of Trinamool Congress legislative party in the state AssemblyThe Speaker however insisted that the resolution carrying the signatures of the Trinamool Congress legislators and endorsing the four names should be submitted along with the letter from Abhishek Banerjee Thereafter a resolution carrying the signatures of the Trinamool Congress legislators was submitted to the office of the SpeakerHowever things started taking a dramatic turn after two Trinamool Congress legislators Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha pointed out to the office of the Speaker about the mismatches in the signatures of some party legislatorsSoon after that the Assembly secretariat handed over the charge of the investigation to the CID and the latter summoned Abhishek Banerjee for interrogationIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/abhishek-banerjee-approaches-calcutta-hc-challenging-cid-summons-in-mla-signature-mismatch-case-676016.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/malviya-nagar-fire-incident-extremely-heartbreaking-says-president-murmu-676021.html New Delhi June 3 IANS President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday expressed grief over the tragic Malviya Nagar fire incident in which 20 people have lost their lives so far and dozens are injurednbspShe offered condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injurednbspThe news of the loss of lives in the fire incident in Malviya Nagar Delhi is extremely heartbreaking I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the swift recovery of those injured President Murmu said in a statementnbspAt least 20 people were killed and dozens were injured after a massive fire broke out at the multistoried Lemon Green Restaurant in Malviya Nagar on Wednesday morning officials saidnbspnbspSo far 37 people were rescued and taken to the hospital while a search for others is underway they addednbspSenior officials from Delhi Police Delhi Fire Services and rescue services are present at the scene and monitoring the situationUpon receiving the information ten fire tenders were immediately dispatched to the scene The fire was soon brought under control However the damage was extensivenbspOfficials said that some people tried to jump from the upper floors of the building to save their lives The injured have been sent to a nearby hospital Some of the injured are reported to be in critical conditionnbspnbspThe search and rescue operations are still ongoing at the sitenbsp The rescue officials are trying to locate other people possibly trapped on different floors of the buildingIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/malviya-nagar-fire-incident-extremely-heartbreaking-says-president-murmu-676021.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/wanted-to-be-ktaka-cm-but-i-accept-partys-decision-parameshwara--676023.html Bengaluru June 3 IANS Senior Congress leader G Parameshwara who will be sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister in the DK Shivakumarled government on Wednesday acknowledged that he had aspired to become CM but said he fully accepted the party high commands decision and was happy to serve in his new rolenbspSpeaking to reporters in Bengaluru ahead of the swearingin ceremony Parameshwara said he would abide by the partys decision as a disciplined worker of CongressnbspIt is true that I wanted to become the Chief Minister However as disciplined soldiers of the party we have to abide by the decision of the high command This is the partys decision and I have always maintained that I will follow whatever decision the high command takes he saidParameshwara said he viewed the post of Deputy Chief Minister as an opportunity to continue serving the people of KarnatakanbspThe party has made me the Deputy Chief Minister and I have accepted it I believe this is another opportunity to serve the people There is no question of considering it a demotion Any position is acceptable if it provides an opportunity to serve the people In that spirit I will work as the Deputy Chief Minister he saidnbspRejecting suggestions that any particular community had been overlooked in the leadership selection process Parameshwara said Congress gives opportunities to different leaders from time to timeThere is no question of neglecting any community Such a situation does not arise The party provides opportunities for different leaders to lead This time it has given an opportunity to DK Shivakumar and I congratulate and thank him he saidnbspOn the allocation of portfolios Parameshwara said the decision rests with the party leadership and the Chief MinisternbspI do not know which portfolio I will be assigned If I am given the Home Ministry I will continue in that role If I am assigned any other department I will serve there as well he saidnbspParameshwara also expressed gratitude to the Congress leadership for reposing faith in himnbspI would like to convey my sincere thanks to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge Rahul Gandhi Priyanka Gandhi Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala KC Venugopal and the entire party leadership At this stage of my political career they have selected me as Deputy Chief Minister I am grateful for the trust and confidence they have placed in me he saidHe said the new role would enable him to work for the people in accordance with the Congress partys ideology and manifestonbspThis is another opportunity to serve the people of Karnataka in line with the partys ideology and commitments I would also like to thank Chief Ministerdesignate DK Shivakumar and outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who were part of the decisionmaking process he addednbspParameshwara also congratulated Siddaramaiah on his appointment as a member of the Congress Working Committee CWCIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/wanted-to-be-ktaka-cm-but-i-accept-partys-decision-parameshwara--676023.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-shivakumar-meets-deve-gowda-seek-blessings-mb-patil-ramalinga-reddy-thank-party-for-cabinet-post-676031.html Bengaluru June 3 Karnataka Chief Ministerdesignate DK Shivakumar on Wednesday met former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda at his Padmanabhanagar residence in Bengaluru and sought his blessings ahead of the swearingin ceremony in the evening even as senior Congress leaders MB Patil and Ramalinga Reddy thanked the party for inviting them to join the Council of Ministers under the incoming Chief Minister Deve Gowda warmly received Shivakumar and congratulated him on being elevated to the post of Chief MinisterDuring the meeting Shivakumar presented a bouquet to the JDS patriarch and touched his feet as a mark of respect while seeking his blessings Deve Gowda shook hands with Shivakumar felicitated him and wished him success in his new roleThe two leaders also held a brief interaction The meeting assumes political significance as Shivakumar and the Deve Gowda family have long been political rivals in Karnataka politicsIn recent weeks Shivakumar and Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy son of Deve Gowda had engaged in a war of words and exchanged personal attacks over various political issuesMeanwhile senior Congress leaders MB Patil and Ramalinga Reddy expressed their gratitude to the party leadership after being invited to join the Council of Ministers under the incoming Chief MinisterMB Patil a close associate of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been invited to take oath as a minister along with Shivakumar Patil previously served as Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development in the Siddaramaiahled government An engineer and educationist by profession he represents the Babaleshwar Assembly constituency in Vijayapura districtSpeaking to reporters Patil said Shivakumar had personally called and invited him to be part of the new CabinetI convey my heartfelt gratitude to Sonia Gandhi AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah AICC General Secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala he saidPatil said the Congress high command had taken its decision after extensive deliberations and indicated that further expansion of the Cabinet would take place in due courseThis is the first phase of Cabinet formation There will be a second phase of Cabinet expansion as well The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee KPCC will also have a new president he saidOn portfolio allocation Patil said the decision rests entirely with the Chief MinisterI do not know how many ministers will take oath today Allocation of portfolios is the Chief Ministers prerogative and I will accept whatever responsibility is assigned to me he addedFormer Transport and Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy also confirmed that he had received a call from the party leadership inviting him to join the Cabinet Reddy known for his grassroots connect and peoplefriendly approach represents the BTM Layout Assembly constituency in Bengaluru IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-shivakumar-meets-deve-gowda-seek-blessings-mb-patil-ramalinga-reddy-thank-party-for-cabinet-post-676031.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-congratulates-shivakumar-on-taking-oath-as-karnataka-cm-assures-centres-support--676072.html New Delhi June 3 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated DK Shivakumar on taking oath as the Chief Minister of KarnatakanbspCongratulations to Shri DK Shivakumar Ji on taking oath as Chief Minister of Karnataka Best wishes for his tenure the Prime Minister said in a post on XnbspHe also assured full cooperation from the Centre stating that it would work closely with the Karnataka government for the welfare and development of the states peopleEarlier Shivakumar was sworn in as the 25th Chief Minister of Karnataka at a ceremony held at the Glass House in Bengalurus Lok Bhavan premisesnbspGovernor Thawar Chand Gehlot administered the oath of office and secrecy to Shivakumar at 410 pmnbspAmid slogans raised by supporters Shivakumar walked to the dais and paid floral tributes to the portrait of Sri Veera Gangadhara Swamiji popularly known as Ajjayya or Nonavinakere Ajja He then proceeded to take the oath of office and secrecyHolding a copy of the Constitution Shivakumar invoked the name of Veera Gangadhara Ajja whom he regards as his spiritual guide while taking the oathnbspThe ceremony began with the rendition of Vande Mataram followed by the National Anthem performed by the Karnataka State Police Band The state anthem was also played during the eventnbspSeveral senior Congress leaders including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi were present at the swearingin ceremonyThirteen ministers also took oath along with Shivakumar on Wednesday as the new Karnataka government assumed officenbspFormer Home Minister G Parameshwara a prominent leader hailing from the Dalit community was sworn in as the Deputy Chief MinisternbspAmong the notable inclusions in the first phase of cabinet formation are Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah son of outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and former Speaker UT KhaderIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-congratulates-shivakumar-on-taking-oath-as-karnataka-cm-assures-centres-support--676072.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/mehbooba-mufti-asks-kashmiri-pandits-to-sink-differences-with-jk-muslims-work-together--675968.html Srinagar June 2 IANS Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and President of Opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday asked the Kashmiri Pandit community to sink differences and work with local Muslims for common honour and dignitynbspIn a letter addressed to Sanjay Tickoo president of Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti Mehbooba Mufti said that the recent breakthroughs achieved by the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance in their engagement with the Government of India offer an important lesson Sincere dialogue can lead to meaningful outcomesMehbooba Mufti wrote in the letter Today Jammu ampamp Kashmir once again stands at a critical juncture in its history A deep sense of despair uncertainty and disillusionment has taken hold across the region In these circumstances it is imperative that we build a broad consensus that rises above party lines and political affiliations to help steer JampampK out of the current impasseIf we are committed to restoring the dignity security and confidence of our people a constructive and sustained dialogue with the Government of India is not merely desirable it is essentialThe time has come for all of us to make a united appeal to the Honble Prime Minister and the Honble Home Minister urging them to initiate a meaningful and sustained engagement with the people of Jammu ampamp KashmirWe must set aside our differences disagreements and competing political narratives in the larger interest of those we represent This cannot become an exercise in claiming political credit or scoring partisan points Rather it must be a moment of collective responsibility and unity for the welfare and future of our peopleI therefore urge you to rise above our differences and join this effort At this critical moment unity is our greatest strengthTogether we can work towards a peaceful dignified and prosperous Jammu ampamp Kashmir one where the rights aspirations and identity of its people are protected and safeguarded within the framework of the Constitution of India she concudedMehbooba Mufti has time and again advocated for Kashmiri Pandits to return to the Valley and urged both Hindus and Muslims in JampampK to rebuild their traditional brotherhoodShe has often been quoted as saying that Kashmir is incomplete without the Pandit community and called for them to bridge dividesIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/mehbooba-mufti-asks-kashmiri-pandits-to-sink-differences-with-jk-muslims-work-together--675968.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjp-chief-nitin-nabin-meets-delegates-of-nepals-rastriya-swatantra-party--675974.html New Delhi June 2 IANS BJP National President Nitin Nabin on Tuesday interacted with a delegation of Nepals ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party RSP led by Rabi Lamichhane sharing an overview of the partys ideological foundations and Prime Minister Narendra Modis governance modelAs part of the Know BJP initiative Nabin welcomed the delegation and shared insights on the partys organisational structure and its approach to public engagementHe explained how the party functions from the national level down to the booth level highlighting the crucial role played by BJP workers in maintaining continuous contact with citizens and addressing issues at the grassrootsNabin emphasised the deeprooted and historic ties between India and Nepal describing the relationship as one built on shared civilizational heritage cultural affinity and strong peopletopeople connectionsHe said such interactions play an important role in strengthening democratic dialogue and fostering closer engagement between political parties in the two neighbouring countriesThe RSP delegation expressed interest in understanding the BJPs membership process candidate selection mechanism and methods of identifying and nurturing grassroots leadershipResponding to their queries Nabin explained that the BJPs organisational strength stems from sustained public outreach boothlevel engagement and active participation of ordinary citizens in the democratic processThe BJP president also highlighted the governance model under PM Modi stating that development public service good governance and effective welfare delivery remain central pillars of the partys political and governance philosophyNabin also discussed the growing influence of Generation Z in politics Both sides exchanged views on the role of young people in shaping democratic participation influencing public discourse and emerging as future political leadersThe meeting was attended by several senior BJP leaders including Arun Singh Member of Parliament Sanjay Jaiswal Member of Parliament Bansuri Swaraj and Vijay ChauthaiwaleAs part of their visit the Nepalese delegation toured the BJP Media Centre and the partys Central Library gaining insights into the partys communication and knowledgemanagement systemsThe interaction concluded with a lunch meeting attended by several prominent BJP leaders including Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta Members of Parliament Manoj Tiwari Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and Praveen Khandelwal and Union Minister of State and Delhi BJP chief Harsh MalhotraThe meeting is being viewed as part of the BJPs broader efforts to engage with political parties and democratic institutions across South Asia while showcasing its organisational model and governance experience through the Know BJP initiativeIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjp-chief-nitin-nabin-meets-delegates-of-nepals-rastriya-swatantra-party--675974.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-to-begin-first-phase-of-census-2027-today-675847.html New Delhi June 1 With the first phase of Census 2027 set to begin on Monday more than 374 lakh people in Gujarat have already completed selfenumeration as the state gears up for what officials describe as Indias first fully digital census exercise The census the 16th in the countrys history and the eighth since Independence will be conducted in two phases across Gujarat and the rest of India The previous census was carried out in 2011Announcing the commencement of the exercise Census Director Sujal Mayatra urged all citizens to participate in the nationwide enumeration programmeThe House Listing and Housing Census will be conducted across the state from June 1 to June 30 During this phase enumerators will ask a total of 33 questions covering housing conditions family details source of drinking water toilet facilities and other assets Mayatra saidThe first phase known as the House Listing and Housing Census HLO will involve enumerators collecting information on housing conditions household composition access to drinking water sanitation facilities and other assetsThe survey will be conducted in all districts municipal corporations municipalities and villages across GujaratThe second phase comprising Population Enumeration PE and caste enumeration will be conducted between February 9 and February 28 2027According to census authorities caste data collection will be undertaken alongside the nationwide population count during this stageMayatra said During this phase population enumeration and caste enumeration will be carried out and the caste census exercise will also be completed across the countryOfficials said Gujarats selfenumeration campaign which began on May 17 received participation from Governor Acharya Devvrat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel members of the state Cabinet the Chief Secretary senior secretaries district collectors municipal commissioners and other citizens who submitted their details through the online selfenumeration facilityAs of May 30 more than 374 lakh citizens had filled selfenumeration forms under Census 2027Of these around 330 lakh submissions had been successfully completed while approximately 44000 forms remained under processingThe census operation in Gujarat will cover 110598 House Listing Blocks HLBs and will be carried out by 109038 enumerators supported by 18254 supervisorsTo prepare for the exercise enumerators supervisors and other census officials have undergone training in three phases Officials said modern technology would play a central role in this years censusDedicated Android and iOS applications have been developed in 16 languages including Gujarati and are equipped with offline data collection capabilities to facilitate enumeration in areas with limited internet connectivityA special SelfEnumeration option was also introduced allowing residents to submit their information directly through the official portalCensus authorities emphasised that all information collected under the Census Act 1948 and the Census Rules 1990 would remain strictly confidentialAll personal information collected under the provisions of the Census Act 1948 and the Census Rules 1990 will be kept completely confidential The information cannot be used for legal or taxation purposes officials saidAuthorities further noted that every citizen is legally required to provide accurate and complete information during the census process and that the law provides for penalties in cases where individuals refuse to furnish information IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-to-begin-first-phase-of-census-2027-today-675847.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-cabinet-expansion-today-35-new-ministers-to-take-oath-at-lok-bhavan-675853.html Kolkata June 1 The 35 members of the extended cabinet in West Bengal will take the oath as ministers at Lok Bhavan in Kolkata at 11 am on Monday Governor RN Ravi will administer the oathLast week the Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and the Bharatiya Janata Party BJPâs state president in West Bengal separately met with the partyâs central leadership to finalise the names of 35 new cabinet membersFinally these 35 BJP legislators will take oath as cabinet members on Monday In all probability the portfolio distribution of the new members of the state cabinet will also be announced on MondayAlthough speculation is there in the corridors of power and political circles in the state about who will be inducted the state BJP leadership is tightlipped on the issue âJust wait till 11 am today There might be many surprises The only thing I can say as of now is the extended cabinet will be a fair combination of veterans and new blood At the same time there will be fair representation in the state cabinet from all the districts of West Bengalâ said a state committee member of the BJP in the morning who did not wish to be namedWith the 35 new cabinet members in the state cabinet taking oath on Monday the total number of cabinet members will increase to 41 with still room left for induction of three more cabinet members considering that 15 per cent of the total Assembly strength in a state is the ceiling for the number of cabinet membersTo recall six ministers of the first BJPruled state government in West Bengal since independence including the stateâs ninth Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari were sworn in by the Governor on May 9 The other five members of the cabinet who were sworn in along with CM Adhikari were Agnimitra Paul Dilip Ghosh Nisith Pramanik Ashok Kirtaniya and Khudiram TuduAfter the oath ceremony is over CM Adhikari will hold a crucial meeting with the different associations of the state government employees to finalise the payment of Dearness Allowance to the current and retired state government employees at par with their counterparts in the Central government and arrears accrued on it as per the directions of the Supreme CourtIn the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections BJP clinched a landslide victory with its candidates winning from 207 Assembly constituencies Later BJPâs tally in the state Assembly increased to 208 with the party candidate Debangshu Panda clinching a landslide victory in the repolling for Falta constituency in South 24 Parganas district IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-cabinet-expansion-today-35-new-ministers-to-take-oath-at-lok-bhavan-675853.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/impose-presidents-rule-in-bengal-shiv-sena-675880.html Mumbai June 1 The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray UBT on Monday demanded that the Presidents rule be imposed in West Bengal where opposition MPs were being attacked The party claimed in an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana that the assault allegedly launched by BJP workers on Trinamool Congress National General Secretary and sitting MP Abhishek Banerjee was as cowardly as it was brutal and the shocking incidents that unfolded in Kolkata over the past two days have dealt a massive blow not only to the reputation of West Bengal but to the prestige of the entire countryWest Bengal which has long been considered one of Indias most civilised states has transformed into a symbol of violence hatred and mobocracy it saidThe Saamana editorial argued that while the BJP secured power in West Bengal during the Assembly elections it is evident that instead of utilising this mandate for public welfare they are using it to scratch a persistent itch for political vendettaâHad such attacks on MPs occurred during Mamata Banerjeeâs tenure the Governor would have immediately recommended the imposition of Presidentâs Rule to the Centreâ it commentedâThe current picture of Bengal is terrifying Stones were hurled directly at Abhishek Banerjees head he survived only because he was wearing a helmet A similar fate befell MP Kalyan Banerjee Abhishek Banerjee stated that the attack was preplanned and a deliberate plot to assassinate him However BJP State President Samik Bhattacharya characteristically shrugged off any responsibility claiming the BJP has no connection to these events and labelling it as public outrage Bhattacharya called this public angerâ said the editorialThe editorial further said that this raises a question Has the BJP handed out a license to Kolkatas goons to assassinate opposition MPs Mamata Banerjee served as Chief Minister for fifteen years and the people of Bengal showered immense love upon her often calling her the tiger cub who fights on the streetsâThe narrative that the public suddenly became so enamoured with the BJP that they turned around to assault Mamatas MPs out of anger is entirely unbelievable This is orchestrated systemic goonism The BJP either wants to split Mamatas party or permanently establish a regime of thugs over Bengalâ it allegedThe Thackeray camp stated that the BJP used to claim that during Mamatas regime Bangladeshi infiltrators ruined West Bengals culture and perpetuated criminal behaviour âWho then are these individuals spearheading this horrific violence under the current BJP rule The place of Bangladeshi infiltrators has merely been taken over by tilaksporting goons If anyone labels this a regime change they are committing a betrayal against the Indian Constitutionâ it remarkedAccording to the editorial the two Trinamool Congress MPs were explicitly targeted in assassination attempts Shockingly neither West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari nor Governor Ravi have broken their silence on the matter This silence indicates that these murderous assaults are statesponsored executed well within the protective framework of the current establishment The state government is granting absolute impunity to criminals with the explicit goal of eliminating opposition representativesâA wave of NeoHindutva is surging across West Bengal under the guise of public anger This prompts a final critical question When exam papers are leaked continuously fuel prices skyrocket the government lies daily and inflation inflicts untold misery on everyday life why is the public not furious about those issues Why have they instead become so helplessly infatuated with the BJPâ asked the Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena in the editorialThe Thackeray camp said that the ruling establishment must explain why actual public rage has undergone a complete circumcision here when it comes to real economic distress only to be manufactured into political violence IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/impose-presidents-rule-in-bengal-shiv-sena-675880.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/fertiliser-price-hike-deepens-concerns-among-farmers-amid-rising-cultivation-costs-675881.html Chennai June 1 Farmers across Tamil Nadu have expressed growing concern over the recent increase in fertiliser prices warning that the move could significantly raise cultivation expenses at a time when agricultural production costs are already under severe pressure The latest price revision has added to the challenges faced by the farming community which is also grappling with uncertainty over financial support measures and fluctuating returns from agricultural produceAgricultural organisations have pointed out that the cost of cultivation has been steadily increasing due to rising prices of seeds labour irrigation machinery and other essential farm inputsAccording to estimates based on prevailing financing norms farmers are already required to spend thousands of rupees per acre to cultivate major crops The latest increase in fertiliser prices is likely to further strain their finances and reduce profit marginsFarmers noted that fertilisers such as NPK mixtures complex fertilisers potash sulphates and phosphatic nutrients are widely used across a variety of crops including paddy sugarcane vegetables and horticultural produceAny increase in the cost of these essential inputs directly affects overall production expenditure and can have a significant impact on farm incomes Recent revisions have seen the price of NPK fertiliser rise sharply while rates of complex fertilisers and potash have also registered substantial increasesFarmer groups fear that the cumulative impact of these hikes could lead to a steep escalation in cultivation costs during the current agricultural seasonAgricultural representatives have warned that the sudden increase in input prices has created uncertainty among cultivators regarding their crop plans Many farmers are reportedly reassessing the extent of cultivation they can undertake particularly those dependent on borrowed capital or operating on small landholdingsThe farming community has urged both the state and Central governments to intervene and take measures to stabilise fertiliser pricesThey argue that affordable access to key agricultural inputs is essential for sustaining farm productivity and ensuring food securityWith cultivation expenses continuing to rise and market returns remaining uncertain farmers believe that immediate policy support is necessary to prevent further financial stress in the agricultural sector They maintain that controlling input costs will be crucial to safeguarding livelihoods and encouraging continued investment in farming activities across the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/fertiliser-price-hike-deepens-concerns-among-farmers-amid-rising-cultivation-costs-675881.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-satheesan-tightens-grip-on-kiifb-signals-major-reforms-probe-on-the-cards-675884.html Thiruvananthapuram June 1 In one of the most significant administrative reforms undertaken by the newly elected UDF government Chief Minister VD Satheesan has initiated a comprehensive restructuring of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board KIIFB signalling a decisive shift in the functioning of the states premier infrastructure financing agency Even though itâs just two weeks since taking over he has held two special meetings on the working and functioning of KIIFBThe move is being projected as part of a broader effort to bring greater transparency accountability and financial discipline to public institutionsSignificantly with Satheesan also holding the Finance portfolio the Chief Minister is expected to exercise direct control over KIIFB ending what government sources describe as years of autonomous functioning and weak oversightEstablished in 1999 as the states principal infrastructure funding vehicle KIIFB has evolved into one of Keralas most influential public sector institutions financing projects worth more than Rs 60000 crore across sectors ranging from roads healthcare and education to water supply power and portsOver the years however its growing financial footprint has also attracted criticism over spending practices staffing patterns and governance mechanismsThe governments decision follows preliminary reviews that reportedly pointed to widespread irregularities in appointments an increasing dependence on contract staff and the concentration of key positions among a relatively small network of individualsConcerns have also been raised over the continued presence of retired officials in influential roles and the alleged proliferation of highpaying posts outside the regular government frameworkAs part of the overhaul the government is planning to bring KIIFB under the direct supervision of the Finance Department and gradually phase out a large number of temporary and contract appointmentsFuture staffing is expected to rely primarily on qualified serving government officers and finance department personnel deputed to the institutionAllegations have also surfaced that some employees working with KIIFB are also running their own private consultanciesThe administration is also examining the organisational structure of KIIFB and its affiliated entities with a view to reducing duplication curbing expenditure and strengthening accountabilityA broader scrutiny of past appointments financial commitments and administrative decisions is also under considerationFor the Satheesan government the exercise represents more than a routine restructuringIt is being positioned as an attempt to redefine the governance architecture of an institution that has become central to Keralas development modelIf implemented in full the overhaul could mark the most farreaching transformation in KIIFBs history placing the states powerful infrastructure funding agency under tighter political and financial oversight than ever beforeNo sooner had Congressled UDF registered a stunning win in the Assembly polls than KIIFB CEO and the closest aide of outgoing Chief Minister KM Abraham quit his post IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-satheesan-tightens-grip-on-kiifb-signals-major-reforms-probe-on-the-cards-675884.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-large-scale-encroachment-removal-carried-out-in-viramgam-for-road-widening-project-675886.html Viramgam June 1 A largescale demolition and encroachment removal operation was carried out in Viramgam town of Gujaratâs Ahmedabad district on Monday morning to facilitate the widening of State Highway No 17 under the ViramgamSurendranagarWadhwan fourlane road project The drive covered around 4000 square metres of government and private land along an approximately 400metre stretch near Gangasar Lake where officials said longstanding encroachments had created a traffic bottleneck affecting connectivity at the entry point of ViramgamSubDivisional Magistrate Virendra Desai said the action was conducted after following due legal procedures and land acquisition normsHe said At the entry point of Viramgam city there was a bottleneck area where three dargahs and several other small encroachments existed The land involved was privately owned and it was acquired under the land acquisition process Compensation was provided to the landowners and today we carried out the process of taking possession of the landOfficials said the operation included the demolition of several structures including three dargahs along with five shops and around 100 encroachments associated with cemetery landA heavy deployment of machinery was used during the drive including five JCB machines two Hitachi excavators and 15 dumpers to carry out the clearance workSecurity arrangements were also strengthened significantly with more than 550 police personnel deployed at the siteThe force included one Deputy Superintendent of Police DySP 15 Police Inspectors personnel from multiple police stations as well as units from the State Reserve Police SRP local Crime Branch and Special Operations GroupDy SP Tapan Kumar Dodiya said the objective of the operation was to remove a longstanding obstruction to road widening He said âDemolition work has been underway since this morning to widen the stretch of road connecting Viramgam to Viramgam town and improve connectivityâAhmedabad Rural Superintendent of Police SP Om Prakash Jat said the project was part of a major state infrastructure initiative and had been under planning for several monthsThe administration and police had been coordinating for two to three months holding multiple rounds of meetings with the District Collector SDM Dy SP police officials and community representatives before executing the operation after completing all legal formalities he told IANSHe added that extensive consultations were held with local stakeholders before the drive âBased on this planning a mega demolition operation was launched this morning The entire demolition process was completed in a very peaceful mannerâ he saidAuthorities said the coordinated operation ensured that approximately 4000 square metres of encroached land was cleared for the highway widening project which aims to improve regional connectivity by removing the historic bottleneck at Viramgamâs entry pointThe latest action follows an earlier encroachment removal drive conducted in April in the Dhandhuka area of Ahmedabad district where authorities cleared illegal constructions along stretches of the DhandhukaBagodara Highway as part of ongoing enforcement against unauthorised encroachments IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-large-scale-encroachment-removal-carried-out-in-viramgam-for-road-widening-project-675886.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ipl-final-shift-row-shivakumar-says-karnataka-wont-lose-major-matches-in-future-675889.html Bengaluru June 1 Chief Ministerdesignate and Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar on Monday alleged that influence from Gujarat led to the shifting of the IPL final from Karnataka to Ahmedabad depriving fans in the state of hosting the marquee match Speaking to reporters at his residence in Bengaluru Shivakumar said the IPL final should have been held in Karnataka and that the state government had granted the necessary permissions But those from Gujarat used their influence and snatched away the match from us by shifting it to Ahmedabad he allegedShivakumar said efforts would be made to ensure that Karnataka does not lose out on hosting such major sporting events in the future We are making preparations so that such matches are not taken away from Karnataka in the future It may take some time but we are committed to strengthening our position he saidDescribing the development as an injustice to both the states cricket infrastructure and its youth Shivakumar said many young cricket enthusiasts were disappointed at not being able to watch the final at Bengalurus M Chinnaswamy StadiumIt is an injustice to the stadium we have here and also to the youngsters The cricket final was supposed to be played here but they did not allow it and shifted it to Ahmedabad Naturally many young fans are disappointed that they could not witness the final in Bengaluru he saidCongratulating the Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB team on their successful campaign Shivakumar said the franchise had brought pride to KarnatakaThe RCB team which is identified as Karnatakas team has played exceptionally well On behalf of the people of Karnataka and RCB supporters across the state I congratulate the players and wish them continued success They should be proud of their achievement he saidReferring to past differences Shivakumar added that Karnataka had moved forward and was focused on a new beginning Whatever happened in the past we have forgotten and moved towards a new beginning This is a success story All the players performed very well and I congratulate the entire RCB team he saidExpressing confidence about the future Shivakumar said Karnataka would continue to play a major role in Indian cricket The future is again with Karnataka he addedThe IPL 2026 final was originally scheduled to be held at Bengalurus M Chinnaswamy Stadium as Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB the defending champions were expected to host the title clash under IPL convention However the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI later shifted the final to Ahmedabads Narendra Modi StadiumThe BCCI stated that the venue was changed due to certain requirements raised by local authorities and the Karnataka State Cricket Association KSCA that were beyond the boards established guidelines and protocolsThe issue turned into a row as the decision came immediately after the Karnataka government mandated the KSCA to provide complementary tickets to legislators Reports stated that the demand included around 900 tickets for MLAs and MLCs along with additional allocations for government commitments IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ipl-final-shift-row-shivakumar-says-karnataka-wont-lose-major-matches-in-future-675889.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nitish-kumar-meets-vijay-chaudhary-as-mlc-poll-activity-gathers-pace-in-bihar-675892.html Patna June 1 Political activity has intensified in Biharâs capital Patna as preparations for the upcoming Legislative Council elections gather pace Janata Dal United National President and former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday visited the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary to finalise the plan and discuss the names of the candidatesEarlier Nitish Kumar had a similar meeting with JDU National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha in PatnaThe nomination for 10 vacant seats in the Bihar Legislative Council started on Monday Against this backdrop discussions regarding seatsharing within the National Democratic Alliance NDA are said to be nearing completionSources indicate that out of the ten seats around four may fall within the JDUs share Consequently competition for party nominations has intensified with several senior leaders and aspirants actively lobbying for the samePolitical observers believe that the JDU leadership is currently focused on finalising its list of candidates while carefully balancing social and regional equations The party is expected to take into account factors such as caste representation organisational contributions and electoral strategy before making its final selectionsAmid growing speculation one name has emerged prominently in political discussions Party insiders suggest that preparations may be underway to nominate Health Minister Nishant Kumar to the Legislative Council from the JDUs quota However no official confirmation has been issued by the party and leaders have remained tightlipped on the matterDespite the absence of a formal announcement the possibility continues to dominate political conversations For the remaining seats the party is reportedly working toward maintaining a broad social and political balanceConsideration is being given to providing representation to backward classes extremely backward classes minority communities and longserving party workers who have contributed significantly to strengthening the organisation over the yearsThe series of meetings and consultations in Patna has sent a clear signal that the JDU has shifted into election mode and is actively shaping its strategy for the Legislative Council polls IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nitish-kumar-meets-vijay-chaudhary-as-mlc-poll-activity-gathers-pace-in-bihar-675892.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-bjp-chief-mourns-death-of-7-bluru-residents-in-himachal-accident-urges-aid-for-families-675893.html Bengaluru June 1 BJP Karnataka President and MLA BY Vijayendra on Monday expressed shock and grief over the death of seven Bengaluru residents in a tragic road accident near Sach Pass in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh In a statement posted on social media Vijayendra said he was deeply saddened to learn that a total of eight people including seven members of two families from Bengaluru lost their lives in the horrific accident that occurred while they were on a vacationIt is extremely shocking to learn that eight people including seven members of two Bengaluru families were killed in the tragic accident near Sach Pass in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh It is truly heartbreaking that families who had gone on a holiday met with such a tragic end he saidVijayendra urged the Karnataka government to coordinate with the Himachal Pradesh government to ensure all necessary assistance is provided to the bereaved familiesHe called upon the state government to facilitate the transportation of the mortal remains of the victims back to Bengaluru and extend all possible support to the affected families during this difficult timePraying for the departed souls Vijayendra expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and said he hoped they would find the strength to cope with the irreparable lossI pray for eternal peace for the departed souls and for God to give the grieving family members the strength to bear this unexpected tragedy he saidIt can be noted that a tragic road accident in Himachal Pradeshs Chamba district claimed eight lives after a tourist taxi plunged into a deep gorge near Sach Pass The vehicle was travelling on the BairagarhKillar route when it met with the fatal accident at a sharp bend near KalabanThe accident occurred when the car was going towards the snowbound Sach Pass one of the toughest stretches in Himachal Pradesh the officials said Police said a car carrying tourists fell into a steep gorge around midnight on the 29th of May Following an intensive search and rescue operation carried out under difficult terrain conditions authorities recovered all eight bodies from the accident site According to police the tourists had arrived in Himachal Pradesh for sightseeing and were staying at a hotel in Dalhousie They had left for Sach Pass on the 29th of May but did not return by evening The hotel management informed the police following which a search operation was launched IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-bjp-chief-mourns-death-of-7-bluru-residents-in-himachal-accident-urges-aid-for-families-675893.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-cabinet-exercise-shifts-to-delhi-shivakumar-siddaramaiah-to-meet-cong-high-command-675895.html Bengaluru June 1 Karnataka Chief Ministerdesignate DK Shivakumar and caretaker CM Siddaramaiah reached New Delhi on Monday to hold discussions with the Congress high command on the formation of the new state cabinet The two senior leaders travelled to the national capital on the same flight as the exercise to finalise the composition of the cabinet shifted to Delhi AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge also left for Delhi earlier from his residence in Bengaluru Siddaramaiahs son MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah and several senior Congress leaders including former Minister HC Mahadevappa a close associate of Siddaramaiah also reached the national capitalAccording to party sources Congress leaders Siddaramaiah DK Shivakumar AICC General Secretary Organisation KC Venugopal and Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala have already held consultations and finalised the initial list of ministersSources indicated that the first phase of cabinet formation is likely to include around 10 to 12 ministers including the Chief Minister The proposed social composition of the first batch is expected to include two leaders from the Other Backward Classes OBC category two Scheduled Caste SC leaders one Scheduled Tribe ST leader two Vokkaliga leaders one Muslim representative and two Lingayat leadersThe swearingin ceremony for the first batch of ministers is expected to be held on June 3Party sources further said the Congress leadership is considering a twophase cabinet expansion The remaining ministerial berths are likely to be filled after the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council electionsAccording to sources supporters of Siddaramaiah are expected to receive a significant share of cabinet positions in the first phase of expansionThe final list of ministers is expected to be approved following consultations with the Congress central leadership in New DelhiSources further state that Siddaramaiah has also reportedly prepared a list of ministerial aspirants from his camp which he is likely to submit to the Congress high commandSeveral aspirants have already reached New Delhi as consultations on cabinet formation intensify The Congress high command is expected to scrutinise the list taking into account districtwise and communitywise representation before finalising the cabinet lineupMeanwhile Siddaramaiah is likely to press strongly for the creation of additional Deputy Chief Minister posts in Karnataka According to discussions held at his residence his camp believes that at least three Deputy Chief Ministers should be appointed to ensure caste and community representation in the governmentA surprising development has emerged with reports suggesting that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi offered a Rajya Sabha seat to former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs wife Parvathi after Siddaramaiah declined to enter national politics However Siddaramaiah is said to have politely declined the proposal according to Congress insiders IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-cabinet-exercise-shifts-to-delhi-shivakumar-siddaramaiah-to-meet-cong-high-command-675895.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/game-of-thrones-finally-ended-in-karnataka-bjp-targets-cong-over-leadership-change-675906.html New Delhi June 1 Even before the formation of Karnatakaâs new Cabinet under Chief Ministerdesignate DK Shivakumar political sparring over leadership ministerial berths and internal factionalism within the Congress has intensified with Opposition parties alleging that the ruling party remains consumed by power struggles rather than governance The latest round of attacks came after the Congress leadership finalised DK Shivakumar as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka ending months of speculation over a leadership transition However discussions over Cabinet formation deputy chief minister posts and key organisational appointments continue to trigger political debateReacting to the development BJP leader TR Srinivas said the prolonged contest for power within the Congress had finally reached a conclusionâThe Game of Thrones has finally ended in Karnataka I extend my best wishes to DK Shivakumar the Chief Ministerdesignate for taking oath I hope he will focus on governance issues such as urban distress rural distress farmer distress and overall administrative challenges as there is currently perceived policy paralysis in Karnataka and public dissatisfaction with governanceâ Srinivas claimedJDU national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad claimed that the leadership change reflected deeper factional tensions within the CongressâLook this was bound to happen and we had expressed our concerns earlier as well Rahul Gandhi took quite a long time to make a decision on Karnataka The reason is that whenever internal factionalism or dissatisfaction grows within a state unit Rahul Gandhi does not intervene until the party is on the verge of breaking apart This is just an indication of the ongoing tugofwar over the Cabinetâ Prasad told IANSBJP Karnataka President BY Vijayendra also criticised the Karnataka government alleging that a change in leadership would not improve governance in the stateâThe Congress government has not carried out any significant development work during the last three years Even if DK Shivakumar becomes Chief Minister Karnataka will not witness any major development The Congress government has tied its own hands through its guarantee schemes and a change in leadership will not alter the development scenario in the stateâ Vijayendra claimedThe Congress Legislature Party recently elected DK Shivakumar as its new leader paving the way for him to succeed Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister Shivakumar is scheduled to take oath on June 3 in BengaluruAttention has now shifted to the composition of the new Cabinet with intense discussions underway over ministerial positions deputy chief minister posts and the appointment of a new Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee KPCC chiefSenior Congress leaders including Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah have held consultations with the party high command in Delhi as the leadership works to balance regional caste and political equations in the new government IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/game-of-thrones-finally-ended-in-karnataka-bjp-targets-cong-over-leadership-change-675906.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ex-bengal-minister-seeks-anticipatory-bail-plea-in-district-court-in-messi-kolkata-event-case-675911.html Kolkata June 1 Aroop Biswas the former West Bengal Sports Minister on Monday approached a court in North 24 Parganas district with an anticipatory bail plea His petition at the Barasat District Court follows an FIR registered against him last week at Bidhannagar South Police Station in North 24 Parganas district in connection with the vandalism at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Salt Lake during Lionel Messis GOAT India Tour on December 13 last yearAlthough the petition has been admitted the date of the first hearing in the matter is yet to be decidedThe police registered the FIR on the night of May 30 on the basis of a complaint filed by the main organiser of the Messi event Satadru Dutta on May 17Biswas a fourtime Trinamool Congress legislator from the Tollygunge Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district got defeated this time from the same constituency in the recently concluded electionsHe was defeated by the Bharatiya Janata Party BJPâs Papiya Adhikari a firsttime legislator and an actressturned politician by a margin of over 6000 votesEarlier during the previous Trinamool Congress regime the police arrested Messis tour organiser Satadru Dutta in connection with the Yuva Bharati incident He was later released on bailOn May 17 Dutta had filed a written complaint against Biswas and several others Based on that complaint the Bidhannagar South Police Station registered an FIR against the former ministerAfter the FIR was registered on the night of May 30 Dutta thanked the current West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari the current state sports minister Nishith Pramanik and the stateâs director general of police Sidh Nath GuptaIn his complaint filed on May 17 Dutta claimed that Biswas had blackmarketed about 22000 tickets for the Messi event Based on that allegation the Bidhannagar South Police Station has started an investigation Incidentally the new Sports Minister of the state government Nisith Pramanik had spoken about opening a file in the Messi event fiasco after taking charge IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ex-bengal-minister-seeks-anticipatory-bail-plea-in-district-court-in-messi-kolkata-event-case-675911.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/meaningful-change-does-not-require-new-policies-meghalaya-cm-675912.html Shillong June 1 Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday stressed the need for stronger implementation systems integrated governance and outcomeoriented policymaking to improve early childhood development maternal health and social welfare outcomes in the state and across the country Addressing the inaugural session of the threeday Early Childhood Development ECD Implementation Science Workshop in Shillong Sangma said governments often already understand the science data and policy solutions behind developmental challenges but the real task lies in effective implementation and collective political willSpeaking at the event held at Vivanta Shillong the Chief Minister recalled that when he first assumed office in 2018 he had emphasised that meaningful change does not necessarily require new schemes or policies but rather improved implementation of existing programmesQuoting an author Sangma said he had once responded to a question from the media by saying that he âwould not do anything different but would do things differentlyâHe said both the Central and State government schemes are largely designed to address developmental challenges but progress depends on how efficiently they are implemented on the groundHighlighting Meghalayaâs governance reforms Sangma said stronger implementation mechanisms had significantly improved the utilisation of centrally sponsored schemes and externally aided projectsReferring to MGNREGA he said improved execution had resulted in nearly a threefold increase in utilisation and absorption capacity He further noted that Meghalaya is currently implementing externally aided projects worth nearly Rs 12000 crore exceeding the portfolios of several other small statesâThe point I am trying to make is that we often know the problems We understand the science the data and the analysis behind them But ultimately there has to be a will to make a differenceâ the Chief Minister saidSangma stressed the importance of identifying practical and locally relevant solutions rather than relying on onesizefitsall approachesReferring to Meghalayaâs efforts to reduce maternal mortality he said the government initially believed that increasing institutional deliveries alone would solve the problem but later realised that economic and logistical barriers were major factorsâWe were encouraging institutional deliveries without recognising the economic realities these mothers facedâ he saidThe Chief Minister explained that instead of investing heavily in ambulances the government created a locally adapted transport support mechanism involving community vehicle owners while also establishing Safe Motherhood Homes for expectant mothers from remote areasâThe lesson here is that we must identify where the actual problem lies and then design solutions that are practical affordable and tailored to local realitiesâ he addedReferring to the upcoming National Games and recently completed sports infrastructure projects including a Rs 160crore indoor stadium he said the real success of such investments would be measured by improvements in the lives and achievements of young athletesThe Chief Minister said Meghalaya has increasingly adopted an integrated governance approach linking health education nutrition rural development and social welfare He said this thinking eventually led to the creation of the MOTHER programme â Meghalayaâs Outcome and Transformation in Health Education Rural Development and Social Benefit â which brings multiple departments together around maternal and child welfareâWe are no longer looking at departments or schemes in isolation We are looking at a human life and asking how government can support that life at every stageâ he saidSangma further highlighted the link between economic empowerment and maternal and child health outcomes noting that the expansion of SelfHelp Groups in Meghalaya from around 4500 to nearly 60000 over the last eight years has contributed to broader social and developmental gainsEmphasising cooperative federalism the Chief Minister said states must continue learning from one another through platforms that encourage innovation collaboration and knowledge exchange âThere are no small states or big states when it comes to innovation and good governanceâ he saidThe threeday workshop has brought together policymakers development practitioners experts and government officials from across the country to deliberate on issues related to early childhood development behavioural science systems strengthening and adaptive leadership IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/meaningful-change-does-not-require-new-policies-meghalaya-cm-675912.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-legislative-council-polls-announced-for-7-vacancies-voting-on-june-18-675916.html Bengaluru June 1 Elections have been notified to fill seven vacant seats in the Karnataka Legislative Council following the retirement of sitting members The election notification was issued by Karnataka Legislative Assembly Secretary and Returning Officer MK Vishalakshi on MondayThe vacancies have arisen due to the retirement of Legislative Council members Govindaraju Congress Naseer Ahmed Congress MTB Nagaraj BJP Pratap Simha Nayak BJP Tippannappa Kamakanoor Congress Sunil Valyapure BJP and BK Hariprasad Congress The nomination process commenced immediately after the notification was issuedAccording to the election schedule June 8 has been fixed as the last date for filing nominations Scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted on June 9 while June 11 is the last date for withdrawal of candidaturePolling if required will be held on June 18 between 9 am and 4 pm at room number 106 first floor Vidhana Soudha The counting of votes will take place on the same day from 5 pm onwards and the election process will conclude by June 20 Karnataka Legislative Assembly Secretary Vishalakshi will be the election officer and Karnataka Legislative Assembly Director BS Mahalingesh would assistant election officer The candidates are directed to submit their nominations in Form D and a minimum of 10 sitting MLAs should put their signatures supporting the contestantThe candidates hailing from the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribe are required to deposit Rs 5000 and other candidates are required to deposit Rs 10000 while submitting nominations The election assumes significance as it comes amid ongoing political developments in Karnataka with major parties expected to field candidates based on legislative strength and political considerationsFurther details regarding candidates and party nominations are expected in the coming days IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-legislative-council-polls-announced-for-7-vacancies-voting-on-june-18-675916.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/trinamool-expels-ritabrata-banerjee-sandipan-saha-for-anti-party-activities-675920.html Kolkata June 1 The Trinamool Congress on Monday expelled two MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha for antiparty activities According to the party the decision has been communicated to them via email and WhatsApp as well as to West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Basu The development came minutes after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari addressing a press conference from the state secretariat Nabanna announced that it was Trinamool MLAs Ritabrata and Sandipan who had submitted a written complaint to the Speaker regarding the Assembly signature forgery caseBased on that the Assembly Secretariat filed a complaint with Hare Street Police Station Suvendu Adhikari said that as the Police Minister he ordered the stateâs Criminal Investigation Department CID to be involved in the investigation only after the matter came to his attention Within 15 minutes of the end of Suvenduâs press conference the Trinamool Congress decided to expel Uluberia Purba MLA Ritabrata and Entally MLA SandipanHowever the Trinamool officially said that the two MLAs were expelled for not attending meetings convened by party leadership indulging in antiparty activities and making statements against the partyAfter the expulsion Sandipan said the party supports those who do immoral things and expels those who act morally He added that they did not know signing an attendance sheet would be treated as signing a resolutionAccording to the rules the two MLAs will remain ânonpartyâ following their expulsion from the Trinamool Congress They will not be obliged to follow the partyâs whip or instructions in the Rajya Sabha elections or in any other case Trinamool will not be able to apply for cancellation of their membership in any separate incidentThis experience is not new for Ritabrata In 2014 the CPIM made him a Rajya Sabha MP and he served until 2020 But in 2017 the CPIM expelled him on various charges Since then he remained an independent MP in the Rajya Sabha for three years After the RG Kar rape and murder incident when Jawhar Sircar resigned from the Rajya Sabha midterm Ritabrata went to the upper house of Parliament for one and a half years on a Trinamool ticket Later Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee brought him into state politics and gave him a party ticket to contest the Assembly polls this year which he wonImmediately after the expulsion of Ritabrata and Sandipan Beliaghata MLA and party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh made a long post on Facebook without naming the two MLAs He wrote that it had not even been a month since the results were announced yet there was rebellion and betrayal in the partyHe questioned why they contested the election if they had so many allegations against the partyHe added that if Mamata Banerjee were the Chief Minister today many would have lobbied to become ministers but now they were distancing themselves by citing various reasonsHe termed this cowardice and said he would openly discuss the partyâs working methods in meetings and if necessary publiclyThe former ruling party faced complications under Assembly rules regarding who would be the Leader of the Opposition Deputy Leader and Chief Whip After the election results were declared on May 4 Mamata Banerjee called a meeting of winning MLAs at her Kalighat house on May 6 On that day MLAs agreed to the proposal that Mamata would decide who would be the partys leader deputy leader and chief whip in the AssemblySubsequently Trinamool Congress announced Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of the Opposition Nayna Bandyopadhyay and Asima Patra as deputy leaders and Firhad Hakim as Chief Whip A letter signed by Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee was sent to the Assembly but it was not acceptedThe reason was that the election of the leader of the Parliamentary party or other office bearers had to be done in a meeting of the Parliamentary party which was not followed After leaving the May 6 meeting several MLAs told the media that Mamata had been given the responsibility to decide the leadershipWhen the Assembly Speaker rejected Abhishekâs letter MLAs were made to sign the decision of the Parliamentary party at another meeting on May 19 in Kalighat Several MLAs said they were made to sign the minutes of the May 6 meeting which led to complicationsAfter taking over the probe the CID visited the homes of four MLAs to investigate the signature scandal Among them were Nayna Bandyopadhyay Kunal Ghosh Tapas Maity and Baharul IslamA controversy arose over Baharulâs signature Although it was signed in the May 19 meeting the letter submitted to the Assembly was dated May 6 Baharul was not present at Mamataâs house that day He said investigators wanted to know his whereabouts on May 6 and he told them he was at home in Bhangar due to postpoll violenceHe claimed he was shown a signature from that day but clarified it was not hisBaharul said he had also brought the matter to the partyâs attention On the other hand senior leader and Ballygunge MLA Sovandeb said he did not understand the matter and that no one was forced to signHe added that Baharul had said after seeing the signature that it was not hisThe CID summoned Abhishek Banerjee on Monday in connection with the signature case but he did not appear citing health conditions IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/trinamool-expels-ritabrata-banerjee-sandipan-saha-for-anti-party-activities-675920.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nominations-begin-for-rs-elections-scheduled-for-june-18-675921.html New Delhi June 1 Nominations for elections to 27 Rajya Sabha seats including biennial and byeelections and to the State Legislative Councils in 3 states began on Monday with the ECI issuing a formal notification an official said In case of contested elections the poll shall be held on June 18 from 8 AM to 4 PM followed by the counting of votes at 5 PM the Election Commission of India said in a statementâThe Commission has issued notifications regarding the election programme and has appointed Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers for both biennial and bye elections Details of the appointment have been published in the Gazette of IndiaState Gazettes todayâ said the statementWith this nominations for all these elections began at 11AM on Monday The last date for filing nominations is June 8 till 3 PM the ECI saidâThe scrutiny of nominations for each of these elections shall be taken up by the Returning Officers ROs concerned on June 9 2026 The last date for withdrawal of candidatures is fixed on June 11â said the statementThe biennial elections for 24 Rajya Sabha seats will be held in Andhra Pradesh Gujarat Jharkhand Madhya Pradesh Manipur Meghalaya Rajasthan Arunachal Pradesh Karnataka and MizoramRajya Sabha byeelections will be held in Maharashtra Tamil Nadu and Odisha for one seat each said the ECIIn Bihar the biennial election for the State Legislative Council will be held for nine seats In Karnataka the biennial election for the State Legislative Council will be held for seven seatsThe lone byeelection for the State Legislative Council will be held in Bihar The byeelection will be conducted for the seat vacated by former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after his election to the Rajya SabhaAnd biennial elections in Bihar will be held for nine seats whose members are set to complete their terms on June 28 The nine outgoing members include Dr Kumud Verma Professor Ghulam Ghaus Mohammad Farooq Bhishma Sahani Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha Sanjay Prakash Sameer Kumar Singh Samrat Choudhary and Sunil Kumar SinghAmong these the seats previously held by Samrat Choudhary and Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha are already vacant because both leaders were elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nominations-begin-for-rs-elections-scheduled-for-june-18-675921.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/conspiracy-behind-move-to-set-up-farmers-discom-kavitha-675815.html Hyderabad June 1 Telangana Rakshana Samithi TRS leader K Kavitha on Sunday alleged that there is a conspiracy behind the Congress governmentâs move to set up farmersâ DISCOM She alleged that the government was trying to privatise the remaining two DISCOMS by creating a farmersâ DISCOMAddressing a press conference she reacted to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddyâs remarks during an informal chat with media persons that the government will not scrap 24hour free power to farmers and that meters will not be installed for agricultural connectionsShe demanded that the Chief Minister officially make the announcement instead of speaking during the informal chat with the mediaShe also challenged the Chief Minister to announce that he will not seek votes in the elections if the remaining two DISCOMs are privatised She said her party would approach even the Supreme Court to counter the conspiracy by the governmentShe said that when this Chief Minister claims he will not scrap free electricity it only raises more suspicion She demanded that instead of chitchat he should hold a press meet and tell the people the same thingStating that the Chief Minister has not honoured the promises made in public meetings she expressed doubts if he would stick to the words he is saying nowShe appealed that the Electricity Regulatory Commission ERC should not give permission to the farmers DISCOM that harms farmers under any circumstances She said that if permission is given they will stop it even if they have to go to the Supreme Court Kavitha said that they have already filed a case on behalf of Telangana JagrutiKavitha said that Revanth Reddy who kept the farmers DISCOM secret for six months is now speaking slyly under the guise of chitchatShe challenged that if there is truly no intention to privatise the DISCOMs do they have the courage to go before the people in the coming elections and say soShe said that past bitter experiences are the reason why they cannot trust even when this Chief Minister says it so firmlyShe claimed that this time under the Rythu Bharosa scheme the government provided financial assistance only to those with less than two acres Farm loan waiver has not reached even 30 per cent of the people The government is also trying to back out on the bonus for farmersâThey promised to procure even the last grain of paddy but have still not done the procurement properlyâ she said and alleged that the government conspired to turn the farmers insurance into accidental insurance She said that all the actions taken by this government so far have been against the farmers Thats why there is no trust in the words spoken by the Chief Minister Kavitha saidKavitha also alleged that under the guise of reforms the Union Government is wiping out small and mediumscale solar playersShe said that a new GO has been brought saying that only companies manufacturing solar panels and batteries in India will get the opportunity and only five days time has been given She demanded that the Centre should immediately withdraw this issue that harms lakhs of small traders IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/conspiracy-behind-move-to-set-up-farmers-discom-kavitha-675815.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/shivakumar-asks-ktaka-students-to-carry-forward-legacy-of-iisc-isro-hal-avoids-comments-on-hijab-row-675834.html Bengaluru June 1 IANS Karnataka Chief Ministerdesignate and State Congress President DK Shivakumar on Monday extended best wishes to students on commencement of the new academic year He noted that some of Indias premier institutions including IISc NLSIU ISRO and HAL are located in Karnataka and asked students to carry forward their legacy He refused to be drawn into the hijabsaffron shawl controversynbspResponding to questions from reporters about the governments reported move to lift restrictions on the hijab tilak kada kalava holy ash in schools and the subsequent calls by some Hindu organisations for students to wear saffron shawls Shivakumar declined to engage in the debateWe will discuss it later Whether it is a saffron shawl or a Tricolour shawl we will discuss it at the appropriate time This is not the time to discuss the matter he saidnbspFocussing on the reopening of schools Shivakumar conveyed his greetings to students and urged them to make the most of the opportunities aheadnbspToday marks the beginning of a new academic year On behalf of the government and personally I extend my best wishes to all students entering the new academic year he saidnbspHighlighting Karnatakas contribution to education and human resource development Shivakumar said the state has produced generations of accomplished professionals who have made significant contributions across the worldMany people who received their foundational education in Karnataka have gone on to contribute immensely to humanity Karnatakas rich educational heritage continues to attract attention from across the globe We have produced outstanding scientists lawyers professors and professionals in various fields he saidnbspHe noted that some of the countrys premier institutions including the Indian Institute of Science IISc the Indian Institute of Management IIM the National Law School of India University NLSIU the Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO and major public sector undertakings such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited HAL are located in KarnatakaStudents must carry forward this legacy We are entering a new era shaped by technology and innovation Artificial Intelligence has arrived and in the coming days I will share my thoughts and plans regarding AI as well as the states education policy on primary education he saidnbspAddressing students from rural areas Shivakumar urged them not to feel disadvantaged in comparison to their urban counterpartsnbspNo student should lose confidence Do not compare yourselves with others Our teachers are capable and the SSLC Class 10 examination results are proof of the quality of education in our schools We are committed to further improving the education system and giving it a new direction he saidnbspHe added that the present and future government would continue to support students and work towards strengthening educational opportunities across the statenbspShivakumar concluded by stating that he and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah were leaving for New Delhi later in the day and declined to comment further on political mattersIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/shivakumar-asks-ktaka-students-to-carry-forward-legacy-of-iisc-isro-hal-avoids-comments-on-hijab-row-675834.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sad-alleges-political-vendetta-after-punjab-police-raid-on-majithias-residence-675838.html New Delhi June 1 IANS Shiromani Akali Dal SAD leaders strongly criticised the government after Punjab Police conducted a raid at the Amritsar residence of its senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia after a major clash alleging that the action was politicallymotivated and part of a broader campaign to target the OppositionnbspThe raid was carried out at Majithias Green Avenue residence following a major political standoff and clash at a local police stationAfter the confrontation Amritsar Police registered a First Information Report FIR against Majithia and several Akali Dal workersTo trace the accused named in the case police constituted 12 special teams and launched coordinated searches leading to the early morning operation at Majithias houseReacting to the development SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal accused the ruling dispensation of pursuing a political agenda against the senior Akali leaderThis is all political vendetta They are frustrated and misleading people They put in their full effort in Majithias constituency first to cancel votes and then for booth capturing but still Majithia Sahib won Now they have made it a prestige issue to put him in jail This is all a planned operation by the Punjab government Sukhbir Singh Badal claimedSAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal also questioned the police action and alleged irregularities in the handling of the caseFirst he is taken out from the police station and no action is taken against him Then the person who was allegedly kept in illegal confinement at the SHOs residence without any warrant or FIR and who was supposedly going to be killed in a staged encounter at night is rescued After that an FIR is registered against Majithia she allegedThe raid marks the latest flashpoint in the longrunning confrontation between Bikram Singh Majithia and the Punjab government The senior Akali leader has been at the centre of several investigations and legal battles in recent years In June 2025 he was also arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in connection with a separate enquiryWhile the Punjab Police has maintained that the searches were part of an ongoing investigation linked to the FIR registered after the police station clash the SAD has accused the government of using law enforcement agencies to settle political scoresIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sad-alleges-political-vendetta-after-punjab-police-raid-on-majithias-residence-675838.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/fairpoint-amit-shahs-border-mission-set-to-become-new-political-moment-675780.html New Delhi May 31 When Union Home Minister Amit Shah set out to review and secure Indias international borders it may have appeared to be a routine exercise After all border security falls squarely within the Home Ministrys responsibilities But there is something different about this exercise In nearly eight decades of Independence India has rarely witnessed a government pursue border security with such intensity and political focus Previous governments spoke about strengthening national security The Modi government is attempting something far more expansive It wants to identify infiltration networks check illegal encroachments plug loopholes in the system and address what it sees as the longterm consequences of unchecked illegal migration across Indias bordersThat is why this mission deserves attentionAs the Modi government enters its thirteenth year in office it is taking decisions that affect not only external security but also internal stability For decades infiltration from across Indias borders particularly from Bangladesh and Pakistan remained a subject of political debate but rarely received sustained administrative attentionToday the issue can no longer be ignored The situation has reached a point where the government believes that illegal infiltrators are not only compromising national security but also placing pressure on public resources They are taking away employment opportunities from local youth and most worryingly contributing to a demographic shiftWhat makes the present debate unusual is the emphasis on demography Never before has a government at the Centre spoken so openly about demographic change as a matter of national concern For decades such discussions remained confined to academic studies census reports and occasional political speeches Today they are part of mainstream political discourse It is perhaps for the first time in independent Indias history that attempts to alter demographic balances are being discussed and treated as a matter of national concernCensus data shows that Hindus constituted about 84 per cent of Indias population in 1951 while Muslims accounted for 98 per cent By 2011 the Hindu share had declined to around 798 per cent while the Muslim share had risen to 142 per centThe debate over demography cannot be separated from the legacy of Partition The creation of Pakistan was justified on the basis of religion but millions of Muslims chose to remain in India and became equal citizens of the new Republic Over the decades concerns have periodically surfaced over demographic changes in certain regions particularly along Indias eastern border These changes cannot be viewed in isolation from illegal immigration from neighbouring countries The Muslim population growth rate remains higher than that of Hindus and several other communities This stands in sharp contrast to Pakistan and Bangladesh where the share of religious minorities has steadily declined over the decadesDifferent political groups draw different conclusions from these figures But they have undoubtedly become a major reference point in discussions on demography and migrationAddressing the Narendra Mohan Memorial Lecture in October 2025 on the theme of Infiltration Demographic Change and Democracy Amit Shah said that demographic shifts in several border regions were linked not only to fertility rates but also to decades of illegal infiltration from neighbouring countriesWest Bengal has emerged as the most prominent example in this debate Recent reports and investigations relating to undocumented Bangladeshi migrants forged identity documents and alleged infiltration networks have intensified political scrutiny BJP leaders have accused the Trinamool Congress of facilitating such networks for electoral gain They argue that resistance to complete border fencing under the Mamata Banerjee government must be viewed in this context According to this argument gaps in enforcement created conditions in which infiltration networks could flourish and eventually become part of a larger votebank ecosystemQuestions are now being asked that were rarely asked with such urgency before How did illegal entrants obtain documentation Who enabled them How widespread are these networks And why were corrective measures delayed for so longSimilar concerns have been raised in Assam and other parts of the Northeast Amit Shah has previously pointed to Census trends in Assam and argued that demographic changes in several districts cannot be understood without taking infiltration into account He has noted that the decadal growth rate of the Muslim population in Assam according to the 2011 Census stood at 296 per cent and argued that such growth could not be explained without considering illegal immigration He has made similar observations about districts in West Bengal and about demographic changes affecting tribal populations in parts of JharkhandThese developments have revived longstanding concerns that were often dismissed or treated as secondary in public discourse For decades infiltration was treated primarily as a lawandorder issue The Modi government is treating it as a demographic political and national security issue as wellThat shift explains the Centres decision to constitute a HighLevel Committee to study demographic changes arising from illegal immigration and other abnormal factors Prime Minister Narendra Modis announcement of a Demography Mission in 2025 reflected the governments intention to place the issue at the heart of policymakingAs the Modi government enters its thirteenth year in office with a historic win in West Bengal the political ground is shifting beneath the feet of parties that relied on identitybased votebank calculationsFor the BJP border security is no longer merely an administrative responsibility It has become part of a larger political project The slogan of detect delete and deport has moved from campaign rhetoric to government policyWhether this approach delivers the results remains to be seen But it is increasingly finding resonance among a large section of the population who believe that infiltration demography and national security can no longer be discussed separatelyFor decades the issue of infiltration surfaced periodically in political debates and then faded from public attention Today it occupies the centre of national discourse Whether the Modi governments approach ultimately succeeds or faces resistance one thing is clear border security is no longer being discussed only in terms of fences and checkpoints It is now tied to questions of identity representation resources and the future character of regions along Indias frontiers After years of silence the country is having a conversation it avoided for far too longDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/fairpoint-amit-shahs-border-mission-set-to-become-new-political-moment-675780.html Sun, 31 May 2026 16:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sir-phase-iii-enumeration-house-visits-by-blos-begin-in-odisha-mizoram-sikkim-manipur-675794.html New Delhi May 31 The Election Commission of India ECI said on Sunday that the enumeration phase under the Special Intensive Revision â Phase III has started for Odisha Mizoram Sikkim and Manipur An official said in a statement that the enumeration phase for Odisha Mizoram Sikkim and Manipur began on SaturdayAll eligible electors whose Enumeration Forms are received by the Electoral Registration Officer ERO on or before June 28 2026 will be included in the Draft Electoral Rolls the ECI saidElectors who are unable to submit their Enumeration Forms by June 28 2026 may apply through Form6 along with the prescribed Declaration Form during the claims and objections period it addedDuring the enumeration phase of SIR Booth Level Officers BLOs conduct housetohouse visits and provide Enumeration Forms to all existing electorsThe ECI said electors may submit the duly filled form either through the BLO or onlineTo ensure maximum coverage BLOs will visit each household for distribution collection and verification of formsDuring housetohouse enumeration the BLOs carry at least 30 blank Form6 along with blank Declaration Forms to supply to anyone who seeks to enroll as a new elector it addedWith a view to ensure more involvement of political parties the Commission has allowed Booth Level Agents BLAs of recognised political parties to collect from the public up to 50 formsday and hand it over to the BLO before the Draft Publication the ECI saidNational and staterecognised political parties may appoint more BLAs to assist BLOs in the smooth and effective conduct of the SIR process the Commission addedThe ECI in exercise of its powers under Article 324 of the Constitution of India Section 21 along with other applicable provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1950 ordered SIR in 16 states and 3 Union Territories UTs on May 14The Commission said the main objective of the SIR is No eligible citizen is left out while no ineligible person is included in the Electoral RollEvery person who is a citizen of India and who is not less than 18 years of age on the qualifying date and is not otherwise disqualified under any law shall be entitled to be registered in the electoral roll the ECI addedIn Odisha there are 334 crore electors 38123 BLOs and 8391 BLAs of political parties In Mizoram there are 875 lakh voters 1353 BLOs and 3430 BLAs Sikkim has 471 electors 572 BLOs and 681 BLAs the ECI saidIn Manipur there are 2092 lakh electors 2996 BLOs and 5003 BLAs the ECI said urging electors to cooperate with election officials during the housetohouse visits IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sir-phase-iii-enumeration-house-visits-by-blos-begin-in-odisha-mizoram-sikkim-manipur-675794.html Sun, 31 May 2026 18:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajeev-krishna-appointed-uttar-pradeshs-new-dgp-675801.html Lucknow May 31 Yogi Adityanathled Uttar Pradesh government announced the appointment of Acting DGP Rajeev Krishna as the new Director General of Police DGP of the state on Sunday An order to this effect was released in a notification signed by Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Prasad The move brings an end to the prolonged wait for a fullterm DGP for the state as the post purportedly remained vacant after the removal of then DGP Mukul Goyal from the post in 2022Rajeev Krishna has been commanding the state police force in the capacity of Acting DGP and now with the announcement of his elevation as the permanent police chief this ends a long hiatus of four years for the top postThe 1991 batch officer Rajiv Krishnaâs name as the new DGP was finalised following deliberations by a panel of three senior officers submitted by the Union Public Service Commission UPSCThe Commission had forwarded the names of 1990batch IPS officer Renuka Mishra 1991batch IPS officers Piyush Anand and Rajiv Krishna to the state governmentThe UP government decided to entrust the leadership of the police force to Rajiv Krishna taking into account administrative experience expertise in lawandorder management and organisational capabilitiesHis appointment comes at a juncture when the state government has prioritised crime control technologydriven policing and maintaining a lawandorder environment conducive to investmentRajiv Krishna in his threedecadelong policing career has served in various pivotal positions related to intelligence operations lawandorder maintenance police modernisation and administrative managementPrior to assuming the role of Acting DGP he held key responsibilities such as Director General Intelligence and Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion BoardRajiv Krishna also holds significant experience in field policing he has served as the Police Chief in several key districts including Lucknow Agra Mathura Etawah and Gautam Buddha Nagar Noida During his tenure in Etawah his role in the operations conducted against bandit gangs garnered particular acclaimIn addition to this he has served as the ADG of the Lucknow Zone and while on central deputation held the position of IG Operations in the Border Security Force BSFRajiv Krishna was born on June 26 1969 in Gautam Buddha Nagar As an officer of the 1991 batch of the Indian Police Service IPS he joined the services on September 15 1991 Throughout his career having earned promotions at various levels he attained the rank of Director General of Police in February 2024 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajeev-krishna-appointed-uttar-pradeshs-new-dgp-675801.html Sun, 31 May 2026 19:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/police-search-trinamool-mla-madan-mitras-kamarhati-house-seize-documents-675803.html Kolkata May 31 Police conducted a search operation at Trinamool Congress MLA Madan Mitras house in the Kamarhati area of North 24 Parganas district on Sunday Barrackpore Police Commissionerate Deputy Commissioner South Dyutiman Bhattacharya led the search operationWhen the police reached Madan Mitras house on Sunday afternoon it was locked and the MLA was not present However the police broke open the lock and entered the premises After conducting a search for around an hour they locked the house again and leftIt is learnt that the house is named Uday Villa Trinamool Congress MLA from the Kamarhati Assembly constituency Madan Mitra also has a party office there Allegedly the land on which the house stands belongs to a central agency The police are investigating how the structure was built on land allegedly owned by a central agencyAccording to the police a large contingent entered the Uday Villa premises at around 1 pm According to local sources Madan Mitra occasionally stays at the house However it is still unclear whether he is the owner of the property The police said some documents were seized following the hourlong search operationAccording to sources close to Madan Mitra he is currently at his residence in south Kolkata The Trinamool Congress is scheduled to hold a meeting at Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjees Kalighat residence on Sunday eveningPolitical circles are keeping a close watch on how many of the 80 Trinamool Congress MLAs who won the Assembly elections will attend the meeting Sources claimed that Madan Mitra is in Kolkata to attend the gatheringSince the change of government in the state police and civic body officials have begun a crackdown on illegal constructions in and around the city that had mushroomed during the Trinamool Congress governments tenure Most of these illegal constructions were allegedly built with the support of Trinamool Congress leaders and promoters or real estate developers under the patronage of influential party leadersIn several areas bulldozer drives have been carried out to demolish such illegal constructions IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/police-search-trinamool-mla-madan-mitras-kamarhati-house-seize-documents-675803.html Sun, 31 May 2026 19:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-krishi-sinchayee-yojana-strengthens-water-conservation-and-irrigation-in-ajmer-villages-675804.html Ajmer May 31 Under the Central governments flagship Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana PMKSY several water conservation and irrigation development projects worth crores of rupees have been undertaken in various villages of Rajasthans Ajmer district These initiatives have improved water availability in rural areas while also contributing significantly to rainwater conservation and groundwater recharge According to Shalabh Tandon District Nodal Officer for the Vande Ganga Water Conservation Campaign multiple waterrelated infrastructure projects have been developed under the schemeIn Tikawada village water recharge shafts tanks water conservation structures and rainwater harvesting facilities have been constructed These measures help store rainwater and improve groundwater levelsTandon said The second phase of the scheme is currently being implemented It is a major project with a budget running into several crores of rupeesSupported by the Central government the scheme aims to ensure that water reaches every farm while promoting efficient management of water resourcesHe also noted that culverts have also been constructed in highway areas with a focus on water drainage and conservation These structures enable better utilisation of rainwater and support groundwater replenishmentThe ongoing work under PMKSY has brought significant relief to rural communities in AjmerFarmers are reportedly benefiting from improved irrigation facilities while the projects are also helping secure future water needsThe scheme aims to reflect the Union governments vision of Har Khet Ko Pani Water to Every Field and Per Drop More Crop on the groundMeanwhile Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday announced that the state will give top priority to the Central governments Jal Jeevan Mission the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana PMKSY and various statelevel water conservation initiativesThe announcement followed a highlevel meeting chaired by Union Jal Shakti Minister CR PaatilThe Central government responded positively to Maharashtras financial and infrastructural demands aimed at expediting pending water projects Chief Minister Fadnavis saidHe told reporters that the meeting extensively reviewed ongoing irrigation projects under the PMKSYHe said he had requested additional funds to complete pending projects and received assurances of substantial financial assistance from the Centre IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-krishi-sinchayee-yojana-strengthens-water-conservation-and-irrigation-in-ajmer-villages-675804.html Sun, 31 May 2026 19:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/punjabs-law-and-order-alarming-says-haryana-cm-nayab-saini-675807.html Chandigarh May 31 Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday said that the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party are working in tandem and share a similar ideology Referring to the just held municipal elections in Punjab he said the manner in which law and order was allegedly compromised had raised serious questions about the democratic systemHe said that by conducting the elections through ballot papers the state government demonstrated that it was apprehensive about facing defeat in a transparent democratic processSpeaking to the media in Kapurthala city CM Saini said the state government had made big promises to the people but failed to fulfil them He added that the public now understood that development cannot be achieved merely through announcements and false assurancesThe Chief Minister said the Aam Aadmi Party government should inform the people how many of the promises made during elections have actually been fulfilled He said the expected progress in development works has not been achieved and that the law and order situation in the state has continuously deterioratedGangster and criminal activities have increased in Punjab leading to a growing sense of insecurity among ordinary citizens He said the governmentâs antidrug campaign âYudh Nashe Virudhâ has also failed to deliver the expected resultsâInstead of taking concrete measures to protect the youth from drug abuse and eradicate the menace more focus is on publicityâ He said the government should have made more serious efforts in this direction but the desired outcomes are not visible on the groundThe Chief Minister said Haryanaâs doubleengine government has worked to deliver public welfare benefits directly to the people through various schemes By integrating the Central governmentâs Ayushman Bharat Scheme with the state governmentâs Chirayu Scheme lakhs of families in Haryana have been provided access to better healthcare facilitiesHe said the government has taken effective steps to ensure free treatment for the poor and needy people He said the people of Punjab are increasingly placing their trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his developmentoriented policies and in the coming times they will work towards bringing the BJP to power in the stateHe added that the people âwant development good governance and accountability in politics and will no longer be satisfied with mere promisesâEarlier CM Saini also visited Dera Radha Soami Satsang Beas and paid a courtesy call on Dera chief Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon During the meeting the Chief Minister sought his blessings and held discussions on various social and spiritual issues IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/punjabs-law-and-order-alarming-says-haryana-cm-nayab-saini-675807.html Sun, 31 May 2026 20:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ministers-swearing-in-to-be-decided-by-high-command-ktaka-cm-designate-shivakumar-675811.html Bengaluru May 31 Congress Legislature Party CLP leader and Karnataka Chief Ministerdesignate DK Shivakumar on Sunday said the party high command would decide whether ministers would take oath along with him during the swearingin ceremony scheduled for June 3 adding that he would not comment further on the matter Responding to a question on the composition of the new government Shivakumar said I do not know about that The party high command will take a decision I do not wish to comment on the matterSpeaking to reporters after inspecting the site earmarked for the proposed Congress Bhavan near Race Course Road Shivakumar said the party was considering holding the foundation stonelaying ceremony for the new office building immediately after the swearingin ceremonyAfter the swearingin ceremony on June 3 we are planning to hold the bhoomi puja for the construction of the Congress Bhavan near Race Course Road AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi are yet to confirm their availability he saidShivakumar said invitations would be extended to all block and district Congress presidents MLAs former MLAs presidents of various party frontal organisations Members of Parliament and chairpersons of different corporations and boardsThis programme will not be open to the general public Our party workers should excuse us Due to space constraints at the venue only invited guests will be accommodated he saidHe added that the invitation for the event was yet to be formally handed over to Rahul Gandhi Preparations for the ceremony are being coordinated under the leadership of senior Congress leader Ramalinga ReddyReferring to the swearingin ceremony Shivakumar said arrangements had been made for party leaders and officebearers to watch the proceedings on LED screens at the Congress office as it would not be possible to invite everyone to the venueWe should at least provide this opportunity to the leaders who worked and struggled for us he saidWhen asked about plans to lay foundation stones for 100 party offices across the state Shivakumar said the initiative would be taken up in the coming daysOn the choice of venue for the swearingin ceremony Shivakumar said the event would be held at Lok Bhavan instead of the steps of Vidhana Soudha to avoid inconvenience to Bengaluru residents and prevent traffic congestion caused by a large influx of vehiclesSince the event is being conducted in a simple manner it will not be possible to accommodate a large crowd Our party workers should excuse us he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ministers-swearing-in-to-be-decided-by-high-command-ktaka-cm-designate-shivakumar-675811.html Sun, 31 May 2026 20:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ukranian-president-zelenskyy-warns-of-major-russian-strike-675814.html Washington May 31 IANS Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia is preparing a fresh largescale assault involving drones cruise missiles and ballistic missiles while urging the United States to accelerate the supply and production of air defence interceptors that Kyiv says are critical to protecting civiliansnbspIn an interview with CBS News Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan Zelenskyy said Ukrainian intelligence and information shared by Western partners indicated a high probability of a major Russian attack in the coming daysToday at night or tomorrow at night high percent of course nobody knows 100 per cent but there is a high percent Zelenskyy said adding that Ukrainians would be urged to use bomb shelters and take extra precautionsThe Ukrainian leader said Russia continued to launch daily attacks and had recently carried out one of its largest barrages of the warLast massive attack it was 600 drones and about 30 plus ballistic missiles he said describing ballistic missile defence as Ukraines biggest deficitZelenskyy revealed that he had sent letters to both the White House and the US Congress requesting additional support particularly antiballistic missile systems and interceptorsThis is the priority for us and big big challenge he said We have deficit with anti ballistic This is big problemThe Ukrainian President argued that the issue was no longer one of funding but of manufacturing capacity He said current production levels were insufficient to meet growing global demand 60 65 missiles per month for todays challenges its nothing he said We need to do production widerZelenskyy again pressed Washington to allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missile components under licenceI asked previous administration I am asking todays administration give Ukraine licenses We will increase the production of Patriot missiles he saidThe Ukrainian leader also said Russia appeared to be testing NATO responses through drone incidents involving neighbouring countriesRussia uses this just to attack politically and by weapon pressure on NATO countries to look at the reaction he said referring to reported drone incidents affecting Romania and other countries near UkraineOn diplomacy Zelenskyy said he remained willing to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin but argued that stronger sanctions were needed to bring Moscow to serious negotiationsI think we need more sanctions I think we need more pressure he said More sanctions more pressure they will be ready for the dialogueHe also suggested that Britain France and Germany could play leading roles in future European mediation efforts while noting Turkiyes previous involvement in prisoner exchangesZelenskyy criticised recent easing of some sanctions on Russian oil exports arguing that such moves indirectly strengthened Russias war effortLifting sanctions is a help for the soldiers of Russia Its very helpful for their defence industry he saidThe Ukrainian President also renewed allegations that Russia had forcibly removed thousands of Ukrainian children He said Kyiv had identified about 20000 children and managed to return roughly 2200We need more help We need more help We need thousands children to get them back he saidZelenskyy further disclosed that Ukraine was pursuing drone technology partnerships with European and Middle Eastern countries and hoped to finalise a major agreement with the United StatesHe said cooperation between American artificial intelligence firms and Ukrainian battlefield innovators could become the most powerful in the worldAsked what was needed to move the proposed drone partnership forward Zelenskyy replied Yes we need President Trump to say yesRussias fullscale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022 and has become Europes largest conflict since World War IIThe war has resulted in hundreds of thousands of military casualties and widespread destruction across Ukraine while prompting extensive Western military and financial support for KyivIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ukranian-president-zelenskyy-warns-of-major-russian-strike-675814.html Sun, 31 May 2026 22:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-appoints-girish-chodankar-as-goa-pcc-chief-675636.html New Delhi May 30 In a major organisational reshuffle ahead of upcoming political battles in Goa the All India Congress Committee AICC has announced a fresh team for the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee GPCC The appointments announced by AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal took effect immediately on May 29 2026According to the official press release Girish Chodankar has been appointed as the new President of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee The party has also named three working presidents MK Shaikh Altone DâCosta and Adv Carlos Alvares Ferriera Datta D Naik has been appointed as the treasurerThe Congress expressed gratitude to outgoing PCC president Amit Patkar for his contributions to the partyThe high command has also approved appointments for key committees to strengthen the partyâs structure in the coastal stateOn the campaign committee Yuri Alemao has been appointed chairperson while Captain Viriato Fernandes has been appointed chairperson of the manifesto committee Francisco Sardinha and Sunil Kawthankar have been appointed chairperson and coâchairperson of the coordination committeeThe decision is seen as a strategic move by the Congress high command to revitalise the party in Goa where it has been trying to regain lost ground after electoral setbacksGirish Chodankar a senior leader with strong organisational experience is expected to lead efforts to consolidate the partyâs base and prepare for future assembly and parliamentary contestsThe new team is expected to focus on grassroots mobilisation issueâbased campaigns and effective coordination with central leadershipFurther details regarding the full organisational structure are likely to be announced in the coming daysThis development is being closely watched in Goan political circles as it may significantly influence the Congressâs strategy for the next electoral cycle The inclusion of leaders from different regions and communities reflects the partyâs attempt to broaden its appeal in the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-appoints-girish-chodankar-as-goa-pcc-chief-675636.html Sat, 30 May 2026 12:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-legislature-party-meeting-in-ktaka-today-to-elect-new-leader-following-siddaramaiahs-exit-as-cm-675639.html New Delhi May 30 The Congress Legislature Party in Karnataka has convened a meeting on Saturday amid ongoing political developments following Siddaramaiahs resignation as Chief Minister The meeting has been convened to elect a new leader of the Congress Legislature Party who is expected to become the partyâs choice for the Chief Ministerâs postThe CLP meeting will begin at 4 PM at the Conference Hall of Vidhana Soudha Siddaramaiah who is currently the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party will preside over the meetingKarnataka Pradesh Congress Committee KPCC President DK Shivakumar AICC General Secretary and Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala Legislative Council floor leader NS Bose Raju and all executive presidents of the party will be present at the meetingThe announcement was made by Allamaprabhu Patil MLA and Secretary of the Congress Legislature PartyAll Members of the Legislative Assembly MLAs Members of the Legislative Council MLCs Lok Sabha members and Rajya Sabha members have been asked to attend the meetingMeanwhile Siddaramaiah left Delhi after meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge He is expected to arrive at HAL Airport in Bengaluru at 530 PM on FridayBefore departing from Delhi Siddaramaiah DK Shivakumar Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah and former minister KH Muniyappa had lunch togetherSiddaramaiah also met AICC General Secretary Organisation KC Venugopal in Delhi Later he held discussions for some time with DK Shivakumar and former minister KJ GeorgeInterestingly Karnataka Minister HK Patil on Friday said that DK Shivakumar is set to become the next Chief Minister and will likely take oath within the next two daysSpeaking to IANS Patil said âShivakumar is already the Chief Ministerdesignate Yesterday when former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his thoughts and spoke about the discussions held in Delhi he clearly stated that he had been advised to resign and that Shivakumar should be made the next Chief Minister From that moment itself it became clear that Shivakumar would be our next Chief Ministerâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-legislature-party-meeting-in-ktaka-today-to-elect-new-leader-following-siddaramaiahs-exit-as-cm-675639.html Sat, 30 May 2026 12:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/fuel-surcharge-imposition-in-up-consumers-to-pay-10-pc-extra-on-june-power-bills-675665.html Lucknow May 30 The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited UPPCL has formally notified a 10 per cent Fuel and Power Purchase Adjustment Surcharge FPPAS on electricity bills for June a move that will affect consumers across all categories in the state The surcharge has been imposed to recover the additional expenditure incurred on power procurement and transmission costs in accordance with regulations framed by the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory CommissionAccording to an order issued on May 29 the 10 per cent increase corresponding to the month of March will be recovered through electricity bills issued in June The decision means consumers will have to bear an additional burden on their monthly power bills as part of the fuel surcharge adjustment mechanismThe Fuel and Power Purchase Adjustment Surcharge is levied to compensate distribution companies for fluctuations in fuel prices and the increased cost of purchasing electricity from various sourcesThe development comes at a time when several parts of Uttar Pradesh are witnessing widespread and prolonged power outages amid an intense heatwave that has pushed temperatures beyond 45 degrees Celsius in many districtsThe soaring temperatures have significantly increased electricity consumption as households commercial establishments and industries rely heavily on cooling appliances and other electrical equipment to cope with the extreme weather conditionsAs a result electricity demand across the state has surged sharply and is reported to be up by nearly 5000 MW compared to previous yearsAlthough Uttar Pradesh has expanded its transmission infrastructure and enhanced its power transmission capacity in recent years officials acknowledge that the increase has not kept pace with the rapidly growing demand from consumers IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/fuel-surcharge-imposition-in-up-consumers-to-pay-10-pc-extra-on-june-power-bills-675665.html Sat, 30 May 2026 13:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-congress-chief-shivakumar-meets-governor-ahead-of-clp-meeting-675673.html Bengaluru May 30 Congress Karnataka unit President DK Shivakumar a strong contender for the post of Chief Minister met Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at Raj Bhavan on Saturday and held an informal discussion ahead of the crucial Congress Legislature Party CLP meeting Former Congress MP and his brother DK Suresh accompanied him His brother and former Congress MP DK Suresh accompanied himSources close to Shivakumar said the meeting was held to discuss logistical arrangements for the swearingin ceremony in the event of his elevation as Chief Minister The meeting assumed significance as the Governor is scheduled to leave for the temple town of Dharmasthala later in the afternoonAccording to sources astrologers have suggested June 1 June 3 and June 5 as auspicious dates for the oathtaking ceremony Shivakumar is understood to have discussed these dates with the Governor and sought to finalise a suitable date for the swearingin Deliberations were also reportedly held on whether the ceremony should be conducted on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha or at Raj BhavanSources indicated that June 3 is emerging as the most likely date for the swearingin ceremony and the Governors office has been informed accordingly Meanwhile intense lobbying has begun within Congress for the post of Deputy Chief Minister Senior leaders MB Patil and Eshwar Khandre are said to be staking claim to the position from the Lingayat communityFormer Assembly Speaker UT Khader veteran Congress MLA Tanveer Sait and former minister Zameer Ahmad Khan a close associate of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are also reportedly in the race for the Deputy Chief Ministers postBoth Khader who hails from coastal Karnataka and Tanveer Sait from Mysuru district did not get an opportunity to serve in the Siddaramaiah Cabinet Sait had recently stated that he would not be unhappy over Siddaramaiahs resignation from the Chief Ministers postSenior leaders G Parameshwara and HC Mahadevappa both from the Scheduled Caste community are also hopeful of securing the Deputy Chief Ministers position amid speculation that the Congress high command may consider accommodating Siddaramaiahs son Yathindra Siddaramaiah in a key roleHowever sources said the party leadership is also examining the possibility of not creating any Deputy Chief Minister posts given the intense competition and competing claims from various communities and factionsSources further indicated that between 12 and 14 legislators are likely to be sworn in as ministers along with the new Chief MinisterShivakumars meeting with the Governor took place before the commencement of the CLP meeting as the Governor is scheduled to leave for Dharmasthala after 1 pmMeanwhile caretaker Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday received grievances from members of the public at his Cauvery residence He is travelling to Pavagada town in Tumakuru district to attend the final rites of former minister Venkataramanappa and return to Bengaluru by 140 pm and take part in the CLP meeting scheduled at 4 pm IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-congress-chief-shivakumar-meets-governor-ahead-of-clp-meeting-675673.html Sat, 30 May 2026 13:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajya-sabha-poll-in-meghalaya-set-for-june-18-as-incumbents-term-expires-675587.html Shillong May 29 Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer CEO Dr BDR Tiwari said on Friday that polling for the election to one Rajya Sabha seat from the state will be held on June 18 with vote counting scheduled later the same day The announcement was made after a meeting convened by the CEO with representatives of various political parties at the Main Secretariat Building in Shillong to brief them on the election process and statutory requirementsAccording to the election schedule the official notification for the Rajya Sabha election will be issued on June 1 while June 8 has been fixed as the last date for filing nominationsScrutiny of nomination papers will take place on June 9 and candidates will be allowed to withdraw their nominations till June 11Polling will be conducted from 9 am to 4 pm on June 18 followed by counting of votes at 5 pm the same dayThe entire election process is expected to be completed before June 20Addressing the media after the meeting Dr Tiwari said political parties were given detailed presentations on the election schedule nomination procedures method of voting counting process and legal compliances to be followed by candidates and partiesElection officials informed party representatives about the mandatory submission of nomination papers including Form 2C affidavits in Form 26 security deposits oath or affirmation requirements and Forms AA and BB for partysponsored candidates Provisions related to Forms C1 to C8 were also explained during the sessionSpecial emphasis was laid on compliance with Supreme Court directives and Election Commission guidelines regarding the publication of criminal antecedents of candidates by both candidates and political partiesOfficials also explained the system of election through proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote and the open ballot voting procedure under the Representation of the People Act 1951Political parties were informed that MLAs belonging to a political party must show their marked ballot paper only to the authorised agent of their own party while Independent MLAs are prohibited from showing their ballot papers to any agentRepresentatives of political parties interacted with election officials and sought clarifications on various aspects of the election processThe lone Rajya Sabha seat allotted to Meghalaya is set to fall vacant as the incumbent Member of Parliament Dr Wanweiroy Kharlukhi completes his sixyear term in late June 2026In view of the impending vacancy the Election Commission of India has scheduled the biennial election to the seat on June 18 2026Dr Kharlukhi who represents the ruling National Peopleâs Party NPP has reportedly expressed his desire to step away from active parliamentary politics after the completion of his tenureThe NPP is expected to comfortably retain the seat given its clear majority in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajya-sabha-poll-in-meghalaya-set-for-june-18-as-incumbents-term-expires-675587.html Fri, 29 May 2026 17:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-talking-about-ntr-to-lure-andhra-voters-says-telangana-bjp-chief-675589.html Hyderabad May 29 Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party BJP President N Ramchander Rao on Friday accused the Congress government in the state of talking about Telugu Desam Party TDP founder and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister NTR to attract the voters of the state in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation GHMC elections He asked the Congress why it did not install statues of NT Rama Rao NTR all these yearsThe State BJP Chief was reacting to unveiling of a statue of NTR in Hyderabad by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday to mark his birth anniversaryNTR a popular actorturnedpolitician was the founder of TDP and served as the Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh in 1980s and 1990s Addressing a meeting at the state BJP office Ramchander Rao said that the Congress has made it a habit to stage political dramas for votes ahead of every election He added that ahead of the Jubilee Hills byelection Congress leaders remarked Congress means Muslim Muslim means Congress to woo Muslim votes Now with the GHMC elections in mind theyve suddenly started talking about NTR to attract Andhra voters I am asking the Congress party Why havent they installed NTR garus statue all these years Why havent they honoured his legacy Congress has no moral right to talk about NTR garu Nor does it have the qualification to claim his legacy as their own he saidThe BJP leader recalled that it was NTR who first gave the call for a Congressfree India Today the BJP is working steadfastly in that direction he saidRamchander Rao also criticised the Congress for removing Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister of KarnatakaRahul Gandhi speaks about OBCs wherever you look be it in Parliament or outside But the reality is that the Congress has even removed its only OBC Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Among the four Chief Ministers the Congress party has in the country today not a single one belongs to the OBC category the BJP leader saidHe criticised the Congress government in the state over procurement of paddy and other foodgrains from farmers He alleged that due to the absence of even basic facilities in grain procurement centres unavailability of lorries and shortage of tarpaulins farmers are facing severe hardships He claimed that it was only because of the BJPs campaign that the state government which was in deep slumber was finally forced to respondRamchander Rao said that over the past 12 years the Narendra Modiled Central government has allocated nearly Rs 13 lakh crore for the development of TelanganaThe revival of the Ramagundam Fertiliser Plant the Warangal Coach Factory the Mulugu SammakkaSarakka Central Tribal University AIIMS Bibinagar the expansion of National Highways the Hyderabad Regional Ring Road Metro expansion and MultiModal Transport System services all of these were made possible solely through the initiative of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi he addedAlleging that the people of Telangana are fed up with both the Bharat Rashtra Samithi and Congress Ramchander Rao claimed that they are eagerly awaiting with hope to give a chance to the BJP The Congress has turned into a commissions party Only the BJP is a party committed to good governance and development The BJP is a party built upon the ideals of service sacrifice and selfless devotion to the motherland he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-talking-about-ntr-to-lure-andhra-voters-says-telangana-bjp-chief-675589.html Fri, 29 May 2026 17:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/noida-homebuyers-fraud-cbi-files-chargesheet-against-shubhkamna-buildtech-directors-675594.html New Delhi May 29 IANS Intensifying its crackdown in the ongoing investigation into the Noida homebuyers cheating fraud investigation the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI on Friday filed its tenth chargesheet against the builders under the scanner for alleged cheating and fraudThe investigation agency filed a chargesheet against Ms Shubhkamna Buildtech Pvt Ltd and its directors on Friday in connection with alleged fraudulent activities relating to a housing project in Greater NoidaThe CBI in its investigation has found serious wrongdoings on the part of the builder According to the agency the accused builder company and its directors induced innocent homebuyersinvestors through false assurances misleading representations and deceptive promises thereby dishonestly obtaining financial gains while causing wrongful loss to the victimsThe investigation unearthed substantial evidence following which the chargesheet was filed before the competent Court under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code IPC on criminal conspiracy cheating and criminal breach of trustNotably the CBI is currently investigating 50 cases against various builder companies and unknown officials of financial institutions across the country in matters concerning alleged cheating and diversion of funds involving homebuyersTill date the CBI has filed 09 charge sheets against various builders and real estate developers namely Ms Rudra Buildwell Constructions Pvt Ltd Ms Dream Procon Pvt Ltd Ms Jaypee Infratech Ltd Ms AVJ Developers India Pvt Ltd Ms CHD Developers Pvt Ltd Ms Shubhkamna Buildtech Pvt Ltd Ms Sequel Buildcon Pvt Ltd Ms Logix City Developers Pvt Ltd and Ms Manju J Homes India Ltd and their Directors and also against the officials of certain banks and financial institutionsCBI reiterates its commitment to ensuring accountability in cases involving economic offences corruption and public fraud particularly matters adversely impacting the interests of common citizens and homebuyers the investigation agency said in a statementIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/noida-homebuyers-fraud-cbi-files-chargesheet-against-shubhkamna-buildtech-directors-675594.html Fri, 29 May 2026 17:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/shivakumar-set-to-become-ktaka-cm-after-siddaramaiahs-resignation-hk-patil-675600.html Bengaluru May 29 Following the resignation of Siddaramaiah as Karnataka Chief Minister Karnataka Minister HK Patil on Friday said that DK Shivakumar is set to become the next Chief Minister and will likely take oath within the next two days Speaking to IANS Patil said âShivakumar is already the Chief Ministerdesignate Yesterday when former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his thoughts and spoke about the discussions held in Delhi he clearly stated that he had been advised to resign and that Shivakumar should be made the next Chief Minister From that moment itself it became clear that Shivakumar would be our next Chief MinisterâHe added that the Congress Legislature Party CLP meeting has been convened to formalise the decision âWe have a procedure to follow The CLP meeting will be held tomorrow at 4 PM where the High Commandâs decision will be formally endorsed Shivakumar is expected to be sworn in either the day after tomorrow or a day laterâ Patil saidReacting to questions regarding caste equations and the OBC factor in Karnataka politics Patil said such discussions were unnecessary âThis question is not appropriate because Shivakumar has also fought for OBC causes In a way he is also partly connected to the OBC community Therefore such questions are neither relevant nor necessaryâ he statedCommenting on Siddaramaiahâs resignation Patil praised the senior Congress leaderâs loyalty to the party âThis decision will definitely have an impact Siddaramaiah has grown even taller politically His historic decision and expression of loyalty to the party and leadership have surprised many of our opponents Though we were confident he would take such a stand the manner in which he displayed his commitment is truly notable and reflects his vast political experienceâ he saidOn whether Siddaramaiah would continue in the Cabinet Patil dismissed the possibility âNo how can he After serving as Chief Minister for eight years and being such a tall leader I do not think that question is relevantâ he addedCaretaker Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at Sonia Gandhis 10 Janpath residence in New Delhi following his resignation from the CMs postSiddaramaiah received a warm welcome from Rahul Gandhi during the meeting After greeting Siddaramaiah with a handshake Rahul Gandhi hugged him and posed for photographsThe meeting comes amid major political developments in Karnataka after Siddaramaiah stepped down as Chief Minister on Thursday He has however been asked to continue as caretaker Chief Minister until new arrangements are madeKarnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President and former Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday paid glowing tribute to Siddaramaiah following his resignation from the top post describing his political journey as a symbol of resilience perseverance and commitment to social justice IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/shivakumar-set-to-become-ktaka-cm-after-siddaramaiahs-resignation-hk-patil-675600.html Fri, 29 May 2026 18:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/vice-president-launches-5-national-initiatives-as-art-of-living-marks-45-years-675602.html Bengaluru May 29 The Art of Living marked 45 years of humanitarian service and global outreach on Friday as Vice President CP Radhakrishnan launched five major national initiatives at the organisationâs International Centre in Bengaluru The Vice President also unveiled a commemorative postal stamp celebrating the organisationâs contribution to individual wellbeing social transformation and global peace over the past fourandahalf decadesThe event coincided with celebrations marking the lifelong contribution of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to peace wellbeing and human values as he turned 70 this monthThe initiatives launched during the event include the Youth Career Excellence Programme Faculty of Eastern Knowledge Systems Art of Living Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation Centre of Excellence on Consciousness Studies and Human Potential and Eco ShantiThe programmes focus on youth development entrepreneurship sustainability consciousness studies education and innovationAddressing the gathering Vice President CP Radhakrishnan praised the global reach and humanitarian work of the Art of LivingâToday is a celebration of a great vision that has touched millions of lives across continents I was astonished to learn that the Art of Living is present in 182 countries Almost the entire civilisation of mankind is getting linked through this movementâ he saidReflecting on the organisationâs journey he added âFortyfive years ago a movement began with a simple yet profound idea that inner peace is the foundation of outer harmony In a world marked by conflict and uncertainty Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar continues to inspire humanity with the values of wisdom awareness peace and harmonyâThe Vice President also praised Gurudevâs humility and personal warmthâHis smile his humility and his affection touch everyoneâs heart What makes his contribution extraordinary is the humility and humanity he embodiesâ he remarkedWelcoming the Vice President Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar highlighted the growing global recognition of meditation and inner wellbeingâThe world today has recognised that meditation is no longer a luxury With 192 countries coming together to declare World Meditation Day there is a growing understanding that meditation is a basic necessity for a healthy happy and stressfree lifeâ he saidEmphasising holistic human development Gurudev said âThree things must always accompany us through life knowledge meditation and musicâHe also called for global harmony and unityâLet us dream of a Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam one world family free from fear tension and hatred A peaceful and harmonious world begins with peaceful and harmonious individualsâ he addedKarnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot who also addressed the gathering said Karnataka was proud to be associated with the roots of the global movementâIt is a matter of pride for Karnataka that the roots of this global movement are connected to our sacred land For more than four decades The Art of Living has been promoting peace and wellbeing at the individual community and global levels through a variety of programmesâ he saidHighlighting Gurudevâs role in peacebuilding efforts the Governor said the organisationâs work had received recognition globally for promoting a violencefree and stressfree society through human valuesDuring his visit to the Ashram the Vice President toured several facilities and initiatives of the organisation He visited Sri Sri Gurukulam interacted with students offered prayers at the Prathap Ganpati Temple took darshan of the sacred relics of Shri Somnath Jyotirlingam and visited the Sri Sri Gaushala which houses nearly 1600 indigenous cowsA special highlight of the event was a demonstration by children participating in the Art of Livingâs Intuition Programme where they showcased intuitive abilities developed through systematic training and practiceThe launch ceremony marked the culmination of a monthlong celebration at the Art of Living International Centre attended by 678 distinguished guests including political leaders business icons sportspersons entrepreneurs academicians faith leaders diplomats artists and social changemakers from India and abroadAmong the prominent personalities who participated in the celebrations over the month were Prime Minister Narendra Modi Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Sarbananda Sonowal Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis N Chandrababu Naidu and Pramod Sawant Governors Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Lt Gen Gurmit Singh actor Rajinikanth actor Vikrant Massey industrialists Mukesh Ambani Anant Ambani and Niranjan Hiranandani along with leading faith leaders diplomats artists and scholarsThe monthlong celebrations featured global meditations at the newly inaugurated Dhyan Mandir cultural performances discussions on mental wellbeing and consciousness and stories of transformation from individuals influenced by Gurudevâs work over the past 45 yearsThe event concluded with a renewed emphasis on Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarâs vision of a stressfree and violencefree society rooted in inner peace service and human values IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/vice-president-launches-5-national-initiatives-as-art-of-living-marks-45-years-675602.html Fri, 29 May 2026 18:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/maha-council-polls-mva-finalises-sharing-formula-for-15-seats-suspense-continues-over-2-675603.html Mumbai May 29 The Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA on Friday announced its seat sharing arrangement for the elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Council slated for June 18 The last date for filing nominations is June 1 Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said that of the total 17 seats consensus has been reached on 15 adding that a decision regarding the remaining two seats will be taken within the next two daysA crucial meeting of the Maha Vikas Aghadi was held today regarding the seatsharing for the Legislative Council elections We have reached an agreement on 15 out of the 17 seats Consensus has been built on which party will contest which seatHowever discussions are still ongoing for two specific seats A final decision on these remaining two seats will be made in the next two days Since all three parties have staked a claim on the Nanded and Nashik seats we have announced the decision for the other 15 seats today excluding these two Sapkal statedThe Congress party will contest the seats in Chandrapur Yavatmal BhandaraGondia Amravati Ahilyanagar Solapur DharashivBeedLatur and the Nagpur byeelection announced SapkalHe further stated that Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray will field its candidates in Ratnagiri Jalgaon Parbhani Hingoli and Chhatrapati SambhajinagarFurther NCP Sharadchandra Pawar will contest three seats Pune Thane and SataraSangliLaunching a scathing attack on the ruling Mahayuti alliance Sapkal said We are contesting the Legislative Council election unitedly as the Maha Vikas Aghadi The core issue of this election is that we are moving forward to save democracy defying the Bharatiya Janata Partys BJP horsetradingIt is evident that massive amounts of money is being spent in this election The situation has become a display of sheer money power In many places corporators are being lured and picked up by offering Rs 5 lakh In this election its not just the Opposition voters but even the ruling parties are poaching voters from their own allies This is the extent of the horsetrading underwayAlthough the MVA leaders announced their seatsharing formula today unanimity eluded them on two out of the 17 seats A deadlock has emerged over the Nanded and Nashik seats as all three constituent parties of the MVA have staked their claim on themHowever Sapkal assured that a final decision on these two seats would be made in the next two days While meetings are simultaneously underway within the Mahayuti alliance they are yet to officially declare their seatsharing formula for the Legislative Council electionsAccording to the Mahayuti alliance insiders of the 17 seats BJP likely to field candidates on 11 seats Shiv Sena four seats and NCP two seats IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/maha-council-polls-mva-finalises-sharing-formula-for-15-seats-suspense-continues-over-2-675603.html Fri, 29 May 2026 18:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/v-p-radhakrishnan-to-begin-3-day-visit-to-ktaka-goa-and-kerala-today-675507.html New Delhi May 29 Vice President CP Radhakrishnan will undertake a threeday visit to Karnataka Goa and Kerala starting Friday to attend official events along with religious and cultural celebrations On Friday the Vice President will attend the global celebration marking 45 years of the Art of Living Foundation in Bengaluru KarnatakaLater in the day he will attend the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of University BDT College of Engineering at Davangere Karnataka said an official statementOn May 30 the Vice President will participate in the Statehood Day celebrations of Goa at Panaji Later in the day he will visit CSIRâNational Institute of Oceanography GoaOn May 31 the Vice President will visit the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Manjunatha Swamy Temple He will also inaugurate the SIRI Industrial Park at Belthangady KarnatakaLater in the day the Vice President will visit Kerala to inaugurate the 140th Foundation Anniversary celebrations of Deepika Malayalam Daily at KottayamHe will also visit Kannur to participate in a private function organised by C Sadanandan Master Member of Parliament Rajya Sabha said the statementLast week Vice President Radhakrishnan in his capacity of Rajya Sabha Chairman appointed BJP Member Raghav Chadha as the new Chairman of the Committee on Petitions of the Upper HouseThe Committee was reconstituted on May 20 with its other members being Jebi Mather Hisham Harsh Mahajan Gulam Ali Mayank Kumar Nayak Masthan Rao Yadav Beedha Subhasish Khuntia Rwngwra Narzary Sandosh Kumar P and Shambhu Sharan PatelThe key responsibility for Chadha came close to his recent switch to the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP from the Aam Aadmi Party AAP along with six other MPs in the Upper HouseIn April seven Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha Ashok Mittal Sandeep Pathak Harbhajan Singh Vikram Sahney Swati Maliwal and Rajinder Gupta defected from the AAP to the BJP dealing a major blow to the AAP as its strength in the Upper House plunged from 10 to just threeSoon after Chadha met President Droupadi Murmu regarding the alleged misuse of state resources by the AAPled government in Punjab IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/v-p-radhakrishnan-to-begin-3-day-visit-to-ktaka-goa-and-kerala-today-675507.html Fri, 29 May 2026 14:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-governor-accepts-cm-siddaramaiahs-resignation-dissolves-council-of-ministers-675523.html Bengaluru May 29 The Governor of Karnataka Thaawarchand Gehlot on Friday accepted the resignation tendered by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and dissolved the Council of Ministers headed by him In the proceedings issued by the Governor on May 29 it was stated that Siddaramaiah in a letter dated May 28 had submitted his resignation from the office of the Chief Minister of KarnatakaThe order stated âIn exercise of the powers vested in me under Article 1641 of the Constitution of India I Thaawarchand Gehlot Governor of Karnataka hereby accept the resignation of Shri Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister of Karnataka Consequently the Council of Ministers headed by him stands dissolvedâIn a separate communication addressed to Siddaramaiah the Governor said âDear Siddaramaiah I have accepted the resignation tendered by you with immediate effect Until alternative arrangements are made kindly continue as caretaker Chief Minister It is needless to state that no executive decisions shall be taken during this periodâThe Governor also issued a notification reiterating that he had accepted Siddaramaiahâs resignation under Article 1641 of the Constitution and dissolved the Council of Ministers with immediate effectThe notification further stated that Siddaramaiah would continue to function as Chief Minister until alternative arrangements are madeMeanwhile R Prabhu Shankar Special Secretary to the Governor in a letter addressed to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh said that a copy of the Governorâs notification dated May 29 had been enclosed The notification confirmed the acceptance of Siddaramaiahâs resignation and the dissolution of the Council of Ministers headed by himIn his brief resignation letter Siddaramaiah wrote âI hereby tender my resignation as the Chief Minister of Karnataka Kindly accept itâIt can be recalled that Siddaramaiah regarded as the Congressâ tallest mass leader in recent times submitted his resignation to the Governor at Lok Bhavan here on Thursday bringing an end to his tenure as the stateâs longestserving Chief MinisterSpeaking about the resignation process Siddaramaiah said âI have submitted my resignation from the Chief Ministerâs post to the Governorâs SecretaryâAfter a brief pause he continued âThe Governor was not in Bengaluru and officials informed me that he would return tonight In this background I submitted my resignation letter to the Governorâs Secretary I have always maintained both inside and outside the Assembly that whenever the high command directs me I will tender my resignation Two days ago the high command asked me to step down and keeping my word I have submitted my resignationâVisibly emotional during the press conference Siddaramaiah expressed confidence that Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot would formally accept his resignation upon returning to BengaluruâOur party enjoys the support of 138 MLAs and others have also extended support to the government We continue to have a full majority The Governor must now provide an opportunity to the next Chief Minister to form the governmentâ Siddaramaiah addedAmid the escalating political drama over the resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot had left Bengaluru late Wednesday night triggering intense political speculation across the state The Governor had travelled to Mumbai and then proceeded to Indore in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday The Governorâs office had cited a family medical emergency as the reason for his sudden travel IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-governor-accepts-cm-siddaramaiahs-resignation-dissolves-council-of-ministers-675523.html Fri, 29 May 2026 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/after-ed-action-pinarayi-vijayan-facilitates-return-of-bineesh-kodiyeri-to-kerala-cpi-675525.html Thiruvananthapuram May 29 Kerala politics is witnessing a dramatic political turnaround that many within the CPIM are already describing as a rare moment of political poetic justice The decision to restore the party membership of Bineesh Kodiyeri son of former CPIM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan after three years of political exile has exposed the rapidly changing power equations inside the party especially in the backdrop of the Enforcement Directorate ED tightening its scrutiny around former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter Veena VijayanWhat makes the development politically explosive is the widely discussed claim that Pinarayi Vijayan himself directly intervened to ensure Bineeshâs return overriding resistance within the state leadershipParty secretary MV Govindan had reportedly rejected repeated attempts to restore Bineeshâs membership despite his acquittal in the Bengaluru drugrelated case in 2023The turning point political observers say came after the dramatic ED raids in Thiruvananthapuram and the violent protests that followedWhen central agencies moved against Pinarayi Vijayanâs residence and intensified scrutiny around the monthly payment controversy involving Veena Vijayan the streets of the capital suddenly witnessed an aggressive mobilisation by CPIMDYFI workersMany of those later accused in the attacks on ED vehicles were known to be close associates and loyalists of Bineesh Kodiyeri Inside the party the message was impossible to missWhile several senior leaders reportedly kept a cautious distance Bineeshâs network emerged as one of the strongest forces willing to physically defend the former Chief Minister and build a resistance wall against the EDBineesh himself was also seen during the protestsThat spectacle appears to have emotionally and politically altered Pinarayi Vijayanâs approachYears ago when Bineesh was arrested by the ED Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had been forced to publicly distance himself from his son and even temporarily step aside as party secretary to protect the government and the partyToday with central agencies casting a shadow over his own family many in Kerala politics believe Pinarayi has finally understood the pain Kodiyeri went throughThe move is also being seen as a correction of past grievancesA section within the CPIM had long felt that Kodiyeriâs family was unfairly sidelined after his deathBineeshâs return now helps consolidate powerful Kodiyeri loyalists in Kannur and Thiruvananthapuram firmly behind Pinarayi at a politically sensitive momentMore importantly the reentry signals that the CPIM is preparing for a prolonged political confrontation with central agenciesThe leadership appears to have concluded that organisers like Bineesh capable of mobilising cadres and street resistance are too valuable to keep outside the party foldIn effect the ED raids meant to corner the former Chief Minister may have instead triggered the rise of Pinarayi Vijayanâs newest political defence fortress built around the son of the man who once suffered the same fate IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/after-ed-action-pinarayi-vijayan-facilitates-return-of-bineesh-kodiyeri-to-kerala-cpi-675525.html Fri, 29 May 2026 14:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajasthan-minister-booked-for-abusing-cops-viral-audio-sparks-row-675531.html Jaipur May 29 Rajasthan Cooperative Minister Gautam Dak has been booked following an alleged confrontation with police personnel at Dungla police station in Chittorgarh district The case filed on the complaint of the station officer includes charges related to obstructing government work and allegedly using abusive and indecent language against police officials The incident gained wider attention after an audio clip purportedly featuring the minister using abusive language towards police personnel went viral on social media triggering debate within political and police circlesHowever Minister Gautam Dak has denied any connection with the viral recordingIn a statement posted on social media Dak claimed that the audio had been manipulated using technology My voice has been altered through misuse of technology in an audio circulating on social media I have no connection with this edited audio the minister statedAccording to the complaint lodged by Dungla police station officer Shaitan Singh the incident dates back to May 25 Police had summoned Dhanraj Kharol a resident of Idra Mangalwad for questioning in connection with an ongoing investigation During interrogation officers allegedly asked Kharol to produce other family members relevant to the caseThe complaint states that Kharol contacted former Idra Sarpanch Chandrashekhar Sharma from the police station premises Sharma allegedly called Constable Laxminarayan and threatened him while invoking the ministerâs name Soon afterwards the station officer reportedly received a call from Minister Gautam Dak and was asked to come to the main gate of the police stationAccording to the police complaint upon arrival the minister allegedly demanded that constables Vishnu and Laxminarayan be called outsideThe station officer reportedly requested that the discussion take place inside the office but the minister insisted on meeting the constables publicly The complaint alleges that once the two policemen arrived Dak used abusive and indecent language against them in front of others presentThe complaint further alleges that the minister became aggressive attempted to use criminal force and raised his hand towards police personnel allegedly intending to intimidate and humiliate themPolice also alleged that the minister threatened Constable Laxminarayan referring to his earlier transfer from Badi Sadri police stationThe station officer stated in the report that he had never faced such treatment during his service and claimed the incident caused him mental distressSenior police officials were informed about the matter on May 27The case has intensified political discussion while the minister continues to deny the allegations and maintains that the viral audio is fabricated IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajasthan-minister-booked-for-abusing-cops-viral-audio-sparks-row-675531.html Fri, 29 May 2026 14:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/satheesan-led-udf-unveils-ambitious-agenda-in-assembly-to-release-financial-white-paper-675534.html Thiruvananthapuram May 29 The Congressled UDF government headed by Chief Minister VD Satheesan formally opened a new political chapter in Kerala on Friday with a highvoltage maiden policy address that combined sweeping welfare promises a sharp fiscal reality check and the first visible signs of confrontation with Lok Bhavan Presented by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar in 73 minutes at the opening session of the 16th Kerala Assembly the policy declaration laid out the new governmentâs political priorities amid massive public expectations following the UDFâs electoral victoryThe session itself began dramatically with a controversy over Vande MataramThough the Kerala Police band played the national song as part of the Governorâs ceremonial reception only the opening portion was rendered despite Lok Bhavan reportedly insisting during rehearsals that the full version be played The state government is understood to have refused to alter the longstanding convention triggering the first signs of friction between the new administration and the Governorâs office on the very first working day of the AssemblyInside the House however the Satheesan government attempted to project a confident and reformoriented imageThe centrepiece of the address was the announcement that the government would soon release a financial white paper detailing Keralaâs actual economic condition and treasury liabilities inherited from the previous administrationThe move is widely being viewed as an attempt to prepare the public for difficult economic decisions while simultaneously justifying the governmentâs aggressive welfare and development agendaThe policy address repeatedly invoked the UDFâs election plank of âIndira Guaranteesâ promising that all key commitments would be implementedAmong the biggest announcements were an increase in welfare pensions formation of a dedicated department for senior citizens and scholarship support for economically weaker students pursuing higher educationThe government also officially reaffirmed one of its most popular promises free travel for women in KSRTC buses from June 15 across the stateIn a major infrastructure push the government announced plans for an integrated transport system connecting road water and air transport networks under a large mobility projectThe address also promised reforms in excise policy expansion of Plus One seats stronger intervention in mananimal conflict zones and comprehensive agricultural reforms including scientific soiltesting systems and a women farmersâ consortiumThe speech strongly underlined the governmentâs commitment to corruptionfree and secular governance declaring that communal politics and divisive forces would not be allowed space in KeralaWith the UDF commanding 102 seats in the 140member Assembly the Left reduced to 35 and the BJP entering the House for the first time with three legislators Fridayâs session signalled not just the arrival of a new government but the beginning of a potentially combative new political era in KeralaThe Assembly will resume its session on Tuesday to pass the Governorâs address IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/satheesan-led-udf-unveils-ambitious-agenda-in-assembly-to-release-financial-white-paper-675534.html Fri, 29 May 2026 15:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/muraleedharan-leads-bjp-attack-over-truncated-vande-mataram-in-kerala-assembly-675537.html Thiruvananthapuram May 29 Senior BJP leader and firsttime legislator V Muraleedharan on Friday led a sharp attack against the Kerala government after a row erupted in the Assembly over the rendition of Vande Mataram during Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekarâs ceremonial reception Muraleedharan a former Union Minister is one of the BJPâs three legislators in the newlyconstituted 140member AssemblyHe accused the government of insulting both Raj Bhavan and the national song by refusing to play the complete version of Vande Mataram despite reported directions from the Governorâs office and the CentreThe controversy broke out on the first major working day of the 16th Kerala Assembly when the Kerala Police band rendered only the opening portion of Vande Mataram before the Governorâs maiden policy addressRaj Bhavan had reportedly instructed during rehearsals that the full rendition of the national song be played at official events attended by the GovernorHowever the government headed by Chief Minister VD Satheesan is understood to have retained the existing convention of playing only the first portion triggering the first major faceoff between the new UDF administration and Lok BhavanLaunching a political offensive Muraleedharan took to his social media and alleged that the government had bowed before the ideological positions of the CPIM and JamaateIslamiHe claimed the move reflected acceptance of arguments that Vande Mataram was inconsistent with secular valuesThe BJP leader also sought to put the Congress on the defensive historically asking when the party had begun distancing itself from a song first sung during the 1896 Congress session and closely associated with Indiaâs freedom struggleDespite the escalating political row Governor Arlekar avoided any direct confrontation inside the House and began his address in Malayalam with a âNamaskaramâ making no mention of the controversyThe dispute however overshadowed the UDF governmentâs maiden policy address which contained several major announcements including a financial White Paper on Keralaâs economy welfare expansion and infrastructure reformsWith the BJP making its debut in the Kerala Assembly with three MLAs and Muraleedharan emerging as one of its most aggressive voices inside the House Fridayâs Vande Mataram controversy has quickly turned into the first major ideological battle confronting the Satheesan government IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/muraleedharan-leads-bjp-attack-over-truncated-vande-mataram-in-kerala-assembly-675537.html Fri, 29 May 2026 15:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/siddaramaiah-resignation-triggers-political-row-bjp-targets-congress-leadership-675539.html New Delhi May 29 The resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday triggered fresh political controversy with the BJP questioning the Congress leadership Speaking to IANS BJP Rajya Sabha MP Lahar Singh Siroya said âSiddaramaiah was doing bad politics He wants to finish the Congress in KarnatakaââHe thinks that if he is not there what will Congress do in Karnataka It depends on Congress what decision will be taken it is certain BJP will come to power there soonâThe resignation has sparked a strong political exchange between the BJP and Congress with leaders trading sharp remarks over the leadership change and its timingResponding to the development Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel said âNo member of Congress will question the decision of the High Command The BJPâs only job is to spread hatred and lies Whatever responsibility is given we are supposed to keep working BJP is deliberately spreading rumoursâWest Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh also reacted stating âIt has been a tradition in the Congress that no Chief Minister is able to complete their tenure The same applies to the ministers It is their internal matter who resigns but people deserve development and justiceâThe resignation of Siddaramaiah marks a significant political development in Karnataka coming after weeks of speculation over a possible leadership change within the state Congress unitSiddaramaiah regarded as the Congressâ tallest mass leader in recent times submitted his resignation to the Governors secretary at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru on Thursday in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar Cabinet ministers and senior party leaders formally ending his tenure as Chief MinisterThe development also concluded weeks of political uncertainty and internal discussions within the ruling partyLater addressing a press conference in Bengaluru alongside Shivakumar and Home Minister G Parameshwara Siddaramaiah said he had resigned in line with instructions from the Congress High CommandHe said he would always abide by the High Commandâs decision adding that he had followed its direction in stepping downSiddaramaiah 78 now joins an elite group of Karnataka leaders who have served as Chief Minister more than once including S Nijalingappa Veerendra Patil D Devaraj Urs Ramakrishna Hegde HD Kumaraswamy and BS Yediyurappa IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/siddaramaiah-resignation-triggers-political-row-bjp-targets-congress-leadership-675539.html Fri, 29 May 2026 15:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/aap-making-substantial-lead-in-punjab-civic-polls-as-per-early-vote-count-trends-675541.html Chandigarh May 29 The ruling AAP in Punjab has been making substantial leads as per early vote count trends on Friday for the election to Urban Local Bodies The main Opposition Congress and the regional outfit Shiromani Akali Dal are necktoneck The AAP won 178 wards while the Congress and SAD tally stood at 58 and 53 wards respectively till 11 AMThe elections are seen as a litmus test for the AAP just ahead of the Assembly elections in the state slated in early 2027The state on May 26 went to the polls to elect representatives in 102 civic bodies comprising eight municipal corporations 75 municipal councils and 19 nagar panchayatsThe elections covered 1897 wards that saw a voter turnout of 6394 per cent A total of 7554 candidates are in the fray across all Urban Local BodiesThe eight municipal corporations are in Abohar Mohali Moga Bathinda Barnala Batala Kapurthala and PathankotOf the total candidates in the fray 1801 belong to the AAP 1550 to the Congress 1316 to the BJP 1251 to the SAD and 96 to the BSP while 1528 are Independent and 13 other candidatesNagar panchayats recorded the highest voter turnout at 7618 per cent followed by Municipal Councils with 6506 per cent and Municipal Corporations 5991 per centAccording to the state Election Commission Municipal Corporations accounted for 1071 lakh electors of whom 641 lakh cast their votes Municipal Councils had the largest electorate with over 2287 lakh voters and nearly 1488 lakh votes were cast In Nagar Panchayats over 107 lakh votes were recorded out of 141 lakh electorsPolling day saw clashes involving supporters of the BJP Congress AAP and the Akali Dal and allegations of booth capturing were reported at several placesIn Raikot Congress candidate from Ward 4 Jagdev Singh Jagga was allegedly attacked with sharpedged weapons by a group of men while in Barnala the husband of BJP candidate Deepinder Kaur from Ward 15 was allegedly assaulted after objecting to suspected bogus votingClashes were also reported in Gidderbaha in Muktsar district where supporters of AAP and the Akali Dal confronted each other during polling in Wards 18 and 19State Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Congress legislator Partap Singh Bajwa condemned the incident and slammed the AAP government over the law and order situation in the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/aap-making-substantial-lead-in-punjab-civic-polls-as-per-early-vote-count-trends-675541.html Fri, 29 May 2026 15:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sharmila-meets-rahul-gandhi-amid-buzz-about-rajya-sabha-nomination-675575.html AmaravatiNew Delhi May 29 Congresss Andhra Pradesh state President Y S Sharmila on Friday met senior party leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the national capital amid reports that the high command is considering her name for nomination to the Rajya Sabha When media persons asked Sharmila about her name being circulated for nomination to the Rajya Sabha she merely remarked that Rahul Gandhi knows betterWhen Sharmila came out after the meeting media persons asked her about the discussion that took place She evaded a reply when asked if her reported nomination to the Rajya Sabha was discussedThis discussion was about regular Andhra Pradesh political affairs she said When journalists continued their questions about her name being circulated for the nomination to the upper house of Parliament she said I am very sure Rahul Gandhi ji knows the bestLater Sharmila said in a post on X that they discussed issues relating to the strengthening the party in the stateSharmila said that she met Rahul Gandhi at his residence at 10 Janpath We discussed various issues regarding the strengthening of the Congress party in Andhra Pradesh and received several suggestions from Mr Rahul Gandhi she saidCongress General Secretary Organisation KC Venugopal was also reported to be present during the meetingThe central leadership of the Congress party is reportedly considering the proposal to nominate Sharmila for the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka where the party is in powerElections to four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka are scheduled on June 18Sharmilaâs likely nomination to the Rajya Sabha is being seen as part of the strategy by the Congress high command to strengthen the party in Andhra Pradesh where the party has had no MP or state legislator for more than a decadeSharmila sister of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Pary president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy was appointed state Congress President in January 2024 after she merged her YSR Telangana Party with the CongressShe led the party in the simultaneous elections to the state Assembly and Lok Sabha held in May 2024 However for a third consecutive time the Congress party drew a blank in both the Assembly and the Lok SabhaThe Congress party was virtually wiped out in 2014 as the party failed to win a single Assembly or Lok Sabha seat due to public anger over the bifurcation of the united Andhra Pradesh The party lost several senior leaders who joined either the YSRCP or the TDPThe party failed to open its account in 2019 as well There were hopes that Sharmilaâs appointment as state party chief would change the partyâs fortunes in 2024 However it once again failed to open its account IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sharmila-meets-rahul-gandhi-amid-buzz-about-rajya-sabha-nomination-675575.html Fri, 29 May 2026 16:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/lucknow-tin-shed-collapses-at-charbagh-railway-station-three-injured-675578.html Lucknow May 29 A portion of a tin shed at Platform No 5 of Lucknowâs Charbagh Railway Station collapsed on Friday injuring at least three people including passengers and a train ticket examiner TTE The incident occurred around 8 am while redevelopment and modernisation work was underway at the station under the Rail Land Development Authority RLDAAccording to officials the tin shed on Platforms 4 and 5 suddenly collapsed onto the platform area causing panic among passengers waiting for trains Railway Protection Force RPF personnel immediately rushed to the spot rescued the injured and shifted them to a nearby hospital for treatment Movement on the affected platform was temporarily suspended following the incidentOfficials said three passengers sustained injuries in the collapse and were admitted to the hospital Work to clear the debris from the damaged shed began soon after the incidentAn injured passenger Abhishek Balmiki who was present at the station at the time of the accident described the terrifying moment âI was going to Haridwar with five friends for a trip We were standing at Platform 5 of Charbagh Railway Station waiting for our train because it was delayed Suddenly the tin shed fell on usâ he told IANSAccording to railway officials the shed that collapsed had already been marked for removal as part of the ongoing redevelopment work at the station Despite this Platform 5 remained operational for passenger movement while the adjacent Platform 4 had been closed due to modernisation activitiesOfficials said the injured passengers along with several others were waiting for the HowrahDoon Express 13037 on Platform 5 when the incident took placeEarlier on Thursday at least six workers were killed after an underconstruction bridge collapsed during a latenight storm in Uttar Pradeshs Hamirpur district The death count is feared to rise to eightUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives in the tragic incident and directed officials to intensify relief and rescue operations at the sitePosting on X CM Yogi said âThe loss of lives in a tragic accident on the Betwa River in Hamirpur district is extremely heartbreaking and heartrending My condolences are with the bereaved families Instructions have been issued to the district administration to swiftly carry out relief and rescue operations in coordination with SDRF I pray to Lord Shri Ram that the departed souls attain a place at His divine feet and the injured recover swiftlyâAccording to the Chief Ministerâs Office CMO CM Yogi took immediate cognisance of the incident and directed senior officials to reach the site without delay and accelerate rescue operationsHe also instructed authorities to ensure proper treatment for the injured and provide adequate compensation to the families of the deceased IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/lucknow-tin-shed-collapses-at-charbagh-railway-station-three-injured-675578.html Fri, 29 May 2026 16:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/may-eid-al-adha-deepen-spirit-of-brotherhood-happiness-in-society-pm-modi-675420.html New Delhi May 28 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended Eid alAdha greetings to the countrymen and prayed for happiness and good health in societynbspEid ulAdha greetings May this occasion deepen the spirit of brotherhood and happiness in our society Praying for everyones success and good health PM Modi said in a post on XBakrid also known as Eid alAdha is being celebrated with deep religious fervour and enthusiasm across the country on Thursday as thousands of devotees gathered at mosques and Eidgahs from early morning to offer special prayers and mark one of the most significant festivals in IslamLarge congregations of worshippers were witnessed at several places across the country with people dressed in traditional attire participating in prayers and exchanging greetings with family members friends and neighboursWorshippers said the festival carries a message of brotherhood communal harmony and peaceful coexistence while also reminding people about compassion sacrifice and charityAuthorities made elaborate security arrangements in several cities to ensure that celebrations passed off peacefully and law and order were maintained during the festivitiesEid alAdha widely known as Bakrid in India holds immense religious significance for Muslims across the world The festival commemorates the devotion and sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim who was willing to sacrifice his son in obedience to Gods command The occasion symbolises unwavering faith obedience to God gratitude compassion forgiveness sacrifice and charityFamilies gathered to celebrate the festival with prayers festive meals and acts of kindness while many people also distributed food and extended help to the underprivileged as part of the spirit of the occasionWhile Bakrid was celebrated in most parts of India on Thursday some regions including parts of Jammu and Kashmir observed the festival on WednesdayAs with other Islamic festivals the date of Eid alAdha depends on the sighting of the crescent moonnbspThis year religious authorities in several parts of India confirmed that the DhulHijjah crescent moon was not sighted on the expected evening As a result the beginning of the Islamic month shifted by a day leading to Bakrid being celebrated on May 28 in most states across the countryIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/may-eid-al-adha-deepen-spirit-of-brotherhood-happiness-in-society-pm-modi-675420.html Thu, 28 May 2026 12:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/amit-shah-to-begin-two-day-gujarat-visit-today-launch-multiple-development-projects-675421.html Gandhinagar May 28 IANS Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will begin his twoday visit to Gujarat on Thursday during which he is scheduled to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for multiple development projects across the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency and Ahmedabad and to hold organisational and review meetingsShah who is also the Member of Parliament from the constituency will begin his programmes on Thursday with a series of developmentrelated events across different locationsIn Vadsar he will inaugurate the newly constructed Jedva Lake developed under the Anandam Parivar CSR fundAt the same location as well as in Jalund and Sardhav he will also inaugurate newly established libraries developed under Toyota Kirloskar Motors Limiteds CSR initiativeAt Khatraj he will lay the foundation stone for lake beautification works undertaken by the Arvind Foundation He will also inaugurate a newly constructed village panchayat officeFurther engagements include the inauguration of the Pay Centre Primary School at Moti Bhoyan as well as the foundation stone laying and inauguration of various development works in Sonipur village and in areas under the Kalol and Gandhinagar North assembly constituenciesDuring the visit to Sonipur Shah is also scheduled to have lunch at the residence of former sarpanch and senior BJP worker Gandaji ThakorLater at the state party headquarters Shri Kamalam a meeting of senior BJP officebearers will be held in his presenceHe is also scheduled to inaugurate the CBSE regional office at the Chandkheda area of Ahmedabad and a newly constructed hostel building at the Umiyadham campus in SolaIn Ahmedabad the newly constructed Bharat Mata sculpture developed by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation at New Vadaj will be inauguratedThis will be followed by a review meeting at the Circuit House on preparations for the Olympic Commonwealth and World Police and Fire Games which will be chaired by ShahAfter completing the scheduled programmes on Thursday he is expected to travel to Bhuj in Kutch The visit continues on Friday with additional engagements as part of the twoday programme across GujaratIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/amit-shah-to-begin-two-day-gujarat-visit-today-launch-multiple-development-projects-675421.html Thu, 28 May 2026 13:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-celebrations-erupt-at-shivakumars-residence-security-beefed-up-near-guvs-house-675423.html Bengaluru May 28 IANS Celebrations broke out at the residence of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President DK Shivakumar on Thursday after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced his decision to resign during the highprofile breakfast meeting held at his official residence KaverinbspnbspFollowing the development large numbers of Shivakumars supporters and fans gathered outside his residence in Sadashivanagar Bengaluru Supporters were seen chanting slogans in his favour distributing sweets and celebrating amid strong speculation that Shivakumar is set to become the next Chief Minister of KarnatakaPolice and security personnel were deployed in large numbers at the residence to manage the swelling crowd and maintain law and ordernbspSources said that while announcing his resignation decision before Cabinet colleagues Siddaramaiah spoke about the states financial condition challenges in implementing the governments guarantee schemes and the need to continue welfare programmes in the futurenbspAccording to sources Siddaramaiah informed the ministers that the Congress high command had conveyed to him that DK Shivakumar would be the next Chief Minister Members of the Council of Ministers reportedly expressed their consent and support following the announcementSiddaramaiah also urged his Cabinet colleagues to continue delivering good governance and welfare programmes to the people of the statenbspSources stated that Siddaramaiah remained composed while making the announcement However after concluding his remarks the Chief Minister reportedly became emotional I am satisfied with the work that I have done he is said to have told his colleaguesSeveral ministers considered close to Siddaramaiah including Labour Minister Santosh Lad also became emotional during the meetingnbspMeanwhile after the meeting Shivakumar returned to his residence Sources close to him said that he is expected to visit Nonavinakere Mutt to seek the blessings of seer Ajjayya Swamiji and discuss an auspicious time for the swearingin ceremony Shivakumar is reportedly accompanied by his daughter during the visitSecurity has also been tightened at Lok Bhavan ahead of Siddaramaiahs scheduled arrival to submit his resignation Barricades have been installed around the premises and senior officials have stepped up security arrangementsnbspLok Bhavan Secretary R Prabhushankar has arrived at the premises and Siddaramaiah is expected to hand over his resignation letter to him as Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot is currently in Indore Madhya Pradesh following a personal emergencyIn a major development Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced his decision to tender his resignation during the breakfast meeting hosted by him at his official residence Kaveri in BengalurunbspThe official statement by the CMs office stated Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will visit Lok Bhavan today at 230 PM Later at 3 PM he will address a press conference at his other official residence KrishnanbspState Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs HK Patil while leaving after attending the breakfast meeting further confirmed CM is going to Raj Bhavan CM Siddaramaiah will make Shivakumar the new CM https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-celebrations-erupt-at-shivakumars-residence-security-beefed-up-near-guvs-house-675423.html Thu, 28 May 2026 14:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/siddaramaiah-resigns-brings-curtains-down-on-tenure-as-karnatakas-longest-serving-cm-675454.html Bengaluru May 28 IANS Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah regarded as the Congresss tallest mass leader in recent times submitted his resignation to the Governor at Lok Bhavan here on Thursday bringing an end to his tenure as the states longestserving Chief MinisternbspThe development also brought the curtain down on weeks of intense political drama and speculation surrounding a possible leadership change in KarnatakanbspnbspSiddaramaiah submitted his resignation to the Governors Secretary in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar all cabinet ministers and other prominent party leadersLater addressing a joint press conference in Bengaluru alongside Shivakumar and Home Minister G Parameshwara Siddaramaiah said I have submitted my resignation from the Chief Ministers post to the Governors SecretarynbspThe Governor was not in town and officials informed me that he would return by tonight Against this background I have submitted my resignation letter to the Governors Secretary I have always said both inside and outside the Assembly that whenever the high command directs me I will tender my resignation Two days ago the high command asked me to step down and keeping my word I am submitting my resignationSiddaramaiah 78 now joins an elite group of Karnataka politicians who have occupied the Chief Ministers post more than once including S Nijalingappa Veerendra Patil D Devaraj Urs Ramakrishna Hegde HD Kumaraswamy and BS YediyurappanbspBorn in August 1947 in Siddaramanahundi village of Mysuru district Siddaramaiah rose from humble beginnings to become one of Karnatakas most influential political leaders As a child he tended cattle and began his formal education directly from Class 4 He later completed a law degree before entering politicsHis father Siddarame Gowda had unsuccessfully contested Gram Panchayat elections and reportedly advised Siddaramaiah not to trust people in politics However Siddaramaiah went on to successfully contest and win a Taluk Board election marking the beginning of his long political journeynbspOver the course of his career Siddaramaiah contested 12 Assembly elections and won nine of them He also holds the record for presenting 17 state budgetsnbspJDS supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda is widely regarded as Siddaramaiahs political mentor who helped shape him into a mass leader However ideological and political differences later led Siddaramaiah to part ways with Deve Gowda and the Janata Dal He subsequently joined the Congress and went on to become a twoterm Chief Minister and Karnatakas longestserving CMSiddaramaiah is known for several major welfare and social justice initiatives during his political career His decisions on internal reservation reservation for oppressed communities in government tenders and providing largescale representation to backward and oppressed classes in the cabinet have often been described by supporters as pathbreaking measuresnbspHe also emerged as one of the Congresss strongest critics of the BJP RSS Hindutva politics Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit ShahnbspAt the same time Siddaramaiah has often faced criticism from political opponents who accused him of pursuing appeasement politicsSiddaramaiahs political journey spans nearly five decades and includes several major turning points He first contested the Assembly election in 1978 from the Chamundeshwari constituency on the ticket of the Lok Dal led by former PM Charan Singh but lost In 1983 he won from Chamundeshwari as an Independent candidate He later became the Transport Minister in the SR Bommai cabinet in 1988 However in 1989 he lost the Assembly election from Chamundeshwari In 1991 he contested the Lok Sabha election from Koppal but suffered defeatnbspIn 1992 Siddaramaiah joined the Janata Dal following the merger of the Samajwadi Janata Party His political career gained momentum in 1994 when he won from Chamundeshwari for the third time and became Finance Minister in the Deve Gowda cabinet In 1996 he was elevated as Deputy Chief Minister in the late JH Patel government He secured his fourth victory from Chamundeshwari in 2004A major turning point came in 2005 when Siddaramaiah launched the AHINDA movement and was later expelled from the JDS In 2006 he joined the Congress in the presence of its thenPresident Sonia Gandhi and won a byelection by a narrow margin of 257 votes In 2008 he won from Varuna and became MLA for the sixth timenbspSiddaramaiah reached the peak of his political career in 2013 when he took the oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on May 13 In the 2018 Assembly elections he won from the Badami constituency while losing from Chamundeshwari Later in 2018 after the formation of the CongressJDS coalition government he was appointed chairman of the coordination committee between the two parties Later he served as the opposition leader in 2019nbspWith Siddaramaiah stepping down from office Karnataka politics now enters a new phase even as his supporters describe his tenure as one of the most influential and transformative periods in the states political history https://dailyworld.in/politics/siddaramaiah-resigns-brings-curtains-down-on-tenure-as-karnatakas-longest-serving-cm-675454.html Thu, 28 May 2026 17:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/union-minister-manohar-lal-sets-sept-deadline-to-flatten-delhis-bhalswa-garbage-mountain-675456.html New Delhi May 28 IANS Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal on Thursday visited the Bhalswa landfill site in North Delhi to review the ongoing legacy waste remediation work and directed civic officials to complete the task by September this yearnbspDuring the visit Manohar Lal reviewed the biomining operations environmental safeguards fire prevention measures leachate management systems and the future road map for complete remediation of the dumpsite said an official statementIn a message on X the Union Minister said Today I conducted a detailed inspection of the ongoing cleaning and waste processing operations at the Bhalswa Dumpsite Last year I had resolved that by October 2026 this dumpsite would be completely eliminated and work is continuing at a warfooting to achieve that very goalnbspTo eliminate this massive mountain of garbage the processing of legacy waste and the scientific waste disposal process have been accelerated through scientific and modern technologies he saidAt the same time continuous efforts are being made to improve cleanliness health safety and civic amenities in the surrounding areas while ensuring compliance with environmental standards said Manohar LalnbspUnder the leadership of Prime Minister Shri narendramodi ji the Central government is fully committed to realizing the vision of Swachh Bharat Mission by providing Delhi residents with a clean and pollutionfree environment and in this direction all necessary steps are being swiftly taken to ensure the closure of the Bhalswa dumpsite within the stipulated timeframe he saidThe officials told the Union Minister that the site had approximately 73 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste in June 2022 and since July 2022 biomining operations have been continuously undertaken in mission mode with around 15000 metric tonnes processed dailynbspAs on May 26 this year around 2317 lakh metric tonnes of waste is left at the site for remediationnbspManohar Lal said that owing to the sustained biomining and remediation efforts nearly 43 acres of land has been reclaimed out of the total dumpsite area of about 70 acresBhalswa dumpsite has been adopted by Manohar Lal under the Dumpsite Remediation and Action Plan DRAP initiative a nationwide missionmode programme launched by the Ministry under Swachh Bharat Mission U 20nbspThe plan aims for remediation of major legacy dumpsites across the country with the target of achieving Lakshya Zero Dumpsites through scientific remediation environmental restoration and reclamation of valuable urban landIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/union-minister-manohar-lal-sets-sept-deadline-to-flatten-delhis-bhalswa-garbage-mountain-675456.html Thu, 28 May 2026 17:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/revanth-reddy-considered-joining-bjp-before-cong-claims-mp-dharmapuri-arvind-675329.html Hyderabad May 27 BJP MP Dharmapuri Arvind on Wednesday made a startling claim that he had information suggesting Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had once considered joining the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP before moving from the Telugu Desam Party TDP to Congress while asserting that such a leader cannot be loyal to anybody The remarks came a day after Arvind alleged that Revanth Reddy could eventually do a Suvendu Adhikari to the Congress party He had also suggested that CM Reddy might have some sort of understanding or connection with Prime Minister Narendra ModiI am a small worker in the BJP so I do not have complete details But just like how Suvendu Adhikari aligned with the BJP in West Bengal Revanth Reddy might also be trying to build a similar relationship with PM Modi Arvind had said while referring to PM Modis recent remarks at a public event in HyderabadReacting further to the issue while speaking to IANS Arvind stated Revanth Reddy had switched multiple political parties in the past and therefore his future political position remained uncertainIt is the Revanth model I will not say Assam model West Bengal model or some other model Revanth was in BRS He moved to TDP He moved to Congress In between I have certain information before moving to Congress he was considering the BJP So such a person cannot be loyal to anybody We never know He might take up another party Arvind saidWhen asked whether the BJP would accept Revanth Reddy if he were to join the party in the future the BJP MP said the matter would entirely depend on the party leadershipThat is up to the party high command I cannot commit But generally the Bharatiya Janata Party is a huge party And when certain people come they accept mostly they accept But at the end of the day it is the party high commands decision he addedArvind also criticised the Revanth Reddyled Telangana government over the removal of a hired Telangana State Road Transport Corporation TGSRTC bus driver identified as B Ashok from duty at the Jagtial depot on May 26 The action was taken after the driver allegedly advised local Congress leaders protesting against fuel prices to instead focus on the procurement of paddy and maize from distressed farmersThe BJP MP accused the Congress government in Telangana of acting with arrogance and highhandedness against the RTC driverHe was suggesting to the Congress leaders who were agitating on the road He was advising them to focus on speeding up the process of paddy procurement and also paying a reasonable price to the maize farmer He was not criticising anybody He was just suggesting Maybe he got a farming background or is a sympathiser of a farmer Arvind saidThe Congress government dealt with him with highhandedness and arrogance Removing him from duty is uncalled for And we will not appreciate this move of the Congress party We will stand by the driver personally Partywise we will stand by the driver he addedThe BJP MP also attacked the Congress over criticism directed at the Centre regarding rising fuel prices and alleged that Telangana had among the highest fuel prices in the country because of statelevel taxesI have the prices of various states across the nation Telangana is the highest The price is Rs 11570 per litre Kerala another Congressruled state has a Rs 11230 per litre Karnataka Rs 10770 per litre Tamil Nadu Rs 10560 per litre Compared to Delhiruled states Delhi Rs 995 Gujarat Rs 991 UP Rs 995 Haryana Rs 997 Arvind claimedHe further said that the Central government had already reduced fuel prices earlier and urged the Telangana government to cut VAT on petroleum productsAlready the Central government has reduced Rs 10 in March So it is up to the state government to take a step forward and reduce prices the duty prices which the VAT amount They are collecting the highest in the country So I suggest the state government reduce its duty on fuel the BJP MP added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/revanth-reddy-considered-joining-bjp-before-cong-claims-mp-dharmapuri-arvind-675329.html Wed, 27 May 2026 11:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/heinous-crime-against-pinarayi-vijayan-cpi-675339.html Thiruvananthapuram May 27 CPIM General Secretary MA Baby on Wednesday launched a blistering attack on the BJPled Centre and the Congress party after the Enforcement Directorate ED carried out raids at 10 locations across Kerala linked to former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan his family members and associates in the controversial CMRLExalogic case Describing the ED action as âa heinous crime against Pinarayi Vijayanâ Baby alleged that the Narendra Modi government was using Central agencies to politically target the CPIM and its seniormost leader in KeralaâThe justification for this raid is the Kerala High Court order allowing the ED probe to continue But Veena Vijayan Vijayanâs daughter had cooperated with the investigation and appeared before the concerned officials whenever summonedâ Baby saidThe ED on Wednesday starting 6 am is engaged in simultaneous searches at Vijayanâs residences in Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur the Kozhikode residence of former Minister PA Mohammed Riyas premises linked to Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd CMRL and other locations connected to the alleged financial transactions involving Veena Vijayanâs IT firm ExalogicRiyas the Beypore CPIM legislator is Veenas husbandThe case centres around allegations that Exalogic received payments from CMRL for services that were allegedly not renderedHowever Baby sought to distance the party from the merits of the case saying the company itself had already clarified its standâI am not going into the merits of the CMRL issue The company itself has made its position clearâ he said Drawing parallels with the Emergency era Baby said Vijayan had faced political persecution in the past as well âEven during the Emergency Pinarayi Vijayan was haunted Now the Modi government is repeating the sameâ he alleged while also accusing the Congress of joining hands with the BJP in targeting VijayanReferring to earlier controversies involving the son of late CPIM leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan Baby maintained that the present case was entirely differentAs the ED action triggered outrage within the CPIM protests erupted in Kannur and Kozhikode with party workers raising slogans against the Centre and the EDSenior CPIM leaders held emergency consultations and indications are that the protests could spread across Kerala during the course of the dayMeanwhile security has been tightened for BJP leader Shaun George who was among those instrumental in pursuing complaints related to the Veena Vijayan case before the Serious Fraud Investigation Office SFIO IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/heinous-crime-against-pinarayi-vijayan-cpi-675339.html Wed, 27 May 2026 12:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/we-will-abide-by-high-commands-decision-parameshwara-amid-ktaka-leadership-change-buzz-675353.html Bengaluru May 27 Amid strong speculation over a possible leadership change in Karnataka state Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday said the party leaders will abide by the decision of the Congress high command He also said that the partys General Secretary and Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala would address a press conference and provide clarity on the issueSpeaking to the media in Bengaluru Parameshwara while responding to questions regarding the leadership change speculation said âWe are committed to abiding by the decision of the high command Whatever the matter the high command will make a decision As of now we only know about the discussions regarding the selection of candidates for the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council electionsâHe further stated âAICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala is arriving in Bengaluru and he will provide all clarifications regarding the leadership change issue We are not aware of the details of the meeting in Delhi yesterday We do not know what was discussed thereâParameshwara added that Surjewala would hold discussions with party leaders in Bengaluru before briefing the media âHe will provide all details including information related to the meeting He may address a press conference either today or tomorrow We do not know what Surjewala and other senior leaders are going to announceâ he saidResponding to questions regarding the latenight meeting on Tuesday Parameshwara clarified that no political discussion took place in the residence of Minister KJ George âWe had dinner together there Chief Minister Siddaramaiah did not discuss anything related to leadership change with usâ he statedMeanwhile according to sources Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly sought time at Raj Bhavan at 1030 am on Thursday and is expected to tender his resignation Sources stated that after the breakfast meeting with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar Siddaramaiah is likely to proceed to Raj Bhavan to submit his resignationSources further claimed that the Chief Minister has personally invited cabinet ministers for a meeting scheduled for Thursday Messages in this regard were reportedly sent to all ministers on Tuesday nightSeveral ministers and senior legislators including close associate and Social Welfare Minister HC Mahadevappa have started arriving at the Chief Ministerâs residence amid the ongoing political developmentsAmid strong rumours of a leadership change in Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee KPCC President DK Shivakumar is set to hold a breakfast meeting with CM Siddaramaiah on Thursday further fuelling speculation over the political scenario in the stateShivakumarâs office on Wednesday confirmed the breakfast meeting with Siddaramaiah scheduled for Thursday May 28 at the Chief Ministerâs residence Kaveri in BengaluruThe official statement said that Shivakumar who is currently in Delhi will leave from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi at 5 am on Thursday and arrive in Bengaluru at 830 am After arriving in Bengaluru he will head straight to Siddaramaiahâs official residence for the breakfast meeting at 9 amSources stated that after the meeting both leaders are likely to address a press conference and clarify the ongoing speculation surrounding the leadership change issueAmid the speculation Surjewala is arriving in Bengaluru on Wednesday Though it is officially claimed that his visit is related to the elections concerning the Greater Bengaluru Authority GBA insiders say he is arriving and staying in the city to ensure a smooth transition of powerSources further stated that CM Siddaramaiah has been asked by Rahul Gandhi to step down to facilitate Shivakumarâs elevation to the post of Chief Minister The Siddaramaiah camp is now claiming that he is ready to tender his resignation as Rahul Gandhi played a key role in helping him become Chief Minister for a second term However the camp maintains that a group of ministers and his staunch supporters are strongly opposed to the move and insist that Siddaramaiah should not step down under any circumstances IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/we-will-abide-by-high-commands-decision-parameshwara-amid-ktaka-leadership-change-buzz-675353.html Wed, 27 May 2026 12:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rahul-gandhi-congress-stand-exposed-bjp-on-scs-ruling-on-sir-675357.html New Delhi May 27 IANS The Bharatiya Janata Party BJP on Wednesday said that the Supreme Courts ruling on the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls exposed that Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition LoP Rahul Gandhi and Congress stood with the infiltrationsThe Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission of Indias decision to undertake a SIR of electoral rolls holding that the revision exercise was within the constitutional and statutory powers of the poll body and was aimed at preserving the integrity of the electoral processnbspnbspReacting to this BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandhari said Rahul Gandhi ampamp Congress party stands exposed Supreme Court declare SIR Process Legal ampamp ConstitutionalIts clear Rahul Gandhi ampamp Congress opposed all through because they stood with illegal infiltrators not with Indian voters This was in true sense an Anti National Act Will Rahul Gandhi apologise today for defaming Indian Democracy he addedA Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi ruled that the impugned SIR exercise did not violate the provisions of the Representation of the People Act RPA 1950 or the rules framed thereunder and held that the ECI was empowered to undertake such a revision under Article 324 of the Constitution read with Section 213 of the RPA ActHolding that the ECI had not acted in excess of its powers the Supreme Court observed that the SIR exercise breathes life into the constitutional mandate under Article 324 within the precise statutory contours provided by Section 213 of the Representation of the People Act 1950It further held that the objective of the SIR exercise bore a direct nexus to the constitutional goal of free and fair elections Free and fair elections do not rest merely upon the mechanics of polling They fundamentally depend upon the integrity accuracy and credibility of the electoral rolls which form the foundation of the democratic process the CJI Kantled Bench saidReferring to the reasons recorded by the ECI for initiating the SIR exercise the apex court found that more than four decades had passed since the last intensive revision and that largescale additions and deletions rapid urbanisation and migration had created the possibility of duplication and inaccuracies in the electoral rollsThe judgment came on a batch of petitions challenging the SIR exercise initiated by the ECI beginning with Bihar and subsequently extended to several states and Union TerritoriesUTs including West Bengal Kerala and Tamil NaduIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rahul-gandhi-congress-stand-exposed-bjp-on-scs-ruling-on-sir-675357.html Wed, 27 May 2026 12:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-seeks-centre-cbse-response-on-plea-challenging-three-language-mandate-675383.html New Delhi May 27 IANS The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to examine the validity of the Central Board of Secondary Educations CBSE revised threelanguage formula mandating Class 9 students to study three languages including at least two native Indian languages from the current academic sessionA Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi issued notice on a petition challenging the CBSE circular and sought a comprehensive response from the Centre the CBSE and the National Council of Educational Research and Training NCERTDeclining to grant any interim stay on the implementation of the policy the CJIled Bench said it would take up the matter for final hearing in the second week of July after the top court reopens following the summer vacationDuring the hearing senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for the petitioner contended that the CBSE circular effectively mandates students to study three languages from July 1 despite the lack of preparedness on the groundEven textbooks are not available he submitted highlighting practical difficulties in rolling out the policy Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing in a connected matter argued that the issue raised important constitutional concerns including federalism and the right to choose ones languageLanguage is a matter of choice and cannot be imposed Sibal submitted describing the policy as having federal implicationsHowever the bench observed that the apex court at this stage was not examining the federal aspect but was focused on implementationrelated issues such as the availability of teachers and study materialDuring the hearing Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati appearing for the Centre opposed the plea for urgent interim relief and submitted that the matter could be heard in detail later since the implementation would remain subject to the Supreme Courts final ordersAs per the CBSEs May 15 circular issued as part of a transitional alignment with the National Education Policy NEP 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education NCFSE 2023 Class 9 students will be required to study three languages R1 R2 and R3 with at least two being native Indian languagesThe Board clarified that students may opt for a foreign language only as the third language provided the other two are Indian languages or as an additional fourth languageTo address concerns about the availability of study material CBSE said that until dedicated textbooks are released Class 6nbsp textbooks for the third language would be used for Class 9 studentsIt also stated that no Board examination would be conducted for the third language at the Class 10 level with assessment remaining internalThe Board acknowledged potential challenges in securing qualified language teachers and allowed schools to adopt flexible measures such as interschool resource sharing hybrid teaching and hiring retired educators during the transition periodMeanwhile former Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai has urged the CBSE to withdraw the circular contending that the sudden implementation would impose unnecessary academic burden on students and parentsIn a post on X Annamalai said that while he had initially welcomed the threelanguage framework introduced in April 2026 the latest circular which makes it compulsory for Class 9 students from the current academic session has caused anxiety among parents particularly in Tamil Nadu where language issues remain politically sensitiveHe claimed that the earlier notification had indicated that the requirement for Class 9 students would come into effect only from the 202930 academic year and argued that students who had already chosen their languages in Class 6 should not be compelled to abruptly take up an additional language nowWarning that abrupt changes in curriculum could affect students performance Annamalai called on the CBSE to reconsider the decisionIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-seeks-centre-cbse-response-on-plea-challenging-three-language-mandate-675383.html Wed, 27 May 2026 16:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/seven-cpi-m-workers-held-after-two-hour-standoff-at-party-office-over-ed-attack-675393.html Thiruvananthapuram May 27 IANS Seven CPIM workers were taken into police custody on Wednesday for allegedly attacking Enforcement Directorate ED officials and damaging their vehicles outside the residence of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after their raid there ending nearly two hours of high drama in the heart of the state capitalnbspThe tense standoff unfolded outside a local CPIM office where a few accused in the attack case were believed to have taken shelter after the violence that erupted following the ED raids linked to the CMRLExalogic financial transactions caseHectic discussions were held between top Kerala Police officials and senior CPIM leaders outside as police handed over photographs of the identified accused to the party leadersnbspAmong the CPIM leaders engaged in the talks were Rajya Sabha member John Brittas former ministers V Sivankutty and Kadakampally Surendran besides CPIM legislator V JoynbspAs police officials reportedly informed the CPIM leaders that several of the identified accused were inside Joy made it clear that the police would not be allowed to enter the party office under any circumstances at the end of prolonged discussions between the two sides three of the accused were seen walking out of the party office before being taken into custody by the policenbspFour others were also earlier detained in connection with the attacknbspBrittas who led the talks on behalf of the CPIM said the party would not protect any wrongdoers but urged the police not to create unnecessary tension around the party officenbspWe will not shield anyone who has done wrong Those involved can be arrested even if it takes an hour or two But there is no need to create a scene Brittas told the media after the discussions with police officialsPolice had earlier identified at least 10 accused using CCTV visuals media footage and videos circulating on social medianbspInvestigators alleged that CPIM workers attacked ED officials and central security personnel using stones and concrete blocks after the raids concluded earlier in the daynbspSeveral vehicles including those used by ED officials were damaged in the violence while drivers and a few police personnel sustained injuriesnbspThe incident has triggered a major political controversy in Kerala with opposition parties accusing the CPIM of attempting to intimidate central agencies probing the highprofile financial transactions caseIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/seven-cpi-m-workers-held-after-two-hour-standoff-at-party-office-over-ed-attack-675393.html Wed, 27 May 2026 18:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-to-meet-pm-modi-during-first-official-delhi-visit-today-675320.html New Delhi May 27 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph C Vijay is set to visit New Delhi on Wednesday in his first official trip to the national capital after assuming office During the visit he is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to submit memoranda seeking enhanced financial assistance for Tamil Nadu and faster approvals for several key infrastructure and development projectsAccording to sources Vijay is expected to leave for Delhi on Wednesday and return to Chennai on the same dayThe Chief Minister is expected to push for greater Central support for infrastructure expansion pending financial allocations industrial growth initiatives welfare programmes and major connectivity projects considered crucial for Tamil Naduâs economic developmentThe visit assumes political significance as it comes just weeks after Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK scripted one of the most remarkable electoral performances in Tamil Naduâs recent political historyContesting its maiden Assembly election the TVK emerged as the single largest party by securing 108 seats in the 234member Assembly ending the longstanding political dominance of the Dravidian majors However despite emerging as the largest party it fell short of the majority mark of 118 seats resulting in intense postelection political developmentsVijay subsequently secured support from several parties including the Congress Left parties the Indian Union Muslim League IUML and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi VCK enabling him to comfortably cross the required threshold and eventually paving the way for the formation of a coalition government a political arrangement the state has not witnessed for several decades The development marked a major shift in the stateâs political structure traditionally dominated by singleparty or allianceled governments under either the DMK or the AIADMK IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-to-meet-pm-modi-during-first-official-delhi-visit-today-675320.html Wed, 27 May 2026 11:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-mlas-meet-pm-modi-in-delhi-discuss-governance-constituency-development-675323.html New Delhi May 27 A group of Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party BJP MLAs met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence in New Delhi on Tuesday evening The meeting which brought together representatives from different constituencies of Gujarat was described by participants as a courtesy interaction during which they conveyed their experiences in public life and received guidance on governance and public serviceVejalpur MLA Amit Thaker said the meeting left a strong impression on him and described it as a source of renewed motivationHe said âIt was an honour to meet the respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence who is the illustrious servant of the nation pride of India and a source of inspiration for 140 crore citizens Patriotism development service and security these four words are the living embodiment of respected Narendra ModiThis meeting was not just a moment but a renewed inspiration to move forward with greater dedication towards public service I will continue to work with more strength and new resolve for the development of Vejalpur and Ahmedabad he addedSavarkundlaLiliya MLA Mahesh Kaswala also termed the interaction a memorable occasion noting its timing alongside the Prime Ministerâs years in public serviceHe said âToday I had the honourable and historic opportunity to meet the respected Prime Minister Narendra Bhai Modi Meeting him on a special day marking 12 years of dedicated public service of the Prime Minister is a moment of great pride and joy for me This was not just a meeting but an experience of positivity and the energy of ânation firstâHe further added I received inspiration from the Prime Minister to further advance public welfare works for SavarkundlaLiliya and the entire state of Gujarat with greater enthusiasm and dedicationâAmong other legislators present were Bapunagar MLA Dineshsinh Kushwaha Gandhinagar North MLA Rita Patel Naroda MLA Payal Kukrani and Vijapur MLA Chatursinh Javanji Chavda along with other members of the delegationParticipants said the interaction provided them an opportunity to discuss constituencylevel development issues and to reflect on administrative prioritiesThe meeting concluded with the MLAs expressing appreciation for the exchange and stating that the discussion would help reinforce their focus on governance and public welfare initiatives in their respective constituencies across Gujarat IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-mlas-meet-pm-modi-in-delhi-discuss-governance-constituency-development-675323.html Wed, 27 May 2026 11:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-cm-satheesan-to-meet-pm-modi-in-new-delhi-today-675144.html New Delhi May 26 Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan will hold his first official meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday in New Delhi marking a politically significant engagement soon after assuming office This is Satheesans first meeting with PM Modi after the United Democratic Front government came to power in KeralaThough details of the agenda have not been officially disclosed the discussions are expected to focus on Keralaâs immediate development priorities central assistance and key state issues requiring Union government interventionLater in the day the Chief Minister is scheduled to meet the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at 230 pm at Kartavya Bhavan in New DelhiEarlier on Saturday Satheesan held backtoback meetings with senior Congress leaders signalling the party leadershipâs continued engagement with the new Kerala administrationHe first met Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal at around 9 am followed by discussions with Congress President Mallikarjuna KhargeSatheesan later met senior leaders Rahul Gandhi Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi VadraDuring the interactions he is learnt to have thanked the Congress high command for its support during the Assembly electionsOrganisational matters and the partyâs future political strategy were also discussed according to sourcesMeanwhile Satheesanâs first visit to Delhi after becoming Chief Minister drew enthusiastic crowds at Kerala House where students and supporters gathered late into the night to greet himThe Chief Minister spent time interacting with visitors and posed for photographs adding to the celebratory atmosphere surrounding his arrival in the national capitalSatheesan led the Congressled United Democratic Front to a stunning victory in the Assembly electionsThe UDF won 102 seats while the Left was reduced to just 35 seats from 99 The BJP also reopened its account by winning three seatsOn May 18 Satheesan along with 20 of his Cabinet colleagues was sworn in IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-cm-satheesan-to-meet-pm-modi-in-new-delhi-today-675144.html Tue, 26 May 2026 07:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/polling-begins-for-punjab-civic-bodies-litmus-test-for-aap-675150.html Chandigarh May 26 Ahead of the Assembly elections in Punjab slated in early 2027 the AAPruled state on Tuesday went to the polls to elect councillors for 1896 wards and eight municipal corporations amid tight security A total of 3545 lakh voters will exercise their franchise till 5 pm Electors across the state could be seen reaching polling stations even before voting started at 8 am âThere has been no report of any delay in starting the poll processâ a state electoral officer told IANS hereThe state Election Commission has deputed around 32000 police personnel and 35000 election staff to ensure free and fair elections at eight municipal corporations 75 municipal councils and 20 nagar panchayatsThe eight municipal corporations are in Abohar Mohali Moga Bathinda Barnala Batala Kapurthala and Pathankot Of 7555 candidates in the fray 1801 belong to the Aam Aadmi Party 1550 to the Congress 1316 to the BJP 1251 to the Shiromani Akali Dal and 96 to the Bahujan Samaj Party while 1528 are Independent and 13 other candidates The electorate comprises 1833712 male voters 1711635 women and 220 voters listed under the âotherâ categoryAhead of the municipal elections the Punjab and Haryana High Court had dismissed a PIL challenging the Election Commissionâs decision to switch from electronic voting machines EVMs to ballot papers A Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry had rejected the plea that the shift from EVMVVPAT to ballot papers had been made abruptly through an administrative communication without any statutory amendment legislative sanction or public consultationâIt is now too late for us to pass any orders or issue any writ since the election programme was published as early as May 13 The election programme of municipal elections has progressed to an advanced stage where the last date of withdrawal of candidature was May 19â it had observed on May 22Later the Supreme Court too dismissed the petition seeking the use of EVMs instead of ballot papers in the municipal elections Noting that the elections are scheduled to take place on Tuesday the bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi refused to interfere saying it was too late as all arrangements had been madeState BJP President Sunil Jakhar has warned the government against using any illegal means to win the local body elections saying Punjab would no longer bow to AAPâs fear and pressure tacticsHe said statements being made by AAP MLAs and leaders about shutting polling booth doors and capturing booths to win elections reflected the desperation of the government Although Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann did not campaign for the polls his ministers MPs and MLAs campaigned aggressively for the party candidatesWhatever the outcome of the ongoing elections the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP believes it is rapidly emerging as one of the strongest political forces in the state and steadily expanding its footprint in both urban and rural regions The transformation in the BJPâs position in Punjab politics between the February 2021 local body elections and the current May 2026 civic polls has been dramatic a senior BJP functionary told IANSIn 2021 the party faced protests across several parts of Punjab and even struggled to field candidates in many areas In sharp contrast he said the current elections witnessed enthusiastic participation from aspiring BJP candidates with people lining up to seek party tickets while no protests against BJP candidates were reported anywhere in the stateThe BJP fielded 1226 candidates for Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat elections and 367 candidates for the eight Municipal Corporation elections reflecting the partyâs rapidly growing organisational strength and acceptance among the people of Punjab Importantly the BJPâs growing support is no longer limited to urban Punjab IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/polling-begins-for-punjab-civic-bodies-litmus-test-for-aap-675150.html Tue, 26 May 2026 08:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pmk-welcomes-tn-govts-crop-loan-waiver-seeks-wider-relief-for-farmers-675151.html Chennai May 26 PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss on Tuesday welcomed the Tamil Nadu governmentâs decision to waive crop loans for small and marginal farmers through cooperative societies while urging the state to introduce broader relief measures to address the challenges faced by the farming community In a statement Ramadoss said the governmentâs order to write off crop loans of up to Rs 50000 availed through cooperative societies since May last year was a positive and muchneeded step He also welcomed the decision to provide partial relief for loans in higher categories noting that farmers with crop loans between Rs 50000 and Rs 1 lakh would receive waivers ranging from Rs 5000 to Rs 40000He observed that while the announcement may not completely reduce the burden on all farmers it should be viewed as an attempt to provide support and confidence to the agricultural community under difficult economic circumstancesRamadoss pointed out that farmers across various sectors are currently struggling due to multiple challenges including recurring natural disasters rising production costs and inadequate returns for their agricultural produceIn this situation he said the government should consider announcing more comprehensive relief packages aimed at addressing the broader financial distress affecting the farming sector He further stressed that steps should be taken to ensure that all farmers receive essential agricultural inputs such as seeds fertilisers and other materials at subsidised prices through cooperative societiesAccording to him timely access to such resources would help reduce cultivation costs and improve productivityThe PMK leader also called on the government to ensure that farmers who benefit from the crop loan waiver scheme are provided fresh loans through cooperative societies so that they can continue their agricultural activities without disruption He said there should not be any administrative obstacles in extending such supportRamadoss additionally urged the state government to consider extending partial crop loan relief to farmers beyond the small and marginal categoryHe said protecting farmers and improving their livelihoods remains one of the governmentâs foremost responsibilities adding that sustained and farmerfriendly policies are essential to safeguard the agricultural sector which he described as the backbone of Tamil Nadu IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pmk-welcomes-tn-govts-crop-loan-waiver-seeks-wider-relief-for-farmers-675151.html Tue, 26 May 2026 08:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/polling-underway-for-first-phase-of-1-293-gram-panchayats-in-himachal-675205.html Shimla May 26 Voting began on Tuesday for 1293 gram panchayats in the first phase of Panchayati Raj elections in Himachal Pradesh amid tight security The next two phases of the poll with a total of 3745 gram panchayats will be held on May 28 and 30 The main Opposition BJP has expressed apprehensions about the misuse of government machinery by the ruling Congress in the electioneeringPolling will be conducted through ballot papers till 3 pm Each voter will cast five separate votes to elect a ward member vicepradhan pradhan panchayat samiti member and zila parishad member The results for panch pradhan and uppradhan posts will be declared immediately after polling in each phase while counting for panchayat samiti and zila parishad seats will take place on May 31Earlier a voter turnout of 6916 per cent was recorded in the elections to 51 urban local bodies ULBs including four Municipal Corporations held across the state on May 17Hamirpur district recorded the highest voter turnout at around 78 per cent while Solan district registered the lowest at 64 per centAmong the urban local bodies Naina Devi recorded the highest turnout at 86 per centThe polling for the four Municipal Corporations Dharamsala Palampur Mandi and Solan was concluded on May 17 alongside 51 other urban local bodies but election results will be declared on May 31A BJP delegation led by state President Rajeev Bindal on Monday met Governor Kavinder Gupta here and raised concerns regarding alleged interference in Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Body elections by the governmentLeader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was also present at the meeting along with several senior BJP leaders and officebearersThe delegation submitted a memorandum to the Governor highlighting what the party termed as repeated attempts by the government to manipulate democratic processes amend rules during the election period and influence the public mandate through administrative and political pressure IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/polling-underway-for-first-phase-of-1-293-gram-panchayats-in-himachal-675205.html Tue, 26 May 2026 11:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/hm-shah-to-hold-meeting-on-crisis-facing-maha-onion-growers-sugar-cooperatives-675219.html Mumbai May 26 Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will hold a meeting at his Delhi residence on Wednesday to address the crisis confronting Maharashtras onion growers and the cooperative sugar industry The meeting scheduled for 5 pm will be attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar along with senior ministers legislators and representatives of cooperative sugar bodiesThe intervention comes amid mounting stress in the stateâs agrarian economy with onion farmers reeling under a sharp price crash and the sugar sector facing policy uncertainties and rising costs due to the export banMinisters Chhagan Bhujbal Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Shivendraraje Bhosale legislators Dilip Walse Patil Jayant Patil Vinay Kore Abhimanyu Pawar the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Chairman Harshvardhan Patil and the Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories in Maharashtra Chairman PR Patil will also attend the meetingThe onion belt of Maharashtra primarily Nashik Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and parts of Marathwada is witnessing severe farm distress Despite strong production a convergence of adverse weather and geopolitical bottlenecks has driven wholesale prices to a fraction of production costsIn several Agricultural Produce Market Committees APMCs like Satana Lasalgaon and Paithan wholesale rates for belowaverage quality onions crashed to between 50 paise and Re 1 per kg in early May Premiumquality stocks are being secured at only Rs 12 to Rs 15 per kgAccording to data from the State Agriculture Department cultivation rose to 10 lakh hectares in the 202526 season yielding a bumper 165170 lakh metric tonnes However input costs seeds fertilisers labour and transport average Rs 18 to Rs 20 per kg leading to severe financial losses for cultivatorsThe ongoing conflict in West Asia has severely hit traditional export markets like the Arab nations and Iran Container freight prices from India skyrocketed from 600 to 6500 pricing out Indian exporters while competitors like Egypt and Yemen supply these markets via overland trucks Over 150 containers remain stranded at Mumbaiâs Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust JNPTUnseasonal rainfall and hailstorms across North Maharashtra and Marathwada have compromised the quality and shelflife of the rabi harvest forcing desperate farmers to execute immediate distress salesOn May 15 2026 the Central Government announced it would procure 2 lakh tonnes of onions via NAFED and NCCF at Rs 1235 per kg Rs 1235 per quintal The Maharashtra State Onion Growersâ Association has strongly rejected this rate calling it inadequate to cover basic inputs and demanding a minimum floor price of Rs 30 per kg along with a Rs 1500 per quintal subsidy for past lossesTaking note of ongoing agitation launched by onion growers the Centre on Monday decided to increase the procurement price set by NAFED for onions from Rs 1235 to Rs 1580 per kg However the onion growers have said it was not enough when the production cost is Rs 18 to Rs 20 per kg The onion growers have launched fresh agitation in Chandwad from Nashik district demanding a minimum purchase of Rs 30 per kg They have warned not to allow even an inch of movement on the MumbaiAgra highwayIn the case of Maharashtra cooperative sugar industry despite the state concluding the 202526 crushing season as Indias top sugarproducing state crushing 104421 lakh tonnes of cane to yield 9920 lakh tonnes of sugar the sector faces immense structural friction On May 13 2026 the Directorate General of Foreign Trade DGFT imposed an immediate ban on the export of raw white and refined sugar until September 30 2026 to secure a domestic supply and control retail inflation This came just three months after the Centre had permitted exports in February 2026The ruling and opposition parties along with farmer bodies such as the All India Kisan Sabha AIKS and Swabhiman Shetkari Sanghatana criticised the policy flipflop saying it cuts off highvalue international revenues at a time when global demand is peakingWhile the Centre raised the Fair and Remunerative Price FRP paid to cane farmers to Rs 365 per quintal for the upcoming season the Minimum Selling Price MSP of sugar has remained frozen at Rs 31 per kg since 2019 However the sugar industry has pointed out that the average production cost for mills has soared to Rs 4172 per kg leading to a widening viability gapMoreover the financial squeeze on mills has trickled down to the sugarcane growers As of midMay 2026 83 sugar mills across Maharashtra owe Rs 934 crore in outstanding FRP dues to farmers The Sugar Commissionerate has initiated hearings and issued seizure warnings to noncompliant factoriesAdding to the distress the IMD has projected the 2026 Southwest Monsoon at 92 per cent of the Long Period Average LPA amid emerging El Nino warnings sparking fears of a sharp cane shortfall for the 202627 crushing season beginning in OctoberA senior minister said that for both onion and sugar the overarching friction stems from an imbalance between rising domestic cultivation costs and restrictive trade policies designed to keep retail inflation low pushing the financial burden directly onto the rural economy He argued that against this backdrop the Centreâs bailout package is needed to help crisisridden onion growers and the cooperative sugar industry to survive IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/hm-shah-to-hold-meeting-on-crisis-facing-maha-onion-growers-sugar-cooperatives-675219.html Tue, 26 May 2026 12:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/amit-shah-to-meet-on-maharashtra-onion-growers-and-sugar-cooperatives-crisis-675225.html Mumbai May 26 IANSnbsp Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will hold a meeting at his Delhi residence on Wednesday to address the crisis confronting Maharashtras onion growers and the cooperative sugar industrynbspThe meeting scheduled for 5 pm will be attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar along with senior ministers legislators and representatives of cooperative sugar bodiesThe intervention comes amid mounting stress in the states agrarian economy with onion farmers reeling under a sharp price crash and the sugar sector facing policy uncertainties and rising costs due to the export banMinisters Chhagan Bhujbal Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Shivendraraje Bhosale legislators Dilip Walse Patil Jayant Patil Vinay Kore Abhimanyu Pawar the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Chairman Harshvardhan Patil and the Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories in Maharashtra Chairman PR Patil will also attend the meetingThe onion belt of Maharashtra primarily Nashik Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and parts of Marathwada is witnessing severe farm distress Despite strong production a convergence of adverse weather and geopolitical bottlenecks has driven wholesale prices to a fraction of production costsIn several Agricultural Produce Market Committees APMCs like Satana Lasalgaon and Paithan wholesale rates for belowaverage quality onions crashed to between 50 paise and Re 1 per kg in early May Premiumquality stocks are being secured at only Rs 12 to Rs 15 per kgAccording to data from the State Agriculture Department cultivation rose to 10 lakh hectares in the 202526 season yielding a bumper 165170 lakh metric tonnes However input costs seeds fertilisers labour and transport average Rs 18 to Rs 20 per kg leading to severe financial losses for cultivatorsThe ongoing conflict in West Asia has severely hit traditional export markets like the Arab nations and Iran Container freight prices from India skyrocketed from 600 to 6500 pricing out Indian exporters while competitors like Egypt and Yemen supply these markets via overland trucks Over 150 containers remain stranded at Mumbais Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust JNPTUnseasonal rainfall and hailstorms across North Maharashtra and Marathwada have compromised the quality and shelflife of the rabi harvest forcing desperate farmers to execute immediate distress salesOn May 15 2026 the Central Government announced it would procure 2 lakh tonnes of onions via NAFED and NCCF at Rs 1235 per kg Rs 1235 per quintal The Maharashtra State Onion Growers Association has strongly rejected this rate calling it inadequate to cover basic inputs and demanding a minimum floor price of Rs 30 per kg along with a Rs 1500 per quintal subsidy for past lossesTaking note of ongoing agitation launched by onion growers the Centre on Monday decided to increase the procurement price set by NAFED for onions from Rs 1235 to Rs 1580 per kg However the onion growers have said it was not enough when the production cost is Rs 18 to Rs 20 per kg The onion growers have launched fresh agitation in Chandwad from Nashik district demanding a minimum purchase of Rs 30 per kg They have warned not to allow even an inch of movement on the MumbaiAgra highwayIn the case of Maharashtra cooperative sugar industry despite the state concluding the 202526 crushing season as Indias top sugarproducing state crushing 104421 lakh tonnes of cane to yield 9920 lakh tonnes of sugar the sector faces immense structural friction On May 13 2026 the Directorate General of Foreign Trade DGFT imposed an immediate ban on the export of raw white and refined sugar until September 30 2026 to secure a domestic supply and control retail inflation This came just three months after the Centre had permitted exports in February 2026The ruling and opposition parties along with farmer bodies such as the All India Kisan Sabha AIKS and Swabhiman Shetkari Sanghatana criticised the policy flipflop saying it cuts off highvalue international revenues at a time when global demand is peakingWhile the Centre raised the Fair and Remunerative Price FRP paid to cane farmers to Rs 365 per quintal for the upcoming season the Minimum Selling Price MSP of sugar has remained frozen at Rs 31 per kg since 2019 However the sugar industry has pointed out that the average production cost for mills has soared to Rs 4172 per kg leading to a widening viability gapMoreover the financial squeeze on mills has trickled down to the sugarcane growers As of midMay 2026 83 sugar mills across Maharashtra owe Rs 934 crore in outstanding FRP dues to farmers The Sugar Commissionerate has initiated hearings and issued seizure warnings to noncompliant factoriesAdding to the distress the IMD has projected the 2026 Southwest Monsoon at 92 per cent of the Long Period Average LPA amid emerging El Nino warnings sparking fears of a sharp cane shortfall for the 202627 crushing season beginning in OctoberA senior minister said that for both onion and sugar the overarching friction stems from an imbalance between rising domestic cultivation costs and restrictive trade policies designed to keep retail inflation low pushing the financial burden directly onto the rural economy He argued that against this backdrop the Centres bailout package is needed to help crisisridden onion growers and the cooperative sugar industry to surviveIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/amit-shah-to-meet-on-maharashtra-onion-growers-and-sugar-cooperatives-crisis-675225.html Tue, 26 May 2026 13:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-satheesan-meets-pm-modi-in-delhi-outreach-after-udfs-landslide-win-675226.html New Delhi May 26 IANS In his first meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after leading the Congressled UDF to a sweeping victory in the Kerala Assembly elections Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Tuesday held crucial talks with the PM in New Delhi signalling the start of the new state governments engagement with the CentrenbspThe PMO office posted pictures of the meeting between the twoThe nearly 20minute meeting at the Prime Ministers Office assumed political significance coming just days after the change of guard in Kerala ending the decadelong rule of the Left Democratic Front led by former Chief Minister Pinarayi VijayanCM Satheesan was accompanied by Kerala Chief Secretary A Jayathilak during the meetingSources said the Chief Minister submitted a detailed memorandum seeking Central support for several key development projects and financial packages for the state while also following up on a number of pending issues concerning KeralaThough official details of the discussions were not disclosed it is learnt that infrastructure development financial assistance pending railway and highway projects disaster relief support and issues concerning Keralas overall fiscal position figured prominently during the talksDespite the political importance attached to the meeting Satheesan remained tightlipped while leaving the venue and avoided responding to questions from the media regarding the outcome of the discussions with the Prime MinisterThe Chief Minister has temporarily camped at Kerala House as part of his twoday visit to the national capitalLater in the day Satheesan is scheduled to meet Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to press for greater financial support for Kerala amid the states continuing fiscal challengesOn Wednesday the Chief Minister is expected to hold separate meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan before returning to ThiruvananthapuramThe Delhi visit is being closely watched both politically and administratively with indications that the new UDF government is keen to strike a pragmatic working relationship with the BJPled Centre despite sharp political differences between the two sidesIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-satheesan-meets-pm-modi-in-delhi-outreach-after-udfs-landslide-win-675226.html Tue, 26 May 2026 13:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nia-arrests-15-in-sir-based-road-blockade-judges-detention-cases-in-malda-ld-675233.html New Delhi May 26 IANS The National Investigation Agency NIA arrested 15 protesters in a special operation conducted in West Bengals Malda district in connection with last months road blockade incidents and the alleged illegal detention of judicial officers engaged in the Special Intensive Revision SIR exercise of electoral rolls ahead of the Assembly elections in the stateThe NIA had taken over the investigation following directions from the Election Commission of India after the Supreme Court reportedly took suo motu cognisance of the incidents During the extensive operation carried out in Malda district the agency apprehended 15 individuals on Monday who had been allegedly involved in blocking roads and detaining judicial officers on duty in two separate casesIn one of the cases 12 individuals including the main accused Joshim Sk and Asmaul Sk were arrested for allegedly detaining a woman judicial officer for nearly eight hours on the road between Haibatola and AmlitolaThree other accused identified as Alamgir Sk Nurul Islam and Habibur Rahman were arrested in connection with the blockade of Bagmara Bridge in the Mothabari block areaAccording to officials investigations are underway to identify and trace other persons allegedly involved in the incidents The NIA is also probing the possibility of a larger conspiracy behind the coordinated road blockades and the detention of judicial officersBefore the latest arrests nearly 50 people had already been taken into custody in connection with the caseThose arrested earlier included advocate Mofakkerul Islam Trinamool Congress Kaliachak Block President Mohammad Sariul Sheikh Indian Secular Front ISF Gram Panchayat member Golam Rabbani and ISF candidate Shahjahan Ali KadriPolice had earlier identified advocate Mofakkerul Islam and ISF leader Maulana Shahjahan Ali among the alleged key conspirators in the matterThe case is linked to violence that erupted on April 1 at the Mothabari Block Office in Malda district during protests related to the electoral roll revision exerciseAccording to officials judicial officers engaged in the SIR exercise allegedly came under attack while performing official duties Police later rescued the officers from the protest site but authorities claimed that the convoy escorting them was attacked again while leaving the areaThe incident drew nationwide attention after reports surfaced that seven judicial officers were allegedly surrounded by a large mob during the protests Officials stated that nearly 200 to 300 protesters gathered near the Kaliachak II block office and allegedly confined the officers inside the premises for more than nine hoursThe officers reportedly remained trapped without food or water and allegedly faced verbal abuse and threats before being rescued by security personnel around midnight Among those reportedly confined inside were three women officers and another officer accompanied by a fiveyearold childWest Bengal Police later described the violence as a preplanned attack rather than a spontaneous protestFollowing the incident Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of attempting to create unrest in the state and plotting to have the West Bengal Assembly elections cancelled in order to impose Presidents RuleIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nia-arrests-15-in-sir-based-road-blockade-judges-detention-cases-in-malda-ld-675233.html Tue, 26 May 2026 13:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-vijay-orders-swift-action-against-serious-crimes-calls-for-faster-trials-strict-punishment-675133.html Chennai May 25 IANS Tamil Nadu Chief Minister S Joseph Vijay on Monday directed police officials to ensure the immediate registration of cases speedy investigations and strict punishment for those involved in serious crimes with particular focus on offences against women and childrennbspnbspThe directive was issued during a highlevel review meeting held at the State Secretariat to assess measures related to crimes against women and children expediting criminal cases preventive action and awareness initiativesnbspAccording to an official statement released by the Tamil Nadu government the meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Vijay and attended by senior officials from the police department the Social Welfare Department and the office of the Advocate GeneralnbspDuring the meeting the Chief Minister stressed the need for swift handling of cases involving sexual offences and said legal procedures should be pursued effectively to ensure stringent punishment for offendersnbspHe observed that timely investigation and successful prosecution leading to severe punishment would act as a strong deterrent against those planning to commit such crimes in the futurenbspThe Chief Minister instructed officials to strengthen coordination between investigative agencies and departments concerned to ensure that criminal cases especially those involving women and children move forward without unnecessary delaysnbspHe also emphasised the importance of preventive measures and public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing crime and improving public safetynbspOfficials discussed the present status of investigations the speed of legal proceedings and the need for greater awareness among the public regarding safety measures and legal protections available for vulnerable sections of societynbspThe meeting also reviewed mechanisms to improve the handling of sensitive cases and examined ways to ensure that justice is delivered within a shorter timeframenbspSenior officials who attended the meeting included Chief Secretary Dr M Saikumar Additional Chief Secretary for Home Prohibition and Excise Department Dr K Manivasan Advocate General Vijay Narayan Social Welfare and Women Rights Department Secretary Mariam Pallavi Baldev and Director General of Police Dr Sandeep Rai Rathod along with other police and government officialsnbspThe review comes amid increasing public focus on law and order and crimes involving women and children across the statenbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-vijay-orders-swift-action-against-serious-crimes-calls-for-faster-trials-strict-punishment-675133.html Mon, 25 May 2026 13:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/green-technology-set-to-revamp-gujarats-roads-new-projects-in-various-cities-sanctioned-at-rs-1-147-crore-675075.html Gandhinagar May 24 Gujarat is advancing towards environmentally friendly and sustainable development through the modernisation of its road infrastructure To add strength to the states green corridors the state government is set to undertake Rs 1147 crores project for the construction of climateresilient roads using modern technology Work on 20 roads across various districts of the state will begin using green technology with old road materials being reused to reduce costs and promote sustainabilityThe introduction of modern and environmentfriendly roads is set to bring down costs of construction besides improving their durability and longevityThe array of projects include road widening resurfacing RCC gutter lines protection works fourlaning earthworks side shoulders rumble strips road furniture white topping and glass grid technology They will be developed using climateresilient and environmentally friendly modern technologyUnder the green technology being used for reconstruction the road are excavated treated with lime and stabilised through pulverising and rollingThe old road material is then spread over the surface followed by dry rolling cement spreading and chemical stabilisation Levelling and compaction are carried out using modern machineryAfter seven days a Stress Absorbing Membrane Interlayer SAMI a hightech fibre sheet is laid before asphalt application to prevent cracks absorb vehicular pressure and increase the lifespan of the roadAccording to experts the green technology promotes the reuse of materials such as old pavement soil and metal helping reduce construction costs while strengthening the road baseThis also improves the longterm durability of roads increases their lifespan and reduces the need for frequent repairs It also helps lower carbon emissions and conserve natural resourcesReconstruction work using green technology worth Rs 50 crore has been approved for the JambusarTankaliDeola road in Bharuch districtAmong the other key projects undergoing reconstruction under the green technology include LanwaManundSanderBalisana Road and RadhanpurMashaliMadhapura Road in Patan district Bhidiya Somnath Road in Gir Somnath SantrampurJalod Road in Mahisagar DayadaraNabipurJanor Road and IlavKosamba Road in Bharuch MorbiNani VavdiBaghthala Road in Morbi Surendranagar Bypass Road in Surendranagar DindoliKaradwaIklera Road in Surat ManglejNareshwar Road and KarjanAmod Road in Vadodara KosindraBhakha Road in Chhota Udepur IsarwadaUndel Road and VadtalJolBakrol Road in Anand ValamKadi Road and PepluKapra Road in Mehsana LuniGundalaPatriTapparBabiya Road in Kutch TalajaGopnath Road in Bhavnagar KalavadJamvanthaliFala Road in Jamnagar and Kothara Approach Road in Narmada district IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/green-technology-set-to-revamp-gujarats-roads-new-projects-in-various-cities-sanctioned-at-rs-1-147-crore-675075.html Sun, 24 May 2026 20:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-ministers-upset-after-chief-secy-announces-bureaucratic-reshuffle-674999.html Thiruvananthapuram May 24 A major confrontation appears to be brewing within the newly formed state government after Kerala Ministers expressed displeasure over the sweeping IAS reshuffle carried out by Chief Secretary A Jayathilak who is due to retire next month The controversy has erupted barely days after the new administration led by Chief Minister VD Satheesan assumed office with Ministers accusing the Chief Secretary of pushing through key appointments and transfers without consulting the political leadership concernedThe strongest resentment has emerged over the transfer of district collectors and appointments to sensitive departments which several Ministers claim were made unilaterallyRevenue Minister AP Anil Kumar was reportedly kept in the dark about the reshuffle involving collectors in key districts while Industries Minister PK Kunhalikutty is understood to have objected strongly to the appointment of Arun K Vijayan as Director of Industries without prior consultationThe unusual public expression of dissatisfaction by Ministers has triggered intense discussions within government circles especially since the reshuffle was executed at a time when the administration was expected to settle into office under the new political leadershipSenior leaders are learnt to be concerned that the controversy could deepen into a larger tussle between the bureaucracy and the elected Kerala governmentThe appointment of Arun K Vijayan has emerged as the most contentious decisionThe former Kannur Collector had faced severe criticism in connection with the suicide case of former Kannur Additional District Magistrate ADM Naveen BabuAllegations were raised that Vijayan remained silent when then Kannur District Panchayat President and top CPIM leader PP Divya publicly humiliated the ADM Naveen Babu during a farewell eventNaveen Babus family had also levelled serious accusations against the Collector at the timeDespite the controversy Vijayan has now been elevated as Director of Industries and also given additional charge as Managing Director of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation a move that has reportedly upset sections within the state governmentThe reshuffle has brought extensive changes across the administrative hierarchyPatil Ajit Bhagwat Rao has been appointed Finance Resources Secretary while PB Nooh becomes the new GST Commissioner K Imbasekhar has been named Managing Director of the Kerala Water AuthoritySnehal Kumar Singh has been appointed Director of Collegiate Education with additional charge as Entrance CommissionerWith Chief Secretary Jayathilak set to retire next month the controversy surrounding his final round of appointments is expected to become a major political talking point in the days aheadChief Minister VD Satheesan was in Delhi on Saturday when this reshuffle took place IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-ministers-upset-after-chief-secy-announces-bureaucratic-reshuffle-674999.html Sun, 24 May 2026 14:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ngt-seeks-action-taken-report-from-rpcb-in-alwar-groundwater-contamination-case-675000.html Jaipur May 24 The Bhopal Central Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal NGT while taking a serious note of groundwater contamination in and around the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation RIICO Industrial Area in Sotanala of Rajasthans Alwar has directed the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board RSPCB to submit a detailed action taken report The matter pertains to original application titled Ms Dhansa Labs Limited formerly Ambey Laboratories Ltd vs Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board amp Others which came up for hearing on Saturday before a bench comprising Justice Sheo Kumar Singh Judicial Member and Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi Expert MemberThe application highlights serious concerns over groundwater pollution allegedly caused by pesticide residues discharged from industries operating in the RIICO industrial areas of Sotanala and adjoining regionsDuring the proceedings the Tribunal took note of findings recorded in a scientific study conducted by the National Institute of Hydrology NIH Roorkee at the instance of the Rajasthan State Pollution Control BoardAccording to the NIH report groundwater in the RIICO industrial areas of Keshwana and Sotanala has been found to be severely contaminatedThe study also warned that the contamination plume may gradually spread towards the RIICO industrial area of Behror in the future potentially aggravating environmental and public health risks in the regionThe report also said that the deteriorating groundwater quality could have adverse impacts on human healthIt recommended urgent remedial measures including scientific groundwater remediation and implementation of rainwater harvesting systems particularly rooftop rainwater harvesting structures to help restore groundwater quality and improve rechargeTaking the matter seriously the National Green Tribunal directed the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board to identify the industries actually responsible for the contamination place on record the remedial and corrective measures undertaken so far and ensure further action in accordance with the recommendations made in the NIH reportThe Tribunal has listed the matter for further hearing on August 19 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ngt-seeks-action-taken-report-from-rpcb-in-alwar-groundwater-contamination-case-675000.html Sun, 24 May 2026 14:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ban-on-heavy-vehicles-at-bridge-in-bihars-gopalganj-due-to-structural-concerns-675002.html Patna May 23 Fresh concerns over bridge safety in Bihar have emerged after structural issues were reported on the JadopurMangalpur Mahasetu a key bridge connecting Gopalganj and Bettiah Following the detection of a gap in one of the bridge spans the district administration has imposed an immediate ban on the movement of heavy vehicles across the bridge officials said on SaturdayAt present only light and small vehicles are being allowed to cross under strict monitoring and with caution to prevent any untoward incidentGopalganj District Magistrate Pawan Kumar Sinha said the structural gap observed in the bridge is a matter of serious concern and warned that delay in repairs could worsen the condition and make restoration more difficultAccording to District Magistrate Sinha expert teams from the National Institute of Technology and the Indian Institute of Technology Patna are being called to conduct a detailed technical assessment and safety inspection of the bridgeHe said that the expert team will inspect the structure identify the causes behind the cracks and gaps and recommend immediate repair measuresThe JadopurMangalpur Mahasetu stretches nearly 192 km and serves as an important transport link between Gopalganj and BettiahThe bridge significantly reduced travel distance between the two districts by nearly 120 km and is considered a lifeline for hundreds of villages located in the riverine Diara regionsOfficials noted that the bridge had earlier faced issues in 2020 when flooding and river pressure caused cracks in the approach roadThose damages were later repaired and additional road connectivity works were undertaken in 2023 and 2024Constructed at an estimated cost of around Rs 550 crore the bridge was inaugurated during 2015â16 by the then Bihar Chief Minister Nitish KumarThe emergence of major structural concerns within a decade of inauguration has now raised fresh questions over construction quality longterm maintenance and monitoring of infrastructure projects in the stateEarlier a section of the Vikramshila Bridge in Bhagalpur district collapsed which led to criticism of the Bihar governmentNow the repair work on the damaged section is underway IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ban-on-heavy-vehicles-at-bridge-in-bihars-gopalganj-due-to-structural-concerns-675002.html Sun, 24 May 2026 14:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bsp-supremo-mayawati-reviews-poll-strategy-in-up-stresses-on-stronger-booth-level-connect-675019.html Lucknow May 24 IANS Bahujan Samaj Party BSP national president and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mayawati on Sunday held a key meeting of the partys state unit in Lucknow and asked workers to strengthen the organisation down to the polling booth level while intensifying preparations for the 2027 Assembly electionsnbspnbspReviewing the partys organisational work and election readiness at the BSP state office on Mall Avenue Mayawati said preparations must be made more efficient and vigilant in view of what she described as new and serious challenges emerging in elections across the countryShe said the BSPs objective was to form a propeople government in Uttar Pradesh for the fifth time citing growing public support for the partynbspThe meeting was attended by boothlevel incharges as well as Assembly district and state committee officebearers who presented progress reports on organisational strengthening social outreach and financial support for the partyExpressing satisfaction over the implementation of directions issued during the previous meeting Mayawati nonetheless cautioned party workers against complacency and said the political environment indicated rival parties were engaged in deceptive politicsCalling on workers to unite all sections of society she urged them to work towards victory with the slogan Haathi wale button ko dabao satta mein wapas lao Press the button on the elephant bring back to power and stressed the importance of safeguarding every votenbspReferring to the Assembly elections held recently in five states Mayawati said the BSP needed to draw lessons from those contests as Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand and Punjab move closer to elections expected early next year or slightly ahead of scheduleShe alleged that ruling parties often resort to polarisation and diversionary politics during elections and later fail to address peoples welfare concernsnbspThe BSP chief said ordinary people were struggling with inflation unemployment and policy burdens and accused parties in power of making attractive promises during elections only to turn indifferent afterwardnbspDescribing the countrys political social and economic conditions as distressing and painful she said governments should remain committed to constitutional and welfareoriented governance rather than policies favouring big industrialists and the wealthyMayawati said the people of Uttar Pradesh have not forgotten BSPs record in governance during its previous four terms which she claimed ensured law and order and promoted employmentoriented development with dignitynbspThe people of Uttar Pradesh are once again looking towards the experienced and tested BSP government and its leadership with hope she saidShe also invoked BSP founder Kanshi Ram saying the party remained committed to his mission of Sarvajan Hitay Sarvajan SukhaynbspAppealing to voters in Uttar Pradesh to place their trust in the BSP once again Mayawati said governments should focus on livelihood peace communal harmony and law and order and should not turn away from their constitutional responsibility of functioning as welfareoriented administrationsIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bsp-supremo-mayawati-reviews-poll-strategy-in-up-stresses-on-stronger-booth-level-connect-675019.html Sun, 24 May 2026 14:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/seeman-criticises-shivakumar-over-mekedatu-dam-remarks-urges-tn-govt-to-oppose-ktaka-move-675021.html Chennai May 24 Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK coordinator Seeman has vehemently condemned Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for his recent comments that Tamil Nadu lacks the authority to contest the proposed Mekedatu Dam project on the Cauvery River Seeman characterised these remarks as the height of arrogance and an effort to undermine Tamil Nadus historical and legal rights over the river In a statement on Sunday Seeman alleged that Karnatakaâs continued push for the Mekedatu dam reflected a larger attempt to gain complete control over the Cauvery River waters at the expense of Tamil NaduHe argued that such efforts run contrary to established principles governing interstate river water sharing and accused Karnataka of attempting to deny downstream regions their legitimate share of water resourcesHighlighting the historical significance of the Cauvery to Tamil Nadu Seeman said the river shared a bond with Tamil society that predates the formation of both the Kannada language and the Karnataka stateHe maintained that the river has been an integral part of Tamil civilisation and culture for centuries and therefore cannot be treated as the exclusive property of a single stateQuestioning Karnatakaâs position Seeman asked whether the Cauvery River belonged solely to Karnataka and stressed that existing river watersharing principles recognise the rights of downstream statesAccording to him downstream regions have a strong stake in the equitable distribution of river waters making Tamil Naduâs concerns over projects such as the Mekedatu dam valid and legitimateHe said DK Shivakumarâs comments reflected an attitude of dominance and disregard for the concerns of Tamil Nadu and strongly condemned the statementSeeman further appealed to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to officially condemn the Karnataka Deputy Chief Ministerâs remarks and take a firm stand against Karnatakaâs efforts to construct the Mekedatu damThe Mekedatu project has remained a contentious issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for several years with Tamil Nadu consistently expressing concerns that the proposed reservoir could affect the flow of Cauvery water to the state and impact irrigation and drinking water requirements IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/seeman-criticises-shivakumar-over-mekedatu-dam-remarks-urges-tn-govt-to-oppose-ktaka-move-675021.html Sun, 24 May 2026 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/landlord-asks-trinamool-to-vacate-east-kolkata-building-housing-party-hq-675024.html Kolkata May 24 The Trinamool Congress leadership has received a notice to vacate the partys temporary headquarters or Trinamool Bhaban located in East Kolkata The owner of the rented multistorey building in the Topsia area along the EM Bypass which was the Trinamool headquarters for the past few years has asked the party to vacate It is reported that this decision was made due to security concerns following the vandalism outside the building after the Assembly election results were announcedThe owner of this luxurious multistorey building is Montu Saha the head of one of the states renowned companies Modern Decorators He himself is said to have verbally informed the Trinamool leadership about vacating the houseSaha has also specified that the deadline to vacate the multistorey building has been given He said that he had spoken to the Trinamool leadership and the party has clearly assured him that the multistorey building will be completely vacated within the next two monthsThere has been a recent political upheaval in the state after the change of government However Montu Saha said that there was no political motive pressure or any other reason behind itHe said Immediately after the results of the Assembly elections were announced on May 4 there was widespread vandalism outside that house If there is any damage to the house the loss will be mine There is nothing else in thisâSaha said he asked Trinamool to vacate the house mainly due to security reasons and has no personal grudge against the party He also confirmed that the Trinamool leadership has always paid the house rent as per the agreementThere has been no response from Trinamool Congress on the issueIt is worth noting that after retaining power in the 2021 Assembly elections the Trinamool top leadership decided to renovate the partys main office located in the Topsia area The old building was demolished and a modern multistorey building was built For this reason the building in the metropolitan area of ââEM Bypass was rented in 2022 as an alternative officeAlthough the building was initially rented for only two years the contract was extended by another two years since work on the main building in Topsia was not completedAs a result for the last four years this metropolitan building was the main hub of all the political and organisational activities of the Trinamool In this temporary Trinamool building separate wellfurnished rooms were arranged for party supremo Mamata Banerjee and General Secretary Abhishek BanerjeeAlmost every important organisational meeting of the party election strategy formulation and press conference were held in this house The top leaders of the party MLAs and ministers used to come here every day This office was mainly managed and looked after by the partys state president Subrata Bakshi and vicepresident Jay Prakash Majumdar IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/landlord-asks-trinamool-to-vacate-east-kolkata-building-housing-party-hq-675024.html Sun, 24 May 2026 14:43:00 +0530