Delhi Police ACP's additional DCP charge withheld amid harassment inquiry
Delhi government modified an order regarding duty charges of 12 police officers after harassment allegations surfaced. Assistant Commissioner of Police Vivek Bhagat voluntarily stepped aside from his additional charge as the inquiry continues. The CDC assignment began prior to the allegations, ensuring it does not indicate a promotion. The complaints have been transferred to the Crime Branch for a detailed investigation and fair inquiry.
Visa doesn't create absolute right to enter India, says Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court emphasized that foreign nationals do not have an inherent right to enter India. Justice Amit Mahajan pointed out that holding a visa does not ensure unconditional admission. The court noted various factors that could lead to denial of entry, including national security and public health. A plea by a Turkmenistan woman for reasons regarding her entry refusal was dismissed.
Delhi government launches single-window clearance for Chhath Puja
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TMC Legislator Baron Biswas Transferred to Delhi for Advanced Burn Treatment
TMC legislator Baron Biswas has been moved to Delhi for better treatment after suffering severe burns in a house fire. TMC Legislator Baron Biswas Transferred to Delhi for Advanced Burn Treatment
Delhi BJP chief slams AAP after Punjab HC orders CBI corruption probe
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Probe sex assault case against Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad, court directs Delhi cops
A Delhi court has ordered the completion of an inquiry into a sexual assault complaint against Chandrashekhar Azad. The complainant accused Azad of raping her under the pretext of marriage and claimed the police did not register an FIR. The police sought additional time for the inquiry, but the complainant opposed this request. The court rejected the police's plea and emphasized that the alleged offence is punishable with life imprisonment.
Delhi government modifies police promotion order after officer opts out amid harassment allegations
Digital Desk | New Delhi, October 6(IANS) The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi has modified an order assigning additional charge to senior police officers following a request by one of them linked to allegations of harassment of women journalists. According to an official clarification posted on its X handle, the Delhi Government said that an order dated October 5, 2026, had assigned current duty charge of the post of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police to 12 officers of the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Police Service (DANIPS). The order is now being modified in respect of Vivek Bhagat, Assistant Commissioner of Police. Officials said that the proposal to confer the additional duty charge on these officers was initiated on August 25, well before the recent events that prompted public attention. The orders were issued only after due approval on October 5, 2026. The clarification emphasised that the assignment of current duty charge is a temporary administrative arrangement. It confers no financial benefit on the officers concerned and does not allow them to exercise any statutory duties of the regular incumbents of the post. Vivek Bhagat, of his own volition, has requested that he would not avail the current duty charge assignment until a full enquiry has been conducted into the matter of alleged harassment of women journalists and such enquiry has been satisfactorily concluded. In light of his request, the October 5 order is being modified and will be reissued covering only the remaining eleven officers. The development comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Delhi Police following reports of alleged misconduct involving women journalists. Authorities have underlined that the original proposal predated the controversy and that the arrangement remains purely temporary in nature. The modified order is expected to be issued shortly, indicating the officers decision to step aside pending the outcome of the enquiry. Officials reiterated that no financial or statutory benefits accompany the temporary charge, meaning the limited scope of the arrangement. Further details on the progress of the enquiry or any subsequent administrative actions have not been disclosed. The government has maintained that the process of assigning additional charge followed established procedures and timelines independent of the recent allegations.
Delhi govt revises Addl DCP charge after ACP Vivek Bhagat steps aside
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Delhi Cop Vivek Bhagat's Promotion Withheld Amid Sexual Harassment Allegation
The proposal to confer additional duty charge to these officers was initiated on August 25, much before the present set of events, the government said in a post X late Monday. The orders were issued after due approval on October 5.
Jamia students link hostel evictions to protests over mess food
At least five women receive eviction notices since mid-September; one moves the Delhi High Court; varsity cites merit criterion for evictions
Docs use shockwaves to break up calcium in 76-year-olds blocked heart artery
How to tackle pollution? GNIDA to hire agency
GST Council meeting rescheduled to Oct 8
New Delhi, Oct 5: The 57th GST Council meeting has been rescheduled for the second time, and the new date is October 8. In an office memorandum, the GST Council Secretariat said that the meeting is being rescheduled due to unavoidable circumstances. The Council meeting was scheduled to be held on October 7. The GST [] The post GST Council meeting rescheduled to Oct 8 appeared first on Northlines .
The proposal to confer additional duty charge to these officers was initiated on August 25, much before the present set of events, the government said
2020 Delhi riots: High Court rejects petitions seeking FIRs over hate speeches
Fear of jail wont work:CJP says it will go ahead with October 10 protest
CISF constable attacked at protest in Delhi; one detained
Choti Haridwar canal bed to be raised to curb drowning deaths
Condo manager, resident trade harassment charges in Noida, twin FIRs filed
ACP accused of molesting journalist gets promotion; why afraid of women: Rahul Gandhi
A routine promotion request was sent way back: police; LoP questions Amit Shah and Delhi Police, demands justice for all those who faced violence at Jantar Mantar and action against guilty officers
Man killed while sleeping in a field, brother detained
UPPCB cant pay IIT-Delhis consultancy fee, water audit held up for 2 sites in Noida
Discoms to set up substations, cables for ad hoc power connections to floodplain homes
Eknath Shinde meets PM Modi in Delhi, discusses Maharashtra drought
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, during which the latter assured the Centre's support in tackling the drought. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Shinde said Modi held an extensive discussion on the drought situation in Maharashtra and enquired about the status of water, fodder, and crop damage. The meeting lasted an hour, said an aide of Shinde. The Maharashtra government on September 26 declared drought in 265 of its 358 talukas, or 74 per cent of the state, amid rainfall deficit. Shinde's meeting with Modi comes in the backdrop of a tussle between the Mahayuti allies Shiv Sena and the BJP over the MLC election for the Pune Teachers Constituency, a seat for which both the parties have announced candidates. Shinde said PM Modi sought details on water availability, agricultural conditions and fodder for livestock and assured the state of the Centre's support. The Deputy CM expressed confidence that substantial assistance
Man beats wife to death in Ghaziabad, on the run
11 years on, man, 2 others get life term for wifes murder in Dadri
JJB flagged it 3 months ago, but liquor shop still open below shelter home in Noida
FIR against Ghaziabad developer for handing over flats without completion certificate
Vijay vs DMK Showdown Intensifies | SC Issues Notice On Plea Against CEC | Top Headlines
Hours before polling in Tamil Nadu's Dharapuram and Madurantakam bypolls, political temperatures have soared with the DMK and AIADMK accusing the ruling TVK of distributing gifts and cash to voters. TVK has denied the allegations, questioned the authenticity of the evidence, and accused both opposition parties of joining forces against it. As the battle over Vijay's campaign style and rural outreach intensifies, a separate political storm is unfolding in Delhi, where the Supreme Court has issued notices to the Election Commission and the Centre on a plea seeking action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of unilateral decision-making.
26-year-old man dies by suicide in Greater Noida highrise
Will annul EC decisions not taken by unanimity or majority: SC
New Delhi, Oct 5: The Supreme Court on Monday said it will examine all decisions of the Election Commission (EC) and annul those found not to be in accordance with law, as it issued notices to the Centre and the poll body following pleas alleging that the EC took several decisions without the approval of [] The post Will annul EC decisions not taken by unanimity or majority: SC first appeared on Highland Post .
Admiral Paparo meets top Indian military leadership at U.S. Envoys dinner in New Delhi
The head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is in India to advance U.S.-India major defence partnership and deepen military-to-military cooperation
PM Modi Gifts Indian Cheeses To Swiss President, Spotlights India's Dairy Strength
Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter Parmelin with three Indian artisanal cheeses during bilateral talks in New Delhi, showcasing India's growing dairy excellence in the homeland of cheese. The leaders also discussed trade, investment and economic cooperation, while the Swiss President paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, highlighting the broader India-Switzerland partnership.
Govt may offer jobs to ex-Agniveers without exams, physical tests
At many pumps, no PUCC, no fuel enforcement plagued by weak links
Traffic cops blame Google Map for Barapullah-III mess, tells commuters to take other routes
Jamia Violence: HC Rejects Plea for SIT Probe Into Police Action
Rejecting the allegations made on social media that female protesters were subjected to physical assault during the recent demonstrations in Jantar Mantar , the Delhi Police said that they were handled by female personnel and treated with dignity in accordance with prescribed procedures.
Scribes covering protests should carry ID, maintain distance: Delhi Police advisory
Congress campaign against vote chori to help re-enroll voters whose names were deleted in SIR
Congress to invite DMK, AAP to INDIA bloc rally on November 1; Vote bachao, desh bachao campaign to start at block level from October 10 to 20, culminate in Delhi Chalo marches, rally in the capital on November 26
Excise dept starts process to cut UK whisky prices
Crackers in Ravan effigy go off, bring down 2 walls in Ghaziabad community centre, leave 5 injured
Verma slap: HC declines urgent hearing
JNUSU to hold screening of Palestine 36 at protest site today
SIR protest: Four FIRs filed, 17 arrested
Govt moves to regulate PGs; LG seeks verification, Sood holds consultations
Customs arrests passenger for smuggling precious stones worth Rs 2 crore
Rohini lawyers call off strike after talks with senior police officers
DPS Dwarka parents again flag fee arrears, seek action
Begumpur drug bust uncovers interstate heroin syndicate; 4 held
CGHS beneficiaries lose access to fresh treatment at 99 hospitals, clinics
Vote Theft: Oppn To March To EC Office Today
I.N.D.I.A. bloc MPs will march to the Election Commission office in New Delhi over alleged electoral-roll irregularities and vote theft claims.
Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre appointed acting chief justice of Delhi High Court
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Gangster in waiting room: Patient tries extorting 25L from doc
CAQM deploys flying squads in 34 Punjab & Haryana districts to curb farm fires
They Fell Off City Map. This Is How TheyAre Faring While Trying To Get Back In
Tenants find themselves in no-mans land. With SIR verification work almost over, TOI visit to three residential pockets reveals gaps
BJPs Sambit Patra rebuts Rahul Gandhis Form 6 claims, says SC did not declare it illegal
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Monday hit back at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his allegations concerning Form 6, the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, accusing him of spreading misleading information about the Supreme Courts proceedings. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Patra said Gandhi had misrepresented the Supreme Courts observations and wrongly suggested that the court had established that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had illegally and unilaterally altered Form 6 to benefit the BJP. He said Gandhi had made the allegations in a post on X shortly after the Supreme Court hearing. According to Patra, Gandhi claimed that it had been established without any doubt that Kumar had illegally and unilaterally changed Form 6 and had misused his position to help the BJP. Gandhi also said that those responsible would have to be held accountable. The BJP leader strongly rejected the interpretation, saying the Supreme Court had neither declared Form 6 illegal nor rejected it. He said the court had only made it clear that it had not approved any modified Form 6 and wanted to examine the official record to determine who had made the changes. According to Patra, Chief Justice Surya Kant observed during the hearing that the court had not approved any changed Form 6 and that the record would have to be examined to establish who had made the modification. Patra said this observation could not be interpreted as a judicial finding that Form 6 itself was illegal. The BJP leader also referred to the Election Commissions September 26 press release, which stated that the declaration attached to Form 6 for the SIR exercise had been upheld by the Supreme Court. He said Gandhi was creating confusion by presenting the issue as though the entire Form 6 had been declared unlawful. Rahul Gandhi, in his post on X, alleged that the Supreme Court proceedings had established that the Chief Election Commissioner had changed Form 6 illegally and unilaterally. He described the alleged change as further evidence of the misuse of the CECs position to help the BJP. Gandhi said that the CEC and others allegedly involved in what he described as an attack on democracy would have to be held accountable. The BJP, however, argued that Gandhis interpretation went beyond what the Supreme Court had actually said during the hearing. Patra maintained that the court had not reached a final conclusion on who made the disputed changes or whether the changes were unlawful. Patra also cited the Supreme Courts May 27, 2026, judgment while explaining the Election Commissions position on documentation for the SIR exercise. The BJP spokesperson argued that the Supreme Court judgment did not support such an interpretation. Patra also disputed the allegation that the SIR decision had been taken unilaterally. He said the Bihar SIR order issued on June 24, 2025, was approved unanimously by all three Election Commissioners. According to Patra, the Election Commission itself had reiterated that position in its fact-check response. Patra said the decision was taken collectively by the Commission and pointed to the public record surrounding the announcement as evidence that all three Election Commissioners had participated in the process. He accused Gandhi of presenting the decision as the action of an individual when, according to the Election Commission's position cited by the BJP, it was a unanimous decision of the three-member Commission. Patra also brought up Gandhis earlier criticism of the Supreme Court in connection with the Rafale fighter-jet controversy. He alleged that Gandhi had previously made incorrect claims about what the Supreme Court had said in the Rafale case and subsequently had to clarify his remarks before the court. Patra argued that a similar pattern was emerging in the Form 6 controversy, with the Supreme Courts observations being interpreted politically before the complete legal record had been examined. He urged political leaders to study judgments and official documents carefully before making public allegations involving constitutional institutions. Another issue raised by Patra was a claim that the Election Commission had withdrawn its September 26 press release concerning Form 6 and SIR. Patra rejected the claim and said the press release had not been withdrawn. He said the Election Commission had issued a fact-check on the matter and that the September 26 communication remained part of the Commissions public record. According to Patra, reports suggesting that the press release had been withdrawn following the Supreme Court hearing were false. He accused Rahul Gandhi of attempting to create confusion and instability by making allegations against constitutional institutions. He said political disagreements were legitimate but claimed that the Supreme Court and Election Commission should not be selectively cited or portrayed in ways that, according to the BJP, distorted their actual positions.
Delhi Cop, Accused Of Sexually Harassing Woman, Gets Promotion
The complaints of three women journalists who said they were sexually harassed by police personnel during the October 3 demonstration have been transferred to the Crime Branch.
PM Modi gifts 3 award-winning Indian cheeses to Swiss President Guy Parmelin
During a significant meeting in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented three unique Indian cheeses to Swiss President Guy Parmelin. The selection featured Gulmarg, a French-style Brie, rich and creamy Konark Tomme, and Yeoor, reminiscent of Swiss Gruyre but with a twist of Indian flavor.
Accused of molestation, Delhi IPS officer gets additional charge
New Delhi: Within days of an independent woman journalist accusing him of molestation during a protest, Delhi Police ACP Vivek Bhagat was given a temporary charge as Additional DCP on Monday, October 5. The 2018 batch officer is currently posted as SDPO, Connaught Place. The notification from the Government of National Capital Territory states that Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Delhi Capitals Parts Ways With IPL Coaching Staff; Official Word On New Coaches To Come Soon
Indian Premier League: Delhi Capitals have officially parted ways with their existing coaching group ahead of the 2027 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, by making an announcement through their social media accounts. Under GMR, who were at the helm for the 2025 and 2026 seasons as per an operational agreement signed with co-owners JSW in 2024, DC had former India player Hemang Badani as their head coach, alongside director of cricket Venugopal Rao, bowling coach Munaf Patel, assistant coach Ian Bell and fielding coach John Mooney. A special coaching group, and some very special memories. Thanks for everything, Tigers, Delhi Capitals posted on 'X' and Instagram accounts on Monday. The announcement comes on the back of operational control now transitioning to JSW Sports for the 2027 and 2028 IPL cycles. Yes, the term of the Badani-led coaching group is over. In a day or two, the new Delhi Capitals coaches for the IPL 2027 season will be officially announced, said a source to IANS on Monday. As previously reported on September 14, Yuvraj Singh, Amit Mishra and Chaminda Vaas are expected to join the new-look DC coaching staff. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, currently serving as JSW's Director of Cricket, is expected to take over as head coach, though it remains to be seen if he will be hit by the Conflict-of-Interest clause as he also serves as President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). In 2019, when he was CAB President before crossing over to become BCCI President, Ganguly was the team advisor for DC in the IPL. At that time, Ganguly had stated that his position as CAB President was purely honorary and he couldnt influence anything in the IPL. Ganguly worked as head coach of Pretoria Capitals in SA20 earlier this year, which marked his maiden foray as a coach, and was also involved with the DC side in the Womens Premier League (WPL). Yuvraj, whos won World Cups for India in ODIs and T20Is, is set to step into his maiden formal cricket coaching role as DCs batting coach. Yuvraj has been a hands-on mentor to Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh, as well as worked with Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson intermittently. Vaas, the Sri Lankan fast bowling legend, and Mishra, the former India leg-spinner who was a prolific wicket-taker in the IPL, are slated to join the franchise as fast and spin bowling coaches. Vaas has worked in a coaching capacity with the Sri Lanka mens team many times and with the SLC academy. He also worked with New Zealand and Ireland teams in a consulting capacity, as well as held coaching roles in various franchise leagues. For Mishra, it will be his first coaching stint after announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket last year. Ganguly, Yuvraj and Mishra were present at DCs trials and off-season camp at the Just Cricket Ground in Bengaluru in August. In September, Yuvraj, Mishra and Vaas were present at another camp and trials held at a ground in Aerocity, New Delhi. Vaas, the Sri Lankan fast bowling legend, and Mishra, the former India leg-spinner who was a prolific wicket-taker in the IPL, are slated to join the franchise as fast and spin bowling coaches. Vaas has worked in a coaching capacity with the Sri Lanka mens team many times and with the SLC academy. He also worked with New Zealand and Ireland teams in a consulting capacity, as well as held coaching roles in various franchise leagues. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Arunachal Pradesh Named Best-Performing State Under PMAY-U
Itanagar, October 5: Arunachal Pradesh has been adjudged the Best-Performing State under both the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) and PMAY-U 2.0. The twin honours were conferred at the World Habitat Day 2026 function held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on Sunday and organised by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. According to... The post Arunachal Pradesh Named Best-Performing State Under PMAY-U first appeared on Northeast Today .
Sambit Patra targets Punjab govt over crime, cites HC-ordered CBI probe
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sambit Patra on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, alleging corruption and a deteriorating law-and-order situation following a Punjab and Haryana High Court direction for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into corruption allegations against the Chief Ministers OSD and others. Addressing a press conference at the BJPs central office in New Delhi, Patra alleged that law and order has collapsed, and corruption has reached its peak in Punjab. He referred to the High Courts direction for a CBI investigation into allegations of corruption against Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns OSD, Ranbir Singh Ghuman, and others. Patra claimed that allegations had been made that Ghuman and certain other officials facilitated the delivery of government benefits in exchange for bribes or commissions. He said the court had directed the CBI to carry the inquiry forward, complete the investigation within two months and submit its report. The BJP MP from Odishas Puri Lok Sabha constituency also referred to what he described as four murders and attacks on police personnel in Punjab in the past 48 hours and sought answers from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP regarding corruption and the law-and-order situation. Briefing the media, Patra cited an incident on Sunday evening in Amritsar in which social media influencer and makeup artist Mad Sandhu was murdered. He also referred to three murders in Ludhiana within a span of 48 hours, including that of a former sarpanch. According to Patra, Sarpanch Navtej Singh of Malewal village was murdered on Saturday evening, while 29-year-old Laddi Khan of Mullanpur Dakha village was shot dead. He further stated that another murder took place in Anant Vihar Colony, Sahnewal, Ludhiana, where 35-year-old Dinesh Kumar was allegedly stabbed to death. Accusing Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP of double standards, Patra claimed that if a similar situation had occurred in a BJP-ruled state, the party would have organised rallies, held press conferences and demanded dismissal of the government. He further alleged that even police personnel were not safe in Punjab. When police officers themselves are being killed, who will take responsibility for the safety of ordinary citizens? Patra asked. Patra cited several incidents involving attacks on police personnel. He said that on February 22 this year, ASI Gurnam Singh was shot dead at the Aandhiyan Police Post in Gurdaspur district and Home Guard Ashok Kumar was also killed on the same day. He further stated that on May 24, in Hamza village under Fatehgarh Churian on the Majitha Road in Amritsar district, ASI Joga Singh was allegedly killed while on duty by assailants on a scooter. Patra also claimed that ASI Harjit Singh was killed on September 18. He added that five days later, an attempt was made on the life of ASI Jaswant Singh, who narrowly escaped. According to Patra, ASI Sukhchain Singh also came under gunfire on Sunday but survived. We have highlighted the number of police personnel who have been killed, Patra said, while also referring to incidents of firing at police stations.
MP govt preparing to stop farmers from entering Bhopal: Congress
Digital Desk | Bhopal, Oct 5 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari on Monday alleged that the state government was preparing to prevent farmers from entering Bhopal by deploying barricades and other security measures at 16 major entry and exit points instead of addressing their concerns. Patwari claimed that the government had studied arrangements used during the farmers agitation in Delhi and was preparing to deploy concrete blocks, containers, barbed wire, temporary barricades and containment zones at key points in the state capital. He said farmers were facing problems due to deficient rainfall, inadequate irrigation, power shortages and the lack of remunerative prices for their produce. Instead of putting up barricades at 16 entry points, the government should establish 16 divisional-level farmer solution centres, Patwari said. He added that when farmers come to the capital with their problems, the government should listen to them rather than prepare a strategy to stop them. The Congress leader said the state received 908.4 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 30 against the normal 949.5 mm. Western Madhya Pradesh recorded around 11 per cent less rainfall than normal, while the Indore division received 639.70 mm against its normal average of 952.20 mm, a deficit of nearly 33 per cent. He said the rainfall deficit had affected crops and that the Agriculture Department was preparing a contingency plan. Patwari also raised concerns over irrigation infrastructure, claiming that the nearly 40-year-old unlined canals of the Sanjay Sarovar Project were damaged. He said the deadline for supplying water to the tail-end areas of the Pench Diversion Project was November 2027. Farmers need water today, but the government is giving them a date in 2027. This is the height of insensitivity towards farmers, he said. Patwari also demanded special crop-loss surveys in 30 districts and compensation for affected farmers. He sought effective implementation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP), a publicly announced schedule for releasing water for rabi crops, and replacement of damaged transformers within 48 hours. He further demanded 10 to 12 hours of three-phase electricity for agricultural feeders and withdrawal of the proposed barricading and containment plan. Patwari said the Congress would stand with farmers and raise their issues from the streets to the Assembly if the government tried to prevent their democratic protests.
Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra reviews Chhath, Durga Puja arrangements
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) Delhi Art and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra on Monday chaired meetings to review arrangements for the upcoming Chhath Puja and Durga Puja celebrations, promising to further improve the level of festivities this year. Mishra said, Last year, Chhath Puja was organised very successfully under the vision of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. This year too, efforts are being made to make the celebrations even better than last year. He said Chhath Puja is an important festival of faith and devotion, and the Government is committed to providing better facilities to devotees while ensuring that the celebrations are organised in a more systematic manner. Mishra said, This year, more cultural programmes will be organised during Chhath Puja so that devotees can have a richer cultural experience along with better facilities. Like last year, the Single Clearance Window System will also be implemented this year to facilitate the smooth processing of permissions and arrangements involving various departments. Mishra said that the Single Clearance Window process will begin from October 15 so that preparations for Chhath Puja can be completed promptly. He issued clear directions that no anti-social activity would be tolerated during Chhath Puja and that strict action would be ensured against those found involved in such activities. After chairing a meeting of the Special Committee constituted for Durga Puja celebrations, Mishra said arrangements for the convenience and safety of devotees should be ensured at pandals and cultural event venues. He also instructed all District Magistrates to conduct regular monitoring of these arrangements. Mishra directed that the process of obtaining necessary NOCs and permissions through the Single Window System be completed within the stipulated timeline. He called for making this years Durga Puja and cultural celebrations more grand, well-organised and devotee-centric. Mishra said that adequate arrangements for CCTV cameras and scanners should be made at pandals. He also said that arrangements should be made for signage to facilitate access to pandals and event venues, health teams, sanitation, mobile toilets, water supply, adequate electricity, traffic management and crowd control at pandals. The Cabinet Minister said that cleanliness at immersion sites should be maintained and the immersion of idols should be carried out in a dignified manner through proper coordination among all concerned departments. He directed the Irrigation & Flood Control Department to pay special attention to the preparation of immersion pits and arrangements for water.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar has lost public trust and must be removed, say former bureaucrats, activists
Former Home Secretary, Delhi L-T among delegation which sought to serve CEC with a public impeachment notice; heavy police barricading prevented the group from reaching the ECI office
FSSAI directs States, UTs to intensify food safety checks during festive season
New Delhi [India], October 5 : The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed food safety authorities across States and Union Territories to intensify surveillance, inspections and sampling during the upcoming Navratri and Diwali festive season to prevent the circulation of adulterated, counterfeit and unsafe food products. In a directive dated September 29, FSSAI said the demand for sweets, savouries, beverages, edible oil, milk and milk products such as ghee, khoa and paneer is expected to increase significantly during the festive period, requiring heightened surveillance and enforcement. FSSAI underscores the need for heightened surveillance and enforcement actions to prevent the circulation of adulterated, counterfeited and unsafe food products namely Milk and Milk products, Sweets, Snacks and Savouries including Namkeen, papad/fryuma, Edible Oil, Beverages and Ghee etc. Further, these commodities may vary and can be decided depending upon the eating patterns & prevalence in the respective regions (eg, use of kuttu atta, singhada atta in northern and western parts), the directive stated. FSSAI said the matter should be treated as most important. FSSAI has asked Commissioners of all States and UTs to direct Designated Officers, Food Safety Officers and Central Food Safety Officers to conduct inspections and sampling in their respective areas during the festive period, particularly at identified hotspots and sensitive locations. The food safety regulator has also directed that Food Safety on Wheels (FSWs), wherever available, be strategically deployed at prominent marketplaces or based on specific intelligence inputs to facilitate on-the-spot testing, strengthen vigilance and create awareness among consumers. Food Safety on Wheels (FSWs), wherever available, may be strategically deployed in prominent marketplaces and/or based on specific intelligence inputs to facilitate on-the-spot testing, strengthen vigilance, create awareness and to boost consumer trust by assuring them of safe and quality food products during the festive season, it said. The directive further stated that data on inspections, sampling and their outcomes must be updated and recorded on FoSCOS/FoSCORIS (Food Safety Compliance System/Food Safety Compliance through Regulatory Inspection and Sampling) on a real-time basis. (ANI)
New Delhi: Delhi Police has registered four FIRs in connection with alleged violence during NSUIs protest in the Parliament Street area on Monday, October 5, including cases related to the purported stabbing of a CISF personnel, rioting, defacement and obstruction of public servants, officials said. As many as 18 people were arrested in connection with Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Shefali Shah has generally kept her personal life away from the public eye, but the actor has now reflected on her first marriage and divorce in her memoir-in-essays, The Audacity of Being. In a recent interaction, she spoke about her decision to write about the experience and explained that the book does not focus on specific individuals or details of what led to the separation. Speaking to The Indian Express, Shefali clarified that she was not interested in revealing private details about her former relationship. Im not naming anyone in the book. Im not even getting into what happened or didnt happen. Im just talking about what happens on a general scale when people get married and nobodys prepared for a divorce, she said. The actor also discussed how people often enter marriage with certain expectations about their future together. According to her, couples may approach marriage with the idea of a happily-ever-after, but things can change when a relationship begins to fall apart. Shefali said her writing focuses on the emotional and practical reality of dealing with the end of a marriage rather than placing blame on either person. Addressing why she chose to write about her first marriage and divorce, she said she did not feel there was anything that needed to be hidden. There was nothing to really hide about. I think Ive written about it very respectfully. Im just talking about any marriage falling off the brink. Theres an entire thing about when you realise your marriage is falling apart. So its, I think, about the failure of a relationship. Shefali was married to actor Harsh Chhaya. The two got married in 1997 and divorced in 2001. She has largely refrained from discussing the relationship publicly. She later married filmmaker and producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah, with whom she has two sons, Aryaman and Maurya. On the professional front, Shefali has appeared in films including Waqt: The Race Against Time, Dil Dhadakne Do, Jalsa and Darlings. She also received international recognition for playing DCP Vartika Chaturvedi in the Netflix series Delhi Crime, which won the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series. Also Read : EXCLUSIVE: Shefali Shah reveals wrong communication led to her exit from Ram Gopal Varmas Rangeela; says, I didnt perceive it the way he was telling me
Delhi Police Denies Allegations of Violence Against Female Protesters
Delhi Police refutes claims of violence against female protesters, calling the allegations baseless and misleading. Delhi Police Denies Allegations of Violence Against Female Protesters
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launches cashless medical facility for Delhi Jal Board pensioners
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launches cashless medical facility for Delhi Jal Board pensioners
Gyanesh Kumar row: Supreme Court says changes to Form 6 not made by court, issues notice to ECI, Centre.
AIPEF urges HERC not to rush parallel power distribution licence for Gurugram, Nuh
AIPEF urges HERC not to rush parallel power distribution licence for Gurugram, Nuh
Pluralism in Geneva, containers in Islamabad: Pakistan's double-faced reality exposed once again
Digital Desk | Islamabad, Oct 5 (IANS) Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly, stood before the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva on July 29, 2025 and warned his colleagues against populism, ultra-nationalism and arrow interpretations of nationalism, before closing with the line -- It is time to promote pluralism. It's time to accept diversity. Fourteen months later, on September 25, 2026, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took the podium at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly and told the world that Pakistan had chosen dialogue over confrontation, that it would give Kashmiris full diplomatic, political, and moral support, and that the demolition of a mosque in Saharanpur was proof of Islamophobia in India. Both speeches were written for audiences outside Pakistan, and both said very little about the country they came from. However, the most revealing line in Sharif's address was one he probably did not mean as a confession, when he thanked Field Marshal Asim Munir for helping to create space for diplomacy. An elected Prime Minister crediting his Army Chief from the UN podium says more about where power sits in Pakistan than anything he said about Palestine or the Indus. Pakistans domestic challenges and its rhetoric in Geneva are very different. While similar diplomatic displays occur in our region, the extent to which they reflect reality is a matter for deeper introspection. This also highlights the need to consider the structure of the Pakistani state and the record of the past 18 months. The reality on the ground is different from the rhetoric and requires attention. Pakistan's own parliament has been told that of the 1,817 Hindu temples and Sikh gurdwaras in the country only 37 remain operational, a figure placed before its Minority Caucus in late 2025, with the Hindu legislator Ramesh Kumar Vankwani blaming the Evacuee Trust Property Board, the body meant to protect these sites and long accused of being more interested in the land they stand on. Decay by neglect is slower than demolition, but the map it leaves behind is much the same. For the Ahmadis, the state does not wait for neglect. The communitys own records indicate 21 mosques desecrated, 381 graves destroyed and 250 Ahmadis booked in religious cases in 2025 alone. These figures are broadly consistent with the US Commission on International Religious Freedoms documentation including the demolition of three Ahmadiyya mosques in Punjab within 10 days in February and the lynching of Laeeq Cheema by a mob of over 400 in Karachi in April. In January 2025, police and municipal staff razed a pre-Partition mosque in Daska, built under the direction of Pakistan's first Foreign Minister Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan, after months of pressure from the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, even though the community had complied with the official notice. In effect, the police are doing the work the mob demands. The smaller communities sit further down the same ladder. The Dawoodi Bohras of Karachi were bombed in 2012 and again in 2015, and while they do not face the legal exclusion the Ahmadis do, their experience shows that the hierarchy of belonging now runs inside Islam as well as outside it. Pakistan's roughly 14,500 Baha'is, named in the Constitutions definition of non-Muslims, face exclusion rather than mass violence. This is the reality for the Bah community in Pakistan. Pakistan still has civil society organisations, some of them among the bravest in South Asia, but it no longer has a civil society in any working sense, a space where citizens can organise and criticise without being treated as enemies of the state. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) recorded 273 new enforced disappearances in 2025, and at the launch of its report in May 2026 Hina Jilani said the state had surrendered to the security apparatus and Pakistan had become a security state. The tools are legal, which is what makes them durable. On January 2, 2026 an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad handed journalists including Moeed Pirzada, Shaheen Sehbai and Wajahat Saeed Khan two life sentences each, in absentia, for May 9 digital terrorism, and three weeks later the human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha were sentenced to 17 years each under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act for their tweets, a sentence the Supreme Court suspended only in September. The clearest evidence, however, came from Pakistanis themselves. When the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party took to the streets of Delhi over the NEET paper leaks in July 2026 and the Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, Pakistani content creators watched with something close to envy. Muhammad Waleed said Pakistan never had a democracy to begin with, Mahwash Ajaz pointed out that Indian protesters sing 'Vande Mataram' while Pakistani protesters are labelled separatists, and the former Dawn Editor Cyril Almeida called Jantar Mantar a warning to Pindi. The Indian state was hardly gentle with the protesters, but the creators were not praising Indian policing, they were noticing that protests in India could still produce a result, and that the same channel had been closed at home. The most striking contrast is in Kashmir. Sharif mentioned to the General Assembly that Kashmiris have been waiting for eight decades for a plebiscite, which is just two months after Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) held its own legislative election, all while being cut off from the internet. The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, a coalition of traders, transporters, lawyers and students that began in 2023 with protests over wheat and electricity prices, had moved on to demanding the abolition of the 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees living elsewhere in Pakistan, seats widely seen as the route through which Islamabad's parties manufacture majorities in Muzaffarabad. The local government banned the committee under anti-terrorism law on June 5, and by July 28 Amnesty International counted at least 40 dead, 34 of them protesters. In effect, a state that has not let the Kashmiris it already governs decide who sits in their own assembly is asking the world to hold a plebiscite for the Kashmiris it does not. At the same time, the capital was telling its own version of the story. In the weeks around the UNGA address, Islamabad was walled off with shipping containers, at least 2,000 of them according to BBC Urdu, stacked two storeys high with spikes welded on top, to stop the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from marching for Imran Khan's release, and the city earned the name 'Containeristan'. The New York Times quoted an Islamabad urban economist who observed that containers, normally a symbol of trade, had become symbols of chaos and restriction, while truckers in Karachi refused to drive north for fear of having their vehicles seized. Talks between the government and the opposition broke down in the early hours of October 4 over whether PTI leaders could even meet Khan and his doctors, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Chief Minister Sohail Afridi set the march off from Lakki Marwat the same afternoon. India's right of reply, which called Sharif's administration a Form 47 government, and the side events at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, where the Kashmiri radio jockey Harleen Kour spoke of strikes and shutdowns giving way to entrepreneurship on the Indian side, were predictable and should be read as such. What is harder to dismiss is that the critique India voiced had already been made by the HRCP, by Pakistani lawyers and by Pakistani content creators in their own words. The contradiction persists because it is inherent in the structure. The Pakistani state derives its international standing through strategic usefulness as a frontline ally, a mediator between Washington and Tehran or a partner in the Mecca defence pact. The greater its reliance on these roles the less it requires to earn legitimacy from its citizens through transparent elections or open courts. However, as the role of the Army has shifted from being a tacit power broker or the kingmaker, if one has to use the major political lexicon in South Asia to an overt power-sharer demanding its rightful share in the making of the Pakistani story. But the Pakistan story is a troubled road where all of the Generals have seen their legitimacy eroded, Munir will be next in line. At the same Geneva conference where Sadiq spoke of pluralism, the Swedish Speaker described how democratic backsliding usually unfolds, with attacks on free expression and the media first, then manipulation of the electoral system, then attacks on civil society. Pakistan has gone through all three, and its leaders continue to speak abroad as though it has not. The march now moving towards Islamabad will show whether the system still has any room to absorb dissent, or whether the removal of its safety valves has left coercion as the only instrument it is willing to use. If the past is a prologue, then the report in the New York Times on how Islamabad is becoming Containeristan and how state authorities, at times take containers and use them to stop democratic marches from coming to the city, serve as a glimpse on what level the state moves when any democratic pressure applies.
Indias internet user base tops 1.09 billion in FY26, telecom sector logs strong growth: TRAI
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) India's telecom sector posted robust growth in FY26, with internet subscribers crossing the 1.09 billion mark, wireless data consumption surging nearly 25 per cent and average revenue per user rising, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) annual performance report on Monday. The report showed that the total number of internet subscribers increased to 1.09 billion as of March 31, 2026, from 969.1 million a year earlier, registering annual growth of 12.76 per cent. Broadband subscribers accounted for the bulk of the user base at 1.07 billion, as per the data. Broadband subscriptions rose 12.9 per cent during the year, reaching 1.066 billion users, while narrowband subscribers increased to 26.91 million. The telecom sector also witnessed growth in consumer spending. Average revenue per user (ARPU) for wireless services increased to Rs 180.73 per month in FY26 from Rs 174.46 in the previous financial year. India's appetite for mobile data continued to expand rapidly. Wireless data subscribers crossed the one-billion mark, rising to 1.027 billion at the end of FY26. Total wireless data usage jumped 24.74 per cent year-on-year to 2,85,376 petabytes. Average monthly wireless data consumption per subscriber climbed to 25.51 GB in FY26 from 21.53 GB a year earlier, marking an increase of 18.49 per cent. Revenue generated from wireless data services also grew 11.53 per cent to Rs 2.39 lakh crore during the year, according to the data. The report further showed that overall telephone subscriptions in the country rose 10.81 per cent to 1.33 billion by the end of March 2026. Overall tele-density improved to 93.26 per cent from 85.04 per cent a year ago. Urban markets remained the key growth driver, with telephone subscriptions in cities rising nearly 17 per cent to 778.79 million. Urban tele-density increased sharply to 151.47 per cent. Rural telephone subscriptions also registered growth, rising to 551.79 million, while rural tele-density improved to 60.46 per cent. Wireless services continued to dominate the telecom landscape. Total wireless subscribers, including mobile and fixed wireless access (FWA) users, increased by 118.58 million during the year to reach 1.28 billion.
flyadeal plans major India expansion, eyes Lucknow, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata
The proposed network would give flyadeal a wider presence across Indias major aviation markets, positioning the carrier to capture a larger share of the rapidly expanding India-Saudi travel corridor.
The 57th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax Council has been rescheduled to October 8, starting at 11 am. The meeting's location is the Summit Room, Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi. An Office Memorandum cited unavoidable circumstances for the date change without providing further details. Members of the Council have been notified about this alteration, and an apology has been expressed for any inconvenience caused.
Set up 24-hour monitoring cells to prevent sexual offences, Supreme Court tells Delhi Police
Court also asks police to strengthen patrolling, particularly around educational institutions and public spaces; says directives should not merely be on paper
Ashutosh Sharma Switches From Railways To Gujarat For 2026/27 Domestic Season
Gujarat Cricket Association: Ashutosh Sharma has switched allegiance from Railways to Gujarat for the 2026/27 domestic season, Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) Secretary Anil Patel told IANS on Monday. It is understood that Ashutosh has been training with the Gujarat team and even featured in some of their practice games. Known for his explosive power-hitting in the death overs in the shortest format, Ashutosh is among three guest players signed by the GCA alongside India leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who is currently in the squad for the T20I series against the West Indies, starting in Lucknow on Tuesday, and fast bowler Ashok Sharma, who moved on from Rajasthan but is currently undergoing rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Yes, Ashutosh Sharma will be playing domestic cricket for Gujarat from this year. Hes definitely a great addition to our batting order, especially in the white-ball formats. We are waiting for good results now. Theres a need for us to get a big title, as last to last year (2024/25 season), we missed out after coming into the Ranji Trophy semi-finals. With a new coach in Monty Desai, lets hope for the best, Patel told IANS on Monday. Ashutosh initially played domestic cricket for Madhya Pradesh before moving to Railways. His reputation as a high-impact finisher in the shortest format earned him Indian Premier League (IPL) stints with Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals. Earlier this year, Ashutosh had a stint with Hampshire in the One-Day Cup, where he picked 14 scalps in seven games, including a five-wicket haul, though he made only 56 runs with the bat. Gujarat will open their 2026/27 Ranji Trophy campaign against Odisha at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The first round of the Ranji Trophy will also see senior opener KL Rahul turn out for Karnataka against Andhra in Vijayawada, while left-arm spinner Manav Suthar will captain Rajasthan in their opening game against Tamil Nadu in Jaipur. Earlier this year, Ashutosh had a stint with Hampshire in the One-Day Cup, where he picked 14 scalps in seven games, including a five-wicket haul, though he made only 56 runs with the bat. Gujarat will open their 2026/27 Ranji Trophy campaign against Odisha at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Delhi Police slams misleading social media claims over assault on female protesters
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) The Delhi Police on Monday cautioned the public against misleading claims made on social media handles that female protesters were subjected to physical assault in the city. In a clarification issued on X, the New Delhi district Deputy Commissioner of Police said, Some social media handles are claiming that female protesters were subjected to physical assault. These allegations are baseless and misleading. Female protesters are handled by female staff and are treated with dignity and due regard. Detentions and releases are carried out in accordance with the applicable law and prescribed procedures, said the DCP. Male protesters who were detained were released within the stipulated time period, following due process of law. Any claim suggesting otherwise is factually incorrect and does not reflect the actual sequence of events, said the DCP. Earlier, three women journalists filed complaints against Delhi Police personnel, alleging sexual misconduct while being detained during the protests at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, police said. The police, on Sunday, stated that the complaints have been transferred to the Crime Branch for an impartial inquiry. Protests are being staged at the national capital's Jantar Mantar, despite the imposition of prohibitory orders, to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. In a post on X, Delhi Police said: On 03-10-26, during the protest in New Delhi area, while being in law-and-order situation, allegations of sexual harassment were made by three female journalists against police officers. New Delhi District has received their complaints, and the same are transferred to the Crime Branch for fair and impartial enquiry, it added. Speaking to IANS, a senior police officer said: Despite Section 163 of BNSS being imposed in the New Delhi area, AISA and other parties held a protest on October 3 against SIR. The protesters were informed about the prohibitory orders and warned to leave the spot, and when they did not comply, they were detained. At around 6 pm, three women who identified themselves as journalists complained of manhandling by Delhi Police officers and staff during their detention. Their complaints were accepted, and they were medically examined, she said, reiterating that all the complaints have been transferred to the Crime Branch. The senior police officer appealed to anyone having video footage of the alleged incident to share the same with the Crime Branch.
Javed Akhtar says message attributed to him lashing out at Abhijeet Dipke are as fake as fake can be
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Oct 5 (IANS) Veteran screenwriter Javed Akhtar of the legendary screenwriting duo Salim-Javed, has issued a clarification with regards to a recent fake message attributed to him. On Monday, the veteran writer took to his X, formerly Twitter, and penned a long note quashing the claims that he lashed out at CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, and said that the message is fake. He wrote, I, Javed Akhtar want to tell every one that the fake message on the social media that I have criticised CJP and run down Abhijeet Dipke is as fake as fake can be. He further mentioned, I am surprised that those who are opposing Dipke and CJP need to borrow credibility from someone like me !! . Yeh Haalut hogayee hai ??? Sad. A fake message has circulated on social media, claiming that the veteran lyricist and screenwriter criticised Abhijeet Dipke and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The purported message described Dipke as a puppet of Arvind Kejriwal and accused the CJP of pursuing an anti-BJP agenda. Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by Abhijeet Dipke, has launched a fresh protest campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The agitation began in Mumbai on October 2, with hundreds of supporters gathering at Shivaji Park despite police denying permission for the demonstration. The CJP is protesting the Election Commissions Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and has alleged irregularities in the exercise. The Election Commission has said the revision is intended to remove duplicate, deceased and ineligible voters while retaining eligible voters. The CJP has announced that the campaign will expand to other cities, including Goa, Bengaluru and Kolkata. Dipke has also announced a return to Delhi, with a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10 if ECI does not resign. Delhi Police detained few protestors during a demonstration on October 4, 2026.
Delhi Police ACP Vivek Bhagat has been promoted to the rank of additional deputy commissioner of police despite facing an allegation of sexual harassment by a woman journalist during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. According to
PM Modi gifts award-winning Indian cheeses, Kashmiri walnut panel to Swiss president
New Delhi, Oct 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday gifted three special Indian cheeses Gulmarg, Konark and Yeoor and a hand-carved Kashmiri walnut wood wall panel to Swiss President Guy Parmelin, showcasing India's rich and growing traditions of cheese-making and handicrafts. Parmelin began his three-day visit to India on Monday. This is his first state visit to the country and his second visit this year, having previously attended the AI Impact Summit in February. Gulmarg, a French-style cheese, is a heart-shaped, soft and creamy Brie made from pasteurised cow's milk, with a snowy-white rind and earthy, mushroom-like notes. It received a Super Gold award at the 2026 Mundial do Queijo do Brasil, an international competition for cheese and dairy products. Konark is a French Tomme-style cheese with a rustic, natural rind, supple texture, earthy and savoury flavours and a lemony finish. It won gold at the 2023 World Cheese Awards in Norway and silver in Switzerland in 2025. Yeoor is a mountain-style cheese inspired by Swiss Gruyere, which is matured for around eight to nine months to develop nutty, sweet and herbaceous flavours. Its rose-petal and fennel-decorated rind gives it a distinctive Indian-Alpine character, while its excellent melting quality makes it suitable for fondue and grilled preparations. Switzerland is famous worldwide for its wide varieties of cheese, and the three Indian cheeses offered a glimpse of India's own rich and growing tradition of cheese-making. The walnut wood wall panel showcases Kashmir's centuries-old woodcarving heritage. Crafted from premium Himalayan walnut wood, it is intricately hand-carved in deep relief and depicts traditional landscapes, flora, human figures, horses, carriages and village life. The panel reflects Kashmir's distinctive artistic traditions shaped by indigenous and Central Asian influences and celebrates the skill and craftsmanship of Kashmiri artisans. Modi also gifted a Kutchi shawl placed in a Sadeli box to the Swiss presidents wife, Caroline Parmelin, showcasing Gujarat's rich traditions of weaving and decorative craftsmanship. The Sadeli box, from Surat, features intricate geometric patterns created by precisely assembling and layering contrasting materials, while the Kutchi shawl is a vibrant handwoven textile from Kutch, distinguished by geometric motifs and supplementary-weft weaving. Together, the shawl and the Sadeli box celebrate Gujarat's artistic heritage and the skill and ingenuity of its artisans. Earlier, Modi hosted Parmelin for wide-ranging talks to explore new opportunities in further strengthening India-Switzerland ties, especially in areas of trade and investment, mobility and critical technologies. Ahead of Parmelin's talks with Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the Swiss leader and discussed various aspects of bilateral ties.
Twin Western Disturbances Hit North India From October 6; Rains to Lash Delhi, UP & Punjab
Delhi riots: HC flags political selectivity, rejects SIT probe
The Delhi High Court has dismissed petitions seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, stating no case was made out against politicians, including BJP leaders Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma, for alleged hate speeches. The court noted political selectivity in targeting certain individuals and found no exceptional circumstances to warrant further FIRs or a court-monitored investigation, emphasizing that the criminal justice process has significantly progressed.
India, Sweden focus on innovation in defence and operationalising strategic partnership
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) India and Sweden discussed innovation in defence and operationalising the Strategic Partnership at the 11th IndiaSweden Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting in New Delhi. The meeting was co-chaired by the Joint Secretary, Planning and Coordination, Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence, Meera Mohanty, from the Indian side and Brigadier General Dennis Hedstrom, Ministry of Defence, from the Swedish side. The 11th IndiaSweden Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting concluded successfully in New Delhi, co-chaired by the Joint Secretary (P and C), DDP, MoD, Ms Meera Mohanty, from the Indian side and Brig General Dennis Hedstrm, Ministry of Defence, from the Swedish side. Discussions focused on innovation in defence, operationalising the Strategic Partnership and strengthening defence industrial cooperation between India and Sweden, DDP stated on X. The Swedish delegation also met the Additional Secretary (Defence Production), Shri Dinesh Mahur, providing an opportunity to further deliberate on avenues for enhanced defence technology, innovation and industrial collaboration, it added. Last week, Sweden's Ambassador to India, Petra Menander, said that the longstanding relationship between India and Sweden has deepened and taken to a different level in recent years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. What I see is that the long-standing relationship we have has been deepened over the last few years under his tenure. It has been deepened and also taken to a different level, Menander told IANS while highlighting PM Modi's contribution to bilateral ties as he completes 25 years in public service. The diplomat identified technology, innovation and the green transition as the key drivers, including AI, connectivity, telecommunications, mining and life sciences - all areas where both countries are strong. On defence and security cooperation, the Ambassador said the action plan for the partnership agreement was very clear. It includes concrete measures on cybersecurity dialogue, looking at ways to strengthen defence innovation, for instance, and also elevating the political dialogue that we already have, she said.
