BJP MP and actor Ravi Kishan portrayed Lord Ram at Ayodhya Ki Ramleela in New Delhi on October 19. For the actor-politician, the performance marked a new milestone in his association with Ramleela, as he portrayed Lord Ram for the first time after previously playing characters including Parshuram and Kevat. Kishan said he hopes to approach the role with sincerity and seek Lord Rams blessings as he takes on the character. Today, by Lord Ram's grace, I am playing him in a Ramleela for the first time. I have previously played Parshuram, Kevat and Mata Sita when I was a child, and I hope to do justice to this role with his blessings, he said. Ravi Kishan urges youth to explore spirituality The actor and parliamentarian also spoke about the role spirituality can play while dealing with difficult phases of life. Addressing the youth, he said, I urge the youth to read about Lord Ram, Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva. Whenever you face depression or difficulties in life, spirituality helps us overcome them. He also recommended making meditation part of one's daily routine. I urge everyone to devote at least half an hour daily to meditation. Spirituality, Sanatan traditions, culture and religion give us the strength to overcome difficulties, he added. Kishan connected the advice to his own journey, recalling his humble beginnings and the recognition he has achieved through both cinema and politics. I come from a humble background, and today the world knows me through cinema and as the MP from Gorakhpur, he said. Ravi Kishan balances politics and acting Kishan has continued to work in the entertainment industry alongside his parliamentary responsibilities. His recent acting work has included projects such as Laapataa Ladies and Maamla Legal Hai, while Mirzapur: The Movie has also added to his recent screen presence. The actor has also been in the spotlight on social media, with his dialogues and clips becoming popular through memes and viral posts. Meanwhile, he has signed a solo-lead Hindi devotional film and continues to balance his political career with acting and brand commitments. Also Read:Ravi Kishan brings the house down at FICCI Frames 2026; breaks into viral dance; reveals hilarious fan requests during IPL commentary: Bhaiyya mere gaanv ke upar se bhi ball ko feko na
BCCI And Cricket Australia Expand Umpire Exchange Programme Across Domestic Competitions
New South Wales Cricket Umpires: Australian official Ben Treloar and Indias Parashar Joshi will gain experience in each others domestic cricket structures as the BCCI and Cricket Australia continue their umpire exchange programme, with assignments spanning the Ranji Trophy, Sheffield Shield and One Day Cup. The arrangement will see Treloar officiate in two Ranji Trophy fixtures in India, while Joshi will take charge of two Sheffield Shield matches and a One Day Cup game during his stint in Australia. Treloars Indian assignments include Delhis encounter against Gujarat, scheduled from October 18 to 21, followed by Mumbais meeting with Haryana from October 26 to 29. Both matches will be played in their respective home cities. The Australian umpire brings considerable experience across formats, with 30 First-Class matches, 20 List A games and 39 Big Bash League appearances to his name. His officiating record also includes two Womens One Day Internationals and four Womens T20 Internationals. Beyond his on-field responsibilities, Treloar serves as Cricket New South Wales Umpire Education Officer, a role focused on developing emerging match officials. His work in this area has earned him the George Borwick Memorial Award on four occasions from the New South Wales Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association. Joshi, meanwhile, will have opportunities to officiate in some of Australias prominent domestic fixtures after building an extensive record in Indian cricket. He has worked across 19 First-Class matches in the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy, 32 List A games in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Deodhar Trophy, and 40 T20 matches. His experience includes appointments in the Indian Premier League and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The Indian umpires Australian schedule begins at the Gabba, where Queensland will face Tasmania in a Sheffield Shield fixture from November 11 to 14. The same teams will meet in a One Day Cup match at the venue on November 16, with Joshi set to officiate that contest as well. His exchange programme will conclude in Sydney, where New South Wales take on Queensland in a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground from November 22 to 25. The Indian umpires Australian schedule begins at the Gabba, where Queensland will face Tasmania in a Sheffield Shield fixture from November 11 to 14. The same teams will meet in a One Day Cup match at the venue on November 16, with Joshi set to officiate that contest as well. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Tiger Shroff case: 3 accused taken to Mumbai
A Mumbai Police team departed Kota for Mumbai by car on Tuesday, carrying three individuals allegedly involved in the firing incident targeting actor Tiger Shroff.Subhash Chandra Mishra, Additional SP of Kota city, explained that the team halted in Kota overnight to avoid traveling after dark. They were tired also due to the journey from Mumbai to Kota, so it was not safe for them to travel in the night, he stated, adding, The Mumbai police team has now left for Mumbai with the accused by road.Ramswaroop, SHO of the Railway Colony Police Station where the suspects were held, noted that strict surveillance was maintained overnight. Since the incident is very serious, security is being maintained as per the usual procedure. I was here throughout the night. The CCTV cameras are directly connected to the police headquarters, he reported.Local police apprehended the three suspects in a general compartment of the PuneJaipur Superfast Express at Kota Railway Station on Monday morning. Two of the detainees were identified as Ritik (alias Roshan) from Begusarai, Bihar, and Rehan from Sonipat, Haryana; the third is a juvenile.Also read: Shroff firing: Accused recce'd football ground for a monthFollowing their handover by Kota city police, Mumbai Police formally arrested the suspects and presented them before a magistrate, obtaining transit remand to transport them to Mumbai.Police investigations indicate that Rehan had been communicating with Anil Pandit, a suspected associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The gang later claimed responsibility for the attack in an unverified social media post.The shooting occurred on Sunday evening in Mumbai's Juhu locality, where at least two men opened fire on Shroff's vehicle before fleeing on a motorcycle. Five to six rounds were fired at the vehicle; the actor escaped mostly uninjured, but his driver and a nearby bystander sustained injuries.Investigators recovered the motorcycle believed to have been used by the shooters abandoned in Andheri. The suspects had escaped to Surat before boarding a Jaipur-bound train, planning to proceed to Delhi by bus and eventually escape to Nepal.Mumbai Police have registered a case citing charges of attempted murder along with relevant sections of the Arms Act.
As Dussehra festivities approach, Delhi Traffic Police has released an advisory for the anticipated congestion. Major thoroughfares in East Delhi will see diversions from 5 PM to 8 PM to accommodate the surge in foot and vehicle traffic. Enhanced security measures have been implemented at celebration sites in West Delhi to prioritize public safety. Commuters are encouraged to strategize their travel and choose alternate routes.
Tech Beats Tariffs: Global Trade Growth Accelerates and Globalization Sets New Record
New Delhi [India], October 20: The global race to build infrastructure for artificial intelligence is giving world trade strong momentum at a time of higher tariffs and geopolitical conflicts.
Delhi-Born engineer quits corporate world after personal loss, becomes author of 14 books
Digital Desk | Washington, Oct 20 (IANS) A friends sudden death at 35 pushed Delhi-born engineer Monica Saigal to quit her corporate career and start writing, a choice that has since produced 14 books, the Northern Virginia author said. I always wanted to write since I was about five years old, Saigal told IANS. But she grew up in what she called a very conservative, you know, Delhi Punjabi household, and our choices were doctor, lawyer, engineer, or marry rich. So I always like to say Im one of the original three idiots. I became the engineer with two masters degrees, she said. Saigal was born in Delhi and was six when her family moved to Bahrain, where it stayed for close to 30 years. The family later returned to India, and she earned her engineering degree from BMS in Bangalore. She came to the US in 1991 for graduate study, first at Lynchburg College in Virginia and then at George Washington University. She remembers arriving in a freezing January, having never seen snow before, and finding small-town Virginia startlingly quiet after the craziness of being in India where all your senses are wide awake all the time. There was no Indian grocery store in Lynchburg. She recalled borrowing cardamom from the wife of the lone Indian professor on campus. She later worked at Ernst & Young and then at Hewitt Associates in Northern Virginia. A close friend in Cleveland, a German American, kept urging her to write. Saigal kept saying she would do it after retiring. Then came a phone call from the friends husband. At 35, the friend had fallen on a sidewalk, hit her head and died. Her question kept ringing in my mind, you know, what makes you think youre going to be old enough to retire? Saigal said. So I quit my full-time job, cutting the family income by half and started to write. And I havent looked back since. The early years were lean. The first year I started writing about food, I made $5,000, she said. Food writing led to cookbooks, including Modern Spice, published by Simon & Schuster. She later pitched a childrens book, Papas Butter Chicken, to Random House without an agent, inspired by cooking with her father. She called it one of her most precious books because I just lost my dad recently. When the book reached him, she said, he looked so awkward, but he looked so proud. One of her hardest books came from her own life. Her former husband fell seriously ill, and she became his caregiver in the intensive care unit. She turned that experience into a journal-style book for ICU caregivers, copies of which she said have been donated to visitors at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Caregiving, I think, is one of the hardest acts of love that you can perform for someone, she said. And its also one of those thats so, so, so exhausting. We dont talk about that. Her new book, The Lotus Blooms Twice, is a short story collection about women in later life. At a certain age in life, the labels start going away, Saigal said. Like, unfortunately, Ive lost my parents. Im no longer married. My children are now independent. So when all the labels go away, who are you? The title draws on the lotus, which she said closes at night and then blooms again with the morning sunlight. She wants that second bloom to come with intention and with ease, rather than with the usual praise for womens endurance. Why cant we be joyful and feminine and filled with ease, with the sisterhood supporting us instead of, wow, life is hard, she said. Saigal, 57, said many of the stories deliberately leave their endings open. I have succeeded in annoying the reader, which was my goal, she said. But Ive also succeeded in opening up discussions. She sees a bright moment for Indian writing in English. Now you go to an Indian bookstore in India and you are spoiled for choices, she said. She said readership in India remains strong: Like in India, theres a very high number of readers. Her advice to aspiring writers is blunt. Sit and write. You cannot edit a blank page and you cannot sell an idea, she said. Asked whether she regrets leaving a six-figure salary, she laughed. There are days. Dont get me wrong, she said. I feel very satisfied and I feel very much at peace, and I think thats priceless. Many of these arts are not a profession. Its a calling, she said. And if you dont answer that calling, its not going to leave you alone.
CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka's judicial custody extended by two days in Delhi
Das and Ranka were initially sent to five days of judicial custody on October 13 after allegedly violating restrictions to enter Jantar Mantar, which had been denotified as a designated protest site. They were taken into custody after allegedly climbing over a locked gate to access the premises.
RSS completed remarkable century of service, nation-building: PM Modi
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended greetings to the Swayamsevaks on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Foundation Day, praising their deep sense of duty and ation-first spirit. The RSS is observing its 101st Foundation Day on Tuesday, coinciding with the Hindu festival of Vijayadashami. Taking to X, PM Modi said, Today, on the special occasion of RSS Sthapana Divas, my greetings to all Swayamsevaks. I also pay homage to all those greats who have nurtured the RSS over the years. The RSS has completed a remarkable century of service, nation-building and social harmony. Countless Swayamsevaks have worked for society with a deep sense of duty and a nation-first spirit, he said. May this spirit keep strengthening national development in the times to come, the Prime Minister said. Founded on the occasion of Vijayadashmi on September 27, 1925, by Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in Nagpur, Maharashtra, the RSS traditionally celebrates its foundation day on the auspicious occasion every year according to the Hindu calendar. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also extended heartfelt greetings on RSS' Foundation Day. Heartily congratulating and extending best wishes to the crores of swayamsevaks on the Foundation Day of RSS, the world's largest cultural organisation, which is dedicated to the supreme glory of Mother India, considering the nation as deity, society as family, and service as worship, CM Yogi said in a post on X. This national devotion, which instils the sentiment of 'Ind rashtriya, Ind na mum (roughly translated to: All of this is for the nation; nothing of it is mine)' from individual to society and from society to nation, is the unbroken journey towards the supreme glory of Mother India, the Chief Minister added. Meanwhile, addressing the annual Vijayadashami rally of the RSS on the Foundation Day in Nagpur, Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday articulated the organisation's core ideological perspective, highlighting India's rising global stature and its potential to solve complex international crises through its traditional wisdom. Bhagwat emphasised that India's enduring ideological heritage will play a pivotal role in shaping its trajectory as a leading world power. Highlighting the nation's foundational values, the RSS chief noted that the spirit of self-awareness (swabodh) is vividly reflected in the Preamble to the Indian Constitution.
CISF nabs man carrying gold paste at Delhi Metro
Air India Express flight suffers bird strike; passengers landed safely in Bengaluru
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) An Air India Express flight from Visakhapatnam to Bengaluru has suffered a bird strike but landed safely at Kempegowda International Airport and all 148 passengers on board were unharmed. Flight IX2065 completed its journey despite the incident and was moved to a parking stand after landing on Monday. Following standard safety procedures, ground engineers and technical teams began inspecting the aircraft to assess any possible damage to its structure or engines. However, no injuries were reported among passengers or crew. The incident comes days after an Air India flight from Frankfurt to Delhi made an emergency landing in Jaipur earlier in October after reportedly transmitting Squawk 7500 -- the international code used to indicate a hijacking. The alert was received by Ahmedabad Air Traffic Control (ATC), following which the aircraft landed safely in Jaipur. Further details about the circumstances that triggered the alert were not immediately available. Apart from that, Indian carriers have suspended flights to several destinations in Saudi Arabia till October 20, citing the evolving security situation in the region. According to travel advisories, services to key Saudi cities -- including Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam -- will remain suspended, with some carriers also cancelling flights to Madinah. In view of the evolving situation in Saudi Arabia, all Air India flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah stand cancelled until October 20, Air India said, adding that affected passengers are being offered a full refund. Air India Express also said it has extended suspension of flights to and from Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh until October 20. IndiGo on Thursday announced cancellation of flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah until October 24. Akasa Air said it has extended suspension of flights to and from Riyadh until October 24 and Jeddah until October 21. Airlines said passenger and crew safety remained their top priority and they would continue to monitor the situation.
Delhi Min Temp 17 Deg Celsius; Air 'Moderate'
The IMD expects the maximum temperature to hover around 32 degrees Celsius during the day.
EAM Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Rubio to hold crucial talks in Mumbai
NEW DELHI:US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will begin his three-day visit to India on Tuesday to advance bilateral ties in energy, trade and investment, defence, critical technologies, and exchange views on the West Asia crisis. Rubios second India visit this year comes amid persistent friction in bilateral ties. During his earlier trip in May, []
Jio Platforms' anchor book draws record Rs 2.5 lakh crore in bids ahead of IPO
New Delhi, Oct 20: Jio Platforms has allotted shares worth Rs 8,109.85 crore to 212 anchor investors at the top end of its price band, after institutional demand for the offering exceeded Rs 2.5 lakh crore, more than 30 times the amount available in the anchor book, according to a stock exchange filing and people familiar with the matter. The allotment of 7.24 crore shares at Rs 1,119 apiece comes ahead of the initial public offering that opens for public subscription on Wednesday. The strong demand underscores institutional investor interest in what is expected to be India's largest IPO, although the extent to which it translates into broader public demand will become clearer once the offer opens. Life Insurance Corporation of India received the largest allocation, worth Rs 499.98 crore, accounting for 6.17 per cent of the anchor portion. New World Fund Inc was allotted shares worth Rs 486.27 crore, followed by the Government of Singapore at Rs 340.93 crore, SBI Focused Fund at Rs 315 crore and BNP Paribas Financial Markets - ODI at Rs 303.25 crore. Domestic mutual funds received 2.489 crore shares worth Rs 2,784.96 crore, representing 34.34 per cent of the anchor book, through 95 schemes across 25 fund houses. Life insurers and pension funds received 97.4 lakh shares worth Rs 1,089.95 crore, or 13.44 per cent of the total. Both categories exceeded the allocations reserved for them under the red herring prospectus dated October 14, which earmarked 33.33 per cent of the anchor portion for mutual funds and 6.67 per cent for insurers and pension funds. Global investment firms participating in the anchor book include BlackRock, Capital Group, Fidelity, T. Rowe Price, Schroders, JPMorgan Asset Management, Franklin Templeton and Janus Henderson. Sovereign and public investment institutions include the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and the Monetary Authority of Singapore, alongside other long-term institutional investors. Some large overseas and domestic institutions bid for allocations worth USD 750 million to more than USD 1 billion each, people familiar with the matter said. Jio Platforms is seeking to raise about Rs 30,213 crore through a fresh issue of up to 27 crore shares, at a price band of Rs 1,065 to Rs 1,119 apiece. The offering values the company at around USD 108 billion, according to the offer documents. The IPO will open on October 21 and close on October 23. The company will use the proceeds partly to repay debt at its telecom subsidiary, with the remainder earmarked for general corporate purposes. Reliance Industries Ltd, controlled by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, will retain a majority stake in Jio Platforms after the listing. Jio Platforms has grown into one of the world's largest mobile operators by subscriber numbers since Reliance entered the telecom market a decade ago. The business has expanded beyond mobile connectivity into broadband, digital entertainment, cloud and enterprise services, making it the central part of Reliance's push into India's digital economy. The company had 533.3 million subscribers as of June 2026 and carried nearly 60 per cent of India's data traffic, according to reported company figures. The listing will give public-market investors direct exposure to a business that has so far operated as a subsidiary of Reliance Industries. Its scale and the breadth of institutional participation make the offering a closely watched test of investor appetite for large Indian equity issuances. The anchor book, which allows institutional investors to receive shares before the public subscription period, represents about 27 per cent of the total IPO. Demand exceeding 30 times the anchor allocation, alongside subscriptions at the top of the price band, provides an early indication of institutional appetite for the offering. However, strong anchor demand does not guarantee similar enthusiasm from retail investors or ensure gains after listing. Investors will weigh Jio's subscriber base and opportunities in digital services against competitive pressures, regulatory risks, capital requirements and its ability to translate scale into sustained revenue and profit growth, analysts said. The offering also provides a measure of the Indian market's capacity to absorb a transaction of this size, with domestic mutual funds, insurers and pension funds accounting for nearly half of the anchor allocation. The public subscription will offer a clearer indication of whether that institutional confidence extends across the wider investor base.
Rajasthan Cong leaders stage all-night sit-in, seek FIR in alleged assault on NSUI worker
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Oct 20 (IANS) The alleged assault on NSUI activist Ritu Barala during a protest against vote theft in Delhi has triggered a political confrontation in Rajasthan, with the Congress demanding the registration of an FIR in Jaipur. Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra, along with party leaders and a legal team, staged an overnight sit-in at the Jaipur Police Commissionerate on Monday. Congress leaders and workers remained at the Commissionerate throughout the night, both inside and outside the premises. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also visited the protest site. Dotasra announced that the party would gherao the Police Commissionerate on Tuesday and called upon Congress workers from across the state to reach Jaipur. Dotasra maintained that Congress would not withdraw its protest until an FIR was registered in the case. The party has also raised questions over the police administrations handling of the complaint. Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully questioned the state government, asking who had tied the hands of the police administration and prevented it from registering an FIR. What is the BJP government's problem with delivering justice to a daughter of this state? Jully asked, warning that the Congress would neither retreat nor bow down until an FIR was registered in the Ritu Barala case. Earlier, Ritu Barala, accompanied by Congress leaders and a legal team, approached the Moti Dungri police station and submitted a written complaint to the Station House Officer, seeking registration of an FIR. However, no separate FIR was registered. Around 6.15 p.m. on Monday, Congress leaders reached the Police Commissionerate. Police Commissioner Sachin Mittal was not present at the time. Dotasra spoke to him over the phone and demanded the registration of a Zero FIR against the accused, insisting that the protesters would not leave until their demand was addressed. Gehlot arrived at the Commissionerate late Monday night from Jodhpur but left shortly afterwards. Among those who participated in the overnight sit-in were MLAs Rafiq Khan and Amin Kagzi, former Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, NSUI National President Vinod Jakhar, State Womens Congress President Sarika Singh, War Room Chairman Jaswant Gurjar, Rajendra Yadav, Media Chairperson Swarnim Chaturvedi and Jaipur City Congress President Sunil Sharma. According to Dotasra, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had called him and directed him to ensure that an FIR was registered in Jaipur in connection with the case. Police Commissioner Sachin Mittal said the incident had taken place in Delhi and a complaint had already been filed with the Delhi Police. He said police in other states had registered Zero FIRs and forwarded them to Delhi for further investigation. Multiple FIRs cannot be registered for the same incident, Mittal said, adding that the complainants had been informed that their complaint was on record. Information would be sought from the Delhi Police and the state police that registered the Zero FIR to facilitate the investigation. The Congress, however, remained firm on its demand and announced plans to intensify its protest on Tuesday.
Cold Weather Hits Delhi-NCR as Pollution Levels Surge
As temperatures drop in Delhi-NCR, pollution levels rise, prompting health warnings for vulnerable populations. Cold Weather Hits Delhi-NCR as Pollution Levels Surge
Digital Desk | United Nations, Oct 20 (IANS) India has asked countries to ensure that weaponisable sensitive technology is not transferred to countries like Pakistan that have terrorism links. India is deeply concerned about the risk of weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of terrorists and non-state actors, Janata Dal (United) MP Alok Kumar Suman told the General Assembly's First Committee on Monday. Without naming Pakistan, but making clear the reference was to it, he said, We encourage all member states to remain vigilant about the transfer or devolution of sensitive technology, particularly to those with a record of proliferation or link to terrorism. Islamabad's links to terrorism are well established through its sponsorship of terrorist organisations like Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, and the protection it gave al-Qaeda head Osama bin Laden. Suman, who represents Bihar's Gopalganj constituency, is in the second contingent of the MPs in India's delegation to the UN. He reminded the committee that deals with the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction that starting 2002 India has introduced a resolution titled Measures to Prevent Terrorists from the Acquiring Weapons of Mass Destruction. The resolution adopted unanimously calls upon all member states to support international efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. To ensure that, it urges all member states to take and strengthen national measures, as appropriate, to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and materials and technologies related to their manufacture. Suman said that India supported adapting the Chemical Weapons Convention to ensure its verification rules take into account the growing threat of non-state actors terrorists getting them. About India's efforts to promote international cooperation on this front, Suman said it had convened an international conference in New Delhi in December to mark the 50th anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention. The treaty bans the development, production, stockpiling, and transfer of biological weapons. The conference, with the participation of 80 countries, he said, demonstrated India's capacity in biosecurity and public health, and underlined the role the Global South must play in shaping the convention over the next 50 years.
Tiger Shroff firing case: Three suspects to be taken to Mumbai from Kota under tight security
Digital Desk | Kota, Oct 20 (IANS) The three suspects held in connection with the firing incident involving Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff in Mumbai will be taken to Mumbai, Maharashtra, by the Mumbai Police on Tuesday. The suspects were kept overnight in the lock-up of the Kota Railway Colony police station in Rajasthan under tight security amid concerns over their possible escape. As a precautionary measure, commandos and armed personnel were deployed at the police station. The entire CCTV surveillance network of the police station was connected to a command centre to ensure continuous monitoring of the suspects and strengthen security arrangements. City Superintendent of Police Tejaswini Gautam also visited the Railway Colony police station late Monday night to review the security arrangements. The Mumbai Police had earlier postponed the transfer of the suspects from Kota due to security concerns. The three remained in custody throughout the night under heightened surveillance. According to the police, the three suspects were apprehended by Kota Police at the railway station on Monday in connection with the firing incident involving actor Tiger Shroffs car in Mumbai. The suspects were travelling on the Pune-Jaipur train (12939) and were found sitting at different locations in a general coach. Their movements and travel plans allegedly indicated that they were attempting to evade arrest after the incident. Investigators believe the suspects had planned to reach Jaipur by train, travel onward to Delhi by bus and then escape to Nepal. However, Kota Police intercepted them at the railway station before they could proceed with their alleged plan. Following their apprehension, the suspects were taken to the Railway Colony police station, where security was significantly tightened in view of the sensitivity of the case and the possibility of an escape attempt. The Mumbai Police are scheduled to leave Kota with the three suspects on Tuesday for further investigation into the firing incident. The transfer is expected to enable investigators to question them further and establish their alleged roles in the case. The deployment of armed personnel, enhanced CCTV monitoring, and the presence of senior police officials underline the security measures adopted by Kota Police while the suspects remained in custody. Further details about the investigation and the circumstances surrounding the firing incident are expected to emerge as the Mumbai Police proceed with the case.
India-NZ FTA comes into force: Farmers protected, MSMEs to gain wider market access
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) India's Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with New Zealand -- which comes into force on Tuesday -- will provide wider market access for MSMEs, farmers and labour-intensive sectors with 100 per cent duty-free access for Indian exports, while keeping sensitive sectors like dairy fully protected. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said that with duty-free access for 100 per cent of Indian exports to New Zealand, the FTA will unlock significant opportunities for MSMEs, farmers, women, youth and labour-intensive sectors. It also opens new pathways for our professionals, while safeguarding India's core interests, Goyal wrote in a post on X. According to the minister, farmers will gain wider market access for fruits, vegetables, spices and other agricultural produce, alongside cooperation to improve productivity, support higher incomes and strengthen livelihoods. Sensitive sectors, including dairy, remain protected, keeping farmers' welfare at the heart of the approach, he added. On the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami, both sides will begin a new chapter in their economic partnership as the India-New Zealand FTA comes into force. Truly a 'Vijay' for both nations! the minister said. Notably, Goyal said New Zealand will now build with a 'Made in India' JCB machine, flagging off the first-ever JCB machine export to New Zealand, made in Pune, Maharashtra. India New Zealand FTA is unlocking new opportunities for our manufacturing, he posted. Trade agreements are not merely about tariff reductions but about creating deep and durable economic partnerships that support trade, investment and supply chain integration, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal has said. FTAs are about creating deep economic partnership, he added. Agrawal also stated that such FTAs help facilitate faster regulatory approvals and improve the ease of doing business between partner countries. Moreover, the India-NZ FTA is expected to play a key role in strengthening bilateral ties with the government targeting doubling of trade in the coming years. The pact sets the stage for facilitating up to $20 billion in investments from New Zealand into India across sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure and startups, according to the Commerce Ministry. For the services sector, the pact offers wider access to the New Zealand market across IT, professional services, construction, tourism and audio-visual services. Indian pharmaceutical and medical device exporters are expected to benefit from faster market access as New Zealand will accept inspection approvals from globally recognised regulators, reducing compliance timelines.
Delhi court cites 13 months in custody while granting bail to Nigerian national
The court directed a personal bond of '25,000 and two local sureties of the same amount
Yami Gautam to perform Ravan Vadh at Delhis Red Fort on Dussehra 2026: Heres why
Yami Gautam will perform Ravan Vadh at Delhis iconic Luv Kush Ramleela near the Red Fort on October 20, 2026, as part of Dussehra celebrations themed Respect for Women. Organisers say her participation will highlight womens strength and their role in fighting injustice. The actress recently performed a similar scene in her film Nayyi Navelli. Bollywood stars including Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, John Abraham, Prabhas and Kareena Kapoor, along with filmmaker Rohit Shetty, have previously participated in the event.
The Delhi Traffic Police has issued a traffic advisory and stepped up security arrangements across the national capital for Dussehra and Durga Puja celebrations on Tuesday, October 20. Commuters have been warned of possible congestion,...
Mr. Pandey filed for divorce after his wife left their home, claiming the marriage had broken down. However, his estranged wife found him living with another woman and having two children with her. The Family Court denied Mr. Pandey's divorce request and ordered him to pay Rs 2 lakh for his actions. The Delhi High Court upheld this decision, noting the husband's misconduct.
At 17.1 Degrees Celsius, Delhi Records Chilliest Night So Far In October
According to the IMD's forecast, Delhi is likely to experience clear weather on Dussehra.
Delhi Police Transfers Trespassing Case Against CJP Leaders To Crime Branch Unit
Delhi Police on Monday transferred the trespassing case against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to its Crime Branch unit, shortly after their judicial custody was extended by two days, according to police sources. An FIR was registered at Connaught Place police station under Sections 223A (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant), 332 (house-trespass to commit an offence) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
US State Secretary Rubio to begin 3-day India visit on Tuesday
New Delhi: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will kick-start a three-day visit to India on Tuesday to advance bilateral ties in energy, trade and investment, defence, critical technologies, and exchange views on the West Asia crisis. Rubios second India visit this year comes amid persistent friction in bilateral ties. During his earlier trip in 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 .
Amit Shah to visit Punjab today, meet families of those killed for opposing drug peddlers
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Punjab on Tuesday amid growing political tensions over the drug menace in the state, and will meet the families of individuals who recently lost their lives for speaking out against drug peddlers. Announcing the visit in a post on X, BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu earlier said that Punjab was grappling with a serious drug problem and called for decisive action, strong leadership and firm determination to safeguard the states youth and future. Punjab welcomes Honble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji on his visit to Punjab on 20th October. At a time when Punjab is battling the grave menace of drugs, we need decisive action, strong leadership and a firm resolve to secure our youth and our future, the former Union Minister said. Bittu also targeted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab over the drug situation, alleging that it had lost public support before completing its term. He appealed to people across the state to support Shahs efforts to tackle the problem. The AAP Govt in Punjab has lost its mandate much before his completion of term. I appeal to every Punjabi to support Amit Shah Ji and have faith in our collective mission to make Punjab drug-free, once and for all. Let us unite to save Punjabs youth and reclaim Punjabs future! he added. Earlier on Sunday, in a post on his official X account, HM Shah said he would meet the family members of individuals who were killed after raising their voices against drug peddlers allegedly operating under the patronage of the AAP government. The meetings are scheduled to take place in Mansa, Sangrur and Gurdaspur later in the day. The AAP government has spared no effort in pushing Punjab into the abyss of drugs, as a result of which numerous families have had to lose their children, Shah said. I will meet the family members of those individuals who recently lost their lives for raising their voices against the drug peddlers thriving under the patronage of the AAP government, in Mansa, Sangrur, and Gurdaspur on Tuesday (October 20). The grief these families have endured cannot be expressed in words, he said. The Home Minister further asserted that attempts to silence those speaking out against the drug trade would not succeed. He expressed confidence that the people of Punjab would respond strongly to the issue. Shahs visit comes amid an intensifying political debate over drug abuse in Punjab, with the BJP stepping up its criticism of the AAP government and calling for stronger action to combat the menace and protect the states youth. This will be Shahs second visit to Punjab in 20 days. He last visited the state on September 30 to address an anti-drug rally in Jalandhar.
Delhi Police transfers trespassing case against CJP leaders to Crime Branch
Delhi Police on Monday transferred the trespassing case against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to its Crime Branch unit, shortly after their judicial custody was extended by two days, according to police sources. An FIR was registered at Connaught Place police station under Sections 223A (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant), 332 (house-trespass to commit an offence) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Another FIR was registered at Parliament Street police station under Sections 221 (obstructing a public servant in discharge of public functions), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of duty), 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter a public servant from duty) and 3(5) (common intention) of the BNS. Police have now transferred the case to the Inter State Cell unit of Crime Branch for further investigation. D
Delhi Traffic Police Issues Dussehra Advisory, Urges Commuters To Plan Journeys In Advance
According to the advisory, traffic diversions will be enforced on major arterial roads in East Delhi between 5 pm and 8 pm, as required, due to the expected heavy movement of vehicles and pedestrians during the celebrations.
Amit Shah To Launch Rs 8,941 Crore Delhi Water Projects On October 22
Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh shared the details on Monday and announced that Union Home Minister Amit Shah would inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of 43 Delhi Jal Board projects worth Rs 8,941.22 crore on October 22.
France empowers mayors to impose partial curfews after riots and looting
New Delhi, Oct 19: French Prime Minister Sbastien Lecornu has authorised local mayors to impose partial curfews in some areas to protect residents and businesses following a weekend of riots and looting, the BBC reported. Announcing the measures after an emergency cabinet meeting in Paris, Lecornu said the government was determined to prevent further violence. He warned that a state of emergency could be imposed if the unrest continued. The Prime Minister said people wanted to know how such violence had erupted in the country. He also announced that 200 investigators would begin examining video footage of the weekends violence, including recordings posted online, to identify those responsible and bring them to justice. The unrest began last month with student protests over school conditions but later widened to include broader grievances. More than 500,000 people took to the streets on Saturday, with demonstrations turning violent in several places. Buildings were set on fire and shops looted. The violence continued on Sunday, when police arrested more than 350 people in Paris, with at least five shops reportedly looted. Interior Minister Laurent Nuez admitted that police had lost control in some cities and acknowledged a lack of anticipation by the authorities. He offered to resign, but President Emmanuel Macron wants him to remain in office, according to the BBC. Lecornu also criticised the political far-left, accusing it of attempting to fuel disorder ahead of next Aprils presidential election. The Justice Minister is expected to provide further details on measures to prevent a recurrence of the violence. The governments latest steps come amid growing concerns over public order and the effectiveness of the police response to the unrest.
Qatar to announce new regional defence partnership amid Gulf tensions
New Delhi, Oct 19: Qatar will soon announce a new defence partnership with regional countries as it seeks to strengthen security cooperation amid continuing tensions in the Gulf, Qatars Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has said. Speaking at the Global Security Forum in Doha, Sheikh Saoud said Qatar had reviewed its defence capabilities, with a focus on air defence, counter-drone measures, cybersecurity and water security, Al Jazeera reported. Emphasising cooperation among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, he said collaboration with the United States had strengthened regional defence capabilities. He claimed that more than 90 percent of attacks during the Iran war had been prevented through shared expertise and decades of military investment. Warning of further economic repercussions from disruptions to Gulf energy supplies, Sheikh Saoud said the impact had yet to reach its peak. We havent reached the peak with respect to energy, he said, cautioning that the consequences could become more severe in the coming days and months. He said instability in the Gulf threatened energy supplies and international trade, potentially disrupting supply chains between the East and the West. It could also affect Gulf investments in Europe and the US, as well as financial assistance provided by Gulf countries to other nations. Qatars Ras Laffan industrial complex, a major liquefied natural gas (LNG) production hub, was damaged in Iranian attacks in March, according to the report. On relations with Tehran, Sheikh Saoud said Qatar had maintained communication with Iran despite attacks on its territory and differences over the regional conflict. Referring to the two countries shared gasfield, he said they had enjoyed a relationship of trust before the attacks. We never stop our communication, he said, adding that contacts continued at different levels and that the two sides had reached a common understanding.
Australian MP critically injured after being hit by car in deliberate act
New Delhi, Oct 19: Australian independent MP Helen Haines has suffered critical injuries after being hit by a car near her regional office in Wangaratta, Victoria, in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described as a possible deliberate act, the BBC reported. Police said Haines was taken to hospital with critical injuries and an investigation was underway to establish whether the incident was intentional. A 43-year-old man from nearby Tarrawingee was arrested at the scene after being detained by a passer-by. He was driving a white Toyota Land Cruiser, and a knife was reportedly found inside the vehicle. The motive behind the incident remains unclear. Albanese said counter-terrorism police would examine the suspects background to establish the motive. This wasnt an accident. There was a deliberate act, it would appear, he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), expressing hope for positive news about Hainess condition. There is no place for violence in a democracy, the Prime Minister said, urging people to lower the temperature of political discourse. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said reports of threatening or harassing behaviour towards Australian politicians had risen from 951 to 1,067 over the past year. Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the incident as a shocking and deeply disturbing attack and expressed support for Haines, her family and her colleagues, BBC reported Haines, 65, represents the Indi constituency in Victoria and was first elected to the Australian House of Representatives in 2019. A former nurse, midwife and public health researcher, she was re-elected in 2022 and 2025.
Birthday Parties On Yamuna Banks? Delhi Minister's Unusual Cleanup Plan
The unusual proposal is part of the Delhi government's efforts to encourage people to develop a personal connection with the Yamuna and take responsibility for keeping it clean.
3 detained in Tiger Shroff firing case, 1 linked to Bishnoi gang aide: Police
New Delhi, Oct 19: Three people, including a minor, have been detained in Rajasthans Kota in connection with the firing at Bollywood actor Tiger Shroffs car in Mumbai, with one of them allegedly in contact with an associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, police said on Monday. The suspects were detained at Kota railway station from the Pune-Jaipur Superfast Express in a joint operation involving Mumbai Police, Rajasthan Police and railway police. They were allegedly planning to flee to Nepal, Kota Superintendent of Police Tejaswani Gautam said at a press conference. Gautam said one of the suspects was in contact with Anil Pandit, an alleged associate of the Bishnoi gang, which claimed responsibility for Sundays attack in an unverified social media post, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported. According to NE India Today, police sources said the suspects had allegedly received Rs 50,000 in advance for the attack. Two of them are from Haryana and one from Bihar. Their identities have been established and they are being questioned to determine their individual roles in the shooting. Earlie, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Mumbai Police had obtained important leads and would soon arrest those involved in the firing as well as their handlers. Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnavis said such acts would not be tolerated and assured that the police would track down everyone involved in the incident.
Tread path of truth, righteousness, and welfare of all: CM Yogi extends Vijayadashami greetings
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday extended heartfelt greetings to the people and devotees on the occasion of Vijayadashami, highlighting the festivals message of truth, righteousness and the victory of good over evil. In a post on X, CM Yogi said the sacred festival serves as a reminder of the ideals and values embodied by Lord Shri Ram. He also emphasised the importance of giving up ego and negativity and following the path of righteousness and the welfare of all. Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all the residents of the state and devotees on the sacred festival of Vijayadashami, which reminds us of the ideals and life values of the epitome of propriety, Lord Shri Ram. This festival inspires us to renounce ego and negativity and to tread the path of truth, righteousness, and the welfare of all. May Lord Shri Ram bring happiness, peace, and prosperity to everyones life. Jai Shri Ram. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also extended greetings to people on the auspicious occasion, highlighting the festivals message of righteousness and the triumph of good over evil. In a post on X, Gadkari said, Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes on the auspicious occasion of the Mangal Parv Vijayadashami, which conveys the message of the victory of good over evil and righteousness over unrighteousness. May this sacred festival bring happiness, prosperity, and peace into everyones lives. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also conveyed her greetings, urging people to embrace the ideals of Lord Shri Ram in their daily lives. She stressed the importance of truth, compassion, righteousness and humility, while wishing happiness and prosperity for every household. In her post on X, Gupta said, Heartfelt greetings to all of you on the grand festival of Vijayadashami, celebrating the triumph of truth over falsehood, righteousness over unrighteousness, and virtue over arrogance. May the ideals of Lord Shri Ramhonor in the heart, compassion in actions, and righteousness in every resolve of liferemain enshrined within us. May this sacred festival bring the light of goodwill to every heart, prosperity and happiness to every home, and auspiciousness to every life. Jai Shri Ram, she added. Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is a major Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. The festival is celebrated on the tenth day of Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Ashwin. This year, Dussehra is being celebrated on Tuesday, October 20. Dussehra represents the victory of good over evil. The festival marks Lord Ramas victory over Ravana and his reunion with Sita after rescuing her from captivity. Ravana Dahan, the burning of Ravanas effigy, is an important part of the celebrations.
Breaking News Live updates: Parts of Delhi wake up to smog-covered skies
Advocate Sunil Sethis recent analysis in Greater Kashmir, NC and Congress: History of political misadventures, rightly demands a painful, honest reckoning with Jammu and Kashmirs past. He correctly asserts that when short-term power overrides democratic integrity, institutional damage endures for generations. The historical trajectory he charts, from the forced reversals of the 1975 Accord to the catastrophic manipulation of the 1987 elections, consists of undeniable blunders for which the National Conference and Congress must answer. Yet, an honest reckoning cannot be selective. If history demands true political accountability rather than convenient explanations, the lens of scrutiny must turn with equal force towards the BJP. The present establishment routinely treats its own record as an exception to the rule. However, for over two decades, BJP has embedded itself within the regions political matrix, engaging in the exact brand of opportunistic accommodations and realpolitik it decries in its predecessors. While new highways, tunnels, and road networks are visible achievements, they serve as a glossy facade. Beneath this manufactured normalcy, Jammu and Kashmir remains caught in a volatile, evolving conflict marked by shifting security threats, unprecedented societal crises, and a total democratic deficit. Central to the current establishments narrative is its routine bragging over record-breaking tourist footprints. Conflating recreational footfall with genuine, structural peace is a deceptive illusion. Tourists visit under the heavily armed protection of omnipresent security cordons, passing through a landscape dotted with bunkers and checkpoints. Tourism is a commercial transaction facilitated by temporary stability; it is not an indicator of a resolved political conflict or a reconciled populace. The region has witnessed a shivering increase in targeted assassinations specifically designed to engineer demographic fear. Elusive, untraceable hybrid cells have systematically executed vulnerable populations, including minority Kashmiri Pandits, grassroots political workers, and non-local migrant laborers. Simultaneously, strategic stabilization of the past has disintegrated with dramatic, violent reactivation of the Jammu division. Highly trained foreign mercenaries have systematically shifted the theater of conflict utilizing the rugged terrains of Udhampur, Rajouri, Poonch, and Kathua to launch lethal operations. From regular ambushes on security installations to the brutal attack on pilgrims in Reasi, Jammu is effectively boiled all over again, proving that valley containment has simply pushed a lethal conflict into previously cleared territories. Beyond the immediate threat of gunfire lies an unprecedented socio-economic catastrophe: J&Ks worst-ever drug influx. There has been a lethal surge of high-potency synthetic opioids, primarily intravenous heroin, locally known as Chitta. Driven extensively by cross-border drone smuggling networks that use narco-terrorism to fund insurgent infrastructure, this epidemic has swept up an estimated 1 to 1.35 million users. It is systematically hollowing out an entire generation of youth, tearing the social order apart far faster than the UTs limited rehabilitation infrastructure can manage. The BJP cannot distance itself from the very matrix of power it claims to have dismantled. The partys own record is defined by the politics of contradiction. In 1999, under the Vajpayee-led NDA, it readily inducted Omar Abdullah, the premier face of the dynastic order it lambasts, into the Union Cabinet. In 2015, the quest for power culminated in a highly contradictory coalition with PDP, for which the BJP willfully shelved its foundational demands under a mutually convenient Agenda of Alliance. The ultimate irony manifested when, after placing harsh curbs on these regional dynasts post-August 2019 and branding them as untrustworthy, the Prime Ministers Office invited these very same untrustworthy leaders for political consultations in New Delhi. This exposes a recurring truth: when it suits BJP, yesterdays adversary instantly becomes todays indispensable partner. SethiJi is entirely correct that political accountability concerns whether decisions taken by those exercising power strengthened or weakened the institutions entrusted to them. Congress and the National Conference must face historical scrutiny for their past conduct. However, BJP cannot escape the consequences of its own governance since 1999, 2015, and the post-2019 era of direct rule. When a state boasts of record tourist numbers but cannot guarantee the safety of pilgrims on its hills, and when it showcases infrastructure while its youth are destroyed by an unchecked drug epidemic, it is not an erasure of the conundrum. It is merely the continuation of political experimentation by different means. History demands symmetric accountability, and the current rulers of New Delhi are as much a part of this boiling conundrum as the dynasts they seek to replace. Lalit Aditya Pandit, Kashmiri Pandit Activist, Columnist, Journalist with JK Patrika.
JKSA condemns attack on Kashmir-bound bus in Ludhiana
Srinagar, Oct 19: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Monday expressed serious concern over the reported stone-pelting attack on a Delhi-to-Srinagar passenger bus in Doraha, Ludhiana district, Punjab, late Saturday night. The Association has taken up the matter with the Punjab Chief Ministers Office (CMO), seeking urgent intervention, accountability, and measures to ensure the safety of Kashmiri passengers travelling through the state. JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami, as per a statement issued, said that several miscreants and goons allegedly attacked the Kashmir-bound bus around 11 PM while it was travelling towards Srinagar. According to the bus driver, Ishfaq Ahmad, the attackers resorted to stone-pelting and smashed the vehicles window panes while passengers, including women and children, were asleep inside. Khuehami strongly condemned the incident, describing repeated attacks on Kashmir-bound vehicles as a serious concern requiring immediate intervention by law-enforcement agencies. He urged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation, identify those responsible, and initiate strict legal action against the perpetrators. Following the incident, Khuehami took up the matter with the Punjab Chief Ministers Office, including the Media Adviser and Spokesperson, Baltej Pannu and others, and sought their immediate intervention to ensure swift action. The Association also flagged the incident with the Punjab Chief Secretary and DGP Punjab, seeking their intervention to ensure accountability and strengthen security measures for Kashmiri passengers travelling through the state. Pannu assured Khuehami that the state government had taken serious note of the incident and that no one would be allowed to intimidate, harass, or target Kashmiri bus drivers or passengers anywhere in Punjab. He reiterated the governments commitment to zero tolerance towards such incidents and assured that strict action would be taken against anyone found involved. Pannu also directed the concerned police authorities, including the Commissioner of Police Ludhiana, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), and the Superintendent of Police (Investigation), to intervene and ensure prompt action in the matter. Following the intervention, SP Investigation Khanna, Rakesh Kumar Yadav, informed Khuehami that an FIR (No. 0343) had been registered at Doraha Police Station under Sections 324(4) and 125 of the BNS in connection with the incident. He added that multiple police teams had been constituted to identify and apprehend those responsible, while further investigation and legal proceedings were underway. Khuehami said, Why should Kashmiris fear for their safety while travelling through different parts of the country? A passenger bus carrying ordinary citizens, including women and children, was allegedly targeted while people were asleep. Such incidents are deeply disturbing and must not be taken lightly. The authorities must ensure accountability and send a clear message that violence and intimidation against Kashmiri passengers will not be tolerated.
Committed to fight for restoration of Articles 370, 35A, statehood: NC
Srinagar, Oct 19: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah Monday presided over a workers convention in the Arwah area of Beerwah constituency. The convention was organised by Beerwah MLA Dr Shafi Ahmad Wani. The convention, as per a party statement, was attended by Provincial President Showkat Ahmad Mir, Central Zone President and Chadoora MLA Ali Mohammad Dar, Budgam District President Ghulam Nabi Bhat, block presidents, constituency presidents, mohalla presidents, delegates and party workers. Addressing the convention, Dr Farooq reiterated the National Conferences unwavering commitment to fight for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmirs special constitutional status, Articles 370 and 35A, and full statehood. He said that before the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, the Supreme Court, in two earlier hearings, had upheld the provisions permanent status and described it as a permanent provision of the Constitution of India. He asserted that the National Conference would continue its struggle for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmirs constitutional rights and special status. Highlighting the historic contributions of the National Conference, Dr Farooq said that the partys revolutionary and historic initiatives had paved the way for land reforms, enabling poor and marginalised farmers and cultivators to acquire ownership rights over land. He said that it was also due to the National Conference that the light of education reached every household in Jammu and Kashmir, with the literacy rate rising from 6 per cent to nearly 82 per cent today. He added that the partys role in establishing and strengthening fundamental, constitutional and democratic institutions, as well as essential infrastructure, remained unforgettable. Dr Farooq Abdullah said that repeated attempts and conspiracies had been made over the past several decades to weaken the National Conference, but with the unwavering support of the people and the grace of Almighty Allah, the party had overcome every challenge. He asserted that as long as the people stood firmly with the National Conference, no force could undermine its political strength. Targeting the PDP, Dr Farooq Abdullah said that the hardships endured by the people of Jammu and Kashmir over the past several years were a consequence of the PDPs actions. He said that the National Conference had announced unconditional support to the PDP in 2014 and warned it against bringing the BJP to Jammu and Kashmir, cautioning that the party would wreak havoc in the region. However, he said, the PDP ignored the warning and pushed the state towards destruction. Had the PDP not brought the BJP to Jammu and Kashmir, Article 370 would not have been abrogated, he added. He described the Supreme Courts 2024 judgment on Article 370 as entirely wrong, arguing that the same court had upheld the provision on two earlier occasions and stated that it had acquired permanent status under the Constitution of India. Almighty Allah is watching everything. We need only to exercise patience and restraint. Oppression may last for a while, but it cannot continue forever. Allah will certainly bring oppression to an end, and injustice will be eradicated, he said. The winds of change have begun to blow, and they are gathering speed. Dr Farooq Abdullah said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were seeking their rightful due. He recalled that promises had been made regarding delimitation, elections and the restoration of statehood following the elections. Where have those promises gone? Why has statehood still not been restored even after two years? he asked. He said that, in January this year, National Conference Members of Parliament had met the Union Home Minister in New Delhi, where the latter had assured them that business rules would be provided immediately to clarify the respective powers of the Lieutenant Governor and the elected government. However, he said, even after ten months, the promised business rules remained nowhere in sight. He said those in power are relying on false promises and deception. Allahs justice may be delayed, but it is never denied. These circumstances will not last forever, and the people of Jammu and Kashmir will certainly receive their rightful due, he said. He stressed the need for party workers to remain united, strengthen their ranks and foil the nefarious designs and conspiracies of their adversaries. Speaking about the current development scenario, Dr Farooq Abdullah said that the government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was utilising all available resources to accelerate development across Jammu and Kashmir despite the most challenging circumstances. He said that every possible effort was being made to provide relief to the people. The initiation of several development projects in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir, including Beerwah constituency, reflected a new phase of progress, he added. In his address, Beerwah MLA Dr Shafi Ahmad Wani highlighted the ongoing development initiatives in the constituency. He said that substantial funds had been released for various projects and that numerous works had been initiated to improve local infrastructure and public amenities. He asserted that Beerwah was moving towards a new phase of development and reaffirmed his commitment to resolving all pending issues faced by the constituency. At the conclusion of the convention, party leaders reiterated their commitment to public service, inclusive development and the protection of Jammu and Kashmirs constitutional rights. They expressed confidence that the National Conference would continue to enjoy the support of the people in the future. Youth National Conference Zonal President Raees Ahmad Matoo and Zonal Secretary Mohammad Ashraf Matoo were also present on the occasion.
Ladakh and Delhi Should Forge Strategic Solidarity
It is absolutely clear that the Centre will not give Ladakh what it has not given to Jammu and Kashmir after the two regions were separated from each other in August 2019. This separation followed the reorganization of the State, through which they had been tied together since the era of the Dogra rulers. The talks between the Ladakh leadership and the Centre have not reached a fair conclusion, and it does not seem that a mutually acceptable draft will be ready anytime soon. This reality stems from the way negotiations have shaped up in recent months. Attempts to untangle the contentious issues have proved futile so far. It is a given that negotiations of this naturewhere local aspirations are weighed against overall national security concerns and strategic objectivestake time. There is no scope for rushing through things when high national stakes are involved. The International Dimension Usually, Ladakh is viewed as a region cradled between borders with China and Pakistan, alongside the Pakistan-occupied territories of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir that acceded to India in October 1947. However, it has other international dimensions that are rarely spoken of. The Pakistani invasion of Jammu and Kashmir in October 1947 and the subsequent war that lasted well into 1948 affected Ladakh just as much as Kashmir. Its international dimensions have surfaced time and again. There are at least two recorded facts in post-independence history that highlight this: The 1999 Kargil War: This conflict demonstrated how Pakistan, after declaring itself a nuclear power in May 1998, mounted intrusions into this side of the Line of Control (LoC). International powers were keenly interested in the outcome and counseled restraint. While the United States saw the flare-up in Kargil as a sign of Kashmir becoming a flashpoint for an Indo-Pak nuclear war, Ladakh at the time was part of the Kashmir Division within Jammu and Kashmirdespite being ethically, geographically, and topographically an altogether different entity. The 2020 Standoff: More recently, China gathered its troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in AprilMay 2020 and instigated the Galwan Valley clashes in June 2020. The impact of this is still felt today, even though attempts continue to relegate the episode to the margins of history. During the tense military standoff between India and China in eastern Ladakh, which lasted for over four and a half years, the United States and other Western nationswith their own strategic goals against Chinaoffered support and intervention, much like they did during the Kargil War. India spurned these offers, stating it was capable of handling the crisis on its own, and it ultimately did so. Ongoing Geopolitical Challenges This success, however, has not kept the region out of the international spotlight. The Galwan Valley clashes left lasting imprints on the mountains. Furthermore, any doubts about Chinese intentions following the renewed China-India bonhomie in October 2024 were cleared when Beijing declared that it does not recognize the so-called Union Territory of Ladakh and made several uncharitable remarks. India challenged the Chinese contention and replied in an appropriately suitable diplomatic language, but that does not change how China views this region and its positioning. The best answer to all these international and strategic concerns can be provided by the Centre alone. The Ladakh leadership knows well that only the Centre can handle a crisis of such magnitude, which also occasionally reflects on the internal situation. Therefore, it is incumbent upon them to draw a line regarding their demands. These calls for an understanding of real-time issues may be defined by mutual trust, but the fact remains that robust strategic solidarity is a national security necessity to meet the challenges strewn across the border. The changing global geopolitical order has created a whirlpool of challenges for India. These cover all regions, especially border areas sharing a hostile neighborhood. These shadows on strategic regions cannot be wished away, whether in the North-East, Kashmir, or Ladakh. Strategic solidarity must be unconditional. Lessons from Recent Unrest A fair assessment of the ongoing talks can be traced to what happened on September 24, 2025, when an unfortunate incident left four dead and several others wounded. It was only after violence hit the streets of Leh that the gravity of the situation was fully understood. There was a lesson in that: unfortunate incidents tend to occur when vested interests exploit the public gaps created by delaying the dialogue process. There should be a greater understanding of these issues, and they must be responded to with a sensitive narrative. If sensitivity and strategic necessity are fundamental requirements, then the peoples aspirations should be taken on board in a timely manner. The talks should move beyond the technicalities that Buddhists in Ladakh should simply be satisfied because they were given the UT status they had agitated for over decades. Indeed, it was a failure on the part of the Ladakhi leadership, particularly the Buddhists, that they did not clarify what specific powers they expected alongside UT status. They were simply interested in achieving UT status for two primary reasons: To showcase themselves as the ultimate paragons of Indian nationalism. To secure a secession from Kashmirwhich at the time was a hotbed of terrorismand present it as an act of nationalism. Conversely, Kargil and its population were viewed as a different people due to their strong ties with Kashmir, essentially owing to religious affinity, as both Kargil and Kashmir are overwhelmingly Muslim-majority areas. The Path Forward UT status was thought to be the best way to achieve these local objectives, and the Centre delivered exactly what it was asked for. The demands for statehood, the Sixth Schedule, and other constitutional safeguards for their land, culture, and traditions were only flagged after leadership realized that the administration within the UT setup did not match their expectations. They began weighing the pros and cons of whether they were better off with the state of J&K or under the current UT system. Now is the time to move on. The leadership should sit down together and draft a roadmap that upholds strategic solidarity. There should not be a selective approach. The path forward must be completely in sync with local aspirations and national security necessities.
Railway Board offers special concessional fare on round-trip booking in JPP-RCS trains
Jammu, Oct 19: In a significant decision to make parcel and cargo transportation more affordable, accessible and industry-friendly across the Jammu Railway Division and the entire region, the Railway Board has initiated a special concessional freight on round-trip booking in Joint Parcel Product - Rapid Cargo Service (JPP-RCS) trains. The biggest benefit of this facility, according to railway officials, will be seen in the ongoing apple season in Kashmir. The Kashmir valley is currently witnessing a bumper arrival of apples. This new facility has been started under Freight Marketing Circular number 26/2026 issued by the Board. Railway officials maintain that under this new and streamlined system, if any aggregator, trader or logistics service provider makes advance booking of parcel coaches for both directions through JPP-RCS trains, he will have to pay only 1.5 times the normal rate (JP Scale) as total round-trip freight. That is, full freight for one side and a massive 50 percent discount on the return trip. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM), Jammu Railway Division, Uchit Singhal asserts, This scheme is a game-changer for our business customers. Round-trip freight of only 1.5 times, i.e. 50 percent discount on the return trip, will lead to a huge reduction in transportation costs. Especially in view of the apple season in Kashmir, this facility will prove to be a boon for orchardists, fruit growers and aggregators. For the convenience of traders, according to officials, the entire booking and payment process will be completed at once at the originating station itself, freeing them from repeated paperwork and saving valuable time. This scheme has been implemented with immediate effect on all JPP-RCS routes in the country and is being operated as a pilot project for a period of one year. With this new concessional rate, Kashmiri apples and other fruits and vegetables can be transported to Jammu, Delhi, Mumbai and other major markets of the country in a highly economical, fast and safe manner, which will directly benefit orchardists and traders and reduce logistics costs by about 25 percent, Singhal points out. The Jammu Railway Division administration has appealed to all traders, industry associations, Chambers of Commerce and cargo aggregators to make maximum use of this highly economical and time-bound service of the Railways.
Crackdown On Yamuna Polluters In Delhi, 3 Illegal Dhobi Ghats Sealed
The crackdown follows inspections that revealed serious lapses in wastewater treatment, mandatory environmental clearances and the use of prescribed soaps and detergents at dhobi ghats across the city.
Delhi assembly boosts security with eight watchtowers and systems
The News Mill
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Delhi Police Launches Nationwide Motorcycle Rally for National Unity Day 2026
The Delhi Police kickstarts a motorcycle rally promoting drug awareness, set to cover 1,300 km and culminate at the Statue of Unity. Delhi Police Launches Nationwide Motorcycle Rally for National Unity Day 2026
Political Turmoil in Delhi as Ram Leela Permit Canceled Hours Before Dussehra
Political controversy erupts in Delhi as Ram Leela event permit is revoked just hours before Dussehra celebrations. Political Turmoil in Delhi as Ram Leela Permit Canceled Hours Before Dussehra
Delhis Ambitious Water Projects to Gain Momentum Following CMs Meeting with LG
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta meets LG to discuss major water projects worth 8,941 crore aimed at enhancing the citys infrastructure. Delhis Ambitious Water Projects to Gain Momentum Following CMs Meeting with LG
Amit Shah to launch Rs 8,941 crore Delhi Jal Board projects after Yamuna ghat cleanup
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Rural Brain Drain Part 1 :Why rural J&K youth migrate
Srinagar, Oct 19: A degree that once promised a secure future is increasingly becoming the beginning of another struggle for many young people in rural Jammu and Kashmir the search for a livelihood that may take them far away from home. Behind the migration of a young graduate lies a family's investment, years of sacrifice and the hope that education will eventually translate into economic security. But when employment fails to materialise, households are forced to confront a difficult reality--whether to continue waiting for opportunities at home, finance a move elsewhere or reconsider the future they had imagined for their children. For many rural families, migration is no longer simply an individual's decision to pursue better prospects. It has become an economic calculation involving household income, agricultural assets, educational expenditure, debt and the uncertainty of local employment. A research paper titled The Economics of Staying, Leaving and Returning: Youth Migration, Local Employment and Household Welfare in the Rural Economy of Jammu & Kashmir, submitted by Kysir Quyoom Mir, who holds NET and JKSET qualifications and a postgraduate degree in Economics, examines this dilemma and its consequences for rural households. The study approaches migration not merely as the movement of workers from one place to another, but as a household strategy to diversify income, manage financial risks and improve living conditions. Drawing on the New Economics of Labour Migration framework developed by Oded Stark and David Bloom in 1985, it examines how families make decisions about who should leave, who should remain and whether those who migrate should eventually return. The central argument is that youth migration cannot be understood solely through differences in wages between locations. The decision is also shaped by the economic circumstances of the family left behind and the opportunities available to the young person at home, the research reads. For generations, education has been regarded as one of the strongest pathways to economic mobility in Jammu and Kashmir. Rural families have invested in schooling, college education and professional qualifications, often prioritising their children's future over their immediate financial needs. Yet the transition from education to employment can be uncertain. The study's abstract cites estimates indicating that unemployment among educated youth in Jammu and Kashmir is particularly high. It refers to an unemployment rate of around 46 per cent among educated young people, an urban youth joblessness rate near 32 per cent and an overall unemployment estimate of 24.6 per cent. It also cites reports suggesting that more than 3.7 lakh young people are registered as unemployed on the government's employment portal, including a substantial number of graduates and postgraduates. These figures, which require verification against their original sources and statistical definitions, illustrate the employment concerns that underpin the paper's analysis. For a family in a rural area, prolonged unemployment can mean more than a young person remaining without a salary. It can delay financial independence, increase dependence on parents and place additional pressure on household resources, the study notes. Families may continue spending on competitive examinations, coaching, transport and further qualifications while meeting the everyday expenses of the household. Where several educated members are unemployed, these pressures can become particularly severe. Migration may offer a way out of this cycle. A young person who secures employment elsewhere can contribute to household expenses, support siblings' education, repay family debt or build savings for a future enterprise. However, leaving home does not automatically guarantee financial stability. Accommodation, travel and living expenses can consume a substantial share of earnings, while insecure employment and the mismatch between qualifications and available jobs may limit the benefits. The decision to migrate, therefore, involves weighing the potential gains against the financial and personal costs of leaving. Speaking on the issue, former Vice Chancellor, IndiraGandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Delhi, Prof Muhammad Aslam said: Alongside poverty, we also witness Rural Brain drain in Kashmir. The migration of educated, skilled people away from rural communities toward urban centers is increasing progressively. This isnt a new phenomenon. This migration used to be people moving towards urban areas, within the country, but now it is the migration of educated, skilled people moving away from rural communities towards other countries as well including gulf countries, leaving behind older, and less credentialed population. Prof Aslam, who international exposure as well, said that both pull and push factors seems to be equally responsible. Our rural areas offer very fewer job opportunities, low wages, and almost no pathways for professional advancement in knowledge-economy fields. As a result an economy progressively loses its capacity to regenerate itself. The reasons are structural more than cultural. When the economy stagnates, young people leave. When the future of a place feels uncertain, the psychological toll is real and it accumulates, he said. He added, As population thins, social isolation intensifies. The feeling of collective sense of a place erodes. This erosion is psychologically corrosive in many ways that researchers are only beginning to fully quantify. We also need to study rapid cognitive decline including social isolation. A well-planned policy intervention holds a genuine promise in reversing rural outmigration. It requires that we may have to treat the problem as structural rather than cultural. It also implies making their hometowns stay rational and attractive.
Additive Manufacturing in India: Next Generation Digital Manufacturing
In May 2024, a rocket Agnibaan - SOrTed lifted off from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh featuring a single-piece, Additive Manufacturing (AM) printed semi-cryogenic engine rocket engine. The event demonstrated the countrys competitive advancement of technology usage to become a major builder. The National Strategy for Additive Manufacturing (NSAM) is helping more such start-ups in their R&D for development of critical engine parts using AM. Nearly 2,000 kilometres away in the city of Ahmedabad, the Indian Army has a two-storey dwelling unit that was also printed by a machine. The Army has since used the same method in the Union Territory of Ladakh to produce precast defences. A rocket engine and a soldier's home look nothing alike. Both came from the same idea that is AM or 3D printing. AM is a process of creating an object by building it from layer to layer, something that is opposite of subtractive manufacturing. AM starts with a design wherein software cuts the design into hundreds or thousands of thin layers. The machine then reads each layer and builds the object, one layer on top of another. More than 40 such processes exist in the market or in research labs. They work with plastics, metals, ceramics and materials meant for the human body. Researchers are even testing the printing of tissue from living cells. Why AM For over a decade, India has shown it can build systems at scale in the digital world. The next step is to do the same with physical goods. A design file can travel anywhere in seconds, and a printer can turn it into a part in a town far from any large factory. That means less waiting for imports and more making at home. The early results are already visible. A construction printer, the Kelvin 6K Pro, has built 2,500 sq ft homes in under 30 days, using material with lower carbon content. Early figures point to 30 % lower material and logistics costs and 90% lower emissions than cement-based building. In healthcare, the Technology Development Board is backing bone grafts printed from Indian bioceramic materials. Each graft can be shaped to fit one patient. A start-up named OsteoForge is working on implants made from natural silk. In electronics, centres under the national strategy have printed batteries, antennas and capacitors, and IISc has printed parts of a photonic circuit, a first anywhere in the world. The policy behind AM None of this happened without an efficient policy. In February 2022, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology released the National Strategy for Additive Manufacturing. It set targets: capture 5 per cent of the global market, add nearly $1 billion to GDP, develop 50 India-specific technologies, support 100 start-ups, create 500 products and train 1 lakh workers. The numbers so far are encouraging. More than 1,54,000 people have been trained. Fifty-six start-ups have been supported. Sixty-five India-specific technologies, covering materials, machines, design methods and products, have been developed. Seven centres now help with research, training and access to machines. The effort also reaches schools. Atal Tinkering Labs get a grant of INR 20 lakh each and are equipped with 3D printers, robotics and Internet of Things kits. A student in Grade VI can now handle a printer. That student is the future workforce. A second phase, NSAM 2.0, is being planned. It aims to produce more patents, bring down the cost of machines and materials, strengthen the electronics supply chain, back more start-ups and support the defence forces. What after AM The global market for these machines is projected to reach USD 149 billion by 2035. India has a chance to make the machines and materials, and not only use them. That will need three things. First, the machines and materials must become cheaper, so small firms can afford them. Second, the hospitals, builders and defence units that have tried the technology must buy it in larger numbers. Third, the training must lead to jobs, so that those 1,54,000 trained people find work in this field. India will also host ESTIC-2026, organised by CSIR, from 27 to 29 October at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. AM is one of its themes. It is a good place to ask how quickly the pilot projects can become regular production. The rocket engine and the Army home were firsts. The aim now is to make them ordinary. When a hospital prints a graft, a builder prints a house, and a start-up prints an engine without anyone calling it news, India will have made AM its own. (COURTESY: PIB SRINAGAR)
Statements, overtures & conduct of the 'regime-change gang' expose their own intent
FRAGRANCE OF IDEAS With the onset of the month of October 2026, there was once again a campaign of street protests, unauthorised gatherings disrupting the normal routine of life and social media-based noise trying to hoodwink the opinion of the general masses seen in a few cities and towns of the country. Their main focus was on the capital of the country -New Delhi. Some other cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai were also affected marginally. The main issue this time was the so-called resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, Gaynesh Kumar, for his organisation's nationwide work on Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls (SIR). The primary organisers this time were parties and forums like Congress, AAP and CJP. Having failed to achieve anything tangible in political terms after the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, the then Minister for HRD, in July 2026, all such elements made it sure that more and more chaos, confusion and an environment of political abuse and hatred against the people in power at the Centre and the institutions established by the Constitution and law are made as the new rules of the game. They do so to create a perpetual atmosphere of violence, law and order and anarchy throughout the length and breadth of the country, irrespective of its negative impact on the economic growth, peace, progress and the status of the country among the comity of nations. And they do it brazenly in the name of 'saving the constitution'. Earlier in the month of June and July this year, their main agenda was the paper-leak, NEET examination reforms and the resignation of the HRD Minister. The way the organisers, and mainly the newly formed Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) was provided 'accommodation' by the government in regard to the holding of their protest and other allied activities surely gave the organisers a claim of victory. The 20th July unauthorised rally at and outside the Jantar-Mantar, followed by violence and arson in Delhi, brought several facts to light and gave a real and befitting introduction of the organisers -CJP to the public at large. Their real faces were unmasked consequent upon the unfortunate events of 20th July, which in a way dashed their moral standing in the eyes of the countrymen. The CJP, after the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, began a campaign of 'school reforms' and started making their trips to various government schools without any proper permission from the authorities. However, they chose to keep their campaign limited to the BJP-NDA-ruled states and didn't venture to go beyond that. Opposition-ruled states were exempted from such atrocious campaigns, which angered the people concerned. Thus, they received a lukewarm response to their campaign, and at several places, the people started to oppose their entry into their villages and surroundings. They received tough opposition even in public parks and grounds in sub-urban areas at several places. It was in the month of September, 2026 that the CJP announced to go for one more protest demonstration on 10 October, 2026 at Jantar-Mantar, New Delhi to press for the resignation of the CEC, Gyanesh Kumar. Now, they converted their movement into a full-fledged politically oriented agitation. Armed and alarmed both by their announcement, the Congress party, which believed that the resignation of the CEC was their exclusive agenda supported by a few other parties, counter-announced their own plan to organise their protests on the same issue. The Congress held its nationwide protests, with a focus in Delhi, to march towards the CEC's office on 25th September 2026 to exert pressure for the resignation of the CEC on their invented flimsy grounds. The Congress agitators faced police barricades at the BJP headquarters and the Nirvachan Sadan in Delhi. In order to build a false narrative on the issue, some other protests by opposition groups and individuals were also organised on 3 and 6 October, 2026, in which the police detained some demonstrators for protesting without permission at Jantar-Mantar. On 6 October, senior leaders of the opposition INDI alliance, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Akhilesh Yadav, staged a march to the Election Commission office and were blocked by police barricades near the Election Commission headquarters. The leaders, without any permission, instead gate-crashed the adjacent Akashwani Bhavan premises and again staged a two-hour sit-in protest there. Several leaders were detained and released later. The government and the administration this time took extra and exclusive measures unlike July 20, 2026 and didn't grant any permission for any sort of assembly at Jantar-Mantar. All precautions were made to maintain public order. Authorities enforced a massive security lockdown in central Delhi to foil any rally planned by the CJP. The CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and other senior organisers of CJP were detained immediately upon landing at the Delhi airport. The other passengers in the flight also rebuked the CJP leaders for their conduct. On the other hand, the police sealed off Jantar Mantar, closed 45 metro stations, cancelled incoming trains, and detained over 2,000 people to prevent any unauthorised assembly in the capital. Though there were some provocations that could escalate the situation and create violence, arson and law-and-order situations bigger than on 20 July, 2026, but the police administration remained alert and vigilant to foil all such designs. This time, only a few hundreds of people gathered on the roads surrounding Jantar-Mantar who were not allowed to enter the debarred venue. Criminals and history-sheeters were also not allowed to enter the crowd of protesters. Then people opposed to such protests and agitations also joined the crowd and raised slogans in favour of the police and the government headed by PM Narendra Modi. The regular media and the social media was also seen divided this time, putting before their respective viewpoints while covering the protests. In nutshell, the protests failed and couldn't achieve anything tangible to show. The top three detained CJP leaders were released by the magistrate only on the production of a peace-bond with the condition that they wouldnt do anything to disturb peace and tranquillity for one year, in addition to surety. In the meantime, the statements, overtures and conduct of the leaders and the prominent activists of all these protests further clarified the intent and the ultimate motives of the organisers of all these protests. While some leaders on the front said that they stand inspired by the Bangladesh events of regime change there and would be thankful to them for showing them the way, others attacked all constitutional institutions and authorities and also talked in terms of revolution, including a bloodbath. People in general ignored the appeals and repeated requests by the organisers from Congress, AAP and CJP to reach Delhi in lakhs to join their planned activities against the CEC and the government. On 12 October 2026, Rahul Gandhi and other leaders of Congress, along with a few thousand of their activists, defied the prohibitory orders and marched towards the Supreme Court of India and tried to make the Apex Court a party to their political agitation. The Supreme Court of India last year upheld the decision of the EC to conduct SIR at the national level and also said they have the constitutional sanction to do their duties. On the issue of fresh requests from the opposition for an intervention, the CJI declined a direct meeting with the political delegation, and instead the court asked them to file their appeal with the Court for hearing. This brazen attempt to involve the Apex Court in such a political event was done for the first time in such a manner. The government on the recommendations of the committee set up earlier to the effect cancelled Jantar-Mantar for any future protests and notified three other venues for any sort of protests including the Ramlila Maidan. It was welcomed by most people as it wouldn't cause inconvenience to the general public in future. On 16 October, 2026, the CJP attempted another march at Connaught Place, New Delhi. The government took the attempt very seriously in view of the importance of Connaught Place being the centre of activity, particularly during the festive season. Security personnel locked down Central Park and enforced Section 163 of the BNSS. CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke and Neha Bora were taken into preventive custody prior to the event, leading to scattered flop protests and standoffs between the activists and counter-protesters who opposed any such programme in the vicinity. Dipke once again submitted another bond before the magistrate to desist from any activity for one year causing damage to peace and public order. His two other colleagues were put in the police remand for five days for breaking prohibitory orders at Jantar-Mantar by the Special Executive Magistrate. The Congress as a follow-up has asked for permission for a protest rally at Ramlila Maidan from October 25 to November 3, 2026 which the administration in Delhi has granted to them. Some other Andolan-Jeevis have also announced their march scheduled for October 23, 2026. A Sanyukt Kisan Morcha organised Delhi Chalo march is also on cards the same day. For the last 10 years, all these parties, forums and individuals who have been losing the elections consistently and continuously are having only one target in mind. That is to topple a duly elected government at the centre headed by Modi. Their frustration has led them to a situation to speak lies about the SIR conducted by the EC and have further lost their space in the minds of the people. Fake earlier narratives like 'Chowkidar chor hai', 'vote-chori', 'EVM frauds', 'vote chor-gaddi chod' etc have already drawn flak and public has not been convinced with these slogans at all excepting the usual activists of the respective parties. Rahul Gandhi's campaigns, slogans, marches, unauthorised gate-crashings and other such irresponsible behavior in public have also been a cause of bringing further disrepute to the opposition and particularly the Congress. Entry and involvement of foreign elements and funds in such protests and demonstrations against the PM, HM, CEC and the government are an open secret. Rahul Gandhi's pronouncements on different podiums that the real targets are the PM and the HM, and CEC is only a beginning are also stunning. Those who are advocating their cause have also been advocating regime change on the pattern of situations in Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal and other places where democratically elected governments were thrown through anarchy, violent unrest and foreign intervention. The government and the administration in India seem to have learnt lessons about these anarchists who are hell-bent on trampling the peace and progress of the country. What they are unable to achieve through a democratic process and constitutional means, they want to do it with unfair and unconstitutional ways on the streets and don't feel shy about the way their intent and conduct are causing damage to the country. People have seen through their motives and have also generally kept themselves aloof from such activities and useless agitations. It is time for the Congress, AAP and the INDI-alliance, and also the CJP, to introspect and have a deep evaluation of their flop shows throughout, along with the growing public anger against them. (The author is a senior BJP & KP leader, Human Rights Defender and a columnist and can be reached at: ashwanikc2012@gmail.com )
Winds of change are blowing: Dr Farooq
Srinagar, Oct 19: National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Monday termed the Supreme Courts 2024 verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370 entirely wrong, claiming that the court had described the provision as permanent in two earlier hearings before its abrogation in August 2019. Addressing a party workers convention in Beerwah, he reiterated the NCs commitment to fighting for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmirs special constitutional status and full statehood. He said that before the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, the Supreme Court, in two earlier hearings, had upheld the provisions permanent status and described it as a permanent provision of the Constitution of India. He asserted that the National Conference would continue its struggle for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmirs constitutional rights and special status. Highlighting the historic contributions of the National Conference, Dr Farooq said that the partys revolutionary and historic initiatives had paved the way for land reforms, enabling poor and marginalised farmers and cultivators to acquire ownership rights over land. He said that it was also due to the National Conference that the light of education reached every household in Jammu and Kashmir, with the literacy rate rising from 6 per cent to nearly 82 per cent today. He added that the partys role in establishing and strengthening fundamental, constitutional and democratic institutions, as well as essential infrastructure, remained unforgettable. Dr Farooq Abdullah said that repeated attempts and conspiracies had been made over the past several decades to weaken the National Conference, but with the unwavering support of the people and the grace of Almighty Allah, the party had overcome every challenge. He asserted that as long as the people stood firmly with the National Conference, no force could undermine its political strength. Targeting the PDP, Dr Farooq Abdullah said that the hardships endured by the people of Jammu and Kashmir over the past several years were a consequence of the PDPs actions. He said that the National Conference had announced unconditional support to the PDP in 2014 and warned it against bringing the BJP to Jammu and Kashmir, cautioning that the party would wreak havoc in the region. However, he said, the PDP ignored the warning and pushed the state towards destruction. Had the PDP not brought the BJP to Jammu and Kashmir, Article 370 would not have been abrogated, he added. He described the Supreme Courts 2024 judgment on Article 370 as entirely wrong, arguing that the same court had upheld the provision on two earlier occasions and stated that it had acquired permanent status under the Constitution of India. Almighty Allah is watching everything. We need only to exercise patience and restraint. Oppression may last for a while, but it cannot continue forever. Allah will certainly bring oppression to an end, and injustice will be eradicated, he said. The winds of change have begun to blow, and they are gathering speed. Dr Farooq Abdullah said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were seeking their rightful due. He recalled that promises had been made regarding delimitation, elections and the restoration of statehood following the elections. Where have those promises gone? Why has statehood still not been restored even after two years? he asked. He said that, in January this year, National Conference Members of Parliament had met the Union Home Minister in New Delhi, where the latter had assured them that business rules would be provided immediately to clarify the respective powers of the Lieutenant Governor and the elected government. However, he said, even after ten months, the promised business rules remained nowhere in sight. He said those in power are relying on false promises and deception. Speaking about the current development scenario, Dr Farooq Abdullah said that the government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was utilising all available resources to accelerate development across Jammu and Kashmir despite the most challenging circumstances. He said that every possible effort was being made to provide relief to the people. The initiation of several development projects in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir, including Beerwah constituency, reflected a new phase of progress, he added. At the conclusion of the convention, party leaders reiterated their commitment to public service, inclusive development and the protection of Jammu and Kashmirs constitutional rights. They expressed confidence that the National Conference would continue to enjoy the support of the people in the future.
Ambedkar University Delhi Announces Recruitment for 56 Non-Teaching Positions
Ambedkar University Delhi is hiring for 56 non-teaching positions. Apply by October 20 for various roles including Senior Assistant and more. Ambedkar University Delhi Announces Recruitment for 56 Non-Teaching Positions
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OIC has no locus standi to comment on India
Pak using platform to push its agenda; J&K, Ladakh integral parts of India New Delhi, Oct 19: Accusing Pakistan of using Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to advance its political agenda and divert international attention from its own internal issues, India on Monday rejected references to Jammu and Kashmir in resolutions adopted at an OIC [] The post OIC has no locus standi to comment on Indias internal affairs: MEA appeared first on Northlines .
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Student Activist Aranya Rathore Recounts Alleged Police Assault In Detention
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Asian Para Games: PM Modi praises Nishad Kumar's versatility after winning long jump gold
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 19 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday praised para-athlete Nishad Kumar for his versatility, determination and sporting excellence after he won a gold medal in the men's long jump T47 at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, and said he was very proud of him. Winning a gold medal on his debut in the Asian Para Games makes the achievement even more special, the Prime Minister said in a post made by the PMO India on Monday. Nishad Kumar added an unexpected gold medal to his impressive para-athletics career, winning the mens T47 long jump at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Monday with a best effort of 7.11 m. The two-time Paralympic silver medallist delivered a commanding performance at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium to secure Indias second gold of the Games. Very proud of Nishad Kumar on winning Gold in the Mens Long Jump T47 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 with an outstanding jump. Winning a Gold on his debut in this event makes the achievement even more special. His versatility, determination and sporting excellence are truly inspiring. Wishing him the very best for the endeavours ahead, PM Modi was quoted as saying in a post by PMO India. Known primarily for his achievements in the high jump, Nishad made an emphatic statement in a discipline that remains secondary to his speciality. His winning distance proved beyond the reach of the competition, with the Indian recording 7.11m twice during the final to establish his superiority. Nishad opened with a jump of 6.95m before moving into the lead with 7.09m in his second attempt. He then stretched his advantage with a 7.11 m effort in the third round, followed by a foul in his fourth attempt. The Indian bounced back in the fifth round to match his best distance before closing his campaign with 7.07m. Uzbekistans Omadbek Khasanov mounted the closest challenge, producing a season-best 6.99m to claim silver. Sri Lankas Mohammadu Safran completed the podium with a best jump of 6.55m. The triumph is particularly notable given Nishads relatively recent entry into long jump competitions. The Indian began exploring the event last year and arrived in Japan with limited competitive experience in the discipline. His performance in Aichi-Nagoya underlined his versatility and ability to translate his athletic qualities into another event. Nishads established reputation, however, rests on his achievements in the mens T47 high jump. He won silver at the Paris 2024 Paralympics and has also claimed a world championship gold in the discipline. At the Asian Para Games, he is the defending champion in the high jump, making him one of Indias key medal prospects in the event.
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Delhi Court Extends Judicial Custody of CJP Leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka Till October 21
A Special Executive Magistrate on Monday extended the judicial custody of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka by two days, till October 21, in connection with a case of alleged trespassing and violation of peace bonds at the Jantar Mantar protest site. The two leaders were produced before the magistrate at [] The post Delhi Court Extends Judicial Custody of CJP Leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka Till October 21 appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
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Mystery Killings Rock Lashkar In Pakistan: Who Is Targeting Indias Most-Wanted Terrorists?
More than 30 Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives have allegedly been killed by unknown gunmen in Pakistan in recent years.From Lahore to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and PoK, senior commanders and figures linked to attacks against India have been shot dead or died under mysterious circumstances. No group has claimed many of the attacks. Pakistan has blamed India in some cases, while New Delhi denies involvement.So who is hunting Indias enemies inside Pakistan a covert campaign, an internal purge, or a terror ecosystem turning on itself? Shreya Chandra has moreWatch: https://youtu.be/deLKmTxHCEo
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Clean Yamuna: Mega bio-gas plant to process cow dung produced in Goyla Dairy area
