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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the Congress of breaking into pieces national song Vande Mataram under the guise of social harmony, and said it was still following the politics of appeasement. He also targeted former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for agreeing with the suggestion that Vande Mataram could antagonise Muslims. Speaking in the Lok Sabha during a discussion on Vande Mataram, Modi cited a letter written by Nehru to Subhash Chandra Bose claiming that the back

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lamented that the Constitution was hrottled and the nation chained by the Emergency when national song Vande Mataram completed 100 years. Initiating a day-long discussion on 150 years of Vande Mataram in the Lok Sabha, Modi noted that Vande Mataram stood like a rock and inspired unity despite British oppression. When Vande Mataram completed 100 years, the nation was chained by the Emergency. At that time, the Constitution was throttled and those

SRINAGAR: As parliament holds a soecial debate on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram in Lok Sabha, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said the ruling BJP at the Centre was busy in empty symbolism instead of addressing emergent issues like the crisis caused by turmoil in IndiGo airlines. Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the debate on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram in Lok Sabha on Monday, which is expected to bring to light several important and previously unknown facets abou

RAIPUR: A total of 12 cadres renounced the ideology of the CPI (Maoist) and surrendered with their weapons in Rajnandgaon district, around 100 km west of Raipur, in the early hours of Monday. Among those who laid down arms was a senior Maoist leader of the MaharashtraMadhya PradeshChhattisgarh (MMC) zone and Central Committee member, Ramdher Majji, who carried a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head. Four Divisional Committee members and several other cadres also surrendered. The surrender of these s

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday noted that the IndiGo crisis is a very serious matter, as lakhs of people are stranded at airports, but it refused to grant an urgent hearing on a mentioning by a lawyer in the issue. The two-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi, observed that the Centre had already taken note of the situation and initiated steps to address it. The lawyer who mentioned the matter before the court sough

Guwahati: Three persons from Assam were among the 25 people who had died in the Goa nightclub fire on Saturday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The three victims Assam Rahul Tanti, Manojit Mal (both from Cachar district) and Diganta Patir (from Dhemaji district) were working as staff members. Deeply anguished by the tragic loss of lives in the Arpora fire incident in Goa, where three of our own lost their precious lives. Offering my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Pray

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday sought response from Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on a plea challenging his election from the Varuna assembly constituency in the 2023 state elections. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notice to Siddaramaiah seeking his reply on a plea filed by one K Shankara. Issue notice, the bench said. Shankara has moved the apex court challenging an April 22 order of the Karnataka High Court which dismissed his plea seeking to declare t

RANCHI: The mortal remains of three migrant workers from Jharkhand, who were among the 25 people killed in the fire at the Goa nightclub , were brought to Ranchi on Monday morning, officials said. Pradeep (24) and Binod Mahto (20), two brothers from Fatehpur village in Lapung, and Mohit Munda (22) of Govindpur village in Khunti district's Karra block died in the inferno that ravaged the North Goa club post-midnight on Sunday. Agriculture Minister Shilpy Neha Tirkey, who coordinated with the Goa

NEW DELHI : An employee of a Goa nightclub where a fire claimed 25 lives has been detained by the state police in Delhi, official sources said on Monday. The employee has been identified as Bharat Kohli, a resident of the Sabzi Mandi area here. He was responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the nightclub and his name surfaced during the questioning of a club manager, the police sources said. Kohli will be taken to Goa for questioning, they said. The fire broke out at Birch by Romeo La

CHANDIGARH: Amid a political row over her 'Rs 500 crore for chief minister's chair' remark, Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu has said a twist was given to her straight comment. I am shocked to see the twist given to a straight comment saying that our Congress party has never demanded anything from us. On being asked about Navjot becoming a CM face from any other party, I stated that we have no money to offer for a CM post, Kaur said in a post on X on Sunday evening. Former Punjab Congress chief

HYDERABAD: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport has received three bomb threats to flights coming from different cities, including two international, sources said. The airport received emails on late Sunday night targeting British Airways' (BA 277) from Heathrow, Lufthansas (LH 752) from Frankfurt and IndiGo's 6E 7178 from Kannur. Airport sources said all the flights landed safely. The two international flights landed here during the early hours of Monday. Standard safety protocols were initiated

NEW DELHI: A total of 5.17 lakh Waqf properties were initiated on the UMEED portal while 2,16,905 properties were approved by the designated approvers during the six-month window provided, according to the data provided by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. The UMEED Central Portal for management of Waqf Properties in India, launched by Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on June 6, 2025, officially closed for uploads on December 6, 2025, completing its six-month window, as per the UM

MATHURA: Three cousins on way to attend a relative's engagement ceremony were killed after their motorcycle fell into a drain here, police said on Monday. The incident occurred near the Govardhan drain in the Radhakund late Sunday night when the speeding motorcycle went out of control and plunged into the drain. All three men, who were in their 20s, drowned, police said. Their bodies were later retrieved and sent for postmortem examination, officials added. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath express

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will initiate a 10-hour debate in the Lok Sabha on Monday to mark the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram , a discussion expected to highlight several significant and lesser-known facets of its history, followed by a one-day special debate in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday led by the Home Minister.

NEW DELHI: Air travel chaos due to IndiGos operational disruptions continued on Sunday, though the situation appeared to improve with the countrys largest airline set to operate 1,650 flights until midnight up from 1,565 on Saturday and 706 on Friday. This still resulted in 650 flights across the country being cancelled with hundreds of them delayed by hours. In a statement, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said air travel operations across the country were stabilising. All other domestic airline

The Goa government has intensified action against the Romeo Lane hospitality chain after a devastating fire at one of its clubs killed 25 people on Saturday night . Officials confirmed on Monday that two additional properties linked to the chain, a beach shack in Vagator and a club in Assagao, have been sealed amid growing scrutiny of safety violations. A police team has also travelled to Delhi to trace the clubs promoters, Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, who have been booked in an FIR related

Over 250 IndiGo flights were cancelled from Delhi and Bengaluru airports on Monday as the disruptions in the crisis-hit airline's flight operations entered the seventh day, sources said. Hyderabads Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) reported 77 IndiGo flights affected so far, 38 arrivals and 39 departures cancelled, airport authorities confirmed. The ripple effect of IndiGos operational issues was also felt in Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, where passengers fac

KOLKATA: Veteran Bengali actor Kalyan Chatterjee died at a government hospital here, West Bengal Motion Picture Artists Forum said in a statement on Monday. He was 81. Chatterjee, who had been suffering from typhoid along with age-related ailments, was under treatment at MR Bangur Super Speciality Hospital, where he breathed his last late Sunday night. The actor, who had acted in more than 400 films, mostly in supporting roles, debuted in Aponjon, which was released in 1968. Some of his notable

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday demanded a full-scale investigation and strict accountability for the tragic fire at a nightclub in Goa that killed 25 people, with Rahul Gandhi claiming it was a criminal failure of safety and governance. In a post on X, Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, said he was deeply pained by the tragic fire in Arpora. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured. This is not just an accident; it is a cr

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday criticised Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi over her allegation that the BJP is attempting to erase Pandit Jawaharlal Nehrus legacy. At a media briefing at the partys central office, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra accused the Congress of destroying the legacies of several national leaders to preserve what he termed the so-called legacy of Nehru. He said the Congress had undermined the contributions of leaders such as Sa

At the Rashtrapati Bhavan state dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu for Vladimir Putin, the Rashtrapati Bhavan Naval Band brought an unexpectedly cheerful moment by playing Kalinka. This famous Russian folk tune, composed by Ivan Larionov in 1860, often appears at diplomatic events as its lively rhythm travels easily across borders. For Indian audiences, the melody also carries a familiar warmth due to its Hindi adaptation, Darling, in 7 Khoon Maaf, sung by Usha Uthup. That connection may

NEW DELHI: For India, heritage has never been just nostalgia, but its a living and growing river, a continuous stream of knowledge, creativity and community, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday. Our civilisational journey has been shaped by the understanding that culture is enriched not only by monuments or manuscripts, but also thrives in the everyday expressions of people such as festivals, rituals, arts, and craftsmanship, he said. The PM said intangible heritage carries the moral and

After a massive fire at the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub in Goa claimed the lives of 25 people , including tourists and staff, the police on Sunday registered an FIR against its owners, manager, and event organisers. The club's Chief General Manager Rajiv Modak, General Manager Vivek Singh, Bar Manager Rajiv Singhania, and Gate Manager Riyanshu Thakur have been arrested, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said. An FIR has also been registered against the clubs owners, Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luth

One of Assams most storied cinema halls has begun a new chapter. Kelvin Cinema, founded in 1935 by Jeevanram Goenka in the bustling lanes of Fancy Bazar in Guwahati, is returning in a contemporary avatar. Kelvin Gold Cinema has unveiled a new two-screen multiplex within the original Kelvin compound, offering a seating capacity of 499, including 24 ultra-luxurious recliners. The modern space features a sleek design and auditoriums fitted with the latest cinematic technology. Its inauguration took

DEHRADUN: A new analysis of nearly half a million children across Uttarakhand has exposed a nutrition emergency, revealing widespread child malnutrition that threatens the states future economic potential. The study, which reviewed data from 4.83 lakh children aged up to 5 years across all 13 districts, shows that despite previous accolades, the states nutritional health has severely deteriorated. The findings, compiled by Dr Kirti Kumari, scientist at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tehri Garhwal, and br

NEW DELHI: THE penultimate week of the Parliament session is set to be very busy, with both Houses set to debate Vande Mataram and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will open the debate on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram in the Lok Sabha, where he is expected to highlight several previously unknown facets of the national song. The BJP has been allotted three hours for its interventions in the Lok Sabha, while the total debate

NEW DELHI: Aviation watchdog DGCA on Sunday gave more time to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and the Accountable Manager Isidro Porqueras to submit their responses to the show causes notices seeking their explanations on the flight disruptions. Both have been granted 24 hours more or time till 6 pm on Monday to submit their replies, a senior official said on Sunday. For six days in a row, IndiGo flight operations have been significantly disrupted resulting in massive flight cancellations and delays im

NEW DELHI: The Indian Armys infantry will receive a significant firepower boost beginning early next year, with Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) confirming the delivery of the first batch of 40,000 light machine guns (LMGs). The supply contract, signed last year, has cleared all tests, trials and government checks, and IWI has received the necessary production licence. We intend to supply the first batch at the beginning of the year. The full LMG supply is planned over five years, though we can de

MUMBAI: Six people were killed after the Innova they were travelling in plunged into an 800-foot ravine near the famous shrine of Saptashrungi Gad in Nasik district on Sunday. The vehicle was carrying seven people, and all six deceased victims were identified as Kirti Patel (50), Rasila Patel (50), Vitthal Patel (65), Lata Patel (60), Pachan Patel (60), and Maniben Patel (60). All of them belonged to a Patel family from Pimpalgaon in Nasik district. According to police, the car bearing registrat

RANCHI: The Dhanbad district administration has intensified efforts to relocate 10,000 residents of Kenduadih following a suspected toxic gas leak that killed two women and left several others ill on Wednesday. Deputy Commissioner Aditya Ranjan said the administration is facing challenges in convincing families to move to the proposed relocation site at Belgadia, with many residents citing minor concerns despite repeated assurances. The gas leak was first reported in Rajput Basti, where more tha

BHOPAL: In a landmark development in Madhya Pradeshs anti-Naxal operations, ten hardcore Maoist cadres, including four women, surrendered before Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on Sunday in Balaghat district. The group, associated with the CPI (Maoist) Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (MMC) special zone, carried a combined bounty of Rs 2.36 crore and laid down two AK-47s and two INSAS rifles at a special programme attended by the CM. Addressing journalists in Balaghat, Dr Yadav said, Today

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradeshs cheetah population suffered a second blow in three days after a 20-month-old male cub born to South African cheetah Gamini was fatally hit by a speeding car in Gwalior districts Ghatigaon area early Sunday. The incident occurred around 6.30 am when the two cubs were crossing National Highway-46 near the Ghatigaon forests. According to an official statement from the field director of the Cheetah Project, A speeding vehicle (car) struck one of the cubs, killing it instantly

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday described Operation Sindoor as a historic success, crediting the missions scale and efficiency to Indias rapidly strengthened border connectivity. Singh, who was in Ladakh to inaugurate 125 strategically significant infrastructure projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) the highest number ever launched simultaneously, said the forces exercised restraint despite having the capability to go further. Speaking about the counter-operation l

RAIPUR: For the approximately 150 tribal families in Kondapalli gram panchayat, located in the edgy district of Bijapur, south Chhattisgarh, the last six months have rewritten their reality. After years of isolation under the influence of left-wing extremism, the arrival of mobile connectivity and the supply of electricity has signalled a profound decline in Maoist influence and the beginning of a connected life. The villagers, whose home is deep within the forested terrain 70 km from the Bijapu

NEW DELHI: Cold conditions prevailed across north India on Sunday, with the Amarnath yatra base camp being the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir at minus 4.3 degrees Celsius and parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan reporting minimum temperatures between three and seven degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said cold wave conditions were very likely to prevail in isolated pockets over Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha on Monday and

NEW DELHI: United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker will visit New Delhi and Bengaluru from December 7 to 11. This will be her first official visit to India since taking office earlier this year. Thevisitis expected to sharpen the strategic focus of the US-India partnership at a time when both sides are navigating economic friction, geopoliticalvolatilityand rapid technological shifts. According to the US Embassy, Hooker willprioritiseadvancing the US-India str

KOLKATA: Despite charges of large scale corruptions levelled against the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, politics of religious polarisation is likely to feature prominently in the upcoming Assembly polls in the state. The suspended rebel Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir on Friday laid the foundation stone of a Babri Masjid in Beldanga of Murshidabad district and threatened to float a new political platform for Muslims to contest 90 out of total 294 assembly seats in the forthco

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government is aggressively pursuing geothermal power generation to reduce dependence on traditional hydropower and secure the states energy future. The state has formally implemented the Geothermal Energy Policy-2025 to fast-track geothermal projects. Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL) is preparing to begin drilling operations at the Tapovan geothermal spring, with necessary paperwork nearing completion. The state government is committed to utilizing this clea

KOLKATA: Suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir, on Sunday said that his proposed new political platform would make an electoral alliance with the Hyderabad-based All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) of Asaduddin Owaisi. Kabir has also invited the CPI-M, Congress and West Bengal-based Indian Secular Front (ISF) of Nawsad Siddiqui to join the alliance to fight against both BJP at the Centre and ruling Trinamool Congress in the state. A day after laying the foundation stone of a

In the chaos caused by IndiGo flight cancellations that left a large number of passengers stranded at airports, it remains unclear how the airline has compensated them for the inconvenience. While the carrier has stated that refund and luggage processes are fully operational for both direct and indirect bookings, many passengers have reported communication gaps and difficulties they encountered during the week. If you were an IndiGo passenger, it is important to understand the airlines compensat

PATNA: Bihar deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, who is also holding the portfolio of home department, on Sunday announced that 100 fast track courts (FTCs) would be established in Bihar for speedy disposal of pending cases in the courts. The fast track courts aim to reduce the burden on the judiciary and provide due attention and time to cases of a sensitive nature. Chaudhary said that these fast-track courts would lessen the burden on courts considerably, considering that more than 18 lakh

DEHRADUN: Amid recurring natural disasters and forest fires, Uttarakhand is now facing an alarming surge in humanwildlife conflict, placing unprecedented pressure on the state government. The crisis is most severe in Pauri district, where the threat posed by a predatory leopard has forced the Education Department to take drastic measures temporarily closing 55 schools and shifting all teaching to online mode. Locals describe the atmosphere in Pauri as eerily similar to the intense restrictions

MUMBAI: IndiGo has processed refunds totalling Rs 610 crore so far against cancelled or severely delayed flights, and delivered 3,000 pieces of baggage to passengers across the country as of Saturday, the government said on Sunday. It also said the aviation network is moving swiftly towards full normalcy, and all corrective measures will remain in place until operations stabilise entirely. On Saturday, the government had directed the airline to complete the ticket refund process for the cancelle

After a massive fire at the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub in Goa claimed the lives of 25 people, including tourists and staff, the police on Sunday registered an FIR against its owners, manager, and event organisers. The police also detained the sarpanch of Arpora-Nagoa panchayat for questioning shortly after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant ordered a magisterial inquiry into the fire. Police registered an FIR against Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, the owners of Birch by Romeo Lane Nightclub, u

JAIPUR: Authorities demolished an under-construction multi-storey building in Malviya Nagar on Sunday after cracks appeared and the structure began to lean the previous day, officials said. The building was brought down using JCB machines that weakened the structure through drilling, according to officials. The building's owner, who arrived at the site, opposed the action taken by the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA), leading to a brief argument with police officers. He claimed that no legal o

TEZPUR: Agitators at Tezpur University on Sunday vowed to enforce a shutdown at the institution, which has been witnessing sustained protests since mid-September against alleged irregularities by Vice Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh, till a formal communication from the Centre regarding the VC's removal is received. The picturesque campus on the north bank of the Brahmaputra in Sonitpur district of Assam witnessed high voltage drama from Saturday afternoon till early on Sunday as a top delegation

CHANDIGARH: The new instructions regarding the production and supply of Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK) rice by the Union Government has led to fresh tussle between rice shellers of Punjab and the Food Corporation of India (FCI). After the union government had stated this year, out of the 104 lakh tonnes of rice to be generated from the 156 lakh tonnes of procured paddy from Punjab, at least 25 lakh tonnes will be taken as upgraded rice, which has just 10 per cent broken grains. The remaining 80 lak

CHANDIGARH: Punjab, considered the food bowl of India, recorded food stock damage of 8,226.04 metric tonne (MT) of Food Corporation of India (FCI) in the last five years. Punjab topped the list, followed by Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha. These figures were placed on record in the Lok Sabha by the Union Minister for state of consumer affairs, food and public distribution Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya in reply to an unstated question asked by Delkar Kalaben Mohanbhai,

CHANDIGARH: Delhi ranked fourth among the most polluted cities in the country in November, as per a report released by Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). Ghaziabad topped the list, followed by Noida, Bahadurgarh, Delhi, Hapur, Greater Noida, Baghpat, Sonipat, Meerut and Rohtak. Despite a significant reduction in stubble-burning, 20 out of 29 cities in National Capital Region (NCR) recorded higher pollution levels than the previous year. Punjab and Haryana had been blamed in the

PATNA: The Bihar government is considering the creation of a specialised police unit on the lines of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to boost investor confidence and attract large-scale investments to the state. Industries Minister Dilip Kumar Jaiswal said on Sunday that a proposal to establish the Bihar Industrial Security Force (BISF) would soon be sent to the state government. The new force would be tasked with providing dedicated security to major industrialists and investors. T