BHOPAL: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its government in Madhya Pradesh have come under intense attack from the opposition Congress over the delay in taking action against its ministers for allegedly making controversial statements about the Indian Army. First-time Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday to post, The constant insult of our army by BJP leaders is extremely shameful and unfortunate. First a minister of Madhya Pradesh made an indecent c

NEW DELHI: In a poignant gesture of unity and remembrance, Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visited Qutub Minar on 14 May 2025, where a special projection mapping of the Tiranga was showcased. He also paid tribute, lauding the armed forces and saluting the nationalistic spirit ignited by the courage and valour of the nations unsung heroes and bravehearts. In a tribute to the undying spirit of patriotism and to honour the bravehearts of the nation, the Ministry of Culture has launched

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government has challenged the acquittal of Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam, and Sonali Bendre in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case, in which superstar Salman Khan was convicted in 2018. The matter was heard on Friday in the Rajasthan High Court, where a plea for leave to appeal was taken up. Justice Manoj Kumar Garg directed that the case be listed along with other related matters. According to Advocate Mahipal Vishnoi, the incident occurred on 1 October 1998, d

NEW DELHI: Bringing an end to a 24-year-old property dispute, the Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the Hare Krishna temple in Bengaluru rightfully belongs to the ISKCON Society based in the city. A bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih set aside a Karnataka High Court judgment that had earlier declared the temple property to be under the control of the ISKCON Society, Mumbai. The case involved a complex legal battle between two organisationsISKCON Bangalore and ISKCON Mumba

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a couple of fresh petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, with Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai remarking, Everybody wants his name to be in the newspapers. A bench comprising CJI Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih said it would take up the matter already listed for hearing on May 20. When one of the fresh petitions was mentioned, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centr

NEW DELHI: The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan is making a fresh push to normalise relations with India as part of its broader campaign for international legitimacy, sources familiar with the development said. Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqis phone call with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday was the highest-level contact between New Delhi and the Taliban since the group seized power in August 2021. The phone call, which took place ahead of Muttaqis schedu

NEW DELHI: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has appointed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan and Advocate Narender Mann as lead prosecutors in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) case against Tahawwur Rana, officials said on Friday. According to officials, the MHA in a notification said, In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 15 of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 (34 of 2008), r

LUCKNOW: Defying the deadly jaws of death, an 18-year-old national-level athlete had a providential escape when he was attacked by a crocodile while bathing in the Chambal River in Agra. Athlete Karan Kumar, a resident of Agra, fought back bravely and broke free from the jaws of the animal, which tore off pieces of flesh from his hand and leg. Karan is currently recovering in a hospital in Agra, and his condition is stated to be stable. According to family sources, Karan had gone to bathe at Kai

CHANDIGARH: As the death toll in the Amritsar hooch tragedy rises to 27, Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla has demanded an inquiry by a sitting Punjab and Haryana High Court judge. He alleged a dangerous collusion between drug cartels, certain senior police officials, and Punjab government authorities. Ruling Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Amritsar North and former IPS officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh also slammed his own government, alleging that those involved in the illicit liquor trade had become a

A day after responding to his partys Lakshman Rekha caution, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has reportedly been named as part of an all-party delegation set to travel to multiple countries next week to highlight Pakistan-sponsored terrorism on the global stage. The move comes as the NDA government launches a major diplomatic campaign against terrorism in the wake of Operation Sindoor. As part of the initiative, multi-party delegations comprising MPs from both the ruling alliance and key Oppositi

LUCKNOW: After Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who gained attention while conducting media briefings alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during Operation Sindoor, became the subject of a casteist slur by senior Samajwadi Party (SP) MP and partys national General Secretary, Professor Ramgopal Yadav, triggering a fresh round of political slugfest. Ramgopal Yadav, who is also the uncle of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, said at an event in Moradabad on Thursday that BJP supporte

AHMEDABAD: Three workers were killed after falling into a sewage tank reportedly filled with toxic gas at a jeans factory in Ahmedabad's Danilimda area. The incident began when a worker slipped into the tank during cleaning operations contracted by the factory. As he struggled, two colleagues entered to rescue him but were also overcome by the toxic fumes. The factory had assigned the cleaning work to a private contractor, who initially deployed five men on the job a day earlier. On Thursday, Ma

BHOPAL: The controversy triggered by Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Vijay Shah's recent remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is yet to settle down when another controversy has erupted this time, by a contentious statement made by deputy chief minister Jagdish Devda. While addressing a training programme of civil defense volunteers in Jabalpur on Friday, Jagdish Devda reportedly said, The whole country, the country's army and soldiers bow down at the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His remark

LUCKNOW: In the wake of Turkey's open support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) has urged the Union government to impose reciprocal tariffs on machine-made carpets imported from there to ensure fair protection to Indian carpets in the domestic market. The CEPC also raised the issue of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Indian handmade carpets, weakening their global competitiveness. According to CEPC director Sanjay Kumar Gupta, a delega

LUCKNOW: The pathology report of Asiatic lion Pataudi , who died at Kanpur Zoo on Thursday, confirmed H5N1 (Avian Influenza) commonly known as bird flu, to be the cause of the felines demise. Pataudi was at Ashfaq Ullah Khan Zoo in Gorakhpur and was shifted to Kanpur Zoo for treatment on May 11 after a tigress named Shakti died of bird flu on May 7, causing a state-wide alert. Meanwhile, after test reports from the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases(NIHSAD), Bhopal, confirmed bi

CHANDIGARH: In the biggest drug seizure of 2025, Punjab Police have busted a cross-border, Pakistan-ISI-controlled narco-smuggling module operated by a UK-based drug handler named Lalli, with the arrest of his India-based operative and the recovery of 85 kg of heroin from his possession. Director General of Police, Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, said here today that the arrested operative, identified as Amarjot Singh alias Jota Sandhu, was using his residence at Bhittewad village in Amritsar as a major s

SRINAGAR: What started as a war of words between Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti over the former's call to revive the Tulbul Navigation Barrage project on Wullar Lake turned into a mudslinging match, with the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister accusing his predecessor of taking the conversation to gutter level. The altercation broke out after Mufti said Abdullah's call to revive the Tulbul Navigation Barrage project given the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was irresponsible and dange

LUCKNOW: Giving its observation on the provision of polygamy in Islam, the Allahabad High Court said that though it was permitted in Islam to go for more than one marriage under certain circumstances and with certain conditions, this permission was being widely misused by even going against the mandate of Muslim law. The bench, comprising Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal, said polygamy had been permitted, conditionally, by the Holy Quran in early Islamic times for rehabilitation of widows and or

KANPUR: Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU) has announced the immediate termination of its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Istanbul University, Turkiye, officials said. The decision stems from Turkiye's perceived alignment with nations overtly hostile to India's sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to CSJMU authorities. CSJMU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Vinay Pathak confirmed he has sent a letter to Zulfikar, the Rector of Istanbul University, informing him of the termina

NEW DELHI: As India is set to send multi-party delegations to various important countries to exert diplomatic pressure on Pakistan, Congress on Friday said that it would join the delegation, and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge will decide which MPs will represent the team. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has already contacted Kharge on the matter. He will depute party leaders accordingly, said Ramesh, adding tha

NEW DELHI: The NDA government is launching a major diplomatic campaign against terrorism, sending multi-party delegations abroad to present Indias stance on Pakistan-based terror groups following the launch of Operation Sindoor. As part of the initiative, MPs from both NDA and key Opposition parties will visit five to six countries, including the US, UK, and Islamic nations, to engage with top officials and build international support. These delegations will engage with heads of state and senior

NEW DELHI: Amid an ongoing debate following the Supreme Courts recent verdict in the Tamil Nadu case setting a deadline for granting assent to bills, the think tank PRS Legislative Research on Thursday released its report highlighting significant variations in the time governors took to give assent to bills in 2024. The report noted that around 18 per cent of bills across states took over three months to receive final clearance. In its report, PRS Legislative Research stated, In 2024, state legi

NEW DELHI: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully rescued six crew members of the cargo vessel MSV Salamath, which sank in the early hours of 14 May, approximately 60-70 nautical miles southwest of Mangalore. The ICG in its statement on Friday said, At 12.15 PM on Wednesday, they received a distress alert from MT Epic Susui, a transiting vessel, reporting the sighting of a small boat adrift with six survivors onboard, approximately 52 nautical miles off the coast of Surathkal, Karnataka. The

DEHRADUN: An assistant professor at a reputable college in Roorkee has been arrested following allegations of touching girl students inappropriately during a practical examination. Students also claimed that the professor allegedly wrote his mobile number on the hand of a student and asked her to call him in the evening. The incident occurred on May 15 during a practical exam for BSc fourth-semester students at a college located in the Ganganahar Police Station area in Haridwar district. Assista

In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and the retaliatory Operation Sindoor launched by India, the country's defence budget is likely to get a boost of Rs 50,000 crore, reports citing government sources announced on Friday. The increased budget is supposed to be used for research and development, besides the purchase of weapons and ammunition. The approval for the increased allocation for defence will be sought in the Parliament's Winter Session. A record Rs 6.81 lakh crore had been set asid

PATNA: A Bangladesh national identified as Pawan Kranti Barua (62) was arrested in Bihars Gaya district for staying in Indian territory without a valid visa, police said on May 15. He was staying in Buddha International Welfare Mission (Sleeping Buddha Monastery) as a Buddhist monk for the past 15 days. Police recovered a fake Aadhaar card and other documents from his possession. Barua, a native of Kath Khali police station limits in Bangladesh, had entered Indian territory without a visa. Manoj

A day after seeking the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) supervision of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday called upon the Washington-based global lender, International Monetary Fund (IMF), to re-think funding to Pakistan. ..I believe Pakistan will spend a large portion of the funds received from the International Monetary Fund on terror infrastructure in its country....India wants IMF to re-think funding to Pakistan..., Rajnath said. Rajnath Singh wa

SRINAGAR: Security forces have intensified anti-terror operations after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack , eliminating six hardcore terrorists in the past three days in Kashmir. Addressing a press conference, GOC Victor Force Major General Dhananjay Joshi said two major operations were carried out in south Kashmir. The CRPF, Army and JK Police together worked to carry out these operations in Kellar (Shopian)and Tral (Pulwama). Six terrorists were neutralised. It was only possible after the cl

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Thursday praised Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a formidably organised force, while expressing uncertainty over the cohesion of the opposition's INDIA alliance. Speaking at a book launch event, Chidambaram noted that the opposition bloc appears to be under strain. The alliance looks fragile, he said, though he added that it is not too late to revive and strengthen it. Theres still time, he said, emphasizing that future developments could potentially brin

RANCHI: In a significant move, the Jharkhand Cabinet has given its approval to the new excise policy. The move is designed to overhaul liquor sales across the State, addressing revenue losses and allegations of irregularities under the previous model. According to the new excise rules, retail liquor sales will now be handled by private entities, while the state government will retain control of wholesale operations through the Jharkhand State Beverage Corporation Limited (JSBCL). Retail licenses

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday held that the Hare Krishna temple in Bengaluru belongs to the ISKCON Society in the city. The top court allowed the plea of ISKCON Bangalore challenging a Karnataka High Court order that ruled in favour of ISKCON Mumbai over control of the iconic Hare Krishna temple and educational complex in Bengaluru. A bench comprising Justices A S Oka and Augustine George Masih delivered the verdict. ISKCON Bangalore had moved the top court on June 2, 2011 challenging t

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that his government has abided by court directives and will continue to do so, responding to controversy surrounding his cabinet Minister Vijay Shah's remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. Speaking to reporters on Thursday during the BJP's Tiranga Yatra at Roshanpura Square, Yadav addressed the growing calls for Shahs resignation, primarily from the Congress party. He dismissed the demands, asserting that Congress lacks the moral authority to make

RANCHI: A 46-year-old CRPF officer was killed while another was seriously injured after they were struck by lightning during an anti-Naxal operation in Jharkhand, officials said on Friday. The incident took place in Keriburu village of West Singhbhum district at around 5:30 pm on Thursday. The jungle area was receiving heavy rainfall, they said. According to officials, M Prabo Singh, a second-in-command rank officer belonging to the 26th battalion, was killed in the lightning strike, while Assis

SRINAGAR: National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said it is unrealistic to expect his party-led government, formed last year, to bring overnight transformation in Jammu and Kashmir as the developmental setbacks of the last decade cannot be reversed instantly. Addressing a gathering at the Reshi Gund area of Kralpora in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said the Omar Abdullah-led government has ushered in a transformative era of governanc

NEW DELHI: In the highest contact with the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi and welcomed his firm rejection of recent attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan through false and baseless reports. Jaishankar also expressed deep appreciation for Muttaqis condemnation of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which targeted Indian security personnel. Welcomed his firm rejecti

NEW DELHI: A day after Congress leadership distanced itself from senior leader Shashi Tharoors comments on India-Pakistan conflict in media interviews, different voices emerged from party leaders on the issue. While the Congress Working Committee (CWC) is learnt to have warned Tharoor of crossing party lines, the Congress MP on Thursday clarified that his comments were made in a personal capacity and did not reflect the partys official position on the issue. However, Tharoors strong defense of t

NEW DELHI: With the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) kept in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called for the resumption of the Tulbul Navigation Project in north Kashmir to boost the regions economy. The project was halted in 1987 due to pressure from Pakistan, which cited various clauses of the IWT that restrict any storage along the Jhelum river, a part of the Indus basin. Notably, Articles III and IV of the IWT grant India the rights t

PATNA: Congress MP and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had ordered a nationwide caste census out of fear of the countrys deprived sections. Interacting with students from SC, ST, OBC and EBC categories at Ambedkar Hostel in Bihars Darbhanga district as part of the partys Shiksha Nyay Samvad programme, Gandhi said that the Prime Minister conceded the demand to avoid backlash from the deprived sections. He exhorted

MUMBAI: NCP-SP MP and daughter of former Union minister Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, dismissed all speculation of a merger with the NCP of Ajit Pawar on Thursday. Talking to the New Indian Express, Sule denied any such move, saying there was no such proposal. She asserted that there had been no change in her stand. Sharad Pawar recently said his daughter would decide her future and the partys. That led to speculation that he and his nephew, Ajit Pawar, were merging their parties. Clearing the air

Amid a tussle between the Centre-and the state over the extension of Jharkhand DGP Anurag Guptas service, he hasnt been issued his salary slip after April 30. Sources in the Principal Accountant General (PAG) office said a zero-salary slip was issued to him, considering he had retired on April 30. That means he wont get his salary from the treasury after April 2025. The sources in the PAG office said that DGP Gupta and the treasury have been informed that the former will not get his regular sala

DELHI: Warning the Telangana government of stern action if no decision is taken on the restoration of the Kancha Gachibowli forest, the Supreme Court on Thursday said felling of trees next to the University of Hyderabad prima facie appeared to be pre-planned. The Telangana government has to restore the forest or its officials could land in jail, said a two-judge bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih. While taking suo motu cognisance of the felling of trees at the for

NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump on Thursday said India has decided to drop all tariffs on US goods, a statement the latter immediately denied. They [India] have offered us a deal where basically they have agreed to charge us literally no tariffs, Trump has said while responding to a question in Doha on Apples plan to shift iPhone manufacturing to India. He told the Apple CEO not to shift manufacturing to India. India rebutted the claims. Between India and the US, trade talks have been going

NEW DELHI: The High Court of Justice, Kings Bench Division in London has rejected fugitive Indian diamond merchant Nirav Deepak Modis latest bail petition, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Thursday. Modi, who has been facing fraud and money laundering charges in India, has been in prison in London for nearly six years after losing his extradition battle. The premier probe agency said, the bail petition has been rejected by the High Court of Justice, Kings Bench Division, London

BHOPAL: Labourers digging at a site belonging to a primary school teacher in Madhya Pradeshs Shahdol district have stumbled upon a treasure trove of rare medieval gold and silver coins. They were working on the construction of a new house after the existing house at the site had been pulled down. The labourers, identified as Ram Nath, Buddhsen Singh and Ravi Singh, who sold three coins to make a quick buck, have been arrested by the Shahdol district police. As many as 53 coins, including 51 silv

NEW DELHI: In the highest-level contact so far with the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi. Jaishankar also welcomed his strong rejection of false reports aimed at creating distrust between India and Afghanistan. During the conversation, Jaishankar also expressed deep appreciation for Muttaqis condemnation of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam , Jammu and Kashmir, which targeted Indian s

JAIPUR: A suspicious drone-like object was found near the India-Pakistan border in Anupgarh, Sriganganagar district in Rajasthan, on Thursday morning, triggering anxiety and a security alert. Shaped like a miniature airplane and fitted with cameras, the object was spotted by villagers around 8:30 am in border village 12A of Anupgarh subdivision on land owned by the Forest Department. Upon spotting the unusual object, locals immediately informed the village sarpanch. The news spread quickly, draw

NEW DELHI: The militaries of India and Pakistan on Thursday decided to work further on confidence-building measures. This marked the third round of talks between the DGMOs of both countries, with the first held on Saturday. The Army said, Further to the understanding between the two DGMOs on 10 May of 2025, it has been decided to continue the confidence building measures so as to reduce the alertness level. Pakistan on its side said that the ceasefire will now be valid until May 18. This is afte

CHANDIGARH: A 25-year-old Sudanese student was stabbed to death and another injured during a violent altercation in a residential area near Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara early on Thursday. All six accused have been apprehended. The incident took place shortly before 4 am in the Green Valley locality near Law Gate, in Maheru village, a residential hub for international students, mainly those from African nations. According to the FIR registered at Satnampura Police Station, bas

The Central Trade Unions (CTUs) on Thursday evening deferred their proposed strike on May 20 to July 9 in light of the disturbing situation prevalent in the country presently following the India-Pakistan conflict. The decision to defer the strike was taken at the meeting of the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations and Associations on Thursday, according to a statement. The meeting also took note of the unfolding political developments in the country after t

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai held discussions on the next phase of strategy following the successful Operation Black Forest in an interaction with the security forces. Operation Black Forest had dismantled a key operational base of the banned CPI (Maoist) at Karreguttalu. The discussion happened during the CMs visit to the CRPF camp in Galgam, south Bastar, on Thursday. The CM commended the achievement of the forces in the tough, inhospitable Karreguttalu forested hilly ter