Punjab

Bigg Boss 20: Kamya Punjabi slams brother-sister ScoutOp and Love Gills physical proximity; says, Boundaries need to exist

Bigg Boss 20 contestants ScoutOp and Love Gill have become the centre of online discussion after a video showing their physical proximity went viral. The clip has now caught the attention of former Bigg Boss contestant Kamya Punjabi, who questioned the nature of their equation and stressed that boundaries should be maintained even inside a reality show. Reacting to the video on social media, Kamya pointed out the apparent change in ScoutOp and Love Gills equation, particularly in comparison to how they were perceived earlier in the season. The transition from a brother-sister vibe to whatever this physical proximity is between Scout and Love Gill, Kamya wrote. Questioning the behaviour further, she added, Boundaries need to exist, even in a reality show. What exactly is going on here? The transition from a rother-sister vibe to whatever this physical proximity is between Scout and Love Gill. Boundaries need to exist, even in a reality show. What exactly is going on here? Casual fun or crossing the line? #BiggBoss20 Kamya Punjabi Dang (@iamkamyapunjabi) October 8, 2026 ScoutOps girlfriend Kaashvi Hiranandani REACTS The growing attention around ScoutOp and Love Gills bond has also led to questions about ScoutOps relationship outside the Bigg Boss 20 house. His girlfriend Kaashvi Hiranandani recently addressed the speculation during a livestream. Kaashvi said she was okay and indicated that she preferred to keep her personal relationship private. She also drew a distinction between what happens inside the Bigg Boss house and how those moments are perceived by viewers outside. According to Kaashvi, what happens inside the house and the way people interpret those interactions are two very different things. She added that she genuinely wishes Scout well and wants him to succeed during his journey on the reality show. Her comments come amid increased social media attention on ScoutOp and Love Gills interactions, with viewers closely following their equation as the season progresses. Will Salman Khan address the equation on Weekend Ka Vaar? With the discussion gaining momentum online, attention will now turn to the upcoming Weekend Ka Vaar episode. The episode is scheduled to be shot today, and it remains to be seen whether Salman Khan will address the viral video or question ScoutOp and Love Gill about their equation. Also Read:Bigg Boss 20: Munawar Faruqui supports Qazi Touqeer amid health crisis, takes dig at contestants PR; says, They are so insecure

Bigg Boss 20: Aman Gandhis team clarifies population remark to Qazi Touqeer; says, It was about his gameplay

A statement made by Bigg Boss 20 contestant Aman Gandhi during a heated argument with Qazi Touqeer has sparked discussion online, with some viewers interpreting his population remark as a reference to Qazis religion and community. Amans team has now issued a clarification, stating that the comment was directed at Qazis gameplay and had no religious context. The controversy erupted during an argument involving Qazi, Aman and other contestants, including Scout. At one point, Aman made a remark about Qazi increasing the countrys population. Muh se dhuen nikaal ke log pregnant kar rahe ho. Population badha rahe ho hamare country ki. Apni jaisi mat kar dena population, Aman said. The exchange took place amid an already heated confrontation. Scout had also accused Qazi of spitting while speaking during the argument. A clip of the interaction subsequently circulated on social media, leading to criticism from some viewers who interpreted Amans reference to population as a possible dig at Qazis Muslim identity or community. Aman Gandhis team issues clarification Amid the backlash, Amans team released a statement explaining the context behind his comment. According to the statement, Aman was referring to an incident from the early weeks of the show when Qazi had fooled the housemates as part of his gameplay. The statement read, Dont increase the population like you, referring to the way Qazi had fooled everyone during the first two weeks of the game. The team further clarified that Amans remark was intended to comment on Qazis strategy inside the Bigg Boss house and was not related to his religion or community. His statement was about Qazis gameplay and strategy, not his religion or community in any way. Aman respects every religion, and twisting his words to give them a religious angle is completely unfair and unnecessary, the statement said. The team also criticised what it described as attempts to portray the comment through a religious lens. Targeting him by putting false allegations and wrongly portraying his statement is a very cheap way to bring someone down. Lets stick to what was actually said instead of creating narratives and spreading false accusations, the statement added. Qazi Touqeer remains at centre of house tensions The latest controversy comes amid a series of clashes involving Qazi, who has increasingly found himself at odds with several contestants inside the Bigg Boss 20 house. Qazi has also been dealing with health issues in recent days. He has been running a fever and feeling low on energy, although his team has said that he was examined by a doctor and continues to participate in the show whenever his health allows. Also Read:Bigg Boss 20: Kamya Punjabi slams brother-sister ScoutOp and Love Gills physical proximity; says, Boundaries need to exist

Congress Infighting Is Back In Punjab, AAP Is Weakened And BJP Is Waiting. Who Gains In 2027?

Experience The New Punjabi Music Video 'Time' by Nijjar

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Gaurav Yadav Appointed Regular Punjab DGP After High Court Rap

CHANDIGARH, Oct 9: The Punjab Government on Friday appointed 1992-batch IPS officer Gaurav Yadav as the regular Director General of Police (DGP), ending a prolonged period of uncertainty over the states top police post and granting him a minimum two-year tenure. The appointment came days after the Punjab and Haryana High Court questioned the delay [] The post Gaurav Yadav Appointed Regular Punjab DGP After High Court Rap appeared first on Northlines .

Justice Nagu recuses from hearing Punjab appeal against HC order for CBI probe into corruption allegations

Justice Nagu was the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court immediately before his appointment on the Bench of the Supreme Court

Mann govt makes Gaurav Yadav regular DGP of Punjab after serving as acting chief since 2022

Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Oct 9 (IANS) The Punjab government on Friday appointed 1992-batch IPS officer Gaurav Yadav as the regular Director General of Police (DGP) of Punjab, issuing an official notification and ending the prolonged arrangement of having an officiating police chief. Yadav, 57, who has been heading the Punjab Police as officiating DGP since July 2022, was selected from a panel of three senior IPS officers recommended by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The other two officers on the panel were Sharad Satya Chauhan and Harpreet Singh Sidhu. The appointment concludes a lengthy selection process that had remained pending for several months after the UPSC forwarded its panel to the state government in July. The issue had also come under judicial scrutiny. On October 1, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the state government to take an appropriate decision on appointing a regular DGP and sought a compliance affidavit from Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha by October 13. Yadav was initially assigned additional charge of the state police chief in July 2022, when the then DGP, V.K. Bhawra, proceeded on leave. At the time, Yadav was serving as Special DGP (Administration) and was also associated with the office of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. During his tenure as officiating DGP, Yadav led the state police force amid continuing challenges involving drug trafficking, gangster networks and law and order. Tackling organised crime, strengthening the anti-drug campaign and improving policing have remained key priorities for the state police. On consideration of the panel received from the Union Public Service Commission, the Governor of Punjab is pleased to appoint Shri Gaurav Yadav IPS as Director General of Police (Head of Police Force), Punjab, reads the order signed by Alok Shekhar, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Home Affairs. It says Yadavs tenure will be for a minimum of two years from the date he assumes charge. It refers to the Supreme Courts directions dated September 22, 2006, and July 3, 2018, in the Prakash Singh and Others vs Union of India and others case on police reforms. His appointment as regular DGP formalises his position at the helm of the Punjab Police after more than four years in the officiating role. The development is also significant for the states police administration, which had faced questions over the prolonged continuation of an additional-charge arrangement.

SC judge Sheel Nagu recuses from hearing Punjab govt's plea against CBI probe; CJI to form fresh bench

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) Supreme Court judge, Justice Sheel Nagu, on Friday recused himself from hearing the Punjab government's plea challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order directing a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into allegations of corruption involving Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Rajvir Ghuman and others. A Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu was to hear the matter when Justice Datta observed that the case could not be heard by Justice Nagu. The Justice Datta-led Bench said it would sign an order directing that the matter be placed before the Chief Justice of India (CJI) for the constitution of another Bench. CJI Surya Kant, who is the master of the roster, will constitute a fresh Bench to hear the Punjab government's plea. The development comes a day after the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing on the Punjab government's plea till Friday, after Justice Datta said the case file had reached the Bench late and Justice Nagu had not had the opportunity to examine the papers. During Thursday's hearing, senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the Punjab government, had sought protection against any precipitative action in the meantime. However, the Justice Datta-led Bench questioned how it could pass an interim order without examining the case file. When we haven't read the file, how can we? it had remarked. The Punjab government has challenged the High Court's October 5 order directing the CBI to take over the investigation into allegations of corruption arising from three letters written by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav. The High Court had directed the CBI to register a case and submit a status report within two months, while asking the Punjab government and police to extend full cooperation to the central investigating agency. The ED had claimed that Ghuman and his associates, Nitin Gohal and Bir Devinder, were interfering in administrative transfers and postings as well as government tenders, and had called for the registration of an FIR. After the Punjab Police did not register an FIR on the basis of the ED's communications, advocate Nikhil Saraf approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), seeking an independent probe by the CBI. The petition alleged that the communications contained serious allegations concerning persons linked to the Punjab Chief Minister's Office and sought a fair investigation free from the influence of the Punjab Police and Punjab Vigilance. The CBI has already registered an FIR in the matter and initiated an investigation pursuant to the High Court's directions. The agency also conducted searches at eight locations across Chandigarh and Punjab on Tuesday, including the Chief Minister's camp office in Chandigarh and premises linked to Ghuman in Sangrur and Mohali. On Wednesday, Ghuman and other associates were summoned to appear before the CBI's Chandigarh office in connection with the probe.

Who is Gaurav Yadav? 1992-batch IPS officer appointed regular Punjab DGP after four years

Punjab has appointed senior IPS officer Gaurav Yadav as its regular Director General of Police (DGP), ending a four-year period during which he headed the state police as an acting chief. The Punjab government selected...

Kamya Punjabi Asks If ScoutOP And Love Gill Are Crossing The Line On Bigg Boss 20

Kamya Punjabi questions ScoutOP and Love Gills physical proximity on Bigg Boss 20.

Indraxi Kanjilal says Sohni Aur Nahi Koi Honi challenges conventional idea of a heroine

Digital Desk | Mumbai, Oct 9 (IANS) Actress Indraxi Kanjilal has opened up about her role in Sohni Aur Nahi Koi Honi,' calling the character special for challenging conventional ideas of what a heroine is expected to look like. She said the character moves beyond stereotypical expectations and offers a different perspective on the image of a leading lady on screen. Talking about playing Sohni, Indraxi said, Sohni is a very special character because she challenges the usual idea of what a heroine is expected to look like. She is simple, wears thick glasses and is often judged by people around her, but she never allows that to affect her positivity or self-belief. What I love most about Sohni is that her intelligence, kindness, and self-respect are her real strengths. I am happy to be part of a show with such a meaningful thought, and I hope audiences embrace Sohni and her journey. Sumit Bharadwaj, who plays Kabeer, added, Kabeer and Sohni come from two completely different worlds. Kabeer has grown up surrounded by fashion, glamour, and privilege, while Sohni's world is simple and grounded. Their first interaction itself comes from a misunderstanding, which makes their journey even more interesting. As their worlds come together, Kabeer begins to see things differently, and audiences will discover many layers to their relationship. I am excited for viewers to experience this unusual and heartwarming journey. Akshat Singhal, Director Enterr10 TV Network said, With Sohni Aur Nahi Koi Honi, we wanted to tell a story that goes beyond conventional definitions of beauty. Sohni may not fit the stereotypical image of a television heroine, but her intelligence, kindness, courage and self-belief make her truly special. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Punjab, the show introduces an unconventional heroine whose greatest strengths lie not in her appearance but in her intelligence, kindness, courage, and character. Sohni Aur Nahi Koi Honi premiered on 5th October on Dangal TV.

Mayawati demands Bharat Ratna for Kanshi Ram, affirms Bahujan Samaj as her true family

Digital Desk | Lucknow, Oct 9 (IANS) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) National President Mayawati reiterated her demand to confer the Bharat Ratna upon party founder Kanshi Ram on his Mahaparinirvan Diwas (death anniversary). Describing the Bahujan Samaj as her true family, she reaffirmed her resolve to keep the party and the movement free from dynastic politics and to transform the Bahujan Samaj into a ruling class through the master key to power. Mayawati appealed to party workers to mobilise with full vigour in view of the upcoming Assembly elections. She also highlighted issues such as poverty, inflation, unemployment, and illiteracy, urging governments to fulfil their responsibilities in key areas of public welfare. Mayawati paid floral tributes to Kanshi Ram's statue at an event held at the BSP's central camp office at 9 Mall Avenue, Lucknow, and pledged to carry forward his ideas and mission. Several senior party office-bearers, including BSP National Coordinator Akash Anand, were present on the occasion. Mayawati stated that for her, the crores of people belonging to the Bahujan Samaj constitute her true family, and the interests, welfare, and dignity of this community are paramount. She noted that Kanshi Ram dedicated his entire life to advancing the caravan of self-respect and dignity championed by Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. She added that Kanshi Ram struggled throughout his life to transform the Bahujan Samaj from an exploited class into a ruling class and to realise the constitutional Bahujan Era on the ground. She affirmed that she would never let the trust he placed in her by declaring her his successor be compromised. Referencing Kanshi Ram's teachings, she emphasised that the Bahujan Samaj would attain power not through anyone's mercy or benevolence, but through the strength of the voting rights granted by the Constitution; therefore, safeguarding the right to vote is crucial. Referring to the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, Mayawati urged party office-bearers and workers to dedicate themselves fully, in body, mind, and resources, to the cause. She remarked that taking Kanshi Ram's mission to its ultimate goal would be the true tribute to him. Mayawati reiterated her demand that the Central government confer the country's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, upon Kanshi Ram. She argued that this honour should be bestowed in recognition of his historic contribution to the movement for social change and out of respect for the sentiments of the Bahujan Samaj. Citing the conferment of the Bharat Ratna upon Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, she noted that Kanshi Ram was also a key figure in the movement for social change and that his contributions deserved appropriate national recognition. Mayawati asserted that the BSP must be strengthened to such an extent that issues concerning the self-respect and dignity of the Bahujan Samaj could no longer be ignored. Mayawati stated that the entire nation cannot be made prosperous and happy merely by creating a feel-good atmosphere for a handful of people while serious issues like poverty, inflation, unemployment, illiteracy, and backwardness persist. She emphasised that governments must take concrete and sustainable measures to provide employment, empower the people, and strengthen the nation. Describing education, healthcare, roads, and employment as fundamental areas of public interest and welfare, she asserted that governments should act based on their own responsibilities and capabilities rather than relying on the private sector in these matters. According to her, public welfare should be prioritised in line with constitutional principles, rather than viewing every service solely through a commercial lens of profit and loss. The BSP chief noted that the new generation, particularly Gen Z and Gen Alpha, is becoming vocal about issues such as education, employment, and better infrastructure. She urged governments to take concrete action on these matters instead of merely making claims. She added that accountability to the public must be ensured regarding election promises, administrative mismanagement, and corruption.

Mayawati pays tribute to Kanshi Ram on 20th death anniversary

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Friday paid floral tribute to party founder and Dalit icon Kanshi Ram on his 20th death anniversary, observed as Parinirvan Diwas. Earlier on Sunday, Mayawati held a meeting with senior officials of BSP Uttarakhand State, in which the party said that she conducted an in-depth review of the latest status of the voter list following the Election Commission's SIR revision, along with the progress in selecting strong and effective party candidates for the upcoming Assembly General Elections in UP and Punjab, as well as other election preparations. According to a release from the party shared by Mayawati, in this meeting held at the BSP Central Camp Office, a review was conducted on the status of reorganising committees up to the polling booth level following the SIR of the voter list, to be completed at a war footing, and instructions were given to address the shortcomings in a time-bound manner. In the release, following the SIR, the names of ap...

Punjab National Bank eyes debut dollar bond issue, bankers say

Punjab National Bank aims to raise at least $500 million through a 5-year bond issue

Delhi-NCR likely to witness light rain, strong winds; AQI remains moderate to poor

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) The plains of North India, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, may experience light rain, overcast skies, and strong winds over the next few days as weather conditions change amid the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon. Cyclonic activity associated with the retreating monsoon is expected to bring heavy rainfall over the next three days, particularly across Uttarakhand, Bihar and Jharkhand. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued rain alerts for 14 states, warning of heavy showers in several regions. The effects of the retreating monsoon are likely to be felt across West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand over the next three to four days. Meanwhile, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal are expected to receive heavy rainfall between October 9 and 11. Delhi, Punjab and Haryana are likely to witness cloudy skies and light rain till October 14. Western and eastern Uttar Pradesh may receive rainfall from October 9 to 11. Light rain is expected in eastern Rajasthan on October 12, while Delhi-NCR may experience light showers accompanied by strong winds on October 10 and 11. Western Rajasthan is also likely to witness strong winds on October 11. According to the IMD, Uttarakhand is likely to receive heavy rainfall till October 14, while Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh may experience heavy showers on Friday and Saturday and again on October 13 and 14. In Uttarakhand, districts including Pithoragarh, Chamoli and Rudraprayag have been placed under a heavy rain alert. The department has advised pilgrims undertaking the Char Dham Yatra, particularly those visiting Kedarnath and Badrinath, to remain vigilant. In Himachal Pradesh, Chamba, Kullu, Manali and Shimla are likely to receive rainfall on October 13 and 14. Jammu and Kashmir may also witness significant weather changes, with thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds forecast in areas including Doda, Pulwama, Anantnag, Poonch, Udhampur and Srinagar. Bihar and Jharkhand are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall in some areas till October 11. Patna, Ranchi and Dhanbad are among the places where thunderstorms and lightning are possible. The IMD has also warned of heavy rainfall in Bihar and the Gangetic plains of West Bengal. Rainfall is expected to continue in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura until October 14. Eastern Madhya Pradesh may receive rain till October 11, while Chhattisgarh is likely to witness showers on October 14. Rewa, Satna and Shahdol in eastern Madhya Pradesh may experience rainfall accompanied by winds reaching speeds of up to 50 kmph. Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality remained in the moderate to poor categories, with monitoring stations recording varying levels of pollution. Dwarka Sector 8 recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 231, followed by R.K. Puram at 219, Punjabi Bagh at 211, Narela at 210, and Pusa and NSUT Jaffarpur at 203 each. Other stations, including Burari, Badarpur, Mandir Marg, Aya Nagar, CRRI Mathura Road, Chandni Chowk, JNU, Burari Crossing, Ashok Vihar, Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range, Jahangirpuri and Rohini, recorded AQI readings ranging from 115 to 198.

Environment protection versus strategic infrastructure: SC seeks Punjab plan on afforestation

The Genius of Bharat

Diversity, by itself, does not produce unity. A society may contain many languages, religions, customs and communities without granting them equal dignity or a meaningful place in common public life. Diversity becomes pluralism only when difference is accepted as legitimate, when communities encounter one another without seeking to erase one another, and when citizens recognise that their distinct identities can coexist within a shared national framework. That transformation requires more than cultural tolerance. It requires fraternitythe civic willingness to regard those who are different as fellow members of the same political community. And fraternity requires constitutionalism: the discipline that places every citizen, community and government under the authority of equal rights, lawful institutions and accountable public power. Indias diversity is visible everywherein its languages, religions, philosophies, customs, cuisines, dress, literature, music and regional traditions. But beneath this extraordinary variety lies a long, though uneven, history of accommodating difference. The Indian achievement is not that conflict or exclusion disappeared. It is that the subcontinent repeatedly generated cultural practices, intellectual traditions and political arrangements through which difference could be negotiated rather than permanently converted into separation. That is the foundation on which Indian pluralism must be understood. Diversity is a fact. Pluralism is a philosophy. Fraternity is its civic ethic. Constitutionalism is the rule that makes it durable. A diverse society may simply contain many communities. A plural society develops the ethical and institutional capacity to allow those communities to coexist with dignity, engage with one another and contribute to a common public life. Indias achievement has often been to turn diversity into a civilisational resource, although this achievement has never been complete or free from conflict. For thousands of years, the subcontinent has been a site of intellectual disagreement. Its philosophical traditions did not develop around a single universally authorised doctrine. Vedic and Upanishadic texts explored questions about existence, the self and ultimate reality. Buddhism and Jainism challenged established assumptions and developed influential alternative traditions. The schools commonly classified as Vedanta, Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya and Mimamsa, among others, developed distinct arguments and often debated one another. The Buddhist emperor Ashoka gave one expression to this principle in his edicts. In the 12th Rock Edict, generally dated to the third century BCE, he urged people not to disparage other sects and argued that honouring ones own tradition should not involve denigrating others. His message was not that all beliefs were identical. It was an appeal for restraint, learning and mutual respect in a religiously diverse society. The edict should be understood as evidence of an imperial ethical and political ideal, not as proof that all communities throughout the subcontinent practised equal tolerance. Yet disagreement itself became part of the intellectual culture. This is a significant feature of many Indian traditions. Truth was not always presented as something that could be exhausted by one formulation. The search for truth could proceed through dialogue, debate, experience and contemplation. The dialogues preserved in some Upanishads, Buddhist and Jain traditions of disputation, and the later debates associated with figures such as Adi Shankaracharya reflect the importance accorded to argument. They do not, however, prove that Indian society was uniformly tolerant or free from hierarchy and exclusion. Intellectual openness and social inequality often coexisted. That intellectual pluralism also found expression in Indias literary and cultural traditions. The Ramayana and Mahabharata travelled across the subcontinent, acquiring regional languages, interpretations and artistic forms. Kambans Tamil Ramavataram, Tulsidass Awadhi Ramcharitmanas and Krittibasis Bengali Ramayana are among the best-known examples of retelling. The many versions found across South and Southeast Asia demonstrate how a shared narrative could be adopted without being reproduced identically. Sanskrit interacted with Tamil, Prakrit, Pali and later with Indias many regional languages. Local traditions absorbed wider civilisational themes while retaining their distinctive character. The result was not cultural uniformity. It was a form of cultural federation. Indias diversity is therefore not merely the consequence of geography. It is also the product of centuries of migration, exchange, adaptation and political change. Kashmir provides a particularly important example. The Valley became a major centre of Sanskrit learning, philosophy, aesthetics and spiritual inquiry. Kashmir Shaivism is associated with thinkers such as Vasugupta, Utpaladeva and Abhinavagupta. Abhinavaguptas writings on aesthetics, including his interpretation of rasa, influenced later Indian thinking about drama and artistic experience. Lal Deds verses have been read across religious boundaries, while the teachings associated with Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani, or Nund Rishi, became an important part of Kashmirs spiritual heritage. The term Kashmiriyat is often used to describe an ideal of shared Kashmiri belonging across religious communities. Its meaning and historical application are debated, and the regions history includes periods of coexistence as well as conflict, displacement and political violence. Nevertheless, the ideal reflects an aspiration toward a common civic and cultural identity. It should not be presented as an uncontested description of all periods of Kashmiri history. The larger lesson is important. Civilisations can become richer when communities do not merely coexist but encounter one another. Indian pluralism has also been shaped by communities that arrived from outside the subcontinent. Jewish communities established settlements in places including Kerala and Maharashtra, preserving their religious traditions while participating in local society. The Bene Israel community in the Konkan region and the Cochin Jews in Kerala are examples of communities that made India their home over many centuries. Parsis, members of the Zoroastrian faith, migrated to western India from Iran over successive periods, particularly after the Arab conquest of Persia, although the precise chronology and scale of these migrations are matters of historical study. A well-known Parsi tradition recounts that a local ruler symbolised the limits of his kingdom with a vessel filled with milk, and that the Parsi leader responded by adding sugar to it, suggesting that the newcomers would blend into society while enriching it. The story is best treated as cultural memory rather than independently verified history. It nevertheless captures an important element of Parsi self-understanding. Parsis later made major contributions to Indias industrial, philanthropic and public life. The Tata family helped build important enterprises and supported scientific, educational and cultural institutions. Parsi figures such as Dadabhai Naoroji, the first Asian elected to the British House of Commons, played a significant role in public life and the freedom movement. Their history shows how a small community can preserve its identity while contributing substantially to a wider national project. Christianity also has a long history in India. The Saint Thomas Christian tradition in Kerala traces its origins to the early centuries of the Common Era, although the precise historical details of its earliest beginnings remain debated. Christian communities and institutions have contributed significantly to education, healthcare, printing and social reform. Institutions such as St. Xaviers College in Mumbai and Christian Medical College in Vellore are prominent examples, alongside numerous schools, hospitals and charitable organisations serving people of many faiths. Indias Muslim communities have likewise shaped the countrys shared identity in countless ways. Urdu poetry, Hindustani music, qawwali, architecture, cuisine, crafts and scholarship are not external additions to Indian culture; they are part of its living inheritance. Bhakti and Sufi traditions sometimes created spaces of spiritual exchange, although the relationship between them varied across regions and periods. Figures such as Kabir, Guru Nanak, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti and Amir Khusrau are remembered across community boundaries, even though their historical contexts and religious affiliations should not be collapsed into a single syncretic narrative. The cultural histories of Bengal, Punjab, the Deccan and Kashmir show how interaction produced new forms of language, music and devotion. The Indian experience demonstrates that national identity need not require cultural erasure. One can preserve ones language and still be Indian. One can practise ones faith and still be fully committed to the Republic. One can celebrate ones regional heritage while embracing a larger national identity. This layered belonging is not a weakness. It is one of Indias greatest strengths. The Constitution gave this aspiration a modern democratic and legal framework. It did not simply codify an uninterrupted ancient tradition; it also responded to colonial rule, social inequality, Partition and the demands of a modern republic. The Preamble commits the Republic to justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. Fundamental Rights protect equality and several forms of individual and collective freedom. Article 14 guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws. Article 15 prohibits discrimination by the State on specified grounds, including religion, race, caste, sex and place of birth, subject to constitutionally permitted affirmative-action provisions. Article 16 guarantees equality of opportunity in public employment, again subject to specified exceptions and reservations. Article 17 abolishes untouchability and makes its practice an offence. Article 25 protects freedom of conscience and the freedom to profess, practise and propagate religion, subject to public order, morality, health and the other provisions of Part III. Articles 29 and 30 protect certain cultural and educational rights, including the rights of sections of citizens with a distinct language, script or culture to conserve it, and the rights of religious and linguistic minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice, subject to constitutional interpretation and regulation in the public interest. These provisions are not abstract declarations. They have shaped public life, although their implementation has been uneven and contested. In Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, decided in 1973, the Supreme Court held that Parliaments power to amend the Constitution does not extend to destroying its basic structure. The judgment did not provide a single exhaustive list of basic-structure features, but later decisions have treated principles such as constitutional supremacy, judicial review, democracy and secularism as part of that doctrine. In S.R. Bommai v. Union of India, decided in 1994, the Supreme Court treated secularism as a basic feature of the Constitution and held that the exercise of Article 356 is subject to judicial review. The judgment also addressed the constitutional limits on the use of state power in circumstances involving partisan or communal politics. Its precise holdings should not be reduced to a general judicial prohibition on all political appeals based on religion, but it remains a major authority on secularism, federalism and constitutional accountability. In cases concerning minority educational institutions, including T.M.A. Pai Foundation v. State of Karnataka and subsequent decisions, the Court has examined the scope of minority rights, the meaning of minority, and the extent to which educational autonomy may be regulated to maintain academic standards and prevent maladministration. The law in this area is detailed and continues to evolve. The constitutional framework has also enabled affirmative action for historically disadvantaged communities. Reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were provided from the beginning of the constitutional order, while reservations for Other Backward Classes in central educational institutions and public employment followed later constitutional, legislative and judicial developments. These measures seek to advance substantive equality, although their design, scope and effects remain subjects of public debate. The Constitutions Fifth and Sixth Schedules provide different forms of protection and autonomy for Scheduled Areas and tribal communities. The Sixth Schedule establishes autonomous district and regional councils in specified areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. These arrangements do not amount to unrestricted self-government, but they recognise that national unity can accommodate differentiated forms of local governance and cultural protection. These constitutional guarantees should not be misunderstood as instruments of fragmentation. They are among the means through which a diverse nation can preserve unity without demanding uniformity. But constitutionalism is the rule that gives pluralism its durable form. It means that no community, majority or minority, stands above the Constitution; that public power must be exercised within legal limits; that rights cannot depend solely on the goodwill of those who govern; and that institutions must protect citizens against arbitrary authority. Constitutionalism converts the moral aspiration of coexistence into an enforceable discipline of government. Without it, pluralism may remain a cultural ideal, vulnerable to the changing preferences of rulers and majorities. With it, diversity can become a foundation for equal citizenship, accountable power and democratic unity. The constitutional idea of India is therefore neither majoritarianism nor competitive communalism. It is equal citizenship under a constitutional order. This distinction is increasingly important. A democracy cannot survive merely by counting numbers. It must also protect the dignity and rights of those who are numerically smaller. The majority has the right to govern through constitutional procedures; it does not have the right to diminish the equal citizenship of others or to disregard constitutional limits. Indias public life offers many reminders of this principle. Citizens from minority communities have served as Presidents, Vice-Presidents, judges, ministers, diplomats, scientists, artists and military leaders. Dr. Zakir Husain and Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed served as Presidents of India. Justice M. Hidayatullah served as Chief Justice of India and later as Vice-President. Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Buddhist, Jain and Muslim citizens have held high constitutional and public offices and contributed to institutions across the country. These examples do not prove that discrimination has disappeared, nor do they by themselves establish equal social or economic outcomes. They do demonstrate that the constitutional imagination of India is larger than any single religious or cultural identity. That is why fraternity is such a profound constitutional value. Equality tells us that every citizen possesses equal civic worth. Liberty protects individual freedom. Fraternity asks citizens to recognise one another as members of a common national community. The Preamble links fraternity with the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation. Fraternity does not demand sameness. It demands solidarity despite difference. The freedom movement offered several examples of this solidarity, though it was never free of internal conflict or exclusion. Mahatma Gandhis campaigns drew participation from Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis and people of many regional and linguistic backgrounds. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad argued that Indian nationalism could not be reduced to religious identity. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan linked non-violent resistance with an Islamic ethical tradition. The Indian National Army brought together soldiers from different regions and communities under a common political objective, although its composition, political significance and historical legacy require careful study. The national movement contained competing visions, but one of its most influential strands was unmistakably plural. This is where Indias civilisational inheritance can speak powerfully to its constitutional future. Indias diversity, however, should not be romanticised. Pluralism is not automatic. Differences can become sources of mistrust, prejudice and conflict. Caste discrimination, communal tensions, linguistic antagonisms and regional rivalries have all tested Indias social fabric. The Partition of 1947 was accompanied by mass killings, abductions and the displacement of millions, although estimates of the death toll vary widely. The anti-Sikh violence of 1984, the communal violence in Gujarat in 2002, the violence against Christians in Kandhamal in 2008 and recurring violence in different parts of the country show that constitutional ideals require constant defence. The causes, legal findings and historical interpretations of these episodes differ, and each requires careful sourcing rather than rhetorical equivalence. The answer is not to deny these realities. It is to strengthen the institutions and civic culture capable of addressing them. Indias linguistic reorganisation after independence offers an instructive example. Many leaders feared that creating states on linguistic lines would encourage separatism. The States Reorganisation Act of 1956, together with subsequent legislation, reorganised much of the countrys internal boundaries and helped accommodate linguistic aspirations within the Union. Andhra State had already been created in 1953, and later changes created or reshaped states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Kerala. The process was neither simple nor uniformly peaceful, but it demonstrated that recognition of linguistic identity could, under appropriate constitutional conditions, strengthen rather than weaken the Union. The same principle can be seen in the constitutional accommodation of tribal and regional identities. The Sixth Schedule provides autonomous district and regional councils in specified parts of the Northeast, with powers that include aspects of local administration and, subject to constitutional limits, customary law and cultural affairs. The Eighth Schedule currently lists 22 languages. Its inclusion does not confer exclusive official status at the Union level, nor does it exhaust Indias linguistic diversity. Article 350A directs states and local authorities to provide adequate facilities for instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage for children belonging to linguistic minority groups, while Article 350B provides for a Special Officer for linguistic minorities. Pluralism requires equal protection of law. It requires political restraint. It requires an independent judiciary, responsible public discourse, effective democratic institutions and an education system that teaches citizens to understand Indias diversity rather than fear it. It also requires political leaders to recognise that social divisions can be easy to exploit but difficult to repair. A nation of Indias scale cannot afford a politics permanently organised around the manufacture of the other. Indias civilisational genius is not that it has always expanded the boundaries of belonging. Rather, its history contains both expansion and exclusion. Its enduring promise lies in the capacity of its people and institutions to widen belonging and correct injustice. This is why Indias national identity should not be understood as a narrow cultural template. It is better understood as a constitutional and civilisational framework capable of accommodating multiple traditions, provided that all citizens remain equal before the law. The idea of Bharat has evolved through successive political and cultural formations. It has shown continuity, but that continuity should not be treated as unbroken or uniform. There is another dimension to this inheritance that deserves attention. Indian society has repeatedly absorbed external influences without becoming culturally indistinguishable from them. Persian, Central Asian, European and other influences entered Indian life in different periods. They changed Indian society, but Indian communities also adapted and transformed what they received. The Mughal period, for example, produced new forms of architecture, painting, administration, literature and cuisine through interaction among Persianate, Central Asian and Indian traditions. The Taj Mahal, the miniature-painting traditions associated with Mughal and Rajput courts, the development of Urdu and the evolution of Hindustani music all reflect complex cultural exchange rather than one-way influence. In the Deccan, Persian, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada and local Islamic traditions interacted in distinctive ways. Under colonial rule, universities, print culture, railways and legal institutions were introduced or expanded within an imperial framework and were subsequently appropriated, contested and reshaped by Indian actors. This is not cultural weakness. It can be a form of cultural confidence. A confident civilisation does not necessarily fear exchange. A contemporary example is Indias scientific and technological life. The Indian Space Research Organisation has conducted significant missions, including Chandrayaan and the Mars Orbiter Mission, and India is among the relatively small number of countries to have demonstrated substantial space-launch and planetary-mission capabilities. It is not possible to attribute these achievements to any single cultural group; they reflect the work of institutions drawing talent from across the country. Indias digital public infrastructure, including Aadhaar and the Unified Payments Interface, has also enabled large-scale participation in common national systems. These systems have expanded access in important ways, but they have also raised legitimate questions concerning privacy, exclusion, cybersecurity, regulation and accountability. Their existence therefore demonstrates institutional scale and integration, not an unqualified success. Indias cultural pluralism is also visible in its public celebrations. Diwali, Eid, Christmas, Gurpurab, Buddha Purnima, Mahavir Jayanti, Onam, Bihu, Pongal, Navratri and many other festivals are observed in different parts of the country, often with participation beyond the communities most closely associated with them. This does not mean that every festival is experienced identically or that social tensions disappear. It does show that Indian public culture has repeatedly created shared spaces around distinct traditions. The India of the 21st century needs precisely this confidence. As Bharat becomes an important economic power, a significant technological actor and an increasingly influential voice in world affairs, its greatest asset will not be its ability to project power alone. Its deeper strength will be its capacity to hold together an extraordinarily diverse population within a democratic constitutional framework. The world is becoming more interconnected, but it is also becoming more anxious about identity. Societies across continents are struggling with migration, religious difference, ethnicity, language and nationalism. India has something valuable to contribute to this global conversation. Its message should not be that differences do not matter. They do. The message should be that differences need not become divisions. The challenge before Bharat is therefore to modernise without homogenising, to strengthen national identity without narrowing it, and to pursue development without sacrificing social trust. This requires a renewed emphasis on fraternity. Economic prosperity cannot by itself create national cohesion. Infrastructure can connect cities; technology can connect people; markets can connect economies. But only mutual respect, equal citizenship and the credible rule of law can create a durable sense of belonging. The young generation must therefore inherit not only Indias achievements but also its civilisational confidence. They must learn that being Indian does not require them to surrender their linguistic, regional, religious or cultural identities. It requires them to place those identities within a larger constitutional and national framework, while respecting the equal rights of others. Indias unity should consequently be understood not as the disappearance of differences but as their coexistence within a shared constitutional order. That is perhaps one of the most distinctive ideas India can offer the modern world. The genius of Bharat is that unity can be spacious enough to accommodate plurality. Its civilisational strength lies not in having produced one way of being Indian, but in having made room for manywhile continuing to struggle over the boundaries of that belonging. The task of our generation is to preserve and deepen this inheritance while adapting it to the demands of a modern constitutional democracy. We should neither romanticise the past nor apologise for our diversity. We should build upon it. A Bharat that guarantees equal citizenship, protects freedom of conscience, encourages dialogue and celebrates its many cultural traditions will be strongernot weakerfor its diversity. For ultimately, diversity becomes pluralism only when difference is treated as legitimate, fraternity turns strangers into fellow citizens, and constitutionalism ensures that this fellowship is protected by rights, institutions and the rule of law. That is the genius Bharat must preserve and deepen: not diversity alone, but the continuing work of converting diversity into pluralism, pluralism into fraternity, and fraternity into constitutional national unity. That is not merely Indias inheritance. It can be Indias gift to the world. Author is a public intellectual and a noted Senior Advocate of Supreme Court of India.

From Imperial Transit to Kashmirs Apple Bowl

Shopian is a region defined by rich geography, cultural history, and economic transformation. Siting at an average altitude of 2,146 meters above sea level, Shopian was carved out as an independent administrative district from Pulwama in 2007. The origins of its name reflect its dual identity: English geologist Frederic Drew noted it as a corruption of the Persian Shah (king) and Payan (stay), marking it as a royal rest stop along the historic Mughal Road. Native folklore offers another originSheen-e-Van, meaning snow forestwhich captures its dense woodland and heavy winter snowfall. Historically celebrated as a vital transit stop connecting the Kashmir Valley with Rajouri and Poonch, Shopian has evolved into Kashmirs horticultural centre, earning its title as the regions true Apple Bowl. The historic gateway and demographic tapestry Shopians strategic geography has long made it Kashmirs southern portal. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Mughal emperors Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan transformed the mountain track across the 11,500-foot-high Peer Ki Gali pass into an imperial highway. Royal caravans featuring thousands of court officials, soldiers, and elephants travelled through Shopian on summer pilgrimages to Srinagar. Its ancient name was Namak (Salt)Road, through which salt was exported from western Punjab to Kashmir. Chinese traveller Aokong visited this place and described it as a pedestrian track. In 1586, Emperor Akbar led the Moghul army from this cart road and invaded and annexed Kashmir by defeating Yusuf Shah Chak. Thereafter Moghul emperors Akbar, Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurngzeb travelled with caravans through this route. In 659 CE the A network of serais (caravanserais), forts, and rest stations was constructed along the route, with stops at Heer Pora, Dubijan, and Peer Ki Gali. Monuments like Shopian towns Jamia Masjidresembling Srinagars iconic grand mosqueremain physical reminders of this imperial heritage. Moghul era ended in 1751-53 after decline of their rule in Delhi. Ahmad Shah Durrani sent his commander Abdullah Khan Ishk Aqsi who defeated the last Moghul governor in 1752/53. Subsequently Afghan Durranis ruled Kashmir till 1819. Battle of Shopian 1819 The famous Battle of Shopian was fought in July 1819 between the Sikh Empire under Misr Diwan Chand and Akali Phoola Singh on behalf of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and Afghan Governor Jabbar Khan. Though Afghans had heavier artillery, Sikhs counter-attacked, wounded Jabbar Khan and opened the road to Srinagar on 15 July 1819. This ended 67-year Afghan Durrani Rule (1752-1819), considered the darkest phase of Kashmiri history. Shopian is thus where modern Sikh-Dogra era began in Kashmir. Following the 1947 partition, the Mughal Road fell into disuse, leaving Shopians position as a transit hub dormant for decades. However, the reopening and modernization of the route (Moghul Road)) over the past two decades revived this connection. Beyond cutting travel times between the Jammu border districts and the Valley, the reopened road re-established Shopian as a commercial and cultural crossroads, driving trade, seasonal livestock migration, and tourism. Unlike urban centres in northern and central Kashmir, Shopians social structure is multi-ethnic and semi-nomadic. Ethnic Kashmiri settlers concentrate in the agricultural plains and urban blocks such as Shopian town, Zaina Pora, and Herman, working in settled horticulture, trade, and administration. Meanwhile, Gujjars and Bakar Wals populate high-altitude peripheries like Keller, Sedow, and Heer Pora. The Gujjars are primarily agro-pastoralists, while the Bakarwals are nomads who move their herds across the Pir Panjal passes seasonally. During the summer, high pastures (dhoks) hum with pastoral life. These communities supply essential labour during the peak apple harvest, maintain the livestock trade, and integrate into the broader valley economy. Hydrology: The Lifeblood of the Orchards Shopians landscape is sculpted by mountain streams originating from high-altitude glaciers, alpine tarns like Lake Nandansar, and the snowfields of the Pir Panjal range. The Rambiara cuts through the heart of the district, known for its wide, stony bed and erratic seasonal flows. It serves as the primary irrigation source for hundreds of square kilometres of orchards. Additional streams, including the Veshaw River originating near Aharbal, pass through neighbouring Kulgam and Pulwama. These water channels flow northeast across the South Kashmir plains, carrying nutrient-rich silt before converging near Sangam to empty into the Jhelum River. This network provides the alluvial soil and consistent water needed to maintain the districts high agricultural productivity. The Cultural Legacy and Decline of the Ambri Apple The Ambri appleindigenous to the Kashmir Valley and historically concentrated in Shopians orchardsis widely considered the pride of Kashmiri horticulture. It is renowned for its distinctive, honeyed, floral aroma and a mild, deeply sweet flavour profile, featuring a sugar content between 13- and 16-degrees Brix. Unlike soft modern cultivars, traditional Ambri possesses a thick skin and natural waxiness. This allows it to stay fresh for 4 to 6 months at room temperature and even longer in cold storage without losing crispness or fragrance, making it historically well-suited for long transit routes. Despite its prestige, the pure Ambri variety has almost vanished from commercial markets due to severe economic and biological challenges: Traditional Ambri trees require 12 to 15 years to bear their first commercial harvest, whereas introduced foreign varieties yield fruit within 3 to 4 years. The trees follow a biennial pattern, producing a heavy crop one year and a sparse crop the next, leading to unpredictable annual income. Ambri is highly susceptible to apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) and pest infestations compared to hardier cultivars. Shift to Hybrids: To secure faster returns, orchardists largely replaced pure Ambri trees with foreign cultivars or hybrid clones like Lal-Ambria cross between Red Delicious and Ambri designed to blend early yield with native flavour. The Modern Apple Revolution: Overtaking Sopore Historically, Sopore in Baramulla district held dominance as the Apple Town of Asia. Over the last two decades, Shopian launched an agricultural transformation that challenged and, in key metrics, surpassed northern hubs. Shopians higher elevation (over 2,100 meters) provides colder chill-hour profiles and sharp autumn temperature drops, yielding apples with deeper coloration, superior crispness, and a longer natural shelf-life than valley-floor crops. Furthermore, Shopian became an early adopter of European dwarf rootstock varieties like Italian Red Velox, Gala, and Fuji. High-Density Apple Plantation (HDAP) practices allow growers to harvest fruit within 2 to 3 years while supporting 3,000 to 4,000 plants per hectare, dramatically increasing yield per square kilometre compared to traditional large-canopy trees. To support this volume, Controlled Atmosphere (CA) cold storage infrastructure has expanded throughout Shopian and neighbouring Pulwama. Growers can store tens of thousands of metric tons of produce, enabling them to sell during spring months when national market prices peak rather than panic-selling during the autumn harvest. Concurrently, the Shopian Fruit Mandi has grown into one of North Indias largest direct-trading fruit hubs, attracting buyers directly from major commercial centres across India. Conflict, Transition, and Economic Resilience Shopians orchard landscape stands in contrast to its history as a site of political turbulence. When armed conflict emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Shopians dense forests and mountain tracks leading into Rajouri and Poonch made it a key transit corridor and base for insurgent groups. Over time, the nature of this turbulence shifted. Dense apple canopy across contiguous hectares created complex terrain for counter-insurgency operations. Socio-political incidents and localized unrest between 2014 and 2018 made South Kashmir an epi-centre for local recruitment and civil friction. However, comprehensive security operations, combined with stabilized governance after 2019, local policing, and economic integration, led to a sharp decline in violent incidents and a gradual return to political stability. As peace consolidates, Shopian serves as a primary macroeconomic engine for South Kashmir: The sector employs nearly 80% of the local population and generates substantial annual revenue. Strategic focus remains on expanding high-density rootstocks, organic processing units, and localized packaging plants. As a vital highway node via the Mughal Road and a central fruit dispatch site, future developments centre on all-weather transit solutionssuch as proposed tunnel infrastructure at Peer Ki Galito prevent winter closures. Apple production drives liquidity that powers banking, construction, retail, and transit across South Kashmir. It generates seasonal work for tens of thousands of local residents and migrant labourers. Additionally, combining the scenic drives of the Mughal Road with orchard stays and alpine destinations like the Heerpora Wildlife Sanctuary offers strong potential for eco- and agrotourism. From an imperial rest stop along the Mughal Road to a region navigating decades of transition from Moghuls to Afghans and finally Sikhs and Dogras, Shopian has consistently demonstrated resilience. Driven by its multi-ethnic communities, rich water resources, and modern horticulture, the district has established itself as Kashmirs premier apple centrestanding as a vital gateway of trade, economic growth, and regional stability. Acknowledgement: The author acknowledges the help of Dr Rafeeq Masoodi PhD, recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award and Former Director Doordarshan in providing significant information regarding the importance of Shopian. Prof Upendra Kaul, Founder Director Gauri Kaul Foundation

World has not forgotten 9/11, 26/11, Pahalgam attacks: India at UN

United Nations, Oct 8: Exposing Pakistans doublespeak on terrorism at the UN, India has called out Islamabads efforts to gloss over its state support for terror by announcing rewards for JeM chief Masood Azahar, underlining that the world has not forgotten 9/11, 26/11 and Pahalgam attacks. India on Wednesday exercised its Right of Reply in response to the Pakistan representatives statement in the Sixth Committee of the UN General Assembly on the Agenda Item: Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism. Pakistan speaks of combating terrorism while seeking to obscure the very question that this committee must confront: What happens when terrorists are financed, facilitated, trained, sheltered, or supported from the territory of a state? First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Raghoo Puri said. He said India has been consistent on this question, underscoring that terrorism cannot be defeated by declarations and instead requires action against its perpetrators, organisers, financiers, and sponsors. For years, Pakistan has presented itself as a frontline state in combating terrorism and as a victim while masking the fact that the Frankensteins the Pakistani state has created and lost control over have moved from wreaking havoc in neighbouring countries to doing the same in Pakistan, Puri said. Calling out Pakistans doublespeak on terrorism, Puri said the country glosses over its state support for terrorism by announcing enhanced rewards for apprehending UN-listed head of Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist and mastermind of several attacks against my country, Masood Azhar. He said the world is aware of Pakistans financial support to terrorism. Yet, we also remember that just a few months ago, Pakistani representatives used this forum to call the Jaish-e-Mohammed a defunct organisation. The world has seen the script play earlier, and we are clear-eyed that this time also it is going to be no different, he said. Puri said that when the media can reach Azhar and get confirmation from him about the success of Operation Sindoor, surely the Pakistani state knows his whereabouts. In May last year, India had launched Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the dastardly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir perpetrated by The Resistance Front, a proxy of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, in which 26 civilians, mostly tourists were killed. ExploreHistory Earlier this month, India had dismissed as gimmicks Pakistans fresh announcement of a bounty of seven million rupees on Azhar, demanding that Islamabad take concrete action to combat terrorism. India has for years accused Pakistan of sheltering Azhar, while Pakistan has maintained that he fled to Afghanistan a claim rejected by Afghanistans Taliban government. For the last few years, Islamabad has claimed that the JeM founder has been operating from Afghanistan. However, the Taliban regime dismissed Pakistans repeated claims, with a senior Afghan Foreign Ministry official saying he is not in the country. Islamabads fresh announcement on the reward for information on Azhar came as it faces pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to crack down on terror groups and their leadership. The Paris-based global watchdog is set to review Pakistans anti-terrorism efforts at its upcoming plenary. Pakistan was placed under the FATF grey list between 2018 and 2022 for its systemic deficiencies in anti-money laundering and its failure to counter-terror financing. Puri also recalled a recent statement by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, daughter of former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who had said,The unfortunate thing is that the threat [Punjab] faces comes less from my neighbouring countries and more from my neighbouring provinces. Exposing this dark secret, Puri said, You cannot run with the hares and hunt with the hounds. Reality never works like that. When terrorist groups are allowed to operate under state political power, international commitments become meaningless and when perpetrators are provided safe havens, the victims of terrorism are denied justice, he said. The world has not forgotten 9/11 and where its perpetrators, including Osama bin Laden, were caught. The world has not forgotten 26/11. The world has not forgotten Pahalgam, Puri said, adding that the list, unfortunately, is painfully long. The victims in Pahalgam were not asked about their political orientation, they were asked about their religion. It is therefore deeply ironic that Pakistan speaks of combating religious hatred while allowing the conditions that enable it to persist and thrive, especially by fomenting cross-border terrorism, he said. Pakistan continues with its narrative building, misinformation, and disinformation. If bombed-out airfields and cratered runways look like victory to Pakistan, they are of course welcome to enjoy it, Puri said. Any regime against terrorism to be effective must do two things: assign responsibility and ensure accountability. India will defend its people, and continued terrorism against India will have consequences, he added. In another Right of Reply, Puri said India rejected Pakistans circular economy of words and narratives. If this much effort had actually been made in countering terrorism rather than narrative building, misinformation, and disinformation, the world would have been a better place. But nothing more can be expected from a Form 47 government, he said, referring to a term used to describe allegations of rigging and manipulation in Pakistans 2024 general elections.

Punjab-Origin Youth Shot Dead in Canada

A 23-year-old man of Punjab origin was shot dead outside a commercial complex in The post Punjab-Origin Youth Shot Dead in Canadas Langley; Police Probe Possible Targeted Killing appeared first on Khalsa Vox .

Religious Hatred Has a Gun; Hypocrisy Has a Microphone.

They were not asked how they voted. They were asked what they believed. On The post Religious Hatred Has a Gun; Hypocrisy Has a Microphone. appeared first on Khalsa Vox .

File doesn't reach judge in time, Supreme Court adjourns hearing on Punjab appeal

Proof of 21 'compromised transfers', 11 policy changes part of CBI's Punjab file

SC Asks Punjab To Provide Land To Replace Highway Trees

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana expressed concern over declining forest cover in Punjab and the lack of implementation of the afforestation plan.

Punjab CM Accuses BJP of Using Investigative Agencies for Election Campaigning

Punjabs CM Bhagwant Mann claims BJP is leveraging investigative agencies to influence the upcoming elections. Punjab CM Accuses BJP of Using Investigative Agencies for Election Campaigning

Bhagwant Mann Aide Goes To Court, Says Raid Illegal, Agency Had No Approval

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's OSD Rajbir Singh Ghuman has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the CBI investigation and search conducted at his residence in Sangrur.

Punjab launches Meri Dukan, Mere Naam scheme for shopkeepers

Punjab forms SIT to probe rape allegations against SGPC ex-member

Punjab health minister hands job letters to 80 covid warrior nurses

SC sets aside polls in 50 Punjab municipal wards, orders fresh elections after panel finds nomination obstruction

The Supreme Court has ordered new elections in 50 municipal wards across Punjab. This decision follows a report detailing significant obstruction during the nomination process. The report highlighted incidents of candidates experiencing threats, assaults, and destruction of nomination papers. Fresh elections will take place in 28 wards in Patiala district and 22 in Moga. The local body elections originally occurred on December 21, 2024.

Garbage mountain grows as dump cleanup stalls

Jail staff in drug supply chain; 6 face FIR, 2 held

Repo rate hike worries MSMEs, exporters

Indian Christian Day / Yeshu Bhakti Divas

ARTESIA, CALI: The Indian Christian Day / Yeshu Bhakti Divas celebration was a great success! Everyone was excited about the program, and we were blessed by the wonderful participation and fellowship. Eight churches joined the celebration, with approximately 120 people in attendance from diverse backgrounds. Telugu, Malayalee, Tamil, Hindi, Punjabi, and Hawaiian communities were represented, []

Punjab Needs Issue-Based Politics, 1984 A Mistake: Punjab Congress Chief Pargat Singh

Pargat Singh also addressed one of the Congress's most sensitive historical issues -- the 1984 anti-Sikh riots -- saying what happened was a mistake

QR Code Key To Arrest In Mad Sandhu Murder Case

Punjab Police, in a joint operation with Gujarat Police, arrested Parminder alias Kaka, the main shooter in the murder of social media influencer Mad Sandhu, after tracking him via a QR code. Five other individuals, including the shooter's brother, were also apprehended. The murder, which occurred on October 3, was claimed by foreign-based gangster Goldy Dhillon.

Batala Pastor Murder: Accused Booked

A 45-year-old pastor, Balwinder Pal, was stabbed to death at his residence in Batala, Punjab, on Thursday. Police have booked a man named Naresh Kumar in connection with the killing and are investigating the case.

Akali Dal Demands Dismissal of Punjab Election Commissioner Following Supreme Court Ruling

The Akali Dal calls for the removal of the Punjab Election Commissioner after a Supreme Court ruling raises concerns over election integrity. Akali Dal Demands Dismissal of Punjab Election Commissioner Following Supreme Court Ruling

Bihar: ED files charge sheet against six accused into Rs 1.29 crore PNB fraud

Digital Desk | Patna, Oct 8 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate's (ED) Patna Zonal Office has filed a charge sheet before the Special PMLA Court in Patna against six individuals in connection with an alleged money laundering case linked to a bank fraud involving the Punjab National Bank (PNB) in Muzaffarpur. The charge sheet was filed on September 29, 2026, seeking the conviction of Md. Zafar Eqbal, Nitesh Kumar Singh, Santosh Anand, Rajesh Kumar, Manjay Kumar Singh and Kundan Kumar. According to the ED, the investigation was initiated on the basis of two FIRs registered by the Bihar Police under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, relating to allegations of cheating and forgery. The agency alleged that Zafar Eqbal and his aides siphoned off around Rs 1.29 crore from the bank accounts of victims with the alleged assistance of Nitesh Kumar Singh, an official of Punjab National Bank. The ED alleged that the accused used SIM-swapping to facilitate the fraudulent transactions. According to the agency, the method prevented account holders from receiving transaction alerts on their registered mobile numbers, allowing the unauthorised transfers to go undetected. The ED had earlier conducted search operations at four locations linked to the accused on December 11, 2025. According to the agency, the searches led to the identification and freezing of proceeds of crime amounting to around Rs 83 lakh held in four bank accounts. The ED's investigation allegedly found that funds were siphoned from savings accounts maintained at the PNB branch in Muzaffarpur and transferred to mule accounts located in different cities. According to the ED, the allegedly diverted funds were subsequently routed back to the personal bank accounts of Zafar Eqbal and his proprietorship firm. The agency alleged that the funds were transferred through hawala channels as well as through cash deposits made via ATMs at different locations. The money was subsequently allegedly distributed among the accused persons. The ED said the charge sheet has been filed after an investigation into the alleged money laundering activities. Further investigation into the case is underway.

SIT Formed In Anandpur Sahib Rape Case

The Punjab government has established a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe a rape case in Anandpur Sahib involving former SGPC member Amarjit Singh Chawla. The SIT, headed by Gurbans Singh Bains, aims to answer critical questions surrounding the woman's arrival from Bahrain, her stay at an SGPC lodge, and the circumstances of the alleged incident. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann assured a transparent and time-bound investigation.

20 Kg Heroin Seized In Punjab Border Area

Punjab Police, in a joint operation with the BSF, recovered over 20 kg of heroin in Ferozepur. The drugs were airdropped via drone from across the border. The seizure also included other items like rods, motorcycles, and silver anklets with Pakistani markings.

SCs repoll order in 50 wards puts Punjab govt on the spot: BJP

Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Oct 8 (IANS) Former Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Ashwani Sharma on Thursday said the Supreme Court's decision to cancel and order fresh elections in 50 Municipal Corporation and Municipal Council wards in Patiala and Moga districts had raised serious questions about the functioning of the state Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. He said the decision had also exposed the government's alleged high-handedness during the local body elections. In a statement issued here, Sharma said the Supreme Court-appointed fact-finding committee's report highlighted serious irregularities during the nomination process, including preventing candidates from filing nominations, snatching, tearing, or destroying nomination papers, and threatening candidates. The committee found irregularities in the election process in 28 wards of Patiala, all 15 wards of Baghapurana and seven wards of Dharamkot in Moga district. Following this, the Supreme Court ordered fresh elections in these wards within six weeks. Sharma said that in a democracy, elections are not merely about casting votes but also about ensuring a level playing field and equal opportunity for every candidate. He alleged that the AAP government misused its power to suppress the voices of Opposition candidates. He said the Supreme Court's decision to constitute a monitoring committee headed by a retired High Court judge and order videography of the entire process, from nomination to polling, made it clear that the electoral process required close supervision. The BJP leader said the people of Punjab would not tolerate any compromise with democracy or with the conduct of free and fair elections. Meanwhile, state BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon, in a separate statement, said that the moment the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) began investigating alleged corruption in the AAP government, the Delhi-based gang suddenly started claiming that Punjab's federal structure was under threat. He said the government's argument before the Supreme Court that fabricated cases were being raised because of the Punjab Assembly elections was proof that the AAP was merely seeking political excuses to evade accountability. Dhillon said AAP leaders had been claiming in the media that the CBI investigation amounted to interference in the federal structure. This government initially made these arguments in the media to mislead the people and is now repeating the same hollow arguments before the Supreme Court, he said.

Dismiss poll commissioner after SC sets aside elections in Punjab, demands Akali Dal

Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Oct 8 (IANS) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday urged Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria to dismiss State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhari following the Supreme Court's observations that the December 2024 nomination process and subsequent municipal elections were severely affected by violence, intimidation and obstruction. SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema also demanded that responsibility be fixed on all officials who allegedly assisted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in manipulating the municipal elections and called for exemplary action against them. Giving details, Cheema said a court-appointed fact-finding commission headed by former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice Nirmaljit Kaur had confirmed that Opposition candidates were physically assaulted, prevented from filing nominations, or subjected to forced withdrawals and bogus voting. He alleged that Raj Kamal Chaudhari had ignored complaints regarding the alleged misuse of civil and police machinery during the elections. Now it has been proven beyond doubt that the State Election Commissioner murdered grassroots democracy under his watch. He does not have any right to remain in office, Cheema said. Welcoming the Supreme Court's decision, Cheema said the apex court's appointment of a monitoring committee headed by a retired judge to supervise re-elections in 28 wards in Patiala, all 15 wards in Baghapurana and seven wards in Dharamkot reflected a lack of confidence in the State Election Commissioner's ability to conduct free and fair elections. The SAD leader also criticised Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the registration of cases against farmers accused of burning paddy stubble. He said the Chief Minister had earlier stated that no action would be taken against such farmers and that they would receive Rs 1,500 per acre to manage stubble. Cheema alleged that surveillance drones were now being used to identify stubble-burning incidents and cases were being registered against farmers. Seeking clarification from the Chief Minister, Cheema said farmers wanted to know whether any notification had been issued regarding the promised Rs 1,500 per acre compensation and when the amount would be released. He alleged that the AAP government had failed to provide farmers with either adequate machinery for stubble management or compensation.

Development Commission has become a loot centre: Punjab BJP

Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Oct 8 (IANS) Former Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Sunil Jakhar on Thursday staged a protest outside the Punjab Development Commission office here, alleging that the institution had become a centre of loot by sidelining constitutional institutions and undermining the legal framework. He described it as a hub of corruption in Punjab and alleged that a group of on-state actors was plundering the state while weakening its governance structure. Speaking to the media outside the commission's office, Jakhar alleged that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had mortgaged Punjab to Arvind Kejriwal. He further alleged that Kejriwal had outsourced the task of running the commission to his appointees, who were being paid substantial salaries from the state exchequer. Accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of functioning like a corporation, Jakhar alleged that the commission had been transformed into a mechanism for large-scale misuse of public resources. Rather than serving as the Punjab Development Commission, he claimed, it had become a commission for looting Punjab. Jakhar further alleged that the commission had appointed preferred individuals in disregard of rules and legal procedures and paid them salaries higher than those of senior government officials. He claimed that the commission's appointees were collectively being paid around Rs 2 crore per month in salaries. Jakhar also alleged that the commission had collected personal data of Punjab residents under various pretexts. Referring to the collection of data relating to drug use, he alleged that extensive personal information had been gathered and could potentially be misused for political or commercial purposes. He termed the exercise highly illegal. Jakhar further claimed that the commission did not have a single Punjabi member who fully understood the state's local conditions. He alleged that it had neither held substantive discussions with Punjab's legislators and ministers nor sought their advice while preparing development plans. Questioning the commission's functioning, Jakhar said meaningful development planning could not take place without consultation with elected representatives and stakeholders. While acknowledging the academic qualifications of the appointees, he alleged that their actions were not serving the interests of Punjab.

Can Claim Delay Compensation Even After Possession, Rules Punjab & Haryana High Court

10 Top Punjabi Songs that get Every Generation Dancing

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: 10 Top Punjabi Songs that get Every Generation Dancing From classic bhangra to modern Punjabi hits, discover 10 top iconic songs to kick off any wedding, party, or occasion! The post 10 Top Punjabi Songs that get Every Generation Dancing appeared first on DESIblitz .

Analysis: Central Agency Raids A Boon Or Curse For Punjab's Ruling AAP

After the legal trouble for the top leadership in the Delhi excise case, the CBI raids and corruption allegations in Punjab have come as a double whammy for the party that is hoping to win a second term in Punjab.

Out Of Punjab Chair, Not Out Of The Picture: Raja Warring's Power Play Via Rahul Gandhi's March

Days after being replaced as Punjab Congress president, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring was on the frontlines of the Congress-led Opposition's protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, at one point climbing atop the police bus carrying Rahul Gandhi.

26 Transfers, Suspensions In 17 Years: Punjab Officer Blames 'Cost Of Honesty'

The protesters allege that the officer was suspended because he had acted against adulterators in Ferozepur.

Not day of politics: Back as Punjab Cong chief, Pargat first visits Golden Temple, drops in at Giani Tea Stall

Punjabi University Patiala Result 2026 Out - Direct Link to Check B.A

Punjabi University Patiala has released the M.A. Hindi Part-II (April 2026) and B.A. Improvement (May 2026) results. Find the official result link, how to check your result, and answers to common questions.

Punjabi influencer Mad Sandhus killing: Ahmedabad Crime Branch arrests shooter

The accused, identified as Parminder Kaka alias Parminder Prasad, was allegedly associated with the Goldy Dhillon gang and shot at the influencer, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime, Ajit Rajian said.

Khauf Gang Associates Held In Jammu-Samba Operation

The Special Operations Group (SOG) of police arrested two alleged associates of the Khauf gang in Jammu and Samba, recovering three firearms and heroin. The accused, Vansh Sharma and Yogeshwar Singh, are linked to an illegal weapons supply network and Punjab-based gangsters planning a targeted attack.

Enjoy The New Punjabi Music Video For 'Haaye Jatta' By Happy Raikoti

Enjoy the latest Punjabi song 'Haaye Jatta' sung by 'Happy Raikoti'. The music for this captivating track has been composed by 'Happy Raikoti', with lyrics penned by 'Happy Raikoti'. The music video for 'Haaye Jatta' has been skillfully directed by 'Robbie'. Don't miss the opportunity to watch the latest Punjabi video song 'Haaye Jatta' by 'Happy Raikoti' and immerse yourself in its melodious vibe. For more Punjabi songs, be sure to visit the music videos section of Punjabi ETimes. Experience the musical prowess of 'Happy Raikoti', new Punjabi songs of 2026, latest Punjabi video songs, Punjabi music and 'Happy Raikoti' music.

Punjab Police Constable 2026 Merit List Out: Check Your Scorecard and PST Eligibility Now

Access the official Punjab Police Constable 2026 merit list and scorecard. Verify your normalized marks, check category-wise cut-offs, and download your PST/PMT admit card before the October 15 deadline.

After Asian Games triumph, Indian hockey team turns focus to Asian Champions Trophy Punjab

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) The celebrations over Indias historic Asian Games title defence will soon give way to another test of the mens hockey teams continental credentials, with the Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 set to bring Asias leading sides to India from October 27 to November 5. India became the first team to successfully defend the mens Asian Games hockey title when they clinched a second successive gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Games in Japan. With that achievement still fresh, the hosts will now look to carry the momentum into a tournament being staged on home soil in Punjab. India, Japan, China, Malaysia, South Korea and Bangladesh will compete in the six-team tournament, with the league phase scheduled at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar before the competition moves to Mohali for its concluding matches. Winning the Asian Games gold in Japan was a special achievement for this group. But now the celebrations are behind us, and our focus has to shift quickly. The Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 is a new challenge, on home soil, and we need to bring the same hunger, discipline and intensity to every match as we look to build on our success, said Craig Fulton, the Chief Coach of the Indian mens team. The tournament will also mark the return of international hockey to Punjab, a state that has played a central role in the development and popularity of the sport in India. Jalandhar will host the league-stage fixtures, while the semifinals and final will be played at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali, bringing the tournament to a climax in the final two days. India enter the competition with a strong record in the Asian Champions Trophy. Since the tournament was introduced in 2011, they have won the title four times, making them the most successful team in its history. The Indian side also shared the trophy with Pakistan in 2018 after the final in Muscat, Oman, was abandoned due to rain. With another major continental title now in sight, India will aim to turn the confidence generated by their Asian Games campaign into another successful home tournament.

Mann Links CBI Raids To BJP's Election Strategy In Non-BJP States

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has criticised the CBI raids on his OSD and others, alleging it's part of the BJP's election campaign strategy in non-BJP ruled states. The CBI registered a corruption case following directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which noted prima facie evidence of corruption. Mann dismissed the allegations, stating his government is not involved in corruption and will cooperate with investigations.

Chakkven - Official Teaser

Watch the Official Teaser from Punjabi movie 'Chakkven' starring Kartar Cheema, Vishal Brar, Harpreet Bains, Balwinder Dhaliwal and Raj Dhaliwal. 'Chakkven' movie is directed by Happy Rode. To know more about 'Chakkven' teaser watch the video. Check out the latest Punjabi teasers, new movie teasers, trending Punjabi movie teaser, and more at ETimes - Times of India Entertainment.

Eleven Acquitted in Punjabi Mother Tongue Protest Case

A Bathinda court has acquitted 11 people, including Lakha Sidhana, Baba Hardeep Singh Mehraj and Rajwinder Singh Raikhana, in the 2018 Punjabi mother tongue protest case. The post Eleven Acquitted in Punjabi Mother Tongue Protest Case appeared first on Sikh Siyasat News .

Influencer Mad Sandhu murder: Shooter arrested in Gujarat

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has made a significant breakthrough, arresting Parminder Kaka alias Parminder Prasad, an alleged associate of the Goldy Dhillon gang, for his suspected role as the shooter in the high-profile murder of Punjabi social media influencer and makeup artist Mad Sandhu in Amritsar.

IPL: Punjab Kings Part Ways With James Hopes, Brad Haddin

The departures were expected as Hopes has been appointed head coach of Queensland and the Brisbane Heat in Australia's domestic cricket structure, while Haddin has taken charge of the New South Wales men's team

Key shooter in Punjab influencer Mad Sandhu's murder held by Gujarat Police

Digital Desk | Ahmedabad, Oct 8 (IANS) The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch has arrested a man allegedly involved in the killing of Punjabi social media influencer and make-up artist Mad Sandhu in Amritsar on October 3, identifying him as the shooter who also arranged the motorcycle used in the attack, police said on Thursday. The accused has been identified as Parminder Prasad alias Parminder Kaka. According to Ahmedabad Crime Branch DCP, Ajit Rajian, Parminder carried out the firing that killed Sandhu and arranged the motorcycle used by the assailants. His role is that of the shooter. He did the firing and also arranged the bike, Rajian told IANS. The arrest followed an input from Amritsar Police and coordination between the Punjab and Gujarat police teams. The accused was traced to Ahmedabad, where the Crime Branch took him into custody as part of the investigation into the murder. A case has been registered as FIR No. 186/2026 under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Cantonment Police Station in Amritsar. Further legal proceedings are underway, he confirmed. Sandhu, whose real name was Madhusudan Sandhu, was shot on October 3 by two motorcycle-borne assailants near a car wash centre on Loharka Road in Amritsar. Police had said the attackers opened fire before fleeing from the spot. Sandhu was taken to a private hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The killing had initially led police to examine several possible angles. Investigators collected CCTV footage from the area and examined Sandhu's movements and digital records to identify the attackers. Amritsar Police had reportedly detained two persons while probing a possible contract-killing angle. Sandhu, 29, had a substantial following on social media and was known for his work as a make-up artist and for speaking about make-up artistry and gender-related issues on podcasts and digital platforms. He had more than two lakh followers on Instagram and had also appeared in the Punjabi film 'Oye Bhole Oye'. The case also drew attention after social-media posts allegedly linked to foreign-based gangsters claimed responsibility for the killing. However, Punjab Police had earlier said the authenticity of such posts had not been established. Investigators have also been examining possible links to the network of gangster Goldy Dhillon. The latest arrest is expected to help investigators establish the sequence of events leading to the killing, identify other persons involved and determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged contract killing.

Sara Ali Khan recreates Amrita Singhs iconic Waaris look during Udta Teer promotion; see pics

Sara Ali Khan recently brought a nostalgic touch to the promotions of her upcoming film Udta Teer as she recreated a look associated with her mother, actor Amrita Singh, from the 1988 film Waaris. Sara, along with her co-star Ayushmann Khurrana, travelled to Punjab as part of the promotional activities for the film and embraced the local culture during their visit. For the Punjab promotions, Sara opted for a blush-pink traditional Punjabi suit, which drew comparisons to a similar look worn by Amrita Singh in Waaris. Amrita had appeared in a pink Punjabi suit while shooting for one of the films songs, and Saras latest appearance appeared to pay tribute to that fashion moment. Sara also shared a series of pictures featuring herself and her mother, further highlighting the connection between the two looks. Along with the photographs, she used lyrics from the song as the caption, writing, Mommy did you ever think aapke pyaar ki Umar ek din itni hogi. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sara Ali Khan (@saraalikhan95) During the promotional visit, Sara was seen enjoying some of the local experiences with Ayushmann. The actor shared glimpses of herself drinking lassi and riding a tractor with her co-star. She also interacted with the audience in Punjabi and spoke about the films theatrical release while encouraging people to watch it in cinemas. Ayushmann, meanwhile, opted for a denim look paired with a white shirt featuring the words Udta Teer. In one of the moments from the visit, he was seen driving a tractor while Sara sat beside him. The promotional video concluded with the two actors posing together, with Sara resting her head on Ayushmanns shoulder. Directed by [director's name if applicable], Udta Teer stars Ayushmann as Bilal Ahmad, a Pakistani spy who suffers from memory loss. The film also features Rahul Bose, Ram Kapoor, Gulshan Grover, Mukul Dev, Suhail Nayyar, Raghubir Yadav, Brijendra Kala, Sandeep Anand, Supriya Pilgaonkar and Smita Tambe in prominent roles. The films release date has also been revised. Udta Teer, which was earlier scheduled to arrive in theatres on October 9, will now release on October 23. The change has been made to allow better theatrical footfall after films including Drishyam: The Conclusion and The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest complete their theatrical runs. Also Read : Will India-Pakistan themed Udta Teer release in UAE-GCC? Guneet Monga Kapoor BREAKS silence; Ayushmann Khurrana says, This is Indias FIRST patriotic comedy!

Bhai Narien Singh Chaura Appears in Court in Sukhbir Badal Attack Case

Bhai Narien Singh Chaura appeared before an Amritsar court in the Sukhbir Badal attack case. Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur said the case is at the evidence stage, with the next hearing fixed for November 11. The post Bhai Narien Singh Chaura Appears in Court in Sukhbir Badal Attack Case appeared first on Sikh Siyasat News .

Punjab Police Constable Admit Card 2026 Released for PST and PMT

The Punjab Police Recruitment Board has released the Punjab Police Constable Admit Card 2026 for candidates shortlisted for the Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Measurement Test (PMT). Candidates who successfully qualified in the Computer-Based Test (CBT) can now download their

Supreme Court sets aside elections in 50 wards in Punjab, orders fresh polls

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana set aside elections in 50 wards 28 in Patiala district and 22 in Moga.

Battle between two ideologies in country, Oppn wants to spread anarchy: Gaurav Bhatia

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) BJP National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Opposition parties, saying the country is currently witnessing a battle between two ideologies. He claimed that on one side is an ideology that respects constitutional values and serves the people, while on the other is the Opposition, which, he alleged, is weakening the Constitution and creating an atmosphere of anarchy. Addressing a press conference, Bhatia said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has served the people of the country within the constitutional framework for the last 25 years, first as Chief Minister and then as Prime Minister, while respecting the basic spirit of the Constitution. He said PM Modi's political journey was a source of inspiration and contrasted it with what he claimed was the Opposition's attempts to create an atmosphere of anarchy through its statements. The BJP spokesperson also raised the issue of municipal elections held in Punjab and levelled serious allegations against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Citing a Supreme Court decision, he said a three-member Bench of the apex court had cancelled elections held in 50 municipal wards in Punjab. Bhatia said the development raised questions about the direction in which a party that had entered politics with the slogan of 'Swaraj', was heading. He alleged that under the AAP government in Punjab, the election process involved the misuse of government machinery and that Opposition candidates were not even allowed to file their nomination papers. He said the state government was responsible for the municipal elections held in May 2026. Taking cognisance of complaints and facts that emerged during the election process, the Supreme Court constituted a one-member fact-finding committee headed by a retired judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he said. According to Bhatia, after examining and investigating the complaints, the committee submitted its findings to the Supreme Court. He said the findings raised serious concerns regarding the functioning of the democratic system. He alleged that people associated with the AAP had misused government machinery to prevent candidates from Opposition parties from contesting the elections. Bhatia said that if a candidate was not even given an opportunity to file nomination papers, it directly raised questions about the democratic process. He also questioned allegations made by Opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, that democracy in the country was in danger or being murdered. He asked the Opposition to explain the basis of such allegations. The Opposition is making allegations regarding the 'end of democracy', but what is the basis of these allegations? When the Supreme Court itself takes cognisance of serious matters related to the election process and takes necessary action, the Opposition should have faith in constitutional institutions, Bhatia said. Those who talk about protecting democracy and the Constitution should also take a look at the functioning of their states and their political parties, he added. He said the Opposition's allegations lacked a solid basis and maintained that strengthening democracy required all political parties to respect the electoral process, constitutional institutions and the rule of law. He appealed to Opposition parties to present their views on the basis of facts and evidence rather than making allegations. Bhatia's remarks came amid a broader political confrontation between the ruling BJP and Opposition parties over issues concerning democratic institutions, elections and the functioning of the Election Commission. The Opposition has repeatedly raised concerns over the electoral process, while the BJP has rejected the allegations and accused Opposition parties of undermining constitutional institutions.

Punjab Police Constable Cut Off 2026 Out - Category-Wise Cut-Off Marks for Male and Female Candidates

Punjab Police Constable Cut Off 2026 has released on 7 October 2026 for the 3,298 Constable vacancies. Check category-wise overall and female cut-off marks, minimum qualifying marks, and official cut-off PDF.

SC orders fresh elections in 50 Punjab municipal wards

Supreme Court has ordered fresh elections in 50 municipal wards in Punjab after a commission found widespread obstruction during the nomination process. The affected wards include 28 in Patiala and 22 in Moga, with strict monitoring and videography directed for the re-election process

SC Sets Aside Elections in 50 Wards in Punjab, Orders Fresh Polls

The local body elections took place on December 21, 2024. The commission was appointed on March 24, 2025, and it submitted its report on November 18, 2025

James Hopes and Brad Haddin leave Punjab Kings coaching staff; Franchise yet to confirm

James Hopes and Brad Haddin have reportedly left their coaching positions at Punjab Kings for opportunities in Australia. Hopes has been appointed head coach of Queensland and Brisbane Heat, while Haddin has taken charge of New South Wales men's team. Their departures follow the exit of spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, who joined the Indian men's team.

After Impressive IPL 2026 With SRH, Shivang Kumar Calls India Cap 'ultimate Goal'

Madhya Pradesh Premier League: Sunrisers Hyderabad and Madhya Pradesh bowling all-rounder Shivang Kumar called an India cap his ultimate goal after putting up impressive performances in the IPL and in the domestic circuit. Shivang, the left-arm wrist spinner, picked up nine wickets in 13 matches in IPL 2026 and was recently with the Indian Test squad as a net bowler for the one-off Test against Afghanistan and then in Sri Lanka. However, an India cap remains his ultimate goal. It feels good, but right now I am not dwelling on the fact that I have played in the IPL and have served as India's net bowler - every player in the IPL is one of the best from their state or country, which is why the IPL is the best league in the world, he said, as quoted by Cricinfo. So going and performing there, it still takes a bit of time to sink in. But IPL is not the ultimate goal; India is the ultimate goal. There is still a long way to go, a lot of cricket to play. This was just the first season, and it was only the beginning, Shivang added. Shivang went to the pre-season camp with the SRH and straightaway got a hint that he would be a regular in IPL 2026 for them. I had received hints right from the first day of the pre-season camp that I was going to feature in the playing XI from the very first match, Shivang said about his SRH experience. The coaches were discussing strategies with me, setting up different scenarios for my bowling, and even telling me, 'you are our wicket-taker.' I had done well in the practice matches too, so I knew I would get an opportunity. I didn't get the chance in the opening match, but from the second match onwards, I became a regular. He didn't have a great start to his IPL career; however, he took crucial wickets in his third match against the Punjab Kings. The team management was very positive and confident that I would do well. Because of their confidence, I developed the self-belief that I could perform well even at this level, Shivang said. A new player needs exactly this kind of environment to grow and bring out their best. It works like magic, and you perform well. Whatever I could, I delivered this year, and hopefully, I will do even better next year. He also spoke on the support he received from head coach Daniel Vettori and bowling coach Varun Aaron. As a spinner himself, (head coach Daniel) Vettori understands a bowler's mindset. Sometimes, when I leaked runs and went wicketless for a couple of games, he would come up to me during the strategic timeouts and tell me, 'You are bowling well; even good balls can be hit for sixes, so don't think much about it.' That support meant a lot, making me feel that I could pull things back, he said on Vettori. If I didn't bowl well or went for runs in a match, Varun bhaiya never let me feel low. On those days, he would speak to me using very kind, positive words and would even tell me, 'You are bowling now at just 50% of your potential; you can do much better.' When a player who has represented the country in Test cricket tells you things like that, it gives you a massive boost, Shivang reflected on Aaron's support. Shivang already brings a rare left-arm wrist spin to the game, but he becomes even more unique as he can bat too. He did not get much chance with the SRH, but he has batted at a 180.22 strike rate in the ongoing Madhya Pradesh Premier League. If I didn't bowl well or went for runs in a match, Varun bhaiya never let me feel low. On those days, he would speak to me using very kind, positive words and would even tell me, 'You are bowling now at just 50% of your potential; you can do much better.' When a player who has represented the country in Test cricket tells you things like that, it gives you a massive boost, Shivang reflected on Aaron's support. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Sachin Pilot Pays Homage at Golden Temple, Critiques Punjab Governments Law and Order Situation

Sachin Pilot visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar, expressing hopes for Punjabs future while criticizing the states law and order issues. Sachin Pilot Pays Homage at Golden Temple, Critiques Punjab Governments Law and Order Situation

Punjabi LGBTQ Activist Mad Sandhu's Shooter Arrested In Gujarat, Was Linked To Gangster Goldy Dhillon

Mad Sandhu, a social media influencer and an LGBTQ activist, was shot dead in Punjab's Amritsar last week.

ISI's 2027 assembly election plot: UP terror, Punjab drugs and Manipur unrest

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) launched a multi-state destabilisation plot targeting Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Manipur in the run-up to the 2027 assembly elections, intelligence agencies have warned. Seven key states, namely Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur and Goa, would go to the polls between February and March next year. The intelligence agencies have drawn up a list of states that are vulnerable during the elections or in the run-up to them. The ISI has set its eyes particularly on Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Manipur. An Intelligence Bureau official said that these three states are extremely vulnerable to ISI-driven activities. In Uttar Pradesh, the focus will be on terror attacks and espionage activities. In Punjab, it will be arms and narcotics smuggling, besides random grenade attacks. In Manipur, the attempts will be aimed at creating widespread unrest in the state ahead of the elections, the IB official said. This plan was set in motion almost a year back, when the ISI roped in Shahzad Bhatti to recruit Indian youths. His focus was pan-India, and he managed to recruit youths for a small sum of money. He would instruct these recruits to carry out hit jobs, install CCTV cameras in sensitive and crowded locations, carry out surveillance for terror attacks, indulge in narcotics smuggling and counterfeiting of Indian currency, the official said. The Bhatti network focused heavily on the election-bound states. Recruitment was high in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, investigators say. These recruits were planning strikes in the run-up and also during the elections. In states like UP, the focus was mainly on carrying out big-ticket attacks. While carrying out surveillance on sensitive locations, there was equal emphasis on crowded locations such as railway stations and bus stands too. This makes it amply clear that the Bhatti network was aiming at big attacks in the state. Another official said that it is not just the Bhatti gang that was focusing on the election-bound states; there are multiple players on the payrolls of the ISI who have been on the job. In Punjab, the brief is clear, and that is to ramp up narcotics smuggling and arms trade. The ISI-backed networks have been told to dump as much ammunition and narcotics into the state ahead of the elections, the official said. While the dumping of drugs and arms has been underway, the state of Punjab has also been witnessing stray grenade attacks and vandalism by pro-Khalistan operatives, the official said. There are two objectives behind these stray incidents of violence. This is meant to promote the Khalistan movement, but more importantly, to keep the security agencies busy so that the narcotics and arms trade goes on smoothly without coming under the radar, the official said. While Punjab and Uttar Pradesh remain states of concern, security agencies are particularly worried about Manipur. Multiple players are believed to have an interest in triggering widespread unrest in the state. The ethnic violence that erupted in 2023 has subsided in intensity, but several issues linked to the conflict remain unresolved. Since the violence broke out, the Central government has been exploring various measures to restore lasting peace in Manipur. Compared with the situation in 2023, the nature of the conflict has changed, with the state now facing what security officials describe as a low-intensity crisis. Another official said that the situation does remain tense and these vested interest groups would look to fuel speculation and run fake narratives so that Manipur returns to its 2023 scenario. While it is easiest for these ISI-backed groups to fuel tensions in Manipur at the moment, the larger game is to ensure that violence spreads across the North-eastern region The ISI has been working alongside some of its proxies both in Bangladesh and India to fuel tensions during election year in Manipur, with the hope that it spreads and the entire Northeast burns, an official said.

Newly appointed Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh and state in-charge Sachin Pilot visit Harmandir Sahib

Newly appointed Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Pargat Singh and Punjab Congress in-charge and general secretary Sachin Pilot on Thursday paid obeisance at Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar and sought the Guru

Hopes, Haddin quit Punjab Kings for Australian coaching roles

James Hopes and Brad Haddin have resigned from their coaching positions with Punjab Kings to take on head coaching roles in Australia, with Hopes heading to Queensland and Brisbane Heat, and Haddin to New South Wales.

India Exposes Pakistan At UN, Turns Islamabads Own Words On Terror Against It

India launched a sharp attack on Pakistan at the United Nations, accusing Islamabad of nurturing terror networks that have now begun to threaten Pakistan itself. Speaking at the UN General Assemblys Sixth Committee, Indias First Secretary Raghoo Puri cited recent remarks by Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and former PM Nawaz Sharif on the countrys internal terror threat. Puri also hit back at Pakistans claims over Operation Sindoor, questioned Islamabads action against UN-designated terrorist Masood Azhar, and invoked the 9/11, 26/11 and Pahalgam terror attacks. India urged the international community to take stronger action against states accused of sponsoring terrorism.

SC adjourns hearing on Punjab govt's plea against HC order for CBI probe into corruption charges

The Supreme Court has postponed the hearing regarding the Punjab government's appeal concerning a high court ruling. This ruling directs the Central Bureau of Investigation to investigate corruption allegations linked to the AAP-led government. Senior advocate Vikas Singh represented the Punjab government during the proceedings. The state government argues that the high court's direction lacks lawful basis and procedural correctness.

Hopes and Haddin depart Punjab Kings coaching staff

James Hopes and Brad Haddin are presently in charge of Queensland and New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield

PSEB Announces Exam Form Submission Schedule for Class 10 and 12

The Punjab School Education Board has announced the schedule for submitting examination forms and fees for Class 10 and 12 students for the upcoming annual exams in February/March 2027. The last date for submission without a late fee is October 23, 2026, with various late fee options available thereafter. Students must also meet a 75% attendance requirement to be eligible for the exams. Detailed fee structures for both classes are provided, along with important deadlines for online and offline submissions. Stay informed to ensure timely compliance with all requirements.

No immediate relief for Punjab govt as SC defers plea against CBI

New Delhi The Punjab government on Thursday failed to secure immediate relief from the Supreme Court against the Punjab and The post No immediate relief for Punjab govt as SC defers plea against CBI graft probe linked to CM Manns OSD appeared first on Bilkul Online .

Exclusive Interview with Simarjit Kaur

UK-based Sikh author and human rights activist Simranjit Kaur speaks with journalist Mandeep Singh about her books, support for families affected by the Sikh struggle, work on the 1984 Sikh Genocide, and humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. The post Exclusive Interview with Simarjit Kaur Sikh Author from UK | Sewa of Families of Sikh Struggle appeared first on Sikh Siyasat News .

SC adjourns Punjab appeal against HC ruling directing CBI probe into corruption allegations linked to CM office

Justice Dipankar Datta said the file has to be studied by puisne judge on the Bench, Justice Sheel Nagu

Hopes, Haddin Move On From Punjab Kings, Franchise To Search For Three Roles

Punjab Kings: Australian coaches James Hopes and Brad Haddin have moved on from IPL franchise Punjab Kings following Sairaj Bahutule's exit, IANS has learnt. Hopes served as the fast-bowling coach of the Ricky Ponting-led support staff, while Haddin was the fielding coach with the Kings. The two have landed jobs in state teams in Australia, and PBKS will now have to find three replacements before the next season after Bahutule also left his spin-bowling coach role to join the Indian team as spin coach under Gautam Gambhir. Yes, Haddin and Hopes have moved on from Punjab Kings. After IPL 2026, they joined local state teams in Australia as head coaches. Hopes has taken over as Queensland head coach and will hold the same position in BBL side Brisbane Heat. Haddin, meanwhile, has taken over as NSW men's head coach and could get a BBL coaching role, an IPL source told IANS. Meanwhile, the source added that the franchise will hunt for the coaches and a decision will be taken before the auction takes place in December. A call on three new PBKS coaches is expected to come before the IPL auction happens in December. They are looking at one Indian and two overseas coaches to complete their support staff for IPL 2027, it added. Hopes joined the PBKS set-up in late 2024 after Ponting was roped in as head coach. He was in Ponting's backroom staff in Delhi Capitals too. Meanwhile, Haddin was retained by the Kings when their support staff was changed. PBKS underwent a major coaching overhaul ahead of IPL 2025 as Ponting was appointed as the head coach, taking over from Trevor Bayliss. Hopes replaced Charl Langeveldt as the fast-bowling coach, while Bahutule was named the spin-bowling coach in place of Sunil Joshi, who went on to take up the role of spin-bowling coach at the BCCI CoE. Hopes joined the PBKS set-up in late 2024 after Ponting was roped in as head coach. He was in Ponting's backroom staff in Delhi Capitals too. Meanwhile, Haddin was retained by the Kings when their support staff was changed. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Punjab Kings' coaching staff to undergo major changes? Haddin-Hopes resign ahead of IPL 2027 | Report

The IPL (Indian Premier League) 2027 season is on the horizon, and the various franchises are hard at work as they begin the process of finalising their squads ahead of the new season of the tournament. With the auction on the horizon, Punjab Kings are being reported to be undergoing a major shake-up in the coaching department as they look to put forth a display of some brilliant cricket once more in the IPL 2027.

Punjab Police Constable Result 2026 Out - Merit List PDF, PMT/PST Stage and Next Steps

Punjab Police Constable Result 2026 is declared 7 October 2026 for 3,298 posts under Advt. No. 01/2026. Check how to view the merit list on punjabpolice.gov.in, the PMT and PST stage, documents to keep ready and FAQs.

From PNB to Bank of Baroda, these PSU banks make loans expensive after RBI repo rate hike

Middle-class borrowers and salaried households may face significant financial strain as several public sector banks across the country have raised loan interest rates following a 0.25 per cent repo rate hike by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Punjab National Bank (PNB), Indian Bank, and Bank of Baroda are among the major PSU banks that have raised their lending rates. These banks have increased their loan interest rates by up to 0.25 per cent, making loans expensive for borrowers.

Sangram Gatha: A Rare Interaction Between Bhai Daljit Singh and Bhai Narien Singh on the Sikh Struggle

An interaction between Panth Sewak Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu and Bhai Narien Singh Chaura is released as third episode of the Sangram Gatha on Bhai Daljit Singh's YouTube channel. The post Sangram Gatha: A Rare Interaction Between Bhai Daljit Singh and Bhai Narien Singh on the Sikh Struggle appeared first on Sikh Siyasat News .

Pakistan lost control of its Frankenstein monster of terrorism which has returned to haunt it: India at UN

Digital Desk | United Nations, Oct 8 (IANS) Islamabad has lost control of the Frankenstein's monster of terrorism it created, which has returned to stalk Pakistan, and it is acknowledged by its leaders, India has said, calling for international action against sponsors of terrorism. Pakistan has presented itself as a frontline state in combating terrorism and as a victim, while masking the fact that the Frankenstein's (monster) the Pakistani state has created and lost control over have moved from wreaking havoc in neighbouring countries to doing the same in Pakistan, Raghoo Puri, a first secretary in India's UN mission, said on Wednesday (local time). This was exposed recently by a provincial chief minister of Pakistan, and may I jog the memory of colleagues to an interview in 2018 by her father and former prime minister of Pakistan, exposing this dark secret, he said. You cannot run with the hares and hunt with the hounds, Puri warned. Reality never works like that. Puri was responding to an attack on India by Pakistan's Deputy Permanent Representative Usman Jadoon at the General Assembly's Sixth Committee, which deals with legal matters. Maryam Nawaz, the chief minister of Pakistan's Punjab Province, said last month in Lahore, Unfortunately, the threat Punjab, a province of 130 million, faces comes less from my neighbouring countries and more from my neighbouring provinces. Earlier this month, she undercut Pakistan's claims about freedom fighters, saying terrorism has no classification, and anyone involved in terrorism is a terrorist regardless of their cause. In an interview to Dawn newspaper in 2018, her father Nawaz Sharif, a former prime minister of Pakistan, acknowledged his country's role in the 26/11 terrorist attack on Mumbai. Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors; should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? he had said. Puri did not name the two Nawazes. He lampooned Pakistan's claims about victory against India during Operation Sindoor launched by New Delhi in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack as delusional. If bombed-out airfields and cratered runways look like victory to Pakistan, they are, of course, welcome to enjoy it, he said. Pakistani representative's desperation to falsely tout the Pakistani military's narrative on the outcome of Operation Sindoor was in keeping with its campaign of disinformation and misinformation, he said. Puri, who gave the response, is a biotechnology graduate of Panjab University with an MBA from Management Development Institute, Gurgaon. He belongs to the 2014 batch of the Indian Foreign Service and has served in India's Berlin Embassy. When Pakistan came back with a second response to his exercise of the right of reply and regurgitated its usual arguments, Puri dismissed it curtly: Pakistan believes in the circular economy of words and narratives. If this much effort had actually been made in countering terrorism rather than narrative building, misinformation, and disinformation, the world would have been a better place, he said. But nothing more can be expected from a Form 47 government, he said, referring to the military's control of Pakistan's government exercised by manipulating that election document to install Shehbaz Sharif as its frontman prime minister. In his first response, Puri dismissed Pakistan's claims about the treatment of minorities in India, and said it was ironic the terrorists it supports target Indians based on their religion. The victims in Pahalgam were not asked about their political orientation; they were asked about their religion, he said. It is therefore deeply ironic that Pakistan speaks of combating religious hatred while allowing the conditions that enable it to persist and thrive, especially by fomenting cross-border terrorism, he said. In last year's Pahalgam attack by Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy, The Resistance Front, the terrorists identified Hindu and Christian tourists by questioning them before killing them. Puri drew attention to Pakistan's diversionary tactics to draw attention away from its support of terrorists, citing the case of Pakistan raising the reward for the capture of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar from Pakistani Rs 50 lakh to Rs 70 lakh. Pakistan glosses over its state support for terrorism by announcing enhanced rewards for apprehending UN-listed head of Jaish-e-Mohammed, terrorist and mastermind of several attacks against my country, he said. When the media can reach Masood Azhar and get confirmation from him about the success of Operation Sindoor, surely the Pakistani state knows his whereabouts, he said. Azhar had lamented in a viral video that his family had been orn to pieces during the Operation Sindoor attack on one of his camps in Bahawalpur. Just a few months ago, Pakistani representatives used this forum to call the Jaish-e-Mohammed a defunct organisation, Puri said. The world has seen the script play earlier, and we are clear-eyed that this time also it is going to be no different. Puri said, When terrorist groups are allowed to operate under state political power, international commitments become meaningless, and when perpetrators are provided safe havens, the victims of terrorism are denied justice. The world has not forgotten 9/11, and where its perpetrators, including Osama bin Laden, were caught,/; he said. Bin Laden, whose al-Qaeda carried out the 9/11 attacks on New York and the Pentagon 25 years ago, was found by US Navy SEALs in a house near the Pakistan Military Academy in Abbottabad. The world has not forgotten 26/11, when Pakistani terrorists killed 166 people in 2008 in Mumbai, he said. The world has not forgotten Pahalgam. The world is aware of Pakistan's financial support to terrorism, as also, the FATF plenary meeting coming up soon, Puri said. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which monitors terrorism funding and sanctions countries for it, is to hold its plenary meeting in Paris from October 26 to 30.