Saturday, April 11

Nation

BJP Issues First Response to BMC Landslide, Hits Back at Sanjay Raut
Nation, Politics

BJP Issues First Response to BMC Landslide, Hits Back at Sanjay Raut

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has responded to its sweeping victory in the Maharashtra civic elections, taking a pointed dig at Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut. BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi hailed the party’s performance as a reflection of growing public acceptance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the NDA alliance. Addressing the media, Trivedi said, “As everyone has seen, the BJP and our allies in the Mahayuti coalition have achieved a spectacular victory in the Maharashtra municipal elections. This demonstrates the increasing acceptance of the BJP and NDA under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.” Trivedi Hits Back at Sanjay Raut Responding to statements by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, Trivedi said, “Those who fail to maintain their alliances and break away f...
Congress Questions PM Modi: Why Allow US to Pressure India on Chabahar Port?
Nation

Congress Questions PM Modi: Why Allow US to Pressure India on Chabahar Port?

New Delhi: Congress has targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a media report concerning the Chabahar port project, alleging that the PM is yielding to American pressure. The party claimed that India has quietly stepped back from the strategic project under US influence, undermining the country’s foreign policy. The government, however, has not made any official statement on the matter. Why is Congress Angered?Pawan Khera, Chairman of Congress’s media cell, emphasized the strategic importance of Chabahar. He said the port provides India with a crucial maritime route to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan and countering China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Khera remarked, “To hear that India has retreated from Chabahar under minor US pressure, silently and without any pu...
Jaishankar Gifts Cricket Bat to Cricket-Loving Japanese FM, Receives National Team Jersey in Return – A Beautiful Moment of ‘Sports Diplomacy’
Nation

Jaishankar Gifts Cricket Bat to Cricket-Loving Japanese FM, Receives National Team Jersey in Return – A Beautiful Moment of ‘Sports Diplomacy’

New Delhi: In a heartwarming display of sports diplomacy, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar exchanged cricket memorabilia with his Japanese counterpart, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, during the latter’s visit to India on Friday. Jaishankar presented Motegi, an avid cricket fan, with a bat signed by the Indian cricket team. In return, Motegi gifted Jaishankar the official jersey of the Japanese national cricket team, highlighting their shared passion for the sport. Sharing pictures from the meeting on his social media account X, Jaishankar wrote that he was delighted to welcome Foreign Minister Motegi to India and was even more thrilled to discover a fellow cricket enthusiast. “In the spirit of our shared love for the game, I feel honored to receive the national...
India Delivers a Strategic ‘Dose’ in Afghanistan, Pakistan Reels
Nation

India Delivers a Strategic ‘Dose’ in Afghanistan, Pakistan Reels

New Delhi: In a major geopolitical and economic move, India has strengthened its footprint in Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical sector, dealing a significant blow to Pakistan’s longstanding dominance in the market. Indian medicines are now rapidly replacing Pakistani brands, reshaping the regional supply chain and boosting Afghanistan’s healthcare access. India’s Strategic Move Against PakistanHistorically, Pakistan dominated Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical imports, supplying 70–85% of the country’s medicines. But recent political and economic shifts, combined with border tensions, have accelerated India’s entry. Afghan blogger Fazal Afghan reported that Indian medicines were four times cheaper than comparable Pakistani or Turkish brands, offering better results and significantly reducing costs...
‘RWA Cannot Intervene Under Section 7’: Supreme Court Makes Landmark Observation on Bankruptcy Proceedings
Nation

‘RWA Cannot Intervene Under Section 7’: Supreme Court Makes Landmark Observation on Bankruptcy Proceedings

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has delivered a significant ruling on financial bankruptcy, clarifying that Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) or any housing societies cannot intervene when a bank or financial institution initiates insolvency proceedings against a real estate developer. The Court emphasized that such matters fall strictly between the creditor and the debtor. Bench ObservationsA bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan noted during the hearing that when a company is subjected to insolvency proceedings under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), the matter is exclusively between the lender and the borrower. Consequently, third-party organizations like RWAs or housing societies have no right to participate, either at the initial hearing or ...
IMF Praises India’s Economy, BJP Questions if ‘Leader of Pessimism’ Rahul Gandhi Will Apologize
Nation, Politics

IMF Praises India’s Economy, BJP Questions if ‘Leader of Pessimism’ Rahul Gandhi Will Apologize

New Delhi: Following the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) commendation of India’s economic growth, the BJP has launched a sharp attack on Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi. The party accused him of spreading pessimism about the Indian economy and demanded that he publicly apologize to the nation for calling India a “dead economy.” ‘Will the Leader of Pessimism Apologize?’Reacting to the IMF’s praise, BJP national spokesperson C.R. Keshavan posted on X, targeting Rahul Gandhi: “Will the LoP, the leader of pessimism, who deliberately spread falsehoods and spoke ill of our Indian economy, now publicly apologize to the country and its people?” Keshavan added, “The IMF’s recognition of India’s economy delivers a resounding response to Rahul Gandhi’s false narr...
Allegations of Fakery in ‘Dhurandhar’ Over Ajit Doval’s Story: Fact Check
Nation

Allegations of Fakery in ‘Dhurandhar’ Over Ajit Doval’s Story: Fact Check

New Delhi: The blockbuster film Dhurandhar has sparked controversy over its portrayal of the 1999 Kandahar plane hijacking (IC-814) and India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Critics and some reports allege that certain facts have been distorted for cinematic effect. Claims of ExaggerationAn article in The Caravan magazine claims that the scene depicting passengers chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” on the hijacked flight has no concrete historical record and was included solely for narrative purposes. While the film references the RAW chief at the time, it does not specify who held the post then. The article further alleges that the film exaggerated certain aspects, portraying the release of three terrorists as a political compulsion, while making intelligence personnel appear mor...
IAF Rafale Jet Deal: No Compromise on Source Code or Indigenous Weapons
Nation

IAF Rafale Jet Deal: No Compromise on Source Code or Indigenous Weapons

New Delhi: In the ongoing $36 billion deal for 114 multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA) or Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF), it has been confirmed that the transfer of source code is mandatory, with no room for compromise. The decision underscores India’s commitment to self-reliance in defence technology. Earlier, experts had raised concerns that if the source code was not transferred, the deal could prove costly in the long run. According to reports in The New Indian Express, the ongoing negotiations with the French company have now clarified that source code transfer will be part of the agreement. The procurement process is underway and is expected to be submitted soon to the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) for approval. Use of Indigenous Weapons EnsuredThe report also cl...
Supreme Court Deals Major Blow to Justice Yashwant Verma, Rejects Plea Against Impeachment
Nation

Supreme Court Deals Major Blow to Justice Yashwant Verma, Rejects Plea Against Impeachment

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the writ petition filed by Justice Yashwant Verma challenging the formation of an inquiry committee under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, in connection with the impeachment motion against him. Justice Verma’s petition sought to contest the Lok Sabha Speaker’s decision to constitute the committee following an impeachment notice filed after cash was recovered from his official residence. After hearing the arguments from senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi on behalf of Justice Verma and Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta representing the Lok Sabha Secretariat on 8 January, the bench reserved its verdict. Today, a bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra pronounced the decision, refusing to interfere with the Speaker’s de...
Printed Books Make a Comeback Amid Digital Boom, Publishers Eye Gen-Z Readers
Nation

Printed Books Make a Comeback Amid Digital Boom, Publishers Eye Gen-Z Readers

Even in the era of e-books, printed books continue to hold their appeal. Publishers are now focusing on new authors and topics to attract fresh readers. Genres such as history, sociology, and biographies are gaining popularity, while Gen-Z readers are showing a keen interest in books related to career development and mental well-being. Print Holds Its GroundRam Tripathi notes that the rise of e-books has raised concerns about the future of printed literature, with fears that traditional readers are dwindling. In response, publishing houses are experimenting with content tailored to contemporary readers, especially Gen-Z. However, Ashok Maheshwari, Managing Director of Rajkamal Prakashan, disagrees. He believes that printed books still enjoy immense respect and that the print medium w...