Haryana To Give Backward Class Quota In Panchayats, Urban Local Bodies

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that the state government has decided to give reservations to the backward classes in Panchayats and urban local bodies in Haryana.

CM Nayab Singh Saini attended the civic felicitation and Holi Milan function organized by the Saini community in Jaipur rural on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters, Nayab Singh Saini said, "I am happy that we recently made a reservation for the backward classes in Haryana. For a long time, there was a demand here that the limit should be increased, and in Haryana. As soon as I took responsibility for this, I decided to increase it. I am also happy that our government has decided to give reservations to the backward classes in Panchayats and urban local bodies in Haryana."

"We have implemented many schemes for women in Haryana like opening separate women stations for women and implementing Lakhpati Didi Bhima Sakhi scheme. We have purchased 100 percent crops of farmers on MSP. We have provided a bonus by transferring money directly to the farmer's account at the rate of 2000 rupees per acre. We have provided Rs 1350 crores in the direct account of farmers. Haryana government is bearing all the expenses for dialysis of kidney patients after March 8," he further said.

He further said that the state government has played a crucial role in women's empowerment.

"We have provided gas cylinder at Rs 500 for women empowerment," he said.

He further said that politics is not just a way to gain power but the aim should be to serve the society.

"The history of the Saini community is of struggle, sacrifice and love. Our ancestors' contribution in the Indian freedom struggle has been invaluable. Our community has always played a leading role in education, agriculture and nation building. Today Saini community is making its presence felt in every field," he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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'Saw NRI Man Hitting Saif Ali Khan': Actor Amrita Ladak On Hotel Brawl Case

Bollywood actor Amrita Arora Ladak on Saturday deposed as a witness before a court here in the case concerning Saif Ali Khan, who was accused of attacking an NRI businessman and his father-in-law at a five-star hotel in 2012.

The actor was part of the group that had gone for dinner with Khan at the hotel when the alleged incident took place on February 22, 2012.

She told the court that the hotel had allotted a separate enclosure to them, and they were dining there and having a good time.

In the meantime, the complainant came there and began shouting and abusing them, she said.

"We saw someone barging into our enclosure and, in a very loud, aggressive voice, told us to shut up and keep quiet. We all got shocked at what was happening," she said, adding that actor Khan immediately stood up and apologised.

The man then left and they continued with their dinner, she said.

After a while, when Khan excused himself to go to the washroom, they heard loud voices, one of them being that of the Bollywood actor, Ladak told the court.

Moments later, they saw the man barging into their enclosure and hitting Khan, Ladak deposed.

Everyone then intervened and separated the two. That's when the man started abusing them and threatening them with "dire consequences", she added.

Khan was with Kareena Kapoor, her sister Karishma, Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Arora Ladak and a few male friends at the hotel when the brawl broke out with NRI businessman Iqbal Sharma.

According to police, when Sharma protested the raucous chatter of the actor and his friends, Saif allegedly threatened him and subsequently punched Sharma in the nose, fracturing it.

The NRI businessman also accused Saif and his friends of hitting his father-in-law Raman Patel.

However, Saif had maintained that Sharma made provocative statements or rather used abusive language against women with him and this led to the ruckus.

Saif and his two friends - Shakeel Ladak and Bilal Amrohi - have been charge-sheeted under section 325 (assault) of the Indian Penal Code.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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India Can't Change "Fanatical, Bigoted Mindset" Of Pakistan: S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, speaking in Lok Sabha on Friday, highlighted incidents involving attack on minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The minister said New Delhi is tracking "very closely" the treatment of minorities in Pakistan and making its position "well known", but the country cannot change the "fanatical and bigoted mindset" of a neighbour.

Replying to a supplementary query during the Question Hour, S Jaishankar pointed to 10 incidents involving attacks on Hindus in Pakistan in February.

Seven of these incidents are related to abduction and forced conversion, two other cases linked to abduction, and one to "police action" against students celebrating Holi, S Jaishankar said.

The external affairs minister said India also takes up such cases at the international level.

Responding to another supplementary question, he said, "Like in Pakistan, we track the welfare and well-being of minorities in Bangladesh as well ... In 2024, we had 2,400 incidents relating to attacks on minorities and in 2025, 72 incidents ... I have taken it up with my counterpart there. The foreign secretary also took it up when he visited Bangladesh. This continues to be a matter of concern for our government." BJP's Nishikant Dubey pointed out that there had been four agreements between India and Pakistan, including the Nehru-Liaquat Pact of 1950 to ensure protection of minorities, and sought to know whether these agreements need to be redone, and if India will raise the matter at the United Nations forum.

Responding to this, S Jaishankar said, "We have responded to the situation of minorities in different ways. Many of the agreements that the honourable member has referred to, do not apply anymore in reality, because there were commitments made by Pakistan for protection of its minorities, which it did not live up to".

"So, while we are raising our voice and exposing the attacks on minorities, if there are minorities who come to India, we take a sympathetic view of them. We have given them long-term visas. From 2014, we have granted 50,019 visas for minorities who came from Pakistan," he said.

On Pakistan, the external affairs minister informed the House that there were also three cases related to atrocities against members of the Sikh community. In one case, a Sikh family was attacked; in another, a Sikh family was threatened for reopening an old Gurdwara, and yet another case involved the abduction and conversion of a girl from the Sikh community, he said.

The minister added that two other cases involved members of the Ahmediya community, and another case in which a Christian person of unstable mind was charged with blasphemy.

Responding to a query on whether India plans "tough action" on the lines of earlier prime minister Indira Gandhi's stance against Pakistan, S Jaishankar said New Delhi is making its position "well known" but "we as a government and a country cannot change the fanatical and bigoted mindset of a neighbour." "Even Indira Gandhi could not do it," he observed.

In a written response to Lok Sabha the same day, the external affairs minister said the Government of India has regularly come across "reports of atrocities" committed against members of the minority communities in Pakistan.

He was asked whether the government was aware of the "heinous crimes" being committed continuously against the minority communities in Pakistan.

"The Government of India has regularly come across reports of atrocities committed against the minority communities in Pakistan, including various incidents of intimidation, persecution, killing, abduction, forced conversions and forced marriages," S Jaishankar said.

He was also asked if the government has taken, or proposes to take, any steps at international level to provide security to the minority communities in Pakistan and to protect their religious places.

The minister said India has on several occasions highlighted the condition of minorities and "violation of their human rights in Pakistan" at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

"It is the responsibility of the Government of Pakistan to discharge its constitutional obligations towards its citizens, including those from the minority communities. Based on the reports of atrocities against minorities in Pakistan, the Government of India has, from time to time, taken up the matter with the Government of Pakistan and asked it to take steps to protect and promote the safety, security and the well-being of its minority communities," he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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3 Cops Killed In Action, 2 Terrorists Shot Dead In J&K Encounter: Sources

Three police personnel have been killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, sources said on Thursday. Two of the terrorists have also been shot dead while three to four terrorists are still holed up.

Five security personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police, have also been injured and are undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Teams from the Army, the National Security Guard, the Border Security Force, Police, the Special Operations Group, and the Central Reserve Police Force had been carrying out searches in the area for the past five days. There was an exchange of fire on Sunday and a local resident had informed the police on Tuesday that two men in army uniform had asked her for water while they were having food in the area.

"Contact has been re-established with militants in the forest area of Juthana under police station Rajbagh in Kathua," an official told news agency IANS, adding that there had been no exchange of fire since Sunday.

The operation was supported by helicopters, drones, bulletproof vehicles, and sniffer dogs and security agencies had questioned several people and picked up three suspects. On Tuesday, the forces had recovered two grenades among other material.

The tracksuits found among a large cache of ammunition and other materials in the Sanyal forests were identical to those worn by the four Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) terrorists killed in the Assar forests and Doda in June and August last year, the IANS report said. 

Sunday's Gunfight

The operation, led by Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, was launched on Sunday evening in the Hiranagar sector. The Special Operations Group of the J&K Police had received intelligence about terrorists hiding inside a ''dhok'' (enclosure) in a nursery in Sanyal village, roughly 5 km from the International Border with Pakistan, officials said. 

The hiding terrorists opened fire and a gunfight followed, lasting over half an hour. 

The terrorists are believed to have inflitrated into India on Saturday. 

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Asia's Largest Tulip Garden In Srinagar Opens For Public

Nestled between the Dal Lake and the Zabarwan Hills, Asia's largest tulip garden opened for the public on Wednesday, marking the beginning of a new tourism season in the Kashmir valley.

The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden was thrown open to the public by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

The garden was set up by Ghulam Nabi Azad, the then chief minister of the erstwhile state in 2007 to advance J-K's tourist season which was earlier limited to the summers and the winters.

Formerly known as Siraj Bagh, the garden was opened to the public as tulips of different colours have started to bloom, Floriculture Department officials said.

The department plants tulip bulbs in a phased manner so that the flowers remain in bloom for a month or more.

This year, the department has added two new varieties of tulips to the garden.

A new colour scheme has been introduced this year, and the total number of varieties of tulips and other flowers has risen to 74.

Other spring flowers including hyacinths, daffodils, muscari and cyclamens are also on display.

About 17 lakh tulip bulbs have been planted in the garden that spreads over 55 hectares, the officials said.

The extension of the garden has reached almost its full capacity, they said.

The garden started on a small scale with 50,000 tulip bulbs imported from The Netherlands. It instantly gained popularity among tourists and has been steadily growing each year, both in terms of the number of visitors and the tulips that bloom.

More than 4.65 lakh visitors, both domestic and foreign, visited the garden last year while the footfall in 2023 was 3.65 lakh.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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India, China Make "Progress" To Resume Kailash Manasarovar Yatra: Centre

India and China have made progress on the modalities to resume Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said following the official consultation between the Foreign Ministries of India and China, held in Beijing on Wednesday.

Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia) at the MEA held a consultative meeting with Liu Jinsong, Director General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during which the two sides reviewed the action taken by them to implement the strategic direction as also the specific steps agreed in the meeting between Foreign Secretary and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister in January 2025 to stabilise and rebuild ties.

"They took positive note of the developments in bilateral relations since the meeting of the leaders of India and China in October 2024. In the intervening period, the Foreign Ministers have met twice, while the Special Representatives on the India-China boundary question have held their 23rd meeting. These high-level meetings have provided strategic guidance to stabilise and further develop relations," read a statement issued by the MEA.

"They agreed to continue efforts to further facilitate and promote people-to-people exchanges, including arrangements for resumption of direct flights, interaction of media and think-tanks, and celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. The two sides have made further progress on the modalities to resume Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in 2025," it added.

The MEA stated that both sides also took stock of the planned exchanges and activities this year, discussing resumption of dialogue mechanisms in a step-by-step manner to utilise them to address each other's priority areas of interest and concern and move relations on to a more stable and predictable path.

On Tuesday, India and China comprehensively reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the India-China border areas and early resumption of cross-border cooperation - including trans-border rivers and Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra - during the 33rd meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) held in Beijing.

While Das led the Indian delegation at the meeting, Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed the Chinese delegation.

The meeting, the MEA said, was held in a "positive" and "constructive" atmosphere.

"Peace and tranquility on the border are critical for the smooth development of overall bilateral relations. The two sides explored various measures and proposals to give effect to the decisions taken during the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives on the India-China boundary question in Beijing in December 2024 and to advance effective border management," read a MEA statement issued after the meeting.

"The two sides agreed to maintain and strengthen relevant diplomatic and military mechanisms towards this end. They also exchanged views on early resumption of cross-border cooperation and exchanges, including on trans-border rivers and Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra," it added.

During the meeting, both countries agreed to work together to make substantial preparations for the next meeting of the Special Representatives (SR), which will be held in India later this year. The Indian delegation leader also paid a courtesy call on China's Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had visited Beijing on January 26-27 for a meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Foreign Minister mechanism between both countries, following which both countries announced their decision to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the summer of 2025.

The meeting was held to review the state of India-China bilateral relations, as agreed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting in Kazan last October.

During their discussions, Foreign Secretary Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong agreed to take certain people-centric steps to stabilise and rebuild ties.

Both sides also agreed, in principle, to resume direct air services between the two countries with the relevant technical authorities on the two sides to negotiate an updated framework for the purpose at an early date.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Causing Great Prejudice To Litigants": Top Court Judge On Lawyer Strikes

Justice AS Oka of the Supreme Court today spoke about the people's trust in courts, saying it may not be as much as it is believed to be, and how lawyers using unconstitutional means like a strike can further whittle it down by raising the pendency of cases. 

"If today lawyers practising in high courts are taking recourse to something highly unconstitutional, are we not causing great prejudice to litigants?" he said in his address at an event organised by SCAORA or the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association.
 
Lawyers and judges, Justice Oka said, often carry the wrong impression that the people have full faith in courts. But such an impression may not be entirely correct and one of the major reasons for lack of faith in judiciary is pendency of cases, he said.

"We kept patting our backs that citizens trust the courts, but we have to ask if the citizens are saying that," he said. "I have been to villages etc. The statement that common man has full faith in judiciary may not be entirely correct. Out of 4.5 crore pending cases, 10 per cent are over a decade old," Justice Oka said.

His comments come amid the ongoing strike by lawyers of the Allahabad High Court. The Bar Association there is protesting against the transfer of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, whose transfer there was advised by the Supreme Court after bundles of half burnt cash was found on the premises of his Delhi bungalow on Holi. 

The Allahabad High Court is the parent court of Justice Varma.
Lawyers, Justice Oka said, are taking recourse to unconstitutional means of protest cause "great prejudice" to the common litigant.

"Dr Ambedkar had warned that in independent India unconstitutional means of protest are prohibited. If today lawyers practicing in the high court takes recourse to something completely unconstitutional, are we not causing big prejudice to litigants?" he said.

Explaining the point, he said, "We talk about great pendency in bigger high courts.. and who is contributing to it? Imagine there are 1,000 bail applications before five courts and 100 will be taken up".

"If members boycott... Then the date will be given when the accused is entitled to bail. Then who is to blame?" he questioned.

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ममता बनर्जी का लंदन में दिखा देसी अंदाज, साड़ी और चप्पल पहनकर की जॉगिंग, देखें वीडियो

पश्चिम बंगाल की मुख्‍यमंत्री ममता बनर्जी (Mamata Banerjee) अपनी सादगी के लिए जानी जाती हैं, फिर चाहे देश हो या विदेश. ममता बनर्जी ब्रिटेन की आधिकारिक यात्रा पर हैं. बावजूद इसके न उनका अंदाज बदला है और न ही लिबास. ममता बनर्जी को हम देश में जिन परिधानों में देखते हैं, वैसे ही परिधान में वे लंदन में भी नजर आई हैं. विदेश से उनके देसी अंदाज वाला एक वीडियो सामने आया है, जिसमें ममता बनर्जी जॉगिंग करती दिख रही हैं. सोशल मीडिया पर उनका यह वीडियो बहुत ही पसंद किया जा रहा है. इस दौरान फिटनेस के प्रति उनका क्रेज भी झलकता है. 

ममता बनर्जी इस वीडियो में हरी बॉर्डर वाली साड़ी और अपने चिर-परिचित अंदाज में चप्पल पहने नजर आ रही हैं. लंदन के सर्द मौसम के कारण बनर्जी ने काले रंग का ‘कार्डिगन' पहन रखा था और उन्होंने शॉल भी ओढ़ा हुआ था. साथ ही उनके साथ इस वीडियो में बड़ी संख्‍या में लोग नजर आ रहे हैं. 

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अपनी किसी विदेश यात्रा के दौरान साड़ी पहनकर ममता के ‘जॉगिंग' करने का यह पहला मामला नहीं है. 2023 में स्पेन की आधिकारिक यात्रा के दौरान मैड्रिड में उन्हें साड़ी और चप्पल पहनकर टहलते देखा गया था. बनर्जी रविवार को लंदन पहुंची थीं.

बंगाल और ब्रिटेन के बीच सदियों पुराना रिश्ता: बनर्जी

सोमवार को ‘एक्स' पर साझा की गई एक पोस्ट में बनर्जी ने कोलकाता और लंदन के बीच ऐतिहासिक जुड़ाव का जिक्र करते हुए कहा, ‘‘बंगाल और ब्रिटेन के बीच सदियों पुराना रिश्ता है, जो इतिहास, संस्कृति और वाणिज्य में अपनी जड़े जमाये हुए है.''

उन्होंने कहा, ‘‘कल जब हम लंदन पहुंचे, तो हमने एक ऐसे शहर में कदम रखा, जो कोलकाता की तरह ही अपने अतीत को संजोये हुए है, साथ ही वर्तमान की गतिशीलता को भी खुद में सहेजे हुए है. दिन के कार्यक्रम शुरू होने से पहले, मैंने लंदन की भव्यता में खुद को सराबोर करने के लिए कुछ वक्त बिताया.''

कोलकाता, जिसे पूर्व में कलकत्ता के नाम से जाना जाता था, 1911 तक ब्रिटेन शासित भारत की राजधानी थी.

बंगाल का लोगों को जोड़ने में विश्‍वास: बनर्जी 

बाद में, बनर्जी ब्रिटेन में भारत के उच्चायुक्त विक्रम के. दोराईस्वामी द्वारा आयोजित ‘इंडिया हाउस' में एक जलपान कार्यक्रम में शरीक हुईं. 

मुख्यमंत्री ने कहा, ‘‘बंगाल दीवार खड़े करने में नहीं, बल्कि लोगों को जोड़ने में हमेशा से विश्वास करता रहा है....''

बनर्जी 22 मार्च को लंदन के लिए रवाना हुई थीं. वह 27 मार्च को ऑक्सफोर्ड विश्वविद्यालय में व्याख्यान देने वाली हैं. उनके 28 और 29 मार्च के बीच भारत लौटने की उम्मीद है. लंदन की यह उनकी दूसरी यात्रा है. उन्होंने पहली यात्रा नवंबर 2017 में की थी.

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'PoK भारत का था, है और रहेगा', UN में भारत ने साफ कहा- पाकिस्तान को खाली करना होगा कब्जा

भारत ने संयुक्त राष्ट्र में पाकिस्तान की आलोचना करते हुए कहा कि वह जम्मू-कश्मीर के क्षेत्र पर अवैध रूप से कब्जा जारी रखे हुए है, जो उसे खाली करना होगा. ये टिप्पणियां सोमवार को संयुक्त राष्ट्र में भारत के स्थायी प्रतिनिधि राजदूत पार्वथानेनी हरीश ने संयुक्त राष्ट्र शांति अभियानों में अनुकूलता को बढ़ावा देने पर संयुक्त राष्ट्र सुरक्षा परिषद (UNSC) की खुली बहस में कीं. वह पाकिस्तान के कब्जे वाले कश्मीर के संदर्भ में बोल रहे थे.

जम्मू कश्मीर भारत का अभिन्न अंग था, है और हमेशा रहेगा

संयुक्त राष्ट्र में भारत के स्थायी प्रतिनिधि राजदूत पार्वथानेनी हरीश ने कहा, ‘‘जम्मू-कश्मीर भारत का अभिन्न अंग था, है, और हमेशा रहेगा. पाकिस्तान ने जम्मू-कश्मीर के एक हिस्से पर अवैध रूप से कब्जा जारी रखा है, जो उसे खाली करना होगा.''

पाकिस्तान द्वारा जम्मू-कश्मीर का मुद्दा उठाए जाने पर भारत की दो-टूक

हरीश की यह कड़ी प्रतिक्रिया पाकिस्तान द्वारा संयुक्त राष्ट्र सुरक्षा परिषद की खुली बहस के दौरान जम्मू-कश्मीर का मुद्दा उठाए जाने के बाद आई. उन्होंने कहा, ‘‘इस तरह के बार-बार उल्लेख न तो उनके (पाकिस्तान के) अवैध दावों को मान्य करते हैं और न ही उनके राज्य प्रायोजित सीमा पार से आतंकवाद को उचित ठहराते हैं.''

हरीश ने कहा, ‘‘हम पाकिस्तान को सलाह देंगे कि वह अपने संकीर्ण और विभाजनकारी एजेंडे को आगे बढ़ाने के लिए इस मंच का ध्यान भटकाने की कोशिश न करे.'' उन्होंने जोर देकर कहा कि भारत अधिक विस्तृत उत्तर देने के अधिकार का प्रयोग करने से बचेगा.

हरीश का यह जवाब पाकिस्तानी प्रधानमंत्री के विशेष सहायक सैयद तारिक फातमी द्वारा सुरक्षा परिषद में संयुक्त राष्ट्र शांति स्थापना के भविष्य पर चर्चा के दौरान जम्मू-कश्मीर पर दिए गए बयान के बाद आया है. भारत ने कहा है कि वह पाकिस्तान के साथ सामान्य पड़ोसी संबंध चाहता है, लेकिन इस बात पर जोर देता है कि इस तरह के संबंधों के लिए आतंक और शत्रुता से मुक्त वातावरण बनाने की जिम्मेदारी इस्लामाबाद पर है.

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'Sentinels Of North East' Assam Rifles Celebrates 190th Raising Day. See Pics

India's oldest paramilitary force the Assam Rifles celebrated its 190th Raising Day at its headquarters in Meghalaya's capital Shillong today.

The 4 Assam Rifles received the 'DGAR Banner' for 2023-24, while 3 Assam Rifles came first runners-up, and 36 Assam Rifles took the second runners-up place.

DGAR is short for Director General Assam Rifles.

The honours (DGAR Banner) were a significant highlight of the Raising Day ceremony that recognised the dedication, professionalism and outstanding contributions made by battalions and units in ensuring security and stability of the region, the Assam Rifles said in a post on its official Facebook page.

Assam Rifles Director General Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera spoke highly of the personnel for their outstanding contribution in fighting insurgency in the northeast region and Jammu and Kashmir, an official said.

The Assam Rifles - 'Sentinels of the North East' - is under the administrative control of the Union Home Ministry and operational control of the Indian Army.

At the war memorial in Shillong's Laitkor, all ranks of the force paid homage to soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation, the Assam Rifles said.

The force has been modernising itself with proper acquisition of weapons, surveillance, and protective equipment, the official said.

Union Ministers Amit Shah and Jyotiraditya Scindia, and governors and chief ministers of states in the northeast also extended greetings to the Assam Rifles on its 190th Raising Day.

"Greetings to our brave sentinels of the Northeast, the Assam Rifles personnel and their families on Raising Day. The force has knocked off the challenges to the security of the northeast with their valour and won hearts through their humanitarian assistance to the people. Salute to the warriors of the Assam Rifles who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty," Mr Shah said in a post on X.

Greetings to our brave sentinels of the Northeast, the Assam Rifles personnel and their families on Raising Day.

The force has knocked off the challenges to the security of the Northeast with their valour and won hearts through their humanitarian assistance to the people.... pic.twitter.com/CsXuf6zR8i

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 24, 2025

Mr Scindia, who heads the Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Ministry, said the Assam Rifles "have stood as the guardians of the northeast for decades, ensuring security with unmatched valour while also fostering deep bonds with the people through their relentless service."

Honouring the unwavering courage & dedication of the Assam Rifles on their Raising Day.

They have stood as the guardians of the Northeast for decades, ensuring security with unmatched valor while also fostering deep bonds with the people through their relentless service.

My... pic.twitter.com/BXXLzz5eyB

— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) March 24, 2025

The Assam Rifles was formed in 1835. It has grown substantially over the years from 17 battalions in 1960 to over 45 battalions at present. The force guards the 1,643-km border with Myanmar along Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Manipur (398 km), Nagaland (215 km), and Mizoram (510 km).

Outside of Jammu and Kashmir, the Assam Rifles is known as one of the most experienced counter-insurgency forces. Two Assam Rifles battalions were sent from Manipur to Jammu and Kashmir in September 2024.

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"Apologise For What Happened On Show, Will Ensure No Recurrence": Samay Raina

Comedian Samay Raina on Monday expressed regret over a series of remarks that were made on his now-deleted web show "India's Got Latent", and promised to be more careful in ensuring that such incidents are not repeated, sources said.

In a statement to the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, Mr Raina, who got into trouble over Podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia's remarks in February that led to a massive furore, "admitted his mistake" and "apologised for whatever happened during the show". 

The comedian also said that "everything happened in a flow during the show and that he did not intend to say what he said", the sources added.

He promised to be more careful and ensure that such incidents are not repeated. 

Besides, the comedian said the entire controversy surrounding his show has taken a toll on his mental well-being. "He said that his Canada tour did not go well. He apologised and said he knew he was wrong," one of the sources said. 

Mr Raina, who recently returned from abroad, appeared before the probe agency at its headquarters in Mhape, where he recorded his statement for over five hours, another source said. The agency had earlier summoned him several times in the case. 

In February, Mr Allahbadia's remarks about parents and sex on the "India's Got Latent" show kicked up a political storm in the Maharashtra political circle, with many calling out for a ban on his podcast. Politicians, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and opposition leaders of the state, criticised him for exploiting freedom of speech.

The issue echoed in Parliament where Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske called for a law to regulate social media. Multiple FIRs were filed against Mr Allahbadia, Mr Raina and others linked to the show. They were also summoned by the National Commission for Women (NCW).  

Mr Allahbadia has apologised twice for his remarks and Mr Raina - who deleted his show - earlier this month rescheduled his India comedy tour in the aftermath.

Mr Raina's shows in Gujarat were also reportedly cancelled in February following the outrage.

Last month, the Supreme Court granted interim protection from arrest to Mr Allahbadia while calling his comments "vulgar", and saying he had "dirty mind" which put the society to shame. 

Besides Mr Raina and Mr Allahbadia, YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani and comics Jaspreet Singh and Apoorva Makhija were also charged in cases registered by the Guwahati Police and the Maharashtra Police's Cyber Cell.

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'Equip Children With...': Manish Sisodia On Role Of Teachers In Age Of AI

Schools must go beyond academics and equip children with the ability to live meaningfully with others in the age of Artificial Intelligence, former Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia said while addressing a gathering of teachers from Delhi, Punjab, and Uttarakhand.

Mr Sisodia said the central challenge of the future will not be mastering technology but fostering harmony within oneself, with others, and with nature. 

Speaking to teachers associated with an NGO focused on professional development, he emphasized that education must prioritize emotional intelligence, empathy, and coexistence in an era increasingly dominated by machines.

The former Delhi Education Minister said the world is undergoing a "rapid transformation due to Artificial Intelligence". "We are entering an era where AI can already write essays, solve math problems, summarize history chapters, and even simulate science experiments," he said. 

In such a world, the traditional idea of the teacher as a 'content delivery machine' is becoming obsolete. Manish Sisodia highlighted that in "Such a vast and dynamic education system, AI can be a powerful tool, but only teachers can provide context, ethics, emotional support, and real-world wisdom." 

"The purpose of school education must now shift from content delivery to character development, creativity, collaboration, and compassion," he added.

Giving an example, Mr Sisodia said, "Earlier, when a teacher taught Newton's Laws, students needed the teacher to explain it. Today, a 12-year-old can ask ChatGPT and get instant answers, illustrations, and even video explanations. The question, therefore, is no longer how to teach Newton's Laws, but why it is important to learn about motion, force, and inquiry at all."

"Let AI give them the answers. Teachers must help them frame questions that matter questions about ethics, meaning, and society."

He cited the example of Finland, where schools are now focusing more on phenomenon-based learning rather than siloed subject content. "Why can't we have a curriculum unit in Class 8 called 'Plastic: A Curse or a Convenience?' instead of isolated chapters in science, geography, and civics?"

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Did Shivaji Have A Dog? Call To Remove Dog Memorial From Raigad Fort

Former Rajya Sabha member and a descendant of the Kolhapur royal family, Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, has asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to remove the memorial of a dog from Raigad Fort.

The memorial, built in 1920s, was for "Waghya" meaning "Tiger". 

Legend has it that he was a mix breed dog of the Maratha emperor. When Shivaji died, the dog apparently jumped onto his funeral pyre and immolated himself.

The Archaeological Survey of India, however, maintained that there is no documentary evidence of such a dog, Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati has claimed. 

The former MLA, in a letter to the Chief Minister dated March 22, has stressed that the dog's memorial should be removed before May 31.

"A few decades ago, a memorial of a dog named Waghya was erected near that of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the Raigad Fort, his capital in the 17th century," his letter read.

"However, there is no documentary evidence concerning Waghya, the name of the pet dog of Shivaji Maharaj. As there is no such evidence, it is an encroachment on the fort, which is legally preserved as a heritage structure," he had added.

"It is unfortunate and demeans the legacy of the great Shivaji Maharaj," said the ex-MP.

A structure older than 100 years is protected as per ASI's policy. The dog's commemorative structure should be removed before it earns such a status, Sambhajiraje added. 
 

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Eminent Gandhian Krishna Bharati Passes Away At 92

Krishna Bharati, a Gandhian and daughter of noted freedom fighter late Pasala Krishna Murthy, passed away here on Sunday. She was 92.

Krishna Bharati breathed her last at her residence in Snehapuri Colony here following a brief illness.

Hailing from the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, she was the second daughter of freedom fighters Pasala Krishna Murthy and Anja Lakshmi.

Krishna Bharati was a strong believer in Gandhian values and upheld the same throughout her life. She also strived for the upliftment of Dalits. She had made donations to educational institutions and goshalas.

Krishna Bharati was unmarried. She is survived by four brothers and three sisters.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has condoled the death of Krishna Bharati. He recalled her services for educationally uplifting the weaker sections of society.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched the feet of Krishna Bharati at Andhra Pradesh's Bhimavaram at a programme to unveil a statue of freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju in 2022.

The Prime Minister had also called on the other family members of Pasala Krishna Murthy.

Born in 1900 in West Vipparru village in the Tadepalligudem taluka of the West Godavari district, Pasala Krishna Murthy joined the Congress party along with his wife in 1921.

Krishna Murthy and his wife had unfurled the Indian flag on the office of Bhimavaram sub-collector in 1932, for which they were imprisoned.

Anja Lakshmi had given birth to Krishna Bharati in jail. Krishna Bharati had spent the first 10 months of her life in prison.

Krishna Murthy couple donated their entire property for the freedom movement and took part in the Salt Satyagraha (Dandi March). When Mahatma Gandhi visited West Godavari district, Krishna Murthy served as his personal secretary.

The couple had also taken part in the Bhoodan movement of Vinoba Bhave and got house sites for Dalits in their villages.

Krishna Murthy passed away in 1978.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"I Did Not Incite Any Violence": Sambhal's Jama Masjid Sadar Chief Zafar Ali

Jama Masjid Sadar Chief and Shahi Mosque Committee Chief, Zafar Ali, on Sunday claimed that he did not incite any violence regarding the November 24 Sambhal incident.

"I did not incite any violence...," said Zafar Ali while being taken into custody by Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday for questioning in connection with the violence that erupted in Sambhal on November 24 last year.

Ali was taken to Chandausi for a medical examination amid heavy security.

Following his detention, a group of his supporters staged a protest, demanding his immediate release. The police have yet to issue an official statement regarding Ali's role in the case.

Earlier today, Zafar Ali and his son were summoned to the Sambhal Police Station for questioning. Security has been tightened outside the Chandausi Court, where both are to be presented as part of the legal proceedings in the case.

Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhary said, "There are no new arrangements made... Forces have been deployed to maintain peace... There is peace in the area..."

The violence in question occurred on November 24, 2024, when an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team arrived to survey the historic Shahi Jama Masjid, accompanied by a Hindutva mob chanting "Jai Shri Ram." As local Muslims gathered outside the mosque and tensions escalated, police resorted to force and opened fire on the protesters, killing at least four men and several injured, including officials and locals.

The Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) had earlier filed a chargesheet of over 4,000 pages in six of the 12 cases in the November 24 Sambhal violence that erupted during the ASI's examination of the Mughal-era mosque.

The violence resulted in 12 FIRs and 80 arrests for allegedly pelting stones at police from rooftops.

According to the charge sheet, there were 159 total accused in the case. It also mentioned that the weapons recovered from the site of violence and other places were manufactured in the United Kingdom, USA, Germany, and Czechoslovakia.

Since November last year, no further incidents of violence have been reported in the area. During Holi celebrations, the police maintained tight security, conducting flag marches to ensure peace. To protect the mosque from any colours or vandalism, a tarpaulin sheet was also placed over the Jama Masjid at that time.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Accused Not Freed": Disha Salian Father's Lawyer On Sushant Singh Case Closure

The recent filing of closure reports by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the death cases of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput (SSR) has sparked fresh debates and controversies.

Advocate Nilesh C Ojha, representing Disha Salian's father, has responded strongly to the CBI's move, asserting that a closure report does not automatically exonerate the accused and that further investigation can still be ordered.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, Mr Ojha emphasised that the closure report filed by the CBI in the cases related to Sushant Rajput does not mean that the accused are off the hook.

"First of all, there has been no authentic statement from CBI on the closure report. Even after a closure report is submitted, it does not imply that the accused are freed. There is always the possibility that the court could reject the report if it finds it unsatisfactory or if further evidence emerges. The court could order further investigations, issue fresh charge sheets, or even issue arrest warrants against the accused, as seen in cases like the Aarushi Talwar murder case," he said.

Mr Ojha further clarified that he had not yet seen the closure report and that the CBI had not provided any official or authentic statement regarding its findings.

He cited examples of previous high-profile cases, such as that of Justice Nirmal Yadav, where the courts had ordered further investigations after rejecting closure reports.

"The court may not accept the closure report if it finds the investigation incomplete or unsatisfactory. In such cases, a fresh charge sheet may be filed, or even arrest warrants could be issued," he added.

Addressing the ongoing political debates surrounding the case, Mr Ojha firmly rejected the notion that political motivations were driving the case.

"While politicians may have their own agenda, this case is about seeking justice for Disha Salian and Sushant Singh Rajput, not political gains. The legal process should remain independent and focused on finding the truth, not influenced by political dynamics," Mr Ojha added.

He also detailed the legal steps taken by Disha Salian's father in his fight for justice. According to Mr Ojha, Disha's father had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in September 2023, prompting the Maharashtra government to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) by December of the same year.

Mr Ojha further pointed out that despite the SIT's formation and Disha's father's statements in support of reopening the case, there was a significant delay in action from the authorities.

"In January 2024, a formal complaint was filed by Disha's father, which included evidence and sought to register a case of gang rape and murder against individuals such as Aditya Thackeray. However, the complaint was delayed for many months, and despite submitting substantial evidence, the case was not registered," Mr Ojha added.

The advocate highlighted key unanswered questions in the case, which he believes require urgent attention.

"Disha Salian's father is demanding answers to four crucial questions: Was Aditya Thackeray's mobile tower location linked to the incident? Was he in the vicinity at the time? Why was a false post-mortem report created? And why were witnesses reportedly threatened?" he said.

Mr Ojha stressed that these unresolved issues point to serious manipulations in the investigation and the need for transparency and accountability.

He also noted that the original claims made by the police, such as the narrative of Disha Salian's death by falling from the 14th floor without any visible injuries, raise doubts.

"When the post-mortem report shows no fractures or blood loss, it raises serious questions about the authenticity of the investigation. The authorities must look into these discrepancies," Mr Ojha concluded.

Sushant (34), popularly known as SSR, was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14, 2020, sparking a major controversy. The investigation was later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation. His postmortem report, conducted at Mumbai's Cooper Hospital, stated the cause of death was asphyxia.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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