Daily Briefing: The Army's freehand in Pahalgam response
From India's storied Golconda mines—the birthplace of legends like the Koh-i-Noor and Darya-i-Nur—emerged The Golconda Blue, once destined to fetch a whopping $35–$50 million at Christie's. It was poised to become the largest Fancy Vivid Blue diamond ever auctioned. Its anonymous owners have instead opted for a private sale within the family, pulling the gem from public view. But its legacy is anything but quiet. Once owned by the Maharaja of Indore, passed to famed jeweller Harry Winston, and briefly held by the Maharaja of Baroda, the Golconda Blue has a rich history. Read about it in our explainer.
On that note, let's get to today's edition.
Big Story
As the government readies its response to the April 21 Pahalgam attack, India's top defence leaders gathered at the Prime Minister's residence on Tuesday. Per sources, PM Modi told them the armed forces have ' complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing of our response'. A meeting of the Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS)—comprising the Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Home Minister, Finance Minister and External Affairs Minister—is expected later today.
So, what should India's response be? Our columnists C Raja Mohan, M N Sabharwal, and Manish Sabharwal weigh in. Raja Mohan argues that India's retaliation must not just punish but compel a political reckoning inside Pakistan. (Read) Meanwhile, the Sabharwals examine the strategic arc of India's Kashmir policy and why this attack demands a forceful reaction.
Adding fuel to the fire, Pakistani minister Attaullah Tarar has warned that Islamabad has 'credible intelligence' suggesting India could launch a military operation within the next 24–36 hours.
Only in Express
The diplomatic measures in the wake of the Pahalgam attack have spelt despair for several families. As India ordered Pakistani nationals to return to their countries, the Attari border post has become a site of teary farewells and heartbreak. For many, the suspension of visas for Pakistani nationals has meant separation from spouses and children. My colleague, Kamaldeep Singh Brar, documents their stories.
Similar scenes are playing out miles away in Jammu and Kashmir, where many fear a midnight knock by the police, which will send them to Attari alongside other deportees.
From the Front Page
Bottom line: In the ongoing case over the alleged use of Pegasus, an Israeli-made spyware, to surveil journalists, activists and politicians, the Supreme Court has underlined that there is nothing wrong if a country has spyware and employs it for security. The only question would be against whom it is used.
(S)heroes: Last year, Himachal Pradesh's Chief Minister announced his government's plans to create an experimental women-led district administration. In the first such district, Lahaul and Spiti, all seven top governance and administrative posts are now held by women.
Must Read
Fair winds: India is all set to acquire 26 Rafale-M fighter jets after its Rs 63,000 crore deal with France. An expert, Rear Admiral Mukul Asthana (Retd), explains the significance of the aircraft for the armed forces and why the Rafale fighter jets would improve interoperability between the Navy and the Air Force.
Island Voice: The Great Andamanese, which includes a mixture of tribal languages such as Jero, Sare, Bo, and Khora, has fewer than 10 speakers alive. In the face of this extinction, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have embraced a unique linguistic identity as speakers of Andamanese Hindi. Unlike Hindi, the language does not have any gender agreement or number agreement. Read Adrija Roychowdhury's fascinating piece on the origins and evolution of Andamanese Hindi.
And Finally…
A handy companion for many, ChatGPT has a new offering for its users. OpenAI is set to launch a new shopping option, especially for users who research and buy products with the help of the AI chatbot. For now, the feature is advertisement-free, which may have Google worried.
🎧 Before you go, don't forget to tune in to the latest '3 Things' podcast episode. Today's lineup: Crackdown on Bangladeshi illegal immigrants in Ahmedabad and the shutting down of tourist sites in J&K.
Business As Usual by EP Unny
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
33 minutes ago
- News18
PM Kisan 20th Installment: Are Banks Open On Sunday, Aug 03, For Disbursing Amount?
Last Updated: PM Modi released Rs 20,500 crore under PM Kisan 20th installment in Varanasi. Each eligible farmer received Rs 2,000 via DBT. Are Banks open on Sunday, August 3, 2025 for this? PM Kisan Samman Nidhi 20th Installment: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday released over Rs 20,500 crore under the PM Kisan 20th installment, at an event in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Under this, each eligible farmer has received Rs 2,000 directly in their bank account. After an unexpected delay, the 20th PM Kisan installment has brought a smile on the faces of farmers. The respective amount will be credited to the farmers' accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). However, there is confusion among the farmers, as banks are supposed to be closed on Sunday. If the banks are closed, then disbursing the amount will be a challenge. The Department of Financial Services has issued a directive to keep bank branches open on Sunday, August 3rd, 2025, for the disbursement under the PM Kisan scheme. However, CH Venkatachalam, the General Secretary of the All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA), has raised his concerns over the banks' requirement to stay open on August 3, 2025 (Sunday) in a post on X. In a strong letter addressed to the Ministry of Finance, the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has expressed serious concerns over the recent directive to keep bank branches open on Sunday, August 3, 2025. On behalf of public sector bank employees across India, the UFBU has condemned the instruction issued by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture. According to the letter, the directive not only forces bank staff to work for 12 consecutive days—from July 28 to August 8—but also lacks legal backing under the Negotiable Instruments Act, as no official notification or gazette has been issued declaring August 3 as a working day. 'This move places the banking workforce in a legally ambiguous and administratively unprotected position," said UFBU in the letter. 'It disregards the physical and mental toll on bank employees who are already struggling with staff shortages, high customer footfall, and multiple government schemes." The union also highlighted the government's continued inaction on the long-pending demand for a 5-day work week. 'Instead of addressing this basic welfare measure, the government is asking banks to operate on Sundays without compensatory safeguards or consultation with unions," the letter read. Public sector banks, which execute nearly 100% of government welfare schemes including PM-KISAN, are operating under a severe staffing crunch. The customer-to-employee ratio in PSBs stands at a staggering 1:2100, compared to around 1:400 in private banks. The UFBU noted that this raises questions about the sustainability of expecting PSBs to handle additional burdens without due support or reform. #UFBU Letter: Direction to keep Bank Branches open on Sunday, 3rd August, 2025 – Grave concern regarding employee welfare and work-life balance #AIBEA @nsitharaman @nsitharamanoffc @CLCMOLE @ChiefIba @ChairmanIba @DFS_India — CH VENKATACHALAM (@ChVenkatachalam) August 2, 2025 Stay updated with all the latest business news, including market trends, stock updates, tax, IPO, banking finance, real estate, savings and investments. Get in-depth analysis, expert opinions, and real-time updates—only on News18. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) pm modi PM-Kisan view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
35 minutes ago
- News18
Pahalgam Attacker's Symbolic Funeral In PoK Confirms Pakistan's Link To Attack: Report
Last Updated: The event further confirmed Islamabad's hand in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir. The symbolic funeral (Janaza-Ghaib) for Tahir Habib (Jibran), one of the Pahalgam terrorists killed in Operation Mahadev in Jammu and Kashmir, was recently held in his native village of Khai Gala in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), reported The Times of India. The event further confirmed Islamabad's hand in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir. Footage posted on Telegram shows villagers, including elderly locals, gathering for final prayers in memory of Habib, a former Pakistani soldier and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative. Tahir, designated as a Category 'A' terrorist, had been a key target for Indian security agencies due to his role in cross-border militancy. His death, along with two others in Srinagar last week in Operation Mahadev, marked a significant success for Indian forces. However, the ceremony took an unexpected turn when local Lashkar commander Rizwan Hanif attempted to attend. According to eyewitnesses, the family rejected the presence of LeT operatives, but Hanif persisted, resulting in a tense exchange. 'Lashkar operatives threatened mourners with a gun, sparking outrage among villagers. The residents of Khai Gala, who have long been wary of radicalisation, are now planning a public boycott to oppose terror recruitment," a source familiar with the incident said. The tensions surrounding Habib's funeral reflect not just local resentment against terror groups, but also the broader reach of India's retaliatory operations like Operation Sindoor, aimed at dismantling cross-border terror networks in the aftermath of the Pahalgam massacre. Under 'Operation Mahadev,' Indian forces on July 28 neutralised three Pakistani terrorists in the Lidwas forest near Harwan, on the outskirts of Srinagar. According to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the three were behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Shah identified one of the slain terrorists as Suleiman, the key planner of the attack. The others were named Afghan and Jibran (Tahir Habib) — all senior operatives of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Modi highlights govt's farmer outreach, his bond with Kashi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday highlighted his government's farmer-centric policies and spoke about his deep emotional connection with the people of Varanasi, which he has been representing as an MP since 2014, noting that the uninterrupted stream of development continues to flow in the city. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a gathering in Varanasi. (ANI PHOTO) The prime minister was addressing a public gathering on Saturday in Banauli village, Sewapuri, Varanasi. During his daylong visit to the city, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 52 projects worth around ₹2,200 crore. He also transferred ₹20,500 crore directly into the bank accounts of over 9.70 crore farmers nationwide under the 20th installment of the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi scheme. A short film showcasing the success and impact of the scheme on farmers was also screened during the event. He cited the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi as proof of the government's firm commitment and recalled how Opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party and Congress had spread rumours in 2019, claiming the scheme would stop after elections or the money would be taken back. 'Has a single installment stopped over the years? The PM-KISAN scheme is running without any break,' he said. Presenting data, he shared that nearly ₹3.75 lakh crore has been transferred directly to farmers' accounts so far. In Uttar Pradesh alone, 2.5 crore farmers have received over ₹90,000 crore, while farmers from Kashi have got ₹900 crore. Modi emphasised the transparency of the scheme, saying there are no cuts, commissions or middlemen. 'We have created a permanent system where there's no leakage and no one can steal the rights of the poor,' he added. Reiterating the development mantra 'jo jitna pichhra, use utnahi zyada prathamikta (the more backward one is, the higher the priority that one receives),' Modi announced that earlier this month, the central government approved a major new initiative—the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana. He informed that ₹24,000 crore will be allocated for this scheme. The prime minister emphasized that the focus of this initiative will be on districts that were left behind due to flawed policies of previous governments—areas with low agricultural output and where farmers' incomes remain limited. Modi said the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana will directly benefit millions of farmers in Uttar Pradesh as well. 'Our government is working with full strength to transform the lives of farmers, increase their income, and reduce the cost of cultivation, We stand firmly with farmers from seed to market,' he said , highlighting that to ensure water reaches the fields, irrigation schemes worth lakhs of crores of rupees are being implemented across the country. He acknowledged that weather has always posed a major challenge for farmers—be it excessive rainfall, hailstorms, or frost. To protect farmers from such uncertainties, the government launched the PM Fasal Bima Yojana. He informed that under this scheme, farmers have received claim settlements amounting to over ₹1.75 lakh crore so far. Affirming that the government is committed to ensuring farmers receive fair prices for their produce, the prime minister stated that record increases have been made in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of crops, including key staples like rice and wheat. He expressed satisfaction at connecting with the farmers from across the country through videoconference. Emphasising the government's focus on increasing women's participation in the agricultural economy, Modi highlighted the 'Lakhpati Didi' campaign, with a target of creating three crore Lakhpati Didis across India. He said that listening to this figure the people of the SaPa (SP) will run away riding their cycles. Modi said that over 1.5 crore women have already achieved this milestone. He also mentioned that the government's 'Drone Didi' initiative has significantly boosted the income of lakhs of women. He said, 'Under the Jan Dhan Yojana, 55 crore bank accounts have been opened for the poor across the country'. He said the scheme recently completed 10 years and as per regulations, bank accounts require fresh KYC verification after ten years. He added that to fulfill this requirement, a nationwide campaign has been launched from July 1, 2025. He appealed to every individual who holds a Jan Dhan account to ensure they complete their KYC process without delay. Modi shared that in recent days he had been observing images of Shiva devotees in Varanasi carrying Gangajal, especially on the first Monday of Sawan, when the pilgrims set out to perform the sacred Jalabhishek of Baba Vishwanath. 'I had a deep desire to visit Baba Vishwanath and Markandeya Mahadev during the holy month of Sawan,' he said. However, he noted that his presence could cause inconvenience to Mahadev's devotees or disrupt their darshan, hence he was offering his salutations to Lord Bholenath and Maa Ganga from here only. Recalling his recent visit to the historic Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple in Tamil Nadu, Modi noted that this temple was built by the renowned king Rajendra Chola, who had brought Gangajal from North India to symbolically unite the North and South. He highlighted that a thousand years ago, through his devotion to Lord Shiva and commitment to Shaivite tradition, Rajendra Chola had proclaimed the vision of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.' He said that during his recent visit to Gangaikonda Cholapuram, he had carried Gangajal with him, and with the blessings of Maa Ganga, the puja was conducted in a deeply sacred atmosphere. He stated that such eventful occasions ignite the spirit of unity in the country.
