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LIVE news: Union minister Gadkari to lay foundation stone for projects worth ₹6,350 cr
Separately, representatives from several INDIA bloc parties met with the Election Commission to voice their objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. They criticised the timing of the revision, warning that it could lead to the disenfranchisement of over two crore voters ahead of the state assembly elections. The Congress alleged that after the economic blow of demonetisation, this 'Vote-bandi' could threaten the foundations of democracy.
Eleven parties—including the Congress, RJD, CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation, NCP-SP, and the Samajwadi Party—raised their concerns directly with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Ghana's national honour, 'The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana', in recognition of his 'distinguished statesmanship and influential global leadership'. He received the honour on Wednesday from President John Dramani Mahama. 'Honoured to be conferred with 'The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana','PM Modi stated on X.
10:19 AM
News update: Rain likely in city; air quality satisfactory
Delhi on Thursday recorded a minimum temperature of 27.7 degrees Celsius, with the weather department predicting rain along with thunderstorm. The relative humidity was 79 per cent at 8.30 am and the maximum temperature is expected to settle at 36 degrees Celsius.
10:09 AM
Message conveyed with great clarity: Jaishankar on objective of Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor conveyed to the world with great clarity that India will act against terrorism, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a statement in line with the UN Security Council calling for those responsible for the Pahalgam attacks to be brought to justice. "What is important for us in the Quad statement, as also the statement that the Security Council had issued on April 25, is that the perpetrators of terrorism must be held accountable. They must be brought to justice,' Jaishankar said.
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Hans India
28 minutes ago
- Hans India
Kangana Ranaut Stands By Statement About Lacking Funds For Himachal Flood Relief Efforts
BJP parliamentarian and actress Kangana Ranaut has maintained her position regarding statements she made about her limitations in providing disaster relief to flood-affected areas in her Mandi constituency. The newly-elected MP expressed no regret over her candid remarks about lacking both financial resources and cabinet authority to directly assist victims of the devastating cloudbursts and floods that have ravaged Himachal Pradesh. Speaking to India Today TV on Monday, Ranaut defended her approach as honest communication with her constituents about the realities of her parliamentary role. She emphasized that transparency about her capabilities and constraints was essential for setting appropriate expectations among the affected population. The actor-turned-politician clarified that her statements reflected the practical limitations of her position while highlighting her commitment to securing assistance through proper channels. She stressed that as a Member of Parliament, her primary responsibility involves raising concerns and advocating for financial aid from the central government rather than providing direct relief from personal resources. Ranaut announced her intention to formally request Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a special financial package dedicated to addressing the extensive damage caused by the natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh. This approach demonstrates her strategy of leveraging her parliamentary position to secure substantial federal assistance for the affected regions. The controversy emerged following her visit to disaster-affected areas on Sunday, where she made what critics described as unusual remarks about her role and capabilities. During interactions with local media, she explicitly stated that she possessed neither cabinet status nor dedicated disaster relief funding, while emphasizing her efforts to facilitate central government assistance. Her comments drew criticism from opposition parties, particularly the Congress, which questioned the timing and appropriateness of her statements during a crisis situation. Ranaut responded by accusing Congress leaders of selectively highlighting portions of her statements while ignoring the constructive aspects of her message about securing federal support. The BJP MP strongly criticized the Congress-led state government's disaster response, alleging inadequate relief efforts for those affected by the natural calamities. She accused the ruling party of failing to provide sufficient assistance to families who lost lives, suffered injuries, or experienced property damage due to the cloudbursts and subsequent flooding. The natural disasters have caused extensive devastation across Himachal Pradesh, with official reports confirming 78 fatalities statewide. In Mandi district alone, 14 people have died, while search operations continue for 31 missing individuals. The destruction encompasses residential properties, agricultural infrastructure, transportation networks, and utility services. Damage assessments reveal the scale of the catastrophe, with over 150 houses destroyed, 106 cattle sheds damaged, and 31 vehicles lost. Critical infrastructure has suffered severe impacts, including 14 bridges and numerous roads rendered impassable. The agricultural sector has been particularly hard hit, with 164 cattle deaths reported in the district. Power supply disruptions have affected daily life significantly, with 236 transformers damaged and 278 water supply schemes compromised in Mandi district. Transportation challenges persist as approximately 200 roads remain closed to traffic, hampering relief efforts and normal movement of goods and people. Ranaut's defense of her statements reflects broader questions about the role and expectations of elected representatives during emergency situations. Her emphasis on working within institutional frameworks rather than providing personal assistance highlights the systemic approach to disaster management in India's federal structure. The MP's commitment to pursuing federal assistance through official channels demonstrates her understanding of the legislative process and her strategy for maximizing available resources. Her promise to personally approach the Prime Minister indicates recognition of the severity of the situation and the need for extraordinary measures. The political controversy surrounding her remarks illustrates the complex dynamics of disaster response in India, where public expectations of immediate assistance from elected officials often conflict with the realities of governmental procedures and resource allocation. Ranaut's approach of clearly communicating her limitations while promising advocacy efforts represents one strategy for managing these expectations while working toward substantive solutions.
Scroll.in
29 minutes ago
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‘Intellectual dishonesty': Congress after Centre claims India is among most equal countries
The Congress on Monday accused the Union government of 'scaling new heights of intellectual dishonesty' with its 'fraudulent' analysis of World Bank data to claim that India is among the world's most equal countries. 'By doctoring data, the [Narendra] Modi government cannot simply wish away the stark reality of what is staring us in the face: growing and deepening inequalities, driven by its mindset and policies,' Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said on X. His remarks came after a Press Information Bureau release published on Saturday cited data from the World Bank to claim that India ranked fourth globally in income equality with a Gini Index of 25.5. The Gini Index is used to measure income inequality. It ranges in value from 0 to 100, with a score of 0 indicating perfect equality in a country and a score of 100 signifying maximum inequality where wealth is concentrated in fewer hands. The higher the Gini Index, the more unequal the country. The PIB release claimed that extreme poverty had dropped in India to 2.3% in 2022-'23. '171 million Indians moved out of extreme poverty between 2011–23,' it added. This interpretation has been criticised as being flawed, as the PIB compared India's consumption-based Gini Index with the income-based figures of other countries. Consumption inequality refers to the disparity in spending or consumption levels among individuals or households within a society. It is generally lower than income inequality in most countries because those with higher incomes tend to save more. As a result, consumption data, though still unequal, tends to appear more balanced than income data. On Monday, Ramesh said that when World Bank released its report for India in April, the Congress had identified 'warning signs' about poverty and inequality flagged in the report, including that government data was underestimating inequality. Three months after its release, the 'Modi government's drumbeaters and cheerleaders in the 'Press (mis)Information Bureau' issued a press release…making the 'staggeringly out-of-touch' claim that India is among the world's most equal societies,' added the Rajya Sabha MP. He alleged that the Union government was not only 'negligent' in its analysis of the World Bank report, but that it was also 'outright intellectually dishonest'. 'India is not the 4th most equal society, it is actually the 40th most unequal society in the world,' said Ramesh. He added: 'Such fraudulent analysis, being published through the auspices of the PIB, reveals one of two things: a disturbing lack of talent in this government, or an equally disturbing lack of intellectual integrity.' Ramesh also demanded that the PIB issue a clarification on the origins of the press release and retract it immediately. There has been a 'dangerous trend of such random ad-hoc statements and declarations' coming from the Union government, Ramesh said. 'In May 2025, we saw a similar flurry of incoherent and diverging statements from NITI Aayog officials on the size of the Indian economy,' he claimed. 'The political leadership's penchant for distortion and propaganda has clearly trickled down to officials as well.'
Hans India
43 minutes ago
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Kharge accuses BJP of betraying Chhattisgarh, says Congress will fight back
Raipur: At a charged public gathering in Raipur titled 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Samvidhan', Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge launched a sweeping attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led central government, accusing them of betraying the people of Chhattisgarh and undermining the Constitution. He accused them of undermining constitutional values, dismantling welfare schemes, and failing to address pressing national crises. In a speech marked by sharp political barbs and emotional appeals, the Congress chief positioned the Congress as the defender of India's democratic fabric and the voice of the marginalised. Kharge alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is propped up by allies like Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu, claiming that Modi is 'walking on the legs of Nitish and Naidu' and could collapse without their support anytime. He accused the BJP of working in tandem with these allies to exploit the poor, while asserting that Congress workers are prepared to sacrifice their lives to protect the rights of the people. He criticised the BJP for failing to implement the reservation Bill passed by the previous Congress government, which aimed to expand quotas for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. 'We worked to give reservations to ST, SC, and OBC, but till date there is no trace of the Bill,' Kharge said, calling it a betrayal of social justice. He also took aim at the BJP's economic promises, reminding the crowd that Modi had pledged to provide LPG cylinders at Rs 500 if elected. 'Today, the price is beyond Rs 900,' he said, adding that during Congress rule, even a Rs 1 hike in petrol prices would spark public protests—something he described as a 'trick' designed by the BJP to discredit the UPA government. He condemned PM Modi's absence from an all-party meeting convened after the Pahalgam terror attack, despite being invited. 'We all attended, but Modi did not,' he said. He also lambasted the Prime Minister for not visiting Manipur, where ethnic violence has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced thousands. 'Modi is visiting 50 countries but is not able to go to Manipur so far, why?' Kharge asked. 'Rapes are happening, people are being killed, houses are burning—but he hasn't gone there even once.' In a pointed reference to recent remarks from the RSS, Kharge read aloud from the BJP's own constitution, highlighting that the word 'secular' is enshrined in it. Without naming anyone, he criticised those who have called for the removal of the term from the Indian Constitution. 'They want to erase the word that protects the poor and underprivileged from all sections of society,' he said, warning that such efforts threaten the very foundation of India's democracy. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Congress leader Sachin Pilot echoed Kharge's sentiments, criticising the BJP for dismantling welfare schemes, failing to provide employment, and neglecting farmers' needs. Baghel warned that the future of schoolchildren is at risk, while Pilot emphasised that the Congress would fight the 2028 elections with the same unity and resolve that brought them to power in the past. The rally marked a renewed push by the Congress to reclaim political ground in Chhattisgarh, positioning itself as the guardian of constitutional values and the voice of the voiceless.
