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PM Modi congratulates Amit Shah on becoming longest-serving home minister
Shah took charge of the Ministry of Home Affairs on May 30, 2019, and continued as the country's home minister in 2024. On Tuesday, he became the longest-serving home minister with a tenure of six years and 66 days, surpassing Congress leader Gobind Ballabh Pant, who held the post for six years and 65 days between 1955 and 1961. Advani was home minister for six years and 64 days between 1998 and 2004. Shah reached this milestone on the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, which Parliament repealed on August 5, 2019.
Currently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who turned 74 in July, ranks second in the Union Council of Ministers. He has served in the first and second Modi-led NDA governments between 2014 and 2024. After the PM, he was the first Cabinet minister to take the oath of office in 2014, 2019, and again in 2024.
At Tuesday's meeting, MPs felicitated the PM for his "exceptional leadership" in marshalling India's response following the Pahalgam terror attack. A resolution passed at the meeting praised the armed forces for their "unmatched courage" and "unwavering commitment" during Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev. Singh garlanded Modi, with Shah and Union Minister and BJP president J P Nadda by his side. After the meeting, Singh led MPs from the Parliament Library Building — the venue — to the Parliament House.
The PM told BJP and allied MPs that they should participate actively in all programmes as part of the ruling coalition, irrespective of their party's individual strength in a particular region. In some states, the BJP may not be as strong as its allies, but all parties must act together as NDA members, he said. Sources present at the meeting said the PM's broader message was about maintaining cohesion and coordination within the alliance.
Leaders of NDA allies joined BJP leaders in the front row at the meeting. The BJP and its allies currently govern in 19 out of 28 states and are preparing for the upcoming Assembly polls in Bihar.
The NDA Parliamentary Party meeting was last held on July 2, 2024. At Tuesday's gathering, Modi also noted the historical significance of August 5. Article 370 was abrogated on this day in 2019, and the ground-breaking ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya took place on August 5, 2020.
The NDA resolution paid tribute to the 26 civilians who lost their lives in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, carried out by terrorists linked to Pakistan. It also praised Modi for his leadership.
The NDA is yet to announce its candidate for the vice-presidential election, scheduled for September 9. The last date for filing nominations is August 21. The BJP is also expected to elect its next president soon.
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The Hindu
9 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Bombay High Court denies bail to ex-BJP MLA for shooting inside police station
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Ganpat Gaikwad, a former MLA from the Kalyan (East) constituency, filed a regular bail application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), in connection with a case registered at Hill Line Police Station, Ulhasnagar. He is accused of offences under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 143, 147, 148, 149 (unlawful assembly and rioting), 109 (abetment), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, along with Section 30 of the Arms Act. According to the prosecution, on February 2, 2024, the two gathered at Hill Line Police Station, each demanding criminal action against the other. Around 9:30 p.m., Shiv Sena leader Mahesh Gaikwad, along with Rahul Patil and complainant Chainu Jadhav, was inside the Senior Police Inspector's cabin when Ganpat Gaikwad and his associate Vicky Ganatra entered. A heated argument broke out between the two factions. As tensions escalated, Senior PI Anil Jagtap stepped out to control the situation outside the cabin. The prosecution has alleged that after emptying all bullets from the revolver, the applicant noticed that the injured Mahesh was still alive. At this point, the Ganpat is stated to have sat on the Mahesh's chest and inflicted multiple forceful blows on his head using the butt of the revolver, a part not meant for attack, further aggravating the assault. 'Such an act, if taken to be true, demonstrates not only an intention to kill but also reveals the applicant's determination to ensure fatal consequences, irrespective of the location and presence of police officers,' Justice Borkar said, adding that these allegations, viewed in the context of the place where the incident occurred, inside the cabin of a senior police officer within the four corners of a police station, add a serious dimension to the entire episode. 'A police station is presumed to be a secure place for redressal of disputes and protection of life and liberty. If a violent crime of this scale is allowed to take place within such a protected zone, it shakes the confidence of the public in the ability of law enforcement machinery to maintain peace and order. A person, more so a public representative, engaging in such conduct reflects not only disregard for the rule of law but also sends a message of fear and intimidation to the citizens at large,' the court observed. While passing the order, the Judge said that the court is conscious of the fact that an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, at the stage of considering bail, the court cannot remain oblivious to the gravity of the offence and the manner in which it was committed. 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Mint
9 minutes ago
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Business Standard
9 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Netanyahu hints at wider war in Gaza, former military & spy chiefs object
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The Israeli defence body in charge of coordinating aid, COGAT, said on social media there will be a "gradual and controlled renewal of the entry of goods through the private sector in Gaza". It said a limited number of local merchants were approved for the plan. 'Stained with humiliation and blood' Mohammed Qassas from Khan Younis said his young children are so hungry that he is forced to storm aid trucks, which rarely reach warehouses these days because they are stopped by hungry crowds. "How am I supposed to feed them? No one has mercy," he said on Monday. "If we fight, we get the food. If we do not fight, we do not get anything." It has become routine to see men returning from aid-seeking carrying bodies as well as sacks of flour. Israel's blockade and military offensive have made it nearly impossible to safely deliver aid, contributing to the territory's slide toward famine. Aid groups say Israel's week-old measures to allow more aid in are far from sufficient. Families of hostages in Gaza fear starvation affects them too, and blame Hamas. As international alarm has mounted, several countries have airdropped aid over Gaza. The UN and aid groups call such drops costly and dangerous for residents, and say they deliver far less aid than trucks. 'The entire world is watching' Palestinians gather daily for funeral prayers. "We are unarmed people who cannot endure this," shouted Maryam Abu Hatab in the yard of Nasser hospital. Ekram Nasr said her son was shot dead while seeking aid near the Morag Corridor. "I had to go alone to carry my son," she said, tears in her eyes. "I collected the remains of my son like the meat of dogs from the streets." "The entire world is watching," she added. "They are watching our patience, our strength and our faith in God. But we no longer have the power to endure.
