Watch: Article 370 row, Ahmedabad crash toll, Bezos' Venice wedding & more
1. CJI Gavai Says Article 370 Was Against Ambedkar's Ideals
Chief Justice of India BR Gavai stated that Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, went against Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's idea of one Constitution for a united India. Speaking at a function in Nagpur, he noted that Ambedkar had firmly opposed the idea of separate constitutional provisions for a single state.
Justice Gavai echoed these sentiments, describing Article 370 as a constitutional anomaly. His remarks come amid continuing debates over the long-term impact of its abrogation in 2019.
2. Himanta Biswa Sarma Says 'Socialism, Secularism' Can Be Dropped From Constitution
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has reignited constitutional controversy, stating that the terms 'socialism' and 'secularism' were added to the Preamble during the Emergency and could be removed. He claimed these additions did not reflect the original vision of the Constitution and were politically motivated.
Sarma's comments have drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who accused the BJP of trying to dilute India's foundational values. Legal scholars, meanwhile, have weighed in on whether the terms are symbolic or enforceable principles.
3. Ahmedabad Flight Crash: Final Victim Identified, Toll Reaches 260
Authorities have confirmed the identity of the final victim from the Ahmedabad flight crash through DNA testing. The victim's remains were recovered from the wreckage earlier this week. With this, the official death toll now stands at 260.
The tragic crash is now among the deadliest in Indian civil aviation. Investigators are looking into possible causes, including mechanical failure and pilot error. The black box has been recovered and is being examined for further clues.
4. Search for JeM Militants in J&K's Basantgarh Continues for Third Day
Security forces continued their search operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Basantgarh area for the third straight day. The operation was launched after intelligence inputs indicated the presence of three suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists in the region.
Army, police, and CRPF personnel are combing through dense forest terrain using drones, sniffer dogs, and thermal imaging equipment. Authorities say the militants are believed to be heavily armed and possibly linked to recent infiltration attempts across the border.
5. Jeff Bezos Weds Lauren Sánchez in Lavish Venice Ceremony
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos married television personality Lauren Sánchez in a grand wedding ceremony held in Venice, Italy. The private affair was attended by several global celebrities, including Bill Gates and Leonardo DiCaprio, drawing major media buzz.
The couple had announced their engagement last year. The wedding reportedly took place on Bezos' $500 million yacht and was followed by a reception at a historic palace along the Grand Canal. It's being described as one of the most extravagant weddings of the year.
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India.com
26 minutes ago
- India.com
T Raja Singh Resigns As BJP MLA, Cites Leadership Concerns In Telangana Unit
New Delhi: BJP MLA T. Raja Singh has tendered his resignation from primary membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party, citing concerns over the appointment of Ramchander Rao as the new Telangana BJP state president. In a strongly worded letter addressed to Union Minister Kishan Reddy, Singh expressed the discontent of 'lakhs of Karyakartas, leaders, and voters' who he believes are being ignored as the party prepares for its first opportunity to form a government in the state. Singh, elected thrice consecutively from Goshamahal, stated that his decision was motivated not by personal ambition but by the collective pain and frustration of grassroots workers who feel "sidelined and unheard", a sentiment he claims is being driven by individuals with 'personal interests' clouding the central leadership's judgment. 'At a time when BJP stands at the threshold of forming its first government in Telangana, such a choice raises serious doubts about the direction we are heading,' Singh wrote, warning that the party risks 'avoidable setbacks' by overlooking seasoned local leaders. Over media reports of the possibility of party leader Ramchander Rao being appointed as Telangana BJP chief, BJP MLA T. Raja Singh resigns from the party's primary membership, citing shock and disappointment — ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2025 N Ramchander Rao, a seasoned criminal lawyer and veteran leader of the Telangana BJP, is well-known for his long-term commitment to the party. A trusted associate of the late Arun Jaitley, Rao has also held the position of member of the Bar Council of India. According to an India Today report, the party sources said that the BJP leadership reached out to Ramchander Rao on Sunday evening, first with a call from organisation secretary Chandrasekhar to confirm how many years he had been with the party. This was followed by another call asking him to file his nomination for the state president post on Monday. The leadership ensured he was the sole contender. T Raja observed that the Telangana BJP possessed capable senior MLAs and MPs with strong credibility and local connections, yet these were overlooked. Instead, he accused some centralized figures of influencing decisions behind closed doors. In his letter, Singh requested Kishan Reddy to inform the Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly that he was no longer a BJP member. Despite resigning from the party, he reaffirmed his commitment to the ideology of Hindutva and pledged to continue supporting the Hindu community in Goshamahal. 'While I may be stepping away from the party, I remain fully committed to the ideology of Hindutva and the service of our Dharma and the people of Gosharmahal,' he said. Calling it a difficult but necessary decision, he said, 'The silence of many should not be mistaken for agreement. I speak not just for myself, but for countless karyakartas and voters who today feel let down.' Singh also appealed directly to the BJP's national leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president J.P. Nadda, Amit Shah, and B.L. Santhosh—urging them to reconsider the appointment for the state leadership. Raja Singh signed off the letter with 'Jai Hind. Jai Shri Ram.' Singh's resignation adds momentum to growing criticism over top-down decisions within party ranks in Telangana. With the BJP aiming to significantly expand its presence in the state legislature, discontent from senior MLAs may impact its electoral calculus. Party officials have not yet issued a public response. It remains to be seen whether Singh's resignation prompts further internal discussion or sparks similar moves among other disillusioned members.
NDTV
34 minutes ago
- NDTV
Exclusive: New Satellite Pics Show India's Attack Split Pak Terror Camps Into Half
New Delhi: New high-resolution satellite imagery with NDTV shows, for the first time, the impact of Indian precision strikes against two major terrorist training camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) during Operation Sindoor last month. While the armed forces have not identified the weapons used in the attack, it is believed that both were targeted with loitering drones. The images are of two camps, the Syedna Bilal Camp in Muzaffarabad, 36 kilometres west of Tangdhar in Kashmir, and the Kotli Gulpur camp, which is 40 kilometres west of Rajouri in Jammu. Both were struck in the early hours of May 7, when India targeted multiple terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and PoK following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians lost their lives. The Syedna Bilal Camp is in Muzaffarabad; the Kotli Gulpur camp is 40 kilometres west of Rajouri in Jammu. High res here It was the worst terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir since the Chattisinghpora massacre in March 2000, in which 36 Sikhs were killed. Syedna Bilal The Syedna Bilal Camp in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, was a key staging area for terrorists affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammed. The camp also served to train terrorists in weapons handling, jungle survival and explosives and ordnance. The before and after images of the strike show a group of interconnected buildings (81 x 92 feet) having been taken out in what appears to be a drone strike. There is no collateral damage in the area. According to army sources, recruits were sent to Syedna Bilal for specialised training in June 2023. They were being prepared to be launched across the Line of Control in Uri and Keran sectors with the aim of targeting the railway bridge between Kathua and Ramban. Post training, these terrorists were transported to staging camps and launch pads in Pakistan's Punjab, where they received specialised communication training. After the training, they were divided into groups of four to eight terrorists and were infiltrated into India through the International Border between March and May 2024. The majority of terror attacks in Jammu last year were executed by these terrorists. Top JeM terrorists, including Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri, Amir JeM, Abdullah Jehadi and Ashiq Negroo, regularly visited the camp. Guest houses were also built near the camp for senior JeM commanders visiting Muzaffarabad. Army sources said the camps are known to be backed and protected by Pakistan's intelligence, particularly the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which provides training, weapons, and safe passage for terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir. ''These images of precision strikes at the terrorist camps at Kotli and Muzzafarabad, without any collateral damage, are a clear display of Indian capability,'' Lieutenant General Satish Dua (retired), who commanded the Srinagar-based 15 Corps responsible for military operations in the Kashmir Valley, said. ''For decades, we felt helpless that despite knowing their precise locations, we could not strike at the terror camps due to self-imposed restrictions in the nuclear backdrop. But Pahalgam changed all that," he added. These Maxar satellite images of the strike on the Syedna Bilal Camp in Muzaffarabad back on-ground photographs of the attack published by the German news outlet TRT Deutsch. Kotli The second set of images focuses on the Gulpur camp in Kotli. It shows buildings which are believed to be a base camp of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist group involved in attacks in the Rajouri-Poonch area of Jammu. The satellite imagery shows a structure, 110 x 30 feet, having been split right down the centre. The roof of a smaller structure right next to this building was also severely damaged. Before and after images of damage at a base camp of the LeT group involved in attacks in Jammu's Rajouri-Poonch area. High res here The government believes that the terrorists trained here had carried out attacks in Poonch in 2023 and on a bus of pilgrims last year. The camp was constructed between August and September 2022. According to army sources, the training facility was a well-established LeT training centre, where a large number of terrorists, including suicide bombers, were undergoing advanced combat training. The site, which had also had residential facilities, was harbouring 30-50 terrorists and their trainers. It was used by terrorists who have been trying to revive terrorism in the Poonch and Rajouri region in recent years. The training facility was being actively used by more than one terror group, army sources said. It was a known centre for guerrilla warfare, survival training and arms training to Pakistani terror outfits. The camp was temporarily shut down post the Balakot strike by India in 2019, but is said to have resumed training activities for terrorists in 2020. A structure was split right down the middle at the Gulpur camp in Kotli. High res here "Much of our attention during Operation Sindoor has been focused on the strikes at Muridke, Bahawalpur, and attacks on Pakistani airfields. However, the strikes carried out on terror camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir are equally significant," Lt General DS Hooda (retired), who was India's Northern Army Commander when the Army launched 'surgical strikes' into Pakistani territory in 2016, said. ''It is from these camps that terrorists carry out close reconnaissance of infiltration routes, and the final training and planning before entering into Indian territory. Destruction of this infrastructure would have an immediate effect on the morale of terrorists and their ability to conduct attacks in both the Jammu and Kashmir regions," he said. Operation Sindoor India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 and struck nine infrastructure sites linked to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen. The strikes lasted from 1:05 AM to 1:30 AM. While four of the targets were in Pakistan - Bahawalpur, Muridke, Sialkot, and a village near Shakar Garh, five targets were in PoK - Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bhimber, Rawalakot, and Chakswari. It is believed that more than 100 terrorists were killed in the strikes.
Indian Express
35 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Leadership issues: Firebrand Telangana BJP MLA Raja Singh resigns from party
Upset over the possible appointment of Ramchander Rao as BJP's Telangana President, the party's firebrand MLA Raja Singh on Monday wrote to Union Minister G Kishan Reddy saying that he is resigning from the primary membership of the saffron party. Reddy is presently the state chief and the party high command is likely to announce new successor on Tuesday. Singh said the decision to appoint the new head of the party in the state has come as a shock and disappointment, not just to him, but to lakhs of Karyakartas, leaders, and voters who have stood by the party through every high and low. 'With great sadness, I have decided to resign from the primary membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party. I request you, Shri Kishan Reddy ji, to kindly inform the Hon'ble Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly that T Raja Singh is no longer a member of the BJP,' he said in the letter. 'There are many capable senior leaders, MLAs, and MPs within Telangana who have tirelessly worked for the growth of BJP and who have the strength, credibility, and connections to lead the party forward. Unfortunately, it appears that some individuals, driven by personal interests, have misled the central leadership and taken decisions by running the show from behind the curtain, he alleged. 'This not only undermines the sacrifices of grassroots workers but risks pushing the party into avoidable setbacks,' he said. He said he has been a dedicated Karyakarta, elected three times in a row with the blessings of the people and support of the party. 'But today, I find it difficult to stay silent or pretend that all is well. This is not about personal ambition, this letter reflects the pain and frustration of lakhs of loyal BJP Karyakartas and supporters who feel sidelined and unheard,' Singh said. Though he may be stepping away from the party, the Goshamahal legislator said he remains fully committed to the ideology of Hindutva and the service of Hindu Dharma and the people of his constituency.
