Mumbai, June 4 (IANS) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that Maharashtra is a leading state in all sectors in the country, and it is also at the forefront when it comes to enacting public welfare laws.

He stated that not only other states but even foreign countries are replicating the laws made by Maharashtra. As part of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Law and Judiciary Department, CM Fadnavis unveiled the emblem of the Legislative Branch and released five books.CM Fadnavis said that the Law and Judiciary Department has played a vital role in the development of Maharashtra, adding that it plays an important role in the process of lawmaking. “Many of the state’s laws have been adopted by the central government. In the legislative process, there are often in-depth discussions over several days before a law is enacted. This department is celebrating its golden jubilee year, and this should mark the beginning of a transformation in its functioning,” he observed.“Considering the current situation, it is essential to frame laws that are useful to the public. Drafting is a crucial part of this process. The government always strives to ensure that laws serve the interests of the people. The books published by the Law and Judiciary Department will serve as a legacy for the next generation and will be useful reference material in the future lawmaking process,” he remarked.According to the Chief Minister, the government has taken a positive stance regarding the proposals for strengthening the department and decisions in this regard will be taken soon. “The department should have a permanent training policy, with some training programs made mandatory. Training should be aligned with the changing technologies and work procedures. The scope of internship programs should be expanded by increasing participation from law students in rural areas,” he said.–IANSsj/dan

Surat, June 4 (IANS) Despite spending crores of rupees on city bus services to offer affordable and efficient public transport, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) in Gujarat has suffered massive financial losses due to widespread ticket theft and passenger misconduct by bus conductors.

In a crackdown, the corporation has blacklisted 1,032 conductors in the past 17 months following numerous complaints, including non-issuance of tickets, misbehavior, and harassment. The SMC operates over 750 city and BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System) buses, serving approximately 2 lakh commuters daily, including students, professionals, and daily-wage earners.However, the city’s public transport service has frequently found itself in controversy, largely due to the conduct of staff assigned to these buses. The municipality launched an investigation after receiving widespread reports that conductors were collecting cash fares from passengers but deliberately not issuing tickets, thereby pocketing the money. The misconduct not only resulted in revenue leakage but also discouraged citizens from using the service.In response, the Surat Municipal Corporation formed a dedicated vigilance team to monitor the conduct of bus staff. The team played a crucial role in identifying and reporting violators, which led to disciplinary action against over a thousand conductors. Speaking to the media, Somnath Marathe, Chairman of the Public Transport Service of SMC, said: “Earlier, suspensions were common, but conductors often got reinstated due to recommendations. Now we follow a zero-accident and zero-tolerance policy. Whether it’s speeding, improper dress code, not wearing seat belts, or failing to issue tickets, we are no longer turning a blind eye. We have blacklisted such negligent conductors and drivers.”While efforts have been made to improve public transport in Surat through low-fare city and BRTS buses, the recurring misconduct by conductors has dented public confidence. SMC’s ongoing enforcement drive is aimed at restoring trust and encouraging more citizens to return to using the public transport system. The corporation has also indicated it will take strict action against drivers and conductors who fail to adhere to safety and service standards going forward.–IANSjanvi/dan

New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, June 4 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his son-in-law and state PWD Minister P.A.Mohammed Riyas on Wednesday heaved a sigh of relief when Union Minister Nitin Gadkari assured them that the under-construction NH 66 that had collapsed at multiple places will be completed on time.The duo was in Delhi and had a long meeting with Gadkari. Soon after it, Riyas told the media that the Union Minister has assured the NH 66 will be completed on time and it will come as a New Year gift.”The Minister assured us that strong action will be taken against those responsible for the collapse. They are waiting for a report on this from the National Highway Authority of India,” said Riyas, who, along with Vijayan, has been at the receiving end ever since the collapse of the NH 66 at multiple places in Thrissur, Malappuram and Kasargod was reported last month.”The Union Minister heard us patiently and after going through the memorandum that was submitted, he has promised that Kerala will get more infrastructure support from the Centre by way of more new roads,” he added.The duo had come under flak especially from Congress General Secretary and Congress MP from Alappuzha K.C.Venugopal, who is also the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, said he was shocked to hear the sequence of events of what happened, when he attended the meeting held last week to discuss the crumbling of the NH 66 passing through Malappuram.Venugopal slammed Vijayan and said when he was always taking credit for NH-66 till it crumbled and the moment the news surfaced that NH-66 was breaking not at one place, but at several spots, he did not even go and visit the spots where the highway has developed cracks, despite being in Malappuram for two days.On Wednesday, Kerala’s Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said all are surprised that till date neither Vijayan nor any in the ruling Left has uttered a word about the collapse of the NH 66.”Not long ago, when some minor fault occurred on a bridge that was constructed during the rule of the Congress, Vijayan registered a case against the then minister, and here, when this massive damage took place in the NH 66, Vijayan has no issues and has not said a word against the Centre. He is scared. We demand that a CBI probe take place. Not everything is clear in this construction… things will soon surface,” he claimed.–IANSsg/vd

Bhopal, June 4 (IANS) After organising seven Regional Industry Conclaves (RICs) and Global Investment Summit (GIS), the Madhya Pradesh government will organise the ‘Spiritual and Wellness’ summit on June 5.

Based on the theme ‘Wellness-A New Perspective’ will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in the state’s religious city of Ujjain.During the event, the Chief Minister will hold one-on-one meetings with major investors, policymakers, and representatives of organisations from the wellness sector. The summit aimed at positioning Madhya Pradesh as a global wellness hub and to establish Ujjain as an internationally recognised centre of wellness. It is being organised by the Department of Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion. “The event will focus on promoting investment and collaboration in fields such as yoga, Ayurveda, naturopathy, public awareness, spirituality, and wellness-based industries,” an official said. The summit will feature high-level panel discussions on wellness sector development, policy-making, public-private partnerships, sustainable wellness infrastructure, and investment opportunities. “It will open with a session, where domain experts will discuss how wellness sector policies can encourage investments and partnerships to strengthen infrastructure, improve quality standards,” the official added.Another panel discussion will focus on the wellness ecosystem and workforce development to highlight aspects such as the integration of traditional medicine systems, the need for research investments, and harmony with modern healthcare practices. “The summit is a significant step toward placing Madhya Pradesh on the national and global wellness map, and advancing a three-pronged strategy of policy, innovation, and investment in the wellness sector,” the official said. To promote investment and employment opportunities, the government will also organise workshops, expos, and conclaves at national and international platforms throughout the year. –IANS pd/dan

New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) In the wake of the tragic stampede that claimed 11 lives during Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL victory celebrations in Bengaluru, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Member Priyank Kanoongo expressed deep concern and vowed accountability in a public statement.

Taking to X, Kanoongo wrote: “The incident of the death of innocent people in the stampede during the celebration of victory in the IPL cricket tournament in Karnataka is very sad. The incident is being taken cognisance of, the responsibility of the culprits will be fixed after investigation, and no culprit will be allowed to escape. Citizens are requested to send information about the injured and dead directly to me by email, and participate in helping the victims. Information of any victim should not be hidden, and it is our duty to get them justice.”The incident occurred outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday as an estimated crowd of over 2 lakh people gathered to celebrate RCB’s first-ever IPL title win.The crowd overwhelmed the stadium’s official 35,000-person capacity, leading to panic and a fatal stampede near the main gates.The Karnataka government has confirmed that 11 people, mostly young girls and boys, lost their lives, while 33 others were injured, though all are now reported to be out of danger.Addressing the press later that evening, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed the incident a “big tragedy” and visited the injured at Bowring and Vaidehi hospitals.“One lakh people gathered in front of Vidhana Soudha. The capacity of Chinnaswamy Stadium is 35,000, but about 2 to 3 lakh people gathered at the stadium. No one expected this turnout,” he said.“Among the dead, most are young girls and boys. We are providing Rs 10 lakh compensation for each deceased’s family. The injured will receive free treatment.”Siddaramaiah maintained that the situation was unforeseen and stressed that a magisterial inquiry would reveal if there were lapses in planning or security. The report is expected within 15 days.When questioned by journalists on whether his remarks absolved the administration, Siddaramaiah responded sharply:“The media should not ask questions like an opposition party… I don’t want to play politics in this. Let us wait for the outcome of the probe.”The incident has already triggered a wave of criticism from opposition parties, particularly the BJP, over alleged administrative failure. However, the Chief Minister reiterated his focus on accountability over politics.–IANSbrt/dan

Ahmedabad, June 4 (IANS) The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a rainfall forecast for several parts of Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, till June 10.

The bulletin comes as the state experiences sporadic pre-monsoon showers and cloud formation, while the monsoon system itself remains stalled over Maharashtra. “Heavy rainfall is likely in Surat, Dang, Navsari, Valsad, Daman, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli,” stated an IMD release.A broader alert predicts light thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and surface winds ranging between 30–40 km/h across multiple districts, including Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar, Aravalli, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Anand, and Panchmahal, among others. Despite the early onset of monsoon over Kerala and Mumbai this year, the system has lost momentum. “After making its way to Mumbai, the monsoon has stalled due to the lack of a strong weather system to drive it forward,” said a senior meteorologist. “The next phase of rainfall for Gujarat, particularly the southern belt, is now expected around June 14-15.”Surat, for instance, witnessed a maximum temperature of 34.2°C and a minimum of 29°C on Tuesday, with humidity levels hovering around 73 per cent. While clouds have been forming regularly and isolated showers have occurred, there has been no sustained rainfall. A brief system over the Arabian Sea near Ratnagiri and Mahabaleshwar did bring precipitation to those coastal areas, but it weakened soon after. “We’re closely monitoring developments over the Arabian Sea. A new system is likely to take shape, which may finally push the monsoon further into Gujarat,” the IMD spokesperson added.Historically, Gujarat sees pre-monsoon activity by the end of May or early June, but consistent rainfall generally begins in mid-June. In line with this pattern, the IMD expects the monsoon to enter Surat and South Gujarat by June 14 or 15 this year — a timeline consistent with previous years despite the initial early onset in the south. For now, residents across the state are advised to remain alert for local thunderstorms and wind activity, particularly in central and northern districts.–IANSjanvi/dan

New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday presented Distinguished Service Awards to 92 senior armed forces personnel at the Defence Investiture Ceremony-II held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.The recipients, who included serving and retired officials from all three services, included 30 awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), the highest award for distinguished service during times of peace, and five awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM), the second-highest award for distinguished service during conflict.The remaining 57 were awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), the second-highest award for distinguished service during times of peace.Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were also present on the occasion.The PVSM recipients included Western Command chief, Lt General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, Lt General Dhiraj Seth, Lt General Anindya Sengupta, Lt General Devendra Sharma, newly-appointed Andaman and Nicobar Command chief and former Defence Intelligence chief, Lt General Dinesh Singh Rana, Northern Command chief Lt General Pratik Sharma, Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, Vice Admiral Suraj Berry, IAF vice chief, Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan, and South-Western Air Command chief Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor.Director General of Military Operations, Lt General Rajiv Ghai, Lt General Zubin A Minwalla, Lt General Hitesh Bhalla, Air Marshal Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar (retd), and Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha (retd) were conferred the UYSM.The AVSM awardees included Lt General Pushpendra Pal Singh, Lt General Vijay Bhaskaran Nair, Lt General Rahul Raghavendra Singh, Lt General Sadhna S. Nair, VSM, Lt General Shrinjay Pratap Singh, Lt General Rajagopal Chellamani Srikanth, Lt General Divya Gaurav Misra, Lt General Shivinder Singh, Lt General Devinder Pal Singh, Vice Admiral Lochan Singh Pathania, Vice Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar, Air Marshal Venkataramanan Rajasekhar, Major General Harsh Chhibber, Major General M Khalid Zaki, Major General Rajwant Singh, Major General Balbir Singh, Rear Admiral Sandeep Mehta, Air Vice Marshal Ajay Kumar Pan, Air Vice Marshal Venigalla Srinivas Choudary, and Air Vice Marshal Manish Sahdev.–IANSvd

Amaravati, June 4 (IANS) All India Congress Committee (AICC) has constituted the Disciplinary Action Committee of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC).

AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge approved the proposal for the constitution of the Disciplinary Action Committee.Lingamshetty Eswara Rao has been named as the chairman of the disciplinary committee, which will have six members.The AICC named the following leaders as members of the panel. Amanchi Krishna Mohan, Shaik Mastan Vali, Merajothu Surya Nayak, Udatha Venkata Rao Yadav, Syed Javeed Anwar and Arigela Aruna Kumari.Meanwhile, APCC president Y. S. Sharmila has said that the one-year rule of the NDA in the state is like a distortion of the public mandate, which had brought mad, corrupt and anarchic rule to an end. She alleged that the Chandrababu Naidu-led government wasted a year in the name of reconstruction.In her post on ‘X’, Sharmila said the coalition government threw ‘Super Six’ promises to the wind. “They stalled development on the pretext of debts and brought public welfare, citing lack of funds,” she said.The state Congress chief alleged that the NDA government imposed a burden on the people by hiking the electricity tariff. She asked what happened to the promises made by the Centre to the state in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.“The state government did not even ask for the special category status, which was promised by the Centre. When the BJP at the Centre betrayed the state by bringing down the height of the Polavaram project, the state government did not open its mouth,” said Sharmila.The Congress leader said it was promised to revive the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, but 4,000 employees were removed from their jobs.Sharmila alleged that the coalition meted out grave injustice to Muslims by supporting the Waqf Amendment Act. She said that today is not a public mandate day, but today is Andhra Pradesh betrayal day. She alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan betrayed the people.Targeting former chief minister and her brother Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, she remarked that everyone in the state knows who has the patent right to the term ‘backstabbing’.–IANSms/dan

Agartala, June 4 (IANS) Tripura Police detained 13 members of a Bangladesh-based organisation, including two women, and they will be pushed back to their country very soon, an official said on Wednesday.

A police official said that they were arrested after raids by the police from a rented private house at Biswas Para under Amtali Police station in west Tripura late on Tuesday night. Senior police officials throughout the day interrogated the 13 cadres, suspected to be members of the Chakma community organisation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of southeast Bangladesh. “After interrogation, the Police have handed them over to the MTF (Mobile Task Force), and the MTF handed them over to BSF. All the 13 members would be pushed back soon to Bangladesh jointly by BSF and MTF,” said an official.Sources said that these 13 members were injured in the armed clashes with their rival group at Panchari in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh last week. With their injury, they crossed over to India for medical treatment, and on Tuesday night, the Tripura Police detained them from a rented private house. According to preliminary reports, the group reportedly crossed the India-Bangladesh international border illegally through Raishyabari in Dhalai district following a violent encounter on the other side of the border. Most of them have bandages on their legs and hands. The armed struggle of ‘Shanti Bahini’ in the CHT ended through the signing of a bipartite agreement between Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) and the Bangladesh government on December 2, 1997. The ‘Shanti Bahini’ had been demanding a sovereign CHT for the indigenous tribals comprising Chakma, Mog and other communities living in the hilly region. According to reports, there have been attacks on the indigenous people in the CHT by the Bangladesh Army and illegal settlers after the fall of the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on August 5, 2024. Buddhist Chakmas mainly live in the CHT of southeast Bangladesh, the Chin and Arakan provinces of Myanmar and several states of India’s northeastern region. Indian Chakma leaders also demanded the implementation of the ‘CHT peace accord’ for the protection of the tribals in the hill region of the country.Tripura, which has an 856 km border with Bangladesh, is surrounded on three sides by the neighbouring country, making the northeastern state very vulnerable and sensitive to cross-border migration issues. –IANS sc/dan

Patna, June 4 (IANS) A case of violent assault due to a love affair has come to light in the Hussainganj police station area of Siwan district, Bihar, where 19-year-old Sanjay Kumar Mahato was allegedly beaten by the family members of his girlfriend in Rafipur village.

The victim eventually succumbed due to multiple injuries during the treatment in the hospital.According to an official, Sanjay had gone to meet the girl late Tuesday night, when the girl’s family caught him.They have mercilessly assaulted him and dumped the injured youth near a village temple in an unconscious state.On Wednesday morning, a police team rescued him from near the Jarti Mai temple and admitted him to Siwan Sadar Hospital, where he lost his life.The deceased’s mother, Dulari Devi, claimed that Sanjay had been in a relationship with the girl for over a year after connecting via Facebook.Despite family pressure and police intervention earlier this year to end their relationship, the two allegedly continued to meet in secret.Sanjay’s family said that his visit to the village was linked to an upcoming family marriage. While he was in the village, the girl allegedly asked him to meet, but as soon as she came outside, the family intervened, captured Sanjay, and assaulted him.The situation turned volatile after the news of his death was confirmed by the hospital administration.Angry family members and local villagers gathered outside Sadar Hospital, demanding justice.They put the dead body on the road and blocked it, disrupted traffic, including ambulances and essential services, and set fire to the road, accusing the administration of inaction and one-sided investigation.The tension escalated as the family and villagers threatened to set the police station and hospital on fire if swift and strict action was not taken against the accused.They also made an appeal to the Chief Minister, seeking justice and warning of an intensified agitation if their demands are ignored.A team of district police, headed by SDPO Sadar Jitendra Kumar, reached the spot and tried to calm down the agitators.“We have assured quick action against the accused. A team has been constituted for the purpose to nab them. We have also deployed an adequate police force at the village and hospital to control the tense situation and restore order in the area,” Kumar said.Authorities said an investigation is underway, and action will be taken based on the findings.–IANSajk/dan