Bhopal, May 28 (IANS) In the political landscape of Madhya Pradesh, a controversy has erupted following the circulation of a video featuring BJP legislator Jagannath Singh Raghuwanshi from Chanderi, Ashoknagar district.The footage, which has rapidly gained traction on social media, purportedly captures the legislator engaged in a video call, during which he is heard making a startling declaration. He allegedly threatens in Hindi, “jo bhi scindia ji ke mamle me koi bhi bolega uski juban kaat lenge (We will silence those who dare to speak against Jyotiraditya Scindia, stating that their tongues would be cut)”.This incident unfolds against the backdrop of an ongoing dispute concerning remarks made by Ashoknagar District Panchayat CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Rajesh Jain.During a recent assembly of Gram Panchayat secretaries and Employment Assistants, Jain was accused of using derogatory language against elected representatives.Reports suggest that Raghuwanshi’s remarks were made in response to this controversy, further intensifying the political discourse.The sequence of events began on Monday, when a meeting of Secretaries and Employment Assistants was convened at Isagarh (Ashoknagar) Janpad Panchayat. During the proceedings, the Janpad CEO received a call from District Panchayat CEO Rajesh Jain, which was placed on speakerphone. Allegedly, Jain proceeded to make disparaging comments about Members of Parliament and Members of the Legislative Assembly, even threatening Secretaries with physical reprimands, dismissing any affiliations they might have.Outraged by this conduct, the secretaries staged a walkout in protest. In response to the escalating tensions, MLA Raghuwanshi took swift action, meeting Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on Tuesday to formally lodge a complaint.In his letter, he detailed the alleged misconduct of the District Panchayat CEO, Jain, emphasising that the use of abusive language in the presence of female officers was not only a breach of administrative decorum but also an affront to the dignity of women employees.He urged the Chief Minister to establish a high-level committee to conduct an impartial inquiry and to take immediate disciplinary measures against the accused official.As the controversy deepens, the viral video featuring Raghuwanshi has sparked fresh debate within political and administrative circles. Despite the widespread discussion, the district administration has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.–IANSsktr/dpb

Mangaluru (Karnataka), May 28 (IANS) The communally-sensitive Mangaluru district and coastal Karnataka remain tense following the murder of a 34-year-old man in the jurisdiction of the Bantwal Rural Police Station on Wednesday.Additional police forces have been deployed to monitor the situation, and authorities have imposed prohibitory orders in the district until the evening of May 30.A gang of assailants hacked to death Abdul Raheem, a resident of Koltamajal near Irakodi, close to Bantwal town, on Tuesday.The incident comes less than a month after the murder of Hindu activist and rowdy-sheeter Suhas Shetty, and it is suspected that Abdul Raheem was killed in retaliation for Shetty’s murder.R. Hitendra, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), is visiting Mangaluru on Wednesday to review the situation.The police have tightened security in the Koltamajal area, where the final rites of Abdul Raheem are scheduled to take place.Leaders of the Muslim community have staged protests in Mangaluru, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits. They alleged that the incident occurred due to provocative statements made by Hindu activists and leaders following Suhas Shetty’s murder.The deceased, Abdul Raheem, operated a goods vehicle and served as the secretary of a local mosque. He is survived by two children.According to police, he had no criminal record and was not affiliated with any organisation. The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has also called for swift police action in the case.Meanwhile, police have registered an FIR against 15 individuals in connection with the incident. Statements have been taken from Kalandar Shafi, a friend of the deceased who was with him at the time of the attack and sustained injuries while escaping the assailants.The FIR names Deepak, Sumit, and others. Deepak and Sumit were known to Abdul Raheem.The FIR has been filed under Sections 103, 109, 118(1), 190, 191(2), and 191(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act.According to police, the victim was attacked while unloading sand near a customer’s residence. The accused, a gang of 15, dragged him from the driver’s seat of his vehicle and hacked him to death with sharp-edged weapons before fleeing the scene.It is alleged that the attackers had lured the victim to an isolated location under the pretext of hiring his services.Abdul Raheem was rushed to a hospital in Mangaluru, where he succumbed to his injuries. His friend, Kalandar Shafi, is undergoing treatment.A team led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police has begun investigating the case.Minister for Health and Mangaluru District In-Charge Dinesh Gundu Rao has condemned the incident and spoke to ADGP Law and Order R. Hitendra regarding the situation.Minister Rao has also spoken to the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Mangaluru district.Additional police forces are being roped in from Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Mysuru and Karwar districts.–IANSmka/rad

New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) BJP Member of Parliament Nishikant Dubey has once again targeted the Congress party and late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi over attempts to involve the United States in facilitating talks with Pakistan, which, he said, ran against the spirit of the Shimla Agreement.Dubey shared a letter from former US President Ronald Reagan addressed to Rajiv Gandhi, suggesting that the then Indian Prime Minister had sought American involvement in negotiations with Pakistan.“Being a Gandhi is not easy,” Dubey wrote, posting the letter on social media. “This letter is a response from U.S. President Ronald Reagan to Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. As per the 1972 Shimla Agreement, all disputes between India and Pakistan were to be resolved bilaterally, without any third-party mediation. Why then did Rajiv Gandhi approach the United States for help in facilitating talks with Pakistan?”Citing excerpts from the letter, Dubey pointed to Reagan’s remarks that reflect US interest in promoting regional peace and its willingness to assist both India and Pakistan in avoiding future tensions.A part of Reagan’s letter reads: “Mr Prime Minister, we strongly support all efforts which help ensure peace and security in South Asia… To help prevent similar unfortunate misunderstandings in the future, we have provided some background on procedures in effect between Eastern and Western Europe. We are offering both your government and that of Pakistan additional information that may help alleviate future tensions.”The letter also acknowledges Rajiv Gandhi’s proposal to involve American drug liaison agents in Indo-Pakistani narcotics consultations.“I was particularly interested in the proposal in your letter of January 7 that American drug liaison agents be associated with your bilateral narcotics consultations… I assure you we will be happy to assist in whatever ways you and the Government of Pakistan find helpful,” Reagan wrote.Dubey’s remarks came amid the BJP’s narrative questioning the Congress party’s historical foreign policy decisions, particularly those related to national security and diplomacy.Dubey had earlier shared a declassified 1963 telegram from the US State Department alleging that former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru were responsible for decisions that led to territorial concessions to Pakistan.“Iron Lady Indira Gandhi. Despite opposition from the then Defense Minister Babu Jagjivan Ram and Army Chief Sam Manekshaw, India itself halted the 1971 war under American pressure. Babu Jagjivan Ram wanted the war to continue until the part of Kashmir forcibly occupied by Pakistan was reclaimed, but the fear of the Iron Lady and the terror of China prevented this. Was it more beneficial for India to reclaim its land and the Kartarpur Gurdwara or to create Bangladesh?” he had said.–IANSskp/

Bengaluru, May 28 (IANS) The Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday slammed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah…

New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) Pakistan’s Murid air base suffered extensive damages, in May 10 strikes by the Indian Air Force (IAF), destroying not just its buildings and concrete structures but also damaged the underground facility at the vital air station, fresh satellite images revealed on Wednesday. The high-resolution satellite images shared by the Intel Lab on X, shows a three-metre wide crater, just 30 metres from one of the two entrances at the strategic air base. The damages to buildings and rooftops of structures at the Murid air base, a hub of Pakistani drone and missiles, have already been documented in the satellite imageries, earlier.The fresh satellite images have been shared on X by the defense analyst Damien Symon. He has been instrumental in digging out details of destruction at Pakistan’s crucial airbases – from structural to underground complex damages.”This complex is heavily protected with double fencing, has its own watchtowers and access control, thus making it a high-value target. This site might have been made to withstand any bombardment and might have served as storage for special equipments or as shelter for personnel,” said Damien Symon, geo-intelligence researcher at the Intel Lab.The Murid air base is a forward operating base of Pakistan, located just 150 kilometres from the Line of Control. It is situated in Pakistan’s Chakwal, supporting the Sargodha air base and the Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi, both serving as forward locations for Pakistan’s air force.The damages to underground complex at Murid airbase also gets ascertained from the previous and after satellite images, of May 10 military strikes.In April 16 image, satellite imagery showed undamaged building at Murid air base, however, the post-strikes image structural damages to the building.”Structural damage is evident at this facility, believed to serve as a command-and-control node near the UAV complex of the airbase. A portion of the roof has collapsed inward, and the outer walls also exhibit visible deterioration,” Damien Symon said, a day ago, sharing the pictures of damages.–IANSmr/

Malappuram (Kerala), May 28 (IANS) P.V. Anvar, who resigned as the legislator from Nilambur Assembly constituency in Kerala in January following differences with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on Wednesday said he is placing high hopes on AICC general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal for his long-awaited entry into the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).With Anvar’s resignation necessitating a by-election in Nilambur, polling is scheduled for June 19. So far, the Congress is the only party to have announced a candidate — Aryadan Shoukath.“I know a lot of things, but my sole aim now is to ensure that the corrupt and arrogant Pinarayi Vijayan — who is eyeing a third straight term — is stopped at all costs. I’m placing my hopes on Venugopal, whom I will be meeting shortly,” Anvar told reporters.He expressed his disappointment with the way he has been treated by the Leader of the Opposition, V.D. Satheesan, and noted that despite assurances, his party — the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) — has still not been granted even associate membership in the UDF.“There were some discussions with leaders close to Satheesan. Earlier this month, the then UDF convenor, M.M. Hassan, told me that Satheesan, as UDF chairman, would make the announcement on May 15 or 16. But nothing happened,” said Anvar.On Tuesday, Satheesan had said: “Let Anvar make his intentions clear; we will look into it.”Referring to his electoral clout, Anvar said: “When Priyanka Gandhi contested the November Lok Sabha bypolls from Wayanad, my Assembly segment Nilambur gave her a margin of over 65,000 votes. Later, using my influence, I helped bring two panchayats under Congress control. What more should I do?”Anvar reiterated that his hopes now rest on his upcoming meeting with Venugopal. “If that doesn’t work out, the AITC will field a candidate in Nilambur. Everything will be clear in the next two days.”A former Congress leader in Malappuram district, Anvar had contested and won from Nilambur as a Left-supported independent candidate in 2016 and 2021 before resigning in January this year.“On Tuesday, when Satheesan said I should clarify my stand, I felt disrobed. Now I feel naked. I’m only asking to be allowed to wear my dress. What more should I do to even become an associate member of the UDF?” he asked.–IANSsg/skp

Babina, May 28 (IANS) Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi witnessed high-tech demonstrations of indigenous Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Counter-UAS technology, and Loitering Munitions at the Babina Field Firing Ranges in Uttar Pradesh, the Indian Army said on Wednesday.In a post on X, the Army stated, “General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS, witnessed cutting-edge demonstrations of indigenous UAS, Counter-UAS and Loitering Munitions on 27 May 2025 at Babina Field Firing Ranges.””These capabilities will significantly enhance operational efficiency, force protection and precision engagement across varied terrains,” the statement further read.The demonstrations are part of a broader effort to boost India’s defence preparedness through advanced homegrown technology.The Army shared several images and a video clip from the exercise, highlighting the use of sophisticated drone systems in battlefield simulations.The Indigenous UAS showcased during the event is designed to offer real-time surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance data in challenging operational scenarios.These systems mark a vital step in the Indian Army’s transformation towards a more agile and responsive force, in alignment with its broader agenda of network-centric warfare and enhanced battlefield transparency.Of particular significance were the loitering munitions — a new class of precision-guided weapons that hover above target zones, assess threat scenarios, and then strike with pinpoint accuracy.These munitions can function either autonomously or under human control and are programmed to self-destruct upon impact.The loitering munitions demonstrated at Babina had already seen operational deployment during Operation Sindoor, where they were used to destroy nine high-value terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).The strategic strikes were carried out entirely from Indian soil in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack and were based on precise intelligence inputs that pinpointed the targets.The Army’s emphasis on adopting advanced drone warfare systems follows the government’s recent approval of a new ‘programme execution model’ for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) — the country’s indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter project.The model, cleared by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, opens the door for private players to compete alongside state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), marking a departure from the long-standing policy of reserving fighter jet production exclusively for HAL.This shift is expected to accelerate prototype development and streamline the induction of next-generation combat systems into the armed forces.–IANSsd/dpb

Kolkata, May 28 (IANS) After West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the notification of fresh recruitment for teaching and non-teaching jobs will be issued on May 30 and the “untainted” teachers, who lost jobs following a Supreme Court order last month, will have to appear for the written examination, questions and loopholes have started surfacing over her announcement.The fact that the Chief Minister’s announcement about the fresh recruitment process and the state government’s persuasion on the review petition in the Supreme Court order will go on simultaneously has led to concerns.The question that is surfacing on this count is whether the state government and West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) have submitted the segregated lists of “untainted” and “tainted” candidates along with their respective review petitions.The opposition parties and the legal experts have said that since the inability of the state government and the commission to furnish the segregated lists was the main reason for both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court to cancel the entire panel of 25,753 jobs, any review petition without that segregated list is bound to pose questions on how serious is the state government to protect the jobs of the “untainted” teachers.The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has already challenged the Chief Minister to publicly clarify whether the state government and WBSSC have submitted the segregated list along with the review petition.“The Chief Minister is highly optimistic about the outcome of the review petition. So she should clarify whether she had submitted the segregated list along with the review petitions. Otherwise, it will be evident that the state is just conducting a time-killing exercise by projecting the review petition,” Adhikari said.The second question that is arising over the Chief Minister’s announcements and clarifications on Tuesday is that while she stressed mainly that part of the Supreme Court order that details the fresh recruitment, she virtually avoided that portion of the order which details the steps to be adopted by the government to ensure the termination of services of the “tainted” ones and also recover the money they received as salaries.“How could the state government abide by one part of the apex court and ignore the other part? Instead, on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said she would try to protect even the jobs of those who were not included among the ‘untainted’ ones. Does not this hint at another corruption?” questioned senior advocate and the CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya.He also questioned the legal sanctity of the Chief Minister’s claims that the fresh recruitment process and the state government’s persuasion on the review petition in the Supreme Court order will go on simultaneously.“The question is whether any scope for review prevails once the fresh recruitment process starts as per the apex court order. The Chief Minister is just using the review petition as a tool of time-killing exercise and giving false hopes to ‘untainted’ candidates,” Bhattacharya said.–IANSsrc/dpb

New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid homage to revolutionary…

Chennai, May 28 (IANS) Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK on Tuesday announced the name of actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan as one of the four candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled to be held on June 19. The announcement was made by the Chief Minister and DMK Chief, M.K. Stalin. Of the four Rajya Sabha seats up for election from Tamil Nadu, the DMK will contest three, while the fourth seat has been allocated to the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) as part of an existing electoral understanding between the two parties.MNM founder-president and actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan has been nominated as the party’s candidate for the Rajya Sabha.The DMK candidates announced for the three seats are senior advocate P. Wilson, former Union Minister S.R. Sivalingam, and renowned Tamil poet and writer Rokaiya Malik, popularly known by her pen name, Kavignar Salma.P. Wilson, who holds a B.Sc. and B.L. degree, is a sitting Rajya Sabha MP and a prominent lawyer at the Supreme Court of India. He is widely recognised for representing the state in several high-profile legal battles and is a trusted legal voice within the DMK leadership.S.R. Sivalingam is a veteran leader from the DMK and has previously served as a Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare. His nomination reflects the party’s effort to balance legal expertise with administrative experience in the upper house.Rokiaya Malik, alias Kavignar Salma, a well-known voice in contemporary Tamil literature, is celebrated for her poetry and novels that explore themes of gender, identity, and social justice. A recipient of several literary awards, her inclusion in the list reflects the DMK’s commitment to cultural representation and women’s empowerment.The DMK’s decision to allot a seat to the MNM is being seen as a strategic move to strengthen the alliance and broaden its influence at the national level.With this development, Kamal Haasan is set to make his parliamentary debut, marking a significant moment in his political journey.The Rajya Sabha elections are expected to be a formality, as the ruling coalition has the necessary strength in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly to ensure the victory of all four nominees.–IANSaal/dpb