New Delhi, Jun 6 (IANS) A Delhi court on Friday acquitted former Coal Secretary H.C. Gupta, former Joint Secretary, Coal, K.S. Kropha and then Director, Coal Allocation, K.C. Samaria in a case related to alleged irregularities in the allocation of Mahuagarhi coal block in Jharkhand. However, firm Jas Infrastructure Capital Pvt Ltd (JICPL) and its then-Director Manoj Kumar Jayaswal were convicted for the offences of cheating and criminal conspiracy by the Rouse Avenue court. Special Judge Sanjay Bansal will hear the arguments on the quantum of sentence on July 8. The case was lodged following a Preliminary Enquiry conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the reference of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in the matter of allocation of coal blocks to the private companies. The allegations in the case were that the JICPL had misrepresented facts in its application form in order to qualify and obtain undue benefits in connivance with unknown public servants. The JICPL, in order to embellish its claim for allocation of coal blocks, “fraudulently” claimed that it was a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) managed by Inertial Iron & Steel Industries Pvt Ltd and IL & FS Group. The company would not have pre-qualified for the recommendation of the Union Ministry of Power but for this deception. The Preliminary Enquiry had suggested that Coal Ministry officials, in pursuance of criminal conspiracy, willfully and purposefully, did not scrutinise the documents regarding the concealment of facts by the JICPL and thus facilitated the private company in getting undue advantage in allocation of the Mahuagarhi coal block. In December 2016, the trial court had framed charges in the case for alleged offences under sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. –IANS pds/vd

New Delhi, June 6 (IANS) The high-level Indian multi-party delegation led by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) Supriya Sule on Friday met External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar after concluding a successful visit to Qatar, South Africa, Ethiopia and Egypt, conveying India’s resolute stance against terrorism.

“Nice to meet the All Party Delegation headed by Supriya Sule, which visited Qatar, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Egypt,” the EAM posted on X.Sule, while speaking with media after the meeting, highlighted that the delegation briefed the EAM about the diplomatic outreach on Operation Sindoor.”EAM S Jaishankar wanted to hear our experience and the feedback we got from each country. We discussed it in great detail,” she said.In response to a criticism received from the opposition that the delegation met only Members of Parliament (MPs) and not any decision-makers, she said, “Each delegation met different dignitaries across various countries including Speakers and Vice Presidents. Additionally, MPs are also decision makers and part of policy making in any democracy”.”In a strong democracy, everyone has the right to speak, and many people have different views. Many Congress leaders were there in various delegations, including mine, which had two Congress leaders,” she added while responding to a question.The delegation also included BJP leaders Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Anurag Thakur, and V. Muraleedharan, Congress leaders Manish Tewari and Anand Sharma, Telugu Desam Party’s Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Aam Aadmi Party leader Vikramjeet Singh Sawhney, and former diplomat Syed Akbaruddin.”We shared the gist of the discussions from our visits to four countries as part of the Supriya Sule-led delegation. Overall, it was a highly productive and meaningful dialogue, where those countries strongly condemned terrorist attacks in India. We also spoke about the need for a global effort against terrorism and the successes achieved in our efforts,” former Minister V. Muraleedharan told IANS.During their visit to the four countries, the delegation engaged with the government, parliament, media, think tanks, and the Indian diaspora, highlighting the significance of Operation Sindoor and the continued fight against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism.EAM Jaishankar also met the all party delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde that visited the UAE, Liberia, Congo and Sierra Leone.The delegation also included MPs Bansuri Swaraj, Atul Garg, Manan Kumar Mishra, Sasmit Patra, E.T. Mohammed Basheer, S.S. Ahluwalia, and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy.–IANSscor/as

New Delhi, June 6 (IANS) The Delhi government on Friday released Rs 820 crore to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) as the first instalment of its annual allocation for development works.Additionally, Rs 8 crore has been disbursed to the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), and Rs 5.5 crore to the Delhi Cantonment Board.In a significant move, the government has also allocated Rs 146 crore in subsidy to the Delhi Jal Board under the free drinking water scheme.Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that this funding would not only accelerate developmental projects but also help fulfil the vision of a developed Delhi.The funds were allocated as part of the Basic Tax Assignment (BTA) framework and have been released by the Urban Development Department.CM Gupta affirmed the government’s commitment to giving local bodies their due share on time.“Our aim is to transform Delhi into a modern and developed capital, and local bodies play a key role in that journey. Keeping that in mind, our government has released the first instalment of funds: Rs 820 crore to MCD, Rs 8 crore to NDMC, and Rs 5.5 crore to the Cantonment Board,” she said.She added that previous governments were inconsistent in releasing these funds, often delaying them or disbursing partial amounts.In contrast, her government is ensuring timely and complete payments so that civic bodies can carry out development work without financial hurdles.This is the first instalment, and the total allocation for FY 2025-26 stands at Rs 3,282.26 crore for MCD, Rs 32.36 crore for NDMC, and Rs 22.19 crore for the Cantonment Board.Highlighting the water supply situation, the Chief Minister also announced the disbursement of Rs 146 crore to the Delhi Jal Board as a subsidy to support the free drinking water initiative, especially for economically weaker sections.The Chief Minister said, “In this scorching summer, ensuring clean and sufficient drinking water for every citizen of Delhi is our top priority. Water is not a privilege for a few; it is a basic right of every citizen. And it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that every household has access to safe and adequate drinking water.”She further added that this subsidy is not just about offering free water, but also about strengthening institutions like the Delhi Jal Board to deliver uninterrupted and quality water supply across the city.The Chief Minister said, “Our resolve is to reach every lane and every neighbourhood with clean drinking water. This is not merely a slogan, it’s our commitment, and we are working diligently to achieve it.”–IANSrch/uk

New Delhi, June 6 (IANS) Just days after the Congress and other opposition leaders mocked…

Gandhinagar, June 6 (IANS) The Gujarat government on Friday announced that Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has granted in-principle approval for development projects worth over Rs 1,700 crore in a single day. These funds will be directed to six newly-formed Municipal Corporations, five Municipalities, and the Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar Municipal Corporations.The approvals come under the Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Urban Development Scheme, aimed at accelerating infrastructure growth and improving urban living standards across Gujarat.Among the allocations, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation is set to receive Rs 546 crore, while Gandhinagar will get Rs 32 crore.The newly-established municipal corporations will share the remaining funds, with Morbi receiving Rs 270.08 crore, Surendranagar Rs 257.60 crore, Vapi Rs 251.91 crore, Anand Rs 148 crore, Navsari Rs 90.35 crore, and Nadiad Rs 71.91 crore.Several municipalities will also benefit, including Vadnagar with Rs 16.37 crore, Bharuch Rs 85.52 lakh, Himmatnagar Rs 7.33 crore, Siddhpur Rs 3.74 crore, and Halvad Rs 4.02 crore.A total of Rs 676.28 crore has been earmarked for 247 infrastructure projects such as street lighting, solar power installations, city beautification, public gardens, drainage systems, traffic circles, rainwater harvesting, stormwater drains, civic centres, and fire safety equipment within the new municipal corporations.Under the Chief Minister’s Urban Roads Scheme, Rs 652.78 crore has been approved for road works, including renovation, resurfacing, white topping, and repairs of roads wider than 60 feet.These projects cover Anand, Surendranagar, Vapi, Morbi, Ahmedabad, and Gandhinagar municipal corporations.Further, Rs 191.91 crore has been sanctioned for basic infrastructure upgrades like filter plant repairs, sewerage, storm drains, roads, and water supply systems in Surendranagar, Vapi, and Anand.Iconic road construction projects in Anand and Surendranagar will receive Rs 31 crore, while Rs 85.52 lakh is allocated for common plot paver block development in Bharuch under the Private Society Janbhagidari Scheme.Water supply improvements also figure prominently, with Rs 67.35 crore approved for drinking water facilities in Himmatnagar, Siddhpur, and Morbi.Additionally, Rs 64.02 crore will fund projects such as drinking water lines, underground sewer systems, asphalt and cement concrete roads, and fire stations in outgrowth areas of Morbi, Vapi, and Halvad.–IANSjhanvi/rad

Bhopal, June 6 (IANS) Gusty winds, thunderstorms, and lightning are expected to impact several parts of Madhya Pradesh from Friday night and continue well into Saturday, posing the risk of severe weather conditions.A couple of weather systems are responsible for this potential outbreak of inclement weather in the first week of June.Meteorologists report that an upper air cyclonic circulation is present over northwest Rajasthan and its neighbouring areas at an altitude of 0.9 km above mean sea level.Additionally, a trough extends from south-central Maharashtra to coastal Andhra Pradesh via north interior Karnataka and Telangana at an altitude of 1.5 km above mean sea level.Another upper air cyclonic circulation over northwest Uttar Pradesh and its surrounding areas, extending up to 1.5 km above mean sea level, is expected to bring thunderstorms and lightning with gusty winds reaching speeds of 40 to 50 km per hour.These conditions are likely to affect isolated locations in Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, Sheopurkalan, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, and Niwari.Thunderstorms with lightning and wind speeds ranging from 30 to 40 km per hour may also impact parts of Bhopal, Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore, Rajgarh, Narmadapuram, Betul, Harda, Dhar, Indore, Ujjain, Dewas, Shajapur, Narsinghpur, Chhindwara, Seoni, Mandla, Balaghat, Damoh, Sagar, and Pandhurna.On Thursday, strong winds were observed in several parts of the state, with Harda recording wind speeds of 71 km per hour, Sehore 65 km per hour, Rewa 52 km per hour, and Singrauli 47 km per hour.Ujjain recorded wind speeds of 45 km per hour, while Indore Airport reported 37 km per hour.During the past 24 hours, scattered rainfall was reported in isolated locations across Bhopal, Indore, Narmadapuram, Ujjain, Gwalior, Chambal, Rewa, Jabalpur, and Shahdol divisions, while other parts of the state remained dry.Maximum temperatures in Bhopal division were recorded at 5.3 degrees Celsius below normal, while temperatures in Indore, Narmadapuram, Ujjain, Gwalior, Rewa, Jabalpur, Shahdol, and Sagar divisions ranged from 3.2 to 4.3 degrees Celsius below normal.Minimum temperatures remained mostly stable, but were appreciably below normal by 3.3 to 4.9 degrees Celsius in Bhopal, Indore, Narmadapuram, Ujjain, Gwalior, and Rewa divisions.In Jabalpur and Sagar divisions, temperatures ranged from 2.3 to 2.8 degrees Celsius below normal, while remaining divisions experienced normal temperatures.Significant rainfall was recorded in several locations, with Nalchha receiving 26.4 mm, Raisen 24.2 mm, and Depalpur 18.6 mm.Other notable rainfall figures include 16.0 mm in Umarvan, 13.0 mm in Gandhwani, and 12.0 mm in Alipur.Moderate rainfall was also observed in Bajag, Ichhawar, Narmadapuram, and Ujjain.The overall weather pattern suggests unsettled conditions, with intermittent rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds expected in various regions of Madhya Pradesh.–IANSsktr/rad

New Delhi, June 6 (IANS) Robinder Sachdev, a noted foreign policy expert, on Friday reacted to the escalating conflict between US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, calling it “expected but surprisingly early”. He warned that the clash between the two powerful figures would create a messy political and economic environment in the US with far-reaching consequences.

Their partnership played a critical part in powering the Republican Party and Trump to a dominant victory in the 2024 election, allowing both men to realise their ambitions to reshape US politics.Speaking to IANS, Robinder Sachdev said: “In one way, this confrontation was inevitable. Experts have long suggested that two powerful personalities like Trump and Musk could not coexist without conflict — two swords cannot be sheathed in the same scabbard. While many anticipated a showdown, the speed at which it has unfolded is surprising.””This feud will significantly impact America,” he added.“Trump, being the sitting President and a key figure in the Republican Party, holds immense influence. He can raise issues that may directly affect Musk’s businesses. On the other hand, Musk is not powerless. With his enormous wealth, he can support pro-Trump or anti-Trump candidates and shape political outcomes. This will create a complicated and messy environment that could reshape political dynamics in the country.”Sachdev further commented on Trump’s claim that Musk had prior knowledge of electric vehicle (EV) mandates in what Trump described as his “Big Beautiful Bill,” yet is now criticising it for political or personal gain. Musk, however, has denied the allegation.“There are two distinct issues here,” Sachdev told IANS.”First, the current state of the EV market and Tesla’s position in it. Elon Musk has always known that Trump is not a supporter of electric vehicles. Trump has historically backed the oil and gas industries and traditional car manufacturers. In contrast, former President (Joe) Biden provided generous tax incentives for the EV sector under his administration.””In Trump’s proposed bill, those EV subsidies are being removed. Trump is arguing that Musk’s criticism stems from a financial hit to his business. And there is some truth in that. Without those incentives, EV sales are expected to decline, and Tesla – as the sector leader – will naturally be impacted. Tesla’s share price has already taken a hit and may continue to remain under pressure if Trump’s policies gain traction,” he added.Sachdev also pointed out that Musk has multiple government contracts, particularly through SpaceX with NASA, including the Dragon spacecraft programme.“While these contracts may not be immediately affected, the broader relationship between Musk’s companies and the federal government could become strained,” he said.In just 24 hours, the once seemingly stable relationship between Trump and Musk publicly collapsed, escalating from mild policy disagreements to a full-blown online confrontation. The spat began when Musk openly criticised Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” triggering a fiery response from Trump, who then threatened to revoke government subsidies benefiting Musk’s ventures.In retaliation, Musk launched a blistering personal attack on Trump, calling for his impeachment and mocking the US President’s past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.The dramatic fallout marked a sharp deterioration in their relationship, which had until recently been characterised by mutual respect and strategic alignment. Over the course of several remarkable hours, both men exchanged deeply personal and politically charged insults across their respective social media platforms.What started as a policy dispute has now become a personal feud with significant implications, not only for Musk’s business empire and Trump’s political ambitions, but also for the broader landscape of American governance, economy, and public discourse.–IANSjk/vd

Patna, June 6 (IANS) On a day-long visit to Bihar on Friday, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the government “surrendered” during Operation Sindoor under pressure from former US President Donald Trump.Speaking at the Samvidhan Sammelan (Constitutional Dialogue) in Rajgir, Gandhi cited Trump’s repeated public claims about mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and questioned the Prime Minister’s silence on the matter.“US President Donald Trump has publicly claimed 11 times that he forced PM Modi to agree to a ceasefire. PM Modi hasn’t denied it even once. If Trump was lying, why hasn’t Modi called him out? Because Trump is telling the truth. I knew PM Modi would surrender under pressure — it’s his habit,” Gandhi said.“I am fighting against the RSS. It has a long history of surrender. Earlier, they would write letters when under pressure. Now, in the modern age, they send WhatsApp messages,” Gandhi said.The ceasefire Gandhi referred to was declared on May 10, following Operation Sindoor, a cross-border strike launched by the Indian Defence Forces on May 7, aimed at terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders have since seized upon the remarks to question the government’s handling of national security and foreign policy.Before addressing the public meeting, Gandhi began his Bihar tour from Gaya, where he paid tribute at Gehlor village, the home of Dashrath Manjhi, the legendary “Mountain Man” known for single-handedly carving a path through a hill.Gandhi met Manjhi’s family, including his son Bhagirath Manjhi, and enquired about their financial condition.He later visited Nalanda, continuing his outreach efforts by emphasising themes of justice, social equity, and constitutional values — messages seen as central to the Congress party’s campaign strategy in the run-up to the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.This visit marks Rahul Gandhi’s sixth trip to Bihar this year, underscoring the Congress party’s renewed focus on regaining political ground in the state ahead of the crucial polls.–IANSajk/skp

Ottawa/New Delhi, June 6 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke with Canada’s new PM Mark Carney, discussing various global issues while also accepting the latter’s invitation to attend the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month.”Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month. As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit,” PM Modi posted on X after the phone call.As the G7 President this year, Canada will host the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta from June 15 to 17.The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal grouping of seven of the world’s most advanced economies, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the European Union.PM Modi had also attended the 50th G7 Summit hosted by Italy in Apulia last year where India was invited as an Outreach Country.The visit was the Prime Minister’s first overseas trip after assuming office in his third consecutive term.It was India’s 11th participation in G7 Summit and Prime Minister Modi’s fifth consecutive participation at the G7 Summit where he engaged with other world leaders on issues of importance to India, as also to the Global South.The visit to Kananaskis will come at a time when Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney is pushing for deepening economic cooperation with India.Even during his campaign, the Canadian Prime Minister said rebuilding ties with India was a priority for his government, describing it as an “incredibly important relationship”.He had said Canadians have deep personal, economic and strategic ties with India.Prime Minister Narendra Modi had congratulated Carney on being elected as the Canadian Prime Minister after his predecessor Justin Trudeau stepped down from the role.In his message, PM Modi had stressed strong people-to-people ties between the two countries while saying he was looking forward to “unlocking greater opportunities”.Last week, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar spoke with Anita Anand after her appointment as Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.”Thank you Minister @DrSJaishankar for the productive discussion today on strengthening Canada-India ties, deepening our economic cooperation, and advancing shared priorities. I look forward to continuing our work together,” Anand wrote on X.With Carney, it looks like India wants to turn a new leaf in bilateral ties that had nosedived under Trudeau amid unsubstantiated allegations against New Delhi related to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023.Relations between India and Canada took a big hit in 2023 after Trudeau publicly accused India of being involved in the killing of Nijjar on Canadian soil, allegations that India described as “absurd” and “politically motivated”.Tensions escalated as Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, followed by a tit-for-tat move by India last year.Both countries expelled top envoys, froze trade talks and suspended official visits.India has accused Canada of tolerating extremism on its soil and failing to take action to curb attacks against its diplomats.–IANS/as

New Delhi, June 6 (IANS) The start of work for setting up a 500 KW…