Amaravati, May 14 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh is emerging as India’s most investor-friendly clean energy hub, said state Minister Nara Lokesh ahead of the launch of the country’s largest single-site renewable energy complex in Anantapur.

The complex is coming up with a total investment of Rs 22,000 crore to generate 1,800 Megawatt solar, 1 Gigawatt wind and 2000 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).This is the first major project under the Integrated Clean Energy (ICE) Policy, introduced by the Andhra Pradesh government in October 2024, offering structured incentives and fast-track approvals for clean energy investments.Lokesh, who is the Minister for Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Real Time Governance, and Human Resources Development, claimed that this will be a landmark moment for India’s renewable energy sector.With this project, ReNew is set to re-enter Andhra Pradesh. It was the largest renewable energy investor in the state prior to 2019, with 777 MW installed capacity. However, the company suspended further development due to PPA cancellations by the previous government.ReNew decided to re-enter Andhra Pradesh after Minister Lokesh held talks with Sumant Sinha, Chairman & CEO of ReNew, during the World Economic Forum at Davos.Under the first phase of the project coming up at Bethapalle village in Guntakal constituency, 587 MW solar, 250 MW wind, and 415 MWh BESS will be generated with an investment of Rs 7,000 crore.”This project is a testament to Andhra Pradesh’s resurgence as a national leader in clean energy. We are building not just capacity, but credibility and global investor confidence,” he said.The project aligns with Andhra Pradesh’s ambitious target of 72 GW renewable energy capacity by 2029, as announced during RE Invest 2024.He mentioned that during the last eight months, the state witnessed a wave of clean energy investments from major players. These include Tata Power (7,000 MW, Rs 49,000 crore), NTPC (Green Hydrogen, Rs 1.86 lakh crore), Vedanta’s Serentica (10,000 MW, Rs 50,000 crore, Brookfield (8,000 MW, Rs 50,000 crore and SAEL Industries (1,200 MW, Rs 6,000 crore.The Anantapur renewable complex will not only add vital capacity to the grid but also showcase Andhra Pradesh’s commitment to sustainable development, economic growth, and innovation-driven governance, added Lokesh.–IANSms/svn

Chennai, May 14 (IANS) In the wake of the Coimbatore Mahila Court’s landmark verdict sentencing all nine accused in the Pollachi sexual assault and extortion case to life imprisonment, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin reaffirmed his government’s commitment to justice in another high-profile case — the 2017 Kodanad heist-cum-murder.Stalin in a statement said, “I had assured the people of Tamil Nadu that the accused in the Pollachi rape case would face the harshest punishment. That promise has been fulfilled. Similarly, the accused in the Kodanad case will be brought to justice soon.”The Pollachi case, which came to light in 2019, involved a series of sexual assaults, blackmail, and extortion targeting several young women.The incidents triggered widespread outrage across the state and led to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.After six years of legal proceedings, the court on Tuesday sentenced all nine convicts to life imprisonment until the end of their natural life.Drawing a parallel, CM Stalin referred to the sensational Kodanad case, which took place in April 2017.On the night of April 23 that year, a gang of armed men broke into the Kodanad estate bungalow of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, just months after her death.In the course of the robbery, a security guard on duty was brutally murdered, and valuables were reported looted.The incident raised serious questions about the security of the late AIADMK leader’s personal estate and sparked political controversies.The Kodanad case has since remained under the scanner, with multiple twists and allegations over the years.The DMK, after coming to power in 2021, reopened the investigation and promised a transparent legal process.Tuesday’s developments in the Pollachi case have once again put the spotlight on the Kodanad trial, with Stalin’s statement indicating that a verdict may not be far off.As both cases involve grave crimes with political ramifications, their outcomes are being closely watched across Tamil Nadu.–IANSaal/rad

Ahmedabad, May 14 (IANS) Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah is set to inaugurate a flyover at Pallav Char Rasta in Ahmedabad’s Naranpura area on Sunday. The project falls within Union Minister Shah’s Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency. He previously represented the Naranpura Assembly seat during his tenure in Gujarat’s state politics.Constructed at a cost of Rs 117 crore, the flyover stretches across the 132-feet Ring Road and is expected to ease congestion for nearly 1.5 lakh commuters daily.The structure spans 935 metres in length and 8.4 metres in width, rising to a height of 5.37 metres at the Pragatinagar junction. Built with 62 spans, the flyover aims to streamline traffic movement in one of the city’s busiest corridors. As of early 2025, the city boasts approximately 81 flyovers, railway overbridges, and river bridges, with ongoing construction at key intersections such as Vadaj, Naroda Patiya, Makarba, Bootbhawani, and Pallav Char Rasta.The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has also announced plans to construct 25 new flyovers to further alleviate traffic congestion. Notable recent developments include the inauguration of a 4.2 km elevated corridor on Sarkhej-Gandhinagar (SG) Road, connecting the Gota and Science City flyovers.This project, completed at a cost of Rs 170 crore, aims to streamline traffic flow along the busy SG Highway. Additionally, the city’s first double-decker flyover was introduced in 2011, enhancing connectivity between Maninagar-Hatkeshwar and the Vadodara Express Highway.Efforts are also underway to upgrade the Sardar Patel Ring Road, a 76 km orbital road encircling Ahmedabad. The Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) plans to transform this stretch into a six-lane highway, incorporating additional flyovers and underpasses to improve traffic flow and safety.Currently, the SP Ring Road features 16 bridges, including two over rivers, with plans to increase this number to 34 flyovers and underpasses upon completion of the upgrades.–IANSjanvi/svn

Kolkata, May 14 (IANS) The sleuths of the Kolkata Police’s Security Control Organisation are now trying to track down foreign nationals who arrived in the city with proper documents but did not leave even after their visa terms expired.

Insiders from the city police said that the new initiative has been mooted following apprehension that many such foreign nationals have managed to arrange fake Indian identity documents, including Indian passports for themselves through unfair means, and have started residing in the city posing as Indian citizens.In this hunting exercise, sources said, special focus is on foreign nationals from Bangladesh and Pakistan who arrived with proper visas but never went back.During the last one-and-a-half months, at least six such people have been tracked in the city who came from these two countries, arranged for their fake Indian identity documents and then started living permanently in the city posing as Indian citizens.The most serious among the six cases is that of Azad Mullick, originally a Pakistani citizen, who was arrested by the officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the city last month. It was later learnt that Azad, a Pakistani citizen, first arranged Bangladeshi citizenship through fake documents and started residing there.In due course, he shifted to Kolkata and subsequently arranged for Indian identity documents, including an Indian passport for himself, using fake documents. He was also running rackets on hawala, fake Indian passports, and fake visas for certain foreign nations from his residence in the northern outskirts of Kolkata.Again, earlier this month, the security control organisation sleuths identified four members of the same family who had been residing in Kolkata for quite some time, with all of them possessing both Indian and Bangladeshi passports.The four persons have been identified as Vijay Modi, his wife Kasaulya Modi, and their sons Dilip Modi and Asish Modi.Preliminary investigation revealed that they came to India with valid visas and started residing at Palm Avenue in South Kolkata. However, they stayed back in Kolkata even after the term of their visas expired, and in the meantime, arranged their fake Indian identity documents, starting with AADHAAR and EPIC cards, and finally Indian passports on the basis of the other Indian identity documents.Also, during the current month, the security control organisation sleuths identified one original Bangladeshi citizen, Sheikh Ramzan, who was staying at a rented accommodation at Tangra in Kolkata.He also came to Kolkata with proper visas and subsequently arranged Indian identity documents for himself and started residing permanently in the city, posing as an Indian citizen.–IANSsrc/svn

New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) The security detail of External Affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar…

New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Madhya Pradesh BJP Minister Vijay Shah over his controversial remarks targeting Indian Army Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, demanding that the BJP and the Centre take stringent action against him.Shah had stirred a political storm during a public address in Mhow while referring to ‘Operation Sindoor’.He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent a “sister from the same community” as that in Pakistan to avenge the April 22 terror strike in Pahalgam, Kashmir. The remark was widely seen as targeting Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who is from the Muslim community.Reacting strongly to Shah’s comments, Mayawati took to X and posted, “The disgusting, uncivilised and indecent remarks first against the Foreign Secretary and then against the lady Army officer are really going to destroy the whole good atmosphere of enthusiasm and excitement which the whole country is enjoying due to the success of Indian Army’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ against Pakistan, which is extremely sad and shameful.””In this sequence, the BJP and the Central Government should take seriously the indecent remarks made by a senior minister of Madhya Pradesh regarding the Muslim Army spokesperson and take strict action against him, so that the nefarious designs of the enemies fail and the mutual brotherhood and harmony in the country is not spoiled,” she further added.The remarks sparked widespread outrage across political circles and on social media.Madhya Pradesh BJP chief V.D. Sharma summoned Shah on Tuesday evening for a closed-door meeting. Following the meeting, Shah issued a clarification, stating that his remarks had been misinterpreted and taken out of context.”I have nothing to say on the wisdom of those who are twisting my remarks. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi has made the nation proud. We respect both the sisters. I did not intend to hurt anyone and offer my sincere apologies,” Shah said after the meeting.Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force, played a prominent role in briefing the media during the course of Operation Sindoor — India’s decisive military response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people.The Opposition Congress also launched a fierce attack on Shah, accusing him of dishonouring not just Colonel Qureshi but the entire armed forces.Sharing the video clip of Shah’s comments, Congress leader Jitu Patwari said during a press conference in Bhopal, “The brave daughters of our Army are sisters of terrorists. This disgusting utterance has been made by MP Minister Vijay Shah. This is an insult to our mighty army.”He demanded Shah’s immediate removal from the MP Cabinet. “If the Chief Minister fails to sack Shah, it will be seen as the state Cabinet endorsing his indecent and communal remarks,” Patwari stated.Patwari also pointed to Shah’s past controversies, recalling that he had previously been removed from the state Cabinet in 2013 for making lewd remarks against former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s wife, Sadhna Singh.–IANSsd/rad

New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) In a significant diplomatic and digital move, India on Wednesday blocked the X accounts of China’s state-run media outlets, Global Times and Xinhua News Agency, for spreading disinformation and Pakistani propaganda amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.The decision came after the handles of both outlets were found promoting a barrage of fake news and inflammatory narratives during and after Pakistan’s retaliatory attacks in response to India’s successful ‘Operation Sindoor’.The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) coordinated the move, citing national security and public order concerns.Officials said that both Global Times and Xinhua, linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), were actively amplifying false claims, including viral disinformation suggesting the downing of an Indian Rafale fighter jet near Bahawalpur — a claim India swiftly debunked.The Indian Embassy in China had earlier issued a stern warning to Global Times on X, advising the outlet to “verify facts and cross-examine sources” before sharing such posts.”Dear Global Timesnews, we would recommend you verify your facts and cross-examine your sources before pushing out this kind of disinformation,” the Embassy wrote, responding to one of the outlet’s misleading posts.”Several pro-Pakistan handles are spreading baseless claims in the context of #OperationSindoor, attempting to mislead the public. When media outlets share such information without verifying sources, it reflects a serious lapse in responsibility and journalistic ethics,” the Embassy added.The fake narrative involving the Rafale jet was traced back to a 2021 crash involving a MiG-21 in Punjab’s Moga district.The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check division flagged the image being circulated as misleading and warned, “Beware of old images shared by pro-Pakistan handles in the present context.”India’s precision strikes under ‘Operation Sindoor’ targeted terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed.Following India’s decisive military response, a digital campaign by several Pakistan-aligned and CCP-affiliated platforms tried to shift the narrative with disinformation — a move India responded to with a clampdown on access.–IANSint/sd/rad

New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) In a significant victory for India and the security forces, the Pakistan Rangers on Wednesday released the Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Purnam Shaw, who was captured by them and held in captivity for almost three weeks.The BSF jawan had inadvertently crossed over the international border in Punjab’s Ferozpur district. Purnam Shaw had strayed into the Pakistani side, a day after the ghastly Pahalgam attacks on April 22, which saw terrorists taking 26 innocent lives in cold blood.BSF also issued a statement on Pakistan returning the Indian jawan.“Constable Purnam Kumar Shaw has been taken back from Pakistan by BSF at Attari-Wagha border today at 1030 hrs,” the BSF said in a statement.“Constable Purnam Kumar Shaw had inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan territory, while on operational duty in the area of Ferozepur sector on 23rd April 2025 around 1150 hrs and was detained by Pak Rangers,” it added.The handover of the BSF jawan was done in accordance with established protocols. All other guidelines will be followed after his return to the homeland, including his medical tests to ascertain whether he was subjected to torture and inhumane treatment by the Pakistani rangers.The development comes days after India and Pakistan agreed to an “understanding” to cease military operations on May 10, apparently after the latter escalated the situation on the border, in response to India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ which pummeled and pounced on many terror bases and their key infrastructure in Pakistan as well as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7.Earlier, BSF jawan Purnam Shaw’s wife Rajni also visited Ferozpur and met senior BSF officials, pleading for their intervention to secure his release.She was assured of all possible steps to bring him back to the country.–IANSmr/skp

New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) As the dust settles, a week after India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’, the quantum of losses and devastation on the Pakistani side is beginning to emerge, spotlighting how it was made to pay a heavy price for abetting and sponsoring terrorism in the Indian territory.Latest reports, citing top sources claim that Pakistan air force has suffered severe losses, with 20 per cent of its infrastructure destroyed in Indian strikes.Many of its fighter jets have been destroyed while more than 30-40 of its armymen are understood to have succumbed.The ‘Operation Sindoor’ started on May 7, with India launching calculated, calibrated and measured strikes on terror hubs in Pakistan as well as Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, however, the Pakistani establishment considered it an attack on its own and made failed attempts to target Indian military and civilian structures with its drones and missiles in India.Responding to this, Indian armed forces launched aggressive strikes, bombing many of Pakistan’s airbases with indigenous and Israeli weapons.India targeted at least 10-11 airbases in Pakistan, many of whom are known to host the country’s key fighter jets. The strikes caused severe damages, destroying ammunition depots and airbases such as Sargodha and Bholari, where the PAF’s F-16 and J-17 fighter aircraft were said to be stationed.Many of Pakistani fighter jets were destroyed while 50 individuals including Squadron Leader Usman Yusuf along with four airmen, were killed in the strike on the Bholari airbase in Jamshoro district of Sindh.Pakistan Army also admitted on Tuesday that 11 of its military service personnel died and over 70 were injured in last week’s conflict with India over the Pahalgam terror attack.Indian Armed forces, however, stated on record that 35-40 Pakistani armymen were killed in strikes, from May 7 to May 10.Top government officials have revealed that besides destruction of 20 per cent of Pakistan’s air force assets, the strikes also damaged Pakistan’s fighter jets, including the China-made JF-17.India targeted military installations and the airbases of Nur Khan in Chaklala, Rafiqui in Shorkot, Murid in Chakwal, Sukkur, Sialkot, Pasrur, Chunian, Sargodha, Skardu, Bholari and Jacobabad.The satellite images are showing the scale of destruction at many airbases including Shahbaz airbase in Jacobabad.High-resolution satellite images reveal damages inflicted on mutiple airbases in Sukkur (Sindh), Nur Khan (Rawalpindi), Rahim Yar Khan (southern Punjab), Mushaf in Sargodha, Jacobabad (northern Sindh), and Bholari (northern Thatta district).In the satellite imagery, large craters on the runways and damaged aircraft hangars were seen.How India gained from Operation Sindoor:For India, Operation Sindoor marked a paradigm shift in its response to acts of terror and also revealed a new doctrine in the country’s counter-terrorism operations.Prime Minister Narendra Modi categorically stated that this will be treated as the new normal and any misadventures from Pakistani side will see bigger reprisal.India not only destroyed nine high-value terror launchpads linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen but also hit deep into Pakistan’s heartland, highlighting that the acts of terror will not go unpunished now.Strategic locations like Bahalwapur and Mudrike were targeted, signalling India’s resolve to hit targets deep inside Pakistan if the latter doesn’t stop nurturing terrorists on its soil.’Operation Sindoor’ signaled a doctrinal shift in India’s strategy and also underlined a new red line that Pakistan could no longer ignore.The 23-minute mission demonstrated India’s air defence capabilities and exposed significant gaps in Pakistan’s air defence network, which was either bypassed or neutralised.India’s air defence system also proved its mettle before the world, as no Pakistani projectile or missile could reach intended targets.’Operation Sindoor’ also sent a global message that India will decide on its matters, even if it includes vapourising terror targets in another country and it wouldn’t allow any foreign power’s intervention in the matter.Therefore, in contrast to previous conflicts, where India was urged to show restraint, this time the world’s leading powers largely expressed support for India’s right to defend its citizens and territory.’Operation Sindoor’ also helped consolidate India’s narrative around Kashmir. For the first time, the Kashmir issue was de-hyphenated from India’s right to act against terror as Prime Minister stated in clear terms that talks with Pakistan could happen only on two issues – terrorism and return of PoK.–IANSmr/rad

Hyderabad, May 14 (IANS) Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao on Wednesday slammed the Congress government in Telangana for demolitions in Warangal town for the ongoing Miss World beauty pageant.

The former minister took to ‘X’ and posed questions to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.KTR, as Rama Rao is popularly known, asked Rahul Gandhi if the Congress government has a secret contract with bulldozer companies.”What’s behind this incessant drive to destroy people’s homes & livelihoods on a daily basis? Why are demolitions being carried out in Warangal?” asked the BRS leader.”People are being told that it’s to ‘beautify’ the route for Miss World contestants visiting today. Such a travesty that you call yourselves a Prajapaalaa! After lavish dinners at palaces and spending ₹200 plus Crores of public money on vanity, you had to resort to crumpling the poor lives under your monstrous bulldozers?” he posted.KTR added that he demands answers from the “shameless” Congress government.This is the latest in the series of attacks by BRS on the Congress government over the Miss World contest. The opposition party leaders questioned the huge expenditure on the beauty pageant when Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy himself admitted that the state government has no money to meet the demands of the government employees or fulfil the promises made during the elections.The state government on Tuesday hosted a lavish dinner for the Miss World contestants at Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad.The contestants from 109 countries, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, his family, ministers and top officials attended the dinner.The beauty pageant, which began on May 10, is scheduled to conclude on May 31.After dinner, a heritage walk at iconic Charminar and shopping at famous Laad Bazaar in the old city of Hyderabad, the contestants on Wednesday left for Warangal for the next event as part of the pageant.–IANSms/svn