Month: April 2025

The highly awaited romantic drama ‘Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan,’ featuring Vikrant Massey and debutante Shanaya Kapoor, now has a release date.

The makers announced the release date on Wednesday through a video shared on social media. The film is all set to release in cinemas on July 11.

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Produced by Zee Studios and Mini Films, the film marks Shanaya Kapoor’s official Bollywood debut. She stars opposite Vikrant Massey.

Directed by Santosh Singh, the film is written by Niranjan Iyengar and Mansi Bagla. The music has been composed by Vishal Mishra.

Presented as a love story, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan revolves around emotions, romance, and the connection between its lead characters.

Producers Mansi Bagla and Varun Bagla are backing the film under the Mini Films banner, in collaboration with Zee Studios.

Meanwhile, Vikrant has a couple of other projects in his kitty as well. The actor will be seen taking on the role of spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in the upcoming film titled White.

The film will be backed by producers Siddharth Anand and Mahaveer Jain. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh took to his Instagram earlier this month to confirm the news, along with a picture of Siddharth, Mahaveer, and Massey.

White, directed by Montoo Bassi, is described as a “global thriller” that revolves around the story of how Colombia’s brutal 52-year-long civil war was resolved–a largely untold chapter of modern peace-building. (ANI)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday that the party supports the government’s decision to conduct caste enumeration during the forthcoming population census, but it should specify a timeline.

Addressing a press conference here, Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, said Telangana has provided a model for conducting caste census and it can provide a blueprint for the exercise at the national level.

He said the Congress has been demanding a caste census and the government had “suddenly after 11 years” taken this decision.

“We had said in the Parliament that we will make Caste Census happen. We had also said that we would scrap the 50% cap, the artificial wall that is in place. Narendra Modi used to say that there are just four castes. Don’t know what happened but suddenly after 11 years, Caste Census has been announced,” Rahul Gandhi said.

“We completely support it but we want a timeline. We want to know that by when this will happen. This is the first step. Telangana has become a model in Caste Census and it can become a blueprint. We offer our support to the government in designing the Caste Census…There are two examples – Bihar’s and Telangana’s and there is a vast difference between the two,” he added.

The Congress leader said the caste census is the first step, and there is a need to bring a new development paradigm.

“I would like to reiterate that caste census is the first step. Our vision is of bringing a new development paradigm through Caste Census. Not just reservations but we are also asking central questions – be it OBCs, Dalits, Adivasis, what is their participation in this country? Through Caste Census it will be found, but we have to go ahead of Caste Census…We had said one more thing, Congress had raised one more point, it was mentioned in the manifesto as well — Article 15(5) – reservation in private educational institutions. This is already a law. We want the NDA-BJP Government to begin implementing it,” he added.

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday decided to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated at a media briefing following the cabinet meeting that the decision demonstrates the present government’s commitment to the holistic interests and values of the nation and society.

As per Article 246 of the Constitution of India, the Census is a Union subject listed at 69 in the Union List in the Seventh Schedule.

‘While some states have conducted surveys to enumerate castes, these surveys have varied in transparency and intent, with some conducted purely from a political angle, creating doubts in society. Considering all these circumstances, and to ensure that our social fabric does not come under political pressure, it has been decided that caste enumeration should be included in the main census instead of being conducted as a separate survey,” Vaishnaw said.

“This will ensure that society becomes stronger economically and socially, and the country’s progress continues without hindrance. When a provision of 10 percent reservation was made for the economically weaker sections of society, it did not create tension in any section of society,” he added.

The Union Minister said caste was excluded from all census operations conducted since independence.

“In 2010, then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh assured the Lok Sabha that the matter of caste census would be considered in the Cabinet. A Group of Ministers was formed to deliberate on this subject, and most political parties recommended conducting a caste census. Despite this, the previous government opted for a survey instead of a caste census, known as the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC),” he said. (ANI)

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As the country braces for the monsoon season, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued a cautionary outlook for May, warning of above-normal temperatures and a likely rise in heatwave occurrences across several regions.

While northern India is likely to receive above-average rainfall, other parts–especially the northwest, central, and northeast–may experience drier-than-usual conditions, IMD’s Director General Mrityunjay Mohapatra said in a virtual press conference on Wednesday.

As per IMD DG, April 2025 saw sharp weather contrasts. The month was the 50th driest April recorded nationwide since 1901. Yet southern and central India recorded substantial rainfall. The southern peninsular region experienced its 13th highest April rainfall since 1901 and 5th highest since 2001, while central India recorded its 28th highest April on record.

Temperatures continued to rise during this month. Maximum daily temperatures across India were the 8th highest ever recorded for April, while minimum temperatures ranked 9th highest. Most regions in northwest, central, and northeast India recorded normal to above-normal daytime temperatures, and some areas in the peninsular and east-central regions avoided the worst of the heat.

Notably, there was a sharp increase in heatwave activity during April. Western India was hit hardest, with Rajasthan and Gujarat experiencing between 6 to 11 heatwave days, significantly higher than the average of 2 to 3. East Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha recorded 4 to 6 heatwave days, while Maharashtra and nearby areas saw slightly fewer than usual.

The IMD reported a major heatwave from April 3 to 10 across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Shorter but intense heatwaves followed later in the month, culminating in 72 days of heatwave or severe heatwave conditions across various meteorological subdivisions in the country.

Looking ahead, May is expected to bring even hotter weather. The IMD forecasts above-normal maximum temperatures across most of India, except for some areas in the southern peninsular and eastern regions where temperatures may be near normal or slightly below. However, minimum temperatures are likely to remain elevated nationwide.

The number of heatwave days is also projected to increase.

The IMD anticipates an additional 1 to 4 days of heatwave conditions in key regions, including Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal, as well as parts of Gujarat, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and northern Karnataka.

Rainfall in May will likely be mixed. Northern India is likely to receive above-normal rainfall, exceeding the long-term average of 64.1 mm, but below-normal precipitation is expected in parts of northwest, central, and northeast India. Elsewhere, rainfall is expected to range from normal to above-normal.

Meanwhile, oceanic and atmospheric indicators remain neutral, with ENSO-neutral conditions expected to persist through the northern summer. The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is also forecast to stay in a neutral phase. (ANI)

Amul has increased the price of milk by two rupees per litre for its variants, including Amul Standard, Amul Baffalo Milk, Amul Gold, Amul Slim and Trim, Amul Chai Mazza, Amul Taaza and Amul Cow Milk.

The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, which operates the dairy brand, announced a price hike on Wednesday.

The price of Amul full cream milk have been increased to Rs 67 per litre from Rs 65 per litre. The price of bulk-vended milk (toned) have been increased to Rs 55 from Rs 53 per litre.

The decision will take effect on May 1.

Mother Dairy has already hiked prices of liquid milk by up to Rs 2 per litre.

The new prices will be effective in Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Uttarakhand markets.

“Mother Dairy is constrained to revise the consumer price of its liquid milk by up to Rs. 2 per litre, effective from April 30, 2025. This price revision has been necessitated to address the significant increase in procurement costs, which have gone up by Rs. 4 – 5 per litre over the past few months. The surge in procurement prices is primarily driven by early onset of summer and heatwave conditions,” a Mother Dairy spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The prices of bulk vended milk (toned) has been increased to Rs 56 per litre from Rs 54 per litre. Full cream milk will cost Rs 69 per litre against Rs 68 per litre earlier.

The price of cow milk has been revised to Rs 57 per litre from Rs 56 earlier and double-toned milk will now cost Rs 51 per litre compared to the earlier price of Rs 49. (ANI)

Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea challenging the election of Chirag Paswan, president of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), from the Hajipur Lok Sabha seat in Bihar.

Justice Amit Bansal’s bench ruled that the court lacked territorial jurisdiction, allowing the petitioner to explore other legal remedies.

The petitioner alleged she was a survivor of an alleged sexual assault orchestrated by Prince Raj (a relative of Chirag Paswan) and his associates, including Paswan, who failed to disclose this alleged “criminal antecedent” in his nomination affidavit for the elections.

She argued that concealing such information violates Section 125A of the Representation of the People Act, which carries a penalty of six months’ imprisonment.

Advocate Sidhant Kumar, representing the Election Commission, stated that the petition was not maintainable in Delhi as the election took place in Bihar.

Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma further argued that only a voter of the constituency or a candidate can file an election petition, and the petitioner did not meet these criteria.

Chirag Paswan, an Indian politician and former actor, has been serving as the Minister of Food Processing Industries since June 2024. He has been the founding president of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) since 2021 and previously held the position of president of the Lok Janshakti Party from 2019 to 2021. Since 2024, he has represented the Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency as a Member of Parliament.

Chirag is the son of the late Ram Vilas Paswan, a prominent Union Minister and Member of Parliament. (ANI)

Cyprus will bring the Pahalgam terror attack to the attention of the European Union, specifically at the upcoming informal Foreign Ministers’ Council meeting in Warsaw, according to Cyprus High Commissioner to India, Evagoras Vryonides.

Discussing the recent telephone conversation between External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and Cyprus Foreign Minister Kombos, Vryonides told ANI, “So the meeting was about to express our solidarity as a member of the European Union and as Republic of Cyprus and to see how we can move forward. In addition to that, Minister Kombos took the initiative to bring this issue to the organs of the EU and, in particular, the informal foreign minister’s council that will happen in a few days in Warsaw. So this issue will be raised at that level. Naturally, there was already a reaction by the Commission, but this is in addition and in parallel to these steps.”

Condemning the Pahalgam terror attack, Vryonides expressed shock and solidarity, stating, “We were very shocked to hear about what happened in northern India, and of course, we joined our voice of condemnation and of solidarity with all the nations across the globe that condemned this horrible attack.”

The High Commissioner described the Cyprus-India relationship as active and growing, noting plans for a visit by Foreign Minister Kombos to India this year. “I’m happy to say it’s a very active relationship from the 50s and 60s. It has been growing. The last few years. We have seen a number of presidential visits back and forth. Our foreign ministers met three, or four times the last two years. In fact, we are planning a new visit by Minister Kombos within the year, so hopefully, we’ll be able to be hosted by Indian Government soon,” he said.

On Cyprus-India security collaboration, Vryonides highlighted ongoing cooperation in the defence and military fields, with close ties between the defence ministries of both nations. “So we look forward that in the future, there will be participation in joint military exercises and always in the purpose to deter military attacks and to prepare ourselves better,” he added. (ANI)

In the wake of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, touristism in Kashmir valley witnessed a pause. However, with the situation gradually stabilising, travellers are once again making their way to the region. Locals, who strongly condemned the attack, have reiterated their commitment to welcoming tourists and ensuring their comfort.

Several tourists reported that locals have been extending a warm welcome, urging others to not cancel their trips due to fear or misinformation.

“We went to Katra, Srinagar, Gulmarg and also visited Dal Lake and Pahalgam. Everywhere we went, people were cooperative and welcoming. The situation felt normal,” said a tourist from Kolkata.

Another visitor from Kolkata, travelling with a group of around 30 people, said, “We were a little anxious at first, but after reaching here, we didn’t face any problems. Locals are treating us like guests.”

Amid visible security arrangements, tourists expressed confidence in the government’s efforts.

A young female tourist, reacting to fears among some travellers, said, “What we experienced here is not what we usually see or hear in the news. I want to tell those who are thinking of cancelling their trip, please come and see the real Kashmir. The people are supportive and welcoming.”

Another visitor, Ankana, who is staying at a relative’s home in the valley, said she was warmly received and that locals were friendly and made her feel at ease during sightseeing.

Residents of Anantnag and the surrounding areas have strongly condemned the Pahalgam attack.

“Tourists are being welcomed here, and there is no reason for them to be afraid. We want to tell those who cancelled their plans — please come, we are inviting you. Come and enjoy Kashmir. Whoever carried out the attack should be punished. Our livelihood depends on tourism, and it was affected badly. Now that visitors have started returning, we hope things improve.”

On Tuesday, locals across Jammu and Kashmir united in strong condemnation, reiterating their call for peace and terming the incident an “attack” on humanity and the values that define the Union Territory.

Expressing grief and outrage, residents emphasised that Kashmiris are known for their hospitality and peaceful nature, and such violence stands in direct contrast to their centuries-old traditions of welcoming guests.

Local Kashmiris described the incident as not only a misfortune for the region but also a profound betrayal of human values.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting on Tuesday with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.

Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh also attended the meeting.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Prime Minister Modi at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg on Monday. The meeting came a day after Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan briefed the Defence Minister on some decisions in the wake of the Pahalgam terror, in which 26 people were killed.

The government has said that the terrorists responsible for the terror attack and the conspirators behind it will face severe punishment.

The government had convened an all-party meeting after the Pahalgam terror attack. Opposition parties have expressed their full support for any action taken by the government against the perpetrators of the attack.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met a day after the Pahalgam terror attack. In the briefing to the CCS, the cross-border linkages of the terrorist attack were brought out. It was noted that this attack came in the wake of the successful holding of elections in Jammu and Kashmir and its steady progress towards economic growth and development.

The government has announced a series of measures, including putting the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, to send a strong message to Pakistan for its support of cross-border terrorism. (ANI)

Bangladesh High Court on Wednesday granted bail to spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in a sedition case, according to Bangladesh-based The Daily Star.

The order was passed by a bench of Justice Md Atoar Rahman and Justice Md Ali Reza.

Chinmoy Krishna Das, spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatani Jagran Jote and a former ISKCON leader, was arrested at Dhaka airport on November 25 last year. He has been accused of insulting the national flag of Bangladesh and is facing sedition charges.

He had applied for bail in the High Court after a lower court in Chittagong rejected his plea on January 2.

In February, the Bangladesh High Court had asked the government to explain why Das should not be granted bail, as confirmed by his lawyer.

“Bangladesh High Court has asked the government to respond to the ruling within two weeks,” said Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, Das’ lawyer, in a statement to ANI.

During the January 2 hearing in Chittagong, Das’ defence team argued that he held deep respect for the motherland, comparable to the reverence for his mother, and was not a traitor. Despite these arguments, the court denied the bail plea.

“We mentioned to the court that the priest respects the motherland like his mother and is not a traitor,” Bhattacharjee said. The court, led by Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam, ruled against granting bail following arguments from both parties.

The court in Chittagong, led by Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam, rejected the bail after hearing arguments from both sides. The hearing was held under tight security. Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Advocate Mofizur Haque Bhuiyan represented the prosecution.

The case has attracted wide public attention, with many closely following the developments in the Bangladesh High Court. (ANI)

Eight pilgrims died after a 20-foot-long stretch collapsed at the Sri Varahalakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Visakhapatnam during the Chandanotsavam festival. The incident happened in the early hours of Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the family members of the victims broke down in tears after the accident outside the King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam.

According to Jogarao, who is a relative of the deceased Uma Maheswarao family member, a wall was recently constructed, and four lives of a family were lost due to the wall. Both the wife and husband worked as IT technicians.

“A wall was recently constructed, and four lives of a family were lost due to the wall. Both the wife and husband worked as IT technicians. We are demanding justice for the family. How can a wall constructed without a pillar support? I am demanding that the contractor and engineer of the wall construction. The Government should announce one crore ex gratia and one government job to family members. Without announcing it, we wouldn’t allow to perform postmortems on the deceased bodies”, he told ANI.

Another relative of the deceased family members said that they demand to get to the bottom of the matter, and the government should take action against the officers who were involved in the poor construction of the wall.

“We need justice for losing our family members. The government should take action against the officers involved in the poor construction of the wall. Four members of my family lost their lives at the same time. Who will take responsibility for our family? The government should give one government and ex gratia to us”, the family member said.

Meanwhile, CPIM leader B. Ganga Rao stated that the incident occurred due to the government’s negligence. He claimed that the contractor of the wall belongs to the TDP-Jan Sena government and questioned Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan regarding the incident.

He said that he has announced a meagre compensation of Rs 25 lakhs to each deceased. He also demanded that AP CM Chandrababu Naidu grant at least Rs 1 crore each and permanent employment to the family members of the deceased in the state government.

“This happened due to the state government’s negligence. Our party strongly condemns the state government’s attitude. The contractor who built this wall belongs to the TDP-Jana Sena government. Lakhs of rupees were corrupted on this wall construction… I am questioning Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan. Their government has announced a meagre compensation of Rs 25 lakhs to each deceased. We strongly demand that Chandrababu Naidu grant at least Rs 1 crore each and permanent employment to the family members of the deceased in the state government”, he told ANI.

TDP National Spokesperson Prem Kumar Jain addressed the wall collapse incident that resulted in the death of eight people. He stated that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has instructed authorities to provide immediate emergency treatment to those who have been injured.

He further said families of the deceased will receive an ex gratia payment of Rs 25 lakh each, while the injured will be given Rs 3 lakh each. (ANI)

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached Yamunotri on the occasion of the beginning of the Char Dham Yatra. The doors of the Shri Yamunotri Dham opened on April 30, and CM Dhami attended the ceremony.

While speaking to reporters, Dhami said that the government is monitoring the situation from every angle and ensuring that pilgrims do not face any problems. He stated that pilgrimage in the state has increased due to the work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at all the dhams. He added that, due to the disaster at the Yamuna Ghat, helicopter arrangements are being made to assess the damage around the complex.

“We are monitoring the situation from every angle to ensure that the Char Dham Yatra pilgrims do not face any problems… The journey to Yamunotri Dham is slightly more challenging than that to the other Dhams. For this, we are working on making a master plan… Pilgrimage has increased significantly since 2014, following the work undertaken on all four Dhams under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Due to a disaster on the Yamuna Ghat, arrangements for big helicopters are being made for the damage around the complex”, Pushkar Singh Dhami told reporters.

He further stated that the Char Dham Yatra is akin to a festival for the people of Uttarakhand and emphasised that the government aims for the Yatra to be safe, easy, and hassle-free.

“Char Dham Yatra has begun, the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri have opened. It is like a festival for the people of Uttarakhand. All the preparations have been done. We want the yatra to be safe, easy, and hassle-free. Various departments have made arrangements. We will be working to facilitate easy yatra for people”, he added.

Meanwhile, according to the information, after the Char Dham Yatra 2025 began on Wednesday, more than 22 lakh devotees registered for the pilgrimage at the Rishikesh Transit Camp in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, and headed towards their destination. (ANI)

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