Month: April 2025

Despite the recent Pahalgam terror attack and growing tensions between India and Pakistan, the Kartarpur Corridor remains open for devotees to visit the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara in Pakistan, even as the Integrated Check Post at Attari remains closed.

A devotee expressed his disapproval of the attack and said that once the terrorists responsible for the attack are apprehended, the situation would become clearer.

While speaking with ANI, the devotee said, “What happened (terror attack) was really wrong…I am going to the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara to pay obeisance..They (terrorists) targeted the Hindu brothers to spread hatred. Once the terrorists are held, everything will become clear.”

The Kartarpur Corridor links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, to the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district. The visa-free 4.7-kilometre-long corridor connects the Indian border to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. It became operational in 2019.

Following the terror attack, the Central government announced several diplomatic measures, such as closing the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, suspending the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals, giving them 40 hours to return to their country, and reducing the number of officers in the High Commissions on both sides.

India also halted the Indus Waters Treaty signed in 1960 in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. Terrorists attacked tourists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam on April 22, killing 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen while leaving several others injured.

The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960, following nine years of negotiations between India and Pakistan, with the assistance of the World Bank, which is also a signatory to the treaty. Eugene Black, a former president of the World Bank, initiated the talks.

Recognised as one of the most successful international treaties, it has endured frequent tensions, including conflict. It has provided a framework for irrigation and hydropower development for over half a century.

The Treaty allocates the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan and the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India. At the same time, the Treaty allows each country certain uses of the rivers allocated to the other. The treaty allocates 20 per cent of the water from the Indus River System to India, with the remaining 80 per cent to Pakistan. (ANI)

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said that he had sent Cabinet Ministers to different cities across India to ensure the safety of state residents, especially students and businessmen.

This comes amid rising tensions following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the loss of several innocent lives and sparked outrage across the country. On April 22, terrorists attacked tourists at the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, killing 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, while leaving many others injured.

Taking to social media, X, Omar Abdullah wrote, “With a view to instilling a sense of security among our students and businessmen currently in other states, I have deputed my Cabinet Ministers to various cities across the country. The purpose of these visits is to coordinate efforts with the respective State Governments and ensure the safety and well-being of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) residents.

“The J&K Government will stand with its people–anywhere, everywhere,” the post reads.

Earlier, leaders from different parties united at an all-party meeting convened by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to vehemently denounce the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22.

Following an all-party meeting, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced the adoption of a unified resolution by all parties, condemning the attack and reaffirming a shared commitment to peace and justice.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated, “We, the participants of the All Party meeting of Jammu and Kashmir, deeply shocked and anguished by the recent barbaric attack in Pahalgam on 22nd April 2025 on innocent civilians, hereby adopt this resolution in a spirit of collective solidarity and resolve. We unequivocally condemn in the strongest possible terms the heinous, inhumane attack in Pahalgam that targeted and killed innocent civilians.”

He further described the act as “a direct assault on the values of Kashmiriyat and the idea of India.”

He added, “Such cowardly acts of brutality against peaceful citizens have no place in society and are a direct assault on the values of Kashmiriyat and the idea of India, which have long been a symbol of unity, peace and harmony in the region…We also support the steps taken by the Union Government announced yesterday. We extend our deepest condolences to the families who have suffered loss,” he said.

Senior leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir Congress President Tariq Hameed Karra and Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) President Ghulam Nabi Azad, expressed deep anguish over the loss of innocent lives.

They collectively called for strengthened measures to ensure the safety of civilians and uphold communal harmony. (ANI)

Extreme poverty (living on less than USD 2.15 per day) fell from 16.2 percent in 2011-12 to 2.3 percent in 2022-23, lifting 171 million people in India above this line, according to a report by World Bank.

This in a way is an endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s poverty reduction claims.

Over the past decade, India has significantly reduced poverty.

According to the Poverty & Equity Brief report of World Bank released earlier this week, rural extreme poverty dropped from 18.4 percent to 2.8 percent, and urban from 10.7 percent to 1.1 percent, narrowing the rural-urban gap from 7.7 to 1.7 percentage points–a 16 percent annual decline.

Meanwhile, India also transitioned into the lower-middle-income category.

Using the USD 3.65 per day lower-middle income category poverty line, poverty fell from 61.8 percent to 28.1 percent, lifting 378 million people out of poverty.

Rural poverty dropped from 69 percent to 32.5 percent, and urban poverty from 43.5 percent to 17.2 percent, reducing the rural-urban gap from 25 to 15 percentage points with a 7 percent annual decline.

The five most populous states–Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh–accounted for 65 percent of the country’s extreme poor in 2011-12 and contributed to two-thirds of the overall decline in extreme poverty by 2022-23.

Nevertheless, these states still accounted for 54 percent of India’s extremely poor (2022-23) and 51 percent of the multi-dimensionally poor (2019-21).

As measured by the multidimensional poverty index (MPI), non-monetary poverty declined from 53.8 percent in 2005-06 to 16.4 percent by 2019-21. The World Bank’s Multidimensional Poverty Measure is at 15.5 percent in 2022-23.

According to the World Bank report, the employment growth has outpaced the working-age population since 2021-22.

Employment rates, especially among women, are rising, and urban unemployment fell to 6.6 percent in Q1 2024-25, the lowest since 2017-18.

“Recent data indicates a shift of male workers from rural to urban areas for the first time since 2018-19, while rural female employment in agriculture has grown. Challenges persist: youth unemployment is 13.3 percent, increasing to 29 percent among tertiary education graduates. Only 23 percent of non-farm paid jobs are formal, and most agricultural employment remains informal,” the World Bank report read.

“Self-employment is rising, especially among rural workers and women. Despite a female employment rate of 31 percent, gender disparities remain, with 234 million more men in paid work,” it added. (ANI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Chief Ministers on Friday and asked them to identify all Pakistani nationals in their respective states, according to sources. Amit Shah is also talking to all chief ministers on the issue, asking them to identify all Pakistan nationals in their respective states and take steps to ensure their prompt return to Pakistan:

A decision has been made to cancel all types of visas, effective immediately. Shah has also asked the Chief Ministers to take steps to ensure the prompt return of the people to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the Union Home Minister will also hold a meeting regarding the Indus Water Treaty at his residence.

Besides the Home Minister and the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, CR Patil, other senior government officials will attend this meeting.

Sources told ANI, “India has formally notified Pakistan in writing about the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty.

“Secretary of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Devashree Mukherjee, has informed the Secretary of Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources, Syed Ali Murtaza, about this decision of the Indian government through a letter. India has issued a notice for changes in the treaty. The letter states that the Indian government has given notice to the Pakistani government for amendments to the treaty.

The notice mentioned that several fundamental aspects of the treaty have changed and require reconsideration. Population changes, the development of clean energy, and various factors related to water distribution, as outlined in the treaty, have occurred. Any treaty should be implemented in good faith, but Pakistan is promoting cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

The letter stated that India has sent notices to the Pakistani government seeking modification of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 (the Treaty) under Article XII (3) of the Treaty.

“These communications cited fundamental changes in the circumstances that have taken place since the Treaty was executed that require a reassessment of obligations under the various Articles of the Treaty read with its Annexures,” the letter said.

“These changes include significantly altered population demographics, the need to accelerate the development of clean energy and other changes in the assumptions underlying the sharing of waters under the Treaty,” it added.

The Indian government has taken a significant step following the cowardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

This comes after terrorists attacked tourists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam on April 22, killing 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen while leaving several others injured. (ANI)

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has asked the Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, who called on him here on Friday to take effective steps not only to bring those responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack to justice but also to intensify efforts to crush the nfrastructure of terrorism and its ecosystem.

During the discussion, the Lieutenant Governor said the nation has full faith in the bravery and valour of our army, police and CAPFS, and they must work in close synergy to identify perpetrators, enablers and OGWS of Pahalgam terrorist killing and pursue the entire chain in a sustained manner and neutralise them.

“Every perpetrator and supporter of the Pahalgam terror attack, whatever his location or affiliation, must be hunted and they must pay the heavy price for the cowardly and dastardly act against our citizens,” the Lieutenant Governor told the top army officials.

The meeting also reviewed security mechanisms in place, various short-term, long-term measures and integration and coordination among the various security agencies. The meeting was also attended by GOC-in-C Northern Command Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar, Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Pratik Sharma and GoC 15 Corps Lt Gen Prashant Srivastava.

Indian Army Chief General Dwivedi arrived in Srinagar today to review the security situation in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Upon his arrival, the 15 Corps Commander briefed him about the ongoing security situation, and he met with senior Army commanders deployed in the Kashmir Valley, along with officials from other security agencies.

The Indian Army Chief General was also briefed on the actions being taken by the formations against terrorists inside their territory and the Pakistan Army’s attempts to violate the ceasefire along the LoC

The Indian Army is on a high alert, launching several search operations to neutralise the terrorists following the attack in Pahalgam on April 22, in which 26 people were killed. (ANI)

The Delhi Police arrested activist Medha Patkar on Friday, following a non-bailable warrant issued against her by the Saket court in the national capital on April 23. The social activist is set to be produced before the Saket court today.

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Vishal Singh issued a Non-Bailable Warrant against Medha Patkar on April 23.

“Issue NBWs against convict Medha Patkar, through the office of the Commissioner of Police, for the next date,” ASJ Vishal Singh said on Wednesday. The court has listed the matter for report on NBW and for further proceedings on May 3.

Advocate Gajinder Kumar and Kiran Jai appeared for VK Saxena.

In July 2024, Patkar was convicted in a defamation case filed in 2000 by the then Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena

Patkar was sentenced and released on probation and was directed to deposit the compensation amount and to furnish a probation bond. On Friday, she was arrested for not furnishing probation bonds in the defamation case moved against her by Saxena.

While dealing with the matter, the court noted, “Instead of appearing before the court and to comply with the order on sentence of April 8, 2025, the convict is absent and deliberately failed to comply with the order on sentence and to avail the benefit of probation subject to furnishing of compensation amount. “The court took seriously the non-appearance of Medha Patkar and termed it deliberate.

“The intention of convicting Medha Patkar is apparent, that she is deliberately violating the court order, she is avoiding appearing before the court and also avoiding accepting the terms of the sentence passed against her. There is no order of suspension of sentence passed by this court on April 8, 2025,” ASJ Vishal Singh said.

“This court is left with no option but to enforce the production of convict Medha Patkar through coercive order,” he added.

The court makes it clear that if on the next occasion the convict fails to comply with the terms of the order on sentence passed on April 8, the court will be constrained to reconsider the benevolent sentence and will have to alter the order on sentence.

An application was moved on Patkar’s behalf on Tuesday to seek adjournment in view of the pendency of an appeal before the High Court. The court dismissed the same.

The court stated that the application lacks substance, as there is no direction in the April 22, 2025, order of the High Court that the convict, Medha Patkar is not required to comply with the sentence order passed on April 8, 2025.

“The application is frivolous and mischievous and is only calculated to hoodwink the court. The present application is therefore dismissed,” ASJ Vishal Singh said in the order.

On April 8, the appellate court upheld her conviction. However, the court, after sentencing her, directed her release on the condition of probation for good conduct for one year.

She appeared through video conferencing. The court had asked her to appear on April 23.

In July 2024, she was convicted and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment by the Magistrate’s court. The court had directed her to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to V K Saksena. However, she was granted bail by the court to challenge the order. The same order was challenged before the session court. (ANI)

India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend MS Dhoni will be playing the 400th T20 of his career during the Indian Premier League (IPL) clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Chepauk Stadium on Friday.

Dhoni’s struggling CSK, sitting at the bottom with just two wins in eight matches, will be taking on SRH, placed at an equally poor position at number ninth, with six losses in their eight matches at Chepauk Stadium on Friday. The loser will have to settle for the wooden spoon and an increased risk of elimination.

Dhoni will become the 24th player and the only fourth Indian after Virat Kohli (407), Dinesh Karthik (412) and Rohit Sharma to complete a quadruple century of matches in T20 cricket.

In 399 matches so far, for India, Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiant and his domestic side of Jharkhand, Dhoni has made 7,566 runs at an average of 38.02, with 28 fifties and the best score of 84*. He has also completed 318 dismissals across these matches.

Dhoni has also won a T20 World Cup for India in 2007, five IPL titles with CSK and two Champions League T20 titles as well with the Men in Yellow.

The most number of matches in T20s are played by West Indies icon Kieron Pollard (695), followed by West Indies veteran Dwayne Bravo (582) and Pakistan batter Shoaib Malik (557).

Dhoni is also the sixth-highest run-getter in the IPL history, with 5,377 runs in 272 matches and 237 innings at an average of 38.96, with 24 fifties. His best score is 84*.

In eight matches this season, Dhoni has functioned as a finisher, scoring 134 runs in eight innings at an average of 33.50, a strike rate of 152.27, and the best score of 30*.

Squads:

Chennai Super Kings Squad: Shaik Rasheed, Rachin Ravindra, Ayush Mhatre, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni(w/c), Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana, Ravichandran Ashwin, Anshul Kamboj, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Sam Curran, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Gopal, Devon Conway, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Dewald Brevis, Andre Siddarth C, Vansh Bedi

Sunrisers Hyderabad Squad: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Aniket Verma, Pat Cummins(c), Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari, Eshan Malinga, Abhinav Manohar, Mohammed Shami, Rahul Chahar, Sachin Baby, Wiaan Mulder, Kamindu Mendis, Atharva Taide, Simarjeet Singh, Smaran Ravichandran. (ANI)

An FIR has been registered at the High Grounds Police Station in Bengaluru against the Karnataka BJP IT Cell over a social media post allegedly targeting Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.

The complaint was filed by CM Dhananjay, President of the KPCC Legal Unit. In the complaint, Dhananjay alleged that the BJP’s state IT Cell posted a message on social media suggesting that “whenever Congress leader Rahul Gandhi goes abroad, there will be one attack after another in Kashmir.”

The complaint stated that the post was provocative and aimed at spreading false information against Rahul Gandhi. “This post is in a way that is detrimental to peace and harmony. This is a provocative post and an attempt has been made to spread false news against Rahul Gandhi and tarnish his reputation,” the complainant said.

Dhananjay further urged the police to initiate legal proceedings against the individuals responsible for the post, alleging that it was intended to incite public sentiment and create disharmony.

Police have registered a case and said further investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, Opposition parties on Thursday conveyed their unanimous support to the government at an all-party meeting over any action it takes in the wake of the terror attack in Pahalgam, with officials explaining how “the lapse” took place.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said after the meeting that the government informed about the decisions taken at the Cabinet Committee on Security, which was held a day after the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.

He said the meeting was briefed by IB and Home Ministry officials on “how the terror incident happened and how the lapse occurred”.

Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Health Minister and BJP chief JP Nadda attended the meeting. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party’s Ram Gopal Yadav, NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule, NCP’s Shrikant Shinde, NCP leaders Praful Patel and Shrikant Shinde, RJD’s Prem Chand Gupta (RJD), DMK’s Tiruchi Siva, BJD’s Sasmit Patra, Aam Aadmi Party’s Sanjay Singh, Trinmool Congress leader Sudip Bandopadhyay, YSCRP leader PV Mithun Reddy (YSRC), BJP’s Anil Baluni, TDP’s Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Indian Union Muslim League’s Haris Beeran and AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi were among those present.

On Thursday, a meeting convened by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre, brought together leaders from across the political spectrum to deliberate on the path forward in the wake of the April 22 terror attack that shook the region.

The attack, which targeted tourists in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam, claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, leaving several others injured. It is considered one of the deadliest terror attacks in the region since the 2019 Pulwama bombing, in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed, and among the most severe since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. (ANI)

The much-talked-about biopic ‘Phule’ based on the lives of social reformers Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule, was screened in Mumbai on Thursday evening. The film stars Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa in the lead roles.

The cast and crew wore black pin badges and observed a minute of silence in memory of victims of the Pahalgam terror attack that has left the entire nation shocked.

The event was attended by actors Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa. The actress was also joined by her husband, actor Rajkummar Rao. Other B-town celebrities who attended the screening included director Ananth Mahadevan, lyricist Javed Akhtar, actors Huma Qureshi, Abhishek Banerjee, Deepak Dobriyal, filmmaker Rahul Dholakia, and producers Suniil Jaiin and Ritesh Kudecha.

As per a press note shared by the team, producer Suniil Jaiin, while speaking at the event, said, “Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule were fearless reformers who challenged deep-rooted caste and gender inequalities. They championed education for women and the marginalized–this film is our humble tribute to their extraordinary legacy.”

Phule is produced by Dancing Shiva Films and Kingsmen Productions, with Zee Studios handling its theatrical release.

Phule is directed by Ananth Mahadevan, and the film stars Pratik as Jyotirao Phule and Patralekhaa as Savitribai Phule. The story highlights their fight against caste discrimination and gender inequality. (ANI)