Month: April 2025

Kumaraswamy Slams K’taka Govt Over Price Hikes

By LokMarg

Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has expressed outrage over the implementation of garbage cess in Bengaluru by the Congress-led Karnataka government, stating that the “price hike demon” government in Karnataka is draining the blood of the people like leeches.

In a press statement, he said, “From today, the Congress Company government is imposing a cess even on garbage! It is draining the blood of the people!”

He accused the state government of lying daily and hiking prices every month. “This is the governance style of the Karnataka East India Congress Company government! From today, the Congress Company government is imposing a cess even on garbage!” Kuamaswamy said.

“The government is using its so-called five guarantees as a pretext for price hikes. But its real intention is nothing but looting the people. Even Mahmud of Ghazni and Muhammad Ghori, who invaded India and looted it continuously, would be ashamed of the price hike campaign being imposed on Kannadigas by the Congress government,” the Union Minister alleged.

He launched a severe attack, stating that the Congress Company government has destroyed a once-prosperous Karnataka through “misgovernance” and has now taken the form of a “Price Hike Demon” to bleed the people dry.

“They have increased the prices of water, metro rail, KSRTC bus tickets, milk (three times), electricity, stamp duty, guideline value, excise duty, outpatient fees in government hospitals, post-mortem examination charges, medical certificate fees, lab test charges, professional tax, and seed prices. This is the ‘Price Hike Demon’ Congress government,” he stated.

“As if this wasn’t enough, from April 1, they are imposing a Garbage Cess! Under the guise of waste management, they have set up a multi-crore looting scheme,” he added.

The minister also referred to the Congress government as the “Price Hike Demon Government” and compared it to the British East India Company, calling it the “Karnataka East India Congress” and the “Congress Company Government.” (ANI)

‘Labels Like ‘Traitor’ or ‘Patriot’ Do Not Sit Well With Real History’

By LokMarg

CN Subramaniam, a History scholar, says before passing judgement on a historical figure one must understand the political context of the associated era. His views:

Before passing any sweeping statement on the ongoing controversy over Rajput warrior Rana Sanga, I believe we need to understand the larger political scenario of 16th century South Asian politics and the political maneuvers of rulers of that era. The Afghans, Mughals, and also the Rajputs were essentially kin-based polities which were trying to develop some kind of centralised institutions so as to be able to gain control over an increasingly ‘commercialising subcontinent’.

Their main struggle was against their own kinfolk – on the one hand they tried to widen their own blood support by marrying into powerful families (Rana Sanga had more than 25 wives, if I am not mistaken, from different Rajput clans); and, on the other hand, they were trying to undermine the control of established kinsmen (as in the case of Ibrahim and Daulat Khan Lodi, Rana Sanga, and his brother, Prithviraj, and, Humayun and his brothers.)

The Mughals, incidentally, never called themselves Mughal, as it had a derogatory, tribal connotation. All rulers of the subcontinent had a multi-ethnic and multi-religious support system, as their own kin-based system was unreliable and insufficient. This could be in the form of inter-dynastic alliances, subordinate but friendly lineages, etc. So no one was purely Rajput, Lodi or Mughal, or Hindu or Muslim, in that sense.

As commerce revived in the 16th century in a big way, it was increasingly becoming imperative to establish larger political units to facilitate and reap the benefits of trade. Especially, these also needed a centralised administration, beyond tribal and kin-based controls. So they had to both expand their territories and internally centralise power. This, naturally, faced much resistance.

ALSO READ: ‘Reckless Remarks Against Rana Sanga Are Politically Motivated’

There was no notion of ‘insider’ or ‘outsider’ in the sense of being Indian and foreign. Or, for that matter, Hindu or Muslim, or permanent friends and foes. Salhadi Tomar of Raisen, a problematic ally of Rana Sangha in Khanwa, was well known for converting and reconverting from Hinduism to Islam and back. Everything was fluid.

Rana Sanga was trying to build a confederacy of Rajput clans under his leadership to expand his kingdom. Around the time Babur arrived, he had become a major contender for control over the key political centres of north India.

The Lodis were also a confederation of Afghan and Rajput clans trying to maintain control over the remnants of the Delhi Sultanate. Babur entered this scene — he had no kingdom worth mentioning, but he had managed to gain control over the segments of Changezi clans, and had powerful military hardware and strategy. He was betting on this.

Let us remember that Babur did not need any invitation to conquer Hindustan. He had no other option. But he could do with some allies — at least, temporarily.

Rana Sanga, likewise, may have hoped that he could divide the Sultanate territory with Babur. So he may have suggested a joint action against the Lodis. That is what emerges from Baburnama; and Nainsi, the Rajasthan chronicler, is somewhat reticent about Rana Sanga.

The references to Rana Sanga’s invitation in Baburnama is: “Although an envoy had come to us from Rana Sanga, the infidel, while we were in Kabul, and offered his support, saying, ‘If the padishah comes from that direction to the environs of Delhi, I will attack Agra from this direction’. I had defeated Ibrahim and taken Delhi and Agra. Uptill then, this infidel had done nothing. Sometime later, he did lay siege to the fortress known as Kandar…”

Evidently, the Rana refrained from attacking Agra when Babar was engaging Ibrahim Lodi in Panipat and preferred to wait and watch. He later began advancing towards Bayana and Agra which alarmed Babur and he decided to stop him. So, after all, Rana Sanga did move towards Agra, but after Babur had taken control of it.

The Battle of Khanwa was decisive in that the Rajput-Hasan Khan Mewati armies were trounced and decimated. Sanga had to leave the battlefield and was subsequently killed by his kinsmen and nobles. Mewati died in the battle. A son from a senior wife (Ratan Singh) became the Rana, but two sons of a junior queen went over to Babur to get control over Ranthambore, as promised by their father.

I don’t think labels like ‘traitor’ or ‘patriot’ are useful in this context. They were empire-builders and we need to judge them by what they set out to do, how much they could accomplish, and where they failed. As a matter of fact, all three, Babur, Lodi and Sanga did try – but failed. It was left to Akbar to accomplish the task – definitely, with the help of Rajputs, Indian Muslims and the Afghans.

(The narrator, popularly called Subbu, has worked with Eklavya, a path-breaking initiative in school education for developing social science curriculum, in close coordination with various state councils of educational research & training (SCERTs). He lives in Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh.)

Rising Temperatures: Impact on Food Security & Health

By Vikas Parashram Meshram

Even before the end of March, several parts of India are experiencing a heatwave. On March 16, Odisha recorded a temperature of 43°C, while Jharsuguda touched 42°C. In more than half a dozen locations across the country, temperatures exceeded 40°C. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has confirmed that such unusual March heatwaves were unprecedented. Notably, 2024 was recorded as the hottest year in human history. March 2023 was the warmest March on record, and March 2024 surpassed that record. Similarly, February 2024 broke the record of the previous February for the highest temperature. Now, indications suggest that March 2025 might follow the same trend.

Scientists warn that at the current rate of global warming, the 1.5°C temperature rise limit, which was initially set to be reached by the end of this century, could be breached as early as 2029. Reports on climate change continue to grow, and these warnings are not mere speculations by activists or pessimists. Instead, they come from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), consisting of the world’s leading climatologists. Our glaciers are melting rapidly, and the oceans are heating up four times faster than before. Rising sea levels and an increasing frequency of cyclones are expected to affect coastal regions, while flooding in rivers may intensify.

The impact of global warming is particularly severe on the world’s poorest populations, especially women. Food security is at risk, leading to conflicts between nations, forced migration due to climate change, and a rise in zoonotic diseases (diseases that spread from animals to humans).

India’s geographical diversity has been its strength, with the towering Himalayas stretching over 2,500 km in the north and a vast coastline of 7,500 km across nine states. However, coastal states, along with the interior regions, are now facing the increasing threat of cyclones. Over 250 million people in India are directly or indirectly dependent on coastal activities such as tourism, agriculture, and fishing. The western coastline, densely populated with major cities, is witnessing an increase in cyclone frequency and severity due to the warming of the Arabian Sea.

Similarly, rising temperatures are making life difficult in mountainous states like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, as well as in northern and central states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. The economic consequences are significant. The unexpected heat in February destroyed rabi crops, and rising temperatures are affecting industries such as wool production, leading to order cancellations. Last year, on May 28, Churu in Rajasthan recorded temperatures above 50°C, while Delhi experienced over 52°C.

This raises concerns for daily wage workers, rickshaw pullers, and informal sector workers, whose livelihoods are at stake. India’s economy cannot progress without protecting the small and unorganized sectors. The Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector alone provides direct and indirect employment to at least 200 million people. With approximately 6 million registered MSMEs contributing 30% to the GDP, any impact on this sector due to rising temperatures could be catastrophic.

In the summer of 2024, India’s peak power demand reached 250,000 MW, and the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) estimates that it will rise to 270,000 MW this year. Given that nearly three-fourths of peak demand is met by thermal power plants, India will need to rely heavily on coal-based power generation. IMD attributes this extreme heat to high-pressure conditions over the country, leading to direct and intense solar radiation. The coming days may bring more severe heatwaves.

Food Security at Risk

The harsh climate is also jeopardizing India’s food chain. Decreasing agricultural yields, along with floods and droughts, are heavily impacting farmers. Research on the impact of global warming in India reveals that extreme weather events are affecting different states differently. Areas traditionally known for flooding are now experiencing droughts, and vice versa. Hundreds of districts are witnessing these shifts, directly affecting crop production.

While climate change affects the entire world, densely populated countries like India face a heightened risk of long-term food crises. Additionally, rising sea temperatures and increasing water levels are threatening biodiversity on islands and coastal regions. Mountainous states are also suffering—reduced snowfall is negatively impacting fruit and grain production. In Uttarakhand, Auli, known for winter sports, had to postpone its events due to insufficient snowfall, as the increasing temperature caused early snowmelt.

The frequency of heatwaves in India has been the highest in the past 15 years. Experts predict that this year might break new heat records, necessitating serious attention to emergency healthcare infrastructure.

Moreover, adapting to rising temperatures is crucial. India must rapidly expand its clean energy initiatives, including solar and wind power. An urgent and effective heat action plan is required to mitigate the effects of global warming. Citizens also need awareness about lifestyle adjustments, dietary habits, and public behavior to cope with extreme heat. Hospitals should establish emergency units for treating heatstroke victims.

Without immediate action, the consequences of climate change will become even more severe, affecting health, food security, and economic stability.

The writer can be reached at vikasmeshram04@gmail.com

Modi Holds Talks With Chile Prez On Bilateral Ties

By LokMarg

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday received Chile President Gabriel Boric Font at Hyderabad House, Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal said.

Jaiswal said that Font and PM Modi will hold extensive discussions on expanding India-Chile bilateral ties.

In a post on X, he said, “PM Narendra Modi warmly receives President Gabriel Boric Font of Chile at Hyderabad House. Both leaders will have extensive discussions on expanding the strong India-Chile bilateral ties.”

Earlier in the day, Font paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat and also signed the visitors’, diary.

In a post on X, Font said, “Together with our delegation of ministers and parliamentarians, we paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat, the memorial erected in his honor in New Delhi. His legacy reminds us that with India, we not only share common interests and a future of great opportunities for our people, but also shared fundamental values.”

Jaiswal in a post on X said, “President Gabriel Boric Font of Chile pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat, honouring his lasting message of peace & non-violence. A moment of reflection on the enduring legacy of the Mahatma & shared values that unite India and Chile”.

Earleir teh Chile President said that his country’s delegation is in India to strengthen and strengthen our ties, and that’s why I’m joined by government officials, the National Congress, business leaders, leaders in the fields of innovation and culture, distinguished professors, and students.

Earlier in the day, Font began his visit to India, which he labelled as a “momentous occassion”.

“We’re here to strengthen and strengthen our ties, and that’s why I’m joined by government officials, the National Congress, business leaders, leaders in the fields of innovation and culture, distinguished professors, and students. A busy schedule, I’ll keep you posted!” he said.

The Chilean President met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the start of his State visit to India, reaffirming the commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.

At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Boric’s visit from April 1-5 is aimed at strengthening economic, political, and cultural ties. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, members of parliament, senior officials, business leaders, media representatives, and cultural figures engaged in India-Chile exchanges. (ANI)

Mohali Court Sentences Pastor Bajinder Singh To Life Imprisonment In 2018 Sexual Harassment Case

By LokMarg

In a significant development, the Mohali Court on Tuesday has sentenced self-styled Christian Pastor Bajinder Singh to life imprisonment in a 2018 sexual harassment case.

The victim of the assault, in her statement to the media, expressed a firm desire for a sentence of at least 20 years for the accused.

“I want at least 20 years of imprisonment to him. He knows the law very well and does all this crime willingly. I want women to come out and speak freely about him. They should not get scared anymore, ” she told ANI.

Advocate Anil Sagar, who represented the victim, commented on the importance of the ruling stated, “He was popular as a spiritual leader. His followers used to call him ‘Papa ji’. When this kind of crime is committed by such a person, an exemplary punishment must be given. We are satisfied with the quantum of sentence, which is life imprisonment. He has to stay behind bars until his last breath…”

Earlier, Punjab Police had registered an FIR against Pastor Bajinder Singh after a complaint was filed by the woman alleging assault on her. The incident reportedly took place after a prayer session, where the survivor claimed that she, along with others, was mistreated and physically assaulted.

Narrating her ordeal, the survivor alleged that she was attacked when she tried to intervene in an assault on another individual present at the gathering.

“When I stopped him (Pastor Bajinder Singh) from hitting a person present there, he hit me with a notebook. At the time, my 1.5-year-old daughter was with me. He also badly hit the boy present there. The government should probe if the footage was real or AI-generated. After this, I resigned from the Church. He also threatened me. I had gone there out of devotion…” she stated.

In his defence the self styled Pastor Baljinder Singh had said thet the allegations against him are false. He claimed that the girl was suffering from an ‘evil spirit,’ experienced fits, and came to him for prayer. However on Friday, the court found him guilty and sentenced him to life. (ANI)

Akhilesh Yadav

BJP Wants Control Everywhere: Akhilesh Opposes Waqf Amendment Bill

By LokMarg

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday expressed his strong opposition on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of “interfering” in everything to gain control.

“We are against the Waqf Board Bill because the BJP wants to interfere in everything. They want control everywhere,” Yadav said.

On Ajmer Dargah’s support to Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Akhilesh Yadav suggested BJP’s involvement behind that. “BJP can make anyone say, can make anyone do, that’s their feat” Yadav said.

Syed Naseruddin Chishty, the chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanshin Council (AISSC) and successor of the spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah expressed support for reforming the Waqf Board, urging the Muslim community to not be swayed by “emotional provocative statements” made against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, and believe the official statements of the government on the intentions of the act.

“I believe that the existing Waqf Act needs to be changed and Muslims need not be afraid of it. When the government itself is saying in Parliament that his not against the community, and masjids, dargahs will not be seized then we should believe the official statements only,” AISSC Chairman told ANI.

The Council’s chairman told ANI that the government has already clarified that dargahs, masjids under the Waqf board will not be seized, which should be believed by the people, and hoped that after the bill being referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), the changes will be good.

“The Waqf (Amendment) Bill that the Government is bringing, it had already expressed its intention when they had introduced it, and they referred it to the JPC. The JPC has heard all the parties very patiently and sent a report to government. Hopefully the bill that will come will be good, there should be a discussion on it, and a good bill will be passed,” Chishty said.

Meanwhile, Congress MP and Waqf Ammendment Bill JPC member Imran Masood come down heavily on Syed Naseruddin Chishty accusing him of “brokering” for BJP.

Masood said, “Yeh dalaali band kare BJP ki,” on Syed Naseruddin Chishty’s statement.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, also called the ‘Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Bill’, aims to address key challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.

The Waqf Act of 1995, enacted to regulate Waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. (ANI)

‘I’m Going To My Father’s Home Country,’ Sunita Williams Plans Trip To India

By Lokmarg

NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams said she plans to visit India soon, and meet with ISRO’s team during her visit.

Williams said during NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Post-Flight News Conference that she found India to be ‘amazing’ each time her spacecraft passed by the Himalayas during her extended stay of nine months in space.

“I hope and I think for sure I’m going to be going back to my father’s home country and visiting with people and getting excited about the Indian astronauts who’s going up on the ISRO mission coming up,” she said.

Sunita Williams’ mother, Ursuline Bonnie Pandya (nee Zalokar), is of Slovenian-American descent, while her father, Deepak Pandya, is from Gujarat.

Williams said she would love to share her experience up in the space with ISRO, and said it was great how India put its foot forward in the space sector, being a fellow democracy.

“[It’s] pretty awesome- they’ll have a hometown hero there of their own that will be able to talk about how wonderful the International Space Station is from his perspective,” she said.

“I hope I can meet up at some point in time and we can share our experiences with as many people in India as possible because it’s a great country, another wonderful democracy that’s trying to put its foot in the space countries and I would love to be part of that and help them along,” she added.

When asked if she planned to take her crew along in her impending trip to India, she responded in the affirmative and jested, saying the crew would be primed with spicy food.

“Absolutely! You might stick out a little bit but that’s okay- we we’ll get you all primed with some spicy food we’ll be good,” she said.

Williams said that she could see India’s geographical formation, when the landmass collided to form Himalayas and as a ripple effect, India was formed.

“India is amazing. Every time we went over the Himalayas- we got some incredible pictures of the Himalayas- so just amazing. Like I’ve described it before just like this ripple that happened. Obviously when the plates collided and then as it flows down into India. It’s many, many colors,” she said.

Williams talked about India’s diversity visible from the space, from the Himalayas, to a different culture from the East to the fishing fleet on the West.

“I think when you come from the East, going into like Gujarat and Mumbai- the fishing fleet that’s off the coast there gives you a little bit of a beacon that here we come! All throughout India,” she said.

Williams said the country looked like a network of lights, with major cities being the brightest, and waning down towards smaller cities.

“I think the impression I had was it was just like this network of Lights from the bigger cities going down through the smaller cities. [It was] just incredible to look at night, as well as during the day. Highlighted of course by the Himalayas which is just incredible as a forefront going down into India,” she said.

NASA Crew-9 astronauts Sunita Williams, Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov breathed earthly air for the first time in over nine months on March 19 after the successful splashdown of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule.

Delays caused by issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which surfaced during a test flight piloted by Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams last summer, led to the astronaut duo remaining in space for nine months instead of a week, CNN reported.

At that time, ISRO expressed its desire to collaborate with Williams in future space missions.

“When Bharat under the leadership of Hon’ble PM Modi ji is working towards making India as a developed country, we wish to utilise your expertise in the space exploration,” it said. (ANI)

India Hands Over 50 Tons Of Relief Material To Myanmar

By Lokmarg

India handed over 50 tons of relief material carried by INS Satpura and INS Savitri to Myanmar on Monday. India’s Ambassador to Myanmar, Abhay Thakur, handed over the relief material at Yangon for distribution among the affected areas.

In a post on X, Indian Embassy in Myanmar wrote, “50 T HADR relief material carried by INS Satpura & INS Savitri handed over by @AmbAbhayThakur today at Yangon. With six @IAF_MCC aircraft & five @indiannavy Ships, India’s large-scale first-responder assistance has been delivered to Yangon, Naypyitaw & Mandalay.”

Rescuers are searching for survivors more than three days after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, toppling buildings as far away as the Thai capital, Bangkok and sending tremors through nearby Chinese provinces, as reported by CNN. More than 2,000 people are now confirmed dead in Myanmar.

Widespread damage was reported after the earthquake caused infrastructural damage, CNN reported citing authorities. The epicenter was recorded in Myanmar’s central Sagaing region, near the former royal capital, Mandalay.

On March 29, India launched ‘Operation Brahma’ to support earthquake-impacted Myanmar. The Indian Embassy in Myanmar said that India mobilized emergency assistance, a team of rescue and medical professionals, and relief materials, including food, water, tents, medicines, and essential supplies to assist Myanmar and its people during this difficult and critical hour of need.

In a press release, Indian Embassy in Myanmar said, “‘Operation Brahma’: India delivers rescue, relief and humanitarian assistance to Myanmar following the recent earthquake In the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar on 28 March, India launched “Operation Brahma”, a comprehensive humanitarian rescue and relief exercise to provide immediate support to the affected people of Myanmar. The massive earthquake and its aftershocks have affected people across Myanmar including in Sagaing, Mandalay, Naypyitaw, Shan and Bago regions.”

Highlighting the ties between two nations, the Indian Embassy in Myanmar said, “India shares age-old, spiritual and civilizational people-to-people ties with Myanmar, also known in ancient India as ‘Brahmadesh’. “Operation Brahma” is, therefore, an embodiment of India’s offering of hope, support, and assistance for long- term recovery to the people of Myanmar.”

On March 29, an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft delivered the first tranche of 15 tons of humanitarian assistance in Yangon, including tents, blankets, sleeping bags, food packets, hygiene kits, generators, and essential medicines. Ambassador Abhay Thakur handed over the assistance at Yangon airport, in the presence of the Chief Minister, U Soe Thein.

Inian Embassy in Myanmar stated, “As First Responder to natural disasters in the region, India has swiftly mobilized emergency assistance, a team of rescue and medical professionals, relief materials including food, water, tents, medicines, and essential supplies to assist Myanmar and its people, during this difficult and critical hour of need.”

On the night of 29 March, two C-130 and two C-17 aircraft landed in Naypyitaw, transporting an 80-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) search and rescue team, and over 120 medical personnel, together with a total of 85 tonnes of HADR assistance. These were the first international assistance flights to Naypyitaw. Abhay Thakur handed over this HADR aid brought by these four aircraft in the presence of Ambassador Maung Maung Lynn of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar in Naypyidaw.

The NDRF team and the Indian Army Medical team departed for Mandalay immediately thereafter. The NDRF team has been deployed to over a dozen affected sites in Mandalay since March 30. The Indian Army medical team has set up a Field Hospital at the old airport in Mandalay.

Two Indian Navy ships, INS Satpura and INS Savitri, carrying 31 tons and 19 tons of HADR aid respectively, arrived in Yangon on Monday. The aid was immediately handed over at the Thilawa port by Ambassador Abhay Thakur for distribution among the affected areas.”

Three more Indian Navy ships, INS Karmukh, INS Gharial and LCU-52 are en route to Yangon with over 500 tonnes of additional aid material. Another IAF C-130 aircraft is also expected to land directly in Mandalay tomorrow with over 15 tons of HADR, according to the press release.

In a press release, the Indian Embassy in Myanmar said, “In addition to our age-old ties with Myanmar, India’s assistance and response under “Operation Brahma” is also guided by our policies of Neighbourhood First, Act East and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All) in the Indo-Pacific.

“India’s extensive, swift and efficient response has once again reaffirmed its role as the first responder in the region, consistently offering immediate humanitarian aid to neighboring countries struck of natural disasters. We will stay engaged with Myanmar authorities and stakeholders for continuing our support in the weeks ahead, as Myanmar assesses the full extent of the damage and begins its rehabilitation and recovery efforts,” it added.

On March 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the Myanmar military junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, and offered condolences on the loss of lives in the earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday.

He expressed India’s readiness to stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar in this difficult hour. He said that disaster relief material, humanitarian assistance, and search and rescue teams are being expeditiously dispatched to the affected areas as part of Operation Brahma.

“Spoke with Senior General H.E. Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar. Conveyed our deep condolences at the loss of lives in the devastating earthquake. As a close friend and neighbour, India stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar in this difficult hour. Disaster relief material, humanitarian assistance, search & rescue teams are being expeditiously dispatched to the affected areas as part of #OperationBrahma,” PM Modi said in a post on X. (ANI)

J&K: Encounter breaks out between security forces and terrorists in Kathua

By Lokmarg

An exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists was reported in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district, officials said on Tuesday.

“An exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists started late last night in the Billawar area of Kathua after security forces launched a massive search and cordon operation in the area,” the Jammu and Kashmir Police said.

The security forces have cordoned off the area, and a search operation is currently underway to track down the terrorists.

Further details are awaited as the operation continues.

On Monday, the security forces intensified their actions against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua. According to Shiv Kumar Sharma, DIG, Jammu-Samba-Kathua range, the operation to track down terrorists in the region is still on, due to which some people have also been detained by the police.

“Jammu and Kashmir Police will continue its operation until the terrorists are neutralised. Every soldier of ours is committed to killing every terrorist selectively so that our area remains safe. The Army is with us, and everyone is conducting search operations together as a team. We have an international border and people are very alert and give us information on which we take action,” Shiv Kumar Sharma said while speaking to reporters on Monday.

Furthermore, DIG Sharma said that the force is “sad” as they lost their one jawan in the Kathua encounter. However, he emphasised that the soldiers’ training is very good and stated that their morale is really high.

Authorities have placed the entire region on high alert as the search operation continues to track down potential threats.

Earlier, during the counter-terror operation ‘Safiyan’ in the Kathua region, four Jammu and Kashmir police personnel lost their lives in the operation, while two terrorists were gunned down. Security forces recovered war-like stores from the encounter site.

The operation began on March 23, when locals reported the sighting of suspected Pakistani infiltrators in Sanyal. (ANI)

Oil Marketing Companies Reduce Prices Of Commercial LPG Cylinders By ₹41

By Lokmarg

Oil marketing companies have announced a reduction in the prices of 19 kg commercial LPG gas cylinders by Rs 41, effective from Tuesday.

In Delhi, the retail sale price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder is Rs 1762 from today.

Earlier, on February 1, the prices of commercial LPG cylinders were reduced by Rs 7.

Meanwhile, oil companies regularly revise LPG prices based on changes in global crude oil rates and other factors. The prices of domestic LPG cylinders, which are used for household cooking, remain unchanged in this revision.

In December, the oil companies increased the rates of 19 kg commercial LPG cylinders by Rs 62. These price adjustments are expected to impact commercial establishments and small businesses that rely heavily on LPG for their operations.

The revision comes as part of a broader trend in fuel price adjustments in response to changing global market conditions, seen in recent days due to volatile international order.

This price revision will directly impact restaurants, hotels, and other commercial establishments that utilise these cylinders for daily operations. Despite the increase in commercial LPG prices, there has been no change in domestic LPG cylinder rates, offering some relief to households.

LPG prices vary from state to state, depending on local taxes and transportation costs. Businesses across the country will benefit from the reduced rates, though the change is marginal. (ANI)