Month: June 2025

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that the Delhi government will officially celebrate International Yoga Day at 11 locations across the city, marking a significant scale-up in efforts to promote yoga. Approximately 20,000 people are expected to participate in these government-organised events.

She criticised the previous government for allegedly politicising yoga and failing to organise official programs. A special yoga song for Delhi, composed by Amit Trivedi, has been introduced for the occasion.

“The Delhi government has decided that Yoga Day will be officially celebrated at 11 places. For the first time, the government is organising big events for Yoga Day on a large scale in Delhi, in which about 20,000 participants will participate in all these government programs. I have received more than 300 invites for Yoga Day, in which the people of Delhi want me to come. The previous government used to see Modi Ji’s face in Yoga. So, they had problems adopting yoga, and they never officially organised yoga programs. This time, a very beautiful Yoga song for Delhi has been sung by Amit Trivedi,” she said.

Delhi Chief Minister asserted that she will practice Yoga on the banks of the Yamuna on the International Day of Yoga.

Speaking to the media ahead of International Yoga Day, she said, “Tomorrow I will practice Yoga on the banks of Yamuna… Tomorrow will be celebrated like a festival in many places in Delhi… The Delhi government will celebrate this International Yoga Day with great enthusiasm.”

Earlier in the day, she said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made Yoga Day recognised on the world stage so that every country in the world is adopting Yoga with great affection today.

Addressing an event at a Yoga, Meditation, and Medical Camp in Delhi’s Shalimar Bagh ahead of International Yoga Day tomorrow, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said, “PM Modi got Yoga recognised on the world stage in such a way that every country in the world is adopting Yoga with great affection today… India will be able to prosper only if it remains healthy.”

As India is gearing up to celebrate the 11th International Day of Yoga on June 21, the government is organising a multitude of events nationwide to mark the occasion with “Yoga for One Earth, One Health” as this year’s theme. (ANI)

In a heartfelt address to Indian Army personnel stationed in Udhampur, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday praised and emphasised the essence of the long-standing and cherished tradition ‘Bada Khana’ and described it as a symbol of unity and camaraderie within the armed forces.

Addressing the gathering, Rajnath Singh said, “The tradition of the Bada Khana in the armed forces has been going on for years. It is ‘Ekta ka Utsav’ (a festival of unity). Be it war or peace, on the border or during challenges, in every situation the army has preserved and upheld the spirit of sharing food in the Bada Khana together.”

He emphasised that Bada Khana is much more than a meal — it is a reminder that the Indian Army is a family, one not bound by blood but by patriotism, dedication, and sacrifice.

“Bada Khana reminds us that we are not just soldiers, but a family — not tied by blood, but bonded forever by patriotism, duty, and sacrifice,” said the Defence Minister.

Speaking to the army personnel, Singh said, “It is a great feeling to arrive in Udhampur. This place holds an important role in protecting our northern borders. It is a matter of happiness for me that I get the opportunity to meet you on this special occasion.”

At the gathering, he said, “When we are all together, many of our soldiers are still at their posts — some in snow-covered regions, some at higher altitudes, and some keeping a vigilant eye on the enemy across the border.”

He said, “Bada Khana is not just a tradition, but a tribute to every soldier — including those deployed in remote, inhospitable areas. This event is also dedicated to all those heroes. They may not be physically present here, but they live in the hearts of every soldier.”

To the soldiers gathered for the Bada Khana, Singh said, “Your life is the definition of courage. When the common citizens sleep, you are awake. When the country celebrates festivals, you remain steadfast on your feet. When it snows, you stand bravely at the borders. And when the enemy rains bullets, you face it with unwavering strength.”

“Bada Khana an occasion that goes beyond food. This tradition is not just about eating together. It is a reward for your hard work, and a reminder that the country has not forgotten you,” he said.

Singh said, “This is a relationship of feelings. Along with bravery in your uniform, there is also sacrifice.”

He reflected on the quiet personal costs that come with wearing the uniform.

“The sacrifice that happens every birthday when you are not with your sons and daughters, the sacrifice that happens every Diwali, when instead of the lamps of your home, the only light you see is from the bunker — these moments of solitude are part of your life. As the Defence Minister, I bow my head in gratitude for your sacrifice,” he said.

The Defence Minister also spoke on Operation Sindoor and said, “Operation Sindoor is paused and not stopped, this is the message I want to convey to our neighbour.”

He said, “You are not just protecting India’s borders but the dignity and respect of the country. It’s because of your resolve that India’s policy has changed today. Today, we can respond to terrorsim in their language, Operation Sindoor is one such example. The way our intelligence agencies and armed forces have destroyed the terrorist camps on the other side of the border has conveyed a strong message.”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur to attend the Bada Khana with the army jawans earlier in the day. He was accompanied by General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff.

Upon his arrival in Udhampur, he met and interacted with the army personnel. The Bada Khana involved performances from the participants in the event. (ANI)

Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh is extremely excited for his upcoming film ‘Sardaarji 3’.

On Friday, he unveiled the title track of the film. In the song, he can be seen grooving to the lyrics in a full fun mood.

Check out the song here

Along with Diljit, the film also stars Neeru Bajwa, Manav Vij, Gulshan Grover, Jasmin Bajwa, Sapna Pabbi and others in prominent roles. The movie offers a hilarious take on ghostbusting with a blend of action scenes.T

The movie is directed by Amar Hundal and is slated to hit the screens on June 27.

‘Sardaar Ji 3’ marks Dosanjh’s return as a ghost hunter who is now tasked with removing a ghost from a mansion in the United Kingdom.

The film’s teaser, which was recently released, began with a team approaching a most haunted castle in the UK with a group of armed soldiers. After an unknown spirit defeated them in the blink of an eye, the owner decides to call Dosanjh for the task.

The video then unfolded a hilarious interaction with his in-home witches, who demand a medical kit, a make-up box, and other items. In the end, Dosanjh was seen fighting with a ghost in the UK mansion, saying he intends to fight with him because he didn’t add “Jii” after “Sardaar” while addressing him.

‘Sardaar Ji’ is one the loved horror-comedy franchise of Punjabi film industry. The first instalment of ‘Sardaar Ji’ was directed by Rohit Jugraj, also starred Mandy Takhar and Neeru Bajwa. The film had a record opening in Punjabi cinema in 2015. ‘Sardaar Ji 2’ was also directed by Jugraj.

The second instalment of the Punjabi fantasy horror-comedy Sardaarji came out eight years ago, in 2016. (ANI)

Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey on Friday took a sharp dig at the Congress party and its legacy, claiming that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was once made to wait for an hour by former US President Richard Nixon during her visit to Washington in 1971.

In a post on X, Dubey said, “Iron Lady Indira Ji, Jairam Ramesh Ji, for your information, in 1971 when Indira Gandhi Ji reached Washington to meet the US President Nixon, President Nixon made her sit in his waiting room for 1 hour.”

He then urged the Congress party to reflect on its historical leadership, stating, “Today, compare it with Modi Ji’s foreign policy and think about the state of the Nehru Gandhi family’s policy?”

Earlier, on June 15, Dubey targeted Congress over their foreign policy in the past. Speaking about his X post against Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, he alleged that Congress fell into Pakistan’s trap and believed that the Chief of Pakistan Army, Asim Munir, had been invited to the White House in the USA.

Speaking to ANI, Nishikant Dubey said, “The opposition, especially the Congress, has stopped reading and writing. For the last 2-3 days, the entire Congress party kept saying that Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir is going to the US. This was a trap by Pakistan. People across the country turned the opposition to Modi into opposition to the country. Today, it is known that the White House or the US military never called Asim Munir. What is the difference between the Pakistan Muslim League and Jairam Ramesh?”

Referring to the Kanishka bombing incident, when Khalistani extremists bombed an Air India flight, he said, “Big accident happened in Ahmedabad. Secondly, when the Kanishka bomb blast happened in 1985, when did Canada start its investigation? It started in 2006. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s father was the Prime Minister of Canada from 1968 to 1984. Indira Gandhi wrote seven letters to him for 16 years…He was not replying her letters, he was not listening to her and was giving shelter to Khalistani terrorists and you are teaching us foreign policy?” (ANI)

In a major breakthrough, Border Security Force (BSF) troops, acting on precise intelligence from the BSF Intelligence Wing, conducted a strategic operation along the Amritsar border on Friday.

At approximately 2:30 am, BSF personnel intercepted a drone using advanced technical countermeasures.

The subsequent search of the suspected dropping zone near Mode village, Amritsar district, led to the recovery of an assembled drone carrying a black bag containing seven packets of ICE (Methamphetamine), weighing 7.47 kg, from an irrigated agricultural field, according to the release.

In a series of coordinated operations, the Border Security Force (BSF), recovered two drones from Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts in two separate search operations on Wednesday, according to an official statement.

According to an official release from PRO, “Based on information, a search operation launched by the BSF troops led to the recovery of 1 DJI Mavic 3 Classic drone from a farming field adjacent to village Kalia of Tarn Taran district.”

“Later, the BSF troops in collaboration with Punjab Police successfully recovered another DJI Mavic 3 Classic drone from a farming field adjacent to village Gendhu Kilcha of Ferozepur district,” it said.

The release said that swift actions of BSF troops on precise inputs and robust technical countermeasures deployed on the border successfully thwarted a few more nefarious attempts of illicit drone intrusions from across the border. (ANI)

‘War 2’ is one of the highly anticipated movies of this year. It is directed by Ayan Mukerji. To match the expectations of the viewers, Ayan revealed how he focused on crafting the storyline of War 2 because he wanted a conflict that was big enough to pit two icons of Indian cinema, Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR.

According to the press note shared by the makers, Ayan opened up about the responsibility of continuing the ‘War’ franchise after the prequel emerged as a massive hit at the box office.

“It is a huge responsibility to take forward a hugely loved franchise like War and leave your own mark on it. I saw directing War 2 as a relishing opportunity to give a hat-tip to the first film. You can’t have fun otherwise while coming on board such a huge blockbuster franchise. One has to take what has been set and then make the fans of the film and the fans of these gigantic superstars of our country go on a journey that is new, that hopefully leaves them hungry for more. As a director, I have to be honest, I immersed myself into delivering this feeling,” said Ayan Mukerji as quoted in a press note.

He adds, “Everything about War 2 has been crafted with a lot of planning to elevate the theatrical experience of the audience. The maximum time spent was on the action set pieces and crafting the storyline and the conflict, which was needed to mount the face-off between Hrithik Roshan and NTR,” as quoted in a press note.

Ayan calls ‘War 2’ a film that celebrates the might of Indian cinema as it brings Hrithik and NTR together for a jaw-dropping, adrenaline-pumping theatrical experience.

The director says, “War 2 is truly the coming together of Indian cinema with these two huge actors joining forces. We were aware of the expectations this pairing would set in the minds of their fans and the audience, and every second was spent thinking of how to give them an experience of a lifetime when they sit in the theatres,” as quoted in a press note.

War 2 is scheduled to hit theatres worldwide on August 14, 2025.

The film is a sequel to the 2019 action thriller ‘War,’ which starred Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, and Vani Kapoor in the lead roles. Directed by Siddarth Anand, this high-octane action drama minted Rs 200 crores within seven days of its release in 2019. It’s touted to be one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of that year. (ANI)

Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, has extended a formal invitation to Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to grace the inaugural ceremony of the Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), India Region, Zone-II, being held from June 30 to 1 July at Tapovan, Dharamshala.

Pathania informed that eminent delegates representing Zone-II, which includes Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir, will participate in the conference. Among the attendees will be the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Speakers and Deputy Speakers of State Legislative Assemblies, Leaders of the Opposition, Chief Whips, and MLAs from Member States.

In addition, Speakers from the States of Karnataka, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana have been invited as special guests.

The Speaker said that the conference aims to promote meaningful dialogue on legislative procedures, democratic governance, and regional cooperation. He emphasized that the platform will facilitate the exchange of best practices and play a vital role in strengthening parliamentary institutions across the country.

Earlier on Thursday, Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu directed to establish the dairy cooperative societies across the state adding that six new milk plants will be set up in the state.

According to an official release, Chief Minister highlighted that currently 910 panchayats, dairy cooperative societies are functional and the department should work hard to increase the number of functional societies.

To boost the dairy production these societies could play a crucial role in providing employment and self employment opportunities to the youth in the dairy sector, it added.

Reviewing the work progress of Dagwar Milk processing plant in Kangra district, the CM directed to constitute a committee to monitor the same and get it expedited.

The Chief Minister said “this plant was expected to be completed by June, 2026 benefitting the farmers of Kangra, Una, Hamirpur and Chamba districts.”

“The present State Government was making earnest efforts to strengthen the rural economy. We want to enhance the income of the farmers associated with the dairy sector, therefore, the State Government has raised the MSP to Rs 51 per litre for cow milk and Rs 61 per litre for buffalo milk”, Sukhu added. (ANI)

Slamming the Karnataka government for increasing reservation for minorities under various housing schemes from 10 to 15%, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla on Friday called the Congress a modern representation of the Muslim League and accused it of behaving like its leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah who fought for the division of India along communal lines.

“The Congress Party serves as the modern representation of the Muslim League. It behaves like Jinnah, who divided India along communal lines… They have stated that Muslims have first rights to the country’s resources,” Poonawalla told ANI.

“They have taken away SC, ST, and OBC reservations and allocated them to the Muslim community on religious grounds, which contradicts Ambedkar and the constitution. They have granted reservations to Muslims in civil contracts as well, which goes against the constitutional spirit,” he added.

He alleged that the Congress is doing this to rub salt into the wounds of the Hindu community.

“For them, Hindus don’t matter. They want to play only divide and rule, and this kind of thing is against the constitution. Yet, the Congress party does it again and again to divide Hindus on caste lines. They commit the fake caste survey, which they have to take back, where the muslim population is shown more, and now they are giving the extra quota to muslims on a religious basis only because of their vote bank politics,” he said.

Poonawalla’s remarks come amid growing criticism from BJP leaders over the Karnataka Cabinet’s approval on Thursday to raise the reservation quota for minority communities from 10 to 15 per cent under various housing schemes. The decision has triggered a political uproar, with the BJP arguing that religion-based reservation violates constitutional principles.

Earlier, Karnataka Minister HK Patil stated that this move does not require any new rules to be drafted. “The reservation for all minority communities will be increased. There are Christians, Jains, Buddhists,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Sambit Patra said the Constitution for the Congress party and the Gandhi family are secondary to appeasement.

“The Karnataka Cabinet passing the Muslim reservation in housing schemes yesterday is a perfect example of how the people who keep the Constitution in their pockets are tearing the Constitution to pieces… For the Congress Party and the Gandhi family, the Constitution is secondary to religious appeasement”, Sambit Patra told reporters on Friday. (ANI)

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray arrived at Sena Bhawan in Mumbai on Friday to hold a meeting with party leaders. Thackeray has called a crucial meeting with district heads, contact heads, and MLAs of the party.

Speaking about the meeting, Shiv Sena UBT Leader Bhaskar Jadhav informed that the meeting aims to strategise and prepare for potential elections.

” The Supreme Court has given a judgment that elections for local sectors like Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, District Councils, and Panchayat Committees must be conducted within four months. So, because of that, the party should also be ready for elections. The party must prepare some kind of strategy for the elections. The party should also be ready for the election and should make a strategy, that’s why a meeting of the district chief and public representatives has been called”, Jadhav told reporters.

Jadhav also criticised Eknath Shinde’s recent remarks against Uddhav Thackeray, alleging that Shinde’s words seemed to be dictated by the BJP.

“The words used by Eknath Shinde for Uddhav Thackeray … it seems to me that the mouth is of Eknath Shinde but the words are of BJP, Eknath Shinde has no idea, no opinion, whatever BJP says, Eknath Shinde has to do that. So it seems to me that although Eknath Shinde’s face is visible, everything is actually being done by the BJP…” Jadhav alleged.

Earlier, addressing a gathering in Mumbai on Thursday, on the occasion of Shiv Sena Foundation Day, Eknath Shinde slammed Uddhav Thackeray, saying that his “arrogance” is leading him to “destruction.” Shinde said that Maharashtra has never seen such a “treacherous person” and alleged that he betrayed Balasaheb Thackeray’s ” ideas.”

“Arrogance is leading them to destruction. Maharashtra is witness to this. We know who committed the sin of tying Congress around their neck. He was helpless for power and tied his head around his waist. He betrayed Balasaheb’s ideas. Maharashtra has never seen such a treacherous person”, Eknath Shinde added.

Furthermore, Jadhav attacked the BJP stating, “Which party has the BJP not allied with in this country? Is there any party left that the BJP hasn’t formed an alliance with? Did they take a certificate of Hindutva from Ramdas Athawale when they aligned with him? From Chirag Paswan? Did Bihar CM Nitish Kumar ever accept Hindutva? What about Chandrababu Naidu? BJP’s Hindutva is only for the sake of power. The real Hindutva lies with Shiv Sena, with Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, and only with Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray.”

On the Mumbai visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Jadhav criticised Home Minister Shah for being selective about which states to visit. Jadhav claimed, “Understand that the Union Home Minister or the Prime Minister repeatedly visits a state where elections have come in that state. It gives such an indication. When there is an election, they go to the state; when there is no election, they do not go there, do not see anything …”

Earlier, indicating that an alliance with Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) was on the cards, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray said he would do what was in the minds of the people of the state.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) President also took a dig at the Mahayuti alliance, saying that the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena do not want Marathi parties to unite. The former Maharashtra Chief Minister, addressing the party’s foundation day event on Thursday, said if the BJP dared to finish Thackeray, then he would “finish off” the BJP.”… What people want will happen. We will see how it is to be done. The BJP and Shinde Sena do not want Marathi parties to unite. If you try to finish the Thackeray brand, we will finish off the BJP,” Thackeray said.

Uddhav said he would not allow the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra. He remarked that just ahead of the BMC polls, the imposition of Hindi was nothing but an attempt to create division among Marathis and non-Marathis.”The imposition of Hindi in the state will not be allowed at any cost. The BJP wants to create a divide between Marathi and Hindi speakers on the eve of civic polls,” the Former Maharashtra CM said.

There has been speculation of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) coming together ahead of the BMC polls, which are expected to happen in October this year. (ANI)