Month: September 2025

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta said that the protest in Leh “smells of conspiracy” due to “attempts to incite people” and its comparison to protests in Bangladesh and Nepal.

Speaking with ANI, Gupta condemned the protest, suggesting that it should be held in a peaceful manner.

“In a democratic system, protesting is a right. However, it must be done in a peaceful manner. For the past two days, attempts have been made to incite people, and the protest held here was compared to those held in Bangladesh and Nepal. This smells of a conspiracy behind the protest,” he said.

Kavinder Gupta highlighted the implications of the protest if the authorities hadn’t taken action to stop the protest.

“When police were deployed to control the law and order situation, a CRPF vehicle was torched. During the protest, DG’s vehicle was attacked with stones. If this protest had not been stopped, then these people (protestors) would have ruined the entire city of Leh,” he said.

The Ladakh LG further informed that a probe will be held regarding the involvement of people in the protest.

“A probe will be conducted to determine the involvement of individuals from outside Ladakh in the protest. Who is responsible for the people who have died today? It is those people who incited the protest. Such things cannot be tolerated…I want to ensure peace is maintained in Ladakh,” he said.

This comes after a massive protest by the people of Ladakh turned violent as the demonstrators targeted government buildings and the BJP office in Leh.

People of Ladakh have been demanding the inclusion of the Union Territory in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution contains Article 244(2) and 275(1), which reads, “Provisions as to the Administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.”

Meanwhile, there has been a demand for statehood for Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. (ANI)

Abhishek Sharma fires again with the bat for India, but the Indian middle-order crumbles as they finish on 168/6 against Bangladesh in the ongoing Asia Cup on Wednesday in Dubai, with an unbeaten streak so far.

Sharma and Shubman Gill gave India yet another electrifying start. The pair has added 72 runs in the power play, but from being 112/2 in 12 overs, India could only post 168/6 in the 20th over. Bangladesh made a terrific comeback with the ball at the end of the innings.

India started slowly, making only 17 runs in the first three overs. After a slow start, Indian openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill bashed Bangladesh bowlers to reach their highest score in the power-play 72-0 in the ongoing Asia Cup.

Sharma again provided India a flying start. Right after the power play, Rishad Hossain removed Shubman Gill for 29 runs off 19 balls.

In the following over, Sharma brought up his second fifty of the tournament, after he clipped through the vacant mid-wicket pocket for a single off Saif Hassan.

After India lost Gill in the 7th over, captain Suryakumar Yadav promoted Shivam Dube to the number 3 spot. The plan failed miserably as Dube got out for two runs off three balls.

India crossed the 100-run mark in the 11th over. In the 11th over, Suryakumar Yadav played the ball towards backward point, where Rishad Hossain stopped it with a dive.

Sharma left his crease looking for a single, but he was sent back. Rishad waited for a moment and fired a flat throw at the bowler’s end. Seamer Mustafizur Rahman was equally calm while gathering the throw, and he whips off the bails before Sharma could get back in the crease.

Sharma was removed after a brilliant 75 off just 37 balls. In the same over, Rahman removed Suryakumar for 5 runs off 11 balls. He also completed 150 T20I wickets, becoming the first Bangladeshi to do so and the overall 4th to reach the milestone.

After 10 overs, Bangladeshi bowlers made a comeback, conceding less than 35 runs in the next five overs. Tanzim Hasan, after a fiery spell, got his first scalp of the match as he removed Tilak Varma in the 15th over for five.

India lost further wickets, but the focal point was Sanju Samson’s absence from the crease, as he didn’t come out to bat despite India being reduced to five down.

Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel steadily took the Indian innings to a respectable total after a bunch of wickets fell. However, Axar Patel struggled to score runs as he played at a strike rate of 66.67.

India struggled in the final over, managing just four runs, and suffered a late blow with Hardik Pandya’s wicket falling on the last ball of the innings, with Pandya scoring 38 runs.

Bangladesh bowler only conceded 72 runs in the last 10 overs. Rishad Hossain was the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh, scalping two wickets. (ANI)

By Rishabh Mookherjee

A new lyrical and singable English translation of Goswami Tulsidas’ Sri Hanuman Chalisa by poet-diplomat Abhay K. was unveiled on Tuesday at the IILM campus in New Delhi.

The event featured an engaging dialogue between Ambassador Abhay K. and Prof. Rajendra Srivastava, former Dean of the Indian School of Business, who led the discussion.

While speaking at the launch event, Ambassador Abhay K. recalled his early introduction to the Hanuman Chalisa through his parents, a practice he has continued since childhood. He explained that his motivation for creating this work arose after meeting members of the Indian diaspora who wished to sing the Chalisa but were unable to read the original in Devanagari.

“My rendition is multilayered and deep. It can be read at different levels. It is essential reading not only for devotees but also for politicians, diplomats and management gurus. At the heart of the Hanuman Chalisa lies Hanuman’s humility. Despite his power, he remains a servant of Shri Ram, a skilled alliance maker, and a loyal friend and troubleshooter,” he added.

Meanwhile, Prof. Srivastava emphasized that the management community too has valuable lessons to learn from Hanuman’s leadership style, describing him as an exemplar of “leading from the back.”

The gathering drew a distinguished audience, including Ambassador Sang Woo Lim, Deputy Chief of Mission of South Korea in India; nine-time European Parliamentarian Herve Juvin; IILM Board Chairman Anil Rai; senior faculty; and leaders from diverse walks of life. Attendees shared their favorite chaupais from the Chalisa and reflected on its timeless relevance.

Abhay K.’s bilingual translation enables non-Hindi speakers to connect with the hymn’s core values of humility and devotion. In a symbolic gesture, Pravaig Dynamics and Kutniti co-founder Ram Divedi read from his father’s French rendition of the Chalisa and presented a copy to the author.

Published by Bloomsbury India, the book seeks to carry the 16th-century devotional classic into the global mainstream, making its spiritual and philosophical essence accessible to readers across cultures and generations. (ANI)

Former India tennis star Sania Mirza opened up on how motherhood transformed her life and career, and how sport has constantly taught her resilience and self-forgiveness.

Reflecting on her journey after becoming a mother, Sania said that society often stereotypes women once they embrace motherhood.

“So I think that when a woman becomes a mother, everyone treats it like it’s the end of her life first of all. Forget the end of her career. They treat it like, now she’s just going to have one or two kids and if she dares to put herself first, it’s all, ‘Oh, but who’s taking care of the child? What’s going to happen?'” she said in a conversation with RevSportz.

Sania, however, feels glad that those perceptions are changing, especially in tennis.

“I’m so glad that has changed now. Like how many mothers do you see on the tennis court and all over global sport, but tennis in general, there are just so many mothers in the top hundred now. And it’s amazing to see because this is a stereotype that needed to be broken. To put yourself and love yourself and still put your dreams out there, it’s not criminal. It’s not criminal to do that,” she said.

Talking about her own comeback after giving birth to her son Izhaan, Sania revealed she was always determined to return.

“Was it always clear that I was going to make a comeback after Izhaan? Yeah, I think so. That’s why I didn’t announce my retirement. It was a different story that I was 23 kilos overweight when that happened, and I was like: ‘Wow, how am I going to do this?’ But I knew I still had tennis left in me. And obviously, I still had success after coming back so I was right about that,” she explained.

For Sania, motherhood has given her a new perspective on wins and losses.

“Motherhood changes every perspective in life. Everything changes. Losing a tennis match, losing Rio, not getting a medal there seems like a very small problem to have when you have a child. Becoming a parent is the single greatest feeling that you can have. And the amazing part is that feeling only grows as you keep going. And any parent will tell you that. So, your entire perspective of life changes, your entire perspective of losses changes. Losses that hurt more will hurt less because now I go back to my son and he says, ‘I love you’ and gives me a hug no matter whether I win or I lose. It makes absolutely zero difference to anything in life. So those are the moments that really evolve you as a person, I feel,” Sania said.

The six-time Grand Slam winner also spoke about how sport teaches resilience and forgiveness, especially after failures.

“That’s what sport teaches you because if you don’t forgive yourself, like in a period of a match which is two and a half hours, you have to forgive yourself hundreds of times every time you miss a point. Because if you don’t forgive yourself, you can’t come out and play the next point,” she noted.

According to her, sport is a classroom like no other.

“Sport teaches you how to get over failure. It teaches you how to be resilient when you are failing. It teaches you how to have commitment towards what you believe. It teaches you sacrifice. It teaches you how to deal with victory with humility. These are life lessons that no other education can teach you, in my opinion, and that’s why sport is so important,” Sania added.

She credited the support system around athletes for helping them process difficult moments.

“Some people have a harder time dealing with it, and again, I think you have to give credit to the people around you for almost making a protective wall around you to allow you to feel the loss as little as possible. Because you will still feel it, and then they give you that courage that it’s okay if you’ve had a bad day. Sport teaches you that no matter how bad the day is, if you want there to be a tomorrow, you can come back in the morning and try again,” she said.

“When I have a bad day in life, I’m like it’s okay. It’s over. Let me just sleep and tomorrow is a new day,” Sania noted. (ANI)

Patiala House Court on Wednesday asked the Delhi police to produce the CCTV footage and other evidence related to the BMW accident at Dhaula Kuan to support their case.

The court has also requested that the defence counsel and public prosecutor submit written arguments. The court is hearing the bail plea of the accused driver, Gaganpreet Kaur.

Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Ankit Garg, after hearing submissions by the counsel for the accused, the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) for Delhi, and the counsel for the complainant, directed the Delhi police to produce the CCTV footage and other relevant evidence and listed the matter for hearing on Thursday at 2 PM.

At the outset, Advocate Pradeep Rana, Counsel for the accused Gaganpreet Kaur, submitted that there is no wrong intention on the part of the accused Gaganpreet Kaur. She called the Venkateshwara Hospital, but the call went unanswered. She also made a call to PCR.

The counsel submitted that Gaganpreet Kaur took the injured to Nulife Hospital and called her father to arrange all the necessary items for the treatment of the wounded Navjot Singh and his wife.

“The FIR was lodged after a 10-hour delay. Why did the police take this much time to file an FIR? The counsel for the accused questioned. It was also submitted that a PCR was made at 1.38-1.39 on the day of the incident, the counsel. The alleged intention of the accused is misconceived. She is not a doctor and did not have the knowledge of how much time the patient may have to live, the counsellor said. It is not a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, advocate Pradeep Rana argued.

“She is not seeking anticipatory bail; she has been in custody for 10 days since her arrest,” the counsel added. “She is not a flight risk; she cooperated in the investigation. Her mobile and drive were handed over to the police when asked, the counsel submitted.”

The counsel said that the entire family is a victim, and all the evidence is with the police. She may be granted bail.

Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Atul Shrivastava, along with Additional Public Prosecutor Dishank Dhawan, opposed the bail plea, submitting that the AIIMS hospital is closer to the accused’s residence compared to Nulife hospital.

There is the ‘golden hour’ principle to reach a hospital and provide early medical treatment, the SPP argued. He opposed the bail plea by arguing that the papers prepared by the hospital did not mention a specific time, the SPP stated.

The Delhi police SPP submitted that the accused’s intention was not to inform the police about the incident. The caller from the hospital told the police that one patient is dead and one is injured. Help is needed.

The SPP further argued that the accused lived in South Delhi for 6 years and was well aware of the area and the hospitals there.

The intention of the accused was not to save the injured, but rather to save the accused from legal proceedings, the SPP Argued.

It was also argued by the SPP that she took the injured to a hospital owned by her relatives. It is also argued that the evidence has already been tampered with. It is not a case of granting bail to the accused, the SPP argued.

SPP Shrivastava also mentioned that the witness, Gulfam, stated that the accused asked him to take them towards the Azadpur side.

In response to a court query, the investigation officer informed the court that a notice had been issued to BMW, requesting a crash report to determine the speed of the car.

The court has asked the counsel for the accused and the Police to file a written document and CCTV footage, etc, tomorrow.

Advocate Atul Kumar, counsel for the complainant, argued that the injured were kept on a stretcher in the lobby of the hospital for hours.

On the other hand, the accused was admitted to the ICU, he added. There is an army base hospital at a distance of 2 minutes from the site of the accident, the counsel submitted.

The legal requirement is to take the injured to the nearest hospital, the counsel for the complainant submitted.

He further submitted that the victim stated that she was taken to a faraway hospital. Despite this, she requested that she be taken to the nearest hospital. (ANI)

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday lambasted the Mahayuti government amid destruction caused by heavy rains and flooding in Marathwada region of Maharashtra, stating that nearly 40 lakh farmers have suffered losses.

Addressing a press conference, Raut stated that 11 districts in the Marathwada region have suffered massive damage, resulting in the “washing away” of approximately seven lakh acres of agricultural land.

“Where is the government? The government has about Rs 10 lakh crore of debt. So, how will it extend any help?” Raut said, adding, “The entire Marathwada region, which comprises 11 districts, has faced massive damage. Around 70 lakh acres of agricultural land have been washed away. About 40 lakh farmers have suffered losses. They have lost their livestock, crops, houses and everything else.”

Apprising the reporters about UBT Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s scheduled visit to the flood-affected region, the Rajya Sabha MP criticised “the people” of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for playing politics in the name of offering help to those affected.

“Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has demanded that PM Narendra Modi should extend Rs 10,000 crore of immediate relief, otherwise Marathwada will be completely destroyed. But what are a few people and ministers of the government doing? They are attempting to offer help by pasting photos and symbols of their party on the relief packets. Politics is being done here, too, by the people of Shinde. This is not right. Uddhav Thackeray will visit tomorrow, assess and then speak,” Raut said.

The continuous heavy rainfall across several districts of Maharashtra has led to flooding, prompting the deployment of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in Beed, Dharashiv, and Solapur districts.

As this happened, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday visited Darfal village in Solapur to assess the flood situation.

Continuous heavy rainfall in several districts has triggered flood-like situations, compelling extensive rescue and relief operations. The NDRF has been actively engaged in Beed, Dharashiv, and Solapur districts since Monday night.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar visited flood-affected areas in Solapur, inspected the damaged crops, and interacted with the farmers. He directed local authorities to ensure quick relief and support for those impacted by the heavy rains.

The Maharashtra government has announced a Rs 1,339 crore assistance package for farmers whose crops were damaged due to heavy rains between June 2025 and August 2025, according to government sources. (ANI)

Wishes have been pouring in for the couple Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif ever since they announced their pregnancy on Tuesday morning.

“On our way to start the best chapter of our lives with hearts full of joy and gratitude,” Vicky and Katrina wrote in a joint announcement on Instagram.

The two also shared an adorable snap. The image shows the duo dressed in all-white attire, with Vicky lovingly cradling Katrina’s baby bump.

As soon as Vicky and Katrina dropped the good news, netizens, including film stars, chimed in the comment section and extended their warm wishes.

Of all the messages, actor Akshay Kumar’s comment literally stole the attention. He hilariously urged parents-to-be to raise their child with equal fluency in both English and Punjabi.

“So totally happy for you Katrina and Vicky. Knowing you, I can say that you two will make the best parents. Bas baby ko English aur Punjabi equally sikhaana 😉 Lots of love and blessings. Jai Mahadev,” Akshay commented.

Deepika Padukone dropped a string of evil eye emojis in the comment section.

“Congratulations you two,” actor Kriti Sanon commented.

Vicky and Katrina tied the knot on December 9, 2021, at Six Senses Fort Barwara, Rajasthan.

On ‘Koffee With Karan’, Katrina revealed that she met Vicky at Zoya Akhtar’s party, and that’s when romance started brewing between them.

Sharing the details of her relationship with Vicky, Katrina shared how Vicky was never on her ‘radar’.She said, “I did not even know much about him. He was just a name I had heard of but had never associated with. But then, when I met him, I was won over!” (ANI)

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that the state government has prohibited Syamkanu Mahanta from holding functions or festivals within Assam.

Taking to X, he informed, “The State Government has decided to prohibit Shri Syamkanu Mahanta and any organisation associated with him from holding any functions or festivals within the State of Assam.”

He further said that the government will not extend financial support in any form to events linked with Mahanta.

“Further, the State Government will not provide any financial grant, advertisement, or sponsorship to any event with which he is associated, either directly or indirectly,” he said in the post.

CM Sarma also said, “The State Government will also request the Government of India not to extend any financial assistance or sponsorship to him in any manner.”

Shyamkanu Mahanta is the main organiser of the North East India Festival in Singapore, where Zubeen Garg was also invited.

Mahanta took Zubeen Garg to Singapore for the event, where the 52-year-old icon of Assam died on September 19 after a drowning incident.

Multiple FIRs were lodged against Zubeen Garg’s manager, Siddharth Sharma, and Shyamkanu Mahanta at different police stations across the state, and the Assam Government has directed the CID to investigate all the FIRs.

Zubeen Garg was cremated with full state honours on Tuesday at Kamarkuchi, located on the outskirts of Guwahati. The funeral drew thousands of fans and admirers, with many visibly emotional as they paid their final respects to the artist fondly known as ‘Goldie’ among close friends and family. The final rites were performed by Garg’s sister, Palme Borthakur, while his wife, Garima Saikia, was seen in tears, bidding farewell. A gun salute was accorded to the late artist as part of the state honours.

Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, paid floral tributes and wrote in a post on his social media, “The last time that I got to see #BelovedZubeen. From now on, he will live in Assam’s soul, mind and heart…”

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju paid his last respects to Garg at the crematorium in Kamarkuchi.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was present at the site, closely monitoring all the rituals in coordination with the authorities and the singer’s family members.

Known as the cultural icon of Assam, Garg was not just a singer but also a composer, music director, actor, and filmmaker. With a career spanning over three decades, he lent his voice to thousands of songs in Assamese, Hindi, Bengali, and several other Indian languages. Garg was a multi-instrumentalist and played 12 instruments, including anandalahari, dhol, dotara, drums, guitar, harmonica, harmonium, mandolin, keyboard, tabla, and various percussion instruments. (ANI)

At the 60th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Speaker Faiza Rifat from Jaipur, Rajasthan, highlighted India’s unwavering commitment to peace, pluralism, and the global fight against terrorism.

Addressing delegates in Geneva, Rifat stated that India’s democracy stands firm on its celebrated principle of “Unity in Diversity,” which has allowed multiple cultures, religions, and languages to thrive harmoniously within one nation. She stated that the Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, belief, and expression, making India a living example of pluralism in practice.

While commending India’s inclusive traditions, Rifat also expressed serious concern about the destabilising threats posed by terrorism. She cited the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and the recent tragic incident in Pahalgam as horrific reminders of how violence eradicates peace, claiming innocent lives and disrupting vital sectors such as tourism. “These acts are not just attacks on a nation but on humanity itself,” she remarked.

Emphasising resilience, Rifat stated that India’s people remain committed to tolerance, human rights, and peaceful coexistence despite such challenges. She reiterated India’s consistent stance in favour of dialogue and non-violent conflict resolution, highlighting the country’s role as a responsible voice in international peacebuilding.

Rifat also called for a unified global response to terrorism, warning that extremist violence poses a severe threat to international security. “Only through cooperation, respect, and collective determination can we counter hatred and safeguard our shared future,” she told the Council.

Rifat affirmed that India will continue to collaborate with nations worldwide to uphold peace and human dignity in line with the principles of the UN Charter. Rifat’s address drew attention to India’s wide focus, preserving its pluralistic nature at home while working with the international community to combat terrorism and build a safer and tranquil world. (ANI)

Government employees in Sindh staged a province-wide boycott on Tuesday, shutting down nearly all departments of the provincial government in protest against pension deductions and issues related to group insurance.

The action, organised by the Sindh Employees Alliance (SEA), led to the closure of government schools, colleges, and universities, forcing students to return home. Citizens visiting government offices were also sent back, causing widespread disruption. The SEA has vowed to keep offices and educational institutions padlocked until September 27, as reported by The Express Tribune.

According to The Express Tribune, Haji Muhammad Ashraf Khaskheli, chairman of SEA, stated that a large sit-in demonstration is planned outside Bilawal House in Karachi on October 6 to further press their demands.

“Our objective is to secure fair pensions, insurance benefits, and the 30% disparity allowance that has long been denied,” he added.

Demonstrations were held outside offices, schools, and colleges in almost every district of Sindh, with employees highlighting that their repeated requests to address pension cuts and insurance concerns have been ignored.

The protest reflects mounting frustration among government staff who feel sidelined despite years of service. The SEA’s plan includes peaceful protests and a boycott of offices for five consecutive days, according to its office bearers.

The alliance comprises representatives from major employee organisations, including the Government Schools Teachers Association (GSTA), the Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA), the Government Officers Association Sindh, the All Sindh Revenue Employees Association, and the All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA), as highlighted by The Express Tribune.

Khaskheli emphasised that the alliance remains committed to non-violent demonstrations while ensuring their demands are met. “We want the provincial government to take concrete steps to resolve our issues before the situation escalates further,” he said. This mass boycott underscores growing discontent among Sindh government employees over pension and insurance discrepancies, marking one of the most coordinated actions by the SEA in recent years, as reported by The Express Tribune. (ANI)