Name: Chandigarh mayoral poll: SC says 'poll officer misled us', asks for counting '8 invalid votes'
Uploaded: 2024-02-20T15:10:28.000+05:30
Duration: T00M29S
Channel: Editorji News Desk
Description: Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said that the eight votes that were rejected by the returning officer shall be treated as valid.

Congress leader P Chidambaram slammed the government for using Hindi words in bill titles, saying it undermines non-Hindi-speaking people and threatens the role of English as an associate official language.

Chidambaram Criticizes Use of Hindi in Bill Titles as Disrespectful

Congress leader P Chidambaram slammed the government for using Hindi words in bill titles, saying it undermines non-Hindi-speaking people and threatens the role of English as an associate official language.

Congress leader P Chidambaram has slammed the "increasing practice" of the government using Hindi words in the titles of the bills and said the change is an "affront" to the non-Hindi-speaking people.
Chidambaram said the non-Hindi-speaking people cannot identify a Bill/Act with titles that are in Hindi words written in English letters, and they cannot pronounce them. "I am opposed to the increasing practice of the government using Hindi words written in English letters in the title of the Bills to be introduced in Parliament," the former Union minister said late Monday night.
Hitherto, the practice was to write the title of the Bill in English words in the English version and in Hindi words in the Hindi version of the Bill, Chidambaram said. "When no one pointed out any difficulty in the 75 year practice, why should government make a change?" he said.
"This change is an affront to non-Hindi speaking people and to States that have an official language other than Hindi," the Congress leader said.
Successive governments have reiterated the promise that English will remain an Associate Official Language, Chidambaram said. "I fear that promise is in danger of being broken," the Congress MP said.

Havildar Zubair Ahmad of the 13 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry died in a landmine blast in Kupwara’s Trehgam area and was declared dead on arrival at the military hospital.

Army Soldier Dies in Landmine Blast in Kupwara District

Havildar Zubair Ahmad of the 13 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry died in a landmine blast in Kupwara&rsquo;s Trehgam area and was declared dead on arrival at the military hospital.

An Army soldier died in a landmine blast in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said in Srinagar on Tuesday.
Havildar Zubair Ahmad of the Army's 13 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry was injured in a land mine blast at Putaha Khan Gali in the Trehgam area of the border district on Monday, they said.
Officials said the injured soldier was rushed to a military hospital at Drugmulla but was declared dead on arrival.&nbsp;

President Droupadi Murmu paid homage to Indian soldiers on Vijay Diwas, recalling the 1971 war victory over Pakistan and highlighting the Army’s indigenisation and self-reliance initiatives.

President Murmu Honors 1971 War Heroes on Vijay Diwas

President Droupadi Murmu paid homage to Indian soldiers on Vijay Diwas, recalling the 1971 war victory over Pakistan and highlighting the Army&rsquo;s indigenisation and self-reliance initiatives.

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday paid homage to soldiers who helped the country secure victory over Pakistan in the 1971 War.
In a post on X, she said that the Indian Army's 'Empowerment through Indigenisation' initiative reflects a commitment to being prepared for future challenges.&nbsp;
"In Operation Sindoor, the army demonstrated self-reliance, strategic resolve, and the effective use of modern warfare techniques, which serves as an inspiration for the entire nation," Murmu said in the post in Hindi.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
विजय दिवस के अवसर पर मैं भारत माता के वीर सपूतों को सादर नमन करती हूं। उनके साहस, पराक्रम और मातृभूमि के लिए अनन्य निष्ठा ने राष्ट्र को सदा गौरवान्वित किया है। उनकी वीरता और राष्ट्रप्रेम देशवासियों को प्रेरित करते रहेंगे। भारतीय सेना की 'स्वदेशीकरण से सशक्तिकरण' की पहल भविष्य की&hellip;
&mdash; President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/2000754723746668765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Vijay Diwas marks the Pakistan military's surrender to Indian forces. The historic victory led to the liberation of Bangladesh.&nbsp;
"On the occasion of Vijay Diwas, I pay my humble respects to the brave sons of Mother India. Their courage, valour, and unparalleled devotion to the motherland have always filled the nation with pride. Their heroism and patriotism will continue to inspire the people of the country," the President said.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the brave soldiers of the 1971 war on Vijay Diwas, remembering their courage, sacrifice, and historic victory over Pakistan.

PM Modi Pays Tribute to Armed Forces on Vijay Diwas

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the brave soldiers of the 1971 war on Vijay Diwas, remembering their courage, sacrifice, and historic victory over Pakistan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday lauded the valour of the armed forces on Vijay Diwas &mdash; the day the Indian Army defeated Pakistan in the 1971 War.&nbsp;
"On Vijay Diwas, we remember the brave soldiers whose courage and sacrifice ensured India had a historic victory in 1971. Their steadfast resolve and selfless service protected our nation and etched a moment of pride in our history," Modi said.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
On Vijay Diwas, we remember the brave soldiers whose courage and sacrifice ensured India had a historic victory in 1971. Their steadfast resolve and selfless service protected our nation and etched a moment of pride in our history. This day stands as a salute to their valour and&hellip;
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/2000757873652240813?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"This day stands as a salute to their valour and a reminder of their unmatched spirit. Their heroism continues to inspire generations of Indians," he said.&nbsp;
Vijay Diwas is celebrated on December 16 every year to honour the soldiers who fought in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, which culminated in the surrender of Pakistan's Army.&nbsp;
Around 93,000 Pakistani soldiers, led by General A A Khan Niazi, laid down their arms in what was one of the largest surrenders seen since World War II.

Goa authorities have sealed popular restaurant The Cape Goa in South Goa for violating fire and safety norms, citing an imminent threat to human life after a recent deadly nightclub fire.

Goa nightclub fire aftermath: Popular restaurant 'The Cape Goa' sealed for violation of rules

Goa authorities have sealed popular restaurant The Cape Goa in South Goa for violating fire and safety norms, citing an imminent threat to human life after a recent deadly nightclub fire.

Authorities have sealed 'The Cape Goa', a prominent restaurant located on a cliff in South Goa district, for violation of fire and other safety norms, officials said on Tuesday.
The Tourism Department had granted permission for one temporary private shack, but it was observed that the establishment was operating a full-fledged restaurant beyond the sanctioned plinth area, according to the sealing order issued on Monday.
Continued operation of the premises without mandatory safety clearances poses an imminent, grave and real threat to human life and property, particularly in the event of fire, electrical short-circuit, structural failure, or any emergency requiring evacuation, it said.
The action comes after a massive fire at a nightclub in Arporal, North Goa, on December 6 claimed 25 lives.
Chairperson of the joint enforcement and monitoring committee, Canacona taluka, Maya Pednekar, on Monday issued the order to seal 'The Cape Goa', located on a cliff at Cabo de Rama Fort in Kuddi village of South Goa district.
A team led by Pednekar carried out an inspection of the premises on December 12 and found several violations at the popular restaurant, the officials said.
The sealing notice mentions that there was an "imminent threat to human life and property".
"Upon careful consideration of the inspection report and material placed before me, I am satisfied that the danger is real, proximate and imminent; the premises is being used in a manner endangering public safety; and immediate intervention is necessary in the interest of protection of human life and property," the order said.
The committee, during the inspection, observed that the restaurant was being operated and used in gross violation of mandatory statutory safety requirements.
The premises was found overcrowded, accommodating more than 24 persons, far beyond permissible limits; no approved structural plan or structural stability certificate was produced; the kitchen was found unsafe, having no proper exit, and was operating with a high fire hazard risk, as per the order.
"The pantry section had no exit, posing a serious safety hazard. 29 commercial LPG cylinders were found stored in the open, near the exhaust blower/duct, which is extremely unsafe. The absence of a designated LPG bank and non-installation of LPG gas leak detectors posed a serious and immediate fire and explosion hazard," it said.
There was no separate exit provided from the restaurant area, while fire extinguishers and fire-fighting equipment were absent in the restaurant seating area, kitchen, staff pantry, storeroom, bakery, and additional storeroom located below the restaurant, Pednekar stated.
"The kitchen area and movement/ entry routes were obstructed, and cooking ranges were placed in movement areas. No clear signage indicating entry, exit, escape routes, or assembly point was displayed," the order said.
The committee pointed out that the exit point was obstructed by 29 commercial LPG cylinders and the MCB distribution board was found open and unsafe. Loose connections/joints were noticed and the entire wiring was dangerous.
It also observed that the Tourism Department had granted permission for one temporary private shack.
"However, it was observed that the establishment is operating a full-fledged restaurant beyond the sanctioned plinth area, with a bar counter, attached kitchen, bakery, pantry, staff mess (with approximately 120 staff members), staff rooms in the basement, around 40 tables with an average seating capacity of 120 persons, housekeeping room, electrical room, feeding room, additional storage room, spa room, etc., which is far in excess of the capacity and area approved by the Tourism Department," the order said.

At least four people died and 25 were injured after several buses and cars collided and caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura amid dense fog and low visibility.

Massive fire after multi-vehicle crash on Yamuna Expressway

At least four people died and 25 were injured after several buses and cars collided and caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura amid dense fog and low visibility.

At least four people died and 25 others were injured after a major accident involving multiple buses and cars led to a massive fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh&rsquo;s Mathura district early Tuesday, officials confirmed.
Police said the crash occurred at Milestone 127 on the Delhi&ndash;Agra stretch of the expressway, where dense fog severely reduced visibility. The collision resulted in several vehicles catching fire, prompting an immediate emergency response.
Fire and police personnel rushed to the site, deploying 11 fire tenders to control the blaze and rescue passengers trapped inside the vehicles. Rescue operations continued for several hours as emergency teams worked through the wreckage.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mathura Shlok Kumar said poor visibility was the key factor behind the crash. &ldquo;An accident took place at the Yamuna Expressway Milestone 127. The reason was low visibility. Seven buses and three cars collided, and as a result, a fire broke out in all the vehicles. The rescue operation is nearing completion, and so far, four people have died. Twenty-five people have been admitted to the hospital, and none of them are in a serious condition,&rdquo; SSP Kumar said.
SP Mathura Rural Suresh Chandra Rawat said the accident took place on the Agra&ndash;Noida lane and initially involved three cars before several buses crashed into them. &ldquo;The accident took place at Milestone 127 on the Agra-Noida lane of the expressway. There was a collision of three cars, after which seven buses collided with them, of which 1 is a roadway bus, and the other six are sleeper buses. 11 fire tenders are at the spot. All the buses had caught fire, and the fire has now been brought under control. 4 dead bodies have been recovered so far. Rescue work is underway,&rdquo; Rawat said.
An eyewitness who was travelling in one of the buses recounted the moments after the crash. &ldquo;An accident took place and nearly 3-4 buses caught fire. I was sleeping when the accident occurred. The bus was fully occupied. All the seats were full. The accident occurred around 4 am,&rdquo; the eyewitness said.
The blaze caused panic among passengers, many of whom tried to escape the burning vehicles. Authorities launched rescue and relief measures immediately, shifting the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The incident occurred amid deteriorating weather conditions across Uttar Pradesh. On Monday morning, several cities experienced thick smog as air quality worsened and visibility dropped sharply. In Agra, dense fog completely obscured the Taj Mahal, with residents saying even nearby vehicles were difficult to spot on roads, increasing risks for commuters.

Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah clarifies that the INDIA bloc is not involved in Congress's "vote chori" campaign, as the party claims six crore signatures against alleged electoral irregularities.

'Vote chori' issue raised by Cong, INDIA bloc has nothing to do with it: Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah clarifies that the INDIA bloc is not involved in Congress's "vote chori" campaign, as the party claims six crore signatures against alleged electoral irregularities.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday distanced himself from the "vote chori" issue raised by the Congress and said the "INDIA bloc has got nothing to do with it".
His remarks came a day after top Congress leaders attacked the BJP and the election commissioners at a 'Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod' rally in the national capital, alleging that "vote chori" is in the ruling party's DNA and its leaders were "gaddar" who were conspiring to take away voting rights of people and should be removed from power.
Abdullah's National Conference is a constituent of the opposition INDIA bloc. The Congress is the largest party in the coalition in terms of the number of opposition MPs in the Lok Sabha.
Asked to comment on the issue of "vote chori" and alleged electoral irregularities being highlighted by the Congress, Abdullah said, "The INDIA bloc has got nothing to do with it. Every political party is at liberty to set its own agenda. The Congress has made 'vote chori' and SIR as its main issues. Who are we to tell them otherwise?"&nbsp;
The Congress has claimed that it has collected around six crore signatures against "vote theft" and will present the same to the President of India.

Three PILs have been allowed by the Calcutta High Court following the spectator chaos at Salt Lake Stadium during Lionel Messi’s event, seeking probe by CBI, ED, and SFIO into crowd unrest and financial irregularities.

Messi event stadium rampage: Calcutta HC to hear petitions seeking transfer of probe to central agencies

Three PILs have been allowed by the Calcutta High Court following the spectator chaos at Salt Lake Stadium during Lionel Messi&rsquo;s event, seeking probe by CBI, ED, and SFIO into crowd unrest and financial irregularities.

Ripples of Saturday's Salt Lake Stadium spectator rampage during Argentine football legend Lionel Messi's showcase event reached the corridors of the Calcutta High Court on Monday, after Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Pal allowed the filing of three separate PILs related to the fiasco.
The petitions sought the court&rsquo;s intervention to transfer the probe into the stadium violence to central agencies such as the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO).
The petitions, separately moved by the state's Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and advocates Sabyasachi Chattopadhyay and Mainak Ghoshal, are likely to be heard together by the court later this week.
Appearing for Adhikari, advocate Bilwadal Bhattacharya sought permission to file a petition seeking the court's intervention into unearthing the factors that led to the crowd unrest on Saturday. He also challenged the authority of the three-member inquiry committee constituted by the state government and headed by retired justice Ashim Kumar Ray.
The turn of events led to a loss of face for West Bengal before the entire world, the petitioner alleged.
The other two petitions claimed that the state-appointed committee was constituted in haste and prayed that possible financial irregularities in the sale of tickets and suspicious monetary transactions linked to the event should also be probed.
Bidhannagar Police, which is currently investigating the case, has ordered the freezing of bank accounts of the organisation responsible for the sale and distribution of tickets and has directed the stoppage of monetary transactions between the organisation and Shatadru Dutta, the prime organiser of the event, who has since been arrested, officials said.
The state-appointed high-level committee led by retired justice Ashim Kumar Ray, which also comprises the chief secretary and home secretary as members, visited the ransacked stadium on Sunday to take stock of the damages and informed reporters that it would submit its report within the next fortnight.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while announcing the formation of the committee within hours of the incident, said its mandate included fixing accountability and suggesting measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
An estimated damage of over Rs 2 crore to the stadium was caused on account of spectator outrage, who resorted to an unprecedented rampage after Messi's brief and tightly ring-fenced appearance&mdash;his first at the venue since 2011&mdash;left large sections of the crowd frustrated, as they failed to catch a glimpse of their superstar despite having travelled from far and wide, paying hefty sums for tickets.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticises government’s plan to repeal MGNREGA and introduce VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025, questioning the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name and financial implications of the change.

Why remove Mahatma Gandhi's name, asks Priyanka on move to replace MGNREGA

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticises government&rsquo;s plan to repeal MGNREGA and introduce VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025, questioning the removal of Mahatma Gandhi&rsquo;s name and financial implications of the change.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday slammed the government over its move to change the name of MGNREGA, asking what is the government's intention behind removing the name of Mahatma Gandhi who is the tallest leader not just in India but in the world.
A bill to repeal the MGNREGA and bring a new law for rural employment -- Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025 -- is set to be introduced in the Lok Sabha. According to a copy of the bill, it seeks to introduce the VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025, in Parliament and repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) of 2005.
Asked about the government's move, Priyanka Gandhi said, "Whenever the name of a scheme is changed there are so many changes that have to be made in offices, stationery... for which money is spent. So, what is the benefit, why it is being done?"
"Why is Mahatma Gandhi's name being removed. Mahatma Gandhi is considered the tallest leader not just in the country but in the world, so removing his name, I really don't understand what is the objective? What is their intention?" she told reporters in Parliament House complex.
"Even when we are debating it is on other issues not the real issues of the people. Time is being wasted, money is being wasted, they are disrupting themselves," Priyanka Gandhi added.
The bill aims at establishing a "rural development framework aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047", by providing a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment in every financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work.
The bill has been listed in the Lok Sabha in the supplementary list of business issued on Monday.
Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in the statement of purpose of the Bill, said MGNREGA has provided guaranteed wage-employment to rural households over the past 20 years.
However, "further strengthening has become necessary in view of the significant socio-economic transformation witnessed in the rural landscape driven by widespread coverage of the social security interventions and saturation-oriented implementation of major government schemes", he said.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar conveyed India’s deepest condolences and fullest support to Australia following the deadly shooting at Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah celebration, which left 15 dead.

India Offers Support to Australia Following Tragic Bondi Beach Attack

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar conveyed India&rsquo;s deepest condolences and fullest support to Australia following the deadly shooting at Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah celebration, which left 15 dead.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday conveyed to his Australian counterpart Penny Wong India's "fullest support" to Australia in the wake of a deadly shooting incident at the iconic Bondi Beach targeting a Jewish celebration that left 15 people dead.
In a phone conversation with Wong, Jaishankar also condoled the death of innocent people in the attack.
"Just spoke to Australian Foreign Minister @SenatorWong. Conveyed our deepest condolences about the Bondi Beach terrorist attack and offered our fullest support," he said on social media.
&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;Just spoke to Australian Foreign Minister &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorWong?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;@SenatorWong&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Conveyed our deepest condolences about the Bondi beach terrorist attack and offered our fullest support.&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2000421770294104326?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;December 15, 2025&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
Fifteen people were killed and over 40 others injured in the attack by two gunmen on Sunday, according to Australian authorities.
Hours after the incident, Jaishankar condemned the terror attack. Condemn in the strongest terms the terror attack on Hanukkah celebrations in Bondi Beach, he said on Sunday. "Our thoughts are with the victims and their families," he said.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as a "dark moment" for the country.
"This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith," he told reporters. "At this dark moment for our nation, our police and security agencies are working to determine anyone associated with this outrage," he said.
The shooting at Bondi followed a wave of antisemitic attacks in the country. The attackers were identified as father and son duo of Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram. The father was shot dead by police while the son sustained injuries and he is undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the world leaders who condemned the attack.
"Strongly condemn the ghastly terrorist attack carried out today at Bondi Beach, Australia, targeting people celebrating the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah," Modi said on X on Sunday.
&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;Strongly condemn the ghastly terrorist attack carried out today at Bondi Beach, Australia, targeting people celebrating the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. On behalf of the people of India, I extend my sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.&hellip;&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/2000169288854913315?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;December 14, 2025&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
"On behalf of the people of India, I extend my sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. We stand in solidarity with the people of Australia in this hour of grief," he said.
The prime minister said India has zero tolerance towards terrorism and supports the fight against all forms of terrorism.

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Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said that the eight votes that were rejected by the returning officer shall be treated as valid.

Chandigarh mayoral poll: SC says 'poll officer misled us', asks for counting '8 invalid votes'

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said that the eight votes that were rejected by the returning officer shall be treated as valid.

Hearing the case pertaining to irregularities in Chandigarh mayoral polls, the Supreme Court on 20th February ordered the recounting of votes polled. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said that the eight votes that were rejected by the returning officer shall be treated as valid and elections results will be declared on the basis of that. The video of the election process was played in the court and the bench demanded to see the ballots that were invalidated.

Following the death of SOG jawan Amjad Pathan in a gunfight with terrorists in Udhampur’s Soan village, security forces including police, army, and CRPF resumed operations to track the militants.

Security Operations Intensified in Udhampur After Deadly Encounter

Following the death of SOG jawan Amjad Pathan in a gunfight with terrorists in Udhampur&rsquo;s Soan village, security forces including police, army, and CRPF resumed operations to track the militants.

Security forces searched for terrorists in Udhampur on Tuesday, a day after a policeman was killed in a gunfight there, a police officer said.
During the encounter on Monday, one terrorist was believed to have been injured, while two policemen suffered minor bullet wounds. "The operation has been resumed in the area to track down the holed-up terrorists. The cordon has been further strengthened," the officer told PTI.
A joint team of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of police, along with the army and the CRPF, is on the job with sniffer dogs, the officer said.
On Monday, forces got locked in a gunfight with terrorists in Soan village of the Majalta area in Udhampur. The village was raided by the police on a tip-off about the presence of three terrorists, believed to be affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit.
The encounter took place in the besieged village around 6 pm and continued for some time, resulting in injuries to one SOG jawan, Amjad Pathan, son of Bashrat Khan. Pathan, a resident of Salva, Mendhar in Poonch district, later succumbed.
"A very small SOG team engaged the terrorists. Combing of the forest has been impeded due to darkness and treacherous terrain," IGP Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti said in a social media post.
Udhampur's Basantgarh lies on the route traditionally used by Pakistani terrorists to enter from the International Border in Kathua and move to Doda and Kishtwar districts in Jammu, and further into the Kashmir Valley. The area has witnessed several encounters and terror incidents in the past.
Pathan's body awaits a post-mortem, and once it has been done, a wreath-laying ceremony will be undertaken in Udhampur, the officer said.

AAP leaders, led by Isudan Gadhvi, will meet Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel to raise farmers’ issues, including abolishing price-cutting practices, MSP procurement, and compensation for crop losses.

AAP delegation to meet Gujarat CM, push 10-point farmers’ charter

AAP leaders, led by Isudan Gadhvi, will meet Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel to raise farmers&rsquo; issues, including abolishing price-cutting practices, MSP procurement, and compensation for crop losses.

An Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) delegation will meet Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel today to raise farmers&rsquo; issues and demands, party leaders announced.
Speaking to the media, AAP Gujarat President Isudan Gadhvi said that the BJP government has been consistently doing injustice to farmers, prompting AAP to launch a statewide agitation. &ldquo;Following our protests, the state government was forced to officially abolish the Kadada practice,&rdquo; he said.
Gadhvi highlighted that AAP has organised nine 'Kisan Mahapanchayats' across the state and conducted 'Kisan Nyay Panchayats' in over 8,000 villages spanning North Gujarat, Central Gujarat, and Saurashtra. To press for the party&rsquo;s 10-point charter of farmers&rsquo; demands, a signature campaign was carried out, during which party teams visited villages and talukas to collect endorsements. Over 80,000 farmers signed the petition in support of the 10 demands.
Isudan Gadhvi outlined the 10-point charter as follows:
- The &ldquo;price-cutting practice&rdquo; must be immediately abolished in all APMC markets, and violators should face jail.
- Farmers should not be forced to transport their produce to godowns or factories instead of APMC markets.
- Farmers and sharecroppers affected by unseasonal rains should be compensated ₹50,000 per hectare, with payments within one month, similar to Punjab.
- Dairy farmers should receive the price difference from all dairy unions directly into their bank accounts on time.
- Farmers should be provided 12 hours of free electricity daily.
- Police cases filed against farmers during the Haddad and Sabar Dairy agitations should be withdrawn, and imprisoned farmers released immediately.
- The government should procure all crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP).
- Adequate and timely availability of fertilisers should be ensured.
- Pending payments to sugarcane farmers by sugar mills should be cleared, and closed sugar mills restarted.
- Cotton procurement by the CCI should begin from October 1 instead of December.
Gadhvi said that AAP has sought an appointment with the Chief Minister regarding these demands and that he, along with party MLAs and the delegation, will meet the Chief Minister today at 12 noon to submit a formal representation. He also warned that if the BJP fails to act on these demands, the Aam Aadmi Party will launch a statewide agitation.

AAP leaders held Assembly workers’ meetings in Becharaji and Visnagar, reviewing organisational strategies and strengthening party presence across Gujarat ahead of upcoming elections.

AAP ramps up grassroots outreach in Gujarat ahead of elections

AAP leaders held Assembly workers&rsquo; meetings in Becharaji and Visnagar, reviewing organisational strategies and strengthening party presence across Gujarat ahead of upcoming elections.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is intensifying its grassroots outreach across Gujarat through initiatives such as 'Kisan Mahapanchayats,' 'Gujarat Jodo Jansabha,' 'Mohalla Sabhas,' Assembly workers&rsquo; meetings, and organisational gatherings in all corners of the state.
As part of this strategy, national and state leaders of AAP attended Assembly workers&rsquo; meetings in the Becharaji and Visnagar constituencies on Thursday. The meetings were conducted under the leadership of AAP State Co-Incharge Gulabsingh Yadav, State Organisation General Secretary Manoj Sorathiya, and North Zone In-charge Rajesh Sharma.
At the Becharaji meeting, senior leaders and office-bearers present included Lok Sabha In-charge Bharat Patel, Becharaji Assembly In-charge Ashok Thakor, and District Youth President Sanjay Thakor. In Visnagar, attendees included Assembly In-charge Uttam Patel, Assembly Co-Incharge Harshad Prajapati, State Organisation Secretary Narendra Prajapati, Taluka In-charge Pravin Thakor, and Visnagar City President Sanjay Patel, alongside other national and state leaders. Local office-bearers and a large number of party workers were present at both gatherings.
During the meetings, AAP State Co-Incharge Gulabsingh Yadav, State Organisation General Secretary Manoj Sorathiya, and North Zone In-charge Rajesh Sharma reviewed ongoing party work in both constituencies. They provided guidance to workers with a focus on the upcoming elections and outlined organisational strategies to strengthen the party at the grassroots level.
&ldquo;The party&rsquo;s expanding footprint in Becharaji and Visnagar, as well as across North Gujarat, clearly indicates that the Aam Aadmi Party is poised to achieve historic results in these Assembly constituencies in the elections to be held in the coming period,&rdquo; the party said.
The meetings underscore AAP&rsquo;s efforts to consolidate its presence in key constituencies and mobilise party workers ahead of future elections in Gujarat.

Delhi’s AQI dropped to 377 on Tuesday morning from 498 a day ago, yet several areas remain in the ‘severe’ category amid smog and cold temperatures.

Delhi's Air Quality Slightly Improves, Yet Smog Persists

Delhi&rsquo;s AQI dropped to 377 on Tuesday morning from 498 a day ago, yet several areas remain in the &lsquo;severe&rsquo; category amid smog and cold temperatures.

The national capital's air quality saw some improvement on Tuesday morning, with an AQI of 377 as against 498 a day ago, even as smog blanketed the city, shivering at 8.3 degrees Celsius during the morning hours, reducing visibility.
The air quality in the city at 9 am was in the 'very poor' category.&nbsp;
Over the past two days, Delhi witnessed worse conditions, with AQI readings crossing 400 at several locations, which falls in the 'severe' category, according to Central Pollution Control Board data.
Even on Tuesday, out of 40 monitoring stations, 11 recorded 'severe' air quality. Jahangirpuri, Mundka and Wazirpur reported the highest readings at 426, as per the CPCB's Sameer app, which provides hourly data for each monitoring station.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'.
Several parts of the city were seen covered in smog and fog during the early morning hours, leading to reduced visibility.Delhi's minimum temperature of 8.3 degrees Celsius on Monday is 0.3 notches below normal. The maximum temperature is expected to hover between 23 degrees Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius.

AAP staged a protest at AMC’s Danapith office, urging urgent measures as air pollution in Ahmedabad and Gujarat reaches hazardous levels, with AQI above 400 in some areas.

AAP protests hazardous air pollution in Ahmedabad, demands action

AAP staged a protest at AMC&rsquo;s Danapith office, urging urgent measures as air pollution in Ahmedabad and Gujarat reaches hazardous levels, with AQI above 400 in some areas.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged a strong protest on Thursday at the Danapith office of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), calling for immediate action as air pollution across Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, reaches hazardous levels.
The protest was led by AAP State Chief Spokesperson Dr. Karan Barot, Education Cell State President Jeetu Upadhyay, City President Vijay Patel, State Vice-President Gauri Desai, State Spokesperson Himanshu Thakkar, and OBC Cell State President Rakesh Maheriya. Party workers raised loud slogans aimed at &ldquo;waking up&rdquo; the civic authorities and submitted a memorandum demanding urgent measures to curb rising pollution.
In the memorandum, AAP highlighted that pollution in Gujarat&rsquo;s major cities and industrial belts has surged drastically in recent months. &ldquo;Industrial chemical waste, toxic emissions, dumping sites, and multiple other sources are directly impacting the daily lives of residents,&rdquo; the party stated. Citizens are reportedly facing severe breathing issues, discomfort outdoors, and other health complications.
Recent data cited by AAP shows that Air Quality Index (AQI) levels in Ahmedabad and several other districts have escalated from &ldquo;very poor&rdquo; to &ldquo;hazardous,&rdquo; with some parts of Ahmedabad recording AQI above 400 &mdash; an extremely dangerous threshold. The party noted that the worsening air quality is leading to throat irritation, chest pain, burning eyes, respiratory distress, and heightened risk for children, senior citizens, and individuals with pre-existing lung conditions. Severe long-term health issues, including chronic respiratory and organ-related ailments, are expected to rise. Daily life, including outdoor activities, school routines, office commutes, and essential tasks, has been heavily affected.
&ldquo;These numbers are not mere statistics &mdash; they reflect the harsh reality citizens face and the warnings issued by health experts,&rdquo; AAP said in its memorandum.
The party urged AMC authorities to take immediate and strong measures to control pollution, calling the situation a &ldquo;major environmental and public-health emergency.&rdquo; AAP expressed hope that the administration will respond swiftly and implement effective steps to protect citizens and ensure clean air for future generations.

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