Kanpur (UP), Mar 10 (PTI) A priest, who was allegedly mobbed here after a purported photograph of him eating non-vegetarian food went viral, has been expelled from duties at the temple by the 'mahant' -- his father -- while his whereabouts are unknown, officials said on Tuesday.

Santosh Giri, chief priest ('mahant') of the Baba Shri Bhuteshwar Dham Temple in Keshavpuram, said the person in the viral photograph is his son Prashant Giri alias Golu Pandit.

"I am the mahant of the temple, not my son. As soon as I came to know that he had eaten non-vegetarian food, I expelled him from service at the temple," Santosh Giri told reporters.

He alleged that a group of people accompanying a religious procession assaulted his son at the temple. "Some people, including Rahul Chandel, Manish Chaudhary and Ajay Chauhan, along with a few others, beat up my son and said he could not stay here," he said.

"When my wife and daughter-in-law tried to save him, they were also assaulted," he added.

Giri said he has not been able to contact his son since police initiated preventive action against him. "I do not know where my son is now. I am very disturbed and leaving everything to Baba Bhuteshwar (Lord Shiva)," he said.

Controversy erupted after a photograph allegedly showing Prashant Giri consuming non-vegetarian food went viral on social media, triggering anger among some locals.

According to police, around 50-60 people gathered at the temple on Sunday night and demanded an explanation from the priest. When he hesitated to come out, some members of the crowd allegedly entered the temple premises, dragged him outside and questioned him about the photograph.

He was allegedly assaulted during the confrontation.

Police later initiated preventive action against Prashant Giri for breach of peace and said the matter is under examination.

Prashant Giri had been living in a room within the temple premises, and performing priestly duties. PTI COR KIS ARB

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New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday spoke to his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi – their third such conversation since the West Asia crisis began – as New Delhi ramped up efforts to protect its energy security amid a virtual blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Jaishankar also spoke to German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and exchanged views on the unfolding crisis in West Asia.

“A detailed conversation this evening with Foreign Minister @araghchi of Iran on the latest developments regarding the ongoing conflict. We agreed to remain in touch," Jaishankar said on social media following his talks with the Iranian foreign minister.

It was the first phone conversation between the two foreign ministers after Iran announced the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the country's new Supreme Leader, days after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a joint US-Israel military strike.

It is not immediately known whether the sinking of an Iranian warship by the US near Sri Lanka on March 4 figured in the conversation between Jaishankar and Araghchi.

Jaishankar and Araghchi spoke on February 28, soon after the US and Israel launched the attack on Iran that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They also spoke on March 5.

The West Asia crisis has impacted the global energy market.

Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (liquefied natural gas).

Following his conversation with German Foreign Minister Wadephul, Jaishankar said the ongoing conflict in West Asia was discussed.

"Exchanged views with FM @JoWadephul of Germany on the ongoing conflict in West Asia," he said on social media.

Jaishankar also said he and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun discussed the situation in West Asia, including its implications on the energy sector.

"Discussed advancing our bilateral agenda. As also the situation in West Asia, including its energy implications," the external affairs minister said.

In a post on X, Cho hoped that this year's high-level exchanges would elevate Korea-India relations to a new level.

South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung is expected to visit India within the next two months.

"Minister Jaishankar agreed and said we should work together to expand strategic economic cooperation between Korea and India, which has significant potential and strong complementarity," Cho said.

"We also discussed the situation in the Middle East, which is having a major impact on global security and the economy, and agreed to maintain close communication on measures to ensure the safety of our nationals as the situation develops," he said. PTI MPB ARI

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) The CBI has arrested a chief electrical distribution engineer with the Central Railway and two private persons in an alleged bribery case of Rs 10 lakh, officials said on Tuesday.

The central probe agency had registered the case against the 2003-batch officer of the Indian Railway Services of Electrical Engineers, working as a chief electrical distribution engineer with the Central Railway, and others on Monday.

During searches at five locations in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Karjat in Maharashtra that followed the arrests, the CBI seized Rs 90.79 lakh in cash, gold jewellery weighing 241.30 gm and 2.5 kg silver jewellery amounting to Rs 42.52 lakh, and other documents of investments from the chief engineer's premises, a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.

The CBI also seized Rs 3.85 lakh from his office chamber, taking the total seizure to Rs 1.47 crore, it said.

The FIR had alleged that the chief engineer demanded a bribe of Rs 40 lakh, which was 1 per cent of the tender value of Rs 40.54 crore being awarded to a private company.

“The accused engineer acted in connivance with the stakeholders of the private company in the award of the tender. The CBI laid a trap and caught the accused after he accepted a bribe amount of Rs 10 Lakh from a private person,” the CBI spokesperson said in the statement.

The central agency recovered the bribe amount of Rs 10 lakh from the engineer's chamber, it said.

The accused engineer and two private persons have been arrested, the spokesperson said. PTI ABS ARI

Jammu, March 10 (PTI) Police on Tuesday rescued 20 bovine animals which were allegedly being trafficked in a cruel manner inside a water tanker and a truck in two separate operations in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, and arrested two suspects over involvement in cattle smuggling, officials said.

In the first operation, a police team intercepted a tractor fitted with a water tanker during naka checking under Rajbagh police station area, officials said.

The vehicle, driven by Rashid Ali of Kathua, was moving suspiciously and was signalled to stop for checking, they said.

During inspection, police found seven bovine animals crammed inside the water tanker, they said.

The animals, mostly cows, were rescued following an extensive operation during which two JCB machines and cutting equipment were used to break open the tanker and free the distressed animals, police said.

A case of bovine smuggling and under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act was registered against the accused, they said.

In another incident, a police team conducting naka checking on the highway at Londi Morh intercepted a suspicious truck coming from the direction of Punjab towards Jammu, officials said.

During inspection, police found 13 bovines, including seven cows and six oxen, packed tightly in the vehicle in a cruel manner, they said.

The animals were rescued, the driver -- identified as Muzammil of Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district -- was arrested on the spot and the truck was seized, they said, adding that police registered a case for bovine smuggling and added provisions under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

During the two operations, a total of 20 bovine animals were rescued, two accused arrested and two vehicles impounded, police said, adding the further probe is underway.

Police said strict action is being taken to curb bovine smuggling in the district and urged the public to share information on suspected trafficking, assuring that the identity of informants will be kept confidential. PTI AB AB ARB

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Mumbai, Mar 10 (PTI) The Civil Aviation Ministry on Tuesday said it is closely monitoring developments in West Asia and their potential implications for air travel between India and the region.

It also said that Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu is continuously overseeing the situation and maintaining direct engagement with all the relevant stakeholders to ensure quick and coordinated responses.

Data suggest that Indian carriers operated 45 inbound flights with 7,047 passengers arriving on them from West Asia on March 9, the ministry said in a statement.

Airlines are making appropriate operational arrangements in response to the evolving situation, with passenger safety and continuity of services remaining the primary considerations, it said.

The ministry said it is maintaining regular coordination with airlines and other concerned stakeholders to ensure that passenger movement continues in an orderly manner.

Airfares are also being closely monitored to ensure that ticket prices remain reasonable and that there is no undue surge during this period, it said.

Operational plans of airlines indicate that Air India and Air India Express will operate flights to Riyadh starting March 12, while IndiGo will commence Mumbai-Riyadh-Mumbai services from Thursday, it said, adding that SpiceJet has been facilitated to obtain alternate airport approvals to ensure continued operational safety and flexibility in the region.

Akasa Air has been advised to align its planned commencement of Mumbai-Riyadh-Mumbai services with prevailing operational conditions, and it is scheduled to begin operations from March 12, the ministry said.

Indian carriers have also sought operational flexibility to ensure safe passenger movement and evacuation support where required, the statement said.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has coordinated with the relevant authorities to facilitate additional arrival and departure slots and to permit the use of the Muscat International Airport as an en route alternate airport for flights to/from destinations including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras-al-Khaimah, Al-Alan, Fujairah, Jeddah and Medinah, the ministry said. PTI IAS RAM

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Pune, Mar 10 (PTI) Police in Pune's Pimpri Chinchwad area have arrested five persons for allegedly kidnapping a businessman and demanding a ransom of Rs 50 lakh, officials said on Tuesday.

The accused, all hailing from Uttar Pradesh, allegedly abducted the businessman from Rahatani area on Monday and fled in a sports utility vehicle (SUV), police said.

After receiving information about the abduction, the victim's family alerted the police, following which multiple teams were formed to trace the kidnappers.

The accused called his family members and demanded Rs 50 lakh, threatening to kill him if their demand was not met. They also asked the family to reach Ale Phata on the Pune-Ahilyanagar border to hand over the ransom.

"Based on technical inputs, we learnt that the kidnappers were heading towards Uttar Pradesh in an SUV. Accordingly, teams laid a trap near Ale Phata and alerted the Ahilyanagar police," an official from Pimpri Chinchwad police said.

Subsequently, a trap was also laid near Sangamner in Ahilyanagar district.

The accused later dropped the businessman near Chandanapuri Ghat in Ahilyanagar district, apparently after developing cold feet, the official said.

A team of Ahilyanagar police intercepted and arrested the five accused near the Sangamner toll plaza on Monday evening, while the businessman was rescued safely.

Police said a sixth person, identified as Santan Chauhan, a native of Uttar Pradesh who had earlier worked with the businessman, had allegedly tipped off the kidnappers.

Two country-made firearms, six live rounds and a car, collectively worth around Rs 18 lakh, were seized from the accused.

Further investigation is underway, police added. PTI SPK NP

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Experts and global leaders on Tuesday called on the United Nations to declare a dedicated ‘World Day for the Elimination of Child Marriage’, warning that a child marriage still takes place somewhere in the world every three seconds.

According to an official statement, the demand was raised during an event held alongside the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, where experts stressed the need for stronger global accountability and enforcement of laws to end the practice.

Speaking at the event, child rights activist and lawyer Bhuwan Ribhu said India’s recent progress in eliminating child marriage shows that it is achievable through coordinated action, the statement read.

“India has shown that ending child marriage is possible. In less than three years, the prevalence has fallen from 23 per cent to below 15 per cent," Ribhu, who is also the founder of the NGO ‘Just Rights for Children’, said.

He added that a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach was needed, focused on prevention, protection, prosecution, and the participation of children, communities, and faith leaders.

“Child marriage is nothing less than impending rape and sexual abuse of a child, often hidden behind culture or tradition,” Ribhu said.

He emphasised that the United Nations must establish a ‘World Day for the Elimination of Child Marriage’ to showcase global commitment, strengthen accountability, and mobilise governments and societies worldwide to end this crime.

The proposal received support from international leaders, including Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone, and Shradha Shrestha, Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Nepal, the statement said. PTI MSJ ARI

Thane, Mar 10 (PTI) Three persons were injured after a test-drive car lost control, rammed into parked vehicles and plunged into a deep construction pit in Maharashtra's Thane city on Tuesday evening, officials said.

The accident occurred at 7.28 pm near a hotel in the Pachpakhadi area of Naupada, said the district Disaster Management Cell.

A Tata Curvv test-drive vehicle went out of control, hit an auto-rickshaw and two parked two-wheelers on the roadside before falling into a pit dug for a building construction project, which was around 20 feet deep, an official said.

Three persons travelling in the car were trapped inside after the vehicle plunged into the ditch. The trio, who suffered injures, was rescued by local residents before emergency teams reached the spot, the official said.

The injured included an employee of the automobile showroom from where the car was taken for test drive, he added.

Authorities said the deployment of airbags in the vehicle prevented more serious injuries to the occupants. PTI COR RSY

Raipur, Mar 10 (PTI) Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma on Tuesday said that most paramilitary forces deployed in Bastar region of the state are likely to be withdrawn by March 31, 2027.

Replying to a discussion on the budget demand proposal of his departments in the assembly, he said March 31, 2026 has been set as the target date for ending armed Naxalism.

After the discussion, the assembly passed the demand proposals of the Panchayat and Rural Development, Home, Jail and Science and Technology departments held by Sharma.

"March 31, 2026 has been fixed as the date for the end of armed Naxalism, and it has also been decided that the forces will start returning by March 31, 2027. Some may go back even earlier," he said.

He added that discussions have taken place to fix March 31, 2027 as the timeline for withdrawal of central forces, though the schedule may vary slightly.

"After that, all the central forces would also leave," he said.

Sharma informed the House that the police department has been allocated Rs 7,130.48 crore under the revenue expenditure head and Rs 590.53 crore under the capital expenditure head in the main budget, totaling Rs 7,721.01 crore.

He said Rs 38 crore have been earmarked for fixed deposits and vocational training for surrendered Left Wing Extremist cadres under the central rehabilitation policy to facilitate their rehabilitation.

The deputy CM said the state government has proposed six new posts to set up a modern IT centre at the police headquarters in Nava Raipur to strengthen the investigation and prevention of modern and cybercrimes.

The government has also approved new posts under special police forces, including the Anti-Terrorist Squad, State Industrial Security Force, Special Operations Group, Anti-Narcotics Task Force and bomb disposal units, he said.

Sharma said four central jails in Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur and Ambikapur have received ISO 9001:2015 certification, reflecting the government's focus on quality improvement.

A provision of Rs 1.05 crore has been made in the budget to install a "Prison Calling System" in 16 jails across the state, enabling inmates to speak with their family members and lawyers through voice or video calls, he said.

Earlier, participating in the discussion, former chief minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel said everyone wants Naxalism to end and peace to prevail in the region.

He noted that the government has repeatedly stated that Naxalism would end by March 31, 2026.

"Only 21 days are left for March 31. We hope that after that the withdrawal of paramilitary forces will begin," Baghel said.

Baghel also said a special session of the assembly should be convened on March 31 to celebrate the end of Naxalism in the state.

He, however, said that after the end of Naxalism, Bastar should primarily benefit the local people.

After the discussion, Baghel demanded a division of votes on a cut motion.

The motion was rejected after voting, with 37 votes against it and 24 in favour.

Later, the Assembly passed the budget demand proposals for Sharma's departments. PTI TKP NP

Sonbhadra (UP), Mar 10 (PTI) Police have registered a case against a man in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh after his 19-year-old daughter accused him of rape, an official said on Tuesday.

Local SHO Akhilesh Kumar Mishra said the woman in her complaint alleged that her father sexually assaulted her in a secluded forest area under the Chopan police station limits.

According to the complaint, the accused, a grain trader, had taken his daughter out on the pretext of getting her medicines.

The complainant told police that when they reached the Baghnala forest area, the accused allegedly raped her and later fled from the spot.

The complainant told the police that her mother had passed away, and that the accused, originally from Bihar, was currently living in Sonbhadra.

Based on the complaint, police registered a case on Monday evening, the SHO said, adding that the accused will be arrested soon. PTI COR KIS ARI

Peshawar, Mar 10 (PTI) Five children were injured in a quadcopter attack in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, police said.

The incident occurred in the Takhtikhel area of Lakki Marwat district.

Explosives dropped from the quadcopter injured five children, of whom two boys were taken to a hospital in Bannu due to their serious condition.

Three girls were also injured in the attack and were taken to the tehsil headquarters hospital in the Serai Naurang town.

A police contingent reached the site of the incident and launched a search to locate the perpetrators. The police combed the area to search for the suspected terrorists.

The attack came nearly a month after eight minor boys were injured in a quadcopter strike in Lakki Marwat’s Takhti area. PTI AYZ GRS

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Johannesburg, Mar 10 (PTI) India is confident about the latest round of talks aimed at finalising the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), the Indian envoy here has said.

The agreement will give market access for many Indian goods to South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and Botswana.

India’s High Commissioner to South Africa Prabhat Kumar made the remarks at a gathering of captains of industry, academics and policy makers in Pretoria on Monday at the 2nd annual India-South Africa Business Conclave.

He said these discussions were part of the momentum gained from reciprocal visits between the leaders of the two nations and many mutual business delegation visits in the past year.

“Trade diversification is an important mantra for India’s economic relationships. This is evident from the different FTA’s that we have signed with the European Union, UK, UAE and Australia,” Kumar said.

The High Commissioner said India has restarted negotiations for a PTA which would reduce trade barriers and enhance market access and foster better trade between India and the SACU member countries.

The impetus for a trade arrangement between India and SACU emerged in 2003 as part of India's broader strategy to deepen economic engagement with Africa, but have been stalled for over a decade now.

A Joint Study Group (JSG) was established to examine the feasibility and potential scope of a trade agreement, followed by a number of meetings in ensuing years in Pretoria, Delhi and Windhoek.

By 2010, SACU presented a revised text of the PTA as a working document, but the negotiation process slowed down considerably as both sides struggled to reach consensus on the list of products for tariff concessions.

India expressed interest in accessing SACU's market for its textiles and clothing, which SACU deemed highly sensitive sectors. Conversely, SACU, particularly South Africa, sought access for its agricultural products and minerals, facing competitive or sensitive responses from India.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic challenges, India and SACU revived the PTA discussions. A virtual meeting was held between senior officials to review progress and discuss steps to expedite the process. Both sides reaffirmed the immense potential to expand trade beyond its then-current levels.

“India has some 150 companies that have made South Africa their base for Africa and have made significant investments here. A number of South African companies have also invested in India,” Kumar said as he called on local business leaders to look at the many opportunities that have opened up in India in the last few years.

“Diversification of exports, especially IT and digital services, has helped offset merchandise pressures.

“India’s recent growth cannot be viewed in isolation from its decade-long reforms. Corporate tax liberalisation and production incentives are now compounding into measurable economic outcomes. These reforms have improved efficiency, expanded the formal economy and has expanded India’s attractiveness as a manufacturing and services hub.

“India is now one of the most open economies in the world, with 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment allowed in many sectors,” Kumar said, singling out energy, IT, infrastructure and logistics, manufacturing and agriculture as some of these sectors.

“Through initiatives such as sharing of digital infrastructure, vaccine diplomacy during COVID-19, concessional credit lines to African countries, and partnerships in climate change, India has been both a reliable and responsible partner for the Global South,” Kumar said.

The diplomat invited delegates to participate in the India-Africa Forum Summit later this year which will bring together the heads of state from African countries in New Delhi.

“The Summit will discuss and take forward the development agenda between India and the continent of Africa," Kumar said. PTI FH GRS

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Dubai, Mar 10 (PTI) The United Arab Emirates has announced that it has a six-month strategic stockpile of essential goods, amid the conflict in West Asia.

The country’s Ministry of Economy and Tourism said it has intensified its monitoring efforts at points of sale across markets nationwide to ensure price stability for goods and products and their availability in sufficient quantities to meet consumer needs, particularly considering the current increase in demand for essential consumer goods.

In a statement released by the official news agency Wam, the ministry explained that monitoring and field inspections are carried out daily by specialised inspection teams.

“This comes as part of close coordination and cooperation with the economic development departments across the country, within a joint national monitoring team that is unifying efforts to prevent unjustified price increases and unsound commercial practices, while enhancing the continuous monitoring of markets across the UAE,” it said.

The ministry also pointed out that there is high-level coordination between the relevant authorities across all emirates to continuously monitor markets and ensure that points of sale and traders comply with consumer protection legislation and policies, particularly the pricing policy for essential consumer goods.

“This policy covers nine key commodities: cooking oil, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, poultry, legumes, bread, and wheat, whose prices cannot be increased without prior approval from the Ministry and the national committee formed for this purpose,” it added.

On the price rise observed in some food commodities, such as onions and tomatoes, over the past two days, the ministry clarified that these increases are temporary and limited, resulting naturally from the effects of the regional crisis.

It confirmed that additional quantities of the commodities that experienced price increases have already been supplied in abundant amounts to ensure a stable supply in the markets. PTI CORR GRS GRS

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Moscow, Mar 10 (PTI) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday called for a swift de-escalation in West Asia in a call with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian, the Kremlin said.

The call came as the US and Israel, and Iran maintain a cycle of retaliatory strikes, including on neighbouring Gulf nations.

“The Russian President reaffirmed his principled position in favour of a swift de-escalation of the conflict and its resolution through political means. Pezeshkian thanked Russia for its support, particularly for providing humanitarian aid to Iran,” the Kremlin said without giving further details. 

This was the second phone conversation this week between Putin and Pezeshkian. Moscow, which has vital interests in the Gulf States, has been actively interacting with all parties to seek de-escalation of the crisis amid the conflict in West Asia.

Earlier on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also discussed the situation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.

“Lavrov once again set forth the Russian side’s principled position in favour of de-escalating the conflict as soon as possible and resuming the process of a political and diplomatic peace settlement.

"The Russian side is invariably ready to facilitate this process, with due consideration for security interests of Iran and its regional neighbours,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a release posted on its web portal.

On Monday night, US President Donald Trump dialled Putin to discuss the situation in West Asia and Ukraine.

According to Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov, the two leaders discussed the conflicts between the US and Iran and between Russia and Ukraine during an hour-long telephonic conversation.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not specify what proposals Putin put forward for settling the Iran conflict during his hour-long phone call with Trump.

“No, I am not at liberty to elaborate at the moment. Nor do I have any intention of doing so,” Peskov stated in response to a request to specify what proposals “remain on the table.”

“These proposals have been conveyed by the [Russian] president to his counterpart. We will see what the coordination process looks like going forward,” the spokesman noted.

“Since the very beginning of this story, before the start of the military standoff, President Putin offered various forms of mediation and services that could have helped to reduce tensions,” Peskov said at the Kremlin news briefing on Tuesday morning.

However, in the current situation, Putin cannot yet be viewed as a mediator, Peskov said.

“We need to have multilateral understanding, multilateral coordination. Therefore, we should be a little patient under the current circumstances,” he said. PTI VS GRS GRS

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Kathmandu, Mar 10 (PTI) As Balendra Shah is set to become Nepal’s first Madheshi prime minister, traditional political stalwarts from the region suffered sweeping defeats in the March 5 elections.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which has projected Shah as its prime ministerial candidate, bagged almost all seats in the Madhesh province.

It won 30 out of a total of 32 seats in eight districts -- Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara and Parsa, bordering India.

Eleven of those elected to the House from Madhesh are below the age of 40.

Shah had described himself as the son of Madhesh while addressing his first election campaign in Dhanusha.

His ancestral house is in the Mahottari district of the province.

The 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician is all set to become the Himalayan nation's first Madhesi prime minister and also the youngest elected executive head.

However, Madheshi stalwarts belonging to traditional parties received a humiliating defeat, according to Election Commission data.

Prominent Madheshi leaders who lost the elections are Rastriya Mukti Party Nepal's President Rajendra Mahato and Mahindra Yadav, leader of Nepali Communist Party, who contested from Sarlahi 2.

Upendra Yadav, chair of Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, who contested from Saptari 3 and Janamat Party's president C K Raut, who contested from Saptari 2, also lost.

While RSP's Rabin Mahato won the election from Sarlahi 2, Mahindra Yadav got second, and Rajendra Yadav got fourth position.

Among the remaining two seats in Madhesh, Matrika Yadav of Nepali Communist Party won from Dhanusha 1 by defeating Nepali Congress candidate Ram Paltan Sah, and Mohmad Firdos Alam of Nepali Congress won from Rautahat 2 by defeating Kiran Kumar Shah of Nepali Communist Party.

The RSP, formed in 2022, has won 125 of the 165 seats under direct voting in Nepal's parliamentary polls as vote counting under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system concluded on Tuesday, putting it in a position to form a majority government. PTI SBP GRS

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Doha, Mar 10 (PTI) Nearly 1,000 Indian nationals stranded in Qatar were flown to New Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi on Tuesday amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the Indian mission here said.

The Indian Embassy in Doha coordinated with Qatar Airways to facilitate the travel of stranded Indian nationals and emergency cases, it said in an update on X.

"About 1,000 Indian passengers travelled to New Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi on Qatar Airways flights on March 10," the mission said, thanking the airline for "giving priority to cases on humanitarian grounds".

It added that one flight of Qatar Airways is scheduled for New Delhi on Wednesday.

The embassy said that it continued the facilitation of travel of Indian nationals through the Salwa border to Saudi Arabia on temporary transit visas of 96 hours' validity.

"India’s basketball team which had got stranded in Qatar reached India after travelling on flights from Saudi Arabia," it added.

The embassy said that its "24/7 Control Room remains functional, along with helplines and helpdesks of Indian community organisations, Indian Cultural Centre and Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF)."

In a separate post, the embassy urged Indian nationals stranded in Qatar as tourists/short-term visitors due to flight cancellations from February 28 to fill out a form to ascertain the number and details of stranded Indian nationals who are not residents of the West Asian nation.

Tensions in West Asia continue to escalate following US-Israel strikes on Iran since February 28.

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London, Mar 10 (PTI) The UK government has condemned any form of religious hatred as “abhorrent” after the targeting of a group of British Hindus gathered for a Holi celebration in north-west London was raised in Parliament.

Opposition Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman asked the Labour government to intervene to “cool community tensions” after a group of “thugs” disrupted an annual celebration of Holi at an old Civic Centre car park site in his constituency of Harrow last week.

Blackman, who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Hindus, called for an official statement in the House of Commons to reassure his constituents.

“This event has been run for many years. It is a joyful occasion, and more than a thousand people attended," Blackman told MPs.

“However, thugs from the Central Mosque left the mosque and then decided to disrupt proceedings by pulling over the speakers and disconnecting the audio system. They were then chased away by stewards. That was bad enough.

“They then came back with 20 more thugs and attempted to attack the people celebrating. This is in Harrow where we have excellent community relations, and I hope this will not happen anywhere else or again. But the sad reality is community tensions are rising because of various different things across the world, and it is our responsibility as politicians to cool things down," he said.

Blackman called on the Leader of the Commons, Alan Campbell, for tangible steps to ensure that people can “celebrate in peace and harmony”.

“I am sad to hear of the disruption that happened at celebrations in Harrow,” responded Campbell.

He declined to comment directly on the incident, which took place last Tuesday, because it is under investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

“However, any form of religious hatred is abhorrent and has no place in our society, wherever it happens. I absolutely agree... on the importance of the language we use as politicians inside and outside this House.

“I will consider his request about social cohesion and see what we can do in the next few weeks to address his very real concern,” he said.

The Met Police had been called to the incident and confirmed a 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of “affray”.

“The Hindu community deserves transparency, honesty and protection. Hindus celebrating their festival should never feel unsafe in Britain," INSIGHT UK, a diaspora advocacy group, has said. PTI AK GRS GRS

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London, Mar 10 (PTI) The UK has adopted a new definition of "anti-Muslim hostility" and will appoint a special representative to support the government's action to tackle hate crimes targeted at the community.

UK Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed tabled the definition alongside a social cohesion strategy in the House of Commons in London on Monday.

He told MPs the new definition will be non-statutory, or without legal backing, and is designed as a crackdown on “unacceptable prejudice, discrimination and hatred directed at Muslims or those perceived to be Muslim”. 

“The definition safeguards our fundamental right to freedom of speech — about religion in general or any religion in particular — and ensures that concerns raised in the public interest are protected,” Reed told Parliament.

“We are committed to appointing an anti-Muslim hostility tsar, who can advise and be a critical friend to the government in doing the work that we need to do.

“We will engage widely across local government, schools, universities, broadcasters, the NHS [National Health Service] and others to agree on how we can best utilise the definition in order to support the Muslim community," he said.

The definition, which had been opposed by some British Hindu and Sikh groups for fear of choking out legitimate free speech, has been dubbed a "working" tool for the government and organisations to better “understand, measure, prevent and address" such hostility.

The full definition reads: “Anti-Muslim hostility is intentionally engaging in, assisting or encouraging criminal acts – including acts of violence, vandalism, harassment, or intimidation, whether physical, verbal, written or electronically communicated – that are directed at Muslims because of their religion or at those who are perceived to be Muslim, including where that perception is based on assumptions about ethnicity, race or appearance.

“It is also the prejudicial stereotyping of Muslims, or people perceived to be Muslim including because of their ethnic or racial backgrounds or their appearance, and treating them as a collective group defined by fixed and negative characteristics, with the intention of encouraging hatred against them, irrespective of their actual opinions, beliefs or actions as individuals.

“It is engaging in unlawful discrimination where the relevant conduct – including the creation or use of practices and biases within institutions – is intended to disadvantage Muslims in public and economic life.”

The Commons heard that over 40 per cent of all recorded religious hate crimes target British Muslims, which the minister described as being “wildly out of proportion with the number of Muslims” in the UK.

Hindu Council UK was among the organisations to caution against “unintended consequences” of definitions of this nature, which tend to be enforced not through courts but through institutional policies.

The Network of Sikh Organisations (NSO) had also previously expressed concerns over the “extremely vague” nature of the definition.

On the legal front, discrimination of an individual due to their religion or belief is already unlawful under the UK's Equality Act. PTI AK GRS GRS

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Islamabad, Mar 10 (PTI) Pakistan and China on Tuesday called for de-escalation in West Asia and emphasised the need to pursue dialogue and diplomacy in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter to address differences.

On February 28, the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei and several top commanders. Iran's retaliation escalated the war to the entire Gulf region.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephonic conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and exchanged views on the evolving regional situation and broader global developments, according to a statement by the Foreign Office.

Dar shared Pakistan's perspective and underscored the urgent need to ease tensions in the Middle East and the wider region, while Wang appreciated Pakistan's constructive efforts aimed at promoting de-escalation and stability in the region, it said.

“The two leaders stressed the importance of de-escalation and emphasised the need to pursue dialogue and diplomacy in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter,” the statement said.

It said that both sides also reaffirmed the enduring strength of the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, reiterated their shared commitment to further deepening bilateral cooperation, and agreed to remain in close contact.

Separately, Pakistan condemned Israel's continued military aggression against Lebanon, resulting in the death of hundreds of civilians and the displacement of nearly half a million people.

In a separate statement, the Foreign Office said that the Israeli actions, which are in contravention of international law, are undermining the efforts of the government of Lebanon to ensure peace and stability in the country and have the potential to further exacerbate the ongoing security and humanitarian crises in the region.

“We urge the international community to take urgent action to end the Israeli military aggression, the indiscriminate targeting of civilians, and the continued violations of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it said.

Pakistan also called for Israel’s withdrawal from all “occupied Lebanese territories immediately, fully, and unconditionally”. PTI SH  ZH

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Islamabad, Mar 10 (PTI) Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sent a letter to the new Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, conveying condolences on the death of his father, while also congratulating him on assuming the new responsibilities.

Mojtaba, the son of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was appointed as his successor by the 88-member Assembly of Experts, a body responsible for selecting the new supreme leader, Iranian state TV announced on Monday. His father was assassinated in an attack by the US and Israeli forces.

According to a statement, the Prime Minister reiterated the “deepest condolences and prayers of the people of Pakistan at this solemn moment for the brotherly people of Iran and the wider Muslim Ummah”.

He noted that the “martyrdom of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei had deeply saddened the people of Pakistan, who stand in solidarity with the leadership and people of Iran during this difficult time”.

While congratulating the new leader on assuming this responsibility, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that his leadership would guide Iran towards peace, stability, dignity and prosperity in the years ahead.

He underscored that relations between Pakistan and Iran are anchored in shared faith, history, culture and language.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continue working closely with Iran to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across all spheres of mutual interest for the benefit of the two brotherly peoples. PTI SH ZH

ZH

FGN56 NEPAL-RSP-2NDLD INDIA

**** RSP to pursue 'development diplomacy' to boost Nepal-India ties: Chairman Lamichhane

Kathmandu: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chief Rabi Lamichhane has said he looked forward to strengthening Nepal-India ties through “development diplomacy” as he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for wishing him on the party's electoral success. ****

FGN58 UN-INDIA-LD AFGHAN

**** 'Hypocritical', 'flagrant violation': India slams Pakistan's airstrikes on Afghanistan during Ramadan

United Nations: India has strongly condemned Pakistan's airstrikes on Afghanistan as a “flagrant violation" of international law, saying it is “hypocritical” to invoke Islamic solidarity while carrying out attacks that have killed civilians during Ramadan. ****

FGN63 CHINA-INDIA-HIGHWAYS

**** China to strengthen highways in border regions with India under 15th 5-year plan

Beijing: China plans to further strengthen its strategic transport network in sensitive border regions with India over the next five years to fortify its remote frontiers during the 15th Five-Year Plan beginning this year. ****

FGN65 NEPAL-BALEN-INDIA

**** Nepal's Balen says will work with India to further strengthen bilateral ties

Kathmandu: Rastriya Swatantra Party's (RSP) prime ministerial candidate Balendra Shah on Tuesday expressed confidence in further deepening "historic" Nepal-India ties and making them more "outcome-oriented". ****

FGN52 RUSSIA-PUTIN-TRUMP

**** Trump dials Putin, discusses Iran, Ukraine

Moscow: US President Donald Trump dialled his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin late Monday night amid global energy disruption caused by American-Israeli strikes on Iran, leading to the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz.****

FGN67 BANGLA-INDIA-FUEL

**** Bangladesh receives diesel from India via pipeline

Dhaka: Bangladesh has begun receiving diesel from India, with an initial supply of 5,000 tonnes expected by Wednesday, an official said on Tuesday, amid growing concerns about a fuel shortage due to the ongoing crisis in West Asia. ****

FGN48 ISRAEL-IRAN-NETANYAHU

**** Israel can help Iranians 'cast off the yoke of tyranny' but they must act: Netanyahu

Jerusalem: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel can help enable Iranians to “cast off the yoke of tyranny”, but any political change in the country would ultimately be up to its people.****

FGN29 LANKA-FUEL-CRISIS

**** Sri Lanka hikes fuel prices amid panic buying

Colombo: Sri Lanka has increased retail fuel prices by over 8 per cent with effect from midnight Monday in a bid to curb hoarding and panic buying amid rising global crude oil prices, officials said on Tuesday.****

FGN25 NEPAL-POLL-RESULTS

**** Direct vote count concludes in Nepal; RSP eyes majority govt with 125 seats

Kathmandu: The Rastriya Swatantra Party has won 125 of the 165 seats under direct voting in Nepal's parliamentary polls as vote counting under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system concluded on Tuesday, putting RSP in a position to form a majority government.****

FGN24 UK-LD MINISTER

**** Commonwealth can solve uncertainties by coming together: MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh

London: The disruptions to the world order due to ongoing conflicts can be overcome by the Commonwealth as the largest gathering of democratic countries by pooling its resources to move forward together, Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh has said.****

FGN1 SAFRICA-MINISTER-INDIA

**** India has major role to play in remaking of world order: South African minister

Johannesburg: India has a major role to play in the remaking of the post-World War II world order, which is on the brink of collapse, South African Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Zuko Godlimpi told a gathering of captains of industry, academics and policy makers in Pretoria on Monday.**** PTI GRS GRS

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Johannesburg, Mar 10 (PTI) India is confident about the latest round of talks aimed at finalising the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), the Indian envoy here has said.

The agreement will give market access for many Indian goods to South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and Botswana.

India’s High Commissioner to South Africa Prabhat Kumar made the remarks at a gathering of captains of industry, academics and policy makers in Pretoria on Monday at the 2nd annual India-South Africa Business Conclave.

He said these discussions were part of the momentum gained from reciprocal visits between the leaders of the two nations and many mutual business delegation visits in the past year.

“Trade diversification is an important mantra for India’s economic relationships. This is evident from the different FTA’s that we have signed with the European Union, UK, UAE and Australia,” Kumar said.

The High Commissioner said India has restarted negotiations for a PTA which would reduce trade barriers and enhance market access and foster better trade between India and the SACU member countries.

The impetus for a trade arrangement between India and SACU emerged in 2003 as part of India's broader strategy to deepen economic engagement with Africa, but have been stalled for over a decade now.

A Joint Study Group (JSG) was established to examine the feasibility and potential scope of a trade agreement, followed by a number of meetings in ensuing years in Pretoria, Delhi and Windhoek.

By 2010, SACU presented a revised text of the PTA as a working document, but the negotiation process slowed down considerably as both sides struggled to reach consensus on the list of products for tariff concessions.

India expressed interest in accessing SACU's market for its textiles and clothing, which SACU deemed highly sensitive sectors. Conversely, SACU, particularly South Africa, sought access for its agricultural products and minerals, facing competitive or sensitive responses from India.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic challenges, India and SACU revived the PTA discussions. A virtual meeting was held between senior officials to review progress and discuss steps to expedite the process. Both sides reaffirmed the immense potential to expand trade beyond its then-current levels.

“India has some 150 companies that have made South Africa their base for Africa and have made significant investments here. A number of South African companies have also invested in India,” Kumar said as he called on local business leaders to look at the many opportunities that have opened up in India in the last few years.

“Diversification of exports, especially IT and digital services, has helped offset merchandise pressures.

“India’s recent growth cannot be viewed in isolation from its decade-long reforms. Corporate tax liberalisation and production incentives are now compounding into measurable economic outcomes. These reforms have improved efficiency, expanded the formal economy and has expanded India’s attractiveness as a manufacturing and services hub.

“India is now one of the most open economies in the world, with 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment allowed in many sectors,” Kumar said, singling out energy, IT, infrastructure and logistics, manufacturing and agriculture as some of these sectors.

“Through initiatives such as sharing of digital infrastructure, vaccine diplomacy during COVID-19, concessional credit lines to African countries, and partnerships in climate change, India has been both a reliable and responsible partner for the Global South,” Kumar said.

The diplomat invited delegates to participate in the India-Africa Forum Summit later this year which will bring together the heads of state from African countries in New Delhi.

“The Summit will discuss and take forward the development agenda between India and the continent of Africa," Kumar said. PTI FH GRS

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Dubai, Mar 10 (PTI) The United Arab Emirates has announced that it has a six-month strategic stockpile of essential goods, amid the conflict in West Asia.

The country’s Ministry of Economy and Tourism said it has intensified its monitoring efforts at points of sale across markets nationwide to ensure price stability for goods and products and their availability in sufficient quantities to meet consumer needs, particularly considering the current increase in demand for essential consumer goods.

In a statement released by the official news agency Wam, the ministry explained that monitoring and field inspections are carried out daily by specialised inspection teams.

“This comes as part of close coordination and cooperation with the economic development departments across the country, within a joint national monitoring team that is unifying efforts to prevent unjustified price increases and unsound commercial practices, while enhancing the continuous monitoring of markets across the UAE,” it said.

The ministry also pointed out that there is high-level coordination between the relevant authorities across all emirates to continuously monitor markets and ensure that points of sale and traders comply with consumer protection legislation and policies, particularly the pricing policy for essential consumer goods.

“This policy covers nine key commodities: cooking oil, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, poultry, legumes, bread, and wheat, whose prices cannot be increased without prior approval from the Ministry and the national committee formed for this purpose,” it added.

On the price rise observed in some food commodities, such as onions and tomatoes, over the past two days, the ministry clarified that these increases are temporary and limited, resulting naturally from the effects of the regional crisis.

It confirmed that additional quantities of the commodities that experienced price increases have already been supplied in abundant amounts to ensure a stable supply in the markets. PTI CORR GRS GRS

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Mumbai, Mar 10 (PTI) The Civil Aviation Ministry on Tuesday said it is closely monitoring developments in West Asia and their potential implications for air travel between India and the region.

It also said that Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu is continuously overseeing the situation and maintaining direct engagement with all the relevant stakeholders to ensure quick and coordinated responses.

Data suggest that Indian carriers operated 45 inbound flights with 7,047 passengers arriving on them from West Asia on March 9, the ministry said in a statement.

Airlines are making appropriate operational arrangements in response to the evolving situation, with passenger safety and continuity of services remaining the primary considerations, it said.

The ministry said it is maintaining regular coordination with airlines and other concerned stakeholders to ensure that passenger movement continues in an orderly manner.

Airfares are also being closely monitored to ensure that ticket prices remain reasonable and that there is no undue surge during this period, it said.

Operational plans of airlines indicate that Air India and Air India Express will operate flights to Riyadh starting March 12, while IndiGo will commence Mumbai-Riyadh-Mumbai services from Thursday, it said, adding that SpiceJet has been facilitated to obtain alternate airport approvals to ensure continued operational safety and flexibility in the region.

Akasa Air has been advised to align its planned commencement of Mumbai-Riyadh-Mumbai services with prevailing operational conditions, and it is scheduled to begin operations from March 12, the ministry said.

Indian carriers have also sought operational flexibility to ensure safe passenger movement and evacuation support where required, the statement said.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has coordinated with the relevant authorities to facilitate additional arrival and departure slots and to permit the use of the Muscat International Airport as an en route alternate airport for flights to/from destinations including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras-al-Khaimah, Al-Alan, Fujairah, Jeddah and Medinah, the ministry said. PTI IAS RAM

ARI

ARI

Mumbai, Mar 10 (PTI) Full-service carrier Air India and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express on Tuesday said they will together operate a total of 58 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from West Asia on March 11.

Amid the escalating conflict in the region involving the US, Israel and Iran, airlines are operating services in a calibrated manner as there are airspace restrictions and closures.

The two carriers will continue to operate their respective scheduled services to and from Jeddah and Muscat on March 11, Air India said in a statement.

While Air India will operate eight flights to and from Jeddah, Air India Express will be operating 14 scheduled flights to and from Muscat, it stated.

On Wednesday, Air India will operate one round-trip each from Delhi and Mumbai to Jeddah, and Air India Express will operate one round-trip each from Hyderabad and Kozhikode to Jeddah

Air India Express will also operate its scheduled services to Muscat, including one round-trip each from Delhi, Mumbai, Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchirappalli, and two round-trips from Kochi, the airline said.

In addition to the scheduled services, Air India and Air India Express would also operate a total of 36 ad-hoc non-scheduled flights to and from the UAE subject to the availability of slots and other prevailing conditions at the respective point of departure at the time, it said.

These flights are being operated with the requisite permissions from the relevant Indian and local regulatory authorities, it added. PTI IAS RAM RSY

Gandhinagar, Mar 10 (PTI) More than 1.5 lakh public assets and infrastructure in Gujarat will be monitored via Asset Safety Monitoring Portal, officials said on Tuesday.

All existing government and public infrastructure in Gujarat, including roads, bridges, and buildings will be monitored in an integrated manner at the state level, ensuring that no infrastructure becomes a threat to the safety of citizens, an official release said.

A government directive was recently issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) regarding this decision.

According to the directive, more than 1.5 lakh assets, including roads, bridges, government buildings, and other civic infrastructure across the state will be registered on a single centralized digital platform, as per the release.

Geographic Information System (GIS)-based location mapping, photographs, details of the custodian officer, and a unique digital identity - this comprehensive system will ensure scientific and continuous monitoring of the lifespan of assets, it added.

Under the Asset Safety Monitoring Portal, field officers will upload inspection reports and photographs on the integrated portal through digital login. District collectors and municipal corporation commissioners will be required to conduct weekly, monthly, and quarterly reviews, the release stated.

In-charge secretaries will issue necessary directives during their district visits. The administrative machinery at every level will work through a single unified digital system, it added.

The dedicated Asset Safety Monitoring Cell established within the GAD will conduct daily monitoring at the state level and submit regular reports to the Chief Secretary.

Through the Asset Safety Monitoring Portal, the Bhupendra Patel government has initiated a mechanism to ensure that no structural weakness, inspection delay, or repair requirement is overlooked. An automated inspection calendar and real-time alert system will compel the administrative machinery to take timely action, the release noted. PTI KVM PD RSY

Raipur, Mar 10 (PTI) Amid reports of shortage of commercial LPG cylinder in several parts of the country due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday assured people that they need not worry about the availability of cooking gas in the state.

He asserted that adequate stock of LPG as well as petrol and diesel was available in the state.

Sai said in a statement that authorities have been directed to regularly monitor stock at gas agencies and keep a close watch on the supply chain. Necessary instructions were issued to officials in all districts to ensure a smooth supply of LPG.

The chief minister instructed officials to take strict action if any complaint of black marketing or hoarding of LPG cylinders is received.

Sai urged state residents not to pay attention to rumours and to book cooking gas cylinders as per their actual requirement.

The government was fully alert to ensure the availability of essential commodities to citizens, he emphasised.

Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh Hotel and Restaurant Association has issued an advisory to hotels, restaurants, caterers and other food businesses across the state, urging them to maintain calm and avoid panic buying.

In the advisory, Taranjeet Singh Hora, president of the association, asked members to maintain coordination and immediately inform it about any major disruption in LPG supply.

He cautioned businesses against hoarding cylinders, saying such practices could worsen the situation for the entire hospitality sector.

The association advised hotels and restaurants to prioritise essential kitchen operations, core menu items and already committed banquet events.

Use electric cooking equipment wherever possible for emergency and staff kitchens such as induction cooktops, electric hot plates, electric rice cookers and kettles, the advisory stated. PTI TKP RSY

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) As the ongoing war in West Asia disrupts global supply chains, impacting Indian energy imports, Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal has called for urgent measures to unlock the domestic natural resource potential to strengthen the country's energy and mineral security.

Highlighting how global conflicts can directly impact countries dependent on imports, Agarwal said India must reduce its reliance on overseas resources and build self-sufficiency by enabling domestic production.

"It is painful to see India face the adverse consequences of a war we have nothing to do with," Agarwal said in a statement, referring to global disruptions that impact commodity prices and supply chains.

"We import nearly 90 per cent of our oil, 95 per cent of our copper and 99.5 per cent of our gold, despite the fact that the mother earth has given India one of the best geologies," he said in a statement.

Drawing from over four decades of experience in the minerals, metals and oil industry, Agarwal argued that India's natural resources, if developed efficiently, could dramatically reduce import dependence while creating jobs, industries and exports.

Recounting his own entrepreneurial journey, Agarwal said he arrived in Mumbai from Bihar at the age of 19 and built Vedanta from scratch.

Over the years, the company acquired major assets including Hindustan Zinc, BALCO, the oil and gas business of Cairn India, and Sesa Goa Iron Ore, with the aim of significantly expanding production.

According to Agarwal, Vedanta's operational turnaround of some of these assets demonstrates what private enterprise can achieve.

"We increased zinc production ten times and aluminium twenty times. As a result, more than 1,000 companies have emerged around these value chains," he said, adding that Vedanta has contributed Rs 4.5 lakh crore to the national exchequer in the last decade.

Agarwal also outlined ambitious targets for the future. In oil and gas, the company aims to produce one million barrels per day, while in iron ore, he envisions production of 100 million tonnes, equivalent to roughly a third of India's current output.

He emphasised that India needs globally competitive mining champions.

"Vedanta should be for India what Rio Tinto and BHP are for Australia or Vale for Brazil. And there should be many more Vedantas," he said.

However, Agarwal stressed that policy reforms and a change in regulatory mindset are critical for the sector to flourish. He called for simpler regulations, greater trust in businesses and a shift towards self-certification and audit-based oversight rather than prolonged approvals and litigation.

"The system must stop creating hurdles. Businesses need recognition and respect, and the benefit of doubt should go to entrepreneurs," he said. PTI SID HVA

Shimla, Mar 10 (PTI) The Federation of Himachal Hotels and Restaurant Association (FOHHRA) on Tuesday urged the Union government to take necessary steps to ensure an uninterrupted supply of commercial LPG cylinders.

In a letter to Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, FOHHRA president Gajender Thakur expressed concern about the shortage and irregular supply of commercial LPG cylinders in the market.

Amid the ongoing West Asia war, the central government has revised the priority order for allocating domestically produced natural gas, placing LPG production alongside CNG and piped cooking gas at the top. This has led to a supply crunch for hotels and restaurants, which use market-priced commercial LPG.

Companies are not bottling commercial cylinders; therefore, there would be a demand-supply gap in the coming days, a Shimla-based gas agency owner told PTI.

Some hoteliers in the state reported a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders.

FOHHRA, in its letter, urged the minister to take suitable measures to stabilize the supply chain and provide priority allocation to the hospitality sector so that hotels and restaurants can continue their services without any disruption.

The hospitality industry, particularly in tourism-dependent states like Himachal Pradesh, relies heavily on commercial LPG cylinders for day-to-day operations such as cooking and food preparation, he said.

Hotels, restaurants, dhabas and catering establishments serving thousands of tourists and local residents depend entirely on LPG and any disruption or shortage in the cooking fuel directly affects their ability to operate efficiently, he added.

Small and medium hospitality establishments are more vulnerable to such shortages as they lack alternative energy arrangements.

A prolonged disruption in LPG supply may lead to increased operational costs, interruptions in service, and economic strain on the hospitality sector, which contributes significantly to employment and the regional economy, he added. PTI BPL HVA

Mumbai, Mar 10 (PTI) The Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday issued revised prudential norms governing the declaration of dividends by banks after examining stakeholder feedback on draft guidelines.

Among the key modifications, the RBI eased the method of calculating "Adjusted Profit After Tax (PAT)" used to determine dividend eligibility.

While the draft directions proposed deducting 100 per cent of net non-performing assets (NPAs) from profit, the final framework requires banks to deduct only 50 per cent of net NPAs.

The central bank said deducting the full value of net NPAs, assuming zero recovery, could be overly conservative, while deducting NPAs from core capital would weaken the link between dividend eligibility and asset quality.

The RBI had, on January 6, placed draft directions for public consultation covering dividend declaration norms for different categories of banks, including commercial banks, small finance banks, payment banks, local area banks and regional rural banks.

After reviewing the feedback received from stakeholders, the RBI said it has incorporated suitable modifications and issued the final set of directions.

Accordingly, the RBI has released five Master Directions governing prudential norms on declaration of dividends and remittance of profits across banking entities. The revised framework will come into effect from the financial year 2026-27.

Until then, the existing prudential norms on dividend declaration and remittance of profits will continue to remain in force up to FY 2025-26.

After reviewing industry feedback, the central bank retained the proposed implementation timeline and said the revised directions will come into effect from the financial year 2026-27.

Some stakeholders had sought deferring the guidelines until the roll-out of the Expected Credit Loss (ECL) framework, but the RBI rejected the suggestion, stating that the two frameworks deal with separate subjects.

The RBI also clarified that boards of banks must consider divergence in asset classification, auditors' reports and both current and projected capital positions while deciding on dividend payouts, and that the same prudential requirements apply to interim dividends as well. PTI MSU HVA

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) State-owned National Highways Authority of India-sponsored Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT) on Tuesday raised Rs 1,728 crore from anchor investors, including LIC, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance and Bajaj Life Insurance.

This came ahead of the InvIT's Rs 6,000-crore initial public offering, which opens for subscription on March 11. This will be the first time NHAI opens its asset monetisation programme to retail investors.

According to a circular uploaded on BSE's website, a total of 17.28 crore units have been allocated to anchor investors at a price of Rs 100 per unit, aggregating to Rs 1,728 crore.

The anchor investors include a mix of pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds, banks, provident funds and alternative investment funds.

Other key investors included Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance, Tata AIG General Insurance, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and several NPS Trust schemes managed by SBI, UTI, ICICI Prudential and Kotak Pension Funds.

Mutual funds such as HDFC MF, Nippon India MF, Axis MF, Aditya Birla Sun Life MF, DSP, Quant, WhiteOak Capital and Edelweiss also participated in the anchor book. In addition, investments were received from the provident funds of Indian Oil Corporation, Sebi employees, and Maharashtra State Electricity Board.

The InvIT's IPO price has been fixed between Rs 99 and Rs 100 per unit. The issue would conclude on March 13.

The initiative marks an important step in broadening public participation in the National Highway infrastructure growth story.

The public InvIT aims to unlock the monetisation potential of the National Highway assets while creating a high-quality, long-term investment instrument primarily targeting retail and domestic investors.

According to the Red Herring Prospectus (RHP), Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust's IPO issue size aggregates up to Rs 6,000 crore. This was an increase from Rs 5,700 crore planned at the time of filing draft papers in January.

The InvIT proposes an initial portfolio of five toll roads in Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, operating under the Toll-Operate-Transfer model based on concessions granted by the NHAI to the project SPV.

The toll roads consist of five toll roads spanning over 260 km, forming part of the Golden Quadrilateral project.

Earlier, NHAI had incorporated Raajmarg Infra Investment Managers Pvt Ltd (RIIMPL) as the investment manager for the Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust.

RIIMPL is a collaborative venture with equity participation from leading banks and financial institutions, including State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, NaBFID, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finserv Ventures Ltd, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, IndusInd Bank, and YES Bank.

The InvIT said 75 per cent of the offer size has been reserved for qualified institutional buyers, which include anchor investors, and the remaining 25 per cent for non-institutional investors.

Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust will make its stock market debut on March 24. PTI SP HVA

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Edtech firm Coursera has collaborated with the centre's India's Mission Karmayogi, for upskilling for civil servants and government officials, the firm said on Tuesday.

As part of the collaboration, Coursera will utilize the Integrated Government Online Training (iGOT) platform to deliver a curated collection of courses, focused on advanced competencies for civil servants and government officials, the company said.

"Our partnership with Coursera equips officials with targeted, role-based skills that improve how public administration programs are designed and delivered," said Chhavi Bhardwaj, CEO, Karmayogi Bharat said. PTI PRS

DRR

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Over 2,000 film entries have been received for the inaugural edition of the International Film Festival Delhi, scheduled to be held in the national capital from March 25.

Reflecting strong interest from filmmakers worldwide, 2,098 films from India and abroad have been submitted for the festival, according to an official.

Of these, 1,151 are international non-feature films, 668 are Indian non-feature films, 221 are international feature films and 147 are Indian feature films, he said.

He said that 125 Indian and international films will be selected from all the applications and screened during the seven-day festival, which will take place from March 25 to 31 at multiple venues across New Delhi, including Bharat Mandapam.

Additional venues where films will be screened are multiplex cinemas across the city, cultural and open-air spaces and pop-up screening zones, he added.

The festival was formally launched earlier by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who unveiled its official logo at a curtain-raiser event organised by the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC).

Speaking at the event, Gupta said the festival aims to position Delhi as a global hub of cinema, art and culture while remaining a public and city-wide celebration rather than a closed industry event.

"Delhi has always shaped culture, not followed it. With the International Film Festival Delhi, we are creating a public festival that belongs to the people of this city," she had said.

According to the government, the festival is also linked to Delhi's upcoming film policy, which focuses on single-window clearances, production support and industry partnerships to make the capital more attractive for film shoots.

Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra said the initiative seeks to bring global cinema closer to citizens while strengthening institutional support for filmmakers.

The programme is expected to include gala premieres, masterclasses, industry roundtables, workshops, film markets and cultural performances, apart from neighbourhood screenings and other public events across the city, the official said. PTI SHB KSS

KSS

Mumbai, Mar 10 (PTI) Neeraj Ghaywan's "Homebound" and Vikramaditya Motwane's crime thriller "Black Warrant" have emerged as the front-runners at the 8th Critics' Choice Awards, with six and seven nominations respectively, the Film Critics Guild announced on Tuesday.

The annual awards, presented in association with WPP Motion Entertainment, cover feature films, web series, short films, and documentaries, with voting conducted by 56 film critics from across the country.

In feature films, "Homebound" leads with six nominations, followed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade's Sundance-winning "Sabar Bonda" and Raam Reddy's "Jugnuma" with three nominations each.

Anusha Rizvi's "The Great Shamsuddin Family", Mari Selvaraj's "Bison Kaalamaadan", and the BAFTA-winning Manipuri film "Boong" received two nominations apiece.

The Best Film category features ten contenders including "Homebound", "Boong", "Sabar Bonda", "Jugnuma", "Sthal", "Ponman", "Su from So", and "The Great Shamsuddin Family", among others.

On the acting front, Vishal Jethwa ("Homebound"), Mammootty ("Kalamkaval"), Basil Joseph ("Ponman"), Mounesh Nataranga ("Hebbuli Cut") and Abhishek Banerjee ("Stolen") compete for Best Actor, while Priyanka Bose ("Agra"), Geetha Kailasam ("Angammal"), Yami Gautam Dhar ("Haq"), Amruta Subhash ("Jarann"), and Sharmila Tagore ("Puratawn") are in contention for Best Actress.

The Best Director race features Lakshmipriya Devi ("Boong"), Ghaywan ("Homebound"), Aranya Sahay ("Humans in the Loop"), Reddy ("Jugnuma"), and Jayant Digambar Somalkar ("Sthal").

For Best Supporting Actor, Pasupathy ("Bison Kaalamaadan"), Akshaye Khanna ("Dhurandhar"), Dhritiman Chatterjee ("Putulnacher Itikatha"), Dileesh Pothan ("Ronth"), and Boman Irani ("The Mehta Boys") are in the running.

The Best Supporting Actress category sees Shalini Vatsa ("Homebound"), Anita Date ("Jarann"), Lijomol Jose ("Ponman"), Sandhya Arakere ("Su From So"), and Shreya Dhanwanthary ("The Great Shamsuddin Family") competing for the honour.

In the web series category, "Black Warrant" dominates with seven nominations, trailed by "Paatal Lok Season 2" with five and Aryan Khan's "The Ba***ds of Bollywood" with four.

Jaideep Ahlawat ("Paatal Lok" S2) and Manoj Bajpayee ("The Family Man" S3) headline the Best Actor race alongside Zahan Kapoor ("Black Warrant"), Roshan Mathew ("Kankhajura"), and Amit Sial ("The Hunt - The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case").

The Best Actress field includes Shabana Azmi ("Dabba Cartel"), Surveen Chawla ("Criminal Justice" S4), Monika Panwar ("Khauf"), Girija Oak Godbole ("Perfect Family"), and Priyamani ("The Family Man" S3).

In the Best Director category, Motwane and his co-directors ("Black Warrant"), Pushkar Sunil Mahabal ("Black, White & Gray - Love Kills"), Pankaj Kumar and Surya Balakrishnan ("Khauf"), Avinash Arun Dhaware ("Paatal Lok S2"), and Aryan Khan ("The Bads of Bollywood") are nominated.

The Best Supporting Actor field includes Anurag Thakur, Paramvir Singh Cheema, and Rahul Bhat - all from "Black Warrant" - alongside Manoj Pahwa ("Perfect Family") and Raghav Juyal ("The Bads of Bollywood").

For Best Supporting Actress, Nimisha Sajayan ("Dabba Cartel"), Geetanjali Kulkarni and Shalini Vatsa (both from "Khauf"), Tillotama Shome ("Paatal Lok S2"), and Seema Pahwa ("Perfect Family") are nominated.

The documentary category features "Chaar Phool Hain Aur Duniya Hai", a portrait of late Jnanpith Award-winning author Vinod Kumar Shukla, alongside Hot Docs winner "I, Poppy".

In short films, "Aasmaani Jhoola" and "Maaybaapache Aashirwaad" lead with five nominations each.

The ceremony, which will broadcast on Sony LIV, will also confer the Extraordinary Contribution to Cinema Award on veteran actor Farida Jalal.

Guild Chairperson Anupama Chopra said the range and ambition of submissions this year made deliberations "both challenging and immensely fulfilling."

"Each year, the Critics’ Choice Awards offer a snapshot of where Indian storytelling truly stands, beyond box office numbers or algorithms.

"From intimate personal narratives to bold, genre-defying work across films, series, documentaries, and short films, these nominations reflect voices that are pushing the medium forward and reminding us why criticism, curiosity, and conversation matter," she said. PTI RB RB

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New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Veteran actor and thespian Amol Palekar will receive the META Lifetime Achievement Award at the 21st edition of the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards here, recognising his extraordinary contribution to Indian theatre and cinema", the organisers announced on Tuesday.

"Over a career spanning several decades, Palekar has been celebrated for his distinctive artistic voice and his commitment to storytelling across stage and screen. His work as an actor, director, and creative visionary has left a lasting imprint on contemporary Indian performance," read a statement from META.

Known for his "boy-next-door" persona, Palekar rose to stardom in the 1970s with films like "Chhoti Si Baat", "Chitchor", "Baaton Baaton Mein", and "Gol Maal".

"We are honoured to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Amol Palekar, whose extraordinary contribution to theatre, cinema and the arts has inspired generations. Through META, we remain committed to supporting artists and providing a platform where diverse voices and narratives can be experienced, celebrated and shared with wider audiences," Jay Shah, Vice President and Head - Cultural Outreach, Mahindra Group, told PTI.

The 21st edition of the theatre festival and awards will stage 10 shortlisted productions at Kamani Auditorium and Shri Ram Centre Auditorium from March 19-25.

The week-long festival will explore themes ranging from mythology and devotion to gender, identity, politics, and social change.

META will present awards in 13 competitive categories, including production, direction, stage design, sound and music design, light design, costume design, actor in lead role (male and female), actor in support role (male and female), original script, ensemble, and choreography.

“Every year, META brings together stories from across India, blending classical theatre traditions with contemporary practice. The 10 shortlisted productions for 2026 showcase extraordinary creativity, experimentation, and courage. It is a joy to present these productions to audiences in Delhi, fostering a shared appreciation for theatre as a space for dialogue, reflection, and celebration of our cultural diversity,” Sanjoy K Roy, managing director of Teamwork Arts, said.

This year's jury comprises renowned theatre director Amal Allana; theatre director and academic Anuradha Kapur; acclaimed stage and screen actor Rajit Kapur; celebrated playwright, director and actor Satish Alekar; and veteran actor, singer and theatre personality Ila Arun.

The winners of the awards will be announced on March 25 during a grand finale at Kamani Auditorium. PTI MAH MAH RB

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New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) A week before "Dhurandhar" returns on the big screen with part two, the film is generating strong interest among audiences with over 1,50,000 tickets booked for paid preview shows, a senior executive of PVR INOX Limited said on Tuesday.

The second part, titled "Dhurandhar: The Revenge", is set to be released in theatres on March 19, coinciding with the festivals of Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, and Eid. The movie is directed by Aditya Dhar and stars Ranveer Singh in the lead.

Gautam Dutta, CEO – Growth and Revenue at PVR INOX Limited, said they are expecting the film's preview shows to run at "full capacity".

"'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' is the kind of film that truly comes alive on the big screen, where the scale, sound, and emotion of the story can be experienced at their best.

"The buzz around the paid previews has been extremely strong, with advance bookings at PVR INOX already crossing 150,000 tickets and several preview shows expected to run at full capacity," Dutta told PTI.

Paid previews are limited screenings held before a film's official release, where audiences buy tickets like regular shows, with the collections counted towards the film’s box office.

The early shows are priced from around Rs 300 and go up to as much as Rs 2,200 in certain parts of the country, depending on the location and format of the screening. The first part, "Dhurandhar", was released on December 5 and performed exceedingly well at the box office, grossing Rs 1,300 crore, out of which Rs 1,000 crore came from the Indian market alone.

Unlike the first part, which was only released in Hindi, "Dhurandhar: The Revenge" will also be available in four more languages -- Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.

Dutta said the response to the movie beyond the Hindi markets is encouraging as well.

"With the film available in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam, audiences across southern regions are also showing strong interest. It’s exciting to see this kind of nationwide enthusiasm, and we look forward to welcoming audiences across the country for what promises to be a memorable cinematic experience," he said.

Set in Lyari town of Karachi, an area known for its history of gang wars and violent turf battles, "Dhurandhar" revolved around covert intelligence operations at the background of geopolitical and terror events like Kandahar plane hijack, 2001 Parliament Attack and 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

The sequel will chart the rise of Ranveer Singh’s character Hamza Ali Mazari in the Karachi underworld while also delving into his origins as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, tracing the journey of the young man who eventually transforms into the covert operative.

Actors R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi are also returning for the second part.

In a statement, Ashish Saksena, COO - Cinemas, BookMyShow, said the anticipation for "Dhurandhar: The Revenge" is quite strong and reflects clearly in the paid previews numbers.

"The booking momentum has also been widely spread across markets. While Hyderabad and Mumbai are leading the trend, cities such as Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru and Chennai have played a significant role, with encouraging traction visible across a diverse range of markets nationwide.

"The early turnout for paid preview screenings highlights the continued audience affinity for the franchise," Saksena said. PTI RB

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Singapore, Mar 10 (PTI) The Indian High Commission in Singapore is joining the International Women's Day observation with the screening of Alia Bhatt-Vicky Kaushal-starrer "Raazi" on March 15 as part of an extended annual Indian Film Festival.

Additional screening of Mani Ratnam's "Roja" and Suriya-starrer "Soorarai Pottru" are also planned on April 5, 2026 at Festive Arts Theatre.

“On the occasion of International Women’s Day, an additional screening of the movie ‘Raazi’ is also being organised on 15 March 2026 at Golden Village, Suntec City as part of Indian Film Festival 2026. Additional screening of two movies – 'Roja' and 'Soorarai Pottru' are also planned to be screened on 05 April 2026 at Festive Arts Theatre, Our Tampines Hub,” said the High Commission in a statement on Tuesday.

As part of its annual promotion of cultural activities and people-to-people ties between India and Singapore, the High Commission holds film screening in the city state.

“Building on the success of Indian Film Festival (IFF) 2025, which marked the inaugural edition of the festival, High Commission of India in Singapore, in collaboration with Singapore Film Society, organised the Indian Film Festival 2026 from 23 January – 8 March 2026,” said the High Commission.

This year’s festival showcased a thoughtfully selected lineup of 21 films across eight Indian languages – Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Manipuri, Gujarati, Odia, Assamese and Malayalam.

These movies ranged from timeless classics to popular blockbusters and acclaimed regional films.

On popular demand and overwhelming response of the audience, the High Commission organised additional screenings of 3 movies – "Boong", "3 Idiots" and "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" at Festive Arts Theatre March 8. "Boong" recently won the BAFTA award.

“Today, the two countries enjoy a strong diplomatic, trade, cultural and people-to-people connect,” said a diplomatic observer, pointing out the importance of such developments between India-Singapore, the first of which began more than century ago with the founding the island as a colonial British outpost out of Calcutta. PTI GS

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New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Actor Randeep Hooda and his wife, actor-entrepreneur Lin Laishram, have announced the birth of their first child, a baby girl.

The couple shared a collaborative post on their respective Instagram handles on Tuesday. The first picture featured Hooda's father holding the newborn, followed by a close-up picture of the child's hand. She was born on the same day as Hooda's father.

"Happy birthday to grandfather and granddaughter. Today, as I become a father, my appreciation for you has only grown deeper, Papa. And most importantly - Lin, thank you for making me a father and for bringing our little girl into this world. A little girl, and a lifetime of love," read the caption.

Hooda, known for featuring in projects such as “Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster”, “Rang Rasiya”, “Highway” and “Sarbjit”, dated Laishram for several years before making their relationship official on Instagram in 2022.

The duo married in 2023 in Chumthang Sanapung in Imphal.

The wedding was performed in traditional Meitei rituals, which featured the bride circling in dignified movement around a seated groom for seven times and the bride and groom garlanding each other with a floral garland made of a variety of Jasmine flowers (kundo) amidst cheers from the guests. PTI ATR

Hooda last featured in "Jaat", which released in 2025. Laishram last appeared in the 2023 film "Jaane Jaan" alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan. PTI ATR ATR

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Los Angeles, Mar 10 (PTI) Quentin Tarantino has slammed his "Pulp Fiction" star Rosanna Arquette for criticising his use of N-word in the 1994 hit.

"Pulp Fiction", starring John Travolta, Samuel L Jackson, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth and Bruce Willis, featured Arquette in the role of Jody. It went on to receive an Oscar at the 67th Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay.

In an interview with The Times U K, the actor said she hated the overuse of the word in the film, which was used around 20 times in it. "It's an iconic, a great film on a lot of levels. But personally, I am over the use of the N-word...I hate it," she said.

"I cannot stand that he (Tarantino) has been given a hall pass. It’s not art, it’s just racist and creepy," the actor, 66, said.

Tarantino, who is often scathing in his takedown of people and films and most recently hit headlines for calling Paul Dano a weak actor, slammed Arquette for her criticism.

The 62-year-old filmmaker, also known for "Kill Bill", "Jackie Brown", "Reservoir Dogs", "Inglourious Basterds" and "Django Unchained", said he gave her work and she took money only to trash him later.

"I hope the publicity you're getting from 132 different media outlets writing your name and printing your picture was worth disrespecting me and a film I remember quite clearly you were thrilled to be a part of," Tarantino said in a statement, shared by entertainment news outlet Deadline.

"Do you feel this way now? Very possibly. But after I gave you a job, and you took the money, to trash it for what I suspect is very cynical reasons, shows a decided lack of class, no less honor. There is supposed to be an esprit de corps between artistic colleagues. But it would appear the objective was accomplished. Congratulations, Q," he added.

Tarantino's frequent use of the racial slur has often been criticised by filmmakers and audiences

In 1997, Spike Lee criticised Tarantino for using the word, saying, "I'm not against the word, and I use it, but not excessively. And some people speak that way. But, Quentin is infatuated with that word. What does he want to be made — an honorary Black man?"

Director Lee Daniels also hit out at Tarantino for his decision to use the word in his films and his response to the criticism. Tarantino said audiences should see something else if they had an issue with his creative choices.

“That’s not the right answer,” Daniels said. PTI ATR BK

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New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) A spokesperson of YRF Talent on Tuesday dismissed reports that "Saiyaara" star Aneet Padda has been cast in the role of cinema icon Madhubala in an upcoming movie.

There have been reports claiming that Padda, who broke out with YRF's 2025 romance blockbuster, will be starring in the biographical movie from filmmaker Jasmeet K Reen, known for Alia Bhatt Vijay Varma-starrer "Darlings".

A spokesperson of YRF Talent, the management agency of the actor, issued a clarification and said the reports are "untrue".

The Madhubala project was announced by Sony Pictures International Productions in March 2024. It is a co-production between Sony Pictures International Productions, Brewing Thoughts Pvt Ltd and Madhubala Ventures, which is headed by Madhubala's younger sister Madhur Brij Bhushan, and Arvind Kumar Malviya.

Madhubala, one of the leading actors from Hindi cinema's golden era, appeared in classics like "Mr. & Mrs. 55" (1955), "Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi" (1958), "Kala Pani" (1958), and "Howrah Bridge" (1958), during her brief lifetime, becoming one of the highly regarded personalities in the industry.

Her career defining role was as Anarkali in the 1960 historical epic drama "Mughal-e-Azam" where she featured alongside Dilip Kumar's Salim and Prithviraj Kapoor's Akbar.

Madhubala died in 1969 at the age of 36.

Padda is set to headline "Shakti Shalini", the next instalment of producer Dinesh Vijan's ambitious Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU).

Her entry was announced with the release of Ayushmann Khurrana’s 2025 film “Thamma”, which is also a part of the MHCU.

"Shakti Shalini" will release in cinema halls on December 24. PTI RB BK

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Los Angeles, Mar 10 (PTI) Hollywood veteran Jeff Daniels has joined the cast of hit Apple TV series “The Morning Show” for its upcoming fifth season.

The 70-year-old actor, best known for HBO drama “The Newsroom”, will play Lukas, the billionaire founder of an investment company, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

He joins the show’s ensemble cast that includes Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass and Jon Hamm.

Season five of “The Morning Show” will pick up after the dramatic events of the previous season, which saw Witherspoon’s character Bradley detained in Belarus while a group of characters exposed a UBN executive involved in a cover-up.

Showrunner Charlotte Stoudt has previously said the upcoming season will further explore the dynamic between Bradley and Cory, played by Crudup.

“The Morning Show” is showrun and executive produced by Stoudt and directed and executive produced by Mimi Leder. Michael Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer serve as executive producers for studio Media Res.

Witherspoon executive produces the show with Lauren Neustadter for Hello Sunshine, while Aniston and Kristin Hahn executive produce for Echo Films. Zander Lehmann and Micah Schraft also serve as executive producers.

Daniels won two Primetime Emmy Awards for his performances in “The Newsroom” and the Netflix limited series “Godless”.

The actor has also starred in popular films such as “Dumb and Dumber”, “The Martian” and “Good Night, and Good Luck”, and recently appeared in Apple TV comedy series “Shrinking”.

Daniels is also a Tony-nominated stage actor and the founder of Michigan’s Purple Rose Theatre Company. PTI RB RB

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Mumbai, Mar 10 (PTI) It is always healthy when filmmakers support one another rather than compete unnecessarily, the makers of Varun Dhawan's upcoming movie "Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai" said on Tuesday while announcing a new release date for the film.

The move comes after Kannada superstar Yash's new film "Toxic" was postponed to June 4 due to escalating tensions in West Asia.

"Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai", directed by Varun's father David Dhawan, was set to be released in theatres across the country on June 5 but will now come out a week later on June 12. It also stars Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde.

Producer Ramesh Taurani's banner Tips Films shared the news of the movie's new release date in a statement posted on its social media pages.

"We would like to clarify that our film 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' was originally scheduled for release on 5th June, a date we had announced several months ago. However, after recent developments and considering the prevailing situation, we felt it would be more appropriate to shift our release.

"We strongly believe that it is always healthier for the industry when filmmakers support one another rather than compete unnecessarily on the same date. In that spirit of solidarity, we have decided to move the release of 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' to 12th June and bring our film to the audiences a week later," read the statement.

Last week, there were reports claiming that the makers of "Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai" were unhappy with "Toxic" team for shifting their movie to June 4 without even informing them.

"Toxic", directed by Geetu Mohandas and billed as an action-thriller saga that unfolds in Goa between the early 1940s and the 1970s, was earlier set for release on March 19. It would have competed with Ranveer Singh's "Dhurandhar: The Revenge". In a statement on March 4, Production banner KVN Productions and Yash's Monster Mind Creations announced the new date for the movie.

The two companies had said the film was "conceptualised with the vision to create cinema for a global audience" and that the decision to postpone was driven by "the current uncertainty, especially in the Middle East" which has "created a situation that impacts our goal to reach and connect with the widest possible audience."

"Therefore, in the interest of our partners and our audience, we have made the difficult but carefully considered decision to reschedule our release. We thank you for your understanding and patience and look forward to your continued love and support," the statement read. PTI RB BK

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Los Angeles, Mar 10 (PTI) Hollywood action icon Arnold Schwarzenegger is set to reprise one of his most iconic roles as director Christopher McQuarrie has been attached to write and direct "King Conan" for 20th Century Studios.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, McQuarrie, who helmed the four most recent entries in Tom Cruise's "Mission: Impossible" franchise, will helm the project that would see Schwarzenegger return to the sword-and-sorcery role he first played in the 1982 fantasy film "Conan the Barbarian" and its 1984 sequel, both based on the character created by author Robert E Howard.

Schwarzenegger made the announcement at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio over the weekend, describing the film's premise to the assembled crowd.

"It's a great story where Conan was 40 years king and he gets complacent, and now he gets forced out of the kingdom, slowly," the actor said, adding that the story would involve "all kinds of madness and violence and magic and creatures."

The 77-year-old star noted that modern visual effects technology and studio resources would allow the project to be realised on a far grander scale than its predecessors.

The project has had a long road to the screen. Universal Pictures had previously held the rights to the character in the early 2010s, with "Fast & Furious" writer Chris Morgan developing an "Unforgiven"-style story for Schwarzenegger's older Conan.

Besides "King Conan", Schwarzenegger revealed he has been in discussions with director Dan Trachtenberg -- who revived the "Predator" franchise with 2022's "Prey" and last year's "Predator: Badlands" -- about a possible return to that series.

The Austrian-born star also disclosed that he has received a script for "Commando 2", which would see him return as Colonel John Matrix, the role he originated in the 1985 action film. PTI RB

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Basel, Mar 10 (PTI) The Indian women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand retired hurt while trailing 7-13 in the opening game against Chinese Taipei's Hu Ling Fang and Jheng Yu Chieh in their first round match at the Swiss Open Super 300 badminton tournament here on Tuesday.

India's world No. 4 men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will begin their campaign later in the day against Singapore's Eng Keat Wesley Koh and Junsuke Kubo.

The Indian duo will be looking to bounce back after suffering an opening round exit at the All England Championships last week.

In another men's doubles match, Hariharan Amsakarunan and M. R. Arjun will face Chinese Taipei's Chen Zhi Ray and Lin Yu Chieh.

Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu has pulled out of the Super 300 meet as she recovers from her three-day ordeal in Dubai after being stranded due to Gulf airspace restrictions. PTI TAP AH

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Kolkata, Mar 10 (PTI) India is set to host a top international archery competition for the first time in 22 years with Delhi being awarded the second leg of the Asia Cup in 2027, following approvals from World Archery Asia during a meeting here on Tuesday.

The country last staged a major international archery tournament when the Asian Archery Championships were held in Delhi in 2005.

The decision was finalised after World Archery Asia president Kazi Rajib Uddin Ahmed Chapol, who is on a three-day visit to Kolkata, met Archery Association of India secretary general Virendra Sachdeva to discuss the hosting of upcoming international tournaments.

"We are positive about Delhi hosting it and there should not be any problem. If the Archery Association of India wants, they will host it. We are also considering Delhi as the venue for the Commonwealth Archery Championships next year," Kazi Rajib Uddin Ahmed Chapol told PTI.

In another boost, Ahmedabad will host the Asian Para Archery Championships in September this year.

Meanwhile, Kolkata will also get to stage an international competition after several years as it has been awarded the South Asian Archery Championships 2026.

The city last hosted an international archery event in 2009 when it staged the Asian Archery Grand Prix 2009.

Kolkata may also get to host the senior national archery championships next year, though it's yet to be finalised.

This year's National championships will be held in Shillong.

This will be a demanding year for the archers with the Asian Games slated in September-October at Aichi-Nagoya in Japan.

Indian archers will begin their international season with the opening stage of the Asia Cup Archery in Bangkok from March 21-26.

The second leg of the competition is scheduled in Iraq in April, though its staging remains uncertain due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

China will host the third and final leg in November.

The opening stage of the Archery World Cup this year will be held in Puebla, Mexico, from April 7-12.

The second and third legs will be hosted in Shanghai from May 5 to 10 and Antalya, Turkey from June 9 to 14 respectively. PTI TAP TAP AH

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Gandhinagar, Mar 10 (PTI) The Gujarat government has made a "historic" budgetary provision of Rs 1,331 crore with an aim to transform the state into a sports hub and develop Ahmedabad as an "Olympic-ready" city, cabinet minister Jitu Vaghani informed the legislative assembly on Tuesday.

Participating in a discussion on the budgetary demands of the Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities Department, he noted that the total allocation for the department exceeding Rs 2,000 crore reflects the BJP government's strong commitment to building Olympic-level sports infrastructure and nurturing youth talent.

Vaghani, who handles the agriculture portfolio, said Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel's government has undertaken a series of ambitious projects to create world-class sporting facilities and promote sports culture across the state.

"This year, a total provision of Rs 2,006 crore has been made for sports, youth and cultural activities, which is significantly higher than allocations made in previous years. Out of this, Rs 1,331 crore has been earmarked specifically for the sports sector," the minister said.

He was speaking on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who handles the Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities portfolio.

On several occasions in the past, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed India's resolve to host the 2036 Olympic Games.

Earlier this year, Shah expressed confidence that Ahmedabad city will bag the hosting rights for the 2036 Olympic Games. His remarks followed after Ahmedabad was officially awarded the hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

Vaghani declared Ahmedabad will be developed as an "Olympic-ready" city with an investment of around Rs 500 crore as part of the state's broader vision to host and support international-level sporting events in the future.

As part of this initiative, the government plans to develop the SVP Sports Enclave around the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Spread across 335 acres, the enclave will house multiple Olympic-standard facilities, he told the assembly.

The facilities will include an aquatic centre with a seating capacity of 12,000, a tennis centre with a capacity of 24,000 spectators and a state-of-the-art indoor arena that can accommodate 18,000 people, said the minister.

"These facilities will not only support major international competitions, but will also function as high-performance training centres for athletes after such events," Vaghani emphasised.

He announced that a modern Olympic Games Village with accommodation capacity for around 17,500 athletes will be built on 135 acres at Bhat village near Ahmedabad.

In addition, a new athletics stadium with a seating capacity of 50,000 and a modern shooting range are being constructed on 143 acres of land at the Gujarat Police Academy campus in Karai near Gandhinagar, Vaghani stated.

To strengthen sports infrastructure across the state, the government has proposed a provision of Rs 165 crore for the development of new complexes in various districts. Another Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for developing Olympic-level sports facilities at Karai, while Rs 90 crore will be spent on constructing a world-class hockey stadium in the state, the minister said.

Highlighting the government's efforts to promote sports, Vaghani said the Khel Mahakumbh (mega sports event) initiative has witnessed massive growth since its launch in 2010.

"The number of participants in Khel Mahakumbh has increased from around 16.5 lakh in 2010 to nearly 72 lakh in 2025-26. This reflects a major shift in the sports culture of Gujarat," he insisted.

The minister said the government is also focusing on grassroots-level training for young athletes.

Under the "In-School" training programme, more than 1.29 lakh children are receiving sports training in 230 schools across the state. At an annual cost of around Rs 95 crore, over 5,300 promising athletes are being trained and prepared for national and international competitions, he said.

"These athletes have collectively won 170 medals at the national level and 1,938 medals at the state level," Vaghani told the assembly.

Apart from sports, the minister stressed the government is also investing in intellectual and cultural development of youth.

A provision of Rs 187 crore has been made for the modernisation of libraries across the state. Under this initiative, 12 new libraries will be built, while 16 solar-powered reading rooms will be set up in tribal areas, he said. PTI PJT PD RSY

Sydney, Mar 10 (PTI) A profligate India bowed out of the AFC Women's Asian Cup with a 1-3 defeat to Chinese Taipei in their must-win last group stage fixture here on Tuesday, paying a heavy price for the lack of finishing touches.

Despite dominating large portions of the game and creating numerous opportunities, India's inability to convert chances in the final third proved costly, leading to an early exit after they qualified for the prestigious tournament on merit for the first time.

Manisha Kalyan scored India's lone goal in the 39th minute, the winger unleashing a powerful shot from about 30 yards to find the target.

Chinese Taipei took the lead in the 12th minute when Y H Su slotted the ball inside an empty goal post after a poor back pass from Sanju to J W Chen. Indian custodian Elangbam Panthoi Chanu had come off her line hoping to stop Chen, who successfully squared the ball to Su.

India struck back after that, but just before half time (45+8), Y. Y. Hsu's shot hit the upright corner of the post and deflected off Panthoi and into the India post.

This was after Pyari Xaxa handled the ball inside the box and referee pointed to the spot.

The contest was as good as over when Yu-Chin Chen struck Chinese Taipei's third goal in the 77th minute, getting the better of Panthoi after a run down the right side.

India had earlier lost to Vietnam and Japan, and to make the next stage of the tournament, the Blue Tigress needed to beat Chinese Taipei by minimum two goals on Tuesday and Japan to prevail over Vietnam.

While Japan beat Vietnam 4-0, India could not get the job done in their match.

Earlier, the Blue Tigresses began with intent, and a Manisha corner almost put them in the lead in the second minute. Soumya Guguloth had her header saved from the corner before Xaxa pounced on the rebound, causing confusion in the Chinese Taipei defence before it was cleared.

Chinese Taipei countered immediately with Chen Jin-wen pulling the trigger from inside the Indian box, but it went inches wide of the far post.

India had a similar chance at the other end, when Nirmala played it to Manisha, who threaded it through to Soumya, who also dragged her shot inches wide.

India goalkeeper Panthoi made a smart save off of a YC Chen shot in the 10th minute, but was left stranded a couple of minutes later, when a double error at the back gifted Chinese Taipei the lead.

India finally levelled the score when they got a free-kick some 25 yards out. Huang Ke-sin's off-the-ball push on Soumya in the 38th minute got the Video Assistant Referee into action, as a possible red card offence was being checked.

However, the VAR deemed the referee's original decision of a yellow card to Huang was correct.

A minute later, Manisha produced a thunderous free-kick that struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced out of play, before being cleared. The VAR was once again called upon, and a goal was soon awarded to India, who had levelled the score.

Panthoi, who has made numerous saves in the Asian Cup, pulled off another blinder in the first- half injury-time, when YC Chen's powerful effort struck the onrushing India goalkeeper on the face.

While the immediate danger was averted, disaster struck a minute later, when Chinese Taipei were awarded a penalty. YY Hsu, who stepped up, however, only managed to hit the woodwork.

However, the ball struck the back of Panthoi, who had dived in the correct direction, and rolled over the line for Chinese Taipei to take the lead once more.

India started the second half with the greater intent once again, as Rimpa Haldar replaced Soumya Guguloth. Manisha, who drifted wide on the right, cut inside and pulled the trigger, only to see it sail wide.

At the other end, captain Sweety Devi Ngangbam made a crucial block off a YH Su shot, minutes before Panthoi pulled off a brilliant save once again, this time denying the attacker, who was through on goal.

However, India's repeated attempts to get back on level terms ended up being their undoing. YY Hsu played YC Chen through behind the India back-four, as the latter rounded Panthoi and scored in an empty goal.

Panthoi, while charging at Chen, collided with Sweety, and both players had to be stretchered off.

India had a few chances in the closing stages, with Sanfida having her 86th-minute volley blocked by Teng Pei-lin, while Manisha's 89th-minute free-kick took a deflection before substitute goalkeeper Chen Ssu-yu swiped it away.

The Chinese Taipei substitute keeper, in the last minute of regulation time, had to make yet another save off of a Manisha free-kick. PTI AH AH TAP

Sydney, Mar 10 (PTI) Indian football team captain Sweety Devi and goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu were taken to a hospital after getting injured during the side's 1-3 defeat to Chinese Taipei in their last group league fixture of the AFC Women's Asian Cup here on Tuesday.

The defeat ended India's campaign in the prestigious continental tournament, having lost their first two matches to Vietnam and Japan.

"Elangbam Panthoi Chanu and Sweety Devi Nganbam have been taken to hospital after sustaining injuries during today's match. Further assessment is awaited," the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said in a statement.

The two Indian stars got injured in the 83rd minute when Panthoi charged out to stop a Chinese Taipei attack and collided with her teammate Sweety Devi. Both players were stretchered off the field.

Panthoi suffered a massive swelling on her face after being struck by Sweety's knee, while the latter briefly remained motionless on the ground before medical staff intervened.

Both players were taken to a nearby hospital soon after the incident for further tests, after which the severity of the injuries will be known.

In the match, despite dominating large portions of the game and creating numerous opportunities, India's inability to convert chances in the final third proved costly, leading to an early exit after they qualified for the tournament on merit for the first time. PTI AH AH TAP

Bangkok, Mar 10 (PTI) Five Indian youth boxers registered wins on the third day of the World Boxing Futures Cup here on Tuesday.

In the morning session, Chandrika Pujari (50kg) secured a convincing 5-0 unanimous decision win over a Venezuelan boxer, while Joyshree Devi (54kg) continued her strong run with a Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) victory in the third round against her Kazakh opponent.

In the men’s division, L. Ambekar (50kg) also advanced with a dominant 5-0 win over his rival from Ecuador.

The evening session saw Gunjan (48kg) edge past her Italian contestant in a close 3-2 win, while Prachi (60kg) delivered a commanding performance to defeat the competitor from Ecuador with an RSC victory in the first round. PTI APA TAP

Dubai, Mar 10 (PTI) Swashbuckling Indian batter Smriti Mandhana retained the top spot in the latest women's ODI batting ranking released here on Tuesday.

Mandhana was joined by her captain Harmanpreet Kaur who remained static on eighth spot.

However, Jemimah Rodrigues dropped a rung to 12th after India lost the three-match ODI series 0-3 against Australia.

A host of New Zealand's best white-ball stars have been the big winners on the latest update.

The White Ferns have been in superb form at home having opened up an unassailable 2-0 lead over Zimbabwe in the three-match ODI series and it's no surprise that new skipper Melie Kerr is leading the way with both bat and ball.

Kerr collected four wickets in the opening match of the series and then backed that up with a magnificent seven-wicket haul during the second contest in Dunedin when she became just the seventh player overall to collect seven wickets or more in a women's ODI.

That effort saw Kerr jump five places to 11th overall on the list for ODI bowlers, while the talented 25-year-old also climbed one place to fifth on the list for ODI all-rounders.

Kerr wasn't the only New Zealander to make gains following the opening two matches of the series against Zimbabwe, with Brooke Halliday (up eight rungs to 11th) and Maddy Green (up four spots to equal 22nd) both jumping the ODI batter charts following impressive performances with the bat.

Halliday smashed an unbelievable innings of 157* from just 117 balls in the series opener to display her qualities, while Green hit 67 in the same match and followed that up with an unbeaten 27* in the second fixture.

There's also some change on the latest T20I rankings, following the completion of the West Indies' three-match series at home against Sri Lanka and less than three months out from the start of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup hosted by England and Wales.

Left-hander Hasini Perera hit an unbeaten half-century to help Sri Lanka clinch the series in the third and final game in St George's and the opener was rewarded on the latest rankings for T20I batters as she rose 15 spots to 28th overall.

Inexperienced right-hander Imesha Dulani (up 17 rungs to equal 72nd) also made gains on the list for T20I batters following an unbeaten 34* in the series finale, while Sri Lankan teammate Kavisha Dilhari made gains on the rankings for T20I bowlers (up three spots to 21st) and all-rounders (up two places to 11th).

The big mover for the West Indies was Afy Fletcher, with the veteran spinner climbing four rungs to seventh overall on the list for T20I bowlers following three wickets from the final two games of the series against Sri Lanka. PTI APA AH

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Gurugram, Mar 10 (PTI) A record field of 57 players led by Ridhima Dilawari and Tvesa Malik will tee off in the fifth leg of the Women's Pro Golf Tour here on Wednesday.

The record number of 57 entries includes eight amateurs and 49 professionals. The event will carry a whopping Rs 18 lakh prize purse.

Ridhima has won two of the four events held this season, while Tvesa and Jasmine Shekar have one each. All four are in the field this week.

Ridhima has had the best season so far with two wins and one runner-up finish this year. She was Tied-7th in the other start and leads the Hero Order of Merit race.

Sneha Singh and Amandeep Drall are also in the large field as is Neha Tripathi.

Some of the other strong challengers will include Seher Atwal and Anvitha Narender, who was tied second in the third leg.

The eight amateurs in the field are Alysha Dutt, Riddhima Singh, Lavanya Gupta, Priya Kumari, Ceerat Kang, Aradhana Manikandan, Mahreen Bhatia and Rashi Mishra. PTI COR APA

APA

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Two-time Winter Olympian Arif Mohammad Khan has urged the sports ministry to develop proper skiing infrastructure in Gulmarg so that Indian athletes can train for global competitions and aim for medals at the Asian level.

Arif, who achieved the country's best show in men's slalom race at the recently-concluded Winter Olympics in Italy, said India need at least one fully developed training facility on the slopes of Kangdoori in Gulmarg, with a long competitive season, to help the country's top skiers prepare for international events.

"We need at least one fully-developed infrastructure in Gulmarg that can function for a good five months," he said.

A full season of "at least five months till April-end" is needed to train and compete on the slopes of Kangdoori in Gulmarg to prepare Indian athletes, said Arif, who recently finished 39th in Milano-Cortina Games.

"I can guarantee we will win medals at the top Asian level in 10-15 years," added Arif.

Arif's how bettered Kishore Ratna Rai's performance by 10 places that was achieved at the 1988 Winter Olympics, Calgary.

Arif also hailed the government's flagship winter sports initiative.

"Six editions of the Khelo India Winter Games have provided an incredible platform to athletes but now we have to look at ways of winning medals at major global competitions," he said.

Arif further said his performance had helped put India "in the global ski map".

He said the country now needs to invest more strategically in winter sports infrastructure and support systems.

Since 2020, all six editions of the Khelo India Winter Games have been held in Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir, while Leh in Ladakh has been hosting the ice events since 2024.

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has already announced that the 2027 edition of the Khelo India Winter Games will be expanded into a 15-day event in a bid to develop Gulmarg as a global winter sports destination.

Arif, who learnt his skiing on the slopes of the Pir Panjal mountains, welcomed the plan, saying combining sports with tourism could boost winter sports in the country.

"We have the athletes and there are ones who can be better than me. But we are missing infrastructure, coaches and funding.

"Given the government's intention to develop winter sports, I can see better things in the future."

The 36-year-old also said his Winter Olympics result should inspire youngsters to take up winter sports seriously.

"Saying his finish at the Winter Olympics should inspire youngsters to take up winter sports as a career, Arif felt that a national federation was required immediately to understand the requirement of athletes.

"The government is doing a lot through its policies to streamline governance in sports bodies. Winter sports like skiing needs immediate government intervention and full support," he said.

Arif is currently training three young skiers -- two from Jammu and Kashmir and one from Himachal Pradesh -- and believes the country has enough talent in the hill regions.

"There are a lot of talented athletes in the hilly states and Union Territories. Some skiers are also emerging from South India but the availability of year-round facilities is a major handicap.

"At least, skating has all-weather facilities in Dehradun and Leh, Gulmarg can be a priority now," Arif pointed out. PTI TAP AH

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Hyderabad, Mar 10 (PTI) Paralympic champion Krishna Nagar delivered a dominant performance to clinch two gold medals in the SH6 category of the 7th Senior National Para Badminton Championship here on Tuesday.

Krishna first secured the men’s singles SH6 title, defeating Sudarsan M S in the final with a 21-10, 21-19 victory.

Displaying strong attacking play and composure throughout the match, Nagar lived up to his top billing to claim the national crown.

He then went on to secure his second gold medal in the mixed doubles SH6 event, partnering Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan.

The pair defeated Sudarsan M S and Shreya Kumari 21-7, 21-11.

SH6 is a classification in para-badminton for players of short stature, usually caused by conditions such as dwarfism. PTI TAP BS

BS

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is likely to play more 50-over games instead of T20I bilateral series over the next 18 months to ensure his preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup remain on track.

T20Is will be a low priority leading up to October-November 2027, despite a heavy schedule of bilateral series and the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where Suryakumar Yadav is expected to lead the side.

It is understood that Bumrah, like many senior Indian players, is very keen on playing the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, which will be held in the T20 format, but ODIs will be his primary white ball format till the 2027 World Cup.

India's ODI World Cup preparation will start in earnest after a gruelling two months of Indian Premier League where Bumrah is set to headline the Mumbai Indians pace attack.

By the end of IPL, it is understood that the national selection committee, the Centre of Excellence headed by VVS Laxman and the team management represented by Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill, will prepare the blue-print for the next phase, and the most important aspect will be Bumrah's workload management.

It is understood that the World Test Championships (WTC) matches are non-negotiable for the 32-year-old legend and it is believed that his workload management will be somewhat similar to the 2023-2026 phase during which he didn't play a single ODI.

Since November 19, 2023, when the last ODI World Cup final was held against Australia, Bumrah played 42 games, which included 21 Test matches and an equal number of T20Is.

"Obviously Bumrah's fitness is as always key to any of India's global campaign and hence the Indian team management will have to be very careful and prioritise the formats. Keep Test cricket aside, which he will obviously play, but in the 50-over World Cup cycle, he will concentrate more on ODIs.

"There will be around 30-35 odd games and one can't take chances," a BCCI source privy to the development told PTI.

India's pace bowling pool in terms of ODI cricket isn't a big one but it is understood that the core will comprise Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana (whenever he gets fit). PTI KHS KHS AH

AH

Lucknow, Mar 10 (PTI) Director General of Police of Uttar Pradesh Rajeev Krishna on Tuesday directed officers across the state to strengthen "preventive policing" and ensure timely disposal of investigations while reviewing crime control measures at a high-level meeting.

According to an official statement, the review meeting was held at the police headquarters here through video conferencing with all zonal additional directors general of police, police commissioners, range inspectors general and deputy inspectors general and district police chiefs.

The DGP emphasised that "effective policing" before the registration of an FIR was crucial to prevent disputes and crimes at an early stage.

"Preventive policing before FIR registration is extremely necessary so that disputes and criminal incidents can be controlled at the initial stage itself," he said.

He also directed that the quality and timely disposal of public complaints should be treated as an important criterion while posting police personnel at police stations and outposts.

The statement said regular monitoring and reviews had led to a significant and unprecedented decline in public grievances across the state.

Districts such as Sambhal, Firozabad and Etawah recorded nearly 70 per cent reduction in complaints, while more than 40 per cent decline was reported in 15 other districts including Badaun, Shravasti, Gorakhpur, Aligarh, Mainpuri, Kasganj, Unnao and Pilibhit.

Describing the trend as an example of good governance, the DGP asked officials to submit detailed reports on effective measures adopted in Sambhal, Firozabad and Etawah so that they could be replicated in other districts.

The meeting also reviewed the quality and timely completion of investigations. The DGP instructed officers to ensure filing of chargesheets within the prescribed timelines under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita -- 60 days for general cases and 90 days for serious offences -- while maintaining the quality of investigation.

The statement said officers were also asked to strengthen monitoring through regular supervision and review of investigations.

Reviewing the Zero Fatality District (ZFD) campaign aimed at reducing road accident deaths, the DGP said the initiative led to a decline in accidents in many parts of the state. Under the campaign, a target of reducing road accidents by 40 per cent has been set.

Among the units reviewed, Shravasti recorded an around 83 per cent drop in accidents, while the rural zone of Ghaziabad commissionerate and Jalaun district reported declines of 53 per cent and 48 per cent respectively.

Krishna also stressed effective use of the "Yaksh" mobile application, saying proper data entry and monitoring through the platform would help create a strong blueprint for crime-free society and strengthen beat policing.

Police added that the Anti-Narcotics Task Force has been carrying out action against illegal narcotics trade across the state. The DGP directed officials to ensure confiscation of properties acquired through drug trafficking under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act.

He also asked senior officers to personally monitor cases related to e-summons and e-evidence and emphasised greater use of scientific and digital evidence to improve the professionalism of police investigations. PTI KIS SKY

SKY

Kanpur (UP), Mar 10 (PTI) A priest, who was allegedly mobbed here after a purported photograph of him eating non-vegetarian food went viral, has been expelled from duties at the temple by the 'mahant' -- his father -- while his whereabouts are unknown, officials said on Tuesday.

Santosh Giri, chief priest ('mahant') of the Baba Shri Bhuteshwar Dham Temple in Keshavpuram, said the person in the viral photograph is his son Prashant Giri alias Golu Pandit.

"I am the mahant of the temple, not my son. As soon as I came to know that he had eaten non-vegetarian food, I expelled him from service at the temple," Santosh Giri told reporters.

He alleged that a group of people accompanying a religious procession assaulted his son at the temple. "Some people, including Rahul Chandel, Manish Chaudhary and Ajay Chauhan, along with a few others, beat up my son and said he could not stay here," he said.

"When my wife and daughter-in-law tried to save him, they were also assaulted," he added.

Giri said he has not been able to contact his son since police initiated preventive action against him. "I do not know where my son is now. I am very disturbed and leaving everything to Baba Bhuteshwar (Lord Shiva)," he said.

Controversy erupted after a photograph allegedly showing Prashant Giri consuming non-vegetarian food went viral on social media, triggering anger among some locals.

According to police, around 50-60 people gathered at the temple on Sunday night and demanded an explanation from the priest. When he hesitated to come out, some members of the crowd allegedly entered the temple premises, dragged him outside and questioned him about the photograph.

He was allegedly assaulted during the confrontation.

Police later initiated preventive action against Prashant Giri for breach of peace and said the matter is under examination.

Prashant Giri had been living in a room within the temple premises, and performing priestly duties. PTI COR KIS ARB

ARB

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) The CBI has arrested a chief electrical distribution engineer with the Central Railway and two private persons in an alleged bribery case of Rs 10 lakh, officials said on Tuesday.

The central probe agency had registered the case against the 2003-batch officer of the Indian Railway Services of Electrical Engineers, working as a chief electrical distribution engineer with the Central Railway, and others on Monday.

During searches at five locations in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Karjat in Maharashtra that followed the arrests, the CBI seized Rs 90.79 lakh in cash, gold jewellery weighing 241.30 gm and 2.5 kg silver jewellery amounting to Rs 42.52 lakh, and other documents of investments from the chief engineer's premises, a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.

The CBI also seized Rs 3.85 lakh from his office chamber, taking the total seizure to Rs 1.47 crore, it said.

The FIR had alleged that the chief engineer demanded a bribe of Rs 40 lakh, which was 1 per cent of the tender value of Rs 40.54 crore being awarded to a private company.

“The accused engineer acted in connivance with the stakeholders of the private company in the award of the tender. The CBI laid a trap and caught the accused after he accepted a bribe amount of Rs 10 Lakh from a private person,” the CBI spokesperson said in the statement.

The central agency recovered the bribe amount of Rs 10 lakh from the engineer's chamber, it said.

The accused engineer and two private persons have been arrested, the spokesperson said. PTI ABS ARI

Jammu, March 10 (PTI) Police on Tuesday rescued 20 bovine animals which were allegedly being trafficked in a cruel manner inside a water tanker and a truck in two separate operations in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, and arrested two suspects over involvement in cattle smuggling, officials said.

In the first operation, a police team intercepted a tractor fitted with a water tanker during naka checking under Rajbagh police station area, officials said.

The vehicle, driven by Rashid Ali of Kathua, was moving suspiciously and was signalled to stop for checking, they said.

During inspection, police found seven bovine animals crammed inside the water tanker, they said.

The animals, mostly cows, were rescued following an extensive operation during which two JCB machines and cutting equipment were used to break open the tanker and free the distressed animals, police said.

A case of bovine smuggling and under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act was registered against the accused, they said.

In another incident, a police team conducting naka checking on the highway at Londi Morh intercepted a suspicious truck coming from the direction of Punjab towards Jammu, officials said.

During inspection, police found 13 bovines, including seven cows and six oxen, packed tightly in the vehicle in a cruel manner, they said.

The animals were rescued, the driver -- identified as Muzammil of Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district -- was arrested on the spot and the truck was seized, they said, adding that police registered a case for bovine smuggling and added provisions under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

During the two operations, a total of 20 bovine animals were rescued, two accused arrested and two vehicles impounded, police said, adding the further probe is underway.

Police said strict action is being taken to curb bovine smuggling in the district and urged the public to share information on suspected trafficking, assuring that the identity of informants will be kept confidential. PTI AB AB ARB

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Pune, Mar 10 (PTI) Police in Pune's Pimpri Chinchwad area have arrested five persons for allegedly kidnapping a businessman and demanding a ransom of Rs 50 lakh, officials said on Tuesday.

The accused, all hailing from Uttar Pradesh, allegedly abducted the businessman from Rahatani area on Monday and fled in a sports utility vehicle (SUV), police said.

After receiving information about the abduction, the victim's family alerted the police, following which multiple teams were formed to trace the kidnappers.

The accused called his family members and demanded Rs 50 lakh, threatening to kill him if their demand was not met. They also asked the family to reach Ale Phata on the Pune-Ahilyanagar border to hand over the ransom.

"Based on technical inputs, we learnt that the kidnappers were heading towards Uttar Pradesh in an SUV. Accordingly, teams laid a trap near Ale Phata and alerted the Ahilyanagar police," an official from Pimpri Chinchwad police said.

Subsequently, a trap was also laid near Sangamner in Ahilyanagar district.

The accused later dropped the businessman near Chandanapuri Ghat in Ahilyanagar district, apparently after developing cold feet, the official said.

A team of Ahilyanagar police intercepted and arrested the five accused near the Sangamner toll plaza on Monday evening, while the businessman was rescued safely.

Police said a sixth person, identified as Santan Chauhan, a native of Uttar Pradesh who had earlier worked with the businessman, had allegedly tipped off the kidnappers.

Two country-made firearms, six live rounds and a car, collectively worth around Rs 18 lakh, were seized from the accused.

Further investigation is underway, police added. PTI SPK NP

Sonbhadra (UP), Mar 10 (PTI) Police have registered a case against a man in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh after his 19-year-old daughter accused him of rape, an official said on Tuesday.

Local SHO Akhilesh Kumar Mishra said the woman in her complaint alleged that her father sexually assaulted her in a secluded forest area under the Chopan police station limits.

According to the complaint, the accused, a grain trader, had taken his daughter out on the pretext of getting her medicines.

The complainant told police that when they reached the Baghnala forest area, the accused allegedly raped her and later fled from the spot.

The complainant told the police that her mother had passed away, and that the accused, originally from Bihar, was currently living in Sonbhadra.

Based on the complaint, police registered a case on Monday evening, the SHO said, adding that the accused will be arrested soon. PTI COR KIS ARI

Saharanpur (UP), Mar 10 (PTI) Police here on Tuesday arrested a man for allegedly making objectionable remarks about Lord Krishna on social media, officials said.

A case was registered at Deoband police station on Monday based on a written complaint by Sub-Inspector Nitin Kumar.

Station House Officer Amar Pal Sharma said the accused, identified as Ravikant, a local, had allegedly posted objectionable comments about the deity on a social media platform.

Acting on the complaint, police registered an FIR and launched a search for the accused.

The SHO said Ravikant was arrested during checking and patrolling by a Deoband police station team.

He was produced before a court and further legal proceedings are underway, Sharma added. PTI COR KIS ARB

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Durg, Mar 10 (PTI) Authorities in Chhattisgarh's Durg district on Tuesday carried out an anti-encroachment drive in Samoda village, as part of which they demolished an "illegally constructed" shop belonging to the brother of suspended BJP leader, who has been arrested in connection with opium cultivation, officials said.

Vijay Tamrakar, a BJP Kisan Morcha leader, was arrested along with two others on March 7 after opium worth Rs 8 crore was found cultivated in a maize field.

His Brijesh Tamrakar had been operating a shop on around 32 decimals of government land in Samoda, said Additional Tehsildar Kshama Yadav, who led the operation conducted by a joint team of revenue and police departments, and removed the illegal construction using a bulldozer.

A local court had earlier issued an eviction order, but the encroachment remained in place for a long time. Local residents and the village head had repeatedly lodged complaints with the administration regarding the illegal occupation.

Following the issuance of an eviction warrant by the district administration, the revenue team finally carried out the demolition drive and razed the structure.

A large police force was deployed during the operation. As the bulldozer action began, a large number of villagers gathered at the site to witness the proceedings.

Officials said the administration will continue strict action against illegal encroachments on government land in the district.

Opposition Congress has slammed the state government over opium cultivation. PTI COR NP

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) A 28-year-old man was arrested for allegedly stabbing two persons with a pair of scissors during a quarrel over a monetary dispute in northeast Delhi's Seemapuri area, killing one of the victims and severely injuring the other, police said on Tuesday.

According to police, a PCR call on March 8 reported a quarrel in New Seemapuri area.

The accused, Javed alias Gunda, allegedly had an altercation with Rakibul (26) and Aamir (27) -- both residents of New Seemapuri -- over a monetary dispute, during which he attacked both men with a pair of scissors, inflicting serious injuries on them, police said.

The injured were rushed to a hospital, and a case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), a senior police officer said.

Aamir later succumbed to his injuries during treatment, following which relevant sections for murder were added to the FIR, police said.

During the investigation, police examined footage from several CCTV cameras in the area, in which the suspect was seen fleeing after the incident. The footage showed the accused entering a slum cluster in New Seemapuri, officials said.

Using local intelligence and technical surveillance, police tracked down Javed and apprehended him from the area within hours of the crime, they said.

Police also recovered the pair of scissors used in the attack as well as the clothes worn by the accused at the time of the incident.

Police said Javed, a resident of New Seemapuri, is illiterate and has previous criminal involvement. He has been previously booked in two cases related to causing hurt and assault registered at Seemapuri police station. PTI SSJ ARB

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Berhampur (Odisha), Mar 10 (PTI) Six persons, including five from Uttar Pradesh and one from Tamil Nadu, have been arrested for allegedly selling stolen items in Odisha's Ganjam district, police said.

The accused were seen selling items such as TV sets, scooters and mobile phones at cheap rates to villagers at Lembai in Tarsingi police station area on Monday evening.

Police, upon being informed, reached the spot and asked the sellers to produce documents of the items, which they failed to do, following which they were taken into custody.

"As they failed to produce the documents of the items, we suspect they might have looted the items and were selling those to the villagers at lower prices," Tarasing police station inspector-in-charge Subhalaxmi Pujari said.

"Further investigation was underway to ascertain from where they looted these items," she added.

The items include four LED TV sets, 10 cooking gas chulha, 23 watches, some pen-drives, six mobile phones and three scooters, worth a total of around Rs 20 lakh. PTI COR BBM BBM ACD

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Police on Tuesday appealed to citizens to maintain peace and harmony in view of a recent incident in Delhi's Uttam Nagar, where a 26-year-old man was killed during Holi celebrations on March 4.

“Do not trust or forward rumours and unverified information circulating on social media,” DCP (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh said in a post on X.

“Please follow only official updates. Spreading misinformation or posting inflammatory content is punishable, and strict action will be taken (against the violators),” he added.

The case dates back to March 4, when a 26-year-old man named Tarun was killed in a clash that broke out between his family and neighbours in the JJ Colony.

According to police, the violence started after water from a balloon thrown by a girl from Tarun's family splashed on a woman from the neighbour's family during Holi celebrations.

Police have made several arrests, including apprehending two minors, in connection with the incident that triggered tension in the area, where an angry mob damaged vehicles and set some on fire.

On Sunday, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) carried out a demolition drive and razed “illegal portions” of a house linked to one of the accused.

The civic body officials said the action was part of a drive to "remove encroachments" built on drains. PTI MSJ BM BM ARI

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Prayagraj, Mar 10 (PTI) The Allahabad High Court has held that information about marks in public examinations is not confidential and it does not require consent of the third party whose marks are sought by the RTI applicant under the Right to Information Act, 2005.

While partly allowing a writ petition filed by Union of India through GM, Diesel Locomotive and another, a division bench comprising Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Swarupama Chaturvedi held, "Marks obtained by a candidate, if information regarding that is sought by another candidate, who has also participated in examination, is not such a confidential private information which may require even consent of that third party under section eight of right to information Act, 2005."

"Well, of course, if an outsider seeks information, the department may take a valid defence of confidentiality. However, on the question of photocopies of the answer sheets, it may involve checking of answer sheets, signatures of examiners, etc. and, therefore, it may not be appropriate to disclose the names, signatures of the examiners," the court added.

A test was held by the Railways for the post of Legal Assistant. In 2008, one Santosh Kumar applied under the RTI Act for obtaining information on marks awarded to three candidates including himself and their marksheets.

The marks were not provided but the applicant was allowed to peruse the answer sheets on any given day. This order was appealed before the Central Information Commission, New Delhi, which directed that photocopies of the answer sheets be provided to the applicant.

Though the marks were revealed, the general manager (GM), Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi filed a review against the direction to provide answer sheets.

The review was dismissed saying the Indian Railways is a public authority bound to supply such information. Accordingly, a writ petition was filed by the GM, Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi.

The court in its judgment dated February 26 observed that any personal information, which is not related to any public activity or public interest, may not be given out under the RTI Act, as it may cause unnecessary invasion of privacy.

It held that where the information does cause invasion of privacy, it must be disclosed in the public interest.

The court held that giving out informative marks in a public exam was not invading the privacy of a candidate. It held that such information could have been withheld if any inquiry was pending.

However, regarding providing photocopies of the answer sheets, the court held that an authority could not be compelled to supply the photocopies as it would disclose various other information which may not be in the public domain.

"We may further observe that an application moved under the Right to Information Act, 2005, seeking relevant information, if furnished, the application stands satisfied.

In this backdrop, the court held that where the marks sought by the applicant were to be provided but the photocopies of the answer sheets could not be demanded as a matter of right and were not required to be provided. PTI COR RAJ KIS KSS

KSS

Lucknow, Mar 10 (PTI) The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday was informed that the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) would not undertake any construction work on land belonging to La Martiniere College for a proposed road or flyover project.

Justices Alok Mathur and Amitabh Kumar Rai of the Lucknow bench of the high court while hearing a petition filed by the college fixed March 13 for the next hearing.

During the hearing, the court was also informed that a meeting of the trustees of La Martiniere Charities was scheduled for Wednesday to deliberate on the issue.

In compliance with the court's earlier order, Lucknow District Magistrate Vishak G appeared before the bench on Tuesday. The court directed him to remain present again on the next date of hearing.

The petition filed by the college stated that it owns land at Kothi Martin Sahib in the Ganeshganj Station area, where the government has proposed to construct a road and flyover as part of the Green Corridor Project.

It alleged that construction was being planned on land owned by the institution without its consent and without any acquisition proceedings initiated by the LDA, the district administration or the state government.

Earlier, on February 27, the court had directed measurement of the disputed land. However, during a hearing earlier this week, the bench noted that the exercise had not been carried out and asked the district magistrate to personally appear and explain the delay.

According to the petition, attempts were being made to use the institution's land without following the prescribed legal procedure.

Established in 1845 under the will of French adventurer and philanthropist Claude Martin, La Martiniere College in Lucknow is among India's most prestigious educational institutions.

The school, run by the Lucknow Martiniere Charities, is known for its long legacy of academic excellence and has produced several distinguished alumni. PTI COR KIS ZMN

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Centre to frame a no-fault compensation policy for serious adverse events of Covid vaccination, saying the Constitution envisions the State as an active guardian of welfare and dignity and not a "distant spectator" to human suffering.

Observing that the Covid pandemic was an unprecedented period of suffering and disruption which brought grief and hardship to countless families, the apex court said the principle of no-fault liability was not alien to Indian law and even across the world in many jurisdictions, no-fault vaccine injury compensation scheme was a recognised feature of a welfare-state response.

A bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said during the pandemic, the State went above and beyond in order to create a vaccination scheme and the same undoubtedly helped save many lives.

"But at the same time, as the government data itself suggests, it cannot be brushed aside that the same vaccines also led to loss of life. In such a situation, it is not appropriate that the State shrugs its responsibility in coming to aid to those affected families who have lost their near and dear ones," the bench said.

It directed that existing mechanisms for monitoring adverse events following immunisation shall continue and relevant data be periodically placed in public domain in accordance with observations made by the top court in its May 2022 verdict in the Jacob Puliyel case.

The bench said no separate court-appointed expert body is considered necessary in view of existing mechanisms for scientific assessment of adverse events following immunisation.

"The Union of India shall, through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, frame a no-fault compensation policy for serious adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination," it said.

The bench clarified that its judgment shall not preclude any person from pursuing such other remedies as may be available in law.

"Equally, the formulation of the no-fault framework shall not be construed as an admission of liability or fault on the part of the Union of India or any authority," it said.

The top court delivered its verdict on pleas, including the one which alleged that two women lost their lives in 2021 after taking the first dose of the Covishield vaccine.

The plea, while alleging that both of them suffered from severe adverse effects following immunisation, had also sought a direction to the authorities to grant monetary compensation to the petitioners which would be donated by them to organisations working on social issues.

In its verdict, the top court noted it was conscious that questions of public health, governance, vaccine approval and element of causality involve complex technical considerations, and that the constitutional courts must exercise appropriate restraint in domains entrusted exclusively for determination by the executive branch.

It said it was well settled that Article 21 of the Constitution was not limited to protection against unlawful deprivation of life, but also includes within its ambit a wide range of other rights that facilitate the smooth operation of right to life.

"This court has not shied away from upholding this constitutional idea and recognizing that the State bears a positive obligation to safeguard health of its people and ensure conditions necessary for meaningful enjoyment of life," it said.

The bench said it was neither adjudicating upon the vaccine efficacy nor sitting in scientific review over regulatory approval process.

It said Article 21 also embodies a positive obligation of the State to ensure that where grave harm is alleged to have occurred in the course of a State-led public health intervention, affected families are not left without any accessible mechanism of redress.

"The Constitution does not conceive of the State as a distant spectator to human suffering, but as an active guardian of welfare and dignity. The Directive Principles of State Policy illuminate this vision with clarity," the bench said.

It said vaccine injury claims raise questions where scientific attribution is often complex.

"To insist upon proof of negligence and fault in each case would impose an onerous burden upon affected families and would not be the best solution to those left affected," the bench said.

It referred to no-fault compensation scheme incorporating Covid vaccine in Australia, the United Kingdom and Japan.

It said immunisation was carried out on an unprecedented scale as a collective societal necessity during the pandemic.

"In such a situation, the State cannot be heard to say that those who experience serious adverse consequences must fend for themselves, without any clear or accessible avenue of relief," the bench said.

It noted the apex court has time and again reiterated that the executive, which has been democratically elected by the people of the country and is accountable for its actions to them, is vested with the competence and authority to draft policies.

"But at the same time, this constitutionally protected separation of powers cannot in any scenario come in the way of judiciary when the fundamental rights of its citizens are violated due to executive policies, or by lack of them, as in this case. In such circumstances, the constitutional duty of this court to safeguard the rights of citizens cannot be eclipsed," it said. PTI ABA ZMN

Prayagraj, Mar 10 (PTI) The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday briefly heard the bail plea of Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan in connection with last year's violence case in Bareilly and posted the matter for further hearing on March 12.

Justice Ashutosh Srivastava passed the order after hearing arguments for some time on behalf of the applicant. Raza is currently in jail in the case.

According to the police, on September 26, 2025 Raza allegedly called upon members of the Muslim community to assemble at Islamiya Inter College in Bareilly.

Despite prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), around 200-250 people gathered and proceeded from Maulana Azad Inter College towards Shyamganj Chauraha.

Police said the crowd, holding placards and raising provocative slogans, ignored warnings and became aggressive. Members of the mob allegedly hurled brickbats, stones and acid bottles at the police and also fired gunshots.

According to the FIR, two police officers were injured and the incident created panic in the area, forcing police to open fire in self-defence after attempts to disperse the crowd failed. PTI COR RAJ KIS ZMN

Kochi, Mar 10 (PTI) The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea seeking to restrain messages sent by the CMO to officials regarding grants of DA and house building allowance (HBA), saying that such communications cannot be regarded as a political campaign even if elections are imminent.

Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas said the nature of messages sent relates to the salary and other perquisites or benefits of the government employees or officials and can be viewed as "a measure of good governance" in a social welfare state.

The court order, which comes as a relief for the state government, also said that the messages cannot "by any stretch of imagination" be regarded as a political campaign or as something done for an illegitimate purpose.

"Such a step cannot be branded as illegal or for any illegitimate purpose, even if elections are on the anvil," it said.

The court further held that there was no material to indicate that any data was transferred to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) nor that the CM or his office had any access to the same.

"... there is no merit in this writ petition. The message sent by Kerala State Information Technology Mission (KSITM) informing details about DA and HBA cannot be regarded as violating the right to privacy of the recipients of those messages. Hence, this writ petition is dismissed," it said.

The order came on the plea by Dr Rasheed Ahammed, an associate professor at a college in Malappuram, and Anil Kumar K M, a clerical assistant at the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, who claimed that sending such messages amounts to an election campaign.

The petitioners had alleged that the messages were sent by accessing private data provided on the Service and Payroll Administrative Repository for Kerala (SPARK) for intimating the credit of the monthly salary and benefits.

They had also claimed that data from the KSMART (Kerala Solutions for Managing Administrative Reformation and Transformation) system was also taken for sending the messages.

SPARK is an e-governance initiative under the Finance Department of Kerala and has been operational since 2007, aimed at digitalising HR-related services and salary data of government employees.

Rejecting the allegations, the state government said that the WhatsApp messages informing employees about the grant of Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears and the reinstatement of HBA were budgetary assurances and cannot be termed to be political in nature.

It also claimed that since the Whatsapp message contained no reference to any political party and had only contained factual administrative data, it cannot be regarded as access to any personal data of the government employees for any illegal or illegitimate purposes. PTI HMP ROH

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Centre to frame a no-fault compensation policy for those who suffered serious adverse events following Covid vaccination.

The apex court said the existing mechanism for monitoring adverse events following immunisation shall continue and relevant data be periodically placed in the public domain in accordance with the observations made by the apex court in its May 2022 verdict in the Jacob Puliyel case.

"No separate court appointed expert body is considered necessary in view of the existing mechanism for scientific assessment of adverse events following immunisation," a bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said.

While pronouncing the judgement, Justice Nath clarified that its verdict shall not preclude any person from pursuing such other remedies as may be available in law.

"Equally, the formulation of the no-fault framework shall not be construed as an admission of liability or fault on the part of the Union of India or any other authority," the bench said.

The top court delivered its verdict on pleas, including the one which alleged that two women lost their lives in 2021 after taking the first dose of the Covishield vaccine.

The plea, while alleging that both of them suffered from severe adverse effects following immunisation, had also sought a direction to the authorities to grant monetary compensation to the petitioners which would be donated by them to organisations working on social issues.

When the bench was hearing the matter in November last year, the counsel appearing for the Centre had referred to data about Covid-19 vaccination in India up to December 2024.

"The total doses administered in India is 220 crores. Total AEFI (adverse effects following immunisation) cases reported is 92,697, in percentage it is 0.0042," the Centre's counsel had said, adding the total deaths reported was 1,171 which was 0.00005 per cent.

The Centre's lawyer had said that minor cases were 89,854 and severe or serious cases were 2,843.

The Centre had earlier told the top court that Covid pandemic was "a disaster like no other" and vaccination saved people's lives.

In its May 2022 verdict on a plea filed by Jacob Puliyel, the top court had observed that bodily integrity was protected under Article 21 of the Constitution and no individual can be forced to be vaccinated against Covid.

It had asked the Centre to make public data on the immunisation's adverse events.

The top court, however, had said in the interest of protection of communitarian health, the government was entitled to regulate issues of public health concern by imposing certain limitations on individual rights, which were open to scrutiny by constitutional courts. PTI ABA ZMN

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a batch of appeals filed by minority shareholders of Bharti Telecom Limited (BTL), upholding the company’s decision to reduce its share capital and ease out individual investors.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and K Vinod Chandran said that the valuation of shares is an expert exercise and that the company had followed the due process of law under the Companies Act provision.

The matter pertains to a 2018 decision by Bharti Telecom, a closely-held company and promoter of Bharti Airtel Limited (BAL), to reduce its share capital by cancelling shares held by minority investors (representing about 1.09 per cent of the total shareholding).

The company initially offered Rs 163.25 per share. While the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) later increased this to Rs 196.80 per share by removing a tax deduction, a group of 35 shareholders moved the apex court.

They alleged that the valuation was a "sham", the price was "arbitrarily low", and the notice for the meeting was "tricky".

“We cannot but reiterate that the appellants herein are not wary investors, cautious retirees or mere speculators, but seasoned retail investors who blend in equal measure prudence with quite calculation,” the bench said rejecting the appeals.

"Far from the bullish and bearish trends that regulate the flexible share value of listed companies in a volatile market, the appellants held on to the shares of BTL; with zero listing, zero marketability, zero dividend payment, zero exit options also declining purchase offers, with the stoic resolve of a feline waiting patiently for its prey," the bench added. PTI MNR MNR KVK

KVK

New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday warned that it could summon the defence and the finance secretaries if their concerned ministries fail to take a decision on extending monetary benefits to military cadets who became unfit due to disability suffered during their training period.

A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing a suo moto case related to the difficulties faced by cadets who were boarded out due to injury or disablement during training.

“Having regard to the fact that sufficient time has already been granted to the concerned ministries by us, we are constrained to observe that in case no progress is made in the matter, we would be constrained to direct the presence of the defence secretary and the finance secretary before this court," the court said.

The bench said that six weeks were granted by the court to the authorities to decide on the issue, but no response was given by the defence or the finance ministry.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati urged the bench to grant some more time to the ministries for taking a decision on the issue, and submitted that she had tried her best to resolve the matter.

She informed the court that all three chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force had made recommendations on measures to improve the condition of the cadets, but the concerned ministries have not taken any decision in the matter.

Justice Nagarathna said the issue needs coordination between both the defence ministry and the finance ministry, and suggested that a joint meeting could help resolve the matter.

"The monetary allocation required should have been part of the Budget. The Finance Act has not yet been passed, so there is time," she said.

The court noted that the Finance Act, 2026, is under consideration and makes this the best time to analyse the funds required to meet the monetary needs of these cadets.

"Having regard to the fact that the Finance Act 2026 is under consideration, this is the most appropriate period for taking note of the expenditure required for meeting the monetary requirements of the outboarded cadets," the court said, and listed the matter for further hearing on March 24.

On August 18 last year, the top court had said that it wants defence forces to have "braveheart cadets" who should not be deterred by injuries or disabilities suffered during training, and directed the Centre to explore the possibility of providing them with insurance covers for such exigencies.

It had sought the response of the Centre and the defence forces in a suo motu case on difficulties faced by cadets, who were medically discharged from military institutes on account of disabilities suffered during training programmes.

The Centre, the top court said, should explore the possibility of granting an insurance cover like group insurance to the cadets undergoing rigorous training in different military institutes to deal with any exigency of death or disabilities.

It also asked Bhati to seek instruction on enhancing the current lumpsum amount, which stands at Rs 40,000 for cadets disabled during the training programme, to meet their medical needs.

The top court was informed that a file relating to granting them Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) cover had been cleared by the ministry, but not implemented.

The top court also asked the Centre to explore a scheme for the rehabilitation of the disabled candidates into desk jobs or any other work related to defence services, after their treatment was over.

On August 12 last year, the top court had taken suo motu cognisance of a media report, which flagged the issue of these cadets.

They were stated to be once a part of training at the nation’s top military institutes, such as the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the Indian Military Academy (IMA).

According to a report, there were around 500 officer cadets who were medically discharged from these military institutes since 1985, due to varying degrees of disability incurred during training, and are now staring at mounting medical bills with an ex-gratia monthly payment that's far short of what they need. PTI MNL SKM MNL ARI

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New Delhi, March 10 (PTI) A Delhi court on Tuesday remanded the contractor to one day's judicial custody, who was arrested in connection with the bank employee's death after his bike fell into a pit in Janakpuri.

The contractor, Himanshu Gupta, had been evading arrest and was held in Rajasthan's Udaipur on Tuesday morning after a rigorous manhunt by the police, officials said.

The Delhi Police produced Gupta before Duty Magistrate Anuradha Sonkar, who sent him to one day's judicial custody.

The case pertains to the death of Kamal Dhyani, who worked as an assistant manager at the Rohini branch of HDFC Bank, on the night of February 5, after his motorcycle fell into a 15-foot-deep sewage pit allegedly left open during work being carried out by the Delhi Jal Board in Janakpuri.

Last month, the Delhi High Court refused to grant anticipatory bail to two contractors, Himanshu Gupta and Kavish Gupta, observing that public roads cannot be allowed to turn into death traps. PTI SKM SKM SHS

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