Following the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists, Jammu and Kashmir minister Javed Ahmed Rana has passionately appealed for peace. He urged the central government to avoid war, emphasizing that it hinders India's aspiration to become a 'Vishwa Guru'.
The Union Cabinet has decided to include a caste enumeration in the upcoming national census, as announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. He criticized the Congress party for their alleged historical opposition to such a census, while also pointing out the non-transparent and politically motivated caste surveys conducted by some state governments.
Following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the Cabinet Committee on Security, led by PM Modi, convened to discuss India's response, granting the armed forces operational freedom. Earlier punitive measures were decided, including potential Indus Waters Treaty suspension, border closure and downgraded diplomatic ties. Pakistan retaliated by closing airspace and suspending trade.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Mark Carney on his election as Canada's Prime Minister, expressing optimism for strengthened India-Canada relations. Modi highlighted shared democratic values and people-to-people ties. This comes after strained relations following Canada's accusations against India regarding the Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing.
A 23-year-old man was allegedly abused and assaulted on a Bhopal-Indore passenger train for watching a reel about the Pahalgam terror attack. The two unidentified accused argued with the victim, made objectionable comments about India and the Constitution, and even threatened to throw him off the moving train. GRP has registered a case and is investigating using CCTV footage to identify the perpetrators.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah faced controversy after gesturing at a police officer during a rally disruption by BJP workers in Belagavi. He also drew criticism from the BJP for suggesting India avoid war with Pakistan, prioritizing security. Siddaramaiah accused the BJP and media of misquoting him, clarifying he views war as a last resort.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have spilled over into London, marked by escalating protests from both diasporas. An Indian-origin man, Ankit Love, was arrested for allegedly vandalizing the Pakistani High Commission. These incidents follow a recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, further straining the already fraught relationship between the two nations, leading to heightened security concerns in London.
China is expected to avoid direct involvement in India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam attack, despite its alliance with Pakistan, according to Lt Gen (retd) Rana Pratap Kalita. While acknowledging strategic interests, he emphasized China's focus on geopolitical and economic factors. Kalita also highlighted regional security challenges, particularly along the Bangladesh border.
India and Saudi Arabia convened the inaugural Army-to-Army Staff Talks in New Delhi, solidifying defense cooperation through the Annual Defence Cooperation Plan. Discussions centered on Joint Exercise Sada Tanseeq, military training, and operational logistics. Both nations aim to enhance interoperability and capability development, building upon Prime Minister Modi's visit and the deepening strategic partnership.
US Vice President JD Vance, during his visit to India, lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity, expressing envy over his approval ratings. He further emphasised that, "We're not here to preach that you do things any one particular way. Too often in the past, Washington approached Prime Minister Modi with an attitude of preaching."
Kapil Sibal has strongly countered Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's assertion that Parliament is supreme, emphasizing that the Constitution holds the highest authority. This response follows Dhankhar's remarks at a Delhi University event, where he stated elected representatives are the 'ultimate masters' of constitutional content. Sibal further clarified that the Supreme Court is responsible for interpreting the Constitution's provisions.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said that the cabinet discussion on the Socio-Economic and Educational Survey, also known as the caste census, was inconclusive and postponed to May 2. Despite concerns raised by ministers regarding the survey's unscientific nature and outdated information, Siddaramaiah denied reports of heated arguments, emphasising that no one opposed the survey outright.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has refuted claims of a nationwide satellite-based tolling system replacing FASTag by May 1, 2025. Instead, MoRTH will introduce an ANPR-FASTag-based barrier-less tolling system at select locations to ease traffic flow. This hybrid system will use number plate recognition and FASTag, with penalties for non-compliance.
BJP leader Sambit Patra has intensified the attack on Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, labeling the National Herald case a "robbery" rather than money laundering. He accused them of being "modern dacoits" involved in a blatant robbery. This statement follows the Enforcement Directorate's chargesheet against them and others in connection with the case, scheduled for court arguments on April 25.
India strongly refuted Pakistan's "two-nation" theory, asserting that Pakistan's sole connection to India is the liberation of illegally occupied territories. This response followed Pakistan's army chief's endorsement of the theory, emphasizing fundamental differences between Hindus and Muslims. Assam's Chief Minister reacted by stressing the need to strengthen India's nationhood, dharma, and civilizational values.
The Supreme Court was informed that a forensic report on leaked audio clips, potentially implicating former Manipur CM N. Biren Singh in ethnic violence, is ready and will be submitted in a sealed cover.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has criticized the Supreme Court's directive setting a timeline for the President to decide on bills, arguing it undermines the constitutional role of the office. He questioned the judiciary's authority to issue such directives, emphasizing the President's immunity from prosecution.
The Supreme Court has cautioned judges against making inappropriate remarks in sexual violence cases, specifically addressing comments made by the Allahabad High Court that blamed a woman for inviting the alleged rape. This follows the Supreme Court's intervention in another Allahabad High Court case where the court diminished the severity of sexual assault against a child.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was honored by the Dr BR Ambedkar Mahamanch in Haridwar for implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand. Dhami expressed gratitude, emphasizing the public's trust in this decision towards social justice and equality. He announced the construction of Baba Saheb Samrasata Sthal and welfare programs to educate future generations about social reformers and rights.
The extradition of Mehul Choksi from Belgium could be a lengthy process, potentially facing legal challenges based on his health, according to a former diplomat. Recalling the long extradition of Tahawwur Rana, the expert emphasized that India must persist in its efforts to bring Choksi back to face justice for defrauding Punjab National Bank.
India and Nepal met to discuss customs cooperation. They want to stop smuggling and other crimes across the border. Both countries are worried about gold, drugs, and fake money. They will share information and work together. They also talked about using technology to track goods and improve trade. Abhai Kumar Srivastav and Mahesh Bhattarai led the discussions.
The Supreme Court has ruled that neither the President nor the governor has absolute veto power over state bills. They must provide reasons for withholding assent. The court set timelines for decisions on bills. Governors have one month for assent or three months to refer the bill. The President also has three months to decide.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has informed a special court that Tahawwur Rana, accused in the Mumbai attacks, had planned similar attacks in other Indian cities. Following his extradition from the US, the NIA sought Rana's prolonged custody to uncover the full scope of the conspiracy, suspecting that the tactics used in Mumbai were intended for execution elsewhere.
Congress asserts that the extradition of 26/11 plotter Tahawwur Rana to India on April 10, 2025, is the result of sustained efforts initiated by the UPA government in 2009. P. Chidambaram stated that the Modi government is wrongly taking credit for the extradition, which is a culmination of diplomatic, legal, and intelligence work.
Eknath Omble, brother of 26/11 hero Tukaram Omble, hailed Tahawwur Rana's extradition to India as a significant step towards justice. He passionately urged the Indian government to expedite Rana's hanging, emphasizing the need for a strong deterrent against future acts of terror facilitated from Pakistan.
Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has stated that the farmers' agitation will continue until their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price, are accepted. Dallewal, who recently ended his 130-day hunger strike, emphasized that farmer leaders will attend the May 4 talks with the government to present their demands.
Akhilesh Yadav criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for allegedly fostering a hidden force to harass and insult people, and sheltering corrupt officials. He accused the BJP of neglecting farmers and worsening the stray cattle crisis, and reiterated claims of the BJP’s extensive land grabbing in the state.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the NDA-led Bihar government during the Samvidhan Suraksha Sammelan in Patna, highlighting that less than 1% of Biharis are invested in the stock market, thus unaffected by global market crashes. He also addressed social inequalities and emphasized the issues of unemployment and forced migration while campaigning for the upcoming state assembly elections.
Prime Minister Modi refuted Chief Minister Stalin's claim of fund neglect, stating the central government allocated triple the funds for Tamil Nadu's development compared to the prior decade. Despite Stalin's assertions, Modi highlighted substantial financial and infrastructure investment in the state.
Delhi's BJP-led administration has partnered with the central government to adopt the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. The healthcare scheme will provide eligible Delhi households with annual health insurance worth Rs 10 lakh. This makes Delhi the 35th state/Union Territory to implement this health programme.
Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra queries BookMyShow about his removal from their list of artists following controversial remarks against Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde. This comes after Shiv Sena's Rahool Kanal thanked BookMyShow for removing Kamra, highlighting the conflict where Shiv Sainiks vandalized Kamra's performance studio.
The Ministry of External Affairs has expressed serious concerns over the increasing incidents of anti-India graffiti defacing Hindu temples in the US. Diplomatic channels are actively addressing these hate crimes, with US authorities investigating and treating them as severe offenses. Members of US Congress have also advocated for broader strategies to counteract these hate crimes against Hindus.
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