US President Donald Trump has said that he would like to meet Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

“I would like to meet him, and we probably will meet at some point, depending on how it all works out,” Trump said while speaking with the New York Post’s “Pod Force One” podcast on Tuesday.

Trump also suggested that the widely reported claims about Mojtaba’s injuries could be true and the Iranian leader may be “missing a lot of different parts.”

“I’m not hearing he’s doing great. If you believe the stories, he’s missing a lot of different parts,” he said.

The US President’s remarks expressing desire to meet the Iranian Supreme Leader came days after he had a heated exchange with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call.

Trump reportedly called Netanyahu “f***ing crazy” after the latter ordered Israeli military to invade Lebanon, putting the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran at risk as Tehran warned of suspending peace talks if attacks are not stopped.

Confirming this, Trump said that he was “perturbed” at Netanyahu’s military escalation in Lebanon.

“I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon,” Trump said in the interview.

IRGC claims US forced to accept its ‘new Iranian rules on the battlefield’

Meanwhile, Iran has claimed that the US has accepted new rules imposed by Tehran, particularly regarding the smart management and control of the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement carried by Iranian state media, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said, “The enemy is forced to accept the new rules that the Iranian nation and armed forces have imposed on the battlefield, especially in the realm of smart management and control of the Strait of Hormuz.”

The IRGC further stated that Iran will not retreat in the face of threats by the United States.

“The Iranian nation will not retreat in the face of threats and aggression but will continue the path of honor with unity and faith more than ever before,” the IRGC added.

The Uttarakhand Police have stated that the state’s youth are being influenced by Pakistan’s ISI and other terrorist organisations across the border. The police said that this was revealed following the recent arrests of some anti-social elements by the Special Task Force (STF) in Dehradun.

STF officials said that the interrogation of the arrested youth revealed that Pakistan-based terrorist organisations and the ISI are trying hard to build a terror network in Uttarakhand through social media. On condition of anonymity, they said that four suspected terrorists arrested in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh in the past two months have confessed to being in touch with their handlers in Pakistan. These handlers were working for the ISI and other terrorist organisations in Pakistan, they added.

Following disclosures made by the arrested persons, the Uttarakhand STF has deployed cyber experts to monitor the activities of other suspects.

The STF investigation revealed that apart from being in touch with Pakistan-backed terrorist organisations, the suspects were actively working to radicalise local youth and establish a strong network through social media platforms. STF SSP Ajai Singh said that following disclosures made by the arrested men, security agencies across the state have been placed on high alert. According to Singh, the arrested suspects maintained contact with cross-border terrorists and ISI agents through Instagram, video calls and other social media applications, with agencies successfully recovering digital evidence confirming these links.

STF SSP Ajay Singh said that social media-based anti-national activities have surged recently, with terrorists misleading and alluring local youth towards different forms of jihad. “The investigation has uncovered an ISI module that was recruiting youth through social media. In several places, the arrested persons were made to install CCTV cameras at locations from where Pakistan-based handlers could easily monitor activities. Keeping this in view, cyber commandos have been deployed for continuous surveillance in certain places in the state capital,” he added.

According to the STF, names of cross-border handlers like Shahzad Bhatti and Abid Jatt surfaced during the interrogation of the arrested persons. A senior STF official said that one arrested suspect, named Vikrant, was involved in influencing youth and painting graffiti reading “Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan (TTH)” on walls in the state capital. Ajai Singh said that state agencies are now working to unearth other individuals who were in contact with him. Central security agencies are assisting the ongoing STF probe in monitoring suspicious activities on social media.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued an official statement here on Wednesday stating that reports appearing in a section of the media claiming it sold a portion of its physical gold reserves recently to stabilise the Indian rupee are “not correct”.

According to an RBI press release dated June 3, 2026, issued by its Chief General Manager Brij Raj, “The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has come across reports in certain sections of the media about the RBI’s sale of gold. The RBI emphasises that these reports are ‘not correct’.

“In this context, it is clarified that the physical stock of gold is disclosed by the RBI in its Monthly Bulletin. The physical stock of gold remains unchanged at 880.52 tonnes as of date,” the central bank clarified in its press release.

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) FactCheck also tweeted on its official X handle on Wednesday, “A news report published by Bloomberg states that the RBI may have sold gold amounting to approximately USD 12 billion. This claim is fake. According to the RBI, the share of gold in India’s foreign exchange reserves rose from 13.92% at the end of September 2025 to 16.70% on March 31, 2026, and further to 16.85% as of May 22, 2026.”

According to a report published on Tuesday by Bloomberg Economics, quoting its senior economist for India, Abhishek Gupta, “The Reserve Bank of India likely sold $12 billion of its gold reserves and bought $7.5 billion in foreign currency assets during the two weeks ending May 22”.

Bloomberg Economics economist Abhishek Gupta supposedly used publicly available data to infer that “the RBI appears to have offloaded a substantial portion of its gold holdings to shield its foreign currency assets from the cascading fallout of the war in the Middle East”.

“The purported sales underscore policymakers’ concerns about the pressure India is facing from sustained capital outflows and higher oil prices as the Iran war and effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz drag on. They also show the RBI is prioritising reserves of liquid foreign currency as a wider current-account deficit weighs on the rupee,” the Bloomberg Economics report had stated.

According to the report, “RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra is weighing all options available to stabilise the Indian rupee, including an interest-rate hike and raising US dollars from investors overseas”.

“The RBI’s interventions in the foreign exchange markets have had some effect, helping the rupee outperform most peers in Asia since May 20, when the currency fell to an all-time low. The rupee was down 0.2 per cent to 95.17 on Tuesday. India is the world’s third-largest oil importer, and the nation is burning through foreign currency as the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz drive up its energy costs and weaken the currency,” the report stated.

Gupta also said in his assessment, “The RBI will likely continue rebuilding its foreign exchange reserves to the degree they can. Periods of dollar weakness, renewed foreign-capital inflows, or lower oil prices would create opportunities to add to foreign currency assets.”

“At the end of March, the RBI held 880.52 tonnes of gold, of which 77% was held domestically, with most of its overseas holdings stored at the Bank of England and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), according to the RBI’s latest foreign exchange report from April,” the Bloomberg Economics report stated on Tuesday.

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and AICC general secretary and ex-Deputy CM Sachin Pilot have greeted DK Shiv Kumar on being sworn in as Chief Minister of Karnataka.

In his congratulatory message, Gehlot wrote, “Congratulations to @DKShivakumar on taking oath as Chief Minister of Karnataka. I am confident that your government will continue to pursue people-centric policies and work for the welfare of Karnataka.

Commending the governance of the outgoing Siddaramaiah government, Gehlot said, “The contributions of Sh. @siddaramaiah towards Karnataka’s progress has been significant and is deeply appreciated.”

AICC general secretary Pilot said, “My best wishes to the new government.”

My heartiest congratulations to Shri @DKShivakumar ji as he takes oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. I am confident that under your leadership, the state will witness a renewed commitment of the party towards public welfare and service.

My best wishes to Shri @DrParameshwara ji on taking oath as the Deputy Chief Minister, and to all the ministers who have been entrusted with the responsibility of serving the people of the state, Pilot wrote on X.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Wednesday chaired a high-level emergency review meeting with Minister of Home Ashish Sood in the wake of the tragic fire incident in Malviya Nagar.

During the meeting, a comprehensive multi-departmental action plan to strengthen fire safety mechanisms across Delhi has been formulated under the aegis of the Home Department.
As part of the action plan, a high-intensity month-long enforcement and prevention drive will be launched under the joint leadership of District Magistrates, Deputy Commissioners of Police, and the Deputy Commissioners (MCD) to conduct rigorous fire compliance inspections, audits, and sealing of non-compliant establishments, including hotels, guesthouses, nursing homes, coaching centres, and other vulnerable premises.

The campaign will be jointly monitored by the Chief Secretary and the Commissioner of Police to ensure zero laxity and strict accountability at every level.
A magisterial inquiry has also been ordered to thoroughly investigate the incident and fix responsibility for the mishap.

Earlier in the day, following the tragedy, Sood conducted an on-site inspection of the affected premises and ordered immediate enforcement action across Delhi against illegally operated and non-compliant guest houses functioning under the Bed & Breakfast scheme.
The minister visited the site along with senior officials of Delhi Fire Services, district administration, police and civic agencies to review rescue operations and assess the circumstances that led to the devastating loss of lives.

Preliminary investigations revealed serious violation of safety and licensing norms, including unauthorized commercial expansion, illegal addition of rooms, obstruction of evacuation routes and misuse of permissions granted under the Bed & Breakfast policy.
The property that was permitted to operate only a limited number of rooms under the scheme was allegedly functioning as a high-density commercial lodging facility in complete violation of prescribed regulations.

The fire, which broke out in the building, claimed 21 lives, including several foreign nationals, while multiple injured persons are currently undergoing treatment at various hospitals.

The Government of Delhi offered deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery for all those injured in the incident.

Odisha’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, aimed at ensuring a more accurate, transparent and error-free voter database, has gathered significant momentum, with the statewide exercise successfully entering its fifth day on Wednesday.

According to the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Odisha, 7,169,563 enumeration forms had been distributed to voters across the state by 6 pm on June 3, reflecting the enthusiastic response to the ongoing campaign.

To facilitate the massive voter verification exercise, 45,255 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have been deployed across Odisha. They are carrying out door-to-door visits in urban, rural, tribal and other remote areas to distribute pre-printed enumeration forms and collect voter information.

Under the process, each voter is provided with two pre-printed copies of the Enumeration Form (Annexure-III). After the forms are filled, the BLO retains one copy, while the second copy, duly signed by the officer, is returned to the voter as an acknowledgement receipt. Voters have been advised to preserve the receipt for future reference.

The CEO’s office clarified that no additional documents are collected from voters during the enumeration process, making the exercise simple, citizen-friendly and accessible to all.

Voters who prefer digital submission can download the enumeration form from the Election Commission’s official portal, voters.eci.gov.in⁠, fill in the required details and upload the completed form online.

Strengthening the transparency and effectiveness of the exercise, 33,026 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) nominated by various political parties are also assisting BLOs in the field.

Election authorities and district administrations have put in place extensive arrangements to ensure that every eligible voter is covered under the revision drive. The initiative is expected to further improve the quality of electoral rolls and strengthen the integrity of the electoral process by ensuring that no eligible voter is left out.

In a significant ruling aimed at preserving the sanctity of negotiated settlements in commercial disputes, the Supreme Court has held that criminal proceedings against a borrower cannot be initiated or continued once the borrower and the lending bank have entered into a compromise settlement that has been approved by the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT).

Quashing the criminal proceedings initiated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against businessman Vijay Kumar Kela at the instance of UCO Bank under Sections 420 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code, a Bench of Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, in a judgment pronounced on May 29, 2026, said, “If the respondent-Bank is permitted to go ahead with the criminal prosecution initiated after settlement of the loan account before the DRT, it would adversely impact the sanctity of such settlement which has become part of the judicial proceeding and which had the approval of a judicial forum like the DRT.”

Speaking for the Bench, Justice Bhuyan said, “If such a conduct is overlooked and prosecution is allowed to continue, many persons including commercial entities would be hesitant to come forward and seek resolution of their disputes arising out of banking transactions which are after all commercial transactions, having predominantly elements of civil dispute(s). This in turn would have a debilitating effect on the overall economy, more so, when the focus is on settlement of commercial disputes. This is the larger picture we need to keep in mind.”

Referring to the initiation of criminal proceedings by the lending bank against the borrower after entering into a settlement endorsed by the DRT, the Court said, “Such a criminal proceeding in our view would not only be oppressive qua the appellants but would also amount to an abuse of the process of the court.”

Referring to the nature of the dispute raised by the bank after settlement of the loan account, which was “overwhelmingly or predominantly” civil in flavour, the Court said that the possibility of conviction of Kela was remote and bleak; therefore, continuation of the criminal case would cause grave prejudice and injustice to him.

Having said this, the Court further pointed out: “If the respondent-Bank is permitted to go ahead with the criminal prosecution initiated after settlement of the loan account before the DRT, it would adversely impact the sanctity of such settlement which has become part of the judicial proceeding and which had the approval of a judicial forum like the DRT.”

The case arose out of credit facilities extended by UCO Bank to Mohan Traders, a proprietorship concern established by Kela’s elder brother, Parmanand Kela. Following financial difficulties after the latter’s death in 2009, the account slipped into default and recovery proceedings were initiated before the DRT.

During the pendency of those proceedings, the parties arrived at a compromise under which the bank agreed to accept ₹4.25 crore in full and final settlement of outstanding dues of about ₹6.49 crore. The settlement proposal recorded that a legal audit found no lapses in documentation or irregularities in the loan account.
Upon receiving the settlement amount, UCO Bank issued a no-dues certificate and withdrew its proceedings before the DRT.

More than two years later, however, the bank lodged a complaint with the CBI alleging that Kela had obtained enhancement of credit facilities using forged audit reports and by substituting mortgaged properties. Acting on the complaint, the CBI registered an FIR and later filed a chargesheet.

The Supreme Court noted that although the bank claimed it suspected fraud as early as 2013, it chose not to initiate criminal proceedings at that stage and instead pursued recovery. The Court found it significant that the prosecution was launched only more than two years after the settlement had been fully implemented and the DRT proceedings had been withdrawn.

Setting aside the Chhattisgarh High Court’s refusal to quash the proceedings, the Supreme Court allowed Kela’s appeal and terminated the criminal case against him.

Senior BJD leader and former Minister Sudam Marandi on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led government in Odisha, alleging that the Revenue and Disaster Management Department has failed to deliver on its promises during the last two years of governance.

Addressing a press conference, Marandi said the state government has fallen short in ensuring timely relief and compensation for people affected by natural disasters, while several key issues related to land administration remain unresolved.

He further alleged that the government’s handling of revenue and disaster management matters has left farmers, tribals and other vulnerable communities facing continued hardships.

The former minister further claimed that persistent delays in the settlement of land records, inadequate disaster preparedness and ineffective rehabilitation measures have exposed serious administrative deficiencies within the department.

Despite repeated assurances by the government, there remains a significant gap between promises and implementation on the ground, he said.

The people of Odisha are increasingly concerned over what he described as the government’s inability to effectively address their grievances.

Notably, the BJP formed its maiden government in Odisha in June 2024, with Mohan Charan Majhi taking oath as the 16th Chief Minister on June 12, 2024, alongside Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida.

Demanding greater accountability and transparency, Marandi urged the government to take concrete steps to strengthen disaster response mechanisms, streamline land administration and safeguard the interests of the people of Odisha.

The US-India Business Council (USIBC) on Wednesday hosted a PHDCCI delegation in Washington amid the ongoing efforts to deepen bilateral engagement between the countries in the agriculture sector.

The PHDCCCI delegation, led by IFFCO Chairman Dileep Sanghani, held key meeting with USIBC officials to represent Indian farmers’ interests.

Extensive discussions on enhancing agricultural productivity, promoting the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies, improving soil health, providing technical support to farmers, developing innovation-based agricultural solutions, and strengthening food and nutritional security.

Agricultural experts, policymakers, and industry representatives from both countries agreed that expanding India–U.S. cooperation would open new avenues in the agricultural sector and deliver long-term benefits to farmers.

Following the meeting, USIBC highlighted the dialogue on its official social media platforms as an important initiative toward strengthening India–U.S. agricultural cooperation.

In its message, USIBC noted that the discussions led by Shri Dileep Sanghani paved the way for enhanced collaboration between the two countries in the agricultural sector, helping identify solutions to shared challenges and explore emerging opportunities.

The Council emphasised the importance of a stronger partnership between India and the United States in areas such as innovation-driven agricultural policies, sustainable agricultural development, food security, and farmer prosperity.

Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu has expressed his desire to contest the Punjab Assembly elections, saying he wants to return to active state politics after spending nearly 17 years in Parliament and work directly for the people of Punjab.

Speaking to the media, Bittu said he had served in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha over the past several years but now wished to contribute on the ground in Punjab. His remarks come shortly after the completion of his Rajya Sabha tenure and are being seen as a significant political signal ahead of the next Assembly elections in the state.

The BJP leader said the party’s senior leadership in Punjab had been entrusted with the responsibility of strengthening the organisation and working towards the formation of a “double-engine government” in the state.

“I, along with the entire senior leadership, have packed our bags and kept them in our vehicles. We are now ready to travel across Punjab and work among the people,” Bittu said, indicating that he has already begun grassroots-level political outreach in the state.

Expressing confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prospects, Bittu said he wanted to help establish a BJP government in Punjab and contribute to the state’s development. He maintained that Punjab could move forward on the path of progress with a BJP-led government.

At the same time, he clarified that any decision regarding his electoral future would be taken by the party leadership. Reiterating his faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Bittu said the BJP functions as a disciplined organisation in which all leaders work according to the party’s directions.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi is our leader and the entire team works under his guidance. Whatever responsibility or direction the party gives us, we follow it,” he said.

Bittu’s statement has fuelled speculation about a possible Assembly election bid from Ludhiana. In this region, he previously represented voters as a Member of Parliament and continues to enjoy political influence. However, he refrained from indicating any specific constituency and said he would abide by the party’s decision regarding his future role.

Political observers view his comments as an indication of a greater focus on Punjab politics by the BJP leadership as the party intensifies efforts to expand its footprint in the state ahead of the Assembly elections.

Senior BJP leader and member of BJP’s National Council Sanjay Tandon on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari, stating that despite being in office as MP for two years, the Congress leader has completely failed to fulfill the promises and guarantees he made to the people of Chandigarh during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Tandon said, “It is clear that the MP had misled people and garnered votes by making tall promises and offering fake guarantees. Two years later, the people are demanding answers and holding him accountable for those unfulfilled commitments. Non-performance is the only highlight of the MP’s two-year report card.”

Notably, Tewari had won by a slender margin against Sanjay Tandon after counting of votes had taken place on June 4, 2024.

Tandon said that when the MP sought votes, he prominently campaigned on the Congress’s ‘Guarantee Card’ and ‘Paanch Nyay’ agenda, particularly the promise under ‘Nari Nyay’ to provide financial assistance of ₹1 lakh annually to every woman belonging to a poor family. However, two years have elapsed, but this much-publicized guarantee seems to have been totally forgotten by Tewari.

“The reality is that for the MP, these promises were always political slogans aimed at getting votes, rather than actionable commitments,” he said.

Tandon said that in continuation of his earlier demand seeking Manish Tewari’s resignation following the breakdown of the Congress-AAP alliance, the same has become even more relevant today because despite the passage of two years, Tewari has failed to fulfill even a single major promise made to Chandigarh’s electorate.

“People are rapidly losing hope that the MP will deliver on any of his commitments. Most of the time he remains out of station and has increasingly earned the reputation of being a ‘Weekend MP’,” Tandon remarked. “This has left the city residents in the lurch,” added Tandon.

The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) has finalized preparations for the historic Test match between India and Afghanistan, scheduled to be played from June 6 to June 10 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. The match will mark the first-ever Test fixture at the venue, making it a significant milestone for Punjab cricket.

PCA Secretary Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said the upcoming contest would be a landmark occasion not only for the stadium but also for cricket lovers across the state. He noted that Mullanpur would become the 31st Test venue in India and only the third venue in Punjab to host a Test match after Mohali and Jalandhar. According to him, the opportunity reflects the growing stature of the stadium and the state’s cricketing infrastructure.

Both the Indian and Afghan teams have already arrived in Chandigarh and have begun practice sessions at the venue. Officials said all logistical and operational arrangements have been completed, including player facilities, security measures, spectator management, and broadcasting infrastructure, to ensure the smooth conduct of the five-day international fixture.

In a move aimed at encouraging maximum public participation, ticket prices for the match have been kept affordable, with entry tickets starting at Rs 250. One of the major attractions for spectators is that a single ticket will remain valid for all five days of the Test match. Fans will have the freedom to attend the entire day’s play or visit the stadium during any session of their choice throughout the match.

Meet Hayer said the PCA wanted cricket enthusiasts from across Punjab and neighbouring states to witness the traditional format of the game in a world-class facility. He particularly appealed to parents to bring their children to the stadium during the ongoing summer vacations so that young fans could experience international cricket from close quarters and watch top players in action.

He said exposure to live international matches can inspire youngsters to take up the sport and better understand the nuances of Test cricket, which remains the most prestigious format of the game. The PCA expects a strong turnout from families, students, and cricket followers during the five-day encounter.

The match also holds special significance for Punjab cricket, with Punjab’s star batter Shubman Gill set to lead the Indian Test side. Gill’s appointment as captain has generated considerable excitement among local fans, who will have an opportunity to watch one of the state’s most prominent cricketers lead the national team on home turf.

Adding to the local interest, Punjab cricketer Gurnoor Brar has also been included in the Indian squad. PCA officials expressed confidence that the presence of Punjab players in the national team would further boost spectator interest and create a vibrant atmosphere at the stadium throughout the match.

The Mullanpur stadium, which has already hosted several high-profile domestic and international white-ball fixtures, is now preparing to enter a new chapter by staging its first Test match. Cricket administrators believe the successful hosting of the fixture could pave the way for more red-ball international matches in the region in the future.

With teams already engaged in training sessions and anticipation building among cricket fans, the stage is set for a memorable occasion as Mullanpur joins the list of India’s prestigious Test venues. Officials have urged supporters to attend in large numbers and be part of a historic moment for Punjab cricket.

Members of the Nihang organisation Tarna Dal on Wednesday began collecting what they termed a “Khalsa Tax” from vehicles entering Punjab from Himachal Pradesh, protesting against the entry tax imposed by the neighbouring hill state.

The collection drive started near Kiratpur Sahib on the Kullu-Manali highway, where Nihang volunteers stopped vehicles and sought contributions from motorists. Tarna Dal leader Nihang Achhar Singh said the organisation was charging Rs 100 from cars and other small vehicles, Rs 200 from light commercial vehicles and between Rs 300 and Rs 500 from larger vehicles.

He also announced plans to stage a road blockade near Morda village on the same highway later in the day to intensify the protest against the Himachal Pradesh government’s taxation policy.

Responding to questions over the legality of the collection, Achhar Singh said the money would be used for “Sarbat da Bhala” (the welfare of all) and claimed that no vehicle owner would be forced to pay. He distinguished the move from toll collection by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), stating that highway tolls are linked to road construction and maintenance, whereas, according to him, Himachal Pradesh was imposing an unjustified burden on travellers.

The Nihang leader warned both the Punjab and Himachal Pradesh governments against attempting to stop the campaign. “If anyone tries to stop us, they should come fully prepared because we are also ready for a struggle,” he said.

The controversy stems from Himachal Pradesh’s entry tax system, which has been in place since 1975 under the Himachal Pradesh Tolls Act. The levy is collected from vehicles entering the state through designated entry points.

The issue gained prominence after the Himachal Pradesh government revised toll and entry tax rates in recent years. In 2025, the state approved a modest increase in charges for private and commercial vehicles. Subsequently, in February 2026, it announced a new toll policy proposing significant hikes across several vehicle categories, including private cars, tractors, taxis and goods carriers.

The proposed increase triggered strong opposition, particularly in Punjab and Haryana, from where a large number of tourists and transporters travel to Himachal Pradesh. Protesters argued that the revised rates would place an additional financial burden on commuters and commercial operators.

Amid mounting criticism, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu intervened on March 31, 2026, and the government rolled back the proposed increase for private cars and certain passenger vehicles. However, the broader debate over the entry tax has continued.

According to the current structure, vehicles such as cars, jeeps and vans are charged Rs 100 upon entry into Himachal Pradesh, while vehicles with six to 12 seats pay Rs 130. Tractors are charged Rs 100, and heavy vehicles can be charged up to Rs 800.

Maharashtra state Congress Committee President Harshwardhan Sapkal alleged here on Wednesday that the Fadnavis Government has deliberately excluded more than 50 percent of Maharashtra’s farmers from the loan waiver scheme cleared recently.

“The so-called loan waiver scheme announced by the BJP-led Mahayuti government led by Devendra Fadnavis is merely a sham. Through a play on words, the scheme has imposed numerous rules, conditions and eligibility barriers, deliberately excluding more than 50 percent of MAharashtra’s farmers. This is a cruel joke on the farming community. We demand that the government should make the state’s farmers debt-free”.

Speaking about the farmer loan waiver scheme, Sapkal said that the BJP-led Mahayuti government’s loan waiver is only applicable to farmers who received loans between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2025 as well as farmers whose loans have now become outstanding.

“Earlier, many farmers took loans and are unable to obtain new crop loans due to their outstanding loans. All such farmers have been excluded from this scheme. According to one estimate, the number of such farmers is twice the number of farmers receiving loan waiver benefits. Therefore, all outstanding farmers should be extended the benefit of this loan waiver scheme,” Sapkal demanded.

“Farmers who previously benefited under the ‘Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Shetkari Samman Yojana’ implemented by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government will not have their current outstanding loans fully waived. They will receive only a benefit of Rs 50,000. This scheme of the Fadnavis government is limited only to crop loans and restructured loans. Many farmers took loans to build wells, pipelines as well as purchase cows and buffaloes, which are still outstanding. All such farmers will also be excluded from this scheme. This is injustice and a cruel joke on farmers,” Sapkal said.

“The Fadnavis government has completely ignored even those farmers who have been regularly repaying their loans. To receive the incentive, farmers who regularly repay their loans must have taken crop loans in any two of the three years of 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 and repay it on time. Also, it is mandatory to repay crop loans taken in 2025-26 and 2026-27 on time. Only then will such farmers receive an incentive of Rs 50,000. This amount is also extremely insignificant,” Sapkal said.

“The BJP government is anti-farmer and is making a lot of noise about loan waivers for farmers. The reality is that the aim of the Mahayuti government is to keep as many farmers as possible deprived of loan waivers. Even before this, the Fadnavis government had deprived lakhs of farmers from the benefits by imposing many rules in the loan waiver scheme implemented with wide publicity,” Sapkal said.

“Just like 80 lakh women were deprived of benefits in the name of eligibility under the ‘Laadki Bahin’ scheme, lakhs of farmers have been kept out of the loan waiver by trapping them in rules and conditions,” Maharashtra state Congress Committee President Harshwardhan Sapkal said.

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) National President Akhilesh Yadav has accused the BJP government of weakening the country’s economy, saying that the BJP has sold the country’s “gold standard”.

Akhilesh Yadav said here in a statement on Wednesday that the people of the country now understand why the BJP government was refusing to buy gold. He sarcastically asked how the government would sell it if the gold had gone to the public.

The SP president said the “golden veil” masking the BJP’s claims of creating a $5 trillion economy has dropped, exposing the reality.

He claimed that after such news, people were going to banks to check their lockers and trying to ensure that their deposits were safe.

Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the BJP government’s corruption has completely crippled the country’s economy.

He said that the public now understands why the BJP and its allies appear to be bowing to foreign powers.

The SP chief said that the people of the country have understood the reality of the BJP government’s economic policies and its claims and will respond democratically in the future.

Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) organised a tree plantation drive in Shimla on Tuesday under the campaign ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ as part of its World Environment Day celebrations, taking a significant step towards environmental conservation.

SJVN Chairman and Managing Director Bhupender Gupta led the plantation drive in Shimla.

On the occasion, Director (Personnel) Ajay Kumar Sharma, Chief Vigilance Officer Pankaj Porwal, and Lt Col Lakhwinder Singh of the 133 Infantry Battalion (TA) Eco Dogra planted saplings as part of the initiative. The drive was organised at Chamiyana, Shimla, in collaboration with the Himachal Pradesh State Forest Department.

Ajay Kumar Sharma said that, as a testament to the collective commitment towards environmental conservation, 150 saplings of Deodar, Oak, Walnut, Pomegranate and other species were planted. He added that the initiative would help foster greater awareness and encourage action towards environmental protection.

The plantation drive witnessed active participation from officials of the 133 Infantry Battalion (TA) Eco Dogra, the Himachal Pradesh State Forest Department, and Heads of Departments, senior officials and employees of SJVN’s Corporate Headquarters in Shimla, marking a meaningful step towards a greener future.

The 30-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials outside the Thiruvananthapuram residence of former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has officially recorded the statements of seven ED officers, including Assistant Director Sanith Reddy.

The SIT team reached the ED office in Kochi on Tuesday and recorded their statements. The ED officials informed investigators that they suspect the incident was a preplanned attack rather than a spontaneous eruption of public violence.

The officials also informed the SIT that several senior party leaders who participated in the protest may have played a role in the circumstances that led to the violence.

Meanwhile, ED sources expressed apprehension about whether local state authorities will handle the case effectively, noting that several public prosecutors were appointed under the previous state administration.
A local court recently rejected the bail pleas of five arrested accused, backing the ED’s stance by observing that the public assault on central officers was not an isolated attack but an organized political attack on an institution.

The police have identified 46 individuals linked to the incident, and 26 suspects have been arrested so far. The SIT has decided to scrutinize the mobile phone records, call logs, and text messages of the direct participants to map out who orchestrated the violence.

The Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner constituted the 30-member team on May 30. It functions under the direct supervision of the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Cantonment Sub-Division.

The case is registered under stringent provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3(1) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act.
The confrontation took place on May 27, 2026, outside the Thiruvananthapuram residence of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. An ED team was targeted by alleged CPM workers throwing bricks and smashing vehicle windows with sticks following a 7-hour search operation. The raid was tied to a money laundering investigation involving the CMRL-Exalogic financial transactions case.
Senior ED officials in Kochi have submitted a detailed report to the agency’s director. The ED is currently expected to push for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the broader conspiracy.