Two important centres of Ramakrishna Mission in the city are unable to serve Prasad to the devotees because of the LPG crisis.

Both these centres are located in north Kolkata.

These centres are Balaram Mandir and Mayer Bari.

Sri Ramakrishna used to come to the house of Balaram Bose, one of his householder disciples. He used to have food in his house and stay there. All of Sri Ramakrishna’s disciples like Swami Vivekananda, Swami Bramhananda among others used to stay in this house. Ramakrishna Mission was set up following a meeting in this house on 1 May, 1897.

The house is now a centre of RKM. Devotees across the globe come to this house and have Prasad in the afternoon.

Mayer Bari is another important centre where the devotees enjoy the afternoon Prasad. Ma Sarada had stayed in the house from 1909 till her death in 1920.

In Mayer Bari around 250 devotees take Prasad every day.

Swami Nityamuktanandaji, president Mayer Bari said once the LPG crisis is over, the tradition of serving Prasad would start once again.

Sealdah Division of Eastern Railway is to start additional and extended local EMU services to cater to the huge and long pending demand from various sections of commuters.

According to the divisional railway sources, for a long time, there was a consistent demand from daily passengers, students, and office-goers of the Sealdah–Gede and Gede–Majherhat sections for improved connectivity and more direct travel options. Considering the demand, the divisional railway is to start additional and extended special services on a temporary experimental basis from 16 March. One of such local trains, 31227 Sealdah–Barrackpore Local, is being extended up to Gede as 31931 UP Sealdah–Gede Special. The train is to leave Sealdah at 9.28 a.m. and arrive Gede at 12.07 p.m. while 31226 will now originate from Gede at 8.26 a.m. as 31930 DN Gede–Sealdah Special and reach Sealdah at 10.57 a.m. Another train 31431 UP Sealdah–Naihati Local is now to be rescheduled to 4.50 p.m. and further extended up to Gede as 31933 UP Special leaving Sealdah at 4.50 p.m. and arriving at Gede at 7.38 p.m, providing a crucial evening link for the Nadia district.

Apart from this, a direct corridor between Gede and Majerhat has been created in which, the existing Gede–Ranaghat and Naihati–Majerhat services have been merged into a single, seamless service with the 30144 DN Gede–Majerhat Special, departing Gede at 4.15 p.m. and arriving at Majherhat at 7.28 p.m. Also, to improve evening peak hour management, train number 31333 UP Sealdah–Kalyani Simanta Local is being rescheduled to depart Sealdah at 4.30 p.m. instead of 4.55 p.m. to better manage evening peak traffic.

As learnt from official sources, the divisional railway has also decided to start three new dedicated services for Gede–Ranaghat section. The initiative is aimed at reducing the waiting time between trains and provide better local mobility. Among the three are 31761 UP Ranaghat–Gede EMU Special, 31762 DN Gede–Ranaghat EMU Special and 31764 DN Gede–Ranaghat EMU Special.

Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority (SMPA), Kolkata, organised a daylong discourse on “Legal Issues: Minimising Litigations in Government Organisations” today aboard the historic paddle steamer The Bengal Paddle, sailing from Outram Ghat near the iconic Eden Gardens.

The programme commenced with a welcome address by Devidatta Sathpathy, Chief Vigilance Officer, SMPA, who highlighted the significance of strengthening institutional processes to minimise litigation in government organisations.

This was followed by a keynote address by Samrat Rahi, Deputy Chairperson, SMPA, who emphasised that while litigation may arise in the course of administrative and contractual functions of government organisations, proactive governance practices, transparent procedures, and effective dispute resolution mechanisms can significantly reduce avoidable litigation and improve organisational efficiency.

The panel members shared their perspectives and experiences on various legal and administrative issues faced by government organisations, with discussions focusing on preventive vigilance, clarity in contractual frameworks, strengthening internal decision-making processes, and adoption of effective mechanisms for dispute resolution.

The Trinamul Congress-led government in West Bengal has been accused of misleading the public on the issue of Central funds for rural development schemes, following a response placed in the Lok Sabha.

The issue was raised by Pratima Mondal, MP from the All India Trinamul Congress, to which Union minister of state for rural development Kamlesh Paswan responded in Parliament on 10 March.

Referring to the reply, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista claimed that the Centre’s response had exposed what he described as attempts by the state government to mislead people regarding the stoppage of funds under key rural development schemes.

According to the written reply to Lok Sabha Question No. 2989, funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme were halted on 9 March, 2022, under Section 27 of the MGNREGA Act due to persistent non-compliance by the West Bengal government with required guidelines and procedures.

The funds were stated to have been withheld after the state government failed to submit Action Taken Reports on verified irregularities, which the Centre said was necessary for further releases.

Reacting to the parliamentary response, Mr Bista said that in the Darjeeling hills, leaders aligned with the Trinamul Congress had repeatedly blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party for the stoppage of MGNREGA funds.

The war of words between Siliguri Mayor Goutam Deb of the Trinamul Congress and Siliguri MLA Sankar Ghosh of the BJP continues to intensify ahead of the forthcoming election.

Political observers believe the rivalry may become even more pronounced as both leaders are likely contenders from the Siliguri Assembly segment in the upcoming polls.

On Wednesday, residents witnessed an unusual and somewhat dramatic episode during the diamond jubilee celebrations of Vivekananda School, Siliguri.

Mayor Deb and deputy Mayor Ranjan Sarkar were present as guests at the function and were seated on the dais. However, when MLA Sankar Ghosh arrived at the school premises to attend the programme, the Mayor and his deputy left the stage and moved towards another section of the campus where the mid-day meal was being prepared.

Soon after noticing that the Mayor had left the dais, Sankar Ghosh reportedly chose not to stay at the event. Instead, the MLA, who is also a teacher at the school, quietly left the premises on his scooter and returned home without making any comment to the media present at the venue.

Later, when asked about the incident, Mayor Deb told reporters: “Did Sankar come here? I did not notice him. He should have attended the programme as he is a teacher of this school. I came here as a guest. I moved away from the dais only to avoid the sunlight.”

Interestingly, the same two leaders had shared a cordial moment only a few days ago during the Holi celebrations at a local Basant Utsav programme in Siliguri, where they were seen exchanging colours.

However, political tensions between them have remained high. Over the past several months, Sankar Ghosh has repeatedly criticised the Mayor on several civic and political issues. Recently, he questioned why the Mayor allegedly agreed to welcome the President of India in a manner that, according to him, breached presidential protocol during the visit of Droupadi Murmu.

On Wednesday, the BJP MLA also led party leaders and supporters in a silent protest in Siliguri against recent remarks made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding a “community” issue.

Meanwhile, Mayor Deb on Tuesday criticised the BJP’s Parivartan Yatra, particularly after reports that BJP workers had removed party flags in the Naxalbari area.

Speaking to reporters, the Mayor also posed a series of political questions to Sankar Ghosh. Referring to his ideological shift, Deb said: “My question is to the former ultra-militant Left cadre — why did he change his mind and transform himself into a ‘Red Lotus’? The mystery behind this transition needs to be explained. I raised this ideological question to understand his answer.”

He further added: “I would also like to ask him why, despite being an MLA and having served for five years as a Member of the Mayor-in-Council in the corporation, and now holding the post of Chief Whip, he finished in third position in his own home ward, where he resides, during the corporation election. I would like to know his response on this matter as well.”

Responding to the remarks, Sankar Ghosh briefly said: “I am with the people and will continue to stand with them. I have nothing to say to Gouram Babu.”

West Bengal minister for commerce, industries, child and women welfare, Dr Sashi Panja, today accused the BJP of double standards regarding the coal mafia in the state. Speaking at a press conference at the Trinamul Congress office in Kolkata, she criticised the BJP for appointing alleged coal mafia Joydeb Khan as a permanent invited member of the Asansol South region, producing photocopies of his appointment as evidence.

“We have seen that Joydeb Khan of Andal, West Burdwan district, joined the BJP before the 2021 Assembly election along with the late coal mafia Raju Jha of Durgapur. There are pictures of him receiving Union home minister Amit Shah at KNI Airport in Andal, and also with then Union coal minister Pralhad Joshi at a luxury hotel in Durgapur during his ECL visit. These prove his strong links with top BJP leaders,” she alleged.

Meanwhile, Burdwan district TMC president and Pandaveswar MLA Narendra Nath Chakraborty, along with Jamuria MLA Hare Ram Singh, also addressed a press conference on the same issue, accusing BJP’s central leadership of collusion with coal mafias.

“We are not concerned about which coal mafia has joined the BJP, nor will his inclusion trouble us in the election. But we must expose the BJP’s hypocrisy. They use central agencies to suppress opposition parties while conniving with coal mafias. The CISF, under the Union home ministry, is supposed to guard ECL coal mines. How can coal be stolen from their jurisdiction without their passive support?” Chakraborty alleged.

Hare Ram Singh also displayed photographs of Joydeb Khan receiving Amit Shah at Andal airport and meeting Pralhad Joshi and local BJP MLA Lakhsman Ghorui at a Durgapur hotel. At the time, TMC’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had posted the same images on his official X handle, raising questions about BJP’s links.

The Trinamul attack on Joydeb Khan and the alleged nexus between coal mafias and BJP leadership coincided with an Enforcement Directorate raid on the house of SI Manoranjan Mondal, former Officer-in-Charge of Barabani police station. Mondal was summoned to appear for interrogation in Kolkata on 13 March.

ED officials, accompanied by CRPF personnel, raided Mondal’s residence in City Centre, Durgapur, for five and a half hours, seizing important documents and a printer before leaving. Mondal has evaded ED summons on three previous occasions.

Two inter-state snatchers were caught after a 19-minute dramatic chase by the local police in the town Wednesday afternoon.

A firearm also was seized from their possession.

Police claimed they had been receiving complaints of snatching by miscreants riding a motorcycle, targeting pedestrians, mostly women, in different parts of the city during the day.

Based on these complaints, the New Township police station had already begun an investigation and the CCTV grabs detected the miscreants in a closed factory colony. They were moving slowly on a bike that was bearing a forged registration number, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Subir Roy said.

As the cops rushed in, a chase ensued. During this, one police vehicle suffered substantial damage.

Eventually, both suspects were arrested and taken to the PS. The arrested individuals have been identified as Pramod Goswami, a resident of Jharkhand, and Ajay Kumar of Chittaranjan.

A six-member delegation of the indigenous Kurmi community, led by their chief spokesperson (Mool Manta) Ajit Prasad Mahato, met Union home minister Amit Shah at Parliament House on Monday afternoon to discuss community issues.

The meeting has triggered speculation in Purulia’s political circles, with many suggesting it could secure the Kurmi vote bank for the BJP ahead of the Assembly election.

During the discussions, the home minister was presented with three key demands: recognition of the Kurmi tribe as Scheduled Tribe, inclusion of the Kurmali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, and a separate code for the Sarna religion. The Kurmi representatives said Mr Shah has assured them, though some leaders believe none of these can be fulfilled before the election.

Since the state government has not recommended tribal status for the Kurmi community, that demand cannot be met immediately. Inclusion of Kurmali in the Eighth Schedule and a separate Sarna code would require parliamentary approval, which is unlikely before the next Monsoon Session.

Ajit Prasad Mahato stated: “Merely giving assurances will not suffice. We must ensure that the demands are implemented. Only then will we support the BJP in the polls.”

In October last year and February this year, Mahato had publicly declared “No vote to TMC” at community events, while conditioning BJP support on the Centre’s action to include Kurmali in the Eighth Schedule. The state government has since approached the Centre on this matter and sent a fresh reminder regarding Sarna.

Meanwhile, the political equations in Jangalmahal have shifted further after Kurmi leader Rajesh Mahato, once a prominent agitator and now chief advisor of the Kurmi community in West Bengal, joined the BJP. Within a week, Ajit Prasad Mahato met Rajesh Mahato and then directly engaged with the home minister, fuelling speculation of a pre-poll alliance. Purulia BJP MP and state general secretary Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato also attended the meeting.

The state government has already set up a Kurmi Bhawan, underscoring the community’s significance. With 50-60 per cent of Purulia’s population belonging to the Kurmi community, all major political parties are vying for their support in the upcoming elections.

The Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) authorities in Siliguri have initiated a wide-ranging investigation into several works contractors engaged in executing government infrastructure projects over alleged irregular utilisation of Input Tax Credit (ITC) running into crores of rupees.

According to sources familiar with the development, the probe is focused on certain business practices adopted by principal contractors who secure high-value infrastructure contracts from government departments and project authorities but subsequently subcontract a substantial portion of the execution work to smaller contractors.

Reliable sources said the CGST Commissionerate in Siliguri has already issued letters and summons to more than 40 works contractors as part of the ongoing investigation. In one of the cases under scrutiny, the potential tax liability has reportedly been estimated at nearly Rs 1,000 crore.

Officials said investigation and quantification of liabilities in other cases are still in progress.

The probe seeks to determine whether contractual arrangements were structured to project the principal contractor as the executor of the works contract while, in reality, the entire execution, procurement of materials and deployment of labour were carried out by subcontractors.

Departmental sources indicated that in several instances the role of the principal contractor was largely limited to securing the contract, coordinating with the project owner and raising invoices, while the subcontractor undertook the entire execution at the project site.

According to preliminary findings, subcontractors procured construction materials in their own name, bore the cost of labour, machinery and consumables, and assumed the full commercial and operational risks associated with the work.

Despite this operational reality, invoices were allegedly structured to portray the principal contractor as the entity executing the works contract, creating what officials described as a mismatch between the contractual form and the commercial substance of the transaction.

Investigators believe such arrangements may have resulted in improper characterisation of supplies under the CGST framework and the availment of input tax credit that may not be legally admissible.

Under Section 2(119) of the CGST Act, a works contract refers to a contract involving construction, fabrication, completion, erection, installation or commissioning of immovable property where transfer of property in goods occurs during execution of the contract.

However, according to the department’s analysis, in cases under scrutiny the principal contractor did not materially invest in goods or construction inputs. Instead, materials were procured and consumed directly by the subcontractor during execution of the project.

Once incorporated into the structure, these materials cease to exist as movable property and become part of the immovable property under the legal principle of accretion.

Officials involved in the investigation believe that in such circumstances, the transfer of property in goods effectively takes place at the level of the subcontractor and not at the level of the principal contractor.

If established, this could have significant implications for the eligibility of ITC claimed by the principal contractor.

Under Section 17(5) ( c ) and (d) of the CGST Act, input tax credit is restricted in respect of works contract services and goods or services used for construction of immovable property when such construction is undertaken on one’s own account.

The law provides an exception where works contract services are used for the further supply of works contract services. However, officials indicated that in the cases under investigation, the principal contractor may not qualify for this exception if it is established that no actual works contract service involving transfer of property in goods was supplied by them.

The department is also examining whether amounts collected as tax from contractees were deposited with the government in accordance with statutory provisions.

Section 76 of the CGST Act stipulates that any person who collects an amount as representing tax must deposit it with the government, irrespective of whether the amount was actually required to be collected under the law. Failure to do so may attract interest and penal consequences.

After five weeks, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today carried out another raid at the residence of a police officer in Durgapur, seizing substantial documents linked to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The officer, Monoranjan Mondal of the Special Branch, Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate, has been absconding and repeatedly ignored ED notices for interrogation for over a month. A seven-member team of officials affixed a summons to the gate of his house in the City Centre locality and left after six hours.

The ED has directed Mondal to appear at its Kolkata regional headquarters on 13 March at 12.30 p.m. with details of all entities owned by him and his family, complete bank transaction records, and copies of his income tax returns.

On 3 February, the ED raided Mondal’s residence within a week of his appointment as Officer-in-Charge of Budbud police station under the Commissionerate. He was absent during that raid as well. Mondal is accused of large-scale pilferage and trafficking of national resources such as coal and sand during his tenure as Officer-in-Charge of Barabani police station near Asansol.

The ED also acted against Mondal and sand mafia Prabir Dutta at City Centre on 3 February, alongside raids at several other locations in Jamuria, Panagarh and Pandaveswar in West Burdwan, linked to illegal coal and sand mining.

Sources said officials seized cash worth more than Rs 70 lakh, packed in three gunny bags, from the house of brothers Amit and Sumit Bansal in Jamuria Hattalla Morh. The brothers were allegedly involved in transferring proceeds from illegal mining through hawala channels to remote recipients. The sleuths also raided the homes of two other traffickers ~ Kiran Khan at Bakhtiarnagar near Raniganj and Sheikh Maizul at Nabagram in Pandaveswar.

Today, the ED carried a printer device to copy documents connected to “secret unauthorised transactions” linked to trafficking.

Tension gripped Gangasagar in South 24-Parganas on Wednesday morning after a local BJP leader was shot at by unidentified assailants near Sreedham bus stand under the Gangasagar Coastal police station area.

According to police sources, the injured leader has been identified as Trilokesh Dhali. The incident occurred around 8 a.m. when two miscreants allegedly arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire at him before fleeing the spot. Police said the bullet hit Dhali in the chest, leaving him seriously injured. He collapsed on the road in a pool of blood soon after the attack. Local residents rushed to the spot and rescued him before taking him to Sagar Rural Hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment.

The motive behind the attack is yet to be ascertained and no arrests have been made so far, police said. An investigation has been initiated and search operations are underway to trace the assailants. The incident sparked tension in the area as several hundred BJP workers and supporters staged a protest and blockade soon after the news of the attack spread. The agitators demanded immediate arrest of those responsible for the shooting. Dhali’s son, Tridip Dhali, alleged that the attack was carried out by criminals backed by the ruling Trinamul Congress. He claimed that the area had not witnessed such criminal activities in the past but recently anti-social elements had become more active.

Tridip further alleged that the attack could be linked to the upcoming Assembly elections. According to him, his father was a potential candidate from the BJP and might have received the party’s nomination for the forthcoming polls. “This is a conspiracy by Trinamul to eliminate him politically,” he alleged. However, the Trinamul Congress dismissed the allegation and claimed that the incident was the outcome of factional rivalry within the BJP. Party leaders said their supporters had no role in the attack.

The police have stepped up patrolling in the area to prevent any further escalation of tension. Officers said all angles, including political rivalry and personal enmity, are being examined as part of the investigation.

Telangana Jagruthi Founder K Kavitha launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the demolition of houses in Khammam, questioning how the state government dared to enter private property and evict poor people. She demanded that the Congress government resign and ask for forgiveness from the people of Telangana.
Kavitha posed several questions directly to Rahul Gandhi regarding the actions of the Congress government in the state.

“I have one question for Rahul Gandhi: Why did your government in Telangana evacuate landowners? How dare your government enter into private property? How dare your government demolish the houses of poor people? And how dare your ministers lie to the people of Telangana so blatantly for the whole world to see?” Kavitha said while addressing a gathering here.

She questioned the meaning of Rahul Gandhi carrying the Constitution around, stating it is not an ornament but something to be lived by in spirit. She said if the Congress party lacks the spirit, the government should immediately resign.
“What is the meaning of you carrying a constitution? Parading it around, it is not an ornament. It is to be lived by in spirit. And if the Congress party today is lacking the spirit, then I believe your government should immediately resign and ask for forgiveness from the people of Telangana,” she said.

Kavitha emphasised that what happened in Khammam is not a small issue but a very big and huge issue.
“What happened in Khammam is not a small issue. It is a very big issue. It is a huge issue. If you are not going to reprimand your government very seriously on this, and if you are not going to give us confidence in the people of Telangana, that the constitution that you carry has some bearing and meaning on your conscious self, then you will see many more incidents like this in Telangana,” she warned.

“Unfortunately, you are dependent on this government; we understand that. But this is not the way to treat the people of Telangana,” Kavitha concluded.
The criticism comes in the wake of house demolitions in Khammam’s Velugumatla area, where Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President KT Rama Rao has alleged that houses belonging to nearly 1,000 families were demolished allegedly for the benefit of benamis of three ministers.

KTR has alleged that the Congress government is committing large-scale atrocities across the state, citing incidents such as the actions of HYDRA in Hyderabad, issues involving the disabled in Mahabubnagar, and house demolitions in Lagacharla and Khammam.
The opposition parties have demanded that the state government provide house site pattas to every family whose homes were demolished anywhere in the state.
Meanwhile, K Kavitha has continued her indefinite hunger strike demanding house site allocations for the victims of Velugumatla.

In another stern warning, Iran cautioned vessels planning to sail through the Strait of Hormuz to obtain approval from Iran, or they could become a target of attacks. The commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Naval Force, Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, claimed that two ships were targeted in the Strait on Wednesday as they disregarded Iran’s warnings.

The warning from the Iranian general surfaced after crews of the vessels Express Rome and Mayuree Naree were caught crossing the Strait without obtaining Iran’s permission. He said, “Were the ships assured of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz? This should be asked of the crews of the vessels Express Rome and Mayuree Naree, who today, trusting in empty promises, ignored the warnings and intended to cross the Strait, but were caught. Any vessel intending to pass must obtain permission from Iran.”

Also read: ‘BEWARE! Remove them or face consequences’: Trump’s stark warning to Iran over Hormuz mines

Safe passage for neutral ships

Iran reiterated that ships not involved in serving the interests of the United States and Israel will be allowed to sail through the Strait of Hormuz safely.

The restrictions imposed by Iran became stringent on the passage of ships through the strategically crucial waterway as the United States and Israel continue to strike Iran as part of their ongoing military operation.

Strategic importance of the Strait

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. 

Over 20 million barrels of crude oil pass on an everyday basis through the narrow route separating the Iranian coast from Oman. The amount is equal to nearly one-fifth of global oil consumption and around a quarter of all seaborne oil trade.

A major portion of the liquefied natural gas consumed globally also sails through the same passage.

Any disruptions to traffic through the passage can have a drastic impact on financial markets, supply chains, and household budgets around the world.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said the conflict in West Asia can end only if Iran’s rights are acknowledged and strong international assurances are put in place to prevent future attacks.

The remarks come as the confrontation in the region entered its 13th day, with tensions remaining high and both sides continuing military operations.

Speaking about his conversations with the presidents of Russia and Pakistan, Pezeshkian said Iran remains committed to peace and stability in the region but insisted that the war must end on terms that guarantee Iran’s security.

“In contact with the presidents of the governments of Russia and Pakistan, while announcing the Islamic Republic’s commitment to peace and tranquility in the region, I emphasized that the only way to end the war that began with the warmongering of the Zionist regime and America is the acceptance of Iran’s indisputable rights, payment of reparations, and a firm international obligation to prevent their aggression from recurring,” Pezeshkian said.

Also Read: US-Israel-Iran Live Updates

Iran claims large-scale civilian damage

Iranian state media reported extensive damage to civilian infrastructure since the start of the conflict.

Citing Mojtaba Khaledi, spokesperson for the Red Crescent Society, Iranian media said that 19,734 non-military buildings had been hit during the attacks. Of these, 16,291 were residential units.

The reports also said that 77 medical centres and 16 Red Crescent facilities were among the sites affected.

IRGC says 40th wave of strikes carried out

Earlier, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had launched the 40th phase of Operation True Promise 4, describing it as a new round of retaliatory strikes against hostile targets.

According to the IRGC, missiles including Emad, Kheibar Shekan, Qadr, and Fattah were fired during the operation.

The Corps said the attacks were conducted alongside fighters from Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement.

The IRGC claimed that missile launches from Iran towards Israel had increased significantly over the past day and that Israeli casualties had risen sharply.

“As Zionist regime media sources themselves have admitted and confirmed, the launch of missiles from Iran towards Israel has increased noticeably over the past 24 hours, and Zionist casualties have risen exponentially,” the IRGC stated.

It also said the latest strikes targeted US military facilities in the region, including bases at al-Azraq in Jordan and al-Kharj in Saudi Arabia.

The IRGC further blamed the escalation of the conflict on what it described as the actions of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

With the conflict continuing into its second week, neither side has indicated any willingness to step back.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami denied holding alliance talks with actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), stating that no such discussions have taken place and the media is spreading speculation.

Speaking to reporters at a private hotel here after attending the NDA public meeting held in the city, Palaniswami clarified that his meeting with Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and L Murugan did not involve discussions about seat-sharing.
When asked whether AIADMK was holding alliance talks with Vijay’s party, Palaniswami denied it, stating that no such discussions had taken place and that the media was spreading speculation.

Responding to a question on whether the talks with Union Ministers were about seat allocation, he said they only discussed election-related work, adding that the leadership would inform them about constituencies when the time comes.
On a question regarding alleged pressure on Vijay through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), he said it was a matter concerning them, and they would deal with it themselves. He added that many cases are filed against political leaders, and they face them legally in court.

Commenting on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin accusing the Centre of not doing anything for the state, Palaniswami said Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces several development projects every time he visits Tamil Nadu. He noted that multiple schemes have been launched and foundation stones laid for development works, including upgrading Madurai Airport to an international airport.

He added that the Prime Minister had also highlighted the shortcomings of the current state government.
Responding to Stalin’s remark that the upcoming election would be a contest between Delhi and Tamil Nadu, Palaniswami said such statements indicate that the Chief Minister lacks confidence.
“The upcoming election is a Tamil Nadu Assembly election, where AIADMK is the principal opposition. The AIADMK government had delivered a ‘golden period of governance,’ and Stalin makes such remarks because he cannot directly confront AIADMK politically,” Palaniswami said.
When asked about the release of the party’s next election manifesto, Palaniswami replied that it would be announced later.

He also criticised the alliance between Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Indian National Congress (INC), saying the two parties had been at odds for nearly 20 days, but the media did not highlight it. He alleged that media discussions are often held whenever AIADMK makes even minor remarks.

Palaniswami expressed confidence that the AIADMK-led alliance would perform strongly in the elections and said the party would form the government on its own.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly elections are scheduled for the first half of 2026, with political parties across the spectrum ramping up their campaign activities and finalising seat-sharing arrangements within their respective alliances

Lok Sabha MP John Brittas has criticised the foreign policy of the Union government, alleging that they have effectively become a “cheerleader” for Israel and the USA while the country faces a commercial LPG cylinder supply disruption.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) MP asserted that despite opposition parties having forewarned the government about the looming commercial LPG cylinder shortage, the administration maintained a concerning silence on the matter.

“We had foreseen this crisis, and we had told this government that they should intervene positively. We had already said that for this war, the Indians would have to pay an additional tax. But unfortunately, there was a criminal silence on the part of this government. Effectively, this government became a cheerleader for Israel and the US. It’s an unfortunate part,” Brittas told reporters.

He further accused the government of remaining silent on the actions taken by the US and Israel amidst rising tensions with Iran, claiming that India has effectively bartered away the immense goodwill it had previously cultivated on the global stage.

“On one count, the government was not prepared for this crisis, although the Prime Minister was in Israel just 48 hours before the strike started. The second thing is that India bartered the goodwill it had. It has kept mum, silent, effectively, implicitly supporting the unilateral action of Israel and the US. We feel that the government has been guilty of all these crises that have landed on the people of this country,” added Brittas.
Meanwhile, the commercial LPG shortage is currently affecting hotels and restaurants nationwide, with many establishments forced to suspend operations. In response to the crisis, the Union government has formed a three-member committee, comprising executive directors from state-run oil marketing companies, to address industry grievances and prioritise domestic LPG supply.

The Bangalore Hotels Association issued a formal notice stating, “The supply of gas cylinders for commercial use has been stopped from today. Essential services like senior citizens, students, and hospitals rely on it. Immediate action is expected from Union Ministers to resume commercial gas supply.”

Similar disruptions have been reported across major cities, including a temporary halt in commercial cylinder distribution in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Addressing the operational changes, National Vice President of the LPG Association RK Gupta confirmed that commercial cylinders have not been issued since yesterday, except for hospitals and educational institutions.

Furthermore, to curb hoarding and ensure equitable distribution, the government has mandated a new 25-day inter-booking period for domestic LPG refills.
“The next booking will be allowed after a 25-day inter-booking period to avoid hoarding, and there is no shortage as claimed by oil companies,” he said.
The Coimbatore District Hoteliers’ Association (CDHA) issued a formal warning on Tuesday, urgently calling upon the government to take immediate steps to ensure an uninterrupted supply of fuel to the hospitality sector.

Balachandar Raju, Secretary of the Coimbatore District Hoteliers’ Association, said restaurants in the city have been struggling to operate due to the limited availability of LPG cylinders over the past several days. He noted that the shortage is not confined to Tamil Nadu but is being experienced across the country.
“For the past 10-12 days, the whole nation has been facing LPG shortage issues, and our city is facing the same problem. We have no fuel to run the restaurant. The whole of India is troubled by this LPG shortage,” Raju said.
According to Raju, authorities have informed industry representatives that domestic supply and essential services have been given priority in the current situation.
“The government needs to intervene and ensure the supply of LPG for the basic needs of people. We have presented this issue to both the Tamil Nadu government and the central government. Our association has met with ministers to discuss the problem. They have stated that they won’t be able to supply commercial cylinders for commercial purposes and have prioritised domestic use, as well as for hospitals, educational sectors, and crematoriums,” he added.
Raju hopes for the situation to be rectified soon. He cautioned that the industry expects to grapple with this supply shortage for at least another 30 days.
“We hope the issue will be rectified soon. Even though the vessels start from the port now, it might take another 20 days to sail and reach our country. Then, there is a process of converting crude oil to LPG, which will take another week’s time. We expect to face this issue for another 30 days,” he said.

The Security Council has adopted a resolution cosponsored by India condemning “in the strongest terms” Iran’s attacks on its neighbours in the Middle East.

The resolution sailed through the Council on Wednesday (local time) after Russia and China, in a surprise move, refrained from vetoing it despite their misgivings.

With those two countries abstaining, it received the votes of the other 13 members of the Council.

Moscow’s and Beijing’s abstentions on the resolution that had the cosponsorship of 135 countries showed Iran’s isolation after it attacked the Gulf neighbours, and Jordan, not directly involved, created an energy crisis affecting economies around the world.

Russia’s Permanent Representative told reporters that although Moscow considered the resolution “biased and one-sided”, it did not veto it because “we recognise that the Gulf countries suffer”.

“What suffers is not just the American bases that are located in these countries, but civilians and civilian infrastructure, which we do not appreciate,” he said.

A rival resolution brought by Russia, calling for an immediate end to the escalation of the conflict and condemning all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, but without naming any country, failed because it did not get the minimum nine votes it needed.

Pakistan joined China, Russia, and Somalia in voting for the resolution, while nine countries abstained.

The negative vote of the US did not amount to a veto since it died without the minimum votes. Latvia also voted against it.

The resolution that was adopted demanded that Iran immediately stop the attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.

It was silent on the US and Israel, who started the current conflict by striking Iran.

Tehran extended its counterstrike to the Gulf countries and Jordan, even though they had not themselves joined the attacks, while some of them host US military bases.

Bahrain’s Permanent Representative Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, who proposed the resolution and corralled one of the highest numbers of cosponsors, told the Council, “The international community is resolute in rejecting these Iranian unjust, hostile acts that are targeting sovereign countries and that threaten the stability of their peoples”.

He said his country did not participate in the US-Israel attacks on Iran, but Iran had turned on it.

Iran’s Permanent Representative Amir-Saeid Iravani questioned the Council’s credibility after it passed the resolution.

“This resolution is a manifest injustice against my country, the main victim of a clear act of aggression,” he said.

“Today’s adoption is a serious setback to the Council’s credibility and leaves a lasting stain on its record,” he added, pointing to US Permanent Representative Mike Waltz presiding over the meeting despite being the country that is an aggressor.

The US got the presidency for the month solely because it was its alphabetical turn.

Israel’s Permanent Representative Danny Danon said, “The Islamic regime is firing on the countries of the region out of desperation, because it understands that the world has already recognised its true face.”

“Tehran is trying to export terror and destruction, but even the Security Council is running out of patience with Iranian aggression,” he added.

Waltz said, “The atrocities that we’re seeing, the deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure, on ports, on airports, on energy production facilities, on hotels, on resorts across the Gulf are unacceptable.”

He added, “We urge Iran to hear the voice of the council, of this resolution that saw no opposition today and of the entire international community”.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in)