Israel’s top military officer on Thursday (local time) issued a stark warning about the country’s armed forces, saying mounting operational pressure and a deepening shortage of personnel could push the system to a breaking point.

The concern comes at a time when the Israeli military is stretched across prolonged operations in West Asia, with officials repeatedly flagging a shortage of thousands of troops. The concern has now moved to the top levels of government, with growing pressure to quickly change policy and plug the gap.

Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), raised the alarm during a recent security cabinet meeting, according to The Times of Israel, citing Channel 13 News.

“I am raising 10 red flags before you,” Zamir told ministers, underlining what he described as serious risks to the army’s preparedness.

Push for urgent laws as manpower gap widens

Zamir called for immediate legislative steps, including new laws on conscription, reserve duty, and extending mandatory military service. Without these steps, he warned, even day-to-day military work could become difficult, and the reserve system may start to weaken.

This is not the first time the issue has been flagged. Earlier this year, Zamir had written to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials, cautioning that the shortage of personnel could soon begin to affect operational readiness.

According to reports, the military currently faces a shortfall of around 12,000 troops. The gap has widened since the Gaza war began after the October 7 attacks in 2023, placing sustained pressure on active forces and reserves.

The situation has also become politically sensitive. Ultra-Orthodox parties are pushing to retain exemptions from military service for their communities. This comes despite a 2024 ruling by Israel’s High Court, which said there was no legal basis for the long-standing exemption granted to Haredi yeshiva students.

Estimates suggest that nearly 80,000 ultra-Orthodox men aged between 18 and 24 are eligible for service but have not joined the military.

As the conflict triggered by the February 28 US-Israel strikes on Iran entered its 28th day on March 27, pressure built across multiple fronts, with Israel’s military chief warning of internal strain, Washington extending its pause on strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure, and the UN nuclear watchdog raising concern over reported attacks near Iran’s Bushehr plant.

The day also saw fresh claims of Iranian strikes on Haifa and US-linked targets in the Gulf, confirmation from Israel and CENTCOM on the killing of IRGC Navy chief Alireza Tangsiri, renewed diplomatic messaging through intermediaries, and growing international focus on the Strait of Hormuz as a military and energy flashpoint.

Live updates: Iran-Israel-US conflict | 27 March 2026

The Bihar government on Thursday signed an agreement with Noida-bases IT company Corporate Infotech Private Limited (CIPL) at Beltron Bhawan in Patna for the ambitious ‘Bihar-One’ project.

Bihar-One, a transformative intiative to give governance and administration a new dimension and bring it closer to the people, is scheduled to go live in July 2026.

According to the state government, BiharOne is not just a government initiative, but a visionary step aimed at making life simpler, faster, and more transparent through technology.

With BiharOne, the NDA-ruled is moving towards becoming a leader in the field of e-governance services in the country.

The state government has awarded a contract worth Rs 87 crore to CIPL under the Bihar-One project.

What is Bihar One?

Bihar One is an integrated digital platform being designed to make access to government services easier for people.

Citizens will no longer have to stand in long queues or make repeated visits to government offices. It brings multiple government services onto a single platform, enabling citizens to avail services from the comfort of their homes.

Tasks that earlier took days or weeks can now be completed in a much shorter time, with greater transparency and ease.

The most important aspect of this initiative is its citizen-centric approach. BiharOne helps a farmer apply for schemes directly from his field, a student obtain certificates without delay, and families access government benefits on time.

Through integration with the Bihar Common Social Registry, it ensures that citizens do not have to repeatedly submit the same information.

Under Bihar-One, a chatbot in the local language will also be made available to assist citizens in accessing services easily.

The project will simplify, speed up, and enhance the effectiveness of service delivery by the government.

The establishment of a modern development centre in Patna is also seen as a significant step in this direction, helping the city evolve into a centre of technology and innovation.

“BiharOne is not only a means of administrative reform but is also emerging as a powerful driver of economic development,” the govt said.

With the expansion of this project, new opportunities are being created for youth in fields such as software development, data analytics, and artificial intelligence.

The initiative is not only generating employment but also providing young people in Bihar with opportunities to build their future within the state.

Through real-time data and analytics, the government can also formulate better policies, monitor schemes, and ensure that benefits reach the right people at the right time.

This approach not only enhances transparency but also strengthens trust between the government and citizens.

Under the guidance of Beltron, BiharOne is bringing RTPS and non-RTPS services onto a single platform to create a comprehensive and inclusive digital system, ensuring that no citizen is left behind in the journey of development.

Following Iran’s rejection of the 15-point American proposal to end the war, US President Donald Trump on Thursday warned that the US will be Tehran’s “biggest nightmare” if the country doesn’t agree to negotiate a peace deal to end the ongoing war.

“If they don’t, we’re their worst nightmare,” Trump said. “We’ll just keep blowing them away. Unimpeded, unstopped.”

His remarks came during a White House Cabinet meeting and are seen as contradicting his repeated claims that Iran is begging to make a deal.

Earlier today, Trump had told Iran that it should “better get serious soon” and come to the negotiation table “before it’s too late”.

The US President said that Iranian negotiators are “different and strange” as they are “begging” the US to make a deal but publicly state that they are only looking at the US proposal.

“They better get serious soon, before it is too late, because once that happens, there is NO TURNING BACK, and it won’t be pretty,” he said on social media.

Trump aide confirms 15-point White House proposal to Iran

Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff has also confirmed that the US has sent Iran a “15-point action list that forms the framework for a peace deal”.

He said that the proposal has been circulated through the Pakistani government.

He, however, refused to share the details of the proposal, saying the US will “maintain confidentiality on the specific terms” and “not negotiate through the news media”.

Iran has reportedly rejected the US proposal and laid down its own five conditions to end the war. The Iranian conditions, according to state media, included reparations and sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

The Orissa High Court has directed an officer of state’s Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department to pay Rs 1 lakh as penalty to a petitioner for inordinate delay in obeying court order stating that “it exhibits scant respect for the orders of the Constitutional Court, if no respect at all”.

The Division Bench of Justice Krishna Shripad Dixit and Justice Chittaranjan Dash, in an order, stated that “this is a case of criminal brooking of delay by the contemnor (Manoj Kumar Pattnaik, Under Secretary-cum-Deputy Secretary (In-Charge) to Government, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department).

A Coordinate Bench of this Court had earlier on 18 December 2024 had asked the Deputy Secretary, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department, Government of Odisha to communicate it with the petitioner Debasish Nayak within two weeks of taking the decision.

The Deputy Secretary had however taken the decision belatedly on 19 February 2026 and a copy thereof is served on the Complainant on 23 February 2026.

“The conduct of the Contemnor is contumacious to say the least. It exhibits scant respect for the orders of the Constitutional Court, if no respect at all. That cannot go unscathed at our hands. Such an attitude has to be curbed by iron hands, making the Contemnor to pay heavily from his pocket”, the Division Bench noted in the order.

In the above circumstances, although the contempt proceedings are dropped, the Contemnor shall pay a sum of Rs one lakh to the complainant from his pocket for the criminal delay brooked in the matter within four weeks, failing which additional sum of Rs.500 shall be payable per day’s delay for the first month and Rs 1000 for the days next following, the judgment concluded.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a sharp criticism of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday criticized , described him “as a person who never learns from his acts and lacks proper perspective and understanding of various issues”.

Vijayan called the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha a person who “never learns from his acts” or past experiences, suggesting a lack of political evolution.

Addressing a press conference in Kochi on Thursday, he said Rahul Gandhi is a person who does not learn whether he sees or hears and that he is “torpedoing the Opposition alliance against the BJP” and “aiding the BJP to gain power” in a some states, including Bihar, Delhi and Rajasthan.

The Kerala CM said though a national leader of the Congress, Rahul Gandhi “does not even match up to the local leaders of his party in terms of his competence to comprehend various issues.”

“Rahul Gandhi and Congress are working as BJP’s B team. Rahul Gandhi is taking an approach of helping the BJP everywhere. When a member of Arvind Kejriwal’s cabinet was arrested in Delhi, Rahul asked why Kejriwal was not arrested. Later, when the court acquitted Kejriwal, not only the BJP but also Rahul Gandhi got a slap in the face,” Pinarayi Vijayan said.
Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday, had said that Opposition leaders across the country were attacked and cases registered against them for fighting against the BJP. However, the corruption cases against Pinarayi Vijayan were going nowhere and this was an indication of the collusion between the LDF and the BJP.

Responding to CM Vijayan’s criticism against the leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Congress leader V D Satheesan alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is targeting Rahul Gandhi to get into the good books of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

A three-member delegation of Trinamul Congress visited the office of the Chief Electoral Officer today with their grievances and a plea to daily publication of supplementary electoral rolls.

The delegation comprised ministers Chandrima Bhattacharya, Dr Shashi Panja and MP Bapi Haldar.

The delegation pointed out a series of irregularities in the conduct of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The letter mentioned that on the night of 24 February, following the publication of the first supplementary list, on the Election Commission’s Voters’ Service Portal, all voters, irrespective of their actual status, were uniformly marked as “under adjudication” or “deleted.

They mentioned that on 23 March, the WB CEO had said in a Press conference that 29 lakh cases had been cleared by Judicial Officers and would be reflected in the first supplementary roll to be released the same night. However, the rolls released so far account for only 7.5 lakh voters, indicating that a significant portion of cleared cases remains unreflected, and that the complete supplementary rolls are yet to be published by the ECI.

They pointed out the absence of any clear roadmap regarding the functioning and accessibility of appellate tribunals. The TMC also questions the appointment of police observers. They pointed out a conflict of interest with the police observer assigned to Manikchak in Malda, who has family relations with the BJP.

They put a plea for a public clarification on the misclassification of voters on the Voters’ Service Portal, daily publication of supplementary electoral rolls, and transparency in roll revisions.

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Thursday said that the press statements issued by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bhardwaj are becoming increasingly absurd day-by-day. His aim is no longer to raise people’s issues, but merely to stay in news.

Sachdeva said that, in typical style, Bhardwaj objected to calling the 2026-27 budget of the Delhi government a “Green Budget”, which he said is laughable as it reflects the leader’s administrative and political ignorance.

He said that the governments in Delhi have always spent on health and education. However, Arvind Kejriwal, without constructing new school buildings or starting new hospitals, promoted his government’s education and health budgets every year as revolutionary. Now that the BJP government has claimed a “Green Budget”, Bhardwaj is engaging in childish opposition, Sachdeva alleged.

The Delhi BJP chief added that every government creates budget heads under which allocations are made, and following the same system, the current Delhi government has included expenditures on improving roads through the Public Works Department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, along with projects such as RRTS, promotion of e-buses and electric vehicles, and initiatives like the pink ticket scheme, under the “Green Budget” head.

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said despite the alert sounded by Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, the Modi government has yet again failed to prepare well in time to handle the situation arising in the country from the fallout of Middle East war and positioning India well in the emergent global scenario.

Talking to the media at the Sanganer airport here Thursday afternoon, Gehlot observed that international situation turned too fragile, not much conducive to India’s diplomatic position in a suddenly changed world scenario.

It really saddens to note that a country like Pakistan that was made to bite the dust thrice in 1965 Indo Pak war, 1971 Bangla war and 1999 Kargil Conflict-, with poor global standing is boosting itself as facilitator for peace talks where as India’s diplomatic handling is not as flaw free as it has been known for, in the world, the 3 time CM and multi-term former MP quipped.

It is evident even in the context of present reference on Pakistan, Gehlot said, adding, “External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar’s remark on Pakistan doesn’t reflect on his diplomatic acumen. “This is unfortunate on the part of the external affairs minister to make such an inappropriate remark”, he said quoting Jaishankar as saying “Vo (Pakistan) Dalali Ka Kaam Kar Raha Hei”.

“As far as I understand, no external affairs minister (of any country) could make such a comment against a nation”, maybe it was his slip of tongue.

Even if it was a slip of tongue, he should accept it and say sorry for it or the nation should deplore him for it. What Dalali, how can he say so. Then what is wrong if Pak or someone else offers for mediation for peace. Such an offer should always be welcome irrespective of size, intent and standing of the country or any entity.

Gehlot also took serious exception to the US President Donald Trumps for the latter’s (whimsical) references of Prime Minister Modi. Sometimes he says Modi is my friend then suddenly he (belittles) ModiJi, saying he is indulged in appeasing me..; I can finish Modi’s political career,” Gehlot stated. “I have never heard the president of a country making such remarks against the prime minister or president of another nation,” he said, observing “this too does not reflect on the strength of our country’s diplomacy”.

At the domestic front the situation of the emerging crisis in availability and supply of oil and petroleum products that arose in the aftermath of the war has exposed the country or the government as unprepared. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi accepted this in parliament.

Now, the PM has no option but to take the nation and its people, in confidence, to collectively face and deal with the situation, Gehlot said.

Ironically, LoP Lok Sabha Gandhi has as usual alerted the government well in time over the emerging situation, but the Modi Government as usual did not listen to him.

The electoral landscape for 2026 Kerala assembly elections has been finalized with the conclusion of the period for the withdrawal nominations on Thursday.

After the deadline for withdrawal, a total of 890 candidates remained in the fray for the polls from the 140 assembly constituencies in the state scheduled to go to polls on April 9. The highest number of candidates are in the Koduvally poll fray with 13 candidates contesting from there.

In the 2021 assembly elections, a total of 957 candidates were in the fray across the state. While six candidates contested from Manjeswaram, 11 are in the fray this time. There are 11 candidates each from the Peravoor, Manjeswaram and Thiruvananthapuram Central constituencies this time. There are 10 candidates each for the Nemom, Changanassera, Kalamassery, Manalur and Perambra constituencies. Mananthavady, where only three fronts are contesting, is a constituency with the least candidates.

Many candidates were disappointed after not getting the symbol they expected. UDF’s independent candidate in Vadakara, KK Rema was not allotted the football symbol. The explanation given is that it is the symbol of a political party in Goa. Rema was allotted the television symbol instead. UDF independent candidate G Sudhakaran was allotted a coconut tree symbol in Ambalapuzha seat. LDF’s independent candidate NMR Razak in Palakkad got the jug symbol. LDF independent candidate Ahmed Devarkovil in Kozhikode South did not get the glass symbol, instead he got the bucket as a symbol.

Ahmed Devarkovil had started his campaign by printing posters and using the glass symbol. UDF candidate PV Anwar in Beypore got a gas cylinder as his symbol. In Elathur, LDF candidate AK Saseendran was not allowed the clock symbol. The clock symbol that AK Saseendran contested in the last three elections was given to Ajith Power faction candidate PK Saseendran this time. UDF candidate CP John in Thiruvananthapuram Central was given a ship as his symbol and LDF candidate Sudheer Karamana was given a camera as his symbol. Independent candidate V Kunhikrishnan in Payyannur got an electric post as his symbol. Independent candidate TK Govindan in Taliparamba got a gas cylinder as his symbol.

Domestic air service from Dehradun to Pithoragarh was formally started on Thursday with the inaugural flight of 42 seater chopper flagged off by the Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The service will reduce the travel time between Dehradun to the Kumaon hills in Pithoragarh from current 8-9 hours go one and half hour.

The long-awaited air service between Dehradun and Pithoragarh was inaugurated by Dhami amid the ongoing navratri festivity. Flagging off the 42-seater chopper, he said, “Introduction of air service to Pithoragarh will reduce the travel time between the two cities to just one hour. This service also holds immense strategic importance for the region.”

“There was a time when air travel was considered a luxury limited only to the elite and wealthy persons. However in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, even a common citizen can now afford to fly.”

Attributing the success of domestic air services to the Centre-sponsored UDAN Scheme 2016, the Chief minister said it was launched to revolutionise civil aviation by connecting small towns, remote areas and international border regions of the country. The scheme ensures that afforable air services is available to the masses.

Dhami emphasised that for a mountainous region like Uttarakhand, domestic air service is not a mere means of transportation but a lifeline. It’s proving to be highly effective, ranging from delivering essential supplies to inaccessible remote areas to transportation of critically ill patients for speedy medical help.

According to Dhami, currently, 26 air routes are operational in the state under UDAN. Launched in 2023 flights are operational on six domestic air routes under this state-led project of the UDAN. Dhami added strength of helipads expanded from 60 to 118 in the last four years under UDAN.

A shortage of bitumen and a steep rise in its price have begun to strain road and infrastructure works across Jharkhand, with industry bodies warning that the disruption could delay projects, inflate costs and hit contractors already operating under fixed-rate contracts.

Industry representatives said the situation had become increasingly difficult due to irregular supply, rising transportation costs and the absence of adequate bulk storage and distribution infrastructure within the state.

FJCCI president Aditya Malhotra said the price of bitumen had risen from around Rs 40,000 per tonne to nearly Rs 54,000 per tonne in recent months, making execution increasingly unviable for many contractors working under previously sanctioned project rates.

He said Jharkhand remained heavily dependent on supplies from Haldia, while the lack of reliable in-state supply infrastructure had left contractors vulnerable to both shortages and price fluctuations.

At present, Bokaro is the only available container-based supply point in the state, but availability there too has remained inconsistent, forcing many contractors to source material from outside Jharkhand at a higher logistical cost.

Malhotra said the rise in commercial diesel prices had further added to transportation and project expenditure, compounding the pressure on ongoing works.

Builders Association of India (BAI) Jharkhand chapter chairman Raviraj Agrawal said contractors had not been receiving adequate bitumen supplies from the Bokaro depots of public sector oil companies for several months, while dispatches from Haldia had also remained irregular.

He said the shortage had begun to affect road construction activity across the state, with work slowing at several sites due to the unavailability of material during a crucial execution period.

Industry bodies said the impact was being felt most sharply by small and medium contractors, particularly those engaged in road and rural infrastructure works, where margins are already narrow, and project timelines are tightly bound.

They demanded that public sector oil companies such as Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) set up bulk bitumen depots in Jharkhand to reduce dependence on Haldia and ensure a more stable supply chain.

They also urged the government to create a mechanism for maintaining reserve stock within the state and to address price volatility, warning that unless structural supply issues are resolved, infrastructure execution in Jharkhand could face recurring disruption.

Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), one of the major coal-producing companies of India, has executed long-term Fuel Supply Agreements (FSAs) with National Thermal Power Corporation Limited for the supply of 5.0 Million Tonnes per annum (MTPA) of coal to NTPC’s Dadri, Farakka, Unchahar, and Nabinagar Thermal Power Stations.

The coal linkage under these agreements will play a crucial role in ensuring a reliable and uninterrupted fuel supply to key thermal power stations, enabling reliable power generation and strengthening the nation’s energy security.

The agreements were signed at the company headquarters in the presence of S.K. Jha, Director (Technical – OP & PP), MCL, by A.K. Lakra, General Manager (M&S), MCL; Diwakar Kaushik, Regional Executive Director (NR), NTPC; and Vijay Goel, Regional Executive Director (ER-I), NTPC.

This development marks a significant milestone in strengthening long-term fuel supply arrangements and deepening the strategic partnership between MCL and NTPC, contributing to the nation’s energy security.

Ever since the BJP government came to power in 2024, the Odisha Vigilance has seized ill-gotten assets worth Rs 248.91 crore and arrested as many as 369 individuals, including IAS and state administrative officers, under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said.

Asserting the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards corrupt practices, CM Majhi told the Assembly that the anti-corruption wing of Odisha Police registered 376 criminal cases against 640 persons, including 104 Class-I officers & 78 Class-II officers, and arrested 369 persons, including 75 Class-I officers & 56 Class-II officers, since the BJP assumed power on 12 June, 2024.

This includes action against an IAS officer, 7 Chief Engineers, 2 Divisional Forest Officers, a Sub-Collector, 2 Block Development Officers, 8 Tahasildars, a Joint Commissioner of Excise, two Deputy Directors of Mines, a Deputy Director of Fisheries Department, a DGM, Engineering (Civil), a Joint Commissioner, State Transport Authority, a Joint Director & two Project Directors, Watershed, 4 Civil Supplies Officers, 3 Assistant Commissioners of Commercial Tax &GST, two Superintendents of Excise, a District Labour Officer, a Motor Vehicle Inspector, a District Education Officer, a Deputy Director, Textiles, 26 Police officers, 20 Forest officials, 5 Doctors and a Jail Superintendent, among others, he informed the Assembly yesterday.

Out of 376 criminal cases, 100 cases were registered against 177 public servants, including 54 Class-I officers and 25 Class-II officers, for acquisition of disproportionate assets (DA).

The total assets seized in all 100 cases amount to Rs 248.91 crore, which include 282 buildings, 1,182 plots, 30.50 kg of gold, deposits of over Rs 57.72 crore, and cash seizures of Rs 15.53 crore.

Recently, during a Vigilance raid, cash amounting to Rs 4.28 crore was unearthed and seized from a corrupt public servant accused of demanding and taking a bribe from a complainant. This is the highest-ever cash seizure in the history of the Odisha Vigilance.

Stating that the government has accorded top priority to the prompt investigation and submission of charge sheets in detected cases, he claimed that a record number of charge sheets have been submitted in 640 cases against 1,466 persons, including 166 Class-I officers and 146 Class-II officers.

The disposal of DA cases in 2025 was the highest ever in the history of the Odisha Vigilance. In 2025, the state government accorded the highest-ever number of sanctions for prosecution.

During this period, 183 cases resulted in convictions, including those of 34 Class-I officers and 38 Class-II officers. Altogether, 246 accused persons were convicted during the period. The conviction rate in Vigilance stood at around 50%.

Also, 35 public servants have been dismissed from government service, and the pensions of 70 retired public servants have been stopped following their conviction in Vigilance cases.

During this period, 387 enquiries have also been initiated against 65 Class-I officers and 58 Class-II officers for their alleged involvement in various acts of corruption and malpractices.

In order to strengthen Vigilance administration in the state, the government has already initiated steps for further expansion and modernisation of the Odisha Vigilance, he concluded.

Amid the raging conflict in the Middle East, Ukraine has extended a helping hand to West Asia, albeit with a begging bowl as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought funding in exchange for allowing the US and its allies in the Gulf to use its modern drone interceptors.

In a social media post on X, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has been approached by the United States and Middle Eastern countries Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait seeking assistance in the interception of Iranian drones.

“We’re already working with some of them, and our expert teams are already on the ground, assessing the situation and sharing invaluable experience,” he said.

It is not that US and its Gulf allies lack effective air defences but their problem is more mathematical than technological.

An Iranian kamikaze drone is estimated to cost between USD 20,000, while a single US Patriot missile used to destroy them can cost up to USD 4 million.

“No matter how many Patriots, THAADs, or other air defense systems are in the Middle East, that alone is not enough for fully effective air defense. There are modern interceptors designed to counter heavy drone strikes,” Zelenskyy said.

He said that discussions are underway for future deliveries of “certain equipment” that Ukraine has developed to counter Russian drone attacks.

In exchange, the Ukrainian President asked the Gulf nations facing Iran’s wrath for “an opportunity to strengthen ourselves”.

“They have some air defense missiles that we lack. We would like to reach agreements on this,” he said.

He also sought more funds from the US and Middle Eastern countries. “Funding is the scarcest resource today. Our defense industry is currently operating at half capacity, and we need more financing to produce drones for ourselves.”

Zelenskyy said that this is the reason he has agreed to “sell to our partners the systems we have in surplus.”

“And we’re not just selling – we’ll provide our expertise as well. Interceptor drones don’t work without our expertise. It’s the system that works,” he added.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, commenting on a video of interiors of the controversial ‘Sheesh Mahal’ released by Cabinet Minister Parvesh Verma on Thursday, said that the long wait was over, now one can see clearly what was done with public money in the name of renovation of chief minister’s residence under the previous AAP government .

Taking a dig at the AAP and its leader Arvind Kejriwal, Gupta said, “Look at the achievements of Arvind Kejriwal. He built this Sheesh Mahal with public money.”
With the video out in the public domain, she said, it is now before the public how the former CM crossed all limits of corruption. “The people of Delhi should see what they have done,” Gupta remarked, launching a scathing attack on the previous AAP regime.
On Wednesday, Minister Verma had listed the alleged irregularities in innovation of the former chief minister’s residence, also known as the ‘Sheesh Mahal’, in the Delhi Assembly during the ongoing budget session.

While releasing the video on Thursday, he gave a house tour, showing its interior work, decoration done in each room, type of material used, and the money spent on the ‘Sheesh Mahal’.

On Wednesday, one of the crucial moments in the Assembly came when Verma displayed a long paper printing roll listing the expenditures related to the former CM’s Flagstaff Road residence. “This is not just a list. It is a record of misplaced priorities,” Verma remarked.

In the video released by Verma today, imported fittings, high-value curtains, expensive chandeliers, gym equipment, multiple televisions, designer interiors, mini bars, and several expensive luxurious fixtures could be seen.

Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar on Thursday chaired a meeting to review and discuss the measures taken to prevent bird hazards in the vicinity of the Jammu Airport.
The meeting was attended by Air Officer Commanding, JK & L, AOC Air Force Station Jammu, Director Urban Local Bodies Jammu, Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Commissioner JMC, Member Secretary, J&K Pollution Control Board, Jammu, Director Airport Jammu, SP South and other concerned officers.

The meeting discussed different issues that become the cause of gathering of birds around the Airport, including dumping of garbage and dead animals.
The Divisional Commissioner directed the Deputy Commissioner Jammu to issue orders prohibiting open garbage dumping and disposal of dead animals and carcasses which attract bird activity near the Airport. He also emphasized on clear visible displaying of penal actions under law to deter any such activity.

The discussion also focused on preventing unauthorized construction of buildings, besides fencing of bridges over Landoi nallah near Jammu Airport to thwart throwing of garbage in it.

The Divisional Commissioner also sought the Action Taken report on the implementation of decisions taken in the previous meeting for thwarting the gathering of birds in the surrounding area of the Airport.

It was informed that Door to Door collections of garbage is being ensured by the Cantonment Board and JMC, besides making sure that there were no active garbage landfills near the Jammu Airport.