In yet another setback to the Congress party in Assam just days ahead of the high-stakes Assembly elections, senior party leader and sitting MP from Nagaon, Pradyut Bordoloi on Tuesday resigned from the party.

“With an overwhelming sense of sadness today, I hereby tender my resignation from all posts, privileges and the primary membership of the Indian National Congress,” Bordoloi said in his resignation letter addressed to Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge.

The development comes days after Bordoloi wrote a letter to AICC-in-charge of Assam, Jitendra Singh, alleging “humiliation” and the “party leadership’s lack of understanding” towards his concerns.

Bordoloi alleged that the sitting Congress MLA from Laharighat, Asif Nazar, was giving patronage to an individual named Emdadul Islam, who was accused of attacking him during panchayat elections last year.

Bordoloi said that UP MP Imran Masood, who is a member of the Congress screening committee for Assam elections, had dismissed his concerns regarding Islam as “false” and that state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi remained silent.

“If my own party’s president from Assam, even after getting all the information about this matter from me, didn’t say anything in response to the things said by Masood in front of the high command, it’s like agreeing (with the Saharanpur MP). So, I felt this is a very big insult. I felt very humiliated,” he told reporters on Monday.

“I was very hurt personally. I have been with the Congress since my school days, I joined the NSUI when I was 16… I have the Congress DNA in me, there is no doubt about it. But this particularly hit my self-respect and I felt insulted,” Bordoloi added.

Following this, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma gave Bordoloi an open offer to join the BJP. He even said that Bordoloi will be given a ticket in the upcoming assembly elections if he decides to join the saffron party.

Last month, senior leader and former state Congress chief Bhupen Borah had also resigned, exposing the fault lines within the state unit of the Congress party and the discontent over Gogoi’s appointment as the new Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) chief last year, replacing Borah.

Before eventually joining the BJP, Borah had said that he would reconsider his decision if Pradyut Bordoloi and Debabrata Saikia convinced him that the party unit was functioning in its true spirit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan over the phone, exchanging advance Eid greetings while discussing the evolving security situation in West Asia, with a particular focus on regional stability and maritime safety.

‎Sharing details of the conversation on X, Modi said, “Spoke with my brother HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and conveyed advance Eid greetings,” reflecting the strong personal equation between the two leaders that has helped deepen bilateral ties in recent years.

‎The discussion took place against the backdrop of rising tensions in parts of West Asia, including concerns over attacks on civilian infrastructure and the risk of further escalation. Modi reiterated India’s firm stance, stating that the country “strongly condemns all attacks on the UAE that have resulted in loss of innocent lives and damage to civilian infrastructure,” reinforcing New Delhi’s consistent opposition to terrorism and violence.

‎A key point of the conversation was the importance of ensuring uninterrupted maritime trade, especially through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy corridor. “We agreed on the importance of ensuring safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz,” Modi noted, underlining shared concerns over global energy security and supply chain resilience.
‎India continues to place strategic importance on stability in the Gulf region, given its dependence on energy imports and the presence of a large Indian diaspora. The UAE remains one of India’s most important partners, with strong cooperation across sectors including trade, energy, defence, and technology.

‎Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to working closely to address regional challenges. “We will continue to work together for the early restoration of peace, security and stability in the region,” Modi said.

‎Over the past decade, India-UAE relations have seen significant growth, bolstered by agreements such as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement signed in 2022 and regular high-level engagements. Tuesday’s exchange once again highlighted the shared resolve of both countries to promote peace, safeguard key maritime routes, and contribute to stability in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment.

Shigeaki Mori, the survivor of Hiroshima atomic bomb attack, who was embraced by former US President Barack Obama in 2016, passed away on Tuesday. Mori was 88.

He became famous after Barack Obama, during his historic visit to Hiroshima in Japan, hugged him. Obama was the first sitting US President to visit the city destroyed by the United States, along with another one, Nagasaki.

Around 1.4 lakh people were killed Hiroshima and some 74,000 died in Nagasaki after US dropped nuclear bombs during World War II.

Mori was eight years old when the US dropped atom bomb on his city. Before meeting Obama, Mori had narrated the horror while speaking to news agency AFP.

“I crawled up out of the water and saw a woman tottering toward me…Blood was everywhere on her body, and internal organs hung from her abdomen,” he recalled.

“While holding them, she asked me where she could find a hospital. Crying, I ran away, leaving her alone,” he said.

Hiroshima atomic bomb attack survivor further described the horrifying scenes around him. “People who were still alive were collapsed all around me. I escaped by stamping on their faces and heads.”

“I heard screams from a broken down house. But I ran away as I was still a child with no power to help,” he added.

The Kollam Additional Sessions Court on Tuesday found the accused in the sensational Dr Vandana Das murder case guilty. The court will pronounce the sentence on March 19.

Dr Vandana Das was stabbed to death by a police detainee who had been brought for medical treatment by the police to the Government Taluk Hospital, Kottarakkara, in Kerala’s Kollam district in the early hours of May 10, 2023.

The accused, S. Sandeep, fatally stabbed the doctor at the Kottarakkara Government Hospital at around 4 a.m. on May 10, 2023. Vandana Das later succumbed to her injuries at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.

The victim, Vandana Das, had completed her MBBS from the Azizia Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Kollam, and was doing her house surgency at the Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital. She hailed from Kaduthuruthy in Kottayam district.

The accused, S Sandeep, 42, a teacher at an upper primary school, also attacked four others at the hospital, including policemen who had brought him for a medical examination.

Sandeep was taken into custody from his house on the night of May 9, 2023, after he turned violent and attacked his family members. The police went to his house following a complaint from his family regarding his violent behaviour.

As the accused had sustained a minor injury to his leg, a police team took him to the hospital for a mandatory medical examination, where he turned violent without provocation and stabbed Vandana.

The Congress party has announced its first list of candidates for Kerala Assembly elections comprising 55 candidates, including 19 sitting MLAs.

The party has fielded several prominent names, including Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan, senior leader Ramesh Chennithala, and KPCC President Sunny Joseph, among others. While Satheesan will contest from Paravur, Chennithala will contest from Haripad, and Sunny Joseph from Peravoor.

Although former KPCC president K Sudhakaran MP and UDF convenor Adoor Prakash MP had expressed their desire to contest in the Assembly polls their names didn’t figure in the first list. However, candidates have not been announced for the Kannur and Konni seats, where they have expressed their desire to contest.

According to the list, senior leader K Muraleedharan will contest from Vattiyoorkavu while former chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s son, Chandy Oommen, is fielded in Puthupally.
Aisha Potty, who switched to the Congress recently after three decades with the CPM, will be the candidate from the Kottakkara constituency. Aisha Potty was the MLA from Kottarakkara for the past three consecutive terms.
The party has chosen actor and director Ramesh Pisharody as their candidate in the Palakkad constituency.

In the Malampuzha constituency, the grand old party has fielded A Suresh, former personal assistant to CPM veteran V S Achuthanandan . Suresh officially joined the Congress on March 17, the same day Congress announced its first list of candidates.
Malappuram DCC President V S Joy will contest in Tavanur and Palakkad DCC President A Thankappan will contest in Nenmara .Youth Congress state president O.J. Janish is the candidate in Kodungallur.

Meanwhile, aiming to make an impact in its maiden electoral foray after joining the NDA, the Twenty20 has fielded actors and Social media influencers as its candidates. The party also sprang a surprise by naming Varghese George , son-in-law of former chief minister Oommen Chandy, as its candidate for Kodungallur constituency.

The Twenty20 has decided to field actress Anjali Nair in the Tripunithura constituency, while actress Lakshmi Priya will seek a mandate from Perumbavoor. Actress and dancer Veena Nair will be the Twenty20 candidate in Ettumannur, and social media influencer and business management professional Promy Kuriakose will contest from Angamaly.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, while the Maharashtra legislature’s budget session was underway.

According to sources, Shinde visited Delhi and held an in-depth discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for nearly one and a half hours. The meeting took place between 11:00 am and 12:20 pm on Monday, after which Shinde also met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at 12:30 pm, sources said.

“I come to Delhi every session to meet MPs. Yesterday, I met our MPs. Today, I met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. This was a goodwill meeting. I focus on what I have to do rather than on who is criticising or saying what. The opposition is always criticising, but I respond with action. I told Narendra Modi that all parties in the country should remain united during the Iran-US conflict. I also conveyed that Shiv Sena stands with him,” Eknath Shinde told media persons later.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is on a two-day special visit to Delhi. He left Mumbai while the budget session of the Maharashtra State Legislature was underway and travelled to Delhi. He also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and held detailed discussions on pending development works in the state.

Sources said that Shinde also reviewed details of the legal battle in the Supreme Court over the ‘bow and arrow’ election symbol involving the undivided Shiv Sena. He has been discussing various aspects of the case with legal experts in Delhi. Shinde is in the process of fine-tuning his party’s strategy to present a strong case before the Supreme Court when the matter comes up for hearing.

Shinde also submitted a special internal report prepared by his party to Amit Shah. According to sources, he conveyed that the expected cooperation from the BJP during the elections was not received. As a result, several candidates of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena suffered defeats, as per the report submitted to Amit Shah.

Significantly, Shinde is also expected to personally hand over the report to the central leadership of the BJP.

Reacting to Shinde’s meeting with Amit Shah in Delhi, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) Rajya Sabha MP and chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut told media persons, “Eknath Shinde’s party high command is not in Mumbai, but in Delhi. While he may use the name Shiv Sena, his party was actually founded by Amit Shah. Amit Shah is his boss and the real founder of his party. So, what is surprising about Shinde going to meet him?”

“Shinde went to Delhi to meet Amit Shah to seek directions on what to do in Maharashtra. This is an internal matter of their party. They went to meet their real party chief,” Sanjay Raut added.

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday stayed the remarks made by the Vigilance Court, Kollam, in its order granting bail to Thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru in connection with the alleged gold theft from the Sabarimala temple.

The order came on an appeal filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), seeking cancellation of the bail granted to the Thantri and the quashing of the vigilance court’s observations made while granting relief to Rajeevaru.

A single bench of Justice A. Badharudeen also issued notice to Thantri Rajeevaru, seeking his response to the SIT’s appeal.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the Sabarimala temple gold heist, had on Friday approached the Kerala High Court seeking cancellation of bail granted to Thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, an accused in the case.

The plea also seeks to expunge the adverse remarks made by the Special Judge against the investigation team, terming them “unwarranted and prejudicial to the investigation.”

According to the SIT, the investigation revealed that the Thantri had illegally invested crores of rupees with a private firm. The probe is continuing to unearth more facts regarding his alleged illegal enrichment. The SIT also stated that there is ample evidence on record showing the direct involvement of the Thantri along with other prime accused persons.

“There was a wide conspiracy and misappropriation of a huge quantity of gold from the artefacts adorned in and around the sanctum sanctorum of the Sabarimala Sreekovil, with his full knowledge and connivance, which ultimately resulted in a huge loss to the Sabarimala temple,” the petition stated.

In its appeal, the SIT argued that it has several witness statements to support its claim that the Thantri and Unnikrishnan Potti were closely associated.

“There are a good number of witnesses who have given statements proving the illegal contacts and connection between the respondent (Rajeevaru) and A1 (Potti). The learned Special Court failed to consider the oral and documentary evidence. Therefore, the findings arrived at by the learned Special Court are unwarranted and untenable,” the SIT contended.

The Kollam Vigilance Court, on February 18, granted bail to Thantri Rajeevaru in connection with cases involving the misappropriation of gold from the temple’s Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) sculptures and the Kattilappali (door frame). The court observed that the prosecution could not prove that Thantri had a direct connection with Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime accused in the case.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested Thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru on January 9.

Highlighting the importance and need for paternity leave, the Supreme Court on Tuesday exhorted the Central government to bring a law on paternity leave recognising the role of father in the early childhood caregiving, in balanced understanding of shared parenting, and dismantling the gendered role attributed to the mother alone.

Acknowledging the central role of mother to a child’s emotional, physical, and psychological development, a bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan, in a judgment pronounced today, said it would be incomplete and unjust to overlook the equally significant role of a father to the child’s holistic development. “Parenthood is not a solitary function performed by one parent (Mother) but rather a shared responsibility in which each parent contributes to the child’s holistic development.”

Emphasising the importance of shared parenting in holistic childcare, the court in its order said, “We urge the Union to come up with a provision recognizing paternity leave as a social security benefit. We emphasize that the duration of such leave must be determined in a manner that is responsive to the needs of both the parent and the child.”

Pointing to the historical absence of a father’s participation in everyday caregiving and shared responsibility, the Supreme Court said that the absence of paternity leave produces two consequences – First, it reinforces gender roles in parenting and secondly even where a father is willing and desirous of contributing, he is left without a meaningful opportunity to do so.

“When fathers are afforded the opportunity to take leave following the arrival of the child, they are able to support the mother and share family responsibilities. This support extends to participating in the upbringing and caregiving of the child, assisting with household responsibilities, and remaining emotionally present during this demanding phase”, the judgment said.

Authoring the judgment, Justice Pardiwala said, “Although the father is present at the periphery of infancy, yet he is not present in the intimate and irreplaceable way that society has always presumed the mother must be. This acceptance of absence has seldom been examined with the seriousness it deserves. As a result, the cost is borne silently by children who grow up never realizing what they lacked, by fathers who were constrained by circumstances to remain distant. At the same time, by mothers who were denied the companionship and support of their partners in the early phase of caregiving.”

On the dismantling of the gendered roles, the judgment said, “There exists a kind of injustice, although not deliberate, yet based on assumptions so deeply rooted that they have ceased to appear as injustice at all, and have come to be accepted as the natural order of things in society. Society has historically attributed caregiving and nurturing responsibilities almost exclusively to mothers. While the role of a mother is undeniably central to a child’s emotional, physical, and psychological development, it would be incomplete and unjust to overlook the equally significant role of a father.”

In such circumstances, the judgment said that a provision for paternity leave serves an important purpose by enabling fathers to participate meaningfully in the early stages of a child’s life and development. It helps in dismantling gendered roles, encourages fathers to take an active role in child care, fosters a balanced understanding of parenting, and promotes gender equality within family and workplace.

The Supreme Court further said that the “paternity leave also advances the best interests and welfare of the child, which are most effectively served when both parents are enabled to play meaningful and complementary roles in the child’s growth and development. The reasons highlighted in the foregoing paragraphs of this judgment for maternity leave remain similar for paternity leave.”

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, accompanied by her cabinet colleagues, on Tuesday called on Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu at the Lok Nivas. She said the meeting was a positive step towards strengthening shared commitment to the national capital’s inclusive development and public service.

Taking to social media platform X, Rekha Gupta shared details of the meeting and said continuous dialogue and coordination in governance and administration is the foundation of good governance and a state’s progress.

On the occasion, a positive and meaningful discussion was held regarding important public welfare schemes, initiatives, while also on the vision towards developing Delhi as a modern, and world class capital city, Gupta stated.

The CM said that the government and the administration are working with dedication and commitment towards Delhi’s holistic development and the bright future of every citizen of the national capital.

Sandhu had taken oath as the 23rd LG of Delhi on March 12. People expect that his experience as a veteran diplomat will help Delhi shape up into a world class city

The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 was introduced in the Maharashtra Legislative Council here on Tuesday after it was passed in the Legislative Assembly at 11 pm on Monday.

Discussing the Bill in the Legislative Council on Tuesday, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MLC Hemant Patil alleged that his friend’s daughter eloped with a boy to Kolkata. “So many children come here to study in Nanded. There, groups of Muslim boys follow 16-year-old girls. The day before yesterday, my friend’s daughter eloped with one such boy to Kolkata. This is serious. These people give birth to a large number of children, which affects voting patterns. My demand is that one person should have only one child. We should make such rules,” Patil said.

After this, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena MLC Anil Parab said, “I will support the Bill. However, some of its aspects need to be clarified. Is this bill modelled along the lines of changing a political party, or is it a religious conversion bill? Because all the aspects that are taken into consideration while changing political parties have been included in the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill. For instance, there are clauses like, not to be deceived, not to be lured, not to be misled, etc mentioned in the Bill. Information should be given about how many areas in Maharashtra, in which community and for what reason religious conversions take place. I know that religious conversions happen due to poverty. But then it is the responsibility of the government to provide all amenities to people”.

“If the government fails to provide amenities to the people, then conversions will take place. Nobody can stop it. If religious conversions have increased, has the government’s performance decreased? Why do people choose to change their religion, and what are the circumstances under which it happens? The government must share information,” Parab said.

The Bill was also discussed in the Legislative Assembly on Monday, after it was passed late at night.

During the discussion in the Legislative Assembly on Monday, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena MLA Bhaskar Jadhav said, “This Bill makes no mention of any specific religion. Various points are being raised regarding this legislation. A narrative was spread that this Bill pertains only to a specific religion. However, the Chief Minister has clarified that this is not true. We do, however, object to the specific provision requiring the accused to prove their innocence that the alleged act did not occur, because this provision is susceptible to misuse. The responsibility to prove the allegation should also be placed upon the accuser.”

The Congress, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP and the Samajwadi Party opposed the Bill. Speaking about the Bill, Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh said, “Introducing this bill amounts to interfering with the Constitution. This Bill breaches individual safety. It violates the Right to Privacy granted under Article 21 of the Constitution. Furthermore, what will happen to an individual’s safety when a mandatory notice regarding religious conversion must be submitted 60 days in advance?”

“The government has failed to mention specific cases they have encountered to warrant this legislation. What were they? While it was claimed in the Legislative Assembly that there were over 100,000 ‘Love Jihad’ cases in Maharashtra, a committee report subsequently stated that, in reality, not a single such case had been proven. Given the potential for this Bill to be misused, it should be referred to a Joint Committee so that its flaws and shortcomings can be rectified,” Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh said.

Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh opposed the Bill and stated, “The government should have presented clear statistics regarding incidents of religious conversions in the state before introducing such a stringent bill”.

Sharad Pawar-led NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad too opposed the Bill, pointing out numerous flaws in it. “We are opposed to the purpose of this bill. ⁠We are opposed to forced conversion. ⁠Bringing a bill in the name of freedom of religion means breaking the constitution. Babasaheb Ambedkar has given the right to freedom of religion in the Constitution. ⁠The conversion done by Buddha is the first conversion in this country. If this bill were implemented with retrospective effect, then Buddha, Mahavir Jain and Basaveshwara would have to go to jail.”

Adani Enterprises Ltd informed the stock exchanges on Tuesday that the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) orally pronounced an order approving the resolution plan for Jaiprakash Associates Ltd dated October 14, 2025, submitted by an Adani group company.

The approval was conveyed through an oral order pronounced on March 17, 2026, with the company stating that detailed disclosures will follow once the written order is made available.

“Please note that this disclosure is being made pursuant to the oral pronouncement of order by the Honourable NCLT. A detailed disclosure shall be made upon the written order being made available as required under the Listing Regulations and other applicable laws,” Adani Enterprises stated.

Earlier, Adani Enterprises had been identified as the successful resolution applicant after its proposal received approval from the Committee of Creditors in November 2025.

It may be recalled that Vedanta group’s Rs 12,505-crore offer to acquire beleaguered businesses of debt-ridden Jaiprakash Associates was approved by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in October 2025. However, in November 2025, the committee of creditors (CoC) voted in favour of Adani Enterprises.

The company stated that the resolution plan may be implemented either directly by Adani Enterprises, its group entities, or through special purpose vehicles, in line with the approved structure. These companies may include Adani Power Limited, Adani Infra (India) Limited, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited, Karnavati Aviation Private Limited, and Mandhata Build Estate Private Limited.

Separately, Jaiprakash Associates said that the resolution plan envisages no recovery for equity shareholders, noting that the liquidation value is insufficient to meet secured creditor claims. As a result, the exit value for existing shareholders has been set at nil under the delisting process.

Jaiprakash Associates, the flagship firm of the Jaypee Group, is facing claims of Rs 57,185 crore, with National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd among its key lenders. The company was admitted to insolvency proceedings in June 2024.

Veteran diplomat and novelist Navtej Sarna has been chosen for the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award 2025 for his English novel, Crimson Spring, which is based on the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

The award, which will be presented at a ceremony on March 31, 2026, comprises a copper plaque, a shawl, and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.

Incidentally, his father, the late Mohinder Singh Sarna, also a novelist, had won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1994 for his short stories in Punjabi.

Navtej Sarna is a retired 1980-batch Indian Foreign Service officer who has served as India’s Ambassador to the United States, High Commissioner to the UK, and Ambassador to Israel.

His novel, Crimson Spring, had also won the Kalinga Literary Festival Fiction Book Award 2022 and was long-listed for the JCB Prize for Literature.

Sarna is among the 24 authors recognised for the 2025 awards, with the Sahitya Akademi acknowledging his significant contribution to English literature.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Tuesday targeted the state Congress leadership yet again for “defeating the cause of youths’ career”.

Sharma also took exception to the frequent and repeated potshots at his Delhi visits by the rival party leaders.

Addressing the state level Yuva Shakti Divas under the Rajasthan Day Mahotsav here on Tuesday, Sharma said, “Youths in the state suffered tough times during the previous Congress regime. I know they used to burn the midnight oil to prepare for exams, staying away from home in hostels, taking coaching, and spending the hard-earned money of their parents to build a career.”

However, large-scale and repeated paper leaks, manipulations, and corruption in examinations had shattered the dreams of thousands of youths, the CM retorted.

He said, “I assure you that all those who shattered the dreams of numerous youths and caused distress to them and their families will not be spared; we will bring all culprits to book. Moreover, my government has taken a series of measures to tighten and set right the system, and has facilitated youths with a lot of job avenues for recruitment in lakhs of government posts. A fair process and level-playing field have also been ensured in competitive exams.

He said, “During our two-and-a-quarter-year-long regime, my government has so far given appointment letters to 1.25 lakh youths for government posts, and the recruitment process for 1.35 lakh posts is in progress. Besides, the calendar for recruitment exams for 1.25 lakh posts has also been published.

We have promised to recruit 4 lakh youths in government jobs and facilitate employment for 6 lakh jobless individuals in the private and corporate sectors during our 5-year term in office. My government will keep this promise,” he assured.

He also offered all-out help and guidance to those willing to build a career in industry or other self-employment ventures. The state government will fully help and guide them with financial assistance, interest-free working capital, training for skill development and access to the market.

Chief Minister Sharma did not spare his political rivals for taking potshots at his frequent trips to Delhi. He said, “Yes, I go to Delhi as and when needed, but I do so to serve the cause of Rajasthan and its people. Whenever I go, I return with some gain for the state.

“Even today, I returned to Jaipur after a two-day sojourn in Delhi. I have not returned empty-handed. Do Din Ke liye Gaya Tha; Lauta Hun To Kuchh Na Kuchh Tau Lekar Hi Aaya Hun. But why should they question or raise objections to my visits?”

“Didn’t their CMs pay visits to Delhi during their tenure? There is a stark difference between their visits and mine.” They used to go to Delhi to placate their party leadership and save their government (from being toppled), whereas I go to Delhi to discharge my duties towards the people of the state and to ensure development initiatives for the people.”

At the function, Chief Minister Sharma inaugurated and laid foundation stones for initiatives or works related to sports and youth affairs involving an investment of Rs 485 crore.

He released certificates of Skill Elevation to more than 9,500 youths and disbursed the first loan cheque to a beneficiary under the Chief Minister’s Yuva Swarojgar Scheme.

Cheques under the Viability Gap Fund amounting Rs 11.45 crore were also released to 403 startups.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr Prem Chand Bairwa and Industries, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, besides several dignitaries, were present on the occasion.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the Nirmal Chhaya Complex and closely reviewed the initiatives being undertaken for the empowerment and welfare of women and children.

During the visit, the Chief Minister interacted with women working at the Mahila Haat, Samarth Anganwadi, and Sankalp Hub.

The Chief Minister appreciated their dedication, confidence, and efforts towards achieving self-reliance, calling their work truly inspiring.

The Chief Minister also interacted with children at the facility and distributed school bags and essential learning materials to support their education. Health kits were also provided to mothers to promote better health and well-being.

Recognizing the commitment and service of Anganwadi workers, the Chief Minister honoured them and announced incentive support as a gesture of encouragement for their valuable contribution.

On the occasion, CM Rekha Gupta also launched the Juvenile Justice Management Information Portal, aimed at strengthening child welfare systems and ensuring greater transparency and efficiency in the implementation of child protection services.

In a defining milestone in Punjab’s education journey, the Bhagwant Mann government has launched Punjab Sikhya Kranti 2.0, a transformative new phase of school education reform, with a total investment of ₹3,500 crore over the next six years.

The initiative aims to deepen structural reforms in government schools and align Punjab’s education ecosystem with global standards.

As part of this mission, the Punjab Government has also entered into a collaboration with the World Bank to support the implementation of the programme.

The partnership reflects international recognition of the measurable progress Punjab has already achieved in public education reforms.

The ₹3,500 crore mission includes ₹2,500 crore through World Bank loan assistance and ₹1,000 crore from the Punjab Government, making it one of the largest education reform investments in the history of the state.

Punjab Sikhya Kranti 2.0 builds upon the remarkable progress achieved under the first phase of Punjab Sikhya Kranti, which has transformed government schools across the state and propelled Punjab to the top of national education rankings.

In the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 conducted by the Government of India, Punjab ranked number one in classroom learning outcomes, surpassing Kerala and emerging as the national leader.

This achievement reflects the deep structural reforms undertaken through Punjab Sikhya Kranti, which strengthened classroom instruction, upgraded infrastructure, and enhanced school governance across nearly 20,000 government schools.

Over the past two years, the state has also operationalized structured career guidance systems, expanded access to science and commerce streams, strengthened teacher training ecosystems and modernized school infrastructure across thousands of institutions, ensuring that reforms move beyond announcements to measurable outcomes.

These systemic reforms have laid a strong and credible foundation. Punjab Sikhya Kranti 2.0 now seeks to institutionalize these gains and prepare Punjab’s education system to compete with the best in the world.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said the success of Punjab Sikhya Kranti has already rewritten the state’s education narrative.

“Punjab has shown that government schools can lead the nation. Ranking number one in the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 is proof of that transformation,” he said.

“With Punjab Sikhya Kranti 2.0, we are now preparing our education system to compete with the best in the world. The collaboration with the World Bank reflects the credibility and transparency with which Punjab has carried out education reforms. This is the next leap forward in our commitment to every child,” he said.

Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said Punjab Sikhya Kranti has already delivered measurable results, and the next phase will expand the scale and depth of reforms.

“Punjab Sikhya Kranti transformed our government schools and placed Punjab at the top of national education rankings. Punjab Sikhya Kranti 2.0 will now accelerate our journey from national leadership to global excellence. Every child in Punjab deserves opportunities that match international standards, and this mission will help us achieve that vision,” he said.

Detailing the next phase of reform, the Punjab Government stated that the ₹3,500 crore mission will deepen and sustain the gains of Punjab Sikhya Kranti through focused and outcome-driven interventions.

The initiative will prioritise strengthening foundational learning by ensuring every child achieves foundational skills through structured assessments, improved pedagogy, and targeted academic support.

It will expand pathways to higher education and careers by increasing access to science and commerce streams, upgrading vocational education, and introducing structured career counselling systems to guide students towards higher education and meaningful employment.

A comprehensive Career Guidance Portal will be introduced to digitally enable personalized counselling, aptitude assessment, and informed career and stream choices for students across the state.

The reform agenda will empower teachers and school leaders by strengthening teacher training institutions, modernizing professional development programmes, and implementing a comprehensive school leadership framework.

It will ensure transparent and accountable school management by enhancing data-driven decision-making and empowering School Management Committees to strengthen community participation and accountability.

The mission will also create future-ready infrastructure and systems by upgrading facilities to ensure safe, sustainable, and digitally enabled learning environments aligned with long-term resilience and global standards.

Punjab Sikhya Kranti laid the foundation. Punjab Sikhya Kranti 2.0 now carries that transformation forward, preparing Punjab’s education system to compete at the global level.

Varun Gandhi, former MP, who has been distancing himself from the BJP for long, sparked speculations in political circles about the prospects of his rejoining the saffron party after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday along with his wife and daughter.

Observers believe that his meeting with the prime minister, after a prolonged detachment from the party’s mainstream, may signal the end of the ‘political exile’ of the son of former MP Menaka Gandhi and late Sanjay Gandhi.

Meanwhile, Varun posted a picture of the meeting on social media with a caption: “Feel fortunate to receive the Prime Minister’s blessings and guidance.” He even referred to Modi’s personality as a ‘symbol of paternal affection and protection’, which analysts believe holds significant political implications.

Coming as it does ahead of the elections in five states, the meeting naturally raised questions about the future political equations. Will the distance between Varun Gandhi and the BJP begin to diminish? Given that both Varun Gandhi’s wife and mother-in-law are Bengali, could the BJP potentially utilise him in the electoral campaign in West Bengal? It is noteworthy here that the party did not allot him a ticket for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh. Instead, Jitin Prasada, who is currently a Union minister, was nominated as the candidate. Since then, discussions regarding the strain in Varun’s relationship with the party have emerged.

On the other hand, his mother, Menaka Gandhi, was also defeated in the last Lok Sabha elections from Sultanpur. Hence, there is no doubt in the political arena that the relationship between the Gandhi family and the BJP had somewhat cooled. Additionally, Varun had several meetings with his cousins, Rahul and sister Priyanka. However, Rahul made it clear to him that while their familial ties should remain intact, their political paths were entirely different. Furthermore, Varun had expressed a desire to join the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and even met with senior Trinamool leadership in Delhi, but there too, ‘the lentil did not boil’.

In this context, many believe that the courtesy meeting between the Prime Minister and Varun Gandhi ahead of the state elections hints at a shift in the political equations. Some observers suggest that if the party intends to adopt a new strategy for the upcoming elections, Varun Gandhi, a well-known figure, may be seen assuming a more active role once again. Analysts are not dismissing the possibility of utilising him in West Bengal politics considering his wife’s Bengali background.

As the war in West Asia grinds on, with the failure of a decisive win and reluctance of USA’s allies to be part of a naval fleet patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, analysts here feel the time has come for a “quiet international mediation effort”.

Many feel that involving India and China, two major Asian economies affected by a war they did not choose, along with Oman which had been brokering a deal between the US and Iran before Washington and Tel Aviv chose to launch an attack on Tehran, could be a possibility.

“Both China and India have the right credentials. Both have good relations with Washington and Tehran and are trusted by both. US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have already spoken to each other on the crisis. It makes sense for them to step in with a
quiet effort,” said Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, former Flag Officer in Command of India’s Western Naval fleet.

However, other former policymakers are unsure whether India or China may be at all tasked to mediate. “One can mediate only if both sides ask a nation to mediate,” said Rajiv Dogra, formerly India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Agencies.

Sinha pointed out that the two Asian heavyweights also have the most at stake if this war prolongs and are the only ones with a strong Naval presence in the Indian Ocean area.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb has already urged India to mediate to de-escalate the West Asian conflict. In an interview, Stubb has said, “We need a ceasefire. I’m wondering if India can actually get involved. We saw Foreign Minister Jaishankar call for a ceasefire to calm things down.”

President Stubb visited India as the Chief Guest at the Raisina Dialogue 2026 in New Delhi, where he discussed India’s role in the ongoing dispute and praised India’s “strategic caution.”

A former Pentagon adviser, Douglas Macgregor, has also suggested that India could act as a critical intermediary to broker a ceasefire.

Indian diplomats have had limited success in getting Iran to agree to allow safe passage for the country’s tankers and ships through the contested Strait of Hormuz. Some three tankers have come in since Monday, when the first one docked in Gujarat.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told a newspaper earlier, “I am at the moment engaged in talking to them and my talking has yielded some results.” The career diplomat turned politician, however, has said there were no “blanket arrangements” for all Indian vessels.

Sources said while “there is no quid pro quo deal”, India may be the ultimate source of supply of food and pharmaceutical stocks which Iran needs for its 90 million strong population and that central Asian countries are likely to be routing nations for such supplies.

India has in the past done brisk business in rice, tea, fodder and pharmaceuticals with its western neighbour.

Analysts pointed out that China has been actively positioning itself as a diplomatic mediator in the escalating West Asia war, advocating for dialogue and de-escalation while criticising military actions taken by the US and Israel against Iran.

However, there are doubts about whether the US would like China’s stature to rise further as a mediator in a war that the US started and is finding difficult to end. “China has a strong hand but one has to see whether President Trump will ask for Beijing’s help beyond what he has already done,” said Dogra, who has also served as India’s ambassador to Italy and Romania.

“Another nation with a deep stake in ending the war and which was earlier involved in brokering a deal between the Americans and Iranian is Oman,” added Admiral Sinha. However, with Oman having failed in anticipating how the negotiations to de-nuclearize Iran would evolve despite Iran agreeing to all American demands on limiting uranium enrichment, it is doubtful whether Iran will accept “honest, but weak brokering.”

Iran has already made it clear that it needed guarantees of peace, as previous agreements or attempts at achieving an agreement were torn up.

However, Ambassador Dogra pointed out that the US also has few alternatives to coming to some kind of a peace deal, given the fact that the war was proving costly and with its allies showing reluctance in joining efforts to patrol the strategic chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively blocked by the Iranians.

President Donald Trump has already lashed out at allies for what he described as a lack of “enthusiasm” toward the coalition he has proposed to secure the Strait of Hormuz. This occurred after several key allies showed their reluctance.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was among those who indicated late Monday that his country may not join in patrolling the crucial chokepoint. “We lack the mandate from the United Nations, the European Union, or NATO required under the Basic Law,” German Chancellor Merz said in Berlin, adding that Washington and Israel had not consulted Germany before launching the war.

Earlier, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer had said that Britain is discussing the possibility of using mine hunting drones for clearing the Strait of Hormuz, while indicating that the UK is unlikely to send naval ships into the war zone.

Two more key allies of the US, Japan and Australia, had also indicated on Monday that they may not be willing to deploy naval ships to patrol the contested straits of Hormuz, after US President Donald Trump revealed that the USA is talking with seven nations dependent on Gulf oil to assist in protecting shipping in the narrow but strategic sea corridor.