June 24, 2026

Amit Shah NEW DELHI: Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah Tuesday directed Nafed and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation to procure “every single grain” of pulses and oilseeds directly from farmers “with complete transparency, eliminating the entire network of middlemen,” and ensure that income reaches farmers’ bank accounts within 48 hours.”This will ensure fair and remunerative prices for farmers, automatically increase the area under pulse cultivation, and make the country self-reliant in pulses,” he said while addressing the launch of four Nafed initiatives, including a digital auctioning platform.Setting a two-year deadline, Shah said it will be ensured that all farmers are able to sell pulses directly to these two organisations within the next two years and receive payment directly into their bank accounts.Nafed launched including its auction portal ‘NAFEX.in’ to ensure enhanced transparency, efficiency and ease of operations in the auction process. The other three include Nafed-KALYAN scholarship for children of farmers, DRISHTI portal for inventory management of pulses and oilseeds, and ERP portal for strengthening enterprise resource planning.The Union minister said Nafed has decided to earmark 1% of its profits for scholarships for higher education and career development of children from farmer families. “This…will help address the difficulties faced by farmers’ children in pursuing higher education…” he said. Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Protectors Became Predators’: Dharmendra Pradhan Reacts To NEET Paper Leak Row, Student SuicidesTMC Expels Firhad Hakim, Arup Roy And Six Others As Mamata Cracks Down On Rebel CampUpto 80% Jump in Green Card Fee? Proposition Made; What Would Be Indians’ Stake?’Pakistan’s Desperate Attempt To Deflect’: India Snubs Khawaja Asif’s ‘War Over Indus’ RemarkAliganj Fire: Jyoti’s Brother Alleges Corruption, Seeks Murder Charges Against OfficialsMaharashtra RTI Rules 2026 Under Scrutiny: Anna Hazare Demands Changes; Signals Possible Strike’We Expect…’: India Reacts To Alleged Desecration Of Lord Ram Photo In BangladeshLucknow Fire: 15 Dead, No NOC, One Exit — India’s Decade-Long Fire Safety Failure ExplainedPune’s Ketan Agarwal’s Death Was No Accident: Police | Fiancée & Alleged Lover Arrested For MurderMinority Affairs MoS George Kurian Resigns; BJP Veteran’s Exit Sparks Kerala Political Buzz | Watch123PhotostoriesFrom Sanjeev Kapoor, Vikas Khanna to Harpal Singh Sokhi; Net worth of these celebrity chefsWhat lives inside your gut could shape your immunity, mood, and disease risk, and it could hold the blueprint to better healthFrom Rajgad to Lohagad: 5 must-visit forts in Maharashtra during the monsoon and what travellers should knowHow to train your brain to be happier: 10 simple habits that actually workEvery child needs these 4 social skills before age 10 to feel confident and includedWhat’s attracting tourists to Kodaikanal? 7 reasons this hill station continues to charm travellersSmiling depression: Doctor explains how some people use happiness as a mask10 classic Anglo-Saxon baby names that survived centuries of changeBigg Boss Malayalam 8: Celebrities netizens wish to see on the showLong-lived families reveal a rare genetic clue to healthy ageing; scientists say it may help explain why some people stay disease-free for years longer123Hot PicksPortugal World Cup RecordTaylor SwiftZlatan IbrahimovicTelangana school bandhCBSE 12th revaluationMaldivian wisdomSpanish proverbMalay proverbPortuguese proverbTop TrendingNBA Draft 2026US-Iran WarMac JonesFIFA World Cup 2026England vs Ghana FIFA World Cup ResultCUET UG Result 2026Ketan AgarwalGold rate todayDelhi weatherMumbai rain

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins
Amit Shah NEW DELHI: Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah Tuesday directed Nafed and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation to procure “every single grain” of pulses and oilseeds directly from farmers “with complete transparency, eliminating the entire network of middlemen,” and ensure that income reaches farmers’ bank accounts within 48 hours.”This will ensure fair and remunerative prices for farmers, automatically increase the area under pulse cultivation, and make the country self-reliant in pulses,” he said while addressing the launch of four Nafed initiatives, including a digital auctioning platform.Setting a two-year deadline, Shah said it will be ensured that all farmers are able to sell pulses directly to these two organisations within the next two years and receive payment directly into their bank accounts.Nafed launched including its auction portal ‘NAFEX.in’ to ensure enhanced transparency, efficiency and ease of operations in the auction process. The other three include Nafed-KALYAN scholarship for children of farmers, DRISHTI portal for inventory management of pulses and oilseeds, and ERP portal for strengthening enterprise resource planning.The Union minister said Nafed has decided to earmark 1% of its profits for scholarships for higher education and career development of children from farmer families. “This…will help address the difficulties faced by farmers’ children in pursuing higher education…” he said. Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Protectors Became Predators’: Dharmendra Pradhan Reacts To NEET Paper Leak Row, Student SuicidesTMC Expels Firhad Hakim, Arup Roy And Six Others As Mamata Cracks Down On Rebel CampUpto 80% Jump in Green Card Fee? Proposition Made; What Would Be Indians’ Stake?’Pakistan’s Desperate Attempt To Deflect’: India Snubs Khawaja Asif’s ‘War Over Indus’ RemarkAliganj Fire: Jyoti’s Brother Alleges Corruption, Seeks Murder Charges Against OfficialsMaharashtra RTI Rules 2026 Under Scrutiny: Anna Hazare Demands Changes; Signals Possible Strike’We Expect…’: India Reacts To Alleged Desecration Of Lord Ram Photo In BangladeshLucknow Fire: 15 Dead, No NOC, One Exit — India’s Decade-Long Fire Safety Failure ExplainedPune’s Ketan Agarwal’s Death Was No Accident: Police | Fiancée & Alleged Lover Arrested For MurderMinority Affairs MoS George Kurian Resigns; BJP Veteran’s Exit Sparks Kerala Political Buzz | Watch123PhotostoriesFrom Sanjeev Kapoor, Vikas Khanna to Harpal Singh Sokhi; Net worth of these celebrity chefsWhat lives inside your gut could shape your immunity, mood, and disease risk, and it could hold the blueprint to better healthFrom Rajgad to Lohagad: 5 must-visit forts in Maharashtra during the monsoon and what travellers should knowHow to train your brain to be happier: 10 simple habits that actually workEvery child needs these 4 social skills before age 10 to feel confident and includedWhat’s attracting tourists to Kodaikanal? 7 reasons this hill station continues to charm travellersSmiling depression: Doctor explains how some people use happiness as a mask10 classic Anglo-Saxon baby names that survived centuries of changeBigg Boss Malayalam 8: Celebrities netizens wish to see on the showLong-lived families reveal a rare genetic clue to healthy ageing; scientists say it may help explain why some people stay disease-free for years longer123Hot PicksPortugal World Cup RecordTaylor SwiftZlatan IbrahimovicTelangana school bandhCBSE 12th revaluationMaldivian wisdomSpanish proverbMalay proverbPortuguese proverbTop TrendingNBA Draft 2026US-Iran WarMac JonesFIFA World Cup 2026England vs Ghana FIFA World Cup ResultCUET UG Result 2026Ketan AgarwalGold rate todayDelhi weatherMumbai rain


To eliminate middlemen, Amit Shah tells Nafed, NCCF to buy directly from farmers

NEW DELHI: Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah Tuesday directed Nafed and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation to procure “every single grain” of pulses and oilseeds directly from farmers “with complete transparency, eliminating the entire network of middlemen,” and ensure that income reaches farmers’ bank accounts within 48 hours.“This will ensure fair and remunerative prices for farmers, automatically increase the area under pulse cultivation, and make the country self-reliant in pulses,” he said while addressing the launch of four Nafed initiatives, including a digital auctioning platform.Setting a two-year deadline, Shah said it will be ensured that all farmers are able to sell pulses directly to these two organisations within the next two years and receive payment directly into their bank accounts.Nafed launched including its auction portal ‘NAFEX.in’ to ensure enhanced transparency, efficiency and ease of operations in the auction process. The other three include Nafed-KALYAN scholarship for children of farmers, DRISHTI portal for inventory management of pulses and oilseeds, and ERP portal for strengthening enterprise resource planning.The Union minister said Nafed has decided to earmark 1% of its profits for scholarships for higher education and career development of children from farmer families. “This…will help address the difficulties faced by farmers’ children in pursuing higher education…” he said.



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India in Iran Amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in Middle East, the Indian Embassy in Tehran on Wednesday advised Indian nationals to continue avoiding all non-essential travel to Iran until further notice.The advisory comes despite recent signs of progress in negotiations between Iran and the United States aimed at ending months of conflict in the region.Embassy cites improving situation, but urges cautionIn a statement posted on X, the Embassy said it has been closely monitoring the security situation in Iran and acknowledged recent improvements.”Notwithstanding the recent improvements, Indian nationals are advised to continue to avoid all non-essential travel to Iran until further notice,” the Embassy said.The mission noted that while the overall situation has improved, travellers should remain cautious given the evolving security environment.Indians asked to remain vigilantThe Embassy urged Indian citizens currently residing in Iran, as well as those travelling for unavoidable official or professional reasons, to maintain a high degree of caution and situational awareness.It advised Indian nationals to closely follow local developments through credible information sources and comply with all instructions issued by Iranian authorities.”Indian citizens presently residing in Iran, as well as those who may be required to travel to Iran for unavoidable functional reasons, are advised to exercise a high degree of caution, remain vigilant at all times, and maintain constant situational awareness,” the advisory stated.Issues emergency contactsCitizens were advised to regularly monitor the Embassy’s official website and social media platforms for updates and any further advisories.For emergency assistance, the Embassy has provided the following helpline numbers:+989128109115+989128109109+989128109102+989932179359Email: cons.tehran@mea.gov.inThe travel advisory follows the conclusion of the first round of technical talks under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at ending hostilities between the United States and Iran.PollDo you think Indian citizens should travel to Iran for non-essential purposes right now?Yes, travel is safe now.No, it’s better to avoid it.Both sides have agreed to establish a High-Level Committee and develop a roadmap for a final agreement within 60 days. 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President Droupadi Murmu confers the Padma Shri to Dr Prateek Sharma for his outstanding contribution in the field of medicine, in the sub specialty of gastroenterology, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi, on June 23. The story of Dr Prateek Sharma, one of the world’s leading gastroenterologist, educator, professor, researcher and doctor extraordinaire, is the story of discipline, curiosity, community and an abiding belief that success is meaningful only when it fulfills the soul. But mostly it’s the story of the hopes and dreams of the Indian middle class. And by Indian middle class we don’t mean just an economic strata. Rather the idea of the middle class when times were simple. Back when Dr Sharma was growing up in Vadodara as the younger son of parents, who were both doctors. Back when the only currency that mattered were the values inculcated by our elders — be it family, academic teachers or sport coaches.Last evening, when Dr. Prateek Sharma walked up to receive the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours (in the field of medicine), from President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, he carried with him a story that stretches from the quiet lanes of Vadodara, Gujarat, to the bustling boulevards of Kansas City, and ultimately to the forefront of global medical research.Long before he became one of the world’s leading authorities on gastroenterology and digestive cancers, Dr Sharma was a schoolboy in Vadodara whose life revolved as much around football fields as textbooks. Raised alongside his elder brother in a family where medicine was a profession but never an obsession, he grew up in what he describes as a typical middle-class household. His father, Professor SN Sharma, founded the Department of Plastic Surgery at Baroda Medical College, creating the first such department in Gujarat. His mother, Nirmal Sharma, an obstetrician-gynaecologist, belonged to a generation of pioneering women doctors who forged careers at a time when professional women were still uncommon in India.The story of Dr Prateek Sharma is not merely of professional achievement, though there has been plenty of that. It is a story of a life shaped by values inculcated by his family at a time when middle class meant having a happy childhood, where education was of premium value – but did not have the weight of the world attached to it. “My brother, two years older than me, and I were both in Rosary High School, in Vadodara. And you wouldn’t believe how much I loved playing. Could be cricket, could be football, but that constituted a very important phase in my life,” says Dr Sharma, and adds almost sheepishly that he was a class topper too throughout his school life, only when prodded. These days, he plays pickleball.“My father was the first plastic surgeon in those times (1970s), in a small city, and my mother, an OB-GYN (Obstetrician-Gynecologist), opened up her private practice. She was also ahead of her times. I remember when my mother would drive her Fiat to go to work, people would stare,” says Dr Sharma. She also raised two boys. One followed his father’s footsteps and is also a plastic surgeon. The second son is Dr Prateek Sharma, the Indian American gastroenterologist and academic today known the world over for his work on esophageal diseases, GERD, Barrett’s esophagus, and advanced endoscopic techniques. He has been the professor of medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine for almost two decades, and has been at the forefront in improving diagnosis and management of GI diseases and cancer for the same amount of time.​The story of Dr Prateek Sharma is not merely of professional achievement, though there has been plenty of that. It is a story of a life shaped by values inculcated by his family at a time when middle class meant having a happy childhood, where education was of premium value – but did not have the weight of the world attached to it.​Yet for all the medical pedigree around him, conversations at home rarely revolved around medicine. Instead, the family valued hard work, integrity and self-discipline. His father, who spent his entire career in government service, became an enduring influence. Whenever young Prateek proudly announced a high score in an examination, his father would often respond with a smile and a question: “Where did the remaining marks go?”It was never about perfection though. It was about cultivating the habit of striving a little harder with none of the pressure that parents or students go through in today’s world. “I lost my dad five years ago. I wish he too were here, but everyone else is here with me in India right now,” says the Kansas resident.“I do the elliptical thrice a week and play a lot of pickleball”At Rosary High School, Sharma developed into the kind of student teachers remember for decades. He excelled academically while simultaneously representing his school and state in football. “These days, I play a lot of pickleball with friends back in Kansas,” he adds, offering a glimpse into the workout warrior in him. “I do the elliptical thrice a week, and have a trainer in the gym, where I go thrice a week.” The sport and fitness enthusiast in him is not just alive, but asks for new challenges every day. Just like the professor in him challenges his students at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.But back in his childhood, in an era when students were often expected to choose between sports and studies, he managed to do both. He ranked among the top students in Gujarat’s state board examinations, yet even then the future was not entirely mapped out. Computer science was becoming fashionable around the late 1990s, and many of his peers were gravitating toward it. Medicine remained a possibility rather than a certainty at that time.But some callings in life are quietly inherited. With two doctor parents and an elder brother already pursuing medicine, Dr Sharma eventually chose the profession that had surrounded him all his life. What followed was a journey that would take him far beyond India. Today, he also serves as the president of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and chair of the ASGE Artificial Intelligence Institute.Back when he was a student, his move to the United States was not accompanied by the certainty that hindsight often imposes on success stories. He arrived carrying a single bag and a 500 dollars of Thomas Cook traveller cheques; leaving behind not only his family but also the only city he had ever known. “I had never been anywhere, except Baroda, when I came to the US. That was my biggest challenge.” The transition was difficult. Homesickness, cultural adjustment and the challenge of proving oneself in a highly competitive medical environment were tall asks. For an international medical graduate, entry into specialised training programmes was far from guaranteed in the US. He had already graduated with an MBBS from MS University of Baroda in 1991. In the US, he completed his internal medicine residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee.Then came the specialization question. The field that eventually captured his imagination was gastroenterology. During his medical training, he encountered mentors whose enthusiasm transformed what could have been another speciality into a lifelong passion. He enrolled with the gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Arizona, in Tucson. There doctors and mentors demonstrated how endoscopy could move medicine beyond diagnosis into intervention, allowing physicians to detect cancers earlier, remove precancerous lesions and save lives before disease became irreversible. Sharma was fascinated by the combination of science, technology and direct patient impact. “It was a time when gastroenterology was big in the US, but the gut was not at the forefront of medicine in India, or anywhere in Asia. One of his most fascinating research papers is titled, ‘The rise of acid reflux in Asia’. It’s one of about 500 papers or research that he has written in two decades.At the University of Arizona, he went on to train under some of the leading figures in the field and developed a particular interest in oesophageal diseases, Barrett’s oesophagus and acid reflux, areas that would later define much of his research career. One of Dr Sharma’s top mentors was the late Dr. Richard E. Sampliner, internationally recognized, award-winning gastroenterologist, widely celebrated for his pioneering research on Barrett’s esophagus. He revolutionized how pre-malignant lesions are treated to prevent soft-tissue cancers. Apart from Dr Saharma’s dad, brother and all his teachers, it is Dr Sampliner, who saw the enthusiasm and academic brilliance and pushed Dr Sharma to dive deeper in his chosen subject: gastroenterology.Over the years, Dr Sharma has followed in Dr Sampliner’s footsteps, and become one of the most influential voices in gastrointestinal medicine. He has published hundreds of scientific papers, led major research initiatives and mentored generations of physicians. His work has shaped understanding of digestive diseases across continents and helped establish standards of care that influence medical practice worldwide.Of love, bike rides and Rs 5 bread omelletsYet the story of Dr. Prateek Sharma cannot be told solely through academic milestones. Running parallel to his professional journey was a personal one. Of two-hour bike trips during his college days to Fatehgunj to have Rs 5 bread omelette with his friends. Of him meeting his future wife, Priyanka, while studying medicine in Baroda. Their relationship survived years of long-distance separation while he trained in the United States and she pursued her own medical path in Baroda. It involved long distance phone calls of a young couple going through the trials and tribulations of preparing for a future together. At times when things would seem hard, from a phone booth somewhere in the US to Baroda, Dr Singh would hum ‘Jab koi baat bigaad jaaye’… they would be married in three years from the time Dr Sharma left for the US.Today, she is an accomplished oncologist specializing in breast cancer, and a professor in her own right. Together, they built a life in Kansas City, where Sharma has lived for more than two decades and where they raised their son, Paranjay, who is now studying medicine and is in his second year in medical, making him part of the fifth generation of physicians in the family. “When Priyanka and I got married and moved to the states, we made friends with the Indian community here. At that time a lot of my friends were single. Eventually between studying, becoming professors, we saw our friends getting married. We would have get-togethers, and in those days none of us had much money. So, I remember everyone pitching in. If my wife and I would go on any professional trip somewhere, we came back to find our refrigerators stocked. In fact, my son Paranjay, and all the children of our friends, have been raised by our community. Everyone was always more than eager to lend a hand.”​At the University of Arizona, Dr Sharma trained under some of the leading figures in gastroenterology, and developed a particular interest in oesophageal diseases, Barrett’s oesophagus and acid reflux, areas that would later define much of his research career. ​Like they say, it takes a village to raise a child. It also takes a community to preserve the values that shape a life. For Dr Sharma, those years in Kansas City recreated the ethos of the middle-class India he grew up in – where neighbours became extended family, success was measured not by wealth but by relationships, and helping one another was simply a way of life. Those values, he believes, have remained the strongest foundation beneath every professional milestone that followed.“I love Gen Z. I think they are very misunderstood.”What stands out most in conversations with Dr Sharma is not just the scale of his accomplishments but the absence of self-importance. He maintains virtually no social media presence, prefers discussing mentors over personal achievements and speaks with equal warmth about scientific breakthroughs, football matches, old friends and roadside omelette stalls from his college days. And Gen Z.“I love Gen Z. I don’t understand why a lot of people find them difficult,” he adds with a smile and enthusiasm of a Gen Z student. “I think people misunderstand them a lot. It’s true they are not the most patient. They want their answers to be given in simple points. I can do that easily.” It’s probably the reason why his son Paranjay’s friends find Dr Sharma to be “Daddy Cool”. It takes a special kind of rootedness and adaptability to talk and explain with ease groundbreaking research at top-most medical conferences around the world, and be equally friendly and talk in the language of 20-somethings from across the globe. But that’s the most important trait of an educator. It’s about what they can offer to this world as service. Though Dr Sharma, calls it fulfillment.In a column written exclusively for the Times of India, in February—after the announcement of his Padma Shri award—he wrote: “I have spent most of my life doing what many professionals do: showing up, focusing on the work, trying to do it well, and then doing it again the next day. Medicine trains you that way. There is not much room for spectacle. There is only the patient in front of you, the decision you must make, and the consequences that follow. What these last few days have taught me is something simple: When you dedicate yourself sincerely to an area, when you serve others well over a long enough arc, the meaning accumulates, even if you do not notice it happening. Recognition may come early, or it may come late. Sometimes it does not come at all in obvious ways. But fulfillment arrives earlier than recognition does. And when the fulfillment is real, others can feel it, even if you never speak about it.”The values instilled by his parents remain visible in the way he measures success. His father often reminded him that earning money could never be life’s ultimate goal; service was what mattered. That philosophy appears to have resonated far beyond his family. When news of the Padma Shri reached Kansas City, members of the Indian-American community organised a large felicitation ceremony attended by hundreds of people, including the mayor and governor of the state, and community organisations. For Dr Sharma, the response was almost overwhelming. The celebration, he has said, seemed less about his achievements and more about the collective pride of a community that had watched his journey unfold over 25 years.The Padma Shri recognises an extraordinary physician and researcher, but it also honours a life built on quieter virtues: discipline without ego, ambition without vanity and achievement without losing sight of one’s roots. From the football fields of Vadodara to the world’s leading medical institutions, Dr. Prateek Sharma’s story is ultimately about the enduring power of excellence anchored in fulfillment of the soul. As India celebrates his contribution, it is this simplicity, perhaps more than any title or award, that defines the man behind the honour.(The Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on January 2, 1954, the award is conferred in recognition of distinguished contribution in various spheres of activity including the arts, education, industry, literature, science, acting, medicine, social service and public affairs. )Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorHaimanti MukherjeeWhile not jumping with joy seeing every dog that comes her way (to the bewilderment of the dog owner and the dog), Haimanti fantasizes about fantasy books or classics to read and re-read. That could be the gist of it all, except for the aroma of biryani that beckons; or that idea that’s stuck in the head and refuses to go till it’s penned down.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosHyderabad Gets ‘Donald Trump Avenue’ As Telangana Renames Road Outside US ConsulateSindhi Community Raises Concerns Over Utilisation Of 200 Kg Silver Donation Made For Ram MandirIndia Hits Back At Pakistan At UN, Reaffirms Jammu & Kashmir Is Strictly An Internal MatterMumbai Faces Widespread Waterlogging As Delayed Monsoon Arrival Brings Heavy Rain And DisruptionsAkhilesh Yadav Says BJP Using Mohan Yadav Land Allegations To Prepare Chief Ministerial ChangesIndia-US Partnership Will Shape The Coming Decades, Says US EnvoyQatar Emir Speaks To PM Modi, Offers Condolences After Ras Laffan Blast’Protectors Became Predators’: Dharmendra Pradhan Reacts To NEET Paper Leak Row, Student SuicidesTMC Expels Firhad Hakim, Arup Roy And Six Others As Mamata Cracks Down On Rebel CampUpto 80% Jump in Green Card Fee? Proposition Made; What Would Be Indians’ Stake?123Photostories5 signs your life may be shifting under Lord Shiva’s guidanceThe blood type that science says carries a higher type 2 diabetes riskSuccess quote of the day by Elon Musk: ‘There have to be reasons that you get up in the morning’This fairytale Dutch village has no roads, only canals and boatsBritish-inspired door designs: 7 Timeless styles that add elegance and character to your homePeople with high self-respect usually refuse these 5 relationship behaviors5 reasons all your relatationships fail according to Psychology6 traditional ways people cooked before Gas Stove was inventedReturning to work after cancer? Doctor says these challenges often catch survivors off guardFrom Kishen Bilagali-Niveditha Gowda’s Peacock feather row to Varthur Santhosh’s Tiger claw case: Bigg Boss Kannada celebrities who faced legal trouble123Hot PicksPunjab police admit cardDevina GahlotDonald Trump avenueMumbai rainsCBSE 12th revaluationBihar school timingsSpanish proverbAfghan proverbPortuguese proverbTop TrendingDelhi Rape MurderUS-Iran WarMac JonesFIFA World Cup 2026England vs Ghana FIFA World Cup ResultICAI CA Inter May resultLucknow coaching fireGold rate todayWho was Ketan AgarwalMumbai rain

President Droupadi Murmu confers the Padma Shri to Dr Prateek Sharma for his outstanding contribution in the field of medicine, in the sub specialty of gastroenterology, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi, on June 23. The story of Dr Prateek Sharma, one of the world’s leading gastroenterologist, educator, professor, researcher and doctor extraordinaire, is the story of discipline, curiosity, community and an abiding belief that success is meaningful only when it fulfills the soul. But mostly it’s the story of the hopes and dreams of the Indian middle class. And by Indian middle class we don’t mean just an economic strata. Rather the idea of the middle class when times were simple. Back when Dr Sharma was growing up in Vadodara as the younger son of parents, who were both doctors. Back when the only currency that mattered were the values inculcated by our elders — be it family, academic teachers or sport coaches.Last evening, when Dr. Prateek Sharma walked up to receive the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours (in the field of medicine), from President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, he carried with him a story that stretches from the quiet lanes of Vadodara, Gujarat, to the bustling boulevards of Kansas City, and ultimately to the forefront of global medical research.Long before he became one of the world’s leading authorities on gastroenterology and digestive cancers, Dr Sharma was a schoolboy in Vadodara whose life revolved as much around football fields as textbooks. Raised alongside his elder brother in a family where medicine was a profession but never an obsession, he grew up in what he describes as a typical middle-class household. His father, Professor SN Sharma, founded the Department of Plastic Surgery at Baroda Medical College, creating the first such department in Gujarat. His mother, Nirmal Sharma, an obstetrician-gynaecologist, belonged to a generation of pioneering women doctors who forged careers at a time when professional women were still uncommon in India.The story of Dr Prateek Sharma is not merely of professional achievement, though there has been plenty of that. It is a story of a life shaped by values inculcated by his family at a time when middle class meant having a happy childhood, where education was of premium value – but did not have the weight of the world attached to it. “My brother, two years older than me, and I were both in Rosary High School, in Vadodara. And you wouldn’t believe how much I loved playing. Could be cricket, could be football, but that constituted a very important phase in my life,” says Dr Sharma, and adds almost sheepishly that he was a class topper too throughout his school life, only when prodded. These days, he plays pickleball.“My father was the first plastic surgeon in those times (1970s), in a small city, and my mother, an OB-GYN (Obstetrician-Gynecologist), opened up her private practice. She was also ahead of her times. I remember when my mother would drive her Fiat to go to work, people would stare,” says Dr Sharma. She also raised two boys. One followed his father’s footsteps and is also a plastic surgeon. The second son is Dr Prateek Sharma, the Indian American gastroenterologist and academic today known the world over for his work on esophageal diseases, GERD, Barrett’s esophagus, and advanced endoscopic techniques. He has been the professor of medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine for almost two decades, and has been at the forefront in improving diagnosis and management of GI diseases and cancer for the same amount of time.​The story of Dr Prateek Sharma is not merely of professional achievement, though there has been plenty of that. It is a story of a life shaped by values inculcated by his family at a time when middle class meant having a happy childhood, where education was of premium value – but did not have the weight of the world attached to it.​Yet for all the medical pedigree around him, conversations at home rarely revolved around medicine. Instead, the family valued hard work, integrity and self-discipline. His father, who spent his entire career in government service, became an enduring influence. Whenever young Prateek proudly announced a high score in an examination, his father would often respond with a smile and a question: “Where did the remaining marks go?”It was never about perfection though. It was about cultivating the habit of striving a little harder with none of the pressure that parents or students go through in today’s world. “I lost my dad five years ago. I wish he too were here, but everyone else is here with me in India right now,” says the Kansas resident.“I do the elliptical thrice a week and play a lot of pickleball”At Rosary High School, Sharma developed into the kind of student teachers remember for decades. He excelled academically while simultaneously representing his school and state in football. “These days, I play a lot of pickleball with friends back in Kansas,” he adds, offering a glimpse into the workout warrior in him. “I do the elliptical thrice a week, and have a trainer in the gym, where I go thrice a week.” The sport and fitness enthusiast in him is not just alive, but asks for new challenges every day. Just like the professor in him challenges his students at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.But back in his childhood, in an era when students were often expected to choose between sports and studies, he managed to do both. He ranked among the top students in Gujarat’s state board examinations, yet even then the future was not entirely mapped out. Computer science was becoming fashionable around the late 1990s, and many of his peers were gravitating toward it. Medicine remained a possibility rather than a certainty at that time.But some callings in life are quietly inherited. With two doctor parents and an elder brother already pursuing medicine, Dr Sharma eventually chose the profession that had surrounded him all his life. What followed was a journey that would take him far beyond India. Today, he also serves as the president of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and chair of the ASGE Artificial Intelligence Institute.Back when he was a student, his move to the United States was not accompanied by the certainty that hindsight often imposes on success stories. He arrived carrying a single bag and a 500 dollars of Thomas Cook traveller cheques; leaving behind not only his family but also the only city he had ever known. “I had never been anywhere, except Baroda, when I came to the US. That was my biggest challenge.” The transition was difficult. Homesickness, cultural adjustment and the challenge of proving oneself in a highly competitive medical environment were tall asks. For an international medical graduate, entry into specialised training programmes was far from guaranteed in the US. He had already graduated with an MBBS from MS University of Baroda in 1991. In the US, he completed his internal medicine residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee.Then came the specialization question. The field that eventually captured his imagination was gastroenterology. During his medical training, he encountered mentors whose enthusiasm transformed what could have been another speciality into a lifelong passion. He enrolled with the gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Arizona, in Tucson. There doctors and mentors demonstrated how endoscopy could move medicine beyond diagnosis into intervention, allowing physicians to detect cancers earlier, remove precancerous lesions and save lives before disease became irreversible. Sharma was fascinated by the combination of science, technology and direct patient impact. “It was a time when gastroenterology was big in the US, but the gut was not at the forefront of medicine in India, or anywhere in Asia. One of his most fascinating research papers is titled, ‘The rise of acid reflux in Asia’. It’s one of about 500 papers or research that he has written in two decades.At the University of Arizona, he went on to train under some of the leading figures in the field and developed a particular interest in oesophageal diseases, Barrett’s oesophagus and acid reflux, areas that would later define much of his research career. One of Dr Sharma’s top mentors was the late Dr. Richard E. Sampliner, internationally recognized, award-winning gastroenterologist, widely celebrated for his pioneering research on Barrett’s esophagus. He revolutionized how pre-malignant lesions are treated to prevent soft-tissue cancers. Apart from Dr Saharma’s dad, brother and all his teachers, it is Dr Sampliner, who saw the enthusiasm and academic brilliance and pushed Dr Sharma to dive deeper in his chosen subject: gastroenterology.Over the years, Dr Sharma has followed in Dr Sampliner’s footsteps, and become one of the most influential voices in gastrointestinal medicine. He has published hundreds of scientific papers, led major research initiatives and mentored generations of physicians. His work has shaped understanding of digestive diseases across continents and helped establish standards of care that influence medical practice worldwide.Of love, bike rides and Rs 5 bread omelletsYet the story of Dr. Prateek Sharma cannot be told solely through academic milestones. Running parallel to his professional journey was a personal one. Of two-hour bike trips during his college days to Fatehgunj to have Rs 5 bread omelette with his friends. Of him meeting his future wife, Priyanka, while studying medicine in Baroda. Their relationship survived years of long-distance separation while he trained in the United States and she pursued her own medical path in Baroda. It involved long distance phone calls of a young couple going through the trials and tribulations of preparing for a future together. At times when things would seem hard, from a phone booth somewhere in the US to Baroda, Dr Singh would hum ‘Jab koi baat bigaad jaaye’… they would be married in three years from the time Dr Sharma left for the US.Today, she is an accomplished oncologist specializing in breast cancer, and a professor in her own right. Together, they built a life in Kansas City, where Sharma has lived for more than two decades and where they raised their son, Paranjay, who is now studying medicine and is in his second year in medical, making him part of the fifth generation of physicians in the family. “When Priyanka and I got married and moved to the states, we made friends with the Indian community here. At that time a lot of my friends were single. Eventually between studying, becoming professors, we saw our friends getting married. We would have get-togethers, and in those days none of us had much money. So, I remember everyone pitching in. If my wife and I would go on any professional trip somewhere, we came back to find our refrigerators stocked. In fact, my son Paranjay, and all the children of our friends, have been raised by our community. Everyone was always more than eager to lend a hand.”​At the University of Arizona, Dr Sharma trained under some of the leading figures in gastroenterology, and developed a particular interest in oesophageal diseases, Barrett’s oesophagus and acid reflux, areas that would later define much of his research career. ​Like they say, it takes a village to raise a child. It also takes a community to preserve the values that shape a life. For Dr Sharma, those years in Kansas City recreated the ethos of the middle-class India he grew up in – where neighbours became extended family, success was measured not by wealth but by relationships, and helping one another was simply a way of life. Those values, he believes, have remained the strongest foundation beneath every professional milestone that followed.“I love Gen Z. I think they are very misunderstood.”What stands out most in conversations with Dr Sharma is not just the scale of his accomplishments but the absence of self-importance. He maintains virtually no social media presence, prefers discussing mentors over personal achievements and speaks with equal warmth about scientific breakthroughs, football matches, old friends and roadside omelette stalls from his college days. And Gen Z.“I love Gen Z. I don’t understand why a lot of people find them difficult,” he adds with a smile and enthusiasm of a Gen Z student. “I think people misunderstand them a lot. It’s true they are not the most patient. They want their answers to be given in simple points. I can do that easily.” It’s probably the reason why his son Paranjay’s friends find Dr Sharma to be “Daddy Cool”. It takes a special kind of rootedness and adaptability to talk and explain with ease groundbreaking research at top-most medical conferences around the world, and be equally friendly and talk in the language of 20-somethings from across the globe. But that’s the most important trait of an educator. It’s about what they can offer to this world as service. Though Dr Sharma, calls it fulfillment.In a column written exclusively for the Times of India, in February—after the announcement of his Padma Shri award—he wrote: “I have spent most of my life doing what many professionals do: showing up, focusing on the work, trying to do it well, and then doing it again the next day. Medicine trains you that way. There is not much room for spectacle. There is only the patient in front of you, the decision you must make, and the consequences that follow. What these last few days have taught me is something simple: When you dedicate yourself sincerely to an area, when you serve others well over a long enough arc, the meaning accumulates, even if you do not notice it happening. Recognition may come early, or it may come late. Sometimes it does not come at all in obvious ways. But fulfillment arrives earlier than recognition does. And when the fulfillment is real, others can feel it, even if you never speak about it.”The values instilled by his parents remain visible in the way he measures success. His father often reminded him that earning money could never be life’s ultimate goal; service was what mattered. That philosophy appears to have resonated far beyond his family. When news of the Padma Shri reached Kansas City, members of the Indian-American community organised a large felicitation ceremony attended by hundreds of people, including the mayor and governor of the state, and community organisations. For Dr Sharma, the response was almost overwhelming. The celebration, he has said, seemed less about his achievements and more about the collective pride of a community that had watched his journey unfold over 25 years.The Padma Shri recognises an extraordinary physician and researcher, but it also honours a life built on quieter virtues: discipline without ego, ambition without vanity and achievement without losing sight of one’s roots. From the football fields of Vadodara to the world’s leading medical institutions, Dr. Prateek Sharma’s story is ultimately about the enduring power of excellence anchored in fulfillment of the soul. As India celebrates his contribution, it is this simplicity, perhaps more than any title or award, that defines the man behind the honour.(The Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on January 2, 1954, the award is conferred in recognition of distinguished contribution in various spheres of activity including the arts, education, industry, literature, science, acting, medicine, social service and public affairs. )Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorHaimanti MukherjeeWhile not jumping with joy seeing every dog that comes her way (to the bewilderment of the dog owner and the dog), Haimanti fantasizes about fantasy books or classics to read and re-read. That could be the gist of it all, except for the aroma of biryani that beckons; or that idea that’s stuck in the head and refuses to go till it’s penned down.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosHyderabad Gets ‘Donald Trump Avenue’ As Telangana Renames Road Outside US ConsulateSindhi Community Raises Concerns Over Utilisation Of 200 Kg Silver Donation Made For Ram MandirIndia Hits Back At Pakistan At UN, Reaffirms Jammu & Kashmir Is Strictly An Internal MatterMumbai Faces Widespread Waterlogging As Delayed Monsoon Arrival Brings Heavy Rain And DisruptionsAkhilesh Yadav Says BJP Using Mohan Yadav Land Allegations To Prepare Chief Ministerial ChangesIndia-US Partnership Will Shape The Coming Decades, Says US EnvoyQatar Emir Speaks To PM Modi, Offers Condolences After Ras Laffan Blast’Protectors Became Predators’: Dharmendra Pradhan Reacts To NEET Paper Leak Row, Student SuicidesTMC Expels Firhad Hakim, Arup Roy And Six Others As Mamata Cracks Down On Rebel CampUpto 80% Jump in Green Card Fee? Proposition Made; What Would Be Indians’ Stake?123Photostories5 signs your life may be shifting under Lord Shiva’s guidanceThe blood type that science says carries a higher type 2 diabetes riskSuccess quote of the day by Elon Musk: ‘There have to be reasons that you get up in the morning’This fairytale Dutch village has no roads, only canals and boatsBritish-inspired door designs: 7 Timeless styles that add elegance and character to your homePeople with high self-respect usually refuse these 5 relationship behaviors5 reasons all your relatationships fail according to Psychology6 traditional ways people cooked before Gas Stove was inventedReturning to work after cancer? Doctor says these challenges often catch survivors off guardFrom Kishen Bilagali-Niveditha Gowda’s Peacock feather row to Varthur Santhosh’s Tiger claw case: Bigg Boss Kannada celebrities who faced legal trouble123Hot PicksPunjab police admit cardDevina GahlotDonald Trump avenueMumbai rainsCBSE 12th revaluationBihar school timingsSpanish proverbAfghan proverbPortuguese proverbTop TrendingDelhi Rape MurderUS-Iran WarMac JonesFIFA World Cup 2026England vs Ghana FIFA World Cup ResultICAI CA Inter May resultLucknow coaching fireGold rate todayWho was Ketan AgarwalMumbai rain

Vamsikrishna 0
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann (PTI file photo) NEW DELHI: With Gurugram Police investigating an alleged Rs 10 lakh-for-report deal in a viral video case, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann found himself at the centre of a fresh political storm on Wednesday. The BJP accused the AAP leader of trying to suppress allegations of “sacrilegious conduct” and demanded action against him.The BJP’s offensive came days after the Akal Takht took action against Mann over the controversy, referring to a video that allegedly showed “disrespecting the Sikh Gurus”. The saffron party accused Mann of misusing state machinery and questioned AAP supremo and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for remaining “silent” on the issue.Leading the attack, Delhi minister and BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa demanded action against the Punjab chief minister.Addressing a presser on Wednesday, Sirsa said, “…Bhagwant Mann remained silent, Arvind Kejriwal also remained silent, and today the arrests and case filed against those who provided this forensic report were made…The way such a grave sin has been committed, and the attempt to suppress it with the help of money and the police, has been challenged. Sikh authorities, the dignity of Sikhs, and the sentiments of Sikhs have been challenged…When will a case be filed against Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann? When will Bhagwant Mann be arrested in this case?…”Sirsa also accused Mann of using his office to cover up the controversy. In a post on X, he wrote: “Nothing can be more shameful for Punjab than a chief minister facing allegations of sacrilegious conduct and then allegedly using the power of his office to cover it up. After the Akal Takht Sahib’s order on 15 June, senior Punjab Police officers were sent to secure a favourable forensic report with Rs 10 lakh deal with a forensic lab in Gurugram.”He added, “The seriousness of the matter is evident from the FIR registered by Haryana Police against Punjab Govt officials and others for coercing a cyber expert into fabricating a forensic report in favour of Punjab CM. Mann Sahab has lost all moral authority to remain in office. He must step down.””This is now a litmus test for Punjab Police. The recently enacted Beadbi law cannot become a tool only for ordinary citizens while the chief minister remains above scrutiny. The very first case under the law should be registered against Bhagwant Mann. Most importantly, Punjab is now facing a grave constitutional crisis. A sitting chief minister stands accused of misusing police and state machinery to shield himself from accountability. This is a fit case for Bhagwant Mann’s removal from office,” he added further.BJP spokesperson RP Singh also weighed in, alleging that investigations had found the controversial video to be genuine.“Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann was in a video where he was seen disrespecting Guru Sahib and misbehaving with images. The Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib had called him and asked him to get it verified through his own agency. Bhagwant Mann ignored it and did not get it investigated. After that, Akal Takht Sahib got it verified, and the video was found to be genuine. Now, after it was found to be correct, Akal Takht Sahib removed Bhagwant Mann from the panth. Two agencies then submitted a report saying the video was not genuine. Following this, Gurgaon Police investigated the individuals involved and found it to be fake…”Another BJP leader, Tajinder Bagga, also targeted Mann and shared CCTV footage on social media, alleging a meeting between Punjab Police officers and a forensic laboratory in Gurugram.He wrote: “On 15 June, after the Akal Takht Sahib’s order against Bhagwanta, Bhagwanta gave a task to Ludhiana CP Swapan Sharma and SP Jashandeep to prepare a fake forensic report in his favour.On 16 June, Swapan Sharma and Jashandeep came to Gurugram and met the owners of a forensic lab at Crowne Plaza, Gurugram, to crack a deal in 10 Lakh. “This is CCTV footage from Crowne Plaza showing the meeting between Swapan Sharma, Jashandeep, and the lab owners,” BJP leader Bagga added.Meanwhile, Gurugram Police said they had detained two people in connection with the alleged fabrication of a forensic report linked to the viral video.Gurugram ACP Crime Naveen Sharma said, “The Gurgaon Police received a complaint. We have taken two individuals into custody; an interrogation is currently underway. One suspect has been identified as Ankit, a cyber-expert working with the NIA on a contract basis; the other individual is named Arun. The complaint pertains to a viral video that they had fraudulently created and circulated. They did not operate out of any government-recognised laboratory. They fabricated a video featuring the Chief Minister of our neighbouring state. We have detained them for this act, and the investigation is ongoing.They stated that they were given Rs 10 lakh for this task, and indicated that certain officials from the neighbouring state were also involved. Whatever further details emerge from the ongoing investigation will be discussed and verified with a forensic expert.”What is the controversy?The row centres on a viral video that critics claim shows Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann disrespecting Sikh religious imagery. Mann has strongly denied the allegation and insists the person seen in the video is not him.In a video message issued on June 19, Mann said, “It is not me in the viral video, but an actor who looks like me. 1,191 frames were examined during the forensic analysis; not a single frame matches me. A well-planned conspiracy was hatched to defame me. Instructions have been issued to the DGP to identify the conspirators and take action against them. The guilty will be apprehended and brought back from any corner of the world.”The row scaled up further after the Akal Takht, led by acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, directed members of the Sikh community to sever ties with Mann over the issue.With BJP demanding criminal action, police investigations under way, and religious authorities weighing in, the controversy has become one of the biggest political challenges facing the Punjab chief minister.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSindhi Community Raises Concerns Over Utilisation Of 200 Kg Silver Donation Made For Ram MandirIndia Hits Back At Pakistan At UN, Reaffirms Jammu & Kashmir Is Strictly An Internal MatterMumbai Faces Widespread Waterlogging As Delayed Monsoon Arrival Brings Heavy Rain And DisruptionsAkhilesh Yadav Says BJP Using Mohan Yadav Land Allegations To Prepare Chief Ministerial ChangesIndia-US Partnership Will Shape The Coming Decades, Says US EnvoyQatar Emir Speaks To PM Modi, Offers Condolences After Ras Laffan Blast’Protectors Became Predators’: Dharmendra Pradhan Reacts To NEET Paper Leak Row, Student SuicidesTMC Expels Firhad Hakim, Arup Roy And Six Others As Mamata Cracks Down On Rebel CampUpto 80% Jump in Green Card Fee? Proposition Made; What Would Be Indians’ Stake?’Pakistan’s Desperate Attempt To Deflect’: India Snubs Khawaja Asif’s ‘War Over Indus’ Remark123PhotostoriesThe blood type that science says carries a higher type 2 diabetes riskSuccess quote of the day by Elon Musk: ‘There have to be reasons that you get up in the morning’This fairytale Dutch village has no roads, only canals and boatsBritish-inspired door designs: 7 Timeless styles that add elegance and character to your homePeople with high self-respect usually refuse these 5 relationship behaviors5 reasons all your relatationships fail according to Psychology6 traditional ways people cooked before Gas Stove was inventedReturning to work after cancer? Doctor says these challenges often catch survivors off guardFrom Kishen Bilagali-Niveditha Gowda’s Peacock feather row to Varthur Santhosh’s Tiger claw case: Bigg Boss Kannada celebrities who faced legal troubleViking disease: Scientists say this hand condition may be inherited from Neanderthals123Hot PicksPunjab police admit cardDevina GahlotDonald Trump avenueMumbai rainsCBSE 12th revaluationBihar school timingsSpanish proverbAfghan proverbPortuguese proverbTop TrendingDelhi Rape MurderUS-Iran WarMac JonesFIFA World Cup 2026England vs Ghana FIFA World Cup ResultICAI CA Inter May resultLucknow coaching fireGold rate todayWho was Ketan AgarwalMumbai rain

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann (PTI file photo) NEW DELHI: With Gurugram Police investigating an alleged Rs 10 lakh-for-report deal in a viral video case, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann found himself at the centre of a fresh political storm on Wednesday. The BJP accused the AAP leader of trying to suppress allegations of “sacrilegious conduct” and demanded action against him.The BJP’s offensive came days after the Akal Takht took action against Mann over the controversy, referring to a video that allegedly showed “disrespecting the Sikh Gurus”. The saffron party accused Mann of misusing state machinery and questioned AAP supremo and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for remaining “silent” on the issue.Leading the attack, Delhi minister and BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa demanded action against the Punjab chief minister.Addressing a presser on Wednesday, Sirsa said, “…Bhagwant Mann remained silent, Arvind Kejriwal also remained silent, and today the arrests and case filed against those who provided this forensic report were made…The way such a grave sin has been committed, and the attempt to suppress it with the help of money and the police, has been challenged. Sikh authorities, the dignity of Sikhs, and the sentiments of Sikhs have been challenged…When will a case be filed against Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann? When will Bhagwant Mann be arrested in this case?…”Sirsa also accused Mann of using his office to cover up the controversy. In a post on X, he wrote: “Nothing can be more shameful for Punjab than a chief minister facing allegations of sacrilegious conduct and then allegedly using the power of his office to cover it up. After the Akal Takht Sahib’s order on 15 June, senior Punjab Police officers were sent to secure a favourable forensic report with Rs 10 lakh deal with a forensic lab in Gurugram.”He added, “The seriousness of the matter is evident from the FIR registered by Haryana Police against Punjab Govt officials and others for coercing a cyber expert into fabricating a forensic report in favour of Punjab CM. Mann Sahab has lost all moral authority to remain in office. He must step down.””This is now a litmus test for Punjab Police. The recently enacted Beadbi law cannot become a tool only for ordinary citizens while the chief minister remains above scrutiny. The very first case under the law should be registered against Bhagwant Mann. Most importantly, Punjab is now facing a grave constitutional crisis. A sitting chief minister stands accused of misusing police and state machinery to shield himself from accountability. This is a fit case for Bhagwant Mann’s removal from office,” he added further.BJP spokesperson RP Singh also weighed in, alleging that investigations had found the controversial video to be genuine.“Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann was in a video where he was seen disrespecting Guru Sahib and misbehaving with images. The Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib had called him and asked him to get it verified through his own agency. Bhagwant Mann ignored it and did not get it investigated. After that, Akal Takht Sahib got it verified, and the video was found to be genuine. Now, after it was found to be correct, Akal Takht Sahib removed Bhagwant Mann from the panth. Two agencies then submitted a report saying the video was not genuine. Following this, Gurgaon Police investigated the individuals involved and found it to be fake…”Another BJP leader, Tajinder Bagga, also targeted Mann and shared CCTV footage on social media, alleging a meeting between Punjab Police officers and a forensic laboratory in Gurugram.He wrote: “On 15 June, after the Akal Takht Sahib’s order against Bhagwanta, Bhagwanta gave a task to Ludhiana CP Swapan Sharma and SP Jashandeep to prepare a fake forensic report in his favour.On 16 June, Swapan Sharma and Jashandeep came to Gurugram and met the owners of a forensic lab at Crowne Plaza, Gurugram, to crack a deal in 10 Lakh. “This is CCTV footage from Crowne Plaza showing the meeting between Swapan Sharma, Jashandeep, and the lab owners,” BJP leader Bagga added.Meanwhile, Gurugram Police said they had detained two people in connection with the alleged fabrication of a forensic report linked to the viral video.Gurugram ACP Crime Naveen Sharma said, “The Gurgaon Police received a complaint. We have taken two individuals into custody; an interrogation is currently underway. One suspect has been identified as Ankit, a cyber-expert working with the NIA on a contract basis; the other individual is named Arun. The complaint pertains to a viral video that they had fraudulently created and circulated. They did not operate out of any government-recognised laboratory. They fabricated a video featuring the Chief Minister of our neighbouring state. We have detained them for this act, and the investigation is ongoing.They stated that they were given Rs 10 lakh for this task, and indicated that certain officials from the neighbouring state were also involved. Whatever further details emerge from the ongoing investigation will be discussed and verified with a forensic expert.”What is the controversy?The row centres on a viral video that critics claim shows Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann disrespecting Sikh religious imagery. Mann has strongly denied the allegation and insists the person seen in the video is not him.In a video message issued on June 19, Mann said, “It is not me in the viral video, but an actor who looks like me. 1,191 frames were examined during the forensic analysis; not a single frame matches me. A well-planned conspiracy was hatched to defame me. Instructions have been issued to the DGP to identify the conspirators and take action against them. The guilty will be apprehended and brought back from any corner of the world.”The row scaled up further after the Akal Takht, led by acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, directed members of the Sikh community to sever ties with Mann over the issue.With BJP demanding criminal action, police investigations under way, and religious authorities weighing in, the controversy has become one of the biggest political challenges facing the Punjab chief minister.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSindhi Community Raises Concerns Over Utilisation Of 200 Kg Silver Donation Made For Ram MandirIndia Hits Back At Pakistan At UN, Reaffirms Jammu & Kashmir Is Strictly An Internal MatterMumbai Faces Widespread Waterlogging As Delayed Monsoon Arrival Brings Heavy Rain And DisruptionsAkhilesh Yadav Says BJP Using Mohan Yadav Land Allegations To Prepare Chief Ministerial ChangesIndia-US Partnership Will Shape The Coming Decades, Says US EnvoyQatar Emir Speaks To PM Modi, Offers Condolences After Ras Laffan Blast’Protectors Became Predators’: Dharmendra Pradhan Reacts To NEET Paper Leak Row, Student SuicidesTMC Expels Firhad Hakim, Arup Roy And Six Others As Mamata Cracks Down On Rebel CampUpto 80% Jump in Green Card Fee? 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TMC MP accuses BJP of ‘imposing vegetarianism’. Photo credit: ANI, X Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien on Wednesday criticised the BJP over reports suggesting eggs could be removed from mid-day meals in West Bengal schools, alleging that such a move would deprive children of nutrition and amount to “imposing vegetarianism”.The controversy erupted after social media posts claimed that eggs in school meals could be replaced with alternatives such as paneer and soyabean. Watch TMC Escalates Battle To Delhi As Abhishek Banerjee Seeks Action On Rebel MPsReacting to the reports, O’Brien alleged that the move would affect children’s nutrition and linked it to earlier political debates over food habits in the state.”After the fish-eating tamasha during the election campaign, the Gujarat Gymkhana finally reveals itself. New BJP govt at work in Bengal. Throw eggs at rivals. But deprive children of nutrition by taking eggs off from midday meals. Imposing vegetarianism. Bengal rejects this,” O’Brien wrote on X.The row comes days after the West Bengal government assigned the responsibility of preparing and serving cooked mid-day meals in schools under the Kolkata municipal corporation area to ISKCON.Amid growing speculation, ISKCON Kolkata vice president Radharaman Das issued a clarification, saying no menu had been approved and that reports circulating online were inaccurate.”It has come to my notice that some people are sharing the following proposed menu for the midday meal in Kolkata. However, I would like to clarify that no such menu has been finalized, and this list has not been issued by us. Once the menu is finalised, we will make an official announcement. Kindly refrain from sharing this incorrect information,” Das said in a post on X.The reports had fuelled concerns that eggs, a regular source of protein in school meals for many students, could be removed from the menu. However, no official proposal has been announced by ISKCON or the authorities concerned.The debate has unfolded in the context of the Centre’s PM POSHAN scheme, which was launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Education as the successor to the National Programme for Mid-Day Meal in Schools. The scheme aims to improve nutritional support for schoolchildren while encouraging attendance and learning outcomes.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia Hits Back At Pakistan At UN, Reaffirms Jammu & Kashmir Is Strictly An Internal MatterMumbai Faces Widespread Waterlogging As Delayed Monsoon Arrival Brings Heavy Rain And DisruptionsAkhilesh Yadav Says BJP Using Mohan Yadav Land Allegations To Prepare Chief Ministerial ChangesIndia-US Partnership Will Shape The Coming Decades, Says US EnvoyQatar Emir Speaks To PM Modi, Offers Condolences After Ras Laffan Blast’Protectors Became Predators’: Dharmendra Pradhan Reacts To NEET Paper Leak Row, Student SuicidesTMC Expels Firhad Hakim, Arup Roy And Six Others As Mamata Cracks Down On Rebel CampUpto 80% Jump in Green Card Fee? 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TMC MP accuses BJP of ‘imposing vegetarianism’. Photo credit: ANI, X Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien on Wednesday criticised the BJP over reports suggesting eggs could be removed from mid-day meals in West Bengal schools, alleging that such a move would deprive children of nutrition and amount to “imposing vegetarianism”.The controversy erupted after social media posts claimed that eggs in school meals could be replaced with alternatives such as paneer and soyabean. Watch TMC Escalates Battle To Delhi As Abhishek Banerjee Seeks Action On Rebel MPsReacting to the reports, O’Brien alleged that the move would affect children’s nutrition and linked it to earlier political debates over food habits in the state.”After the fish-eating tamasha during the election campaign, the Gujarat Gymkhana finally reveals itself. New BJP govt at work in Bengal. Throw eggs at rivals. But deprive children of nutrition by taking eggs off from midday meals. Imposing vegetarianism. Bengal rejects this,” O’Brien wrote on X.The row comes days after the West Bengal government assigned the responsibility of preparing and serving cooked mid-day meals in schools under the Kolkata municipal corporation area to ISKCON.Amid growing speculation, ISKCON Kolkata vice president Radharaman Das issued a clarification, saying no menu had been approved and that reports circulating online were inaccurate.”It has come to my notice that some people are sharing the following proposed menu for the midday meal in Kolkata. However, I would like to clarify that no such menu has been finalized, and this list has not been issued by us. Once the menu is finalised, we will make an official announcement. Kindly refrain from sharing this incorrect information,” Das said in a post on X.The reports had fuelled concerns that eggs, a regular source of protein in school meals for many students, could be removed from the menu. However, no official proposal has been announced by ISKCON or the authorities concerned.The debate has unfolded in the context of the Centre’s PM POSHAN scheme, which was launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Education as the successor to the National Programme for Mid-Day Meal in Schools. The scheme aims to improve nutritional support for schoolchildren while encouraging attendance and learning outcomes.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia Hits Back At Pakistan At UN, Reaffirms Jammu & Kashmir Is Strictly An Internal MatterMumbai Faces Widespread Waterlogging As Delayed Monsoon Arrival Brings Heavy Rain And DisruptionsAkhilesh Yadav Says BJP Using Mohan Yadav Land Allegations To Prepare Chief Ministerial ChangesIndia-US Partnership Will Shape The Coming Decades, Says US EnvoyQatar Emir Speaks To PM Modi, Offers Condolences After Ras Laffan Blast’Protectors Became Predators’: Dharmendra Pradhan Reacts To NEET Paper Leak Row, Student SuicidesTMC Expels Firhad Hakim, Arup Roy And Six Others As Mamata Cracks Down On Rebel CampUpto 80% Jump in Green Card Fee? Proposition Made; What Would Be Indians’ Stake?’Pakistan’s Desperate Attempt To Deflect’: India Snubs Khawaja Asif’s ‘War Over Indus’ RemarkAliganj Fire: Jyoti’s Brother Alleges Corruption, Seeks Murder Charges Against Officials123PhotostoriesPeople with high self-respect usually refuse these 5 relationship behaviors5 reasons all your relatationships fail according to Psychology6 traditional ways people cooked before Gas Stove was inventedReturning to work after cancer? Doctor says these challenges often catch survivors off guardFrom Kishen Bilagali-Niveditha Gowda’s Peacock feather row to Varthur Santhosh’s Tiger claw case: Bigg Boss Kannada celebrities who faced legal troubleViking disease: Scientists say this hand condition may be inherited from Neanderthals6 high-protein egg dishes for breakfast other than omeletteWhat would you do? My friend invited everyone except me to her birthday party; 5 women share what happened nextSonam Kapoor turns up at Anshula Kapoor’s wedding in ivory-gold couture and steals the spotlight effortlesslyWhere is India in the list of 10 countries with the richest culture and heritage? Find out123Hot PicksPunjab police admit cardDevina GahlotDonald Trump avenueMumbai rainsCBSE 12th revaluationAyodhya Ram Temple TrustSpanish proverbAfghan proverbPortuguese proverbTop TrendingDelhi Rape MurderUS-Iran WarMac JonesFIFA World Cup 2026England vs Ghana FIFA World Cup ResultCUET UG Result 2026Ketan AgarwalGold rate todayDelhi weatherMumbai rain

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