VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Trump’s labour secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer set to quit after turbulent stint It is a piece of cloth, a gesture of respect among Tamil people. But over the years, the melthundu — ‘mel’ meaning upper, ‘thundu’ meaning cloth — has come to mean much more than that. Forbidden at one point for particular communities, later reclaimed as a mark of protest, and now reimagined in party colours, the simple shoulder cloth has become central to the political culture of Tamil Nadu.Netas across parties, from DMK chief M K Stalin to ADMK’s Edappadi K Palaniswami, have lately been sporting chequered thundus in party colours, a change from the more familiar stripes. But this is not the first time the shoulder cloth has made a political statement.The first major moment of the thundu springing to the centre of politics and identity in Tamil Nadu was in 1924, during a nadaswaram performance that was attended by Periyar E V Ramasamy, pioneer of the Self-Respect Movement. In those days, people from lower castes were prohibited from wearing a shawl or cloth over their shoulders; only people from dominant castes were allowed to do so.At the event, a musician removed the towel from around his waist, wiped his face and placed the cloth on his shoulder. The host of the event, from a dominant caste, objected, saying someone from a “lower caste” should not wear the thundu on the shoulder. After this, Periyar introduced the practice of placing a shawl on people’s shoulders during functions as a symbol of dignity. Periyar’s followers also began wearing the melthundu as a political statement. “Periyar turned the thundu into a symbol of equality. It became a way of saying, ‘You are my fellow human being’,” says Tamil writer Olivannan G.“Since then, Dravidian politicians began to insist that those on stage drape the thundu over the shoulder, as a way of rejecting caste hierarchies,” says advocate V Kannadasan. “It began as a social equaliser and evolved into a way for leaders to create their political image.”That evolution was visible in the styles adopted by different politicians. DMK founder C N Annadurai always wore a long white shawl. Former DMK chief M Karunanidhi first wore a white one, then switched to yellow. MDMK founder Vaiko became known for his black thundu, worn as a mark of protest over issues linked to the Tamil Eelam (during the Sri Lankan Civil War).“Clothing is considered to be one of the major tools that Dravidian parties have used in politics. Veshti-shirt and melthundu are worn as traditional Tamil male attire,” says political anthropologist Nisar Kannangara. “That’s why PM Modi always wears one when campaigning in Tamil Nadu. He wore it during his 2019 meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the state to appeal to Tamil sentiments.”In the 1970s, the thundu was used as a cinematic device. Actor and ADMK founder M G Ramachandran, who rarely wore the shoulder cloth himself and instead cultivated a trademark image with dark glasses and a fur hat, used the thundu in films such as ‘Idhayakkani’, supposedly to caricature Karunanidhi, his DMK rival. The films featured characters wearing long shawls and delivering verbose dialogue, says political science professor Subramaniam Chandran in a paper published in 2023.However, fashion designer Purushu Arie, who traces the evolution of political attire, says, “Distinctions are now emerging. Sometimes, within parties, simpler cotton towels are meant for cadres, while silk shawls are reserved for seniors. Ironically, the cloth meant to erase hierarchy seems to be recreating it.”In recent years, most party members in the state stopped wearing the thundu regularly. But in the run-up to the 2026 polls, the melthundu has made a comeback. This time, it is less about symbolism and more about branding and standing out in the crowd.“We wanted to try a new design,” says a DMK source, referring to the black-and-red checked thundu that has made its debut. “The strategy team first used the chequered thundu in a party engagement programme with hamlet secretaries. It caught on and, this time, most workers and seniors decided to wear it instead of the usual striped one.”Chequered historyWhite to yellowIn 1989, on his return to office, M Karunanidhi was presented with a yellow shawl by Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S Ramadoss, denoting the Vanniyar flag to honour his 20% reservation policy for the community. He wore this yellow shawl for decades as part of his trademark style, along with his dark glasses. He later gave various explanations for it, including comparison to Buddha’s yellow angavastram.In Karnataka, ‘political fixer’s’ uniformIn a 2000 article in Asian Survey, political scientist James Manor says the phrase “towel over armpit” was used to describe small-time political fixers in Karnataka — intermediaries who moved between villages and govt offices, wielding “informal power”. Though often parodied, Manor says they play an important role in elections in most southern states.When Prabhakaran refused the thunduIn a 2011 article in the journal Sanglap, Swarnavel Eswaran Pillai, professor at Michigan State University, says there was pressure from the West on LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran to abandon his guerrilla fatigues for a modern “coat-suit attire” or the “traditional white veshti– thundu” so he could present a more “acceptable” political image. Prabhakaran refused.MGR shawl controversyIn 2020, a statue of MGR in Puducherry was found draped in a saffron shawl, triggering political protests. While leaders condemned the act as an attempt to “saffronise” the Dravidian icon, CCTV footage later revealed that a woman had placed it as a gesture of respect, unaware of the political implications.About the AuthorKamini MathaiKamini Mathai is a Chennai-based journalist with The Times of India and author of ‘AR Rahman: The Musical Storm’, a biography of the award-winning composer, published by Penguin. As Coordinating Editor at The Times of India, she curates and leads the news features pages; stories that capture the changing face of Tamil Nadu. With more than 25 years of experience, her writing spans a wide canvas — from mental health, health, and education to arts, lifestyle, cinema, tourism, society in transition, environment, heritage and sports. Her interest in mental health has led her to formally pursue psychology, bringing academic insight into her reportage.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNitish Kumar Was ‘Compromised’, BJP Controlled Him: Rahul Gandhi’s Big Bihar Claim In Tamil NaduPiyush Goyal Slams India-South Korea CEPA, Flags Need To Rewrite ‘Irrational’ Trade DealDelhi High Court Rejects Recusal Plea in Excise Policy Case; Judge Calls It “Catch-22” for HerselfUdhampur Bus Tragedy Kills 21; Political Row Erupts Over I-Pac In Bengal | WatchIndia, Ukraine Security Pact In Works? Zelenskyy Signals Big Move Amid Russia Ukraine WarUnmanned Mine Counter Measure Vessels Take Lead In Demining OperationsIndia-South Korea Mega Deal: PM Modi & Lee Jae Myung Target 50 Billion Trade, Boost TiesFire Erupts At Rajasthan’s HPCL Refinery Ahead Of PM Modi’s Launch EventNSA Doval Meets Top Saudi Leaders, Focus On Security And EnergyFact Check: No, Indian Navy Did NOT Detain Somali Pirates In Viral Video123PhotostoriesDid Alia Bhatt just front a Pakistani label in silk suits, or is this another viral fashion mix-up? Here’s what we know6 Psychology hacks that actually work6 types of food you should not store in plastic containers: Food authority’s strict guidelines on plastic materials safe for food productsMay garden checklist, Australia: What to plant for non-stop color and harvest8 condiments you should never keep back in the refrigerator once openedFrom two small spots in her MRI scan to losing 2 kgs in a month and following intermittent fasting, Shoaib Ibrahim and Dipika Kakar talk about her healthThese are the only 5 nations in the world that begin with letter “D” and each tells a unique storyAre you a traveller who loves to buy gold? 5 largest gold-producing countries in the world where gold can be cheaperPriyanka and Rahul Gandhi spotted relishing Gelato: What is Gelato and how is it different from ice cream and other frozen desserts10 Vedic baby girl names that begin with letter V123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingLuka Doncic InjuryCardi BNoah LylesHailee Steinfeld heartbreaking confessionTaylor SwiftMike Vrabel DivorceAndhra Pradesh Murderh-1b VisasTrumpJapan Earthquake Kunal Kohli praises Rakesh Bedi in ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’; Says, ‘It’s sad that for so many years he didn’t get his due’ | Hindi Movie News IPL betting racket busted in Punjab: Rs 42.3 lakh frozen, four arrested | Cricket News India may rest top stars for Afghanistan Test, final call with management | Exclusive ‘Dhurandhar 2’ box office collection day 33: Ranveer Singh’s film mints below Rs 2 cr on Monday amid Akshay Kumar’s ‘Bhooth Bangla’ release Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO, John Ternus to take over in September “She’s for the streets”: Laura Loomer’s latest attack pulls Candace Owens’ family into escalating political feud . CHENNAI: “There appear to be some irregularities, as about Rs 100 crore was not disclosed in the poll affidavit,” Madras HC said on Monday while directing actor-TVK founder Vijay, I-T department and EC to respond to a plea alleging discrepancies.Vijay had allegedly declared assets of Rs 115.13 crore in his affidavit filed in the Perambur constituency and Rs 220.15 crore in the Trichy (East) constituency.Admitting the plea filed by V Vignesh, a voter from Perambur, court adjourned the hearing by a week for the authorities and Vijay to file their response.Vignesh said the plea is instituted in exceptional circumstances, wherein the disclosures made by Vijay in his statutory affidavits under Form 26, as mandated under Rule 4A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, are not only incomplete but are prima facie false, inconsistent with statutory records and indicative of a deliberate and systematic suppression of material financial information.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNitish Kumar Was ‘Compromised’, BJP Controlled Him: Rahul Gandhi’s Big Bihar Claim In Tamil NaduPiyush Goyal Slams India-South Korea CEPA, Flags Need To Rewrite ‘Irrational’ Trade DealDelhi High Court Rejects Recusal Plea in Excise Policy Case; Judge Calls It “Catch-22” for HerselfUdhampur Bus Tragedy Kills 21; Political Row Erupts Over I-Pac In Bengal | WatchIndia, Ukraine Security Pact In Works? Zelenskyy Signals Big Move Amid Russia Ukraine WarUnmanned Mine Counter Measure Vessels Take Lead In Demining OperationsIndia-South Korea Mega Deal: PM Modi & Lee Jae Myung Target 50 Billion Trade, Boost TiesFire Erupts At Rajasthan’s HPCL Refinery Ahead Of PM Modi’s Launch EventNSA Doval Meets Top Saudi Leaders, Focus On Security And EnergyFact Check: No, Indian Navy Did NOT Detain Somali Pirates In Viral Video123PhotostoriesDid Alia Bhatt just front a Pakistani label in silk suits, or is this another viral fashion mix-up? Here’s what we know6 Psychology hacks that actually work6 types of food you should not store in plastic containers: Food authority’s strict guidelines on plastic materials safe for food productsMay garden checklist, Australia: What to plant for non-stop color and harvest8 condiments you should never keep back in the refrigerator once openedFrom two small spots in her MRI scan to losing 2 kgs in a month and following intermittent fasting, Shoaib Ibrahim and Dipika Kakar talk about her healthThese are the only 5 nations in the world that begin with letter “D” and each tells a unique storyAre you a traveller who loves to buy gold? 5 largest gold-producing countries in the world where gold can be cheaperPriyanka and Rahul Gandhi spotted relishing Gelato: What is Gelato and how is it different from ice cream and other frozen desserts10 Vedic baby girl names that begin with letter V123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingLuka Doncic InjuryCardi BNoah LylesHailee Steinfeld heartbreaking confessionTaylor SwiftMike Vrabel DivorceAndhra Pradesh Murderh-1b VisasTrumpJapan Earthquake Keira Knightley’s husband, James Righton, sparks divorce rumours after being spotted without his wedding ring ‘Dacoit A Love Story’ OTT release: Adivi Sesh, Mrunal Thakur film expected to stream on THIS platform – Reports | Telugu Movie News Pisces Horoscope Today, April 21, 2026: Drive carefully to avoid fear of accident TCS Nashik case: Maharashtra court denies woman staffer interim protection against arrest Disturbing video surfaces as Klaudia Zakrzewska hit by Gabrielle Carrington Mercedes after clash outside London nightclub 9.5 out of 15 days: Bengal faces longest dry spell before polls | India News Who controls Canada cricket? Lawrence Bishnoi gang calling shots through threats and influence | Cricket News ‘Bhooth Bangla’ box office collection day 4: Akshay Kumar’s film crosses Rs 100 crore mark worldwide Cash is the king: Mob snatches 13.4 lakh seized from MP’s office Representative image COIMBATORE: A protest in Tamil Nadu left behind an awkward truth for the election season – outrage, this time, was not over bribery itself but over who didn’t get it. Anger over being left out of the alleged cash-for-votes payout spilt onto a key road in Kottur, a rural pocket about 40km south of Coimbatore and roughly 500km southwest of Chennai, as residents blocked traffic towards nearby Pollachi on Monday.Protesters said that households in nearby areas had received money from a political party before polling on April 23, while their locality was skipped. They demanded “equal treatment, turning a routine election malpractice into a public standoff”.Local police warned that both demanding and accepting money for votes is a criminal offence and told the crowd that cases could follow for unlawful assembly and blocking a public road. Protesters dispersed soon after.District officials said complaints about cash distribution had surfaced, but this appeared to be the first protest driven by exclusion from such handouts. Flying squads and static surveillance teams have been asked to intensify patrolling in the Kottur area to trace the source of the alleged cash distribution.A social activist said that the episode underscored how entrenched the practice has become. “People now see cash for votes as an entitlement,” he said. TNNEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNitish Kumar Was ‘Compromised’, BJP Controlled Him: Rahul Gandhi’s Big Bihar Claim In Tamil NaduPiyush Goyal Slams India-South Korea CEPA, Flags Need To Rewrite ‘Irrational’ Trade DealDelhi High Court Rejects Recusal Plea in Excise Policy Case; Judge Calls It “Catch-22” for HerselfUdhampur Bus Tragedy Kills 21; Political Row Erupts Over I-Pac In Bengal | WatchIndia, Ukraine Security Pact In Works? Zelenskyy Signals Big Move Amid Russia Ukraine WarUnmanned Mine Counter Measure Vessels Take Lead In Demining OperationsIndia-South Korea Mega Deal: PM Modi & Lee Jae Myung Target 50 Billion Trade, Boost TiesFire Erupts At Rajasthan’s HPCL Refinery Ahead Of PM Modi’s Launch EventNSA Doval Meets Top Saudi Leaders, Focus On Security And EnergyFact Check: No, Indian Navy Did NOT Detain Somali Pirates In Viral Video123PhotostoriesDid Alia Bhatt just front a Pakistani label in silk suits, or is this another viral fashion mix-up? Here’s what we know6 Psychology hacks that actually work6 types of food you should not store in plastic containers: Food authority’s strict guidelines on plastic materials safe for food productsMay garden checklist, Australia: What to plant for non-stop color and harvest8 condiments you should never keep back in the refrigerator once openedFrom two small spots in her MRI scan to losing 2 kgs in a month and following intermittent fasting, Shoaib Ibrahim and Dipika Kakar talk about her healthThese are the only 5 nations in the world that begin with letter “D” and each tells a unique storyAre you a traveller who loves to buy gold? 5 largest gold-producing countries in the world where gold can be cheaperPriyanka and Rahul Gandhi spotted relishing Gelato: What is Gelato and how is it different from ice cream and other frozen desserts10 Vedic baby girl names that begin with letter V123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingBan vs NZCardi BNoah LylesHailee Steinfeld heartbreaking confessionTaylor SwiftMike Vrabel DivorceAndhra Pradesh Murderh-1b VisasTrumpJapan Earthquake IPL 2026: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi breaks down in tears after RR loss, gets consoled by KKR coach ‘LIK’ box office collections day 12: Pradeep Ranganathan’s film scores overseas boost; Crosses Rs 11 crore Aquarius Horoscope Today, April 21, 2026: Property matters look favourable Noida protests: Workers’ outfit members from Delhi, Lucknow arrested; lawyer says due process not followed Capricorn Horoscope Today, April 21, 2026: Businesspeople can take a major business decision today ‘Can’t recuse to satisfy unfounded suspicion,’ says Delhi high court judge in Arvind Kejriwal case NFL Trade Rumor: New York Giants eye big defensive move for former Detroit Lions $25M star after losing Dexter Lawrence | NFL News . NEW DELHI: The humble jhalmuri is having its moment under the sun and piquing people’s interest like never before after PM Modi had a taste of it. The moment is breaking the Internet, with views crossing 100 million on Instagram within 24 hours. Similarly, it has clocked 90 million views on Facebook. Modi visited the jhalmuri shop in Jhargram during his barnstorming poll campaign in Bengal Sunday. Watch PM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll Campaign The vendor, Vikram Saw, a native of Bihar’s Gaya, while preparing the snack had asked Modi if he eats onion. “Pyaj khate hain, dimag nahi khate bas,” the PM had joked. Curious locals have since been flocking to his shop, eager for the story behind the encounter.Meanwhile, CM Mamata Banerjee scoffed at this, calling it a “drama”. “A microphone fitted, SPG around him… How were cameras already installed in the shop? It’s all a drama,” Mamata said at a rally in Birbhum on Monday.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNitish Kumar Was ‘Compromised’, BJP Controlled Him: Rahul Gandhi’s Big Bihar Claim In Tamil NaduPiyush Goyal Slams India-South Korea CEPA, Flags Need To Rewrite ‘Irrational’ Trade DealDelhi High Court Rejects Recusal Plea in Excise Policy Case; Judge Calls It “Catch-22” for HerselfUdhampur Bus Tragedy Kills 21; Political Row Erupts Over I-Pac In Bengal | WatchIndia, Ukraine Security Pact In Works? Zelenskyy Signals Big Move Amid Russia Ukraine WarUnmanned Mine Counter Measure Vessels Take Lead In Demining OperationsIndia-South Korea Mega Deal: PM Modi & Lee Jae Myung Target 50 Billion Trade, Boost TiesFire Erupts At Rajasthan’s HPCL Refinery Ahead Of PM Modi’s Launch EventNSA Doval Meets Top Saudi Leaders, Focus On Security And EnergyFact Check: No, Indian Navy Did NOT Detain Somali Pirates In Viral Video123Photostories6 Psychology hacks that actually work6 types of food you should not store in plastic containers: Food authority’s strict guidelines on plastic materials safe for food productsMay garden checklist, Australia: What to plant for non-stop color and harvest8 condiments you should never keep back in the refrigerator once openedFrom two small spots in her MRI scan to losing 2 kgs in a month and following intermittent fasting, Shoaib Ibrahim and Dipika Kakar talk about her healthThese are the only 5 nations in the world that begin with letter “D” and each tells a unique storyAre you a traveller who loves to buy gold? 5 largest gold-producing countries in the world where gold can be cheaperPriyanka and Rahul Gandhi spotted relishing Gelato: What is Gelato and how is it different from ice cream and other frozen desserts10 Vedic baby girl names that begin with letter VJitendra Kumar, Aniruddh Agarwal, Amol Parashar to Vipul Goyal: Actors who swapped engineering degrees for stardom123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingBan vs NZCardi BNoah LylesHailee Steinfeld heartbreaking confessionTaylor SwiftMike Vrabel DivorceAndhra Pradesh Murderh-1b VisasTrumpJapan Earthquake Sagittarius Horoscope Today, April 21, 2026: If you’re dating, keep plans light …12 NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress on Monday raised fresh objections against alleged mass enrolment of new voters in Bengal, forcing an already exasperated Supreme Court bench led by CJI Surya Kant to sarcastically observe that he would have to create a dedicated special bench to deal with the volume of pleas relating to SIR and elections.TMC MP and senior advocate, Menaka Guruswamy, told a bench of CJI Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi that EC, through Form 6, has enrolled five to six lakh new voters despite such an exercise being frowned upon by the court earlier. Form 6 is submitted by people, on attaining the age of 18 years, for the inclusion of their names in voters’ lists.TMC had also been repeatedly questioning the SIR of electoral rolls and the large-scale deletion of voters owing to ‘logical discrepancy’, a ground unique to Bengal for deleting names of voters. The bench said it cannot entertain an oral request from Guruswamy and if the client had grievances against such alleged enrolment, it could file a fresh plea stating the cause of action and grounds for grievance. “We cannot be entertaining an oral request without any documents before us.”Guruswamy said she did not have any document, but media reports suggested five to six lakh new voters have been included in the voters’ lists. During an earlier hearing, SC had said that it was not unusual that bulk Form 6 applications are submitted by those who attain 18 years of age to get their names included in the voters lists ahead of elections.EC had said all eligible people are allowed to apply for inclusion in the voters list till the deadline for filing of nominations by candidates. It had said all newly added voters may not be able to cast their votes in the forthcoming elections.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNitish Kumar Was ‘Compromised’, BJP Controlled Him: Rahul Gandhi’s Big Bihar Claim In Tamil NaduPiyush Goyal Slams India-South Korea CEPA, Flags Need To Rewrite ‘Irrational’ Trade DealDelhi High Court Rejects Recusal Plea in Excise Policy Case; Judge Calls It “Catch-22” for HerselfUdhampur Bus Tragedy Kills 21; Political Row Erupts Over I-Pac In Bengal | WatchIndia, Ukraine Security Pact In Works? Zelenskyy Signals Big Move Amid Russia Ukraine WarUnmanned Mine Counter Measure Vessels Take Lead In Demining OperationsIndia-South Korea Mega Deal: PM Modi & Lee Jae Myung Target 50 Billion Trade, Boost TiesFire Erupts At Rajasthan’s HPCL Refinery Ahead Of PM Modi’s Launch EventNSA Doval Meets Top Saudi Leaders, Focus On Security And EnergyFact Check: No, Indian Navy Did NOT Detain Somali Pirates In Viral Video123Photostories6 Psychology hacks that actually work6 types of food you should not store in plastic containers: Food authority’s strict guidelines on plastic materials safe for food productsMay garden checklist, Australia: What to plant for non-stop color and harvest8 condiments you should never keep back in the refrigerator once openedFrom two small spots in her MRI scan to losing 2 kgs in a month and following intermittent fasting, Shoaib Ibrahim and Dipika Kakar talk about her health3 signs of a loyal partner, as revealed by Gauranga DasThese are the only 5 nations in the world that begin with letter “D” and each tells a unique storyAre you a traveller who loves to buy gold? 5 largest gold-producing countries in the world where gold can be cheaperPriyanka and Rahul Gandhi spotted relishing Gelato: What is Gelato and how is it different from ice cream and other frozen desserts10 Vedic baby girl names that begin with letter V123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingBan vs NZCardi BNoah LylesHailee Steinfeld heartbreaking confessionTaylor SwiftMike Vrabel DivorceAndhra Pradesh Murderh-1b VisasTrumpJapan Earthquake IPL 2026: ‘Sycophancy around MS Dhoni’- Sanjay Manjrekar blasts CSK management How to grow Superfood Microgreens at home smartly in the simplest, most budget-friendly way! | A Delhi court on Monday remanded former Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) senior executive Amitabh Jhunjhunwala and Anil Ambani’s aide Amit Bapna to judicial custody till May 2 in a bank loan fraud-linked money laundering case. The prosecution said release at a crucial stage of investigation could compromise the probe. Special judge Hasan Anzar has scheduled the hearing on May 2.About the AuthorKoushiki SahaKoushiki Saha, a trainee journalist currently reporting for The Times of India, covers urban governance, infrastructure lapses, public grievances, and municipal policies with clarity and compassion. Still learning every day, she draws insights from fieldwork, lived experiences, and holding authorities accountable through persistent, people-focused reporting.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNitish Kumar Was ‘Compromised’, BJP Controlled Him: Rahul Gandhi’s Big Bihar Claim In Tamil NaduPiyush Goyal Slams India-South Korea CEPA, Flags Need To Rewrite ‘Irrational’ Trade DealDelhi High Court Rejects Recusal Plea in Excise Policy Case; Judge Calls It “Catch-22” for HerselfUdhampur Bus Tragedy Kills 21; Political Row Erupts Over I-Pac In Bengal | WatchIndia, Ukraine Security Pact In Works? Zelenskyy Signals Big Move Amid Russia Ukraine WarUnmanned Mine Counter Measure Vessels Take Lead In Demining OperationsIndia-South Korea Mega Deal: PM Modi & Lee Jae Myung Target 50 Billion Trade, Boost TiesFire Erupts At Rajasthan’s HPCL Refinery Ahead Of PM Modi’s Launch EventNSA Doval Meets Top Saudi Leaders, Focus On Security And EnergyFact Check: No, Indian Navy Did NOT Detain Somali Pirates In Viral Video123Photostories6 Psychology hacks that actually work6 types of food you should not store in plastic containers: Food authority’s strict guidelines on plastic materials safe for food productsMay garden checklist, Australia: What to plant for non-stop color and harvest8 condiments you should never keep back in the refrigerator once openedFrom two small spots in her MRI scan to losing 2 kgs in a month and following intermittent fasting, Shoaib Ibrahim and Dipika Kakar talk about her healthThese are the only 5 nations in the world that begin with letter “D” and each tells a unique storyAre you a traveller who loves to buy gold? 5 largest gold-producing countries in the world where gold can be cheaperPriyanka and Rahul Gandhi spotted relishing Gelato: What is Gelato and how is it different from ice cream and other frozen desserts10 Vedic baby girl names that begin with letter VJitendra Kumar, Aniruddh Agarwal, Amol Parashar to Vipul Goyal: Actors who swapped engineering degrees for stardom123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingBan vs NZCardi BNoah LylesHailee Steinfeld heartbreaking confessionTaylor SwiftMike Vrabel DivorceAndhra Pradesh Murderh-1b VisasTrumpJapan Earthquake Libra Horoscope Today, April 21, 2026: Work hurdles show up, but they don’t mean failure CBI arrests 2 senior Reliance Communications executives . NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Monday expressed surprise that despite public warnings in the wake of cases of ‘digital arrest’, many educated people continue to be trapped by scamsters and robbed of their life savings.When attorney general R Venkataramani informed the Supreme Court bench of CJI Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi that the inter-departmental task force to counter ‘digital arrest’ cybercrime will need three more weeks to formulate a robust mechanism, CJI said, “In the meanwhile, I have received another complaint from a former senior official of Chandigarh, who was robbed of Rs 2.5 crore through digital arrest.”Police have arrested seven persons for keeping the 70-year-old former chief architect of Chandigarh under digital arrest from May 3 to 30 last year. Venkataramani said he is pushing the inter-departmental committee to devise a robust anti-digital arrest mechanism in consultation with cyber experts and that govt intends to create a dedicated number to lodge complaints against threats of digital arrest.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNitish Kumar Was ‘Compromised’, BJP Controlled Him: Rahul Gandhi’s Big Bihar Claim In Tamil NaduPiyush Goyal Slams India-South Korea CEPA, Flags Need To Rewrite ‘Irrational’ Trade DealDelhi High Court Rejects Recusal Plea in Excise Policy Case; Judge Calls It “Catch-22” for HerselfUdhampur Bus Tragedy Kills 21; Political Row Erupts Over I-Pac In Bengal | WatchIndia, Ukraine Security Pact In Works? Zelenskyy Signals Big Move Amid Russia Ukraine WarUnmanned Mine Counter Measure Vessels Take Lead In Demining OperationsIndia-South Korea Mega Deal: PM Modi & Lee Jae Myung Target 50 Billion Trade, Boost TiesFire Erupts At Rajasthan’s HPCL Refinery Ahead Of PM Modi’s Launch EventNSA Doval Meets Top Saudi Leaders, Focus On Security And EnergyFact Check: No, Indian Navy Did NOT Detain Somali Pirates In Viral Video123Photostories6 Psychology hacks that actually work6 types of food you should not store in plastic containers: Food authority’s strict guidelines on plastic materials safe for food productsMay garden checklist, Australia: What to plant for non-stop color and harvest8 condiments you should never keep back in the refrigerator once openedFrom two small spots in her MRI scan to losing 2 kgs in a month and following intermittent fasting, Shoaib Ibrahim and Dipika Kakar talk about her healthThese are the only 5 nations in the world that begin with letter “D” and each tells a unique storyAre you a traveller who loves to buy gold? 5 largest gold-producing countries in the world where gold can be cheaperPriyanka and Rahul Gandhi spotted relishing Gelato: What is Gelato and how is it different from ice cream and other frozen desserts10 Vedic baby girl names that begin with letter VJitendra Kumar, Aniruddh Agarwal, Amol Parashar to Vipul Goyal: Actors who swapped engineering degrees for stardom123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingBan vs NZCardi BNoah LylesHailee Steinfeld heartbreaking confessionTaylor SwiftMike Vrabel DivorceAndhra Pradesh Murderh-1b VisasTrumpJapan Earthquake Singer D4vd pleads not guilty to murder in death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez Scorpio Horoscope Today, April 21, 2026: Students will need to put in a lot of effort for good results Trade and tech ties get a boost as PM Modi hosts Korean president Who is Twin S? Rapper linked in rumours after Klaudia Glam injured in Gabrielle Carrington London crash case NEW DELHI: Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has secured a record conviction of 73 drug offenders with the harshest possible punishments in the first quarter of 2026, garnering appreciation by Union home minister Amit Shah. The success is underpinned by a steady rise in the agency’s conviction rate, which has climbed from 60.5 per cent in 2024 to 65.5 per cent in 2025, and has reached 68.6 per cent in the first three months of this year.”We are determined to shut every breathing space of drug rackets with all our might,” Shah posted on X while reaffirming a zero-tolerance policy against drug abuse.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNitish Kumar Was ‘Compromised’, BJP Controlled Him: Rahul Gandhi’s Big Bihar Claim In Tamil NaduPiyush Goyal Slams India-South Korea CEPA, Flags Need To Rewrite ‘Irrational’ Trade DealDelhi High Court Rejects Recusal Plea in Excise Policy Case; Judge Calls It “Catch-22” for HerselfUdhampur Bus Tragedy Kills 21; Political Row Erupts Over I-Pac In Bengal | WatchIndia, Ukraine Security Pact In Works? 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PACHPADRA/JAISALMER/NEW DELHI: A day before PM Narendra Modi was scheduled to inaugurate Pachpadra refinery in Balotra district of Rajasthan, a massive fire engulfed its core processing units around 1:55 pm on Monday, prompting authorities to order a probe.Fire broke out in the vicinity of the crude distillation unit (CDU) at HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL), ministry of petroleum and natural gas said in a post on X. “An investigation has been initiated to ascertain the cause(s) of the incident and to undertake necessary remedial measures. A revised date for the dedication will be announced in due course,” it said.The ministry said the fire was brought under control promptly by the refinery’s emergency response team with support from the local administration, and there were no reports of any casualties or injuries.Prima facie, the fire appeared to have been caused by the leakage of hydrocarbons from a valve or flange in the heat exchanger circuit, officials said. They added that the blaze remained localised to the heat exchanger stack within the CDU section. The crude distillation unit, vacuum distillation unit and other associated units were quickly isolated, and all are structurally safe and unaffected. No other part of the refinery complex suffered any impact.Most of the 200-odd workers engaged in the units were having lunch when the fire broke out, said an official at the refinery. “More than 100 fire tenders were deployed to contain the massive blaze. By 2.30 pm, the raging fire was brought under control,” said a witness.The HRRL refinery is a joint venture between state-owned Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Rajasthan govt, with equity participation of 74 per cent and 26 per cent respectively. The Union cabinet had, earlier this month, approved the cost escalation of the greenfield integrated refinery-petrochemical complex from Rs 43,129 crore to Rs 79,459 crore, and had said commercial operations were likely to start from July 1.The inauguration had been postponed from March 19 to April 21. It could have ended the cost escalation that the project had seen since its foundation stone was first laid by Sonia Gandhi in 2013, and then for a second time by PM Modi in 2018.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNitish Kumar Was ‘Compromised’, BJP Controlled Him: Rahul Gandhi’s Big Bihar Claim In Tamil NaduPiyush Goyal Slams India-South Korea CEPA, Flags Need To Rewrite ‘Irrational’ Trade DealDelhi High Court Rejects Recusal Plea in Excise Policy Case; Judge Calls It “Catch-22” for HerselfUdhampur Bus Tragedy Kills 21; Political Row Erupts Over I-Pac In Bengal | WatchIndia, Ukraine Security Pact In Works? 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