VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Apr 16, 2026, 06:43 IST ‘Pallichattambi’ Twitter review: Tovino Thomas mass avatar praised; Dijo Jose Antony directorial gets mixed feedback | Malayalam Movie News Pisces Horoscope Today, April 16, 2026: Business persons will get more orders easily from different resources Lucknow slum blaze: Over 1,000 left homeless as fire guts 280 shanties; 50+ LPG cylinders fuel inferno Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to participate in the Brics summit being held in India in Sept, reported Russia’s TASS news agency on Wednesday. The report quoted a Kremlin spokesperson as saying that while the dates for the summit have not been announced yet, the president would definitely attend the event.If it happens, it would be Putin’s second visit to India in nine months. He had last visited India in Dec for the annual India-Russia summit. PM Narendra Modi is also likely to visit Moscow this year for the 2026 annual summit. Govt is also expecting participation by Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Brics summit.India holds the presidency for Brics this year and will host the grouping’s foreign ministers’ meeting on May 14-15. India has been working to forge a consensus among the member-states for a joint statement on the war in the West Asia region.Iranian leaders, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, have pressed India to get Brics to express solidarity with Tehran. However, the presence of both Iran and the UAE in the group has prevented Brics from speaking in one voice over the ongoing conflict.Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov will participate in the meeting. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi is also expected to visit India for the meeting. As the relationship with China continues to improve steadily, Beijing has pledged support for India’s Brics presidency. President Xi Jinping is also expected to visit India for the Brics summit.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’India In Talks With Many Countries Over Hormuz’: MEA Amid US’ Naval BlockadeTamil Nadu elections 2026: Freebies war heats up between DMK, AIADMK & rivals’Not Shehbaz Sharif’: Ex-Minister Fawad Chaudhry Calls Asim Munir ‘De Facto Leader Of Pakistan’TCS Row Explodes: Horrific Details Of Sexual Abuse, Conversion Claims Rock India’s CorporateWomen’s Reservation Bill A ‘Trick’ To Hike Lok Sabha Seats? | Delimitation | Slam Dunk With TehseenIndia Bloc Backs Women’s Reservation But Opposes Delimitation, Flags Risk Of Political Power Shift‘Completely Unacceptable’: Jaishankar Slams Attacks On Merchant Shipping At Azec Plus MeetWomen’s Quota Bill: Govt Clarifies 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan, Opposition Flags Delimitation ConcernsIndian Delegation To Visit Washington Next Week To Resume Talks On India-US Trade DealDelimitation Row Escalates As TN CM Stalin Warns Of Statewide Protests123Photostories8 ’90s baby names making a comeback with Gen AlphaChef Vikas Khanna makes it to 100 Most Influential People of 2026: 5 success lessons to learn from his culinary journeyFrom growing up in a conservative family to shooting her debut music video without informing them: Naagin 7’s Kanika Mann opens up about her journeyChandigarh’s Billionaire Lanes: 5 premium regions where the city’s rich live6 desi Indian dishes among Top 32 Rice Puddings in the WorldRanveer Allahbadia’s girlfriend Juhi Bhatt is redefining traditional wedding dressing with contemporary elegancePriyanka Chopra recommends this must-try street food from Mumbai, and it’s not Vada PavFrom ‘Fleabag’ to ‘Arrested Development’: Some of the best dark comedy dramas to add to your watchlist5 iconic modern architectural buildings in India shaping contemporary cityscapesCountries named after people you probably didn’t know about123Hot PicksIran warDisney layoffsPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingTaylor Swift Wedding DressCanada Citizenship GarbaUK Migrant Gay ClaimsCBSE Class 12 ResultNirav ModiOmar Tricolour RowKargil Statehood DemandIPL Points TableIran crude oilMeenu Batra ‘Ramayana’: Yash teases end-October release for film; says VFX ‘still work in progress’ The two-inch rule: The simple kitchen hack to keep your leftovers safe | Aquarius Horoscope Today, April 16, 2026: Mars heats your speech, and you may say things you don’t mean Ram Janmabhoomi judgment: Courts bound to accept community’s beliefs, not judge them, TDB tells Supreme Court ‘Vinod Kambli at risk of brain stroke’: Close friend reveals a clot in his brain Robert Vadra New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday took cognisance of charges against businessman Robert Vadra in a money laundering case linked to the Shikohpur land deal in Gurgaon, directing him and eight other accused to appear on May 16, reports Koushiki Saha.ED’s prosecution complaint (equivalent to a chargesheet), filed in July 2025, characterised the deal as a sophisticated scheme to generate and layer proceeds of crime, with Vadra as the main beneficiary. Vadra has denied any wro-ngdoing, calling the case “political vendetta” against him and his family, including his wife, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.Besides Vadra, summonses were issued to Kewal Singh Virk, Skylight Hospitality LLP, Sky Light Realty Pvt Ltd, Real Earth Estates LLP, Blue Breeze Trading LLP, North India IT Parks LLP, Lambodar Art Enterprises India LLP and SGY Properties Pvt Ltd (previously Onkareshwar Properties Pvt Ltd). The court, however, did not summon another accused, Satyanand Yajee, saying there was no material to proceed against him.The case stems from a Feb 2008 transaction in which Skylight Hospitality, where Vadra was earlier a director, purchased 3.5 acres of land in Shikohpur for Rs 7.5 crore. The company sold the land to DLF for Rs 58 crore in Sept 2012.Additional sessions judge Sushant Changotra, while examining ED’s prosecution complaint, underscored the “very narrow” scope of inquiry at this stage, saying the court was only required to broadly scrutinise the documents and satisfy itself that prima facie, there were “sufficient grounds for proceeding further with the case”.The court noted that Vadra, as the “major shareholder and primary director/partner”, had allegedly played an active role in offences under sections 3 and 4 of PMLA.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’India In Talks With Many Countries Over Hormuz’: MEA Amid US’ Naval BlockadeTamil Nadu elections 2026: Freebies war heats up between DMK, AIADMK & rivals’Not Shehbaz Sharif’: Ex-Minister Fawad Chaudhry Calls Asim Munir ‘De Facto Leader Of Pakistan’TCS Row Explodes: Horrific Details Of Sexual Abuse, Conversion Claims Rock India’s CorporateWomen’s Reservation Bill A ‘Trick’ To Hike Lok Sabha Seats? | Delimitation | Slam Dunk With TehseenIndia Bloc Backs Women’s Reservation But Opposes Delimitation, Flags Risk Of Political Power Shift‘Completely Unacceptable’: Jaishankar Slams Attacks On Merchant Shipping At Azec Plus MeetWomen’s Quota Bill: Govt Clarifies 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan, Opposition Flags Delimitation ConcernsIndian Delegation To Visit Washington Next Week To Resume Talks On India-US Trade DealDelimitation Row Escalates As TN CM Stalin Warns Of Statewide Protests123Photostories8 ’90s baby names making a comeback with Gen AlphaChef Vikas Khanna makes it to 100 Most Influential People of 2026: 5 success lessons to learn from his culinary journeyFrom growing up in a conservative family to shooting her debut music video without informing them: Naagin 7’s Kanika Mann opens up about her journeyChandigarh’s Billionaire Lanes: 5 premium regions where the city’s rich live6 desi Indian dishes among Top 32 Rice Puddings in the WorldRanveer Allahbadia’s girlfriend Juhi Bhatt is redefining traditional wedding dressing with contemporary elegancePriyanka Chopra recommends this must-try street food from Mumbai, and it’s not Vada PavFrom ‘Fleabag’ to ‘Arrested Development’: Some of the best dark comedy dramas to add to your watchlist5 iconic modern architectural buildings in India shaping contemporary cityscapesCountries named after people you probably didn’t know about123Hot PicksIran warDisney layoffsPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingTaylor Swift Wedding DressCanada Citizenship GarbaUK Migrant Gay ClaimsCBSE Class 12 ResultNirav ModiOmar Tricolour RowKargil Statehood DemandIPL Points TableIran crude oilMeenu Batra ‘I’m still not 100%’: Virat Kohli’s blunt fitness admission after RCB win ‘Dacoit’ box office collections day 6: Adivi Sesh film drops 48 percent; Worldwide gross hits Rs 43.89 crore Meet Arjun Singh: Indian-origin Gradescope co-founder wins prestigious Mark Bingham Award for Excellence in Achievement | New Delhi: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Wednesday directed all banks issuing FASTags to undertake “immediate” validation of vehicle registration numbers (VRNs) linked to the smart tags issued by them. The banks have been directed to blacklist FASTags that are found linked to incorrect or invalid VRNs.The decision follows some complaints that VRN captured by FASTag readers did not match with the registration number displayed on the vehicle’s number plate. “Such discrepancies have the potential to undermine enforcement mechanisms and may lead to evasion of govt revenue and also attract penal provisions under Motor Vehicles Act,” the highways authority said.It said that a considerable number of such mismatches are associated with FASTags that were issued prior to the integration of tags with Vahan database.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’India In Talks With Many Countries Over Hormuz’: MEA Amid US’ Naval BlockadeTamil Nadu elections 2026: Freebies war heats up between DMK, AIADMK & rivals’Not Shehbaz Sharif’: Ex-Minister Fawad Chaudhry Calls Asim Munir ‘De Facto Leader Of Pakistan’TCS Row Explodes: Horrific Details Of Sexual Abuse, Conversion Claims Rock India’s CorporateWomen’s Reservation Bill A ‘Trick’ To Hike Lok Sabha Seats? | Delimitation | Slam Dunk With TehseenIndia Bloc Backs Women’s Reservation But Opposes Delimitation, Flags Risk Of Political Power Shift‘Completely Unacceptable’: Jaishankar Slams Attacks On Merchant Shipping At Azec Plus MeetWomen’s Quota Bill: Govt Clarifies 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan, Opposition Flags Delimitation ConcernsIndian Delegation To Visit Washington Next Week To Resume Talks On India-US Trade DealDelimitation Row Escalates As TN CM Stalin Warns Of Statewide Protests123Photostories8 ’90s baby names making a comeback with Gen AlphaChef Vikas Khanna makes it to 100 Most Influential People of 2026: 5 success lessons to learn from his culinary journeyFrom growing up in a conservative family to shooting her debut music video without informing them: Naagin 7’s Kanika Mann opens up about her journeyChandigarh’s Billionaire Lanes: 5 premium regions where the city’s rich live6 desi Indian dishes among Top 32 Rice Puddings in the WorldRanveer Allahbadia’s girlfriend Juhi Bhatt is redefining traditional wedding dressing with contemporary elegancePriyanka Chopra recommends this must-try street food from Mumbai, and it’s not Vada PavFrom ‘Fleabag’ to ‘Arrested Development’: Some of the best dark comedy dramas to add to your watchlist5 iconic modern architectural buildings in India shaping contemporary cityscapesCountries named after people you probably didn’t know about123Hot PicksIran warDisney layoffsPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingTaylor Swift Wedding DressCanada Citizenship GarbaUK Migrant Gay ClaimsCBSE Class 12 ResultNirav ModiOmar Tricolour RowKargil Statehood DemandIPL Points TableIran crude oilMeenu Batra Capricorn Horoscope Today, April 16, 2026: Work doesn’t need heroics today “My ovaries are fighting”: Ronda Rousey fires back at age criticism before May 16 MMA return against Gina Carano State Set To See Record Number Of Troopers KOLKATA: Murshidabad, the district which recorded the highest number of deletions from the voters’ list in Bengal during the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, will also have the largest contingent of central forces deployed ahead of the first phase of the assembly elections on April 23.Close to 7.4 lakh names were deleted from the roll in the Muslim-majority Murshidabad district. Around 316 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be deployed there, Election Commission sources said.In all, 2,407 companies of CAPF, which means at least 1.73 lakh personnel, will be taking positions in 152 constituencies, spread across 16 districts, that vote on April 23. The deployment for Bengal will be the highest ever in the state. During the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, held in seven phases in Bengal, 900 companies of CAPF had arrived in the state. In the 2021 state polls, split into eight phases, EC had sent around 725 companies. According to the deployment plan, the Murshidabad and Jangipur police districts of Murshidabad will get 240 and 76 companies of central forces, respectively.East Midnapore will see the second-highest CAPF deployment (273 companies) among the districts going to the polls in the first phase, followed by West Midnapore (271 companies). The politically significant Nandigram constituency, where BJP has fielded the leader of opposition in the assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, is in East Midnapore.EC also announced that 40,928 state police personnel will be deployed for the first phase of the polls. Here, too, the highest number has been reserved for Murshidabad – 4,216 for the Murshidabad police district and 1,550 for the Jangipur police district.Each CAPF company has at least 72 personnel.”CAPF deployment will be more than four times the number of state police personnel,” an EC official said. The polling body said all central force and state police personnel will have to be deployed by April 20 for the first phase of the elections.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’India In Talks With Many Countries Over Hormuz’: MEA Amid US’ Naval BlockadeTamil Nadu elections 2026: Freebies war heats up between DMK, AIADMK & rivals’Not Shehbaz Sharif’: Ex-Minister Fawad Chaudhry Calls Asim Munir ‘De Facto Leader Of Pakistan’TCS Row Explodes: Horrific Details Of Sexual Abuse, Conversion Claims Rock India’s CorporateWomen’s Reservation Bill A ‘Trick’ To Hike Lok Sabha Seats? | Delimitation | Slam Dunk With TehseenIndia Bloc Backs Women’s Reservation But Opposes Delimitation, Flags Risk Of Political Power Shift‘Completely Unacceptable’: Jaishankar Slams Attacks On Merchant Shipping At Azec Plus MeetWomen’s Quota Bill: Govt Clarifies 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan, Opposition Flags Delimitation ConcernsIndian Delegation To Visit Washington Next Week To Resume Talks On India-US Trade DealDelimitation Row Escalates As TN CM Stalin Warns Of Statewide Protests123PhotostoriesGauranga Das shares 3 ways to deal with toxic family membersChef Vikas Khanna makes it to 100 Most Influential People of 2026: 5 success lessons to learn from his culinary journeyFrom growing up in a conservative family to shooting her debut music video without informing them: Naagin 7’s Kanika Mann opens up about her journeyAre you about to get fired? 3 warning signs to watch out for and 5 ways to save your job, shares Ankur WarikooChandigarh’s Billionaire Lanes: 5 premium regions where the city’s rich live6 desi Indian dishes among Top 32 Rice Puddings in the WorldRanveer Allahbadia’s girlfriend Juhi Bhatt is redefining traditional wedding dressing with contemporary elegancePriyanka Chopra recommends this must-try street food from Mumbai, and it’s not Vada PavFrom ‘Fleabag’ to ‘Arrested Development’: Some of the best dark comedy dramas to add to your watchlist5 iconic modern architectural buildings in India shaping contemporary cityscapes123Hot PicksIran warDisney layoffsPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingTaylor Swift Wedding DressCanada Citizenship GarbaUK Migrant Gay ClaimsCBSE Class 12 ResultNirav ModiOmar Tricolour RowKargil Statehood DemandIPL Points TableIran crude oilMeenu Batra SIA chief set to meet Tata Sons and AI chairman N Chandrasekaran today Katy Perry under police investigation over sexual assault allegations by Ruby Rose; videos and photos from 2010 Melbourne nightclub outing resurface – WATCH Why your ‘squeaky clean’ hand-washed dishes might not be clean at all | Sagittarius Horoscope Today, April 16, 2026: Work doesn’t need heroics today At $442 billion, India’s goods exports hit record high in 2025-26 ‘End of an era’: Former world No. 1 Jamie Murray, Andy Murray’s brother, retires after 36-year career with seven Grand Slams | International Sports News NEW DELHI: Around 12 lakh households across 11 states and Union Territories have self-enumerated so far for the houselisting operations (HLO) phase of Census 2027. More than half of these households availed of the self-enumeration facility in the past four-five days.With the conclusion of the 15-day self-enumeration window on Wednesday across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Karnataka, Odisha, NDMC and cantonment areas of Delhi NCR, Mizoram, Sikkim and Lakshadweep, the census field operations, involving house-to-house visits by the enumerators, in these eight states/UTs will begin on Thursday.The field operations will last a month – till May 15. Given that 12 lakh households who have enumerated so far are only a minuscule percentage of the total population of the eight states, enumerator visits will be crucial to capturing the complete and accurate data on housing conditions and household amenities. The HLO phase forms an essential foundation for evidence-based planning and formulation of welfare and development programmes, a home ministry spokesperson said.The self-enumeration window is open till April 19 in Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and till April 24 in Uttarakhand. It will begin Monday in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal, Haryana, Chandigarh, MP and Chhattisgarh and on Friday in Bihar.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’India In Talks With Many Countries Over Hormuz’: MEA Amid US’ Naval BlockadeTamil Nadu elections 2026: Freebies war heats up between DMK, AIADMK & rivals’Not Shehbaz Sharif’: Ex-Minister Fawad Chaudhry Calls Asim Munir ‘De Facto Leader Of Pakistan’TCS Row Explodes: Horrific Details Of Sexual Abuse, Conversion Claims Rock India’s CorporateWomen’s Reservation Bill A ‘Trick’ To Hike Lok Sabha Seats? | Delimitation | Slam Dunk With TehseenIndia Bloc Backs Women’s Reservation But Opposes Delimitation, Flags Risk Of Political Power Shift‘Completely Unacceptable’: Jaishankar Slams Attacks On Merchant Shipping At Azec Plus MeetWomen’s Quota Bill: Govt Clarifies 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan, Opposition Flags Delimitation ConcernsIndian Delegation To Visit Washington Next Week To Resume Talks On India-US Trade DealDelimitation Row Escalates As TN CM Stalin Warns Of Statewide Protests123Photostories8 ’90s baby names making a comeback with Gen AlphaChef Vikas Khanna makes it to 100 Most Influential People of 2026: 5 success lessons to learn from his culinary journeyFrom growing up in a conservative family to shooting her debut music video without informing them: Naagin 7’s Kanika Mann opens up about her journeyChandigarh’s Billionaire Lanes: 5 premium regions where the city’s rich live6 desi Indian dishes among Top 32 Rice Puddings in the WorldRanveer Allahbadia’s girlfriend Juhi Bhatt is redefining traditional wedding dressing with contemporary elegancePriyanka Chopra recommends this must-try street food from Mumbai, and it’s not Vada PavFrom ‘Fleabag’ to ‘Arrested Development’: Some of the best dark comedy dramas to add to your watchlist5 iconic modern architectural buildings in India shaping contemporary cityscapesCountries named after people you probably didn’t know about123Hot PicksIran warDisney layoffsPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingTaylor Swift Wedding DressCanada Citizenship GarbaUK Migrant Gay ClaimsCBSE Class 12 ResultNirav ModiOmar Tricolour RowKargil Statehood DemandIPL Points TableIran crude oilMeenu Batra Ditch the soggy bottoms: The 10-second fix for crispier fried food | Libra Horoscope Today, April 16, 2026: Today is the day of getting success in education TVK cadres struggle to match campaign of Dravidian majors Rajnath Singh (ANI image) Karandighi (WB): Hitting the campaign trail in West Bengal, defence minister Rajnath Singh Wednesday slammed CM Mamata Banerjee for deindustrialisation of the state, alleged a reign of fear and appeasement on her watch and projected the polls as a fight for land and existence by the local population against infiltrators.”You want fear or security, corruption or development, intimidation or democracy,” he asked an enthusiastic crowd at Kumarganj in South Dinajpur and then said, “…time has come for you to vote for BJP for justice and development.”His assertion that a BJP govt will identify and expel infiltrators and reference to “bulldozer action” against criminals drew loud cheers from the crowd at another meeting in North Dinajpur. While Mamata accuses BJP of being outsiders, she considers infiltrators as her own, he said, citing the efforts of the Modi govt to bestow high honours on Bengali icons like Subhas Chandra Bose and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and the party’s association with Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee to emphasise its connection with the state.In Dakshin Dinajpur, he expressed confidence of BJP coming to office in the state but cautioned voters that if they miss the chance to vote out the “corrupt” and “lawless” TMC govt, then Mamata will take West Bengal back to the stone age. TMC now stands for “total misrule and corruption”, he said.He charged the TMC govt with appeasement of Muslims, raising the issue of its inclusion of 75 Muslim castes among 77 communities included in the OBC category and its emphasis on infra development done in minority-dominated areas. While decrying development guided by caste and religious priorities, he assured Muslims, who are nearly half of the population in North Dinajpur, that a BJP govt will be guided by justice and humanity. It will appease no one, he added. TMC has presided over a “corrupt” system where victims of crimes find it hard to receive justice. “A reign of fear and insecurity prevails under TMC and the state has been put on a ventilator,” he said, contrasting this with the country’s overall economic growth under Modi.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’India In Talks With Many Countries Over Hormuz’: MEA Amid US’ Naval BlockadeTamil Nadu elections 2026: Freebies war heats up between DMK, AIADMK & rivals’Not Shehbaz Sharif’: Ex-Minister Fawad Chaudhry Calls Asim Munir ‘De Facto Leader Of Pakistan’TCS Row Explodes: Horrific Details Of Sexual Abuse, Conversion Claims Rock India’s CorporateWomen’s Reservation Bill A ‘Trick’ To Hike Lok Sabha Seats? | Delimitation | Slam Dunk With TehseenIndia Bloc Backs Women’s Reservation But Opposes Delimitation, Flags Risk Of Political Power Shift‘Completely Unacceptable’: Jaishankar Slams Attacks On Merchant Shipping At Azec Plus MeetWomen’s Quota Bill: Govt Clarifies 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan, Opposition Flags Delimitation ConcernsIndian Delegation To Visit Washington Next Week To Resume Talks On India-US Trade DealDelimitation Row Escalates As TN CM Stalin Warns Of Statewide Protests123PhotostoriesGauranga Das shares 3 ways to deal with toxic family membersChef Vikas Khanna makes it to 100 Most Influential People of 2026: 5 success lessons to learn from his culinary journeyFrom growing up in a conservative family to shooting her debut music video without informing them: Naagin 7’s Kanika Mann opens up about her journeyAre you about to get fired? 3 warning signs to watch out for and 5 ways to save your job, shares Ankur WarikooChandigarh’s Billionaire Lanes: 5 premium regions where the city’s rich live6 desi Indian dishes among Top 32 Rice Puddings in the WorldRanveer Allahbadia’s girlfriend Juhi Bhatt is redefining traditional wedding dressing with contemporary elegancePriyanka Chopra recommends this must-try street food from Mumbai, and it’s not Vada PavFrom ‘Fleabag’ to ‘Arrested Development’: Some of the best dark comedy dramas to add to your watchlist5 iconic modern architectural buildings in India shaping contemporary cityscapes123Hot PicksIran warDisney layoffsPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingTaylor Swift Wedding DressCanada Citizenship GarbaUK Migrant Gay ClaimsCBSE Class 12 ResultNirav ModiOmar Tricolour RowKargil Statehood DemandIPL Points TableIran crude oilMeenu Batra D-Street banks on West Asia peace talks, Sensex rises 1.3k points Shah Rukh Khan’s ex-bodyguard Yaseen Khan on cricketers vs Bollywood stars: ‘Yuvraj treats me like family, Dhoni is very humble’ National security collective duty of citizens, not just of forces: NSA Ajit Doval Amit Shah Kolkata/Darjeeling: Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday made a slew of promises targeted at north Bengal on Wednesday, including the withdrawal of “false” cases against Gorkha representatives and the inclusion of the Rajbanshi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, which recognises official languages in India.He said the Centre was already working on a solution to the Gorkhaland issue for which it had appointed an interlocutor and held three meetings in Delhi to find a resolution, but CM Mamata Banerjee had refused to attend. “The people of Darjeeling are true patriots. They deserve their rights and justice, which have been denied to them,” he said. Addressing a poll rally in Jalpaiguri, Shah said a BJP govt would withdraw every false case lodged against political workers, regardless of party affiliation, and end what he called “police raj” in Bengal. He specifically mentioned Gorkha representatives facing hundreds of cases. Shah also warned Trinamool workers against poll-day violence and referred to the attack on BJP candidate Rathindranath Bose’s convoy. “I am warning Trinamool’s goons to stay indoors on April 23. Else they will be behind bars after May 5,” he said, adding that BJP would end “mafia raaj”. At a rally in Falakata, Shah accused the state govt of “stepmotherly” treatment towards north Bengal and promised to raise tea garden workers’ wages by Rs 500 and form a dedicated battalion in the state police for the region. Raising women’s safety, Shah cited the RG Kar, Sandeshkhali and Durgapur Medical College incidents. “If BJP forms govt, women would be able to roam freely even at midnight,” he said. About the AuthorRohit KhannaRohit Khanna covers sectors like government finance, economy, industry and issues related to financial crime.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’India In Talks With Many Countries Over Hormuz’: MEA Amid US’ Naval BlockadeTamil Nadu elections 2026: Freebies war heats up between DMK, AIADMK & rivals’Not Shehbaz Sharif’: Ex-Minister Fawad Chaudhry Calls Asim Munir ‘De Facto Leader Of Pakistan’TCS Row Explodes: Horrific Details Of Sexual Abuse, Conversion Claims Rock India’s CorporateWomen’s Reservation Bill A ‘Trick’ To Hike Lok Sabha Seats? | Delimitation | Slam Dunk With TehseenIndia Bloc Backs Women’s Reservation But Opposes Delimitation, Flags Risk Of Political Power Shift‘Completely Unacceptable’: Jaishankar Slams Attacks On Merchant Shipping At Azec Plus MeetWomen’s Quota Bill: Govt Clarifies 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan, Opposition Flags Delimitation ConcernsIndian Delegation To Visit Washington Next Week To Resume Talks On India-US Trade DealDelimitation Row Escalates As TN CM Stalin Warns Of Statewide Protests123PhotostoriesChef Vikas Khanna makes it to 100 Most Influential People of 2026: 5 success lessons to learn from his culinary journeyFrom growing up in a conservative family to shooting her debut music video without informing them: Naagin 7’s Kanika Mann opens up about her journeyChandigarh’s Billionaire Lanes: 5 premium regions where the city’s rich live6 desi Indian dishes among Top 32 Rice Puddings in the WorldRanveer Allahbadia’s girlfriend Juhi Bhatt is redefining traditional wedding dressing with contemporary elegancePriyanka Chopra recommends this must-try street food from Mumbai, and it’s not Vada PavFrom ‘Fleabag’ to ‘Arrested Development’: Some of the best dark comedy dramas to add to your watchlist5 iconic modern architectural buildings in India shaping contemporary cityscapesCountries named after people you probably didn’t know aboutCommon snakes found in Japan: Species, habitats, and which ones are dangerous123Hot PicksIran warDisney layoffsPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingTaylor Swift Wedding DressCanada Citizenship GarbaUK Migrant Gay ClaimsCBSE Class 12 ResultNirav ModiOmar Tricolour RowKargil Statehood DemandIPL Points TableIran crude oilMeenu Batra ‘Concerns should be addressed bilaterally’: No need for unilateral 301 probe, India to US Simple bathroom additions that support mold control and improve air quality | Scorpio Horoscope Today, April 16, 2026: Couples can enjoy a warm evening if you avoid power games White House denies US sought truce extension, says new talks may happen in Pakistan “This is exhausting”: Candace Owens intensifies clash with Erika Kirk after TPUSA event exit as threat claims face public doubt NEW DELHI: A long-pending reform to expand women’s representation in legislatures is gathering broad political support, with senior leaders welcoming the proposed implementation of 33% reservation from 2029, even as they flagged concerns over inclusivity.Former President Pratibha Patil, former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar and BSP chief Mayawati said the move would strengthen India’s democratic framework by ensuring greater participation of women in legislative bodies.In a letter to PM Modi dated April 11, Patil described the initiative as a “transformative step” to ensure greater representation and participation of women. Calling it “far more than a legal provision,” she said it was “a powerful affirmation of our collective resolve to advance gender equality, foster inclusive governance, and build a stronger, more progressive India”.She added that the enhanced presence of women in Parliament and state legislatures would enrich debates with diverse perspectives and inspire future generations.Welcoming the proposal, Mayawati said her party supports the “long-awaited 33% reservation,” but cautioned that without sub-quotas, women from SC, ST and OBC communities may not fully benefit.Meira Kumar recalled the decades-long struggle, saying the effort would feel complete only after implementation.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’India In Talks With Many Countries Over Hormuz’: MEA Amid US’ Naval BlockadeTamil Nadu elections 2026: Freebies war heats up between DMK, AIADMK & rivals’Not Shehbaz Sharif’: Ex-Minister Fawad Chaudhry Calls Asim Munir ‘De Facto Leader Of Pakistan’TCS Row Explodes: Horrific Details Of Sexual Abuse, Conversion Claims Rock India’s CorporateWomen’s Reservation Bill A ‘Trick’ To Hike Lok Sabha Seats? | Delimitation | Slam Dunk With TehseenIndia Bloc Backs Women’s Reservation But Opposes Delimitation, Flags Risk Of Political Power Shift‘Completely Unacceptable’: Jaishankar Slams Attacks On Merchant Shipping At Azec Plus MeetWomen’s Quota Bill: Govt Clarifies 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan, Opposition Flags Delimitation ConcernsIndian Delegation To Visit Washington Next Week To Resume Talks On India-US Trade DealDelimitation Row Escalates As TN CM Stalin Warns Of Statewide Protests123PhotostoriesGauranga Das shares 3 ways to deal with toxic family membersChef Vikas Khanna makes it to 100 Most Influential People of 2026: 5 success lessons to learn from his culinary journeyFrom growing up in a conservative family to shooting her debut music video without informing them: Naagin 7’s Kanika Mann opens up about her journeyAre you about to get fired? 3 warning signs to watch out for and 5 ways to save your job, shares Ankur WarikooChandigarh’s Billionaire Lanes: 5 premium regions where the city’s rich live6 desi Indian dishes among Top 32 Rice Puddings in the WorldRanveer Allahbadia’s girlfriend Juhi Bhatt is redefining traditional wedding dressing with contemporary elegancePriyanka Chopra recommends this must-try street food from Mumbai, and it’s not Vada PavFrom ‘Fleabag’ to ‘Arrested Development’: Some of the best dark comedy dramas to add to your watchlist5 iconic modern architectural buildings in India shaping contemporary cityscapes123Hot PicksIran warDisney layoffsPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingTaylor Swift Wedding DressCanada Citizenship GarbaUK Migrant Gay ClaimsCBSE Class 10 ResultNirav ModiOmar Tricolour RowKargil Statehood DemandIPL Points TableIran crude oilMeenu Batra ‘Blaze not yet under control’: Fire breaks out at Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery in Australia US-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: ‘Discontinue transit to Iran’, Trump shares US Navy video announcing Hormuz blockade Shyam: ED seizes assets worth over Rs 160 cr of Shyam group firm | India News The pungent pantry staple people are putting in their shoes to fight odour | Leo Horoscope Today, April 16, 2026: Today isn’t good for investing money. NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar Wednesday underlined India’s strong commitment to safe and unimpeded transit passage of maritime shipping, saying attacks on merchant shipping were completely unacceptable.The minister gave vent to India’s concerns related to merchant shipping disruptions in Strait of Hormuz, while participating in a meeting convened by Japan to discuss supply chain disruptions in energy markets.”Global growth demands that energy markets are not constricted. As a major energy consumer, India will work with like-minded partners to develop supply chain resilience,” said Jaishankar in a post on X.He was participating in the Asia Zero Emission Community Plus Online Summit on Energy Resilience that was convened by Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’India In Talks With Many Countries Over Hormuz’: MEA Amid US’ Naval BlockadeTamil Nadu elections 2026: Freebies war heats up between DMK, AIADMK & rivals’Not Shehbaz Sharif’: Ex-Minister Fawad Chaudhry Calls Asim Munir ‘De Facto Leader Of Pakistan’TCS Row Explodes: Horrific Details Of Sexual Abuse, Conversion Claims Rock India’s CorporateWomen’s Reservation Bill A ‘Trick’ To Hike Lok Sabha Seats? | Delimitation | Slam Dunk With TehseenIndia Bloc Backs Women’s Reservation But Opposes Delimitation, Flags Risk Of Political Power Shift‘Completely Unacceptable’: Jaishankar Slams Attacks On Merchant Shipping At Azec Plus MeetWomen’s Quota Bill: Govt Clarifies 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan, Opposition Flags Delimitation ConcernsIndian Delegation To Visit Washington Next Week To Resume Talks On India-US Trade DealDelimitation Row Escalates As TN CM Stalin Warns Of Statewide Protests123Photostories8 ’90s baby names making a comeback with Gen AlphaChef Vikas Khanna makes it to 100 Most Influential People of 2026: 5 success lessons to learn from his culinary journeyFrom growing up in a conservative family to shooting her debut music video without informing them: Naagin 7’s Kanika Mann opens up about her journeyChandigarh’s Billionaire Lanes: 5 premium regions where the city’s rich live6 desi Indian dishes among Top 32 Rice Puddings in the WorldRanveer Allahbadia’s girlfriend Juhi Bhatt is redefining traditional wedding dressing with contemporary elegancePriyanka Chopra recommends this must-try street food from Mumbai, and it’s not Vada PavFrom ‘Fleabag’ to ‘Arrested Development’: Some of the best dark comedy dramas to add to your watchlist5 iconic modern architectural buildings in India shaping contemporary cityscapesCountries named after people you probably didn’t know about123Hot PicksIran warDisney layoffsPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingTaylor Swift Wedding DressCanada Citizenship GarbaUK Migrant Gay ClaimsCBSE Class 12 ResultNirav ModiOmar Tricolour RowKargil Statehood DemandIPL Points TableIran crude oilMeenu Batra Average daily LPG bookings back to pre-conflict levels: Government Clavicular Overdose Incident: Clavicular breaks silence after overdose scare, addresses viral stream clips At heart of ED’s Bengal probe is an illegal transport challan system called ‘Lala Pad’ | India News Dhurandhar 2 actor Salim Siddiqui says Dharmendra’s passing felt like losing his father: ‘Sunny Deol is carrying legacy beautifully’ US will not extend temporary sanctions waiver on sale of Russian and Iranian oil