VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html TS Inter Supplementary Exam 2026: Fee payment deadline for IPASE extended, check details here Arjun Janya songs: Iconic tracks that defined the Kannada composer’s career and are fan favorites Canadian billionaire Kevin O’Leary on AI tools: You are already behind if you are not … Dubai Parks Initiative: Dubai launches ‘work from park’ initiative to turn public spaces into flexible work hubs | World News In this image posted on April 19, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tries ‘jhalmuri’, street snack made of puffed rice, on the sidelines of public meetings ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, in Jhargram. (@narendramodi/X via PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday remarked that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unscheduled stop to buy “jhalmuri” during poll campaigning was “drama”.Her comment came a day after PM Modi made a pit stop during his campaign tour in Jhargram to buy “jhalmuri,” a popular Bengali street food made of puffed rice, green chillies, and other spices.“It’s all drama. How come a camera was present when the prime minister suddenly made an unscheduled stop during the campaign? The entire episode was scripted. He was seen carrying a Rs 10 note in his pocket. Is it believable?” Banerjee said, without naming PM Modi.The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo was addressing a poll rally in the Murarai assembly constituency in Birbhum district.On Sunday, after concluding his address in Jhargram, PM Modi walked up to a stall and said, “Bhai, hume apna jhalmuri khilao (brother, give us your jhalmuri).”As the vendor prepared the snack, PM Modi struck up a brief conversation, asking, “Kitne ka hota hai jhalmuri (how much does it cost?).” The prime minister then reached into the pocket of his Nehru jacket to pay.The vendor asked, “Aap pyaaz khaate hain (do you eat onions?),” to which the PM replied, “Haan, pyaaz khaate hain. Dimag nahi khaate bas (Yes, I eat onions. But I don’t like irritating people).”The first phase of polling in West Bengal, covering 152 seats, will be held on Thursday. The second and final phase for the remaining 142 constituencies is scheduled for April 29.Votes will be counted on May 4.(PTI inputs)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 MediaVideosNSA Doval Meets Top Saudi Leaders, Focus On Security And EnergyFact Check: No, Indian Navy Did NOT Detain Somali Pirates In Viral VideoTMC Hits Out At PM Modi Over Jhalmuri Stop, Claims Hemant Soren Forced To ReturnTMC vs Himanta Biswa Sarma Erupts As Mamata Banerjee Row Sparks Election Commission ComplaintManipur Erupts In Anger As No Arrests Made After 5 Killings, Protests Turn Violent‘Ripple Impact On India…’: Misri After Indian Tankers Hit In HormuzUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of Hormuz123PhotostoriesDoes your home breathe? 5 lessons to learn from the timeless beauty of Chettinad interiorsGurgaon SPR bottleneck sparks urgent road expansion, missing link reopened7 morning affirmations that work for sure (why are they so powerful)From building 5 businesses at 24 to being told to retire despite a net worth of approximately Rs 250 crore- Jannat Zubair gets candid8 traditional Mango pickles from across India to tryLessons you should learn from Adi Shankaracharya; based on your birth dateVinod Kambli’s ₹8 crore apartment in Bandra, Mumbai is defined by a Sachin-Kambli friendship wall, untold struggles, and family-first living8 Habits that quietly destroy your inner peaceAndhra Pradesh strikes big as Jonnagiri gold mine nears launchEarly signs of liver disease you shouldn’t ignore: When to act and how to protect your liver before it’s too late123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingBan vs NZKanpur MurderAndhra Pradesh Bomb ExplodeKanpur Rape CaseNagpur NGOJammu Bus AccidentAndhra Pradesh MurderLucknow Girl MurderTamil Nadu Firecracker Unit BlastDelhi Heatwave Alert JPSC prelims answer key 2026 expected to be released at jpsc.gov.in: Check steps to download here Anushka Sharma, Virat Kohli visit Premanandji Maharaj in Vrindavan on Akshay tritiya, video goes viral – WATCH Does your home breathe? 5 lessons to learn from the timeless beauty of Chettinad interiors ‘Nitish Kumar was compromised’: Rahul Gandhi’s big claim on NDA’s decision behind ‘Sushasan Babu’s’ Bihar exit ‘Don’t mean to negotiate at any cost’: Iran rules out second round of US talks as ceasefire deadline nears NEW DELHI: Congress hit out at the BJP-led central government on Monday over Pakistan holding US-Iran talks, terming it a “substantial setback for Mr Modi’s foreign policy”. Citing foreign minister S Jaishankar’s “dalal (broker or middleman)” remark for Pakistan, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh pointed out that the same nation was set to host the second round of US-Iran talks on Tuesday.”It is a monumental setback for Mr. Modi’s foreign policy. India needs a complete overhaul of its diplomatic engagement strategy and tactics—which Mr. Modi is simply incapable of doing,” he said in a post on X.”The ‘dalal’ country, as the erudite and always nattily dressed External Affairs Minister described it, is reportedly hosting the second round of US-Iran peace talks today. After the completion of the first round of these talks on April 12th, Pakistan borrowed $6 billion from Saudi Arabia and Qatar to repay a $3.5 billion loan taken from the UAE and to retire a $1.43 billion tranche of Eurobonds,” he added.Highlighting the importance of Pakisan’s diplomatic role in the current situation, Ramesh said that “Prime Minister Modi’s regional and global engagement and narrative management have failed to isolate Pakistan”.”Pakistan’s economy is clearly in dire straits and it depends on largesse given to it by friendly countries. But it is for now playing a pivotal diplomatic role after having given sanctuary to Osama Bin Laden and other terrorists, bombing drug rehabilitation centres in Afghanistan, and most recently orchestrating the Pahalgam terror attack a year ago,” he said.”It is abundantly clear that the substance and style of Prime Minister Modi’s regional and global engagement and narrative management have failed to isolate Pakistan which has received a whole new branding – different from what Dr. Manmohan Singh had been able to achieve after the terror attacks in Mumbai in Nov 2008,” he added.Talking about US President Donald Trump’s fondness for Pakistan army chief Asim Munir, the Congress leader said, “That Field Marshal Asim Munir – whose provocative and inflammatory remarks provided the oxygen for the Pahalgam terror attack – has become such a huge favourite of President Trump is a particularly severe setback for India. That the Field Marshal and his colleagues seem to have succeeded in managing the Trump ecosystem of family and associates much better than India is obvious.”Munir spoke to Trump regarding the upcoming talks and conveyed that the blockade of Strait of Hormuz was a “hurdle” in talks. Iran has said that it will not attend the talks.Trump said that he would “consider” Munir’s advice, Reuters reported citing Pakistani security source.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 MediaVideosNSA Doval Meets Top Saudi Leaders, Focus On Security And EnergyFact Check: No, Indian Navy Did NOT Detain Somali Pirates In Viral VideoTMC Hits Out At PM Modi Over Jhalmuri Stop, Claims Hemant Soren Forced To ReturnTMC vs Himanta Biswa Sarma Erupts As Mamata Banerjee Row Sparks Election Commission ComplaintManipur Erupts In Anger As No Arrests Made After 5 Killings, Protests Turn Violent‘Ripple Impact On India…’: Misri After Indian Tankers Hit In HormuzUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of Hormuz123PhotostoriesFrom building 5 businesses at 24 to being told to retire despite a net worth of approximately Rs 250 crore- Jannat Zubair gets candid8 traditional Mango pickles from across India to tryLessons you should learn from Adi Shankaracharya; based on your birth dateVinod Kambli’s ₹8 crore apartment in Bandra, Mumbai is defined by a Sachin-Kambli friendship wall, untold struggles, and family-first living8 Habits that quietly destroy your inner peaceAndhra Pradesh strikes big as Jonnagiri gold mine nears launchEarly signs of liver disease you shouldn’t ignore: When to act and how to protect your liver before it’s too lateGK Fact of the Day: Not just birds; 5 other animals that make “nests”From PM Narendra Modi to NASA, why everyone swears by this superfood’American Horror Story’ to ‘The Exorcist’: Horror TV shows that are a must-watch for new fans123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingBan vs NZKanpur MurderAndhra Pradesh Bomb ExplodeKanpur Rape CaseNagpur NGOJammu Bus AccidentAndhra Pradesh MurderLucknow Girl MurderTamil Nadu Firecracker Unit BlastDelhi Heatwave Alert ‘All adjectives fall short’: Shreyas Iyer hails Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as ‘one for the future’ CG Mandi SI admit card 2026 released at vyapam.cgstate.gov.in: Direct link to download hall tickets here ‘Shah Rukh Khan is just sitting’: Imtiaz Ali on how ‘Safar’ became a blues-country song about modern life | Hindi Movie News Spotted in Delhi, Anushka Sharma nails easy-breezy airport style, while Virat Kohli keeps it cool and casual Dubai Concert 2026: Dubai concert 2026: Gulf’s biggest voices Angham and Majid Al Mohandis to perform at Coca-Cola Arena on May 9 | World News We are in Delhi’s Prithviraj Market, visiting Mirajuddin, the best mutton shop ever. I go ahead to give the order. Outside the shop, the young man at the counter says, “Rajdeep bhai nahi aye?” I say he is coming. While wiping his cutting board, the owner asks, “And where is bhaijaan?” I reply, coming. Then he comes, says assalaam valaikum to everyone. They all greet him back and start chatting animatedly. The process repeats outside the shop with other workers and known patrons. He goes there often, and everyone knows him. This is the same man who did not know how to say ‘Salaam’ 14 years ago when we got married. He is now “kareeb, kareeb mussalman”, as our Mirajuddin friends compliment him.The ‘love jihad’ propaganda, which keeps surfacing in news cycles, says that conniving Muslim men lure Hindu women away. They forget Muslim women. Maybe they are doing love jihad too? I can cite several examples where Muslim women have nudged their husbands and families towards Islamic traditions while embracing Hindu customs as part of shared family life.My Afghan friend is married to a Sharma from Delhi. They met in Berlin and returned to India. Together they run an Afghan centre at the university, offering space for Afghan people to showcase their talent, food and culture. When their son’s school did not give a holiday on Eid, the father told the principal, “My son is half Muslim. He will stay at home and celebrate the festival with family.”An Indonesian friend is married to a Tamil Brahmin colleague. She keeps fasts for the whole month of Ramzan, and people come to her home for Iftar. She once went home during the fasting month along with her 13-year-old son. The first morning there, he realised that everyone had woken up for Sehri and started their fast at dawn. No one woke him up as they thought he was not used to it. He was upset and asked, “Why? Am I not part of this family?” He did not eat or drink anything and only broke his fast with everyone in the evening. Thereafter, he fasted during their stay in Jakarta. Another remarkable friend, who married his Assamese Muslim sweetheart, named his daughter Inara, which means radiance in Arabic. She carries her mother’s surname along with her father’s and is called ‘Inara Syed Mahapatra’. Lastly, my beautiful colleague Nikhat just had a nikah and a destination wedding in Turkey. Her Greek partner has learnt namaz, Qalma, and suras to win over her family in Lucknow.Patriarchal mindsets tend to believe that the man’s side is the winning side and that in interfaith marriages, women will lose their identity, religion, and customs. But as I look at the interfaith couples around me, that is not true. Women tend to shape their families in decisive ways and have created a mix of Indo-Islamic-Hindu domestic cultures.They have done so by accommodating the belief systems of both their religions. My in-laws perform puja for housewarming, put lemons on the car and check auspicious dates for travel. To me, this is superstition; to them, it is normal. Yet both sides accept each other, enjoy family gatherings and the drama of children.My Indonesian friend cooks sambar and payasam for her vegetarian husband. The Ganesha idol that her mother-in-law worshipped in Tamil Nadu resides in her home now. My Afghan friend refrains from meat on Hindu festivals along with her husband and attends all family rituals. She also celebrates Eid with all of them. The Lucknow colleague has merged with her Greek family. She visits them every summer and appreciates their food, customs and culture. As for baby Inara, she is going to learn Karl Marx and Foucault before she hears of Hinduism or Islam.Love never gets old. Every generation sees it freshly, lives it freely. In times of war across the globe, it is the only solace. Some blinkered gangs may try to damn our way of life, calling it love jihad and such. But we are not the aberration that society tolerates, nor are we the exotic, strange species that others find unique. We are the dream of India that our forefathers saw at the stroke of midnight of 15th August, 1947. We are the family that Mahatma Phule envisioned in his verse, “Christ, Mohammad, Mang, Bramhanasi, Dharave potasi, Bandhu pari” (translation: Whether they be followers of Christ or Mohammed, or belong to the Mang or Brahmin communities — one should embrace them all to one’s heart like a brother.) As humanity expands, our tribe will grow.Sameena Dalwai is a law professor. Her forthcoming book is titled ‘Love Jihad: A Feminist Retelling’End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNSA Doval Meets Top Saudi Leaders, Focus On Security And EnergyFact Check: No, Indian Navy Did NOT Detain Somali Pirates In Viral VideoTMC Hits Out At PM Modi Over Jhalmuri Stop, Claims Hemant Soren Forced To ReturnTMC vs Himanta Biswa Sarma Erupts As Mamata Banerjee Row Sparks Election Commission ComplaintManipur Erupts In Anger As No Arrests Made After 5 Killings, Protests Turn Violent‘Ripple Impact On India…’: Misri After Indian Tankers Hit In HormuzUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite DeviceNo Fuel Shortage: Govt Assures 100% Domestic Gas Supply As India’s LPG Demand Falls 13% In MarchPM Modi Takes ‘Jhalmuri’ Break, Interacts With Locals In West Bengal’s Jhargram Amid Poll CampaignIndia Warns Iran Of Consequences After Attack On Two Tankers In Strait Of Hormuz123Photostories7 morning affirmations that work for sure (why are they so powerful)From building 5 businesses at 24 to being told to retire despite a net worth of approximately Rs 250 crore- Jannat Zubair gets candid8 traditional Mango pickles from across India to tryLessons you should learn from Adi Shankaracharya; based on your birth dateVinod Kambli’s ₹8 crore apartment in Bandra, Mumbai is defined by a Sachin-Kambli friendship wall, untold struggles, and family-first living8 Habits that quietly destroy your inner peaceAndhra Pradesh strikes big as Jonnagiri gold mine nears launchEarly signs of liver disease you shouldn’t ignore: When to act and how to protect your liver before it’s too lateGK Fact of the Day: Not just birds; 5 other animals that make “nests”How to disagree without damaging relationships: What to say instead123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingBan vs NZKanpur MurderAndhra Pradesh Bomb ExplodeKanpur Rape CaseNagpur NGOJammu Bus AccidentAndhra Pradesh MurderLucknow Girl MurderTamil Nadu Firecracker Unit BlastDelhi Heatwave Alert Iran has closed Strait of Hormuz completely: What does this mean for India’s crude oil, LPG, LNG supplies? 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