VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Next round of US-Iran peace talks expected to begin from Monday – what we know so far As the debate on size and composition of the Lok Sabha continues, the United States offers an interesting contrast. It does not keep enlarging its lower house every time population shifts. The United States House of Representatives has been capped at 435 seats since 1929, but after every decennial census those seats are redistributed among the states according to population, with each state guaranteed at least one seat. Over time, that has changed the balance quite a bit: states such as California, Florida and Texas have gained representation, while New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois have lost it. .But the real American safeguard lies in the other chamber. Every state — big or small — gets two Senators, regardless of the population. That arrangement emerged from the 1787 constitutional compromise between the large and small states. Since the Seventeenth Amendment, Senators have been directly elected by the people.India’s system is different. The Lok Sabha is population-based, and the Rajya Sabha too is only partly federal: bigger states still get a much larger voice there than smaller ones. That is why any future delimitation here can reopen not just the question of voter equality, but also the federal balance between states.There is also a separate political question. If the immediate goal is women’s representation, why must it require a 50% jump in Lok Sabha seats? Could 33% reservation be accommodated within the present ceiling, or better still, could major parties simply commit to giving half their tickets to women?End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosModi Govt’s Women Quota Bill Crashes In Lok Sabha, Fails 2/3 Majority TestSad Day For Women’: Priyanka Chaturvedi Breaks With INDIA Bloc In Lok Sabha RowNo Nari Shakti! Women’s Bill Fails Lok Sabha Test, Protest Erupt | ‘Women Won’t Forgive’Trump’s Expected Pakistan Visit May Include Kashmir Talks, Report Fuels SpeculationStrait of Hormuz Open: What Iran’s Move Means for India Amid Ceasefire TensionsDelimitation Debate: Data Shows Hindi Belt’s Lok Sabha Share Fell More Than South Since 1951Amit Shah Targets Congress, Backs Women’s Quota And Delimitation PushHeated Exchange In Parliament As Rahul, Rijiju Spar Over Women’s Reservation BillUnmanned Fighters Set To Take The Lead In Aerial Combat, CATS Warrior To Lead Change For IndiaWomen’s Bill: Rahul Gandhi Accuses BJP Of Trying To Change Electoral Map, Takes ‘No Wife’ Jibe At PM123Photostories8 beautiful short baby girl names that mean grace and elegance6 markets that define the soul of Himachal PradeshGoa’s 5 posh localities for luxury living and real estate investment in 2026Struggling to stay consistent? These 5 workout quotes for women can change how you see fitnessWeekend binge eating vs daily overeating: Which is more harmful to your liver?Top 7 South Mumbai’s high-end neighbourhoods shaping India’s luxury real estateSmriti Irani indulges in authentic Bengali sweets: 8 traditional sweets of Bengal you need to try during summer10 delicious banana desserts you can easily make in minutesRed Banana vs Yellow Banana: Which is healthier? Full nutrition comparison of taste, benefits, and daily useForget wheat flour and try these traditional dishes made with rice flour123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingNashik TCSAmir HamzaAnti-Islam influencerStrait of HormuzSue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event ‘Vaazha 2’ box office collection day 17: Hashir and team score big hit; Nears Rs 200 crores worldwide IAF fighter jet’s ‘hard landing’ shuts Pune runway, affects scores of night flights . NEW DELHI: Even after nearly all Indian medical students returned from Iran following the outbreak of war, one 22-year-old youth from Kashmir chose to stay back, saying he could not leave the country “when it is in distress”. Now living alone in a nine-storey hostel in Ahvaz after the last remaining Indian students left, Asif Gulzar said he was safe and had made the decision with his family’s support.Gulzar, a third-semester MBBS student at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Khuzestan province, told TOI , “I am here by choice and I am safe. I realised I cannot leave Iran when it is under attack.”Around 2,000 Indian medical students returned to India in phases after the war started on Feb 28. Gulzar life around him remained stable and essential supplies were available despite the conflict. He also said internet connectivity in Iran was very poor and he was using a paid VPN borrowed from an Iranian friend so he could remain in touch with his family. “When innocent people are suffering, I cannot choose the easy option and leave only for my own comfort,” Asif Gulzar said. He added staying silent in the face of such suffering would have remained with him for life.Fond of reading revolutionaries such as Bhagat Singh, Gulzar said he had drawn from the idea that silence in the face of oppression amounted to complicity. With classes suspended for now, he said he had been spending time reading the works of thinkers, philosophers and revolutionaries, while also writing poetry to capture the atmosphere around him. Nasir Khuehami, national convenor of the Jammu & Kashmir Students Association, which helped facilitate the return of Indian students, including around 1,200 from Kashmir, told TOI that almost all of them had returned. “If someone has chosen not to return, there is little we can do in such a case. We did our best to ensure the return of every student with the help of Indian authorities,” Khuehami said.About the AuthorKalyan DasSpecial Correspondent at The Times of India, Dehradun, covering global issues with special focus on South Asia, defence, crime, sports and human interest stories. Have profound love for knowing about food and cultures around the world.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosModi Govt’s Women Quota Bill Crashes In Lok Sabha, Fails 2/3 Majority TestSad Day For Women’: Priyanka Chaturvedi Breaks With INDIA Bloc In Lok Sabha RowNo Nari Shakti! Women’s Bill Fails Lok Sabha Test, Protest Erupt | ‘Women Won’t Forgive’Trump’s Expected Pakistan Visit May Include Kashmir Talks, Report Fuels SpeculationStrait of Hormuz Open: What Iran’s Move Means for India Amid Ceasefire TensionsDelimitation Debate: Data Shows Hindi Belt’s Lok Sabha Share Fell More Than South Since 1951Amit Shah Targets Congress, Backs Women’s Quota And Delimitation PushHeated Exchange In Parliament As Rahul, Rijiju Spar Over Women’s Reservation BillUnmanned Fighters Set To Take The Lead In Aerial Combat, CATS Warrior To Lead Change For IndiaWomen’s Bill: Rahul Gandhi Accuses BJP Of Trying To Change Electoral Map, Takes ‘No Wife’ Jibe At PM123Photostories8 beautiful short baby girl names that mean grace and elegance6 markets that define the soul of Himachal PradeshGoa’s 5 posh localities for luxury living and real estate investment in 2026Struggling to stay consistent? These 5 workout quotes for women can change how you see fitnessWeekend binge eating vs daily overeating: Which is more harmful to your liver?Top 7 South Mumbai’s high-end neighbourhoods shaping India’s luxury real estateSmriti Irani indulges in authentic Bengali sweets: 8 traditional sweets of Bengal you need to try during summer10 delicious banana desserts you can easily make in minutesRed Banana vs Yellow Banana: Which is healthier? Full nutrition comparison of taste, benefits, and daily useForget wheat flour and try these traditional dishes made with rice flour123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingNashik TCSAmir HamzaAnti-Islam influencerStrait of HormuzSue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event IPL 2026: Jasprit Bumrah loses cool, hurls ball in frustration amid horror run – WATCH Martha Stewart hails Cate Blanchett casting in her upcoming biopic; says Oscar-winner is a ‘great’ choice | TCS Nashik case: No harassment or conversion plaint, says IT firm; sets up oversight panel IPL 2026: KKR’s next coach decided? Kevin Pietersen makes bold prediction ‘Dhurandhar 2’ box office collection Day 30: Ranveer Singh starrer finally matches Allu Arjun’s ‘Pushpa 2’ record; hits Rs 1,742 crore mark at worldwide box office Aquarius Horoscope Today, April 18, 2026: Work demands effort, and money will come only with hard work Delhi sees 3 seasons in a day: Hazy start, mercury hits 41°C, pounding rain Wedding paid off by Pokémon cards: Man finds ultra-rare collection in attic after 20 years, sells for huge windfall | International Sports News Apr 18, 2026, 06:30 IST Smartphone sales see weakest quarter in 6 years ‘Prathichaya’ OTT release: When and where to watch Nivin Pauly and B Unnikrishnan’s political thriller Daily Career Horoscope, April 18, 2026: Success, challenges, and breakthroughs; Know about your Career ‘This is what my mother wanted’: Behind Lokesh Sathyanathan’s NCAA-winning 8.21m leap Calcutta HC Kolkata: Calcutta HC Friday quashed the Election Commission’s move to requisition assistant professors of state colleges for the duty of presiding officers at polling stations in Bengal, pulling up the poll panel for not placing any material to show why their deployment was unavoidable. The order, however, will not apply to assistant professors who have already attained training and showed willingness to join. Justice Krishna Rao said despite being given repeated opportunities, the EC failed to produce any document to show the unavoidable circumstances on the basis of which it had taken the decision of appointing assistant professors as presiding officers. The EC counsel told the court there are 90,000 booths, and 1,80,000 to 1,90,000 presiding officers are needed to be kept ready. Assignment of duty was given on March 19, and the writ was filed on April 8, the counsel said. The petitioners’ counsel, senior advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, argued that ECI’s circular dated Feb 16, 2010, categorically mentioned that Group A equivalent senior officers, including teaching staff of universities and colleges, should not be drafted for ‘polling duties’ without specific reasons to be recorded in writing by the DEO where such appointment becomes unavoidable.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosModi Govt’s Women Quota Bill Crashes In Lok Sabha, Fails 2/3 Majority TestSad Day For Women’: Priyanka Chaturvedi Breaks With INDIA Bloc In Lok Sabha RowNo Nari Shakti! Women’s Bill Fails Lok Sabha Test, Protest Erupt | ‘Women Won’t Forgive’Trump’s Expected Pakistan Visit May Include Kashmir Talks, Report Fuels SpeculationStrait of Hormuz Open: What Iran’s Move Means for India Amid Ceasefire TensionsDelimitation Debate: Data Shows Hindi Belt’s Lok Sabha Share Fell More Than South Since 1951Amit Shah Targets Congress, Backs Women’s Quota And Delimitation PushHeated Exchange In Parliament As Rahul, Rijiju Spar Over Women’s Reservation BillUnmanned Fighters Set To Take The Lead In Aerial Combat, CATS Warrior To Lead Change For IndiaWomen’s Bill: Rahul Gandhi Accuses BJP Of Trying To Change Electoral Map, Takes ‘No Wife’ Jibe At PM123Photostories6 markets that define the soul of Himachal PradeshGoa’s 5 posh localities for luxury living and real estate investment in 2026Struggling to stay consistent? These 5 workout quotes for women can change how you see fitnessWeekend binge eating vs daily overeating: Which is more harmful to your liver?Top 7 South Mumbai’s high-end neighbourhoods shaping India’s luxury real estateSmriti Irani indulges in authentic Bengali sweets: 8 traditional sweets of Bengal you need to try during summer10 delicious banana desserts you can easily make in minutesRed Banana vs Yellow Banana: Which is healthier? Full nutrition comparison of taste, benefits, and daily useForget wheat flour and try these traditional dishes made with rice flourR. Madhavan on Parenting: 5 Ways to raise kinder, more patient kids123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingNashik TCSAmir HamzaAnti-Islam influencerStrait of HormuzSue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event IPL 2026: ‘That’s the reason…’ – Rahane reveals why Green didn’t bowl after KKR’s defeat to GT Global markets rally as Iran opens shipping channel ‘Love Insurance Kompany’ box office collection day 9: Pradeep Ranganathan, Krithi Shetty starrer crosses Rs 50 crores worldwide Pisces Horoscope Today, April 18, 2026: Tension with spouse can rise due to a hot argument 9 tourists from Kerala killed as van plunges into gorge in Tamil Nadu New Delhi: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the constitutional amendment bill on delimitation is an attempt by BJP to change the electoral map of India in the guise of women’s reservation in legislatures because the governing party feared losing power.Calling it an anti-national act, he said there is a bid to deny rights to OBCs and take away representation from southern and north-eastern states. It is only meant to bypass the caste census, which, the LoP said, would expose the brutal and unforgiving treatment of OBCs, Dalits, minorities and women. Rahul Gandhi said his party is willing to vote in favour of the amendment bill if govt brings the original 2023 Act for implementation. “It is a historical fact how Indian society treated Dalits and OBCs and their women. What is being attempted here is a bypass of the caste census. They are trying to avoid giving power and representation to my OBC brothers and sisters and instead take power away from them,” Gandhi said, referring to BJP’s approach as “Manuvaad over Samvidhaan”.Accusing BJP of neglecting OBCs and Dalits, he said, “You call them ‘Hindus’, but you don’t give them any space in the power structure.”Gandhi said, “This is not a women’s bill; this has nothing to do with empowerment of women. This bill is an attempt to change the country’s electoral map, using and hiding behind India’s women.”He called the delimitation bill “dangerous” and “anti-national” and said it had been brought out of the fear of losing power. “You are now trying to rejig India’s political map,” he told BJP, accusing the party of using delimitation in its favour in J&K and Assam. Congress will never allow such plans, he said.”There is a fundamental confusion in the minds of BJP. They think they are the people of India and armed forces,” he said, asking the party to stop hiding behind the people and the forces.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosModi Govt’s Women Quota Bill Crashes In Lok Sabha, Fails 2/3 Majority TestSad Day For Women’: Priyanka Chaturvedi Breaks With INDIA Bloc In Lok Sabha RowNo Nari Shakti! Women’s Bill Fails Lok Sabha Test, Protest Erupt | ‘Women Won’t Forgive’Trump’s Expected Pakistan Visit May Include Kashmir Talks, Report Fuels SpeculationStrait of Hormuz Open: What Iran’s Move Means for India Amid Ceasefire TensionsDelimitation Debate: Data Shows Hindi Belt’s Lok Sabha Share Fell More Than South Since 1951Amit Shah Targets Congress, Backs Women’s Quota And Delimitation PushHeated Exchange In Parliament As Rahul, Rijiju Spar Over Women’s Reservation BillUnmanned Fighters Set To Take The Lead In Aerial Combat, CATS Warrior To Lead Change For IndiaWomen’s Bill: Rahul Gandhi Accuses BJP Of Trying To Change Electoral Map, Takes ‘No Wife’ Jibe At PM123Photostories8 beautiful short baby girl names that mean grace and elegance6 markets that define the soul of Himachal PradeshGoa’s 5 posh localities for luxury living and real estate investment in 2026Struggling to stay consistent? These 5 workout quotes for women can change how you see fitnessWeekend binge eating vs daily overeating: Which is more harmful to your liver?Top 7 South Mumbai’s high-end neighbourhoods shaping India’s luxury real estateSmriti Irani indulges in authentic Bengali sweets: 8 traditional sweets of Bengal you need to try during summer10 delicious banana desserts you can easily make in minutesRed Banana vs Yellow Banana: Which is healthier? Full nutrition comparison of taste, benefits, and daily useForget wheat flour and try these traditional dishes made with rice flour123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingNashik TCSAmir HamzaAnti-Islam influencerStrait of HormuzSue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event With three new units, UltraTech to take capacity past 200 MTPA ‘Dacoit’ box office collection day 9: Slow progress for Adivi Sesh starrer; India Net at Rs 29.47 cr Capricorn Horoscope Today, April 18, 2026: Singles may feel ready to meet people through relatives or family events Indian refiners purchase Iranian oil, pay in yuan ‘You will have no place to hide’, P 22 New Delhi: Home minister Amit Shah on Friday stoutly defended the delimitation proposal, saying the existing freeze on the number of Lok Sabha seats since 1976 violated the constitutional principle of “one person, one vote, one value”, reports Kumar Rakesh. The number of electors in many seats had swelled so much that one MP could not do justice to his seat, he said.He also debunked the allegation that the women’s reservation bill was a ploy to delay caste count. “PM Modi could foresee that doubts would be created, and therefore, got the Union Cabinet to approve caste census. The enumeration exercise this time will have a column for caste,” he said.Replying to the debate on the constitutional amendment bills for women’s reservation and delimitation, Union home minister Amit Shah said two primary reasons behind the bills were to ensure a time-bound rollout of women’s reservation by 2029 and to implement in true spirit the idea of “one person, one vote, one value”.Shah said the Malkajgiri LS seat in Telangana had more than 39 lakh voters, emphasising that 127 constituencies have more than 20 lakh voters. He rejected the opposition’s charge that delimitation will result in southern states having less weight in LS. On average, an LS seat in the south has far fewer voters than those in the north.On caste quota, Shah said, “BJP govt will go by the collective sense of Parliament. Let there be no doubt.” For BJP, representation and participation of people (in legislatures) of the country is most important, he said, in what marked a rare willingness to engage on the issue.He, however, ruled out quota for Muslims, saying it is violative of the Constitution. “We will not allow anyone to implement this.”Striking a combative note on women’s quota, the home minister, like the PM had on Thursday, warned opposition of a backlash. “If you do not vote in support of the bill, it will fall through, but women of the country are seeing who is the obstacle in their way. You will have no place to hide in elections. Opposition will face the wrath of women, not only in the 2029 LS elections but also at every level, in every election, and at every place.” Later, he took to X to berate the opposition for celebrating the defeat of the bills.The most dramatic moment during his reply came when he accepted the demand of Congress MP K C Venugopal to write into the bill that seats in every state will go up by 50%. However, he was quick to reject Venugopal’s other demand that the women’s reservation bill be delinked from delimitation, saying it is an “enticing trap” to deny quota to women in 2029.He took head-on Rahul Gandhi’s claim about Congress being a supporter of OBC cause. “Congress is the most anti-OBC party,” Shah said listing decisions like non-implementation of the recommendations of the Kalelkar Commission for OBC reservation under Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi not acting on the Mandal Commission’s recommendations, and Rajiv Gandhi opposing the same.Congress never made an OBC community member the Prime Minister while BJP, in Modi, has given the country a PM from extremely backward caste, he said.Congress and its allies in the INDIA bloc have a history of scuttling legislative proposal for the reservation five times since the idea was first mooted during the P V Narasimha Rao govt, and it at times leant on its allies to sink the proposal, he said while also recalling the opposition party’s stand over the Shah Bano verdict and triple talaq. He said Congress has reflexively opposed all signature initiatives of Modi govt – from scrapping of special status for J&K to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosModi Govt’s Women Quota Bill Crashes In Lok Sabha, Fails 2/3 Majority TestSad Day For Women’: Priyanka Chaturvedi Breaks With INDIA Bloc In Lok Sabha RowNo Nari Shakti! Women’s Bill Fails Lok Sabha Test, Protest Erupt | ‘Women Won’t Forgive’Trump’s Expected Pakistan Visit May Include Kashmir Talks, Report Fuels SpeculationStrait of Hormuz Open: What Iran’s Move Means for India Amid Ceasefire TensionsDelimitation Debate: Data Shows Hindi Belt’s Lok Sabha Share Fell More Than South Since 1951Amit Shah Targets Congress, Backs Women’s Quota And Delimitation PushHeated Exchange In Parliament As Rahul, Rijiju Spar Over Women’s Reservation BillUnmanned Fighters Set To Take The Lead In Aerial Combat, CATS Warrior To Lead Change For IndiaWomen’s Bill: Rahul Gandhi Accuses BJP Of Trying To Change Electoral Map, Takes ‘No Wife’ Jibe At PM123Photostories8 beautiful short baby girl names that mean grace and elegance6 markets that define the soul of Himachal PradeshGoa’s 5 posh localities for luxury living and real estate investment in 2026Struggling to stay consistent? These 5 workout quotes for women can change how you see fitnessWeekend binge eating vs daily overeating: Which is more harmful to your liver?Top 7 South Mumbai’s high-end neighbourhoods shaping India’s luxury real estateSmriti Irani indulges in authentic Bengali sweets: 8 traditional sweets of Bengal you need to try during summer10 delicious banana desserts you can easily make in minutesRed Banana vs Yellow Banana: Which is healthier? Full nutrition comparison of taste, benefits, and daily useForget wheat flour and try these traditional dishes made with rice flour123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingNashik TCSAmir HamzaAnti-Islam influencerStrait of HormuzSue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event Amid disputes, Singh skips Tata trust meeting Yash and Anurag Kashyap tease ‘Toxic’ polt; say ‘Fairytale for Grown-ups doesn’t always have to be about sexuality’ TIPRA Motha (PTI image) Agartala: TIPRA Motha secured a resounding victory in Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections, winning 24 of 28 seats in the results announced Friday for the April 12 polls. The governing BJP bagged only four seats. Congress and CPM drew a blank. In the 2021 ADC elections, TIPRA Motha had won 18 seats and BJP nine, a tally that rose to 10 after an Independent joined the saffron party. Before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Motha allied with BJP and became part of the governing coalition. However, tensions grew over delays and disagreements over the implementation of the Tiprasa Accord signed prior to the Lok Sabha elections. Motha’s founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarman openly accused CM Manik Saha of obstructing efforts towards Greater Tipraland — a proposed state extending into regions of Bangladesh and south Assam. Alleged attacks on BJP workers added to the tensions. Eventually, BJP contested the ADC elections independently against Motha.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosModi Govt’s Women Quota Bill Crashes In Lok Sabha, Fails 2/3 Majority TestSad Day For Women’: Priyanka Chaturvedi Breaks With INDIA Bloc In Lok Sabha RowNo Nari Shakti! Women’s Bill Fails Lok Sabha Test, Protest Erupt | ‘Women Won’t Forgive’Trump’s Expected Pakistan Visit May Include Kashmir Talks, Report Fuels SpeculationStrait of Hormuz Open: What Iran’s Move Means for India Amid Ceasefire TensionsDelimitation Debate: Data Shows Hindi Belt’s Lok Sabha Share Fell More Than South Since 1951Amit Shah Targets Congress, Backs Women’s Quota And Delimitation PushHeated Exchange In Parliament As Rahul, Rijiju Spar Over Women’s Reservation BillUnmanned Fighters Set To Take The Lead In Aerial Combat, CATS Warrior To Lead Change For IndiaWomen’s Bill: Rahul Gandhi Accuses BJP Of Trying To Change Electoral Map, Takes ‘No Wife’ Jibe At PM123Photostories6 markets that define the soul of Himachal PradeshGoa’s 5 posh localities for luxury living and real estate investment in 2026Struggling to stay consistent? These 5 workout quotes for women can change how you see fitnessWeekend binge eating vs daily overeating: Which is more harmful to your liver?Top 7 South Mumbai’s high-end neighbourhoods shaping India’s luxury real estateSmriti Irani indulges in authentic Bengali sweets: 8 traditional sweets of Bengal you need to try during summer10 delicious banana desserts you can easily make in minutesRed Banana vs Yellow Banana: Which is healthier? Full nutrition comparison of taste, benefits, and daily useForget wheat flour and try these traditional dishes made with rice flourR. Madhavan on Parenting: 5 Ways to raise kinder, more patient kids123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingNashik TCSAmir HamzaAnti-Islam influencerStrait of HormuzSue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event Rupee regains 92 levels, closes 27 paise higher Sagittarius Horoscope Today, April 18, 2026: Say yes to learning and exercise, but no to unnecessary spending 8 beautiful short baby girl names that mean grace and elegance 72 hours before Supreme Court deadline, no addition in West Bengal rolls Supreme Court New Delhi: Supreme Court has expressed concern over powerful sand mafias operating in the country and said the states were virtually abdicating their constitutional responsibility to tackle the menace. The apex court said preventive detention could be invoked against the mafia. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta on Friday passed a slew of directions to MP, UP and Rajasthan, including installation of high-resolution, wi-fi enabled CCTV cameras on all routes frequently used for illegal sand mining and monitoring of footage round the-clock, besides confiscation of vehicles and pointing to the reluctance of states to act against sand mafia, the court said it would be forced to deploy paramilitary forces in those areas and would also impose a complete ban on sand mining in these states. “It is indeed a matter of grave and serious concern that state authorities, who are entrusted with the solemn duty of enforcing the rule of law and protecting public resources, appear to have abdicated, if not altogether abandoned, their statutory and constitutional responsibilities. The circumstances, taken as a whole, may even warrant an inference of tacit connivance. The material placed before us discloses a disturbing pattern of inaction and administrative indifference, despite the issue having been repeatedly highlighted before various fora,” the bench said. “Having regard to the magnitude and seriousness of the issues involved in the present matter, as well as the prima facie lackadaisical approach adopted by the states concerned, this court cannot remain a silent spectator,” the court said. “The lackadaisical response of states in the proceedings before the National Green Tribunal gives rise to a genuine apprehension in our mind regarding the very intent of state govts to act as the protectors of environment. The statutory framework is well-armed to deal with mining mafias but apparently the administrative authorities are dragging their feet, for reasons which are not difficult to discern. We feel that under such grave circumstances, the state govts concerned would be well advised to invoke the provisions relating to preventive detention, seizure and confiscation of immovable properties and machinery, and to undertake effective and stringent prosecutions, so as to bring the offenders to book and ensure protection of the environment,” the bench said. The court noted that there were cases where state govt officials were killed by sand mafia, which reflected a systemic and institutional failure to discharge state’s obligations under law. “Such apathy, particularly in the face of escalating environmental degradation and threats to human life, is both indefensible and wholly unacceptable in a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law,” it said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosModi Govt’s Women Quota Bill Crashes In Lok Sabha, Fails 2/3 Majority TestSad Day For Women’: Priyanka Chaturvedi Breaks With INDIA Bloc In Lok Sabha RowNo Nari Shakti! Women’s Bill Fails Lok Sabha Test, Protest Erupt | ‘Women Won’t Forgive’Trump’s Expected Pakistan Visit May Include Kashmir Talks, Report Fuels SpeculationStrait of Hormuz Open: What Iran’s Move Means for India Amid Ceasefire TensionsDelimitation Debate: Data Shows Hindi Belt’s Lok Sabha Share Fell More Than South Since 1951Amit Shah Targets Congress, Backs Women’s Quota And Delimitation PushHeated Exchange In Parliament As Rahul, Rijiju Spar Over Women’s Reservation BillUnmanned Fighters Set To Take The Lead In Aerial Combat, CATS Warrior To Lead Change For IndiaWomen’s Bill: Rahul Gandhi Accuses BJP Of Trying To Change Electoral Map, Takes ‘No Wife’ Jibe At PM123Photostories8 beautiful short baby girl names that mean grace and elegance6 markets that define the soul of Himachal PradeshGoa’s 5 posh localities for luxury living and real estate investment in 2026Struggling to stay consistent? These 5 workout quotes for women can change how you see fitnessWeekend binge eating vs daily overeating: Which is more harmful to your liver?Top 7 South Mumbai’s high-end neighbourhoods shaping India’s luxury real estateSmriti Irani indulges in authentic Bengali sweets: 8 traditional sweets of Bengal you need to try during summer10 delicious banana desserts you can easily make in minutesRed Banana vs Yellow Banana: Which is healthier? Full nutrition comparison of taste, benefits, and daily useForget wheat flour and try these traditional dishes made with rice flour123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingNashik TCSAmir HamzaAnti-Islam influencerStrait of HormuzSue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event Apr 18, 2026, 05:00 IST Oil companies, exporters, importers cheer Hormuz Strait opening ‘John Rambo’: David Harbour joins cast as Major Trautman opposite Noah Centineo Scorpio Horoscope Today, April 18, 2026: Business people may plan or start a long journey to expand work Quote of the day by Leo Tolstoy: “The changes in our life must come from the impossibility to live otherwise than according to the demands of our conscience not from our mental resolution to try a new form of life” NEW DELHI: A united opposition on Friday spurned PM Narendra Modi’s last-minute appeal for a “conscience vote” and home minister Amit Shah’s offer to write into the women’s reservation bill that Lok Sabha seats in all states will go up by 50% to inflict on govt its first legislative defeat in 12 years, with the proposed law failing to get the required two-thirds vote in the House. Opposition parties – which had alleged that the bill promising women’s quota from 2029 was a ploy to cut the south’s representation in LS, redraw the political map to BJP’s advantage and delay caste enumeration – remained unpersuaded by Shah’s assertions that the weight of southern states in LS will marginally go up under the proposed formula and that govt was committed to conduct caste count. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill received 298 votes in support and 230 against. It needed at least 352 votes in favour from the members present in the House for passage. With the centrepiece bill falling through, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said two other bills “intrinsically” linked to the main proposal, including one on delimitation, would be withdrawn. You will have no place to hide in elections, Shah tells oppnReplying to the debate on the constitutional amendment bills for women’s reservation and delimitation, Union home minister Amit Shah said two primary reasons behind the bills were to ensure a time-bound rollout of women’s reservation by 2029 and to implement in true spirit the idea of “one person, one vote, one value”. Shah said the Malkajgiri LS seat in Telangana had more than 39 lakh voters, emphasising that 127 constituencies have more than 20 lakh voters. He rejected the opposition’s charge that delimitation will result in southern states having less weight in LS. On average, an LS seat in the south has far fewer voters than those in the north. On caste quota, Shah said, “BJP govt will go by the collective sense of Parliament. Let there be no doubt.” For BJP, representation and participation of people (in legislatures) of the country is most important, he said, in what marked a rare willingness to engage on the issue. He, however, ruled out quota for Muslims, saying it is violative of the Constitution. “We will not allow anyone to implement this.” Striking a combative note on women’s quota, the home minister, like the PM had on Thursday, warned opposition of a backlash. “If you do not vote in support of the bill, it will fall through, but women of the country are seeing who is the obstacle in their way. You will have no place to hide in elections. Opposition will face the wrath of women, not only in the 2029 LS elections but also at every level, in every election, and at every place.” Later, he took to X to berate the opposition for celebrating the defeat of the bills. The most dramatic moment during his reply came when he accepted the demand of Congress MP K C Venugopal to write into the bill that seats in every state will go up by 50%. However, he was quick to reject Venugopal’s other demand that the women’s reservation bill be delinked from delimitation, saying it is an “enticing trap” to deny quota to women in 2029. He took head-on Rahul Gandhi’s claim about Congress being a supporter of OBC cause. “Congress is the most anti-OBC party,” Shah said listing decisions like non-implementation of the recommendations of the Kalelkar Commission for OBC reservation under Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi not acting on the Mandal Commission’s recommendations, and Rajiv Gandhi opposing the same. Congress never made an OBC community member the Prime Minister while BJP, in Modi, has given the country a PM from extremely backward caste, he said. Congress and its allies in the INDIA bloc have a history of scuttling legislative proposal for the reservation five times since the idea was first mooted during the P V Narasimha Rao govt, and it at times leant on its allies to sink the proposal, he said while also recalling the opposition party’s stand over the Shah Bano verdict and triple talaq. He said Congress has reflexively opposed all signature initiatives of Modi govt – from scrapping of special status for J&K to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosModi Govt’s Women Quota Bill Crashes In Lok Sabha, Fails 2/3 Majority TestSad Day For Women’: Priyanka Chaturvedi Breaks With INDIA Bloc In Lok Sabha RowNo Nari Shakti! Women’s Bill Fails Lok Sabha Test, Protest Erupt | ‘Women Won’t Forgive’Trump’s Expected Pakistan Visit May Include Kashmir Talks, Report Fuels SpeculationStrait of Hormuz Open: What Iran’s Move Means for India Amid Ceasefire TensionsDelimitation Debate: Data Shows Hindi Belt’s Lok Sabha Share Fell More Than South Since 1951Amit Shah Targets Congress, Backs Women’s Quota And Delimitation PushHeated Exchange In Parliament As Rahul, Rijiju Spar Over Women’s Reservation BillUnmanned Fighters Set To Take The Lead In Aerial Combat, CATS Warrior To Lead Change For IndiaWomen’s Bill: Rahul Gandhi Accuses BJP Of Trying To Change Electoral Map, Takes ‘No Wife’ Jibe At PM123Photostories6 markets that define the soul of Himachal PradeshGoa’s 5 posh localities for luxury living and real estate investment in 2026Struggling to stay consistent? These 5 workout quotes for women can change how you see fitnessWeekend binge eating vs daily overeating: Which is more harmful to your liver?Top 7 South Mumbai’s high-end neighbourhoods shaping India’s luxury real estateSmriti Irani indulges in authentic Bengali sweets: 8 traditional sweets of Bengal you need to try during summer10 delicious banana desserts you can easily make in minutesRed Banana vs Yellow Banana: Which is healthier? Full nutrition comparison of taste, benefits, and daily useForget wheat flour and try these traditional dishes made with rice flourR. Madhavan on Parenting: 5 Ways to raise kinder, more patient kids123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingNashik TCSAmir HamzaAnti-Islam influencerStrait of HormuzSue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event To cut LPG transport via road, government plans new pipelines Libra Horoscope Today, April 18, 2026: Keep your dignity intact Adult or minor? Madhya Pradesh cops reach Kochi as viral Kumbh Mela girl’s inter-faith marriage sparks storm Himanta Biswa Sarma Guwahati: After Supreme Court refused to extend the transit anticipatory bail protection for Congress neta Pawan Khera, granted to him by the Telangana HC, following an FIR filed in Assam, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said it was time for Khera to “surrender before the law in Guwahati”. The SC ruling effectively opens the door for Assam Police to initiate action against Khera on Riniki Bhuyan Sharma’s FIR for alleged defamation. Sarma had earlier expressed displeasure over how Khera was able to leave Guwahati soon after the FIR was registered, saying “this means Assam Police had let him go”. Khera had alleged earlier this month that Riniki possessed several foreign passports, had undeclared offshore assets and operated a shell company in the US, charges the chief minister and his wife rejected as “false and fabricated”.About the AuthorPrabin KalitaPrabin Kalita is a journalist at The Times of India and is currently the Chief of Bureau (northeast). He has been reporting in mainstream Indian national media since 2001. He has been a field journalist reporting gamut of issues from India’s northeastern region and major developments in neighbouring countries like Myanmar, China, Bhutan and Bangladesh concerning India and northeastern region. He has been covering insurgency—internal and cross-border, politics, natural calamities, environment etc. He is a post-graduate in Geological Sciences from Gauhati University.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosModi Govt’s Women Quota Bill Crashes In Lok Sabha, Fails 2/3 Majority TestSad Day For Women’: Priyanka Chaturvedi Breaks With INDIA Bloc In Lok Sabha RowNo Nari Shakti! 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