VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html From Mouni Roy-Suraj Nambiar to Sanya Malhotra-Rishab Sharma Nurturing Independent Thinking: 5 powerful ways parents can nurture independent thinking in children Vijay’s astrologer who predicted TVK victory a year ago appointed Officer on Special Duty (OSD) PM Modi and Arvind Kejriwal (R) NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday sharply questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “seven appeals” to citizens amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, saying the country was “in shock” over the government’s messaging on the economy.Addressing a press conference, the AAP chief said India had gone through several crises since Independence, including wars and economic downturns, but such sweeping public appeals had never been made before.“Since 1950, the country has faced many crises, including wars with Pakistan and China and economic crises. Leaders like Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi had appealed to people not to buy gold earlier as well, but no government had made such extensive ‘seven appeals’ to citizens. The nation is in shock,” Kejriwal said.The former Delhi chief minister said he had “three requests” for the Prime Minister following his recent remarks asking people to cut consumption and spending amid global economic uncertainty.“I have three requests from the PM. He should tell the nation the condition of our economy today and what is expected in the near future. Today, a lot of rumours are floating in the market and this is not good for confidence in the economy,” he said.Kejriwal linked the situation to the escalating Iran-America conflict and the wider West Asia crisis, but questioned why India’s response appeared more severe than that of other nations.“We all know this is happening because of the Iran-America war, and the whole world is affected. But no government in any country has made such appeals to its citizens. This creates suspicion that perhaps the reason is something else,” he said.The AAP leader also raised concerns over what he described as the burden being shifted disproportionately onto the middle class.“The middle class is very patriotic, but why is the entire burden being put only on them? The first sacrifice should have come from the government itself,” Kejriwal said.His remarks came after PM Modi, speaking in Secunderabad on Sunday, urged citizens to change consumption habits in response to mounting global economic pressures and disruptions caused by the West Asia conflict.The Prime Minister appealed to people to work from home wherever possible, reduce fuel consumption, avoid foreign travel for a year, buy Swadeshi products, cut down on cooking oil use, adopt natural farming and reduce gold purchases.Emphasising the need to cut import dependence, PM Modi said every household should reduce edible oil consumption and support natural farming to save foreign exchange and protect the environment.Highlighting India’s rising fertiliser import bill, the Prime Minister urged farmers to gradually reduce the use of chemical fertilisers.To deal with volatile fuel prices, PM Modi also called for greater use of metro systems and public transport, encouraged car-pooling, promoted railways for goods transport and pushed for wider adoption of electric vehicles.The appeals come amid a deepening global energy crisis triggered by tensions in West Asia and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil trade route in the Gulf region.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 MediaVideosNTA Scraps NEET UG 2026 Over ‘Guess Paper’ Leak, Re-Exam Dates To Be Announced | WatchFIR Filed Against SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi Over Alleged Remarks Against PM ModiCBI Takes Over Probe Into Murder Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Aide Chandranath Rath, Forms 7-Member SITAIADMK Faces Biggest Split Since Jayalalithaa Era As Rebel Faction Extends Support To Vijay’s TVKTamil Nadu CM Vijay Orders Shutdown Of 717 TASMAC Shops Near Temples, Schools And Bus StandsCongress Expands Kerala CM Consultations As Satheesan-Venugopal Battle IntensifiesTarn Taran BJP Office Attacked: Youths Vandalise Premises, Fire Shots In Air; Probe OnRahul Gandhi Targets Centre Over NEET Leak Allegations As Rajasthan SOG Expands ProbeFormer TMC Minister Sujit Bose Arrested By ED In Municipality Recruitment ‘Scam’PM Modi Slams Destination Weddings Abroad, Urges Indians To Avoid Foreign Travel123Photostories5 simple remedies to keep silverfish away and protect your favourite books and clothes before it’s too late!Personality test: Pick a tree and see what it reveals about what makes you feel safe, happy, and calmFrom snake fruit to jabuticaba; 10 unique fruit trees around the world and where travellers can find them10 countries with the most mosquitoes, does India figure in the list?How Vijay Thalapathy, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan looked DECADES ago; Superstars’ then and now picturesBMI vs Belly Fat: Which is a better predictor of heart attack risk (and why)Auto-Brewery Syndrome to Walking Corpse Syndrome: 5 bizarre human syndromes that sound unbelievable but are realTara Sutaria may have just confirmed her Cannes debut in the most stylish way possible6 Fruit trees perfect for indoor gardening5 interesting dog breeds native to the US123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultModi on buying goldOil prices todayPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingTamil Nadu CMBhagwant Mann CousinIPL Points TableFifa World Cup 2026 ScheduleKerala CMHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026AIADMK splitHighway Toll DuesBhuvneshwar Kumar TS EAMCET 2026 answer key, response sheet released at eapcet.tgche.ac.in: Direct link to download here Ravi Mohan hugs Kenishaa after romantic song performance on stage: adorable expressions by ‘Parasakthi’ actor caught on camera 5 simple remedies to keep silverfish away and protect your favourite books and clothes before it’s too late! 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Watch Rahul Gandhi Calls PM Modi’s Austerity Appeal “Proof Of Failure”, Congress Seeks AnswersThe Didi-led Trinamool Congress, now in opposition, also strongly criticised Agarwal’s appointment to the top bureaucratic post. The party termed the move “shameless” and questioned the neutrality of the election process.TMC leaders pointed out that Agarwal had overseen the recently concluded assembly elections in West Bengal as the Election Commission’s top official in the state before being appointed chief secretary by the BJP government.Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale wrote on X: “Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Aggarwal, who conducted the West Bengal election for the EC, has been appointed chief secretary of Bengal by the new BJP Govt.“BJP & ECI are now being open about stealing the election.“Are the courts BLIND or COMPLICIT? This is beyond shameless.”The announcement was made after the first cabinet meeting of the Suvendu Adhikari-led government in West Bengal. Agarwal’s appointment came just 48 hours after special election observer Subrata Gupta was named adviser to the chief minister.Interestingly, Manoj Agarwal had originally been selected as West Bengal’s chief electoral officer by the Election Commission from a panel sent by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government.Speculation over his new role intensified on Monday after Agarwal was seen seated beside chief minister Adhikari, with Nariala on his left, during the BJP government’s cabinet meeting at Nabanna.The Trinamool Congress, which had repeatedly clashed with Agarwal during the Assembly elections — including a public spat on X between him and former finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya — reacted sharply to the development.TMC MP Sagarika Ghose posted on X: “The so-called ‘neutral umpire’ is rewarded with the post of top bureaucrat of the BJP dispensation in Bengal. Does anyone still seriously believe the 2026 Bengal elections were free and fair? Outrageous and brazen.”The BJP defended the move, saying it had appointed the senior-most IAS officer and, unlike Mamata Banerjee, had followed service rules.A 1990-batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre, Manoj Agarwal is due to retire on July 31. However, sources indicated that he could receive at least a six-month extension, subject to a recommendation by the state government and approval from the Centre.West Bengal has precedent for such extensions. Former chief secretaries Samar Ghosh, Hari Krishna Dwivedi, BP Gopalika and Manoj Pant continued in office even after turning 60. Ghosh, appointed during the Left Front era, later became Mamata Banerjee’s first chief secretary in 2011.A mechanical engineering graduate, Agarwal has held several key administrative positions during his career. He began as ADM of Burdwan and later served as principal secretary in departments including personnel and administrative reforms, food and supplies, and fire and emergency services.In June 2024, he became additional chief secretary of the forest department before being appointed chief electoral officer ten months later.Under Agarwal’s tenure as CEO, the Assembly elections in West Bengal were conducted largely peacefully. Sources said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had commended him for overseeing the polls smoothly.His appointment also comes ahead of the May 21 Falta bypoll.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 MediaVideosNTA Scraps NEET UG 2026 Over ‘Guess Paper’ Leak, Re-Exam Dates To Be Announced | WatchFIR Filed Against SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi Over Alleged Remarks Against PM ModiCBI Takes Over Probe Into Murder Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Aide Chandranath Rath, Forms 7-Member SITAIADMK Faces Biggest Split Since Jayalalithaa Era As Rebel Faction Extends Support To Vijay’s TVKTamil Nadu CM Vijay Orders Shutdown Of 717 TASMAC Shops Near Temples, Schools And Bus StandsCongress Expands Kerala CM Consultations As Satheesan-Venugopal Battle IntensifiesTarn Taran BJP Office Attacked: Youths Vandalise Premises, Fire Shots In Air; Probe OnRahul Gandhi Targets Centre Over NEET Leak Allegations As Rajasthan SOG Expands ProbeFormer TMC Minister Sujit Bose Arrested By ED In Municipality Recruitment ‘Scam’PM Modi Slams Destination Weddings Abroad, Urges Indians To Avoid Foreign Travel123Photostories10 countries with the most mosquitoes, does India figure in the list?How Vijay Thalapathy, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan looked DECADES ago; Superstars’ then and now picturesBMI vs Belly Fat: Which is a better predictor of heart attack risk (and why)Auto-Brewery Syndrome to Walking Corpse Syndrome: 5 bizarre human syndromes that sound unbelievable but are realTara Sutaria may have just confirmed her Cannes debut in the most stylish way possible6 Fruit trees perfect for indoor gardening5 interesting dog breeds native to the US”I can’t sleep if I don’t eat…” Kareena Kapoor on her love for her favorite desi dish and the joy of cooking with Saif at home5-minute ritual that can improve your vocabularyWhy milk curdles while boiling and 3 ways to prevent it123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultModi on buying goldOil prices todayPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingTamil Nadu CMBhagwant Mann CousinIPL Points TableUS Iran warKerala CMHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026AIADMK splitHighway Toll DuesBhuvneshwar Kumar ‘Taco’ out, ‘Nacho’ in? 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