VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Om Birla (ANI image) NEW DELHI: Parliament was adjourned sine die on Saturday, with the extended threeday sitting of the Budget session ending on a disappointing note for govt as its ambitious legislative push for the rollout of women’s reservation from 2029 along with a 50% rise in Lok Sabha seats was defeated by a united opposition. The session concluded with a rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, with, in what was a first, all six stanzas of the national song being played following a govt mandate that it should be sung or played at official functions, public events and in school assemblies. Little business was transacted in Rajya Sabha during the three days except for the oath-taking of newly elected MPs, as the Constitution (131st amendment) bill fell through in Lok Sabha. In his concluding remarks, Speaker Om Birla said 31 sittings were held during the session that lasted around 151 hours and 42 minutes. The productivity of the House stood at 93%. The customary tea hosted by him saw a good turnout from opposition MPs.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCong, TMC, DMK Guilty’, PM Modi Blasts Oppn For Blocking Women Reservation BillIndia Summons Iran Envoy Summoned After Ships Targeted In Strait of Hormuz | WatchWomen’s Reservation Amendment Fails In Lok Sabha, Delimitation Bill Put On HoldYogi Adityanath Alleges ‘Identity Crisis’ In Bengal, Targets TMC Over GovernanceBJP Leaders Protest Outside Rahul’s Residence Over Women Quota Bill; Hema Malini, Bansuri Lead10th Indian Vessel Crosses Strait Of Hormuz Since Conflict Began”Women Were Being Used” Tharoor Backs Women’s Reservation, Warns On Delimitation Issue: “You’re Firing… After Clearance!” India-Flagged Ship’s Last Words Before Hormuz TurnbackNation Awaits PM Modi’s Address As Women Bill Fails And Hormuz Crisis Escalates‘Not A Failure Of The Government’: Why Rijiju Is Blaming The Opposition For Women’s Bill Defeat123Photostories5 watches rich men with old money wear6 healthy leaves you should add to your daily dietAkshaya Tritiya 2026: Buy these 5 things for good fortune5 grand palaces that are now world-famous museums7 factors driving real estate growth in India’s non-metro cities7 foods in your kitchen that actually came from PersiaAlia-Ranbir to Saif-Kareena: 5 celebrity weddings that completely rewrote the Indian shaadi style rulebook’The Devil Wears Prada 2′ to ‘The Odyssey,’ and more: Hollywood’s biggest 2026 Summer releases10 iconic biryani varieties in India you probably haven’t tried yetThings you should NEVER Do on Akshaya Tritiya based on your birth date123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event ‘The Crimson River’ star Nadia Farès passes away at 57 after a week-long coma Daily Career Horoscope, April 19, 2026: Success, challenges, and breakthroughs; Know about your Career Government approves 2% hike in DA for central government staff, pensioners Calcutta high court KOLKATA: The EC has decided to challenge Calcutta HC order that set aside the appointment of govt college teachers as presiding officers during the Bengal assembly polls on April 23 and 29. State CEO Manoj Agarwal said EC would move an appeal before a division bench against the order passed by Justice Krishna Rao. An official said that EC needed around 4.1 lakh polling officials, and since the duty roster had been prepared, it would be difficult to induct staff from the reserve bench. Poll body replaces Chinsurah observer EChas relieved C Paulrasu, a 2004-batch IAS officer, as observer for the Chinsurah seat in Hooghly and asked him to immediately leave Bengal. IAS officer, Rajesh Kumar Sharma, who is a general observer in Hooghly, was asked to take charge of Chinsurah. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh claimed Paulrasu had said in the observers’ WhatsApp group that the CEO had no authority to convene meetings with or direct the observers, as they were appointed by EC. This was allegedly cited as the reason for his removal.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCong, TMC, DMK Guilty’, PM Modi Blasts Oppn For Blocking Women Reservation BillIndia Summons Iran Envoy Summoned After Ships Targeted In Strait of Hormuz | WatchWomen’s Reservation Amendment Fails In Lok Sabha, Delimitation Bill Put On HoldYogi Adityanath Alleges ‘Identity Crisis’ In Bengal, Targets TMC Over GovernanceBJP Leaders Protest Outside Rahul’s Residence Over Women Quota Bill; Hema Malini, Bansuri Lead10th Indian Vessel Crosses Strait Of Hormuz Since Conflict Began”Women Were Being Used” Tharoor Backs Women’s Reservation, Warns On Delimitation Issue: “You’re Firing… After Clearance!” India-Flagged Ship’s Last Words Before Hormuz TurnbackNation Awaits PM Modi’s Address As Women Bill Fails And Hormuz Crisis Escalates‘Not A Failure Of The Government’: Why Rijiju Is Blaming The Opposition For Women’s Bill Defeat123Photostories6 healthy leaves you should add to your daily dietAkshaya Tritiya 2026: Buy these 5 things for good fortune5 grand palaces that are now world-famous museums7 factors driving real estate growth in India’s non-metro cities7 foods in your kitchen that actually came from PersiaAlia-Ranbir to Saif-Kareena: 5 celebrity weddings that completely rewrote the Indian shaadi style rulebook’The Devil Wears Prada 2′ to ‘The Odyssey,’ and more: Hollywood’s biggest 2026 Summer releases10 iconic biryani varieties in India you probably haven’t tried yetThings you should NEVER Do on Akshaya Tritiya based on your birth dateTop 5 residential hotspots in Nagpur for upscale living and long-term investment potential123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event WWE WrestleMania 42 Live Update: Gunther wins after Bron Breakker interference, rear naked choke finishes Rollins IPL 2026: Bhuvneshwar Kumar back for India? Former cricketer makes bold claim Aquarius Horoscope Today, April 19, 2026: Drive slow without distractions Chhattisgarh villagers rescue deer from dogs, then kill it, cook and eat; 5 held Priyanka Gandhi CONGRESS: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said the Modi govt must implement the women’s reservation in legislatures in the existing Lok Sabha of 543 seats as mandated by the 2023 Act, asserting that BJP cannot be trusted with an overhaul of Parliament in the light of motivated delimitation done by the Modi govt in Assam and Jammu & Kashmir. She assured opposition support for quota in the present LS and said govt can call a Parliament session if some small changes are to be made in the law. The opposition is also planning to write to PM Modi seeking immediate implementation of the 2023 Act. Addressing a press briefing, she said, “They (govt) will put three members in the delimitation commission. Like with other commissions, they will capture it. How did they do it in J&K and Assam? They broke up the constituencies of the opposition politicians and saved their own (Assam). Strange constituencies were designed in J&K. Who can trust them?” The Wayanad Lok Sabha MP said the fall of the Constitution amendment bill is a victory for the country, the Constitution, democracy and opposition unity. “We saw the faces of big netas of BJP in Parliament. It was clear from their expressions that it was a shock for them, as they were defeated for the first time in 12 years. We fight harder and stand together, and we will hopefully be able to push through much more than we do,” she said. Priyanka said the move to increase the size of Lok Sabha to 850 implies that men are trying to reserve their seats from being allocated to women’s quota. “We are living in a patriarchy.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCong, TMC, DMK Guilty’, PM Modi Blasts Oppn For Blocking Women Reservation BillIndia Summons Iran Envoy Summoned After Ships Targeted In Strait of Hormuz | WatchWomen’s Reservation Amendment Fails In Lok Sabha, Delimitation Bill Put On HoldYogi Adityanath Alleges ‘Identity Crisis’ In Bengal, Targets TMC Over GovernanceBJP Leaders Protest Outside Rahul’s Residence Over Women Quota Bill; Hema Malini, Bansuri Lead10th Indian Vessel Crosses Strait Of Hormuz Since Conflict Began”Women Were Being Used” Tharoor Backs Women’s Reservation, Warns On Delimitation Issue: “You’re Firing… After Clearance!” India-Flagged Ship’s Last Words Before Hormuz TurnbackNation Awaits PM Modi’s Address As Women Bill Fails And Hormuz Crisis Escalates‘Not A Failure Of The Government’: Why Rijiju Is Blaming The Opposition For Women’s Bill Defeat123Photostories6 healthy leaves you should add to your daily dietAkshaya Tritiya 2026: Buy these 5 things for good fortune5 grand palaces that are now world-famous museums7 factors driving real estate growth in India’s non-metro cities7 foods in your kitchen that actually came from PersiaAlia-Ranbir to Saif-Kareena: 5 celebrity weddings that completely rewrote the Indian shaadi style rulebook’The Devil Wears Prada 2′ to ‘The Odyssey,’ and more: Hollywood’s biggest 2026 Summer releases10 iconic biryani varieties in India you probably haven’t tried yetThings you should NEVER Do on Akshaya Tritiya based on your birth dateTop 5 residential hotspots in Nagpur for upscale living and long-term investment potential123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event Capricorn Horoscope Today, April 19, 2026: Expenses will rise Kiren Rijiju NEW DELHI: BJP on Saturday accused Congress of “betraying” women and slammed the party and its allies for celebrating the defeat of the Constitution amendment bill seeking to implement women’s reservation in Lok Sabha and assemblies with a 50% hike in Lok Sabha seats. “Congress smiled smugly, thumped desks and celebrated the crushing of the political aspirations of ordinary women. Congress and its allies celebrated the fact that women who have struggled for years in politics and who were only demanding 33% reservation in Parliament were denied their rights,” BJP’s Smriti Irani said. Union minister Kiren Rijiju said opposition parties have inflicted a “stain” on themselves by defeating the bill and that they will not be able to wash it away. “We are sad, but we don’t consider it a failure of the party and govt. They have hurt the women of the country. We wanted to give honour to women and empower them. We will continue to do so,” he said, terming Congress “anti-women”. Irani criticised the opposition’s stance as a reflection of a “feudal mindset”, alleging that it treats constitutional rights as political favours rather than entitlements. BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad criticised Priyanka Gandhi over her remarks, questioning her charge that BJP was using women for its political benefits. “Women in India can’t be treated as a commodity,” he saidEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCong, TMC, DMK Guilty’, PM Modi Blasts Oppn For Blocking Women Reservation BillIndia Summons Iran Envoy Summoned After Ships Targeted In Strait of Hormuz | WatchWomen’s Reservation Amendment Fails In Lok Sabha, Delimitation Bill Put On HoldYogi Adityanath Alleges ‘Identity Crisis’ In Bengal, Targets TMC Over GovernanceBJP Leaders Protest Outside Rahul’s Residence Over Women Quota Bill; Hema Malini, Bansuri Lead10th Indian Vessel Crosses Strait Of Hormuz Since Conflict Began”Women Were Being Used” Tharoor Backs Women’s Reservation, Warns On Delimitation Issue: “You’re Firing… After Clearance!” India-Flagged Ship’s Last Words Before Hormuz TurnbackNation Awaits PM Modi’s Address As Women Bill Fails And Hormuz Crisis Escalates‘Not A Failure Of The Government’: Why Rijiju Is Blaming The Opposition For Women’s Bill Defeat123Photostories6 healthy leaves you should add to your daily dietAkshaya Tritiya 2026: Buy these 5 things for good fortune5 grand palaces that are now world-famous museums7 factors driving real estate growth in India’s non-metro cities7 foods in your kitchen that actually came from PersiaAlia-Ranbir to Saif-Kareena: 5 celebrity weddings that completely rewrote the Indian shaadi style rulebook’The Devil Wears Prada 2′ to ‘The Odyssey,’ and more: Hollywood’s biggest 2026 Summer releases10 iconic biryani varieties in India you probably haven’t tried yetThings you should NEVER Do on Akshaya Tritiya based on your birth dateTop 5 residential hotspots in Nagpur for upscale living and long-term investment potential123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event Sagittarius Horoscope Today, April 19, 2026: Make one bold decision Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge NEW DELHI: Hitting back at PM Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said a “desperate and frustrated PM, with nothing meaningful to show for the last 12 years, turned an official address to the nation into a political speech full of mudslinging and outright lies”. “The model code of conduct is in place and it was very clear how PM Modi misused official machinery to attack his opponents. This is a travesty of democracy and the Constitution of India,” Kharge said in a post on X. Congress termed Modi’s speech “a distress address rather than a national address”, claiming he was “unhinged” after the defeat of the bill. ICC spokesman Jairam Ramesh said Modi should have apologised for “his shameless, deceitful attempts to push through a devious delimitation proposal in the name of women. His ‘niyat’ (intent) is anything but saaf (clean). It is poisonous”. Ramesh said PM Narendra Modi should answer why the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam passed in Sept 2023 was notified late on the night April 16, after a delay of 30 months.“His talking of mahila samman is sheer hypocrisy given the way he has conducted himself throughout his life. What the PM attempted in the Lok Sabha yesterday — a weakening of our democracy and our federalism — was exactly the sort of attack on the Constitution that was anticipated when the PM called for ‘400 paar’ in the run-up to the 2024 LS elections,” Ramesh said. The Congress spokesman said the Prime Minister’s “attempts to invoke the legacy of the Constitutionmakers only induce a revulsion at his dishonesty”. He also rubbished the PM Modi’s claims that Congress had opposed the Jan Dhan-Aadhar-Mobile and GST, arguing that both policies are “entirely Congress creations”. “The PM ended his speech by saying there was a ‘waqt ka intezaar’ for women’s reservation. There is no need for a ‘muhurat’ to give India’s women their due. Congress challenges the PM to move a bill in the Parliament tomorrow to implement women’s reservation within the existing set-up of the Lok Sabha,” Ramesh said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCong, TMC, DMK Guilty’, PM Modi Blasts Oppn For Blocking Women Reservation BillIndia Summons Iran Envoy Summoned After Ships Targeted In Strait of Hormuz | WatchWomen’s Reservation Amendment Fails In Lok Sabha, Delimitation Bill Put On HoldYogi Adityanath Alleges ‘Identity Crisis’ In Bengal, Targets TMC Over GovernanceBJP Leaders Protest Outside Rahul’s Residence Over Women Quota Bill; Hema Malini, Bansuri Lead10th Indian Vessel Crosses Strait Of Hormuz Since Conflict Began”Women Were Being Used” Tharoor Backs Women’s Reservation, Warns On Delimitation Issue: “You’re Firing… After Clearance!” India-Flagged Ship’s Last Words Before Hormuz TurnbackNation Awaits PM Modi’s Address As Women Bill Fails And Hormuz Crisis Escalates‘Not A Failure Of The Government’: Why Rijiju Is Blaming The Opposition For Women’s Bill Defeat123Photostories6 healthy leaves you should add to your daily dietAkshaya Tritiya 2026: Buy these 5 things for good fortune5 grand palaces that are now world-famous museums7 factors driving real estate growth in India’s non-metro cities7 foods in your kitchen that actually came from PersiaAlia-Ranbir to Saif-Kareena: 5 celebrity weddings that completely rewrote the Indian shaadi style rulebook’The Devil Wears Prada 2′ to ‘The Odyssey,’ and more: Hollywood’s biggest 2026 Summer releases10 iconic biryani varieties in India you probably haven’t tried yetThings you should NEVER Do on Akshaya Tritiya based on your birth dateTop 5 residential hotspots in Nagpur for upscale living and long-term investment potential123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event IPL 2026: ‘Enjoy everything’- Sangakkara’s message to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after golden duck Two Indian nationals shot dead in Italy . NEW DELHI: : As dust settles on the setback govt suffered in Lok Sabha, where the women’s reservation amendment bill by 2029 with a hike of 50% seats in the House was defeated by opposition, NDA is not exactly licking its wounds and is instead looking at it as an opening to burnish its pro-women credentials and take the fight to its rivals, including in southern India, where the opposition is in office in all states barring Andhra Pradesh. PM Modi-headed govt has in the past shown willingness to cut its losses when its legislative moves faced political headwinds, as was the case with the farm laws, which were passed by Parliament but repealed by govt in 2021 due to unrelenting protest from a section of farmers. Similarly, govt allowed its bill to amend the UPA-era land acquisition law to lapse in its first term amid apprehensions that it ran the risk of being seen as pro-corporate. They sensed no such risk when the call was taken to persevere with the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill despite unmistakable signs that, contrary to the govt manager’s initial estimates, Congress and TMC would not break ranks with the DMK. The bills eventually faced defeat in Lok Sabha. Of course, with opposition framing the delimitation as a conspiracy against southern states, some in the party feel that DMK would milk the charge and seek to turn attention away from its vulnerabilities on crime and corruption. But they did not foresee any large-scale damage and beyond Tamil Nadu. The dominant view within BJP and its allies acknowledges that the failure has caused an embarrassment, given opposition a rare moment to celebrate, but they remain confident that the setback can be repurposed into an opportunity to deepen the alliance’s connection with women voters, who have, in any case, in many states shown a preference for them for reasons ranging from targeted welfare schemes to cash assistance and even law and order, as seen in a string of assembly elections. “There would have been gains if the bills had gone through, but failure does not spell loss,” an NDA functionary said. With regard to the south, the feeling is Modi and home minister Amit Shah with their categorical assurance, were also able to send out the message that BJP would ensure justice to south India in delimitation, and a strong show of support from its southern allies like TDP, JDS and AIADMK underscored the issue is not going to be seen through DMK’s prism alone. Modi was quick off the blocks as he raided DMK’s turf in Tamil Nadu a day after the bill was defeated and took it head-on. DMK cannot cover its black deeds by wearing black clothes, he said at a public rally, charging the regional party with derailing the noble effort. A family-run party like DMK will not want other women to gain political power, he said. With NDA already hitting the streets against opposition parties for defeating the constitution amendment bill, he is learnt to have said at the Cabinet meeting on Saturday that they will have to pay a political price and called for countering their narrative built around alleged discrimination against southern states and delimitation of constituencies to suit the governing alliance. In Delhi, women members of BJP, including Union minister Raksha Khadse, marched to Rahul Gandhi’s residence but were detained midway as the party and its allies seek to put Congress and other members of the INDIA bloc on the defensive. “We did lose in numbers, but our case is that we lost for a good cause,” a BJP member said, claiming that it was always a “win-win” situation for the party. This time round, opposition too has moved to present its case in public, evidenced by a presser from Congress’ Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who has emerged as one of the more articulate voices of her party in Parliament, as she accused BJP of using the quota law as a pretext to change the federal structure through delimitation to stay “permanently” in power.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCong, TMC, DMK Guilty’, PM Modi Blasts Oppn For Blocking Women Reservation BillIndia Summons Iran Envoy Summoned After Ships Targeted In Strait of Hormuz | WatchWomen’s Reservation Amendment Fails In Lok Sabha, Delimitation Bill Put On HoldYogi Adityanath Alleges ‘Identity Crisis’ In Bengal, Targets TMC Over GovernanceBJP Leaders Protest Outside Rahul’s Residence Over Women Quota Bill; Hema Malini, Bansuri Lead10th Indian Vessel Crosses Strait Of Hormuz Since Conflict Began”Women Were Being Used” Tharoor Backs Women’s Reservation, Warns On Delimitation Issue: “You’re Firing… After Clearance!” India-Flagged Ship’s Last Words Before Hormuz TurnbackNation Awaits PM Modi’s Address As Women Bill Fails And Hormuz Crisis Escalates‘Not A Failure Of The Government’: Why Rijiju Is Blaming The Opposition For Women’s Bill Defeat123Photostories6 healthy leaves you should add to your daily dietAkshaya Tritiya 2026: Buy these 5 things for good fortune5 grand palaces that are now world-famous museums7 factors driving real estate growth in India’s non-metro cities7 foods in your kitchen that actually came from PersiaAlia-Ranbir to Saif-Kareena: 5 celebrity weddings that completely rewrote the Indian shaadi style rulebook’The Devil Wears Prada 2′ to ‘The Odyssey,’ and more: Hollywood’s biggest 2026 Summer releases10 iconic biryani varieties in India you probably haven’t tried yetThings you should NEVER Do on Akshaya Tritiya based on your birth dateTop 5 residential hotspots in Nagpur for upscale living and long-term investment potential123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event Scorpio Horoscope Today, April 19, 2026: Stay quiet, protect your plans . PAHALGAM: “Scan me” is the new trust phrase in this region, which still bears the scars of a terrorist massacre a year ago.In a sweeping move, local police have introduced QR-code-based identification for the thousands who work in this scenic hill town. Pony handlers, taxi drivers, and nomadic communities moving through the surrounding hills are being digitally tagged, each issued a unique QR code that, when scanned via apps like Google Lens, reveals detailed personal information, including name, address, phone number, Aadhaar details, PIN code, and profession.The initiative comes in the shadow of the Pahalgam attack by Pakistani terrorists that claimed 26 lives, including that of a pony handler who tried to stop the massacre. In its shock-filled aftermath, authorities turned to technology to tighten security and monitor people operating in the region.Local police described it as one of the largest identification drives in the country. The aim is to bring nearly 25,000 individuals under a single, scannable system that allows instant verification. Around 7,000 QR codes have already been issued in Pahalgam.But the process is far from automatic. According to local police, applicants must first submit verification forms, after which thorough background checks are conducted by police. Even minor criminal records, or any FIR in a petty offence, can disqualify an individual from receiving a code. Once cleared, the QR identity is generated with technical assistance from local “Khidmat” service centres.In Pahalgam, authorities have identified nearly 17–18 vulnerable points, popular tourist hotspots, where the new QR-code system is being rigorously enforced. The initiative aims to prevent unauthorised access and enhance visitor safety. Officials say verification is not limited to security personnel; even tourists can scan the codes to confirm identities.A senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the programme is designed solely to bolster tourist safety, a priority heightened after last year’s tragedy. “Earlier, we issued physical identity cards to pony handlers. With QR codes, verification is instant and far more reliable,” the officer said. Most high-footfall tourist locations that are now open have heavy security deployment.The QR-code rollout follows an extensive re-verification of all pony guides and other locals in Pahalgam carried out last year after the attack. This action was based on initial statements and videos released on social media and other platforms — by tourists who visited Baisaran on the day of the attack — about the “suspicious role” of some locals.Around 20 pony handlers and local guides present in Baisaran at the time were questioned by police, and later by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Some were detained for extended periods during the NIA probe.Abdul Wahid Wani, president of Pahalgam Local Pony Owners’ Union, said the post-attack verification process exposed gaps in the earlier system, prompting govt to adopt QR-based identification. “We have no objections. Everyone is cooperating with police. It ultimately helps those whose livelihoods depend on tourism,” he said.Pahalgam has around 3,500 registered pony service providers, including guides and owners, drawn from nine nearby villages. In addition, a large number of others, including vendors selling food, warm clothing such as shawls, dry fruits, as well as photographers and freelance guides, depend on the daily tourist footfall. Most arrive in the valley early each morning and leave with the last batch of visitors.About the AuthorAjay SuraAjay Sura is Senior Assistant Editor with The Times of India Chandigarh. He covers news concerning the State of Haryana, Punjab & Haryana High Court and Defence & Military Affairs. He likes to analyse political developments and decoding judicial pronouncements. His hobbies include travelling, mountaineering and trekking.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCong, TMC, DMK Guilty’, PM Modi Blasts Oppn For Blocking Women Reservation BillIndia Summons Iran Envoy Summoned After Ships Targeted In Strait of Hormuz | WatchWomen’s Reservation Amendment Fails In Lok Sabha, Delimitation Bill Put On HoldYogi Adityanath Alleges ‘Identity Crisis’ In Bengal, Targets TMC Over GovernanceBJP Leaders Protest Outside Rahul’s Residence Over Women Quota Bill; Hema Malini, Bansuri Lead10th Indian Vessel Crosses Strait Of Hormuz Since Conflict Began”Women Were Being Used” Tharoor Backs Women’s Reservation, Warns On Delimitation Issue: “You’re Firing… After Clearance!” India-Flagged Ship’s Last Words Before Hormuz TurnbackNation Awaits PM Modi’s Address As Women Bill Fails And Hormuz Crisis Escalates‘Not A Failure Of The Government’: Why Rijiju Is Blaming The Opposition For Women’s Bill Defeat123Photostories6 healthy leaves you should add to your daily dietAkshaya Tritiya 2026: Buy these 5 things for good fortune5 grand palaces that are now world-famous museums7 factors driving real estate growth in India’s non-metro cities7 foods in your kitchen that actually came from PersiaAlia-Ranbir to Saif-Kareena: 5 celebrity weddings that completely rewrote the Indian shaadi style rulebook’The Devil Wears Prada 2′ to ‘The Odyssey,’ and more: Hollywood’s biggest 2026 Summer releases10 iconic biryani varieties in India you probably haven’t tried yetThings you should NEVER Do on Akshaya Tritiya based on your birth dateTop 5 residential hotspots in Nagpur for upscale living and long-term investment potential123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event Libra Horoscope Today, April 19, 2026: Say yes to good partnerships PM Modi NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a fiery attack on opposition for defeating the proposed amendments to “women’s reservation law,” as he accused them of committing “bhrun hatya” (feticide) in Parliament by scuttling his govt’s “honest attempts” for rollout of 33% quota for women by 2029 and increase in the Lok Sabha seats of every state by 50%. “Women will never forgive you for this sin,” he said in an address to the nation and affirmed that it is only a matter of time before women are given their rightful share in Lok Sabha and state assemblies. “I assure every woman that we will remove each obstacle that comes in the way of women’s reservation,” he said. He began his impassioned 30-minute speech by apologising to women for his govt’s inability to get the bill to amend women’s reservation law passed despite utmost efforts. Asserting that those who defeated the bill thwarted the rise of women and smothered their aspirations, Modi said, “I apologise to my mothers and sisters.” Soon, he switched gears to slam opposition, especially Congress, Trinamool Congress, SP and DMK, four parties he named for spreading lies to mislead people over the proposed amendments’ intent. They ended up unmasking themselves before the country, he said. PM Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a fiery attack on opposition for defeating the proposed amendments to “women’s reservation law,” as he accused them of committing “bhrun hatya” (feticide) in Parliament by scuttling his govt’s “honest attempts” for rollout of 33% quota for women by 2029 and increase in the Lok Sabha seats of every state by 50%. . “Women will never forgive you for this sin,” he said in an address to the nation and affirmed that it is only a matter of time before women are given their rightful share in Lok Sabha and state assemblies. “I assure every woman that we will remove each obstacle that comes in the way of women’s reservation,” he said. He began his impassioned 30-minute speech by apologising to women for his govt’s inability to get the bill to amend women’s reservation law passed despite utmost efforts. Asserting that those who defeated the bill thwarted the rise of women and smothered their aspirations, Modi said, “I apologise to my mothers and sisters.” Soon, he switched gears to slam opposition, especially Congress, Trinamool Congress, SP and DMK, four parties he named for spreading lies to mislead people over the proposed amendments’ intent. They ended up unmasking themselves before the country, he said.It is rare for Modi to target his political rivals in an address to the nation, which he has generally used to speak on pressing policy and governance matters. The departure seemed to signal the intent to take the fight to them after a united opposition rebuffed his repeated appeals and later assurance in Lok Sabha to dispel their criticism of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill. He said the bill was not meant to snatch anything but to give every state, big or small, something in equal measure, rebutting the charge of opposition parties that delimitation would reduce the share of southern states in Lok Sabha. The women’s reservation amendment bill was the need of the hour, as it also sought to increase the political power of every region, be it north, south, east or west, and state by an equal percentage. However, family-run parties like Congress, TMC, Samajwadi Party and DMK were scared an empowered women’s leadership will threaten the hold of their ruling families, he said. “Members of these parties were thumping their desks after snatching the rights of women. This was not merely thumping of desks but also a strike at women’s self-respect. And women can forget everything but an insult,” he said. “We might not have 66% votes needed to get the bill passed, but I know that we have the blessings of 100% of women,” he added, in what seemed to reflect the assessment that BJP can turn the setback into an opportunity to enhance support among women. He also seemed confident that opponents would suffer for their decision. “I want to put it bluntly that those who opposed the Constitution amendment bill are taking women for granted.” Parties like Congress, Trinamool, SP and DMK are guilty of this feticide, he said, before singling out the main opposition party for historically detesting quota for women and being essentially an “anti-reform” party which has reflexively criticised every move of his govt, be it GST, digital payment, repeal of Article 370 and triple talaq or CAA. Congress rejects and thwarts every reform needed for a developed India in the 21st century, he said. These parties betrayed their own people, Modi said, adding that the likes of DMK and TMC had a great opportunity to politically empower more people from their state. While Congress itself has lost relevance in many parts of the country and is now living off its allies like a parasite, it still pushed them into opposing the bill to blight their future, he said. He slammed what he called the attempt to engineer a north versus south divide despite govt’s repeated assertion that no state will suffer. Congress has inherited its divide-and-rule mindset from the British, he said, claiming that every challenge facing the country is an outcome of the party being steeped in negativity and an anti-reform ethos. He said, “For us, national interest is paramount. But when for some parties partisan interest becomes everything and is placed above national interest, then women’s empowerment and the nation’s interest have to bear the consequences.” Modi said he, like women, was feeling sad over the failure to introduce changes for early enforcement of women’s reservation law. But he ended on a note of defiance rather than disappointment. “Our morale is undimmed and our courage is intact. Our resolve is also unshakeable. Parties which opposed the bill will not be able to stop us from increasing the representation of women in legislatures. It is only a matter of time. We may have lacked the numbers, but that does not mean that we lost. Our willpower is invincible, and we will not be stopped until we have fulfilled our commitment,” he said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCong, TMC, DMK Guilty’, PM Modi Blasts Oppn For Blocking Women Reservation BillIndia Summons Iran Envoy Summoned After Ships Targeted In Strait of Hormuz | WatchWomen’s Reservation Amendment Fails In Lok Sabha, Delimitation Bill Put On HoldYogi Adityanath Alleges ‘Identity Crisis’ In Bengal, Targets TMC Over GovernanceBJP Leaders Protest Outside Rahul’s Residence Over Women Quota Bill; Hema Malini, Bansuri Lead10th Indian Vessel Crosses Strait Of Hormuz Since Conflict Began”Women Were Being Used” Tharoor Backs Women’s Reservation, Warns On Delimitation Issue: “You’re Firing… After Clearance!” India-Flagged Ship’s Last Words Before Hormuz TurnbackNation Awaits PM Modi’s Address As Women Bill Fails And Hormuz Crisis Escalates‘Not A Failure Of The Government’: Why Rijiju Is Blaming The Opposition For Women’s Bill Defeat123Photostories6 healthy leaves you should add to your daily dietAkshaya Tritiya 2026: Buy these 5 things for good fortune5 grand palaces that are now world-famous museums7 factors driving real estate growth in India’s non-metro cities7 foods in your kitchen that actually came from PersiaAlia-Ranbir to Saif-Kareena: 5 celebrity weddings that completely rewrote the Indian shaadi style rulebook’The Devil Wears Prada 2′ to ‘The Odyssey,’ and more: Hollywood’s biggest 2026 Summer releases10 iconic biryani varieties in India you probably haven’t tried yetThings you should NEVER Do on Akshaya Tritiya based on your birth dateTop 5 residential hotspots in Nagpur for upscale living and long-term investment potential123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event Virgo Horoscope Today, April 19, 2026: Drive slow, speak less Rahul Gandhi CHENNAI/TRICHY: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Saturday kicked off his campaign for the Tamil Nadu assembly polls with an attack on PM Modi and Union minister Amit Shah, saying they “want to rule the state from Delhi” through AIADMK. “They want a CM who can take orders from Delhi,” he said while campaigning in Tiruvallur, Ranipet and Trichy. “BJP wants to remove Stalin as CM at all costs and replace him with a puppet in AIADMK. The historic party’s soul has been captured by BJP,” he said. Rahul accused BJP and RSS of waging a war on Tamil Nadu, its language and culture, and said he won’t allow that to happen. “They don’t know what Tamil means to people of the state. Brothers in DMK and the INDIA bloc are protecting Tamil from their assault,” he said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCong, TMC, DMK Guilty’, PM Modi Blasts Oppn For Blocking Women Reservation BillIndia Summons Iran Envoy Summoned After Ships Targeted In Strait of Hormuz | WatchWomen’s Reservation Amendment Fails In Lok Sabha, Delimitation Bill Put On HoldYogi Adityanath Alleges ‘Identity Crisis’ In Bengal, Targets TMC Over GovernanceBJP Leaders Protest Outside Rahul’s Residence Over Women Quota Bill; Hema Malini, Bansuri Lead10th Indian Vessel Crosses Strait Of Hormuz Since Conflict Began”Women Were Being Used” Tharoor Backs Women’s Reservation, Warns On Delimitation Issue: “You’re Firing… After Clearance!” India-Flagged Ship’s Last Words Before Hormuz TurnbackNation Awaits PM Modi’s Address As Women Bill Fails And Hormuz Crisis Escalates‘Not A Failure Of The Government’: Why Rijiju Is Blaming The Opposition For Women’s Bill Defeat123Photostories6 healthy leaves you should add to your daily dietAkshaya Tritiya 2026: Buy these 5 things for good fortune5 grand palaces that are now world-famous museums7 factors driving real estate growth in India’s non-metro cities7 foods in your kitchen that actually came from PersiaAlia-Ranbir to Saif-Kareena: 5 celebrity weddings that completely rewrote the Indian shaadi style rulebook’The Devil Wears Prada 2′ to ‘The Odyssey,’ and more: Hollywood’s biggest 2026 Summer releases10 iconic biryani varieties in India you probably haven’t tried yetThings you should NEVER Do on Akshaya Tritiya based on your birth dateTop 5 residential hotspots in Nagpur for upscale living and long-term investment potential123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event Leo Horoscope Today, April 19, 2026: Spending may go towards family or religious needs Mamata Banerjee KOLKATA: “Don’t lecture me on women’s reservation,” Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said on Saturday, adding that back in 1998 she had raised this issue in Parliament. She said PM Modi’s speeches were “full of lies” and that he was “forced” to address the nation because “their (BJP’s) fall began yesterday”. Banerjee pointed out that over 40% of her party’s MPs are women, highest in Parliament. Also, TMC has fielded the highest number of woman candidates (52) in the upcoming Bengal assembly polls, she said. Congress has fielded 35 women candidates, Left 34, and BJP 33. “BJP wanted to implement delimitation under the garb of women’s reservation amendment bill because Modi could not have won with the existing number of LS seats. That is why he wanted to increase the seat count to 850. This was his underlying game.” Pointing out that the women’s reservation bill had been pending for a long time, she asked, “What was the need to club delimitation with it? Do they think they are too clever?” On Modi’s “tukde-tukde gang” barb for TMC, she said, “Through delimitation, BJP wanted to divide the country. They are the real tukde-tukde gang.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCong, TMC, DMK Guilty’, PM Modi Blasts Oppn For Blocking Women Reservation BillIndia Summons Iran Envoy Summoned After Ships Targeted In Strait of Hormuz | WatchWomen’s Reservation Amendment Fails In Lok Sabha, Delimitation Bill Put On HoldYogi Adityanath Alleges ‘Identity Crisis’ In Bengal, Targets TMC Over GovernanceBJP Leaders Protest Outside Rahul’s Residence Over Women Quota Bill; Hema Malini, Bansuri Lead10th Indian Vessel Crosses Strait Of Hormuz Since Conflict Began”Women Were Being Used” Tharoor Backs Women’s Reservation, Warns On Delimitation Issue: “You’re Firing… After Clearance!” India-Flagged Ship’s Last Words Before Hormuz TurnbackNation Awaits PM Modi’s Address As Women Bill Fails And Hormuz Crisis Escalates‘Not A Failure Of The Government’: Why Rijiju Is Blaming The Opposition For Women’s Bill Defeat123Photostories6 healthy leaves you should add to your daily dietAkshaya Tritiya 2026: Buy these 5 things for good fortune5 grand palaces that are now world-famous museums7 factors driving real estate growth in India’s non-metro cities7 foods in your kitchen that actually came from PersiaAlia-Ranbir to Saif-Kareena: 5 celebrity weddings that completely rewrote the Indian shaadi style rulebook’The Devil Wears Prada 2′ to ‘The Odyssey,’ and more: Hollywood’s biggest 2026 Summer releases10 iconic biryani varieties in India you probably haven’t tried yetThings you should NEVER Do on Akshaya Tritiya based on your birth dateTop 5 residential hotspots in Nagpur for upscale living and long-term investment potential123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event ‘Have guts? Face me directly’: Didi dares BJP after I-T raids | India News PM Modi: Women must teach DMK-Congress a lesson on polling day | India News Zanai Bhosle pens emotional note for grandmother Asha Bhosle: ‘You taught us how to live, but not to live without you’ | Hindi Movie News What are UFO files? Trump orders full disclosure on extraterrestrial life ‘very soon’ Kanyakumari bucks Dravidian trend with Congress-BJP contest | India News Cancer Horoscope Today, April 19, 2026: Take decisions slowly ‘Only Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu…’: Democrat condemns detention of Indian-origin Meenu Batra after 35 years in US Gemini Horoscope Today, April 19, 2026: Don’t overexert yourself Court seeks Sonia Gandhi’s reply in voter list case, next hearing on May 16 | India News US tourist visa denied 4 times for Indian-origin parents as family says 9 years of struggle was not enough: ‘Is there any hope left?’ Strait of Hormuz NEW DELHI: Amid firing by Iranian gunboats that caused two Indian-flagged tankers to turn back from Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, the tenth Indian-flagged vessel crossed the strait. Desh Garima, carrying crude oil, was on its way to Mumbai port. Iran had been sporadically allowing Indian vessels to sail through since it decided to block the key energy strait last month in the middle of its war with the US and Israel which began on Feb 28. Vessel details available on Maritime Traffic show that several Indian- and foreignflagged ships destined for Indian ports are still waiting to cross the Hormuz. Official data shows 13 Indian vessels are in Persian Gulf (to west of Hormuz), six in Gulf of Oman (east of Hormuz), one in Gulf of Aden and three in Red Sea. According to petroleum ministry, 17 vessels have been identified for evacuation, which include four LPG carriers, three LNG carriers and 10 crude oil tankers. While three of these are Indianflagged vessels, the remaining 14 are foreign-flagged ships. Similarly, chemicals and fertilisers ministry has drawn up a list of another 16 ships for evacuation, including one Indian-flagged vessel (Jag Arnav), which was attacked by IRGC on Saturday. Officials said that as of Saturday, there are 499 Indian seafarers aboard Indianflagged vessels in Persian Gulf region — 343 to the west of Strait of Hormuz and 156 in Gulf of Oman. So far, 2,487 seafarers have been evacuated by various shipping companies. According to Reuters, vessels attempting to cross Strait of Hormuz Saturday received radio messages from Iran’s navy telling them they were not allowed to pass, while two ships reported being hit by gunfire. Several commercial vessels tried to transit the strait after a notice to mariners a day earlier saying passage was allowed but would be restricted to lanes Iran deemed safe, said the report.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCong, TMC, DMK Guilty’, PM Modi Blasts Oppn For Blocking Women Reservation BillIndia Summons Iran Envoy Summoned After Ships Targeted In Strait of Hormuz | WatchWomen’s Reservation Amendment Fails In Lok Sabha, Delimitation Bill Put On HoldYogi Adityanath Alleges ‘Identity Crisis’ In Bengal, Targets TMC Over GovernanceBJP Leaders Protest Outside Rahul’s Residence Over Women Quota Bill; Hema Malini, Bansuri Lead10th Indian Vessel Crosses Strait Of Hormuz Since Conflict Began”Women Were Being Used” Tharoor Backs Women’s Reservation, Warns On Delimitation Issue: “You’re Firing… After Clearance!” India-Flagged Ship’s Last Words Before Hormuz TurnbackNation Awaits PM Modi’s Address As Women Bill Fails And Hormuz Crisis Escalates‘Not A Failure Of The Government’: Why Rijiju Is Blaming The Opposition For Women’s Bill Defeat123Photostories6 healthy leaves you should add to your daily dietAkshaya Tritiya 2026: Buy these 5 things for good fortune5 grand palaces that are now world-famous museums7 factors driving real estate growth in India’s non-metro cities7 foods in your kitchen that actually came from PersiaAlia-Ranbir to Saif-Kareena: 5 celebrity weddings that completely rewrote the Indian shaadi style rulebook’The Devil Wears Prada 2′ to ‘The Odyssey,’ and more: Hollywood’s biggest 2026 Summer releases10 iconic biryani varieties in India you probably haven’t tried yetThings you should NEVER Do on Akshaya Tritiya based on your birth dateTop 5 residential hotspots in Nagpur for upscale living and long-term investment potential123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingIPL Orange Cap 2026VijayPM Modi LiveWorld Largest EconomySue BirdIce SpicePahalgam Pony Wallah StoryWomen Quota BillE Coli Smuggling CaseErika Kirk Event Taurus Horoscope Today, April 19, 2026: Postpone all nonessential spending IAF chief takes sortie on advanced US jet that bombed Iran IAF orders court of inquiry into Sukhoi hard landing at Pune airport | India News Aries Horoscope Today, April 19, 2026: At work, keep things simple Pact allowing India, Russia to station 3,000 troops, 5 warships, 10 aircraft in each other’s territory operational: Report Priyanka Chopra’s photo dump features Salman Khan-Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi films: ‘Some here… some there…’ ‘JD Vance’s brown kids are less American’: Michigan Democrat attacks US VP, makes crude joke about Usha Vance IPL 2026: ‘I was looking at a score around 220-230’ – Ruturaj Gaikwad rues CSK’s batting lapse in SRH loss Happy Akshaya Tritiya 2026: Top 50 wishes, messages and quotes to share with your loved ones Indian-origin truck driver Baljeet Singh pleads guilty to causing death of two in crash in Canada, was playing mobile game Tenth Indian-flagged ship crosses Hormuz, two others fired at by IRGC | India News IPL 2026: SRH bowlers hold their nerve, choke CSK in final overs to seal 10-run thriller Harvard University’s plan to expand writing class size draws union objection Horoscope Today: Daily astrological predictions for April 19, 2026