Saturday, December 27, 2025

PM Modi to chair Union Cabinet meeting today

By
Tehelka Bureau
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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a crucial meeting of the Union Cabinet on Wednesday at his official residence.

This high-level meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. and will focus on important policy and security issues amidst a rapidly changing national and international landscape.

Earlier the last Cabinet session was held on May 14, where the government approved the establishment of a sixth semiconductor unit in Uttar Pradesh under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).

The new unit, a joint venture between HCL and global electronics giant Foxconn, is set to be constructed near the upcoming Jewar Airport in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) region.

Designed to produce 20, 000 wafers per month and an output capacity of 36 million units monthly, the plant will manufacture display driver chips critical for mobile phones, laptops, PCs, automobiles, and a wide range of digital devices.

The semiconductor sector continues to be a strategic priority for the government, aligning with its broader “Make in India” and digital economy goals.

With five other units already in advanced stages of construction, the latest approval further reinforces India’s ambitions to become a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing.

Before this, the Cabinet met on April 30, shortly after the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in J&K on April 22. That session focused on internal security, with the Prime Minister emphasising a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and calling for a thorough review of the government’s response mechanisms.

Wednesday’s meeting is expected to revisit ongoing security challenges while also addressing economic and developmental policies.

Will come up with 100-day report card on May 31: Gupta

By
Priyanka Tanwer
-
Photo: Naveen Bansal

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday said that her government will release a 100 day report card on May 31 highlighting its achievements and initiatives taken in the national capital.

“The Delhi government is working 24×7. Our government is going to complete 100 days on May 30 and on May 31 we will be releasing a report card, detailing our achievements and work we have done in these 100 days,” Gupta told reporters.

Speaking on the preparation for the monsoon in Delhi she said, “We are prepared for the monsoon season. The government will not let the rain water cause disruption in traffic this year. All the drains are being cleaned for the smooth flowing of water during rain. It will take time but it will not cause any disruption.”

Earlier, Gupta ordered the suspension of a junior engineer of the Public Works Department for negligence, as heavy rainfall on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday flooded the Minto Bridge, listed as a waterlogging hot spot.

On Sunday, the capital witnessed waterlogging following heavy overnight rainfall.

In February, the BJP formed the government in Delhi after 25 years, ending the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) decade-long rule. The party won 48 seats in the 70-member Assembly in the elections. Gupta took oath as the Chief Minister on February 20 along with her Cabinet colleagues in a grand ceremony attended by PM Modi at Ramlila Maidan.

Omar Abdullah to hold special cabinet meeting in Pahalgam in a bid to woo tourists

By
Tehelka Bureau
-

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will convene a special cabinet meeting in Pahalgam today, marking the first time during his tenure that the cabinet meets outside the usual summer capital Srinagar or winter capital Jammu.

The meeting comes more than a month after a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. The government said the meeting aims to send a strong message against terrorism and violence in the Union Territory.

Omar Abdullah has previously held cabinet meetings in remote areas such as Gurez and Tangdhar in Kashmir and Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu during his earlier term as Chief Minister from 2009 to 2014. This special meeting in Pahalgam is seen as a symbolic gesture to express solidarity with the residents of the tourist town, which has suffered a sharp decline in visitors since the attack.

Two weeks after the Pahalgam attack, India carried out precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan in what was called ‘Operation Sindoor.’ The two countries engaged in several days of military action before agreeing to halt hostilities on May 10.

The National Conference leader recently proposed a dual approach to revive Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism sector, urging the Centre to direct public sector units to hold meetings in Kashmir and to convene parliamentary committee sessions there.

“This meeting symbolises our commitment to restoring peace and tourism in the region,” Omar Abdullah said.

Earlier, on April 28, during a special day-long assembly session in Jammu, the Jammu and Kashmir government unanimously passed a resolution condemning the Pahalgam attack. The resolution affirmed the government’s resolve to defeat efforts aimed at disturbing communal harmony and hindering progress.

Jammu & Kashmir girl preparing for NEET dies by suicide in Kota

By
Tehelka Bureau
-

An 18-year-old NEET aspirant from Jammu and Kashmir allegedly died by suicide in her paying guest (PG) accommodation in Kota on Sunday evening, police said.

The girl, identified as Zeeshan, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in her room at Pratap Chouraha area. This is the 15th suicide by a student in Kota this year, and the second in the month of May.

According to Circle Inspector Ramesh Kavia of Mahaveer Nagar Police Station, Zeeshan had made a phone call to a relative shortly before taking the extreme step. During the call, she reportedly mentioned that she might end her life and then disconnected.

Alarmed by the conversation, the relative immediately contacted another student, Mamta, who lived one floor above Zeeshan. Mamta rushed to check on her and, finding the room locked from inside, raised an alarm. With the help of some nearby carpenters, the door was broken open using a grinder. Zeeshan was found hanging inside and was taken to the hospital, where she was declared dead.

Police said Zeeshan had earlier lived in Kota to prepare for medical entrance exams but had returned just a month ago. This time, she was not enrolled in any coaching institute and was relying on self-study. An investigation is underway.

Amid ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ chants, PM Modi receives rousing welcome in Vadodara

By
Tehelka Bureau
-

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday arrived in Gujarat’s Vadodara to a thunderous welcome, with thousands turning out along the route of his roadshow to greet him.

Chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai”, “Modi-Modi”, and “Vande Mataram” echoed through the streets, as people participated in a special ‘Sindoor Samman Yatra’, waving the national flag and showering flowers on the Prime Minister.

Several participants donned costumes paying tribute to the Indian Armed Forces and PM Modi for his leadership during Operation Sindoor.

This marks PM Modi’s first visit to his home state following India’s recent military action targeting terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

As the Prime Minister waved at the enthusiastic crowds, many could be heard shouting, “We have won”.

People also captured photos and videos on their phones to celebrate the moment.

Members of the African community welcomed the Prime Minister, holding placards with quotes such as “Peace was attacked; India roared back with justice” and “India’s courage is the light that ends the evil of terrorism.”

The visit will also see the inauguration and foundation laying of multiple development projects valued at Rs 82, 000 crore.

PM Modi will reach Dahod later in the day, where he will inaugurate the Loco Manufacturing Shop-Rolling Stock Workshop and address a public gathering in Kharod. He will also lay the foundation for various government and railway projects worth Rs 24, 000 crore.

Two trains will be flagged off via video conferencing from Dahod. The first, the Sabarmati-Veraval Vande Bharat Express, will run six days a week and connect Sabarmati with Veraval, near the Somnath temple. The second, the Valsad-Dahod Express, will operate daily, covering a 346 km distance with 17 coaches.

Additionally, PM Modi will inaugurate a railway production unit in Dahod, built at a cost of over Rs 21, 000 crore under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. He will also flag off an electric locomotive from the Dahod manufacturing plant.

The Prime Minister will then travel to Bhuj to launch development projects worth more than Rs 53, 400 crore. These include initiatives in Kandla Port, solar energy, power transmission, and road infrastructure.

He will also unveil four drinking water supply schemes costing Rs 181 crore, designed to benefit 4.62 lakh people across 193 villages and one town in the Mahisagar and Dahod districts.

On the morning of May 27, at 10.30 a.m., he will hold another roadshow in Gandhinagar, expected to be joined by over 30, 000 BJP workers. Following this, he will inaugurate and lay the foundation for projects worth Rs 5, 536 crore at Mahatma Mandir.

Among the key projects, the Prime Minister will inaugurate 22, 055 houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for Rs 1, 006 crore. He will also lay the foundation for Phase 3 of the Sabarmati Riverfront, estimated to cost Rs 1, 000 crore.

In a move to boost urban development, PM Modi will distribute cheques worth Rs 3, 300 crore to urban local bodies under the Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana.

Rs 4,30,000 investment announced in two-day Rising Northeast Investors Summit 2025

By
Priyanka Tanwer
-
Photo: Naveen Bansal

The two-day Rising Northeast Investors Summit 2025, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 23, has received a total of Rs 4,30,000 in investment under the various projects to develop the Northeast region.

The summit aims to highlight the region as a land of opportunity, attracting global and domestic investment, and bringing together key stakeholders, investors and policymakers on a single platform.

On the last day, the summit witnessed the signing of eight Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) in various sectors in the region. During the summit, Sikkim and SM Hotels and Resorts signed a MoU for developing a five star hotel in Gangtok with an investment between Rs 250 crore and 300 crore.

Arunachal Pradesh government signed MoU for 250 bedded hospitals with an investment of Rs 150 crore while Meghalaya and Agri Biofuels Global joined hands for turning agricultural waste into aviation fuel with an investment of 480 million dollars.

Meanwhile, Tripura and Sri Sri Ravishankar Vidya Mandir Trust have pledged to invest Rs 500 crore to build a university.

These MoUs were signed in the presence of Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region and Communication Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region Sukanta Majumdar.

Speaking at the summit, Scindia said in the last eleven years, I have rarely seen any prime minister so emotionally connected to this area of the country.

“A prime minister that has not only committed investable resources close to seven lakh crores over the last eleven years but has personally pledged himself to cause the growth of the Northeast as the growth engine of our economic growth,” he said.

“He has visited the Northeast over 70 times, more than all Prime Ministers since independence,” the minister added.

Earlier he had announced MoUs worth Rs 4.18 lakh crore have been signed with regards to the Rising North East Investors Summit 2025.

“For the first time, a joint programme for all eight states of the north east is underway. Roadshows were held for it in cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Indore. Meetings were held with various industrial groups. As a result of this effort, a world-class investment summit was organized. Memorandums of Understanding worth Rs 4.18 lakh crore have been announced,” Scindia had said. 

Active cases of COVID-19 in India cross 1000 mark

By
Tehelka Bureau
-
Ghaziabad, India – April 20 2023: Ghaziabad A health worker collects a swab sample for Covid-19 test at MMG Hospital in Ghaziabad , India on Wednesday, April 19. 2023. (Photo by Sakib Ali /Hindustan Times)

Covid-19 infections are increasing in India but there is nothing to worry about as these are not severe, Indian Council of Medical Research Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl said on Monday.

Bahl also assured that the government is actively monitoring the cases.

As per the latest data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India has 1,009 cases of Covid, with Kerala (430), Maharashtra (209), and Delhi (104) reporting the highest number of cases. Seven deaths have also been reported from Maharashtra (4), Kerala (2) and Karnataka (1).

The Director General stated that the seriousness of the situation depends on “how transmissible the virus is — that is, how quickly the cases are increasing”. While previous cases used to double in a day or earlier, this time it doesn’t look like that.

But, “there is an increase in the number of infections. And we are keeping a close eye on it”, Bahl said, while speaking to reporters.

He stated that although the numbers are rising, “there is nothing to worry about, as so far the percentage of severe cases, among all Covid cases, is generally low”.

As per the latest data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), set up under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 — descendants of JN.1 Covid variant in the country — are responsible for the rise in SARS-CoV-2 cases in the country.

Bahl noted that these subvariants can “evade previous immunity whether natural or vaccine-induced”. However, their potential is less than the previous Omicron and other variants, he said.

At the same time, he stressed the need for “increasing vigilance, and to be prepared” in case of a surge in cases.

He informed that the Union Health Secretary, Punya Salila Srivastava, took a meeting to review the Covid situation. It was attended by the DGHS and ICMR, and “we are and will continue to monitor the situation very closely”.

Earlier on Monday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that guidelines have been issued to all hospitals and that the government is closely monitoring Covid cases.

“We have analysed the scenario and there is no panic situation,” said CM Gupta.

Last week, the Delhi government issued an advisory on the Covid-19 disease, asking hospitals in the national capital to ensure the availability of beds, oxygen, medicines, and vaccines.

All health institutions have been asked to send all positive Covid-19 samples for genome sequencing to Lok Nayak Hospital.

“The hospitals must ensure preparedness in terms of availability of beds, oxygen, antibiotics, other drugs and vaccines. All equipment such as ventilators, Bi-PAP, oxygen concentrators, and PSA, must be in functional condition,” the advisory stated.

Lalu Prasad Yadav expels son Tej Pratap from RJD for six years for ‘immoral behaviour’

By
Tehelka Bureau
-

In a dramatic turn of events, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav expelled his elder son Tej Pratap Yadav from both the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Yadav family for six years, citing his (Tej Pratap) “irresponsible behaviour” and deviation from party and family values.

The announcement was made by Lalu Prasad on the social media platform X. “Ignoring moral values in personal life weakens our collective struggle for social justice. The activities, public conduct and irresponsible behaviour of the eldest son are not in accordance with our family values. Therefore, I remove him from the party and family. From now on, he will have no role in either.”

Lalu Prasad added that people are free to decide whether to maintain relations with Tej Pratap or not. “He is capable of seeing the good and bad and merits and demerits of his personal life. Whosoever will have relations with him should decide at their own discretion.”

The expulsion comes shortly after photos and a video of Tej Pratap Yadav with a woman named Anushka Yadav went viral on social media.

One of the images depicted her performing Karva Chauth rituals for Tej Pratap. The couple had recently gone public with their long-term relationship, which reportedly spanned over 12 years.

Sources close to the family suggest Lalu Prasad Yadav was taken aback by the nature and timing of the revelation, particularly as it came without consultation or prior family discussion.

Reacting to the developments, Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of the Opposition in Bihar and Tej Pratap’s younger brother, addressed the media, stating: “Personal life and political life are different. As far as my elder brother is concerned, he has the right to make decisions about his personal life. But we came to know about this only through the media. We were not informed.”

He further said the family cannot support actions that damage public image and credibility: “We are public representatives and must uphold the dignity expected from us. We do not endorse or tolerate behaviour that brings disrepute to the family or the party.”

Tejashwi reaffirmed his support for Lalu Yadav’s decision, saying the party president has made his sentiments clear and that the party stands by them.

Tej Pratap Yadav, an MLA from Hassanpur and former Environment Minister and Forest and Climate Change Minister, has frequently found himself in controversy due to erratic public behaviour and unorthodox statements.

His strained relationship with both his former wife, Aishwarya Rai and family members has long fueled speculation about internal discord.

Tripura Secures Rs 15,646 Crore in Investment Pledges at Rising Northeast Investors Summit

By
Priyanka Tanwer
-
Photo: Naveen Bansal

Tripura has received investment commitments totaling Rs 15,646 crore at the Rising Northeast Investors Summit 2025, marking a major milestone in the state’s push for economic transformation.

Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha, who described the outcome as a “significant stride” in Tripura’s journey toward accelerated growth and development, made the announcement here.

“The interactions at the summit were vibrant and promising,” Dr. Saha said, highlighting strong investor interest in emerging sectors such as technology, 5G, and artificial intelligence.

Tripura’s dedicated Investors Pavilion witnessed high footfall, drawing the attention of key industry leaders and stakeholders. The summit concluded with the signing of 33 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), paving the way for strategic investments across multiple sectors.

“Through these MoUs, we have secured Rs 15,646 crore in investments,” the Chief Minister noted. “This is not just a figure—it reflects a profound confidence in Tripura’s potential.”

Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to building a business-friendly environment, Dr. Saha invited the private sector to partner in Tripura’s development.

“Let us unlock new opportunities and drive inclusive growth together,” he said. “Tripura is open for partnerships, and we are committed to supporting investors at every step.”

The summit is seen as a pivotal moment in Tripura’s efforts to position itself as a key destination for investment in the Northeast region.

Rahul Gandhi visits Poonch, meets victims of cross-border shelling

By
Tehelka Bureau
-

Srinagar: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Saturday to meet victims of the recent cross-border shelling by Pakistani forces. The shelling followed India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor strikes on terror hubs across the Line of Control (LoC) on May 7.

This marks Gandhi’s second visit to the Union Territory in the past month. He had earlier travelled to Srinagar on April 25 to meet survivors of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. During that visit, he also held meetings with the Lieutenant Governor, the Chief Minister, and other key stakeholders.

Gandhi arrived at Jammu airport in the morning and flew to Poonch by helicopter, where he met families affected by the intense shelling between May 7 and 10. The violence, which included artillery fire, drone strikes, and missile attacks, claimed 28 lives across Jammu and Kashmir, with 13 deaths reported in Poonch district alone. Over 70 others were injured in the hostilities, which forced thousands to flee from LoC and border areas into government-run relief camps.

“Rahul Gandhi will visit damaged structures, including a gurdwara, a temple, a madrassa, and a Christian missionary school. He will also meet with bereaved families and members of civil society,” said Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra. “He is the first national leader to reach out to the affected population, to express his solidarity and share their pain,” Karra added.

India and Pakistan agreed to end the military escalation on May 10 after four days of heavy exchanges along the LoC and the International Border.

Gandhi had earlier condemned the April terror attack in Pahalgam and stressed the importance of unity in the face of such attempts to create division. “The aim of the terror strike was to divide us. It’s crucial that we remain united and resolute in our stand against terrorism,” he had said during his Srinagar visit

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