In a development that has sent shockwaves through the political corridors of Tamil Nadu, Kuttiyappan, a heavyweight of the state BJP’s OBC wing executive committee, has dramatically aligned himself with former BJP state chief K. Annamalai’s burgeoning civil society movement, ‘We the Leader’. Leading a substantial cohort of loyalists into the fold in Tiruppur, Kuttiyappan’s defection is less of a routine political migration and more of an ideological declaration of war against the status quo. In a blistering post-joining manifesto, the veteran organizer launched a scathing critique against the state’s deeply entrenched political culture, declaring that the era of cinematic charisma and theatrical platform oratory must come to an end. For decades, Tamil Nadu’s political narrative has been heavily scripted by silver-screen icons, a phenomenon Kuttiyappan claims ‘We the Leader’ is designed to smash with sledgehammer force. Asserting that the populace no longer requires cinematic illusions but grounded leadership capable of addressing grassroots grievances, he emphasized that this new platform rejects flashy showbiz public relations in favor of raw grit and meritocracy. Central to this political pivot is the rising appeal of data-driven, intellectual politics among an increasingly aware and tech-savvy youth demographic, a domain Annamalai has systematically cultivated with his analytical, data-heavy rhetoric. By bypassing the rigid, top-down hierarchies characteristic of traditional party structures, the movement promises absolute operational freedom to advocate for the educational, economic, and existential advancement of backward classes and marginalized communities. Ultimately, this high-profile integration underscores a significant paradigm shift, signaling that for a growing segment of the electorate, policy substance and institutional reform are beginning to eclipse traditional party loyalty and theatrical star power.
NDA Govt Created Environment For Women To Realise Full Potential: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the NDA government’s efforts are rooted in dignity, opportunity and empowerment, and these have helped create an environment where women can realise their full potential and contribute even more strongly to nation-building.
Modi said that over the last 12 years, the NDA government has worked to further women-led development, and this is visible across sectors.
He said from financial inclusion and entrepreneurship to education, healthcare, sanitation, housing, sports, science and governance, women are playing a prominent role across diverse sectors.
“The efforts of the NDA government are rooted in dignity, opportunity and empowerment. They have helped create an environment where women can realise their full potential and contribute even more strongly to nation-building,” he wrote on social media platform X.
The Prime Minister said he was particularly happy to see India’s “nari shakti” (women) make a mark in sectors like science, space and innovation.
The growing participation of women in emerging fields such as drone technology is opening new avenues of opportunity and transforming the development landscape across the nation, he said.
“Our government is actively supporting Self-Help Groups, which are going a long way in making women financially independent,” he said.
The Modi government has completed 12 years in power.
Modi took oath as the Prime Minister of India for the first time on May 26, 2014, becoming the first-ever prime minister to be born after India attained Independence.
His second term began on May 30, 2019, while he was sworn in as prime minister for the third consecutive time on June 9, 2024, following another decisive victory in the 2024 Parliamentary elections.
On Wednesday, Modi also crossed the record of first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s 4,398 days in power as an elected prime minister following the 1952 general elections.
Nehru’s stint from 1947 to 1952 was as head of an interim government as elections were not held till 1952. (Agencies)
BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ has failed, claims Kirti Azad as TMC turmoil continues
Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad on Friday alleged that the BJP was trying to engineer defections from the Mamata Banerjee-led party through “Operation Lotus”, claiming that efforts to split the party has failed so far.
In an X post, Azad cited the resignation of Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik and his media interaction outside BJP leader Nishikant Dubey’s Delhi residence, dissident TMC MPs’ meeting at the residence of Union minister Bhupender Yadav, and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s visit to the residence of TMC MP Satabdi Roy as evidence of “an organised attempt” to weaken the party.
“Operation Lotus under the guidance of (Home Minister) Amit Shah is underway,” Azad said, claiming that it has failed so far.
Amid a churn in the party, a purported list carrying the names and signatures of 19 TMC Lok Sabha MPs was circulated online, though the purported letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was not in the public domain.
Dissident TMC leaders claimed that the document, which could not be verified independently, reflected support for their move.
Signatures on the list belonged to Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Satabdi Roy, Bapi Haldar, Sharmila Sarkar, Prasun Bandyopadhyay, Jagadish Barma Basunia, Asit Kumar Mal, Arup Chakraborty, Rachna Banerjee, Saayoni Ghosh, Khalilur Rahaman, Abu Taher Khan, Yusuf Pathan, Mitali Bag, Mala Roy, Kalipada Soren, Deepak Adhikari, June Malia and Partha Bhowmick.
TMC plunged into a crisis following the party’s defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections, and rebellion by a large section of its legislators.
The turmoil later spread to Parliament, with dissident MPs claiming the support of more than 20 Lok Sabha members.
On Thursday, Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik became the third TMC parliamentarian to resign from both the party and the Upper House this week, after Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Sushmita Dev.
The crisis also exposed internal fault lines in the party.
Senior TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee on Thursday launched a sharp attack on party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and declared that he would remain in the party only if Abhishek is removed from all leadership positions.
Seeking to downplay the significance of Kalyan Banerjee’s remarks, Azad said the veteran MP remained committed to Mamata Banerjee.
“Everything is okay, there’s no problem. Kalyan Banerjee is emotional. He has been with Didi through bad times; he can never betray her or stab her in the back,” Azad told PTI Videos.
Even as the rebellion gathered momentum, several senior leaders publicly reaffirmed their support for Mamata Banerjee. Lok Sabha MPs, including Sougata Roy, Shatrughan Sinha, Pratima Mondal and Rajya Sabha MP Babul Supriyo — all denied being part of a dissident grouping, asserting that they would remain with the party.
Azad also alleged that pressure was being exerted on TMC leaders through the withdrawal of security personnel but asserted that such measures would not intimidate him.
“Do you think we’re the kind of people who get scared? If we have entered politics for a struggle, then we will fight that struggle,” he said.
“I am also an international cricketer, and I have my own identity and reputation. Kirti is not someone who gets frightened,” he added. (PTI)
Students, aspirants join Lucknow protest over exam irregularities; CJP chief seeks Pradhan’s exit
Students and government job aspirants assembled here on Friday for a protest led by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke over alleged examination irregularities, with demonstrators pressing for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Candidates preparing for teaching, medical, revenue, administrative, and other government recruitment examinations were among the protesters who gathered at the Eco Garden here since morning.
The demonstration is part of a nationwide campaign launched by the CJP, which had earlier held demonstrations in Delhi and Pune.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Babloo Kumar told PTI that the permission for the programme was granted after an application was submitted by an individual and not by any organisation.
“The application was submitted by a teacher, Vivek Kumar, late Thursday evening. After completing the required procedure, permission was granted,” he said.
The officer said reports claiming police had denied permission for the protest were misleading, as no application regarding the demonstration had been received till Thursday evening.
According to police, the permission is valid from 10 am to 4 pm, and around 1,000 people are expected to participate.
Earlier, Dipke had said the protest would be conducted in a peaceful and constitutional manner to raise concerns over alleged examination irregularities. “We have held peaceful protests in Delhi and Pune. We are not doing anything wrong. We only want to put forward our views in a democracy,” he had said.
The CJP plans to hold further demonstrations in Amritsar and Bengaluru before returning to Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for a larger protest on June 20. (Agencies)
A Year On, Kin Of AI Crash Victims Still Wait For Answers, Truth Behind Disaster
A year after the Air India flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad claimed 260 lives, grieving families are still waiting for answers, with investigators yet to release the final probe report on what caused the disaster.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released an interim report in July last year, giving no reason for the crash, though a paragraph in it suggested that fuel switches of the plane’s engines got cut off after takeoff.
For many families, the wait has been agonising. They cling to memories of loved ones lost in the tragedy while struggling with unanswered questions. With no conclusive report, their grief has compounded, leaving them without closure or clarity about why the accident happened.
A lawyer with a US-based law firm representing more than 130 victim families from India and the UK has requested the central government to release the flight’s technical data, saying the information is crucial for those seeking justice and pursuing legal remedies.
Under international aviation rules, a final accident report is expected within a year if possible; if that is not completed, an interim statement can be issued. On May 8, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said the investigation into the tragic crash was in the last stages and the report was likely within a month.
“The crash investigation is in the final stage and could even be completed in a month. However, the investigation is being done by the AAIB and we don’t interfere in it. We are giving them all the resources they need,” he said. Federation of Indian Pilots president C S Randhawa on Thursday said they want the AAIB to release the final report only after completing a comprehensive investigation.
Referring to media reports suggesting the AAIB may soon issue an interim report, Randhawa said such a move would create further confusion and speculation.
“If there is no conclusion from the investigation, releasing an interim report will only lead to more misunderstandings,” he said.
The London-bound AI-171 flight crashed on June 12 afternoon last year, killing 260 persons, including 241passengers and crew members and 19 persons on the ground. Only one passenger survived.
Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani was one among those killed in the incident. The plane crashed on a hostel complex of BJ Medical College 32 seconds after take-off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport in Ahmedabad.
Mike Andrews, lawyer of US-based law firm Beasley Allen representing over 130 victim families from India and the UK, has also demanded release of technical data about the flight from the central government so that families can pursue legal options.
“I appeal to the Indian government to release the FDR (Flight Data Recorder) data so that our experts can conduct an independent evaluation. I think the most important thing these families can have is transparency,” Andrews told PTI during his visit to Ahmedabad in December last year.
“Legal options, such as a product liability suit to be filed in the US, are based on the data we get and what investigations reveal,” he had said. Families of the victims have also sought the final investigation report and technical data from the flight data recorder.
In April this year, 10 months after the tragedy, families of 30 victims from across Gujarat met in Ahmedabad and wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting the release of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and black box data to uncover the truth behind the tragedy. They also demanded that the investigation be concluded at the earliest. (PTI)
CRPF Chief Reviews Kashmir Security, Stresses Proactive Measures For Amarnath Yatra Safety
Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Gyanendra Pratap Singh on Thursday stressed the need for proactive security measures to ensure the smooth and peaceful conduct of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, scheduled to begin next month.
On the third and final day of his visit to the Kashmir Valley, the CRPF chief chaired a high-level security review meeting with senior officers and ground commanders at the Group Centre (GC) Srinagar.
A CRPF spokesperson said the Director General reviewed the overall security situation in the Valley and emphasised maintaining heightened alertness to ensure a safe and incident-free pilgrimage.
The meeting focused on maintaining normalcy in Kashmir, intensifying counter-militancy operations, and strengthening security arrangements along the yatra routes and other vulnerable locations.
During his three-day visit, Singh also visited the Baltal base camp to assess preparedness and review security arrangements for the annual pilgrimage. He interacted with ground commanders, troops, and other stakeholders, directing personnel to perform their duties with utmost vigilance and professionalism.
Nearly 50,000 CRPF personnel, alongside the J&K Police and Central Armed Police Force, will be deployed for the Yatra security duty.
The Amarnath Yatra will begin on July 3 and conclude on August 28 amid multi-layered security arrangements across Jammu and Kashmir. (Agencies)
PM Modi Chairs 11th NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting; CMs, UT Heads Attend
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired the 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi.
The high-level meeting brought together Chief Ministers of States and Union Territories, Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of Union Territories, Union Ministers serving as ex officio members, along with special invitees. The Vice Chairman, members, and Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog are also present.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are also present at the meeting.
Several Chief Ministers, including Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, Assam’s Himanta Biswa Sarma, Bihar’s Samrat Choudhary, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, also participated in the meeting.
Newly elected Chief Ministers and leaders, including West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari, Tamil Nadu CM C Joseph Vijay, Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar and Keralam CM VD Satheesan, are also present in the meeting.
According to a statement by the NITI Aayog, this year’s theme is “Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat @2047”, which will emphasise the well-being and development of all citizens, regardless of age, region, gender, or socio-economic background.
Additionally, PM Modi will discuss measures for promoting entrepreneurship, skill enhancement, and creating sustainable employment opportunities across the country.
The Inclusive Human Development Framework is anchored around four core pillars, foundational human capital and future-ready skills; productive employment, entrepreneurship and decentralised growth; health, nutrition and wellbeing; and equity and dignity for all, the press release said.
The discussions will further focus on collectively charting an Implementation Roadmap that leverages key enablers, including Governance, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Convergence, Partnerships, and Data-driven Systems, alongside a structured mechanism to track short, medium, and long-term outcomes, ensuring accountability and measurable impact. A key thrust will be on aligning State Visions with the National Vision on Inclusive Human Development, reinforcing a unified and collaborative approach toward equitable and sustainable growth.
The Governing Council of NITI Aayog will also focus on the recommendations of the 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries held from December 26 to 28, 2025. Recommendations were made during 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries on the following five key themes: (i) Early Childhood Education: Laying the Foundation; (ii) Schooling: Building Blocks; (iii) Skilling: Future-Ready Workforce; (iv) Higher Education: Knowledge Economy; and (v) Sports & Extracurricular: Beyond Classrooms. (Agencies)
I will be in trouble if I speak the truth: Brij Bhushan Singh on Ram temple fund embezzlement row
BJP leader and former MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has claimed that he knows a lot about alleged misuse and theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya but said he was not in a position to reveal the truth at present.
Speaking to reporters at his residence in Vishnoharpur on Wednesday, Singh said, “I am a very weak person. If I speak the truth, I will get into trouble because they are very powerful people. I do not have the courage to speak the truth right now. If the time comes, I will speak.”
He did not specify whom he referred to as “they”.
Singh’s remarks come amid a raging row over alleged embezzlement of funds donated at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Singh, who returned to his village after a 10-day stay in Delhi, said he had been facing several difficult situations in recent times.
Regarding the 2023 controversy over allegations by women wrestlers, Singh said he had been dealing with the circumstances arising from the matter for a long time.
On alleged irregularities and paper leaks in competitive examinations, including NEET, Singh defended Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, saying the minister’s resignation would not solve the problem.
He said an organised network involving officials and employees at different levels was responsible for paper leaks and strict action against those involved was necessary to curb such incidents. (Agencies)
Punjab: Over 30 Kg Heroin Recovered; Six Held
A cross-border drug smuggling cartel has been dismantled with the arrest of six persons and recovery of over 30 kg of heroin, a top Punjab Police officer said on Thursday.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused were linked to a Dubai-based smuggler, who was facilitating the supply of heroin consignments from across the border, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said in a post on X.
An FIR has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act at Chheharta police station in Amritsar.
Further investigation is underway to establish backward and forward linkages, identify other associates involved in the network, trace the financial trail, and uncover possible hawala connections, he said. (Agencies)
J&K Govt Constitutes District-Level Panels To Inspect Hostels
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted District-Level Inspection Committees in all districts to conduct regular inspections of hostels functioning across the Union Territory.
According to an order issued by the General Administration Department, the committees will be headed by the Additional District Development Commissioner and will include the Programme Officer ICDS, Assistant Commissioner Development, District Social Welfare Officer and Assistant Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs as members.
The committees have been tasked with carrying out monthly inspections of hostels, assessing food quality and safety, hygiene and sanitation standards, living conditions, infrastructure, drinking water and waste disposal facilities, besides examining maintenance of records and utilization of funds.
They will also recommend measures for improving management, safety and welfare of hostel inmates.
The committees have been directed to submit monthly inspection reports to the concerned Deputy Commissioners for further action by the respective departments.