: India on Wednesday continued its diplomatic outreach to brief non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, which has been linked to cross-border elements.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a phone conversation with his Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen, conveying India’s resolve to bring the perpetrators of the April 22 attack to justice.

“Spoke with FM @larsloekke of Denmark. Appreciate his support and solidarity over the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Also exchanged views about our bilateral cooperation,” Jaishankar posted on X.

The phone call followed Jaishankar’s discussions on Tuesday with foreign ministers of seven other non-permanent UNSC members—Algeria, Greece, Guyana, Panama, Slovenia, Sierra Leone, and Somalia—as India seeks global solidarity against terrorism.

This diplomatic push gains significance with Pakistan’s current membership in the UNSC for the 2025–26 term.

India’s outreach comes amid strong condemnation of the attack by the UN Security Council, though New Delhi reportedly considers the Council’s statement “inadequate” in addressing the attack’s cross-border dimensions.

Several world leaders have also directly expressed solidarity with India, including US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Others who reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi include Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba, UAE President Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Dutch PM Dick Schoof, US Vice President JD Vance, Australian PM Anthony Albanese, and Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli.

Meanwhile, India continues to weigh its response options. Prime Minister Modi, in his recent ‘Mann ki Baat’ address, reiterated that those responsible for the Pahalgam attack “will be served with the harshest response.”

“The whole world stands with 140 crore Indians in our fight against terrorism. I once again assure the affected families that they will get justice,” Modi said.

On Tuesday, Modi chaired a high-level meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and the chiefs of the three armed forces, reaffirming his government’s resolve to deal a “crushing blow” to terrorism.

Government sources said Modi granted the armed forces “complete operational freedom” to decide on the mode, targets, and timing of India’s response.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the Bombay High Court’s decision to strike off certain allegations made against Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in petitions challenging his 2019 election from the Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh dismissed the appeals filed by Congress candidate Nana Falgunrao Patole and voter Nafis Khan, who had challenged the High Court’s order dated February 26, 2021.

“The reasoning adopted by the High Court is correct. We see no reason to interfere with the High Court’s order,” the bench observed.

The Bombay High Court had earlier refused to dismiss the election petitions but struck down specific averments concerning the income and property of Gadkari’s family members.

Both petitioners approached the Supreme Court contending that the High Court had erred, arguing that the power to strike off pleadings is an extraordinary one that must be exercised sparingly and with utmost caution.

Khan alleged Gadkari had submitted false information in his nomination papers and election affidavit. Patole, meanwhile, claimed that procedural lapses occurred during the election process.

Noting that Gadkari had again won the Nagpur seat in the 2024 general elections, the Supreme Court endorsed the High Court’s reasoning and dismissed the petitions.

The Punjab government will roll out a sophisticated anti-drone system by September or October this year to curb the increasing instances of narcotics and weapons being smuggled from Pakistan using unmanned aerial vehicles, announced Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Monday.

Addressing a press conference, the DGP said testing of the system has already been completed along the Indo-Pak border, and coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) is underway for deployment on the second line of defence.

“Punjab will install the anti-drone system by October. Our tests have been successful, and we are in close touch with the Ministry of Home Affairs,” Yadav said.

Massive Recruitment and Legal Reforms on the Horizon

In a significant augmentation of border security, Yadav revealed that the state will soon recruit 5,500 home guards to strengthen its border defence mechanism.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government is also reviewing a proposal to set up 30 exclusive NDPS courts to fast-track trials under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, with an annual budget allocation of ₹22.8 crore under consideration.

Crackdown on Drug Smuggling: Thousands Arrested, Massive Seizures

Since March 1, Punjab Police has registered 4,659 FIRs under the NDPS Act and arrested 7,414 drug traffickers, including 1,877 high-profile offenders, the DGP informed.

Seizures include:

• 297 kg heroin
• 100 quintals poppy husk
• 153 kg opium
• 95 kg ganja
• 21.77 lakh tablets, capsules, pills
• ₹8.03 crore in cash

Police have conducted 908 targeted operations at 755 drug hotspots, arresting 1,774 traffickers during cordon-and-search operations.

Pakistan Waging Proxy War, Says Top Cop

Slamming Pakistan’s role, DGP Yadav said,

“Pakistan is pursuing a proxy war to bleed India by a thousand cuts. We’ve busted their networks and foiled their designs.”

He added that 235 Pakistani nationals have entered Punjab recently, and joint monitoring with Jammu and Kashmir Police has been intensified, particularly in Pathankot, which reported suspicious activity.

Safety of Kashmiri Students Ensured Post Pahalgam Attack

In light of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists, Punjab Police has reached out to Kashmiri students in the state, assuring full security. Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) and Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) have met with students across colleges, and travel is being facilitated for those wishing to return home.

Legal Wins and Economic Crackdown on Smugglers

Punjab has achieved an 89% conviction rate in NDPS cases since March 1, one of the highest in the country. Out of 836 cases decided, 744 ended in convictions, including 144 kingpins sentenced to 10+ years’ rigorous imprisonment.

To cripple drug networks economically, the police have:

• Frozen assets worth ₹32.95 crore (under Section 68F of NDPS Act)
• Demolished 72 illegally constructed properties of drug traffickers
• Formulated a 3-tier plan to dismantle hawala routes, seize assets, and demolish illegal constructions

Yadav also cited the Transfer of Prisoners Act, recently notified by the Punjab government, to consider relocating high-risk prisoners outside the state during trials.

Public Help and Police Action: A Unified Fight

The Safe Punjab Anti-Drugs Helpline — 9779100200 — has led to 503 FIRs and 659 arrests based on public tips.

“We urge citizens to come forward and report anonymously. Every lead is monitored, and the Chief Minister personally reviews progress,” the DGP said.

👮 DGP Gaurav Yadav was accompanied by senior officers of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF): Special DGP Kuldeep Singh, ADGP Nilabh Kishore, and IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill.

In a significant move to boost the Government’s flagship Namami Gange programme, the Finance Ministry has granted tax exemption status to the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), according to a formal notification issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

The notification clarifies that the NMCG is now formally recognized as an authority constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and will enjoy income tax exemption beginning from the Assessment Year 2024–25.

Conditions Apply: Must Continue Public Welfare Mission

The exemption is contingent upon the NMCG continuing to operate with one or more objectives specified in sub-clause (a) of clause (46A) of the Income Tax Act, which includes goals such as:

• Sustainable development
• Environmental conservation
• Advancement of public welfare

This move is expected to enhance operational flexibility and financial efficiency for NMCG, enabling it to channel more resources into environmental and river conservation projects.

Key Functions of the NMCG

Operating under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the National Mission for Clean Ganga spearheads a range of initiatives aimed at restoring the Ganga’s ecological health. The projects span across several states and include:

• Construction and management of sewage treatment plants
• River surface cleaning operations
• Afforestation and biodiversity conservation
• Monitoring of industrial effluents
• Promoting public participation and awareness

The mission plays a pivotal role in implementing the Namami Gange programme, a flagship initiative launched in 2014 to revive the sacred river.

Recognition a Boost to Environmental Governance

Experts say this move not only legitimizes the authority of the NMCG under environmental law but also strengthens India’s fiscal and legal architecture supporting ecological programs.

A senior Finance Ministry official noted, “The exemption recognizes the Mission’s public service role and is aligned with the broader environmental protection goals of the country.”