Amid the intensifying water-sharing dispute with Haryana, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on Monday said that his state has no surplus water to spare, emphasising that both legal and data-driven evidence supports Punjab's position. Speaking to reporters, Mann clarified that there is no dispute over water, as Punjab has already fulfilled its obligations to Haryana. "There is no dispute regarding water. Legally and according to data, it is in favour of Punjab. We have allotted Haryana water for one year; they used up the water in 10 months, and now they are asking for more water for the remaining two months," Mann said. He added that Haryana's request was based on a past practice, when they used to receive more water. However, the circumstances have now changed, the Punjab CM said, according to news agency ANI. "The only logic they [Haryana] are giving is that earlier, too, they had been getting more water [than their share]. The time has changed," he asserted. Mann also highlighted significant improvements in Punjab's canal infrastructure, noting that the state has increased its canal water usage from 21-22 per cent to 60 per cent, reported ANI. "We have improved our canal systems in the state... We used to use 21 per cent to 22 per cent of the water; now we use 60 per cent of water... We have restored our canal infrastructure and we have been using our own water now... We don’t have additional water," the Punjab CM said. Mann's comments come in response to the Bhakra Beas Management Board's (BBMB) recent order to release an additional 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana from the Bhakra-Nangal Dam on April 30. However, the Punjab government has rejected the BBMB's decision, raising concerns over the declining water levels in key reservoirs. On May 1, Mann pointed out that the water levels in Pong Dam, Bhakra Dam, and Ranjit Sagar Dam are 32 feet, 12 feet, and 14 feet below last year's levels. Meanwhile, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Haryana government is trying to steal his state's share of water."Haryana government and the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) government are trying to steal Punjab's share of water...We have requested the central government to repeal the Dam Safety Act 2021. This Act comes under Punjab's jurisdiction...We will not let anyone take Punjab's share of water..." Cheema told ANI. (With ANI inputs)
06 May,2025 03:53 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Union Home Ministry has asked several states to conduct drills on May 7 amid rising tensions with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, government sources said on Monday. The measures to be taken during the drill include operationalisation of air raid warning sirens and training of civilians on civil defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a "hostile attack", they said. The other measures are provisions of crash blackout measures, early camouflaging of vital plants and installations and updation of evacuation plans and their rehearsal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been holding a series of high-level meetings, including with top defence functionaries, as India weighs its options for countermeasures against the April 22 terror attack which left 26 civilians, mostly tourists, dead. Modi has vowed to pursue the perpetrators and those part of the conspiracy to the "ends of the earth" to inflict punishment on them "beyond their imagination". This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
05 May,2025 10:31 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIPolitical leaders across party lines have strongly condemned the alleged desecration of an idol at a temple in Maharashtra’s Pune district and have called for swift and stringent action against those responsible for the incident, news agency PTI reported. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) Member of Parliament (MP) Supriya Sule, who represents the Baramati Lok Sabha seat, expressed outrage over the incident in a post on X on Sunday. "A young man has committed an inappropriate act at the Annapurna Devi temple in Paud village. This incident is deeply disturbing and infuriating. No sensitive person can tolerate such behaviour," Sule said, urging the government to act without delay. पौड गावातील अन्नपूर्णा देवीच्या मंदिरात एका तरुणाने गैरकृत्य केल्याचे समोर आले आहे. ही घटना अतिशय घृणास्पद आणि संतापजनक आहे. कोणतीही संवेदनशील व्यक्ती हे कदापि सहन करणे शक्य नाही. माझी शासनाला विनंती आहे की कृपया या तरुणावर तातडीने कठोरात कठोर कारवाई करावी. सामाजिक सलोखा… — Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) May 4, 2025 Police earlier stated that a 44-year-old man had been arrested while his minor son had been detained after the latter allegedly desecrated the idol in Paud village, located in Mulshi taluka, PTI reported. “We strongly believe that anyone who disturbs social harmony must face the strictest punishment. No one should be spared,” Sule added. Shiv Sena MP from Maval, Shrirang Barne, also condemned the incident, calling it a deliberate provocation intended to hurt Hindu sentiments. "This isn’t just an act by a mentally unstable individual. It’s a calculated attempt to incite. A bandh has been called in Mulshi Taluka, which has received widespread support from the Hindu community. We demand the harshest punishment for the culprits," Barne said on Sunday. The political discourse took a sharper turn on Monday when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Legislative Council (MLC), Chitra Wagh, criticised Sule for not naming the accused in her statement. In a strongly worded post on X, Wagh accused Sule of engaging in appeasement politics and questioned her relative silence. "What’s the matter, elder sister of Baramati? You often express deep concern over international issues like the Russia-Ukraine war. But when such a disgusting and shocking incident takes place in your own constituency, you offer only a brief post and remain silent," Wagh wrote. She also claimed that the desecration was not only an attack on religious beliefs but a veiled threat to Hindu women, adding that the community "may never forgive" Sule for “her inadequate response”. (With PTI inputs)
05 May,2025 08:57 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentPakistan has claimed to have conducted the "training launch" of a surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of 120 kilometres (km) from its Fatah series, the country's state broadcaster reported on Monday, according to news agency ANI. The development comes amid tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists, in Kashmir. The attack has triggered a wave of strong countermeasures by India against Pakistan, holding it responsible for supporting cross-border terrorism. In recent developments, New Delhi has imposed an immediate ban on the direct and indirect import and transit of all goods originating from or exported through Pakistan, regardless of their import status, effectively halting bilateral trade. Amid these developments, Islamabad's state broadcaster, PTV, displayed archival visuals of the training launch test as part of 'Exercise Indus', a statement by Pakistan's military arm, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) told a local news outlet. The launch was aimed at "ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile's advanced navigation system and enhanced accuracy to ensure operational readiness and validate key technical parameters, including the missile’s advanced navigation system and enhanced accuracy", ISPR was quoted as saying. According to ANI, the launch was seen by Indian intelligence sources as a “reckless act of provocation” and a “dangerous escalation” in Pakistan's hostile stance. On May 3, sources informed ANI that Pakistan was preparing for further missile tests, which New Delhi viewed as a desperate attempt to inflame tensions in an already volatile atmosphere. On April 23, a day after the Pahalgam attack, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, convened to assess the security situation. The committee decided to place the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in abeyance until Pakistan "credibly and irrevocably" ends its support for terrorism. Additionally, the Attari Integrated Check Post was ordered to be closed, cutting off a key transit point between the two nations. The Prime Minister reiterated India’s unwavering stance on terrorism during a public address on April 24, emphasising the country’s stands to deliver a “crushing blow” to terror networks. He also granted India’s armed forces “complete operational freedom” to determine the mode, targets, and timing of a suitable response to the Pahalgam attack. (With inputs from ANI)
05 May,2025 07:23 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentA fire broke out on Monday in the air quality management system installed on the premises of the famous Mahakaleshwar temple, one of the 12 jyotirlings in the country, a senior official said. The fire was immediately brought under control with the help of fire tenders, he said. Temple committee chairman and district collector Roshan Singh said nobody was injured in the incident. The incident occurred after a short circuit triggered a fire in a battery of the air quality management system installed by the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board on the roof of the control room at the much-revered shrine. The darshan was briefly suspended due to the incident, and it resumed soon after the situation was brought under control, the official said. Further probe into the incident is underway, said another official.
05 May,2025 04:37 PM IST | Ujjain | PTIRussian President Vladimir Putin on Monday conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a phone conversation that the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror strike must be brought to justice as he strongly condemned the horrific attack. Putin also told Modi that Russia fully supports India's fight against terrorism, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). "President Putin @KremlinRussia_E called PM @narendramodi and strongly condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam, India," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a social media post. "He conveyed deepest condolences on the loss of innocent lives and expressed full support to India in the fight against terrorism," Jaiswal added. "He emphasised that the perpetrators of the heinous attack and their supporters must be brought to justice," he said. The MEA spokesperson said Modi and Putin reiterated their commitment to further deepen India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. The prime minister conveyed his greetings to the Russian president on the celebration of the 80th anniversary of 'Victory Day' Modi also invited Putin for the India-Russia annual summit to be held in India later in the year. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 May,2025 04:25 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe Allahabad High Court in Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, is set to hear a petition filed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regarding the citizenship status of the opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. The central government has filed a petition questioning the Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s dual citizenship. The petition alleges that, in addition to being an Indian citizen, Rahul Gandhi also holds citizenship of the United Kingdom, making him ineligible to serve as a Member of Parliament, as holding a dual citizenship breaks the Indian law. Rahul Gandhi, the member of the opposition party, the Indian National Congress, serves as the 12th leader for the and also as the member of the Lok Sabha for Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, since June 2024. According to ANI, in 2019, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notice to Rahul Gandhi concerning this issue. The notice stated:"It has been further brought out in the complaint that in the Company's Annual Returns filed on October 10, 2005, and October 31, 2006, your date of birth has been given as June 19, 1970, and that you had declared your nationality as British. Further, in the Dissolution application dated 17/02/2009 of the above-referred company, your nationality has been mentioned as British.” The complaint was originally filed by Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, who claimed that a company named Backops Limited was registered in the UK in 2003, with Rahul Gandhi listed as one of its directors and secretaries. Citing company documents, Swamy alleged that Gandhi had declared his nationality as a British citizen in official documents with UK authorities. In the most recent development, the High Court directed the central government to submit a clear and comprehensive response regarding Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship. The court expressed dissatisfaction with the previous hearing and the documentation provided by the MHA. Therefore on the request from the Ministry, the court has granted a 10-day extension for the government to file a revised report explicitly addressing the allegations. Meanwhile the counsel which is representing the MHA is trying to verify the information from the UK government. The next hearing has been scheduled for May 5.
05 May,2025 12:55 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentA missile launched by Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen briefly halted flights and commuter traffic at Israel's main international airport on Sunday after its impact near an access road caused panic among passengers. The attack on Ben-Gurion International Airport came hours before Israeli Cabinet ministers were set to vote on whether to intensify military operations in Gaza. The army was calling up tens of thousands of reserves, Israel's chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said. Israel's army said it was the first time a missile struck the airport grounds since the war in Gaza began. The military said initial findings indicated the likely cause was a technical issue with the interceptor. Israel's paramedic service Magen David Adom said four people were lightly wounded. Multiple international airlines canceled or postponed flights. The war with Hamas in Gaza and then Hezbollah in Lebanon had led a wave of airlines to suspend flights to Israel. Many had resumed in recent months. The Houthis have targeted Israel throughout the war in solidarity with Palestinians, raising their profile at home and internationally as the last member of Iran's self-described 'Axis of Resistance' capable of launching regular attacks on Israel. The U.S. military under President Donald Trump has launched an intensified campaign of daily airstrikes targeting the Houthis since March 15. Early Monday, the rebels issued a warning to airlines that they would carry out "repeated targeting" of Ben-Gurion, Israel's main gateway to the world. International carriers should 'cancel all their flights to the airports of the criminal Israeli enemy, in order to safeguard the safety of their aircraft and passengers,' the Houthis said. Israel vows to respond Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said in a video statement that the group fired a hypersonic ballistic missile at the airport. Houthi rebels have fired at Israel since the war with Gaza began on Oct. 7, 2023. The missiles have mostly been intercepted, although some have penetrated Israel's missile defense systems, causing damage. Israel has struck back against the rebels in Yemen. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the U.S. was supporting Israeli operations against the Houthis. 'It's not bang, bang and we're done, but there will be bangs,' he said. In a later statement, he added Israel would respond to the Houthis 'AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters.' Vote on expanding Gaza war Netanyahu said the security Cabinet was meeting Sunday evening to vote on plans to expand the fighting in Gaza. 'We will operate in additional areas and we will destroy all of the infrastructure above and below ground,' Zamir said. Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir told Israeli Army Radio he wanted to see a 'powerful' expansion of the war, and demanded that Israel bomb 'the food and electricity supplies' in Gaza. An 8-week ceasefire with the Hamas militant group allowed more aid into Gaza and freed some Israeli hostages, but it collapsed in March when Israel resumed strikes. The military has since captured swaths of the coastal enclave. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, according to local health officials. Israel in March halted the entry of goods into Gaza as part of efforts to pressure Hamas to negotiate on Israel's terms for a new ceasefire. That has plunged the territory of 2.3 million people into what is believed to be the worst humanitarian crisis of the war. Hunger has been widespread, and shortages have set off looting. In a confrontation over efforts to support Gaza, Malta's prime minister, Robert Abela, said his country had offered to send a marine surveyor to look into the damage caused to a ship said to be carrying aid and organized by pro-Palestinian activists. Abela said the captain refused. The activists said Friday their vessel was struck by drones, blaming Israel. The ship remained in international waters off Malta. The Israeli military has not commented. New Israeli airstrikes kill children Israeli airstrikes killed at least seven Palestinians, including parents and their children, ages 2 and 4, in southern and central Gaza, Palestinian medics said. The military had no comment. The military said two soldiers were killed in combat in Gaza, bringing the number killed since fighting resumed in March to six. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Israel says 59 captives remain in Gaza, although about 35 are believed to be dead. Israel's offensive has killed more than 52,000 people in Gaza, many of them women and children, according to Palestinian health officials, who do not distinguish between combatants and civilians in their count. The fighting has displaced more than 90% of Gaza's population, often multiple times. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 May,2025 08:28 AM IST | Israel | APThe Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday said that the state will keep burning under the ruling of Mamata Banerjee's government. Over the reports that the West Bengal Governor has recommended the President's rule in the state, if the situation deteriorates further, Adhikari said, "I welcome the report submitted by the governor. But the people of Bengal do not want reports and speeches, but results. The way atrocities are being committed, especially against the Hindus, is worrying... As long as Mamata Banerjee remains in power, Bengal will continue to suffer turmoil and unrest." Earlier today, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury criticised the proposal to impose President's Rule in West Bengal over violence in Murshidabad, saying it cannot be implemented "arbitrarily" and blamed the state administration for the deteriorating law and order. The West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose filed a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs over the Murshidabad violence, which reportedly says that the centre is open to implementing Article 356 (President's rule) if the state's condition further deteriorates. Speaking to ANI, Chowdhury said, "Implementation of Article 356 suddenly is not easy. We have a constitution here, as well as the judiciary. Arbitrarily, it cannot be implemented based on what the governor says. I don't know if there is a condition that the President's rule be implemented here. I understand that law and order are worsening here, and the state administration and the CM herself are responsible for it. For things to be better, this government must be removed, but not from the backdoor by implementing the president's rule." Violence erupted on April 11 in Murshidabad during a protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The violence resulted in two deaths, several injuries, and property damage. Thousands of people fled their homes in search of safety. The protest later spread to other districts, including Malda, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly, where incidents of arson, stone-pelting, and road blockades were reported. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 May,2025 08:27 AM IST | East Midnapore | ANIChief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh on Sunday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is understood to have discussed the security situation arising out of the rising tensions between India and Pakistan over the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. There is no official word on the Modi-Singh meeting yet. The meeting came less than 24 hours after Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi apprised the prime minister on the overall situation in the critical sea lanes in the Arabian Sea. Citing “cross-border linkages” to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians, India has promised severe punishment to those involved in the strike. In a high-level meeting with the top defence brass, PM Modi on last Tuesday gave the armed forces “complete operational freedom” to decide on the mode, targets and timing of the response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Modi also emphasised the national resolve to deal a “crushing blow to terrorism”. In fresh punitive measures, India imposed a complete ban on imports of all goods from Pakistan with immediate effect on the grounds of national security and public policy. Unprovoked firing along LoC Pakistani troops continued unprovoked small arms firing in different sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, prompting effective retaliation by the Indian army, officials said on Sunday. The ceasefire violation by Pakistan was reported from eight places spread across five districts in the Union Territory during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday but there was no report of any casualty, the officials said. This was the 10th consecutive night of unprovoked firing from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir. “During the night of May 3 and 4, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor in J&K. The Indian Army responded promptly and proportionately,” a defence spokesperson said. Since the night of April 24, just hours after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistani troops have been resorting to unprovoked firing at various places along the LoC in J&K, starting from the Kashmir Valley. India cuts Chenab water flow India has stanched the flow of water through the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River and is planning similar measures at the Kishanganga Dam on the Jhelum River, a source said. The source familiar with the matter said these hydroelectric dams — Baglihar in Ramban in Jammu and Kishanganga in north Kashmir — offer India the ability to regulate the timing of water releases.India’s decision to suspend the decades-old treaty follows the Pahalgam attack. The Baglihar Dam has been a longstanding point of contention between the two neighbours, with Pakistan having sought World Bank arbitration in the past. The Kishanganga Dam has faced legal and diplomatic scrutiny, especially regarding its impact on the Neelum River, a tributary of the Jhelum.Agencies Pakistan shuts its ports for Indian ships Pakistan has banned Indian-flagged ships from entering its ports with immediate effect after New Delhi imposed fresh punitive measures, including a ban on the import of goods and entry of Pakistani vessels into its ports. In retaliation, Pakistan late Saturday ordered that any Indian flag carriers will not be allowed to visit any Pakistani port and also barred Pakistani ships from docking at any Indian port. Pakistan Ministry of Maritime Affairs said that it took the step of banning the Indian ships in the context of the current situation, keeping in mind maritime sovereignty, economic interests and national security. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 May,2025 07:55 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe US is expected to push for sweeping changes in India’s policies, ranging from tariff reductions to regulatory overhauls, that could benefit American firms and exporters, under the proposed bilateral trade agreement with India, think tank GTRI said on Sunday. In the agri sector, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said, the US demands scaling back India’s minimum price support programmes for crops like rice and wheat, removing restrictions on genetically modified (GM) imports, and lowering farm tariffs. Similarly, on dairy, the US argues that India’s GM-free feed certification and facility registration protocols effectively bar American dairy imports. Indian rules prohibit imports from animals fed with animal-derived feed, for example, butter from a cow-fed meat due to religious sensitivities. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 May,2025 07:55 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
