
India-Pak Tensions: Centre Orders Security Drills At 259 Sites Including Delhi, Mumbai
Amid the simmering tension between India and Pakistan at the LoC, the central government on Tuesday directed all the states to carry out mock drills to assess preparedness against "new and complex threats" that have emerged following the Pahalgam terror attack. The nationwide mock drills are set to take place on May 7 at 259 locations in 244 districts across the country.
The BJP Parliamentary Party office has asked all BJP MPs to participate in the drill as ordinary citizens and cooperate with local administration. State presidents are also requested to work with senior office bearers and district presidents to ensure smooth execution, news agency ANI reported, citing sources.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Hindu
32 minutes ago
- The Hindu
U.P. govt suppressed Maha Kumbh death toll, says Rahul Gandhi, cites BBC report
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday (June 11, 2025) cited a BBC report to allege that the number of people who died in stampedes during the Maha Kumbh was suppressed by the Uttar Pradesh government and accused the BJP of having no accountability. "BBC report reveals that figures of deaths in Kumbh Mela stampede were hidden. Like in COVID, the bodies of the poor were erased from the statistics. Like after every major railway accident the truth is suppressed," he said in a post on X. "This is the BJP model - if there is no counting of the poor, then there is no accountability either!" the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said. On Tuesday, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav cited the same media report to accuse the Uttar Pradesh government of lying about the death toll in the January 29 Maha Kumbh stampede and said that those who provide "false statistics" are not worthy of public trust. Mr. Yadav made the remarks in a post on X, citing a BBC report which claimed that 82 people died in the stampede. The toll is significantly higher than the official figure of 37.


India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
"You have no idea how many times that quotation has been thrown back at me!" EAM on his comment about Europe
Brussels [Belgium], June 12 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, while speaking at GMF Brussels Forum 2025, explained his comment on Europe that he made in 2022, saying that in these three years, Europe's stance has evolved. 'Somewhere Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe's problems are the world's problems but the world's problems are not Europe's problems. That if it is you, it's yours, if it is me, it is ours. I see reflections of that,' Jaishankar had said this when India was pressed to take a rougher stance against Russia on their conflict with Ukraine. When asked by a journalist if Europe has evolved from it, Jaishankar jested, saying that the quote was 'thrown at him' frequently. 'You have no idea how many times that quotation has been thrown back at me!' he said. 'I do want to say this we're now in 2025 and I think there's been a big change where Europe is concerned in these three years which is a large part of being on your own or being part of a multipolar architecture one is to realize your own capabilities and limitations and compulsions and relationships. So you are more self-reliant in a way, but the other part of it is also to try to put yourself in the shoes of the other party. It's not easy to do,' he said. Jaishankar stressed that he was not justifying anything, but Europe should have put itself in Russia's shoes, if they truly know what they want. 'I know Russia is a big issue right now. My honest answer to you is I don't think Europeans had a good sense of how the Russians felt about the relationship or about the direction of events when people say we didn't see that coming, you normally don't see that. I'm not justifying anything,' he said. Jaishankar said that to be a good practitioner in international relations, one has to understand the behaviour and practices of other countries. 'I'm just saying that in international relations if you have to be a good practitioner, if you have to do well even for your own country or for your own group of countries. It's smart to try to understand the thinking processes, the interests, the anxieties, the behavioral traits of other parties and I certainly didn't see that I would say in respect of Russia also,' he said. Jaishankar pointed out that Europe's narrative of evolution after the formation of the Russian state is starkly different from the Russian version. 'So in fact often the narrative you hear from Russia is so starkly different about let us say the evolution of Europe after 1992. Europe has one version or much of Europe has one version, Russia has a very different version,' he said. Jaishankar said that the quote in question here meant to draw attention of Europe to Asia, African, and Latin American countries- the third world- while Europe made any decision. 'So the point, the quotation which was recalled, was more like okay look worry about the rest of us as well. We folks in Asia and Africa and Latin America, we are also taking a hit on at that time 2022 on energy, on food prices, on fertilizers so spare some thought to us and when you make your decisions factor that in that was the intent then,' he said. Jaishankar said that operating in a multipolar world is like playing a game of chess, one has to anticipate the moves of other players too. 'The larger point I would make is in a multipolar world one is of course to in a way you're more selfish but you also have to be more realistic and some ways smarter in trying. It's more of a chess game. You've got to see many more moves ahead which means you got to be able to have the ability to read the minds of the other players as well,' he said. (ANI)


India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
BJP opposed earlier caste census report citing data inconsistency, why is it opposing a re-survey now: K'taka Dy CM
New Delhi [India], June 12 (ANI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday questioned the BJP's intention in questioning the state government's decision to re-conduct the caste census. 'The BJP was opposed to the earlier caste census, citing data sanctity issues. We have announced a redo of the census, but the BJP is still opposing this too,' he said, while speaking to reporters here. Asked about BJP criticising the decision to reconduct the caste census, he said, 'The BJP did not accept the earlier caste census report, why the opposition now when we are trying to address the concerns? We are not rejecting the earlier census, we are only trying to correct the shortcomings of the earlier survey in order to allay concerns of several communities.' Asked if the survey would be conducted in a scientific manner this time, he said, 'The modalities would be discussed in the Cabinet meeting. Several communities, including Lambanis, Jains, Bestha communities had met me and raised concerns on the earlier survey. The previous survey was also done scientifically through door-to-door visits, but some of the people were hesitant to share their caste details. Our national leaders have given us certain guidelines. The AICC President too has given us many suggestions. The CM will discuss this in the Cabinet meeting and make a decision.' To a question of whether the government gave in to the pressure from powerful communities, he said, 'We have yielded to the pressures from all communities. We have yielded to the pressure from the media too.' When pointed out that the Veerashaiva community has welcomed the government's decision to redo the caste census, he said, 'Seers from Veerashaiva and Vokkaliga communities called me up and welcomed the decision. I appeal to all the seers to nudge their community members to participate in the survey and provide correct details.' Asked if it was D K Shivakumar's victory in convincing the High Command for a resurvey, he said there was no winner or loser in this matter. When questioned if there was a need for the state to reconduct the caste census when the Centre has announced a caste census along with the general census, he said, 'This is our Party's agenda, the BJP has copied it. Rahul Gandhi has always been advocating proportionate representation for the backwards classes.' Replying to a question on ED raids on Congress MLAs and MPs in the alleged Valmiki Corporation corruption case, he said, 'There is no link between our MLAs and Valmiki Corporation scam. Our leaders have not used the money in any election. As much as 90% of the money misused by the officials has been recovered.' (ANI)