News Menu, May 31: PM Modi in Bhopal today; security drill in Pak-bordering states
Good morning. On May 31, 1911, the RMS Titanic, the world's largest and most luxurious ship, was launched from Belfast. Symbolising human ambition and engineering prowess, the ship later sailed into history as one of the biggest tragedies of the 20th century. Let's see what else is waiting to make history with the news menu of India Today.advertisementBreakfast at Bhopal: PM Modi's Ahilyabai MahasammelanPrime Minister Narendra Modi visits Bhopal to mark Ahilyabai Holkar's 300th birth anniversary, addressing a conclave for women empowerment. He releases a 300 commemorative coin and stamp, presents the National Devi Ahilyabai Award, and receives a 'Sindoor Salute' from 15,000 women in sindoor-coloured sarees, honouring Operation Sindoor's triumph.Ahilyabai Holkar (1725–1795), the revered Maratha queen of Malwa, is known for her administrative reforms, temple restorations, and patronage of arts. She is celebrated as a symbol of women's power and justice.
Modi also lays the foundation for 860 crore Kshipra River ghat projects, inaugurates Datia and Satna airports, launches Indore Metro's Yellow Line, and transfers funds for 1,271 Atal Gram Sushasan Bhawans. India Today tracks the event with visuals and walkthroughs.Security Sambar: Operation Shield's Mock DrillsOperation Shield returns with massive mock drills across J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Chandigarh to counter cross-border threats. Key events include Amritsar (drill at 6:00–7:00 PM, blackout 8:00–8:30 PM), Baramulla (drill at 1:30 PM at Showkat Ali Stadium, GDC Ground). India Today tracks this robust security push. From 5:00 PM.Bengal Biryani: Amit Shah's 2026 Election KickoffadvertisementUnion Home Minister Amit Shah lands in Kolkata for a two-day visit, launching the BJP's 2026 West Bengal Assembly election campaign. His agenda peaks with a Karyakarta Sammelan at Netaji Indoor Stadium on June 1, focusing on Murshidabad's border security, infiltration, and Operation Sindoor's success. India Today tracks Shah's arrival and political developments, assessing the BJP's strategy against the TMC's governance narrative.Delhi Delight: BJP's 100-Day MilestoneDelhi's Rekha government marks 100 days with a mega event at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, launching the first urban Ayushman Arogya Mandir at Tis Hazari Court complex. India Today unpacks this showcase of the BJP's governance in the capital.Health Bite: Covid's NB.1.8.1 SurgeThe NB.1.8.1 Omicron subvariant, 1.5 times more contagious, spreads in India and China. Maharashtra reports 84 new cases (467 active), Gujarat 68 (265 active, 11 hospitalised), Karnataka records a third death, and Mizoram sees its first case in seven months. India Today tracks the mild but concerning surge, urging surveillance.Monsoon Mix: Floods and Red AlertsHeavy to extremely heavy rainfall batters Northeast India, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and Sikkim. Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu soaked. Assam's Guwahati faces severe flooding due to Meghalaya runoff, prompting a red alert. Karnataka records its highest May rainfall in 125 years. India Today navigates this monsoon chaos.Political Platter: Congress's Jai Hind SabhaadvertisementAs PM Modi addresses Bhopal, the Congress counters with a 'Jai Hind Sabha' rally in Jabalpur, spotlighting the BJP's alleged failures on governance, inflation, and women's safety. This political face-off tests both parties' strength in Madhya Pradesh. India Today tracks the brewing showdown.Ideological Idli: Shah, Nadda on Integral HumanismAmit Shah and JP Nadda headline a National Commemorative Seminar on May 31–June 1 at Delhi's NDMC Convention Centre, marking 60 years of Deendayal Upadhyaya's Integral Humanism lectures. The event explores the BJP's ideological roots in today's context. India Today follows this intellectual feast. BJP's ideological roots in today's context. India Today follows this intellectual feast.Southern Sizzler: Kamal Haasan Row EscalatesKamal Haasan's refusal to apologise for claiming 'Kannada was born out of Tamil' fuels outrage. The Karnataka Film Chamber and Kannada Rakshana Vedike demand an apology, threatening to burn theatres if Thug Life releases. Tamil actor Vinothini Vaidyanathan and the South Indian Artistes' Association back Haasan, calling the rage misplaced. India Today covers this linguistic firestorm.Global Golgappa: China's Power PlayChina has launched the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed), the world's first intergovernmental mediation body. Critics see it as a tool to expand China's influence, especially with Pakistan as a founding member. India Today unpacks this geopolitical maneuver.advertisementDefence Dal: Tejas Mk1A BoostThe first indigenous centre fuselage for Tejas Mk1A is handed over to HAL, accelerating production and boosting private sector roles. Shivani Sharma tracks this milestone in India's defence of self-reliance. India Today celebrates the achievement.UP's Top Cop Transition: DGP Race Heats UpMay 31 marks DGP Prashant Kumar's last day, potentially the longest-serving UP DGP in 20 years. India Today tracks whether Kumar gets an extension or a new chief takes over.Amaravati Achar: Naidu's Global VisionAndhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu envisions Amaravati as a global leadership hub, aiming to rival Davos. India Today explores his bold plan to elevate Andhra's capital.Parting Bite: The Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, after hitting an iceberg, claiming over 1,500 lives. Ironically, Millvina Dean, the last known survivor, died on the very same date the ship was launched– May 31, 2009, at 97–-closing a tragic chapter in maritime history. Sometimes life comes full circle in strange ways.
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Hindustan Times
17 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Bengal: Political row erupts over the arrest of Sharmishta Panoli
Kolkata: A political row erupted in West Bengal on Sunday over the arrest of social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli by the Kolkata Police earlier this week for her alleged controversial post. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lashed out against the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the state alleging that the arrest of the 22-year-old law student was 'selective enforcement' and the Kolkata Police acted in 'uncharacteristic haste'. 'Sharmistha Panoli, just 22 years old, has been arrested and sent to 14-day judicial custody over a video she had already deleted and publicly apologised for on May 15. There have been no reports of communal unrest linked to her remarks, yet the Kolkata Police is acting with uncharacteristic haste. This is no longer about law and order — it is about selective enforcement,' Amit Malviya, BJP's IT cell head, wrote on X. She was arrested from Gurugram in Haryana by the Kolkata Police late on Friday night and was brought to Kolkata. She was produced before the court on Saturday. The court sent her to judicial custody till June 13. 'Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself has made far more divisive statements, which have had far-reaching consequences, including tragic loss of life and destruction of property on multiple occasions. Will the law be applied to her with the same urgency? India is watching. This isn't just a case in West Bengal — it reflects how a young Hindu woman is being targeted to appease a vote bank. Justice must not be politically convenient,' Malviya wrote. Geert Wilder, Dutch Parliament member and the leader of the right-wing Party for Freedom, also took to social media to extend his support to Panoli. 'Free the brave Sharmishta Panoli! It's a disgrace for the freedom of speech that she was arrested. Don't punish her for speaking the truth about Pakistan and Muhammad. Help her @narendramodi,' he wrote. Pawan Kalyan, deputy chief minister of Andhra Pradesh also slammed the TMC over the arrest while asking the police to act justly. 'During Operation Sindoor, Sharmistha, a law student, spoke out, her words regrettable and hurtful to some. She owned her mistake, deleted the video and apologized. The WB Police swiftly acted, taking action against Sharmistha. But what about the deep, searing pain inflicted upon millions when elected leaders, MPs of TMC, mock Sanatana Dharma? Where is the outrage when our faith is called 'Gandha Dharm'? Where is their apology? Where is their swift arrest?' Kalyan wrote on X. Panoli later deleted the post and issued a public apology, but by then, an FIR had already been filed in Kolkata. HT got in touch with at least three senior TMC leaders. None of them commented on the developments. The Kolkata Police however refuted allegations that Panoli was arrested unlawfully or the police acted in a haste. 'All legal procedures were duly adhered to. All attempts were made to serve notice, but she was found absconding on every occasion. Consequently, a warrant of arrest was issued by the competent court, following which she was apprehended lawfully from Gurgaon. She was thereafter produced before the appropriate magistrate and granted transit remand as per due process of law,' the Kolkata Police wrote on X
Hindustan Times
18 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Shah inaugurates new CFSL building in Kolkata, stresses on modernisation of forensic infrastructure
Kolkata, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday lauded the role of forensic science in cracking cases and said that the Centre has plans to spend ₹2,800 crore for the modernisation of forensic infrastructure in the country. Shah said the Centre would spend ₹1,300 crore to set up nine more campuses of NSFU and another ₹860 crore to establish seven more CFSLs in Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Kerala and Bihar. The Home minister, who inaugurated a new building of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Rajarhat on the outskirts of Kolkata, said that the modernisation of the forensic infrastructure would help the country to establish a foolproof, evidence-based criminal justice system. "We are planning to bring about a ₹2,080 crore project for more modernisation of forensic science facilities, and another ₹200 crore to set up a national forensic data centre where we will be able to store a huge pool of data, and that could be analysed through AI ... This will make the process of entering into a foolproof, evidence-based criminal justice system much smoother," he said. Shah, who was speaking at the inauguration programme of the CFSL said it will help in taking a holistic approach towards the investigation of complex cases in eastern and northeastern states. He said the inauguration marks a significant milestone in the Centre's long-standing efforts to build a secure, transparent and evidence-driven criminal justice system. The Home minister also noted the impact of recent criminal law reforms and said that after the introduction of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita , "In 60 per cent of cases, we have witnessed chargesheets being filed within 60 days." "I would like to speak about BNS, BNSS and BSA. These are brought to protect the constitutional rights of the common people of the country, putting an end to the 160-year-old British law. This is revolutionary and I am sure that innocent people will not be framed and the victim will get quick justice," he said. Shah further stated that in special cases trial was starting within 90 days. "We have also ensured trial in absentia for those who escaped abroad and were operating crime from there. We will conduct their trial even in their absence and punish them. We will then bring them back to the country using our international understanding," Shah said. He said that the Home Ministry will be working on the training and its application in investigations. "From January 2026, we will start taking forensic science to every police station, public prosecutor, and court to make them aware of the importance of forensic science," he said. He said that the Centre is building a CFSL network in the country through the cluster approach so that complicated cases are solved and the entire criminal justice system is changed. "Those who are victims, through the phone all kinds of information and are assured that they do not need to go to the police stations we have arranged for that," he said. "I am proud to say that 17,184 police stations are connected to CCTNS, are online and their data is being generated collectively. The Home ministry monitoring them online. This shows how big a change we have brought in such a short time," he said. The Home Minister said that every state has been offered to have one forensic mobile van. He said the central government is planning to set up seven more CFSL laboratories in Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Kerala and Bihar. The CSFL West Bengal, would help in cracking cases from Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Sikkim, Assam and all the states in the northeastern region would benefit, he said. "It gives me immense pleasure to see the Indian government with a vision for several years. It is a moment of immense satisfaction as we continue to strengthen each link in the chain of modern forensic and investigative infrastructure," Shah said. "This will significantly contribute to strengthening the criminal justice system in West Bengal and the Northeast," Shah said."It is a moment of immense satisfaction as we continue to strengthen each link in the chain of modern forensic and investigative infrastructure," he said.
Hans India
19 minutes ago
- Hans India
Free Sharmistha, don't make West Bengal another North Korea: Kangana Ranaut
Joining other celebrities in supporting creator Sharmistha Panoli, Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut on Sunday said the former's arrest over a now-deleted social media post was 'unjustified' and amounted to a North Korea-type dictatorship. Kangana, known for essaying characters of strong women in her films, also expressed concerns over the damage caused to the influencer-cum-law student's career after her arrest by Kolkata Police. 'No girl or daughter should be subjected to such high-handedness,' said Ranaut while talking to the media on the sidelines of an event in Delhi. Targeting the Trinamool government in West Bengal, the National Award-winning actress and BJP MP from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, said, 'I request the government of West Bengal not to make the state another North Korea.' 'Every citizen has democratic rights…if she made an objectionable comment, she also apologised for it later. She seems to have made the comment in a general context. Youngsters today use such language in the normal course,' she said, putting up a strong case for Sharmistha's release. Earlier, actor-cum-politician and Andhra Pradesh's Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan showed solidarity with Sharmistha and asked West Bengal Police to act justly. Condemning the alleged double standards of the state police on matters related to religion, Kalyan said in a post on X, 'But what about the deep, searing pain inflicted upon millions when elected leaders, MPs of TMC, mock Sanatana Dharma? Where is the outrage when our faith is called 'Gandha Dharm'? Where is their apology? Where is their swift arrest?' 'Blasphemy must be condemned, always! Secularism isn't a shield for some and a sword for others. It must be a two-way street. West Bengal Police, the nation is watching. Act justly for all,' said the BJP MP Twenty-two-year-old Sharmistha was arrested on Saturday from Gurugram in Haryana, by Kolkata Police for posting videos containing communal remarks during Operation Sindoor. Sharmistha had later deleted the video and issued a public apology. The FIR filed against her at Garden Reach Police Station on May 15 includes charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for promoting enmity on religious grounds, deliberately outraging religious feelings, and provoking a breach of peace. After her arrest, the law student was produced in court, which sent her to 14-day judicial custody.
