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New Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
‘Marathi meinbolunya Hindi mein'
What's in a language? Lots, if we are talking about the linguistic fencing in Maharashtra over Marathi and Hindi. A day before eminent lawyer Ujjwal Nikam was nominated to the Rajya Sabha, PM Narendra Modi called him. He made an unusual request: Which language should he speak with the lawyer? Hindi or Marathi? Here is Nikam, in his own words, 'The PM called me in the morning and the first thing he asked was—'Marathi meinboluya Hindi mein'? And then he spoke with me in Marathi and switched to Hindi. First, I laughed, then requested him to speak in whichever language he prefers, as he knows both Hindi and Marathi.' B.L. Santhosh, BJP general secretary (organisation) termed this the 'perfect antidote'. He placed the PM's question in perspective: 'The PM by this gave a befitting slap to those who are creating a row and trouble in the name of the local language by allegedly targeting non-Marathi speaking people, as well as honoured the language of Maharashtra—Marathi—by speaking first in Marathi. That is called a political antidote against those who are fermenting animosity in the name of language.' One wife only: DoPT sets LTC rule Babudom just got its moment of comic relief, straight from the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT). Its new circular aimed at clarifying Leave Travel Concession (LTC) rules for central government employees, declared: 'Not more than one wife' is eligible to avail the LTC facility. What! Yes, that line is now part of official government documentation. The circular defines who is 'family' to qualify for LTC benefits. It lists the ineligible categories before dropping the punchline. Guffaws echoed through the power corridors after reading it. Some wondered aloud if David Dhawan — of 'Biwi No. 1' fame — was on a secret sabbatical, moonlighting as a government typist. Humour aside, the DoPT insists the clarification was necessary. 'This department receives so many references, RTI applications, and grievances from employees across different offices regarding LTC rules,' the circular notes.
New Indian Express
28-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
LTC rule in focus after terror attack
The presence of several government employees, including two to three Intelligence Bureau personnel, at Baisaran meadow in Kashmir's Pahalgam may be a coincidence, but they had one thing in common: the government's revised policy of encouraging them to travel to the Union Territory on vacation. The Centre's tweaked Leave Travel Concession (LTC) norms encourage government employees to go on vacation to J&K and allow even a lower-grade official to avail of air travel facilities. Among those killed include IB officer Manish Ranjan, Navy lieutenant Vinay Narwal, young Air Force Staff Corporal Tage Hailyang and an SBI employee Shaileshbhai Kalathiya, besides two more unidentified intelligence personnel. Incidentally, the government, in its list of those killed, marked Manish as 'Excise Inspector', but earlier at the incident spot, in the first-person account given by his family members, he was identified as an IB official. IB sources said, other than Manish, two more agency officials were vacationing in J&K and may have been hurt. 'In no way we can officially identify our officials dead or injured,' a source said. Manish was also on an LTC trip with his family when the attack unfolded. One nation, one poll: Netas' blues As the BJP pushes a nationwide campaign to build support for the 'One Nation, One Election' initiative, many political leaders, including some from the BJP, face an existential dilemma. They argue that this reform could jeopardise the political futures of many aspirants across parties. Typically, candidates who don't secure a Lok Sabha ticket turn to Assembly or municipal elections as alternative routes. However, with synchronised elections, this fallback option would disappear for the next five years. As one BJP leader put it, 'Without staggered elections, leaders risk losing relevance over time, and new contenders could emerge. The competition for tickets will become fiercer than ever.' Condolences pour in from US In his post-Pahalgam killing reaction, President Donald Trump, in his typical style, referred to India and Pakistan as close friends and expressed confidence that they would 'figure it out'—a variation of his usual tendency to offer mediation in global conflicts. Be that as it may, the outpouring of condolences and messages of solidarity from the United States was overwhelming. President Trump and Vice President JD Vance called Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Within three days of the attack, 75 members of Congress, 25 Senators, four governors, and almost all top US officials and the US Commission on International Religious Freedom sent in their condolences. Synergy between Delhi govt & police With the BJP in power in the NCT of Delhi, there appears to be a perfect synergy between the National Capital's police establishment and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Recently, Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora was heard issuing quick orders on a missive the CM sent him. It is learnt that Delhi's top cop has asked the Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) heading the Capital's police districts that complaints related to the police department coming from Delhi CM's 'Jansunwai' programme must be responded to within three days and the response should also be forwarded to the Delhi government's vigilance unit. Gupta holds a 'Jansunwai' programme at her office thrice a week, during which she listens to public grievances.
India Today
23-04-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Bengal techie based in US, government staffer on holiday killed in Pahalgam
Two residents of Kolkata were tragically killed in a brutal terrorist attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday. The victims have been identified as Bitan Adhikari and Sameer Adhikari, 40, had travelled to Kashmir with his wife, Sohini Adhikari, 37, and their 3-year-old son, Hridaan Adhikari, for an eight-day trip to the Valley from April 16 with a return to Kolkata scheduled for April Bitan was shot dead by militants during the terrorist attack in front of his wife and child. His wife and child survived and are currently awaiting the return of his body after the autopsy in Srinagar. Bitan Adhikari, a techie working in Tata Consultancy Services, had recently returned from the US. Bitan Adhikari with his wife and child Another victim, Sameer Guha, a 52-year-old central government employee under the Ministry of Statistics, was also killed in the same attack by the terrorists. Guha, a resident of Behala, was visiting Kashmir with his wife and daughter when the assailants struck. Sameer Guha advertisementApart from them, another victim from West Bengal, IB Officer, Manish Ranjan, was shot dead in front of his wife and children in the horrific IB officer had come to Kashmir on a family holiday. Ranjan had been working in the ministerial section of the IB's Hyderabad office for the past two years. He was on a Leave Travel Concession (LTC) trip with his family when the attack unfolded in the general area of Baisaran in Anantnag West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed her grief and extended support to the families of the victims. In a post on X, she said, "As per latest updated information made available to us, 3 persons from our State have died in the most unfortunate Kashmir violence."Further speaking about the arrangements to bring the family members of the victims, she said, "All arrangements are being put up by our administration at Delhi Airport to help the family members of the victims and their onward journey to Kolkata. Flight is likely to arrive in Kolkata at 8.30 pm today. Our Resident Commissioner's office in Delhi is in touch with the family members. I am personally overseeing, and our senior officers are working hands on.""A grim hour for all of us. Our victims are: Bitan Adhikari (of Baishnabghata, Kolkata), Samir Guha (Sakher Bazar, Kolkata), and Manish Ranjan (Jhalda, Purulia). No word is enough as condolence for their families, even while my heart goes out to them. We stand by the families."Tune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Kolkata#West Bengal
Hans India
23-04-2025
- Hans India
Hyderabad Intelligence Bureau Officer killed by militants during family holiday in Kashmir
Hyderabad: Manish Ranjan, an official with the Intelligence Bureau (IB) hailing from Hyderabad, was fatally shot by militants in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday, while he was reportedly on a Leave Travel Concession (LTC) tour with his family. Preliminary accounts suggest that Ranjan was attacked in the presence of his wife and children. As the attackers closed in, he instructed his family to retreat and escape the area. Tragically, he was shot and killed while trying to protect them. A native of Bihar, Ranjan was employed in the administrative division of the IB. Jammu and Kashmir Police told reporters that his body is expected to arrive in Srinagar by Wednesday morning. The incident has deeply saddened both his family and associates in the intelligence service.
News18
23-04-2025
- Politics
- News18
IB Officer, Holidaying In Pahalgam, Shot In Front Of Wife, Children In J&K Attack
Last Updated: The Intelligence Bureau officer, identified as Manish Ranjan, was working in the ministerial section of the IB's Hyderabad office for the past two years. An Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer from Hyderabad was shot dead in front of his wife and children in a terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam that shook the entire nation on Tuesday. The IB officer was shot dead while he was on vacation with his family. The IB officer, identified as Manish Ranjan, was a native of Bihar. Ranjan had been working in the ministerial section of the IB's Hyderabad office for the past two years. According to reports, he was on a Leave Travel Concession (LTC) trip with his family when the deadliest attack unfolded in the general area of Baisaran in Anantnag district. The family and left for Kashmir on Sunday. According to the initial reports, the officer's wife and children are safe. Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir and has strongly condemning the heinous act. 'Such cowardly strikes cannot shake the spirit and resilience of the Indian people," CM Reddy said. He also urged the Union government to take the strictest action against the terrorist groups involved. The Chief Minister prayed for the souls of the ones who lost their lives to rest in peace and extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.
