PM Modi directs all-out efforts to safeguard interests of Indian citizens amid West Asia conflict

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chairing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Thursday, issued directions for making all efforts to safeguard the interests of Indian citizens and the country’s diaspora from the adverse impact of the West Asia conflict.

The CCS meeting was held to review the situation in the context of the ongoing West Asia conflict and measures taken by various Ministries and Departments to ensure adequate energy and fertiliser supplies and safety of Indian seafarers, according to an official statement issued after the meeting.

During the meeting, the fertiliser requirement for the ensuing Rabi season was assessed, and alternative sources of fertilisers were also discussed.

The Prime Minister said that all measures should be taken for ensuring uninterrupted supply of fertilisers.

The situation regarding seafarers serving on domestic as well as foreign-flagged vessels in conflict zones was also deliberated with the Prime Minister directing that a mechanism be established to provide timely information, emergency assistance and counselling to seafarers and their families. The discussion comes in the backdrop of commercial ships coming under attack in the Middle East region.

PM Modi also highlighted that in order to ensure energy independence, emphasis should be made on renewable energy sources including solar energy and other non-fossil-fuel based sources.

The Prime Minister also said that a whole-of-government approach should continue to be adopted to tackle the challenges arising due to the crisis. He said that a unified coordinated mechanism be put in place for regular monitoring of all the developments to ensure expeditious implementation of appropriate measures to safeguard the interests of the citizens.

The Cabinet Secretary briefed the CCS about the present geo-political situation. He spoke about the initiatives taken to ensure adequate supply of petroleum products, including LNG, LPG and fertilisers. He said that sources for procurement of LPG have already been diversified and the overall stock and supply position of major petroleum products remain adequate.

He further stated that the availability of adequate crude oil has enabled Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) refineries to operate at utilisation levels exceeding 100 per cent, ensuring continued production of petrol, diesel and other petroleum products. Initiatives have also been taken to expand Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections, which have resulted in a substantial increase in PNG connections.

The top bureaucrat also said that the government is facilitating industrial substitution of LPG through expansion of the National Gas Grid, augmentation of LNG imports and regasification infrastructure, expansion of City Gas Distribution networks, and time-bound pipeline and last-mile connectivity approvals under the Pipeline Infrastructure Order, 2026.

–IANS

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INDIA bloc stages ‘Who gave the order’ protest at Parliament; NDA says ‘raise meaningful questions’

New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) The Congress party and its allies in the INDIA bloc on Thursday staged a protest at Makar Dwar of the Parliament, demanding answers from the NDA government over the alleged use of lethal force against student protesters during the July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ march against NEET paper leaks.

Holding banners carrying the message ‘Who gave the orders?’, INDIA bloc MPs gathered at the Parliament premises and sought accountability over the police action against students who had participated in the demonstration against NEET-related irregularities and paper leaks.

The protest came a day after Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, raised serious questions over the alleged use of force against the students and sought answers from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on who had ordered the reported “firing” during the NEET protests.

The BJP and its allies strongly objected to LoP Gandhi’s remarks, particularly his allegation that the Union Home Minister had directed action against the protesting students, and questioned the basis of his claims.

Speaking to IANS, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal, reacting to the allegations, said, “Whatever Rahul Gandhi says, people no longer take his statements seriously because he only knows how to make allegations. If there is any truth in even one of his allegations, then he should prove it.”

Speaking to IANS, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC also criticised the Congress leader and accused him of focussing on political confrontation rather than constructive discussion in Parliament.

“Rahul Gandhi is not the Leader of the Opposition; he is the ‘Leader of Propaganda.’ He is only interested in creating disruption, and everyone has seen what I consider his double standards. If you genuinely want constructive discussions, then raise meaningful questions. Debate the Anti-Paper Leak Bill and highlight the issues faced by students. However, your only focus is targeting the Prime Minister and the Home Minister,” she claimed.

The Congress and its INDIA bloc allies, however, defended LoP Gandhi’s questions and maintained that the Union Home Ministry must respond to allegations concerning the police action against the students.

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari, talking to IANS, said, “He (Amit Shah) is the Union Home Minister of the Government of India and is accountable to the House under Article 75 of the Constitution. Additionally, it’s a tradition that when the LoP is present in the House, the Prime Minister should also attend. Even if the PM is not attending, the Home Minister should.”

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ram Gopal Yadav also questioned what he described as differing standards in how incidents involving the use of force are viewed.

“Of course, he (the Home Minister) should answer. When firing took place in Ayodhya, it was attributed to Mulayam Singh, and when it happened here, it was carried out by the administration. Look at the double standards,” Yadav said.

SP MP Awadhesh Prasad defended LoP Gandhi’s right to raise the issue in Parliament and criticised the manner in which his remarks were handled.

“Indeed, he was not allowed to speak. It is possible that there were objections to the manner in which he was speaking, but that is not appropriate… No one has the right to deny him that right. He should have been allowed to present his full views. Preventing him from doing so is against the dignity and spirit of democracy,” Prasad told IANS.

Revolutionary Socialist Party MP N. K. Premachandran also backed LoP Gandhi’s allegations and said that the Union Home Ministry should respond to the questions raised over the police action against the protesting students.

“What Rahul Gandhi said yesterday is very clear: That the firing in the national Capital against students and the brutal, inhuman lathi-charge were carried out under the directions of the Union Home Ministry. Who has to respond to this? The Union Home Ministry should,” Premachandran said.

–IANS

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Punjab Police foil targeted killing plot; five operatives linked to Bhagwanpuria gang held

Chandigarh, July 15 (IANS) In a significant breakthrough, Punjab Police have foiled a targeted killing plot with the arrest of five operatives linked to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, being operated by US-based Husandeep Singh, said Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav here on Tuesday.

Two weapons– PX5 pistol and .32 bore pistol – were recovered from their possession in the intelligence-led operation jointly conducted by Counter-Intelligence Punjab and the district police of Amritsar (Rural) and Batala. Those arrested have been identified as Lovepreet Singh, Sikandar Kumar, alias Gola, and Onkarpreet, alias Jashan — residents of Shahabad village in Batala; Gagandeep, alias Giani, a resident of Gandhi Camp in Batala and Mehakpreet Singh, a resident of Amritsar.

DGP Yadav said preliminary investigations revealed that incarcerated gangster Bhagwanpuria, currently lodged in Silchar Jail in Assam, had hatched a conspiracy to carry out a target killing of an alleged rival gang member to avenge the recent murder of his mother, an incident that has further intensified the turf war between rival criminal factions.

The DGP said Bhagwanpuria had been conspiring to execute this target killing through his US-based associate Husandeep Singh, who collaborated with ground handlers, including Lovepreet Singh, to mobilise shooters and execute the plan. The first breakthrough came when Amritsar Rural Police, led by Senior Superintendent of Police Maninder Singh, arrested an individual identified, Mehakpreet Singh.

On being interrogated, he disclosed that one Sikandar Kumar had crucial information about the shooters and the execution plan. Sharing operational details, SSP (Batala) Suhail Qasim Mir said that acting swiftly on this information, Batala Police traced Sikandar Kumar and apprehended him along with his aide, Onkarpreet. Further interrogation led to the arrest of another associate, Gagandeep, he said.

He said during sustained questioning, accused Sikandar Kumar revealed that he was being handled by one Lovepreet Singh, a key coordinator in this plot, who was eventually apprehended by the police in a separate operation. The SSP said that the accused, Lovepreet, disclosed that the entire plan was being orchestrated by Bhagwanpuria’s close associate, Husandeep Singh, remotely from the US. The objective of the plot was to eliminate an alleged rival gang member, he added.

–IANS

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MP, Chhattisgarh continue to experience turbulent weather; rain, thunderstorm, lightning in several districts

Bhopal, May 4 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh continue to face extreme weather conditions as thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds wreak havoc across multiple districts.

The Meteorological Department has issued alerts for several regions, warning of high-speed winds and hailstorms.

The turbulent spell of storms, heavy rain, and hailstorms continues to grip Madhya Pradesh.

A weather alert remains in effect across 45 districts, including Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Ujjain, and Jabalpur. The relentless downpour, accompanied by thunder and fierce winds, has drenched Bhopal, Indore, and Khandwa, with Indore experiencing an especially intense deluge since 5 p.m.

According to local weather department, heavy rainfall and drizzle across the state accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning continues to affect multiple regions, including Bhopal, Vidisha, Raisen, Rajgarh, Narmadapuram, Betul, Harda, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Khargone, Barwani, Alirajpur, Jhabua, Dhar, Indore, Ratlam, Agar, Mandsaur, Neemuch, Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, Sheopur, Singrauli, Sidhi, Rewa, Mauganj, Satna, Anuppur, Shahdol, Umaria, Dindori, Katni, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Chhindwara, Seoni, Mandla, Balaghat, Panna, Damoh, Sagar, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Maihar, and Pandhurna.

These weather conditions have led to waterlogging in several areas, disrupting daily activities.

The weather department has predicted rainfall or drizzle, with thunderstorms and lightning likely to occur in the districts including Shivpuri, Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, Sheopur, Singrauli, Sidhi, Rewa, Mauganj, Dindori, Katni, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Chhindwara, Seoni, Mandla, Balaghat and Pandhurna. These districts have already experienced intense thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning strikes. Wind speeds reaching 50-60 km per hour are expected at isolated places of all these districts.

Hailstorms have also been reported in these areas, adding to the damage risks. While storms with moderate gusts at 40-50 km per hour is likely to occur at isolated places in districts of Bhopal, Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore, Rajgarh, Narmadapuram, Betul, Harda, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Khargone, Barwani, Alirajpur, Jhabua, Dhar, Agar, Mandsaur, Neemuch, Guna, Satna, Anuppur, Shahdol, Umaria, Panna, Damoh, Sagar, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, and Maihar. The weather department predicted scattered rainfall at select locations in Sehore, Ujjain, Dewas, and Shajapur. These districts will experience isolated showers.

According to experts, weather patterns to three cyclonic circulations and two atmospheric troughs traversing the region. These factors are expected to sustain the current conditions, with storms and rainfall likely to persist across the state until May 7.

In Bardwaha village of Chhatarpur, according to reports, the raging tempest led to the collapse of a long-defunct BSNL tower on Saturday evening. Further south, nature unleashed its fury in Pipalhela village of Rajgarh, where a bolt of lightning struck a tree late on Saturday night. The tree ignited instantly, reduced to ashes by the storm’s intensity.

Villagers acted swiftly, dousing the flames with water to prevent the fire from spreading, reports said. The Meteorological Department forecasts the continuation of these volatile conditions over the next few days. Bhopal, in particular, is bracing for a dust storm, similar to the one that shrouded the city on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh remains in the grip of shifting weather due to the effects of a Western Disturbance. For the past several days, evenings have heralded strong winds and rainfall, with Saturday witnessing widespread showers and hailstorms in various locations. Wind speeds surged between 50 and 60 kilometres per hour.

Tragically, a teacher lost his life to a lightning strike in Surguja, further underscoring the severity of the conditions. The meteorological outlook suggests little relief for the state, with the turbulent weather expected to persist until May 6.

Sunday’s forecast of Chhattisgarh weather department suggested cloudy skies, sporadic showers, and thunderstorms, with daytime temperatures reaching 39 degrees Celsius and night-time temperatures dipping to around 23 degrees.

In Raipur, sudden weather shifts on Saturday afternoon ushered in intense winds, rain, and localised hailstorms, cooling the atmosphere by nightfall. In the past 24 hours, light to moderate rainfall was recorded at many places.

The maximum temperature in the Raipur division was below normal, and in the remaining divisions, it was appreciably below normal.

The highest maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius was recorded in Bilaspur, and the lowest minimum temperature of 18.2 degrees Celsius was recorded in Pendra.

Storm-driven rains continued to lash the Bilaspur division, with hailstorms striking Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi, reinforcing the unpredictable nature of this weather spell.

Authorities remain vigilant as residents brace for further atmospheric disturbances.

–IANS

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