In an altercation in the middle of a road, AAP MLA Gurdit Singh Sekhon from Faridkot accused local BJP leader Sunny Brar of violating the model code of conduct
During the civic body elections in Faridkot on Tuesday morning, a heated confrontation broke out between ruling party workers and a BJP leader.
In a dramatic turn of events, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Faridkot Gurdit Singh Sekhon cornered local BJP leader Sunny Brar, accusing him of violating the model code of conduct.
Sekhon criticised Brar, alleging that he was misusing Army machinery to gain an unfair advantage in the elections. According to AAP leaders, an Army school bus was being operated under the influence of the BJP leader to illegally ferry voters directly to the polling booths.
A video captures a tense face-to-face altercation in the middle of the road, right next to the stationary bus. AAP supporters can be heard raising slogans and demanding accountability, while BJP leader Sunny Brar argues back as a crowd gathers. The political standoff briefly brought local traffic to a standstill.
MLA Sekhon and other opposition leaders demanded immediate intervention of election observers to impound any unauthorised vehicle being used to influence voters and to ensure a transparent, fair voting process in the municipal council elections.
Sunny Brar refuted the allegations, saying he was just standing near the bus and it had nothing to do with ferrying voters to polling booth.
Chandigarh airport alert: New flights to Pune, Bengaluru from June 1
Shaheed Bhagat Singh International (SBSI) Airport, Chandigarh, will have enhanced connectivity with Pune and Bengaluru as two more direct flights will be added to the summer schedule from June 1.
Air India Express is set to start a daily flight between Chandigarh and Pune which will depart from the SBSI Airport at 12.45 am and reach Pune around 3.10 am. It will depart from Pune at 3:45 am and arrive at Chandigarh at 6.05 am daily.
It will be the first flight to operate post midnight at the Chandigarh airport under the summer schedule.
The connectivity between Chandigarh and Bengaluru has also been enhanced further with the new flight departing from SBSI Airport at 6:40 am and reaching Kempegowda Airport Terminal 2, Bengaluru, at 9:55 am. It will depart from Bengaluru at 9.15 pm and arrive in Chandigarh at 12:15 am.
Bookings for the new flights have already started, officials said.
After the commencement of this flight from June 1, there will be five non-stop flights between Chandigarh and Bengaluru to cater to the passenger load.
At present, the lone flight between Chandigarh-Pune (10.50 pm-1:10 am) and Pune-Chandigarh (3 am to 5.20 am) is operated by Indigo Airlines.
Not in favour of Pakistan joining Abraham Accords: Defence Minister Asif
Among negotiators, UAE and Bahrain are already members of the Accords, and Trump expects Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt and Jordan to sign up
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that he was not in favour of Islamabad joining the Abraham Accords to normalise relations with Israel.
His comments came after US President Donald Trump asked countries involved in the peace talks with Iran to sign on to the Abraham Accords, which deal with establishing diplomatic, economic and security ties between Israel and Arab nations.
“Personally, I don’t think we should join any such accord which clashes with our fundamental ideologies,” Asif said during an interview on a talk show with Samaa TV on Monday night.
Among the negotiators, the UAE and Bahrain are already members of the Accords, and Trump expects Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt and Jordan to sign up.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister also talked about his country’s long-standing position to not accept Israel until the Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital is established.
“We have a very clear stance that it is not acceptable to us,” he said.
The minister also highlighted the question of credibility. “How will you sit with those people whose word cannot be trusted for even a single day?” he asked.
He also mentioned Pakistan’s passport, which says it is not valid for travel to Israel.
Asif is among the politicians who vehemently oppose any idea of normalisation of ties with the Jewish state. Last month, he called Israel a “curse for humanity”, while accusing it of carrying out genocide in the region.
India, US sign landmark pact to secure critical minerals supply chain amid China concerns
India, US sign landmark pact to secure critical minerals supply chain amid China concerns
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted strategic partnership between US and India and its importance for respective national interests of both countries
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar sign an MOU at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, on Tuesday. Image credits/Reuters
India and the US on Tuesday firmed up a key framework for cooperation in ensuring steady supplies of critical minerals, a move that comes amid growing concerns over China’s export controls on rare earth elements and strategic metals vital for global technology supply chains.
The framework on securing supplies of mining and processing of critical minerals was signed on the sidelines of the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting here.
“It is one more sign of how close our cooperation has been in a world where there are so many challenges but also so many opportunities,” he said.
In his remarks, Rubio highlighted the strategic partnership between the US and India and its importance for the respective national interests of both countries.
“It is a tangible example of that,” Rubio said referring to the inking of the pact.
“We are two countries that have strategic interests in ensuring reliable long-term access to critical minerals and supply chains that are important for our innovation economy,” he said.
A readout by the US said the agreement marked a milestone in the strategic partnership between the two nations to ensure that the foundational elements required for advanced technology and energy are available within trusted networks.
Through this framework, the US and India will engage in international efforts to protect sensitive supply chains from coercive market practices and reduce our collective vulnerability to single-source monopolies, it said.
The US government is mobilising unprecedented resources to secure critical mineral supply chains, supporting projects with more than USD 30 billion in investments, loans, and other support in partnership with the private sector.
These investments, along with Pax Silica and our reinvigorated diplomatic and commercial engagement are having a multiplier effect, mobilising private capital many times greater than government outlays, it said.
Rubio also mentioned the US-backed Pax Silica initiative.
“The groundwork was laid for this on February 4 when you joined us at the Critical Minerals Forum that we hosted in Washington DC,” he said, adding it gained momentum after India signed on to Pax Silica.
“Today, because we both have a strategic and shared interest in the fact that vibrant innovation economies such as ours cannot afford to leave the foundational materials of these industries vulnerable to single source monopoly that could deny us these things, not just in a time of conflict, but as a leverage point contrary to our sovereign national interests,” he said.
“I’m glad we were able to sign this because in addition to being an important document and important agreement, it brings a tangible example of the strategic partnership between the US and India,” he said.
The Pax Silica initiative was launched in December last year to build a secure, resilient, and innovation-driven supply chain for critical minerals and artificial intelligence (AI).
ndian Army brings mechanised infantry back under armoured corps in major rejig
In an important development, the Indian Army has decided to integrate its mechanised infantry battalions with the armoured corps, bringing both under the same directorate from June 1. They were once together, but were separated some years ago. Now, the Army feels that bringing both together in a single directorate will improve efficiency levels.
The first mech-inf regiment was constituted in 1969, and in the early days, existing battalions of premier infantry regiments (often, the first battalion of the regiment) like Madras, Sikh, Kumaon, Dogra and Jat as well as the Gorkha and Garhwal Rifles became mechanised. In fact, the first 14 battalions were all existing infantry battalions that were converted.
Currently, the Army has over 25 mechanised infantry battalions and most of them have Russia/Soviet designed BMP-II infantry combat vehicles as do the Guards units. Each battalion has roughly 750-800 officers and men and 45 BMP-IIs. They perform two major tasks. First, they allow the infantry to move with the tanks, ensuring much-needed mobility in the battlefield. When tanks are supported by infantry, they are often more effective as enemy infantry attacks from close using hand-held anti-tank weapons can be foiled. In the early stages of the war in Ukraine, the Russians used tanks without infantry and paid a heavy price. That they were moving down a road, one behind another, made them easier targets.Related video: Indian defence forces get new top commanders (WION)
Secondly, the BMP-IIs armour, though comparatively thin, allows protection to the infantry from enemy small-arms fire. A BMP– the Indian Army infantry combat vehicles made in Avadi, carries 6-7 soldiers apart from the crew and is often equipped with anti-tank weapons .
The amalgamation, highly placed sources said, was part of an “organisational rejig for better efficiency,” and in the past, they were part of the armoured corps.
Parliamentary Defence Standing Committee meeting
The Parliamentary Defence Standing Committee– members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were briefed in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, about preparedness and the security situation by top-level armed forces officers. It is a 31-member committee, including 21 from the lower house. One of the members is the Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, but he wasn’t present at the Srinagar meeting.
Cheetal crash with GOC 3Div on board . Looking at the place of crash , all 3 SUPER LUCKY, after hitting the hill side between 2 rock faces on soft ground, heptr slid down about 20-30 ft n got stuck on a singular rock n no fire. Gradient of the hill side about 60-70 degree, without that rock they would have gone down another hundreds of feet.
BSF’s first all-women expedition scales Mount Everest
The BSF team comprising constable Kouser Fatima from Ladakh, constable Munmun Ghosh from West Bengal, constable Rabeka Singh from Uttarakhand and constable Tsering Chorol from Kargil scaled the world’s highest peak on Thursday morning.
Border Security Force personnel have earlier scaled 50 prominent peaks, including Mount Everest expeditions in 2006 and 2018
The first all-women mountaineering expedition to Mount Everest by the Border Security Force (BSF) successfully scaled the world’s highest peak on Thursday morning. The expedition, christened ‘Mission Vande Mataram’, is part of the BSF’s Diamond Jubiliee celebrations.
The team comprises constable Kouser Fatima from Ladakh, constable Munmun Ghosh from West Bengal, constable Rabeka Singh from Uttarakhand and constable Tsering Chorol from Kargil. Representing diverse regions of the country and coming from humble backgrounds, the four mountaineers embody the spirit of courage, determination, discipline and dedication to the service of the nation.
Following the successful summit, Praveen Kumar, Director-General, BSF, interacted live with the team through a radio link from the peak that rises 8,848.86 metres above sea level, and congratulated them on behalf of the entire force and the nation.
The BSF chief praised the mountaineers for their exemplary courage, resilience and unwavering determination, describing the expedition as a shining symbol of the indomitable spirit, professionalism and dedication of BSF personnel, a BSF spokesperson said.
Promoting the motto “Clean Himalaya – Clean Glaciers”, the BSF mountaineering contingent will collect 500 kg of waste from higher camps on Mount Everest and transport it to Namche Bazaar for proper disposal, reaffirming the force’s commitment to environmental conservation.
The expedition aims to promote women’s empowerment while strengthening high-altitude operational capabilities, resilience, and an adventure-driven mindset among women personnel, the BSF said. The expedition also reflects the growing role and capabilities of women personnel of the BSF in challenging operational and adventure activities.
The team had undergone a specialised training programme for the expedition under the aegis of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS), Manali. This mission was flagged off from New Delhi on April 6.
In continuation of this mission, the BSF’s all-men mountaineering team will also attempt to summit Mount Lhotse in the next 2-3 days. Located on the border of Nepal and Tibet, the 8,516-metre high peak is the world’s fourth-highest, and directly connected to Mount Everest via the South Col, from where the women’s team had launched their ascent.
BSF personnel have earlier scaled 50 prominent peaks, including expeditions to Mount Everest in 2006 and 2018.
Raised in 1965, the BSF is responsible for the peacetime management of the International Border with Pakistan in the west and Bangladesh in the east. It is also co-deployed with the Indian Army along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, serving in high altitude areas like Kargil.
In first drill of its kind, Army hosts militaries from 12 countries for joint training
The drill will also focus on counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain
A two-week long multilateral training exercise involving the militaries from 12 friendly countries, PRAGATI 2026, commenced on Wednesday at the Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya. This is the first such exercise to be hosted by the Indian Army.
The exercise’s constituent nations include Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
PRAGATI, which stands for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region, provides a common platform for participating armies to engage in professional exchange, learn from one another’s experiences and build closer military-to-military ties.
The exercise’s stated objectives include enabling seamless coordination among participating nations in joint operations and identifying common areas of cooperation, sharing expertise and establishing an institutionalised mechanism for exchange of best practices evolved through individual experiences, strengthening defence ties and camaraderie through joint training and cultural exchange, and evolving common concepts for management and sharing of intelligence in a multinational environment, according to an official statement.
The drill will also focus on counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain. The training programme will include joint planning exercises, tactical-level drills and coordinated operations designed to improve adaptability, endurance and tactical proficiency of participating troops. Emphasis will be laid on physical fitness, discipline and coordination while operating in challenging conditions.
As part of the exercise, Indian technology and defence companies will showcase indigenous equipment and innovations under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, providing a platform for knowledge exchange and highlighting India’s growing capabilities in defence production, innovation and self-reliance.
The opening ceremony was attended by senior military officials and dignitaries. In his address, Major General Sunil Sheoran, Additional Director General Infantry, highlighted the importance of collective engagement in addressing contemporary security challenges, a defence spokesperson said.
He encouraged all participants to engage with openness, mutual respect and a willingness to learn from one another’s experiences, while highlighting that the strengths and perspectives brought by each nation would contribute meaningfully towards achieving the collective objectives of the exercise.
Besides military drills and wargames, a key component of the event is a two-day industry exposition, highlighting the Army’s capabilities and fostering industrial partnerships with ASEAN nations. During exercises with foreign countries, military contingents are able to effectively highlight capabilities of Indigenously manufactured hardware and equipment and provide a realistic hand-on experience.
Unmanned aerial systems and countermeasures, autonomous surveillance and intelligence gathering systems and robotics, including unmanned ground vehicles, robotic mules for logistics and reconnaissance and remotely operated martitime systems, AI-based capability enhancement, precision ammunition, electronic and laser warfare and cyber defence are among the major domains to be showcased.
Human survivability and solutions like equipment sustenance, parachutes and multispectral camouflage nets, land-based, naval and aerial surveillance, spatial intelligence, smart surveillance and perimeter security, secure communication and satellite systems, medical equipment and personal protection gears are other products.
Besides the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy, representatives from the border guarding forces and the state police forces would also participate in the event.
India has a structured programme for conducting bilateral and multilateral training exercises with many foreign countries to boost interoperability, enhance combat skills, and strengthen defence cooperation. Several such events are held in India and overseas every year involving all three services.
