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Raipur, June 7 (IANS) Five Maoists were killed in two encounters with security forces in an ongoing operation in the Indravati National Park area of Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, police officials said on Saturday.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has hailed the success and expressed his wish to meet the brave soldiers who are engaged in anti-Maoist mission.

With the latest casualties, seven Maoists, including top leaders Sudhakar and Bhaskar, were neutralised in the operation in the last three days, they said.

"Security forces have recovered the bodies of seven Maoists during the ongoing anti-Naxal operations in the Indravati National Park area of the district," a police officer said.

Security forces have intensified their anti-Maoist operations in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, leading to the elimination of seven Maoist cadres over the past three days.

Among those killed are Central Committee Member Gautam, also known as Sudhakar, and Telangana State Committee Member Bhaskar.

The encounters, which unfolded between June 5 and June 7, resulted in multiple casualties among insurgents.

The first confrontation on June 5 led to the death of Sudhakar, a senior Maoist leader who had established Maoist education centres in the Dandakaranya region.

His body was recovered following an intense exchange of fire.

The following day, security forces neutralised Bhaskar, a commander associated with the Telangana State Committee.

His elimination marked another significant blow to the insurgent network.

As operations continued into the intervening night of June 6 and 7, three more Maoist's bodies were found, including two women and one man.

Later, on June 7 (Saturday), two additional male Maoist cadres were killed in another encounter.

The identities of these five insurgents remain unknown, and efforts are underway to confirm their details.

Security personnel recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition from the encounter sites, including two AK-47 rifles and various Maoist documents.

The operation has been physically demanding, with several soldiers sustaining injuries due to snake bites, honeybee stings, dehydration, and other operational hazards.

Medical teams have ensured their treatment, and all injured personnel are reported to be in stable condition.

Search and area domination efforts continue in the dense forest terrain to track any remaining Maoist operatives and secure the region.

Officials have stated that a comprehensive report on the recovered weapons and materials will be released once all field inputs have been consolidated.

The ongoing crackdown against Maoist insurgents in Bijapur underscores the government’s commitment to dismantling their presence and restoring stability to the region.

Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma acknowledged the success of the operation, confirming that the bodies of seven insurgents, including top leaders Sudhakar and Bhaskar, have been recovered.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) The Finance Ministry's Department of Financial Services has notified the amalgamation of 26 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) on the principles of 'One State One RRB' as part of the fourth phase of the continuing exercise to improve efficiency, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Finance had rolled out an amalgamation plan in November 2024 for consultation with stakeholders. After consultation with stakeholders, the amalgamation of 26 RRBs in 10 states and one UT has been carried out with the primary focus on the improvement in scale efficiency and cost rationalisation, the statement said.

At present, 43 RRBs are functioning in 26 states and 2 UTs. Post amalgamation, there will be 28 RRBs in 26 states and 2 UTs with more than 22,000 branches covering 700 districts. Their predominant area of operation is in rural areas, with approximately 92 per cent of branches in rural and semi-urban areas, the statement said.

This is the fourth phase of amalgamation. In the previous three phases which include Phase-I (FY 2006 to FY 2010), the number of RRBs were reduced from 196 to 82, in Phase-2 (FY 2013 to FY 2015) from 82 to 56, and in Phase-3 (FY 2019 to FY 2021) from 56 to 43, the official statement said.

The Finance Ministry has kicked off a 'One State One RRB' drive in 11 states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, West Bengal, and Rajasthan, by amalgamating various RRBs into one. The scheme will come into effect from May 1.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 23A of the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976, the Central government hereby provides for the amalgamation of the said Regional Rural Banks into a single Regional Rural Bank, which shall come into effect on and from the 1st day of May, 2025 with such constitution, property, powers, rights, interests, authorities and privileges; and with such liabilities, duties and obligation," a notification by the Finance Ministry said.

Regional Rural Banks in India play a crucial role in promoting rural economic development by providing financial services, particularly credit and other facilities, to small and marginal farmers, agricultural labourers, artisans, and small entrepreneurs in underserved rural areas.

--IANS

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Kolkata, April 8 (IANS) A verbal spat between Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Kirti Azad at the Election Commission of India (ECI) premises has sparked controversy, with the BJP releasing videos and screenshots of the alleged altercation. Reacting to the incident, TMC MP Saugata Roy on Tuesday expressed disappointment and said that this shouldn’t have happened.

Speaking to IANS, Saugata Roy said, "I am sad. This should not have happened. I don’t know if this dispute really took place, but if it did, it’s indeed unfortunate. We are 29 people in the Lok Sabha, and we should all work together."

This comes after the BJP shared screenshots of an alleged WhatsApp conversation between Kalyan Banerjee and Kirti Azad on the social media platform X. These were posted by BJP’s IT cell head, Amit Malviya, who also shared video footage of the alleged heated exchange between the two TMC MPs. According to Malviya, the altercation occurred on April 4 at the ECI premises, where both leaders had gone to submit a memorandum.

Malviya claimed that “soon after the public spat between two TMC MPs in the precincts of the Election Commission of India on 4th April 2025, the irate MP continued slandering the ‘Versatile International Lady (VIL)”.

He also claimed that the spat between the two TMC MPs spilled over into the ‘AITC MP 2024’ WhatsApp group, witnessing barbs exchange among two groups.

“And in the middle of it all, the question still lingers: who exactly is the “versatile international lady”? That mystery is one for the world to unravel,” Malviya’s post read.

Saugata Roy also reacted to another major issue concerning the state i.e. Supreme Court’s recent decision to annul the appointments of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff in state-run and state-aided schools.

“I was deeply saddened by the Supreme Court’s notification cancelling these teacher posts,” Roy stated.

"We are taking several steps to manage the situation, including filing a review petition," he added.

--IANS

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Mysuru, April 8 (IANS) Responding to the criticism over the hike in LPG cylinder prices, Karnataka BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra took a swipe at the Congress party leaders, saying that if someone like Rahul Gandhi had become the Prime Minister, the price would have been Rs 2,500 instead of Rs 850.

Speaking to media representatives in Mysuru on Tuesday, Vijayendra responded to the critical remarks made by the Chief Minister and other ministers about the hike in LPG prices.

He said, "Even after the Rs 50 increase, it now stands at Rs 850. In August 2023, it was reduced by Rs 200 to Rs 907. The Central government has increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs 2 due to rising crude oil prices in the international market. But this burden hasn’t been passed on to the common people.

"It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who launched the Ujjwala scheme so that even the poor living in huts could use LPG. In March 2023, the price of a gas cylinder was Rs 1107. If someone like Rahul Gandhi had become the Prime Minister, the cylinder price would have been Rs 2,500,” he remarked.

“The Central government has made decisions on petrol, diesel, and gas cylinders based on rising international crude prices. But isn't it the state government that raised milk prices? Aren’t you taxing garbage? Haven’t you increased water charges? Are you importing milk from the international market?” he questioned.

"The government led by CM Siddaramaiah in the state has increased the prices of 48 essential commodities. It appears that CM Siddaramaiah has formed an expert committee solely for hiking prices," criticized Vijayendra.

Vijayendra said, “No other state government has burdened the common people like this. In Karnataka, the Congress and Siddaramaiah are doing just that.”

“This government has no direction. They've increased the prices of petrol, water, and diesel. They’re even levying taxes on garbage. The price of milk has gone up by Rs 9. They have increased taxes on petrol and diesel by Rs 7.50,” he stated.

“Who is burdening the people by increasing the prices of 48 essential goods -- Siddaramaiah or PM Modi? You tell me,” he questioned.

He pointed out that though the Central government has increased excise duty on petrol and diesel, it hasn’t passed the burden on to the people; instead, the companies are bearing the cost, according to the Central ministers.

“The police department was supposed to receive salaries on the 1st of the month, but even by the 7th, they haven’t received them this month. Teachers, too, have not been paid. Government employees haven’t received their salaries. This is a clear indicator of the state’s poor financial condition,” said Vijayendra.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday closed a plea filed by the Jharkhand government challenging the Jharkhand High Court order barring power cuts during Ram Navami and other festivals.

A bench of CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar decided to close the proceedings after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Jharkhand government, submitted that the state discom kept power cuts restricted only to procession routes in terms of the previous order of the apex court.

Sibal said that an affidavit of the Managing Director of the Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) regarding compliance with the directives issued by the top court will be placed on record.

On Friday, the CJI Khanna-led Bench stressed that power cuts should be kept to a minimum duration during festivals and ordered restricting power cuts be limited to procession routes during Ram Navami this year. It modified the Jharkhand High Court order barring power cuts during Ram Navami and other festivals, clarifying that essential services, including hospitals, must not be affected by the power cuts.

In its special leave petition filed before the Supreme Court, the Jharkhand government had argued that temporary power cuts were a necessary safety measure as long flags carried during processions posed a risk of electric shocks.

The JBVNL has been routinely suspending power supply for several hours on festival days to prevent accidents.

The issue gained attention after a five-to-ten-hour power outage in Ranchi during the Sarhul festival on April 1. Taking suo motu cognisance, a bench of Chief Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao and Justice Deepak Roshan of Jharkhand High Court on April 3 stayed the state government’s practice, questioning the lack of alternative safety measures and the hardships caused to residents. It expressed concern about the effects of the outages on local businesses, which faced forced closures and revenue losses. Such disruptions, the Jharkhand HC said, not only cause inconvenience to the residents but also pose safety risks.

The Chief Justice Rao-led Bench had ordered the JBVNL not to undertake long power cuts unless absolutely necessary.

Aggrieved with the directives, the Jharkhand government petitioned the Supreme Court, saying that past electrocution incidents during Ram Navami and other religious processions justified these precautionary power cuts.

--IANS

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Patna, April 8 (IANS) In its first cabinet meeting after the Budget Session of the Bihar Legislature, the Nitish Kumar-led government on Tuesday approved 27 major proposals including the creation of over 25,000 posts in various departments, signaling a focus on employment generation ahead of the Assembly elections to be held later this year.

The meeting, held at the Cabinet Secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saw the participation of a majority of state ministers.

Among the significant decisions was an amendment to the 2006 rules governing the salary and allowances of ministers -- a move seen as politically crucial in an election year.

In a major recruitment drive, the cabinet approved the creation of 2,590 posts in the Agriculture Department; 3,306 posts for Urdu translators; 35 Data Entry Operator posts in the Staff Selection Commission; 36 positions in AYUSH hospitals; 48 new posts in the Liquor Prohibition Department; and over 20,000 additional positions in the Health Department.

Within the Health Department, the sanctioned posts include government doctors and staff nurses for medical colleges, Sadar Hospitals, Community Health Centres, and Primary Health Centres.

To push digital governance, the cabinet approved Rs 38 crore for setting up video conferencing facilities across all revenue courts in the state.

Several new administrative rules were also cleared, including the Bihar Education Administration Relation Rules, 2025; the Bihar Drug Laboratory Technical Shortage Contract Rules, 2025; and the Bihar Dental Education Service Rules, 2025.

Other key decisions include land approval for Guru Gobind Singh Hospital, increasing the Bihar Contingency Fund to Rs 10,000 crore, and extending the Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Policy, 2016, until 2025.

Additionally, two officers -- Baidyanath Yadav and Pankaj Kumar -- were appointed as consultants in their respective departments, while Dr Ramraj Raman was dismissed from service.

These approvals underscore the government’s emphasis on strengthening public services and infrastructure while laying the groundwork for an electorally significant year.

--IANS

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Jaipur, April 8 (IANS) BJP's senior leader Gyan Dev Ahuja has been suspended from the primary membership of the party after sprinkling Ganga jal following the visit of Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, Tika Ram Jully, to a Ram Mandir.

A show cause notice has also been issued, and the BJP has demanded a response from Ahuja within three days.

The suspension of Ahuja from the BJP and the show cause notice come days after he sprinkled Ganga jal at a temple in Alwar to 'purify' the premises after Congress leader Tikaram Jully, a Dalit, attended the temple's consecration ceremony.

Determined not to let Ahuja's 'purification' stunt harm its prospects in eastern Rajasthan, where Dalit voters play a key role, the Rajasthan BJP leadership has sent a notice to Ahuja.

The notice, issued by BJP MP and senior Rajasthan leader Damodar Agarwal, has sought an explanation from Ahuja within three days.

The notice warns that if the former MLA does not send his response to state party chief Madan Rathore within three days, he will face disciplinary action.

Meanwhile, Congress workers across the state held protests against Ahuja on Tuesday.

In a symbolic act of dissent, late on Monday night, activists of an organisation smeared the nameplate outside Ahuja’s residence in Mansarovar, Jaipur, with soot.

LoP Jully visited the Ramlala temple in Alwar’s Shalimar area on April 6.

Following this, Ahuja made the following statement: “Tika Ram Jully is anti-Hindu. He visited the Karni Mata temple and also the Shri Ram temple. After he leaves, I will go to those places and wherever his unholy feet fell, wherever his hands touched the idols, I will sprinkle Ganga jal and offer my prayers to Lord Shri Ram.”

The very next day, on April 7, former Ramgarh MLA Ahuja visited the Ram temple and sprinkled Ganga jal.

Ahuja defended his actions, saying: “During the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ramlala temple on Ramnavami, Congress leaders were invited, which I believe led to the temple being defiled. I have now purified it by sprinkling Ganga jal.”

The show cause notice issued to Ahuja on Tuesday by Damodar Agarwal condemned the BJP leader’s actions, stating that after Jully’s visit, Ahuja’s act of sprinkling Ganga jal at the Ram temple had tarnished the party’s image and was a clear instance of gross indiscipline.

In the notice, Damodar Agarwal also reminded Ahuja of the historical significance of the Ram Mandir’s foundation stone laying ceremony.

He emphasised that the first stone of the temple was laid by Dalit leader Kameshwar Chaupal, underscoring the inclusiveness of the temple's construction.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) Congress MP Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday and sought her intervention in West Bengal teachers’ crisis, emanating from a Supreme Court verdict, which dealt a big blow to the recruitment of more than 26,000 teachers in the state.

In his two-page letter to President Murmu, Rahul said that treating the teachers selected through fair means on par with tainted ones will be a serious injustice to them and therefore it was important to draw a distinction between the two – one selected via fair means and the tainted, selected through unfair means.

Drawing President’s attention to the crisis arising from 26,000 job losses, he urged the President to take stock of it and take some steps for 'redressal'.

“I request you to kindly consider their request favourably and urge the government to intervene in the matter to ensure that candidates selected through fair means are allowed to continue,” Cong MP wrote in the letter.

He further wrote, “Most untainted teachers have served for nearly a decade. Terminating them will force lakhs of students into classrooms without adequate teachers. Ther arbitrary termination will destroy their morale and deprive their families of what is often the sole source of income.”

Notably, the Supreme Court, on April 3, upheld an earlier verdict of the Calcutta High Court, leading to invalidation of 25,752 appointments of teaching and non-teaching staff. These appointments were made by a recruitment panel set up by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016.

The court observed that the entire selection process of TMC government was “vitiated and tainted beyond resolution”.

The SC verdict came as a blow to the ruling party and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee particularly in light of the fact that it comes ahead of party’s poll preparations for the 2026 Assembly elections.

--IANS

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Ahmedabad, April 8 (IANS) Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday claimed that a deliberate conspiracy was underway to distort the contributions of national heroes.

After opening the Extended Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Ahmedabad, Kharge said: "A false narrative was being built to pit Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel against each other, as if they were adversaries."

Asserting that the two leaders were two sides of the same coin, he recalled a speech by Patel delivered on March 7, 1937, at Gujarat Vidyapith, when Nehru was Congress President and the state's youth wanted him to campaign during provincial elections.

"Patel had said, 'The day Gujarat wins this electoral battle and proves its loyalty to the Congress, that day we shall welcome Congress President Nehru with pride'. This shows how deeply Patel believed in Nehru's leadership," Kharge noted.

He sharply criticised the current political environment, warning against "rising communal division" and "corporate control" over national resources.

"On one hand, efforts are being made to divert public attention from core issues by spreading communal hatred. On the other hand, oligarchic monopolies are capturing the country's resources and threatening to dominate governance," he said.

He credited Patel's leadership during the 1931 Karachi session for shaping the soul of the country's Constitution through the resolution on Fundamental Rights.

"For the past several years, efforts are being made to malign the Congress - a party with 140 years of history in nation-building and sacrifice - by those who have little to show in terms of their own achievements or contribution to the freedom movement," he said.

Invoking the legacies of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Dadabhai Naoroji - three iconic leaders born on Gujarat's soil who once led the Congress and helped shape India's political and moral foundations, Kharge said they not only led the Congress but illuminated its path.

"Gandhiji gave us the unshakable weapons of truth and non-violence to fight injustice, tools no power can withstand," Kharge stated.

In December 1924, Gandhi ji presided over the Congress Session in Belgaum, Karnataka - my home state. We celebrated this centenary with due reverence on December 26 last year."

With the national convention returning to Gujarat after 64 years- the last one held in Bhavnagar in 1961 - Kharge said it was only fitting that the party reflect on its ideological roots and historical role in shaping modern India.

Reminding the gathering of Gujarat's proud legacy of grassroots struggle, he said: "Just as Champaran Satyagraha under Gandhi ji’s leadership strengthened the Congress in rural India, the Bardoli Satyagraha and farmers’ movements led by Sardar Patel remain immortal in our history."

Kharge highlighted the upcoming 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31, calling him "the architect of India's unity", echoing Pandit Nehru’s description of Patel’s unifying role.

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were also present on the occasion.

With over 3,000 delegates in attendance, including chief ministers of Congress-ruled states, state unit presidents, and senior leaders, the two-day conclave is expected to craft the party's roadmap for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

--IANS

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