AAP leaders strongly condemned the Khalistani supporter Gurpatwant Pannun for his derogatory comments about the Constitution’s architect, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. They stated that Pannun deliberately makes inflammatory statements because spreading hatred is his profession.

On Wednesday, AAP MLAs Fauja Singh Sarari, Ranbir Singh Bhullar, Rajnish Kumar Dahiya, and Naresh Kataria collectively addressed a press conference in Ferozepur regarding the remarks of Gurpatwant Pannun.

Addressing the media, MLA Fauja Singh Sarari said that miscreants like Pannun are attempting to disrupt Punjab's peace and harmony. However, the AAP government will not let their vile plans succeed. “We firmly stand against such individuals,” he asserted.

AAP leaders emphasized that Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar does not belong to any one caste or religion; he belongs to the entire nation, and his birth anniversary is celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country. They added that Pannun’s statements are merely an attempt to provoke the people of Punjab.

Self-styled pastor Jashan Gill, who has been accused of raping a 22-year-old BCA student and later forced her to undergo an abortion that eventually claimed her life in 2023, surrendered in a trial court in Gurdaspur town of Punjab on Wednesday.

The victim’s father alleged that the pastor lured her daughter with false promise, raped her and arranged botched up abortion, resulting in severe complications.

A day earlier, the brother and sister of the accused were arrested by the police.

In a landmark event for India’s maritime industry, Vizhinjam International Seaport, developed and operated by Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, on Wednesday received MSC Turkiye, one of the world’s largest and most sustainable container vessels.

This is the ship’s first call at any Indian port. Spanning 399.9 metres in length, 61.3 metres in width, and 33.5 metres in depth, MSC Turkiye boasts a massive capacity of 24,346 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), making it the largest container ship to berth at an Indian port to date.

Operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and registered under the Liberian flag, the vessel represents cutting-edge innovation in fuel-efficient, environmentally responsible marine engineering.

This milestone reinforces Vizhinjam’s growing status as a premier global transshipment hub, strategically situated just 10 nautical miles (19 km) from the key east-west international shipping route.

The port’s natural draft of 20 metres allows it to accommodate ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs) without extensive dredging.

In a major crackdown against 33 vehicle owners and drivers, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has recommended 29 FIRs and imposed a penalty of Rs 54 lakh for throwing garbage and debris in public places.

Additional Commissioner of MCG, Balpreet Singh, said that the Sanitation Security Force (SSF) of the MCG is monitoring round the clock and seven days a week.

He added that the team has recommended 29 FIRs in different police stations against 33 vehicle owners or drivers in the case of illegal dumping.

“A fine of Rs 54 lakh has also been imposed on violators in different areas in the case of illegal dumping and banned plastic,” he said.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday called upon the newly promoted officers of Punjab Police Service (PPS) to work diligently and with full honesty for wiping out the curse of drugs from the state.

Welcoming the 17 newly promoted Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) from Technical cadre, the Chief Minister said that Punjab is fighting nation’s war against drugs and Police is playing an important role in it. He said that in wake of this the Police officers have a huge role to play in making Punjab a drug free state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is the need of hour to save our coming generations from the scourge of drugs.

Rescue operations in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district to trace six missing persons have been intensified, with the rescue teams making substantial progress in restoring the loco train track, officials said on Wednesday.

On the 48th day of the rescue operation, officials of various agencies were conducting a thorough inspection of the accident site in the partially collapsed tunnel.

The loco train track is being restored while simultaneous operations were underway for soil excavation, steel cutting, and dewatering. The conveyor belt and ventilation systems are being advanced in line with the excavation progress.

According to officials, rescue teams are working tirelessly and continuously to trace the missing persons.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday conducted raids at three locations in Nirsa and Chirkunda areas of Dhanbad district in Jharkhand and seized a large cache of illegal explosives, officials said.

One person has been detained and is currently being questioned in connection with the case.

The Jharkhand police said the NIA's Kolkata unit acted on intelligence inputs regarding the illegal supply and trade of explosives from the Dhanbad coal belt to other parts of the country.

During the raid, the agency recovered hundreds of kgs of ammonium nitrate packed in 50 boxes, along with a substantial number of gelatine sticks -- commonly used in blasts -- from a house located in a secluded area of Boria village under the Kalubathan Out Post.

The maiden budget session of the current Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly concluded in an uproar as Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourned the House sine die on Wednesday.

The 21-day session had commenced on March 3 with the Lt. Governor’s address.

The Speaker informed the House that during the session, a total of 1,355 questions were received; 154 main questions were taken up while their 353 supplementaries were answered.

He also said that 1,738 Cut Motions were also received, and 1,731 were taken up for the discussions.

The Indian stock market ended lower on Wednesday due to weak global cues and concerns over US trade tariffs, even though the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut the repo rate by 25 basis points.

The RBI’s monetary policy committee (MPC) reduced the repo rate to 6 per cent from 6.25 per cent -- aiming to support economic growth amid global uncertainties. Along with the rate cut, the central bank also changed its policy stance from ‘accommodative’ to ‘neutral.’

However, amid tariff fears, Sensex slipped 379.93 points, or 0.51 per cent, to close at 73,847.15. Similarly, the Nifty ended 136.70 points lower at 22,399.15, down 0.61 per cent.

Former South Korean Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung will announce his presidential bid via a video message on Wednesday, an aide said.

Kwon Hyuk-ki, a former chief political planner for Lee, told reporters on Wednesday that the 10-minute video will be unveiled at 10 a.m. on Thursday, and will contain his resolve and determination going into the presidential race.

The former DP leader will then hold a press conference at the National Assembly on Friday to present his vision for the nation and announce the members of his election campaign, Kwon said.

Lee stepped down from the party chairmanship earlier in the day to run for president in the June 3 election, triggered by the ouster of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

He is considered the front-runner in the upcoming election.