In the aftermath of Israeli aerial strikes, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday requested the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to ensure the well-being and safety of Kashmiri students stuck in Iran.

CM Omar Abdullah said on X, “Requesting @MEAIndia to urgently ensure safety and well being of Kashmiri students stuck in Iran. Their families are deeply worried and we stand with them in this difficult time. Every step must be taken to safeguard our students.”

Various Sunni and Shia Muslim organisations of Kashmir have condemned the Israeli strikes in Iran in which two top generals and nuclear scientists of Iran were killed.

Kashmir Valley has a good number of students studying medicine and other professions in Iran. In addition, a number of local doctors and engineers are working in Iran in various capacities.

The BJP’s Kanad Purkayastha and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) veteran Birendra Prasad Baishya have been elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Assam, an election official confirmed on Friday.

With no Opposition parties fielding candidates, the two National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominees were declared elected on Thursday, the last day for filing nominations.

The Rajya Sabha elections were originally scheduled for June 19.

This marks the parliamentary debut of Kanad Purkayastha, who currently serves as the BJP’s state secretary.

A native of Silchar, he is the son of late BJP stalwart and former Union minister Kabindra Purkayastha.

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday expressed deep condolences over the tragic death of ex-Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani in a plane crash in Ahmedabad.

Calling Rupani a leader of humble nature, Gehlot recalled his association with him during his tenure as the Gujarat Congress in-charge.

Gehlot said, "The untimely demise of former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani in the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad is extremely saddening. He was a person of humble nature. I had the opportunity to work during his tenure while serving as the Congress in-charge for Gujarat."

"I pray to God to grant peace to his soul and strength to his family members to bear this irreparable loss," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where he met those injured in the Air India plane crash.

PM Modi arrived in the city to take stock of the situation, a day after the deadly plane crash, which claimed the lives of 241 people, including 12 crew members onboard.

The Prime Minister headed straight to the crash site from the airport and went around the devastated place. From here, he went to the hospital where he spoke to the injured and the attending doctors.

He was accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and Union Minister C.R. Paatil during the hospital visit.

An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed immediately after take-off from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders have strongly criticized Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring’s statement advocating for the legalization of opium and bhukki (poppy husk) outlets, accusing Congress leaders of promoting drug use.

AAP leader Baltej Pannu said that the statements made by Congress leaders clearly indicate that they do not want drugs eradicated from Punjab. "They want to replace one drug with another, even though they know the AAP government has been waging a war against drugs to root this menacw out of Punjab," said Pannu.

Senior BJP leader and former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani died in the Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday, authorities said. He was 68.

Rupani was onboard Air India flight AI171, which was headed to London’s Gatwick Airport when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. He was reportedly seated in business class seat 2D.

A seasoned politician, Rupani served as the 16th Chief Minister of Gujarat from August 2016 to September 2021. Known for his composed demeanour and firm administrative style, Rupani steered Gujarat through a critical phase of industrial growth and post-Covid recovery.

Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Thursday expressed grief over the Ahmedabad plane crash, which crashed minutes after takeoff.

Rajasthan Governor Bagde said, "The incident is extremely heartbreaking. I pray for peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families in this hour of grief. I also wish a speedy recovery to the injured."

Chief Minister Sharma also expressed his concern and sorrow via social media, saying: "The news of the Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad is deeply saddening and worrying. I pray for the safety of all passengers and crew members."

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's advisor Nasir Aslam Wani said on Thursday that the government and the people of the union territory want tourism to flourish in Leh-Kargil and J&K together.

Speaking to the media during the visit of Kashmir Travel Agents Association members to Kargil, Nasir Aslam Wani expressed commitment to strengthening relations with Ladakh for tourism development in the whole region.

“We want the growth of Leh, Ladakh and J&K as tourism links us together. Kargil has been a great destination and the tourism capital of Ladakh. Adventure tourism and those interested in trekking have visited Kargil and Leh as well. This common factor binds us together, and we want to grow together,” Wani said.

Stepping up its attack on the Chief Minister Rekha Gupta-led Delhi Government over what it termed its 'anti-poor policies', the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday announced a mass protest against the demolition of slum clusters in the national Capital.

AAP Delhi unit President Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the party will lead a major demonstration at Jantar Mantar on June 29 at 10 AM, demanding justice for lakhs of slum dwellers. Bharadwaj accused the BJP-led Delhi government of betraying the urban poor.

"The BJP promised 'Jaha Jhuggi, Wahan Makaan' but is instead bulldozing people's homes without providing alternative housing", he said.

He also cited the tragic incident in Bawana where a fire in a slum killed two children and pointed out that no minister or MLA visited the site.

A Supreme Court judge on Thursday recused himself from hearing a plea filed by Madhya Pradesh Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti seeking transfer of a criminal case outside the state.

After Justice Manmohan withdrew himself from hearing, the bench headed by Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra referred the transfer petition to the Chief Justice of India (CJI), who is the master of roster, for listing the matter before a different bench.

In the meantime, the bench ordered extension of the interim order passed in the petition seeking transfer of the alleged cheating case outside Madhya Pradesh.

In February this year, the apex court stayed the proceedings pending before the Additional Sessions Judge in Gwalior, observing that there was enough material placed on record before the trial court containing an allegation that the defence witnesses were sought to be intimidated.