Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha, on Thursday, appealed to devotees to congregate in large numbers for this year's Amarnath Yatra starting on July 3.

L-G Sinha, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, addressed a media conference at the Raj Bhawan here.

He appealed to the devotees to turn up in large numbers at Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, which is scheduled to begin from July 3.

The L-G said that security grid has been strengthened, multi-layer security is in place and the Army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police have ensured all necessary measures for a safe pilgrimage.

All necessary arrangements have been made for the pilgrims coming for the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra and for a hassle-free darshan at the holy cave.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on Thursday dismissed media reports suggesting that two-wheelers will be required to pay tolls on National Highways from July 15.

He called the reports misleading and clarified that no such proposal is under consideration.

Taking to social media platform X, the Union Minister said: "Some media houses are spreading misleading news about toll tax being levied on two-wheelers. No such decision has been proposed."

"Two-wheelers will continue to be exempt from tolls. Spreading such baseless news without verifying the facts is not responsible journalism. I strongly condemn it," the Union Minister stated.

The clarification comes after a report claimed that toll payment would soon be made mandatory for two-wheelers at all national highway toll plazas, and that riders would need to equip their vehicles with FASTag.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday called upon citizens to join efforts by the government, police and society to fight the drug menace and report sale or consumption of contraband in their neighbourhoods on helpline 1933.

Addressing a gathering at Yamuna Sports Complex to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, CM Gupta said, "It is a collective fight against drug abuse. Each one of you can contribute. Don't be discouraged by the thought that one person's efforts won't achieve anything."

We all should join the fight against drug addiction so that by 2047, when we achieve Viksit Bharat, the country is completely drug-free as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday expressed grief over the bus accident in the Rudraprayag district and said that the rescue operations are underway.

At least one person died, and 10 remain missing as the bus, which was carrying 18 people from Rishikesh to Badrinath, veered off the road while going uphill and fell into the swollen Alaknanda River near Gholtir.

So far, seven passengers have been rescued, and six of them have been shifted to nearby hospitals, according to the rescue officials.

Taking to X, CM Dhami posted, "The news of a tempo traveller falling into a river in Rudraprayag district is deeply tragic. Relief and rescue operations are being conducted on a war footing by SDRF and other rescue teams."

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab said that the AAP government is waging a war against drugs and no individual is above the law. Addressing the media, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, "Punjab is witnessing an unprecedented war against drugs. This government is fighting a battle against those who, for decades, profited from the drug trade under the Akali Dal-BJP and Congress regimes. No matter how influential a person is, if they are involved in drug-related activities, they will face the law."

Reacting to the arrest of Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Majithia, Aam Aadmi Party leader and Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchakk stated that thousands of families affected by drugs see a ray of hope for justice today.

Kataruchakk said that the AAP government has launched the "War Against Drugs" campaign to eradicate drug menace from Punjab at its roots. “We will eliminate drugs and drug smugglers at all costs. Those who have spread drugs will not be spared under any circumstances, no matter how powerful or influential they are, whether they are big personalities or politicians,” he said.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Tuesday that no local was involved in the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local Kashmiri, were killed on April 22.

“There was no local involvement in the April 22 Pahalgam terror. All the terrorists were foreigners,” said the Chief Minister after flagging off a cyclothon at Gulmarg tourist resort to encourage youth participation in sports and eco-friendly tourism in the world-famous ski resort known as the ‘Meadow of Flowers’ in Kashmir.

On the ongoing probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), in which two locals have been arrested for sheltering the attackers,” the Chief Minister said that it is possible that these individuals acted under duress.

“Although they provided food to the terrorists, it could have been done under coercion. Let the investigation continue, following its conclusion, the charge sheet and other legal proceedings will be presented by the NIA,” he said.

Lalu Prasad has been elected as the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) national president once again, marking his 13th consecutive term at the helm of the party.

His unopposed election was officially confirmed on Tuesday by Election Officer Ramchandra Purve, who issued the notification in this regard.

Speaking to the media, Purve said, "Lalu Prasad is the only candidate who filed nomination for the post of RJD president. The nomination withdrawal deadline ended at 3.00 p.m. today, and since no other nominations were submitted or withdrawn, he has been elected unopposed.”

Manufacturers of smart electric meters in Indian will see their revenue grow 20 per cent, akin to fiscal 2025, and touch around Rs 9,000 crore this fiscal (FY26), a report showed on Tuesday.

According to Crisil, the key catalyst here is the resolution of initial implementation constraints seen under the Smart Meter National Programme (SMNP), through which the government aims to replace 25 crore conventional electricity meters with prepaid smart electric meters.

Launched in 2017, the SMNP provides a Rs 90,000 crore revenue opportunity for the industry. Under the programme, each state distribution company (discom) awards contracts for installing smart electric meters to an Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Provider (AMISP), which procures them from smart electric meter manufacturers.

BJP leader Amit Malviya has claimed that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been going on secret foreign holidays, and as the Leader of Opposition (LoP), he needs to answer the people of the country.

In a post on his X handle on Tuesday, Malviya shared the information that Rahul Gandhi was on a secret foreign holiday last week and has again gone abroad.

“Rahul Gandhi was on a secret foreign holiday just last week. Now, he has flown abroad again -- to yet another undisclosed location,” wrote Malviya.

He also raised questions about these ‘secret visits’ and demanded that, as LoP, the Congress leader needs to answer them.

“Why these frequent disappearances? What is so compelling that keeps him away from the country so often? As the Leader of the Opposition, he owes the people of India answers,” Malviya further said in his post.