Category: India

On Wednesday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar spoke out strongly against the rape of a woman in a bus at Swargate, Pune. He said the crime was very serious and that the person who did it should face the death penalty.

Pawar shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “What happened to our sister in Pune is really sad and infuriating. What the accused did is awful, and he deserves no punishment other than death.”

A 26-year-old woman was attacked while on a Shiv Shahi AC bus at the Swargate bus stop. The attacker, currently on the run, tricked her into an empty bus before committing the crime.

The Deputy Chief Minister has told the Pune police to find the accused quickly and bring him to justice. He said that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is also taking this crime very seriously.

Pawar assured everyone in Maharashtra that the government will do everything possible to make sure the accused is caught and punished. He mentioned that the Minister for Women and Child Development, Aditi Tatkare, and Rupali Chakankar from the state women’s commission will provide help and support to the victim and her family.

This incident has sparked protests, with some opposition leaders criticizing the Maharashtra government for rising crime rates. Protesters, including Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Vasant More, voiced their anger at the Swargate bus stop, claiming the government has failed to keep women safe.

In Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, officials knocked down the shop of a scrap dealer named Kitabullah Khan after he and his family were arrested. They were accused of shouting “anti-India” slogans following India’s cricket victory over Pakistan in the Champions Trophy on February 23.

Khan, 38 years old, was taken into custody late Sunday night after some local residents told the police about his actions. They claimed Khan and his family also cheered loudly when the Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, got out. To protest against this, some people organized a bike rally in the area.

Khan, his wife Ayesha, 35, and their 15-year-old son were arrested and faced charges, including promoting hatred between different groups. Following this, officials from the Malvan Municipal Council demolished Khan’s shop on Tarkarli Road, saying it was an “unauthorized” construction.

Officials stated that they acted quickly because of the seriousness of the situation. India won the match against Pakistan by six wickets and moved on to the semifinals, while Virat Kohli scored a brilliant hundred. Meanwhile, Delhi police humorously commented on the loss, mentioning how some Pakistani fans break their TVs after losing to India in cricket.

The Indian government has given a green light for a new highway called the Arunachal Frontier Highway, which will help people travel better in border areas. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju announced this exciting news in Boasimla, Kamle district, during the first-ever Joint Mega Nyokum Yullo Celebration. He said this highway will connect 12 districts near the India-China border, making it a very important project for Arunachal Pradesh.

The highway is expected to cost ₹42,000 crore, which is a record amount for one project from the government. It will stretch about 1,400 kilometers and will come as close as 20 kilometers to the Line of Actual Control (the border line with China). This development supports the government’s focus on improving villages near the border and getting troops to move quickly if needed.

Rijiju pointed out that while other highways, like the Mumbai-Pune and Kolkata-Chennai roads, were built for less money, this new highway needs a lot more money because of its importance and tough landscape. The Arunachal Frontier Highway will pass through important districts like East Kameng, Bichom, Upper Subansiri, and more. This will greatly help remote areas by providing better road access.

The minister also encouraged everyone to support the government’s plans. He highlighted Arunachal’s potential for generating hydropower and assured that the government would work on developing it carefully and sustainably.

Additionally, Rijiju praised Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar for attending the celebration, calling it a historic moment for Boasimla. He said, “Today, we can proudly say that the Vice President has joined us in celebrating Nyokum Yullo!” The Vice President also expressed hope that the frontier highway dream would soon become a reality, as funding is already in place.

Nyokum Yullo is a major festival for the Nyishi tribe in Arunachal Pradesh, celebrating prosperity and unity in the community.

In Meerut, a sharpshooter from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was shot and killed by special police forces on Wednesday morning. The man, named Jitu or Jitendra, was wanted by the police and had a ₹1 lakh bounty on him. He lived in Sivan village, Haryana.

The police surrounded Jitendra early in the morning after they exchanged gunfire. Amitabh Yash, a senior police officer, said that Jitendra was hit by police shots and fell to the ground. His friends managed to escape because it was dark. The police took him to a hospital, but he died while getting treatment.

Jitendra had a serious criminal history. He was sentenced to life in prison in 2016 for a double murder but got out on parole this year. After he was released, the police started looking for him because he was involved in another double murder case in Ghaziabad. They put a reward of ₹1 lakh for information leading to his capture. During his time in prison, he became a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and worked for them.

According to police reports, Jitendra was linked to about eight serious crimes, including murder and robbery, in Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.

Last year, another gang member named Yogesh Kumar, also known as Raju, was arrested in Mathura after a police encounter. Raju was one of the shooters involved in the murder of a gym owner named Nadir Shah in Delhi.

New Delhi: A Delhi court has ordered the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to give certain documents to people accused in a money laundering case related to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and others involved in a suspected scam. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja issued this order on February 25 after multiple accused claimed they had not received important documents tied to the case’s chargesheet. The case also includes AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh.

The court is currently examining the documents and has scheduled the next hearing for March 3. This money laundering case began because the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) started an inquiry after Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena asked for a probe into alleged problems with the city’s excise policy. The CBI and ED say there were irregularities during changes to this policy, which gave unfair advantages to certain license holders. The Delhi government launched the excise policy on November 17, 2021, but canceled it by the end of September 2022 after corruption allegations came to light.

On Wednesday, February 26, millions of pilgrims from all over India gathered at the Triveni Sangam to take a holy bath during Maha Shivratri. This major religious event, known as the Maha Kumbh, happens every 12 years and started on January 13. So far, over 65 crore people have visited this year’s Kumbh in Prayagraj.

The event has attracted lots of attention from both local and foreign news. The Wall Street Journal mentioned that more people came to Maha Kumbh Mela than the entire population of the United States, with estimates of nearly 500 million people joining over the six weeks. The Huffington Post called it the biggest pilgrimage in the world, highlighting the rituals and traditions that make the festival special.

On Maha Shivratri, which is the last day of the Kumbh, over 11.66 lakh people bathed in the Sangam by 2 am. The numbers rose to 81.09 lakh by 10 am as people continued to seek blessings.

While the festival had some tragedies, including two stampedes that claimed lives, it continued to attract crowds. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party views the festival as a success that showcases Hindu culture.

After the Kumbh ends, organizers will have a big job cleaning up the area, but they are happy to see so many people come together. The 2025 Maha Kumbh is also known as the ‘Digital Maha Kumbh’ because it used cool technology to ensure safety. Many media people, including CNN and The New York Times, shared stories about the beautiful ceremonies, Naga Sadhus, and the unity of people from all walks of life.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has chosen Sanjiv Arora, a Rajya Sabha MP, to run for the Ludhiana West assembly by-election after the seat became vacant due to the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi. This decision has led to speculation about whether Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP leader who recently lost in Delhi, might try to join Parliament.

Sanjiv Arora is an industrialist from Ludhiana and has been a Rajya Sabha member since 2022. Some BJP leaders have raised questions about this move, suggesting that it could be a way for Kejriwal to secure a spot in Parliament without directly running for election. They argue that someone from Punjab should represent the state instead of Kejriwal.

Questions have been asked about whether Arora might get a ministerial position if he wins the by-election and gives his seat to Kejriwal. AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar denied these rumors, stating that Kejriwal is not looking to join the Rajya Sabha and is focused on being the national leader of AAP.

The speculations about Kejriwal entering Parliament intensified shortly after Partap Singh Bajwa from the Congress party spoke about it as a strong possibility.

US President Donald Trump recently revealed a new visa called the “Gold Card” that could give investors a quicker way to become US citizens. This card will cost $5 million and will replace the old EB-5 visa, which is a program that allowed investors to get green cards by funding businesses in America.

The EB-5 visa has been around since 1990 and required a $1 million investment plus the creation of 10 jobs in the US. In contrast, the Gold Card doesn’t require job creation, and it allows investors to skip the long waiting times associated with traditional green cards, especially for Indian nationals.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the Gold Card will officially replace the EB-5 visa in two weeks. With the Gold Card, investors can get green cards (which means they can live and work in the US permanently) much faster—possibly even immediately after paying the $5 million fee.

Here’s a quick comparison:

– EB-5 Visa:
– Costs: $800,000 – $1.05 million
– Jobs: Must create 10 US jobs
– Path to Citizenship: Takes 5-7 years
– Wait for Indians: 7-10+ years due to high demand

– Trump’s Gold Card:
– Costs: $5 million
– Jobs: No job creation needed
– Path to Citizenship: Immediate
– Wait for Indians: No wait, pay directly

While the Gold Card offers a fast track to US residency, it comes with a hefty price tag that makes it only possible for the richest individuals. If you’re not in the super-rich category, there are still other options to consider for US immigration.

Other Immigration Options for Indians:
– EB-5 Visa: If still available, can cost $800,000 and takes 3-5 years.
– O-1 Visa: For highly skilled professionals in fields like tech and art.
– L-1 Visa: For business owners and company executives.
– H-1B to EB-2/EB-3: The traditional route, but can take a very long time.

In short, the Gold Card visa could change the game for wealthy investors looking to live in the US, but it’s not for everyone.