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Gulbarg massacre: Gujarat HC rejects plea by Zakia Jafri seeking inclusion of PM Modi as accused

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Gulbarg massacre: Gujarat HC rejects plea by Zakia Jafri seeking inclusion of PM Modi as accused

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Court upholds SIT clean chit to the then chief minister of Gujarat and senior bureaucrats but says petitioner can move the SC

The Gujarat High Court, on Thursday (October 5), refused to accede to a petition which had asked for the inclusion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 59 others, including senior police officers and bureaucrats, as accused for being party to a “conspiracy” that led to the 2002 post-Godhra riots and killings.

The high court’s Justice Sonia Gokani, however, allowed the petition to be moved before the Supreme Court.

The petition was placed by Zakia Jafri, widow of slain ex-MP Ehsan Jafri. Zakia’s petition pertains to the massacre that happened in Ahmedabad’s Gulbarg society during the 2002 post-Godhra riots. Ehsan Jafri, a former Congress MP, was hacked to death by the Hindu rioters along with 67 others– all Muslims – at the Gulbrag Society on February 28, 2002.

Zakia has maintained that the brutal murder of her husband and others at the society was done at the behest of the then Gujarat chief minister, Narendra Modi. She and her family members have earlier said that numerous calls made by Ehsan Jafri to the chief minister’s office seeking security for the society hours before the rioters reached there had gone unheeded.

Thursday’s verdict of the high court was against a criminal review petition filed by NGO Citizen for Justice and Peace’s (led by activist Teesta Setalvad) which had challenged a magistrate’s order that upheld the SIT clean chit to Modi and others. The allegations refuted by the magistrate were of a “larger criminal conspiracy” behind the riots.

The SIT’s deposition before the high court said that its probe was monitored by the Supreme Court and that its report was generally accepted by all. The court decided that there was no need for further investigation, especially regarding the “conspiracy” angle.

Zakia Jafri’s counsel Mihir Desai had pointed out to the court that the magistrate never considered rejecting the report or ordering a fresh probe, neither did it consider signed statements of witnesses. He also pointed out that submissions of key witnesses such as (former IPS officers) Sanjiv Bhatt, R.B. Sreekumar and Rahul Sharma were not even considered, neither was Tehelka magazine’s sting operation result.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant among 32 inducted in Bihar cabinet expansion

Nishant Kumar entered the Bihar cabinet for the first time as 32 ministers from NDA allies took oath in a major expansion of the state government.

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2 hours ago

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May 7, 2026

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Bihar government cabinet

A major cabinet expansion took place in Bihar on Thursday, with 32 leaders from the ruling NDA alliance inducted into the state government. Among the prominent names was Nishant Kumar, son of former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who entered the cabinet for the first time.

The expansion included representatives from all major NDA allies in the state. According to reports, the BJP secured 15 ministerial berths, while JD(U) got 13 positions. Two ministers were inducted from Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), while Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Morcha received one berth each.

The oath-taking ceremony was held in Patna in the presence of senior NDA leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Nishant Kumar’s induction comes weeks after he formally entered active politics. His entry into the Bihar cabinet is being viewed as a significant development for JD(U), which had long projected an anti-dynasty image under Nitish Kumar’s leadership.

The cabinet reshuffle follows Nitish Kumar’s move to the Rajya Sabha earlier this year and the formation of the government led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

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PM Modi marks Operation Sindoor anniversary, calls it India’s firm stand against terrorism

PM Modi said Operation Sindoor showcased India’s firm response against terrorism while paying tribute to the armed forces on the operation’s first anniversary.

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May 7, 2026

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PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s firm response against terrorism and highlighted the country’s commitment to national security.

Marking one year of the operation, the Prime Minister praised the courage, precision and professionalism of the Indian armed forces. He said the military action was carried out in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that had claimed the lives of 26 civilians in 2025.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, 2025, as a calibrated tri-services operation targeting terror infrastructure linked to cross-border terrorism. Reports said the operation showcased coordinated action by the armed forces and was seen as a major counter-terror response by India.

On the anniversary of the operation, PM Modi also changed the display pictures across his social media platforms, including X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The image carried the text “Operation Sindoor” along with the Indian tricolour design.

The Indian Air Force also shared visuals and messages recalling the operation and highlighting India’s military response. A video released by the force described the operation as a strong message against terrorism and referred to the precision strikes carried out during the mission.

Operation Sindoor was launched following the Pahalgam terror attack, after which India carried out strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, according to official statements and reports published at the time.

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Vijay meets Tamil Nadu Governor again as TVK pushes to prove majority

TVK chief Vijay held another meeting with Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar as the party intensified efforts to secure majority support after emerging as the single-largest party in the Assembly elections.

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7 hours ago

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May 7, 2026

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Actor vijay

Actor-turned-politician Vijay met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar again on Thursday as his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), continued efforts to prove it has enough support to form the next government in the state.

TVK emerged as the single-largest party in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly after winning 108 seats, but it remains short of the majority mark of 118.

The Congress has extended support to TVK, adding five MLAs to Vijay’s side. However, the alliance still needs additional backing from other parties or independents to comfortably cross the halfway mark.

According to reports, the Governor has not yet been fully convinced that TVK currently has the required numbers to form a stable government. This has delayed clarity over the swearing-in ceremony and the formal invitation to form the government.

Political activity intensified after reports emerged that some AIADMK legislators were moved to a resort in Puducherry amid speculation over possible support to TVK. AIADMK leaders, however, publicly denied any internal crisis.

TVK sources have expressed confidence that the party will be able to demonstrate majority support during discussions with the Governor.

The Tamil Nadu election results marked a major political shift in the state, with TVK breaking the long-standing dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in its first Assembly election contest.

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