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PM Modi says will make Delhi a future-ready city as BJP sweeps AAP out

Despite the setback, the party vowed to make a comeback, asserting that it would form a government in Delhi by 2030.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday pledged to address Delhi’s long-standing issues, including broken roads, garbage piles, overflowing sewers, and air pollution, and transform the national capital into a future-ready city. His remarks came as the BJP celebrated a historic victory in the Delhi Assembly elections, marking its return to power in the capital after nearly three decades.

Addressing party workers at the BJP headquarters here, PM Modi highlighted the party’s recent electoral successes across the country. “After winning the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP set unprecedented records in Haryana and Maharashtra. Now, history has been made in Delhi,” he said, hours after the Election Commission of India declared the BJP as the winner of the Delhi Assembly polls.

In the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, the BJP secured 48 seats, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) managed to win 22 seats. The Congress, however, failed to open its account, continuing its losing streak in the capital.

Expressing gratitude to the people of Delhi, PM Modi said, “I thank the people of Delhi for their wholehearted love and support. I assure them that we will return this love double-fold through development. Delhi is now free from ‘AAP-da’ (the era of AAP), and the people are filled with enthusiasm and relief.”

The Prime Minister recalled his appeal to Delhiites in a letter before the elections, urging them to give the BJP a chance to serve and develop Delhi into the “Viksit Capital of India.” He also took a sharp dig at the AAP, stating that Delhi had rejected the “politics of agitation.”

“Delhi has voted against strikes, protests, and theatrics. The previous regime stalled several central welfare schemes. Governance is not a stage for propaganda; it is about delivering results. Wherever the NDA has come to power, we have achieved new heights of development,” he asserted.

PM Modi emphasised Delhi’s unique identity as “Mini India,” reflecting the diversity and spirit of the nation. “Delhi lives the idea of India-First. It is not just a city; it is the heartbeat of the country,” he said.

Thanking the electorate for their mandate, the Prime Minister promised accelerated development under the BJP’s “double-engine government.” “We will repay the people’s love by developing Delhi at double the pace. The rightful owners of Delhi are its people, and those who arrogantly claimed ownership have been confronted with the truth,” he added.

Reflecting on the BJP’s consistent performance in Delhi, PM Modi noted, “The people of Delhi have never disappointed us in the Lok Sabha elections—2014, 2019, and 2023. Despite winning all seven parliamentary seats, our workers longed to serve Delhi fully. This time, Delhi has fulfilled that desire.”

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faced a significant setback in the Delhi Assembly elections as several of its top leaders, including party supremo Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, lost their seats. The defeat marks a major blow to the party, which had dominated Delhi’s political landscape for over a decade.

BJP’s Parvesh Verma defeated the AAP supremo in the New Delhi constituency by a margin of 4,089 votes. Meanwhile, AAP’s Atishi won the Kalkaji seat, defeating BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri by 3,521 votes after a closely contested battle.

The election results also saw the defeat of other key AAP leaders, including Saurabh Bharadwaj, Durgesh Pathak, and Satyendra Jain. Bharadwaj, who held significant portfolios in the AAP government, failed to secure his seat, further compounding the party’s losses.

Durgesh Pathak, known for his organizational role in the party, and Satyendra Jain, a former minister who played a crucial role in AAP’s health and infrastructure initiatives, also faced defeat in their respective constituencies.

The Congress, however, faced a crushing defeat, failing to win a single seat in the 70-member Assembly for the third consecutive time. Despite the setback, the party vowed to make a comeback, asserting that it would form a government in Delhi by 2030.

As the BJP prepares to take charge, the focus now shifts to fulfilling its promises of transforming Delhi into a modern, developed, and pollution-free capital, while addressing the challenges that have plagued the city for years.

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Gold sales shine bright on Akshaya Tritiya despite soaring prices

Akshaya Tritiya 2025 saw a significant jump in gold and silver sales, with festive sentiment overpowering price concerns as India’s jewellery market adapts to changing consumer behaviour.

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Gold price

Gold and silver purchases witnessed a vibrant start across India on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, with festive enthusiasm overcoming the deterrent of high prices. The All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) has projected a 35% rise in value terms for gold sales compared to last year, even though prices are significantly higher.

Regional footfall and demand trends

Retail activity gained early momentum in southern states, as consumers flocked to jewellery stores in the first half of the day. In contrast, northern regions and Maharashtra are expected to see increased activity later, as extreme heat delayed consumer turnout during morning hours.

Gold prices hovered between ₹99,500 and ₹99,900 per 10 grams in various regions — a sharp 37.6% jump from the previous year’s Akshaya Tritiya rate of ₹72,300. Despite the surge, shoppers re-entered the market, reassured by recent price stabilization.

Changing buyer profiles and strategies

GJC Chairman Rajesh Rokde noted that the tradition of buying gold on Akshaya Tritiya, once dominant in the south, is now gaining traction nationwide. “Even younger consumers aged 25 to 40 are actively buying gold and silver,” he said, emphasizing a growing trend among millennial buyers.

Consumers are purchasing a mix of jewellery, coins, and bullion based on their budget and need. A significant portion of buyers are managing high prices through old gold exchanges — accounting for nearly 50% of all transactions, according to PNG Jewellers Chairman Saurabh Gadgil.

“Volume growth may be marginally down by 8–9%, but in value terms, we’re seeing an increase of 20–25%,” Gadgil explained, underlining the resilience of the jewellery market.

Market adapts with innovation

Studded jewellery is reportedly gaining popularity, especially in urban centers, while lab-grown diamonds are carving a niche among new-age buyers, according to industry executives from GSI India and Aukera.

The All India Jewellers and Goldsmith Federation estimated around 12 tonnes of gold sales, worth approximately ₹12,000 crore, and 400 tonnes of silver, valued at ₹4,000 crore — totalling a massive ₹16,000 crore in expected festive turnover.

Long-term demand remains robust

Despite frequent price hikes over the past three years, India’s gold appetite has remained steady. The country continues to import between 700 and 800 tonnes annually, underscoring its status as the world’s largest gold consumer.

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Bangladesh High Court orders release of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das on bail

The prosecutor’s killing fueled demands to ban ISKCON, which clarified that Das had been expelled from the organization six months prior.

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In a significant development, a Bangladesh High Court bench, comprising Justices Atoar Rahman and Ali Reza, granted bail to Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, five months after his arrest on charges of disrespecting the national flag.

The court’s decision followed a final hearing on an earlier directive questioning why bail should not be granted, marking a turning point in a case that has stirred tensions and drawn international attention.

Das, a former ISKCON leader and spokesperson for the Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jote, a Hindu advocacy group, was detained on November 25, 2024, at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The charges stemmed from an October 31, 2024, case filed at Chattogram’s Kotwali police station, accusing Das and 18 others of defaming Bangladesh’s national flag. A Chattogram court rejected his initial bail plea, sending him to jail, a decision that sparked widespread protests among his supporters in Dhaka and beyond.

In Chattogram, demonstrations turned deadly when assistant government prosecutor Saiful Islam Alif was killed hours after Das’ bail denial, escalating the controversy.

The case, unfolding less than three months after a student-led uprising toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, strained Bangladesh-India relations. Hasina’s flight to India and the subsequent interim government led by Muhammad Yunus intensified scrutiny.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs voiced concern on November 26, 2024, highlighting “multiple attacks on Hindus and minorities” in Bangladesh, including arson, looting, and temple desecration. “It’s unfortunate that a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful means faces charges while perpetrators of violence remain free,” the MEA stated, urging Bangladesh to protect its minority communities.

Das’ legal team, led by former Deputy Attorney General Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya and 11 Supreme Court lawyers, argued the flag disrespect charge was baseless, asserting the item in question was not a national flag.

“This case lacks legal grounding,” Bhattacharya told reporters in January. Earlier bail attempts, including a plea for an advanced hearing on December 11, 2024, were rebuffed, with the court sticking to a January 2, 2025, date. Associates claimed Das faced obstacles securing legal representation due to intimidation from a “politically motivated lawyers’ group.”

The prosecutor’s killing fueled demands to ban ISKCON, which clarified that Das had been expelled from the organization six months prior.

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She felt worthless when Instagram followers fell, says influencer Misha Agrawal’s sister on her suicide

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The family of social media influencer Misha Agarwal announced her heartbreaking passing on April 24, 2025, just days before her 25th birthday, revealing that she died by suicide. In an emotional statement shared on her Instagram account on April 30, her family disclosed that Misha’s battle with depression, triggered by a decline in her social media following, led to her tragic decision.

Misha, who had built her career around Instagram, was fixated on reaching one million followers, a goal so central to her life that it adorned her phone’s lock screen.

Her family’s statement, accompanied by a video of the lock screen, read, “Our beloved sister poured her heart into Instagram, dreaming of a million followers. When her follower count began to drop, she felt worthless and fell into deep depression, often crying, ‘What will I do if my followers decrease? My career is over.’” Despite their efforts to comfort her, Misha’s despair overwhelmed her.

Her family emphasized Misha’s talents beyond social media, noting her LLB degree and preparation for the PCSJ exam, with aspirations of becoming a judge. “We reminded her that Instagram was just one part of her life, not its entirety,” they shared. “We told her a setback online wouldn’t end her world, but she couldn’t escape the pressure.” The statement highlighted the devastating impact of her fixation on digital validation, culminating in her untimely death.

On April 25, Misha’s family first confirmed her passing in a poignant Instagram post: “With profound sorrow, we share the loss of Misha Agarwal. Thank you for the love you showed her. We are grappling with this immense grief. Please keep her spirit alive in your hearts.”

The tragedy underscores the intense pressures faced by influencers in an era where social media metrics often define self-worth. India’s influencer industry, while thriving, increasingly spotlight mental health challenges, with growing calls for support systems. Misha’s story serves as a somber reminder to prioritize well-being over online validation, leaving her family and fans mourning a vibrant soul gone too soon.

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