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Shashi Tharoor defends his Malayali Taliban comment amid row

Posting a small clip of Taliban exulting and the sudden utterance of the word “samsarikette” which means “Can I speak to them?” in Malayalam, Tharoor wondered if the Taliban may have recruited a few Malayali men.

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Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday defended his tweet in which he had assumed the presence of Malayalis in the Taliban in one of the celebratory videos of the group that emerged after the takeover of Kabul.

Shashi Tharoor, the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, had a question in his tweet. Posting a small clip of Taliban exulting and the sudden utterance of the word “samsarikette” which means “Can I speak to them?” in Malayalam, Tharoor wondered if the Taliban may have recruited a few Malayali men.

It sounds as if there are at least two Malayali Taliban here — one who says “samsarikkette” around the 8-second mark & another who understands him!, he wrote.

Given the fact that several Kerala men and women left the shores of India to fight for the Islamic State, the MP may have had a point. But did he upset Malayali Twitter? Well offcourse he did.

His tweet faced a major backlash on Twitter. Korah Abraham, a journalist tweeted: This is highly problematic. Making statements like this especially when the Right Wing eco system is going on a hate campaign against Kerala regarding people joining jihadist groups. And you being an MP from Kerala’s capital should be knowing better.

To which, the Congress MP replied in a tweet that he was approached by Kerala mothers whose daughters were stuck in Afghanistan after having been taken there by their misguided husbands. He had arranged a meeting with EAM SushmaSwaraj ji for a constituent to plead her case.

Tharoor had shared a video that was originally shared on a Twitter by a man named Ramiz. The Twitter user later clarified that there are no Kerala-origin fighters in the rank and file of Taliban. They are Baloch from Zabul province who speak Brahvi and Bravhi language is widely spokes among them. It is a Dravidian language which is very similar to Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam etc, Ramiz, who claims to be interested in conflict journalism, wrote.

To Ramiz’s explanation, Tharoor said that it is indeed interesting and only linguists can figure this out. But there have indeed been misguided Malayalis who joined the Taliban, so that possibility cannot be ruled out entirely, the MP wrote drawing wrath on social media.

However, Tharoor later shared a news article about Nimisha Fathima, a Keralite woman who landed in Afghanistan jail following the killing of her IS husband a couple of years ago, and wrote, I am sure all those who decried my tweet about the possibility of Malayalis in the Taliban will now notice the ones who were released from the government’s prisons today.

His comments had irked BJP leader Vinit Goenka who wrote: This is not a comedy show. It seems to be just tip of an iceberg. Congress and Left are ruining #Kerala under pseudo- secularism. In my book #EnemiesWithin I have highlighted the fact about how #Kerala is becoming a hot spot for recruitment of Islamic terrorist.

Taliban took over Afghan Capital on Sunday.

In other India news, Kareena Kapoor Khan revealed that her second child Jeh was part of the song in her upcoming film Laal Singh Chaddha co-starring Aamir Khan.

Education

UGC NET June 2026 admit card released; candidates can download hall tickets online

The National Testing Agency has released UGC NET June 2026 admit cards. Candidates can now download their hall tickets from the official website before the examination begins on June 22.

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The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the admit cards for the UGC NET June 2026 examination. Registered candidates can now download their hall tickets from the official UGC NET portal by logging in with their application credentials. The examination is scheduled to be conducted between June 22 and June 30, 2026.

The admit card is a mandatory document for entry to the examination centre and contains important details such as the candidate’s name, roll number, examination date, reporting time and allotted test centre. Candidates have been advised to carefully verify all information mentioned on the document after downloading it.

How to download the UGC NET admit card

Candidates can follow these steps to access their hall tickets:

  1. Visit the official UGC NET website.
  2. Click on the admit card download link.
  3. Enter the application number, date of birth or password, and security details.
  4. Submit the information to log in.
  5. Download and save the admit card.
  6. Take a printout for use on the examination day.

Important instructions for candidates

Candidates must carry a printed copy of the admit card along with a valid photo identity proof to the examination centre. The city intimation slip issued earlier is meant only for advance travel planning and cannot be used as a substitute for the admit card.

Applicants are also advised to check reporting timings, examination guidelines and centre details mentioned on the hall ticket well in advance to avoid last-minute issues.

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India News

Delhi records coolest day of June as rain brings relief from heat

Heavy rain and cloudy conditions helped Delhi record its coolest day of June, with the India Meteorological Department forecasting further relief from heat in the coming days.

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Delhi experienced a significant break from the intense summer heat after rainfall and cloudy skies pushed temperatures down, making it the coolest day of June so far.

The change in weather brought much-needed relief to residents who had been dealing with high temperatures and humid conditions over the past several weeks. Rainfall was reported in several parts of the national capital and adjoining NCR regions, leading to a noticeable drop in daytime temperatures. Similar weather conditions have recently helped keep temperatures below normal across the city.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the combination of rain-bearing systems and cloud cover contributed to the cooler conditions. The weather department has indicated that pleasant weather is likely to continue, with chances of additional rainfall and thunderstorms over the next few days.

The rainfall not only lowered temperatures but also improved outdoor conditions after a prolonged spell of heat. Earlier this month, Delhi had experienced episodes of extreme weather, including heatwave conditions and dust storms, making the recent spell of rain a welcome change for residents.

IMD’s latest forecast suggests that while temperatures may gradually rise later in the week, intermittent rain and thunderstorms could continue to provide temporary relief from the summer heat.

Weather officials have advised people to stay updated on local forecasts as changing weather conditions could bring brief spells of rain, gusty winds and thunderstorms across Delhi-NCR.

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Uddhav Sena MPs unreachable as Delhi meetings fuel fresh split speculation

Fresh uncertainty surrounds Shiv Sena (UBT) after several MPs reportedly became unreachable, with attention now focused on crucial meetings in Delhi.

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Fresh political uncertainty has gripped the Shiv Sena (UBT) after several of its Lok Sabha MPs reportedly became unreachable, prompting senior leaders to make personal efforts to contact them amid growing speculation of a possible rebellion within the party.

Party chief Uddhav Thackeray and other senior leaders are understood to be reaching out to MPs as concerns grow over potential defections. The developments come ahead of a parliamentary committee meeting in Delhi, where several MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray camp are expected to gather.

Reports suggest that some MPs from the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction could hold discussions in the national capital alongside leaders from the rival Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. Sources have indicated that a group of MPs may explore forming a separate faction in Parliament before potentially aligning with the Shinde-led camp, although no official announcement has been made.

Names being discussed in political circles include MPs such as Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Omraje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure and Sanjay Jadhav. However, at least one MP, Sanjay Dina Patil, has publicly rejected reports linking him to any rebel group.

Meanwhile, senior Uddhav camp leaders including Arvind Sawant and Anil Desai are expected to remain actively engaged in efforts to maintain party unity. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has also been in Delhi amid the unfolding developments.

The latest episode has revived memories of previous political upheavals in Maharashtra and intensified speculation over whether the Shiv Sena (UBT) could face another significant organisational challenge in the coming days. As meetings continue in Delhi, political observers will be closely watching for any formal announcements from either camp.

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