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Assasination attempt on Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal during his penance at Golden Temple

Sukhbir Singh Badal, a former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, is performing sewadar duties after the Akal Takht pronounced the religious punishment for him and several other Akali leaders for mistakes committed during the party’s rule in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.

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Assasination attempt on Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal during his penance at Golden Temple

In a tragic incident, a man opened fire at Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal this morning while he was serving his penance at the entrance of Golden Temple in Amritsar. Reportedly, the shooter was overpowered by people present on the spot.

Sukhbir Singh Badal, a former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, is performing sewadar duties after the Akal Takht pronounced the religious punishment for him and several other Akali leaders for mistakes committed during the party’s rule in Punjab from 2007 to 2017. The SAD chief has been asked to serve as a sewadar, wash dishes and clean shoes at Golden Temple and several other gurdwaras.

In the past two days, Sukhbir Singh Badal has been sitting at the gate of Golden Temple with a spear in one hand and dressed in blue sewadar uniform. The Akali Dal leader’s leg is in a cast and he is in a wheelchair.

Reportedly, the incident occurred around 9 am on Wednesday, shortly after SAD leader Badal had taken the sewadar’s place at the Golden Temple gate. The man has been identified as Narain Singh from Gurdaspur district, about 75 km from Amritsar. Several visuals from the spot show him slowly approaching the gate, and then quickly brings out a gun. 

Another man standing near Sukhbir Singh Badal spots him in time and holds his hand. The gun goes off but misses the SAD Chief and others near him and hits the wall. The shooter has been arrested and police are investigating the motive behind the shocking attack.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has said the promptness of the state police foiled a conspiracy to defame Punjab and Punjabis. Taking to X, the Chief MInister said that the police achieved great success by arresting the assailant on the spot with their promptness. He appreciated the promptness of the police, and strongly condemned the attack on Sukhbir Badal. He added that he has issued strict instructions to the police to immediately investigate the incident and submit a report.

Furthermore, Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said alert police officers Rishpal Singh, Jasbir and Parminder Singh managed to foil the attack. He added that Narain Singh has a criminal record, and they have registered a case and the incident is probed from all angles. He also appealed to people to maintain peace.

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West Bengal government to launch Annapurna scheme from June 1, offering monthly aid of Rs 3,000 to women

The West Bengal government has announced the Annapurna Yojana, providing Rs 3,000 monthly financial assistance to eligible women aged 25–60 starting June 1, 2026. Existing beneficiaries of the older scheme will be automatically migrated subject to verification.

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The West Bengal government has officially notified the rollout of the ‘Annapurna Yojana,’ a welfare initiative aimed at providing assured monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,000 to women across the state. Introduced by the Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare, the scheme is structured to foster the socio-economic upliftment of women and will officially come into effect on June 1, 2026.

Under this new initiative, financial benefits will be transferred directly into the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of qualified beneficiaries using the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

Strict eligibility criteria outlined

According to the official government notification, specific guidelines have been established to determine eligibility for the monthly cash assistance:

  • Target Age Group: Eligible women must be between 25 and 60 years of age.
  • Employment Status: Applicants must not hold permanent government employment or receive a regular salary or pension from the central government, state government, statutory bodies, panchayats, municipalities, local bodies, or government-aided educational institutions.
  • Tax Criteria: Women who are income tax payers are excluded from the scheme.

Automatic migration and scrutiny rules

The new order clarifies that all current beneficiaries of the erstwhile Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme will be automatically migrated to the Annapurna Yojana. However, the transition involves a rigorous filtering process. Individuals identified as deceased, shifted, deleted, or recorded as absentee electors during the SIR-2026 exercise or voter slip distribution will be systematically excluded from the beneficiary list.

On the other hand, individuals who have filed appeals before the SIR Tribunal or submitted applications under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will continue to receive financial assistance until their applications are legally resolved by authorities.

Application process for new beneficiaries

For fresh applicants, a dedicated online portal for the Annapurna Yojana will be launched on June 1, 2026. To ensure transparency, all new applications will undergo a strict multi-tier verification process by designated local administrative officials:

  • Rural Areas: Block Development Officers (BDOs) will manage the verification and inquiries.
  • Urban Areas: Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) will oversee the process.
  • Kolkata: Officials of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will handle applications within their jurisdiction.

Following field inquiries, verified reports will be uploaded directly to the digital portal. The respective District Magistrates and the KMC Commissioner will serve as the final sanctioning authorities in their corresponding jurisdictions to approve the disbursement of funds.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay travels to New Delhi for first official meeting with PM Narendra Modi

Newly sworn-in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay embarked on his first official visit to New Delhi to hold a high-level meeting with PM Narendra Modi, focusing on economic aid, fertilizer supply, and water rights disputes.

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Tamil Nadu CM Vijay and PM Modi

Marking his maiden official visit to the national capital since assuming office, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to deliberate on a wide range of state-specific matters. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief, who led his fledgling party to a historic victory in the recent assembly elections, took the oath of office on May 10. While the Prime Minister had previously extended his congratulations via social media, this marks the first formal in-person meeting between the two leaders.

According to official sources, the Chief Minister departed from Chennai on a chartered flight at 10:00 AM. The high-profile meeting with the Prime Minister is slated for 4:30 PM, where Vijay is expected to submit a comprehensive memorandum outlining Tamil Nadu’s long-pending welfare and developmental demands.

Key state matters on the table

The core of the discussions is expected to center around financial assistance and clearances for major infrastructure projects in the state. Media reports indicate that the Chief Minister will heavily push for additional funds to bankroll ongoing developmental initiatives.

Furthermore, the interstate Mekedatu water dispute remains a high-priority issue. Chief Minister Vijay has already written to the Prime Minister, urging him to instruct the Union Jal Shakti Ministry and the Central Water Commission (CWC) to reject the Detailed Project Report submitted by Karnataka for a reservoir at Mekedatu.

Other critical administrative concerns to be raised include ensuring an uninterrupted supply of fertilizers for the upcoming Kharif farming season and the removal of the 11 percent import duty on cotton to protect the raw material supply chain for the state’s textile industry.

A packed diplomatic itinerary

Accompanied by a team of senior officials and select cabinet colleagues, the Chief Minister’s itinerary extends beyond the Prime Minister’s Office. Vijay is likely to sit down with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to directly advocate for financial backings for key state portfolios.

The new administration has also drawn national interest for its structural innovations, including retaining critical departments under the Chief Minister—such as Home, Police, and Women Welfare—and carving out a dedicated cabinet-level Artificial Intelligence department, making Tamil Nadu only the second state in the country to do so.

Navigating a complex political landscape, the TVK-led government, which holds 108 seats in the assembly and enjoys backing from coalition partners including the Congress, Left parties, VCK, and IUML, is also using this trip to engage with national opposition leaders. Chief Minister Vijay is scheduled to meet Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi during his stay in the capital.

Before wrapping up his tour, the Chief Minister is slated to participate in a cultural event at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where he will formally inaugurate a statue of the revered Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar installed by the Tamil Nadu government. Sources indicate that Vijay will conclude his official engagements and return to Chennai on Thursday.

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Assam clears Uniform Civil Code bill, becomes third state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat

Assam has officially become the third state in India to pass the Uniform Civil Code bill. The legislation was cleared by the state assembly on Wednesday despite strong objections raised by opposition lawmakers who claimed it impacts minority rights.

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The Assam Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed ‘The Uniform Civil Code, Assam, 2026 Bill’, making it the third state ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to adopt a uniform legal framework after Uttarakhand and Gujarat.

Opposition flags concerns over rights during house debate

The bill was taken up for final passage in the state assembly on Wednesday, sparking a heated discussion among lawmakers. During the legislative floor debate, opposition MLAs strongly voiced their concerns regarding the proposed law, stating that the legislation will hurt and compromise the fundamental rights of a certain section of society.

Despite objections from the opposition benches, the treasury benches cleared the passage of the bill, cementing Assam’s position as the latest state to move away from diverse personal laws in favor of a uniform code. Media reported that the legislative move follows extensive political discussions in the state surrounding civil regulations. With this enactment, Assam joins Uttarakhand and Gujarat, which have previously passed their respective uniform civil codes.

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