India News

Chidambaram slams Centre’s offer of elections first, statehood later in Jammu and Kashmir

Congress and other J&K parties want statehood first and elections afterwards, but the Centre’s response is elections first and statehood later, said senior Congress leader and former Home Minister P Chidambaram in a tweet on Friday.

Published

5 years ago

June 25, 2021

A day after the Prime Minister’s all-party meeting with 14 political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, former Home Minister P. Chidambaram has slammed the Narendra Modi government for insisting on elections in the Union Territory before restoring statehood.

Chidambaram said the Congress and J&K parties and leaders want statehood restored first and elections afterwards, but the Centre’s response is elections first and statehood later.

He said this was like putting the cart before the horse, when it should in fact pull the cart. The Congress leader said statehood can ensure smoother conduct of elections. Only elections under a State Election Commission will be free and fair and called the government’s insistence on holding elections first bizarre.

Congress and other J&K parties and leaders want Statehood first and Elections afterward.

Government’s response is Elections first and Statehood later.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) June 25, 2021

The horse pulls the cart. A state must conduct elections. Only such elections will be free and fair.

Why does the government want the cart in front and the horse behind? It is bizarre.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) June 25, 2021

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir of restoring statehood after the assembly elections which would be held once the delimitation exercise, the immediate reason to hold the meeting, is over. He said he was glad about their commitment to the Constitution and democracy and said he wants to remove ‘Dilli ki Duri as well as Dil Ki Duri’.

This was the first official interaction of the Union government with political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir since August 5, 2019, after the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the border state into two union territories.

Among the leaders who attended the meeting were National Conference’s Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, Congress’ Ghulam Nabi Azad, Tara Chand and GA Mir, PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti, J-K Apni Party’s Altaf Bukhari, BJP’s Ravinder Raina, Nirmal Singh, and Kavinder Gupta, Peoples Conference’s Sajad Gani Lone and CPI(M)’s MY Tarigami; National Panthers Party’s Prof Bheem Singh.

Restoring statehood as promised in Parliament, the delimitation exercise and holding of peaceful elections in the Union Territory are important milestones, said Home Minister Amit Shah, who was present in the meeting, along with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and the Home Secretary.

Omar Abdullah on meeting

Addressing the media after the meeting, NC leader Omar Abdullah said it was the duty of the Centre to restore the broken trust of the people and take all measures required to restore statehood.

The former Chief Minister also said that they are going to use the constitutional right to challenge the decision of scrapping special status in the Supreme Court.

“It is unfortunate that the Supreme Court has not found the time to start hearings in these matters, but we are not going to stop. If we have to start a campaign, however long it is, we will do it peacefully, legally and constitutionally. We won’t put the people in harm’s way,” Abdullah said.

The National Conference leader and a former Chief Minister said decisions that weren’t in the interest of Kashmir should be taken back. It was given the status of a Union Territory, people don’t like it. They want full statehood for J&K and the J&K cadre restored, he said.

He said the delegation told the Prime Minister that they don’t stand with what was done on August 5, 2019. Though we don’t accept it, we are not going to take the law into our hands. We’ll fight this in court, Abdullah added.

Further, Abdullah said all leaders who participated in the meeting demanded full statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. Both Prime Minister and Home Minister said the work for elections and restoring statehood should start soon. However, Azad said that statehood should be restored first and only then should elections be held. On this Prime Minister didn’t say anything, he said.

The question over the PM’s talks with Pakistan was also discussed at the meeting. On this, Abdullah said it appears there are backchannel talks at some level if one goes by media reports. It is not the Government of India’s sole responsibility to create an atmosphere for talks, even Pakistan should ensure that it stops support to terrorism since talks cannot continue because of it.

But we cannot also forget what someone like (former Prime Minister) Atal Bihari Vajpayee had said — that we can change our friends but not our neighbours. Pakistan will remain our neighbour and somehow, by using back channels, we need to dissipate this atmosphere of tension,” he added.

What did Mehbooba Mufti say

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said her party will relentlessly pursue the demand for the restoration of Article 370 and other special provisions enjoyed by the erstwhile state. She told the PM that the people of J&K do not accept how Article 370 was abrogated unconstitutionally, illegally and immorally.

The former Chief Minister said the people of Jammu and Kashmir are in a lot of difficulties after August 5, 2019. “They are angry, upset and emotionally shattered. They feel humiliated. I told the Prime Minister that people of Jammu and Kashmir do not accept the manner in which Article 370 was abrogated unconstitutionally, illegally and immorally,” she told reporters.

She said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will struggle constitutionally, democratically, and peacefully. Be it months or years, they will continue to agitate till Article 370 is restored in Jammu and Kashmir since it is a matter of the people’s identity. She said that identity was not given by Pakistan but it was conferred upon the people of Kashmir by their country, by Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel.

On the talks with Pakistan, the PDP president said that she congratulated PM Modi for the resumption of talks that has now led to a ceasefire and, as a result, the levels of infiltration have come down. They should continue talks with Pakistan if that will guarantee peace in Jammu and Kashmir. Mufti said they should also talk to Pakistan about trade with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir which has been halted as it is a source of employment for many in Jammu and Kashmir, she added.

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India News

Indian Army Agniveer CEE Result 2026 declared, ARO-wise merit list released

The Indian Army has announced the Agniveer CEE Result 2026. Candidates can now download the ARO-wise merit list and check their eligibility for the next stages of recruitment.

Published

8 hours ago

July 13, 2026

APNLive Desk

The Indian Army has announced the Agniveer Common Entrance Examination (CEE) Result 2026, allowing candidates to check their qualifying status through the official recruitment portal. The Army Recruitment Office (ARO)-wise merit lists have been uploaded on joinindianarmy.nic.in, where candidates can download the PDF corresponding to their recruitment region.

The merit lists contain the names and roll numbers of candidates who have successfully cleared the written examination and become eligible for the next phase of the Agniveer recruitment process.

How to check Indian Army Agniveer CEE Result 2026

Candidates can access their results by following these steps:

Visit the official Indian Army recruitment website.
Click on the Agniveer CEE Result 2026 link available on the homepage.
Select the relevant Army Recruitment Office (ARO) or recruitment region.
Download the merit list PDF.
Search for your roll number or name to confirm your qualification status.

What happens after the Agniveer CEE result?

Candidates shortlisted in the Common Entrance Examination will now have to undergo the remaining stages of the recruitment process. These include:

Physical Fitness Test (PFT)
Physical Measurement Test (PMT)
Document Verification (DV)
Medical Examination

Only candidates who successfully clear every stage will be considered for final selection under the Agniveer recruitment programme.

Candidates advised to verify details carefully

After downloading the merit list, candidates should carefully check all the information mentioned in the document. If they notice any discrepancy related to their result or personal details, they should immediately contact their respective Army Recruitment Office (ARO) for assistance.

Candidates are also advised to keep checking the official Indian Army recruitment portal for updates regarding the schedule, venue and instructions for the upcoming physical tests, document verification and medical examination.

India News

Delhi air quality slips to poor as AQI reaches 261, highest in over 85 days

Delhi’s air quality entered the ‘poor’ category after AQI touched 261, its highest level since April 17. Authorities attributed the spike to transnational dust from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.

Published

8 hours ago

July 13, 2026

APNLive Desk

Delhi’s air quality fell into the ‘poor’ category on Sunday after the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed to 261, marking its highest level in more than 85 days, according to official data.

The reading was the highest since April 17, when the AQI stood at 263. Just a day earlier, Delhi had recorded an AQI of 140, while air quality had largely remained in the ‘moderate’ and ‘satisfactory’ categories for most of the month.

Transnational dust behind spike in pollution

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said the sudden deterioration in Delhi-NCR’s air quality was mainly caused by long-range winds carrying mineral dust generated by storm activity in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.

According to the commission, these dust-laden winds reached northwestern India, including Delhi, resulting in a significant rise in PM10 concentrations. Strong surface winds across the Indo-Gangetic Plain also contributed to the increase in pollution levels.

The CAQM said Delhi’s air quality is expected to remain in the ‘poor’ category for the next few days before improving once the transnational dust spell weakens.

No GRAP Stage-I restrictions for now

Despite the worsening air quality, the CAQM decided not to implement GRAP Stage-I restrictions, stating that the current pollution episode has been triggered by transnational dust rather than local emission sources.

However, the commission directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to intensify dust control measures across the city.

As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an AQI between 201 and 300 falls under the ‘poor’ category.

Delhi experiences humid weather

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the maximum temperature at Safdarjung reached 36.8 degrees Celsius, which was 1.3 degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 28.3 degrees Celsius, one degree above the seasonal average.

Although the actual maximum temperature remained below 37 degrees Celsius, high humidity pushed the feels-like temperature to 45.7 degrees Celsius by 5:30 pm.

Among other weather stations, maximum temperatures were recorded at 37 degrees Celsius at Lodhi Road, 36.6 degrees Celsius at Palam, 36.2 degrees Celsius at Ayanagar and 36 degrees Celsius at Ridge.

Minimum temperatures stood at 27.1 degrees Celsius in Palam, 27.2 degrees Celsius in Lodhi Road, 27.4 degrees Celsius in Ayanagar and 25.6 degrees Celsius at Ridge.

Weather outlook

The IMD has forecast strong surface winds during the daytime on Monday, with the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to remain around 37 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Relative humidity varied between 64 per cent at 8:30 am and 52 per cent at 5:30 pm.

India News

Red Fort bomb threat declared hoax after extensive security checks in Delhi

Delhi Police declared a bomb threat targeting the Red Fort a hoax after conducting a detailed security search following an alert received from Mumbai Police.

Published

2 days ago

July 11, 2026

APNLive Desk

Delhi’s iconic Red Fort witnessed heightened security on Saturday after authorities received a bomb threat targeting the historic monument. Following a detailed inspection and sanitisation drive, Delhi Police confirmed that the threat was a hoax and no explosives were found.

Threat call routed through Mumbai Police

According to officials, the threat was initially received by the Mumbai Police Control Room. The caller allegedly claimed that the Red Fort would be blown up.

Mumbai Police immediately shared the information with the Delhi Police Control Room, which alerted the North District Police. Security personnel were deployed at the monument, and a comprehensive search operation was launched to ensure public safety.

After completing the inspection, officials ruled out any security risk and declared the threat to be false.

Security concerns remain high after previous terror incident

The latest threat comes around eight months after a deadly vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED) blast near the Red Fort Metro Station claimed 15 lives and left several others injured.

Investigators had alleged that the blast was carried out by Umar-un-Nabi, a Kashmiri doctor associated with Al-Falah University in Faridabad, who was driving a Hyundai i20. The explosion occurred on the same day security agencies recovered around 2,900 kg of explosives, including ammonium nitrate, from neighbouring Faridabad in Haryana.

According to investigators, the accused allegedly triggered the explosion after two suspected associates were arrested and the explosives were seized during the operation.

Authorities had identified several other accused linked to the case. Investigators alleged that the group was part of a white-collar terror module associated with Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, an al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist organisation.

Earlier arrests linked to alleged attack plots

In May, Delhi Police’s Special Cell arrested nine men who were allegedly linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

Police alleged that the accused were planning attacks on critical infrastructure and security personnel in Delhi, Mumbai and other parts of the country. According to investigators, potential targets included airports, railway stations, power plants and other vital installations.

Although Saturday’s bomb threat was found to be fake, the incident once again prompted swift security measures at one of the country’s most significant heritage sites.