AIMPLB says that the High Court’s decision in the Bhojshala case will be challenged in the Supreme Court.
Supreme CourtAnd the board will provide all possible support in this legal fight.The board said in a statement that it “strongly rejected the recent Madhya Pradesh High Court judgment in the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Masjid dispute, declaring the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Masjid complex as a Saraswati temple.”Muslim Board Spokesperson, SQR Ilyas, said, “The High Court verdict has been delivered in disregard of historical evidence, revenue records, colonial-era official documents, gazetteers and the centuries-old Muslim religious association with the site. This decision is in direct conflict with the spirit of the Places of Worship Act, 1991 and the constitutional mandate.Ilyas said, “The court placed extraordinary reliance on the traditions associated with Raja Bhoja, the historical legacy of Sanskrit learning, and ASI survey findings, while ignoring consistent religious usage, official records, and constitutional principles. Literary and traditional references do not always constitute conclusive historical evidence, and many religious sites in the subcontinent have undergone changes in different historical periods.”He further argued that the HC verdict gives primacy to a supposedly ancient temple and a civilizational narrative, while ignoring the mosque’s age-old status, official documentation, ASI’s shared management arrangement and the constitutional principle of preserving the religious character of places of worship after Independence.
Mother wakes up in time as AC vent collapses due to bus fire in Hassan
Mangaluru: What started as a routine overnight journey from Surathkal to Bengaluru turned into a fight for survival Vaishnavi And then her 10 year old daughter The private bus in which they were traveling caught fire near Shantigram in Hassan district Early on Saturday.Vaishnavi said that the falling AC vent probably saved her life. She had boarded the bus at lower berths 8 and 9 with her daughter at 9.30 pm on Friday night. After working on her laptop until the bus entered the ghat section, where network connectivity stopped, she went to sleep.She told TOI, “Around 1.30 am, I closed my laptop and went to sleep. An hour later, the bus stopped somewhere in Hassan and I saw the driver and cleaner moving around as if something had gone wrong. We thought the crew might have sensed some problem, but we still decided to continue as Bengaluru was less than 200 km away.”The bus resumed its journey but stopped again near Shantigram. A stampede broke out within some time. “Smoke started entering the bus. But the crew did not shout or ask the passengers to leave,” he said. “The moment that probably saved my life was when the AC vent suddenly fell on my face and I woke up completely. Then I smelled a strong smell of smoke.”As the passengers urged the driver to stop, Vaishnavi woke up her daughter and got out. “We had no slippers, no bag, nothing. I only had my phone as I usually keep it in my pocket while traveling through the ghat section. Everything else – my laptop, purse with important cards, jewellery, clothes – were inside,” she said.As the bus burst into flames, Vaishnavi shouted for the passengers to get out before pulling her daughter to safety. She said, “I ran as far as I could, I thought the bus might explode. At that moment, I only wanted to save my child.”Later he noticed that passengers were still getting out and passing motorists, bus drivers and locals rushed to help with water and fire extinguishers. Fire and emergency services personnel arrived at around 3.15pm.She said, “My clothes smelled of smoke. I could still hear voices and it felt like there was smoke everywhere around me.” As most of the Bengaluru-bound buses were full due to the busy travel season, some buses offered standing space to stranded passengers. Eventually, Vaishnavi and her daughter boarded the KSRTC Sarige bus.“I had no money. I held my daughter tightly all the way to Bengaluru and tried to control my tears. She was still in shock. It was only after we reached home that I broke down completely,” she said.He said, “I lost my documents, jewellery, clothes and laptop. My daughter also took her dance costume and jewelery to perform in front of the family after completing her junior dance exams recently. We are grateful to have escaped alive, but strongly feel that the crew should have warned the passengers earlier.”
Indian-origin gas station owner becomes first Indian-American elected to Texas city council
Yash Asarsa arrived in the United States more than two decades ago with $950. On May 14, 2026, he was sworn in as a member of the Rusk City Council, becoming the first person from India to hold elected office in the small East Texas city. Assarsa, owner of the TruCarz gas station in Rusk, won the District 3 seat unopposed in the May 2, 2026 election. His victory is a milestone in the community of about 5,000 residents in Cherokee County, about 130 miles southeast of Dallas.Born in India, Asarasa said he was attracted to Texas western culture and cowboy imagery. What kept him at Rusk, he said, were the people there. After operating and growing his business for more than 15 years, he has become a familiar face behind the counter at TrueCare, interacting daily with residents from all walks of life.“This community embraced me,” Asarasa told CBS19. “This community made me who I am, so I think I’m very grateful to this community.”After seeing the division in the community he decided to contest the elections. Asarasa said, “I believe God has given us two ears and one mouth, so listen twice and speak once.” “I’m a good listener and that’s what makes me different. I can understand people’s problems.”He believes his experience in retail has prepared him well for public service. “You see people from all walks of life and you learn how to understand people better,” he said.As a new council member, Assarsa has outlined several priorities: fixing roads, hiring a police chief, addressing the city’s budget deficit, and revitalizing Downtown Rusk. Most of all, he wants residents to feel heard. He also sees his role from a broader perspective. “I feel like I am a representative of India – an ambassador of India,” Asarasa said.The election of an Indian-origin man to a city council in Texas comes at a time when the state is angry over Indian takeover. Dallas and Frisco have become centers of anti-India sentiments. But Asarasa doesn’t care. “If you work hard and have passion, all dreams are possible in this wonderful country,” Asarasa said.Assarsa ran unopposed for the seat and will work closely with other council members as the city tackles local challenges. His swearing-in took place at Rusk City Hall. In the city where he started out as an immigrant business owner, Asarsa’s choice reflects the community that embraced him more than 15 years ago. From the gas station counter to the council chamber, his story is rooted in service to the very people who embraced him.
Netherlands returned 11th century ‘Chola plates’, PM Modi said ‘a moment of happiness for every Indian’
New Delhi: India has finally succeeded in retrieving the ‘Chola Plates’ considered one of the most important surviving inscriptions of the dynasty, with the Netherlands formally restoring the property on Saturday in a formal ceremony in the presence of PM Narendra Modi and PM Rob Jetten, marking another success of the Modi government in recovering stolen artefacts in foreign jurisdictions.“A joyous moment for every Indian! 11th century Chola copper plates to be brought back to India from the Netherlands. Prime Minister Rob Jetten attended the same ceremony in presence.” PM Modi Said in a post on X.“The Chola Copper Plates are a set of 21 large plates and 3 small plates and contain texts largely in Tamil, one of the most beautiful languages in the world. They relate to the formalization of a verbal commitment made by the great Rajendra Chola I to his father, King Rajaraja I. They also demonstrate the greatness of the Cholas. In India we are extremely proud of the Cholas, their culture and their sea power.He also particularly thanked the Government of the Netherlands and the University of Leiden, where the copper plates had been housed since the mid-19th century.The compensation marks the culmination of a 14-year-long effort since 2012 to bring them back. Of the 668 antiquities brought back to India from various countries so far, 655 have returned after the Modi government came to power in 2014.The return of the Anaimangalam Copper Plates, known as the Leiden Plates in the Netherlands, will further expand the list. The inscriptions on these plates are among the most important artefacts of Tamil heritage preserved anywhere outside India. The plates record important agreements regarding the rights of a Buddhist temple and several monasteries at Nagapattinam on the revenues of the villages.Dating back to the reign of Emperor Rajaraja Chola I (985-1014 CE), considered one of the greatest rulers in Indian history, one of the objects includes 21 copper plates, weighing about 30 kilograms each. The plates are divided into two volumes: one in Sanskrit and one in Tamil. The second item being restored includes three copper plates with Tamil inscriptions. Both are tied with bronze rings bearing the royal seal of the Chola dynasty.According to sources, India’s efforts to recover the Chola plates received a decisive impetus on October 30, 2023, when India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO formally requested to include the Chola Dynasty Copper Plates in the agenda of the 24th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation (ICPRCP).The 24th session of the ICPRCP found that India’s claim as a nation of origin was legitimate. By November 2023, the UNESCO committee encouraged the Netherlands to engage in constructive bilateral dialogue with India regarding the return of the plates, which ultimately culminated in an agreement to hand over the plates during PM Modi’s visit.The plates were brought to the Netherlands around 1712 by Florentius Camper, who was in India as part of a Christian missionary at the time when Nagapattinam was under Dutch control. The plates were eventually donated to Leiden University in 1862 and have been housed in its library ever since.According to officials, the exact legal and personal circumstances under which Camper obtained the plates from India are not fully documented.
Karnataka High Court quashes lookout circular against driver working in Saudi Arabia
Bengaluru: The High Court has canceled the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against Abdul Khader Nihad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Dakshina Kannada district, who was working as a driver in Saudi Arabia.Justice Sachin Shankar Magdum, in his order passed on April 29, said, “The State cannot economically pauperize a citizen under the guise of investigation. The constitutional guarantee under Article 21 is not limited to mere animal existence, but extends to dignified existence and economic freedom.”The 27-year-old petitioner is facing proceedings in a criminal case registered against him under sections 351(2), 352, 353(1)(c) and 192 of the Indian Justice Code, 2023, in connection with an inflammatory social media post and was arrested upon arrival at the Bajpayee airport in Mangaluru last year. Although Nihad was released on bail and his mobile phone returned, the LOC issued against him continued and he was not allowed to travel abroad. Due to this he had to approach the High Court.After perusing the materials on record, Justice Magdum pointed out that Nihad has already been arrested and interrogated, a competent court has released him on bail and he no longer has any incriminating material. “The petitioner has cooperated with the investigation; he is on bail and his presence can be ensured through conditions. Nevertheless, the State seeks to impose a blanket travel ban, which is neither necessary nor proportionate. The LOC, in its present form, acts as a civil death to the livelihood of the petitioner, especially when his place of employment is located abroad,” the judge pointed out.Therefore, the impugned action fails the test of fairness, reasonableness and non-arbitrariness. He said, continuation of LOC despite the petitioner being on bail is arbitrary and disproportionate.
King Charles ‘shocked and saddened’ by soldier’s death after falling from horse at Royal Windsor Horse Show
A member of King Charles III’s ceremonial artillery unit has died after falling from a horse during the Royal Windsor Horse Show on Friday evening.The soldier, serving in the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, collapsed after leaving the field around 7pm BST, the BBC reports. Despite receiving immediate medical attention, he suffered fatal injuries and was declared dead at the scene.Thames Valley Police said the death was being treated as “unexplained but not suspicious” and confirmed there was no evidence of foul play.The investigation is continuing in coordination with the Ministry of Defense and event organizers at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.According to the BBC, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said King Charles was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the news and would offer his personal condolences to the soldier’s family.Members of the royal family were present at the event but were not informed about the seriousness of the incident until later.The Army also issued a statement expressing deep regret and sympathy, while confirming that the soldier’s family has been informed.Organizers said the show would continue as scheduled, but the King’s Troupe display had been removed from the program.Authorities are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward as an investigation into how the incident happened continues.
Not a single genuine vote will be allowed to be deleted under SIR: Punjab CM
Warning against any attempt to cast “fake votes” in favor of any particular political party, Mann said AAP leaders and workers would be deployed along with booth level officers (BLOs) at every polling station across Punjab to monitor the exercise and prevent any irregularities. Responding to a question, he said that SIR of voter list is going to start in Punjab from June 15 and said that the Election Commission of India should resolve the issues raised by all political parties in this regard. We do not want negativity to spread in Punjab that real votes get deleted and fake votes are created, or votes of supporters of a particular party get deleted or fake votes are created. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, Mann said, “We will monitor (SIR) ourselves, our booth level agents and our volunteers will be present. No eligible citizen’s vote will be removed and we are in touch with the ECI for this.” He said that the SIR should be conducted in a transparent manner, if any political party has any complaint, the ECI should resolve it. Concerns raised in several states regarding deletion of genuine votes and inclusion of fake entries have created concern among citizens, making it imperative for the ECI to act with utmost responsibility and neutrality. Complaints have emerged from various states about deletion of lakhs of genuine votes and manipulation in the verification process, but the people of Punjab will not allow such practices in the state,” he claimed. He urged the Election Commission (EC) to conduct the entire SIR exercise with complete honesty, transparency and fairness, while also ensuring that public objections are resolved without any delay. Clarifying AAP’s stand on the amendment of the voter list, Mann said, “The names of dead persons or those who have moved abroad permanently after acquiring foreign citizenship should naturally be removed from the voter list, but no bona fide resident of Punjab should face harassment or denial of the right to vote under any circumstances.” The CM further revealed that about 83 per cent of voter mapping has already been completed in Punjab and urged citizens to actively participate in the verification process to protect their democratic rights. Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra on Thursday had said that under the SIR, booth level officers across Punjab will go door-to-door from June 25 to July 24 to fill voter forms. For this exercise, the entire election machinery including 24,453 BLOs and 2,476 observers has been deployed. He further informed that the training of BLOs and other preparatory arrangements related to the SIR exercise will be done from June 15 to June 24. He said that the objective of this exercise is to ensure inclusion of name of every eligible citizen in the voter list and removal of names of ineligible persons from the voter list.
Champion mentality was born, Robert Lewandowski left Barcelona after 4 years and 7 trophies
FC Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski is set to leave the club at the end of the season. The great Polish striker, one of the greatest goalscorers in the history of football, moved to FC Barcelona after a four-year stay, where he won seven titles. The Polish striker scored 119 goals in 191 matches, making him the team’s 14th-highest goalscorer of all time.
Lewandowski arrived at the club at a time when Barcelona were at their lowest point in their modern history, struggling with financial crisis and uncertainty on and off the field. Barcelona paid an initial transfer fee of 45 million euros plus add-ons to bring Lewandowski from Bayern Munich, where he had scored 344 goals while winning eight Bundesliga titles and the Champions League.
Lewandowski made an immediate impact, topping La Liga’s scoring charts with 23 goals in his first season and helping Barcelona clinch their first league title in four years.
Lewandowski said in a statement, “After four years full of challenges and hard work, it is time to move on. I leave with the feeling that the mission has been accomplished. Four seasons, three championships.”
He said, “I will never forget the love I have received from the fans since my early days. Catalonia is my place on earth.”
“Barça is back where it was,” the striker concluded.
Lewandowski was also Barcelona’s top scorer in the next two La Liga campaigns, Including the 2024–25 season where he scored 27 goals To help the club retain the title. However, this season, the striker struggled with several injuries, starting only 15 of his 29 La Liga matches, while scoring 13 goals.
he showed up late Barcelona won LaLiga by beating Real Madrid 2-0 last weekend, while his goal in Barcelona’s 2-1 win over CA Osasuna earlier this month set the club on course to clinch the title with a Clásico victory.
Beyond goals, Lewandowski brought leadership and calmness to a Barcelona attack filled with young players during his tenure. As Barcelona transformed into one of the most devastating attacking teams in Europe over the past two years, he was constantly seen guiding teammates on positioning, moves and decision-making.
For many of Barcelona’s rising stars, Lewandowski was more than just a striker. He was a guide, a reference point and a player whose standards shaped the dressing room during an important rebuilding era for the club. At a time when Barcelona desperately needed stability and belief, Lewandowski arrived with the aura of a serial winner and helped restore both.
Media reports suggest that Lewandowski has received offers from Saudi Arabia, Italy and the United States. Wherever he goes next, he leaves Barcelona as one of the pivotal figures in the club’s post-Messi rebuilding – a legendary goalscorer whose impact went far beyond the numbers on the scoresheet.
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Two killed in hit-and-run incidents in Chatra: Police investigating. Ranchi News
Chatra: A 60-year-old woman and a young man died in two separate hit-and-run cases in the district since late Friday night.60-year-old Kanti Devi had gone out for a morning walk at around 6 am on Saturday when a speeding truck crushed her near the gate of Hunterganj police station, resulting in her death. The truck dragged Kanti, the mother of a local Congress party official, for about 200 feet, after which the vehicle stopped. He died on the spot. The driver fled from the spot with the truck.Angry locals blocked NH-22 for two hours demanding the arrest of the absconding driver and compensation to Kanti’s family. Prabhat Kumar, in-charge of Hunterganj police station, said, “The truck has been identified and will also be seized. Efforts are on to arrest the driver as well.”On Friday, 19-year-old Mohammad Rehan Afridi died after being hit by a speeding pickup van near Tapej on the Chatra-Itkhori main road.Afridi, a resident of Mufti Colony of Azad Nagar, was returning from Hazaribagh.
Kash Patel is not worried about new controversies
FBI Director Kash Patel is unfazed by new controversies over his previous visits, where he allegedly mixed work with pleasure on the FBI dime. A new report claims that when Patel went on a duty tour in the South Pacific last summer, he stopped in Hawaii and went on a ‘VIP snorkel’ at one of the military’s top-secret sites – the underwater grave of the USS Arizona – which holds the remains of more than 900 Navy sailors killed at Pearl Harbor.According to Navy records, Patel swam around the grave for 30 minutes. There were nine people with Patel on snorkeling.VIP tours are common off Arizona but there is no public record available of how many VIPs are allowed to snorkel. They were also told not to touch the sunken ship in any way.The FBI said top regional commanders hosted Patel at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam “as they typically do with U.S. government officials on official visits.” The Pearl Harbor visit, the spokeswoman said, was “part of the director’s public national security engagements with counterparts in New Zealand, Australia, our Honolulu Field Office, and the War Department last August.”“It’s like having a bachelor party in a church. It’s sacred ground,” Hank Albertson, a Marine veteran, told AP News. “It should be treated with the seriousness it deserves.”Now another private trip has been reported where Patel went to Philadelphia to attend a country music festival with his girlfriend Alexis Wilkins. They arrived on the Gulfstream V government jet and were treated to a private suite, which cost more than $35,000. He watched the show from his private suite. FBI spokesman Ben Williamson said Winkins was an invited guest to the event, the NYT said.Patel appears unfazed by the onslaught of controversies and rumors that he has upset President Trump. The FBI director posted about the agency’s success in bringing Iraqi terrorist Mohammed Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi to the US to face justice.