NEW DELHI: Referring to the ‘Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum’ that will be housed in the iconic North and South Block, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the transformation of what once was a centre of power into a cynosure of culture.According to a statement from the ministry of culture, the PM made these remarks during an interaction on Thursday with the chairman of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Ram Bahadur Rai, and member secretary, Dr Sachchidanand Joshi along with other trustees, called on the PM ahead of the 39th Foundation Day celebrations of the institution.TOI had reported in January that the first gallery of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum – billed to be the largest museum in the world – is slated to open at the end of this year in the North Block. The museum is expected to be completed with all its galleries over three years.In a post on X later on Thursday evening the PM said he “discussed various aspects relating to further popularising India’s diverse culture.”“We also explored ways to bring more people into this journey, strengthen outreach through digital and grassroots initiatives and support artists and scholars in preserving and promoting our rich heritage,” the PM said.“While speaking to us about the many initiatives the govt has taken to create greater awareness about culture, the Prime Minister cited the example of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum project. He shared that it reflects the importance the govt places on culture as earlier the North and South blocks symbolised the seat of power, but that has changed now, as that space has been given for the purpose of civilisational continuity to create a museum where the future generations will be able to come and learn about India’s culture,” Joshi told TOI.He also said that the PM asserted the need to build awareness about history and heritage across the country and the need to engage with youth in urban and rural India.“The PM also emphasised the importance of understanding Bharat through a feeling of ‘Swa’,” the ministry of culture said in a statement.

PM Modi, people offer namaz at Mahim Dargah in Mumbai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday wished the nation on Eid-ul-Fitr through a post on social media.In his message, he said, “Best wishes on Eid-ul-Fitr. May this day further brotherhood and kindness all around. May everyone be happy and healthy. Eid Mubarak!”President Droupadi Murmu also extended greetings to citizens on the eve of the festival on Friday.In her message, she said, “On the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all fellow citizens, especially to Muslim sisters and brothers living in India and abroad,” adding that the festival conveyed “the message of love, brotherhood, peace, and mutual harmony.”Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated across the country after the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon. The festival marks the end of Ramazan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar.In Delhi, several devotees gathered at Jama Masjid on Saturday morning to offer special Eid prayers. The atmosphere was lively as people greeted each other and began celebrations.On Friday too, large crowds were seen at Jama Masjid and nearby markets as people made final purchases ahead of Eid.

NEW DELHI: PIL petitioner Pankaj Pushkar, who was associated with NCERT in preparing textbooks, informed a bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi that while the court had ordered redaction of the controversial reference to corruption in judiciary, parts in other books that show judiciary in poor light continue to be taught.He produced an NCERT textbook that contained the paragraph: “However, there are also court judgments that people believe work against the best interests of the common person. For example, activists who work on issues concerning the right to shelter and housing for the poor believe that the recent judgments on evictions are a far cry from earlier judgments.”While recent judgments tend to view the slum dweller as an encroacher in the city, earlier judgments (like the 1985 Olga Tellis vs Bombay Municipal Corporation) had tried to protect the livelihoods of slum dwellers,” the paragraph in NCERT textbook read.Reading aloud the paragraph, the CJI-led bench said there is nothing objectionable about this. “This is a viewpoint on the judgment. People have a right to criticise the judgments of the courts.Criticism of judgment does not stand on the same footing as the earlier case (textbook reference to corruption in judiciary)” the CJI said. The bench disposed of thepetition.Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, who happened to be present in the courtroom and who had a difficult time assuaging the judiciary’s hurt feelings because of the now-deleted reference to judicial corruption in class 8 social science textbook, immediately told the court that the Centre has already constituted a panel of eminent jurists — former Supreme Court judge Indu Malhotra and former attorney general K K Venugopal — to review every chapter on judiciary in all school textbooks in consultation with National Judicial Academy chairperson Justice Aniruddha Bose.The Chief Justice of India said, “In a given case, the court was of the view that people have no right over the land, they are encroachers and hence can be evicted. Other people may say that these people have been living on that piece of land for 10-15 years and hence have a right to live there. That is their perception and it is their viewpoint.”“If someone says the court’s view is erroneous, there is nothing wrong in that,” the bench said. Mehta said, “Perception which an uninformed person would gather from the judgment can never be the concern of the judiciary. Uninformed person can have any perception of the judiciary.”

Targeting of commercial shipping, endangering crew members, impeding free navigation and attacking civilian maritime infrastructure is unacceptable, said the Indian govt, stressing amid the escalating W Asia conflict, India’s energy security and trade are critically dependent on the safe and unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Addressing a session of the International Maritime Organisation Council in London, Indian high commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, said 24 Indian flag vessels are operating in the Persian Gulf region. “We remain deeply concerned about the safety of all seafarers.”

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Friday used Instagram to amplify a simple public health message – cut down on sugar and prioritise fitness.Sharing a short reel posted by Yuvraj Dua, in which he had urged the PM to advise his father to reduce sugar intake, Modi said he would echo the appeal not just to Dua’s parents in the video but to “everyone else out there.” Dua’s post framed the message in personal terms, linking everyday choices at home to long-term health.In a follow-up slide, the PM underlined the risks of excessive sugar consumption, noting its association with multiple diseases and the growing burden of obesity. He also encouraged people to incorporate yoga into their daily routine, calling it an effective way to stay fit.The message aligns with govt’s broader push on preventive healthcare involving lifestyle changes such as diet control and physical activity to tackle non-communicable diseases. With obesity and diabetes rising steadily in India, the PM’s social media outreach places renewed emphasis on small, actionable steps.The tone of the posts remained informal but direct – eat well, eat healthy, stay active, and be mindful of sugar.”

Omar Abdullah (File photo)

NEW DELHI: J&K CM Omar Abdullah on Friday came out strongly in support of his Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee on the issue of EC transferring officials in poll-bound Bengal, saying these “sweeping transfers only happen in non-BJP-governed states”.“Bengal will once again prove that officers don’t win elections for political parties; members of political parties do,” he said, reacting to Mamata’s post on X in which she alleged that the manner in which EC has “singled out and targeted Bengal is not just unprecedented but deeply alarming”.Omar said, “No amount of effort by EC to gerrymander will change the results. Come counting day, Mamata will win a thumping majority.”Highlighting that parties have come forward to support Mamata, TMC shared a video clip of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav saying, “I want to congratulate Mamata in advance and say the people of Bengal will vote in her favour.” He said that the ‘conspiracy’ led by BJP to defeat her, including the recent transfer of officials, will not work. AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal had also posted, “BJP has turned EC into its weapon to win elections through deceit. What is happening today in Bengal is exactly what happened in the Delhi elections.” Sena UBT’s Sanjay Raut said on X “defeating Mamata didi in Bengal is not just difficult, it’s impossible! That’s why BJP is playing dirty by hiding behind the shield of EC”.

NEW DELHI: As India and Bangladesh look to work towards a pragmatic reset in ties, Bangladesh high commissioner Riaz Hamidullah Friday called on external affairs minister S Jaishankar and also commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal.Jaishankar said that the conversation with Hamidullah was focused on advancing bilateral ties. In a social media post about the “courtesy call”, the high commissioner said he affirmed Bangladesh’s readiness to walk, work with India, together, in shared interests and for shared benefits.These were rare meetings that Hamidullah had in the capital with senior Indian ministers since he was appointed high commissioner in April last year. Describing Goyal as a leader with exceptional wisdom, passion and foresight, he said that the commerce minister shared his vision of deepening economic partnership.“Discussed ways to advance wider Bangladesh-India economic partnership aside addressing prevalent trade-related issues to driven by shared benefits for both people,” said Hamidullah on X.India received a request from Dhaka in the middle of the West Asia crisis for continued supply of diesel as per the long-term energy trade contract between the two countries. India has said it will consider the request, keeping in mind its own fuel requirement. The two countries are also looking to finalise dates for a visit by Bangladesh foreign minister Khalilur Rahman in April.