State News

JAIPUR : India successfully navigated one of the biggest global energy crises through proactive policies, diversified fuel sourcing, and strong diplomatic ties, with minimal burden on citizens, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday. The prime minister was addressing a gathering after inaugurating a refinery in Pachpadra of Balotra district. He also laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects. Modi said India expanded its energy imports significantly during the West Asia crisis. “When the crisis began, India was importing energy from about 25-26 countries. During the crisis, we increased this to more than 40 countries,” he said, attributing the turnaround to India’s diplomacy. He said oil companies incurred losses of over ₹75,000 crore between April and June due to rising global prices, but the government absorbed the burden. “We reduced excise duty by ₹10 per litre and ensured that the burden on citizens did not increase significantly,” he said. Rumours were spread, and people were incited, but those with malicious intentions did not succeed, Modi said. “Those who wished to see India fail had even begun making predictions. Today, they must be wallowing in the depths of despair,” he said. The prime minister said the country has become the world’s fourth-largest in refining capacity and continues to expand. He also credited his government’s long-term policies with overcoming global disruptions in fuel and fertiliser supply caused by the war between Iran and the US-Israel combine. On a different note, Modi said self-respect of an individual or a nation can remain high only when they are self-reliant. He said the BJP governments do not simply lay foundation stones for projects and leave them. “We work day and night to ensure their completion,” he said. Modi on Saturday inaugurated the country’s first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex in Pachpadra. The refinery is also Rajasthan’s first of any kind. Modi inaugurated the project by pressing a remote button after touring the refinery complex. The prime minister said the work on the refinery remained virtually at standstill when Congress was in power in Rajasthan from 2018 to 2023. (Source: PTI)      

Staff Reporter ITANAGAR : The All Nyishi Youth Association (ANYA), Kra Daadi Unit, has served a two-week ultimatum to the state government, demanding the immediate filing of a chargesheet in the alleged ₹183.13-crore Fisheries Department corruption case linked to Kra Daadi district. The organisation also expressed concern over what it described as an inordinate delay in the investigation and prosecution of the case. Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club here on Friday, the unit stated that the alleged corruption case pertains to FIR No. 18/2024, which was registered following observations made by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). According to the CAG report, an alleged illegal withdrawal of ₹183.13 crore was made from the Palin Treasury during the 2023-24 financial year without budgetary provision, administrative approval or expenditure authorisation. The association informed that it had submitted several representations to the state government and other concerned authorities, urging immediate action in the matter and providing sufficient time for the investigation to progress. However, it alleged that no concrete action has been initiated so far. Expressing dissatisfaction over the government’s silence, the unit said the continued delay in investigation and prosecution has raised serious concerns regarding accountability and transparency. The association has now extended a final two-week deadline to the state government to initiate action in the case, including the filing of the chargesheet. It warned that failure to act within the stipulated period would compel the organisation to launch democratic agitations across the state. The unit further informed that it had earlier submitted a representation to the concerned authorities on June 11, setting June 24 as the deadline for action. However, it alleged that neither the state government nor the concerned authorities responded to its demands, prompting the issuance of the fresh ultimatum.        

ITANAGAR : Law, Legislative and Justice Minister Kento Jini has urged the Centre to hand over the newly declared strategic Akajan-Likabali-Bame (ALB) Road project to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), as it has expertise in managing difficult border terrains. In a letter addressed to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday, Jini, while expressing gratitude to the Centre for declaring the ALB road as a ‘strategic road’, batted for BRO at a time when the portion of the Likabali-Basar-Bame-Aalo stretch remains cut off due to rain-triggered landslides and flash floods. He emphasised that the corridor serves as a socio-economic lifeline for seven border districts of the state, including Lower Siang, Leparada, West Siang, Shi Yomi, Siang, Upper Siang, and Upper Subansiri. Jini, who represents the Aalo East assembly constituency in West Siang, highlighted the major landslide at the Siji block point recently, which is still cut off, stranding thousands of commuters and cutting off vital connectivity to the seven districts. Seeking the Road Transport and Highway Ministry’s intervention, Jini requested that the BRO be reinstated as the implementing agency for the project. He said the road was originally constructed, managed, and maintained by the BRO before being transferred to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) during 2014-15. “Considering the proven track record, expertise, efficiency, and strategic importance of the project, it is believed that BRO would be the better organisation to implement the project efficiently within the stipulated time frame,” Jini said in his letter. He added that bringing back the BRO would ensure quality work, allowing the intended benefits of the strategic corridor to reach the public without further delays. (Source: PTI)  

Staff Reporter ITANAGAR :  The Arunachal Frontier Tribal Forum (AFTF) has announced that it will stage a peaceful protest rally on July 11, reiterating its demand for the scrapping of the existing 80:20 reservation ratio in the state’s recruitment system and the introduction of stricter eligibility norms for examinations conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) and the Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB). Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club on Friday, AFTF chairman Tadak Nalo alleged that the state government, particularly Chief Minister Pema Khandu, had shown little concern in resolving the issue. He claimed that despite more than a month having passed since the demand was raised, the government had yet to address the matter. He informed the rally will be held from 10 am to 4 pm, proceeding from Akashdeep to IG Park in Itanagar. He appealed to people from all sections of society to participate in the protest and extend support to the forum’s demand. “The movement seeks to protect employment opportunities for the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh and ensure that recruitment policies give priority to local tribal candidates,” Nalo said. He also urged Chief Minister Pema Khandu to treat the issue with urgency and resolve it before the APPSC examinations scheduled for September this year. Stressing on the demands, Nalo highlighted that several northeastern states such as Mizoram, Manipur, Sikkim, Assam, and Nagaland already have stringent eligibility conditions for recruitment examinations, including domicile certificates, indigenous inhabitant certificates, and local language requirements, thereby restricting participation of non-residents. Nalo argued that Arunachal Pradesh, being a sensitive tribal state with a fragile demographic structure, should adopt similar safeguards to protect the interests of indigenous communities. He claimed that the unemployment rate among indigenous youths in the state has risen sharply and that unrestricted participation by outsiders in recruitment examinations could adversely affect the socio-cultural, economic, and political fabric of the state. Nalo further stated that when the 80:20 ratio was introduced in 1990, literacy levels in Arunachal Pradesh were comparatively low and there were limited qualified APST candidates available for recruitment. However, they asserted that the situation has changed significantly over the years, with increasing numbers of educated indigenous youths now competing for government jobs. Nalo alleged that around 35,000 non-APST candidates out of approximately 53,000 applicants appeared in the written examination for the Special Recruitment Drive for Uniformed Services conducted by the APSSB on 14 June 2026. He further claimed that these candidates were allowed to appear in the examination without obtaining valid Inner Line Permits (ILPs), allegedly using only their examination admit cards. He informed that the forum had subsequently held meetings with Home Minister Mama Natung, the Home Commissioner and the APSSB chairman over the issue. However, no action has been initiated against the non-APST candidates who allegedly appeared for the examination without valid ILPs. Nalo further stated that the AFTF had served a 30-day ultimatum to the state government on 29 May 2026, demanding the immediate abolition of the existing 80:20 reservation ratio and the implementation of stricter eligibility criteria for APPSC and APSSB recruitment examinations. As the ultimatum has expired without any response from the government, the forum has decided to launch a democratic protest to press the government to address its demands.    

NIRJULI : Nirjuli Police has arrested a 26-year-old man in connection with a case of alleged sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of a woman, after conducting an operation in neighbouring Assam. According to police, the case came to light after a video went viral on social media on June 9, allegedly showing a man stalking a young woman, inappropriately touching her and exposing himself while she was on her way to attend computer classes at Rayo Colony in Nirjuli. Despite being frightened by the incident, the victim displayed courage by resisting the accused and throwing stones at him, forcing him to flee from the spot, police said. Upon receipt of an FIR, Police registered the Nirjuli Police Station Case No. 37/2026 under Sections 74, 75(2), 78(2), 79 and 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and launched an intensive investigation to trace the accused. The investigation, led by Lady Sub-Inspector Topi Josham, IO of the case, identified the accused as Imdadul Rahman (26), a resident of Sonapur in Assam’s Lakhimpur district, who was working as a labourer in the area. Acting on credible leads, a police team led by Lady SI Topi Josham, along with constables Tana Bhud, Tana Chakro and Yeshi Tsering, carried out an operation at Sonapur and apprehended the accused, who was allegedly hiding after the incident. The accused was subsequently arrested in connection with the case, and further legal proceedings are underway. Naharlagun Superintendent of Police Dr Nyelam Nega commended the victim for her courage in resisting the accused and reporting the crime. He reaffirmed the commitment of the police to ensuring women’s safety and taking stringent action against crimes targeting women. (Source: UNI)