AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava Sentenced to Seven Years in 2023 Assault and Extortion Case; Party Announces Statewide Protests
A Sessions Court in Narmada district has convicted AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava, his wife, and seven others in a case involving the alleged assault of Forest Department officials and extortion in 2023. The court sentenced all the accused to seven years in prison and imposed a fine of ₹25,000 on each. The verdict was delivered by Additional Sessions Judge A.V. Hirpara. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has opposed the verdict. Gopal Rai, the party’s Gujarat in-charge, stated that AAP would organize support marches across the state starting June 26 to protest the decision. He said that party workers would stage demonstrations in every district to raise their voices in support of Chaitar Vasava. Gopal Rai alleged that the BJP is unsettled by Vasava’s growing popularity and that he has been targeted for political reasons. He claimed that the case is part of a conspiracy and that such politics cannot be accepted in a democracy. Rai added that, ultimately, the public would decide the truth. AAP has also made it clear that it will pursue all available legal avenues in this matter. Earlier, party national convener Arvind Kejriwal had also expressed support for Vasava, stating that the charges against him were false and that he had been politically framed due to his rising influence within the tribal community.
George Kurian Resigns as Union Minister of State in Modi Government..
Union Minister George Kurian, who served as Union Minister of State in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, has resigned from his post. President Draupadi Murmu, on the Prime Minister’s advice, has accepted his resignation with immediate effect. A press release issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan stated that, on the Prime Minister’s advice, the President of India has accepted George Kurian’s resignation from the Union Council of Ministers under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution of India with immediate effect. George Kurian also held the charge of Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying. He was the only minister in the Modi government who belonged to the Christian community. His term in the Rajya Sabha ended on June 21. George Kurien was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh 65-year-old George Kurian has been associated with the BJP since the 1980s and is considered a senior leader within the party. After the BJP’s formation in 1980, he held several key positions within the organization, particularly working to expand the party in Kerala. After being active in the organization for a long time, he also assumed responsibilities at the national level. George Kurien was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh on August 27, 2024, and was included in the Union Council of Ministers in August 2024 during the third term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kurien was given the responsibility of Minister of State in the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Ministry of Fisheries. He was born on September 20, 1960, in Kottayam district, Kerala. Apart from politics, he has also practiced as a lawyer in the Supreme Court. He received his early education from Kottayam district and became a Union Minister in the Modi government in June 2024.
Keir Starmer Announces Resignation as UK Prime Minister, Leadership Race Set to Begin
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced his resignation as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party. He stated that he no longer commands sufficient support to lead the party into the next general election. Speaking to the media outside 10 Downing Street, Starmer revealed that he had informed King Charles III of his decision. He said he would remain in office until a new leader is chosen and oversee a smooth transition of power. The process to elect a new Labour Party leader will begin on July 9 and conclude before the parliamentary session starts in September. Thanking his colleagues, officials, and supporters, Starmer said that throughout his tenure, he had always prioritized Britain’s interests above all else.
At G7 Summit, Modi Gifts GI-Tagged Indian Treasures – From Kashmir Honey to Banarasi Silk
Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented special gifts showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage and traditional products to global leaders during the 52nd G7 Summit in France. The gifts were brought from various parts of India and included special products with Geographical Indication (GI) tags. PM Modi presented Ramban honey to Global leaders PM Modi presented Ramban honey from Jammu and Kashmir to the leaders. Naturally grown in the Chenab Valley, this natural honey is renowned for its flavor and nutritional value. PM Modi also presented Nagauri Ashwagandha (Rajasthan), a herb known for its high medicinal value and a highly beneficial health benefit, and Lakadong turmeric from the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, a GI-tagged product known for its high curcumin content. Grown using traditional farming methods, it is also used for culinary and ayurvedic purposes. Apart from this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also gifted Banarasi silk stoles to global leaders including the GI tags. Banarasi silk stole is a traditional handwoven fabric from Varanasi made from fine silk and is known for its intricate zari work or beautiful texture and detailed designs inspired by nature. Banarasi silk stole has received the Geographical Indications (GI) tag which showcases one of India’s most revered textile traditions.
Former TMC MLA Udayan Guha Arrested; Speaker Om Birla Calls Abhishek Banerjee Over Rebel MPs Row
In a significant development, the police arrested Udayan Guha, the former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA from Dinhata, from the Phoolbagan area of Kolkata on Wednesday. Officials view this arrest as a major development in state politics. Udayan Guha’s arrest comes at a time when several significant events are unfolding within West Bengal’s political and legal spheres. This move has further heated up the state’s political atmosphere. Meanwhile, sources revealed that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has summoned Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee for a discussion on June 19. The meeting will focus on the 20 dissident TMC MPs and the party’s stance on the entire matter. This issue stems from the growing discontent within the TMC following the assembly elections. Twenty dissident MPs from the party had met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on June 14. During that meeting, the MPs submitted a letter informing him about the merger of their group with the Tripura-based Nationalist Congress Party of India (NCPI). They also requested separate seating arrangements in the Lok Sabha. According to sources, the Lok Sabha Speaker is currently reviewing the status of these 20 MPs. It is reported that he will make a final decision only after hearing all parties involved. Sources further indicated that the summons sent to Abhishek Banerjee follows a previously scheduled meeting that he was unable to attend. According to TMC sources, the Lok Sabha Speaker’s office had sent a meeting notification to Abhishek Banerjee via email on June 15 at 2 PM. There is now considerable interest in political circles regarding the upcoming June 19 meeting, as it could impact the ongoing internal dispute within the TMC and the future of the dissident MPs.
Cockroaches arrive in large numbers at the protest, demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation..
The Cockroach Janata Party held a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, June 6th. It is being reported that the Delhi Police has granted permission for their proposed protest. The party announced via social media that supporters would go directly to the protest site and would not need to go to the Parliament Street Police Station. They wrote, “Delhi Police has granted permission for the protest at Jantar Mantar” and “Cockroaches are coming, Dharmendra Pradhan is leaving.” It is being reported that on June 6th, under the leadership of Abhijeet Dipke, party members protested at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and reforms to the system over examination controversies. Party spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka also appealed to supporters to bring the tricolor flag, books, flowers, and their families. He appealed to the Prime Minister, saying, “Prime Minister, your Education Minister is incompetent, due to whom our education is being ruined. Paper leaks, the suffering of millions of children, and the increasing number of suicide cases are occurring. Dismiss him and restore our faith in democracy.” As Abhijit Dipke emerged from the airport, he was seen holding a book by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, which he displayed with his hands raised before exiting. He also demanded a VIP exit, for which CJP representatives spoke with GMR officials for 30 minutes. After the talks, the Delhi Police and CISF intervened and rejected Dipke’s demand, forcing him to exit via the normal route. According to sources, a crowd of lakhs gathered at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, due to which a heavy police force and Rapid Action Force were deployed there since Friday. Due to the large crowd, Delhi Police appeared very cautious about the protest. They only allowed people to enter after checking, and the protesters were also monitored through drones. People from various parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bulandshahr, Uttarakhand, and Punjab participated in the protest, demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. Some Aam Aadmi Party councillors were also seen at the Cockroach Janata Party protest. The CJP distributed pamphlets in Hindi and English to the protesters, outlining the objectives of the protest. During the protest, two groups shouted slogans against the RSS, leading to an argument between them. Sources indicate that the police began arresting protesters at 4:30 pm, with permission until 5:00 pm. Sonam Wangchuk reached Jantar Mantar and thanked the government for allowing the protest, saying, “I have brought a message of goodwill for everyone. I thank the government for allowing a peaceful protest.” Addressing the crowd from the stage, he said, “Today we have peacefully presented our views. The government has given shelter to cockroaches. We have come to this issue of education, not to demand elections or protests. We hope the government will take positive action in the future. There is talk of resignation, but let’s talk about responsibility.” He also said, “We are happy with the government’s decision because people say they will not allow this to happen. However, since the issue of education has been raised, we hope the government will take the right steps and meet our demands in the coming days.” As Sonam Wangchuk arrived at Jantar Mantar, slogans in his support were continuously raised, “What kind of Education Minister should we have? He should be like Sonam Baghchuk.” Sonam Bagchuk stopped the crowd, saying, “I have no desire; the youth should come forward, and the factories of a developed India are the village schools. The children of all public representatives should be in government schools. When will the system change when their children are in government schools, not private schools?” After this, CJP organizers, including Abhijeet Dipke, announced the end of the protest on the microphone and told the people to vacate Jantar Mantar.
TMC in Freefall: Fake Signatures Scandal Triggers Expulsions as Mamata Left With Just 22 MLAs
The change of government in Bengal has led to a state of turmoil within the TMC. The current TMC is grappling with serious internal strife and political crisis. Following its crushing electoral defeat, widespread discontent has spread within the party regarding leadership, corruption, and ticket distribution. The party is now embroiled in a new controversy: the “fake signatures” controversy, which has sparked a deep internal crisis within the party. A major controversy has emerged within the party regarding the forged signatures of MLAs on a letter. Two rebel TMC MLAs, Sandipan Saha and Ritubrata Banerjee, have filed a complaint with the Assembly Secretariat, further compounding the party’s difficulties. In this case, the TMC has expelled two MLAs, including Sandipan Saha and Ritubrata Banerjee, citing anti-party activities. Abhishek Banerjee’s Controversial Letter Triggers Major Rebellion While the TMC won 80 seats in the Bengal elections, following the expulsion of MLA Ritubrata Banerjee from the party on June 1st and the rebellion of 58 other MLAs, Mamata Banerjee now has only 22 MLAs left. This clearly demonstrates Mamata Banerjee’s weakening grip on the party. Senior party leader and Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, wrote a letter to the Assembly Speaker proposing Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition. The letter reportedly contained the signatures of 70 MLAs. Later, the BJP and Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, held a press conference and alleged that many of these signatures were forged. Minutes after Adhikari’s revelation, both MLAs, Sandipan Saha and Ritubrata Banerjee, filed a complaint with the Assembly Speaker, stating that they had not signed the letter proposing the Leader of the Opposition’s name and that their handwriting did not match. Following the public outcry, the TMC took swift action, immediately expelling both complainants on charges of anti-party activities. Amid the internal rebellion, Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday dissolved all state committees and frontal organizations with immediate effect.
Major Expansion of West Bengal Cabinet: 35 BJP MLAs Sworn in as Ministers
The cabinet of the government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in West Bengal was expanded on Monday (June 1, 2026). During this ceremony, 35 BJP MLAs took the oath of office as ministers. Those who took the oath as Cabinet Ministers include Swapan Dasgupta, Dudh Kumar Mondal, Deepak Barman, Manoj Oraon, Gouri Shankar Ghosh, Arjun Singh, Tapas Roy, Saradwat Mukherjee, Jagannath Chatterjee, and Shankar Ghosh. All of them will now serve as senior ministers in the state government. Additionally, Rajesh Mahto, Indranil Khan, and Malti Rao Roy took the oath as Ministers of State (Independent Charge). They will be entrusted with the responsibilities of their respective departments. Several BJP MLAs—including Shantanu Pramanik, Purnima Chakraborty, Umesh Roy, Joel Murmu, Ashok Dinda, Anandamay Barman, Kaushik Chowdhury, Gargi Das Ghosh, Bhaskar Bhattacharya, Dibakar Gharami, and Sumana Sarkar—took the oath as Ministers of State. list of Ministers of State sworn-in today: list of MLAs who take oath today: Ministers of State (independent charge)
BJP National President Nitin Naveen Arrives in Uttarakhand for Three-Day Visit..
Bharatiya Janata Party National President Nitin Naveen has arrived in Uttarakhand for a three-day visit. Last Thursday, Naveen arrived at Jolly Grant Airport at 5 p.m., where he was received by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. In anticipation of his visit, banners, flags, and hoardings were erected on the roads from Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport to the BJP headquarters. Workers in traditional attire welcomed him at more than 25 locations from the airport to the BJP state office. Welcome events were also held every 1 kilometer. This visit is considered significant for organizational strength. Nitin Naveen first arrived at the BJP state headquarters last Thursday and held a meeting of the National President’s Core Committee. The meeting began at 6:15 p.m. The meeting was attended by State President Mahendra Bhatt and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, along with the entire top leadership of the party in Uttarakhand. Additionally, the core committee discussed party programs to achieve a hat-trick of victories in the 2027 elections, supporting the government’s significant achievements over the past four years. BJP President Nitin Nabin Pays Tributes to Former CM B.C. Khanduri In addition to the National President, National Organization General Secretary BL Santosh, In-charge Dushyant Gautam, and Co-In-Charge Rekha Verma were also present. In this meeting, they discussed the report card survey report of the state government’s performance ministers. Today, May 29th, on the second day of his visit, BJP National President Nitin Naveen visited the residence of former Chief Minister B.C. Khanduri to pay his respects and meet with the bereaved family. He then proceeded to a hotel on Rajpur Road, where a series of meetings began. He first held meetings with MPs and MLAs. Today, starting at 2 p.m., he will hold detailed discussions with state officials, state front presidents, general secretaries, district in-charges, co-in-charges, and district presidents. From 4 p.m., he will hold discussions with mayors, municipal council presidents, town council presidents, district panchayat presidents, vice-presidents, and block heads. In the evening, he will hold meetings with media, social media, IT, and the state spokesperson. He will then perform Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh and interact with saints. On May 30th, the third day of his visit, National President Nitin Naveen will focus on the workers and youth at Ground Zero. In the morning, he will visit the Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple in Dehradun, followed by breakfast at the residence of the Booth President of Booth No. 141 in Gadi Cantt. He will also attend the meeting of Booth Committee 138 of the Durgamall Mandal. Nitin Naveen will address an enlightened seminar at Shivalik College of Engineering at 11 a.m. This will be followed by a “Youth Dialogue” program at the Chief Servant House at his Chief Minister’s residence at 2 p.m. Nitin Naveen will depart for Delhi from Jolly Grant Airport at 4:35 p.m.
Fadnavis Meets PM Modi in Delhi, Seeks Guidance on Maharashtra’s Development Projects..
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Thursday. Fadnavis shared the details on his X account, writing, “Today, we met our leader and beloved Prime Minister of the country, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi and sought his guidance on various development issues in Maharashtra. He was also briefed on various projects and campaigns in Maharashtra. Meeting with the Honorable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and receiving his guidance always provides positive energy.” He also thanked Modi. BJP governments, often referred to as “double-engine” Fadnavis also briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the ongoing infrastructure and development initiatives in Maharashtra, considered an economic powerhouse of India and a significant contributor to the country’s GDP. The meeting emphasized regular coordination between the central and state governments under BJP governments, often referred to as “double-engine” coordination for rapid development. Let us tell you that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was seen on camera with a thick file in his hands, which is being widely discussed on social media. Before the Legislative Council elections in Maharashtra, a series of meetings are going on in the Mahayuti regarding seat sharing. The meetings that went on till late night in Delhi, the presence of Amit Shah and the activeness of the BJP leadership have made this meeting more political. Maharashtra politics is going through a very sensitive phase at this time. Tensions regarding seats are clearly visible within the Mahayuti between the BJP Shiv Sena Shinde faction and the NCP Ajit Pawar faction