The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has appointed veteran pilot and former Air India Director of Operations Captain RS Sandhu as a domain expert in the ongoing investigation into the deadly Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last month, sources confirmed to the PTI on Sunday. Sandhu, who was also a designated examiner for the Boeing 787-8 fleet at Air India, had taken delivery of the now-crashed 787-8 plane -- VT-ANB -- in 2013. On June 12, Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft en route to London Gatwick from Ahmedabad crashed into a building soon after takeoff, killing 260 people, including 19 people on the ground. Out of the 242 people onboard, one passenger survived. On July 12, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report into the fatal crash. "AAIB has onboarded seasoned aviator RS Sandhu in the ongoing investigation of the Air India Boeing 787-8 plane crash in Ahmedabad last month," one of the sources told PTI. According to sources, the AAIB approached Sandhu to lend his expertise to the complex investigation. Sandhu is also the founder of Aviazione, an aviation consultancy, and played a key role in the Tata Group airline integration efforts following the conglomerate’s acquisition of Air India, reported the PTI. The AAIB had earlier released its preliminary report into the crash on July 12. However, pilot unions including the Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA India) had expressed concern over the lack of subject matter experts on the probe team, calling for their inclusion to ensure a comprehensive and informed investigation. The five-member team leading the inquiry is headed by Sanjay Kumar Singh, 56, and is supported by specialists in piloting, engineering, aviation medicine, psychology, and flight data analysis, according to the AAIB, the news agency reported. Further details regarding other domain experts involved in the investigation have not yet been made public. Earlier this week, the AAIB had said that it is too early to reach any firm conclusions about the recent Air India plane crash and has asked the public and media not to spread rumours or unverified information. (with PTI inputs)
20 July,2025 11:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentForest fires continue to pose a significant threat to Maharashtra's ecosystems, particularly in the eastern regions of the state, despite various measures and technological interventions, a senior forest department official confirmed on Sunday, reported news agency PTI. Earlier, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik had informed the legislature that between January 1 and April 15 this year, 204 forest fire incidents were reported from diverse forest areas across several districts. Naik further stated that most of these fires were attributable to human negligence or natural factors. "Although no wildlife deaths have been reported during these incidents, the recurrence of fires remains a concern," he had said. The official detailed that the Forest Department has undertaken multiple steps, including issuing fire prevention guidelines, training personnel, and deploying firefighting equipment. "In January 2024 alone, eight fire incidents were recorded," the official said, adding that the illegal burning of forest areas is being addressed under provisions of the Indian Forest Act. According to PTI, in several regions across the state, including Konkan, Vidarbha, and the northern parts, people intentionally start forest fires to deter wild animals. Fires are also used to clear forested patches and establish claims to land, as many areas lack clearly demarcated forest boundaries, the official explained. Efforts to prevent these fires include the precise marking of forest boundaries, the creation of fire lines, and increased patrolling in vulnerable areas. "We have trained staff in fire management and are using modern equipment to enhance response time," the official stated. However, despite these comprehensive measures, a large number of fires continue to erupt, he conceded. According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, released in December last year, Maharashtra ranked fifth in the country with 16,008 forest fire incidents between November 2023 and June 2024. Of these, Gadchiroli alone accounted for a staggering 7,042 cases, marking the highest number for any single district in India, reported PTI. "The department is using advanced tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing to identify high-risk zones. Forest fire control centres have been established, fire-blower machines are used to remove dry leaf litter, and observation towers have been installed in sensitive areas," the official added. Meanwhile, the state has also recorded a sharp increase in human-wildlife conflicts. Official records indicate that such incidents, encompassing human deaths, injuries, crop damage, and livestock loss, surged from 44,692 in 2020-21 to 237,841 in 2023-24. To address compensation and related concerns arising from these conflicts, the state government allocated Rs 80 crore in both 2020-21 and 2021-22, followed by Rs 127.1 crore in 2022-23, Rs 145 crore in 2023-24, and Rs 220.86 crore in 2024-25. "The Forest Department has submitted a proposal to the Finance Department for additional financial provision based on the increasing number of conflict cases. The proposal, based on data from December 2023, is currently under review," the official concluded. (With inputs from PTI)
20 July,2025 11:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe All India Institute of Local Self-Government (AIILSG) has initiated a project in Maharashtra’s Satara and Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune district, to reduce plastic landfill waste and recycle it into useful items, an official said, reported news agency PTI. The project aims to raise awareness among various community groups, including children, young people, women’s self-help groups, sanitation workers, waste pickers, and community-based organisations, about improving source segregation and proper waste disposal. This was stated by Utkarsha Kavadi, AIILSG Mumbai’s Senior Executive Director, to PTI. The AIILSG has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and Satara Municipal Council for the ‘Localising Plastic Action through Communities’ (LPAC) project. “We have rolled out the LPAC project in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Satara, Maharashtra, in partnership with their respective local governments to advocate for and sensitise key stakeholders on circularity in plastic waste management and its environmental impacts. This will help reduce plastic landfill waste and recycle it into useful items,” Kavadi explained. She further stated, “In this initial phase of the project, we have already commenced work in 20 schools in Satara and are in discussions to include more schools moving forward. We are looking at the participation of college students through an app, which is expected to be developed within the next two to three months. Similarly, we are also in discussions with SHGs in both PCMC and Satara to engage them in this project.” Additionally, the app will help to streamline the collection, tracking, and reporting of plastic waste, as well as monitor awareness activities, she added. Maharashtra is the country’s highest producer of plastic waste, generating 311,254 tonnes annually, as per data from the Global Plastic Action Partnership – a World Economic Forum multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to translating commitments to reduce plastic pollution and waste into concrete action, Kavadi noted. “Through this project, we are planning to build capacities, strengthen roles, and formally engage waste pickers, sanitation workers, facility operators, young people, school students and teachers, and local NGOs, among others, in the waste management value chain of plastic waste management,” she affirmed. Furthermore, the AIILSG has also collaborated with the Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies (RCUES) Mumbai and UNICEF Maharashtra to strengthen municipal capacities for collective action in raising awareness on source segregation and on air pollution caused by the illegal burning of waste, PTI reported. “We have found some level of awareness among waste pickers regarding waste segregation, especially in PCMC, where waste is mostly separated into wet and dry categories,” Kavadi observed. “Now, we are also creating awareness about finding value in discarded packets of crisps and biscuits that can be recycled into useful products, including sunglasses and other eyewear, and household items. These discarded packets are lightweight and low-value, making them economically unviable for recycling,” she pointed out. Typically, for waste collectors, PET bottles (like those for juice and water), milk cartons, plastic trays, and shampoo bottles are considered high-value items for recycling, she added. Moreover, through this project, the AIILSG will train SHGs to collect, clean, and sell sorted plastic to entrepreneurs, and establish partnerships with recyclers for direct supply chains, Kavadi explained. “We want to equip SHGs with the skills to create bags, pouches, clutches, and more from multi-layered plastics (MLPs) and mixed plastic waste,” she stated. “For this, we are looking at collaboration with designers and retailers to scale sustainable products, which can help SHGs in creating alternative sources of income for their members,” she concluded. (With inputs from PTI)
20 July,2025 10:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA consumer commission in Mumbai has instructed Apple India and Croma to refund the Rs 65,264 cost of an iPhone to the legal heirs of a customer. The directive came after the companies allegedly failed to resolve a microphone defect in the device, leading the commission to deem both deficient in service, reported news agency PTI. The commission, in its order issued earlier this month, declared that both the manufacturer and the seller are "jointly and severally liable for the defective product" because they failed to fix the issue in the device, which was purchased by the now-deceased customer. According to PTI, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Mumbai (Suburban), stated that "the manufacturer (Apple) merely mentioning certain unauthorised modification or damage in hardware cannot be the correct resolution" for the customer’s grievance. It further ruled that the seller (Croma) also cannot escape liability simply by claiming the "defect is attributable to the manufacturer." "Once the product was sold through their outlet, they assumed responsibility for ensuring that the product was free from defects and serviceable," the commission noted. It added that the "principle of vicarious liability squarely applies," as the seller holds a position of trust and benefits commercially from the sale, reported PTI. The complainant purchased an iPhone 11 for Rs 65,264 from a Croma store in Mumbai on 4 June 2021. However, shortly after the purchase, the device developed a problem: the speakerphone function did not work during calls, specifically exhibiting "no speech from mic." Following this issue, the complainant approached Apple’s authorised service centre, but repairs were refused on the grounds of "unauthorised modifications in the device," which rendered it ineligible for warranty service. Despite repeated complaints and emails, the opposing parties failed to address the grievance, prompting the complainant to approach the commission, reported PTI. During the proceedings, the customer passed away, but their legal heirs continued the complaint. Apple India Private Limited, in its response, acknowledged the purchase and the microphone issue but reiterated that the device had unauthorised modifications, thereby voiding the warranty. Infiniti Retail Limited (Croma) failed to appear and was consequently proceeded against ex parte. After reviewing the submitted documents, the commission held that Apple failed to specify exactly which term or condition of the warranty the complainant had breached, reported PTI. "Merely referring to clauses of warranty terms and conditions cannot be sufficient to attribute the particular defect as certain unauthorised modification or damage to software," it noted. The commission concluded that the documents and evidence on record were sufficient to confirm the defect in goods, coupled with a deficiency in service provided by the opposing parties. It ruled that both the manufacturer and the seller are "jointly and severally liable for the defective product." Furthermore, the commission directed both opposing parties to refund the iPhone cost of Rs 65,264, along with 6 per cent interest per annum from the date of the complaint (6 August 2021) until the date of actual payment. The two companies were also instructed to pay Rs 15,000 as compensation for mental agony and Rs 2,000 for legal expenses to the customer’s family. (With inputs from PTI)
20 July,2025 10:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has said that it is important for him and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray to come together to fight for the Marathi language and people, reported the PTI. In a part of an interview with Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana, conducted by Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, Uddhav Thackeray said that both he and Raj are committed to protecting the identity and interests of the 'Marathi Manoos'. "I am willing to do anything for the Marathi language, Maharashtra dharma, and the Marathi Manoos. If anyone has a problem with Raj and me coming together, it’s their problem," Uddhav said, according to the PTI. The two estranged cousins, who were once political rivals, recently shared the stage at a massive rally after the state government rolled back two controversial decisions related to the introduction of Hindi in classes 1 to 5 under the three-language policy. Their joint appearance has sparked talk of a possible political reunion. Uddhav added that he and Raj Thackeray are now in touch and can call or meet each other freely. “There is no issue. Thackerays meet everyone openly,” he said, as per the PTI. On the topic of alliances ahead of the upcoming civic and local body elections, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, Uddhav said that the Congress, a key Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partner, has decided to make decisions locally. The MVA also includes Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP SP). “If Congress wants to decide locally, that’s fine. Every party has its own local units, and we will act accordingly,” Uddhav Thackeray said, the news agency reported. He said, "It's their (Congress) business. There was a discussion with the Congress and they were of the opinion that they will take a decision at the local level. Fair enough. If that is the case, it will happen that way," reported the PTI. Every party has its unit at the civic body level, Uddhav Thackeray noted. When asked about recent comments by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat referencing Sangh ideologue late Moropant Pingley, who believed leaders should step aside at 75, Uddhav Thackeray suggested that this could be a message for PM Modi, who turns 75 in September. “"They may have found an answer to this and may be that is why Bhagwat spoke," the former Maharashtra CM said, the news agency reported. (with PTI inputs)
20 July,2025 09:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMember of the Legislative Council (MLC) and Mumbai Bank Chairman Praveen Darekar was trapped in a lift for about 20 minutes on Sunday in Vasai area of Palghar district in Maharashtra, officials said. The incident took place while he was on his way to attend a self-redevelopment awareness event. The event was held at Kaul Heritage City, where Darekar was invited as the chief guest. Local police personnel and a rescue team quickly arrived at the scene and helped bring him and the others out safely, they said. The lift suddenly stopped working, leaving Darekar and others stuck inside. The situation caused concern among attendees and organisers at the venue. No injuries were reported, and Darekar continued with the programme after being rescued. The cause of the lift malfunction is yet to be confirmed, the officials said.
20 July,2025 08:18 PM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaMaharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate, a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was allegedly caught playing a mobile card game during a session of the state legislature. Kokate, who is the MLA from Sinnar Assembly constituency in Nashik, has received criticism from the opposition for playing games in the assembly session at a time when farmers across Maharashtra are reeling from losses due to unseasonal or excessive rainfall and are demanding relief from the government. Rohit Pawar, an MLA from the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, posted a video on social media handle X (formerly known as Twitter) which shows Kokate engaged in the mobile game on the floor of the house during the session. “#जंगली_रमी_पे_आओ_ना_महाराज…!”सत्तेतल्या राष्ट्रवादी गटाला भाजपला विचारल्याशिवाय काहीच करता येत नाही म्हणूनच शेतीचे असंख्य प्रश्न प्रलंबित असताना, राज्यात रोज ८ शेतकरी आत्महत्या करत असताना सुद्धा काही कामच नसल्याने कृषिमंत्र्यांवर रमी खेळण्याची वेळ येत असावी.रस्ता भरकटलेल्या… pic.twitter.com/52jz7eTAtq — Rohit Pawar (@RRPSpeaks) July 20, 2025 Rohit, who is the grandnephew of Sharad Pawar, in his tweet mentioned, “NCP (Ajit Pawar camp) cannot do anything without asking BJP. In the state, every day, 8 (eight) farmers are committing suicide, and several issues are pending. But, since there is no work to do, it may be time to play rummy for the agriculture minister.” The video has been received with sharp criticism not only from the opposition parties, but also from the ruling Mahayuti (BJP, Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Eknath Shinde-headed Shiv Sena). Former leader of the opposition Vijay Wadettiwar said, “This shows how serious the government is about farmers' issues.” Irked with the move, former MLA Bachchu Kadu claimed that this is not the first time that the agriculture minister has been made a mistake. “This would be nearly the 8th controversy (mistake) of the minister,” Kadu, president of Prahar Janshakti Party (PJP), said. On June 8, Kadu had initiated a hunger strike in Amravati district demanding a farm loan waiver (as promised by Mahayuti during the assembly poll campaign). After six days of a hunger strike, the protest was called off, following an assurance from the government to form a committee to look into his demands and address farmers' issues. Even Ajit Pawar-led NCP expressed displeasure with Kokate’s behaviour. Ruling NCP's spokesperson Suraj Chavan said, “Ajit Pawar will speak to the concerned minister.” NCP (Ajit Pawar camp) stated that Kokate will be holding a press conference on Sunday and give his explanation on the allegations. Koktae, speaking to the electronic media, mentioned that he was in the Legislative Council in connection with official work and the proceedings of the House were adjourned for a short while. “I went on YouTube to see what was happening in the Legislative Assembly. When one starts a video on YouTube, ads appear. Similarly, at that time, an ad appeared. I skipped the ad and continued. But those who made the video go viral showed only an 18-second clip.”
20 July,2025 03:41 PM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarThe Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane has directed the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) to pay Rs 1.12 crore as compensation to the family of a Mumbai police constable who lost his life in a road accident in 2022. In an order passed on Friday, the MACT, presided over by member R.V. Mohite, ordered the MSRTC to pay the compensation amount with 9 per cent annual interest from the date of filing the claim until the final payment is made. The tribunal has given MSRTC one month from the date of the order to deposit the amount, according to news agency PTI. The victim, Girish Ashok Harad (30), a police constable with Mumbai Police, was on his way to report for night duty when the accident occurred. A speeding MSRTC bus, travelling from Badlapur towards Murbad, veered off the road and rammed into Harad's scooter near Sonawale village in Thane district. Harad sustained severe injuries and later died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kalyan. Following the incident, the Kulgaon police registered a case against the MSRTC driver under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and filed a chargesheet, as per PTI. At the time of the accident, Harad was earning Rs. 58,822 per month. The claimants included his wife, minor daughter, parents and unmarried sister, who were dependent on his income. The MSRTC, represented by advocate H P Patil, countered the claim, asserting the accident occurred due to the sole negligence of the deceased. It argued that the bus was on the correct side and the scooter, coming from the opposite direction at high speed, slipped and collided with the bus. The claimants, represented by advocate M A Pendse, presented evidence, including the FIR, spot panchanama, postmortem report, and chargesheet, PTI reported. The tribunal noted the road was wet at the time of the accident. It means it was raining either before the accident or at the time of the accident. In such a situation, both drivers had to take precautions while driving their respective vehicles, it said. Thus, the tribunal held contributory negligence of both drivers and assessed negligence of the constable at 20 per cent and of the bus driver to the extent of 80 per cent for the assessment of compensation. The compensation amount included loss of future income at Rs 72,73,728, future prospect - Rs 36,36,864, loss of consortium - Rs 2,00,000, loss of estate - Rs 15,000, funeral expenses - Rs. 15,000, and loss of love and affection - Rs 1,50,000, according to PTI. The tribunal ordered that the constable's wife be given Rs 60.90 lakh, his three-year-old daughter Rs 44 lakh, while his parents were to be given Rs 3 lakh each and his sister Rs 2 lakh. It said Rs 25 lakh of the compensation for the claimant's wife is to be invested in a fixed deposit for five years in a nationalised bank, while the compensation for his daughter is to be invested in a fixed deposit until she attains the age of majority. (With PTI inputs)
20 July,2025 02:04 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentMumbai and its suburbs are expected to witness a partly cloudy sky with the possibility of light to moderate spells of rain or thundershowers during the evening or night on Sunday. Tidal activity for the day includes a low tide of height 2.35 meters at 1.43 pm, followed by a high tide at 7.02 pm, measuring 3.43 meters. In the early hours of Monday, a low tide of height 1.00 meters is expected at 2.02 am, and a high tide at 9.19 am, reaching 3.91 meters. 🗓️ २० जुलै २०२५⛈️☔ मुंबई शहर व उपनगरात आकाश अंशत: ढगाळ राहील तसेच सायंकाळनंतर ढगांच्या गडगडाटासह हलका ते मध्यम पाऊस कोसळण्याची शक्यता आहे.ओहोटी -दुपारी १:४३ वाजता - २.३५ मीटर🌊 भरती -सायंकाळी ७:०२ वाजता - ३.४३ मीटरओहोटी -मध्यरात्रीनंतर ०२:०२ वाजता (उद्या, २१ जुलै… — माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) July 20, 2025 Mumbai rains: Lake levels in seven reservoirs supplying water to the city at 82.07 per cent The water levels in lakes supplying drinking water to Mumbai have risen following heavy rainfall in their catchment areas. According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) data, the combined stock in the seven reservoirs that provide water to the city now stands at 82.07 per cent. As per BMC, on Sunday, July 20, the collective water stock in these reservoirs is 11,87,829 million litres, which amounts to 82.07 per cent of their total capacity. The BMC supplies drinking water daily from Upper Vaitarna, Modak Sagar, Tansa, Middle Vaitarna, Bhatsa, Vihar, and Tulsi lakes. Among these, Modak Sagar is nearly full at 99.50 per cent, while Middle Vaitarna has seen the highest rise in level (0.25 m) in the past 24 hours. Bhatsa holds the largest individual storage at 5,53,646 ML, followed by Middle Vaitarna and Upper Vaitarna. Tulsi is nearly full at 95.89 per cent, having received 254 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, the highest among all lakes. The cumulative rainfall recorded by the Bhandup Complex so far is 832.00 mm, with 4.00 mm received on Sunday. Notably, Modak Sagar started overflowing on July 9, while Upper Vaitarna and Middle Vaitarna began releasing water earlier this month, indicating healthy reservoir levels ahead of the monsoon peak.
20 July,2025 12:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe water levels in lakes supplying drinking water to Mumbai have risen following heavy rainfall in their catchment areas. According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) data, the combined stock in the seven reservoirs that provide water to the city now stands at 82.07 per cent. As per BMC, on Sunday, July 20, the collective water stock in these reservoirs is 11,87,829 million litres, which amounts to 82.07 per cent of their total capacity. The BMC supplies drinking water daily from Upper Vaitarna, Modak Sagar, Tansa, Middle Vaitarna, Bhatsa, Vihar, and Tulsi lakes. Among these, Modak Sagar is nearly full at 99.50 per cent, while Middle Vaitarna has seen the highest rise in level (0.25 m) in the past 24 hours. Bhatsa holds the largest individual storage at 5,53,646 ML, followed by Middle Vaitarna and Upper Vaitarna. Tulsi is nearly full at 95.89 per cent, having received 254 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, the highest among all lakes. The cumulative rainfall recorded by the Bhandup Complex so far is 832.00 mm, with 4.00 mm received on Sunday. Notably, Modak Sagar started overflowing on July 9, while Upper Vaitarna and Middle Vaitarna began releasing water earlier this month, indicating healthy reservoir levels ahead of the monsoon peak. Mumbai weather updates: City braces for light to moderate showers Mumbai and its suburbs are expected to witness a partly cloudy sky with the possibility of light to moderate spells of rain or thundershowers during the evening or night on Sunday. Tidal activity for the day includes a low tide of height 2.35 meters at 1.43 pm, followed by a high tide at 7.02 pm, measuring 3.43 meters. In the early hours of Monday, a low tide of height 1.00 meters is expected at 2.02 am, and a high tide at 9.19 am, reaching 3.91 meters. 🗓️ २० जुलै २०२५⛈️☔ मुंबई शहर व उपनगरात आकाश अंशत: ढगाळ राहील तसेच सायंकाळनंतर ढगांच्या गडगडाटासह हलका ते मध्यम पाऊस कोसळण्याची शक्यता आहे.ओहोटी -दुपारी १:४३ वाजता - २.३५ मीटर🌊 भरती -सायंकाळी ७:०२ वाजता - ३.४३ मीटरओहोटी -मध्यरात्रीनंतर ०२:०२ वाजता (उद्या, २१ जुलै… — माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) July 20, 2025
20 July,2025 12:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Saturday refuted US President Donald Trump's repeated claims of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan for a proposed US trade deal. She emphasised that any deal with Pakistan would likely involve terrorism rather than trade. Chaturvedi stated that there can be no trade deal with Pakistan, only a "terrorist deal" can be done with them, highlighting the country's alleged support for terrorism. She emphasised that India wants a trade deal with the US on its own terms, suggesting Trump's comments might be a result of pressure from his domestic audience, given his promise of signing a trade deal that hasn't materialised yet. "There can be no trade deal with Pakistan, only a terrorist deal can be done with them... We are repeatedly saying that the trade deal between India and the US should be on our terms. So it is possible that Donald Trump said this under pressure from his domestic audience... because he had promised them that a trade deal would be signed, which hasn't been signed yet," Chaturvedi told ANI. Trump has repeatedly claimed to have brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, stating that both countries wanted a trade agreement with the US but would have to agree to an immediate ceasefire. India has consistently maintained that the understanding on cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached following direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two militaries, dismissing Trump's claims of mediation. She further added, "They have made this point for their domestic audience, but it is clear that the DGMO of our country has said that the demand for ceasefire came from there, so we fired the season and that again and again we said he has been there and perhaps when he spoke to the Prime Minister Donald Trump, he also put forward this point." Expressing confidence in India's security establishment, she asserted, "I will have more confidence in the DGMO of my country in this regard. Rather than what is being said from there, because the trade deal which they had promised has not yet been signed by the people there, so that pressure is being put." Chaturvedi also pointed out the hypocrisy in the narrative around diplomacy and conflict with Pakistan, especially in the context of sporting events. She said, "You have been exposed that the match between India and Pakistan is going to be held. Now see that we become a part of Operation Sindoor. Where we were clearly told that Talk and Terrorism Cannot Go Together." Notably, the organisers of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) have officially called of the India-Pakistan match and apologised for hurting sentiments and hopes of people. In its statement WCL said that It had announced the India-Pak fixture after a recent volleyball match between the two countries to create happy memories for fans. The tournament says that this may have ended up hurting the feelings of many and caused discomfort to the Indian legends. In the wake of this a decision to call off the fixture was taken. WCL further apologised for hurting sentiments. Earlier, several Indian players like Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan also informed the media that they would not be playing the India-Pakistan game. Sources also say some other players in the India line-up have also taken a similar stance. Scheduled to be held from July 18 to August 2 across Birmingham, Northampton, Leicester, and Leeds, WCL 2025 brings together the heroes of yesteryears in a summer spectacle sanctioned by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, raised sharp questions at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding an explanation about the US President Donald Trump's "five jets shot down" claims made in his speech. In a post on X, Gandhi said, "Modi ji, what is the truth about the 5 ships? The country has the right to know!" Earlier on Saturday, Trump once again claimed to have halted the escalation of the India-Pakistan conflict. "We stopped a lot of wars. And these were serious, India and Pakistan, that were going on. Planes were being shot out of there. I think five jets were shot down, actually. These are two serious nuclear countries, and they were hitting each other. You know, it seems like a new form of warfare. You saw it recently when you looked at what we did in Iran, where we knocked out their nuclear capability, totally knocked out that," he said. India has repeatedly said that the cessation of hostilities with Pakistan following the success of Operation Sindoor did not come about due to any mediation, and it happened after Pakistan's DGMO called his Indian counterpart. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 July,2025 09:46 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIADVERTISEMENT
