by Hansraj Agrawal | Jul 19, 2026 | top-stories
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday reviewed the preparedness for the Sub-Junior National Badminton Championship scheduled to be held at the historic Raizada Hansraj Stadium in Jalandhar in December this year. During his visit, the Chief Minister announced a special grant of Rs 2.14 crore for the construction of a state-of-the-art indoor badminton hall, reaffirming the Punjab Government’s commitment to strengthening sports infrastructure and promoting sporting excellence across the state.
During this, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that after nearly 44 years, the National Badminton Championship is returning to the historic Raizada Hansraj Stadium. “The championship for the Under-13 category will provide a major boost to badminton in Punjab and further strengthen the sporting culture in the state. The Punjab Government is committed to promoting sports to channelise the boundless energy of the youth in a positive direction,” he added.
The Chief Minister handed over the sanction cheque of Rs 2.14 crore to Deputy Commissioner (DC) Jalandhar Varjeet Singh Walia and Secretary of the Punjab Badminton Association Ritin Khanna for the construction of the new indoor badminton hall. “It is the first time in nearly six decades that a sitting Chief Minister has visited this iconic stadium, which has produced several outstanding badminton players,” he noted.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “The Public Works Department will execute this project, and the tender process will begin shortly. Construction is expected to commence in August. The existing four outdoor multipurpose courts will be converted into a world-class indoor badminton facility equipped with international-standard infrastructure.”
The Chief Minister said that once completed, the Raizada Hansraj Stadium will have a total of 10 indoor badminton courts, making it the only venue in Punjab with such a large indoor badminton complex and one of the premier badminton centres in North India.
He said, “This upgraded infrastructure will significantly strengthen Punjab’s capacity to host prestigious national and international badminton tournaments. The stadium has been selected to host the Sub-Junior National Badminton Championship in December this year, which will be the first National Badminton Championship to be organised here in nearly four decades.”
During his visit, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann interacted with players, coaches and sports officials and reviewed the existing sports infrastructure at the stadium. He assured the badminton fraternity that the Punjab Government would extend every possible support for the successful organisation of the championship and continue investing in the development of sports infrastructure across the state.
The Chief Minister said that Punjab has produced several legendary sportspersons and has shared a deep connection with sports for centuries.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Our revered Sikh Gurus promoted not only spirituality but also physical fitness through sports. Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji established a Mall Akhara at Khadur Sahib and personally supervised wrestling and physical training, while Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib trained youth in horse riding and archery. Dashmesh Pita Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji mastered every form of sport and martial art of his time. Even today, Punjab proudly showcases its rich sporting traditions through the traditional games organised during Hola Mohalla at Sri Anandpur Sahib.”
The Chief Minister said, “The Punjab Government’s sustained investment in sports infrastructure and athlete development has already started yielding encouraging results, with several players from the state earning places at higher levels of competition.” He reiterated that the government will continue making every effort to promote sports and create world-class facilities for the youth of Punjab.
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by Hansraj Agrawal | Jul 17, 2026 | top-stories
The yatra, which commenced on July 3, 2026, has been marked by exceptional coordination, robust security, and seamless facilitation, ensuring a peaceful and spiritually fulfilling experience for all pilgrims.More than 3.5 lakh devotees have successfully offered prayers at the sacred Amarnath cave shrine during the first 15 days of the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha announced on Friday.
LG Sinha personally visited the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam—one of the two primary assembly points for the pilgrimage, alongside Baltal—to conduct an on-ground inspection of facilities. He also chaired a high-level review meeting with senior officials from the J&K administration, security forces, and various line departments to assess and refine ongoing arrangements.
During the inspection, the Lieutenant Governor reviewed critical infrastructure, including drinking water supply, uninterrupted electricity, telecom connectivity, accommodation and langar (community kitchen) facilities, as well as medical support and sanitation services. He directed all departments to operate in “mission mode” to maintain the highest standards of safety, comfort, and convenience for the remainder of the yatra.
“By the grace of Baba Amarnath, the yatra is proceeding peacefully and smoothly,” LG Sinha said. He added, “The coordinated efforts of the administration, J&K Police, Army, Central Armed Police Forces, and other agencies have strengthened arrangements, ensuring the safety and comfort of every pilgrim.”
He added, “This pilgrimage is not just a spiritual journey; it also provides a significant boost to the local economy. It benefits transport operators, hoteliers, pony owners, laborers, and service providers across the region.”
Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal, LG Sinha urged pilgrims to purchase locally made products to support the artisans, traders, and entrepreneurs of Jammu and Kashmir.
He also expressed his gratitude to the local residents and service providers for their enthusiastic support, assuring that the administration would maintain high-level coordination to ensure the successful conclusion of the pilgrimage.
The Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra remains one of the most significant religious events in India, drawing lakhs of devotees annually to the Kashmir Valley. Beyond its spiritual importance, the yatra serves as a vital economic engine, providing seasonal livelihoods to thousands of local families.
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by Hansraj Agrawal | Jul 17, 2026 | top-stories
J&K Peoples Conference President and MLA for Handwara, Sajad Lone, launched a pointed attack on the National Conference on Friday. He questioned both the timing and the true motives behind Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s call for a sit-in at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to demand the restoration of statehood. Lone emphasized that the pre-August 5, 2019, status of Jammu and Kashmir—specifically Article 370, Article 35A, and full statehood—remains paramount, with Article 370 being the most critical of the three.
He argued that the protest might not actually be about statehood at all, but rather a quiet attempt to bury the demands for Article 370 and 35A. He noted that these issues fall under Parliament’s jurisdiction rather than the assembly’s, and claimed that opposition parties had failed to honor promises of support made during the election campaign. Drawing a historical parallel to 1975, he described the current situation as a repeat of a pattern where constitutional safeguards were traded for political power.
A History of Broken Trust
Lone’s core argument centered on the belief that major democratic decisions require consensus, not unilateral street protests. He recalled that in early August 2019, Farooq and Omar Abdullah traveled to Delhi without consulting other parties. The following day, a photograph of them with the Prime Minister emerged alongside assurances that “nothing was going to change”—assurances that were rendered void within 48 hours when Article 370 was revoked.
He noted that to this day, the details of that meeting remain unknown. Despite the public warmth shown toward the central leadership since that time, Lone argued that the National Conference has never once publicly confronted them for having been misled.
The Assembly as a Constitutional Voice
Regarding the present, Lone stated that while the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly may have lost its former powers, it has not lost its representative character; it remains the constitutional voice of the people. On that basis, he called it unacceptable that no statehood resolution has been passed in nearly two years. He added that his own attempts to move such a resolution were blocked by the Speaker on the grounds that the matter was sub judice.
He cited an amendment he moved on February 3, 2025, during the Governor’s address, which sought to demand the return of Article 370, 35A, and statehood. He claimed this was rejected by a voice vote, with every NC member voting against it alongside BJP leaders—a development that he said went almost entirely unreported.
Lone’s central demand is for the government to call an emergency session of the Assembly to pass a statehood resolution and then send an all-party delegation—without “theatrics”—to meet the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition.
He argued that Jantar Mantar should only be considered as a last resort, at which point his party would be willing to join. He warned that bypassing the assembly and taking the issue directly to Delhi would reduce the statehood question to a mere fight between the BJP and the opposition at the national level, stripping the people of Jammu and Kashmir of any real role in their own cause.
Accusations of Inconsistency
Lone was equally critical of the Chief Minister’s conduct in the run-up to the protest. He noted that in the days after announcing the protest, Omar Abdullah met with the Defence Minister, several other Union ministers, and eventually the Prime Minister.
“Abdullah claimed to have raised the issue of statehood in those meetings,” Lone said. He argued that if the Prime Minister, whom he described as the final authority on statehood, had rejected the demand, the government owed the public a straight answer rather than proceeding to Jantar Mantar without clarifying what was actually discussed.
He accused the National Conference of inconsistency, recalling how the party rushed to present shawls to central leaders even before final election results were declared and later sent flowers to the Union Home Minister following Mamata Banerjee’s defeat in West Bengal, all while invoking anti-BJP rhetoric for public consumption.
Lone concluded by stating that while he could not be certain of the National Conference’s true motive, his assessment was that this was less a genuine campaign for statehood and more an exercise aimed at burying Article 370 and 35A for good, leaving statehood as a secondary and diminished consolation prize.
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by Hansraj Agrawal | Jul 17, 2026 | top-stories
Akash Sinha is an Assistant News Editor with Zee News English, bringing over 12 years of seasoned expertise to the newsroom. A veteran journalist who began his career in 2014 at The Indian Express, Akash specializes in delivering real-time breaking news with a focus on the stories that shape national and global narratives.
Expertise & Focus Areas:
Sinha’s reporting spans a diverse range of critical sectors, offering readers depth and clarity on complex subjects:
Geopolitics & Defense: Tracking international affairs and national security developments with a sharp analytical lens.
Infrastructure & Economy: Extensive coverage of the Railways and Real Estate sectors, alongside deep dives into Business and Personal Finance.
Political Reporting: Analyzing Indian elections, policy decisions and political shifts since 2014 that impact the country’s trajectory.
Proven Track Record:
Before joining the leadership team at Zee News English, Akash honed his craft at some of India’s most prestigious financial and news publications, including The Financial Express, The Economic Times, Zee Business, and Moneycontrol.
His commitment to journalistic excellence has been recognized throughout his decade-plus career, receiving accolades for his work at The Financial Express in 2016 and more recently at Zee News English in 2024.
Akash holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication, a foundation that informs his data-driven and insightful approach to journalism.
Contact: akash.sinha@india.com
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by Hansraj Agrawal | Jul 16, 2026 | top-stories
The debate on non-Yadav OBC politics in Uttar Pradesh has already reached a critical peak. Om Prakash Rajbhar, president of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and a key minister in the NDA alliance, is not the architect of this shift but one of its earliest and most visible signals. What is visible today is a decisive assertion by non-Yadav OBC communities that is actively reshaping the state’s caste-based political alignments ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Uttar Pradesh’s OBC politics has long been dominated by the numerical strength and institutional hold of the Yadav community through the Samajwadi Party. Yadavs, who make up roughly 8–11 per cent of the state’s population, have exercised disproportionate influence within the broader OBC category. This hegemonic position not only consolidated Mandal-era OBC politics but also generated deep resentments among the far more heterogeneous non-Yadav OBCs. Collectively, groups such as the Rajbhars, Nishads, Kurmis, Mauryas, Kashyaps, Prajapatis, Binds and numerous smaller castes constitute a substantially larger share of the OBC population—estimated at over 20–30 per cent of Uttar Pradesh. Many within these communities have long felt consigned to a subordinate status, reflected in limited access to electoral tickets, ministerial positions and focused socio-economic interventions.
OP Rajbhar’s recent interventions have brought this long-simmering fault line into sharp public view. Coming from the Rajbhar community in eastern Uttar Pradesh’s Purvanchal region, he has repeatedly highlighted the “Yadavization” of OBC politics. He maintains that the benefits of political power and reservation have remained concentrated within a handful of dominant OBC castes, leaving the majority of backward communities marginalized. By drawing on the legacy of Maharaja Suheldev and positioning his party as a distinct voice for non-Yadav groups, Rajbhar has struck a chord with OBCs seeking separate recognition and a larger share in power.
Since 2014, the BJP has built a broad social coalition by reaching out to non-Yadav OBCs and EBCs through welfare schemes, symbolic representation and alliances with smaller caste-based parties. This approach helped the party consolidate upper castes along with significant sections of non-Yadav backward communities and non-Jatav Dalits.
The 2024 Lok Sabha results, however, revealed that this coalition is under pressure. The SP’s PDA formula made targeted inroads by promising greater representation to non-Yadav groups. Rajbhar has been quick to respond, pointing out that several non-Yadav and Dalit leaders within the SP are disillusioned and exploring other options. His observations reflect real and growing discontent on the ground.
The assertion of non-Yadav OBC identity is no longer limited to one leader. Across the state, similar assertions have gained considerable ground. In Purvanchal, Rajbhar and allied communities are actively pushing for sub-categorization of OBC reservations. These groups have moved beyond seeking space within a Yadav-dominated OBC framework. They are now demanding their own icons, independent leadership and direct political outcomes.
This politics of non-Yadav OBC assertion has already begun to reshape electoral calculations for 2027. Uttar Pradesh’s outcomes are increasingly determined by the precise management of caste alliances, where even a 4–6 per cent consolidated shift among non-Yadav OBCs can decisively influence results in a large number of constituencies, particularly in the eastern and central regions.
While some critics continue to view these developments as mere caste fragmentation, for the communities involved they represent a concrete push for substantive social justice. Just as the Mandal movement challenged upper-caste dominance, the present churning is addressing long-standing intra-OBC hierarchies. Rajbhar has played a catalytic role in bringing these issues to the forefront, but the momentum is far larger than any single individual. It reflects a widespread and decentralized assertion driven by demands for dignity, fair representation and development attuned to specific community needs.
As Uttar Pradesh moves closer to the next electoral contest, the non-Yadav OBC discourse has already become central to political calculations. Alliances are being tested and reconfigured along this axis.
From the rural heartlands of Ghazipur, Ballia and Azamgarh to the political corridors of Lucknow, non-Yadav OBC communities are making it clear that they will no longer accept a secondary role in someone else’s political arrangement. The debate has not merely heated up — it has reached a critical peak. And the entire state is already feeling its impact.
(The author is a Professor at the University of Allahabad. He writes on political and social issues in various newspapers, magazines, and online platforms.)
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by Hansraj Agrawal | Jul 16, 2026 | top-stories
The official schedule for the annual Chhari-Mubarak Holy Amarnath Yatra has been announced. Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of the sacred mace, released the itinerary to help sadhus and devotees plan their journey.
Chhari-Mubarak Amarnath Yatra 2026 schedule announced
Mahant Deependra Giri said the pilgrimage will begin with traditional rituals on July 29. The Holy Mace will travel along the traditional route before reaching the Amarnath Cave on August 28. Pilgrims must register in advance and carry a valid Yatra permit to join the pilgrimage. Bhoomi-Pujan, Navgrah Pujan and Dhawajarohan will be performed on Ashad Purnima, also known as Vyas Purnima.
Wednesday, July 29: Bhoomi-Pujan, Navgrah Pujan and Dhawajarohan at Pahalgam.
Wednesday, August 12: The Chhari-Mubarak will be taken to the historic Shankracharya Temple.
Thursday, August 13: Rituals will be performed at the Sharika Bhawani Temple.
Saturday, August 15: The Chhari-Sthapana ceremony will take place at Shri Amareshwar Temple, Dashnami, Srinagar.
Monday, August 17: The traditional Holy Chhari-Pujan will be held at Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar on Nag-Panchami.
Holy Mace travel itinerary
August 22: The pilgrimage will start from Srinagar.
August 22 and 23: Night halt at Pahalgam.
August 24: Night halt at Chandanwari.
August 25: Night halt at Sheshnag.
August 26 and 27: Night halts at Panchtarani.
August 28: The Holy Mace will reach the Amarnath Cave on Shravan-Purnima. The final Pujan and Darshan will be performed.
Pilgrims must register and carry a valid permit
Mahant Deependra Giri has formally communicated with the government of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to ensure the sanctity of these age-old traditions. The following measures are to be strictly observed: The administration has been urged to provide necessary arrangements for the safety and security of all Sadhus and pilgrims accompanying the Holy Mace.
Possession of a valid Yatra permit is compulsory
The committee has also requested all Sadhus and members of civil society to register before joining the pilgrimage.
“All Sadhus and members of civil society intending to join the Chhari-Mubarak pilgrimage are requested to register in advance. Possession of a valid Yatra permit is mandatory. Only registered individuals with valid permits will be permitted to accompany the Chhari-Mubarak,” said the committee.
Why the Chhari-Mubarak is important
The Chhari-Mubarak, which means the Holy Mace, is a sacred silver mace. It is believed to represent Lord Shiva. It is more than a ceremonial object. The Holy Mace is considered the divine guide of the Amarnath Yatra. According to tradition, it is the personal walking stick of Lord Shiva. The pilgrimage is considered spiritually incomplete without the arrival of the Chhari-Mubarak at the Amarnath Cave.
The Yatra follows the route taken by the Holy Mace. When the Chhari-Mubarak reaches the cave on Shravan Purnima, it is ceremonially installed. This marks the final rituals and the conclusion of the annual Amarnath Yatra.
The Chhari-Mubarak is kept and protected at the Dashnami Akhara Trust in Srinagar. Mahant Deependra Giri is the custodian of the Holy Mace.
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