New Delhi, June 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended birthday greetings to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, wishing him a long and healthy life.

PM Modi took to social media ‘X’ and said, “Birthday greetings to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru C. Joseph Vijay Ji. I pray for his long and healthy life.”

Born on June 22, 1974, in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, Vijay is an actor-turned-politician who currently serves as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Before entering politics, he was one of the most successful and influential stars of Tamil cinema and was popularly known among fans as ‘Thalapathy (Leader)’.

Vijay, whose full name is Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, is the son of film-maker S.A. Chandrasekhar and singer Shoba Chandrasekhar. He began his acting career as a child artist in the film ‘Vetri’ (1984), directed by his father, before emerging as a leading star in the Tamil film industry.

Over the years, Vijay established himself as one of the biggest names in South Indian cinema. Films such as ‘Kushi’, ‘Thirumalai’, ‘Ghilli’, ‘Pokkiri’, and ‘Sarkar’ significantly contributed to his popularity. While he initially gained recognition for romantic roles, he later reinvented himself as an action star known for portraying characters fighting for social and political justice.

His immense popularity among fans often drew comparisons with legendary Tamil actors who successfully transitioned into politics. Political themes in several of his films were widely viewed as indicators of his future political ambitions.

In 2024, Vijay formally entered politics by launching the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The party made its electoral debut in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and emerged as the single-largest party in the state, winning 108 of the 234 seats.

To secure a governing majority, TVK allied with the Indian National Congress and other parties. Vijay contested and won from both Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies. Following the election, he was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10, 2026.

Jaisalmer, June 20: How does a community produce paperwork for a shrine that has existed for nearly 250 years? That question lies at the heart of a growing controversy in Rajasthan’s border district of Jaisalmer, where an administrative notice seeking land ownership documents for the historic Mehmood Shah Peer Jilani shrine has sparked protests and a wider debate over faith, heritage and governance.

The notice, issued under the administration’s ongoing “Operation Clean” drive against alleged illegal constructions within a 50-km radius of the India-Pakistan border, directs the shrine management to submit land-related documents by June 22, failing which action could begin after June 23 under the Rajasthan Colonisation Act.

For officials, the move is part of a routine verification exercise in a sensitive border zone.

For local residents, however, it raises a larger question: should centuries-old religious sites be judged solely by modern documentation standards?

Villagers argue that expecting documentary proof for structures established hundreds of years ago ignores the historical realities of western Rajasthan, where many shrines, temples and community spaces predate formal land-record systems.

Congress District President Amardin Fakir said the issue extends beyond a single shrine.

“Earlier, restrictions were limited to a 10-kilometre belt along the border. Later, they were extended to 15 kilometres and now effectively impact areas up to nearly 50 kilometres. A large portion of Jaisalmer’s population falls within this zone,” he said.

Fakir added that residents fear future action could extend beyond religious sites.

“Many religious places here are centuries old. At the time they were established, maintaining formal records was not a priority. It is unfair to interfere with matters of faith merely because documents are unavailable today,” he said.

Former Ramgarh Sarpanch Govind Bhargava recalled that when the Army was constructing infrastructure in the border region around 1980, villagers informed officials about the shrine’s significance.

“After inspecting the site, the construction was shifted elsewhere. Even then, the shrine’s importance was respected,” he claimed.

According to Jumma Khan, President of the Shrine Committee, the site holds deep significance for both Hindu and Muslim devotees and hosts two major annual fairs.

“Thousands of people visit every year. The shrine has been maintained through public faith and community support for generations. Obtaining ownership documents for a 250-year-old shrine is not easy,” he said.

Officials maintain that notices are being issued in accordance with legal provisions and that affected parties have been given an opportunity to present their case.

Yet, as the deadline approaches, the dispute has evolved into a broader debate over how heritage, faith and administrative regulations can coexist in India’s borderlands.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said: “Given the region’s history of coexistence and mutual respect, both the Central and state governments should exercise caution and ensure that administrative decisions do not give rise to avoidable controversy or undermine the social fabric that has long distinguished these border districts.”

Noida, June 20: Ahead of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) re-test on June 21 (Sunday), the Gautam Buddha Nagar administration has stepped up last-minute preparations to ensure a fair, secure and hassle-free examination for thousands of students. Adequate arrangements have been put in place with heightened surveillance via CCTVs and increased police vigil around the NEET examination centres.

A group of administrative as well as police teams are inspecting the exam centres and finalising security measures to ensure that candidates do not face any inconvenience.

Joint Police Commissioner Rajiv Narayan Mishra, speaking to newsmen, said that the NEET exams will be conducted at 23 centres across the district. They include five centres in the Noida Zone, 11 in the Central Noida Zone, and seven in the Greater Noida Zone.

Sharing information about extensive arrangements, he said that adequate police personnel will be deployed at all centres, along with senior officers, to continuously monitor the exam process.

He mentioned that screening of candidates for entering the exam venue is mandatory and every candidate will have to undergo a thorough checking and frisking.

Additionally, Police Response Vehicle (PRV) teams will be stationed near the exam centres to enable immediate action in case of any emergency.

Officers of ACP, ADCP, and DCP ranks will be present at the exam centres within their respective zones. All officers have been instructed to conduct continuous patrols and keep a close watch on security arrangements throughout the duration of the exam.

“The Gautam Buddha Nagar Commissionerate states that all necessary arrangements have been made to ensure the examination is conducted in a completely peaceful, transparent, and orderly manner,” it said in a statement.

Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has also been invoked around the exam centres, which prohibits the assembly of crowd within 200-meter radius of the exam centres.

The Commissionerate Police has also set up special help desks at major Metro stations and bus stands. Through these help desks, students and their parents will be provided with assistance regarding examination centres, traffic-related information, and other necessary support.