New Delhi, June 13: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday expressed grief over the tragic loss of five bravehearts in the Indian Air Force aircraft crash in Assam and said that we salute their service and selfless sacrifice, and will forever remain indebted to them and their families.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge took to social media ‘X’ and said, “Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of five bravehearts in the Indian Air Force aircraft crash in Assam. My heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones in this moment of grief. We salute their service and selfless sacrifice, and will forever remain indebted to them and their families.”

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also expressed grief over the martyrdom of five brave soldiers in an Air Force plane crash in Assam, describing the incident as deeply saddening.

Taking to social media platform X, Priyanka Gandhi said, “The news of the martyrdom of five brave soldiers in an Air Force plane crash in Assam is deeply saddening. May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families.”

She further said, “The nation will forever remain indebted to our brave soldiers and their families.”

At least five IAF personnel were killed after an AN-32 transport aircraft met with an accident while landing at the Jorhat airbase in Assam and burst into flames on Saturday, defence officials said.

According to the IAF, the incident occurred at approximately 10 a.m. after the aircraft landed at the Jorhat Air Force Station. The aircraft reportedly burst into flames shortly after touchdown, triggering an immediate emergency response from Air Force and airport firefighting teams.

“An IAF AN-32 aircraft met with an accident during a routine sortie today at approximately 1000h at Jorhat, Assam. Crash site management and initial enquiries are on at this time. IAF requests everyone to refrain from speculation till preliminary results are in,” the IAFZ said in a statement.

Defence officials later said that five people lost their lives in the incident. The identities of the deceased have not yet been officially released. Further details regarding the circumstances leading to the crash are awaited.

The IAF expressed condolences over the tragedy, stating: “IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief.”

A detailed investigation is expected to be ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident. Technical experts and Air Force authorities are examining the crash site while initial enquiries remain underway.

New Delhi, June 13: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav’s claims of possible electoral manipulation in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections next year have invited quick riposte and taunt from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, as they called it the former’s acceptance of defeat even before the 2027 poll contest.

UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, reacting to Akhilesh’s allegations of likely manipulation in UP elections, on the lines of Bihar and West Bengal, said that this was a clever way of a face-saving exercise by the Opposition.

Speaking to newsmen, Pathak said, “Leaders of the Samajwadi Party and Congress, especially Akhilesh Yadav, are making such statements as a face-saving attempt as they are sensing defeat even before elections.”

Slamming the INDIA bloc’s duplicity, he said that when the Opposition wins, they say that the Election Commission is doing a good job, but when they lose, they feel that their political base is shrinking or about to lose people’s mandate, they start making such remarks to save face.”

The fresh round of political spat comes on the back of Akhilesh Yadav’s charge that the BJP manipulated the elections in Bihar and Bengal in connivance with the Election Commission, and “if the same loot and dishonesty was to happen in Uttar Pradesh, then there may never be elections in the future.”

Akhilesh levelled these charges while addressing a public meeting during the inauguration of Urmila Garden at Soron Gate in Kasganj on Friday.

He accused the BJP of stealing the elections by introducing campaigns like Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and also accused the latter of befooling the women voters with women reservation bill.

Brajesh Pathak rejected Akhilesh’s charge summarily and called out SP’s own record of governance when goons and criminals held sway.

He said that people gave a thumping majority to the BJP in West Bengal, and the public anger was only now coming to the fore after TMC’s ouster.

“Same was the condition in Uttar Pradesh during the Congress-SP regime, mafia raj prevailed over people, and the latter was left at the mercy of its strongman leaders as well as goons,” he added.

Danish Ansari, UP minister for minority welfare, also hit back at the SP supremo and compared the progressive record of the Yogi government as compared to ‘dark phase’ under SP regime.

“Samajwadi Party’s only agenda is to obstruct the development journey of the Yogi-led UP government and hinder the progress and prosperity of Uttar Pradesh. The party tries to create hurdles in the path of development and foment trouble in the state,” he said.

The minister reiterated that the double-engine BJP government has pledged to provide a corruption-free and crime-free state, and this is why the Opposition, which always shielded gangsters and goons, is having a meltdown.

New Delhi, June 13: Amid mounting criticism online over the viral “Rs 370 Biryani” clip, stand-up comedian Pranit More on Saturday issued an apology, saying he deserved the backlash and requesting people to give him one more chance.

In a video shared on Instagram, More said: “I wanted to talk to all of you about this, but my Instagram account was suspended. You have seen the crowd-work video circulating on social media, and I have been receiving a lot of hate because of it.”

The comedian admitted that he made a mistake by not intervening when inappropriate remarks were made during the performance.

“I feel I deserve this hate. During the crowd-work session, the man made several derogatory comments. Everyone was laughing, and I, too, got carried away. It was a lapse in judgment. I believe it was my biggest mistake. I could have taken a stand at that moment, but I did not,” he said.

More acknowledged that his reaction gave the remarks a platform and allowed the situation to escalate.

“I gave those comments a platform, and things escalated from there. I want to apologise to everyone who was hurt by this. Whatever legal proceedings are underway, I am cooperating with the authorities. I request all of you to give me one chance. I will become a better human being. This has been a learning experience for me as well. I am working on myself and my content, and you will see that reflected in my future work,” he added.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Thursday summoned More and web developer Himanshu Jangra over remarks allegedly made during a stand-up comedy show in Gurugram. The commission stated that the comments appeared to glorify sexual coercion and non-consensual conduct towards a woman.

The controversy erupted after Jangra recounted an incident during the show involving a date on which he spent Rs 370 on a plate of chicken biryani. According to the account, when the woman later asked him to drop her off at home, he allegedly sought sexual favours in return for the money he had spent. More was seen laughing at the remark during the performance.

Amid the growing backlash, a Gurugram-based firm also terminated Jangra’s employment over the controversial “Rs 370 biryani” remark.