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Never directed to end Dallewal’s hunger strike: SC on farmers’ protest

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New Delhi, Jan 2: The Supreme Court on Thursday said that it has never directed to end the hunger strike of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on a fast unto death, but is only concerned with his health.

“There appears to be a deliberate attempt in the entire media where state government officers (of Punjab) are trying to create an impression that there is a persuasion by this court to Mr. Dallewal to break his fast. Our directions were not to break his fast. We only said that let his health be taken care of and he can continue his peaceful protest even when he is hospitalised,” a Bench headed by Justice Surya Kant told Punjab’s Advocate General (AG) Gurminder Singh.

The Bench, also comprising Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, said that shifting Dallewal to the hospital should not mean that he will not continue his fast but the medical facilities which will ensure that no harm is caused to his life.

In response, AG Gurminder Singh submitted that the state government officials tried to convince Dallewal to take medical aid in terms of the apex court order.

However, Dallewal remained firm that he would take medical aid only if the Union government was ready for talks.

At this, the Justice Kant-led Bench remarked, “Please don’t force us to say many things. Your attitude is that there should be no reconciliation. That is the whole problem”.

Further, the apex court expressed anguish at the “irresponsible statements” being made by “so-called farmers leaders to complicate things”.

It cautioned that if the Punjab government keeps failing to implement its order regarding hospitalisation of Dallewal, the apex court will seek intervention of the Centre.

The 70-year-old cancer patient has been fasting at Khanauri, the border point between Punjab and Haryana, since November 26 in support of their long-pending demands, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, loan waiver and reforms to improve conditions in the agricultural sector.

The matter will be heard next on January 6.

On Tuesday, the top court deferred till January 2 the hearing on a contempt plea seeking action against the Chief Secretary of Punjab over non-hospitalisation of Dallewal.

In that hearing, the Punjab government sought additional time to comply with its December 20 decision, where it was directed to ensure the stable health condition of Dallewal.

“It is entirely the responsibility of the State of Punjab to ensure the stable health condition of Mr Jagjit Singh Dallewal, for which if he requires hospitalisation, the authorities must ensure to do so. The State Government, therefore, will take a call as to whether Mr Dallewal can be shifted to the makeshift hospital (temporary hospital, which is said to have been set up at a distance of 700 metres from the site) or to any other well-equipped hospital,” the SC had ordered.

National

For 11th consecutive day, Pakistan resorts to firing on J&K LoC, Indian troops respond strongly

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Jammu, May 5: For the 11th consecutive day on Monday, the Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked small arms firing on the Indian positions on the Jammu and Kashmir Line of Control (LoC) as the Indian troops responded promptly and proportionately.

The Defence Ministry statement said, “During the night of 04 -05 May 2025, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajauri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor in J&K.”

“Indian Army responded promptly and proportionately,” said the ministry in the statement.

During the night of May 3 and May 4, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajauri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor in J&K.

The Indian Army had responded promptly and proportionately.

Tensions have reached a new high between the two countries after Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists sponsored and aided by Pakistan killed 26 innocent civilians, including 25 tourists and a local, on April 22 in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.

The entire country was outraged by the cowardly act of terrorists. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his first reaction to Pahalgam killings that the terrorists, their handlers and backers would he chased and hunted down to the ends of the earth.

India announced a slew of measures against Pakistan, including the deportation of its nationals from Indian soil, the closure of the Attari-Wagah border crossing, throwing the Indus Water Treaty into abeyance, closing its airspace for Pakistani commercial flights, and the cancellation of all trade and cultural exchange between the two countries.

PM Modi has given operational freedom to the armed forces to avenge the Pahalgam killings.

This decision came after the PM met the defence minister, national security advisor, chief of defence staff (CDS), and chiefs of the army, navy and the Air Force.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had a 40-minute-long meeting with the Prime Minister on April 28.

The defence minister met the PM after he received a detailed briefing by the CDS on the preparedness of the country’s armed forces to meet any eventuality.

J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha also had a security review meeting with Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi in Srinagar a few days ago.

The L-G asked the Army to use whatever force is required to hunt down the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Meanwhile, to send a powerful message to terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers, security forces demolished the houses of terrorists.

On April 25, two houses belonging to Adil Hussain Thokar and Asif Sheikh were demolished in the Tral and Bijbehara areas. Both these terrorists were part of the LeT group involved in the Pahalgam killings.

Security forces have so far demolished the houses of 10 terrorists, who are reportedly still active in the Kashmir Valley.

On April 28, the J&K Assembly unanimously condemned the dastardly terrorist attack and passed a resolution on this.

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National News

Pahalgam attack: India now suspends inbound mails and parcels from Pakistan

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New Delhi, May 3: The Centre on Saturday announced to suspend exchange of inbound mails and parcels from Pakistan via air and surface routes, after banning all imports and barring Pakistani-flagged vessels from entering the ports earlier in the day.

In a notification, the Ministry of Communications announced the suspension of mails and parcels from the neighbouring country, in the wake of the brutal Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.

“The Government of India has decided to suspend exchange of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes,” read the notification.

India earlier banned all imports — direct and indirect — from Pakistan amid rising tensions.

According to a notification by the Commerce Ministry, “Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders.”

“This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. Any exception to this prohibition shall require prior approval of the Government of India,” said the notification.

Later, New Delhi barred Pakistan-flagged ships from entering any of its ports.

According to a directive from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Pakistan-flagged ships have been banned from entering Indian ports. The directive also prohibited India-flagged vessels from docking at ports in Pakistan.

Citing national security concerns, the directive was implemented to “ensure the safety of Indian assets, cargo, and related infrastructure, in public interest and for the interest of Indian shipping.” The directive is effective immediately and will remain in force until further notice.

“The objective of the Act is to foster the development and ensure the efficient maintenance of an Indian mercantile marine, in a manner best suited to serve national interests,” the order issued by the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reaffirmed India’s unwavering resolve to act decisively against terrorism and those who support it.

Speaking during a joint press conference with Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, Prime Minister Modi stated, “We are firmly united in our stance against terrorism. I expressed my gratitude to President Lourenco and the people of Angola for their sympathies to those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack.”

“We are committed to taking firm and decisive actions against terrorists and those who support them. We thank Angola for its support in our fight against terrorism,” the Prime Minister added.

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International News

India bans all imports from Pakistan amid rising tensions

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New Delhi, May 3: India has banned all imports – direct and indirect – from Pakistan amid rising tensions with the neighbouring country over the barbaric Pahalgam terror attack.

According to a notification by the Commerce Ministry, “Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders.”

“This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. Any exception to this prohibition shall require prior approval of the Government of India,” said the notification.

A provision in this regard has been added in the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 “to prohibit direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan,” it said in the notification dated May 2.

As per official data, India’s exports to Pakistan fell 56.91 per cent year-on-year between April 2024 and February 2025 to $491 million, while there were no imports. Top exports to Pakistan in FY25 included drug formulations, sugar, bulk drugs, residual chemicals and auto components.

The Attari-Wagah border, the sole trade route between India and Pakistan, had already been closed in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack.

At least 26 civilians, including a Nepalese tourist and a local pony guide operator, were massacred by terrorists in the scenic Baisaran meadow in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. The relations between the two nations soured as terror links to Pakistan emerged.

As per official data, India’s exports to Pakistan fell 56.91 per cent year-on-year between April 2024 and February 2025 to $491 million, while there were no imports.

Top exports to Pakistan in FY25 included drug formulations, sugar, bulk drugs, residual chemicals and auto components.

Meanwhile, the ongoing tension with India has shaken the confidence of investors in Pakistan badly, setting the country on course to record its worst performance in dollar bonds and stocks since 2023.

The investors have lost at least four per cent during April, while equities are down by three per cent. In comparison, India’s assets have largely been invulnerable.

Global powers, including the United States, have called on both parties to show restraint and de-escalate tensions.

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