New Delhi, May 8: For Pakistan, ‘Operation Sindoor’ resulted in a loss of face. After terror infrastructure was hit hard by the Indian armed forces who were avenging the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan set out a fake narrative of emerging victorious.

Rallies and processions were taken out to create an impression that the Pakistan Army had hit back and won the battle. While the perception was created, the reality was something different.

An official said that events were strategically planned across Pakistan to commemorate fake victory. On the other hand, social media handles run by Pakistanis worked overtime to put out false narratives.

Following the conclusion of ‘Operation Sindoor’, Pakistan’s Army chief instructed the Shehbaz Sharif government to release Rs 500 crore. This money was then distributed evenly to federal governments, business and religious groups. All were asked to organise massive rallies across Pakistan. The programme mandate by the Pakistan Army was titled ‘Ashra-e-Tashakur Fateh-E-Muneeb,’ which means ten days of gratitude for a decisive victory.

To cement the fake claim further, Asim Munir even pressured the Sharif government to make him Field Marshal.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that while these rallies took place on a grand scale for ten days, something more serious was brewing within. Some of the rallies even focussed on thanking the Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Tayiba for the so-called victory.

However, within the ranks of these two terror groups something serious was simmering. Both Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar had started to question the Pakistan Army and the ISI. They wanted to know what happened to the guarantees and protection that they had been assured. These groups have been operating with ease only due to the funds and protection that the Army and the ISI offer them.

During ‘Operation Sindoor’, the Jaish-e-Mohammad lost its Bahawalpur headquarters. Its chief Masood Azhar even lost most of his family members and several other cadres. The Muridke camp, which is the Lashkar-e-Tayiba’s primary training facility was blown to pieces during the Indian operation.

Both these terror groups, which have wrecked havoc in India, had not witnessed such a huge hit. There have been encounters and terrorists have been killed on Indian soil. However never have they been struck so hard and that, too, deep inside Pakistan.

Another official said that the impression that the Pakistan establishment sought to create in the aftermath of the operation worked among a few people, but clearly their proxies were not impressed. They knew what they had lost and the fact that the Army could not even defend them is what left them completely disgruntled. The official also said that many cadres, too, had started questioning their own leadership.

Officials say that all these factors led to rifts within these two terror groups and this explains why they are taking so long to rebuild.

During the numerous processions, the Army insisted that the cadres of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad should take part. Many of them did, but in their minds, they knew what the reality was. In this desperation to show that Pakistan was victorious, the Army ended up showcasing to the world that globally banned terror groups such as the Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Tayiba are welcome within the ecosystem of the establishment, the official added.

Pakistan watchers point out that it was nothing but desperation on part of the Army. It had to indulge in this circus and claim a false victory. In reality, the Pakistan Army and its chief were the hardest hit thanks to ‘Operation Sindoor’, the experts also point out.

New Delhi, May 7: US tech giant Apple has announced an investment of Rs 100 crore to support the development of renewable energy infrastructure in India as part of its broader sustainability and carbon neutrality goals.

The company said the investment will be made in collaboration with CleanMax, one of India’s leading renewable energy developers, to help build more than 150 megawatts of new renewable energy capacity across the country.

According to the iPhone maker, the planned capacity would be enough to power nearly 1.5 lakh Indian households annually and may be expanded further in the coming years.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening renewable energy adoption across Apple’s supply chain operations in India and supports the company’s target of becoming carbon neutral across its entire footprint by 2030.

“At Apple, our commitment to the environment is also a driving force for innovation across the company and around the world,” said Sarah Chandler, Apple’s Vice President of Environment and Supply Chain Innovation.

“We are proud to expand our efforts to invest in India’s clean energy economy and protect the country’s precious natural resources,” she added.

Moreover, the US-headquartered firm had earlier partnered with CleanMax on rooftop solar projects to power its offices and retail stores in India with 100 per cent renewable energy.

Apart from renewable energy investments, it also announced new partnerships in India focused on reducing plastic pollution and promoting green entrepreneurship.

The company said it is working with WWF-India to support recycling and waste management initiatives to improve material recovery and reducing plastic leakage into ecosystems.

The iPhone maker is also partnering with Acumen to provide grants and mentorship support to early-stage green enterprises working in areas such as waste management, regenerative agriculture, and circular economy solutions.

Chennai, May 5: With the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerging as the single-largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, party President C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday formally staked claim to form the government in the state.

He has written to Governor Rajendra Arlekar seeking an appointment and requesting an opportunity to prove his majority on the floor of the House.

In his communication sent to the Lok Bhavan (earlier Raj Bhavan), Vijay stated that the party, which has secured 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, has received a clear mandate as the single-largest formation. He asserted that this position entitles TVK to be invited to form the next government in the state.

“We are the single largest party with 108 legislators and have the right to form the government. We request an opportunity to demonstrate our majority,” Vijay said in his message.

He also sought additional time to mobilise support and indicated that he would be able to prove his majority within 15 days.

The majority mark in the Tamil Nadu Assembly stands at 118, leaving TVK 10 seats short of a clear majority. This has triggered intense political activity, with the party expected to seek support from smaller parties and Independents in the coming days.

Sources in the Raj Bhavan indicated that the Governor is likely to invite Vijay to form the government shortly. Officials suggested that he may be granted a window ranging between seven and 15 days to prove his majority on the Assembly floor, a standard constitutional practice in cases where no party has secured an outright mandate.

Meanwhile, internal preparations within the party are underway. Vijay is set to be formally elected as the Legislature Party leader at a meeting of newly-elected TVK MLAs scheduled to be held at the party headquarters in Panaiyur later in the day.

This step is expected to complete the procedural requirements before government formation. The developments mark a significant moment in Tamil Nadu politics, with TVK’s rapid rise disrupting the state’s traditional political landscape and setting the stage for high-stakes negotiations in the days ahead.