July 27, 2025

THE CLIFF NEWS

National Daily Bilingual Newspaper

Category: National

Mumbai-Goa Highway to Be Completed by June 2025, Travel Time to Reduce Significantly

The long-awaited Mumbai-Goa highway project, officially known as National Highway 66, is on track for completion by June 2025, according to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. Once finished, the upgraded highway will slash travel time between Mumbai and Goa to just six hours, a significant improvement from the current journey of 10 to 12 hours. Years of Delays Finally Resolved The project, which has been under construction for several years, was plagued by multiple delays due to challenges such as land acquisition issues, legal disputes, and a lack of coordination between departments. Minister Gadkari confirmed that these problems have now been successfully addressed, and construction is moving forward at a rapid pace. A Boost to the Konkan Region’s Economy and Tourism Gadkari emphasized the highway’s importance in transforming connectivity in the Konkan region, adding that it will serve as a major catalyst for tourism and economic growth along the coastal corridor. Easier and faster access is expected to benefit local businesses, hospitality sectors, and commuters alike. Satellite-Based Toll System to Replace Physical Booths In addition to faster travel, the government is introducing a new toll policy aimed at making highway travel more seamless. Traditional toll booths will be replaced with a satellite-based toll collection system. This system will track vehicle movements via GPS and automatically deduct toll charges from the owner’s bank account based on the exact distance travelled. The policy is expected to be rolled out within the next 15 days, further modernizing the highway experience.

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Editor02 mins

Maharashtra Govt Defends Move to Make Hindi Mandatory as Third Language in State Schools Under NEP 2020

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday addressed growing criticism over the state’s decision to make Hindi a compulsory third language in state board schools from Class 1 onward, in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Key Highlights of the Decision: CM Fadnavis’ Statement: Fadnavis clarified that Marathi remains compulsory and non-negotiable, asserting: “Marathi language is compulsory in Maharashtra; everyone should learn it. Additionally, if you wish to learn other languages, you can do so. Opposition to Hindi and promotion of English is surprising. If someone opposes Marathi, then it will not be tolerated.” He stressed that the policy allows linguistic expansion, not replacement, and that students benefit from early exposure to multiple languages. Opposition’s Reaction: Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar strongly opposed the imposition of Hindi, saying: “You can keep it optional, but you cannot impose it. At whose behest are you trying to impose this language on the state?… This third language that is being introduced should not be brought in. There should be no coercion against the rights of the Marathi people.” Wadettiwar implied that the decision might be politically motivated and urged for a voluntary model, rather than a mandate. SCERT Clarifies Educational Intent: Rahul Ashok Rekhawar, Director of SCERT Maharashtra, explained that: “The decision was taken solely with educational development in mind. Students will benefit from the addition of Hindi, and it is not a political or cultural imposition.” He emphasized that the move aims to broaden students’ language skills, improve national integration, and prepare them better for central competitive exams and interstate mobility. The development has ignited a language politics debate in Maharashtra, where linguistic identity remains a sensitive topic. As the government pushes for NEP 2020 implementation, further discussions with stakeholders may unfold in the coming days.

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Editor03 mins

Opposition Slams BJP MPs for Targeting Supreme Court; BJP Distances Itself from Remarks

The recent remarks by BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma criticizing the Supreme Court have triggered strong backlash from the Opposition, with several leaders accusing the ruling party of attempting to undermine judicial independence. AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi hit out at Godda MP Nishikant Dubey, demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi take immediate steps to stop party members from threatening the judiciary. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also weighed in, alleging that the Centre is actively working to weaken the authority of the Supreme Court. Responding to the growing controversy, the BJP officially distanced itself from the statements made by its own MPs. A party spokesperson clarified that the comments were “personal statements” and stressed that the BJP “completely rejects” such views. The controversy erupted weeks after the Supreme Court passed a landmark verdict that imposed a three-month deadline for the President and state Governors to grant assent to Bills passed by the legislature for the second time — a move seen as strengthening legislative accountability. Nishikant Dubey’s Contentious Remarks Speaking to ANI, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey expressed deep displeasure with the apex court’s growing involvement in governance. “If one has to go to the Supreme Court for everything, then Parliament and State Assemblies should be shut down,” Dubey said. He accused the judiciary of functioning with bias, saying, “Show me the face, and I will show you the law.” Dubey also took issue with the court’s past decision to decriminalize homosexuality under Section 377 of the IPC, claiming that all major religions consider homosexuality a crime. He criticized the court for allegedly disregarding religious sentiments and claimed the judiciary is stoking religious tensions by its inconsistent approach to temple-mosque disputes like Ram Mandir, Krishna Janmabhoomi, and Gyanvapi. He further questioned the court’s authority to set timelines for the President and Governors, asserting, “You will dictate Parliament? The President appoints the Chief Justice, not the other way around.” Dinesh Sharma Echoes Sentiment Adding to the controversy, BJP leader Dinesh Sharma said that the President of India is “supreme” and that no one, including the judiciary, can direct Parliament. “When Dr. Ambedkar wrote the Constitution, the roles of the Legislature and Judiciary were clearly demarcated. The President has already given assent — no one can challenge her,” Sharma said. As the storm around these remarks intensifies, the issue has turned into a flashpoint over the separation of powers and the role of the judiciary in India’s constitutional democracy.

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Editor04 mins

Prime Accused in Murshidabad Father-Son Murder Arrested; Fourth Arrest in the Case

In a significant development, one of the prime accused in the brutal murder of a father and son in West Bengal’s violence-hit Murshidabad district has been arrested, police confirmed on Sunday. The killings took place in the Jafrabad locality of Shamsherganj during protests over the Waqf Act on April 11. The victims, identified as Harogobindo Das and his son Chandan Das, were found murdered with multiple stab wounds at their residence, sparking outrage and heightened tensions in the area. The arrest was made by the Special Task Force (STF) of the West Bengal Police in coordination with the Special Investigating Team (SIT). The accused, identified as Ziaul Sheikh, a resident of Sulitala Purbapara — a village adjacent to Jafrabad — had been absconding since the day of the incident. He was apprehended from a hideout in Chopra in the Uttar Dinajpur district on Saturday. According to a senior police officer, Sheikh was among the key conspirators who allegedly instigated a mob to vandalize the victims’ residence, ultimately leading to their murder on April 12. This is the fourth arrest in connection with the double murder. Earlier, the police had taken into custody two brothers — Kalu Nadar and Dildar — as well as Inzmam Ul Haque. Kalu was arrested from Murarai in Birbhum district, while his brother Dildar was caught near the Bangladesh border under the Suti Police Station limits. The third accused, Inzmam, was detained from Suripara, another nearby village. Police claim they have obtained substantial evidence, including CCTV footage and mobile tower data, confirming Ziaul Sheikh’s presence at the crime scene. Murshidabad district has witnessed widespread violence amid the Waqf Act protests, resulting in at least three fatalities. Police have so far lodged over 100 FIRs and arrested 276 individuals in connection with the unrest. Meanwhile, BJP leader Amit Malviya alleged that Hindu families were systematically targeted during the riots. In a post on social media platform X, he claimed that homes belonging to Hindu residents were marked with ink and surveilled before being set ablaze. Malviya further stated that such targeted attacks often occur on Fridays and alleged that local Muslim residents provided information to the attackers, helping them identify Hindu-owned properties.

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Editor04 mins

Four Dead, Several Trapped in Mustafabad Building Collapse; CM Orders Probe

In a tragic incident in northeast Delhi’s Mustafabad, a four-storey building collapsed in the early hours of Saturday, April 19, 2025, resulting in the death of at least four people. The collapse occurred around 3 am in Shakti Vihar, trapping approximately 22 people under the debris. Rescue teams managed to bring out 14 individuals, who were rushed to GTB Hospital, where doctors confirmed four of them as brought dead. Authorities believe that 8 to 10 people are still trapped under the rubble. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed deep sorrow over the incident and has ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the collapse. She confirmed that the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Service (DFS), and other concerned agencies are actively involved in rescue and relief operations. “Arrangements have been made for proper treatment of all the injured,” the Chief Minister stated. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), CM Gupta wrote, “Deeply saddened by the tragic building collapse in Mustafabad. Orders have been given to investigate the incident and strict action will be taken against the culprits. My deepest condolences to those who died in the unfortunate accident. May God grant peace to the departed souls and give strength to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss.” Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal also expressed his condolences and urged party workers to assist in the ongoing relief efforts. “I appeal to all the party workers to fully cooperate with the administration in relief and rescue operations,” he said. Leader of Opposition Atishi echoed the sentiment and asked AAP volunteers in Mustafabad to provide their full support to authorities on the ground. Delhi Labour Minister Kapil Mishra, after visiting the collapse site, said that CM Gupta is directly monitoring the situation. He raised concerns about rampant illegal constructions in areas such as Mustafabad, Seelampur, Jafrabad, Seemapuri, Jamia, and Old Delhi. “The Municipal Commissioner has been instructed to vacate nearby unsafe buildings. No officer responsible for the building collapse will be spared,” Mishra added. Police teams and rescue agencies continue to work at the site, while an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the collapse.

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Editor04 mins

CBI, ED Raids Target AAP Leaders Amid Rising Political Tensions

In a development steeped in political controversy, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday conducted a raid at the residence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Durgesh Pathak, sparking a fresh war of words between AAP and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). AAP leaders have denounced the move as a “politically motivated” attempt to stifle the party’s growing influence. The raid, reportedly linked to an alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), came just days after Durgesh Pathak was appointed as co-incharge for the Gujarat Assembly Elections 2027. Reacting swiftly, AAP’s national general secretary Sandeep Pathak posted on X (formerly Twitter): “The CBI’s raid on @AamAadmiParty leader Durgesh Pathak’s residence… sends a loud message that BJP clearly views AAP as a growing threat in Gujarat and is rattled by its rising influence.” Joining the chorus, AAP MP Sanjay Singh accused the Modi government of using central agencies as tools of political vendetta. “BJP’s dirty game starts again… As soon as @ipathak25 was made co-incharge of Gujarat, CBI was sent to threaten him,” Singh wrote on X. The controversy is compounded by another enforcement action earlier this week when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the Mohali residence of AAP MLA Kulwant Singh, as part of a money laundering investigation tied to the massive ₹48,000 crore Pearl Agrotech Corporation Limited (PACL) scam. The ED team, reportedly from Delhi, searched Singh’s premises in the Janta Land Promoters Limited (JLPL) area, which is linked to his real estate business. Although Singh was not present, his family members were questioned. Sources say the raid is connected to the larger PACL Ponzi scheme, which allegedly defrauded thousands of investors under the pretext of real estate projects. Funds collected through the scam were reportedly funneled into shell companies across India. Adding further complexity, Kulwant Singh had previously been questioned by the ED in another money laundering case involving drug trafficking. These back-to-back raids on AAP leaders—at a time when the party is expanding its political footprint beyond Delhi and Punjab—have led to renewed allegations of misuse of central agencies to suppress political opponents. As the Gujarat 2027 battle heats up, the confrontation between AAP and BJP is poised to intensify, with each side accusing the other of foul play.

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Editor04 mins

Snake, Cement & Betrayal: India Gripped by Surge in Chilling Spouse-Murder Cases

In a disturbing trend reflecting the dark fissures lurking within seemingly ordinary households, another horrifying case of spousal murder has surfaced—this time from Akbarpur village in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district. The case echoes a string of recent sensational crimes, including the infamous Merchant Navy murder in Meerut, where a wife and her lover killed her husband and encased his body in a cement-filled drum. In the latest spine-chilling incident, Amit, a daily wage labourer from the Bahsuma police station area, was found dead on his bed under mysterious circumstances. Initially, it appeared to be a tragic snakebite death, a theory supported by a viral video showing a snake repeatedly striking Amit’s seemingly lifeless body. But what followed shocked even seasoned investigators. A post-mortem revealed the unsettling truth: Amit had been strangled before the snake bites occurred, indicating the venomous reptile was deliberately used to mask the actual cause of death. Under interrogation, Amit’s wife, Ravita, confessed to plotting the murder with her lover Amardeep. As Amit slept, the duo allegedly strangled him to death, then bought a snake for Rs 1,000 and forced it to bite the already-dead body in an attempt to simulate a natural death. Both Ravita and Amardeep have been arrested, and the police are conducting further forensic examinations. The viral video is also being probed as potential evidence of premeditation and an attempt to manipulate the narrative. The case has drawn eerie comparisons to another gruesome incident in Meerut—the Muskan Rastogi–Saurabh Rajput murder. Muskan, aided by her lover, allegedly murdered her husband and sealed his body in a blue plastic drum filled with cement to erase all traces. That case had shocked Uttar Pradesh, and this latest revelation adds fuel to the fear that such calculated spousal killings are becoming a chilling pattern. Adding to this grim list is the infamous Uthra murder case from Kerala in 2020. Uthra, 25, was killed by her husband Sooraj S Kumar, who used a cobra to bite her while she slept at her parental home. This was his second attempt—months earlier, he had tried to kill her with a Russell’s viper. The court sentenced Sooraj to life imprisonment in 2021, calling it one of the most unusual and cold-blooded murder cases in Indian legal history. Across India, reports of missing spouses, suspicious deaths, and elaborately planned murders are surfacing with unsettling frequency. In Meerut, the spotlight on domestic violence and betrayal has once again intensified. These cases are not only stories of homicide—they are chilling warnings about the dangers of unchecked emotional violence, toxic relationships, and the sinister extremes of premeditated betrayal.

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Editor04 mins

India’s Trade Deficit with China Hits Record $99.2 Billion Amid Import Surge

India’s trade deficit with China widened to an all-time high of $99.2 billion in the fiscal year that ended on March 31, driven by a sharp increase in imports of electronics, electric vehicle batteries, solar cells, and other key industrial components—sectors in which China has a dominant role in India’s supply chains. This marks a 17% increase from the previous year’s deficit of $85.07 billion. In contrast, exports to China declined by 14.5% to $14.2 billion, falling below the levels recorded in FY14. India continues to register trade deficits with other major economies, including the UAE ($26.79 billion) and Hong Kong ($13.64 billion). Notably, India also experienced trade deficits with several free trade agreement (FTA) partners such as the UAE, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia, raising concerns over the effectiveness of these agreements in promoting balanced trade. On a positive note, India recorded a trade surplus of $41.2 billion with the United States, reinforcing the US as a key export destination for Indian goods. The government is increasingly concerned about the potential dumping of Chinese goods, especially in light of the US Trump administration’s recent move to impose steep tariffs on Chinese imports. Indian officials believe these goods could be redirected to Indian markets—either directly or via third countries like Vietnam and Indonesia. In response, India has activated an import monitoring mechanism to ensure prompt and timely action against such dumping practices. India’s main imports from China include electronic components, computer hardware, telecom instruments, electrical machinery, plastic raw materials, pharmaceutical ingredients, and organic chemicals. On the other hand, top exports to China comprise iron ore, petroleum products, marine items, spices, and organic chemicals. However, industry representatives have raised concerns that many raw material imports from China are under-invoiced by up to 25%, potentially skewing trade data and impacting domestic industry competitiveness.

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Editor03 mins

Fraud Case Registered Against Mission Hospital Damoh Management in Fake Heart Surgeon Scandal

In a shocking development, police on Tuesday registered a case of fraud against the management of Mission Hospital in Damoh, Madhya Pradesh, where fake heart surgeon Dr. Narendra Yadav—who operated under the alias Dr. N John Camm—is currently in custody for conducting unauthorized cardiac surgeries using forged documents. The case was filed against nine members of the hospital management for allegedly using forged signatures of a doctor to illegally run a cath lab within the hospital premises. Authorities have booked them under relevant sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita and the MP Nursing Homes Act. This action follows a complaint by one Krishna Patel, who approached the Human Rights Commission alleging fraudulent activities in the name of heart surgeries at the hospital. The complaint triggered an investigation that exposed a disturbing web of deceit. Patel accused Dr. Yadav of performing surgeries using a fake identity, supported by suspicious documents—his Aadhaar card reportedly listed a German national as his father and contained other questionable details. Dr. Yadav is alleged to be involved in multiple patient deaths following surgeries, raising serious concerns about the hospital’s medical practices and verification systems. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the matter thoroughly. The SIT is expected to produce Dr. Yadav in court again on April 17, as the investigation continues into what is turning out to be a major case of medical fraud with possible international links. The case has triggered widespread outrage and calls for stricter checks on private healthcare institutions across the state.

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Editor03 mins

BJP Supporters Demand Bulldozer Action in Mumbai Amid ED Chargesheet Against Gandhis in National Herald Case

BJP supporters in Mumbai have stirred controversy by demanding “bulldozer action” against properties linked to the National Herald case. This comes in the wake of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filing a chargesheet against senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Leading the charge was BJP leader Vishwabandhu Rai, who displayed provocative posters outside the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) building in Bandra. These posters, featuring images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, bore the slogan “Deva Bhau, Bulldozer Chalao,” calling for the demolition of properties associated with the case. The ED submitted its chargesheet on Tuesday, naming Sonia and Rahul Gandhi as accused in the National Herald money laundering case. Other prominent Congress figures such as Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey have also been named. The document, filed earlier in April, is currently under review by Special Judge Vishal Gogne, who is expected to decide on taking cognisance during the next hearing scheduled for April 25. The agency has already initiated proceedings to seize properties worth over ₹700 crore belonging to AJL—a company closely associated with the Gandhi family. The assets in question include high-value real estate in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow, notably including the iconic Herald House located on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg in the national capital. AJL, the publisher of the National Herald newspaper, is owned by Young Indian Private Limited, in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi hold a combined 76% stake, making them majority shareholders. The ED has clarified that the recent developments are part of its ongoing investigation under Section 8 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and relevant rules from 2013 concerning the possession of attached or frozen properties. As political tensions mount, the demand for bulldozer action signals an escalation in the BJP’s offensive, mirroring tactics employed in other states, particularly Uttar Pradesh. The situation continues to fuel political debate around alleged misuse of power and selective targeting of opposition leaders.

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Editor03 mins
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