In a show of solidarity with the Indian armed forces, senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Smriti Irani has pledged to donate her pension and other benefits as a former Member of Parliament to the National Defence Fund of India.

“As a citizen and strategic advisor to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), the entire Federation has committed to contributing to the National Defence Fund,” Irani stated to the media. “Since last year, I have refrained from accepting any pension or benefits as a former MP. Today, I dedicate these funds, which belong to the Indian treasury, to the National Defence Fund.”

In her address, she also commended CAIT’s decision to cease all trade with Turkey and Azerbaijan in response to their overt support for Pakistan. She viewed this action as a demonstration of solidarity with India’s brave soldiers.

“By boycotting these nations, CAIT is not only standing against their stance but also contributing to strengthening the Indian economy and advancing the Make in India initiative,” she emphasized.

Irani underscored the importance of small traders in fostering a self-reliant India, saying, “Today, I stand with CAIT in affirming that our small traders are vital in reinforcing our economy and are fully invested in realizing the Make in India vision.”

She praised the collective efforts of trade organizations as a gesture in support of the courageous men and women guarding India’s borders. “All trade bodies have unanimously called for this boycott, showcasing their support for those protecting our nation,” she remarked.

BJP MP and CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal added, “A unanimous decision was made at today’s trade leaders’ conference to halt all trade with Turkey and Azerbaijan due to their active support for Pakistan against India.”

The boycott will take effect immediately, halting all imports and exports with these two nations. “There will be no further import or export with Turkey and Azerbaijan. We have also asked the Indian film industry to avoid shooting films or advertisements there, and any company that disregards this request will face our boycott,” he concluded.

Both the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and state Congress leaders have opted to remain silent regarding K. Sudhakaran’s public comments about his removal from the position of KPCC president. They believe that Sudhakaran’s remarks reflect a natural reaction to losing his role and acknowledge that he has supported the new leadership.

The leadership has decided against issuing a specific response to Sudhakaran’s statements, as there’s a consensus within the party that addressing his comments could exacerbate the situation.

K. Sudhakaran has openly expressed his disappointment over his ouster from the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), suggesting that personal agendas within the party played a significant role in the decision. During a media briefing on Thursday, he stated that he felt let down and believed that certain leaders with self-serving motives influenced the AICC regarding his removal.

“The personal interests of a few have led to my dismissal as KPCC chief. While I don’t want to make it a focal point, I cannot hide my disappointment,” he remarked. Sudhakaran voiced disagreement with the reasons given for the leadership change but refrained from elaborating further to avoid troubling specific leaders.

He also criticized AICC General Secretary in charge of Kerala, Deepa Das Munshi, claiming that she provided misleading information to justify his removal on health grounds. Sudhakaran asserted that the AICC had effectively sought to marginalize him from state politics by designating him as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee (CWC).

In a significant operation against the banned terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids at 15 locations throughout Punjab on Friday. This action pertains to a grenade attack on a police station in Gurdaspur district that occurred last December.

The raids targeted areas in Gurdaspur, Batala, Amritsar, and Kapurthala, resulting in the seizure of various incriminating items, such as mobile phones, digital devices, and documents, as stated in an official press release from the agency.

According to the NIA, locations linked to US-based BKI operative Harpreet Singh, also known as Happy Passian, and his associate Shamsher Singh Shera, alias Honey, were under scrutiny. These individuals are connected to several countries.

Happy, a prominent aide to Pakistan-based BKI terrorist Harwinder Singh, or Rinda, has been implicated in numerous grenade attacks on police facilities across Punjab and Haryana. The NIA reported that investigations into the Gurdaspur police station attack revealed that the individuals responsible were following orders from Happy, Shamsher, and their associates.

The investigation also indicated that BKI operatives in various countries were engaged in a conspiracy to recruit and train individuals within India, providing them with funds, weapons, and explosives for terrorist operations. These coordinated efforts involved their associates abroad, particularly in Pakistan, with the BKI actively plotting terrorist activities in India, the NIA concluded.