Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan has been ordered by the Madhya Pradesh High Court to appeal the central government's order declaring his family's historical properties worth Rs 15,000 crore in Bhopal as "enemy property". The properties, which include the house where Saif spent his childhood and a luxury hotel, were inherited by the actor from his grandfather, famous cricketer Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi. The government's claim to the properties stems from the migration of Saif's eldest aunt to Pakistan after India's independence. Despite Khan's ongoing legal battle, an Ordinance was passed in 2016 denying his rights to the properties.
The state government of Madhya Pradesh has made it to the Guinness World Records for organizing a massive recitation of the sacred text, Gita, with over 7,200 'acharyas' and 'vatuks' participating. The event, held on the occasion of Gita Jayanti, saw the collective recitation of the third chapter 'Karma Yoga' at two different locations - Bhopal and Ujjain. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed his pride in the achievement and stated that the event aimed to connect people with their eternal culture. Various events and exhibitions were also organized to mark the International Gita Mahotsav.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav of Madhya Pradesh announced that the state will create history on Wednesday, the Gita Jayanti, by having over 5000 devotees recite the Bhagavad Gita in Bhopal and Ujjain. The event will also mark the inclusion of the holy text in the state's academic curriculum. Yadav further revealed plans for the development of pilgrimage sites in the state, including a museum to showcase Lord Krishna's stay in Madhya Pradesh. The chief minister also extended an invitation to all sant and sadhus for the upcoming Ujjain Simhastha and guaranteed the provision of permanent spaces for ashrams and akadas.
The announcement of Pakistan's plan to conduct a trophy tour of the ICC Champions Trophy through PoK has caused a stir, with India registering a strong protest with the ICC. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has condemned the move and urged for appropriate action to be taken. The controversy has also sparked tensions on social media, with BJP leader Amit Malviya calling out Pakistan's "loss of face". There are concerns that the strained relations between India and Pakistan could affect the hosting of the tournament.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended a senior officer of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, for accepting a bribe of Rs. 10 lakhs from employees of a private company. The officers, including a consultant, are accused of showing undue favor to the said company in a project by accepting bribes. Searches are currently being conducted at various locations and the arrested accused will be produced before the court in Bhopal.
Indian shooters made their mark in the ISSF World Cup and Olympic Selection Trials in Munich and Bhopal. Sarabjot Singh kicked off the World Cup with a gold medal, while Olympians Manu Bhaker and Vijayveer Sidhu emerged victorious in the Olympic Selection Trials. However, Olympic veteran Anjum Moudgil and Paris quota winner Swapnil Kusale also posted their first wins in the ongoing trials.
To mark the 100 days of their Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Congress party is planning a grand concert in Jaipur. The yatra, which aimed to unite the nation and spread awareness about important issues, has received huge support and now the party wants to celebrate the milestone with a musical celebration. Prominent leaders and members of the party are expected to attend the event.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Bhopal Centre has announced that the southwest monsoon is expected to arrive in Madhya Pradesh by June 15, earlier than its usual onset in the state. This is a rare occurrence, with the simultaneous onset of monsoon over Kerala and the northeastern region happening only four times before. With the monsoon likely to bring above-normal rainfall to Madhya Pradesh this season, the state is preparing for an earlier onset and increased precipitation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave back-to-back public speeches and a mega roadshow in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, on the last day of campaigning for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections. He accused the Congress of promoting reservation on the basis of religion and reducing quota for the OBCs in Karnataka by including Muslim castes in the same category. He also highlighted the projects of the BJP-led government in Madhya Pradesh and urged the people to vote for them.
Banks in several states will remain closed on the occasion of Ram Navami, a significant Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Rama. According to the official holiday list released by the Reserve Bank of India, both public and private sector banks will remain closed in cities such as Ahmedabad, Belapur, and Bhopal, among others. Hindu devotees will gather at Rama temples around India to celebrate this important festival, which falls on April 17 this year. Check out the full list of cities where banks will be closed for Ram Navami 2024.