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• Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu detained yet again on way to meet deceased scribe’s family
  in National

  

  UPCC president Ajay Lallu, along with party workers, was detained in Rae Bareli on Tuesday while he was on his way to Ballia to meet the family of journalist Ratan Singh, who was shot dead on Monday

  Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) president Ajay Kumar Lallu, along with party workers, was detained in Rae Bareli on Tuesday while he was on his way to Ballia to meet the family of journalist Ratan Singh, who was shot dead on Monday night.

  The vehicles in which Lallu and other party workers were travelling were stopped by the police. After this, the Congress leaders began walking towards Ballia and were again detained in Salon by the police.This, according to Congress sources, is the 23rd time that Ajay Kumar Lallu has been prevented from reaching his destination by the state police. 

  Earlier this month, Lallu was detained while going to Bansgaon in Azamgarh to meet the family of a Dalit sarpanch who had been killed.In May this year, he was arrested in Agra and sent to jail for almost three weeks for 'misguiding the government on the issue of buses for migrants.'

   

  Ship fire: ICG, Navy and IAF execute hig…

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  Indian maritime forces successfully transferred tow control of the distressed MV Wan Hai 503 to the Offshore Warrior, averting a potential environmental crisis off the Kerala coast. Despite challenging weather...

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  ‘We are all with you’: Kharge’s message …

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  The many Heers of Punjab: Harleen Singh’…

  14-06-2025

  

  Harleen Singh's 'The Lost Heer' unveils the silenced narratives of women from colonial Punjab, challenging male-centric histories amid Indo-Pak tensions. Inspired by his grandmother's stories and Partition Archive interviews, Singh...

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  Manipur police, security forces recover …

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  Five foreign universities get letter of …

  14-06-2025

  

  Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has granted Letters of Intent to five foreign universities, including institutions from the US, UK, Australia, and Italy, to establish branch campuses in Mumbai. This...

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  For Central Vista revamp, some ministrie…

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  Air India plane crash: 'DNA samples of 1…

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  Firefighting efforts continue for 5th da…

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  Returning to normalcy: J&K to reopen…

  14-06-2025

  

  Following security assessments after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha announced the phased reopening of parks and tourist destinations. Eight popular spots in the...

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  Ahmedabad plane crash: Air India announc…

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  UK-India education ties: University of A…

  14-06-2025

  

  The University of Aberdeen has secured approval to establish a branch campus in Mumbai, India, marking a significant step in UK-India educational collaboration. Scheduled to open by 2026, the campus...

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  India distances itself from SCO statemen…

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  Top 5 news of the day: High-level panel …

  14-06-2025

  

  Following the tragic Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives, a high-level investigation has been initiated, alongside emergency safety audits of the Boeing 787 fleet. Simultaneously, tensions...

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  'Historic blunder': Himanta says India m…

  14-06-2025

  

  Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma criticized the Congress party for allegedly allowing Pakistan to become a nuclear power, claiming it now uses "nuclear blackmail." Sarma stated that India had the...

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  Onstage drama: Kamal Haasan loses cool a…

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  Actor Kamal Haasan faced an awkward moment at a party meeting in Chennai. A man gifted him a sword on stage, leading to a brief commotion. Haasan appeared visibly displeased...

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  'Not just a building': BJP in Agartala p…

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  The Bharatiya Janata Party's Sadar Urban Committee organized a protest rally in Agartala, condemning violence against minorities in Bangladesh and the reported attack on Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home. Senior BJP...

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  Manipur: Security forces recover over 30…

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  Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CM Yogi A…

  14-06-2025

  

  Uttar Pradesh is set to distribute appointment letters to 60,244 newly recruited police constables, including 12,048 women, in a ceremony graced by Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath on June 15...

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  Air India plane crash: All Boeing 787s t…

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  Air India crash: High-level panel to sub…

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  Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced a three-month deadline for the Air India Flight 171 crash investigation in Ahmedabad. The recovery of the black box is expected to...

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• Cong Mulls Appointing 2 Vice-Prez to Assist Sonia Gandhi as Leaders Seek 'Active, Visible' Leadership
  in National

  

  For the past few days, a handful of Congress leaders have been preparing for the Congress Working Committee meeting.

  It’s to be a departure from recent past and instead of Zoom, it will now be using WebEx for video conferencing the meet to tide over the fear of hacking. The last time Sonia Gandhi met Rajya Sabha MPs, the incident left a bad experience. So this time, the Congress is taking no chances and the ID for the meeting will be given to the participants just before it begins.

  Ironically, the fear of leak or hacking is not from China, Pakistan or even the BJP. It’s from within the party as the Congress faces a crisis of leadership and voices that were silent or reticent till now have started becoming vocal. At such a time, the last thing the top Congress leadership would want is for their internal strife to be made public.

  However, the change in the means of conducting the meeting cannot put a lid on the crisis that the CWC could address. The biggest problem remains that of leadership. Most leaders in private and, some publicly, have complained that Congress has lost its steam; that it cannot fight the Modi juggernaut and the listlessness means soon Congress could be eased out of the national narrative. Apart from many leaving the party, those who stayed behind and are with the Congress often wonder what’s happening.

  Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari and Rajiv Satav are a few who have raised their voice against this.

  The problem before Sonia Gandhi remains the reluctance of Rahul Gandhi to take charge. When recently, a year-old interview of Priyanka Vadra to a book surfaced in which she said she agreed with her brother on a non-Gandhi Congress president, there were alarm bells in the party. The Congress officially made a statement to say the old interview was being used to push an agenda and party workers and leaders accept Rahul Gandhi as their leader.

  At the CWC, it’s quite possible more voices may come up asking for Rahul Gandhi to take charge as it’s clear that Sonia Gandhi wants to hand over the reins. But what if he remains adamant? There is a proposal in place which could be implemented.

  There could be appointment of more than two vice-presidents to assist Sonia Gandhi. This is to address the concern that Congress needs a full-time president. But such an appointment could also ensure that Gandhis remain in control and the party continues to be headed by one of them, in this case Sonia Gandhi. Names which are doing the rounds are of Ghulam Nabi Azad, P Chidambaram and Mallikarjun Kharge, but it’s quite possible that young leaders could be propped up.

  This apart, many new faces could be brought in for key posts and most of them are perceived to be close to Rahul Gandhi. Sushmita Dev and Manickam Tagore are some names doing the rounds.

  It would also be interesting to see whether Sachin Pilot is brought to the centre. While Pilot has made it clear that he sees Rajasthan as his ‘karam bhumi’ and CM Ashok Gehlot doesn’t want to leave the state yet, the Congress leadership could bring in Pilot to buy time till the committee submits its report.

  The caveat for all this is, of course, that the Congress needs to have the urge to solve this turmoil. For now, the restlessness becomes tough to ignore. Some like Jitin Prasada have formed a Brahmin Samaj and this is to capitalise on the 12% Brahmin vote bank which his party doesn’t seem to be concentrating on. Clearly, he wants to ensure that his politics stays alive.

  Few others who don’t want to leave the Congress are looking at ways to stay relevant. But the list of disillusioned leaders is long and growing, and many of these have at one point been influential or important in the scheme of things such as Milind Deora, Veerappa Moily, Anand Sharma, Ashwini Kumar, Salman Khurshid.

  Some chose to leave the party, like Jyotiraditya Scindia, some fought back and continue to do so like Sachin Pilot. But as new leaders are being propped up and Rahul Gandhi has his favourites, many feel left out and yet, want to stay in the party. The CWC brings some hope to them that things could change. But will the Congress and CWC once again shy away from taking a decision?

   

  Ship fire: ICG, Navy and IAF execute hig…

  14-06-2025

  

  Indian maritime forces successfully transferred tow control of the distressed MV Wan Hai 503 to the Offshore Warrior, averting a potential environmental crisis off the Kerala coast. Despite challenging weather...

  Read more

  ‘We are all with you’: Kharge’s message …

  14-06-2025

  

  Read more

  The many Heers of Punjab: Harleen Singh’…

  14-06-2025

  

  Harleen Singh's 'The Lost Heer' unveils the silenced narratives of women from colonial Punjab, challenging male-centric histories amid Indo-Pak tensions. Inspired by his grandmother's stories and Partition Archive interviews, Singh...

  Read more

  Manipur police, security forces recover …

  14-06-2025

  

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  Five foreign universities get letter of …

  14-06-2025

  

  Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has granted Letters of Intent to five foreign universities, including institutions from the US, UK, Australia, and Italy, to establish branch campuses in Mumbai. This...

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  For Central Vista revamp, some ministrie…

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  Air India plane crash: 'DNA samples of 1…

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  Firefighting efforts continue for 5th da…

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  Returning to normalcy: J&K to reopen…

  14-06-2025

  

  Following security assessments after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha announced the phased reopening of parks and tourist destinations. Eight popular spots in the...

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  Ahmedabad plane crash: Air India announc…

  14-06-2025

  

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  UK-India education ties: University of A…

  14-06-2025

  

  The University of Aberdeen has secured approval to establish a branch campus in Mumbai, India, marking a significant step in UK-India educational collaboration. Scheduled to open by 2026, the campus...

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  India distances itself from SCO statemen…

  14-06-2025

  

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  Top 5 news of the day: High-level panel …

  14-06-2025

  

  Following the tragic Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives, a high-level investigation has been initiated, alongside emergency safety audits of the Boeing 787 fleet. Simultaneously, tensions...

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  'Historic blunder': Himanta says India m…

  14-06-2025

  

  Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma criticized the Congress party for allegedly allowing Pakistan to become a nuclear power, claiming it now uses "nuclear blackmail." Sarma stated that India had the...

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  Onstage drama: Kamal Haasan loses cool a…

  14-06-2025

  

  Actor Kamal Haasan faced an awkward moment at a party meeting in Chennai. A man gifted him a sword on stage, leading to a brief commotion. Haasan appeared visibly displeased...

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  'Not just a building': BJP in Agartala p…

  14-06-2025

  

  The Bharatiya Janata Party's Sadar Urban Committee organized a protest rally in Agartala, condemning violence against minorities in Bangladesh and the reported attack on Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home. Senior BJP...

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  Manipur: Security forces recover over 30…

  14-06-2025

  

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  Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CM Yogi A…

  14-06-2025

  

  Uttar Pradesh is set to distribute appointment letters to 60,244 newly recruited police constables, including 12,048 women, in a ceremony graced by Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath on June 15...

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  Air India plane crash: All Boeing 787s t…

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  Air India crash: High-level panel to sub…

  14-06-2025

  

  Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced a three-month deadline for the Air India Flight 171 crash investigation in Ahmedabad. The recovery of the black box is expected to...

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• No Pilots For Rafale Jets – Why Is The Indian Air Force Facing An Acute Shortage Of Trained Pilots?
  in International

  

  As India is in the process of overhauling its airforce with the latest Rafale jets and additional MiG-29 and SU-30 MKIs, an RTI (Request To Information) filed by India Today

   reveals that in that last 10 years, 798 Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots have resigned and 289 of these pilots were given No-objection Certificates (NOC) to fly private airlines.

  New Delhi has been upgrading the military equipment and even purchasing modern combat aircraft to strengthen the IAF. The newly acquired Rafale jets are ready to be inducted in a high profile ceremony in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French defense minister Florence Parly at the air force station in Ambala where the first five aircraft have been stationed. 

  However, in 2016 and 2017, IAF saw the worst years when 100 and 114 pilots respectively quit the IAF. In 2015, only 37 pilots had quit before superannuation. With an average of 80 pilots quitting the IAF every year, it could be facing an acute shortage of pilots.On February 1, 2018, the government informed the Rajya Sabha that the IAF had 3,855 pilots against a sanctioned strength of 4,231. There was a shortage of 376 pilots which reflects poorly on the preparedness of the IAF. 

  Of the pilots that quit, more than one-third of them received the NOC to fly private airlines. As per reports, a middle rung pilot earns up to Rs 2 lakh ($2700) in salary per month and can get four times the amount flying with a private airline.Most pilots quit after 20 years of service which makes them eligible for a pension.

  “The IAF way of life is very good and apart from the salary, there are several intangible benefits. But my workload is far less as a private airlines pilot and there’s nothing to complain about the remuneration. As captain, I am responsible for everything after the aircraft door closes and once it opens, my job is over,” said an IAF officer who recently quit service and took up a job in a private airline and didn’t wish to be named.

  HT reported in February this year, that IAF is working on measures to prevent its pilots from leaving the service and joining private airlines that offer better salaries and perquisites. Even though the report didn’t mention any specific measure, it said that they will be made shortly, and could involve cooling-off periods and changes in pension plans.

  

  The RTI also asked about if such changes are being introduced. “Has the Indian Air Force evolved or is working on any policy to stop their pilots from quitting and joining private airlines. If yes, what is that?” In response to the query in the RTI, IAF said that there exists no such plans or policies. 

  Experts have said that it is important for the IAF to retain its pilots. “A pilot gets into operational flying after training for almost 250 to 300 hours in different aircraft. That costs a lot of money. You cannot afford to let trained people go. Other global air forces are also struggling with the same issues,” said Air Marshal KK Nohwar (retd), director-general, Centre for Air Power Studies.

   

   

  ‘No Kings’ protests: Anti-Trump erupt ac…

  14-06-2025

  

  Across the U.S., tens of thousands protested President Trump's leadership under the 'No Kings' banner, coinciding with the Army's 250th anniversary and his birthday. Rallies occurred in nearly 2,000 locations...

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  'Path to Tehran is open': In strongest w…

  14-06-2025

  

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stark warning to Iran, threatening strikes on "every target" of the regime and claiming a "real blow" to its nuclear infrastructure. This...

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  Trump’s military parade draws 'No Kings…

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  Marking the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary and President Trump's 79th birthday, a massive military parade in Washington, DC, proceeds amidst storm threats and nationwide protests. Demonstrations, dubbed 'No Kings,' erupt...

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  How to Train Your Dragon actor, Gerard B…

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  Gerard Butler recently attended the How to Train Your Dragon regional premiere in Riyadh, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s rapid cinematic rise since lifting its 2018 cinema ban. Butler praised the Kingdom’s...

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  Who was Melissa Hortman? Minnesota lawma…

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  Minnesota's political landscape mourns the loss of House Speaker Melissa Hortman, a prominent Democrat, and her husband, who tragically died in a politically motivated attack. The incident, which also wounded...

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  'Tehran no longer immune': Israel says i…

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  Minnesota lawmakers John Hoffman, Meliss…

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  Fire for fire: 'Tehran will burn', warns…

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  Dubai's Kindness Blood Donation Team, founded by Indian expats in 2015, has saved over 25,000 lives through 250+ campaigns. Initiated by Shihab Theruvath, Anwar Wayanad, and Salam Kanyappady, the team...

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  With 99% compliance, here’s what the UAE…

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  Middle East crisis: 'Striking dozens of …

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  'Significant damage': Iran breaches Iron…

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  In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Iran launched a retaliatory strike targeting Israel's Kirya compound in Tel Aviv, a critical military site housing the IDF's general staff and...

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  'Proactive approach': Missouri governor …

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  Explainer: How Iran's nuclear progress t…

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  ‘Talks with US meaningless’: Iran rules …

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• Turkey Signs Another Contract With Russia For S-400 Missile Defense Systems
  in International

  

  Turkey has again signed a contract with Russia to acquire additional S-400 surface-to-air missile systems from Moscow, the Russian news agency TASS reported.

  This would be a second deal between Moscow and Ankara for the S-400 missile systems. Turkey has already received two batteries of the S-400s worth $2.5 billion, a deal which was inked in April 2017.

  Speaking to reporters, the Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport chief Alexander Mikheyev said “The contract has been signed”, and stated that the parties shall now discuss the financial terms of the contract.

  He further said that the timeframe of implementing the contract would depend “on our partners’ readiness to finally resolve the procedural issues with the financing of this project”.

  Turkey, being the first NATO member country to have received the S-400 air defense system, has damaged its reputation among NATO members and severely strained ties with Washington.

  Due to the deal, Washington kicked-out Turkey out from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program – which means it won’t be getting any American 5th generation fighters and could instead look at Russian Su-35 jets.Instead of trying to resolve matters with the United States, Erdogan has pushed forward for a second deal for the S-400.

  Past talks between Turkey and the U.S. on the acquisition of the Patriot air defense system had fallen over a large group of issues, from the accessibility of S-400s to Ankara’s disappointment with Washington’s terms and conditions.Turkey has said it will possibly consent to an offer if it incorporates terms for indigenous production and transfer of technology.

  Ankara has more than once emphasized that it was the U.S.’ refusal to sell it Patriots that drove it to search out different vendors, adding that Russia offered a superior deal, including the transfer of technology.  Turkey even proposed setting up a commission to explain any specialized issues, yet the U.S. has so far not reacted to this proposition.According to TASS, the S-400 ‘Triumf’ is the most advanced long-range air defense missile system that went into service in Russia in 2007. It is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise, and ballistic missiles, including medium-range weapons, and can also be used against ground installations. The S-400 can engage targets at a distance of 400 km and at an altitude of up to 30 km.

   

• Assam: KMSS To Launch Politcal Party, Akhil Gogoi To Be Chief Minister Candidate
  in Election News

  

  Guwahati: Peasant body Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) on Saturday announced that it will launch a political party to fight the Assam assembly election in 2021 and its jailed leader Akhil Gogoi will be its chief ministerial candidate.

  Addressing a press conference here, the KMSS leadership said the proposed party’s name will be announced by Gogoi once he is released from jail.

  “We have prepared ourselves to form a new political party. It will be a regional party. People from all tribes, castes, communities, religions and languages will be a part of this party,” KMSS president Bhasco De Saikia said.

  The new outfit will be a non-compromising political force and it will not be named after KMSS’s earlier venture Gana Mukti Sangram-Asom.

  “Because of our non-compromising position, Akhil Gogoi is still inside the jail. By October, we hope he will be released. He will announce the name of the party after coming out of jail. The name of the party has been finalised already,” Saikia said. 

  Gogoi is lodged in Guwahati central jail and is being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) late in 2019. The special NIA court earlier this month rejected his bail plea.

  Asked if Gogoi, who is the adviser of KMSS, will fight the polls, he replied in the affirmative.

  “Yes Akhil Gogoi will fight the polls in 2021. He will be our CM candidate,” Saikia said. “We are at present fighting for Akhil Gogoi’s release. Responding to our appeals, the people of Assam have come forward and contributed large amounts to carry forward the legal battle,” Saikia said.

  Elaborating on the proposed party, he said all intellectual preparation for the new party is ready as is its constitution.

  “The work agenda will be known as Asombasir Jatiya Karmahuchi and it will be the basis of the future modern Assamese society. We will send the constitution and the agenda to all district committees and our sister organisations. Then we will make these public and seek the peoples’ opinion on them,” he said.

  The KMSS leader said the proposed political party will fight against all forms of communal forces and appealed to regional forces to come forward and join hands to defeat the ruling BJP and its allies.

  “Our goal is to create a politically federal, economically self reliant, socially and culturally inclusive, and mentally scientific Assam. The KMSS will remain as an independent organisation like today and the political party will be separate,” Saikia said.

  Asked if KMSS has spoken to opposition parties in the state and All Assam Students’ Union, which too is foraying into politics, Saikia said “We have not talked to Congress or AASU yet. We all have to unite. The need of the hour is to join hands.”

  About the number of constituencies that the new front will contest, Saikia said it is being worked out and will be announced later.

  The KMSS leaders, the AASU and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP) have been separately making public statements about forming new regional political parties since the protests against the CAA in December 2019.

  On August 19 student and youth bodies AASU and AJYCP set up an 18-member committee of prominent personalities to suggest the two organisation’s future course of action, a step towards their much-talked about political entry ahead of state Assembly polls.

  Senior journalist and Rajya Sabha member Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, who was supported by opposition parties Congress and AIUDF, too recently floated a new regional entity ‘Anchalik Gana Morcha’ to fight the assembly election slated for March-April in 2021.

  Former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi had announced that Congress is working on to form a ‘Grand Alliance’ of non-BJP parties, including the AIUDF, Left and AGM, to oust the ruling party in the assembly elections and kept doors open for any new parties.

  The election to the 126-member Assam assembly in 2016 had given a fractured mandate and no party got the absolute majority in the current House. The ruling BJP is in the government with support from the AGP and BPF along with one Independent MLA.