Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently on a two-day official visit to Russia, made a direct appeal to end the Ukraine war which has been going on for over two years. During an informal meeting with President Vladimir Putin at the latter’s official residence in Moscow, PM Modi told him that no solution can be found on the battleground.

“India has always called for respecting the UN Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty. There is no solution on the battlefield. Dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward,” PM Modi is believed to have told Putin during the dinner.

Additionally, PM Modi raised concerns about Indian nationals deceived into joining the Russian army by unscrupulous travel agents. Sources reported that Russia has committed to repatriating all affected individuals.

Read: Big Decision On Indians Serving In Russian Army At PM-Putin Dinner Meet

The visit is PM Modi’s first since Russia launched its campaign in Ukraine and since he was returned to power last month for a record third term. India has shied away from explicit condemnation of Russia ever since and has abstained on United Nations resolutions censuring Moscow.

Congratulating PM Modi on his third term, Vladimir Putin remarked that his re-election underscores Modi’s effectiveness in advancing India’s interests: “The results speak for themselves; India now ranks third globally in terms of economy.”

The meeting marks the 16th encounter between PM Modi and President Putin in the past decade, with their last face-to-face interaction occurring at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in 2022.

In 2019, PM Modi was honored with Russia’s highest state award, the ‘Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First.’

This visit to Russia by PM Modi is his first since the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv began in 2022.

Following the conclusion of his visit to Russia, PM Modi will embark on a historic trip to Austria, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the nation in 40 years.

Overcrowding was the main reason behind the stampede at a ‘satsang’ in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras that claimed 121 lives, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has said in its report to the Yogi Adityanath government.

The report, prepared by Additional Director General of Police (Agra) Anupam Kulshreshtha and Aligarh Divisional Commissioner Chaitra V, has statements by 128 witnesses, including the cops on duty at the satsang of Narayan Sakar Hari, popularly called ‘Bhole Baba’. The report has been submitted to the state Home Department and Chief Minister Adityanath is likely to have a look at it today.

While details are awaited, some reports claim that the SIT has said the self-styled godman and his aides could have prevented the tragedy.  

Earlier, the FIR registered in connection with the ‘satsang’ had said that the organisers of the ‘satsang’ sought permission for a gathering of 80,000-odd people, but a crowd of 2.5 lakh turned up. A total of nine people, including main organiser of the July 2 event, Devprakash Madhukar, have been arrested.

The self-styled godman, Narayan Sakar Hari, has not been named an accused in the FIR and has been on the run since the stampede took place. His lawyer AP Singh has put out a statement, saying that the preacher is ready to cooperate with the investigators. Thereafter, the lawyer also pointed to a conspiracy and claimed that unidentified men had sprayed poison at the event, triggering the stampede.

Senior police officer Anupam Kulshreshtha told news agency PTI last week that they have not ruled out the conspiracy angle, even though evidence gathered so far suggest culpability on the part of the organisers.

The stampede, according to reports, began when the ‘godman’ was leaving and his followers rushed to collect dust stirred up by his car’s tyres. According to the subdivisional magistrate’s report, the godman’s private security guards started pushing his followers and some people fell and were trampled. In the chaos, many others fled towards the open field and slipped, and others ran over them.

In the aftermath of the incident, Chief Minister Adityanath had assured strict action, while not ruling out a conspiracy.

“If this is not an accident, then whose conspiracy is this? All of these will be probed,” he had said. Besides the SIT, a judicial panel headed by a retired high court judge is investigating the stampede.

As per the latest reports, Mihir Shah had visited a pub with four of his friends before the fatal crash, where the group had dinner and a few drinks. However, Mihir himself had consumed only Red Bull, an energy drink, as claimed by the pub owner.