A year before Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Nafe Singh Rathi was shot dead in Haryana’s Jhajjar district, he was accused of abetting the suicide of a BJP leader. Rathi’s family has now accused the BJP leader’s relatives of hatching the plot to murder the INLD leader.

In January last year, BJP leader from Bahadurgarh, Jagdish Rathi, died by suicide. The son of former Haryana minister Mange Ram Nambardar, Jagdish had accused released an audio note days before he consumed poison. The audio clip mentioned several people, including Rathi. He had alleged that they had grabbed their shop in 2019 and had threatened to grab their ancestral land and house too. A case was registered against Rathi and others, but the court granted him anticipatory bail.

Now, the list of accused in the INLD leader’s murder include Jagdish Rathi’s son Gaurav and brother Satish. BJP leader Narendra Kaushik, and three relatives of Bahadurgarh municipal corporation chairperson Saroj Rathi are also among the accused. The accused have been charged under sections relating to murder and criminal conspiracy. They have also charged under the Arms Act.

Rathi’s son Jitendra told NDTV that they had received information that the INLD leader and his family members were on target. “I was also under watch. I stopped going to the gym. My brothers were followed. Several attempts were made to target my father but God protected him, but the killer needs only one opportunity,” he said.

Jitendra added that Rathi met the district police chief and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and sought a security cover. “He had sent written applications to everyone, including the DGP, CID, principal secretary and the Home Ministry, seeking security for our family. But they kept denying our request. So, the state government is also involved in the conspiracy behind my father’s killing,” he alleged.

The INLD leader’s son alleged that local BJP leaders are involved in the killing. He added that the use of advanced weapons in the shooting suggested that the killers got adequate funds.

Rathi, who was the chief of INLD in Haryana, was returning to his Bahadurgarh home when the attack took place. His SUV had stopped near a railway crossing when a car pulled up and five shooters rained bullets at him and others in the SUV. While Rathi and one of his aides died, two others suffered serious injuries.

The Manohar Lal Khattar government has come under fire over the shooting. INLD chief Abhay Chautala has said Rathi had repeatedly sought security cover but it was not provided.

“Not a single culprit involved in this case will be spared. Police have been instructed to arrest the accused as soon as possible and take the strictest action,” Chief Minister Khattar said yesterday.

Giving an ultimatum to the Centre on the issue of granting permanent commission to women Coast Guard officers, the Supreme Court today said “women cannot be left out” and “if you do not do it, we will do it”. “All these functionality etc argument does not hold water in 2024. Women cannot be left out. If you do not do it, we will do it. So take a look at that,” Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud told the Centre’s counsel, Attorney General R Venkataramani. The Centre’s counsel said he will ask the Coast Guard to file an affidavit.

The court set March 1 as the date for the next hearing. The petition in the matter has been filed by a woman officer of the Coast Guard. It seeks permanent commission for eligible women officers joining the force under short service commission. The Attorney General has argued that the Coast Guard is different from the Navy and Army.

The Centre was pulled up during the previous hearing in the matter on February 19. The Chief Justice had then asked why there was an “indifference” with regard to the Coast Guard. “Why don’t you want women in the Coast Guard? If women can guard the borders, they can also guard the beaches. You talk about Nari Shakti, show it here,” he had said.

The court had questioned the “patriarchal” mindset opposing induction of women into the force. “You have women in the Navy, so what’s special about the Coast Guard. We will open up the whole canvas. Gone are the days when we said that women cannot be a part of the Coast Guard,” the Chief Justice had said.

The petitioner, Priyanka Tyagi, had earlier approached the Delhi High Court, but did not get relief. In her petition, she has pointed to the Supreme Court judgments on permanent commission for women in the Army and Navy.

Legendary singer Pankaj Udhas, who gave memorable hits like ‘Chitthi aayi hai’, died after a prolonged illness, his family confirmed today. He was 72.

“With a very heavy heart, we are saddened to inform you of the sad demise of Padma Shri Pankaj Udhas on 26 February due to a prolonged illness,” read a statement from the Udhas family. 

Udhas, who made a mark as a playback singer in Hindi films, including “Naam”, “Saajan” and “Mohra”, died around 11 am at the Breach Candy hospital, news agency PTI said quoting a family source.

‘Chandani Raat Mein’, ‘Na Kajre Ki Dhaar’, ‘Aur Ahista Kijiye Baatein’, ‘Ek Taraf Uska Ghar’ and ‘Thodi Thodi Piya Karo’ are among his evergreen ghazals. 

The singer, who also started a talent hunt TV show, ‘Aadab Aarz Hai’, performed at concerts around the world and had many albums to his name.

Soon after the news of his death broke, tributes poured in. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Pankaj Udhas’ “ghazals spoke directly to the soul”.  

“We mourn the loss of Pankaj Udhas Ji, whose singing conveyed a range of emotions and whose Ghazals spoke directly to the soul. He was a beacon of Indian music, whose melodies transcended generations. I recall my various interactions with him over the years,” said the Prime Minister. 

“His departure leaves a void in the music world that can never be filled. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti,” he added.

We mourn the loss of Pankaj Udhas Ji, whose singing conveyed a range of emotions and whose Ghazals spoke directly to the soul. He was a beacon of Indian music, whose melodies transcended generations. I recall my various interactions with him over the years.

His departure leaves… pic.twitter.com/5xL6Y3Sv75

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 26, 2024

Condoling the loss, Home Minister Amit Shah said Pankaj Udhas’ songs touched the hearts of people of all ages and classes and he will live among us through his songs and ghazals.

The singer rose to fame with Mahesh Bhatt’s 1986 film ‘Naam’ starring Nutan, Kumar Gaurav, Sanjay Dutt, Poonam Dhillon, Amrita Singh and Paresh Rawal. 

His song ‘Chitthi Aayee Hai’, which became a huge hit, was selected as one of the 100 songs of the millennium by BBC Radio.

Pankaj Udhas was born in Jetpur in Gujarat on May 17, 1951. He was the youngest of three brothers.

He initially started by learning the instrument tabla but later studied Hindustani vocal classical music under Ghulam Qadir Khan Sahab. 

Udhas then went to Mumbai to learn from Navrang Nagpurkar, a vocalist from the Gwalior Gharana.

The singer’s last rites will be held on Tuesday.