Union Minister Kishan Reddy urges Tamil Nadu to support critical mineral projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participates in the 12th International Yoga Day in Kolkata on June 21, 2026. Photo: PIB Ayush Ministry Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (June 21, 2026) said that yoga unites and brings everyone together and has become the world’s largest community celebration.“June 21, in some parts of the Earth marks the longest day, and because of International Yoga Day, this day has also become the day of the world’s largest collective celebration,” the Prime Minister said participating at an event on International Yoga Day in Kolkata.Mr. Modi, who participated in Yoga along with a crowd of 35,000 people at Kolkata’s Red Road referred to Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekananda, Maharshi Aurobindo and Lahiri Mahasaya said that they took the “yoga tradition to new heights”.Observing that the sense of connection is the very essence of Yoga, the Prime Minister said that the whole country and the entire world seem connected to one another; this is the very power of Yoga.On 27th September 2014, Mr. Modi proposed at the United Nations to celebrate 21st June as International Yoga Day. On 11th December 2014, the UN officially declared 21st June as the International Day of Yoga, with support from 193 member states and 173 co-sponsors. Since then, Yoga Day is celebrated worldwide every year.During the Yoga Day celebrations in Kolkata, the Prime Minister was seen interacting with the people correcting postures of some of they.Referring to this year’s International Day of Yoga theme, ‘Yoga for Healthy Ageing’, Mr. Modi said the ancient practice plays a crucial role in promoting physical health, mental well-being and active ageing, thereby improving the quality of life.Highlighting the benefits of Yoga, the Prime Minister said that the practice teaches us to be lifelong learners regarding our own bodies and minds.“Our goal should be to be more flexible at 40 than we were at 20; more energetic at 50 than we were at 30...It helps tune our bodies for flexibility, maintains high energy level,” he said.The Prime Minister also urged people that they should not restrict yoga to only particular occasions, and it must be made part of people’s lives.“Let us pledge not to limit Yoga to just one day or a single event; let us make Yoga an integral part of our lives, our families, and the lives of future generations,”he said.This was the first occasion that International Yoga Day celebrations were observed in Kolkata with lot of fanfare. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and several other BJP leaders and Ministers were present at Yoga day celebrations. The venue of the Yoga Day and the Kolkata river front was decked up over the past several days. Screens live streaming the event at Red Road were set up in several parts of the city since Sunday morning.“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my brothers and sisters in Kolkata for being such extraordinary hosts for this year’s International Yoga Day event. Celebrating International Yoga Day in such a vibrant city is truly an honor,”the Prime Minister posted on social media. He also praised a citywide cleanliness drive was held and called it inspiring. Published - June 21, 2026 02:57 pm IST

Aroop Biswas with Argentine footballer Lionel Messi. File | The senior TMC leader arrived at the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate headquarters around 9.55 a.m., after skipping three previous summonses, they said.The case stems from a complaint lodged by event organiser Shatadru Dutta, who accused Biswas of ticket black-marketing, extortion, cheating and criminal intimidation in connection with the high-profile football event held at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on December 13 last year, featuring Messi.The event had ended with sections of spectators allegedly vandalising parts of the stadium, claiming that they failed to catch a glimpse of Mr. Messi despite paying thousands of rupees for a ticket, as influential people kept him surrounded on the ground.Mr. Biswas has denied any wrongdoing and maintained that he was not involved in the financial aspects of the programme.The Calcutta High Court had earlier granted him conditional protection from coercive action, while directing him to cooperate with the investigation.On June 5, the former Minister had written to Bidhannagar Dakshin police station seeking two weeks' time to appear, citing health reasons.Meanwhile, the organiser of Mr. Messi’s India tour claimed on Wednesday (June 17, 2026) that the football legend’s communication team has written to the police, holding Mr. Biswas responsible for the fiasco.The communication purportedly exonerated Mr. Dutta from charges of mismanagement for which he was previously arrested and jailed during the erstwhile TMC regime.The Bidhannagar Police, recipients of the reported communication, however, remained tight-lipped about the development. Published - June 18, 2026 11:57 am IST

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi will undertake an extensive tour of Vijayawada on Tuesday (June 16), according to BJP NTR district president Adduri Sriram.As part of the visit, the Union Minister will take part in a Swachh Bharat programme at Vajpayee Park in One Town, where he will plant saplings and interact with local residents during a ‘Chai Pe Charcha’ session.At 10 a.m., Mr. Joshi will visit the Kanaka Durga temple atop Indrakeeladri hill and offer special prayers. He will then inspect the redeveloped Rayanapadu Railway Station at 11 a.m. The station has been upgraded with Central government funding and equipped with modern amenities.At noon, the Minister will review the progress of the Vijayawada Western Bypass project, being built at an estimated cost of ₹2,700 crore to ease traffic congestion in the city. He is expected to hold discussions with officials overseeing the project.At 12.30 p.m., Mr. Joshi will visit the residence of young musician Gudipati Lalitha at Lotus Landmark and present publications highlighting the achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 12 years in office.The Union Minister will later call on Vijayawada West MLA Sujana Chowdary at his residence at 1.15 p.m.In the evening, at 5 p.m., Mr. Joshi will participate in an interaction with Rotary Club members, intellectuals and prominent citizens at A Plus Convention near Benz Circle. He is expected to speak on the Centre’s development initiatives and welfare programmes.BJP leaders have appealed to party workers, intellectuals and members of the public to participate in large numbers and make the programmes a success. Published - June 15, 2026 06:54 pm IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads a Yoga session on the 11th International Day of Yoga, in Visakhapatnam on June 21, 2025. | Addressing a press conference, Mr. Jadhav said this year's theme, 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing', highlights the role of yoga in promoting physical health, mental well-being and healthy ageing."This year's main event of the International Day of Yoga will be held in West Bengal's capital city Kolkata under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said.Mr. Jadhav said that International Day of Yoga is receiving unprecedented support across the globe and yoga events will be held at nearly 2,500 locations worldwide."Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi, Yoga has evolved into a global mass movement and millions of people across the world have embraced yoga as an integral part of their daily lives," the Minister said.This year's theme addresses one of the most significant needs of our time. Yoga plays a vital role in enabling people to lead healthy, active, self-reliant, and mentally resilient lives as they age, he said."Coordinated by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, more than 210 Indian Missions abroad are organising Yoga events at nearly 2,500 locations worldwide. "This reflects how Yoga has transcended its origins as India’s cultural heritage to become a shared global movement for health and well-being," he said. Published - June 15, 2026 04:28 pm IST

Minister for Higher Education Roji M. John has termed as ‘unacceptable’ the participation of three university Vice-Chancellors (VCs) in an RSS programme attended by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in Thiruvananthapuram.The issue has triggered a political storm in the State.“The attendance of the VCs at events hosted by political organisations sends a wrong message to the public, especially since they are expected to discharge their academic responsibilities impartially. As VCs, they should have remained vigilant at a time when attempts are being made to undermine the secular character of universities. They must express their regret to the public for attending the event,” Mr. John said here on Sunday (June 14).Stating that the State government has limitations in initiating action against the VCs, he said it is the Governor who appoints them. He also urged the academic community to preserve the independence and autonomy of universities.On the Malayidamthuruth land dispute, he said that an agreement regarding this would be signed on Monday (June 15), bringing relief to members of the seven families who faced the threat of eviction. Published - June 14, 2026 10:39 pm IST