Mumbai: Prime-time news anchor Sudhir Chaudhary, currently hosting Black & White on Aaj Tak, is reportedly set to join government-run DD News from April this year. Social media discussions suggest that Chaudhary has been offered a substantial annual package of ₹14 crore.

Journalist Shruti Sharma hinted at the move in a post on X, stating, "Sudhir Chaudhary is joining DD News from April this year, my sources say." She also criticized the hefty package, referring to it as taxpayer-funded.

Chaudhary, formerly the Editor-in-Chief and CEO of Zee Media, left the network in June 2022 due to creative differences and joined Aaj Tak the following month as a Consulting Editor. He previously hosted the popular show DNA on Zee News.

His career, however, has not been free from controversy. In September 2023, Chaudhary was booked by Karnataka police for allegedly conspiring to disrupt communal harmony during one of his shows. In January 2024, a case was filed against him under the SC/ST Act in Jharkhand for alleged remarks against the tribal community, although the Jharkhand High Court later granted him relief.

Speculation around his move to DD News has fueled debate over whether the government aims to reshape the public broadcaster's style to mirror private news channels. Last year, DD News rebranded itself, highlighting its commitment to "accuracy over speed" and "truth over sensationalism."

An official confirmation regarding Chaudhary’s appointment and package is still awaited.

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Islamabad, May 4 (PTI): Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned India that it would strike any structure that is built on the Indus River in “violation of the Indus Waters Treaty”, which was suspended following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Ties between the two neighbouring countries plummeted following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.

India, among other punitive actions, announced the suspension of the 1960 accord, which governs water sharing between the two countries.

Speaking on a Geo News programme on Friday, the defence minister said, “Certainly, if they attempt to build any kind of structure, we will strike it.”

Asif said that building any structure on the Indus River would be seen as “Indian aggression” against Pakistan.

“Aggression is not just about firing cannons or bullets; it has many faces. One of those faces is [blocking or diverting water], which could lead to deaths due to hunger and thirst,” he added.

The defence minister said, “If they make any architectural attempt, then Pakistan will destroy that structure.

“But for now, we are heading to forums available to us, starting from the IWT [Indus Waters Treaty]. We will pursue this matter."

According to a media report on Friday, Pakistan is planning to issue a formal diplomatic notice to India against its unilateral move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty.

The decision was made after initial consultations between Pakistan’s ministries of Foreign Affairs, Law, and Water Resources, The Express Tribune reported.

Separately, Pakistan on Saturday conducted a training launch of the Abdali weapon system — a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kms.

Earlier on April 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to punish the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam terror attack and their backers.

In a high-level meeting with the top defence brass on April 29, Modi asserted that the armed forces have “complete operational freedom” to decide on the mode, targets and timing of India’s response to the terror attack, according to government sources.