‘Why do people go out without any work’: Lawyer’s comment on traffic jam puts NHAI in a rough spot
Indore, Jul 2 (PTI): The National Highways Authority of India on Wednesday distanced itself from a comment by its lawyer, who asked during the hearing of a PIL on a traffic jam why people travel needlessly.
In a video that went viral on social media, the woman lawyer representing the NHAI can be heard asking “why do people go out so early without any work” during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL).
The NHAI, a central authority to develop, maintain and manage the national highways in the country, issued a clarification after the lawyer’s remark triggered criticism.
“In reference to news regarding remark made by an advocate representing NHAI during the hearing of PIL about traffic jam on 30 June 2025 in High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Indore Bench, it is hereby clarified that the remark by advocate does not represent official version of NHAI.
“The remark from the advocate was made without any authorization from NHAI. Accordingly, a show-cause notice has been served to the advocate,” it said on X on Wednesday.
The PIL has been filed concerning a massive traffic jam for about 50 hours on the Indore-Dewas section of the Agra-Mumbai National Highway between June 25 and June 27.
“... just now there was a (traffic) jam in Ujjain. Why do people go out in such a hurry without any work,” the woman lawyer of NHAI can be heard saying in the video during the hearing of the PIL in the HC on June 30.
Several social media users shared the clip to claim that the public faced problems due to the severe traffic jam.
NHAI Project Director Praveen Yadav called the woman lawyer’s comments her “personal opinion”.
Yadav said there is no mention of her alleged comment in the HC’s order on June 30 on the PIL.
He said, “NHAI works only for the convenience of the public. A flyover is being built on the Indore-Dewas section of the National Highway. This will provide convenience to the common people and make their journey safe.”
Anand Adhikari, a lawyer from Dewas, has filed the PIL. The HC subsequently issued notices to the NHAI, the Centre, Indore administration and police, seeking their responses.
The HC also directed to include a private company constructing a road between Indore and Dewas on the national highway in the list of respondents.
The PIL pleaded that the construction work underway on the Indore-Dewas section of the national highway should be completed under the supervision of the HC so that the accountability of the respondents can be fixed.
The traffic jam caused widespread anger among commuters, prompting authorities to take action and improve vehicular movement between Indore and Dewas.
Vijay Panchal, a resident of the Bijalpur area of Indore, had claimed that his 65-year-old father, Kamal Panchal, died of a heart attack when his car got stuck in the massive jam.
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US warns shipping firms they could face sanctions over paying Iranian tolls in Strait of Hormuz
Dubai (AP): The United States is warning shipping companies that they could face sanctions for making payments to Iran to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The alert posted Friday by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control adds another layer of pressure in the standoff between the US and Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz.
About a fifth of the world's trade in oil and natural gas typically passes through the strait at the mouth of the Persian Gulf in peacetime.
Iran effectively closed the strait to normal traffic by attacking and threatening to attack ships after the US and Israel launched a war on Feb. 28. It later began offering some ships safe passage by detouring them through alternate routes closer to its shoreline, charging fees at times for the service.
That "tollbooth” effort is the focus of the US sanctions warning.
The payment demands could include transfers not only in cash but also “digital assets, offsets, informal swaps, or other in-kind payments,” including chartibale donations and payments at Iranian embassies, OFAC said.
“OFAC is issuing this alert to warn US and non-US persons about the sanctions risks of making these payments to, or soliciting guarantees from, the Iranian regime for safe passage. These risks exist regardless of payment method,” it said.
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The US responded to Iran's closure of the strait with a naval blockade of its own on April 13, preventing any Iranian tankers from leaving and depriving Iran of oil revenue it needs to shore up its ailing economy.
The US Central Command said 45 commercial ships have been told to turn around since the blockade began.
Trump rejects Iranian proposal
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The warning came as US President Donald Trump swiftly rejected Iran's latest proposal to end the war between the countries.
“They want to make a deal, I'm not satisfied with it, so we'll see what happens,” Trump said Friday at the White House. He didn't elaborate on what he saw as its shortcomings but expressed frustration with the Iranian leadership.
“It's a very disjointed leadership,” Trump said. “They all want to make a deal, but they're all messed up.”
Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported Iran handed over its plan to mediators in Pakistan on Thursday night.
The shaky three-week ceasefire between the US and Iran appears to be holding, though both countries have traded accusations of violations. The standoff is increasingly putting pressure on the global economy, driving up prices and leading to shortages of fuel and other products tied to the oil industry.
Negotiations continued by phone after Trump called off his envoys' trip to Pakistan last week, the president said. Trump this week floated a new plan to reopen the critical passageway used by America's Gulf allies to export their oil and gas.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has briefed many of his regional counterparts on the country's initiatives to end the ear, according to his social media. He also held talks Friday with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who is in contact with the EU's Gulf partners.
China's UN envoy urges Iran to lift restrictions
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Fu Cong, the Chinese ambassdor to the United Nations, said Friday that maintaining the ceasefire is “the most urgent issue" as well as bringing together the sides to resume good faith negotiations “to make sure that the ground is laid for reopening of Hormuz.”
Foreign Minister Wang Yi “has been on the phone almost constantly” with representatives from all sides, Fu said, adding that China supports Pakistan's efforts to mediate between the parties.
Fu stressed the root cause of the tremendous suffering in Iran and neighboring countries and the growing turmoil in the global economy, especially in developing countries, “is the illegitimate war by the US and Israel.
