Pre-emptive air strike raises doubts about 'conspiracy': Minister Priyank Kharge
Bengaluru, Mar 2: Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge Saturday claimed the pre-emptive air strike by the Indian Air Force on terror camps in Pakistan has raised doubts among masses about some "conspiracy."
The BJP has strongly condemned his statement.
"This (IAF air strike) raises doubts among masses that somewhere it is a conspiracy.
It is like '44 for 22':
The statement (by BJP state chief B S Yeddyurappa) should be presumed that the martyrdom of 44 soldiers were for 22 seats in Karnataka," the social welfare minister told reporters at Chamarajanagar when asked about the air strike carried out on terror camps by the IAF inside Pakistan.
His remarks came a day after IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, whose MIG-21 was shot down following a dogfight between the two air forces on Wednesday, was handed over to India by Pakistan after being in captivity for nearly three days.
Yeddyurappa had said on February 28 that India's pre-emptive strikes on terror camps in Pakistan had created a wave in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will help the party win over 22 of 28 seats in the state in the coming Lok Sabha polls.
Under attack for linking India's air strike on terror camps in Pakistan with BJP's prospects in Lok Sabha polls, the BJP unit chief later rubbished media reports, saying his statement was taken out of context.
He said there was no question of seeking electoral gains and the nation came first to him.
Yeddyurappa's remarks amid escalating tension between India and Pakistan drew criticism from political leaders in Karnataka and disapproval from his own party colleague and Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh.
Kharge said whatever was there in their (BJP) mind was now out in the open and they have made it clear to what extent they could go.
When asked what he meant by the term 'conspiracy', Kharge said, "Wait for two-three days for the truth to come out see what the international and national media have been asking... The defence minister (Nirmala Sitharaman) has not yet come out (with any statement).
Has she given any statement (on the air strike)?"
Condemning his statement, Karnataka BJP spokesperson S Prakash said, "First of all, Kharge is not able to handle his own ministry. Speaking about an international affair is too much for him."
Prakash said when Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of the opposition party in Lok Sabha, chose to remain silent on this issue, it was unfortunate that his son Priyank Kharge was speaking about the Pulwama deaths.
Tensions between the two countries escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday.
Pakistan retaliated the strike by attempting to target Indian military installations on Wednesday. However, the IAF thwarted their plans.
The Indian strike on the JeM camp came 12 days after the terror group claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy at Pulwama in Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers.
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Metro ridership in Haryana sees over 13 pc rise in 2025-26
Chandigarh (PTI): Haryana's urban transit system witnessed a strong growth in 2025-26, with metro ridership registering a robust 13.55 per cent increase, the state government said in a statement on Thursday.
The progress was reviewed in the 64th board meeting of Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi.
Between April 2025 and February 2026, the metro network recorded over 1.74 crore passengers, compared to 1.53 crore in the corresponding period the previous year.
July recorded the highest monthly growth at 22.93 per cent, while all months showed consistent positive trends.
Financial performance has also remained strong, with fare revenue rising 12.64 per cent till January 2026, the statement said.
Non-fare revenue surged by 108 per cent, driven by effective monetisation of station spaces, advertisements and commercial activities, resulting in an operating surplus for Rapid Metro.
Further initiatives, including the auction of station naming rights and additional advertisement sites, are expected to strengthen HMRTC's financial position, the statement said.
Appreciating the performance, Rastogi stated that the consistent rise in ridership and revenue reflects the success of Haryana's integrated transport strategy, rising commuter confidence and a clear shift towards public transport.
HMRTC Managing Director Chander Shekhar Khare said that, alongside operational gains, the state is making steady progress on an ambitious pipeline of metro and regional transit projects.
Metro connectivity from Gurugram Sector 56 to Panchgaon is under active consideration, with Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited studying the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and layout plan, and finalising a depot location in Sector 36A near Sihi village, he said.
The Gurugram-Faridabad Namo Bharat corridor has achieved a key milestone, with alignment and station locations finalised and approved by the Haryana government. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation is preparing the DPR, he added.
Similarly, the Delhi-Kundli metro extension is proposed to be placed before the Haryana Cabinet for approval.
The 136.3-kilometre Delhi-Panipat-Karnal RRTS Corridor has also progressed, with the revised DPR submitted for financial concurrence ahead of Haryana Cabinet consideration.
Within Gurugram, DPR preparation has been approved for key intra-city corridors, including the 17.09-kilometre Bhondsi-Subhash Chowk-Rajeev Chowk-Sohna Chowk Railway Station corridor, enhancing connectivity along Sohna Road, Khare said.
