New Delhi, Jul 22: Congress today said that a protest dharna was held today at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi in support of its demand for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

According to a press release issued by the party, the protest dharna was followed by a march towards Parliament, which was foiled . Several senior AICC leaders including KC Venugopal, Digvijay Singh, Dr Syed Naseer Hussain, Rajni Patil,Imran Masood and Imran Pratapgarhi addressed the gathering and joined the protest amidst heavy rains.

JKPCC President Tariq Hameed Karra, AICC General Secretary and CLP leader G A Mir, Working President Raman Bhalla, Ex- MP Choudhary Lal Singh ,Shah Nawaz Chaudhary, Neeraj Kundan,Mula Ram, Balwan Singh, Ravinder Sharma,,Yogesh Sawhney, and Ved Mahajan reached the venue.

“They held a protest demonstration against central government for downgrading the historical Dogra state and then denying statehood despite promise on multiple occasions in six years. Senior AICC leaders joined the protest dharna and march on the directions of Congress President Malikarjun Kharge and LoP in Lok sabha Rahul Gandhi,”the press release said.

Addressing the gathering AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal criticised the central government government for doing injustice to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said it was the only example in country where a state is converted and downgraded into UT. “We have seen UTs upgraded to states in independent India,”he said. He questioned why Modi government is not restoring the statehood to J&K people who have stood against Pahalgam attack and shower their patriotic commitment but BJP is not fulfilling its commitment.

New Delhi, Jul 22: Russia and Ukraine are set to resume peace negotiations in Istanbul on Wednesday, according to Ukrainian officials as reported by BBC. The meeting is part of ongoing efforts to de-escalate a war that has stretched on for over three years. The talks follow Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s weekend proposal for renewed dialogue, amid preparations for another prisoner exchange. The upcoming session will be held at the same venue in Turkey where earlier negotiations in May and June failed to yield a breakthrough.

While Kyiv has confirmed Wednesday as the date for the meeting, Russian state media suggested the discussions might extend over two days, starting Thursday.

The Kremlin has yet to issue a formal statement regarding its participation, and expectations remain low for immediate progress, reports BBC, Russian officials have indicated that fundamental differences persist between the two sides.

The resumption of talks comes in the wake of intensified Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, which have led to a surge in civilian casualties. In response, the United States has pledged additional military assistance to Ukraine and issued a fresh warning to Moscow. President Donald Trump recently threatened severe sanctions against Russia if hostilities are not halted within 50 days. Despite international pressure and speculation about a possible meeting between Presidents Zelensky and Vladimir Putin, Russian officials have signalled little optimism.

New Delhi, July 22: The Central government has intensified its efforts to manage the stray dog population and reduce dog bite incidents across the country.

According to data presented in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, S.P. Singh Baghel, India reported 37,17,336 dog bite cases and 54 suspected human rabies deaths in 2024.

Municipalities, under Article 243(W), are mandated to implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme, focusing on neutering and anti-rabies vaccination of stray dogs. To streamline this, the government notified the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, superseding the earlier 2001 rules.

These new rules incorporate Supreme Court and Delhi High Court directives, including guidelines for feeding and care of community animals. The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has issued multiple advisories to ensure effective street dog population control and promote man-dog conflict resolution.

Between 2024 and June 2025, 166 letters were sent to RWAs and local bodies to ensure compliance.

On the health front, the Ministry of Health is implementing the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP), which includes setting up Model Anti-Rabies Clinics, ensuring vaccine availability, and launching the “Rabies-Free City” initiative.

Additionally, the Centre has allocated Rs 3,535.86 lakh over the past five years for anti-rabies vaccine procurement under the ASCAD scheme, including Rs 1,423.41 lakh in 2024-25 for over 80 lakh doses. The government has also urged States/UTs to adopt the ABC Programme through local bodies to enhance public safety, particularly for children.

The Department of Animal Husbandry conducts a five-year livestock census, which includes stray dogs, while municipalities have been advised to conduct annual local censuses under the ABC Rules.

The Centre’s comprehensive approach aims to address both public health and animal welfare in tackling the growing stray dog issue.