• Bill Seeking Ban on Alcohol in J&K to be Introduced in Assembly
  • PDP MLA from Kupwara, Fayaz Ahmad Mir, has submitted a Private Member’s Bill seeking a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The bill, set to be introduced in the upcoming budget session of the J&K Assembly, proposes prohibition on the advertisement, sale, purchase, consumption, and manufacture of alcoholic beverages in the Union Territory.
  • Mir warned that the rising alcohol consumption poses a serious threat to society, stressing the need for strict legislation to curb the trend. The bill also proposes harsh penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for violations.
Former army officer and television personality Gaurav Arya.(X/majorgauravarya)

Iran Objects to Gaurav Arya’s Remarks Against FM Abbas Araghchi; India Distances Itself from Statement

Published on May 11, 2025

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New Delhi/Tehran, May 11: A diplomatic stir unfolded after the Iranian Embassy in India expressed displeasure over comments made by Gaurav Arya, a former Indian Army officer and media personality, targeting Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for his recent visit to Pakistan before arriving in India.

The incident comes in the backdrop of heightened tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 individuals. Arya’s remarks, deemed critical of Araghchi’s diplomatic priorities, triggered a sharp response from Iran.

“Respect for guests has a long-standing tradition in Iranian culture,” Iran’s Embassy in New Delhi wrote on X while sharing Arya’s video. “We Iranians consider our guests to be ‘beloved by God.’ How about you?”

In response, the Indian Embassy in Iran promptly issued a clarification, disassociating the Indian government from Arya’s comments and reaffirming respect for the Iranian delegation.

“The Embassy of India in Iran would like to clarify that the individual in this video is a private Indian citizen,” the Embassy of India in Iran wrote on X.

“His statements have no connection with the official position of India, and the Government of India considers the disrespectful tone used in the video to be inappropriate.”

The Iranian foreign minister had made an unscheduled stop in Islamabad on May 5, engaging with top Pakistani officials before returning to Tehran and later heading to New Delhi to co-chair a session of the India-Iran Joint Commission. This visit marked Araghchi’s first official trip to India since he took over the Foreign Ministry in August 2024.

Last month, Abbas Araghchi had publicly offered to “forge greater understanding” between India and Pakistan, a move interpreted by many as an effort to de-escalate tensions and promote dialogue.

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  • Bill Seeking Ban on Alcohol in J&K to be Introduced in Assembly
  • PDP MLA from Kupwara, Fayaz Ahmad Mir, has submitted a Private Member’s Bill seeking a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The bill, set to be introduced in the upcoming budget session of the J&K Assembly, proposes prohibition on the advertisement, sale, purchase, consumption, and manufacture of alcoholic beverages in the Union Territory.
  • Mir warned that the rising alcohol consumption poses a serious threat to society, stressing the need for strict legislation to curb the trend. The bill also proposes harsh penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for violations.