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Modi and Xi held wide-ranging talks on August 31 last year on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in the Chinese city of Tianjin.
Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Leh. (Representative image) Credit: PTI Photo
China has reduced the deployment of troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 2025, a latest report by the defence ministry said.
The ministry mentioned this in its annual report for 2025-26.
“The year 2025 witnessed significant reduction in deployment of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) forces opposite Northern Borders, with 10 Combined Arms Brigade size forces each deployed in areas along the LAC and in traditional training areas,” it said.
The report said the deployment of the Indian Army in “all sectors along the LAC is robust, well poised and prepared to deal with any emerging contingency”. The relations between India and China had come under severe strain following the deadly Galwan Valley clashes in 2020.
After over four years of frosty ties, the two countries began to repair relations following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Russian city of Kazan in October 2024 that took place after the face-off in eastern Ladakh ended.
Modi and Xi held wide-ranging talks on August 31 last year on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in the Chinese city of Tianjin.
In the last few months, the two sides have taken a series of measures to rebuild their relationship.Modi and Xi held another meeting on Saturday on the margins of the BRICS summit in New Delhi.
In the meeting, the prime minister conveyed to the Chinese President that peace and tranquillity along the frontier remain an “essential” basis for development of India-China relations, even as the two leaders welcomed “steady progress” in the bilateral ties.
Shah invited elected representatives to communicate with the Centre in Marathi, assuring them arrangements were in place for translation.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah Credit: @AmitShah/X via PTI Photo
Mumbai: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said Maharashtra has the country’s most multilingual culture with people here speaking several languages and asserted Hindi should act as a means of communication and connection among India’s languages rather than competition.
He stressed cultural nationalism meant creating awareness about India’s culture and history, asserting the country’s diverse languages could have different voices, but the national sentiment should remain one.
All political differences must be set aside to promote Indian languages, Shah said while asserting that a child can understand the country only through his or her mother tongue.
Shah linked the promotion of Indian languages to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledge of freeing the country from a “mindset of slavery”.
Addressing the 6th All India Rajbhasha Sammelan, organised on the occasion of Hindi Diwas, at Vashi in Navi Mumbai, Shah said legendary freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak had understood that awareness about the country’s culture and history could be created through cultural nationalism.
Tilak started public Ganesh festivities and celebrations of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s birth anniversary, both festivals eventually spreading beyond Maharashtra, helping create a wave of patriotism during the freedom struggle, Shah said.
The minister said ‘Hindi Shabd Sindhu’, which began with 51,000 words, had now grown to eight lakh words and expressed confidence that it would become the world’s largest dictionary by 2029.
Shah said more than 50,000 words from Indian regional languages had been incorporated into ‘Hindi Shabd Sindhu’ to fill gaps where Hindi lacked words. He said the dictionary had accepted words from Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali and Odia etc, thereby making Hindi more flexible.
He said Prime Minister Modi had accorded Marathi the status of a classical language in 2024.
Shah emphasised Hindi should act as a means of communication and connection among India’s languages rather than competition.
Social reformer Vinoba Bhave once said the use of Hindi had enabled him to take the message of the Bhoodan-Gramdan (land gift) movement nationwide, Shah noted.
The home minister, a senior BJP leader, said his knowledge of Hindi had helped him work across the country when his party assigned him a national-level responsibility.
Shah invited elected representatives to communicate with the Centre in Marathi, assuring them arrangements were in place for translation.
BJP won Rajasthan urban local body elections with 4,179 wards, Congress secured 3,613. Independents won 2,273 wards.
People stand in queue at a polling booth to cast their votes during Rajasthan Assembly elections, in Jodhpur. (PTI file photo)
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the largest party in Rajasthan’s urban local body elections on Monday, winning 4,179 wards against the Congress’ 3,613.
The BJP secured clear majorities in four of the state’s 10 municipal corporations, while the Congress won a majority in Bikaner. Independents, meanwhile, emerged as a strong third force, winning 2,273 wards.
The results were particularly striking in Bharatpur, the hometown of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. Independents won 36 of the 65 wards, well ahead of the BJP’s 20 and Congress’ seven. The BSP and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) won one ward each. Sharma called the BJP’s overall performance a “historic victory”, attributing it to public faith in the party and the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
BJP Takes Four Corporations
The BJP crossed the majority mark in Jaipur, Udaipur, Kota and Bhilwara. In Jaipur, it won 78 of the 150 wards, while Congress secured 53 and Independents 15. In Udaipur, the BJP won 53 of 80 wards against Congress’ 23. It also secured 45 of 70 wards in Bhilwara and 55 of 100 in Kota.
Congress, however, secured a majority in Bikaner, winning 42 of 80 wards against the BJP’s 27. Jodhpur produced a deadlock, with both BJP and Congress winning 44 of the 100 wards.
Congress emerged as the largest party in Ajmer and Pali but fell short of a majority. In Ajmer, it won 37 of 80 wards, while BJP secured 32. In Pali, Congress won 29 of 65 wards against BJP’s 21.
Congress Springs Jhalawar Surprise
One of Congress’ biggest gains came in Jhalawar, widely seen as a stronghold of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje. Congress won 29 of the 45 wards, while BJP secured 13. However, BJP retained its grip on nearby Jhalrapatan, where Raje is the sitting MLA, winning 22 of 35 wards.
In Alwar, BJP emerged as the largest party with 28 wards, followed by Congress with 23 and Independents with 13.
According to State Election Commission figures, results for 10,235 of the 10,244 wards being counted had been declared by 8.30 pm. The RLP won 63 wards, AAP 42, CPI(M) 38, BSP 19 and Bharat Adivasi Party eight.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay was abroad when the dinner was held, while three Congress chief ministers invited to the event also chose not to attend.
A visual from the 18th BRICS Summit (Photo: X/narendramodi)
Four chief ministers from Opposition-ruled states stayed away from the gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for participants of the 18th BRICS India 2026 Summit on Saturday, according to a Times of India report.
The absence of Opposition chief ministers came even as several chief ministers from BJP-run and allied states attended the dinner, making the gathering appear largely dominated by leaders from the governing alliance. However, official sources told the Times of India that chief ministers from Opposition parties had also been invited but did not attend.
Three Congress CMs Skip Dinner
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay was abroad when the dinner was held, while three Congress chief ministers invited to the event also chose not to attend.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had accepted the invitation a day before the dinner, on September 12. However, his office later informed the government that he would be unable to attend because of “unavoidable circumstances”.
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan and Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar also skipped the dinner.
However, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi were not invited. The chief ministers of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab were also not invited to the gala dinner.
The decision to invite chief ministers from different states was part of the government’s effort to hold several events linked to BRICS during India’s 2026 presidency across different cities. Official sources described the decision of Opposition chief ministers to stay away as unfortunate.
Who Attended PM Modi’s Dinner?
BRICS heads of state and government attended the dinner along with Union ministers and chief ministers from BJP-run and allied states. CMs reached the venue together in shuttle buses before the reception.
Chief ministers Yogi Adityanath of Uttar Pradesh, Pushkar Singh Dhami of Uttarakhand, Nayab S Saini of Haryana, Bhajan Lal Sharma of Rajasthan, Mohan Yadav of Madhya Pradesh, Himanta Biswa Sarma of Assam, Suvendu Adhikari of West Bengal, Rekha Gupta of Delhi, Devendra Fadnavis of Maharashtra and Bhupendra Patel of Gujarat were present.
Most Union ministers, including Amit Shah, Kiren Rijiju, Nirmala Sitharaman, Mansukh Mandaviya and Ashwini Vaishnaw, also attended.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, however, skipped the reception altogether after returning to his hotel to rest, drawing international attention for a separate reason.
Sia’s video begins with a clip of Bainsla’s interview to a reporter, in which he says he did not know whether the biker was a man or a woman and that only one side of the incident had been shown.
Sia was riding her Aprilia RS 457 sports bike when a white sedan allegedly began following them.
“If you felt so sorry for me, then why didn’t you stop? I could have died on the spot.”
That was the question biker and Instagram creator ‘rebelwheels_sia_’ posed in her first video reaction after the accident, responding directly to statements made by Kalyan Bainsla, the man accused of hitting her motorcycle with his car.
In the nearly three-minute video shared on social media, she challenged his version of events, questioned his claim of feeling sympathy for her, and said the videos of the crash clearly show what happened.
Sia’s video begins with a clip of Bainsla’s interview to a reporter, in which he says he did not know whether the biker was a man or a woman and that only one side of the incident had been shown. He also questioned why videos involving one of her male friends had not surfaced. “I felt very sorry for that girl,” he is heard saying in the interview.
Responding to those remarks, Sia said, “He is saying that we were repeatedly speeding up and slowing down on the road. But I think my entire video clearly shows who was actually trying to corner whom.”
She questioned why, if the occupants of the car genuinely believed the bikers were behaving that way, they continued following her for such a long distance.
“If you felt we were speeding up and slowing down repeatedly, then what was the reason for chasing me throughout the route?” she asked.
Sia also rejected Bainsla’s claim that he did not know a woman was riding the motorcycle.
“That is simply not possible. You saw my hair. You came close to me. You made gestures. You signalled for me to stop the bike. And now you are saying you did not even know a woman was riding it,” she said.
She also responded to Bainsla’s comments that there were around 22 to 23 people present and that only two videos had emerged.
“I do not understand why those two videos are not enough in a hit-and-run case,” she said.
According to her, one video shows the car moving directly from the front lane into the third lane before hitting her and driving away. The second video, recorded from her own camera, she said, shows the car moving from the first lane to the third lane, striking her motorcycle and causing her to be dragged along the vehicle before she fell onto the road.
“In one video, you can see the car moving into the third lane and hitting me before fleeing. In the other video from my camera, you can see the car come from the first lane to the third lane, hit me, drag me along, and then I fell on the road. Are those two videos still not enough for you?” she said.
Questioning his claim of “feeling sorry for her”, Sia said his actions after the crash did not reflect that concern.
“If you really felt sorry for me, then why didn’t you stop? It was your responsibility. If you hit me, you should have stopped and checked whether I was injured,” she said.
She further said the consequences of the crash could have been far worse.
“I could have suffered much more serious injuries. My bones could have been broken. I could have died on the spot,” she said.
“This display of sympathy does not suit him. The videos clearly show how they fled. They did not stop even for a second to check whether the person they had hit was alive or dead,” she said.
Sia further said incidents like these leave many women feeling unsafe on the roads of Delhi and Gurugram.
“I feel ashamed of people who say their families are suffering because of this. I do not think such people ever stop to think that they also have sisters and women in their families. Women feel extremely unsafe because of behaviour like this in Delhi and Gurugram,” she said.
Sia was riding her Aprilia RS 457 sports bike on Sunday with a group of bikers when a white sedan allegedly began following them. She had said that the occupants of the car behaved aggressively, appeared intoxicated and repeatedly tried to come close to her motorcycle before the crash.
‘Bike Dragged Nearly 300 Metres After Crash’
Sia has also filed a complaint against Bainsla. She alleged in a complaint to Gurugram Police that she was harassed and later hit by a car while riding with her friends on Sunday morning.
She said the incident took place on September 13 at around 7:00 am, when she was heading towards Biker Barn Cafe with a group of friends who were riding on separate motorcycles.
According to the complaint, she encountered a white Maruti Suzuki Ciaz bearing registration number HR30L4949 on Golf Course Road. She alleged that the occupants of the car appeared to be intoxicated and repeatedly tried to harass her and stop her motorcycle.
“When I crossed them, they suddenly crossed my path and hit my bike,” she said in the complaint.
Sia alleged that the impact caused her motorcycle to be dragged for nearly 300 metres. She further claimed that the occupants of the car fled the scene immediately after the crash.
“My friends tried to chase them, but they ran away from the spot,” the complaint stated.
Seeking action against the accused, Sia urged the police to take immediate steps in the matter.
Police in Tirunelveli arrested a biryani shop owner after a complaint over a banner showing Lord Ganesha eating biryani. The case surfaced during Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations, and further investigation is under way.
A biryani shop owner was arrested in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli after a complaint alleged that a banner outside his shop, featuring an image of Lord Ganesha eating biryani, hurt religious sentiments.
Police arrested 30-year-old Jayanth, the owner of the shop, on Sunday after 42-year-old Selvaraj filed a complaint alleging that the depiction of the Hindu deity was disrespectful and offensive.
The arrest comes as Tamil Nadu celebrates Vinayaka Chaturthi, with elaborate festivities, temple rituals and public installations taking place across the state.
According to the complaint, the banner displayed outside the biryani shop featured an image depicting Lord Ganesha eating biryani.
Selvaraj alleged that the depiction was disrespectful to Lord Ganesha and had hurt religious sentiments. Following the complaint, police launched an investigation and arrested Jayanth. Further investigation is underway.
VINAYAKA CHATURTHI CELEBRATIONS UNDERWAY
Across Tamil Nadu, Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations have been marked by special prayers, elaborate decorations and distinctive Ganesha idols.
At Chennai’s historic Kapaleeswarar Temple, celebrations began with an early-morning Ganapathy Homam. The Narthana Vinayagar idol was given a ritual bath before being decorated with a gold kavacham, drawing devotees to the temple.
In Madurai, the imposing 7-foot Mukkuruni Vinayagar at the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple was the focus of celebrations, with priests preparing a giant Mukkuruni Kozhukattai, a traditional rice-flour sweet offered to the deity.
At Tiruchirappalli, thousands of devotees climbed the 417 steps to the Ucchi Pillayar Temple atop Rockfort. The shrine also began its 14-day Peruvizha festival with a 25-kg Kozhukattai offering.
UNIQUE GANESHA IDOLS ACROSS TAMIL NADU
The festival has also featured a range of unusual and eco-friendly installations. A Ganesha idol made from 51,000 rudraksha beads was among the attractions in Tiruvannamalai, while a dharba-grass idol was installed in Madurai.
In Coimbatore, one Ganesha idol was adorned with a garland made from Rs 5 lakh worth of Rs 500 currency notes. In Chennai’s T Nagar, another idol made using currency coins drew attention.
Several public pandals have also taken inspiration from popular culture and mythology. In Denkanikottai, an elaborate Vinayakar stage was themed on the film ‘Kantara-2’.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja pandal and offered prayers during Ganesh Chaturthi. He described the celebrations as an extraordinary display of faith, energy and community.
Sergio Gor also took to X to share his experience of visiting the pandal. (Photo: X/@USAmbIndia)
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor joined thousands of devotees in celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai on Monday. He visited the iconic Lalbaugcha Raja pandal and offered prayers to Lord Ganesha.
Gor, who visited the famous pandal during the 10-day festival, described the experience as extraordinary and urged those who have never witnessed the celebration to experience it for themselves. The US envoy said the atmosphere at Lalbaugcha Raja was unlike anything he had experienced, pointing to the scale, energy and sense of community surrounding the celebrations.
“It’s absolutely incredible. I’m honoured to be here. It’s great to be invited. I think everybody should come here and see this, because there aren’t many places that are this vibrant. The energy is incredible. It’s hard to describe if you’re not here. So if you’ve not been here, come,” he said.
GOR SHARES GANESH CHATURTHI MESSAGE
Gor also took to X to share his experience of visiting the pandal, describing the celebrations as a vibrant expression of faith and community. “Delighted to visit Mumbai Cha Raja and Lalbaugcha Raja. A truly vibrant expression of faith and community that brings people together. Wishing everyone celebrating a wonderful Ganesh Chaturthi,” he wrote.
His visit came as Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra marked one of India’s most prominent religious festivals, with devotees gathering at homes and public pandals to welcome Lord Ganesha.
The streets of Mumbai have been filled with celebrations, devotional music and chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya” as devotees seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha.
LALBAUGCHA RAJA AT CENTRE OF MUMBAI FESTIVITIES
Lalbaugcha Raja remains one of Mumbai’s most recognisable Ganesh idols and has become a defining symbol of the city’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. According to ANI, the idol is associated with the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal at Putlabai Chawl. The mandal was established in 1934 and has since grown into a major part of Mumbai’s annual Ganesh festival.
Pakistan recorded 863 drone intrusions along India’s western front in 2025, with 237 drones brought down, the Defence Ministry said. The report highlighted the use of indigenous anti-drone systems and efforts to contain the threat, while also detailing Operation Sindoor and the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Spoofers, jammers countered drone threat after 791 intrusions, says MoD
Pakistan’s drone war on the western front intensified in 2025, with a total of 863 drone intrusions — nine incidents along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir and 854 along the IB in Punjab and Rajasthan — reported during the year, the Defence Ministry’s annual report for 2025-26 stated.
The Ministry of Defence’s annual report stated that the effective deployment of indigenous spoofers and jammers had significantly countered the drone threat along the western front.
During the period, 237 drones were brought down by Indian forces along the IB — five carrying war-like stores, 72 carrying narcotics and 160 without any payload, the ministry said in its year-end review statement.
The bulk of the intrusions were from Pakistan’s Punjab side and were used to drop heroin consignments and pistols and AK-series parts.
The BSF and Army’s anti-drone systems, including DRDO’s D4, indigenous jammers and LORROS cameras, accounted for most of the kills in the Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Sri Ganganagar sectors.
The ministry said the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir remained “firmly under control” due to the relentless efforts of the Indian Army, with a whole-of-nation approach leading to a reduction in violence, scaled-down protests and zero stone-pelting incidents.
A powerful blast ripped through BJP leader Jagdish Gautam’s vacant plot in Chitrakoot, where severed human legs were later found. Police suspect explosives were being mishandled, even as locals fear a larger conspiracy.
Police inspect the blast site at a BJP leader’s empty plot near Ashoh village in Chitrakoot, where a deep crater and severed human remains were found.
A major explosion at an empty plot owned by a BJP leader in Uttar Pradesh’s Chitrakoot district has triggered panic in the area after police found the severed legs of an unidentified person near the blast site.
The explosion took place near Ashoh village under the Pahari police station area, along the main road connecting Karwi and Pahari. The blast was so powerful that it left a crater several feet deep inside the plot owned by BJP leader Jagdish Gautam.
Police were informed about the incident on Monday night, two days after the explosion reportedly took place. When a search operation was conducted on Tuesday, officers found a large crater inside the boundary wall and a severed human leg in the grass some distance away.
Another leg was later found outside the boundary wall. However, the rest of the person’s body could not be located, prompting police to treat the incident as a major explosion and launch a detailed investigation.
Chitrakoot Superintendent of Police Arun Kumar Singh inspected the spot along with a dog squad, the Special Operations Group (SOG) and Pahari police personnel. He directed the teams to establish what caused the explosion and identify the deceased person.
According to Singh, BJP leader Jagdish Gautam informed police on Monday night that the person guarding his plot had initially said lightning had struck the premises a day earlier. The guard later reported that an explosion had occurred and that a human leg was lying inside the plot.
Police reached the spot that night but could not find anything because of darkness. During a fresh search on Tuesday, they found the large crater, a severed leg and a piece of torn clothing. Some bricks from the upper layer of the boundary wall had also been dislodged and were covered with soil.
Leaves from a tree near the crater had been completely blown off, indicating the intensity of the blast.
The SP said the circumstances at the scene prima facie suggested that the explosion may have occurred while an unidentified person was handling explosives and that the device may have detonated accidentally, killing the person handling it.
“No person from any village has so far been reported missing,” Singh said, adding that police were trying to establish the identity of the deceased and determine exactly what happened.
India and China have been named in a fresh US House amendment that seeks to impose 100 per cent tariffs on countries buying Russian oil under the proposed Russia sanctions bill.
Fresh US Move Over Russian Oil: India, China Named In Amendment For Potential 100% Tariffs Photo : AP
US lawmakers have moved new amendments to a Russia sanctions bill, with one proposal seeking to name countries including India that could face 100 per cent tariffs over Russian oil purchases. Another amendment seeks to remove the section of the bill that would give US President Donald Trump the power to impose such tariffs.
The Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act was passed by the US Senate last month with an 86-11 vote. The bill seeks sanctions against Russia’s leadership and energy sector, as well as its “shadow fleet” of vessels used to help Moscow avoid sanctions on oil shipments.
The US believes Russia’s crude oil trade is helping fund its war against Ukraine.
The bill also seeks to give Trump the power to impose 100 per cent tariffs on Russia’s major oil-trading partners, including India and China.
The Senate passed the bill on August 7. It does not name the countries that could face the tariffs but refers to the five biggest importers of Russian oil and gas by volume.
The bill now needs to pass the US House of Representatives before it can be sent to the President for his signature. The House has four working days left before it goes into an early recess ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
India Named In Fresh Amendment
Democratic Congressman Steny Hoyer has moved an amendment seeking to specifically name countries that could be eligible for 100 per cent tariffs under the bill.
The proposed list includes India, China, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Hungary, the Slovak Republic, the UAE, Singapore, Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic.
The amendment was made public by the House Rules Committee on Monday.
The statement from China came two days after Modi and Xi met for bilateral talks and welcomed “steady progress” in relations between the two countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China’s President Xi Jinping shake hands during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. (AFP)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Chinese President Xi Jinping during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi that India follows an independent foreign policy, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday, adding that Beijing values PM Modi’s remarks.
The statement from China came two days after Modi and Xi met for bilateral talks and welcomed “steady progress” in relations between the two countries. This was also Xi’s first visit to India in seven years.
China welcomes Modi’s message on foreign policy
Jiakun said the “most important consensus” from the meeting was that “China and India should be partners”, according to a release by China’s ministry of foreign affairs. Beijing also welcomed Modi’s remarks on India’s strategic autonomy.
“Prime Minister Modi said that India has an independent foreign policy, developing relations with China is not affected by any third party and that it will not allow any force to engage in anti-China activities on its territory. China values Prime Minister Modi’s statements,” the statement said.
Xi said that while China and India have different national realities, the two countries should draw on each other’s strengths and support each other’s development, Guo said.
“To promote the steady and sustained development of China-India relations, both sides need to calibrate the direction with an objective and rational strategic perception,” he said.
The Chinese official said the two countries should also address their differences through “mutual respect and mutual understanding” while deepening cooperation.
What India said on Modi-Xi meeting
India said on Saturday that maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas is the “essential basis” for improving ties with China, according to a statement from the ministry of external affairs. PM Modi also said both sides should “observe existing agreements and understandings on border-related issues”.
The Excise Department seized 574 litres of liquor from a boat in Gopalganj’s Gandak River and arrested one smuggler. The haul is part of an ongoing district crackdown on illicit liquor under Bihar’s prohibition regime.
Excise officials seized 574 litres of Indian-made and foreign liquor during a raid in Gopalganj, Bihar. (Source: ITG)
The Excise Department in Bihar’s Gopalganj district seized 574 litres of Indian-made and foreign liquor from a boat in the Gandak River and arrested one smuggler during a raid, officials said.
The operation was carried out after the department received a tip-off about liquor smuggling. The team seized the liquor consignment and confiscated a boat and a four-wheeler used in the smuggling operation.
The raid was part of the Excise Department’s ongoing campaign against the manufacture, sale and smuggling of illicit liquor in Gopalganj.
Despite Bihar’s total prohibition on liquor, smugglers continue to devise ways to transport alcohol. Excise Department conducted the operation and recovered a large quantity of Indian-made and foreign liquor.
574 LITRES OF LIQUOR SEIZED
Excise Superintendent Amritesh Kumar said the department seized 574 litres of domestic and foreign liquor, along with the boat and vehicle allegedly being used to transport it.
West Bengal has ordered 252 madrassas to close and sought explanations from around 100 others after a statewide survey. The move has intensified scrutiny of approvals and infrastructure, even as opposition voices caution against branding all madrassas alike.
Suvendu Adhikari’s government in West Bengal ordered a state-wide survey of madrassas, following which 252 institutions were ordered to close and around 100 others were issued show-cause notices. (File image)
The West Bengal government has ordered the closure of 252 madrassas and issued show-cause notices to around 100 others after a state-wide survey found that several institutions did not have the required approvals and basic infrastructure, officials said on Sunday.
Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department Minister Kshudiram Tudu said madrassas with the necessary approvals will continue to function. Officials said further action will be taken after the responses to the show-cause notices are examined.
The field-level survey was carried out by the department across all districts of West Bengal from early June to assess the infrastructure, approval status and management systems of government and private madrassas.
Tudu said the exercise was launched following directions from Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to find out the number of authorised and unauthorised madrassas in different districts. “As many as 252 madrassas have been ordered to close while 100 others have been sent show-cause notices for lacking requisite approvals and basic infrastructure,” the minister said.
State Panchayati Raj Minister Dilip Ghosh said there had been several controversies surrounding madrassas and claimed that, in several cases, people arrested for their alleged involvement in extremist activities were found to have been working as teachers in some such institutions. “Complaints against madrassas had repeatedly been received. There have been instances of people carrying out anti-national activities from seminaries,” he said. “Madrassas being run in accordance with the law and with government permission will continue to function. But the government will not allow madrassas to be opened indiscriminately and cause trouble.”
The UNSC has 15 members — five permanent members and 10 non-permanent ones elected by the UN General Assembly for two-year terms.
American economist Jeffrey Sachs spoke of India’s population and its position as the world’s most populous country. (PTI, HT file)
No other country has as strong a claim to become the sixth permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) than India, American economist Jeffrey Sachs has said.
The Columbia University professor called on China to support New Delhi’s bid and said India’s population, economy, global influence and diplomatic role strengthened its case.
“Think of all countries in the world, there is no country other than India that has such a strong claim as the sixth permanent member of the UN Security Council,” Sachs said in an interview with news agency PTI.
He made the remarks amid the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, where the grouping’s leaders backed India and Brazil’s aspirations to play a “greater role” in the United Nations, including its Security Council.
Sachs pointed to India’s population and its position as the world’s most populous country. “India’s 1.5 billion people. It’s the most populous nation. It’s a superpower. It’s the world’s third largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity. It is a rapidly growing economy,” he said.
Sachs also cited the recently concluded BRICS summit in Delhi and India’s presidency of the G20. “It’s extremely deft at diplomacy, as we just saw in the BRICS summit, and as we saw when India chaired the G20 as well,” he said. “So to my mind, to build that multilateralism, India absolutely should be a member of the UN Security Council,” Sachs said.
VIDEO | New York, USA: Renowned US economist Jeffrey Sachs makes case for New Delhi’s Permanent UNSC Seat and says, “India has the strongest claim, should absolutely be a member of security council.”
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/d8jp61yd2p) https://t.co/fbAEh0p3Nb
Sachs also called on India and China to work together to overcome their differences and said Beijing should support New Delhi’s bid for a permanent seat on the Security Council.
“I always urge India and China to work closely together on everything to overcome divisions, and for China to support India as the sixth permanent member of the UN Security Council,” he said.
“Because I think that that would say not only to the United States, but to everybody, look, we big countries take responsibility for multilateralism. We work together. We reject hegemony by the US or by the West,” Sachs said.
BRICS backs India’s UNSC aspirations
Sachs’ remarks came days after BRICS leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration at the grouping’s 18th summit in the Indian capital.
The declaration said China and Russia, both permanent members of the Security Council, “reiterate their support to the aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role in the UN, including its Security Council”.
Shah said talks with allies are underway on a nationwide NRC and on whether 1951 should be the baseline for the exercise in Manipur.
Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation, Amit Shah (PIB Photo Gallery)
Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that the governments in 21 states ruled by the BJP-led NDA will introduce a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) before the next parliamentary elections in 2029. He added that discussions were underway with allies regarding the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) across the country, saying that they would “identify and flush out every single illegal infiltrator from India”.
Shah made the announcement while detailing the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, a month-long nationwide mass-outreach campaign organised by the BJP and its state governments to commemorate Narendra Modi’s 25 years in power, first as Gujarat CM and then as PM.
“We introduced the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in several states. I am confident that we will implement the UCC in all 21 states governed by the BJP-led NDA before 2029…Operations such as the surgical strikes, air strikes, and Operation Sindoor have established a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism, while security has been prioritised across various sectors,” Shah said.
Four states have passed UCC legislation so far
Four BJP-ruled states have so far passed the UCC legislation. Uttarakhand became the first state to enact a UCC law in February 2024 and implement it from January 2025, while Gujarat, Assam and Madhya Pradesh are awaiting presidential assent and notification. Maharashtra, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh have constituted committees to draft a UCC legislation.
UCC is part of a troika of core goals of the BJP, in addition to the Ram Temple and the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir. The party has already achieved the Ram Temple and Article 370 abrogation goals. Article 44 of the Constitution, one of the directive principles of state policy, urges the state to endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for citizens. But personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption continued to be governed by religion-specific personal laws since Independence, till Uttarakhand enacted UCC in February 2024.
Centre discusses nationwide NRC with allies
Shah said that discussions were underway with the allies on the possibility of implementing the NRC exercise across the country. He also said the government was discussing whether the year 1951 should be used as the baseline for the NRC in Manipur. “We are discussing this with our allies and the political parties in Manipur. Once we reach a conclusion, it will be shared publicly,” he said.
Speaking on Articles 370 and 35A, Shah claimed the BJP government had abrogated them without “a single drop of blood” being shed or a bullet being fired, and said that Kashmir was “now fully integrated with India”. He also claimed that the BJP government had brought an end to five decades of Naxalism. “More than 9,000 people have surrendered and today we have taken the North-East on the path of development by signing more than 14 peace agreements in the region,” he said.
Modi’s comment carried a message for both China, which restricted exports of key critical minerals and other industrial inputs, and the US, which used tariffs and technology curbs as economic leverage.
PM Modi Credit: @NarendraModi/YT via PTI Photo
The 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi concluded on Sunday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi sending a subtle but strong message to both the bloc’s member China and its principal geopolitical adversary, the United States, by warning against the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals.
“The weaponisation of technology and critical minerals can hinder our shared progress,” Modi, who hosted the summit, said in his opening remarks at the concluding session on “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth”. “Therefore,” he said, “we have emphasised inclusivity in the adoption of technology.”
Modi’s comment carried a message for both China, which restricted exports of key critical minerals and other industrial inputs, and the US, which used tariffs and technology curbs as economic leverage.
Among the BRICS leaders present at the concluding session of the two-day summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi was the Chinese President Xi Jinping, who would host the 19th annual conclave of the 11-nation bloc next year.
Xi, in his address, proposed a five-point initiative to deepen BRICS cooperation in trade and investment, digital industries, smart manufacturing and technology. He suggested a China-led initiative to promote open-source and inclusive artificial intelligence . “China will take the lead in establishing a BRICS AI open-source zone, supporting cooperation in the development and application of large language models, conducting specialised AI training programs, and building an open AI ecosystem,” he said.
His proposal came against the backdrop of US efforts to restrict the international availability of some advanced AI technologies, including a brief export restriction on Anthropic’s latest models earlier this year.
Modi’s warning against the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals stemmed from India’s own experience. The US had for decades restricted India’s access to sensitive nuclear and dual-use technologies after its 1974 and 1998 nuclear tests. China’s restrictions on critical-mineral exports disrupted supplies of rare-earth magnets to Indian manufacturers.
India is wholly import-dependent for lithium, nickel and cobalt, while China dominates global processing of lithium, cobalt and rare earths, accounting for 60 per cent, 68 per cent and 90 per cent, respectively.
Modi noted that supply-chain disruptions, along with pandemics and climate disasters, had shown that no crisis would remain confined to a single region in today’s interconnected world.
“The BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework will help make our supply chains more reliable and resilient,” the prime minister said. He added: “We believe that the benefits of solutions developed within BRICS should not remain confined to BRICS alone. They should be made adaptable and accessible to meet the needs of the Global South.”
Xi’s other proposals focused on deepening economic and technological ties among the BRICS members. He proposed a partnership for special economic zones, a digital industry cloud platform for technology exchanges and industry matchmaking, cooperation in building smart factories and a BRICS engineer training alliance. China, he said, will also host the BRICS Services Trade Forum next year.
Xi said that BRICS should maintain the “stability and smooth flow” of industrial and supply chains and cultivate an integrated market, while upgrading traditional industries and developing emerging and future industries.
The BRICS set of guidelines for disaster management early warning data integration is aimed at strengthening multi-hazard advance alerting systems through improved risk assessment, forecasting, and warning dissemination to ensure that timely and actionable warnings reach all people at risk.
The leader also agreed on the BRICS Voluntary Principles for Climate-Resilient Urban Infrastructure. Credit: PTI, Reuters Photo (R)
The BRICS leaders agreed on a set of Guidelines for Disaster Management Early Warning Data Integration as they held the 18th summit of the bloc, just two and a half weeks after the August 26 flash flood that triggered a catastrophe along Nepal’s border with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region.
The leaders also agreed to create a group to advance the BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for the prevention and response to mass infectious diseases, aimed at ensuring that members could be alerted to the emergence of medical crises such as those caused by Ebola and Covid-19.
“Within the BRICS group, we have placed special emphasis on strengthening resilience. It is equally important to identify challenges in time, be prepared for them, and take prompt action,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hosted the summit, said on Sunday. “With this approach, we have agreed on a BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for the prevention of and response to infectious diseases. Early Warning Data Integration Guidelines have been prepared for disaster management.”
The BRICS set of guidelines for disaster management early warning data integration is aimed at strengthening multi-hazard advance alerting systems through improved risk assessment, forecasting, and warning dissemination to ensure that timely and actionable warnings reach all people at risk.
The August 26 flash flood near the Nepal-China border unleashed a devastating torrent of water, mud and debris, leaving a trail of destruction and killing hundreds. The disaster has also prompted questions in Nepal over whether China had shared information about the danger in time.
China, however, joined the other BRICS nations in agreeing to the guidelines on disaster management early warning data integration.
The guidelines call for inclusive, accessible and people-centred multi-hazard early warning systems covering risk assessment, monitoring, forecasting, warning dissemination, preparedness and early action. They stress hazard, exposure, vulnerability and coping-capacity data to be integrated to support impact-based warnings and risk-informed decisions, with particular attention to vulnerable communities and effective last-mile communication through multiple channels.
They also underlined the need for improved quality, interoperability, accessibility and usability of disaster-risk and early-warning information, along with secure and timely data exchange. The guidelines encourage the use of earth observation, remote sensing, impact-based forecasting and artificial intelligence to support timely warnings and anticipatory action, while stressing that data sharing and the use of emerging technologies must comply with national laws and security requirements.
Bangladesh seeks a post-Hasina “reset” in ties with India, calling the previous relationship “uncomfortable” while urging Dhaka to move beyond what it describes as “India fascination”.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tariq Rahman (File photo)
Bangladesh wants to “reset” its relationship with India and build a new bilateral engagement based on mutual interests, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said on Sunday. He also described Bangladesh-India ties during deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s tenure as “uncomfortable”.
Kobir’s remarks came two days after Bangladesh said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would not attend the BRICS Summit in India as he was not invited in his capacity as Bangladesh’s prime minister. The invitation was instead extended to the chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
The two-day BRICS Summit concluded on Sunday. India had invited Rahman to attend the summit as BIMSTEC chair, while a separate bilateral invitation had been extended to him in February.
“We want to move towards a new relationship, which should be done through bilateral discussions, not through a multilateral forum,” Kobir told reporters.
Relations between India and Bangladesh have remained strained after New Delhi provided refuge to Hasina, who fled to India after being ousted in a youth-led agitation in August 2024.
Kobir said Bangladesh should move beyond what he called an “excessive preoccupation” with India and adopt a more balanced approach focused on mutual interests.
“We have to get out of the India fascination. India is just another country, and Bangladesh wants good bilateral relations with it,” he said.
Responding to a question, Kobir said, “Breakfast in India, lunch in India, dinner in India — then when will you eat your own food?”
CJP’s Abhijeet Dipke questioned the MP government over 30 tribal children’s deaths in Balaghat, flagging contaminated water and alleged welfare failures.
After 30 Tribal Children Die In Balaghat, CJP’s Dipke Flags Contaminated Water, Questions MP Govt (Photo: Reuters/Screengrab-X)
Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP’s) Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday (September 13) questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Madhya Pradesh government over the death of 30 tribal children in Balaghat district. Dipke posted a video of contaminated water from a tap in the area, asking whether state ministers or MLAs would drink this water.
“Found tap water in one of the Tribal villages in Balaghat where more than 30 kids have died. Would the Ministers and MLAs make their own children drink this water?” Dipke wrote.
Notably, in recent weeks, over 30 tribal children have reportedly died in the state’s Balaghat district. Meanwhile, several others were hospitalised. The exact cause of the deaths is not known. However, the detailed investigation has been launched into the matter.
Dipke Mocks Yadav Govt With ‘Resignation Letter’:
Earlier on Sunday, Dipke mocked the Mohan Yadav-led government in the state over the deaths of tribal children in Balaghat. He posted a tongue-in-cheek letter on X about his “resignation” as “chief minister of Madhya Pradesh”.
The letter, addressed to MP Governor Mangubhai Patel and dated August 13, has Dipke stating that he was resigning as “my conscience does not allow me to continue occupying this chair after the deaths of more than 30 tribal children in Balaghat”.
He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving him the “opportunity to serve the people of MP”, an opportunity he said he had “clearly failed” to make the most of.
The satirical letter took aim at the government’s handling of the Balaghat deaths, particularly the compensation announced for the victims’ families.
Dipke also questioned if compensation of “Rs 24 lakh” was adequate had these been the children of ministers or MLAs.
As per Balaghat additional collector DP Burman, kin of 24 deceased kids have been given Rs 4 lakh each, while the process is on to give aid to the others.
In the letter, Dipke said the deaths of innocent children “demand accountability at the highest level”.
The post then widens its sweep, taking potshots at the government’s claims on tap-water supply, education and tribal welfare.
Dipke pointed out that some tribal families in Balaghat still depend on river water and alleged schools in several villages are in a condition worse than animal shelters.
He also cited government data on tribal households without electricity, crimes against Scheduled Tribes and malnutrition among children to underline what he called the failures of successive BJP governments in the state.
Concluding his mock resignation letter, Dipke said he had “failed the tribals of not just Balaghat but the entire state” and, after the loss of so many innocent children, did not believe he had “the moral right to continue in this office”.
The post came a day after Dipke’s visit to disease-affected villages in Balaghat, where his interaction with families was disrupted by a confrontation with a group of social media influencers.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan won praise after turning back to personally thank his driver before leaving India. The viral gesture was hailed as a sign of humility and respect. Sheikh Khaled visited New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit, where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several world leaders.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled Wins Praise For Turning Back To ‘Thank Indian Driver’ While Concluding BRICS Visit; Video Viral |
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan drew widespread attention for a simple gesture at the end of his India visit, when he turned back to personally thank the driver who had accompanied him.
#WATCH | Delhi: Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan departs from India after BRICS Summit 2026. https://t.co/cw3XPOlTTz
A video of the moment has gone viral on social media. Sheikh Khaled had already begun walking towards his aircraft after bidding farewell to officials when he turned around, returned to the driver and shook his hand before leaving.
ولي عهد أبوظبي الشيخ خالد بن محمد بن زايد آل نهيان
لم يقتصر توديعه على المسؤولين فقط
بل رجع ليودّع سائق السياره ..
هُنا عندما نتحدث عن مدرسة زايد ونهج محمد بن زايد ❤️ https://t.co/MlwhpsvUGN
The brief interaction has been praised by social media users as a gesture of humility, gratitude and respect. Many viewed the moment as reflecting the people-centred approach associated with the Zayed School of leadership.
The gesture came at the conclusion of Sheikh Khaled’s visit to India, where he represented UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
نيابة عن رئيس الدولة.. #خالد_بن_محمد_بن_زايد ، ولي عهد أبوظبي، يشارك في أعمال القمة الـ18 لقادة دول مجموعة “بريكس” في إطار دعم العمل المشترك لرسم معالم مستقبل الحوكمة العالمية ومواصلة توسيع آفاق التعاون لتطوير نموذج تنموي شامل يحقق المصالح المشتركة ويعزز الاستقرار والنمو المستدام.
After the visit, Sheikh Khaled expressed his appreciation to India for the warm reception and hospitality extended to him and the UAE delegation. He also conveyed his wishes for India’s continued progress and prosperity.
The BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13 under the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” Discussions at the summit focused on areas including financial cooperation, energy transition and stronger engagement among emerging economies.
Former liquor baron Vijay Mallya criticised the Enforcement Directorate’s actions in money laundering cases, alleging false charges and public character assassination. His remarks came after the ED informed the Bombay High Court about releasing assets worth over ₹14,131 crore to SBI against liabilities of ₹6,203 crore. Mallya said he would reveal what he called agency claims.
Vijay Mallya Targets ED Action, Claims Agencies Are Engaged In ‘Character Assassination’ Over Money Laundering Cases |
Facing heat from Indian prosecuting agencies for allegedly defrauding banks and also for money laundering, former liquor baron Vijay Mallya on Saturday took it up to social media, posting against Ed’s action in money laundering cases including that against Karnataka Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi.
Mallya has been vocal on social media since ED submitted its affidavit before the Bombay high court stating that his assets worth more than Rs 14,131 crores has been released to SBI as against his liability of Rs 6203 crores.
Mallya Claims ‘False Charges’ Against Him
On Friday night, Mallya posted that “for those who want to know the truth, I will slowly reveal all the lies and false charges concocted by the CBI and ED who are masters of deception.”
“I have stood strong and patient and will continue as I do not believe in giving up to the falsehood. But I pity all those other victims who have been wrongly targeted by those agencies, Mallya said in his post.
The DCP said that the CCTV footage shows the woman falling on a road outside her in-laws’ house at night and some locals gathering around her.
The police said they have also found CCTV footage of the woman falling on the road, and it is being made part of the investigation (Representative image/HT photo)
An FIR of dowry death was filed and two persons were detained in connection with an incident, wherein a 23-year-old woman died after being allegedly thrown off the roof of her marital home at Muradnagar by her in-laws on September 7, police said on Saturday.
The police said they have also found CCTV footage of the woman falling on the road, and it is being made part of the investigation. The woman suffered severe injuries and died during treatment at a hospital on September 10, her brother said in the FIR.‘Thrown off roof’ by in-laws over dowry: Ghaziabad woman dies in hospital
“The police in this connection registered an FIR at Muradnagar police station and have detained the woman’s husband and father-in-law. They will soon be arrested. It is alleged that the woman was thrown from the (first floor) roof of the house by her in-laws as her family could not fulfil their demand for dowry,” deputy commissioner of police Surendra Nath Tiwari told HT.
The DCP said that the CCTV footage shows the woman falling on a road outside her in-laws’ house at night and some locals gathering around her. A man is also seen rushing out of the house.
HT could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
The police registered an FIR under BNS sections 85 (husband or the relative of the husband of a woman, subjects such woman to cruelty), 80 (dowry death), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), and 352 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), and also under provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act. It names four in-laws and her husband.
Police said the woman was from Bhangel in Gautam Budh Nagar and had married the man in March. As per the FIR, a copy of which was accessed by HT, the marriage was called off in February due to dowry demands, but later the couple married in court on March 23.
The CIA release spans more than 100 pages of intelligence from the years before 9/11, including assessments of al-Qaeda’s reach across several continents.
FILE – This April 1998 file photo, shows al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan.
India was among several countries that Osama bin Laden was considering as a potential target years before the September 11 attacks, newly released US intelligence documents have revealed.
A presidential intelligence brief from August 28, 1998, listed India alongside Pakistan, Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Uganda among countries where the then al-Qaeda chief wanted to carry out attacks. Nigeria was identified as another possible target.
The document, however, does not point to any specific target in India or provide details of when or how such an attack could have been carried out.
The brief is among more than 70 presidential intelligence documents released by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on Friday, marking 25 years since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Together, the documents run into more than 100 pages and offer a glimpse into US intelligence assessments of the threat posed by bin Laden in the years leading up to 9/11.
What The 1998 CIA Brief Said About India
Titled ‘Bin Ladin Terrorist Network Still a Threat’, the August 1998 brief assessed the state of bin Laden’s network following US missile strikes on al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan.
While the source behind the intelligence is redacted, the document indicated that bin Laden’s ambitions extended well beyond attacks against the United States.
According to the brief, India was among a string of countries being considered for attacks. The document also pointed to the geographical reach that bin Laden’s network had already established.
“Bin Ladin’s well-established infrastructure in North America, Europe, and East Asia lends credibility to reports that he also will target US interests in these regions,” it said.
TMC rebels have offered not to field a candidate in the Nandigram bypoll if Mamata Banerjee decides to contest the seat and return to the Assembly.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
The upcoming Nandigram bypoll could create an unusual political situation for Mamata Banerjee. The rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has indicated that it could stay out of the contest if the West Bengal Chief Minister decides to fight from the seat.
The October 6 bypoll was necessitated after BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated Mamata in Nandigram, vacated the constituency. Mamata has not yet announced whether she will contest the seat.
Ritabrata Banerjee, who heads the rebel TMC group, said in New Delhi on Saturday that the faction had already settled on a candidate, although the name had not been made public.
“Our candidate selection has been decided collectively but hasn’t been announced yet,” he was quoted as saying by NDTV.
Ritabrata then turned his attention to Mamata’s electoral record, while also leaving the door open for her to contest Nandigram.
“Mamata Banerjee never wins in normal elections. But she wins in by-elections. And it doesn’t look good, right, that Mamata Banerjee lost in her own locality and lost at her booth in this election,” he said.
His remarks referred to Mamata’s defeat in Bhabanipur, where she lost to the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari also defeated her in Nandigram and went on to become Chief Minister, bringing an end to her 15-year rule.
Despite the criticism, Ritabrata said the rebels wanted Mamata in the Assembly.
“We also want Mamata Banerjee to come to the assembly,” he said.
Rebels Offer To Stay Out Of Nandigram
TMC MLA Akhruzzaman, who is part of the rebel faction, also pointed to Mamata’s previous defeat in Nandigram.
“She has never won a general election from Nandigram,” he said, referring to her 2021 defeat against Adhikari.
Flight captain Sunny Asaldekar was found unresponsive inside his hotel room in Vasant Kunj after his brother alerted the hotel manager. Police have initiated an inquest.
(Image used for representation).
An Air India pilot died in Delhi after he was found unconscious in his hotel room in Vasant Kunj, where he was staying during a layover, police and airline officials said.
The Mumbai-based pilot was in Delhi for Boeing 787 conversion training and had checked into the hotel on September 10. He was found unconscious and unresponsive in his room the following evening and was later declared dead at a hospital.
According to airline officials, the pilot had previously worked with Air India Express and had moved to Air India a couple of months ago. He was scheduled to operate a flight early on Saturday.
Brother Alerted Hotel Manager
Delhi Police said a PCR call regarding the ill health of a hotel guest was received at Vasant Kunj North police station on September 11. Police personnel reached the hotel and found the pilot unconscious and unresponsive.
The pilot’s brother had earlier contacted the hotel manager after the pilot failed to respond to his calls. The manager went to the room, which was locked from the inside, and opened it using the hotel’s master key. The pilot was found unconscious inside.
The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that BRICS does not currently propose a common currency but is focusing on bilateral trade settlements using local currencies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and China’s President Xi Jinping at the Bharat Mandapam during the BRICS Summit Photo : PTI
There is no proposal for the introduction of a common BRICS currency, rather, the group is focused on settling bilateral trade in local/national currencies, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Saturday as the group adopted the ‘New Delhi Declaration’ with consensus.
Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Sudhakar Dalela, clarified that there is currently no proposal within BRICS to introduce a common BRICS currency. He noted that discussions on settling trade in local currencies among member nations have been ongoing for a while and are not a new development.
According to Dalela, India views local currency settlement as a practical tool to cut transaction costs in bilateral trade, and sees it as a complement to — rather than a replacement for — the existing global payment and settlement system, with the potential to boost overall global trade.
“There is no proposal in the BRICS for a BRICS currency, as of now… Discussion on trade settlement in local currency has been underway for some time in BRICS; it’s not a new subject. We believe local currency settlement is a practical mechanism to reduce transaction cost in bilateral trade. This has been encouraged as complementary to global payment and settlement system, improving overall global trade across nations,” Secretary Dalela said.
Modi told Xi on Saturday that peace and tranquillity in the border areas remained ‘an essential basis for the continued development of bilateral relations.’
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Credit: PIB
New Delhi: India on Saturday agreed with China that the two neighbouring nations should try to resolve the protracted boundary dispute in keeping with the political perspective of the overall bilateral relations and the interests of the peoples.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a bilateral meeting with the Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi. This was the third meeting between the two leaders – after the ones at Kazan in Russia in October 2024 and in Tianjin, China in August 2025 – since New Delhi and Beijing started trying to restore normalcy in relations, which had nosedived to a new low in the wake of the violent face-off at Galwan Valley in June 2020 and the more-than-four-year-long military stand-off in eastern Ladakh.
Modi told Xi on Saturday that peace and tranquillity in the border areas remained “an essential basis for the continued development of bilateral relations”.
“The two leaders expressed commitment to a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question proceeding from the political perspective of their overall bilateral relations and the long-term interests of the two peoples,” the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India stated in a press release issued in New Delhi after the meeting between Modi and Xi.
“We should commit to the parallel development and mutual promotion of bilateral relations and border issues, maintaining peace and tranquillity in border areas,” Xi was quoted as telling Modi in a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the government of China in Beijing. “China and India are partners, not rivals, and opportunities, not threats, for each other’s development.”
The meeting came against the backdrop of sudden spike in tensions amid the West Asia conflict.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Credit: Reuters Photo
New Delhi: India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday explored ways to shore up trade and investment ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reviewing the trajectory of bilateral relations.
The two leaders met on the margins of the BRICS summit.
The meeting came against the backdrop of sudden spike in tensions amid the West Asia conflict.
“Discussed taking our Strategic Partnership forward across defence, AI, space, critical minerals, energy, food security and connectivity,” Modi said in a social media post.
“At a time of uncertainty in West Asia, a strong India-UAE is a symbol of stability, prosperity and peace,” he added.
In the trade domain, the two sides discussed ramping up investments by Emirati entities, including by the new sovereign fund L’Imad.
The two leaders acknowledged the role that L’Imad, the UAE’s newest sovereign investment fund, can play in deepening the bilateral partnership, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
Security forces recovered the decomposed remains of a suspected Pakistani JeM terrorist in Doda’s Seojdhar forest. The find highlights the continued use of Jammu’s upper reaches as militant hideouts and transit routes.
Security forces found decomposed body of a Jaish terrorist (File Photo: PTI)
A highly decomposed body of a suspected Pakistani terrorist linked to the banned Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) was recovered from the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district during a joint search operation on Saturday, officials said. An M4 carbine made in the US and some ammunition were found near the body.
Officials said the condition of the body suggested that the terrorist may have been injured in an encounter with security forces last year and later died of those injuries while hiding in the forest. The recovery has renewed focus on the difficult mountainous belt that has long been used by infiltrating terrorists to set up hideouts and avoid security forces.
The body was found in the remote Divshetar area of the Seojdhar forest during a joint operation by the special operations group of the local police, the Army and the CRPF. The area is densely forested and connects the Bhaderwah valley of Doda with the adjoining districts of Udhampur and Kathua.
In a post on X, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said, “You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide! SOG Doda, RR (Rashtriya Rifles) and CRPF retrieved the remains of a Pakistani Jaish-e-Mohammed operative, who was neutralised earlier in a joint operation. A night-enabled M4 has also been recovered.
Officials said the advanced stage of decomposition indicated that the death may have taken place much earlier, though the exact circumstances and timing were still being established. They said the recovery of the M4 carbine and ammunition suggested that the dead man was likely a top commander of the Pakistan-based outfit.
Manoj Jarange has announced a Maratha march from Antarwali Sarati to Mumbai from September 15. He said the agitation will remain peaceful but continue until the community gets reservation.
Manoj Jarange is on a hunger strike demanding Maratha reservation. (Photo-PTI)
Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange has announced a fresh escalation in the agitation, saying members of the community will march from Antarwali Sarati in Jalna to Mumbai from September 15. Jarange said he will begin an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on September 19.
Speaking after a decisive meeting of the Maratha community at Antarwali Sarati, Jarange asked those present whether they wanted to continue the agitation there or march to Mumbai. After the gathering backed the Mumbai march, he declared, “Mumbai final”.
Jarange said the march will begin at 11 am on September 15 and that his fast will continue during the journey. He said the group could take two to four days to reach Mumbai and vowed not to return from the city without securing reservation for the Maratha community.
MARCH ROUTE ANNOUNCED
Jarange said the proposed route will include stops at Patoda in Beed district, Shrigonda in Ahilyanagar district, Hadapsar in Pune district and Khopoli in Raigad district. Khopoli has currently been identified as the final halt before Mumbai.
He appealed to Maratha community members in Patoda, Shrigonda, Pune city, Hadapsar, Khopoli and surrounding areas to prepare for the march. Those unable to travel to Mumbai were asked to join the agitation at different points along the route and extend their support.
Chinese President Xi Jinping skipped Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BRICS gala dinner after attending the summit and holding bilateral talks. His unexplained absence stood out as other BRICS leaders and senior Indian dignitaries attended the event.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit in Delhi. (Photo: Reuters)
Chinese President Xi Jinping skipped a gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday for leaders attending the BRICS Summit, other participating countries and international organisations, sources aware of the matter said. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, who left for home after attending the summit during the day, was also absent.
The reason for Xi’s absence was not immediately known, though a source suggested that he had returned to his hotel to rest. Xi had arrived in Delhi on Saturday afternoon, attended the BRICS Summit and also held a bilateral meeting with PM Modi. He is in India after seven years.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and other BRICS leaders attended the dinner. Union ministers Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Shivraj Singh Chouhan were present.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was also at the event, along with leaders including Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The Union ministers and chief ministers travelled in two buses from Parliament House to the dinner venue at Bharat Mandapam. The menu included khandvi mille-feuille, khumb galouti, paneer lababdar, gucchi marmik, carrot-bean poriyal and millet pulao. Desserts included Old Delhi fruit cream with jalebi and shahtoot phirni.
BRICS leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration, calling for the protection of cultural heritage and the return of antiquities. The move broadens the bloc’s cooperation on culture and sustainable tourism despite wider geopolitical differences.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with other leaders of the BRICS countries at Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam on Saturday. (Photo: Reuters)
BRICS leaders on Saturday called for the protection of cultural heritage, including in conflict-hit regions, and stressed the need to return antiquities and objects of spiritual, ancestral, historical and cultural value to their countries of origin.
In the New Delhi Declaration adopted on the first day of the two-day BRICS Summit hosted by India, the grouping also underlined the role of culture in strengthening people-to-people ties and backed deeper cooperation in tourism, creative industries and cultural exchanges among member countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the adoption of the declaration at the end of the opening day’s deliberations in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other leaders of the bloc.
The grouping adopted the consensus joint declaration after overcoming differences between the United Arab Emirates and Iran over the West Asia conflict, but it made no direct mention of the US strikes on Iran or the Iranian military’s attacks on several Gulf Arab nations.
BRICS, which originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Indonesia joined in 2025. Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam became BRICS partner countries last year.
“We call for the protection of cultural heritage, including in regions affected by conflict, to prevent the destruction and illicit trafficking of cultural property, which is vital for preserving the history and identity of affected communities, as well as on the need to ensure the restitution and repatriation of cultural heritage, antiquities and objects of spiritual, ancestral, historical and cultural value to their country of origin,” the declaration said.
The leaders also encouraged cooperation among BRICS countries through the exchange of information, documentation and institutional cooperation among museums, archives, libraries and other relevant cultural institutions.
“We encourage the exchange of information and sharing of best practices in the cultural and creative industries, including in the areas of training and capacity-building for artists and cultural practitioners,” it said.
PM Modi first rode with Putin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in China last year. The two leaders travelled together on two other occasions. Friday saw their fourth joint car ride.
PM Modi and President Putin head to the same car at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Friday.DD News/ANI
Diplomacy usually happens with leaders gathered around the negotiating table. Lately, cars have come into the picture as well.
The latest exhibit was in New Delhi when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for bilateral talks and then travelled together in a limousine, a day ahead of the BRICS summit.
PM Modi first rode with Putin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in China last year. The two leaders travelled together on two other occasions. Friday’s was their fourth joint car ride.
On Friday, they travelled together to the INNOPROM exhibition within the large Bharat Mandapam campus after their bilateral meeting.
INNOPROM, the International Industrial Exhibition, is a global platform that brings together manufacturers and buyers from around the world. It provides an opportunity to showcase cutting-edge technologies, access the international market, and serve as an effective B2B platform for productive networking.
Earlier, during their bilateral talks, PM Modi gifted Putin a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, the classical Tamil scripture composed by the weaver-saint Thiruvalluvar.
“Two thousand years ago, Thiruvalluvar wrote the Thirukkural. It includes the entire gamut of human life. It has been translated into the Russian language. I am confident that the people-to-people contact will increase with the translation of the Thirukkural into Russian, which will play a big role in strengthening our relations,” PM Modi told Putin.
In a subsequent post on X, PM Modi wrote, “Presented President Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, which carries the eternal wisdom of the great Thiruvalluvar across languages and borders.”
Moscow is one of New Delhi’s most important strategic partners and military suppliers, with the two leaders shown by broadcasters grinning and patting each other on the back at the New Delhi conference centre where Saturday’s summit will be held.
The Ministry of External Affairs said PM Modi held wide-ranging discussions with President Putin on various aspects of the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.
“The leaders reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation in sectors including trade, energy, defense, space and people to people ties which remain key focus areas of the enduring India-Russia partnership,” the Ministry said.
BRICS Summit 2026: BBC, NYT, Washington Post, Reuters are closely tracking the Delhi summit, with PM Modi’s meeting with Xi Jinping coming after his September 10 talks with Putin
Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined BRICS leaders, the Chairs of the BRICS Business Council and the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance for a family photograph in New Delhi for the BRICS Business Forum 2026 on September 11. (ANI Photo)
The 18th BRICS Summit is set to begin in New Delhi on Saturday, with world’s top leaders, including Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, attending the diplomatic gathering amidst wars in Ukraine and West Asia. International media coverage ahead of the summit has focused on the bloc’s growing size and influence, its internal differences and India’s role in bringing together countries with competing interests.
BRICS Summit 2026 LIVE
The BRICS grouping includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Global Times: China Stresses BRICS’ Role In A Changing World Order
China’s Global Times has highlighted Beijing’s emphasis on strengthening BRICS cooperation and giving the grouping a greater role in global affairs. Its coverage presents BRICS as an important platform for emerging economies and the Global South amid what it describes as a shift towards a more multipolar international system. Ahead of the Delhi summit, Chinese officials have also stressed support for India’s presidency and called for greater cooperation among BRICS members and partners. The Chinese newspaper’s framing puts the focus on expanding cooperation, strengthening the bloc and giving developing countries a greater voice in global governance.
“A ‘Greater BRICS’ that is more united, efficient, pragmatic and committed to shouldering its responsibilities will surely open up new space for the common development of the Global South and inject greater certainty and positive energy into a world beset by turbulence and change. Twenty years is a milestone, but it is also a new starting point,” the newspaper wrote in an Op-ed piece.
South China Morning Post: Internal Divisions Could Slow BRICS Progress
The South China Morning Post has focused on the internal divisions within BRICS as the expanded grouping looks to build consensus at the Delhi summit. Its coverage points to differences among members over geopolitical issues and the direction of the bloc, raising questions about how effectively it can turn its growing economic and political weight into concrete cooperation.
The report also looks back at BRICS’ two-decade evolution and its expansion beyond the original five members. With the grouping now representing a larger share of the global population and economy, the challenge, the report highlights, is maintaining cohesion among countries with differing interests.
Reuters: Iran war And BRICS Unity
Reuters has placed the Iran conflict and its impact on BRICS unity at the centre of its coverage. It has highlighted the challenge facing India as it seeks to bridge differences between Iran and the UAE, particularly as the two countries find themselves on opposing sides of the conflict. Reuters also points to the importance of a joint declaration, which requires consensus among members.
Rawat resigned as a member of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive and as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee at the national level.
Ex-Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat.
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Friday stepped down from key Congress posts after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) recovered unaccounted cash, gold and luxury watches after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) during raid at his personal assistant, Chandan Singh Jeena’s residence, in connection with a money laundering case.
Rawat resigned as a member of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive and as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee at the national level.
In a long post on X, Rawat said that he did not want any action or conduct on his part to weaken the Congress’ ongoing fight against corruption. He said he had taken the decision after remembering his “Isht Devta”.
“I have just remembered my revered deity and taken a major decision. I am not holding any government position from which I could resign. However, I am a member of the Executive Committee of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee and a permanent invitee member of the Congress Working Committee at the national level. I would like to step down from both these positions very humbly, because there should be no weakness in the party’s struggle because of me,” he said.
Rawat said Jeena had served as his Officer on Special Duty (OSD) and handled important responsibilities during his tenure as chief minister from 2014 to 2017. He described Jeena as a “very decent, humble and hardworking person” but said that if allegations against him were proved, he would be ashamed of the alleged wrongdoing.
“It is true that Mr. Gina has been my OSD, and in whatever positions I have served—whether in the party or in government—he has shouldered important responsibilities. Mr. Gina is an utterly noble, humble, and hardworking individual. If there has been any tampering with the OMR sheets in the recruitment of gram sevaks, and if there is any evidence of such a mistake on his part, then I am ashamed of this so-called audacious act of his. However, I have absolutely no faith in this allegation,” he said.
The Chinese envoy said the two countries should handle their bilateral ties from a “strategic height and long-term perspective”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping (AFP)
Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong on Friday said Beijing will work with India to “properly handle differences”, enhance cooperation and strengthen communication as the two countries prepare for a bilateral meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi.
Xu said the two countries should handle their bilateral ties from a “strategic height and long-term perspective” and work to be “friends enjoying good-neighbourliness and partners helping each other succeed”.
“China will work with India to act on the strategic guidance of the two leaders, handle the bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective, step up communication, enhance cooperation, properly handle differences, and be friends enjoying good-neighborliness and partners helping each other succeed,” the Chinese envoy wrote on X.
Xu also confirmed that the two sides are arranging a bilateral meeting between Xi and Modi, saying it would be the third consecutive year that the leaders have met, following their meetings in Kazan and Tianjin.
Xi-Modi Meet In Focus
Xi is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on Saturday for the 18th BRICS Summit, his first visit to India in nearly seven years. His meeting with Modi is expected to be closely watched amid efforts by the two countries to stabilise ties following the 2020 Eastern Ladakh standoff.
The two sides have stepped up diplomatic engagement in recent months, including talks between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the boundary issue and wider bilateral relations.
A video shared by the Government of India showed delegates making their way towards the Prime Minister as they sought a photograph with him.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses with a group of delegates at BRICS Summit. (Source: X)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi found himself at the centre of an impromptu photo opportunity at the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi on Friday, after a group of foreign delegates approached him for a picture.
A video shared by the Government of India showed delegates making their way towards the Prime Minister as they sought a photograph with him.
“Can we have a picture?” one of the delegates asked.
“Yes, of course,” PM Modi replied and took a picture with the delegate. Within moments, other delegates around him were heard calling out, “Please, Prime Minister Modi.”
Listening to their request, the prime minister moved towards the group of delegates to take a picture.
A total of 10 vessels of Indian interest, comprising both Indian-flagged and India-bound foreign-flagged vessels, remain in the Persian Gulf. (REUTERS/Representative)
Three foreign flagged ships with Indian crew were caught in the West Asia crisis and attacked on September 8 and 9, according to a report prepared by the directorate of Maritime Administration. All crew members are safe and accounted for, it said.
The report said that Zimbabwe flagged crude oil tanker Riesco was reportedly hit by US Naval forces in the Gulf of Oman on September 8 at around 11pm IST. Prior to the incident, and in view of the prevailing security situation, all crew members had safely abandoned the vessel and proceeded to a safe shelter at an Iran port. The vessel had 21 Indian crew members on board, the report said.
2 other vessels hit
A Palau flagged LPG Carrier Horizon 1 was reportedly hit on September 8 at approximately 11.30pm IST at Khor Fakkan OPL, the report said. Confirmation has been received from the Owner/Technical Managers KBT Ship Management that all 16 crew members (14 Indian & two Georgian nationals) have been rescued by another vessel nearby and are safe, it added.
The report also said that Liberian flagged crude oil tanker Mersin Prosperity was reportedly hit by a projectile near Fujairah on September 9. All crew members on board are safe and accounted for. The vessel has seven Indian crew members on board, said the report on escalation in strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf region.
Two youths injured in a collision between two motorcycles in Hulasganj on Thursday were referred by the Jehanabad Sadar Hospital to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) with cardboards wrapped around their fractured legs as support.
Tejashwi Yadav. Credit: PTI Photo
Patna: Bihar’s Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Friday criticised the BJP-led government over cardboards being allegedly used to immobilise fractured legs of two patients at a state-run hospital in Jehanabad, saying the health department was “in the ICU”.
Two youths injured in a collision between two motorcycles in Hulasganj on Thursday were referred by the Jehanabad Sadar Hospital to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) with cardboards wrapped around their fractured legs as support.
Hospital superintendent-in-charge Chandrashekhar Azad said Civil Surgeon in-charge Meena Kumari and other officials were summoned by the district magistrate, who sought an explanation and ordered an inquiry into the incident.
Yadav questioned whether the state’s financial condition was so poor that a district hospital could not provide plaster for a fractured leg.
“During our 17-month tenure, we brought about qualitative changes in Bihar’s healthcare system through our determination and passion. But now, the Bihar health department is unable to implement those reform-oriented policies and decisions. It is itself in the ICU,” he said in a social media post.
“The NDA has been in power in Bihar for 21 years. The prime minister comes here during the election season and speaks of ‘jungle raj’. Beyond the election season, these self-serving people have no concern for Bihar. They have installed puppets here who have nothing to do with public welfare,” he alleged.
These tests were conducted in Amreli, Anand, Bharuch, Dahod, state capital Gandhinagar, and Patan.
File photo for representational purposes. Credit: iStock Photo
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), in a report tabled in the Gujarat Assembly on Friday, said that a beneficiary survey carried out in 48 villages, covering 960 beneficiaries, revealed that nearly 89% — nearly nine out of every 10 — of water sample tests in the villages were found unfit for drinking.
“Audit observed that out of 88 water samples collected from test-checked villages, as per the acceptable limit, 10 samples (11.36%) were found fit for drinking purposes while 78 samples (88.64%) were found unfit,” said the report, which looked into implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) from 2019-2020 to 2023-2024.
The analysis of the water quality in seven villages revealed that the parameters most frequently exceeding the prescribed limits included total hardness (in 65% of samples), turbidity (63%), total dissolved solids (TDS) and total alkalinity (56% each), and presence of magnesium (50%).
These tests were conducted in Amreli, Anand, Bharuch, Dahod, state capital Gandhinagar, and Patan.
The CAG report also flagged inadequate representation of women and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) members in “paani samitis” — Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) — in rural areas under the JJM, whose guidelines prescribe that each “paani samiti” ensure adequate participation of women — at least six women members — and maintain their representation at not less than 50% of the total membership.
The report, presented in the Assembly on the last day of the three-day Monsoon session, stated that in nine paani samitis, the representation of women members was below the prescribed ratio, and five had no women at all.
Revanth Reddy told the Assembly Telangana will bring a new education policy covering Gen Z, Gen Alpha and Gen Beta. He linked the overhaul and a higher education budget to the state’s long-term economic ambitions.
Reddy said the government had set up an education commission to frame a new education policy. (File Photo: ITG)
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday said his government was bringing in transformational changes in education and planned to involve not just Gen Z, but also Gen Alpha and Gen Beta through a new education policy.
He said this was aimed at helping the state reach its goals of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2034 and a $3 trillion economy by 2047 under the ‘Telangana Rising 2047’ vision.
In a marathon speech of more than two hours in the Assembly on Friday night, Reddy, who also holds the education portfolio, said the government wanted to raise the share of the state budget allocated to education to 15 per cent.
He said the previous BRS government had allocated Rs 18,955 crore, or 6.53 per cent, to education in 2023-24, while his administration had increased it to Rs 23,729 crore, or 7.78 per cent, in 2025-26. “My target is to increase it to 15 per cent,” he said.
Reddy said the government had set up an education commission to frame a new education policy and that it had submitted its report. He said a committee led by former MP K Keshav Rao would examine the report and asked all members to give their suggestions.
“There is a lot of talk about Gen Z. The debate stopped at Gen Z. I did not stop there. Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Gen Beta. I am thinking of all of them to ensure that we reach our goals of making the state a $1 trillion economy by 2034 and the Telangana Rising 2047 vision. My idea is to involve all of them through the education policy,” he said.
He said the government had introduced pre-primary classes in government schools and that 64,000 students enrolled in the first year. He also said mid-day meals were being provided to both students and teachers from nursery to Class 12, and that centralised kitchens had been developed to serve high-quality, hygienic breakfasts and meals.
Claiming that enrolment in government schools had risen by 86,000, he said, “It is a testament to my performance as education minister,” while responding to BJP floor leader A Maheshwar Reddy’s comment that the state did not have a full-time education minister.
Congress has secured a leased ground in Indore for Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ after being denied the stadium. The venue row has triggered a fresh Congress-BJP clash over permissions and political intent.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. (Photo: PTI)
The Congress has leased an alternative venue in Indore for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme after it was denied permission to use the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. An official of the Indore Development Authority said the party paid Rs 10.08 lakh for a temporary lease of 12,000 square metres of land in front of the Regional Park from September 17 to 19.
Congress leaders accused the BJP of delaying permissions because it was nervous about Gandhi’s visit, while the BJP dismissed the charge and accused the opposition party of propaganda. The programme, which the Congress says has drawn registrations from around 1.5 lakh students, is now scheduled for September 19.
An Indore Development Authority letter to Indore City Congress Committee president Chintu Chouksey said permission for the event would be issued after the funds were deposited and subject to prescribed conditions. The letter also said the organisers would be responsible for security arrangements at the venue and for obtaining no-objection certificates from the relevant departments.
Talking to PTI, Chouksey said, “We have deposited the agreed amount into the IDA’s bank account.” He alleged that the BJP government was nervous about Gandhi’s upcoming event in Indore and, in that panic, had been harassing the Congress over the venue.
“We initially wanted to hold the event at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on September 12, but after not receiving permission, we had to change the date to September 19. We were made to run around for 10 days for the land located in front of the Regional Park,” Chouksey said.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where the Congress had first sought permission for the event, falls under the municipal corporation. Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava said that under an old order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, the stadium can only be used for sports or state-level government events.
BJP state co-media in-charge Alok Dubey said the Congress was indulging in propaganda politics and that the public knows the truth about the party. Taking a jibe at the Congress, he said the name of Gandhi’s event should be changed from “Chhatron Ki Goonj” to “Jhooth Ki Goonj.” The Congress has named the new venue “Bharat Jodo Maidan”.
Before leaving for the BRICS Summit, the Iranian leader emphasised that the bloc was needed to focus on boosting its economic resilience.
Pezeshkian’s visit to India comes as tensions in the Middle East have spiked
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New Delhi on Friday for the BRICS Summit and to hold bilateral talks for the second time in under two weeks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen trade and overall ties.
The Prime Minister thanked Iran for its participation in BRICS-related meetings despite challenging circumstances.
During the bilateral meeting with the Iranian president, PM Modi raised the issue of regional stability amid the ongoing Middle East crisis. According to sources, PM Modi emphasised that the safety and security of seafarers will remain India’s top priority.
For a lasting solution in the Middle East crisis, India has firmly positioned “dialogue and diplomacy” as the definitive way forward. India said that energy security remains a key concern and that there should be a safe passage for vessels carrying supplies.
Pezeshkian’s first visit to India as the president comes as tensions in the Middle East have spiked after the US launched Operation Economic Outcast, a maximum-pressure campaign to completely sever the remaining financial and commercial lifelines sustaining the Islamic Republic.
The Iranian leader emphasised that BRICS was needed to focus on boosting its economic resilience. He said that the BRICS bank was created for the freedom of countries from reliance on the dollar and to stand against US dominance.
‘Use National Currencies In Trade Among BRICS’, Says Pezeshkian
At the BRICS Business Forum on Friday, Pezeshkian said that the world was going through a complex period, geopolitical uncertainties and said that it was important for the members of the bloc to use national currencies during trade.
He called out US’ military aggression and sanctions and said that BRICS must create an environment in which no country can disrupt legitimate trade of another country through monopolising financial instruments.
“India and Iran share civilisational ties, marked by robust cultural and people-to-people bonds. As BRICS partners, the two countries are working to contribute to shared progress and prosperity,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on social media while welcoming the Iranian leader to India.
“The world is always changing, and this is attested to by the objective facts of the last five years,” Valdimir Putin said at the BRICS Business Forum.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking at BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi on Friday.ANI
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday drew a comparison between the BRICS grouping of emerging economies and G7 of developed countries, underlining that BRICS contributes more to the global economy. He was speaking at the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi later cited the same statistics to stress the importance of the group that has grown to 21 members.
Putin said, “Over the last five years, more than 40 per cent of the world GDP (gross domestic product) has been produced by the BRICS countries, whereas the contribution of the so-called G7, the Group of Seven — I don’t know why they call that the Group of Seven — stands at only 29 per cent.”
“The world is always changing, and this is attested to by the objective facts of the last five years,” he noted, speaking in Russian accompanied by an official translation. “Right now the world is undergoing structural, deep, profound shifts… The so-called old leaders, which used to be the vanguard of economic growth, are being replaced by new engines of growth,” he added.
‘Competition Taking Ugly Forms’: Putin Jabs West
He also accused the West in general of sabotaging the development of other economic powers. “We have been told for quite some time that competition is sacrosanct… But our Western competitors are doing everything to get back their erstwhile competitive edge, and sometimes this competition is taking some ugly forms. This is something our colleague from Iran has spoken about,” he said, not naming but apparently referring to the Strait of Hormuz crisis amid the US war on Iran.
“Sometimes, there are measures resorted to of a physical nature, when pipelines are being destroyed, when attempts are undertaken to block international transport corridors, to seize maritime vessels,” he said, and then referred to sanctions imposed on Russia, in the wake of the Ukraine war and otherwise.
“Illegal restrictions are being applied, and there’s also the threat of so-called secondary sanctions against those who do not want to follow someone else’s interests and rather look after their own,” Putin said.
“More than 30,000 sanctions have been slapped on Russia, which is twice the number of all sanctions against all the other countries of the world combined,” he further said, adding, “Against this difficult backdrop, Russia has been working actively, relying on its business, science, education, engineering schools, on our personnel, on Russian citizens, and managed to achieve great success. We have reinforced our national sovereignty; we are developing ties with reliable, predictable partners.”
PM Modi also dwelled on the grouping’s increasingly growing economic might, saying the combined GDP of BRICS nations grew twice as fast as the global GDP.
PM Modi addressing the BRICS Business Forum.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the BRICS Summit Business Forum to express a major concern that is causing anxiety among Indian seafarers.
Apparently referring to recent attacks on ships linked to India – chiefly in the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime chokepoint that has become a US-Iran battleground – PM Modi linked global trade progress to the security of sea lanes, supply routes, and seafarers.
“Global trade progress is possible only when sea lanes are secure, supply routes remain open, and seafarers are safe. That is why India is a staunch supporter of freedom of navigation and the safety of seafarers,” he said.
PM Modi also dwelled on the grouping’s growing economic might, saying the combined GDP of BRICS nations grew twice as fast as the global GDP.
“Today, BRICS nations represent 50% of the world’s population, 40% of its GDP, and over 25% of global trade. Moreover, while global GDP has grown approximately two-and-a-half-fold over these years, the combined GDP of BRICS nations has expanded nearly four-and-a-half-fold. In other words, the economic strength of BRICS has grown at nearly twice the pace of the rest of the world,” he said.
He said BRICS nations are also emerging as key hubs for global innovation and solutions.
“New possibilities for innovation, spanning everything from grassroots initiatives to frontier technologies, are taking shape within our countries. The growing scale, speed, and optimism of BRICS are clearly evident among us. This forum, hosted in India, is the largest BRICS Business Forum to date,” he added.
The Prime Minister also stressed India’s commitment to removing trade barriers, saying New Delhi has so far entered into free trade agreements with 40 countries.
“Our approach remains focused on reducing barriers and expanding opportunities for businesses. That is why, under our BRICS presidency, we have established new cooperation networks in sectors such as agriculture, health, skills, and smart grids. To connect startups and MSMEs with markets and finance, we have launched initiatives like the BRICS Incubator Network, the BRICS MSME Portal, and the BRICS Startup Innovation Fund. You can all leverage these cooperation frameworks to enhance the exchange of investment and talent among our nations,” he said.
According to officials, Prince Rahim Aga Khan V will hold formal talks with Vice President Radhakrishnan on Friday. The visit assumes significance given the historical ties between India and the Ismaili community.
Prince Rahim Aga Khan V with Prez Murmu, EAM Jaishankar. Credit: @rashtrapatibhvn/X
New Delhi: Prince Rahim Aga Khan V arrived in India on Thursday on a six-day visit at the invitation of Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, during which he is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with the country’s top leadership.
The visit, which will continue till September 15, marks one of the Aga Khan’s key international engagements since he assumed the role of the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community following the passing of his father, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, earlier this year.
According to officials, Prince Rahim Aga Khan V will hold formal talks with Vice President Radhakrishnan on Friday. The discussions are expected to cover a range of issues relating to India’s longstanding engagement with institutions associated with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), as well as matters of mutual interest.
During his stay in the national capital, the Aga Khan is also scheduled to call on President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will additionally meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
A team from the NDRF, Arakkonam, joined the district administration, police and fire service personnel in rescuing the trapped workers at the construction site.
Rescue operation underway after the roof of an under-construction church collapsed, near Katpadi, Vellore, Tamil Nadu. Credit: PTI Photo
Vellore (TN): Three labourers were killed and 11 injured when the roof of a church under construction collapsed in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district on Thursday, an official said.
The 11 injured labourers were rushed in ambulances to the Vellore Government Medical College Hospital, the Christian Medical College Hospital and a hospital in Chittoor in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
A police officer said the roof slab of the under-construction Church of South India edifice at Mandi Krishnapuram, near Katpadi, collapsed while labourers were pouring concrete for the roof.
“The 20-foot steel scaffolding and support framework structure collapsed all of a sudden, trapping the workers under heavy concrete debris and rubble,” the officer said, confirming the deaths of three labourers.
A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Arakkonam, joined the district administration, police and fire service personnel in rescuing the trapped workers at the construction site.
India’s real GDP grew by 7.8 per cent in the first quarter (April–June) of FY 2026–27, as per official data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
India’s real GDP grew by 7.8 per cent in the first quarter (April–June) of FY 2026–27, according to official data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) (IMAGE: PTI)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Thursday that the 7.8 per cent growth in India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was driven by “stronger-than-expected” activity in the services sector and in exports, adding that the outturn reflected the resilience of the country’s economy against the backdrop of an energy price shock caused by the Iran war.
Addressing a media briefing, IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack explained that when energy or oil prices increase, it affects the balance of payments of energy importers as well as their fiscal positions.
“In India’s case, the shock has occurred at a time when the country has been in a stronger economic position. We are monitoring the effects of higher oil prices on the Indian economy and will announce our new forecasts for India in October… So far, India has shown quite a lot of resilience to the energy price shock”, she said.
The IMF spokesperson said India’s GDP growth was “above our staff’s expectations”.
“… India’s real GDP in the second quarter grew by 7.8%. That was above our staff’s expectations and also the consensus among other observers. This upward surprise was driven by stronger-than-expected activity in the services sector and in exports. The outturn also underscores the resilience of the Indian economy despite the energy price shock. It also means that India does remain a key growth engine for the world.”
India’s GDP Grew By 7.8%
India’s real GDP grew by 7.8 per cent in the first quarter (April–June) of FY 2026–27, according to official data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI).
The latest GDP data incorporates a revised Index of Industrial Production and a new Producer Price Index series, improving the measurement of economic activities and enhance India’s GDP estimates.
PM Narendra Modi expressed confidence that the BRICS Summit will see positive, meaningful discussions on global issues and welfare as world leaders gather in New Delhi.
PM Narendra Modi (Image: PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that the BRICS Summit will witness positive and meaningful discussions on various issues with the aim of global welfare as leaders from around the world gather in India for the two-day summit.
“Over the next few days, leaders from across the world will gather for the BRICS Summit. I am fully confident that the conference will see positive and meaningful discussions on various issues with the aspiration of global welfare,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
The two-day BRICS Summit hosted by India from Saturday is expected to focus on boosting collective resilience in food, energy, health, disaster reduction and critical supply chains. New Delhi is positioning the bloc as an effective anchor to navigate a fragmented geopolitical environment.
The summit in New Delhi takes place against the backdrop of a global economy facing the adverse impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war, the West Asia crisis, especially the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and the Trump administration’s trade and tariff policies.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung are among the top leaders attending the summit.
PUTIN BEGINS 3-DAY INDIA VISIT
Russian President Vladimir Putin began a three-day visit to India on Friday to participate in the BRICS Summit and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expand bilateral trade, investment and energy cooperation. Putin is accompanied by a high-level delegation.
Putin’s visit marks his first in-person participation at a BRICS summit outside Russia since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022.
DELHI ON HIGH ALERT AHEAD OF SUMMIT
Putin and PM Modi are scheduled to hold wide-ranging bilateral talks on Friday afternoon. The meeting is expected to focus on enhancing cooperation in defence, energy, technology, pharmaceuticals and people-to-people exchanges.
Delhi has gone on high alert with tight security and temporary traffic curbs as India hosts top world leaders for the BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam over the weekend.
Around 15,000 Delhi Police personnel, 200 companies of paramilitary forces and more than 500 CCTV cameras across Delhi will provide security for the two-day 18th BRICS Summit starting Saturday.
Delhi Traffic Police has clarified that authorities will not shut down the city, but commuters should expect temporary stoppages, diversions and restrictions on routes used by VVIP convoys.
BRICS STAGE FOR INDIA TO DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP: CONGRESS LEADER
Ahead of the BRICS Summit, former Union Minister Salman Khurshid described the gathering as a “significant event” that allows India to demonstrate leadership on the global stage.
The murder has sparked political protests, with Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad demanding action against the accused and police personnel, while SP chief Akhilesh Yadav sought a high-level impartial probe into the case.
Attackers assaulted the trader with various weapons, including a spear and left him seriously injured on the road. (Photo: Representational image )
A 45-year-old trader died after he was attacked by a group of men in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda over a dispute linked to social media posts, officials said. Police have arrested two accused in connection with the case, while teams have been deployed to trace the others.
The killing has triggered a political row, with leaders of the BJP’s ally Nishad Party and the opposition Samajwadi Party joining a protest over the trader’s death. While both parties sought action against the accused, the Samajwadi Party also demanded a high-level impartial probe.
According to police, Vinod Kumar Sahani, was running a utensils shop at the local market. On Wednesday evening, after closing his shop, Sahani was returning home on his bike when 10 men travelling on four motorcycles allegedly intercepted him and attacked him.
Additional Superintendent of Police (West) Radheshyam Rai said the attackers assaulted Sahani with various weapons, including a spear and left him seriously injured on the road. The assailants fled believing that he was dead, police said.
Sahani was initially taken to a community health centre before being referred to the medical college in Gonda. As his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to Lucknow, where he died during treatment on Thursday.
Police said Sahani had identified three of his attackers. A case was registered on the basis of his complaint against 10 named accused, including Shubham Singh alias Golu, Subhash Singh and Akash Singh, under provisions related to attempt to murder. Following his death, a murder charge was added to the FIR, Rai said.
“A preliminary investigation has revealed a dispute between the victim and the accused over posts made on social media,” the officer said.
Police have arrested Shubham Singh alias Golu and Subhash Singh, while teams have been deployed to arrest the remaining accused.
The killing led to a protest at the mortuary of King George’s Medical University in Lucknow, where Uttar Pradesh minister and Nishad Party president Sanjay Nishad staged a sit-in along with SP backward classes cell state president Rajpal Kashyap.
Nishad, who reached the mortuary after learning about Sahani’s death, met his family and assured them of all possible help. He demanded the dismissal of the Paraspur Station House Officer, the Shahpur outpost in-charge and other police personnel concerned.
“If action is not taken, we will stage a protest outside the superintendent of police’s residence and office in Gonda on September 11,” Nishad told reporters. He also demanded the immediate arrest of all the accused and strict action against them.
A man allegedly used a fake PMO identity card to enter a luxury Mumbai mall with two others. Police suspect the digital pass was AI-forged and are probing whether his stated motive hides something more.
Rohan Parekh was arrested earlier this week after he was found with the fake PMO card. (Photo: ITG)
A 24-year-old man, identified as Rohan Parekh, arrested for allegedly using a fake Prime Minister’s Office identity card at Mumbai’s luxury shopping mall, Jio World Plaza, told police that he did it to impress his family and make them believe he was working for a “worthy cause”, an official said on Thursday.
Rohan Parekh was arrested earlier this week after he was found with the fake PMO card. Police said the case came to light after the man accompanying him, Dilip Kunde, 49, was found carrying a firearm and an argument broke out between the two men and security staff at Jio World Plaza.
During the argument, Parekh allegedly claimed he was a PMO official. The incident took place on September 7, a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s event at the adjacent Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre. Investigators suspect Parekh used Artificial Intelligence tools to forge the digital PMO identity card and are verifying the technical details.
“During questioning, Parikh claimed he wanted to convince his family he was associated with a worthy cause and working for the PMO. However, we are not convinced by this explanation and are actively examining other potential motives,” the official said. Police are also probing Parekh’s claim that he had received an email in 2024 confirming his selection for a role at the PMO, the official added.
According to police, Parekh, Kunde and another person, identified as Prathamesh Bagul, entered the upscale mall after Parekh showed the digital PMO ID to security staff. The trio then bought a perfume and a wallet before leaving the premises. Efforts are on to trace Bagul. Parekh and Kunde have been remanded in police custody till September 11.
In just under three months, 30-year-old Abhijeet Dipke – the founder and face of India’s Gen Z “cockroach” protests – has acquired the kind of celebrity status normally reserved for a breakout actor or cricketer.
In politics or activism, unless you come from an influential family, such recognition can take years – if it comes at all.
“It’s been a rollercoaster ride. Two-three months ago, nobody knew me. I was just in my room in Boston watching documentaries or attending lectures,” said Dipke, who recently completed a master’s in public relations at Boston University.
“Now I’m here surrounded by hundreds of people, by cameras. It’s a bit overwhelming.”
In and around his hometown of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in the western state of Maharashtra, Dipke is routinely thronged by people wanting to shake his hand or take a photo.
If the attention bothers him, it doesn’t show. Perhaps because politics isn’t entirely new to him: before moving to the US, Dipke had worked with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), an opposition party that grew out of an anti-corruption movement, for three years.
Then, on 16 May, Dipke wrote a post on X that would change his life: “What if all cockroaches come together?”
It was a response to a remark by India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant, who had likened jobless youngsters to cockroaches. Kant later said his comments had been misinterpreted and were directed specifically at young people using fake degrees, rather than the country’s youth more broadly.
But the clarification did little to quell the outrage.
Dipke said he wrote his post while playing a video game. “It was totally spontaneous. I had no idea it would become such a big movement,” he said.
Encouraged by tens of thousands of responses, he joined a handful of former colleagues and activists to launch the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), its name playing on both the chief justice’s remark and that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Alongside the support, Dipke and the campaign were fiercely trolled by government supporters. Their website and X account was briefly taken down in India.
Dipke says that when he wrote to X and to India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology asking why the account had been taken down, he received a notice saying it had been withheld under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act which allows the government to block online information ‘in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the State’.
The ministry did not reply to the BBC’s questions about the issue, but The Indian Express and other media reported government officials as saying the sites had been blocked because of ‘national security concerns’. Dipke says he decided to return to India in response to this.
“I took the decision to come back to India when I was called a national security threat by my own government. That really hurt me. Isn’t my government supposed to stand by me when I’m abroad?” he said.
“I decided I need to go back to my country to show I’m not a national security threat. I love my country, just not in the way that you [the government] want.”
The cockroach protests were among the biggest mass agitations the Modi government has seen in recent years
Returning was not an easy decision. In recent years, activists and journalists critical of the government have faced police questioning, legal cases and, in some instances, jail.
Dipke says a lawyer he consulted advised him against returning, warning that he could be detained under the National Security Act (NSA), which allows detention without formal charge or trial. The government has always denied it takes retaliatory action but a fear of reprisal prevails.
“I won’t lie. I was afraid. I had sleepless nights thinking if I go back to India, my life will change. But if I sit in the US, all these people who have followed the Cockroach Janta Party, they will feel betrayed – that ‘he didn’t come to India, he just kept hiding in the US’,” said Dipke.
His family was worried too.
“My mother broke down over a phone call. She said, ‘Why are you coming back? They might put you in jail or attack you.’ I told her I can’t backtrack now because people will mock me.”
The cockroach protests were not the first mass agitation Modi’s government has faced. Thousands protested against a controversial citizenship law in 2019 and against farm laws introduced in 2020.
Those movements were often portrayed by government supporters as representing particular religious or political interests, or as attempts to damage India’s image.
Attempts to discredit the cockroach protests in similar ways, however, gained less traction for a number of reasons.
Despite India’s impressive economic growth, education and employment remain major concerns for young Indians. A recent government report found that just over 8% of graduates find jobs aligned with their skills. The unemployment rate for graduates stands at 29.1% – a rate nine times higher than for those who never attended school.
And after more than 12 years in power, Modi’s government is facing anti-incumbency in a way it didn’t back in 2020.
But, crucially, the CJP also found an issue with broad appeal.
Around the time the campaign began, the national medical entrance exam was scrapped after a question-paper leak. The scandal resonated with students and middle-class families, cutting across religious and caste lines. More than 20 students were reported to have taken their own lives in its aftermath.
Dipke says focusing on the leak was not a strategic decision, but a response to students who reached out to the CJP.
“I was speaking to at least a hundred followers every day, and most of them were complaining about the paper leak. There was this core frustration around it,” he said.
When the CJP first protested at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on 6 June, the turnout was in hundreds, but nowhere near enough for it to be considered a serious movement on the ground.
“But the longer we sat, the more people started trusting us,” Dipke said. He credits activist Sonam Wangchuk’s 26-day hunger strike for galvanising support.
Then came a turning point.
On 20 July, when protesters attempted to march towards parliament, police and paramilitary forces used tear gas, batons and pellet guns to disperse them. Dozens of protesters were injured; the government says dozens of police personnel were also wounded.
Images of young protesters being met with force triggered a surge of support. Thousands began arriving at Jantar Mantar and demonstrations spread to other cities.
Opposition parties rallied behind the CJP. Asked whether he challenged their leaders over why they had not taken up students’ concerns more forcefully, Dipke said he had not.
“This was the first time I was organising a protest so I was just grateful to them for coming out in support of us.”
The government was suddenly on the back foot. On two successive nights, Modi released videos addressing the country’s youth, saying that tough action would be taken against those involved in exam leaks. But they fuelled further backlash because he wasn’t offering what the protesters wanted: the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
It seemed almost unthinkable that Pradhan, a core BJP leader who had played an important role in recent regional elections, would be compelled to go.
On 25 July, however, he stepped down, saying it was “to ensure that anti-national elements do not take advantage of the situation”.
Modi’s government had reversed course before – most notably when it repealed three farm laws in 2021 after a year of protests. But this climbdown had come remarkably quickly, at the hands of a movement led by people who had been largely unknown only weeks earlier.
Dipke was on stage at the protest site when the news reached him. He dropped to his knees, then sprang up, punched his fist into the air and shouted: “We have done it.”
Now that the euphoria of that moment has passed, the CJP is confronting more difficult questions – not least how to hold on to the attention it captured.
Its latest campaign focuses on conditions in government schools in rural India.
“What I’m hoping to accomplish is that children in rural India should at least get a dignified education,” said Dipke during a visit to a school in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district.
Inspections revealed violations, yet responses to such tragedies in Delhi often lack lasting change, illustrating regulatory failures amid growing safety risks.
A letter, seen by HT, stated that several paying guest accommodations and cafes in Satya Niketan were operating without a fire safety no-objection certificate (NEERAJ CHOPRA/ANI)
Police flagged safety concerns, mainly fire risks, about buildings in Satya Niketan around three months before a multi-storey hostel collapsed in the South Delhi locality last Sunday, killing seven people, mostly students.
The warning came after inspections were carried out in the wake of yet another fatal incident that exposed regulatory deficiencies, gaps in enforcement and general civic apathy in the Capital–a fire that ripped through a bed and breakfast in Hauz Rani, killing 23 people. That the warning appears to have gone unheeded illustrates how the response to such tragedies in Delhi falls calamitously short of meaningful change after following a now-familiar script of inspections, inquiries, lists of violations, and promises of action.
On June 17, two weeks after the Hauz Rani fire, the South Campus station house officer sent a letter to the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Mehrauli, flagging “public safety” concerns and advising “any and early action” in the Satya Niketan locality. The area, close to 13 colleges, was a hub for students seeking alternative accommodation in the city given the chronic shortage of on-campus hostel rooms in Delhi University.
A senior police officer confirmed that such a letter was sent, characterising it as a routine one. “It was…not specifically sent regarding the building that collapsed,” he said.
Letter flagged PGs, cafes operating without fire NOCs
But, the letter, seen by HT, stated that several paying guest accommodations and cafes in Satya Niketan were operating without a fire safety no-objection certificate (NOC) and fire safety measures. The letter stated that inspections may be carried out by an unspecified department to address the issues and offered police assistance to carry out such inspections. “The issue also involves public safety, sanitation, fire safety and law and order concerns. Therefore any and early action in this matter is solicited,” the letter concluded.
The Sub-divisional Magistrate, Rahul Rathod denied receiving the letter. “We have not received any letter. However, it’s possible that it may have come to the office and was sent to the MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), as the action was to be taken by them,” the SDM said. MCD did not respond to queries on the letter. However, after the Hauz Rani blaze, the government had formed 13 district-level committees with members from different government agencies, including the MCD, to carry out inspections and take action.
Investigators said that the Satya Niketan PG did not have a fire NOC. An initial survey following Sunday’s collapse identified at least 20 other multi-storey buildings in the Satya Niketan and Moti Bagh area that appear to require a fire NOC but have never applied for one, officials said. Most of these buildings function as student accommodation. Only three restaurants had an all-clear from the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), these officials said.
Under DFS rules, structures exceeding the prescribed height threshold of 17.5 metres, eateries with seating capacity of more than 50 people and certain other commercial establishments are required to obtain fire NOCs.
Experts said the lack of fire safety clearances often indicate the possibility of other violations.
“In authorised areas and buildings constructed by Delhi Development Authority, the possibility of violations despite not having a fire NOC are less, but areas that spring up on need-to basis like Satya Niketan or Mukherjee Nagar, it’s highly possible that if they don’t have a fire NOC, they are also violating other rules under the National Building Code,” pointed out former fire services chief Atul Garg.
Illegal floors and wall removal weakened collapsed building
After the collapse, multiple structural issues with the Satya Niketan building have come to light, though the MCD said it could find no record of the building being booked for illegal construction. Driven by greed, the building’s owner and his brother constructed four illegal floors in a nearly 50-year-old structure despite knowing that the building’s foundation could give way under the additional load, the police FIR said.
The final straw, investigators said, was the removal of a wall on the ground floor for creating space for a shop on the day of the incident. No permission was sought for such work, officials added.
A senior police officer said a labour contractor hired by Mahesh Gupta, the building owner’s son, told investigators that a plumber had come about an hour and a half earlier and had asked him not to break the wall. But, the contractor, identified as Sanoj Kumar, told the plumber that he was asked to do so by his employer, and he would have to do it, the officer said.
The building collapsed after the wall was removed, trapping students and workers under rubble. Five DU students and two labourers were killed. Twelve people were rescued after a 28-hour operation. Five people have been arrested. They include building owner Hariram Gupta, his wife Urmila, their son Mahesh, and the labour contractor Kumar. Sudhanshu Loveneesh, who along with Shubham Tyagi, had allegedly leased the building from the Guptas to operate the PG, was also arrested. A Delhi court Thursday denied to grant Tyagi anticipatory bail.
The officer quoted above said Loveneesh allegedly told investigators that about six-seven days before the incident, they had called Mahesh Gupta and asked him about the construction activity. “But Mahesh reportedly told them that he was carrying out minor work. They had raised objections about any commercial activity being planned on the ground floor, but Mahesh told them that he would speak to them when free,” the officer said.
After the collapse on September 6, the Delhi government asked the MCD to conduct a citywide inspection and take action against unauthorised construction. Several buildings have been demolished as part of this exercise, and officials suspended. The government also announced plans to formulate a comprehensive policy to regulate PGs in Delhi within two months.
The accident occurred around 9 pm at the an construction site in the Kudasan area of Gandhinagar when a large metal slab collapsed during ongoing construction work.
Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said five injured workers had been rescued from the rubble and shifted to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital. Credit: X/@Vishii14
Ahmedabad: Fifteen workers were rescued after a metal slab collapsed at site under construction in the Kudasan area of Gandhinagar on Wednesday night, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said, adding that the debris-clearing operation would continue through the night to ensure that no one remained trapped.
Sanghavi said 12 of the rescued workers were admitted to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital, while three others who did not suffer major injuries were discharged.”According to the report received just five minutes ago from the Gandhinagar Civil Hospital Superintendent, all 12 individuals currently hospitalised are safe, and none are in critical condition,” he said at the accident site.
The accident occurred around 9 pm at the an construction site in the Kudasan area of Gandhinagar when a large metal slab collapsed during ongoing construction work.
#BREAKING A building segment collapsed in #Gandhinagar #Gujarat trapping an estimated 10 workers under the debris Emergency teams have launched immediate rescue operations at the site #BuildingCollapse #EmergencyRescue #LabourSafety @CMOGuj @NDRFHQ @police_Gnagar @CollectorGnr https://t.co/75jm7tEDEv
Sanghavi said teams from the Municipal Corporation, district police, district administration, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were involved in the rescue operation.
He said necessary equipment, including concrete and metal cutters and specialised cranes with lifting capacities of more than 300 tonnes, were deployed at the site.
“The site manager and staffing supervisors have stated that no one remains trapped underneath. Nevertheless, as a safety precaution and to avoid taking any chances, senior administrative officers of the state are present on the ground,” Sanghavi said.
Vijay Mallya hit back at those calling him a “bhagoda”, saying he is legally prohibited from leaving the United Kingdom.
Vijay Mallya has been facing multiple legal cases in India. (Instagram/@vijaymallyaofficial)
Alleged fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, who is currently living in London, has once again claimed that he is a victim of injustice by the Indian government, saying that, given all the “injustices” he has faced, he wonders if he should become a “cockroach”.
Taking to X, he said, “With all the injustices I have faced and continue to face, I wonder if I should become a cockroach. Maybe a better life on the cockroach side.”
With all the injustices I have faced and continue to face, I wonder if I should become a cockroach. Maybe a better life on the cockroach side.
Mallya’s “cockroach” remark comes after the rise of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an outfit launched as satire in May but which went on to gather huge support from the Indian youth. Its first-ever agitation at Jantar Mantar against the NEET-UG paper leak led to the resignation of then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
In a separate post, Mallya said the Enforcement Directorate, in an affidavit filed before the Bombay High Court, had accepted that it had recovered ₹14,000 crore from him and paid the amount to the banks to which he owed money.
“And may I say again, affidavit filed in Court by the most feared criminal agency the Enforcement Directorate confirms that they handed over ₹14,000 plus crores to the Banks in 2021. Forget what I say if you don’t trust me. Focus on what the Enforcement Directorate said,” he added.
Mallya later responded to reactions to his previous posts, saying that he accepted both criticism and support while seeking to clarify what he described as misconceptions about his residency and the repayment of dues.
“Thank you all for your mixed replies to my tweets. Love and hate go hand in hand and I respectfully accept that whilst humbly accepting your opinions. But for those who do not understand the difference between permanent residency and citizenship and for those who think that repayments are based on physical presence, please think again.”
Mallya clarifies ‘Bhagoda’ claims
Earlier on Wednesday, Mallya hit back at those calling him a “bhagoda”, saying he is legally prohibited from leaving the United Kingdom and accusing the Indian government of being “grossly unjust” in his case.
“For all who say I am a bhagoda refusing to come to India, please be aware that I have been a permanent resident of the United Kingdom since 1992 and am currently legally prohibited from leaving this country. All this started with poster boy actions by the Government of India who have been grossly unjust in my case,” Mallya said in a post on X.
For all who say I am a bhagoda refusing to come to India, please be aware that I have been a permanent resident of the United Kingdom since 1992 and am currently legally prohibited from leaving this country. All this started with poster boy actions by the Government of India who have been grossly unjust in my case.
In February 2026, Mallya had made similar claims, when he told the Bombay High Court that he could not specify when he would return to India because UK courts had barred him from leaving England and Wales or applying for or possessing an international travel document.
In another post, Mallya asked his “naysayers” to independently verify his claims, saying the Enforcement Directorate had released funds attached to him to pay Kingfisher employees.
The minister said the highway is 93-94% complete and plans to travel from Mumbai to Goa by road in October to assess the remaining work.
Nitin Gadkari said he was “ashamed” of the delays around the expansion of the Mumbai-Goa Highway. (ANI File)
At a function to open a 5.15km long elevated road that would bypass a congested stretch north of Panaji, Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said he was “ashamed” of the delays around the expansion of the Mumbai-Goa Highway and had declared that he did not want to attend its inauguration when the project is finally completed.
“The Mumbai-Goa Highway has been hopelessly delayed, and the contractors have failed. From my point of view, what has happened is very unfortunate. My department has as many as seven world records, but now I wish my department will have the record for blacklisting and debarring the single largest number of contractors and suspension of officials in a single year,” Gadkari said at an event to inaugurate the 6-lane Porvorim flyover.
“Now I’ve given up waiting for an auspicious time (to have it inaugurated). I’ve decided that I will not go for the inauguration of the Mumbai-Goa highway because I’m ashamed at the delays,” he said.
Minister says highway completion is near
Gadkari, however, held out hope that the project completion was round the corner.
“Yesterday I had a meeting and was told the highway was 93-94% complete… and in October, I’ll get off at the Mumbai airport and come to Goa by car to see the status of the completion,” he said.
The project to convert the old two-lane Mumbai-Goa highway into a four-lane road was launched in 2011, with the objective of reducing the travel time from nearly 12 hours to six hours.
But work on several crucial stretches of the highway has stalled for a prolonged duration. Also, there have been concerns about construction quality on social media after images of damage on some stretches.
The elevated corridor that Gadkari opened on Wednesday runs through the Porvorim suburb north of the state capital and had been on the drawing board for more than seven years. Work on the ground started in January 2024.
A 22-year-old hospital receptionist in Ahmedabad was allegedly murdered by her father and brother after a video of her with a man went viral. Police allege the accused attacked Sofia with a hammer and then staged the crime scene to make her death appear to be a hit-and-run accident. Both have been arrested on murder charges.
In a suspected case of honour killing, a 22-year-old woman in Ahmedabad was allegedly murdered by her father and brother after a video of her with a man went viral some weeks ago. Her death was later portrayed by the duo as a road accident, officials said.
Woman’s death initially reported accident
The woman, Sofia, who worked as a hospital receptionist, lost her life after the motorcycle she was riding pillion on was hit by a speeding vehicle, NDTV reported.
Only after police took up investigation into the hit-and-run case, it was revealed that she was “killed” by her own family members, including her father and brother.
The incident took place last month.
The accused have been identified as Mohmand Farooq, the victim’s father, and 38-year-old Mohmand Habil, her brother.
Family members accused of murder
On the night of August 12, Sofia’s father and brother took her out for a ride on a motorcycle. Halfway into the drive, her brother diverted the vehicle to a secluded dirt path near Gheljipura village in Ahmedabad, where he allegedly hit his sister on the head three times with a hammer.
The father-son duo then reportedly transported Sofia’s body back to the main road and damaged the two-wheeler to pass it off as a high-speed collision.
Habil then himself approached the authorities, claiming a speeding vehicle hit their motorcycle from behind near the Gheljipura intersection. He alleged that his sister received severe head injuries due to the impact of the collision, while he was inflicted with bruises.
Police uncover alleged conspiracy
Sofia was rushed to Sola Civil Hospital where she died during treatment the following day.
The MCD inspected 1,252 PG buildings in Delhi after the Satya Niketan building collapse. While 1,201 structures were found safe, 39 needed minor repairs, nine required major repairs and three were declared dangerous. The civic body has also identified 26 high-rise framed structures for monitoring and intensified action against unauthorised construction and property misuse.
MCD Surveys 1,252 PG Buildings After Satya Niketan Collapse, Finds 3 Unsafe Structures | X
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has surveyed 1,252 paying guest (PG) buildings between September 7 and 9 as part of its safety assessment drive launched after the Satya Niketan building collapse, officials said.
Of the buildings inspected, 1,201 were found to be visibly safe, while 39 required minor repairs and nine needed major repairs. Three buildings were declared dangerous, with demolition of one already underway.
The civic body has separately identified 26 framed structures above G+4 floors for close monitoring as they could be vulnerable.
PG safety checks continue after collapse
The survey of PG buildings will continue on Thursday as the MCD intensifies action against unauthorised construction, misuse of properties and dangerous structures.
Several such properties have already been identified for major action following the collapse of a multi-storey building in Satya Niketan.
MCD carries out demolition drive
Days after the incident, civic officials carried out a large-scale demolition drive against unauthorised and unsafe buildings. The action on Tuesday involved demolishing 35 buildings across 12 MCD zones, according to officials.
A major demolition exercise was carried out in Najafgarh, while action was also taken against a four-storey building in Shahdara North. Demolitions were also carried out in Rohini (six), Narela (three), Civil Lines (three) and Shahdara North (six), among other areas.
The civic body also carried out nine sealing actions, including two against large godowns in Karol Bagh. A hotel in the West Zone was also sealed.
India-Russia merchandise trade reached an all-time high of $65.70 billion in 2023-24, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin travel together to the World Nomad Games in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. (IMAGE: Instagram/PM Modi)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in New Delhi on Friday, ahead of the BRICS summit, with trade and economic cooperation expected to be at the heart of their bilateral discussions. But behind the headline numbers lies a more complicated challenge of turning a trade relationship dominated by Russian oil into a broader and more balanced economic partnership between India and Russia.
The stakes are high. Bilateral trade has already surged from traditional levels to tens of billions of dollars, but the relationship remains heavily skewed in Russia’s favour. At the same time, the two countries have built alternative payment channels that have insulated much of their commerce from Western financial restrictions.
The Modi-Putin meeting, therefore, comes at a moment when India-Russia trade has both unprecedented momentum and some very old problems to solve.
From $65.7 Billion To A $100-Billion Target
India-Russia merchandise trade reached an all-time high of $65.70 billion in 2023-24, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. But the headline figure concealed a striking imbalance: Indian exports to Russia were worth only $4.26 billion, while imports from Russia stood at $61.44 billion. The gap widened further as Indian refiners became major buyers of Russian crude following the Ukraine war.
According to an ORF analysis, bilateral trade turnover reached $68.7 billion in FY2024-25, with crude oil accounting for around 80 per cent of India’s imports from Russia.
Russia has consequently become a crucial source of energy for India, while India has become one of Russia’s most important large markets at a time when Moscow’s trade with Western economies has been constrained by sanctions.
Yet both sides have repeatedly said that the relationship cannot remain an oil-heavy one. During the 2024 India-Russia annual summit, PM Modi and Putin revised their bilateral trade target to $100 billion by 2030. The challenge now is figuring out what will fill that additional $30-billion-plus gap.
The official roadmap identifies several priorities: reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, fixing logistics bottlenecks, improving connectivity, making payments smoother and resolving insurance and reinsurance issues.
This is what makes the upcoming talks particularly significant.
Not Just About Volume
There is a basic contradiction at the centre of India-Russia trade. The two countries want substantially more commerce, but India needs to sell more to Russia if that expansion is to be sustainable.
India’s major exports to Russia include pharmaceuticals, organic chemicals, electrical machinery, mechanical appliances, iron and steel. Russia, meanwhile, supplies India with oil and petroleum products, fertilisers, minerals, precious stones and metals, among other commodities.
The result is a relationship where India buys substantially more from Russia than it sells. That imbalance has also created a financial problem: what happens to the rupees generated when Russia sells goods to India?
The two countries have spent the past few years building mechanisms to ensure that sanctions and restrictions on conventional dollar-based banking do not disrupt trade. That system has now reached a remarkable scale.
The Rupee-Rouble System
Russia says 96 per cent of India-Russia commercial transactions are now conducted in national currencies. During his December 2025 visit to India, Putin said, “The share in business deals has already reached 96 percent.”
The figure demonstrates how far the two sides have moved towards insulating bilateral commerce from the traditional dollar-based financial system.
More recently, Sberbank’s India chief Ivan Nosov told Reuters that there were now no major problems with financial settlements between India and Russia. Reuters reported that 22 Russian and 17 Indian banks are participating in the bilateral payment infrastructure, with around 90 per cent of transactions completed within 10 minutes.
Yet, Moscow is careful about describing the process as an outright campaign against the dollar. Ahead of the BRICS summit, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia does not seek “de-dollarisation” and remains open to different acceptable payment methods. Peskov also argued that national currencies should not be used as political instruments.
For India, the objective is less about abandoning the dollar and more about ensuring that a geopolitical dispute between Moscow and the West does not shut down India’s legitimate trade with Russia.
What India Can Sell More Of
If India-Russia trade is to cross $100 billion by 2030 without becoming even more dependent on crude oil, India will need substantially greater access to the Russian market. Pharmaceuticals are an obvious candidate. So are agricultural products, engineering goods, machinery, chemicals, electronics and other manufactured products.
The two governments have also discussed joint ventures and longer-term fertiliser supplies. Their economic roadmap includes efforts to improve connectivity and payment interoperability, including links between national payment and financial messaging systems.
The bigger opportunity could be investment. Russian companies already have significant exposure to sectors such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, banking, railways and steel in India, while Indian companies have invested in Russian oil and gas and pharmaceutical businesses. The next phase could therefore be about moving from a buyer-seller relationship to a production-and-investment relationship.
The BRICS Dimension
The Modi-Putin meeting is taking place against the backdrop of India’s hosting of the 2026 BRICS summit in New Delhi.
The economic questions India and Russia are discussing bilaterally overlap with some of the broader questions being debated within BRICS: alternative payment mechanisms, greater economic cooperation, investment, connectivity and a larger role for emerging economies in global decision-making.
BRICS itself has expanded well beyond its original five members, bringing in countries including Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Its economic weight and diversity have consequently grown, even as differences among members remain.
For India, however, BRICS is not simply about challenging the West. The official BRICS framework continues to emphasise cooperation across three broad pillars – politics and security, economy and finance, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges – while stressing mutual respect, equality, inclusiveness and consensus.
Russia, meanwhile, sees BRICS as another avenue through which India-Russia economic ties can expand.
Putin has previously pointed to logistics, financing and transaction processing as major obstacles to unlocking the potential of Russia’s trade with India. In remarks reported on the Kremlin website, he said there was a need to address the “trade imbalance” and explore ways to expand economic ties, including through BRICS mechanisms.
A group of women MLAs from Kerala walked out of an NCW workshop in Faridabad, alleging that most sessions were held in Hindi. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor took a swipe at the Centre, saying it “misdefines cooperative federalism”.
Kerala minister Bindhu Krishna said the women’s legislators did not object to the use of Hindi in the NCW workshop and only flagged the lack of arrangements to include participants from south Indian states. (Photo: X/@INCIndia)
A group of women legislators from Kerala walked out of a National Commission for Women (NCW) workshop on Tuesday, saying the sessions were conducted largely in Hindi, and that it was difficult for participants from non-Hindi-speaking states to follow the proceedings.
The two-day capacity-building workshop for women legislators was organised by the NCW at Surajkund in Faridabad and inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday.
The Kerala delegation included Deputy Speaker Shanimol Osman, Ministers Bindhu Krishna and K A Thulasi, and MLAs KK Rema, Fathima Thahliya, Vidya Balakrishnan and Usha Vijayan.
The legislators, however, clarified that their objection was not to the Hindi language, but to the lack of arrangements to include participants from non-Hindi-speaking states.
“We are from South India. We don’t understand Hindi to that extent, so we requested that they mix it with English so we could understand. But nobody heard,” Krishna said.
She said they had attended the workshop expecting practical guidance and ideas on legislation and legislative proceedings. Instead, she alleged that the sessions were conducted in Hindi, with little scope for interaction or discussion.
“We expected more information, ideas and guidelines on legislation — how we make laws and how we implement them,” Krishna said.
She said that although the posters and other materials were in English, the sessions were conducted in Hindi. “We requested that English also be used so they could follow the discussions, but their request was not accepted,” she alleged.
Krishna said the women MLAs had expected to gain more from the two-day workshop, but the discussions were mostly about filing police complaints and calling ambulances.
Other legislators alleged that an open-house discussion listed in the workshop agenda was not held. MLA Thahliya said the programme largely proceeded through a series of classes, leaving little room for interaction.
The MLAs further claimed that they were not given an opportunity to introduce themselves or interact with other women representatives attending the national-level programme.
“The problem is not the Hindi language. Rather, the commission did not take steps to include all MLAs at the national level,” one of the legislators said.
They also alleged that an MLA from a Hindi-speaking state told them that she could teach them Hindi if they did not know the language. The women MLAs further claimed that some participants shouted that Hindi was the national language and that discussions would be held only in Hindi.
Slogans including “Jai Shri Ram” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” were subsequently raised in the hall, they alleged. The women MLAs walked out shortly before the session and the concluding ceremony.
There was no immediate response from the NCW to the allegations.
The NIA has chargesheeted six Ukrainians and one American for illegally entering Myanmar from India and training Myanmar-based rebel groups in drone warfare. Investigators say no conclusive evidence of anti-India activities has been found yet, though the UAPA probe is continuing.
According to the NIA probe, the accused came to India in December 2025 before illegally crossing the border to reach Victoria Camp in Myanmar. (File photo: PTI)
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against seven foreign nationals – six Ukrainians and one American – in connection with their illegal entry into Myanmar from India, and drone warfare training provided to Myanmar-based ethnic armed groups.
According to the NIA probe, the accused came to India in December 2025 before illegally crossing the border to reach Victoria Camp in Myanmar. They allegedly trained members of groups including the Chin National Front (CNF) and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in drone warfare, operations, assembly and jamming technology.
The investigation has so far found no conclusive evidence that the accused were involved in activities directed against India or had trained Indian insurgent groups, sources said. However, the NIA has not ruled out an India link and is examining electronic data and pursuing further investigation abroad.
The chargesheet was filed on September 8 under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, as the statutory deadline was expiring, NIA sources said. The investigation into suspected offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), however, is continuing.
India is moving to integrate the Russian RVV-BD missile with its Su-30 MKI fighters. The plan could extend the IAF’s reach against high-value airborne targets amid regional missile competition.
India has moved to modify the Su-30 MKI to enable it to carry and fire the RVV-BD missile. (File Photo)
In a major capability boost for its Su-30 MKI fleet, India is working to integrate the Russian RVV-BD very-long-range air-to-air missile with the fighter jets, potentially giving the Indian Air Force a significant advantage in long-range air-to-air warfare against China and Pakistan.
Ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit, India has moved to modify the Su-30 MKI to enable it to carry and fire the RVV-BD missile. It would prove to be a game changer, defence sources told India Today.
The proposal is being taken up for clearance at the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday. The DAC on Monday accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for proposals worth Rs 1.10 lakh crore, including the RVV-BD integration.
The Su-30 MKI, with more than 260 aircraft in the IAF fleet, is the mainstay of India’s fighter fleet and played a key role during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan. Two separate modernisation projects, including the Super Sukhoi upgrade with a new AESA radar, electronic warfare systems and upgraded avionics, are also underway to allow the aircraft to detect and engage targets at greater distances.
LONG-RANGE FIREPOWER FOR CRITICAL TARGETS
The RVV-BD is a very-long-range air-to-air missile designed to engage high-value and relatively slow-moving targets deep inside defended airspace, including airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, aerial refuellers, long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms and transport aircraft.
The missile is reported to have a range of up to 300 km and is intended to provide a long-range engagement capability against targets that typically operate well behind the frontline.
The proposed integration would also give the Su-30 MKI another long-range weapon alongside the BrahMos-A, which the aircraft already carries for ground-strike missions.
The AAP claimed Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha’s inclusion in the Delhi electoral roll bypassed the rules
BJP lawmaker Raghav Chadha maintained he followed all applicable guidelines and procedures. (X)
Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has denied allegations that ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha’s name was added to the electoral roll in the national capital “without following the due process” after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claimed his inclusion bypassed the rules.
The allegation came days after Chadha accused Punjab’s AAP government of a “political vendetta” after his name was marked under the “shifted” category in the state’s draft electoral roll. Chadha, among seven of the 10 AAP members of the upper House who defected to the BJP in April, has been a voter in Mohali.
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on Tuesday said Chadha claimed he was a voter in Punjab and would get his vote registered there again when the Election Commission of India (ECI) froze the electoral roll. He referred to the Delhi draft electoral roll and asked how Chadha’s name featured in it while the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Punjab and Delhi coincided.
Bharadwaj asked the ECI to tell them what process Chadha followed. “We do not believe this is a normal process. This is abnormal, and we have never seen this happen before.”
The AAP has accused Chadha of seeking a backdated entry to the electoral rolls in Delhi’s Rajinder Nagar.
Chadha maintained he followed all applicable guidelines and procedures and availed the prescribed remedies. “The AAP has confused ‘electoral rolls’ with its ‘party membership register.’ It wants to cut out everyone who walks away from [the party chief Arvind] Kejriwal and his corrupt AAP.”
Delhi CEO Ashok Kumar issued a statement, maintaining that electors are added, deleted, or modified only through Form 6, 7, and 8, which are processed as per the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The statement added that any elector can submit these forms at any time of the year. It reiterated a firm commitment to a “transparent and inclusive revision process.”
The draft list after the SIR in Delhi was published on August 31 based on enumeration forms collected between June 30 and August 17. The draft electoral roll was published in Punjab on August 13.
The NIA arrested Amit Kumar, manager of the Jagadhri currency chest on Monday and a key named accused in the case.
The accused resorted to diversion of funds by way of investment in equity of its group concern, maintaining current accounts with other banks, manipulation of books of account, etc. (PTI)
The arrest of a Punjab National Bank (PNB) official by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has intensified the probe into one of the biggest counterfeit-currency discoveries in Uttar Pradesh, with investigators now examining whether fake notes worth ₹17.29 crore found inside a bank currency chest were part of a larger network operating through the formal banking system, informed senior NIA officials on Tuesday.
NIA arrests PNB manager
The NIA arrested Amit Kumar, manager of the Jagadhri currency chest on Monday and a key named accused in the case. He was among three PNB officials who came under the scanner after counterfeit Indian currency was detected at the bank’s currency chest in Saharanpur’s Sofia Market area.
The arrest is significant because the suspected fake currency was not recovered from an individual courier, hideout or border crossing, but from within a banking currency chest—raising questions about how counterfeit notes allegedly made their way into the system and whether some of them could have subsequently moved through legitimate banking channels.
The NIA said the case relates to a conspiracy involving counterfeit currency at the PNB currency chest and that its investigation is continuing to uncover the “complete conspiracy” and identify and arrest other accused.
Three PNB officials under scanner
The three PNB officials identified in the investigation are senior divisional manager Ravi Kumar Kanse, Sofia Market currency chest manager Sushil Kumar and Jagadhri currency chest manager Amit Kumar. The bank suspended all three after their alleged involvement surfaced during the initial inquiry.
Police had issued lookout notices against them amid apprehension that they could flee to Nepal.
The SIT and Crime Branch subsequently searched the residences of the three officials and seized electronic devices and documents. Investigators are examining the material to establish their contacts, movements and possible links with others.
NIA takes over investigation
The NIA has now re-registered the case after taking over the investigation on September 3. The original FIR was registered at Sadar Bazar police station on August 29 under Section 178 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Investigators are reconstructing the chain of currency movement preceding the discovery of the fake notes.
How did counterfeit notes enter the currency chain?
According to details emerging from the probe, ₹111 crore in currency was sent from Saharanpur to the Reserve Bank of India’s Jaipur office on July 6 through the currency-handling network. The consignment reportedly comprised 1,900 bundles of ₹500 notes and 800 bundles of ₹200 notes.
Investigators are examining the packing and dispatch of the consignment, which was reportedly entrusted to a part-time housekeeper, and are trying to establish at what stage the suspected counterfeit notes entered the currency chain.
The investigation has also been looking at the possibility that counterfeit notes may have been distributed from the currency chest to bank branches and ATMs before the irregularity was detected.
One of the two absconding Satya Niketan PG operators was apprehended by police on Wednesday morning.
The site of the building collapse at Satya Niketan. (HT_PRINT)
Days after a building collapse killed seven in Delhi, police have arrested the one of the operators of the boys paying guest (PG) accommodation being run in Satya Niketan area of the national capital.
The five-floor building was being operated by two business partners who had taken the property on lease in August 2025. One of the operators, identified as Sudhanshu, was apprehended on Wednesday morning. The other is still on the run.
According to a rent agreement, shared by the arrested owner’s son, who is also in police custody, the two PG operators were identified as Shubham Tyagi and Sudhanshu. Both the operators belonged to Uttar Pradesh originally.
Earlier, police apprehended labour contractor Sanoj who was allegedly supervising the “repair” work in the basement of the building, which allegedly resulted in the collapse.
As many as seven people, including five students, lost their lives on Sunday afternoon as the building came crumbling to the ground.
“The basement floor was being repaired as the waste was getting accumulated during the rainy season for the past 8-10 days. The ground floor was being repaired for extension for commercial purposes,” said deputy commissioner of police (south west) Amit Goel.
Satya Niketan PG owners in judicial custody
Delhi Police arrested the owners, 81-year-old Hariram Bansal, his 75-year-old wife Urmila Gupta, and 52-year-old son Mahesh Gupta, from Rajasthan’s Bhiwadi on Monday. Bansal and his wife were sent to 14-day judicial custody. His son, whom police said administered the building, was sent to two-day police custody.
The clarification came after a map, first published by the UN on July 1 and extensively used during discussions regarding the United Nations UNGA resolution, depicted Arunachal Pradesh as an independent state bordering Assam and China.
Jaiswal noted that there may be maps for consultation.
India has flagged the “anomalies” in the new world map issued by the United Nations after it depicted Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin — two integral parts of the country– as separate regions positioned between the Indian and Chinese border claims. The move came days after India backed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution calling for more accurate and equitable cartographic representation of the world’s regions.
The foreign ministry said India has backed the resolution focused on promoting equal-area maps, but its support should not be interpreted as approval of any specific map.
“On your question about the UNGA resolution, when this resolution was adopted, we favoured the resolution and voted in favour of the resolution. When the resolution was adopted in the UN General Assembly, we also made a statement where we clarified our position,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, reiterating India’s position.
He stressed the resolution is focused on the principle of equal-area maps and does not endorse any map of any private party or any particular entity.
“The resolution is focused on the principle of having, giving weightage or giving credence to equal-area maps, so that, as we have said, the equal-area maps project or preserve the relative sizes of continental landmarks,” he added.
Jaiswal noted that there may be maps for consultation. “We have taken up the anomalies with the concerned persons,” he said.
India has consistently maintained that the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including Aksai Chin, “has been, is, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India.” New Delhi also maintains that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of Indian territory.
Anomalies in Map
The clarification came after a map, first published by the UN on July 1 and extensively used during discussions regarding the United Nations UNGA resolution, depicted Arunachal Pradesh as an independent state bordering Assam and China, while eliminating the state’s border with Nagaland.
Similarly, the map showed Aksai Chin as an independent region with its western side bordering India and its eastern side bordering China. The United Nations did not explain the reason behind the changes.
The map also shows a dotted line indicating the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan. However, the United Nations, in the footnotes of the map, mentioned that the “dotted line represents approximately the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan.”
“The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties,” it said.
The UN Resolution
The United Nations General Assembly adopted an African Union-backed resolution titled “Correct the Map” on September 4. The resolution, also backed by India, calls for more accurate and equitable cartographic representation of the world’s regions, particularly Africa.
The NCPCR has summoned Meta India’s Managing Director and Head on September 9 over allegations that Instagram advertisements promoted Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material. The inquiry follows a BBC Eye report. The NHRC has separately directed Delhi Police to investigate the allegations and examine compliance with mandatory reporting requirements under the POCSO Act.
Meta India Chief Summoned Over Alleged Instagram Ads Promoting Child Sexual Abuse Material | Representative Image
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has summoned Meta India’s Managing Director and Head to appear before it on Sep 9 as part of an inquiry into advertisements allegedly linked to Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM).
NCPCR Launches Formal Inquiry
The Commission took suo motu cognisance of a BBC Eye report and issued a notice to Meta Platforms Inc on July 3, seeking an explanation over the allegations. Meta responded a week after receiving the notice.
After examining the company’s response, the NCPCR launched a formal inquiry to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the matter. It has now asked Meta India’s Managing Director and Head to appear before the Commission and provide further details.
BBC Investigation Flags Instagram Ads
The BBC Eye investigation alleged that Instagram had carried paid advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material in India. According to the report, advertisements seen by the BBC World Service contained terms such as “rape video” and “child video” and directed users to channels on messaging app Telegram, where such material could allegedly be purchased for as little as ₹99.
The report said advertisements on Instagram are published only after approval by the platform’s moderation technology. When the BBC flagged one of the advertisements, Instagram reportedly responded a day later that the post did not violate its “community guidelines”.
The NCPCR inquiry will examine the allegations as well as the adequacy of Meta’s response to the Commission.
NHRC Directs Delhi Police To Investigate
Separately, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Delhi Police to conduct a thorough investigation into allegations that paid Instagram advertisements promoted Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) in India.
The MHA discussed stronger security measures for Northeast residents after Manipuri artist Chongtham Vikram Singh’s killing. These include nodal officers appointment in metropolitan cities, legal reforms and including northeast’s history and culture in school curriculum.
Manipuri guitarist Chongtham Vikram Singh was allegedly assaulted outside his Ashram home in Delhi.
A high-level committee meeting was held at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday following the killing of Manipuri artist Chongtham Vikram Singh in Delhi. The meeting was chaired by the Joint Secretary, North East Division, MHA, and attended by representatives of MHA, Delhi Police, Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), NCERT and other concerned states and government agencies.
The meeting stressed the need for the strictest possible action in the murder case and discussed concrete measures to prevent similar incidents involving people from the Northeast.
A series of measures aimed at improving the safety and security of people from the Northeast living in metropolitan cities were discussed in the meeting. These included appointing nodal officers, strengthening police and legal mechanisms, increasing manpower for SPUNER, and reviewing hostels for students and other residents from the region. Officials also stressed better coordination among government agencies and monitoring of existing initiatives to ensure timely intervention in cases involving people from the Northeast.
The committee also focused on long-term measures to address discrimination and improve awareness about Northeast India. Discussions included possible amendments to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, implementation of the Bezbaruah Committee recommendations, and greater inclusion of the region’s history and culture in school curriculum.
Here Are Key Decisions Taken In The Meeting:
Appointment of Nodal Officers in metropolitan cities.
Possible amendments to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Inclusion of Northeast India’s history and culture in school curriculum.
Strengthening and monitoring existing government initiatives.
Review of progress on the Northeast social and cultural institution.
Increasing manpower and strengthening SPUNER.
Review of hostels for students and people from the Northeast.
Review of cases and incidents involving people from the Northeast across the country.
Strengthening legal and police measures.
Greater sensitisation and awareness about Northeast India.
Implementation of the Bezbaruah Committee recommendations.
Better coordination between concerned agencies and stakeholders.
The Enforcement Directorate searched 18 locations linked to Karnataka minister Satish Jarkiholi and his aides over alleged excise irregularities and suspected illegal foreign investments. The probe covers 18 bar licences, alleged overseas investments in Africa and a reported Rs 3 crore foreign funds trail.
The ED is probing allegations that Karnataka minister Satish Jarkiholi used his influence to facilitate bar licences and route illicit funds abroad. (Photo: Facebook/Satish Jarkiholi)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches at 18 locations across Karnataka and Maharashtra linked to Karnataka PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi and his aides as part of a probe into alleged irregularities in the Excise Department and suspected illegal foreign investments.
The searches are being carried out in connection with a case registered against Jarkiholi and three others under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) over alleged large-scale investments in Africa, sources said. The agency is probing alleged investments by the Jarkiholi family in an African mining company.
The ED searches covered six locations in Bengaluru and five in Belagavi, along with premises in Maharashtra. The agency also searched the residence of Chikkodi MP Priyanka Jarkiholi, Satish Jarkiholi’s daughter. The searches assume significance as Jarkiholi served as Karnataka Excise Minister during the first Siddaramaiah government from 2013 to 2016.
The ED also raided the residence of Excise Department Additional Commissioner Manjunath. The searches are linked to allegations that Satish Jarkiholi’s wife, Mahadevi, made illegal investments abroad.
According to sources, the foreign investments came to light during the ED’s earlier probe into alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Excise Department. The agency is examining the financial trail and whether funds generated through alleged irregularities were subsequently transferred or invested outside India.
The ED’s probe also focusses on alleged irregularities in the issuance of 18 bar licenses. Sources said the agency is investigating allegations that Satish Jarkiholi used his influence to facilitate the issuance of licenses and route illicit funds abroad.
A probe has been announced to find who facilitated Afghan nationals’ inclusion in voter list and investigate whether more foreign nationals are enrolled as voters.
SIR verification found three Afghan nationals on Jharkhand voter list. (Photo: PTI/File)
Three Afghan nationals have been found in the draft voter list prepared during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Jharkhand. The Election Commission has ordered a detailed probe into how their names were added to the voter list.
The case came to light in the Jamshedpur East Assembly constituency during document verification. The three individuals have been identified as Asil Khan, Mohammad Aslam and Mohammad Ibrahim. Their names were already present in the voter list and they had also completed the enumeration process as part of the SIR exercise.
However, discrepancies were detected during document verification, following which their names were placed on the notice list. Notices were issued to all three individuals, but they failed to produce the documents sought by the authorities.
During subsequent verification, their passports were found. The documents revealed that they were Afghan citizens.
Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar confirmed the development, saying three foreign nationals had been identified in the case. He clarified that the citizenship status of one of them had been confirmed, while the other two were suspected to be foreign nationals.
Speaking exclusively to India Today TV over the phone, Kumar said the names of all three individuals had been removed from the voter list.
“Three foreign nationals have been identified. One is confirmed and the other two are suspected. Their names have been removed from the voter list,” Kumar said.
Kumar said the election authorities had ordered a detailed inquiry and investigation into how the names of foreign citizens were added to the electoral roll. The authorities will also investigate who helped them get their names included in the voter list.
He said criminal action would be initiated against all those found to be involved in the matter. According to the Chief Electoral Officer, helping foreign citizens get their names added to the voter list amounts to criminal activity.
The investigation will not be limited to the three individuals. Their other family members will also come under scrutiny and their documents will be verified to establish their actual status.
The Jamshedpur Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police will take appropriate action after the investigation, the Chief Electoral Officer said.
ABVP protests MCD over 6 deaths in Satya Niketan, demanding MCD Commissioner’s resignation, FIRs against officials, & safety audits for student accommodations.
ABVP National General Secretary Virendra Singh Solanki, second right, addresses a press conference alongside other office bearers concerning the Satya Niketan building collapse in New Delhi. (PTI photo)
Six deaths have turned the ABVP’s Satya Niketan protest into something bigger than just a campus agitation. It is a direct challenge to Delhi’s civic establishment, with the student organisation demanding accountability from the MCD’s top brass.
“The MCD Commissioner is not fit to hold such a critical position and should resign immediately. This is the same officer who was earlier shunted following the controversy over walking his dog at a stadium. His record raises serious questions about his administrative competence. Delhi cannot afford such leadership when lives are at stake,” Virendra Solanki, general secretary of ABVP, said, adding that his organisation would not rest until punitive measures are taken.
“Why was excavation work being carried out in the basement in the first place? Who authorised it? Was it being carried out in compliance with building and safety regulations? These questions demand immediate answers. We demand the immediate registration of an FIR against the concerned officials, the building owners and the zone heads. Those responsible for the negligence and regulatory lapses that contributed to this tragedy must be identified and held accountable without delay,” he said.
ABVP Takes Satya Niketan Anger To MCD
The anger was not confined to the rubble of a collapsed student accommodation. It travelled to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Within hours of the Satya Niketan tragedy, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS, mobilised and took its protest straight to the headquarters of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Sunday. Its demand was blunt — the MCD Commissioner must resign, officials responsible for civic lapses must face action, and student accommodations across Delhi must undergo a safety audit.
The protest escalated, with demonstrators entering the civic body premises and several protesters being detained after a confrontation with police.
That makes this more than a conventional student protest.
The ABVP, often viewed through the prism of its ideological proximity to the RSS and its political front, the BJP, is positioning itself here not as a defender of the establishment but as its accuser. Its target is not an opposition government. It is the civic machinery of Delhi itself — the inspectors, engineers, zone-level officials and the administrative hierarchy responsible for enforcing building norms.
And that is politically significant. This is also being seen as an outreach to the young generation, which appeared to have moved away from the organisation after the NEET protests at Jantar Mantar.
Questions Over Safety, Accountability Mount
The Satya Niketan building was being used as a boys’ PG and housed students in an area packed with such accommodation. Preliminary assessments have raised questions over unauthorised construction, including basement work, while reports indicate that the building did not have a sanctioned plan or fire NOC.
The most uncomfortable question, therefore, is not simply why the building collapsed, but how an allegedly unauthorised structure housing students was allowed to function in the first place.
The excavation and renovation work reported at the site make that question even more urgent. Who permitted the work? Who inspected it? Were structural safety norms followed? Were complaints received and ignored? And if the building was in violation, why was the enforcement machinery not activated before lives were lost?
The ABVP is now turning these questions into a political campaign for accountability.
The death toll in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar hooch tragedy rose to 13, with 96 people undergoing treatment, including seven in critical condition. Police arrested 14 of 30 accused and suspended five officials. A magisterial inquiry was ordered, while authorities probed a suspected Lalitpur link. Congress leader Jitu Patwari claimed 50 deaths, which the government denied.
Sagar hooch tragedy: 13 dead, suspected methanol poisoning under probe
The death toll in the Sagar hooch tragedy in Madhya Pradesh rose to 13 on Monday after one more person died, while 96 people were undergoing treatment at four hospitals, including seven in critical condition, officials said.
All those who died were men aged between 30 and 50, Sagar Collector Pratibha Pal told PTI over the phone.
“The post-mortem of the deceased point to suspected poisoning. We have sent the viscera for testing for more details,” she said.
Asked about reports putting the death toll at 22 to 24, Pal said the administration was going by official records and post-mortem reports.
A senior doctor treating the victims said, on condition of anonymity, that seven to eight people were admitted to Banda Civil Hospital, around 70 at Bundelkhand Medical College and Hospital (BMCH), and 17 at the district hospital. One person was airlifted to Bhopal.
Two dozen people were discharged earlier on Monday, the doctor said.
The doctor said the liquor may have been laced with methanol instead of ethanol. “Methanol causes blurred vision. Most of those who came to us, including those who died, complained of blurred vision. Some others came gasping for breath,” the doctor said, adding that some patients responded to fluids and began passing urine.
The tragedy came to light after 11 people died on Sunday following the alleged consumption of spurious liquor in two villages of Banda tehsil, around 30 km from the Sagar district headquarters. Several people who fell ill complained of blurred vision and dizziness.
Police have arrested 14 of the 30 people named as accused in three FIRs registered in connection with the tragedy, Collector Pal said.
Police and the excise department have launched a major crackdown on bootleggers after gathering inputs, Pal said. Revenue department teams, along with village representatives, were going door-to-door to check whether people were possessing liquor bottles.
Sagar Range Deputy Inspector General of Police Shashindra Chouhan said police were also investigating a suspected link between some people in Lalitpur in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and the local liquor contractor.
Pal had said on Sunday that a preliminary investigation indicated that the liquor had been supplied from Lalitpur.
“There is a gang in Lalitpur that supplies this kind of poisonous liquor. Since this area is adjacent to Uttar Pradesh, this has come to light in the preliminary investigation,” she had said.
Authorities have suspended three excise officials and two police personnel in connection with the tragedy.
Meanwhile, a magisterial inquiry has been ordered to establish the causes of the incident, identify those responsible and determine measures to prevent its recurrence. Jaisinagar Sub-Divisional Magistrate has been directed to conduct the inquiry and has begun the investigation, Pal said.
On Monday, Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda visited Sagar and met the families of the deceased and patients undergoing treatment. He said cases had been registered against 30 people and 14 had been detained.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated the first international film festival of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. Singh said the event reflects a return to normalcy and opens opportunities for local youth and artists.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Minister Jitendra Singh shake hands as NC chief Farooq Abdullah looks on during the inauguration of the first international film festival. (Photo: X/@DrJitendraSingh)
Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Monday said the first International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir would add to the Union Territory’s cultural landscape and create new opportunities for young people.
Speaking at the inauguration of the maiden festival, he said the event also sends a strong message that cinema is as popular in Jammu and Kashmir as it is in the rest of the country.
Singh said the festival had become possible because of the prevailing normalcy in the Union Territory, and described it as a significant moment for a region that had once gone decades without cinema halls. He said the event would also serve as a major platform for local artists.
Lauding the organisers, Singh said, “We are grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the situation here is becoming favourable and returning to normal to an extent that we are able to successfully organise this programme here,” while also thanking the state government and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
He said the occasion was heartwarming because he had seen the time when cinema halls in the Valley shut down one after another.
“A long period of about 20-25 years passed when we were deprived of cinema. Yet, this region has had an inseparable relationship with Indian cinema. We have seen the days when film shootings took place in every street-corner, garden and scenic vistas of Kashmir. Hotels and houseboats used to be bustling with guests from the film industry,” he said.
Recalling earlier links between Kashmir and Hindi cinema, Singh said, “I still remember the filming of ‘Kabhi Kabhie’ here. It featured a song – this beautiful lyric by Sahir Ludhianvi, ‘Main pal do pal ka shayar hoon’. The scene shows Amitabh Bachchan singing the song on a stage at a college programme. The audience in the sequence featured actual students from the Government College for Women, Srinagar.”
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said AI should serve public welfare and accused the BJP of weaponising it politically. He coupled the pitch with attacks over the Saharanpur mosque demolition, caste census and reservation.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav attacked the Uttar Pradesh government over the demolition of a mosque in Saharanpur and called for a caste census. (File photo)
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said Artificial Intelligence (AI) should be used for social good, including medical treatment, agriculture and weather prediction, and accused the ruling BJP of using it for negative politics. He said AI could help farmers get fair prices for their produce and protect crops through better weather forecasts.
Yadav also attacked the Uttar Pradesh government over the demolition of a mosque in Saharanpur, called for a caste census, defended reservation and accused the BJP of failing on inflation, jobs and investment. He said the Samajwadi Party would work to promote brotherhood and respect for all religions.
Speaking to reporters in Lucknow, Yadav said, “Jo samaaj mein laaye achhaai, woh hai AI. AI se aaye achhaai (one which brings goodness to society is AI).” He said AI should be used to benefit society rather than for political attacks.
“AI should be used for good, not for negative politics. Our Opposition, who are currently in power and using government money, grains and budgets for various activities, are conspiring and creating videos using AI. If they produce such videos, we will produce them too. We will create songs even better than theirs,” he said.
On the mosque demolition in Saharanpur, Yadav questioned the need to raze it within 12 hours when the High Court and the Supreme Court were there to intervene. He alleged that the demolition was a well-planned strategy and conspiracy.
Later, in a post on X, Yadav said the Saharanpur mosque demolition had become a subject of discussion across the world and had tarnished the country’s secular image.
He alleged that the “communal BJP government” in Uttar Pradesh and some “communal” officials were involved and demanded that their identities be revealed. He said that if the government did not know the names of the alleged perpetrators, his party would help disclose them.
Yadav said he would write to the President of India against what he called a “malicious criminal act” and would seek the strictest punitive action. He also alleged that the constitutional system in the state had completely broken down under the BJP government and said he would appeal to the President to protect the constitutional order.
He said the BJP government had no answer to inflation, no plan to provide employment, had failed to attract investment and had made no significant mark on the international stage. Without naming anyone, he said those not abiding by the law today would do so tomorrow. “Even if any guilty person escapes today, they will not escape tomorrow,” Yadav said in his X post.
He said the SP would strive to foster brotherhood and ensure respect for all religions in the time ahead. He also urged party workers to stay alert to what he called the BJP’s “communalism”, first through its language and then through its actions.
Yadav also demanded a caste census. “We also demand a caste census, so that rights and respect are granted according to the population. Reservation was there, reservation is there, and reservation will remain,” the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said.
He said the Kushwaha, Shakya, Maurya and Saini communities made up a significant share of the population, but their numbers were underreported, and said they should be properly counted and given rights and respect in line with their share of the population. He added that the “tunnel-like” mindset of those conspiring against reservation would not be allowed to prevail.
The Maharashtra FDA has acted against 880 drug manufacturing and sales establishments in a three-month drive. The action highlights a wider enforcement push under Tukaram Mundhe against unsafe and unauthorised medicines.
Maharashtra FDA chief Tukaram Mundhe (PTI)
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration acted against 880 drug manufacturing and sales establishments and seized illegal medicines and cosmetics worth Rs 11.41 crore between June and August.
The action comes as FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has stepped up inspections of hotels, pubs and eateries, cracking the whip on businesses flouting rules to ensure food safety and regulatory compliance across the state.
DRUGS UNITS FACE ACTION
During the latest three-month drive, FDA teams conducted 2,902 inspections: 607 at manufacturing establishments and 2,295 at sales outlets.
Regulatory action was taken against 140 manufacturing units and 740 sales establishments. The department suspended 677 licences and cancelled 203 licences, the FDA said in a press release.
It also carried out 104 search-and-seizure operations, registered 20 FIRs and arrested 21 people in cases involving illegal drugs and cosmetics.
The seized stock was valued at Rs 11.41 crore. The FDA said this compared with Rs 13.64 crore worth of goods seized during the previous financial year.
UNSAFE MEDICINES UNDER SCRUTINY
The inspections uncovered a range of violations, including the manufacture of substandard and unauthorised medicines, gaps in quality-control procedures and production records, and the sale of medicines without the supervision of registered pharmacists.
Officials also found medicines being sold without bills, scheduled drugs being dispensed without prescriptions, expired medicines being improperly handled and temperature-sensitive products such as insulin and vaccines being stored incorrectly.
The department said enforcement had increased sharply compared with the previous financial year. Complaints rose 557 per cent, while investigations into complaints were up 378 per cent. Search-and-seizure operations increased 217 per cent and the value of seized goods rose 234 per cent, according to the FDA.
The Delhi High Court refused to entertain a plea against Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bharadwaj’s arrest in the CJP assault case. The bench said he is in judicial custody under court orders and can move a trial court.
The Delhi High Court has rejected a plea challenging Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj’s arrest.
The Delhi High Court has rejected a plea challenging the arrest of Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bharadwaj, who is accused of assaulting the father of a student activist during a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar.
A bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja held that Bharadwaj was currently in custody pursuant to judicial orders and said he could challenge his arrest before the appropriate trial court.
Bharadwaj’s counsel argued that his arrest was illegal, contending that the FIR under which he was arrested had been dismissed by the Supreme Court in its recent order concerning cases linked to the CJP protests.
The Delhi Police, however, disputed the claim and told the High Court that the FIR in the present case had not been dismissed.
Bharadwaj was arrested in Bulandshahr on September 4, hours after the CJP staged a protest outside the Parliament Street police station demanding action against him over the assault.
He was subsequently produced before a sessions judge the next day, who allowed Delhi Police one day of custodial interrogation.
He was then produced virtually before a duty magistrate and sent to judicial custody. On Monday, the Patiala House Court remanded him to 14 days in Tihar Jail, till September 21.
His father, Randhir Kumar Jha, subsequently approached the Delhi High Court challenging the arrest, with the plea being urgently mentioned.
Five students and two labourers died, while five students were injured in the collapse of the nearly 50-year-old PG building.
Hariram Gupta, owner of the Satya Niketan building that collapsed on Sunday and claimed the lives of seven people, being taken to South Campus police station. (PTI)
Delhi Police on Monday arrested the owner of a five-storey building that housed Delhi University students and crumpled a day earlier, as the toll in the tragedy climbed to seven and questions swirled about the negligence of the municipal authorities and state government.
Hariram Bansal, a 81-year-old former airforce sergeant, was arrested from Rajasthan’s Bhiwadi. His wife Urmila Gupta, 75, and son Mahesh Gupta, 52, were also arrested. Bansal and his wife were sent to 14-day judicial custody. His son, whom police said administered the building, was sent to two-day police custody.
The order was passed by Judicial Magistrate First Class Bhavya Kharail after all three were produced at her residence.
#WATCH | Satya Niketan Building Collapse Case: Delhi Police brought the arrested accused — Hariram, his wife Urmila, and their son Mahesh — to RK Puram Police Station.
According to police, the building’s electricity connection was in Hariram’s name, while Mahesh was handling its… pic.twitter.com/JHKQzJTc1s
The government suspended five Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials as the Delhi High Court ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident, the second such building collapse in the Capital in less than four months.
Rescuers worked through the night to pull people buried under mounds of rubble and chunks of concrete as plumes of smoke blanketed the neighbourhood where cramped buildings flouting multiple guidelines house tens of thousands of students from DU, where official accommodation is dwarfed by the annual pupil intake.
The rescue operation concluded around 5.10pm on Monday and teams were withdrawn from the site, the Delhi Fire Service.
“My son had big dreams and I was working hard to make them come true…Everyone is telling us how bad the condition of the PG was. I wish my son had told me before. I would have never let him stay there,” said Dewas resident Bhupendra Jaj, whose son Arpit Jahaj was a 18-year-old student at ARSD college.
FIR blames illegal construction for collapse
Driven by greed, building owner Hariram Bansal and his brother constructed four illegal floors in a nearly 50-year-old structure despite knowing that the building’s foundation could give way under the additional load, the police FIR said.
The tragedy occurred around 1.30pm on Sunday when renovations were underway on the ground floor of the paying-guest accommodation, known as Hostel Daze. At the time, around were inside the building in a neighbourhood packed with matchbox buildings and cubbyholes offering little ventilation, dilapidated furniture, damp walls and blocked exit routes.
Seven people were pulled out dead from under the rubble. Five of them were students – Abhishek Kumar, 20, Yuvraj Soni, 20, Pawan Kumar, 17, Arpit Jahaj, 18, and Akshat Singh Yadav, 18.
The two others were Surinder Singh, 75, and Pawan Lal Kori, 30; both worked as labourers.
Those injured were Asgar Ali, 30, Neeraj Bawan, 19, Aditya Kumar, 19, Nitish Chib, 19 and Mohammad Ayan, 18, are students.
“[The building’s] owners are Hari Bansal and his brother, who for the greed of rent had constructed four floors and some new construction was also going on due to which a lot of pressure was on the building’s strength and due to that building’s load bearing strength had crossed and today it collapsed,” the FIR said.
PG housed students in cramped rooms
The building – opposite Sri Venkateswara College on the west of Benito Juarez Marg – was one of dozens of PG accommodations in the congested resettlement colony teeming with restaurants, cafes, roadside eateries, stationery shops and grocery stores. The building had about 15 rooms, with two to three students in each. Rooms were let on a twin- and triple-sharing basis at about ₹12,000 to ₹15,000 a bed per month.
Police said the building was owned by Bansal, a resident of Gurugram, and registered an FIR under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 290 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing or constructing buildings), and 125 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the South Campus police station.
According to the FIR, seen by HT, the load-bearing capacity of the building was overwhelmed by additional floors and fresh construction, resulting in its collapse. Bansal and his brother were mentioned as the owners of the building.
“Despite knowing very well that the existing building’s plinth could not handle a lot of weight and due to that the building could collapse and claim people’s lives, the building owner out of rent greed deliberately constructed the building to upper floors…by doing so the owner has caused loss to life and property. Hence, as per to the PCR call, entire circumstances and medico-legal certificates (MLCs of dead and injured), prima facie a cognizable offence under sections 105, 209 and 125(a) is found to have happened,” said the FIR, written mostly in Hindi.
The FIR No-153/2026 was registered on Sunday night on the complaint of assistant sub-inspector Praful Toppo. “Local enquiry revealed that Hostel Daze PG was running in the building comprising ground plus four upper floors…many students and people lived inside the building and some people trapped due to the sudden collapse of the building,” the FIR added.
Owner arrested in Bhiwadi, family members held
Deputy commissioner of police (southwest) Amit Goel said Bansal was arrested from Bhiwadi, where he had allegedly fled on Sunday. “During examination, it was found that the property is in Urmila’s name and was being managed and run by Hariram and Mahesh. Electricity connections of two floors are in Hariram’s name. He is a retired Sergeant from the Indian Air Force. Mahesh is running a hardware and paint shop,” Goel said.
A senior investigator said the probe showed the building did not have a beam to support the floors, the roof or any pillar, and that the owner had two shops on the ground floor and a basement adjacent to the shops where construction work was underway, leading to the collapse.
“He had planned to renovate the two shops and turn them into one. There was a wall in the middle which they had demolished which we suspect weakened the building. Water had also flooded the basement and he had planned to fill it with cement as a part of the renovation, therefore, there was also cement inside. All of this culminated in the weakening of the base which led to the collapse,” the officer said, requesting anonymity.
Another officer said the building was around 50-years-old and initially had two floors. “The construction of this building was not flagged to police before it collapsed,” added the second officer. Police said Hariram and his family own at least two more properties in the neighbourhood.
Delhi faces renewed scrutiny over building safety
The accident was the latest in a string of building failures and fires in Delhi over the past year that have raised questions about regulation, enforcement and the role of senior officials and ministers. On June 3, a fire at a bed-and-breakfast in Hauz Rani killed at least 23 people, including foreign nationals. Four days earlier, the collapse of an illegal building in adjacent Saidulajab killed six. In May, a fire tore through a residential building in Vivek Vihar, killing nine. On March 18, a blaze in a Palam Vihar building killed nine.
In the face of mounting criticism, MCD suspended deputy commissioner (DC) of the south zone, Rakesh Kumar, superintending engineer Ranvir Singh, executive engineer (building) Lalit Kumar Goel, assistant engineer (building) Sunil Chauhan, and junior engineer Ashish Kumar. The move came after chief minister Rekha Gupta’s order.
“The Delhi government, in coordination with MCD, is working towards introducing a policy under which every building used for public activities, whether a PG, nursing home, school or any other institution, would be required to undergo periodic structural audits and obtain building safety certification. No building would be allowed to conduct public activities without ensuring its safety,” said the CM.
A five-storey boys’ PG accommodation in Delhi’s Satya Niketan collapsed on Sunday, killing five students and two labourers.
Akshat Yadav, Arpit Jahaj, Pawan Kumar and Yuvraj Soni and were among those who lost their lives in the building collapse. (Sourced/HT)
“Arpit had big dreams and was working hard to make them come true. He wanted to study in a big city and we sent him to Delhi. He was his mother’s favourite,” his father said.
In a matter of minutes, the hopes and dreams of five students came crashing down after a five-storey paying guest accommodation for boys collapsed in south-west Delhi’s Satya Niketan on Sunday. One labourer, as well as one man who still has to be identified, were also killed in the incident. At least two people are currently critical at AIIMS.
The incident, which took place near the heart of Delhi University’s south campus, has sent shockwaves in the city, reiterating the fragility of the Capital’s infrastructure, the lack of proper regulatory norms, and laxity in the enforcing the ones that exist.
Arpit Jahaj, 18 – Student
Arpit had returned to the city from his hometown in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, just hours before the building came down. “We had just celebrated Rakshabandhan holiday together, saw him happy and playful, and now we are seeing him as a dead body,” said his father, Bhupendra Jahaj, who works as a cab driver.
The 18-year-old was preparing for the Chartered Accountancy examinations and was a second-year student at the Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma (ARSD) College.
“We got a call from Arpit’s friend on Sunday night about the building collapse and by the time we reached here, nothing was left and he was gone,” his father recalled, standing outside the mortuary of AIIMS trauma centre, waiting to receive his son’s last remains.
His friends searched all night for him in the remains of the building and only later did they learn that he had died. The hospital said they had received a body matching the identity. “But when we went to identify him, we could not because the body was badly injured. Around 6.30 am (on Monday), the family reached the hospital and his mother identified him by his birth marks,” his friend Yuvraj told HT.
Arpit had been living in the PG for nearly one-and-a-half years. “Everyone is telling us how bad the condition of the PG was. I wish my son had told me before,” his father said.
Following the postmortem, Arpit’s family donated his corneas at the hospital. “Maybe he will be able to see the world, even after he is not with us.”
Yuvraj Soni, 20 – Student
Like Arpit, Yuvraj was also a CA aspirant. He was a second-year student at Motilal Nehru College.
He had been living in the north campus till a few days ago. “Yuvraj had just moved to this PG and it took him away from us,” said his friend Aryan.
His sister Nikki and his brother Vivek were at the hospital, but all they could do was express their shock and disbelief. They had no words left with which to share the impact of the tragedy.
Akshat Singh Yadav, 18 – Student
Akshat, like many others in the country, had spent the last few days with his family at home —for him, in Katni, Madhya Pradesh — for Rakshabandhan.
“Everything was normal for us. He had just left home after a vacation and was settling back into his routine, until we got a call from one of his friends telling us that a building collapse had happened and Akshat had been injured,” said his father Manta Singh Yadav.
He was a second-year BCom student at PGDAV College. “Akshat has been living in this PG since August 16, 2025. We did not know that the PG had structural problems. He never informed us,” his father added. “We assumed that our child was safe away from us.”
Abhishek Kumar, 20 – Student
When Abhishek was pulled out from under the rubble, he had been unconscious. Hours later, he passed away at the hospital due to the severity of his injuries.
A native of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, he was two years into his BCom at Motilal Nehru College.
Family friend Krish Kandari alleged that the PG had always been in poor condition from inside. “I couldn’t stay there with him for even two days,” he said. “There needs to be strict action against the PG owners and others responsible for the death of my friend and others.”
Krish had rushed to Delhi after learning of the accident. “We had always been together since childhood. He was like a brother to me.”
Pawan Kumar, 17 – Student
One of the youngest victims of the collapse, Pawan was a first-year BSc student at Motilal Nehru College. He belonged to Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh and, according to AIIMS officials, his family on Monday morning collected the body after postmortem.
Surinder Singh, 75 – Labourer
Surinder was brought dead to AIIMS on Sunday night. A resident of Arjun Nagar in Delhi, he had been working as a labourer.
Pawan Lal Kori, 30 – Labourer
Pawan was brought dead to the hospital on Monday, officials said.
The process of restarting the Maitree, Mitali and Bandhan Express trains operating between India and Bangladesh will be on the agenda at the meeting this time.
The Bandhan Express is an international passenger train that runs between Kolkata and Khulna.
Following the discontinuation of railway services between India and Bangladesh in 2024 due to security concerns, efforts to restart train services from Kolkata to Dhaka and Khulna and New Jalpaiguri to Dhaka are now taking shape, as the issue is coming up for discussion during the two-day meeting of the Inter-Governmental Railway Meeting (IGRM). This meeting is held every year, and the last meeting took place in New Delhi last year.
The IGRM between India and Bangladesh is an annual bilateral forum where railway authorities and ministry representatives from both countries meet to discuss and decide on cross-border train operations, rail infrastructure projects, and freight transit.
The process of restarting the Maitree, Mitali and Bandhan Express trains operating between India and Bangladesh will be on the agenda at the meeting this time, and this is the first time since 2024 that the issue will be discussed formally at the annual meeting between the railway authorities of the two countries.
The two-day meeting begins in Dhaka on Tuesday, and sources have confirmed to NDTV that if there is a resolution, then the three cross-border trains that originate from Kolkata and New Jalpaiguri could resume services as early as next month.
The Maitree Express is an international express train that connects Kolkata and Dhaka. It was the first international train between India and Bangladesh, and it covers a distance of around 375 to 400 km in about 9 hours. The train crosses into Bangladesh through the Gede-Darshana border. The Bandhan Express is an international passenger train that runs between Kolkata and Khulna, and it covers the 180km route in five and a half hours. The train enters Bangladesh through the Petrapole-Benapole border.
The Mitali Express is a bi-weekly international express train connecting New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, India, and Dhaka Cantonment in Bangladesh. It was the last international train service to be inaugurated between the two countries, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina flagging off the services jointly in 2021. The train covers the distance of nearly 600 km in around 11 hours and crosses into Bangladesh via the Haldibari-Chilahati border.
The Mitali Express rake had been held up in Bangladesh for over five months in 2024 during the unrest in the country. The train had originally left New Jalpaiguri for Dhaka on July 17 but had been unable to return due to political unrest in Bangladesh. With the deteriorating law and order situation in Bangladesh, Indian Railways suspended all three inter-country passenger trains for an indefinite period and the rake returned only in December through the Chilahati-Haldibari border in Cooch Behar District of West Bengal this morning amid heightened security measures
Bangladesh is also going to propose launching a new passenger train service from Rajshahi to Kolkata. Bangladesh is also going to propose re-routing the Dhaka-Kolkata Maitree Express via the Padma Bridge instead of its current route.
Freight transport via the railways is also going to be on the agenda of the meeting, along with stalled railway projects that are being implemented with loans from India, including the construction of two new railway lines from Kamalapur in Dhaka to Joydebpur in Gazipur.
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari announced strict action against child marriages, ordering house-to-house drives to identify underage marriages and pregnancies. The government will invoke the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and POCSO Act against offenders. Murshidabad recorded the highest number of institutional births involving underage girls between January and June.
West Bengal CM Adhikari Announces Crackdown On Child Marriage, Action Under POCSO & 2006 Act Against Offenders | ANI
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday announced dire consequences for those who are involved in child marriages in the state.
Action against child marriages
Addressing a press conference at the state secretariat Nabanna after a cabinet meeting, Adhikari slammed the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government and said that during the previous regime Bengal had become first in child marriage and underage deliveries.
The West Bengal Chief Minister had also ordered house-to-house drives to identify underage marriages and pregnancies in the state.
“Irrespective of any religions, the state government would invoke the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and the POCSO Act against those marrying minors and also against those who are solemnising such marriages. In between January 1 to June 30 nearly 60,000 institutional deliveries were done involving underage girls,” said Adhikari.
Bilaspur police have detained 23 suspected Bangladeshis allegedly using fake Indian documents. The case has triggered verification across West Bengal and may lead to deportation.
Police detained 23 suspected Bangladeshi nationals in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district over fake Indian documents. (File Photo)
Twenty-three suspected Bangladeshis living in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district and allegedly using fake Indian documents have been detained by the district police’s Special Task Force, an official said on Sunday.
The police said the detainees were found during a special drive to identify suspected illegal immigrants, infiltrators from Bangladesh and people living without valid documents. The suspects have been sent to a holding centre in Raipur while the verification process is completed.
Bilaspur Senior Superintendent of Police Rajnesh Singh said the STF, headed by Additional Superintendent of Police (IUCAW) Rashmeet Kaur Chawla and comprising seven inspectors, had been carrying out checks across the district for the past two months.
“The STF carried out checks at several locations across the district in the last two months. Some 1,162 people were checked during the drive and 23 were found to have allegedly submitted false or fake documents,” he said.
He said STF teams were later sent to several districts in West Bengal, including Murshidabad, Jangipur and Malda, from where the suspects had claimed they belonged, to verify their identities and addresses.
“All the details and documents provided by these people for identification were found to be false,” Singh said.
According to the police, the suspects were involved in hawking in Bilaspur and had been coming to the district for around two years. All 23 were living in the Sirgitti police station area and were sent to a holding or detention centre in Raipur on September 4 pending completion of the verification process.
“The investigations conducted by the STF in Murshidabad and surrounding districts have established that all of them are from Bangladesh. However, we are awaiting further confirmation, following which the deportation process will be initiated,” the SSP said.
CPIM general secretary MA Baby said Rahul Gandhi, as Leader of Opposition, can stake a claim to the Prime Minister’s post if the opposition wins. He said the decision should come only after the election, while ruling out pre-poll speculation over leadership.
MA Baby says Rahul Gandhi has right to stake PM claim after polls.
CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby has said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has the right to stake a claim to the post of Prime Minister if the Opposition emerges victorious in the next general elections.
“Normally, the Leader of the Opposition generally has a right. Who should be the PM is something we should discuss after elections,” Baby said.
He said the question of who should lead the government should be decided only after the opposition secures a majority, adding that the parties would be mature enough to arrive at a decision.
“If the opposition becomes victorious, then who should be the PM is something that should be discussed post-elections,” Baby said.
Referring to the CPI(M)’s past experience, Baby recalled that the party’s Central Committee had discussed whether former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu should become Prime Minister after the United Front emerged as the largest grouping in the 1996 Lok Sabha elections.
“We won’t stake a claim. It will be ridiculous with our strength. So then, naturally, the Leader of the Opposition generally has the right to stake claim,” Baby said.
He said the CPI(M) did not want to engage in speculation about possible leadership arrangements before the elections.
“We don’t want to engage in the exercise of evolving some hypothesis,” Baby said.
Speaking virtually at the inauguration of the Swaminarayan temple in Paris, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India and France are building a special global strategic partnership. He said the BAPS temple would strengthen cultural ties, reflect shared craftsmanship and serve as a centre for service.
PM Modi said that through BAPS, whenever temples are consecrated in different countries, India’s ancient thoughts and human values travel right along with them. ( Photo- Youtube/narendramodi)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India-France relations have reached new heights and this strategic partnership is particularly special because it rests on the solid foundation of long-standing cultural and political ties.
Addressing virtually the inauguration of the Swaminarayan temple in Paris, PM Modi hoped that the grand temple in Paris will stand for centuries as a symbol of cooperation and opportunity between both the nations.
“In recent years, relations between India and France have reached new heights. Together with my friend, President (Emmanuel) Macron, both nations are building a Special Global Strategic Partnership,” he said.
The prime minister said that from technology, AI, and defence to space and climate action, India and France are moving forward together with new momentum and energy.
“We are also celebrating 2026 as the India-France Year of Innovation. This strategic partnership is particularly special because it rests on the solid foundation of our long-standing cultural and political ties,” he said.
Modi said these days, there is much talk about joint venture possibilities between India and France.
He said history bears witness that the sacrifice of Indian soldiers in France remains alive in the hearts of people to this day.
“Language enthusiasts also know the pivotal role French scholars played in popularising Sanskrit. Romain Rolland’s writings on Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda brought our societies closer,” he said.
Furthermore, the prime minister said, the spiritual journey of ‘The Mother’ from Paris to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry has inspired countless Indian and French seekers.
He said decades ago, Srila Prabhupada Swami also visited France, opening a new chapter in spiritual connections through ISKCON.
“Today, yoga has also become a bridge for people-to-people connections between our nations. Images from the Eiffel Tower on International Yoga Day reflect yoga’s immense popularity in France,” he said.
PM Modi said the Swaminarayan temple adds a new dimension to those possibilities – it is ‘Made in India’ and ‘Built in France.’
“Many of its stones were carved in India, blending India’s ancient craftsmanship with modern engineering here in France,” he said.
PM Modi said he was confident that the resonant values of Indian culture originating from the newly built temple in Paris will benefit people across Europe.
He said that whenever time permits in the future, he will certainly try to visit the temple and pay respects.
Congress MP Imran Masood has attacked the demolition of a mosque at the Saharanpur Collectorate after a well was found at the site. The row has intensified with residents alleging illegality and Congress preparing a court challenge.
On the discovery of the well, the residents said wells were common at mosques and agricultural properties in the past. (AI Representative Image)
Congress MP Imran Masood has criticised the demolition of a mosque located on the premises of the Saharanpur Collectorate in Uttar Pradesh, calling the action illegal and accusing the authorities of creating a “state of lawlessness”.
The remarks came after the debris of the demolished structure was cleared and a well was found underneath the site.
Speaking to IndiaToday, the locals of the area expressed their anguish over the demolition and claimed that the mosque had existed at the location for decades.
‘HAVE SEEN THE MOSQUE SINCE 1990′
One local resident said he had seen the mosque since 1990 and had offered prayers there several times. Recalling his childhood visits to the court premises with his father, he said a cleric used to keep his belongings at the mosque and that the structure had long been part of the area.
The residents said that the action against the mosque was illegal and claimed the land on which the Collectorate stands originally belonged to Muslims. They said the mosque had been built when the land was under Muslim ownership.
They also reported that a temple had been built on land belonging to Muslims and claimed that no objection had been raised by the community over it.
WELL FOUND AFTER MOSQUE DEMOLITION
On the discovery of the well, the residents said wells were common at mosques and agricultural properties in the past, particularly when piped water and tanks were not widely available.
They said people used water from such wells for ablution before offering prayers, arguing that the presence of a well at the site did not indicate anything unusual.
Questioning the demolition, one resident said that the authorities should have first sealed the structure and followed the proper legal process before taking action.
MP IMRAN MASOOD CALLS IT ‘STATE OF LAWLESSNESS’
Imran Masood also questioned whether the law and judiciary were being respected.
“People can say whatever they want; I am talking about the law. They do not respect the law. They have created a state of lawlessness,” Masood said.
He questioned whether the judiciary and courts were being respected in the country, adding that there appeared to be “one law for me. And a different law for you”.
The Congress MP also questioned the demolition of the mosque and claimed that the action was carried out under political pressure.
The Satya Niketan building was being used as a paying-guest accommodation and collapsed on Sunday afternoon.
NDRF, fire department officials during a rescue operation after a 50-year-old five-storey building housing a boys’ hostel collapsed in a congested bylane in Satya Niketan. (PTI)
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Sunday said all illegal constructions with more than four floors would be “immediately sealed” following the collapse of a five-storey building in Satya Niketan that killed six people and injured many.
“All illegal constructions with more than four floors will be immediately sealed, and strict action will be taken against the guilty officials, leading to their immediate dismissal,” the MCD said.
“These orders will be implemented with immediate effect,” the MCD added. The Satya Niketan building was being used as a paying-guest accommodation and collapsed on Sunday afternoon.
Building reportedly constructed in the 1990s
According to an MCD report, the collapsed property, identified as P-14 Satya Niketan, stood on a plot measuring around 55 square yards and comprised a basement and ground to fourth floor. The structure was reportedly built in the 1990s.
The MCD report said there was “No record of booking or sealing available, no complaints received of any work in this property.”
A senior civic official said no sanctioned building plan existed for the structure and that construction carried out in the basement was unauthorised.
The building collapse saw a large-scale rescue operation involving the Delhi Fire Services, National Disaster Response Force and police personnel.
Several people were trapped under the rubble. Students and locals were among those who rushed to the site in the initial stages of the rescue operation.
Basement changes, fifth floor under scanner
Permission could not have been granted for changes to the basement of an existing structure as such work would be hazardous, the official said.
“Permission for changes in basement of a standing structure cannot be granted. It is hazardous. It is the failure of the field staff to detect the activity,” the official said.
The official also said a fifth floor was not permitted under Floor Area Ratio (FAR) regulations.
The MCD official said resettlement colonies have standard unit plans and that structures cannot simply be expanded beyond those provisions. However, the grant of freehold rights in 2011 is believed to have contributed to widespread expansion and alterations of properties in such colonies.
Construction work under scanner
The circumstances leading to the collapse are being investigated. Police have registered an FIR against the owner Hariram Bansal and others. Renovation and construction work being carried out at the building before the collapse has come under scrutiny.
Officials are also examining whether structural changes, construction activity or other violations weakened the building. The exact cause of the collapse has not yet been established.
Swatantra Bhardwaj, implicated in the assault of a student activist’s father during a protest, faced extensive questioning by police while in custody.
Swatantra Bhardwaj has been sent to judicial custody over assault of Sanjay Kumar, father of a CJP protester | File Photo Photo : PTI
Swatantra Bhardwaj, arrested in connection with the alleged assault on a student activist’s father, was shown his viral videos and questioned by multiple police teams during his remand. Bhardwaj was asked more than 100 questions during his remand, news agency PTI quoted a police source as saying. While Bhardwaj answered some of those, he did not respond to others, they said. Bhardwaj was sent to one-day judicial custody on Sunday after his police remand ended.
According to the report, Bharadwaj was showed several viral videos by officials during the questioning. He was confronted with the statement made by him and he showed no sign of remorse during his questioning, the report said.
Swatantra Bhardwaj has been accused of assaulting a student activist’s father during the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in July this year.
Bharadwaj was arrested on Friday after a video clip of an interview went viral, in which he claimed to have “cracked the skull” of the student’s father, and said he escaped being jailed despite the seriousness of the alleged offence and a protest by CJP members at the Parliament Street Police station in the national capital.
He was detained in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr and sent to a daylong police custody by a Delhi court on Saturday.
The Delhi Police has added sections of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the charge of criminal intimidation to the FIR registered over the alleged assault.
A fresh FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was also lodged on a complaint from the minor, who alleged that she was subjected to online threats and harassment after speaking out against the assault on her father.
The Delhi Police had earlier said the injuries suffered by the student activist’s father were “simple in nature”.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke questioned PM Modi over student safety and educational infrastructure after a five-storey hostel collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan, killing three. He sought accountability over unsafe hostels and classrooms, while residents flagged concerns about other buildings housing students.
CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke Questions PM Narendra Modi Over Student Safety After Delhi Boys’ PG Building Collapse |
Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over student safety and the state of educational infrastructure after a five-storey hostel building collapsed in south Delhi’s Satya Niketan area, leaving three people dead and several others feared trapped.
Dipke said students in tribal areas were dying due to inadequate care and support, while students in the national capital were also facing safety concerns.
Dipke Questions Modi Over Educational Infrastructure
In a post on X, Dipke said Modi had visited Delhi University a day earlier and delivered a political speech in which he invoked the term “dimagi naxal”, but had little to say about the condition of educational infrastructure in the country.
“Today, a hostel building in South Campus has collapsed, with students feared trapped under the debris. The number of casualties is still unknown,” he said.
Yesterday, the PM visited DU, gave a political speech and even invoked the term “Dimagi Naxal,” while speaking very little about the state of our educational infrastructure.
Today, a hostel building in South Campus has collapsed, with students feared trapped under the debris.…
Rescue operations were underway at the building, identified as Hostel Daze, and nine people had been pulled from the debris. Locals said some of those trapped had made phone calls seeking help.
“How long must students be made to pay the price for failing infrastructure?” Dipke asked.
He said students in tribal areas lacked adequate care and support, while those studying in the national capital also faced safety risks.
“Adivasi students are dying in tribal belts due to a lack of care and support, and even students studying in the national capital are not safe,” he said, demanding safe classrooms, safe hostels and basic dignity for students.
“Is that really too much to ask?” Dipke said, asking whether the Prime Minister would visit DU again and explain how the building collapsed.
Repair Work Reportedly Underway In Basement
According to locals, the building had around 15 rooms, with two to three students staying in each room. Construction or repair work was reportedly underway in the basement.
Sudivya Kumar Sonu, the legislator from Giridih, also held charge of the Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs departments
Senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and Jharkhand Higher and Technical Education and Urban Development Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu has died of heart attack, the party said on Sunday.
Sudivya Kumar, 56, was admitted to a private hospital in Ranchi late Saturday night and died of cardiac arrest around 4:00 am.
Sudivya Kumar, a legislator from Giridih, also held charge of the Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs departments
Expressing grief over his death, the JMM said in a post on X: “The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha family is stunned and heart-broken by the untimely demise of Sudivya Kumar, a dedicated comrade of JMM and a Minister in Jharkhand government.”
ज़िंदगी की क्षणभंगुरता…
कल तक जो साथी हमारे बीच थे, आज उनकी स्मृतियाँ ही हमारे साथ हैं। जीवन की अनिश्चितता हमें एक बार फिर गहरे दुःख और शोक में छोड़ गई है।
झारखंड मुक्ति मोर्चा के समर्पित साथी एवं झारखंड सरकार के मंत्री सुदिव्य कुमार के असामयिक निधन से पूरा झामुमो परिवार… pic.twitter.com/CqsHItNpzR
The party said Sonu’s death had left its members shocked and grief-stricken, describing his loss as irreplaceable for both the government and the state. It also remembered his contribution to the party and extended condolences to his family and colleagues.
“His departure is an irreparable loss for the party, the government and Jharkhand,” the post added.
Mourning the death of Sudivya Kumar, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the loss was deeply personal.
He remembered him as a trusted companion, mentor and a committed soldier of the Jharkhand movement whose contributions to the state’s identity and rights would never be forgotten.
देर रात अपने बड़े भाई, हमारे प्रिय सुदिव्य कुमार सोनू जी के निधन का दुःखद समाचार मिला। इस खबर को स्वीकार कर पाना मेरे लिए बेहद कठिन है। सोनू भैया का जाना मेरे जीवन में ऐसी रिक्तता छोड़ गया है, जिसे शब्दों में व्यक्त करना संभव नहीं।
Jharkhand Transport, Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Deepak Birua said Sonu’s condition worsened suddenly on Saturday night and that he died while undergoing treatment at a hospital.
In a message, Birua said, “I am deeply saddened by the death of my fellow minister in the Jharkhand government, brother Sudivya Sonu. Last night, his health suddenly deteriorated. He was taken to the hospital, where he passed away during treatment.”
झारखंड सरकार के साथी मंत्री भाई सुदिव्य सोनू जी के निधन से मन मर्माहत है।
कल रात अचानक उनकी तबीयत बिगड़ी,रात में ही उन्हें अस्पताल में इलाज के दौरान उनका देहावसान हो गया।
ईश्वर उनकी आत्मा को शांति दें एवं परिवार जनों को दुःख सहने की शक्ति दें।
Ritesh Hange, a friend of Chetan Chaudhary, was allegedly involved in planning the murder committed at the Lohagad Fort on June 18, when victim Ketan Agarwal was on a trekking trip with fiancée Siya Goyal.
Police said Ketan was killed by Siya (and Chetan, not in pic); now Ritesh Hange has been arrested too.
After the two prime accused, Siya Goyal and her boyfriend Chetan Chaudhary, a third person has now been arrested for the murder of the woman’s fiancé, Ketan Agarwal in Pune, police said on Saturday. The man, arrested on Friday, is Ritesh Hange, a friend of Chetan Chaudhary who was allegedly involved in planning the murder of the real estate businessman at Lohagad Fort on June 18, when Agarwal was on a trekking trip with Siya Goyal.
“During the investigation, it came to light that Ritesh was involved in the planning of Ketan Agarwal’s murder,” Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandip Singh Gill said. “He was aware of the earlier plan of Goyal and Chaudhary to injure Ketan by breaking his hands and legs and subsequently eliminate him. After allegedly executing the murder at Lohagad fort on June 18, Chetan contacted Ritesh and informed him about it,” another officer said, reported news agency PTI.
Ritesh Hange’s alleged involvement in the murder came to light after a forensic analysis of a mobile phone recovered by the police. He was produced before the Vadgaon Maval Sessions Court that remanded him to police custody until September 12.
The police claim to have found chats from the mobile phone discussing how Ketan could be pushed from Lohagad Fort and how evidence of the crime could be destroyed. Hange, who is originally from Beed, is currently being questioned.
The police allege that Goyal and Chaudhary planned to eliminate Agarwal as he was becoming an obstacle in their relationship.
Initially, police treated it as an accident and registered a case of accidental death. But Ketan Agarwal’s sister continued to doubt and dissect the accident narrative even after his funeral. Sources told NDTV that four days after the incident, Siya Goyal visited the Agarwal family home to offer condolences. During the visit, Ketan’s sister questioned her in detail about what happened at Lohagad.
Ketan Agarwal and Siya Goyal had gone trekking to Lohagad Fort on three occasions: May 31, June 14, and finally on June 18. Inconsistencies in Siya Goyal’s replies and her evasiveness deepened the sister’s suspicion. She then shared her doubts with the family, after which they approached the police and sought a fresh probe.
Initially, Siya Goyal told the police that Ketan slipped and fell into the gorge while posing for photos. But police found that Siya Goyal and Chetan pushed Ketan Agarwal to his death and tried to pass it off as an accident. They were arrested on June 23. A probe was launched into whether anyone else was involved in the conspiracy. The latest arrest comes in that trail.
Before making any arrests, police examined CCTV footage, technical evidence, and questioned some after the victim’s family insisted. That’s when police learned about an affair between Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary. CCTV cameras from the area showed a man wearing a hoodie, despite the June heat, following Ketan and Siya’s vehicle and movements around the fort. The unusual attire drew investigators’ attention, eventually helping them identify and track Chetan.
Police subsequently discovered that Siya and Chetan had been in contact for three years and had spoken over 2,000 times between January and June, clocking a cumulative 238 hours on calls. That was besides their conversations on FaceTime and WhatsApp.
The probe also found that Ketan and Siya were set to fly to Bali, Indonesia, for a pre-wedding photoshoot, but had to change plans when the man realised his passport was missing upon arriving at Mumbai airport. His father, Vishal Agarwal, hinted at sabotage.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had served 12 years as chief minister when he last spoke at Shri Ram College of Commerce in 2013, launching his national pitch. He became PM in 2014, and returned to that dais this Saturday after 12 years in the top chair.
PM Narendra Modi speaking at SRCC, New Delhi, on Saturday, and (right) (from left) in 2013.Photo: IANS, YT/@bjp
Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to his analogy about what fills a glass that seems half empty, as he returned to Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) on Saturday evening, 13 years after a speech at the same place became the launchpad for his projection as the BJP’s prime ministerial face.
“I gave the example of a glass of water, and spoke of three perspectives on it,” PM Modi recalled at the SRCC centenary gathering. “That was the time when the country was facing a lot of negativity. At that time, I said I see the glass as full, with half water and half air.”
The line he was recalling was delivered in February 2013, when he was chief minister of Gujarat. Holding up a glass of water then, he had said optimists would call it half full and pessimists half empty. “I am someone who sees a path different from both of those paths. I have a third way of thinking, that this glass is full, half with water and half with air,” he had said.
PM Modi said the 2013 address was now being revisited widely: “The impact of that speech can be felt now as well. He added that even as he is from a party, BJP, that was in the Opposition at that time – Congress-led UPA was in power – he had not used the stage for criticism. “Whatever I said was with conviction, and I walked that path,” he said.
“Growth On A High”
A large part of Saturday’s speech was built as a contrast between the India of 2013 and the country’s present position, plus the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ or a “developed India” by 2047, when India will celebrate 100 years of Independence.
The SRCC visit comes at a time when PM Modi is more pointedly focusing on young Indians after a recent protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) brought Gen-Z issues front and centre in Indian politics. He’s taken to using Instagram a lot more lately, just as he sought to speak to the youth via the SRCC lecture in 2013.
“If you go to the internet and watch the news around 2013, see what the headlines were,” he said at SRCC on Saturday. “The headlines were like ‘Army personnel killed at LoC’, ‘Inflation high at 10%’, and about corruption.”
He added, “Everywhere there was ‘policy paralysis’, and the world was counting us among the ‘fragile five’ (economies),” he said. “There was negativity and struggle. There were those days, and then there’s the present time,” he said.
He cited the latest quarterly growth data. “Just a few days back, the Q1 GDP numbers came out. This came at a time when there is a global crisis. And this clearly shows India’s strength,” PM Modi said. “Those who wanted to push India into the ‘fragile five’ are not able to digest these numbers.” He listed vehicle sales among the markers of the shift. “Construction, manufacturing, and industrial activity have increased. That means India is not just growing but moving fast as well.”
The 7.8 per cent first-quarter figure has been questioned by some economists and by Opposition leaders. PM Modi named no critic, describing them instead as “naraaz fufa-ji” (grumpy uncles) who “see only negativity”. On security, he said: “Now, terrorism is at its end; and if they dare, then the army goes inside and ends them.” India struck terror infrastructure across the border under Operation Sindoor last year.
Reacting to the speech, Congress MP and spokesperson Pawan Khera wrote in Hindi on X: “Such a boring speech that even onions would burst into tears!”
Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar commented: “PM Modi spoke only of 2013 and 2047. He did not speak on issues of the students or the public at large.”
Narendra Modi’s two SRCC appearances are separated by the long arc of his national political career. In February 2013, he came to this college as chief minister of Gujarat, weeks into his fourth term in Gandhinagar and yet to be named his party’s candidate for national office. He was in his 12th year as chief minister.
On Saturday he returned with 12 years as prime minister behind him, in his third consecutive term since 2014. Next month he completes 25 years as head of government, adding his stints in Gujarat and at the Centre.
Vinod Tawde’s two-day Lucknow visit is aimed at reviewing BJP’s organisational preparedness ahead of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections
Left: Vinod Tawde| Right: Akhilesh Yadav |
The Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are still around five to six months away, but the political atmosphere has already begun to heat up, with both the BJP and opposition parties stepping up their attacks ahead of the high-stakes battle.
Against this backdrop, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Vinod Tawde arrived in Lucknow on Saturday for his first visit to Uttar Pradesh since being appointed the party’s state in-charge. He wasted no time in taking aim at Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, targeting the party’s much-publicised “PDA” formula.
Taking a sarcastic swipe at the acronym, Tawde gave “PDA” a new meaning: “Paraya Dhan Apna”, or “someone else’s wealth is our own”. He alleged that the SP’s politics involved claiming or appropriating what belonged to others, adding that slogans built around the SP’s PDA formulation would be countered by the BJP.
PDA is an acronym coined by Yadav, referring to Pichhda (backward classes), Dalit and Alpsankhyak (minorities).
Tawde was named the BJP’s Uttar Pradesh in-charge in August as part of a major organisational overhaul under the leadership of party president Nitin Nabin.
Joheirry Mola Dominguez from the Dominican Republic has been crowned Miss World 2026 during the pageant’s grand finale in Nha Trang, Vietnam, celebrating its 75th Anniversary.
Dominican Republic’s Joheirry Mola Dominguez crowned Miss World 2026 (Credit: YouTube)
A new Miss World begins her reign tonight.
Dominican Republic’s Joheirry Mola Dominguez has been crowned Miss World 2026 at the grand finale in Nha Trang, Vietnam, emerging from a field of 111 contestants at the 75th Anniversary edition of the pageant. India’s Nikita Porwal, meanwhile, secured a place in the Top 40, making the cut after finishing among the Top 10 in the Asia and Oceania group.
Miss World Spain Elisabeth Reynes Alabern was named the first runner-up, while Miss World Malaysia Taanusiya Chetty finished as the second runner-up. The Top 6 also featured Miss World Eritrea Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhin, Miss World Vietnam Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc and Miss World South Africa Romanda Hombir, alongside Mola. Mola will be succeeding Thailand’s Opal Suchata Chuangsri, who took her final walk as Miss World tonight, thanking the organisation for a deeply transformative year.
The 2026 edition unfolded across Vietnam, bringing together contestants from around the world for a series of cultural showcases, contemporary challenges and the pageant’s signature Beauty With a Purpose initiative before culminating in the final in Nha Trang.
Mola’s victory marks a landmark moment for the Dominican Republic. The 24-year-old, who is a literature and social studies teacher, news correspondent, model and founder of the community initiative Voices of Tomorrow, has built her platform around expanding opportunities for children and young people in vulnerable communities.
For Spain’s Elisabeth Reynes, the first runner-up finish was a strong finish for her smooth run through the competition, while Malaysia’s Taanusiya Chetty made the Top 6 through the Beauty With a Purpose route. Vietnam’s Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc represented the host nation in the final six, while Eritrea’s Snit Habteab advanced through the People’s Choice route – more than 20 million votes pooled in from the world over for her and Miss World Nigeria, Joy Mojisola Raimi. South Africa’s Romanda Hombir completed the continental representation for Africa in the Top 6.
Nishu had earlier expressed concern over the legal proceedings against Swatantra Bhardwaj, who was recently remanded to one day in police custody.
Another complaint alleged posts from Nishu’s X account contained derogatory references to Hindu gods.
A complaint has been filed at Delhi’s Parliament Street Police Station against CJP worker Nishu Azad, with advocate Anurag Gupta alleging that Azad made derogatory remarks against Hindu deities and inappropriate comments about saints and seers. The complaint has added another flashpoint to the ongoing controversy surrounding Azad, with the complainant warning that such remarks against Hinduism will not be tolerated.
“We have filed this complaint regarding abusive remarks, including using derogatory and offensive language against our deities and making inappropriate comments about saints and seers. My message is that whoever makes such objectionable remarks about Hinduism or engages in such abusive conduct will not be spared,” Anurag Gupta said.
Delhi: Advocate Anurag Gupta has filed a complaint at the Parliament Street Police Station against CJP worker Nishu Azad, alleging that Nishu Azad insulted Hindu deities.
Advocate Anurag Gupta says, “We have filed this complaint regarding abusive remarks, including using… pic.twitter.com/GrdAcMlN5t
Supreme Court lawyer Amita Sachdeva has also filed a complaint at the Cyber Police Station against student activist Nishu Azad and her father, Sanjay Azad, alleging that posts from Nishu’s X account contained derogatory references to Bhagwan Shiv, Bhagwan Shri Krishna, Maa Saraswati and Maa Durga.
FIR sought under Section 299
Sachdeva has sought registration of an FIR under Section 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and Section 196 (promoting enmity between groups on grounds including religion) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), besides applicable provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
“I am a practising Hindu. I viewed the posts listed below on X (formerly Twitter) while at the Supreme Court of India, New Delhi. The posts remain publicly available and have outraged my religious feelings and those of other Hindus,” the Advocate-on-Record said in her complaint.
According to the complaint, four posts from the X account @Nishuazad11, uploaded between September 2023 and August 2026, allegedly insulted the four Hindu deities.
According to the complaint, the four posts, published through electronic means, insulted Hindu deities and religious beliefs with deliberate and malicious intention to outrage the religious feelings of Hindus.
Sachdeva alleged that the posts were published deliberately and maliciously and claimed that they were intended to “outrage the religious feelings” of members of the Hindu community. She also stated that she had earlier sought removal of the posts, but they continued to remain online.
The complaint states that Nishu has identified herself as a minor. Sachdeva has also named her father as her guardian and sought his investigation on the allegation that the account was being operated by a minor in his household and that the allegedly offending content was not removed despite notice.
At the SRCC centenary event coinciding with Teachers’ Day, the Prime Minister took aim at the opposition and deployed Gen Z lingo to connect with students
In a direct political salvo, Prime Minister Modi took aim at political critics and the ideological ecosystem opposing his administration’s development push. Image/PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the centenary celebrations of Delhi University’s prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) on Saturday evening. Taking the Delhi Metro to reach the campus on National Teachers’ Day, the event marked 100 years of the institution founded in 1926 by philanthropist Sir Shri Ram.
Returning to the campus where he delivered a landmark address in 2013 as Chief Minister of Gujarat, PM Modi contrasted the economic condition of the past decade with India’s current trajectory, while blending sharp political commentary with youth-focused pop-culture references.
‘OG’ Alumni, ‘Dhurandhar’ Pop-Culture Reference, and Metro Journey
Connecting directly with the young audience, PM Modi adopted Gen Z vernacular to praise generations of SRCC graduates, calling the institution’s alumni the true “OGs” who have made global contributions across public life, law, and economics.
The ‘Dhurandhar’ Buzz: Referencing modern pop culture and popular internet language, PM Modi brought down the house with his punchy remark: “Dhurandhar na ho, lekin dhoom toh machayi hai” (You may not all be stalwarts, but you have certainly created a massive splash).
Remembering Jaitley & Sanyal: He affectionately recalled former Union Minister Arun Jaitley’s endless anecdotes about his SRCC student days, alongside acknowledging current team member Sanjeev Sanyal as part of the college’s distinguished legacy. He also released a commemorative Rs 100 coin to mark the centenary.
The ‘Glass Half Full’ Metaphor and Economic Contrast
Revisiting his iconic 2013 address, PM Modi recalled his original perspective on optimism and pessimism. He noted that while pessimists see a glass as half empty and optimists see it as half full, his perspective remains that the Glass Half Full is always entirely full—half with water and half with air.
2013 vs 2026 Reality: The Prime Minister highlighted the dark economic climate of 2013, citing double-digit inflation, a spiralling current account deficit, policy paralysis, and inclusion in the “Fragile Five” economies.
A Turnaround Story: He contrasted those years of despair with India’s current standing as one of the fastest-growing major global economies, driven by the Make in India initiative, digital public infrastructure like UPI, and unprecedented infrastructure expansion.
Targeting ‘Dimagi Naxal’, ‘Jhooth Ki Goonj’, and ‘Naraz Fufa’
In a direct political salvo, Prime Minister Modi took aim at political critics and the ideological ecosystem opposing his administration’s development push.
The Homeopathic Pill: Elaborating on his Red Fort Independence Day remarks, PM Modi asserted that his reference to a Dimagi Naxal acted like a “homeopathic pill”. He noted that just as homeopathic treatment initially brings an underlying ailment to the surface, his phrase caused ideological opponents promoting anti-development narratives to reveal themselves one after another.
Sanjay Raut was arrested in 2022 in connection with the Patra Chawl land case and was released from Arthur Road Jail after 101 days after being granted bail.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has made a shocking claim that he suspected his cancer may have been linked to the time he spent in jail and said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had suggested that he undergo a toxicity test to check whether poison had been added to his food.
While speaking to reporters on Saturday, the senior Rajya Sabha MP alleged that the current government was “so cruel” that it could go to any extent against those who oppose it.
“Rahul Gandhi also suspected that anything can happen to people like us in jail,” Raut claimed as quoted by news agency PTI.
“The (cancer) disease started in the jail,” he alleged.
According to Raut, Rahul Gandhi had advised him to get a toxicity test to determine whether his food had been contaminated.
“Rahul ji had asked me to get a toxicity test done to ascertain if poison was added to food,” Raut said.
He further claimed that political leaders who had spent time in jail were facing health problems.
Raut also alleged that authorities could tamper with food or water in prison.
“There is a possibility in jail (that it can happen with) people like us who raise our voice against the government,” he said, adding that Gandhi had warned them that such a situation could occur.
Raut was arrested on August 1, 2022, in connection with the Patra Chawl land case and was released from Arthur Road Jail on November 9, 2022, after 101 days after being granted bail.
He later documented his prison experiences in his book Narkatla Swarg (Heaven in Hell).
Raut has said he was diagnosed with stomach cancer in Nov 2025 and underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment at home and in hospital.
Jhiram Ghati attack case: NIA court in Jagdalpur has convicted 10 accused. The Congress has called the verdict ‘incomplete justice’ and alleged a larger political conspiracy.
NIA court convicts 10 accused in the 2013 Jhiram Ghati attack case. (Photo: PTI)
A Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jagdalpur convicted all 10 surviving accused in the 2013 Jhiram Ghati Naxal attack case, more than 13 years after the deadly ambush that claimed the lives of several senior Congress leaders and security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region. The court reserved the announcement of the quantum of punishment for September 16.
The accused were found guilty under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Arms Act and the Explosive Substances Act.
The NIA said its investigation established that armed cadres of the banned CPI (Maoist), in coordination with local committees and divisions, had entered into a criminal conspiracy to attack and kill senior Congress leaders and security personnel travelling in the convoy of the party’s ‘Parivartan Yatra’.
According to the NIA, the attack was carried out in pursuance of the Maoist organisation’s Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign.
What The NIA Court Found
The case relates to the planned attack on the Congress convoy in Jhiram Ghati, Darbha, Bastar, on May 25, 2013. The convoy was travelling on NH-221 as part of the Congress’ ‘Parivartan Yatra’ ahead of the 2013 Assembly elections.
According to the NIA release, the attack involved an IED blast, indiscriminate firing and grenade attacks.
Twenty-four civilians and police personnel were killed on the spot, while more than 35 others were seriously injured.
Three of the injured subsequently succumbed to their injuries.
The Maoists also looted arms, ammunition, walkie-talkie sets, mobile phones and other belongings from the victims.
The court’s verdict followed a prolonged trial during which the prosecution examined 101 witnesses and presented documentary and forensic evidence.
The NIA had filed its chargesheet against 39 accused through an initial chargesheet and a supplementary chargesheet in September 2014 and September 2015, respectively.
Of the 11 accused who were arrested and faced trial, one died during the proceedings. The 10 surviving accused have now been convicted.
The defence has indicated that the verdict could be challenged before a higher court.
Congress Calls Verdict ‘Incomplete Justice’
The court verdict has triggered a fresh political confrontation in Chhattisgarh, with Congress questioning the scope of the NIA probe and alleging that the larger conspiracy behind the attack remains unaddressed.
Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said, “Looking at the court’s decision. It feels like it is incomplete justice.”
Baghel said the Jhiram Ghati conspiracy was “the biggest political massacre in the history of the world’s democracies” and argued that sentencing 10 low-level Naxals could not be considered complete justice.
He said the NIA investigation had been controversial and alleged that the names of senior Naxal leaders mentioned in the FIR were subsequently removed. “There is no mention of any conspiracy in it,” Baghel said.
He also alleged that no action had been taken against officers responsible for providing security during the Congress’ Parivartan Yatra, claiming that the investigation had “covered things up”.
Congress state president Deepak Baij similarly alleged that the NIA had failed to investigate a larger “political conspiracy”.
He described the attack as a “supari” or contract killing allegedly aimed at eliminating Congress leaders before the 2013 Assembly elections.
Baij further alleged that the Centre had influenced the verdict to protect BJP politicians and said the Congress was “completely dissatisfied” with the outcome.
Congress Raises Security Lapse Questions
Former Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo also questioned the security arrangements during the Parivartan Yatra.
Singh Deo, who was in charge of the programme in 2013, said information about the six-to-seven-day programme in Bastar had been provided to the DGP, IG and other police officials.
He recalled that security had been provided during the initial days of the programme but alleged that when the convoy travelled towards Sukma on the third day, there was no police or paramilitary presence along the route.
“The firing continued for 45 minutes to an hour. Where was our police force?” Singh Deo asked, saying he would not be satisfied until the circumstances that allowed the attack to take place were established.
Congress leader Vikas Upadhyay also alleged that the then BJP government led by Raman Singh had failed to provide the security requested for the Parivartan Yatra.
He said the 10 convicted persons were merely “foot soldiers” and alleged that those who planned the larger political conspiracy had not been brought to justice.
BJP Says Verdict Vindicates NIA Probe
The BJP welcomed the conviction, with Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma saying the verdict established the correctness of the NIA investigation.
Sharma said those arrested in connection with the Jhiram incident in 2014 and 2016 had been found guilty by the court.
He also recalled that the case was transferred to the NIA when the UPA government was in power at the Centre and a BJP government was in power in Chhattisgarh.
According to Sharma, the then state government transferred the case to the NIA within two days so that there would be no doubts about the investigation.
BJP MP Santosh Pandey also welcomed the verdict, describing the attackers as “ruthless Naxalites” and saying people had waited a long time for the truth to emerge.
Pandey, however, hit back at Baghel’s criticism of the investigation. Referring to Baghel’s earlier claims of possessing evidence, he questioned why the former chief minister had not produced it during his five-year tenure.
“So, Bhupesh ji, you couldn’t present evidence in five years. Was it really evidence or something else?” Pandey said.
At least 15 residents told HT they were unaware of the earlier deletions and missed out on SIR forms, leaving them to re-register as voters.
Delhi’s electoral roll fell from 15.6 million electors in January 2025 to 14.5 million by June 2026. (HT Photo)
The first phase of the special intensive revision (SIR) in Delhi deleted nearly 4.8 million names from the Capital’s electoral roll, or roughly a third of the 14.5 million electorate as on June 20.
But even before the controversial process began on June 30, Election Commission data shows that nearly 1.1 million names were dropped between January 2025 – when it was frozen before the February 2025 assembly elections – and June 2026, when it was frozen before SIR. This represents around 7.07% of the city’s electorate in 2025 and 11.32% now.
HT spoke to at least 15 people across the Capital who were not aware that their names were dropped during this 16-month period. As a result, their partially filled forms for SIR were never generated, never reached their booth-level officers, and they never got a chance to enroll themselves.
“When SIR started, everybody in my family received an SIR form except me. We went to the BLO multiple times, but he said my name is not there and I should register afresh later using Form 6,” said domestic worker Puja Devi, who voted in the 2020 assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and lives in Mubarakpur Dabas in northwest Delhi.
Voter rolls see continuous revisions
To be sure, additions and deletions to the electoral roll are a continuous process. If rolls are not frozen, additions can be done by using Form 6 and deletions by Form 7.
But the number of those deleted between January 2025 and June 2026 is unusual when compared with previous exercises in Delhi. ECI data shows that the city’s electorate increased by 0.4 million between the 2020 state assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and then again by 0.4 million people between the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the 2025 state assembly elections, meaning additions were made more than deletions in the rolls.
Of the 1.1 million deletions, nearly 0.3 million were made between May 2026-June 2026 during the pre-SIR mapping phase.
Delhi’s rolls listed 15,614,000 electors in January 2025. By June 2026, this number had fallen to 14,510,299. It now stands at 9,753,577.
Voters say they were unaware of deletions
Puja Devi, who works as domestic help in Nawada near Dwarka in South West Delhi, moved to Delhi 10 years ago after marrying Durgesh Kumar. HT verified her voter ID, which lists Mubarakpur Dabas as her address.
In Adarsh Nagar, Baljinder Kumar said he has lived in the same house since 2010.
“I have been a voter in this area for over two decades. I was surprised that my name didn’t even appear in the deleted voters’ list. The BLO is now saying that I should register as a new voter under Form 6. But that means I am accepting that I have never voted before,” Kumar said.
Residents across Delhi report similar experience
HT spoke to 15 residents across Okhla, Timarpur, Tughlaqabad, Narela, Rohini and Jangpura who described the same experience. They did not receive an SIR enumeration form because their names were already deleted before the exercise started.
Officials at the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office attribute the 1.1 million deletions to routine quarterly roll revisions and errors by BLOs.
“Even though it’s a high number, it’s possible that these names were removed during routine revisions in that one year. BLOs might have also removed names during the pre-SIR mapping in May and June,” a senior official said. “These people can get back on the rolls by registering as a voter using Form 6.”
BLOs dispute deletion claims
Some BLOs, however, insisted they were explicitly barred from deleting names during the pre-SIR mapping window. During this period, they were only supposed to go door-to-door to identify electors whose names appeared in the 2002 rolls. These electors would not have to submit fresh documents, as their inclusion established continuity. For those born after July 1, 1987, parents’ names in earlier rolls could help establish eligibility under the Citizenship Act, 1955, which reduces the need for additional documentation.
Jitendra Singh, a BLO from Narela, said additions and deletions were ordinarily processed through the year, but the pre-SIR phase was different.
“We receive applications for addition and deletion of names throughout the year. Even if we receive an application now, we will have to process it. In pre-SIR mapping, we are not supposed to delete any names. If a person is not found at the specified address, or if their names cannot be mapped to the 2002 list, we have to submit a report to our supervisors,” Singh said.
The agency alleged Chandra submitted net worth certificates while guaranteeing loans to two companies that later defaulted.
Immigration authorities have issued a look-out circular against Chandra at all airports, ports and land entry/exit points to ensure he doesn’t leave the country. (Mint file photo)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR against Essel Group chairperson and Zee founder Subhash Chandra for allegedly misleading LIC Housing Finance Limited (LICHFL) about his net worth when he stood guarantee for two loans that went into default, leaving the public sector lender with a ₹1,322 crore loss.
On CBI’s request, immigration authorities issued a look-out circular against Chandra at all airports, ports and land entry/exit points to ensure he doesn’t leave the country.
The Enforcement Directorate is also examining the matter but is yet to begin a formal probe, said an officer aware of the matter.
HT called Chandra and left him text messages, but did not receive a response. An email query to Zee Group’s corporate communications did not receive a response either.
CBI names Chandra, companies and associates
In a first information report (FIR) filed on August 31, the central agency named Chandra as accused number 1 under sections pertaining to criminal conspiracy, cheating and criminal breach of conduct, along with three companies, two individuals and other “unknown” people.
The allegations pertain to loans LICHFL extended to two companies – Vasant Sagar Properties Pvt Ltd and Digital Subscriber Management and Consultancy Services Pvt Ltd – for business expansion and rental securitisation, with Chandra providing personal guarantees for the borrowings.
Two loans at centre of probe
According to LICHFL’s CBI complaint, which is part of the FIR, Vasant Sagar Properties Pvt Ltd was given a loan facility of ₹500 crore, with Pan India Infra Projects Pvt Ltd as co-borrower, as a home entity loan for takeover and top-up of business expansion.
Similarly, a ₹480 crore loan was given to Digital Subscriber Management and Consultancy Services Pvt Ltd, with Spirit Infrapower and Multiventures Pvt Ltd as a co-borrower under a rental discounting facility.
A rental discounting facility, also known as lease rental discounting, is a loan against future rental income.
Net worth certificates used as guarantees
In both instances, LICHFL in its complaint said, the lending decisions were taken based on net worth certificates Chandra submitted in 2018 as his personal guarantee.
For the ₹500 crore loan, Chandra submitted certification saying his net worth, as on March 31, 2017, was ₹59,113 crore. For the ₹480 crore loan, Chandra gave a net worth certificate on July 6, 2018, stating that his net worth was ₹40,562 crore.
Both loan accounts defaulted and the current loss to LICHFL, according to the FIR, was ₹1,322 crore.
Chandra later disputed claimed net worth
The CBI FIR said that during the subsequent personal insolvency proceedings, Chandra “categorically denied having the net worth as stated in the certificates”, which he submitted to LICHFL to cause approval and disbursal of the loans.
It added that during the insolvency process, Chandra said his net worth in 2024 was ₹31.79 crore and that “even in 2017-18, he did not have the net worth of more than ₹40,000 crore”.
In its complaint, LICHFL said, “It is quite apparent that Subhash Chandra and the other accused persons have connived among themselves with common criminal and dishonest intention to defraud the complainant”.
The FIR also named Vasant Sagar Properties, its director Pankaj Suroliya, Pan India Infrastructure, Digital Subscriber Management and its director Amish Pandya, Spirit Infrapower and its director Rajeev Dholakia and unknown others.
LICHFL alleges collusion and fund misuse
LICHFL said “Chandra had been acting in collusion with the borrowers Vasant Sagar, Pan India Infraprojects Pvt Ltd, Digital Subscriber Management and Spirit Infrapower and their officers and directors defrauded and cheated LICHFL into advancing the loans to the borrower entities, which have since misappropriated the same.”
It further accuses Chandra of creating “false documents to denote inflated and false net worth to cheat LICHFL into deploying funds to the Principal Borrowers”.
“The accused persons have publicly disclosed their intention to leave India and are likely to do so, unless a FIR is registered and investigation is undertaken at the earliest to trace the proceeds of the loan and assets of the accused persons”, LICHFL said.
An officer cited above said, “We are investigating why he misled the creditor to avail the loans. Either he was lying then, or is lying now”.
In a letter to Isro chairman and Department of Space secretary V Narayanan, the associations sought clarity on the government’s privatisation policy.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V Narayanan addresses a press conference in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, Friday, Sept. 4, (File photo/PTI)
Six years after the government opened the space sector to private companies, nine associations representing thousands of Isro employees have sought official clarification on the proposed transfer of the space agency’s manufacturing and operational functions to private entities.
In a letter dated September 4 to Isro chairman and Department of Space (DoS) secretary V Narayanan, the associations sought clarity on the government’s privatisation policy, Isro’s future role, and the consequences for serving employees and future recruitment.
Employee bodies from several Isro centres signed the letter, which HT has seen. They include the Isro Staff Association, SHAR Employees Association, ISAC Employees Association, Isro Staff Association-LPSC, Isro Staff Association-BBU, NRSA Employees Union, Space Employees Association-BBU, Isro Staff Association-IPRC and SAC Employees Welfare Association.
The associations wrote after Pawan Kumar Goenka, chairman of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), said at a recent event that “eventually, Isro will not make any launch vehicles and will not manufacture any launch vehicles. That will all be done by the private sector or PSU.” The transition had already begun with the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), they said, and could extend to the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and LVM3.
They also flagged reports about the proposed transfer of production of these launch vehicles, the movement of routine satellite manufacturing out of Isro and the opening of new launch infrastructure, including the Space Launch Complex at Kulasekarapattinam, to private entities. The letter referred to about 120 technologies already transferred from Isro to the private sector.
“These statements have received wide national publicity. They have not, however, been accompanied by any corresponding official communication from the Department of Space to its employees explaining the approved policy, its legal and administrative basis, its phasing, or its consequences for the existing workforce and for future public recruitment,” the letter said.
The associations said the prospect of Isro withdrawing from launch-vehicle and satellite production had created anxiety among employees and their families. Such a move, they said, could “tamper experiments after research, shrink in-house work, freeze or reduce sanctioned strength, and close promotion and skill-development avenues in technical, scientific, administrative, stores, purchase, quality, safety and industrial cadres”.
A family of four from West Godavari reportedly jumped into the Godavari River from the bridge. The mother was rescued by local fishermen. Police have launched a search for three missing members as financial troubles are being examined.
Father and his two children remain missing as rescue teams conduct a search operation in the Godavari River. (Source: ITG)
A family of four from Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district jumped into the Godavari River, police said.
The family has been identified as Namburi Srinivas, 45, his wife Namburi Padmini, 42, and their two children of 15 and 16 years of age.
According to preliminary information, the family travelled from Tanuku, West Godavari district on two motorcycles before reaching the Chinchinada Vasishta Godavari Bridge. They reportedly jumped into the river from the bridge.
Padmini was rescued by local fishermen shortly after she fell into the river. She was taken to a government hospital in Tanuku for treatment.
