Category: Politics

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal recently said that the NCERT’s chapter on ‘corruption in the judiciary’ was a case of selective targeting of the judiciary as an institution. He added that while teaching young minds about societal corruption is required, highlighting corruption only within the judiciary would make them believe that justice is compromised.

At the same time, Sibal said that the judges are responsible for this sort of narrative as they have failed to perform their duties consistent with constitutional morality.

He said: “You saw that chapter in a class 8th book. Now, there is no gainsaying that there is corruption in the judiciary. There are some bad pennies everywhere in every institution, which spoils the name of the institution. So, we can’t sort of brush it aside under the carpet and say that look, there is no corruption. You can’t say that. There is corruption. But how is it that it has suddently founds its place in a class 8th textbook? I ask myself this question: would it have found place in class 8th textbook had the judges performed their duties consistent with constitutional morality. When you reach a certain level that public start believing that by and large the institution is corrupt, then you will have this narrative in a class 8th textbook. According to me, the judges have brought it upon themselves.”

You selectively only target the judiciary and teach minds, 13-14 years old, to grow in an environment where they feel that when they have to go to the Court, they believe the judge is corrupt. We know that the political system is far more corrupt. We know that the investigating agency is far more corrupt. We know that politicians are far more corrupt. We know the kind of constitutional immorality which actually runs through every political decision-making that takes place in this country. We know how Bills are passed, we know how Bills that have nothing to do with finance are smuggled in…You are teaching young children that these people are intellectually dishonest and otherwise corrupt. You don’t mention the politician, the minister, the system, agency or bureaucracy. Your intent is to intimate the judiciary. Your intent is to further damage the institution then you can capture it fully.”

Sibal was speaking at the Justice Unplugged 2026 organised by The Hindu in association with the VIT School of Law. He was speaking on the issue of ‘Constitutional Morality and the Supreme Court of India: Has the Court Moved from Constitutionalism to Pragmatism?’ in conversation with M Ram, Director of The Hindu Group.

He added that the chapter had been put in a proper context, also mentioning societal corruption in general, which would not have been an issue.

“NCERT will never put it there. But because they were acting on the government, the government must have told them to put it there so that we can actually tell the judges that see, that is what the children think about it. I am very happy that the Chief Justice to take up the issue and do what he did,” he remarked.

When Ram asked if the order was overreaching in terms of the fact that it ordered a complete ban on its distribution, Sibal justified that it was the right thing to do. In a suo motu case registered against the NCERT officials, the Supreme Court last week observed that it was an attempt of deliberate act to scandalise the judiciary. It ordered a complete seizure of all hard copies and take down of soft copies.

“They[children] have to grow up as citizens who are imbued with the sense of purpose, vision, who have a dream. If they become adults with the thought that judiciary is corrupt, where are we going to reach as a society? ” Sibal questioned.

Constitutional morality eroding from spaces 

Sibal was asked by Ram as to where we as a nation stand on constitutional morality.

Sibal replied that while constitutional morality is a dynamic concept, the beauty of the Constitution is that it gives power to the Courts to interpret it with the changing times. It is doing justice without fear or favour. But what is being witnessed today is a complete breakdown of constitutional morality.

He said that the Supreme Court is being confronted with matters concerning alleged hate/communal speeches by public functionaries or the frequent arrest of student leaders who are protesting. But instead of dealing with issues, it continues to relegate matters to the High Courts.

Source: https://www.livelaw.in/supreme-court/non-parties-liable-for-contempt-if-they-knowingly-aid-disobedience-of-orders-supreme-court-525178

In the post, the Chief Minister has alleged that these efforts are aimed not only at him personally but at the people who support his politics of ‘social justice’.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has issued a strongly worded social media post in which he has spoken of political conspiracies directed against him. In the post, the Chief Minister has alleged that these efforts are aimed not only at him personally but at the people who support his politics of ‘social justice’.

Siddaramaiah, 77, stated that his political journey had never been smooth and had instead been marked by repeated obstacles and challenges.

He noted that several powerful leaders had, over the years, attempted to isolate him politically and end his career through “cunning conspiracies”. Each time, he said, he had managed to continue with the support and blessings extended by the public.

“My four decades of political life have never been a bed of roses; it has always been a path of stones and thorns. Many big leaders have carried out numerous cunning conspiracies to politically finish me. With the blessings of the people, I have overcome all of them,” the Chief Minister’s post read.

Siddaramaiah maintained that the recent developments should be seen as part of a larger political strategy motivated by jealousy and hatred.

“I know very well that this is not a conspiracy against me – it is a conspiracy against you, the people who believe in me, who love me, who continuously shower me with blessings and support. That is why, as long as I have breath in me, I will fight against this political conspiracy and against the politics of hatred and jealousy. This is a struggle for truth, justice and righteousness. With the support of all of you, I will carry forward this fight as long as I have breath in me. I will never be a coward who runs away from the battlefield,” the post read.

When Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was asked about the Chief Minister’s post, he replied that he did not know about it.

The remark came hours after a wide-ranging conversation with NDTV in which Shivakumar addressed several issues, including the speculation over a possible change in Karnataka’s leadership. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, the Deputy Chief Minister spoke openly about the chief ministership, the forthcoming Assam elections, and the garbage crisis in Bengaluru.

Shivakumar made clear his own political ambitions, statements that have added to the discomfort within the Congress ranks and specifically for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Asked whether he was tired of repeated questions about a leadership change in the state, Shivakumar said: “I’m not bored. I’m confident whatever will happen, it is left to me and my leadership. They know what to do, how to do, I believe in them. And I’m sure that they will work in the best interest of Karnataka.”

“You people [media] are constantly speculating too much. It [announcement] will happen at the appropriate time… Let us work together, make Bengaluru proud. The world looks at India through Bengaluru. It will be more beneficial for the country if Bengaluru grows, becomes stronger,” he said.

Shivakumar claimed that questions about a change at the top surface every time he travels to the national capital. Earlier this month he had spoken of the rewards that come with hard work, saying: “There will certainly be results for everyone’s hard work. Where there is effort, there is reward. Where there is devotion, there is god.”

The Deputy Chief Minister has also stated publicly that a decision on the matter has already been taken and that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would convey it at the right moment.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/siddaramaiah-dk-shivakumar-i-will-never-be-a-coward-siddaramaiah-flags-conspiracies-in-cryptic-post-11117905

Responding to Yogi Adityanath’s remarks that Uttar Pradesh had lost its identity before 2017 and regained it under the BJP, Yadav said the current dispensation was attempting to deflect attention from governance failures.

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday launched a sharp attack on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his recent criticism of the pre-2017 state government, calling him “the most communal, undemocratic and uncivilised Chief Minister” and a “fake yogi”.

Responding to Yogi Adityanath’s remarks that Uttar Pradesh had lost its identity before 2017 and regained it under the BJP, Yadav said the current dispensation was attempting to deflect attention from governance failures.

“It has been said about the Samajwadi Party that they go to the graves of mafias and read their fate, and they have made such statements. This should not be a communal, undemocratic, and uncivilised government, which is to be seen in Uttar Pradesh today,” he said.

While Takaichi is popular, her conservative Liberal Democratic Party is not. The prime minister hopes the snap election will boost the ruling LDP and provide her with a strong mandate for her conservative agenda.

Polls were open on Sunday morning in Japan for parliamentary elections.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved parliament in January ahead of the snap elections, a gamble she hopes will provide her and her struggling party with a stronger mandate.

While Takaichi is hugely popular, particularly with younger voters, her conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has ruled the country for most of the past seven decades, has been hit by scandals and is facing a new opposition alliance that has emerged as a potential challenger.

What do the polls say?

Opinion polls ahead of Sunday’s national elections suggest that the LDP will comfortably win the 233 seats required for a majority in the 465-member lower house of parliament.

The latest polls suggest the LDP is set for a landslide win in the lower house, with a newly formed Centrist Reform Alliance and the far-right Sanseito party unlikely to pose a serious threat.

Some surveys say the LDP and its coalition partner, the populist Japanese Innovation Party, could win 310 seats needed for a two-thirds majority.

A 310-seat majority for the LDP-led coalition would mean it could override the upper chamber, which is controlled by the opposition.

That would be the strongest result for the LDP since Takaichi’s mentor Shinzo Abe’s victory in 2017. Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, was assassinated in 2022.

Such a victory would mean a significant shift to the right in Japanese politics. The LDP, which has held a narrow majority since a poor showing in elections in 2024, has struggled to push through legislation.

Takaichi has said she will step down if the LDP fails to secure a majority.

Who is Sanae Takaichi?

Takaichi became Japan’s first woman prime minister in October.

She has touted UK former-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher — dubbed the “Iron Lady” — as an inspiration, and her pledge to “work, work, work, work and work” has resonated with voters.

An ultraconservative and China hawk, she wants to boost Japan’s defense spending and capabilities amid growing tensions with Beijing and pressure from US President Donald Trump, with whom she enjoys good ties.

She has also been pressing for tougher immigration policies and to revitalize Japan’s economy.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/japan-pm-sanae-takaichi-set-for-big-win-as-japan-holds-snap-election/a-75858163

Former Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad claimed Rahul Gandhi is the “most insecure” politician and alleged mismanagement during Bihar elections. He said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is only a nominal head. Congress leaders dismissed the remarks, while BJP and JD(U) used the comments to target Rahul and party leadership.

Former Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad on Saturday alleged that the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha and senior party leader Rahul Gandhi was the “most insecure leader” in Indian politics.

Ahmad was once AICC general secretary and also a union minister had resigned soon after the completion for Bihar assembly election last November.

Party rift

In an interview to a private news channel, he claimed that it was very difficult for any senior and experienced Congress leader to survive in the party these days without being humiliated. He also alleged serious mismanagement by the Congress leaders during Bihar election and wondered whether the leadership would ever do any introspection on it. Ahmad alleged, “Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is only a nominal president, while all major decisions are taken by Rahul Gandhi.”

“Rahul faces difficulties working with senior and prominent leaders. He distances himself from situations where he doesn’t feel like the boss,” he alleged.

SIR criticism

Slamming Rahul over the SIR, Ahmad said that it has completely failed and the Muslim community also did not agree with his allegations. He also claimed that many senior Congress leaders are afraid to be photographed with Muslim leaders and Muslims because they fear losing the Hindu vote bank. Rahul`s “Save the Constitution movement” is also meaningless, as it has no impact at the ground level, he further claimed.

On DRDO’s 68th Foundation Day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the organisation’s scientific excellence, unwavering commitment, and national duty. He highlighted DRDO’s role in strengthening India’s defence preparedness and advancing Atmanirbhar Bharat through indigenous, future-ready technologies, reinforcing strategic autonomy and confidence in the armed forces.

On the occasion of the 68th Foundation Day of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday extended heartfelt greetings to the scientists and personnel, praising their unwavering commitment, scientific excellence and deep sense of national duty.

DRDO is marking its 68th Foundation Day on Thursday. The organisation was established on this day in 1958 to strengthen India and make the country self-reliant in the fields of science and technology, particularly in defence.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s Tweet

Taking to X, the Defence Minister said, “On DRDO Day, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all DRDO scientists, personnel and their families. Their unwavering commitment, scientific excellence and sense of national duty are vital to strengthening India’s defence preparedness and advancing Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence.”

“By developing indigenous, future-ready technologies, DRDO is reinforcing our strategic autonomy and the confidence of our armed forces. I wish the entire DRDO family a year of meaningful breakthroughs and continued service to the nation,” Singh added.

About DRDO

DRDO was formed in 1958 through the merger of the Technical Development Establishment and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production of the Indian Ordnance Factories with the Defence Science Organisation, under the administration of then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Later, in 1979, the Defence Research and Development Service (DRDS) was constituted as a service of Group ‘A’ officers and scientists, functioning directly under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.

Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan said, “Does anybody have the guts to change the CM? Only high command can,” he said.

Belagavi: Power tussle in Congress escalated again Thursday when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son Dr Yathindra categorically ruled out change in leadership for now.

Yathindra, an MLC, told reporters: “There’s no tussle for CM’s post. I’ve told you, everything is clear. The high command has clearly said that as of now, there will be no change”.

Reacting to this, Siddaramaiah said: “The high command will make the final decision.” Shivakumar said the CM would reply to Yathindra.

But Yathindra’s statement appeared to have antagonised Shivakumar’s camp. “If I speak, it is balatkara (forcible). If he (Yathindra) speaks, it is chamatkara (magic),” Ramanagara MLA Iqbal Hussain said, suggesting that the Congress should issue a notice to Yathindra for indiscipline. Hussain was given a notice in July this year for speaking out of turn.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/karnataka-power-tussle-no-leadership-change-for-now-says-yathindra-3828302

Rift in Lalu’s family, Tejashwi’s aides to blame? Rohini, in two X posts, said she was told that she got her father to have her “dirty kidney transplanted & took crores of rupees”

A day after announcing she had cut ties with her family and their party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Rohini Acharya has alleged that she was subjected to humiliation, including abusive language, an attempt to assault her with a slipper and her kidney being called “dirty”. She said she refused to compromise on her self-respect or abandon the truth, claiming this was the reason she faced such behaviour.

In a post on X on Sunday, Acharya wrote: “Yesterday, a daughter, a sister, a married woman, a mother was humiliated, filthy abuses were hurled at her, a slipper was raised to hit her. I did not compromise on my self-respect, I did not surrender the truth, and solely because of this, I had to endure this insult…Yesterday, a daughter, out of compulsion, left behind her crying parents and sisters and came away; they tore me away from my maternal home… They left me orphaned…May none of you ever walk my path, may no family ever have a daughter-sister like Rohini.”

In another post an hour later, she wrote: “Yesterday, I was cursed at and told that I am dirty, and that I got my father to have my dirty kidney transplanted into him, took crores of rupees, bought a ticket, and then got that dirty kidney put in… To all the daughters and sisters who are married, I will say that when there’s a son or brother in your maternal home, never, ever save your god-like father; instead, tell your brother, the son of that house, to get his own kidney or that of one of his Haryanvi friends transplanted… All sisters and daughters should look after their own homes and families, take care of their children and their in-laws’ household without caring for their parents, think only about themselves… For me, it became a huge sin that I didn’t look after my family, my three children, didn’t take permission from my husband or my in-laws when donating the kidney… I did what I did to save my god, my father, and today it’s been called dirty… May none of you ever make a mistake like mine, may no family ever have a daughter like Rohini 🙏”

A day after the RJD suffered a major loss in the Bihar Assembly election, finishing the election as the third-largest party with just 25 seats, despite contesting on more than 140 seats, Acharya, on Saturday wrote on X, “I am quitting politics and I am disowning my family…This is what Sanjay Yadav and Rameez had asked me to do…and I am taking all the blame,” she wrote in her post.

Sanjay Yadav is the Rajya Sabha MP from RJD and one of the most trusted aides of Tejashwi Yadav, the son and heir apparent of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad. Rameez is said to be Tejashwi’s old friend who hails from a political family in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. Tejashwi was the Mahagathbandhan’s CM face.

Rohini is Lalu’s kidney donor

Rohini donated one of her kidneys to her father in December 2022 at a Singapore hospital, as he suffered from chronic renal failure amid multiple health issues. She said that her parents are like gods to her. “I’m destiny’s child and so proud to give my kidney to papa,” Acharya had said on social media before the procedure.

She had described the donated kidney as “just a piece of flesh,” underlining that her motive wasn’t political gain. Once the transplant was successful, she said: “After making my father healthy, I am sending him among all of you. Now you will all take care of my father.”

Questions over kidney donation

Acharya has had recent spats with Sanjay Yadav, one was over rumours that she may not have donated her kidney. “I openly challenge all those with a dirty mindset, and everyone encouraging such people, that if anyone can prove that I have ever asked for anything for myself or anyone else, and that my donating a kidney to my respected father is a lie, then I will withdraw from political and public life,” Rohini Acharya had written in a social media post, without naming him. Acharya had also objected to Sanjay Yadav taking the front seat at an event.

Rift in the family

Acharya’s elder brother, Tej Pratap Yadav, was expelled from both the party and his family earlier this year following a controversy over his personal life. With her “disowning” family, the cracks within Lalu Yadav’s family have widened. His expulsion followed a controversy over a Facebook post in which he claimed to be in a relationship, sparking a public fallout with his family. The incident revived discussions around his past marital issues, including his ongoing divorce case with Aishwarya Rai, granddaughter of former Bihar CM Daroga Rai.

Tej Pratap Yadav went on to launch his own party, the Janshakti Janta Dal (JJD) and contested from Mahua Assembly constituency. He faced a major setback, finishing a distant third as Sanjay Kumar Singh of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) secured a thumping victory with 87641 votes and a margin of 44997 votes, while RJD candidate Mukesh Kumar Raushan stood second.

Source : https://www.news18.com/politics/filthy-abuses-slipper-raised-to-hit-lalus-daughter-rohini-reveals-why-she-cut-ties-with-family-rjd-9711239.html

Rameez Nemat Khan is an old friend of Tejashwi Yadav and a part of his core team. Their friendship extended from the cricket ground to politics

Rohini Acharya, the daughter of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Yadav, announced on Saturday she has quit politics and disowned her family. A day earlier, the RJD suffered a crushing loss in the assembly election, winning only 25 seats in the 243-member assembly.

She told reporters that she took the decision after RJD MP Sanjay Yadav asked her. The MP is also a close aide of Acharya’s brother, Tejashwi Yadav. “This is what Sanjay Yadav had asked me to do,” Acharya, who had donated a kidney to her father, said.

She also mentioned another name – Rameez Nemat Khan.

Who is this man who came into the spotlight following the allegations made by Acharya? This name was not seen in the media or Bihar politics earlier.

It turned out Rameez Nemat Khan is an old friend of Tejashwi Yadav and a part of his core team. Their friendship extended from the cricket ground to politics. RJD sources said Khan oversees social media and campaigning teams of his friend and the party.

A resident of Uttar Pradesh, Rameez Nemat Khan is the son-in-law of former MP Rizwan Zaheer from Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur Lok Sabha seat, now known as Shravasti. Rameez Nemat Khan’s father-in-law served as a two-time MP on a Samajwadi Party ticket as well as Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). He also contested as an independent candidate once.

Rizwan Zaheer was also the youngest MLA in UP at one point.

Rameez Nemat Khan’s wife Zeba Rizwan was a candidate from Tulsipur seat which she could not win twice – in a Congress ticket and as an independent while in jail.

Rameez Nemat Khan faced a case linked to violence during the district panchayat election in Tulsipur in 2021. The allegation against him said he attacked Congress leader Deepankar Singh and his men.

Subsequently, in 2022, Rameez Nemat Khan, his wife, father-in-law Rizwan Zaheer and three others were arrested for allegedly conspiracy linked to the murder case of Firoz Pappu, the former president of Tulsipur Nagar panchayat.

Rameez Nemat Khan has been granted bail in several cases, while some are pending. Nine cases were filed against him in Balrampur and two in Kaushambi.

Other serious charges that Rameez Nemat Khan faces include another murder case in 2023 – the killing of Pratapgarh contractor Shakeel Khan. The body was found near railway tracks in Kushinagar. Rameez Nemat Khan became an accused in the case based on a complaint filed by the contractor’s wife.

That same year, the UP government seized land worth approximately Rs 4.75 crore bought in Rameez Nemat Khan’s name.

He was arrested under the Gangsters Act in July 2024, and granted bail in April this year.

Rameez Nemat Khan and his wife then filed a petition in the Supreme Court, which directed the authorities to take the local court’s permission before any move to arrest him or start a new trial.

Since the Supreme Court’s order, the couple has been getting relief in many other cases – and no new cases have been filed against them.

Rameez Nemat Khan was born in November 1986. His father, Nematullah Khan, is a professor at Jamia Millia Islamia.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rohini-acharya-whos-rameez-khan-a-name-that-came-up-in-lalu-yadav-family-fight-9643240?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Bihar Assembly Election 2025: With BJP-led NDA’s smooth lead in the Bihar Assembly Elections, the internet is losing it with hilarious ‘Nitish Kumar Supremacy’ memes. For those confused, ‘9-times CM’ Nitish Kumar will take the Chief Ministarial oath for the 10th time in Bihar. Here’s how netizens reacted…

Bihar Assembly Election 2025: The 9-times Chief Minister of Bihar is yet again ready to take the Chief Ministarial oath for the 10th time, it seems– and the internet is naturally going wild over it! With a smooth lead– the BJP-led NDA is all set to rule the state of Bihar. Reportedly, Janata Dal (United) leader and current Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is the CM candidate for NDA, whereas the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) had pitched RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav for the role. As soon as the two parties- Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP and Kumar’s JD(U) won enough seats in the Bihar Polls today, netizens began to celebrate through memes and jokes, flaunting ‘Nitish Kumar supremacy’.
From people commenting on how ‘no matter what party wins, it’s Kumar who will remain the CM’ to more- you name it, and the internet cracked it all!
The voting for the Bihar Assembly Election 2025 was held in two phases, where the first phase was held on November 06, while the second phase was held on November 11. The results were declared today, November 14. The counting of the votes began at 8 AM in the morning.

The elections were held for 243 seats, whereas parties and alliances needed 122 seats to form the government- with simple majority.

So far (9 PM), the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is in the lead with 202 seats, followed by the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) with 35 seats. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj party, on the other hand, has 0 seats under its name so far.
Coming to the wins, the BJP so far has won 82 seats, while the JD(U) bagged 73 constituencies. RJD won 22 seats, and Congress managed to clinch only 6. The final results for the remaining seats are yet to come, as the vote counting is underway.
Coming back to the internet’s reactions, let’s take a look:
“Keep calm and believe in Nitish Kumar,” a user said.

India Today visited Rai constituency to investigate Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of widespread voter fraud in the 2024 Haryana elections, claiming a Brazilian model’s photo was used under multiple names. Here’s what we found.

When Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that a “Brazilian woman’s photo appeared 22 times across 10 booths in Haryana’s Rai constituency” and called it evidence of “centralised manipulation for vote chori”, the claim triggered a political storm and a curious investigation on the ground.

For two days, India Today visited Machroli and neighbouring villages in Rai Assembly constituency, identifying six separate voter cases featuring the now-infamous “Brazilian model photo.” What emerged was a complex mix of clerical errors, outdated records, and possible data manipulation, painting a more nuanced picture than either side of the political divide has admitted.

NO VOTE CHORI, JUST A PHOTO MISPRINT
In two of the five cases, voters admitted that their photos had been wrongly printed, but they insisted they had cast their votes without obstruction.

Pinky, a voter from Machroli, says she personally voted in the 2024 election using her Aadhaar and voter slip, “When I applied for my voter card after shifting from Delhi, it first arrived with a photo misprint, it had the picture of another woman from my village. We returned it immediately, but the corrected copy never came. I still voted using my voter slip & Aadhar Card, there’s no vote chori here.”

Her brother-in-law called the controversy “propaganda,” blaming the local election office for the error.

A similar account came from Munish’s family, who said her photo had been mismatched before but was rectified at the booth.

“She cast her own vote. The error was in the slip, not in the vote,” her brother-in-law said. “These are operator errors, not voter fraud.”

Both these testimonies refute Rahul Gandhi’s charge of organised manipulation, pointing instead to administrative lapses.

A DEAD VOTER RETURNS IN THE LIST
But other findings are harder to explain. In one case, India Today identified a voter named Guniya (w/o Vinod), who died in March 2022. Yet, her name, paired with the Brazilian model’s photo, continued to appear in the 2024 electoral roll.

“We don’t know what has happened,” said her mother-in-law, showing Guniya’s death certificate. “She hasn’t been alive for years; however, she did cast her voter before 2022 and there has been no such photo misprint issue.” This raises serious questions about voter roll updating and data verification.

A DUPLICATE ENTRY UNDER ONE IDENTITY
In another case, a voter named Bimla (w/o Ramesh) was found to have two separate entries, one genuine and another carrying a different EPIC number but the same name, house number, and a Brazilian model’s photo.

The duplicate entry for Bimla appears on the Part No. 138 voter list, alongside her son Pradeep and other family members under the same house number. However, the original Bimla’s name has been shifted to Part No. 137 voter list.

Bimla’s son, Pradeep told India Today, “My mother cast her vote, but this other ID with her name and that photo is fake. Whoever made this should be punished. You can see the list, all our names are under the same house number, but my mother’s photo and EPIC number are different. This is a fraudulent work.”

He supported Rahul Gandhi’s allegation of “vote manipulation” and demanded an inquiry into how a duplicate voter ID could exist within the same family and makan no.

THE BRIDE WHO NEVER LEFT THE LIST
The fifth case revealed another procedural lapse. Saroj, whose name appears with the Brazilian woman’s photo in Rai, had moved to Bhiwani after her marriage years ago.

Her family says she hasn’t voted in Rai since 2001, yet her name continues to appear in the list with a misprinted photo.

“This is a fraud. She’s registered in Bhiwani now, how is her name still here?” asked Saroj’s sister, demanding that her name be removed from the Rai voter roll. Saroj’s mother Kalawati repeated the same.

THE BROADER PICTURE IN BRAZILLIAN PHOTO
Taken together, the five case studies point to a pattern of data errors and poor voter roll hygiene, rather if not a single, coordinated fraud.

While two voters confirm casting their ballots freely, three others expose procedural lapses that allowed dead voters, duplicate entries, and outdated registrations to persist in official records.

The recurring “Brazilian woman photo”, which Rahul Gandhi called the “face of manipulated democracy, appears to symbolise something more bureaucratic than conspiratorial: a data management crisis inside India’s voter database.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/brazilian-woman-photo-error-haryana-voter-list-investigation-electoral-data-flaws-2814817-2025-11-06

Bihar Assembly Election 2025 Phase 1 Voting Updates: Bihar Assembly Elections for 121 constituencies spread across 18 districts began at 7 AM today. The initial phase sets the tone for the entire two-phase election, encompassing a diverse political landscape that includes segments of Patna, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, and Gopalganj.

In thefirst phase, over 3.75 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,314 candidates, including heavyweights such as RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, and Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha. Polling will be held from 7 am to 6 pm.

Tej Pratap Yadav (estranged son of Lalu Prasad) of the Janshakti Janata Dal is locked in a triangular fight against RJD’s Mukesh Kumar Raushan and LJP’s Sanjay Singh in Mahua.

The state is witnessing a two-way clash between the NDA, led by chief minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and the BJP, and the formidable Opposition Mahagathbandhan (INDIA bloc), spearheaded by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj, which is contesting all 243 constituencies in its maiden electoral battle, is looking to queer the pitch and upset either of the two factions.

The second phase of voting will be held on November 11, followed by the much-anticipated counting of votes on November 14.

Source: https://www.news18.com/elections/bihar-election-2025-phase-1-voting-live-updates-polling-on-121-seats-today-voter-turnout-key-contests-jdu-rjd-jan-suraaj-bjp-congress-liveblog-9682895.html

PM Modi had begun his campaign with a rally at Samastipur, where he also visited the ancestral house of Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur.

The high-octane campaign for the first phase of the Bihar assembly elections, spanning 121 constituencies, concluded on Tuesday evening after weeks of sharp exchanges, personal attacks, and polarising rhetoric. Electioneering picked up pace soon after the polls for the 243-member assembly were announced on October 6, with most parties finalising their seat-sharing and candidate lists. The campaign gained full momentum once the Diwali and Chhath festivities ended.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the blitzkrieg on behalf of the ruling NDA, with as many as eight rallies, two of which were held on the penultimate day of campaigning, besides a roadshow in Patna, and digital interactions with booth-level workers, and also with women, on the final day of electioneering.
PM Modi had begun his campaign with a rally at Samastipur, where he also visited the ancestral house of Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur. He shared the stage with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the JD(U) president, who vies with arch-rival Lalu Prasad, the RJD president, in claiming to be the true ideological heir to the EBC (extremely backwards classes) icon.

The 75-year-old PM pulled no punches in charging the RJD-Congress combine, the two largest constituents of the INDIA bloc, with “protecting infiltrators” and cautioned the people against “a return of jungle raj”.

His remark that the Congress agreed to name Prasad’s son Tejashwi Yadav as the INDIA bloc’s CM candidate, only when RJD put a “katta” (country-made gun) on its head, drew much flak from the RJD leader and former deputy chief minister, who alleged that the language was unbecoming of a prime minister.
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also held as many as seven rallies, the last three falling on the concluding day of the campaign.
The Congress leader repeatedly accused Modi of trying to enact a “drama” during the Chhath festival. He said Modi was reportedly to take a dip in the Yamuna, which was too polluted for a bath, and backtracked when it came to light that a puddle had been created at the spot with “clean, piped water”.
Modi sought to deflect the criticism by pointing out that Gandhi was “fond of visiting places abroad, but never getting the time to visit Ram temple at Ayodhya”, and his statements were tantamount to an “insult to Chhathi Maiya”.
CM Kumar, who is a few months shy of turning 75, put paid to speculations about his health with a tireless campaign across the length and breadth of the state though his absence at the PM’s rallies and roadshow over the last few days provided much cannon fodder to the opposition which has been claiming that the BJP was done with playing second fiddle to the JD(U) supremo and would try to elbow him out after elections.
The BJP, which is known for running a star-studded campaign, pulled out its famed heavy artillery. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has held more than 20 rallies so far, sometimes staying put in the state for days, was assisted by cabinet colleagues like fellow former party president Rajnath Singh and the current chief Jagat Prakash Nadda.
Regional satraps like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his counterparts in BJP-ruled states like Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Delhi — Himanta Biswa Sarma, Mohan Yadav, Mohan Charan Manjhi and Rekha Gupta, respectively — were also called into action.
The prominent seats that will go to the polls in the first phase are Tejashwi Yadav’s Raghopur, Mahua, from where his brother Tej Pratap Yadav is trying his luck with a new political outfit, and Tarapur, from where Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary is fighting the elections.
The other seats in focus in this phase are Alinagar, from where singer Maithili Thakur is fighting the elections on a BJP ticket, Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha’s Lakhisarai, Mokama — where the JD(U) candidate is strongman Anant Singh, who has been arrested in the murder case of his opponent Dular Chand Yadav, and Raghunathpur, where the RJD candidate is late gangster-turned-politician Md Shahabuddin’s son Osama Shahab.
Other Union ministers who campaigned in the poll-bound state included Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Piyush Goyal. Former Union ministers Smriti Irani and Anurag Thakur, recognised as crowd pullers, were also seen on the campaign trail.
Among the notable campaigners of the Congress were Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who canvassed in the state for the first time, and has held three rallies and a roadshow so far, and party president Mallikarjun Kharge.
The election campaign was also marred by a one-off, albeit high-profile, incident of violence.
Dular Chand Yadav, who had aligned with Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, was allegedly killed in a skirmish with supporters of Anant Singh, the JD(U) candidate from Mokama.
The killing had triggered fears of a fresh round of gang-war in the volatile constituency, which is witnessing a straight battle between Singh and RJD’s Veena Devi, whose husband Suraj Bhan has been his old rival in politics and the underworld.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/high-voltage-campaign-marked-by-personal-attacks-divisive-rhetoric-for-bihar-polls-phase-1-ends-article-153102075

The Bihar polls will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, and results will be announced on November 14.

New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with Kanhaiya Kumar and Independent MP Pappu Yadav, are among the party’s 40 star campaigners for the second phase of the Bihar assembly polls.

AICC in-charge of Bihar Krishna Allavaru, Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Ram, Congress general secretaries K C Venugopal, Bhupesh Baghel, Sachin Pilot, Randeep Surjewala and Syed Naseer Hussain, as well as senior leaders Ashok Gehlot, Tariq Anwar, Gaurav Gogoi, Mohammad Jawed and Akhilesh Prasad Singh, are also on the list.

The Bihar polls will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, and results will be announced on November 14.

The opposition INDIA bloc, which has RJD, Congress and Left parties as the main constituents, on Thursday declared RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav its chief ministerial candidate for the Bihar polls.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, senior leaders Digvijaya Singh, Adhir Ranjan Choudhary, Meira Kumar, Pramord Tiwiri, Ajay Rai, Imran Pratapgarhi, Pawan Khera, Shakeel Ahmed, Ranjeet Ranjan, Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, Jignesh Mevani, Anil Jaihind and Rajendra Pal Gautam are also on the star campaigners list for the second phase of polls released by the party.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/bihar/bihar-assembly-elections-2025-kharge-rahul-priyanka-among-congress-40-star-campaigners-for-2nd-phase-bihar-polls-3783584

Gandhi posted the video on X and said the true sweetness of Diwali lies not just in the ‘thali’, but also in relationships and community.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday put out a video of him trying his hand at making ‘imarti’ and ‘besan laddoo’ at the famous Ghantewala sweet shop in old Delhi, as he greeted people on Diwali and asked them to share how they are making the festival special.

Gandhi posted the video on X and said the true sweetness of Diwali lies not just in the ‘thali’, but also in relationships and community.

“Tried my hand at making imarti and besan laddoo at the famous and historic Ghantewala sweet shop in old Delhi,” the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said.

“The sweetness of this centuries-old, iconic shop remains the same – pure, traditional, and heartwarming,” Gandhi said.

“Tell us, how are you celebrating your Diwali and making it special?” he said.

In another post on X, Gandhi extended greetings to the people of the country on the auspicious occasion of Diwali.

“May India be illuminated with the lamps of joy, may the light of happiness, prosperity, and love spread in every home,” the former Congress president said.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/congress-leader-rahul-gandhi-tries-making-imarti-and-besan-laddoo-at-old-delhis-iconic-ghantewala-sweet-shop-video

The saffron party admitted seven MLAs who were elected from three different parties in the past five years, shows an ADR report

Seventeen MLAs crossed over to other parties after being elected in the 2020 Assembly elections in Bihar , with the being the main beneficiary.

The BJP admitted seven MLAs who got elected from three different parties in the past five years.

The RJD and the also inducted five MLAs each from other parties, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

Two RJD MLAs, Bharad Bind and Sangita Kumari, chose the saffron party while In the Congress lost two MLAs — Murari Prasad Gautam and Siddharth Saurav — to the BJP.

Three MLAs — Mishri Lal Yadav, Raju Kumar Singh and Swarna Singh —  of Mukesh Sahani-led Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP) also crossed over to the BJP.

The RJD admitted four AIMIM MLAs — Mohd Izhar Asfi, Mohd Anzar Nayeemi, Shahnawaz and Syed Ruknuddin Ahmad — as well as Bimar Bharti from JD(U).

In return, the JD(U) admitted three RJD MLAs — Chetan Anand, Neelam Devi and Pralhad Yadav — and a BSP MLA, Mohd Zama Khan, and LJP’s Raj Kumar Singh.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/bihar/bihar-assembly-elections-2025-bjp-gained-most-from-defections-in-outgoing-assembly-3767734

George Santos, the disgraced Republican congressman, had been sentenced to prison after his web of deceit unraveled. His lawyer said Mr. Santos expected to be released Friday.

President Trump on Friday commuted the sentence of former Representative George Santos of New York, the disgraced Republican fabulist whose lies made him an object of national scorn and whose fraud landed him a punishment of more than seven years in prison.

In a social media post, Mr. Trump suggested that politics had been a major factor in his decision, commending Mr. Santos for sharing his views and contrasting him with Democrats. Calling the former congressman “somewhat of a ‘rogue,’” Mr. Trump said that he believed that Mr. Santos’s sentence was excessive given the nature of his financial crimes.

The president also suggested he had been moved by Mr. Santos’s accounts of being in prison, which he had published in a regular column in a local Long Island newspaper.

“George has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time and, by all accounts, has been horribly mistreated,” Mr. Trump wrote on social media. “Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!”

Mr. Santos, 37, reported to prison in July after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. His lawyer, Joseph Murray, said Mr. Santos expected to be released from prison Friday evening.

When he is out of custody, Mr. Santos will have served fewer than three months of an 87-month sentence.

He will also no longer be required to pay more than $370,000 in court-ordered restitution to his victims, according to a copy of the commutation posted online by Ed Martin, the U.S. pardon attorney.

Mr. Santos’s commutation — which cuts his sentence short but does not wipe out his conviction — is part of a blitz of grants of political clemency that Mr. Trump has doled out to his political allies or other figures who have been embraced by his right-wing supporters.

For months, it looked as if Mr. Santos, who rose to political prominence as an adherent to Mr. Trump’s MAGA movement, would not be granted similar favor. Even as the president gave sweeping pardons to those charged in connection with the 2021 attack on the Capitol, Mr. Santos’s appeals to get his sentence reduced were unsuccessful.

His commutation is the latest startling twist in an outlandish political odyssey that saw Mr. Santos move from a little-known conservative from Long Island to an infamous example of deceit and political fraud.

When he won his seat in 2022, Mr. Santos was heralded as a sign of a shift in Republican politics. Young, Brazilian American and openly gay, Mr. Santos seemed to signal an expansion of the G.O.P.’s tent. His victory, in a Democratic-leaning district in Long Island, was celebrated for helping Republicans narrowly win control of the House.

But Mr. Santos’s congressional career was imperiled almost immediately, after The New York Times and other outlets exposed that his ascent was built on a spectacular web of lies.

Mr. Santos claimed that he was descended from Holocaust refugees. His mother, he said, had been in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. He claimed to be a college volleyball star. And Mr. Santos boasted of extensive Wall Street experience that allowed him to report loaning his campaign hundreds of thousands of dollars.

None of that was true.

As more of Mr. Santos’s claims were exposed to be false or misleading, his Republican colleagues grew increasingly uneasy. When he was indicted in 2023, prosecutors accused him of multiple criminal schemes, ranging from fraudulently claiming unemployment benefits and lying on official forms to using his political campaign to enrich himself, swindling money from donors for personal expenses and using one donor’s credit card to steal $11,000 for his personal use.

Source : https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/us/politics/trump-george-santos-sentence-commute.html?unlocked_article_code=1.uE8.jwRj.pvY_YQw-RCLg&smid=url-share

Several fugitives, including Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, have raised the issue of ‘poor conditions’ of Indian prisons to counter their extradition in foreign courts

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday called for a decisive and “ruthless approach” in pursuing and prosecuting fugitives, including economic offenders, cyber criminals, and terrorists, who attempt to escape the reach of India’s justice system from abroad. Addressing a national conference on “Extradition of Fugitives: Challenges and Strategies” organised by the CBI, the minister stressed that the “time has come” for a coordinated mechanism to bring every offender before Indian law in a time-bound manner.

Shah stated that a zero-tolerance policy must be adopted not just against crime and corruption within the country, but also towards those who operate from foreign soil, threatening India’s economy, sovereignty, and security. He highlighted that the goal is to eliminate the “assurance” in the minds of fugitives that Indian law cannot reach them and to dismantle their ecosystem of legal, financial, and political support abroad.

In a key strategic instruction, the Home Minister urged all state governments to establish at least one prison cell that meets international human rights standards. This is a direct measure aimed at countering the common defence strategy used by high-profile fugitives in foreign courts, where they often argue that the “poor standards” of Indian jails would violate their human rights, thereby blocking extradition. Creating these high-standard detention facilities, Shah argued, will eliminate this legal loophole and enhance India’s international credibility. Several fugitives, including Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and Mehul Choksi, have raised the issue of “poor conditions” of Indian prisons to counter their extradition in foreign courts.

The Home Minister also underscored the impact of recent legislative reforms, such as the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, which has empowered the government to seize the properties of economic offenders, leading to the recovery of approximately USD 2 billion within four years. Furthermore, he noted that the strengthening of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has led to the attachment of assets worth about USD 12 billion between 2014 and 2023.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/amit-shah-demands-ruthless-pursuit-of-fugitives-urges-states-to-build-international-standard-jails-9641017.html

Akhilesh Yadav’s official Facebook page was suspended. Sources said Meta took the action and that the government had no role in it.

The official Facebook page of Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav was suspended on Friday evening, sparking a sharp political reaction from his party.

The Samajwadi Party accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- led government of being behind the move. However, sources dismissed the allegation, saying Meta, Facebook’s parent company, took the action and that the government had no role in it.

His page was suspended for allegedly posting a “violent sexual post”, the sources said.

According to news agency PTI, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s Facebook account, followed by over eight million users, was suspended around 6pm.

Akhilesh Yadav’s page was frequently used to share his opinions, highlight what he called the government’s shortcomings, and connect with supporters across the state.

Reacting strongly, SP spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chaand wrote on ‘X’, “Suspending the Facebook account of respected Akhilesh Yadav ji, the national president of the country’s third-largest party, is an attack on democracy. The BJP government has imposed an undeclared emergency, where every opposing voice is being suppressed. But the Samajwadi Party will continue to oppose the BJP’s anti-people policies.”

National secretary of the Samajwadi Party Rajeev Rai also condemned this act, saying it’s a blow to India’s democratic system.

“Blocking the account of the leader of the third largest party in the country’s parliament, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Honorable Shri @yadavakhilesh ji, by FACEBOOK is not only condemnable but also a blow to India’s democratic system,” Rai’s X post read.

Rai also said if the BJP has done this, then it’s a “mistake”.

“If this has been done at the behest of the ruling party, it is a sign of cowardice. Trying to suppress the voice of socialists is a mistake. @facebook @samajwadiparty,” Rai added.

SP MLA Pooja Shukla called out Facebook for suspending Akhilesh’s account without any warning or notice.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/akhilesh-yadavs-official-facebook-account-suspended-sp-targets-bjp-govt-101760151798392.html

A fresh dispute has surfaced in the family of Lalu Prasad Yadav after his daughter Rohini Acharya expressed discontent over the growing influence of Sanjay Yadav, a close aide of Tejashwi.

Weeks ahead of crucial Bihar elections, signs of discord in Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family have reared its head again, with his daughter Rohini Acharya now raising the banner of revolt. The flashpoint seems to be the growing proximity and influence of Tejashwi Yadav’s close aide and political advisor, Sanjay Yadav.

The fresh rift in the family comes months after Lalu Prasad expelled his elder son, Tej Pratap, for six years in May. In fact, Tej Pratap has also previously lashed out at Sanjay, even branding him “Jaichand” (betrayer).

WHAT IS CONTROVERSY ALL ABOUT?

The latest controversy started after Sanjay was seen occupying the front seat of the campaign bus, usually reserved for Tejashwi, during the RJD’s Bihar Adhikar Yatra. The photo went viral after a popular social media influencer objected to it, saying the front seat was meant for the top leadership.

In a post, the influencer, without naming Sanjay, said some individuals were considering themselves above the leadership by suddenly appearing like “strategists”. It further said that the people of Bihar were used to seeing Tejashwi or Lalu on the front seat of vehicles during such yatras.

The row deepened after Lalu’s daughter Rohini Acharya reshared the critical post. It signalled that she too objected to the changing political equations and Sanjay’s growing role in the party.

As it kicked off a political storm, Rohini attempted damage control hours later. She shared images of leaders from backwards communities seated in front of vehicles while campaigning.

“Elevating the underprivileged and those at the bottom of society has been the goal of Lalu Prasad’s campaign for social and economic justice,” Rohini tweeted.

Reacting to the development, Union Minister Giriraj Singh, sharing a cartoon, labelled Tejashwi’s political advisor as the Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate and said that Tejashwi should first manage his own household before contesting against the NDA.

STRING OF POSTS BY LALU’S DAUGHTER

However, the damage had been done and the speculation of a rift in the family only grew louder.

Amid the controversy, Rohini, on Friday, posted a series of pictures and videos with Lalu Prasad during the former chief minister’s kidney transplant in Singapore in 2022. Rohini had donated one of her kidneys to her father.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/assembly/story/lalu-prasad-yadav-family-rift-rohini-acharya-sanjay-yadav-influence-tejashwi-bihar-elections-2790583-2025-09-20

The Union Home Minister said that personal attacks, not debate, are eroding the foundations of India’s parliamentary democracy and must be answered by voters

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has strongly criticised opposition leaders for what he described as “low-level politics” and “personal attacks” on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, warning that such practices erode the foundations of India’s democracy.

In an exclusive interview with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, Shah was asked how he viewed the contrast between Modi’s popularity, including his rapport with global leaders, and the repeated abuses hurled at him by Opposition leaders such as Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee. Responding, Shah said it was “unfortunate” that politics was being dragged away from principles and reduced to personal attacks.

“Such low-level politics is like a termite in democracy. It eats away at the very roots,” he said. “Those who use such language and encourage such politics should be punished by the people.”

‘Punish Such Leaders’

Shah said the Opposition’s job is to expose corruption, but they lack such proof against PM Modi and have therefore fallen back on personal abuse. “If any person engages in corrupt conduct, that is not a private matter; it is a public matter, and it is the duty of the Opposition to expose corruption. But because they cannot find corruption, they resort to baseless talk, abusive words, and, as you mentioned, even making remarks about Modi ji’s mother. This will not strengthen our democratic politics,” he said, urging voters to hold such leaders to account at the ballot box. “Such people should indeed be punished in elections.”

‘Parliament Is The Biggest Panchayat’

Shah described Parliament as the “biggest panchayat” in India, stressing that it is meant to be the forum where the ruling party and the Opposition debate national issues on principles and policy. “There is no bigger forum for such discussions,” he remarked.

He alleged, however, that Opposition MPs were doing the opposite of what the institution demands. From the very first day of a session, he said, they sought to derail proceedings, even when Vande Mataram was being chanted, and later claimed they were denied a chance to speak. Shah pointed out that members often walked out despite being allotted time by the Speaker, used their interventions for political barbs rather than substantive debate, and repeatedly flouted the rules of the House.

“Parliament cannot function in a freestyle manner,” he cautioned, adding that such behaviour eroded the very purpose of the legislature.

‘Parliament Runs By Rules’

Shah said that parliamentary discipline has been respected since the time of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. “Parliament runs by rules, since the time of Rahul Gandhi’s great-grandfather and his grandmother. The ideal MP is someone who is able to properly put forward his or her views within that very framework,” he said.

While acknowledging that his own words may not change much, Shah stressed that the people of India needed to decide whether Parliament’s time should be wasted on “political theatrics” or devoted to substantive issues. “Prime Minister Modi has always insisted on upholding the multi-party parliamentary democratic system, ensuring parliamentary purity and discipline,” he said.

“At some point, the people of this country will have to decide — should Parliament’s time be wasted on political theatrics, or should it be used for fruitful discussions that lead to decisions in the interest of the people? Be it matters of security, prosperity, employment, industrial policy, cooperative policy, or welfare of crores of poor, should these be the issues that are debated, or should there be just political invectives?”

Source : https://www.news18.com/politics/punish-them-in-elections-amit-shah-says-oppositions-language-is-weakening-democracys-roots-ws-l-9584162.html

A day after a local party worker died allegedly by suicide in Mullankolly in Wayanad, the daughter-in-law of a former District Congress Committee (DCC) treasurer allegedly attempted to take her own life by injuring her wrist.

The alleged suicides of two party workers -one last year and another a day ago-in this hill district have put the opposition Congress in Kerala on the back foot. This is particularly damaging at a time when its MP, Priyanka Gandhi, is present in her constituency.

A day after a local party worker died allegedly by suicide in Mullankolly in Wayanad, the daughter-in-law of a former District Congress Committee (DCC) treasurer, NM Vijayan, allegedly attempted to take her own life by injuring her wrist.

Padmaja was admitted to the hospital, and her condition is now stable, police said.

She made the attempt hours after telling the media that financial assistance promised by the party following Vijayan’s death last year- a tragedy which also claimed the life of his son, Jijesh -had still not been delivered.

Vijayan, 78, and his son, 38, allegedly consumed poison after running into debt. The family claimed he had borrowed heavily for party activities and ended his life when he failed to repay.

Following the incident, Congress had assured to take responsibility for the liabilities.

However, Padmaja told reporters on Saturday that the family still has debts of over Rs two crore, of which less than Rs 20 lakh has been settled.

“My father-in-law took loans for party needs, not for personal purposes. The party promised to clear all liabilities, but has gone back on its word. My husband is in the hospital due to the stress. I can’t hold on for long,” she said, adding that the family plans to stage a protest before the DCC office and petition the Chief Minister.

Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the party inquiry into Vijayan’s death was still on. “Once it is over, the money will be paid. How can the party pay when the inquiry is pending?” he said.

Meanwhile, the recent suicide of senior Congress leader and Mullankolly panchayat councillor Jose Nelledam has further embarrassed the party.

Mr Nelledam, who was found dead in a pond near his house on Friday, had reportedly consumed poison and slit his wrist.

In a video that surfaced after his death, Mr Nelledam alleged he was being targeted with false accusations in connection with the arrest of fellow leader Kanattumalayil Thankachan.

Mr Thankachan was arrested after liquor and explosives were allegedly seized from his house, but was released 13 days later when it was found that the contraband had been planted by another party worker.

Mr Nelledam admitted he had tipped off police about the contraband but insisted he was falsely branded as a conspirator. “They made allegations to see my blood and destroy my children’s future. I cannot endure this,” he said in the video.

ND Appachan, Wayanad DCC President, said that as police have found a suicide note from Nelledam’s house, the contents of the letter should be revealed to the public. “I suspect some foul play. The Pulpally police remanded Thankachan without conducting any investigation. We suspect some political motives in the police’s actions,” he said.

He said that the DCC is in contact with the family of Nelledam, and the party will provide support to them. He denied any party infighting. “These situations emerged after an issue during the development seminar organised at Mullankolly recently. There are also people inside the Congress behind it. However, I will not disclose their names at this time. I will present their names before the leadership,” he added.

On the other hand, the CPM has come out against the Congress over the internal issues in Wayanad.

Minister V Sivankutty said that the Congress has become a mafia in Kerala. “Murder, abetment of suicide, open violent incidents, abortion – these are what Congress represents today. Now, reports are coming in that the daughter-in-law of the late former DCC Treasurer NM Vijayan of Wayanad, has also attempted suicide,” he said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/as-priyanka-gandhi-visits-wayanad-2-suicides-put-congress-on-defensive-9272574?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

Tejashwi Yadav made the declaration during the last leg of Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in poll-bound Bihar.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday declared himself as the chief ministerial face of the INDIA bloc for the upcoming Bihar assembly polls during a rally in Arrah, slamming CM Nitish Kumar for “copying” his policies.

Yadav made the declaration during the last leg of Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in poll-bound Bihar.

Gandhi and Congress had so far remained tight-lipped on the alliance’s CM face for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. But Saturday’s declaration came as the Rae Bareli MP was present during the public meeting in Arrah.

Tejashwi slams Nitish Kumar, endorses self

Addressing the rally, Tejashwi Yadav slammed Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and called him a “copycat CM” who was just copying his policies and making announcements. “Do you want an original Chief Minister or a duplicate?” he asked the crowd.

Tejashwi declared himself the alliance’s “original chief ministerial” candidate in Rahul Gandhi’s presence.

“Tejashwi is moving ahead. The government is following behind,” he said at the rally, drawing loud cheers.

The polls are due in Bihar in October or November, although the Election Commission has yet to announce the dates.

Akhilesh Yadav backs Tejashwi Yadav as the INDIA bloc’s Bihar CM face

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav joined Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav for their “Voter Adhikar Yatra” and extended strong support to the RJD leader as the INDIA bloc’s chief ministerial face for the upcoming Bihar assembly polls.

Calling the yatra a movement to safeguard democratic rights in Bihar, Akhilesh said it had awakened the people of the state to the threat of their rights being “snatched away”.

“I congratulate Tejashwi ji for the yatra he carried out. He made the people of Bihar aware that their rights are being snatched away. I congratulate Tejashwi ji, Rahul Gandhi ji and the people of Bihar. This time, the harmony is going to win in Bihar. The people of Bihar will vote to build their future,” the SP chief was quoted by ANI as saying.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister praised Tejashwi’s previous tenure as Bihar’s deputy CM and highlighted his employment record.

“Tejashwi ji has shown his work even before. And there was a time when he gave a record number of jobs, and employment was provided. Now, the youth of Bihar at least have this confidence that once the government is formed, Tejaswi ji will again provide them employment,” Akhilesh said.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/tejashwi-yadav-to-be-india-blocs-bihar-cm-face-rjd-leader-declares-in-rahul-gandhis-presence-101756604476518.html

Rahul Gandhi’s voter adhikar yatra in Bihar faced controversy after a family admitted their names were present on the voter list. The incident questions the credibility of voter deletion claims amid the upcoming assembly polls.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar ran into controversy after a woman who alleged that her family’s names were missing from the voter list backtracked, admitting that her name was indeed on the rolls.

Ranju Devi, a resident of Chapla village, was introduced to Gandhi on Sunday, August 17, during his 1,300-kilometre march that seeks to spotlight alleged irregularities in Bihar’s voter rolls. Before cameras, she had claimed that the names of six members of her family were deleted.

But speaking to India Today/Aaj Tak later, she admitted her family was misled. Ranju Devi clarified that her family’s names were intact and that she had only spoken out on the instructions of local officials.

“We’re simple village folk. We said what we were told,” she said.

Ranju Devi’s husband Sudhir Ram backed her account, blaming ward officers for the mix-up.

“The ward member and the ward secretary told us that our family’s names are not on the voter list. So we got very scared. Those people took us to Rahul Gandhi. It was only later that we found out that our names are on the voter list,” he said.

The Election Commission of India (EC) also issued a statement, saying the woman whose claims went viral during Gandhi’s interaction was, in fact, found mentioned in the voter list along with her family members.

The episode has caused embarrassment for Gandhi and the Congress leadership, who have been rallying behind the “vote chori” charge. Gandhi’s campaign, backed by INDIA bloc allies, has accused the EC and the BJP of colluding to disenfranchise voters through the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The EC has defended the exercise, saying it was necessary as the SIR had not been conducted since 2004, leading to widespread duplication. The poll body said the drive was aimed at removing ineligible names and preventing individuals from holding multiple voter cards.

Despite the setback, Gandhi’s march continues. The ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ will pass through more than 20 districts, including Gaya, Nalanda, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Darbhanga, and Champaran, before concluding with a rally in Patna on September 1.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rahul-gandhi-voter-adhikar-yatra-controversy-bihar-voter-list-intact-2773885-2025-08-20

Punjab AAP Chief Aman Arora said that the statement made by party leader Manish Sisodia on using Saam Dam Danda Bhed to win the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections doesn’t align with the party’s ideology and it is a personal remark.

Reacting to Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia’s statement asking party workers to use all kinds of ‘Saam Daam Dand Bhed’ to emerge victorious in the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, Punjab AAP Chief Aman Arora said that the party’s ideology doesn’t allow them to follow Sisodia’s words.

“I am part of the party and not the party. So, someone’s individual statement must not be considered as party ideology. The opponents are exaggerating things,” he said.

Elaborating further on Sisodia’s statement, Arora said, “As far as the Aam Aadmi Party and Punjab Government are concerned, AAP has always and will go to people and seek votes on development issue.”

“We will go to the people of Punjab with folded hands to seek votes,” he said and added that everyone, whether it is the Chief Minister, Mayor or Manish Sisodia, are all part of the party and not the party.

“The video you are talking about is not the ideology of the party. This is not the ideology or thought of the party. Arvind Kejriwal and I don’t approve what Manish Sisodia said.

The matter has been blown out of proportion, added the Punjab AAP chief.

It is to be noted that Manish Sisodia, who is also incharge of party affairs in Punjab while addressing workers, had told them to use all kinds of “Saam Daam Dand Bhed’ to ensure a victory for the party in the upcoming 2027 Punjab Vidhan Sabha polls.

This has led to widespread criticism and the BJP has even approached the election commission and demanded the registration of a case against Sisodia.

Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar has written to the Election Commission (EC) seeking action against Manish Sisodia for his remarks.

In his complaint, Jakhar alleged that Sisodia, during a speech on August 15, had “openly proclaimed” that to win the next Punjab election, AAP would resort to “saam, daam, dand, bhed, sach, jooth, sawaal, jawaab, ladai, jhagda (diplomacy, incentive, punishment, division, truth, false, question, answer, fight, quarrel)”.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/aap-punjab-chief-aman-arora-rejects-party-leaders-saam-dam-danda-bhed-remark-to-win-2027-punjab-assembly-elections-2773130-2025-08-18

The BJP criticised Rahul Gandhi after the 1984 riots accused Jagdish Tytler was seen at the Congress HQ during the Independence Day flag hoisting.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has attacked the Congress after the 1984 Sikh riots accused Jagdish Tytler was seen at the party headquarters during the Independence Day flag hoisting.

BJP leader Amit Malviya, in a post on X, said: “Jagdish Tytler, the man who unleashed genocide on Sikhs at Rajiv Gandhi’s behest, is once again seen alongside Rahul Gandhi at the Congress HQ. Some stains don’t wash away, no matter how much time passes. The Gandhis are unapologetic too.”

BJP leader Radhika Khera also took aim at the Congress, posting on X: “On August 15, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who was absent from the traditional Red Fort event, was present at the Congress headquarters to hoist the national flag. Behind him stood the same accused killer of the 1984 Sikh genocide, Jagdish Tytler, whose bloody hands were covered up by his father Rajiv Gandhi, calling it a ‘natural reaction’. Even on the day of patriotism, the ‘prince’ stands with a rioter. This is the true face of Congress: a legacy of conspiracy and treachery against the nation. And yes, this is the same Indira Bhawan from where Rahul announced a ‘fight against the Indian state’.”

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bjp-slams-rahul-gandhi-jagdish-tytler-independence-day-flag-hoisting-congress-sikh-riot-2771786-2025-08-15

A top BJP source said Gandhi’s real aim is not to prove his claims by judicial scrutiny but undermine public trust in institutions

Rahul Gandhi has found a new political war cry in ‘Vote Chori’, but for the BJP, it is the same, painfully predictable political playbook that does not find any fault in his party’s election wins in Karnataka or Telangana, but blames it on ‘fraud’ when the party crashes in Maharashtra or Haryana.

For BJP, Gandhi’s rhetoric is merely a media campaign with no legal recourse towards courts. A top party source said Gandhi’s real aim is to not prove his claims by judicial scrutiny but undermine public trust in institutions.

The SIR protest march in Parliament on Monday served another purpose for Gandhi—him bringing together the INDIA bloc for the first time on an issue after the Lok Sabha elections. Gandhi led the march with SP’s Akhilesh Yadav, DMK’s Kanimozhi, TMC MPs, RJD and the Left in tow. After over a year, the Opposition is finally uniting for a common cause.

But, apart from that, Gandhi’s strategy fails to look within, say top BJP sources. Like the party’s inconsistent organisation or dwindling political cadre footprint across the country that had led to election setbacks. Or the party’s weak leadership. The approach towards ECI, instead, gives a new insurance to the party’s future losses—that it is just not our fault.

Another top BJP source points to other gross inconsistencies in Gandhi’s claims. One, narrow wins being termed by him as instances of election fraud. According to the source, narrow wins are part of India’s electoral history and there have been two instances of politicians winning by just one vote and umpteen examples of margins below a 1,000 votes or lesser.

Phased polling in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls was also nothing out of the ordinary when it comes to Indian elections, the second BJP source mentioned above said. Congress also banks on exit polls to say the real results are quite the opposite (like in Haryana) and hence, cries fraud. But BJP points out how exit polls have been consistently proven wrong.

It is also a fact that India’s electorate is growing like its population. A 4.4 per cent voter growth in Maharashtra in 2024, which Congress has cited as suspicious, in fact was lower than under UPA in 2004 when it stood at 4.7 per cent, the first BJP source said. In 2024, Karnataka’s voter rolls were managed under a Congress state government, which now cries fraud.

Source : https://www.news18.com/politics/rahul-gandhis-vote-chori-campaign-predictable-playbook-says-bjp-as-oppn-finds-common-cause-ws-l-9499646.html

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta criticised Jaya Bachchan for questioning Operation Sindoor’s name, India’s response to the Pahalgam attack.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday took a sarcastic jibe at Bollywood actress and Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan for questioning the naming of Operation Sindoor– India’s retaliatory strikes on Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

While speaking during a debate in the Delhi Legislative Assembly on Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev, CM Gupta responded to Bachchan, saying, “She asked why the operation was named Sindoor. I will answer her with a filmy dialogue – “‘Ek chutki Sindoor ki kimat aap kya jano Jaya Madam? Aap toh filmon ki dunya jaanti hai, desh ki sachchai nahi‘ (You don’t know the value of a pinch of vermilion Jaya madam. You know about films, not the reality of the country.)”

She further launched a scathing attack on the opposition parties, alleging that they support anti-national elements and do not love the country.

“These people do not love Bharat but love anti-national forces because they see their own reflection in them. They have named themselves ‘INDIA’, but when they speak, it feels like they are spokespersons for Pakistan.”

She further alleged that members of the Opposition had questioned the credibility of Operation Sindoor even in the Lok Sabha. “They do not trust their own Army, their own Prime Minister, but they trust foreign countries,” she charged.

Gupta also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the success of the military response following the Pahalgam terror attack. “Operation Sindoor was a befitting reply to Pakistan after the attack in Pahalgam, where many women lost their loved ones,” Gupta said.

“Prime Minister Modi played a huge role in protecting the dignity of our sisters,” she added.

She paid tribute to the courage and commitment of the armed forces and said that under PM Modi’s leadership, India has found a protector who acts like a “courageous father, a compassionate brother, and a resolute national leader”.

What Jaya Bachchan Said?

The Samajwadi Party MP had triggered a row after questioning the naming of Operation Sindoor. She argued that the operation’s name was insensitive, as the attack “destroyed the sindoor” of many women who lost their husbands in the April 22 attack.

“I would congratulate you on the writers you have hired. You give grand names. Why did you name it ‘Sindoor’? Sindoor toh ujad gaya (sindoor was destroyed), the wives of those who were killed,” she had said.

Her comments were met with interruptions from members of the ruling party.

Source : https://www.news18.com/politics/ek-chutki-sindoor-ki-kimat-delhi-cm-rekha-guptas-bollywood-dig-at-jaya-bachchan-ws-bl-9484449.html

‘You people are surviving on our money. What kind of industries do you have?….Tatas, Birlas and Ambanis do business here…if you are brave enough to beat Hindi speakers, then you should also have guts to hit those who speak Urdu, Tamil, and Telugu,’ Dubey said.

Mumbai: The ongoing Hindi-Marathi row took a new turn with BJP MP Nishikant Dubey daring Thackeray cousins Uddhav and Raj to come out of Maharashtra and visit Uttar Pradesh, Bihar or Tamil Nadu and face the music in retaliation of attacks on migrant workers in Mumbai and its suburbs.

Dubey, a BJP MP from Godda in Jharkhand, is considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The development took place on Monday, a couple of days after Uddhav, the Shiv Sena (UBT) head and former chief minister and his cousin Raj, the MNS president, shared dais and addressed a joint rally after 20 years. The

Thackerays were celebrating the BJP-led Maha Yuti government withdrawing two GRs which aimed at introducing Hindi in primary English and Marathi medium schools under the three-language policy of the New Education Policy.

“You people are surviving on our money. What kind of industries do you have?….Tatas, Birlas and Ambanis do business here…if you are brave enough to beat Hindi speakers, then you should also have guts to hit those who speak Urdu, Tamil, and Telugu.”

“If you are such a ‘big boss’, step out of Maharashtra and come to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, or Tamil Nadu….’tumko patak patak ke maarenge’ (we will thrash you),” Dubey said in a direct challenge to the Thackeray cousins.

“We all respect Marathi and the people of Maharashtra…we respect Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, the Peshwas, Tatya Tope…all who fought for India’s independence…Lokmanya Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale,” he said adding that since the BMC elections are approaching, the duo of Uddhav-Raj are indulging in such cheap politics. “If they have the courage, they should go to Mahim and beat Hindi or Urdu speakers in front of the Mahim Dargah…only they they can claim to be heirs of late Balasaheb Thackeray,” he further remarked.

Dubey’s comments came a day after state cultural affairs minister and Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar comparing the attack on migrants to the Pahalgam terror attack, when the terrorists asked the religious identity and shot people.

As Dubey’s comments went viral, Uddhav and other leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, reacted sharply, however, Raj has not reacted so far.

“This is not the BJP we know… The original BJP which was in alliance with the (undivided) Shiv Sena has been killed by the present leaders,” Uddhav said, adding: “Who knows this Nishikant Dubey….”.

“They have gone to such an extent that they are comparing Marathis with the terrorists of the Pahalgam incident. They could not save the Hindus there, now they are siding with those perpetrating injustice to Marathi. These (leaders) are the real ‘killers’ of Marathi,” Thackeray said, hitting out at Shelar.

Thackeray also dismissed chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ reactions that the Saturday coming together of Uddhav-Raj was a gathering of ‘rudaalis’ terming it as an outcome of ‘deranged mentality’.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/tumko-patak-patak-ke-maarenge-nishikant-dubey-dares-uddhav-raj-to-step-out-of-maharashtra-amid-hindi-marathi-row-3619415

Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), dismissed rumors about his nomination to the Rajya Sabha, stating he will not join the upper house. Following AAP’s victories in Punjab’s Ludhiana West and Gujarat’s Visavadar, Kejriwal emphasized the importance of these wins, particularly after a recent defeat in Delhi.

New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal on Monday put speculation on him being nominated by the Aam Aadmi Party to Rajya Sabha to rest, asserting that he would not go to the upper house. “I want to tell you I am not going to the Rajya Sabha,” he said in a briefing after his party’s big win in Gujarat’s Visavadar and Punjab’s Ludhiana.
The AAP retained the Ludhiana West seat, with Rajya Sabha MP and industrialist Sanjeev Arora winning by a margin of over 10,000 votes. The bypoll was seen as a litmus test for the AAP, which has kept a low profile since its loss in the Delhi Assembly polls. The party had assured a ministerial post in the Punjab government once he wins, prompting speculations that the move is being planned to pave the way for Kejriwal’s entry into Rajya Sabha from Ludhiana.
When asked about speculations of him moving to Rajya Sabha, the AAP convener replied: “Many times I have been sent to the Rajya Sabha. I want to tell you I am not going to the Rajya Sabha”.

The byelections in Punjab and Kerala are significant for Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Priyanka’s campaign for the Nilambur seat is pivotal for establishing her leadership within Congress, especially after the resignation of an independent MLA. Meanwhile, Kejriwal aims for AAP’s success in the Ludhiana West seat to facilitate his political return to the upper house.

The results of byelections for two seats in Punjab and Kerala are crucial for two prominent leaders — Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. For Priyanaka, who led the campaigning for Nilambur seat from the front, a Congress victory in the Kerala seat would cement her leadership among party workers. At the same time, a win for AAP in the Ludhiana bypoll would allow Arvind Kejriwal to begin his political second innings from the upper house.
Nilambur falls under Priyanka’s parliamentary constituency, Wayanad. Therefore, the Congress leader started her campaign eight months before the election, hoping to create a favourable atmosphere among the electorate. The byelection was held due to the resignation of LDF-backed independent MLA PV Anwar. Anwar contested again with the support of the Trinamool Congress.
As the Pinarayi Vijayan government nears the end of its second term in office, the by-election in the forest-fringe constituency has evolved into a prestigious battle for both the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-headed UDF.

A loss would invite criticism against Priyanka Gandhi’s leadership, which is why the 53-year-old actively campaigned to ensure her candidate’s victory.

“I go to sleep wondering if I deserve this much love,” said Priyanka, addressing a roadshow in Nilambur on Sunday in support of Congress bypoll candidate Aryadan Shoukath.
Similarly, a lot is at stake for Arvind Kejriwal in the Punjab byelection. A win in the Ludhiana West seat would allow him to begin his political second innings from the upper house.
The Aam Aadmi Party fielded Sanjeev Arora (61), a Rajya Sabha member and Ludhiana-based industrialist who is also known for his social welfare work, for the bypoll. According to reports, Arora has also been assured a ministerial post in the Punjab government once he wins. Speculations are rife that the move is being planned to pave the way for Kejriwal’s entry into Rajya Sabha from Ludhiana.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/elections/kerala-nilambur-bypoll-results-are-crucial-for-congress-priyanka-gandhi-and-ludhiana-west-byelections-for-aap-arvind-kejriwal-article-152131287

Aishwarya Rai, not the actor but Tej Pratap Yadav’s estranged wife, has spoken on his recent declaration of being in a relationship for the past 12 years and Lalu Yadav’s action on finding it out. Tej Pratap Yadav was sacked from Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and family for six years for his “irresponsible behaviour” and “disregard for moral values.”

The action followed Tej Pratap Yadav’s Facebook post introducing his “girlfriend” Anushka Yadav and revealing a 12-year relationship, despite still being married and his divorce petition pending in family court. He, however, deleted the post a few hours later, claiming on X that his Facebook page was “hacked”.

Tej Pratap and Aishwarya Rai married in 2018 but separated within months. Reacting to his revelation of a 12-year relationship with Anushka Yadav and Lalu Prasad’s action, Aishwarya said the decision to sever ties with him was timed with the upcoming elections in Bihar.

“Why was my life ruined? Why was I beaten? Now they have suddenly had a social awakening. They are all together. They have not separated,” Aishwarya Rai said, adding, “I’m certain Rabri Devi must have assured him [Tej Pratap Yadav] that they would manage the situation and advised him to stay calm.”

She said, “Everyone knows what happened. If they (Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family) knew the whole thing, then why did they get him married to me? Why was my life ruined? Why was I beaten?….The elections are near, that is why they have taken such a step and created this drama”

Source : https://www.livemint.com/politics/tej-pratap-yadav-expelled-over-relationship-brother-tejashwi-says-hum-bardaasht-nahi-karte-11748169573720.html

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released a Hindi song hailing Operation Sindoor, India’s military offensive against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Titled ‘Nishani Dekh Lo, Ye Nishani‘, the song is being sung by BJP MP and popular Bhojpuri singer Manoj Tiwari.

The party has shared the 5-minute video of the song on its social media platforms.

The song starts with words, “30 lakh sainik ke peeche, 150 crore Hindustani. Naap denge jab chahenge, dushman mein kitna hai paani (Behind 30 lakh soldiers, there are 150 crore Indians, Whenever we want we will measure how much water the enemy has! Look at the sign, this sign… The story is over, the story begins!)

Additionally, the North East Delhi MP has also released a Hindi song titled “Sindoor Ki Lalkaar“, hailing the Indian military operation.

He said that while he was deeply touched by the valour displayed by the Indian armed forces during the operation, he was also hurt that no other singer thought of lauding the soldiers through music.

“Many singers have rendered songs for political reasons, often against the government, but there’s not a single song about our soldiers and the bravery they displayed during Operation Sindoor,” Tiwari said as quoted by news agency PTI.

Conceptualised by BJP leader Neelkant Bakshi, the song has been sung and composed Tiwari.

India launched air strikes at nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashimir (PoK) in the wee hours of May 7. The military offensive came in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists, on April 22.

Operation Sindoor

India launched “precision strikes” under Operation Sindoor on nine terror targets in Pakistan and PoK following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. The strikes killed at least 10 family members of JeM chief Masood Azhar and four close aides.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/nishani-dekh-lo-ye-nishani-bjp-releases-song-hailing-operation-sindoor-9343576.html

Shah had kicked up a major row by trying to portray Qureshi, the face of the government’s media briefings on Operation Sindoor, as a ‘sister of terrorists’.

BJP MLA Usha Thakur on Saturday sought to downplay the controversy over MP Minister Vijay Shah’s objectionable remarks against Colonel Sophia Quershi, saying sometimes a slip of the tongue unintentionally creates misunderstandings.

Shah had kicked up a major row by trying to portray Qureshi, the face of the government’s media briefings on Operation Sindoor, as a “sister of terrorists”.

Police booked Shah amid backlash and following the directions of the Madhya High Court, which castigated the minister for using the “language of gutters”.

“You know very well that no political leader intends to make such irresponsible comments. However, sometimes, a slip of the tongue leads to such misunderstandings. We need to reflect on these matters seriously and try to understand them,” Thakur told reporters.

The former minister said one should understand the entire context of Shah’s remarks.

“I have already requested you to look at the entire context of his statement. It would be better if we discuss it after that,” she said.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/madhya-pradesh/slip-of-tongue-leads-to-misunderstandings-bjp-mla-on-mp-ministers-remarks-on-col-qureshi-3545382

The Congress on Tuesday took down a controversial headless poster targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi from its official X handle, following an “internal row” within the party.

The move came shortly after the BJP slammed Congress for the post, accusing it of echoing Pakistan’s narrative in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 dead.

According to sources, Congress social media head Supriya Shrinate was asked to delete the post and was pulled up by the leadership for allowing content that deviated from the party line.

The top leadership of the Congress party expressed strong displeasure with the media department, with concerns that the post had put the party on the back foot and projected it in a negative light, sources said.

The Congress took a swipe at PM Modi with a headless poster highlighting his absence from the all-party meeting over the Pahalgam terror attack. The party posted an image with the word ‘gayab’ to question the Prime Minister’s absence.

While the post did not name PM Modi directly, the caption read, “Disappears at the time of responsibility,” in a clear reference to his non-attendance. Congress has repeatedly raised questions over the Prime Minister skipping the meeting convened to brief leaders on the attack.

Reacting strongly, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, at a press conference on Tuesday, showed the Congress post and lashed out at the party. He said it wouldn’t be wrong to describe the Congress as “Lashkar-e-Pakistan Congress,” claiming the post was disgraceful and aligned with enemy narratives.

Bhatia alleged that the Congress had become a platform for “Mir Jafar’s supporters” and that such posts, in his view, were made at the behest of Rahul Gandhi, bringing shame to the nation. He further accused the Congress of trying to weaken the country during a sensitive time, adding that the party’s ideology resembled that of extremist groups.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/headless-poster-for-pm-congress-deletes-pahalgam-meeting-supriya-shrinate-2717095-2025-04-29

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has alleged that there was misappropriation of assets of over ₹2,000 crore in an equity transaction.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday filed a prosecution complaint against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald money laundering case.

According to sources, Congress’ Sam Pitroda and several others have also been named in the complaint.

Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts considered the case today and said it will be heard next on April 25 for consideration on aspect of cognisance.

“A fresh prosecution complaint under sections 44 and 45 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002 for commission of offence of money laundering as defined under section 3 read with section 70 and punishable under section 4 of PMLA, 2002 filed by the ED, has been received by way of assignment. Let the complaint be checked and registered,” the Court said.

The National Herald case pertains to the assignment of a ₹90 crore loan advanced by the Congress party to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) – owner of the National Herald – to Young Indian for a consideration of ₹50 lakh.

It has been alleged that there was misappropriation of assets of over ₹2,000 crore in an equity transaction.

In his private complaint, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had accused Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda and Gandhi family-controlled Young Indian of cheating, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of property.

The trial in the predicate criminal case is ongoing at the Rouse Avenue Court but before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/ed-chargesheets-rahul-gandhi-sonia-gandhi-national-herald-case

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said pollution levels in Delhi are so high that staying in the city for three days can lead to infections.Informing that Delhi and Mumbai are in the red zone due to pollution levels, Gadkari said a lot of work needs to be done in the coming period with regards to air and water pollution.

New Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said staying in Delhi for three days could lead to some infections. The minister added that the deteriorating air in the national capital is reducing the average life of a citizen by 10 years. The rising pollution in Delhi and Mumbai has put the two cities in the red zone, said the minister while asserting that a lot of work needs to be done.
“In Delhi, pollution is very high. If you stay in Delhi for three days, you will get some infection. As per a medical conclusion, Delhi pollution is reducing the average life of a citizen by 10 years,” said Gadkari at an event here in Mumbai.
The Minister of Road Transport and Highways said addressing environmental concerns is critical to national development alongside infrastructure growth. “Ethics, economy, ecology and environment are important for Indian society but we have not taken the environment issue seriously,” he said.

He added that road development is a key strategy to address pollution and reduce logistics costs. “We import nearly Rs 22 lakh crore worth of fossil fuel. Petrol and diesel are major contributors to pollution. Traffic jams need to be solved. There is a need for change in fuel used in vehicles. I am supporting alternative fuels like a crusader.”

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/delhi/nitin-gadkari-calls-out-delhi-pollution-reducing-life-by-10-years-says-staying-in-delhi-for-3-days-can-get-infection-article-151426727

The ‘Nyay Path’ resolution adopted at the AICC Session on Wednesday underwent some major changes at the last minute to include a mention of secularism, I.N.D.I.A bloc and judicial accountability as well as elaborating on party’s Palestine stand.

Ahmedabad: With some senior leaders raising concerns about omissions, the ‘Nyay Path’ resolution adopted at the AICC Session on Wednesday underwent some major changes at the last minute to include a mention of secularism, I.N.D.I.A bloc and judicial accountability as well as elaborating on party’s Palestine stand.

At the extended Congress Working Committee meeting on Tuesday, leaders like Shashi Tharoor and Anand Sharma raised concerns about the draft, which also did not elaborate specific aspects of its social justice agenda like dismantling of SC/ST Sub Plan, abolishing 50% quota cap and reservation for SC, ST and OBCs in private educational institutions.

Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal had said on Tuesday that the Drafting Committee would sit again to “incorporate” suggestions made at the extended CWC. Some leaders, sources said, were not happy with the draft as it did not reflect the party’s long-standing positions on issues or its demands.

As a section felt that the absence of a mention about I.N.D.I.A could create trouble, the final resolution recalled “constructive cooperation and collective efforts” not just with time-tested allies. It said Congress “created and sustained” the architecture of I.N.D.I.A on the commonality of people’s issues and the party stands committed to continuing this effort even in the future.

Absence of Congress’ commitment to secularism in the resolution also raised eyebrows and it prompted an addition. The party’s commitment to secularism is inspired by “age-old traditions of India, that is Bharat”, it said.

On the Palestine front, the drafting committee initially chose not to mention the party’s commitment for a “negotiated and peaceful resolution as also for the creation of a separate state of Palestine as per the UN resolution” but was added.

Amid a renewed debate on judicial accountability, the drafting committee inserted a paragraph later mentioning the recovery of cash from the residence of a High Court judge, calling it “alarming”. The resolution did not explicitly oppose the collegium system but said the judiciary must set safeguards and standards for accountability.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/congs-nyay-path-resolution-passed-after-incorporating-suggestions-at-aicc-meet-3487376

As PM Narendra Modi completes 25 years in governance, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke about their working relationship, chemistry and how they complement each other

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said there is no question of a difference in opinion between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the two were working towards the same goals.

As Modi completes 25 years in governance, Shah was asked about their working relationship, chemistry and how they complement each other. “We do contribute to each other. He sets the target, I try to achieve it. He helps us improve,” he said on Day 2 of the Rising Bharat Summit 2025.

He said the two of them have worked together for a long time, and knew each other’s method of working, thought process and nature. “We have to work according to our ideology and we do that, so we don’t have disagreements. He also thinks of his ideology, the country and the Constitution, and I do the same, so there’s no question of difference of opinion,” he added.

Asked about his personal history and his childhood nickname of ‘Poonam’, the home minister said there is no mystery to it as he was born on Sharad Poonam (Sharad Purnima).

“My aunt had made a wish that I’ll be named when I turn five years old, so because I was born on the day of Sharad Poonam, I was known as ‘Poonam’. There’s no mystery behind this, and it’s how kids are named in villages,” he said.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/he-sets-target-i-try-to-achieve-it-amit-shah-on-chemistry-working-relationship-with-pm-modi-ws-l-9293273.html

In a post on X, Amit Shah stated that the Modi government is committed to creating a strong, secure, and prosperous Bharat by adopting a strict stance against Naxalism while focusing on comprehensive development. The goal is to completely eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah appreciate the significant progress made on the internal security front and said appreciable progress made in the front of Naxalism, and the number of most affected Left Wing Extremism districts and the number of LWE affected district has been reduced 12 to just 6.

In a post on X, Amit Shah stated that the Modi government is committed to creating a strong, secure, and prosperous Bharat by adopting a strict stance against Naxalism while focusing on comprehensive development. The goal is to completely eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026.

Among the 38 districts previously affected, the number of severely impacted areas has dropped to 6, while Districts of Concern have been reduced from 9 to 6. Additionally, the number of Other LWE-affected Districts has decreased from 17 to 6.

The most affected districts now include Bijapur, Kanker, Narayanpur, and Sukma in Chhattisgarh, West Singhbhum in Jharkhand, and Gadchiroli in Maharashtra. The Districts of Concern, requiring additional resources, now consist of Alluri Sitarama Raju in Andhra Pradesh, Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, and Malkangiri in Odisha, and Bhadradri-Kothagudem in Telangana.

Other LWE-affected districts have also seen a reduction, now comprising Dantewada, Gariaband, and Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki in Chhattisgarh, Latehar in Jharkhand, Nuapada in Odisha, and Mulugu in Telangana.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/chhattisgarh-lwe-affected-districts-reduced-from-12-to-6-says-hm-amit-shah-aims-for-naxal-free-india-by-2026

Close to a year after the INDIA bloc’s show of strength at Ramlila Maidan before the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP is looking at projecting the oath-taking ceremony of Delhi’s new Chief Minister and council of ministers — at the same venue — as a joint front of the BJP-led NDA. According to sources, apart from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief Ministers of NDA-ruled states, central cabinet ministers, and popular MPs are among the invitees and are likely to attend.

Among the special invitees for the event, where over 25,000 to 30,000 are expected to be in attendance, are community leaders from across the slum clusters in the Capital, said sources in the BJP. “Special invitees include community leaders from across Delhi’s slum clusters to honour the contribution of citizens from JJ colonies in bringing the party back to power in the Capital after almost three decades,” a party leader said.

Bollywood celebrities are also among those invited.

The swearing-in ceremony may be themed along the lines of the Ram Mandir consecration in Ayodhya last year and prominent members of the Hindu seer community will likely register their presence, said people privy to the details.

Starting early Wednesday, party insiders said, hectic developments linked to the event are expected to unfold.

The party’s national leadership is likely to announce the names of at least two senior members — including union ministers or chief ministers of BJP-ruled states or senior organisational leaders — as observers, sources said. This would be followed by a meeting of the legislature party, comprising its 48 MLAs, around 7 pm Wednesday where the names of the Chief Minister, six members of the council of ministers as well as those chosen for other significant roles such as that of the Speaker would be revealed.

“The observers are likely to be announced by late night today or by early tomorrow; while the final names will be revealed tomorrow, the allocation of portfolios among the members of the Cabinet is likely to take a few more days,” a senior BJP leader said on Tuesday.

Discussions in the party regarding the incoming government are said to have continued to veer around the possibility of a woman CM as well as the inclusion of “young” leaders from each of the capital’s significant communities. Incoming legislators from Assembly constituencies in the countryside as well as seats reserved for the SC community are also being considered frontrunners for cabinet berths. “The emphasis is likely to be on ensuring as much of a balance between youth and experience as it is likely to be on balancing the caste-community equation,” a party source said.

Source : https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/bjp-set-announce-cm-pick-tomorrow-slum-cluster-community-leaders-9843293/

The announcement came just before the Delhi polls where BJP is locked in a fierce contest against Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party. Aimed to spur consumer sentiment in general, the tax sops offered were also being seen as an attempt to woo Delhi’s 40 lakh income tax-payers.

New Delhi: Hoping to cash in on a slew of tax sops announced in the Union Budget, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made a strong pitch to the middle classes in his last election rally for Delhi polls, pitching the tax rebate offered under the new tax slabs as “Modi ki guarantee.”

“The budget that came yesterday is a guarantee to fulfil promises of Modi,” the prime minister said in a rally in South Delhi’s RK Puram, a hub of government residential quarters.

“Over the past years, we have provided many facilities for the poor, such as free food, free healthcare, and permanent housing,” Modi added, referring to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget proposal to exempt up to Rs 12 lakh in annual income from the tax net.

The announcement came just before the Delhi polls where BJP is locked in a fierce contest against Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party. Aimed to spur consumer sentiment in general, the tax sops offered were also being seen as an attempt to woo Delhi’s 40 lakh income tax-payers.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/delhi/union-budget-2025-nirmalas-tax-cut-call-becomes-modis-guarantee-in-delhi-poll-cry-3386011