HC refuses FIR against Rahul Gandhi over Sikh remarks in US
The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a petition seeking an FIR against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for alleged remarks made about Sikhs during his US visit. The court upheld previous rejections by Varanasi courts, citing a lack of specific details regarding the alleged statement.
Allahabad HC Rejects Plea Against Rahul Gandhi Over Alleged Remarks on Sikhs
Justice Vikram D Chauhan dismissed the petition after observing that the sole allegation against Gandhi was of news published in some newspapers about his alleged statement made during his US visits for which no date, time or place have been given.
Supreme Court sends Azam Khan's plea against ED arrest to Allahabad High Court
The Supreme Court has sent Samajwadi Party leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan's plea challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to the Allahabad High Court. Khan has alleged that the agency...
The Allahabad High Court has expressed strong disapproval of protesting advocates allegedly obstructing access to a courtroom and preventing court staff from entering through its main entrance, observing that judicial functioning cannot be brought to a standstill because lawyers choose to abstain from their professional duties. A Division Bench comprising Justice Ajay Bhanot and Justice [] The post Allahabad High Court says court proceedings cannot be held hostage by lawyers protest, takes exception to blocking of Courtroom entry appeared first on India Legal .
SC transfers Azam Khan's bail plea to Allahabad HC
The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to hear senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan's bail application in a new money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate. The apex court transferred the petition to the Allahabad High Court, requesting it to schedule a hearing before a division bench on November 16 and issue interim orders on the same day. Khan's lawyer, Kapil Sibal, alleged political motivation behind the ED's actions, stating his arrest was timed to keep him incarcerated during elections.
Supreme Court asks Allahabad HC to give Azam Khan priority hearing
The Supreme Court has asked the High Court to hear the case on November 16; Azam Khan alleges series of politically motivated cases
Questioning Democratic Institutions
The Congress party's relentless campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls exposes a familiar pattern in its political conduct: questioning democratic institutions whenever their functioning does not suit its political narrative. A party that has spent years questioning electoral transparency and accusing others of undermining democracy now finds itself uncomfortable with an exercise designed to strengthen the very foundation of free and fair elections. For Congress, electoral reforms appear welcome only when they serve its political interests. When duplicate entries, deceased voters and questionable registrations are discussed by opposition leaders, they become legitimate concerns. But when the Election Commission undertakes a nationwide exercise to identify and correct such discrepancies, the same party raises the alarm and turns an administrative process into a political controversy. The Special Intensive Revision is not an exercise designed to benefit the BJP or any other political formation. Its fundamental objective is to ensure that electoral rolls reflect genuine voters, remove erroneous entries and protect the integrity of the democratic process. A clean electoral roll is the starting point of a credible election, and no responsible political party should oppose that objective. SIR is about cleaning electoral rolls, not deleting democracy The figures emerging from the exercise underline its scale and administrative effort. Across the states where SIR was undertaken, voters were provided between 100 and 158 days, or approximately four to five months, to complete the enumeration process. Of the country's approximately 95 crore voters, nearly 82 crore, accounting for around 88 per cent, submitted their Enumeration Forms. Approximately 13 crore entries were placed under the ASDD classification Absent, Shifted, Dead and Duplicate during the preparation of revised electoral rolls. The reported figures included approximately 2.89 crore deceased voters and 1.01 crore duplicate entries. The remaining cases involved voters who were absent, had shifted or could not be traced during the verification exercise. These numbers demand serious attention. Electoral rolls cannot remain static documents carrying the names of people who have died, permanently shifted or registered at multiple locations. Such discrepancies undermine the credibility of elections and create avoidable complications in the voting process. The exercise involved extensive field-level verification. Booth Level Officers (BLOs), along with political party functionaries, reportedly made three visits to voters' residences to collect enumeration forms and verify entries. This was not simply an administrative exercise conducted behind closed doors; it involved extensive ground-level participation. Importantly, exclusion from a draft roll does not mean that a genuine voter has permanently lost the right to vote. Eligible individuals can seek inclusion through Form 6, subject to the prescribed verification process. The Election Commission has also provided opportunities for claims and objections to ensure that eligible citizens are not unfairly excluded. Congress has particularly questioned Form 7, the statutory mechanism for seeking deletion of names from electoral rolls. However, the figures cited in the BJP's compilation indicate that approximately 29 lakh names were deleted through Form 7 across a voter population of 95 crore. These applications included submissions by political parties such as the BJP, Congress, Trinamool Congress, RJD and BSP, besides individual voters. If Form 7 is a statutory procedure, its use cannot automatically be portrayed as electoral manipulation. Political parties across the spectrum have the right to flag duplicate, deceased or otherwise ineligible entries. What matters is whether every application is examined according to law and whether affected voters receive an opportunity to respond. At the same time, more than two crore voters reportedly registered their names through Form 6, demonstrating that the exercise also facilitated the inclusion of eligible citizens. The scale of participation is equally significant. More than nine lakh polling booths were covered, with over 11 lakh government officials, including IAS and PCS officers and teachers, involved in supervising and conducting the exercise. More than 35 lakh authorised political party representatives participated, including over nine lakh BJP Booth Level Agents (BLA-2s). The total number of people involved was approximately 46 lakh. This raises an important question for Congress: when representatives of different political parties, including Congress itself, participated in the exercise, is the party indirectly questioning the integrity of millions of its own functionaries by suggesting that the entire process facilitated vote theft? If Congress has specific evidence of wrongdoing, it should place it before the Election Commission and pursue the remedies available under electoral law. Political allegations cannot substitute for evidence. Congress's double standards exposed by its own leaders The contradiction in Congress's position becomes even more apparent when one examines the statements made by its own leaders on electoral revision. Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala had described SIR as useful in Kerala, referring to concerns about fake voting allegedly facilitated by the CPI(M). Congress MLA Matthew Kuzhalnadan also spoke about the removal of allegedly fake entries associated with the CPI(M), suggesting that the exercise could benefit electoral integrity. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor acknowledged the problems of duplicate registrations, deceased voters and multiple entries. He supported SIR provided it was conducted transparently and with the use of digital technology to improve electoral rolls. Similarly, Congress General Secretary Sachin Pilot has maintained that people residing illegally in the country should be removed in accordance with the law. Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal, who has repeatedly questioned electoral rolls, had himself claimed in 2015 that Delhi had approximately 11 lakh duplicate voters. These statements establish an important point: the need to identify duplicate and ineligible entries is not a BJP-created argument. It has been acknowledged by leaders across the political spectrum. In Tamil Nadu and Kerala, leaders associated with Congress-allied political formations have also described electoral revision as important for strengthening the democratic process. Why, then, does Congress change its position when the exercise is conducted on a larger scale? The party cannot demand clean electoral rolls in states where it sees political advantage and oppose the same principle elsewhere. Electoral transparency cannot be selective. A duplicate entry does not become legitimate because it benefits a particular political party, and a deceased voter's name cannot be retained merely to avoid political controversy. This selective outrage reflects a deeper political problem within Congress: its inability to distinguish between institutional reform and political competition. From the Emergency to Kashmir's 1987 elections, Congress's democratic credentials remain under scrutiny Congress's repeated attacks on the Election Commission must also be viewed against the party's own historical record. Its leadership frequently lectures the country on democratic values, but history contains several episodes that continue to raise uncomfortable questions about its commitment to democratic institutions. The 1975 Allahabad High Court judgment against then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi remains a defining moment in India's electoral history. The court invalidated her election over electoral malpractices. Instead of accepting the political consequences, the country witnessed the imposition of Emergency on June 25, 1975. During the Emergency, democratic freedoms were curtailed, opposition leaders were jailed, press freedom was restricted and constitutional institutions came under extraordinary pressure. The episode remains one of the darkest chapters in independent India's democratic journey. Congress cannot selectively invoke democratic principles while ignoring this legacy. Jammu and Kashmir has its own painful chapter. The 1987 Assembly election, conducted under the Congress-National Conference alliance, remains associated with serious allegations of electoral malpractice and large-scale rigging. The controversy damaged public confidence in democratic institutions and left a lasting impression on generations of Kashmiris. For a region that has experienced prolonged political uncertainty and conflict, electoral credibility is not an abstract issue. People must have faith that their votes matter and that political participation can bring genuine change. The 1987 controversy remains a reminder of what happens when electoral institutions lose public trust. Congress should therefore exercise caution before assuming the role of an unquestionable guardian of democratic values. The party's history also includes confrontations over electoral institutions. In 1993, Chief Election Commissioner T N Seshan challenged the appointment of two additional Election Commissioners and the provision for majority-based decisions. The Supreme Court upheld the three-member structure in 1995. In 2009, Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami recommended the removal of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, alleging bias. The recommendation was not accepted by the then government, and Chawla subsequently became Chief Election Commissioner. These episodes demonstrate that institutional disagreements and questions of independence are not new to India's electoral history. However, they must be resolved through constitutional and legal processes, not through political campaigns designed to discredit institutions. A declining Congress cannot blame institutions for its political failures Congress's national electoral decline deserves serious introspection. Its vote share, which stood at approximately 45 per cent in the 1952 general election, fell to 21.4 per cent in 2024. This decline reflects changing voter preferences, organisational weaknesses, leadership challenges and the emergence of strong regional and national political alternatives. Instead of addressing these shortcomings, Congress appears increasingly dependent on allegations against institutions and political opponents. Since the BJP-led NDA government came to power in 2014, opposition parties have repeatedly questioned major policy decisions and institutional processes. Rafale, EVMs and now 'vote theft' have become recurring political themes. The opposition has every right to question the government and seek accountability. That is the essence of democracy. But there is a difference between constructive criticism and repeatedly creating suspicion around institutions without establishing wrongdoing. The Election Commission of India has, over the decades, overseen hundreds of Assembly elections and more than 20 general elections. It has evolved through successive reforms, from indelible ink and election observers to electronic voting machines and more comprehensive electoral-roll management. No institution should be above scrutiny, including the Election Commission. Transparency, accountability and institutional independence must remain non-negotiable. But criticism must be evidence-based, and genuine concerns must be addressed through established procedures. Strengthening electoral democracy must rise above party politics The BJP believes that electoral reforms must be continuous, transparent and free from political interference. A voter list containing the names of deceased persons, duplicate registrations and people who have permanently shifted cannot be considered a perfect electoral roll. At the same time, no eligible citizen should be deprived of voting rights because of administrative errors, migration, documentation difficulties or procedural shortcomings. Both objectives must go hand in hand. The Election Commission must ensure that every genuine voter gets an opportunity to establish eligibility, seek inclusion and challenge an incorrect deletion. Political parties must also participate constructively instead of turning every administrative exercise into a confrontation. The real measure of SIR will be the accuracy and inclusiveness of the final electoral rolls. The process must eliminate ineligible entries while protecting every eligible citizen's constitutional right to vote. Congress should stop treating every institutional reform as a political conspiracy. If it has evidence of wrongdoing, it must present it through appropriate legal and constitutional channels. Democracy is strengthened by accountability, not by manufactured suspicion. India's democracy belongs to its people, not to Congress, the BJP or any other political formation. Every genuine voter must have a place in the electoral roll, and every vote must carry equal value. The question Congress must answer is simple: if it believes in clean elections, why does it oppose a process whose stated objective is to make electoral rolls cleaner and more credible? Democracy cannot be held hostage to the political convenience of one party. Electoral reforms must serve the voter, not the vested interests of political organisations. Altaf Thakur, BJP J&K Spokesman
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Allahabad University Shifts Classes Online On November 4-5; Reason Unclear
Students are required to attend online classes and should monitor the university website for updates.
Meerut Couple's Death Sentence Appeal Admitted
A woman and her lover from Meerut, sentenced to death for the murder of her husband, have appealed their conviction in the Allahabad High Court. The couple was found guilty of strangling the husband and attempting to stage his death as a snakebite.
Allahabad University shifts classes online for November 4 and 5; reason not stated
NC hits back: Where was Ruhullahs Art 370 fight?
Srinagar, Nov 03: Hours after Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi announced his resignation from the National Conference and the Lok Sabha, the party on Tuesday launched a blistering counterattack, questioning his parliamentary record on Article 370 and accusing him of selectively invoking special status, reservation and the 2010 unrest to justify his departure. In a strongly worded statement, the NC accused Ruhullah of mental and moral bankruptcy and self-obsession, alleging that his invocation of the Holy Quran and the message of human dignity was contradicted by the derogatory and unparliamentary language he used against the party leadership. Questioning the timing of his resignation, the party alleged that Ruhullah had decided to quit only after being asked to do so by the party president. The NC also questioned his references to the 2010 unrest and the killing of Tufail Mattoo, pointing out that he had remained a minister in Omar Abdullah's government until being dropped in a reshuffle and subsequently contested the 2014 Assembly elections on an NC ticket. It accused him of revisiting the events of 2010 after 16 years when it suited his political position. Countering Ruhullah's allegation that the NC had abandoned the struggle for special status, the party recalled that he was among the first to welcome the November 6 Assembly resolution seeking its restoration, describing it at the time as a promise fulfilled. The NC questioned what efforts Ruhullah had made in Parliament to mobilise secular parties and MPs in support of restoration of special status and statehood. Referring to his role in gathering signatures of more than 100 MPs for an impeachment motion against Allahabad High Court judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav, the party asked why he had not undertaken a similar exercise for Jammu and Kashmir's constitutional rights. Can he tell us if he ever made such an effort to gather signatures of MPs for the restoration of special status or statehood? the NC asked. It also questioned whether Ruhullah had attempted to move a resolution or introduce a Bill in Parliament seeking restoration of constitutional guarantees or statehood. The party said Ruhullah had been elected to highlight the dispossession of Jammu and Kashmir's people and the erosion of the elected government's authority under the prevailing administrative arrangement. On reservation, the NC accused him of directing criticism towards the elected government rather than the Centre, which it held responsible for the existing framework. It said the government had constituted a Cabinet sub-committee in fulfilment of its electoral commitment and initiated changes to the reservation policy, but alleged that the file had subsequently been stalled by the authorities. The party questioned whether Ruhullah had raised the delay in Parliament or sought an explanation from the Centre. It also pointed out that he had been elected to the Lok Sabha nearly six months before the Assembly elections, asking whether he had organised any protest against the Lieutenant Governor demanding justice for open merit candidates during that period. The NC further questioned his intervention over alleged recruitment irregularities, examination controversies and the grievances of unemployed youth. Defending its political approach, the party said the elected government remained conscious of its limitations under the prevailing constitutional and administrative arrangement and had carefully charted a roadmap on issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir's identity and existence.
Rajiv-Farooq rigged 1987 polls: Ram Madhav
Jammu, Nov 3:BJP national vice president Ram Madhav on Tuesday, in a direct dig at LOP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and his ally NC leadership, alleged that contrary to Congress accusations (against BJP), it was former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi joined by the then Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, who had massively rigged assembly elections in 1987, leading to emergence of terrorism in J&K. Referring to the Congress allegations against the Modi government of committing electoral frauds, Madhav asserted, In fact, in the history of the country, only two Prime Ministers actually committed such proven electoral frauds. One was Rahuljis grand-mother Indira Gandhi, whose election was declared void by Allahabad court proving the charge that the official election machinery was misused by her to emerge victorious. In response, Indira imposed an emergency in the country. Secondly in 1987 in J&K assembly elections, Rahuls father and the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in league with Farooq Abdullah, who was then J&K Chief Minister had resorted to large-scale irregularities in the election process, leading to emergence of terrorism here (in J&K). These are well-recorded facts, he maintained. Madhav, accompanied by J&K BJP general secretaries Gopal Mahajan, Baldev Singh Billawaria, chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi and other senior leaders, was addressing a press conference at BJP headquarter, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu. He accused the Congress of attempting to fulfill its avowed objective of regime change through anarchy, violence and riots as it could not win power through democratic means of electoral battle. But people are with Modiji and this became evident again during their oppositions much hyped Ramlila Maidan rally, where 23 parties together could hardly bring 50,000 or 60,000 people against their haughty claims of 1 million people. BJP, even in a normal rally in an assembly constituency of Jammu, can bring 5000 people, he maintained. With regard to questions about NC rebellion post cabinet expansion and speculations linking his visit to efforts of BJP government formation, he refused to make any comment. Im here to address only the issue related to fake propaganda being run by the opposition on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) across the country and particularly in the union capital. For the past few months, the main opposition party Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi have been busy spreading lies that the Election Commission has manipulated the country's electoral system, Madhav said. The Election Commission will reply to these allegations and they have already submitted a detailed affidavit in the Supreme Court vis-a-vis entire process of SIR and all facts related to it. But we want to expose Congress real intentions behind the controversy they wilfully created to achieve its objective of regime-change but not through democratic means. Their leaders are spelling out openly at every public forum and social media that they wanted regime-change like it happened in Bangladesh and Nepal, he said. It was because the opposition had realised that they could not defeat BJP, the Prime Minister Narenda Modi electorally, so they (Congress and other opposition parties) wanted to overthrow democratically-elected regime and wrest power through anarchy, creating doubts about constitutional institutions, Madhav alleged. However, the people of India will never allow the Congress to succeed in its intentions to spread anarchy in the country, he asserted. Madhav described all allegations of Congress regarding SIR exercise, presently underway in many parts of the country and already completed in several states, as out and out white lies. BJP national vice president reiterated that the Election Commission, through constitutional exercise SIR, was actually cleansing the electoral system of all sins of Congress which fiddled with the electoral rolls during the past several decades. He asserted that the Congress's politics of confusion, confrontation and institutional distrust would not succeed in India. Madhav stated the SIR exercise, being undertaken after nearly two decades, was a legitimate democratic process in which Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were conducting door-to-door verification to ensure the accuracy and integrity of electoral rolls and identify illegal entries, including those of foreign nationals residing illegally in India. He alleged that the Congress wanted illegal voters to remain on electoral rolls because its political calculations depended on manipulating the electoral environment. He said the opposition's repeated allegations against constitutional institutions were part of a larger conspiracy to create street unrest and engineer political instability, drawing parallels with developments in neighbouring Bangladesh and Nepal. Regarding Congress main allegation that the names of 13 crore voters were deleted (through SIR exercise), Madhav questioned why it could not bring those people to the fore. Where are those 13 Cr voters whose names, according to the Congress, have been deleted? SIR is cleansing electoral rolls of discrepancies through constitutionally valid SIR exercise, happening after a gap of 20 years. The names of dead (around 2-3 Cr), transferred (around 6 Cr), non-existent voters (1 or 2 Cr) and infiltrators who are illegal voters have been deleted and are being deleted. Like in Jammu, Rohingyas have settled at many places. The names of such infiltrators, illegal immigrants get deleted. This is imperative. Does the Congress want those infiltrators to be included in the electoral rolls as its prospective voters, he threw a poser. He asserted that one to two crore people, who were genuine voters yet their names were deleted through computer based mechanism, could go and get their names included in the electoral rolls as per the set procedure and there was no bar on it. He alleged that earlier Congress was blaming EVMs for its defeats but could not establish the charge and currently, it was accusing BJP of stealing mandate through vote-Chori. Between 2014 and 2024, the Congress lost 56 assembly polls and three parliamentary elections i.e., 2014, 2019 and 2024. But that time present Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar was not there. Then how was Congress defeated? They (Congress) have no logic and it is resorting to political conspiracy. The government is willing to convene a special Parliament session but they (opposition) are running away. They are only trying to provoke people through false propaganda, Madhav alleged. He mocked that the Congress was crediting BJP for its electoral victories in Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana stating that they were made to win by it (BJP) so that it (BJP) could justify its electoral fraud in other states and parliamentary polls. Nothing could be more ridiculous than this illogical explanation about their wins through the same electoral system, which they are criticising. This depicts how pitiable their condition is, he said. Madhav explained that they (Congress) were seeking replacement of EVMs with the ballot papers. In the recent municipal polls conducted through ballot papers in October, Congress could win only two wards out of 42 wards. In MLC elections, which are always conducted through ballot papers, out of 28 seats, BJP-allies won 16 seats and BJP won 13 seats but Congress could win only one seat. Responding to another question, he said that there could be possibilities of some discrepancies or errors in SIR exercise, conducted through computer-based mechanisms. Those errors can always be rectified. If the names of genuine voters get deleted, they can get their names added in the voter lists through relevant forms. Revision is a constitutional process. In Uttarakhand, where Im (BJP) Prabhari, names deleted mainly comprised Hindu voters and this happened at some other places. Eligible persons can always get their names included, he explained.
NC accuses Ruhullah of political theatrics
Srinagar, Nov 3:The National Conference (NC) on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on its Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi following his decision to resign from the party, accusing him of political theatrics, self-obsession and failing to raise key issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir in Parliament. In a statement titled Important Statement, the party described Ruhullah's speech as a manifestation of his mental and moral bankruptcy, alleging that while invoking the holy Quran and the principles of human dignity, he had used derogatory, abusive and unparliamentary language against the NC leadership. Questioning the timing of his decision to resign, the party alleged that Ruhullah remembered the events of 2010 only when it suited his political interests, despite having served as a minister in the Omar Abdullah-led government during that period. The NC said Ruhullah continued as a minister until he was removed during a general reshuffle and subsequently contested the 2014 Assembly elections on the party ticket without raising the issue in the manner he was doing now. He conveniently forgot all about it until 2026, 16 years later, the statement said. On the issue of restoration of special status, the party questioned Ruhullah's contribution in Parliament, asking whether he had made any serious attempt to mobilise support among opposition parties and MPs for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's special status and statehood. The NC recalled that Ruhullah had welcomed the resolution passed by the J&K Legislative Assembly on November 6, demanding restoration of special status, and had described it as a promise delivered. However, it questioned whether he had subsequently moved any resolution or bill in Parliament or mobilised MPs to support the demand. The party pointed out that Ruhullah had managed to collect signatures of more than 100 MPs from different political parties for an impeachment motion against Allahabad High Court judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav. Can he tell us if he ever made such an effort to gather signatures of MPs for the restoration of special status or statehood? the statement asked. The NC also questioned his role in highlighting what it described as the continued erosion of the powers of the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir. It alleged that Ruhullah had failed to adequately raise in Parliament the issue of departments formally falling under the elected government but allegedly continuing to function under the control of the Lieutenant Governor. On the reservation issue, the party said the injustice faced by candidates belonging to the open-merit category had occurred during the Lieutenant Governor's administration and was among the issues prominently highlighted in the NC's election manifesto. The statement said the NC government had constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee and initiated significant changes in the reservation framework in fulfilment of its election promise. However, it alleged that the file had subsequently been stalled by the authorities. Questioning Ruhullah's interventions, the party asked whether he had raised the matter in Parliament or questioned the Centre over the delay in implementing the Cabinet's decision. It also questioned whether he had organised protests against the Lieutenant Governor's administration or raised concerns over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations and the exclusion of job aspirants from different regions. The party further defended its political approach towards restoration of statehood and special status, maintaining that the two demands were not contradictory and that the restoration of statehood would never come at the expense of special status. Protection and preservation of our identity and constitutional rights form the foundation of NC's political ideology, the statement said, adding that abandoning these principles would mean abandoning the party's political legacy of more than 90 years. Describing the recovery of constitutional rights as a process requiring political strategy rather than public theatrics, the NC said such gestures might generate temporary attention and social media engagement but would not deliver tangible results for the people. The party also accused Ruhullah of working against its interests while remaining a member, alleging that he had contributed to the NC's defeat in the Budgam Assembly by-election. Questioning his silence at that time, the statement alleged that he had undermined the same party that had provided him his political platform. Where was his conscience then? the NC asked. Concluding its statement, the party said Ruhullah owed his political career to the National Conference, having started his political journey with the party, served as an MLA for three terms, held ministerial office and subsequently entered Parliament on its ticket. The statement accused him of finding fault with the party after 25 years of association, questioning the timing and motives behind his decision to sever ties with the NC.
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NC hits back at Aga Ruhullah, terms his speech manifestation of mental, moral bankruptcy
Srinagar, Nov 3: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) on Tuesday termed Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi's speech as a manifestation of his mental and moral bankruptcy and an example of his self-obsession.NC hits back at Aga Ruhullah, terms his speech manifestation of mental, moral bankruptcy In a post on X, JKNC said while invoking the holy Quran and the divine message of dignity and respect for human beings, Ruhullah's speech was full of derogatory, abusive and unparliamentary language against NC leadership. The language used by him only reflects who he is, the party said. Since Aga Ruhullah has chosen to use the issue of special status and reservation to resign from NC, it's important to keep the record straight. He only remembered to resign when he was told to by the party president. The same way he only remembered 2010 today when it suited him. He is a man who happily remained in office as a minister in 2010 until he was removed in a general reshuffle. He was happy to fight elections in 2014 on JKNC ticket and didn't remember 2010 then. In fact he conveniently forgot all about it until 2026, 16 years later, NC said. The party asked whether Ruhullah was not the first to welcome the resolution demanding restoration of special status, passed by the J&K Assembly on November 6. Didn't he say that it was the promise that had been delivered? What has Aga Ruhullah done in Parliament on special status. Wasn't he elected to the parliament to represent the sentiment of people and garner support of secular parties and MPs in the parliament. Aga Ruhullah Mehdi was able to gather signatures of over 100 MPs from different parties in the parliament to move an impeachment motion against Allahabad High Court judge Shekar Kumar Yadav. Can he tell us if he ever made such an effort to gather signatures of MPs for the restoration of special status or statehood? Did he even try to move a resolution or bill in the parliament in this regard? NC asked. The party said Ruhullah was sent to parliament to speak about the dispossession and how people's will represented by the elected government has been undermined and belittled by the central government and its appointed Lt Governor in an attempt to delegitimise the vote and elected government. Did he speak even once - that even under the current UT arrangement, the departments which are technically under elected government are not allowed to function and LG continues to run them through remote control? NC asked. The party said Ruhullah started his opposition to elected government on the issue of reservation in jobs, a grave injustice to the open merit category. It's indeed a grave injustice committed during LGs rule. NC raised this issue made it an important part of its election manifesto and promised to change it. Ironically, Aga and his ilk chose to blame the whistleblower for the problem. Did he ever utter a single word against LG and central government for snatching jobs of open merit category? the party said. In accordance with its election promise, NC government formed a cabinet sub-committee and made first significant changes in the reservations. The file has been stalled by the powers that be. Did Mr Mehdi, raise this issue in the parliament and ask the centre why they have stalled the J&K cabinet decision on Reservation in jobs? Aga sb was elected as MP six months before Assembly elections and formation of elected government in J&K. Did he organise a single protest against the LG and demanded justice for open merit? Did he raise the issue of multiple fraud recruitments and exams and how job aspirants of one region were systematically removed from the system and jobs? NC said. The party said while the NC government knows its limitations given the present scheme of things, it has carefully chosen its roadmap on the issues which are directly linked to existence and identity. Our thrust on restoration of statehood is not and will never be at the expense of the special status. If it was so, the first transaction of business of this government would not have been the special status. And August 15 of CM would not have reiterated it. Protection and preservation of our identity and constitutional rights form the foundation of NCs political ideology. Abandoning it means abandoning the party and the politics it has stood for last over 90 years. Reclaiming and repossessing what was taken away from us needs a deft politics, not theatrics. Theatrics will not take us anywhere. It may temporarily grab some attention and social media likes, but in the long run it will not achieve anything for people, NC said. The party said Aga Ruhullah's decision to resign as MP is too late. He should have done a year ago when he chose to join the forces who were rattled by the mandate to NC. While sitting in NC, he became instrumental in the defeat of the party in the assembly by-elections of the Budgam seat. Where was his conscience then? Backstabbing the same party he owed his political existence. Isn't it astonishing that someone who owes his whole political existence to NC, started his politics in the party, remained MLA for three terms, minister in the government and MP of the party is so brazenly showing his narcissistic conduct and finding all faults in the party after 25 years, NC added.
Ram Madhav accuses Congress of attempting regime change through anarchy
Jammu, Nov 3: BJP national vice president Ram Madhav on Tuesday accused the Congress of attempting to fulfill its avowed objective of regime change through anarchy, violence and riots as it could not win power through democratic means of electoral battle. But people are with Modiji and this became evident again during their oppositions much hyped Ramlila Maidan rally, where 23 parties together could hardly bring 50,000 or 60,000 people against their haughty claims of 1 million people. BJP, even in a normal rally in an assembly constituency of Jammu, can bring 5000 people. This explains that the people want whom, he maintained. Madhav, accompanied by J&K BJP general secretaries Gopal Mahajan, Baldev Singh Billawaria, chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi and other senior leaders, was addressing a press conference at BJP headquarter, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu. With regard to questions about NC rebellion post cabinet expansion and speculations linking his visit to efforts of BJP government formation, he refused to make any comment. Whatever is happening in the National Conference, it is their (NCs) internal affair. I will not comment on that, he asserted. Im here to address only the issue related to fake propaganda being run by the opposition on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) across the country and particularly in the union capital. For the past few months, the main opposition party Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi have been busy spreading lies that the Election Commission has manipulated the country's electoral system, Madhav said. The Election Commission will reply to these allegations and they have already submitted a detailed affidavit on behalf of all three Election Commissioners in the Supreme Court vis-a-vis entire process of SIR and all facts related to it. But we want to expose Congress real intentions behind the controversy they wilfully created to achieve its objective of regime-change but not through democratic means. Their leaders are spelling out openly at every public forum and social media that they wanted regime-change like it happened in Bangladesh and Nepal, he said. It was because the opposition had realised that they could not defeat BJP, the Prime Minister Narenda Modi electorally, so they (Congress and other opposition parties) wanted to overthrow democratically-elected regime and wrest power through anarchy, creating doubts about constitutional institutions, Madhav alleged. However, the people of India will never allow the Congress to succeed in its intentions to spread anarchy in the country, he asserted. He described all allegations of Congress regarding SIR exercise, presently underway in many parts of the country and already completed in several states, as out and out white lies. BJP national vice president reiterated that the Election Commission, through constitutional exercise SIR, was actually cleansing the electoral system of all sins of Congress which fiddled with the electoral rolls during the past several decades. Regarding Congress main allegation that the names of 13 crore voters were deleted (through SIR exercise), Madhav questioned why it could not bring those people to the fore. Where are those 13 Cr voters whose names, according to the Congress, have been deleted? SIR is cleansing electoral rolls of discrepancies through constitutionally valid SIR exercise, happening after a gap of 20 years. The names of dead (around 2-3 Cr), transferred (around 6 Cr), non-existent voters (1 or 2 Cr) and infiltrators who are illegal voters have been deleted and are being deleted. Like in Jammu, Rohingyas have settled at many places. The names of such infiltrators, illegal immigrants get deleted. This is imperative. Does the Congress want those infiltrators to be included in the electoral rolls as its prospective voters, he threw a poser. He asserted that one to two Crore people, who were genuine voters yet their names were deleted through computer based mechanism, could go and get their names included in the electoral rolls as per the set procedure and there was no bar on it. Referring to the Congress allegations against the Modi government of committing electoral frauds, Madhav asserted, In fact, in the history of the country, two Prime Ministers actually committed such proven electoral frauds. One was Indira Gandhi, whose election was declared illegal by Allahabad court proving the charge that the official election machinery was misused by her to emerge victorious. In response, Indira imposed an emergency in the country. Secondly in 1987 in J&K assembly elections, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in league with Farooq Abdullah had resorted to large-scale irregularities in the election process, leading to emergence of terrorism here (in J&K. These are well-recorded facts.
Allahabad University Field Investigator Recruitment 2026
Allahabad University has invited applications by email for 2 Field Investigator posts. Applications can be sent till 13 November 2026.
Allahabad High Court Orders Revised UPTET Results for Candidates
The Allahabad High Court has mandated the Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission to revise the UPTET examination results. This decision is set to benefit numerous candidates who may have narrowly missed qualifying. While an official date for the new results has not been announced, it is expected soon, allowing candidates to participate in ongoing teacher recruitment drives. The previous results link has been deactivated, and candidates can check the updated results on the official UPESSC website once released. This revision could redefine the cut-off marks, providing relief to many hopefuls.
SP leader Azam Khan challenges ED arrest in Supreme Court, plea to be heard later this week
Mohammad Azam Khan has approached the Supreme Court to challenge his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate. He was detained by the ED shortly after his release from Rampur jail, where he had been imprisoned since November 2025. Khan's release came following an Allahabad High Court decision that granted him bail in a separate matter. The High Court suspended his sentence but did not stay his conviction.
Corporate execs vie for firecracker shop licence
Festive shine at what cost? Docs flag spine risk in Diwali cleaning rush
Maurya directs officials to complete six-lane Ganga bridge work by Dec 25
2.5L+ diyas to illuminate twin Deepotsav venues
GRP recovers and hand over 110 mobiles
HC recommends contempt action, FIR against lawyers over courtroom violence
Arrogance of authority: HC awards Rs 1.25L to man kept in illegal custody for 5 days
CCTV cameras must not invade neighbours privacy: HC
Allahabad High Court recommends contempt action, FIRs over vandalism
The News Mill
Allahabad High Court Civil Judge Revised Exam Date 2026
Allahabad High Court Civil Judge Rescheduled 2026 notice was released on 31 October under Notice No. 195/S & A Cell/2026. The personal hearing on the applicability of the UPHJS Eighteenth Amendment Rules, 2026, has been postponed from 1 to 15 November 2026 at 12:00 noon. Eligible officers must email their nominated representative's name by 6 November 2026 at allahabadhighcourt.in.
UP to create Kapi Vans across urban areas to curb monkey menace
FSDA keeping festive treats adulteration-free
Inspection, Awareness Drive, Strict Rules In Place
Festive season: Docs advise a balanced diet
Festival rush: UPSRTC to run 148 extra daily trips from Prayagraj
Rs 3.2cr blue drum haul: I-T dept scans Maha links, investments
Digging Resumes As Cops Suspect More Cash Buried At Site
Chheoki rly station to undergo major upgrade with two new platforms
Racket duping Telegram app users busted in Kaushambi, 4 held
BJP to retain power for third term in a row: Maurya
Azam Khan Sent To 14-Day Judicial Custody Day After Release From Jail
Khan was released yesterday after the Allahabad High Court suspended his sentence and granted him bail in the dual PAN card case. But he was arrested again by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with case a linked to the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur.
Parents of KV students to track attendance, results via app
Biology remains top choice in UP Board, maths sees steady decline
Ram Bagh-Banaras MEMU train introduced for faster travel
Early diagnosis, timely treatment key to eliminate TB: Expert
Man shot after argument; one arrested
BJPs Run for Unity marathon descends into chaos
HC flags jurisdictional overreach, suspends Bijnor DM order on Navami fair
HC orders UPESSC to drop two UPTET-2026 questions, recompute results
ED arrests senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan minutes after release from Rampur Jail
Azam Khan, a senior leader of the Samajwadi Party, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate shortly after his bail. His bail was granted by the Allahabad High Court in an alleged dual PAN card case. The Enforcement Directorate is investigating financial irregularities linked to the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust and Mohammad Ali Jauhar University. Khan's land and buildings were provisionally attached under anti-money laundering laws by the agency.
ED detains SP leader Azam Khan from outside Rampur jail as soon as he comes out on bail
On October 29, the Allahabad High Court suspended the sentence of Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam Khan in the alleged dual PAN card case and granted them bail.
Samajwadi Party's Azam Khan Walks Out Of Jail, Then Probe Agency Detains Him
The Allahabad High Court on Thursday had suspended the sentence of Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam Khan in the alleged Dual PAN Card case and had granted them bail.
The Price Of Public Entitlement
An Allahabad High Court ruling on the unauthorised retention of government accommodation could provide a template for recovering public assets from officials who treat official privileges as personal entitlements The post The Price Of Public Entitlement appeared first on India Legal .
800 temporary firecrackers shops to come up at 90 sites for Diwali
Cong leaders pay tribute to Indira Gandhi on death anniversary; recall her sacrifices, legacy
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) Congress leaders on Saturday paid tributes to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 42nd death anniversary, remembering her contributions and sacrifices for the country and describing her as a leader whose legacy continues to inspire generations. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders visited the Indira Gandhi Memorial and offered floral tributes to the late Prime Minister at Shakti Sthal. In Bengaluru, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President B.K. Hariprasad remembered Indira Gandhi as the 'Iron Lady' of India and said she had sacrificed her life for the unity of the country. Today is the 42nd death anniversary of my great leader, the Iron Lady of India, Indira Gandhi. It is the 42nd death anniversary. Indira Gandhi sacrificed her life for the unity of this country. Her great sacrifices will be remembered forever when we talk about the unity of the great country that is India, he told IANS. All India Mahila Congress President Alka Lamba also paid tribute to Indira Gandhi, recalling her contribution to women's political participation and the establishment of the Mahila Congress. Indira-ji can never be forgotten; there is no question of merely remembering her. She lives on in our memories, through her sacrifice and devotion. Martyr, India's first female Prime Minister, Bharat Ratna Indira Gandhi-ji, on her martyrdom day, we remember her, Lamba said. She said she felt proud to lead an organisation whose foundation and establishment were laid by Indira Gandhi, adding that the late Prime Minister had not only provided women with an organisation but had also insisted on their active participation in politics. That dream was realised by Rajiv Gandhi by bringing 33 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj. Following that, Sonia Gandhi took it further by passing the Women's Reservation Bill, she added. Indian Youth Congress (IYC) President, Uday Bhanu Chib, also remembered Indira Gandhi's contribution to the country and said her sacrifice continued to inspire the organisation. We remember Indira Gandhi. We remember what she has done for this country. She has sacrificed her life for the betterment of our country, Hindustan, and we are following the same path, he said. Indira Gandhi was born on November 19, 1917, in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, into a Kashmiri Pandit family. She was the daughter of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Kamala Nehru. National Integration Day, observed annually on November 19, coincides with Indira Gandhi's birth anniversary and serves to honour her pivotal role in shaping India's political, social, and economic journey. As India progresses toward becoming a global power, National Integration Day acts as a reminder of Gandhi's contributions to unifying the nation. The observance was instituted by the Indian National Congress in 1985 to commemorate her efforts in promoting unity. During her tenure as Prime Minister from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984, Indira Gandhi worked relentlessly to strengthen national integration. Her political career was defined by her unwavering commitment to unity and integrity. One of her landmark achievements was her decisive leadership during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. Her actions solidified her reputation as a leader with a strong vision and resolve. The Green Revolution led by Indira Gandhi supported and expanded high-yielding agricultural policies that helped steer India toward food self-reliance and security. Indira Gandhi also authorised India's first peaceful nuclear test in Pokhran in 1974 and significantly advanced the country's space program. She chaired the Non-Aligned Movement and positioned India as an influential voice for developing nations during the Cold War and also nationalised 14 of India's largest commercial banks to redirect credit toward agriculture, small industries, and rural development.
Congress pays tributes to Indira Gandhi, calls her 'symbol of indomitable courage'
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) The Congress party paid homage to former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary at the Shakti Sthal in New Delhi on Saturday. Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal and several other party leaders arrived at the Shakti Sthal to pay floral tributes to the former Prime Minister. Earlier, Congress took to X and posted, On the death anniversary of India's first woman Prime Minister, a symbol of indomitable courage and willpower, Smt. Indira Gandhi ji, humble tribute. We remember her courage, strong leadership and lifelong commitment to India's unity, integrity and progress, the party said in another post. Indira Gandhi, popularly known as the 'Iron Lady of India,' was born on November 19, 1917, in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, into a Kashmiri Pandit family. She was the daughter of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Kamala Nehru. National Integration Day, observed annually on November 19, coincides with Gandhi's birth anniversary and serves to honour her pivotal role in shaping India's political, social, and economic journey. As India progresses toward becoming a global power, National Integration Day acts as a reminder of Gandhi's contributions to unifying the nation. The observance was instituted by the Indian National Congress in 1985 to commemorate her efforts in promoting unity. The day holds deep significance, serving as an opportunity to celebrate India's diversity and recognise the importance of collective efforts for the country's development. During her tenure as Prime Minister from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until her tragic assassination in 1984, Gandhi worked relentlessly to strengthen national integration. Her political career was defined by her unwavering commitment to unity and integrity. One of her landmark achievements was her decisive leadership during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. Her actions solidified her reputation as a leader with a strong vision and resolve.
Young lawyers should build careers, not chase social media likes: Alld HC
Blue drum haul: As currency count begins, mystery grows deeper
NCR to welcome sleeper Vande Bharat train at Prayagraj Jn
5.96L farmers get 24th installment of PM Krishi Samman Nidhi
Prayagraj to get new two-lane railway bridge over Yamuna by 2031
Prayagraj experiences chilly weather and light rain amid cyclone Arnab
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad (Allahabad High Court) Recruitment 2026 for 0 posts of Panel of Learned Advocates to argue/appear as Amicus Curiae for the criminal cases. Candidates Can Apply Offline. The offline application starts on 15-10-2026, and closes on 31-10-2026. The candidate shall apply offline through Allahabad High Court official website.
Three drums filled with cash recovered from Prayagraj village
SP leaders back TGT-PGT aspirants protest in Prayagraj
NCR digitises 4 crore records, frees 25K sq ft office space
Man held after idols damaged in 3 temples
Arnabs impact: Rain, cool winds sweep Prayagraj; paddy farmers on alert
Congress must avoid personal jibes: Mahana
Dual PAN card case: HC grants bail to Azam, son; conviction stays intact
HC cites Manusmriti, says husband has pious duty to maintain family
UP Legislative Council polls: Results for graduate and teachers constituencies declared
Digital Desk | Lucknow, Oct 29 (IANS) The counting of votes for the 2026 biennial elections to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council concluded on Thursday, with results declared for five Graduate and six Teachers constituencies. Both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Samajwadi Party secured significant wins across the seats. In the Graduate constituencies, the BJP retained Meerut and Agra, while the Samajwadi Party swept Allahabad-Jhansi, Lucknow and Varanasi. In Meerut Graduate, Dinesh Kumar Goyal of the BJP emerged victorious with 24,929 votes, defeating Pramendra Singh Bhati of the Samajwadi Party, who polled 12,073 votes. In Agra Graduate, Dr Manvendra Pratap Singh Guru Ji of the BJP secured 42,743 votes to defeat Shashank Yadav Sheetu of the SP, who got 27,734 votes. The Samajwadi Party emerged victorious in the remaining three Graduate seats. Man Singh Yadav won the Allahabad-Jhansi seat with 60,358 votes against BJPs Ashok Kumar Rathore (32,695 votes). In Lucknow Graduate, Kanti Singh of the SP polled 56,905 votes to defeat Er. Avnish Kumar Singh of the BJP (39,778 votes). Ashutosh Sinha of the SP won Varanasi Graduate with 55,046 votes, while BJPs Kedarnath Singh secured 35,114 votes. In the Teachers constituencies, the BJP won four seats and the Samajwadi Party two. Umesh Dwivedi of the BJP won Lucknow Teachers with 13,179 votes against Sushil Kumar of the SP (8,371 votes). In Meerut Teachers, Shrichand Sharma of the BJP secured a decisive win with 18,099 votes, while SPs Dr Nitin Tomar managed only 4,858 votes. Hari Singh Dhillon of the BJP won Bareilly-Moradabad Teachers with 21,672 votes against Haji Danish Akhtar of the SP (3,996 votes). Dhruv Kumar Tripathi of the BJP retained Gorakhpur-Faizabad Teachers with 16,790 votes, narrowly defeating Independent candidate Rajiv Yadav, who polled 14,580 votes. The Samajwadi Party opened its account in the Teachers segment with wins in Varanasi and Agra. Lal Bihari Yadav won Varanasi Teachers with 11,612 votes against BJPs Pramod Kumar Mishra (6,597 votes). In Agra Teachers, Akash Agarwal of the SP defeated BJPs Hari Kishore Tiwari by securing 14,046 votes to 9,783. The results show a mixed outcome, with both major parties consolidating their positions in different regions of the state. Graduates and teachers constituencies are special voter groups in India that elect members to the State Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad), the upper house in states with a bicameral legislature. Under Article 171 of the Indian Constitution, one-twelfth (1/12) of the members of a Legislative Council are elected by graduates, and another one-twelfth are elected by teachers.
Cash worth crores suspected in 3 drums recovered from field in UP's Prayagraj village
Insurance firm denied Rs 5 lakh to sister after brother's death, Allahabad HC overrules
The Allahabad high court has made a significant decision by siding with an unmarried sister in an insurance claim case, ordering Oriental Insurance Company to pay her Rs 5 lakh after her brother's death. Initially denied coverage due to her not being designated as a family member, the court made it clear that beneficiaries with documentation are entitled to benefits no matter the familial definitions.
