Former HSGMC member alleges police inaction after attack on Hisar residence

Nine Japanese companies to invest Rs 5,000 crore in Haryana, Gurugram Global City Project underway: CM Saini

CHANDIGARH: Nine Japanese companies have expressed interest in investing approximately Rs 5,000 crore in Haryana and have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to that effect. These investments are expected to generate employment opportunities for around 15,000 youth in the state, said Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. He added that Gurugram has evolved into a global hub for IT and startups, and as part of the Global City Project, a 1,000-acre township is being developed in the millennium city. Saini made these remarks while addressing a gathering at the ''Jan Vishwas-Jan Vikas'' state-level event in Panchkula, on the occasion of the completion of one year of the third term of the BJP government in Haryana. He said that industrialists and companies from Haryana have expanded their reach by visiting African countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, and Rwanda, where they have even established industrial units. Recently, a delegation of 13 progressive farmers, led by the Agriculture Minister, visited Kenya to explore opportunities in agriculture and develop a roadmap for exporting floriculture products to international markets. Saini emphasised that, as a result of the government's proactive incentive schemes, Haryana has emerged as a preferred destination for both domestic and international investors. Under the Haryana Startup Policy 2022, the state now hosts over 9,500 startups, including 19 unicorn companies. In addition, more than 250 Fortune 500 companies have established a presence in Haryana. Gurugram has evolved into a global hub for IT and startups, further strengthening the states innovation ecosystem. As part of the Global City Project, a 1,000-acre township is being developed in Gurugram. Beyond this, the state is also building a logistics hub in Narnaul, a manufacturing cluster in Hisar, and an electronics park in Sohna, positioning Haryana as a leader in infrastructure-led industrial development. He said that twenty-one new national highways have been declared to connect every district, and work on 13 of them has already been completed. A Regional Road Upgradation Project has been launched to enhance road connectivity. Under this initiative, 4,227 roads spanning 9,410 kilometres are being repaired and upgraded at a cost of Rs 4,827 crore in the current financial year. Saini stated that industry is the backbone of the economy, and to accelerate industrial growth, the state has developed a robust ecosystem promoting Ease of Doing Business. As a result of various incentive schemes, 12,20,872 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have been registered in the state over the past 11 years, attracting investments worth Rs 28,377.59 crore. He highlighted that Maruti Suzuki's largest manufacturing plant is set to open at IMT Kharkhoda, with an investment of Rs 18,000 crore, expected to create 10,000 jobs. In addition, Suzukis motorcycle plant is also being established at the same location, involving an investment of Rs 1,466 crore, which will provide employment to 2,000 youth. Furthermore, the Uno Minda Group is setting up an alloy wheel plant in the region, with an investment of Rs 2,000 crore, projected to generate employment for 2,500 youth. Saini said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Bima Sakhi Yojana from Panipat to empower women. Under this scheme, 9,656 women have become Bima Sakhis. Inspired by its success, the state government has introduced the Lado Sakhi scheme. A provision has been made to provide an incentive of Rs 1,000 to Lado Sakhis who care for pregnant women during delivery and after the birth of a daughter. He said that the Scheduled Castes, who had long been deprived of their rightful opportunities, are now being empowered through increased participation in government jobs, Panchayat, and local body elections. He added that the Backward Class-B community has been granted reservation in Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies, including 5 per cent reservation for the post of Sarpanch and proportional representation based on their population for other posts. He further said that the government has granted land rights to the Prajapati community in 1,700 villages to support their traditional pottery business. Now, there will be no hurdles in their livelihood. We have taken steps to restore the dignity and respect of the Prajapati community, he said. Speaking about renewable energy initiatives, the Chief Minister said that under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the state aims to install free rooftop solar systems of up to 2 kilowatts by 31 March 2027. So far, 37,825 solar systems have been installed. He added that citizens opting for 3-kilowatt systems are eligible for an additional subsidy of Rs 18,000 for the third kilowatt. Over the past 11 years, 1,61,837 solar pumps have been installed, including 33,553 in the last year alone.

Congress releases first list of candidates for Bihar assembly polls

The Congress released its first official list of 48 candidates for the Bihar Assembly polls on Thursday. The party's Bihar unit president Rajesh Ram has been fielded from the SC-reserved seat of Kutumba. The party had, a day before, started releasing the names of some candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar on the official handle of its Bihar unit. Congress had also posted photos of the candidates receiving their nomination certificates. This comes even as the seat-sharing arrangement between the Mahagathbandhan allies has not been officially finalized yet. In its first list, the party has fielded Bijendra Chaudhary from Muzaffarpur, Om Prakash Garg from Gopalganj, Amita Bhushan from Begusarai, Dr. Shashi Shekhar Singh from Wazirganj. Meanwhile, Kaushelendra Kumar will contest from Nalanda, and Anand Shankar Singh from Aurangabad. Anil Kumar will contest from Bikram, Lalan Kumar from Sultanganj, Amaresh Kumar from Lakhisarai, BK Ravi from Rosda, Shashibhushan Rai alias Gappu Rai from Govindganj, Jitendra Singh from Amarpur, and Shiv Prakash Garib Das from Bachhwara Assembly constituency. Trishuldhari Singh has been fielded from the Barbigha seat. pic.twitter.com/io0WmcA5sG Congress (@INCIndia) October 16, 2025

Bihar polls: Tejashwi Yadav in fray from Raghopur; Vijay Kumar Sinha from Lakhisarai

In a dynamic electoral landscape, Tejashwi Yadav is making waves by filing his nomination from Raghopur for the third consecutive time, confidently rallying for progressive change among the voters.

BJP releases third list of Bihar poll candidates, all 101 seats announced

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Wednesday evening released its third list of 18 candidates for Bihar polls, fielding Bina Devi from Kochadhaman seat and Sangeeta Kumari from Mohania, which is reserved for the Scheduled Castes. According to the list, Sanjay Pandey will contest from Narkatiaganj seat, Satish Kumar Yadav from Raghopur, and Bharat Bind from Bhabua. Murari Paswan will join the fray from Pirpainti, an SC seat, while Ashok Kumar Singh will contest from Ramgarh assembly constituency. With this, the BJP has announced its candidates for a total of 101 seats. Earlier in the day, the party released its second list of 12 candidates for the assembly polls, fielding singer Maithili Thakur from Alinagar seat and former IPS officer Anand Mishra from Buxar. On Tuesday, it released the first list of 71 candidates for the elections, fielding Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha from Tarapur and Lakhisarai seats, respectively, and six state ministers. BJP's Bihar polls in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan announced on Sunday that the BJP and the JD(U) will each contest on 101 seats in the assembly elections, while Union minister Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party will field its candidates on 29 seats. The elections for the 243-member Bihar Assembly are scheduled to be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The counting of votes will take place on November 14.

WR to run special train between Valsad and Hisar for Diwali 2025

An official statement said that to ease travel during the Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals, Western Railway has announced a special weekly train service between Valsad and Hisar

BJP releases list of 71 candidates for Bihar polls; fields 2 Dy CMs, 6 ministers

NEW DELHI, Oct 14: The BJP on Tuesday released its first list of 71 candidates for the Bihar Assembly elections, fielding Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha from Tarapur and Lakhisarai seats, respectively, and six state ministers. The list also includes nine women candidates, including sitting Minister Renu Devi, who will seek re-election from the Bettiah Assembly constituency. Shreyasi Singh, a sitting MLA and Arjuna awardee, will contest from the Jamui seat, seeking another term. Sitting ministers [] The post BJP releases list of 71 candidates for Bihar polls; fields 2 Dy CMs, 6 ministers appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Ex Union Minister, 2 Deputy Chief Ministers In BJP Bihar List, Speaker Out

The BJP has released its first list of 71 candidates for the upcoming Bihar election. Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha have been fielded from Tarapur and Lakhisarai seats, respectively

BJP releases first list of 71 candidates for Bihar Assembly elections

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday released its first list of 71 candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The saffron party will field Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha from Tarapur and Lakhisarai seats, respectively. Former deputy chief minister Tarkishore Prasad and state minister Renu Devi will contest from Katihar and Bettiah, respectively. State ministers Nitish Mishra will seek re-election from the Jhanjharpur seat and Mangal Pandey from Siwan. Shreyasi Singh will join the fray from the Jamui seat, according to the list released by the BJP. The first list has named as many as nine women candidates, including Bihar Minister for Animal and Fisheries Resources Renu Devi, who has been fielded from Bettiah. Bihar Assembly polls are scheduled to be held in two phases on november 6 and 11.

BJP Releases First List of 71 Candidates for Bihar Assembly Polls

Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha to contest from Tarapur and Lakhisarai; polls to be held on November 6 and 11

Bihar Election 2025: BJP releases first list of 71 candidates, Samrat Chaudhary to contest from...; Check full list here

BJP on Tuesday released the first list of 71 candidates for the Bihar Assembly elections. Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary to contest from Tarapur, Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha from Lakhisarai, State Minister Nitin Nabin from Bankipur and Renu Devi to contest from Bettiah.

Bihar elections: BJP releases first candidate list; DY CM Samrat Chaudhary to contest from Tarapur, Vijay Sinha from Lakhisarai

The BJP has unveiled its initial list of candidates for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. These elections are scheduled to commence on November 6. The party will be contesting 101 out of the total 243 seats. This decision was finalized during a meeting of the Central Election Committee in Delhi. Prime Minister Modi and other senior leaders were present.

Former Haryana minister Jaswant Singh's wife Sushila Devi passes away

Sushila Devi, wife of former Haryana minister Chaudhary Jaswant Singh, has passed away. Her funeral took place in Hisar. Chaudhary Jaswant Singh, who died earlier this year, served as a minister multiple times. He was a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Mundhal and Narnaund. Family and friends gathered to pay their final respects.

All the pre-festivities

There is a certain excitement in the air with Deepavali around the corner. The very holiday season that used to excite us when we were youngsters (the Age-of-Aquarius where we didnt have to work) now seems tedious and long. The holidays, especially for the government institutions, seem to stretch on forever and are sometimes clubbed together to give the already underworked employees a long weekend off! As a result, any government sanction, registration of property, delay in the courts and a slew of other problems become of low priority. Officials are not in their seats and paperwork is lethargically shuffled from one empty desk to another and one can see the normal populace tearing their hair out. Oh! But the corporate and private sectors are another ball game altogether. The only way our hardworking millennial kids get any respite from their 12-hour working days is with great difficulty. Next week is my birthday and my only wish is to have a family lunch together. My sister, her kids and me and mine is my ardent wish. My daughter and son-in-law are in Mumbai and perhaps my daughter cannot get off, but my munchkin will be here for sure! My munchkin is all of three, full of sass and so cute! She is a full-fledged threenager (a very apt pseudonym I coined for her). I can only ardently pray to the Gods that our public servants pray to, so my daughter gets her off time! But the season of cheer brings along with it, a whole lot of celebrations. People just need an excuse to celebrate so there are pre-Deepavali, post-Navaratri and in-anticipation Christmas events and one cannot forget the winter weddings! And for all that we need more shiny clothes; more jewellery, more shoes and the list can go on. So, all the vendors and local artisans bring their wares to show-case to the thirsting public. From left: Gaurav Shiva, Chetan Kamani & Jaiprakash My dearest friend Nidhi Kataria is a fabulous jewellery designer and she designs, executes and markets her own brand NidhisArk which has quite a fan-following of its own (including me)! Raj Shroff is my fave designer and since Ive known him for the past 20 years, we know each other pretty well. His quirkiness is very unique and enchanting, so our styles are well synced! They did me the honour of asking me to light the auspicious lamp to flag off their exhibition showcasing a multitude of artisans. Retail therapy and lunch at the venue, JW Marriott! What a wonderful pre-birthday! Everything Indian seems to be the flavour of the season. Indian designers, Indian clothes, Indian goods and of course, Indian food! Gone are those rich creamy curries and masala-ridden food that we used to dish up to please the foreign palate. Every time someone said butter chicken masala, my hackles rose. Our cuisine differs from north to south and east to west. Our condiments and seasonings are so subtle and varied. To dump everything into one hot, oily mess and call it Indian food and call our subtle rotis naanbread used to give me the proverbial heebie-jeebies! We had the pleasure of dining with Gaurav Shiva, the new GM of Royal Orchid, at their Indian speciality restaurant, Tiger Trail. The food was outstanding! We were served subtle shorbas, excellent protein from their spit-ovens and delicious breads. Tis the season, alright! (The writers views are personal)

Nomination begins for first phase of Bihar polls; seat-sharing talks intensify in NDA, INDIA bloc

PATNA: Filing of nomination papers began on Friday for the elections to 121 seats in the first phase of the Bihar assembly polls, officials said. The first round of the elections will be held on November 6. Candidates can file their nomination papers til October 17, and the scrutiny of such documents will be held on the next day, according to a notification. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is October 20 for the first phase of the assembly polls. Patna, Darbhanga, Madhepura, Saharsa, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Vaishali, Samastipur, Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Munger, Sheikhpura, Nalanda, Buxar, and Bhojpur districts will go for polls in the first phase. The second and final phase of the poll will take place on November 11 in 122 assembly seats. The counting of votes will take place on November 14. The ruling NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc have not declared their list of candidates so far. Constituents of the NDA and the INDIA bloc are grappling with differences over seat-sharing, with smaller allies in both camps jostling for more seats. However, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party declared a list of 51 candidates on Thursday. Amid growing unease in the ruling NDA over the seat sharing, senior BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reached Patna on Friday and will hold meetings with senior party leaders. Sources in the BJP said that the seat-sharing arrangements within the NDA will be finalised in a day or two, and the party will release its first list of candidates soon after that. Bihar polls: Left parties smoothen seat-sharing deal with RJD, Congress The JD(U), another alliance partner of the NDA, is also expected to announce its list of candidates very soon, party sources said. According to sources in the NDA, the allies - JD (U) and BJP - are likely to contest 102 and 101 seats, respectively. Union minister Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), which had earlier settled for around 20-22 seats, is now asking for 45 segments, they said. In the opposition bloc, sources said the RJD is likely to contest 135-140 seats. The party has offered the Congress 50-52 seats, lower than the party's demand for 70 assembly segments. Sources in the RJD said a meeting of senior party leaders will take place in Patna later in the day to finalise the list of its candidates. In the 2020 assembly polls, the Congress had fought 70 seats but won only 19. The other big constituent of the INDIA bloc, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, also appeared unhappy with the reportedly 20-25 seats being offered to it. Five years ago, the CPI (ML) Liberation won 12 of the 19 seats it contested, and is reportedly demanding 40 this time. Tejashwi makes mega poll promise: Law to ensure one government job for every family in Bihar

Haryana youth feared killed fighting for Russia

A youth from Hisar, Sonu, is feared dead in the Russia-Ukraine war, with his companion Aman missing since September 22. Both men were reportedly deceived into joining the Russian army after going to Russia for a foreign language course. Families have sought help from the MHA and the Indian embassy in Moscow.

Hisar man feared killed in Ukraine war, friend missing

With 43mm rain, Hisar breaks 9-year Oct record

Hooda consolidates hold in Congress amid dissent

CHANDIGARH: All is not well in the Haryana Congress with the appointment of former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Haryana, who will eventually become the Leader of the Opposition, and Rao Narendra Singh, a former health minister, named as President of the Haryana Congress. Hooda has once again consolidated his hold over the state unit of the party, but voices of dissent are starting to emerge in the faction-ridden grand old party. Senior Congress leader and former minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav has questioned the appointment of Rao as chief of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee. Sources said detractors may view this as marginalisation of the anti-Hooda camp, which comprises Sirsa Member of Parliament Kumari Selja, former Union minister Birender Singh, and Congress general secretary and MP Randeep Singh Surjewala. A party leader said the challenge for both Hooda and Singh is to strike a balance between asserting authority and accommodating rival factions. Factionalism has kept the party paralysed, and the consequences were visible in the last three state Assembly elections. Capt Ajay Singh Yadav took to the social media platform X, tagging senior leaders including Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, and BK Hariprasad, to express his disappointment and concern over the decision. Given the Congress partys steadily declining performance in Haryana, the party needs to introspect on todays decision. Rahul Gandhis desire was to appoint a person with clean, unblemished, and youthful leadership as president of the Haryana Congress. However, todays decision appears to be the exact opposite. This has led to a complete decline in the morale of party workers and cadre, he wrote. A six-time former MLA, Yadav was a prominent contender for the post. Meanwhile, former Hisar MP and Congress leader Brijendra Singh has announced plans to take out a Sadbhav Yatra from October 5 with the aim of ensuring social harmony in the state. The IAS officer-turned-politician said the yatra will begin from Danoda village in the Narwana assembly constituency in Jind on October 5. The father-son duo, along with Congress workers, will tour across 90 assembly segments over the next six to seven months, covering a distance of 2,600 to 2,800 kilometres. During the padyatra, Singh, son of Congress veteran and former Union Minister Birender Singh, said national and regional issues will also be highlighted. He accused the ruling BJP of playing divisive politics and said that sadbhav (harmony) has come under stress in the past decade. He added that he was inspired by Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra and received permission from the central party leadership to carry out the yatra across the state. The BJP is dividing people on the lines of caste, region, and religion. Our aim is to bridge this divide and spread brotherhood among people. We will also focus on state and national issues, said Brijendra Singh.

From teacher to trickster: Gujarat police nab car scam kingpin in Mumbai

AHMEDABAD: A fraudster who rocked Gujarats online car market with a Rs 73 lakh fraud has finally landed in police net. Junagadh police nabbed the fraudster from Dahisar, Mumbai, after a high-tech chase across states. For three years, he duped car buyers and sellers on apps like OLX and CAR-24, trapping victims in 31 cases across 11 districts of Gujarat. The accused, Piyush Maheshbhai Patel (39), a resident of Visnagar, Mehsana, Gujarat was caught from Dahisar, Mumbai, after an intensive three-day surveillance operation. The story broke from Junagadh, where on September 25, 2025, a resident filed a complaint at the A-Division Police Station. The fraudster, posing as Dhaval Patel from CAR-24, trapped a local doctor by offering an inflated price for his Swift and luring him with a Brezza in return. Once the deal was set for just Rs 2.25 lakh through Angadiya payment, the scammer switched off his phone and vanished. The victims complaint led SP Subodh Odedara to order immediate action. PI and his team tracked the fraudsters digital trail, discovering he was operating from Mumbai. Using local intelligence, officers lay in wait inside a Mumbai salon for three days before finally nabbing the accused in Dahisar. Police interrogation peeled back Patels web of deceit. A former schoolteacher and car showroom worker, debt drove him into crime. His modus operandi was chillingly systematic: he would scan car-sale ads on OLX, pose as a CAR-24 agent, and bait owners with high offers. At the same time, he would tempt dealers in nearby cities with quick-sale cars at throwaway prices. Once both sides were convinced, Patel collected payments through Angadiya, then switched off his mobile and re-emerged with a new number and a new name. Patels aliases ranged from Dhawal, Arpit, Hardik, Sanjay, Rajendra Panchal, Jaimin, Hemala carousel of fake identities that helped him cheat buyers and sellers of 42 cars in three years. The confession is staggering: 31 cases registered in 11 districts, including Ahmedabad (6 cases), Gandhinagar, Bharuch, Botad, Banaskantha, Rajkot, and Kutch, with a total fraud of Rs 73.30 lakh. Earlier, he had already duped victims of nearly Rs 1 crore. From Patels possession, police seized a Samsung Galaxy A-35, 13 SIM cards, 3 blank HDFC cheques, and fraud-linked materials. His record reveals he turned Gujarats car market into his hunting ground, repeatedly exploiting digital platforms with surgical precision. The police have now tightened the investigation to identify possible accomplices and recover the looted money.

Gujarat court issues notices to two journalists on Adani Group's defamation plaint

Adani Group has filed criminal defamation complaints against journalist Abhisar Sharma and blogger Raju Parulekar, leading to court notices for their appearance on September 20. The complaints, filed in Gandhinagar, accuse Sharma and Parulekar of disseminating false and defamatory content aimed at tarnishing the conglomerate's reputation through a YouTube video and social media posts.

Gujarat court issues notices to two journalists on Adani Groups defamation complaint

Adani Group accused Abhisar Sharma, a YouTuber, and Raju Parulekar, a blogger, of spreading false and defamatory content to malign its reputation

Dahisar toll plaza to shift 2km north, bringing relief for Mira-Bhayandar commuters

The Dahisar toll plaza on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway will be shifted. The new location will be 2km north of the current spot. This decision aims to reduce traffic congestion for Mira-Bhayandar residents. Eknath Shinde announced the relocation. The toll plaza will move near the Versova bridge. The stretch will become toll-free. Only heavy vehicles will be charged.

Bihar Elections 2025: Centre Approves Infra Projects Worth Rs 7,616 Crore Ahead of Polls

Bihar Elections 2025: The project will likely connect regional cities including Mokama, Barahiya, Lakhisarai, Jamalpur, Munger to Bhagalpur.

Cabinet nod to construction of 4-lane Mokama-Munger road project in Bihar

The section passes through or provides connectivity to important regional cities such as Mokama, Barahiya, Lakhisarai, Jamalpur, Munger connecting to Bhagalpur

Maharashtra Government Proposes To Shift Dahisar Toll Plaza Near Versova Bridge Ahead Of Diwali

Located at the entrance of the Mira-Bhayandar region, Dahisar Toll Naka is a major bottleneck for motorists using the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway.

Maharashtra Government Moves Proposal To Shift Dahisar Toll Plaza Near Versova Bridge

The Dahisar Toll Plaza, located at the entrance of the Mira-Bhayandar region, will be relocated near the nursery close to Versova Bridge

Woman Dead, 18 Injured In Fire In 24-Storey Building In Mumbai's Dahisar

A woman died and 18 people were injured in a fire that broke out in a 24-storey building in Dahisar in north Mumbai on Sunday, officials said.

Mumbai: Woman dead, 18 injured in fire in 24-storey building in Dahisar

A fire in a 24-story building in Dahisar, north Mumbai, resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to 18 others on Sunday. The blaze, which started around 3 pm, prompted the rescue of 36 residents, with 19 hospitalized. The fire was contained by 6:10 pm, and investigations are underway to determine the cause.

1 dead, 1 critical, several injured as fire erupts at Mumbai's 23-storey building

At least one person was killed and another is in critical condition after a fire erupted in a 23-story building in Dahisar, Mumbai, on Sunday afternoon, i.e., September 7, India Today reported.

Fire erupts in 24-storey building in Mumbai; no casualties

MUMBAI: A fire broke out in a 24-storey residential building in the western suburbs here on Sunday afternoon, civic officials said. There were no reports of casualties in the blaze that erupted around 3 pm on the seventh floor of New Janakalyan Society at Shanti Nagar in Dahisar East, an official said. The firefighting efforts are underway, he said. The official said that the high-rise was smoke-logged, posing difficulties for firefighters. At least seven fire engines and other emergency response vehicles were at the spot, he said, adding that the cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained.

Bihar Cabinet nod for Rs 7,000 hike in monthly stipend for interns in government medical colleges

Ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, the state Cabinet has approved a proposal to increase the monthly internship stipend by Rs 7,000 for medical, dental, ayurvedic, unani, and homoeopathy students. Additionally, the Cabinet green-lighted a proposal to open seven new medical colleges across Kishanganj, Katihar, Rohtas, Sheohar, Lakhisarai, Arwal and Sheikhpura districts.

Court extends espionage accused Jyoti Malhotras custody till Sep 10

Hisar: A court here on Tuesday extended till September 10 the judicial custody of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra who was arrested in May on suspicion of espionage. Her lawyer Kumar Mukesh said that Malhotra was produced before Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Sunil Kumar through video conferencing and the court sent her to judicial custody till September Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Espionage case: Court extends YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra's judicial custody till Sep 10

The Hisar Police previously said no evidence emerged to indicate that Ms. Malhotra had access to any military or defence-related information, but claimed she was in contact with some people

Punjab recorded 74% excess, Haryana received 32% more than normal rain in August

CHANDIGARH: In August, Punjab received 253.7 mm of rain, the highest the state has witnessed in the past 25 years, while Haryana recorded 194.5 mm of rain against an average of 147.7 mm for the month. Punjab received deficient rainfall multiple times in the past couple of decades, but this year it recorded the highest rainfall figures for August in the last 25 years, the Met department stated. Punjab recorded 253.7 mm rainfall in August, which was 74 per cent more than the months normal of 146.2 mm. The neighbouring Haryana received 194.5 mm of rain in August against an average of 147.7 mm for the month, which was 32 per cent in excess. Both states received excess rain in August only five times in the past 25 years, including this year. Heavy rains lash several parts of Punjab, Haryana 18 out of the total 23 districts in Punjab recorded excess rain, while a few districts like Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib recorded deficient rainfall. Meanwhile, Gurdaspur recorded 577.5 mm rainfall, 181 per cent more than normal of 205.3 mm; Pathankot received 944.2 mm of rain in August which was 152 per cent in excess than the normal of 375.2 mm; while Tarn Taran recorded 208 mm of rain against the normal of 87.1 per cent in August, which was 139 per cent in excess; Ferozepur received 170.6 mm of rain against a normal of 74.5 mm, which was 129 per cent in excess; Fazilka recorded 146.8 mm of rain as against 68.1 mm, a rise of 115 per cent; Hoshiarpur received 360.6 mm of rain in August, 74 per cent in excess of the normal figures of 207.6 mm; and Amritsar received 226.8 mm of rain in August against a normal of 162.4 mm, which was 40 per cent more. 18 out of the 22 districts in Haryana recorded excess rain in the month of August while four districts including Bhiwani and Ambala, recorded deficient rain. In Haryana excess rainfall was recorded in Fatehabad (252 per cent), Hisar (68 per cent), Faridabad (31 per cent) and Gurugram (24 per cent). Meanwhile Chandigarh (Union Territory), the common capital of Punjab and Haryana, recorded 308.5 mm rainfall in August as against the normal of 248.8 mm which was only 8 per cent more.

Heavy rains lash several parts of Punjab, Haryana

CHANDIGARH: Rains lashed several parts of Punjab, Haryana and the Union Territory Chandigarh on Monday, with Ludhiana logging the highest rainfall of 216.70 mm. According to the Met department here, several places in Punjab and Haryana received rain during the 24-hour period ending 8:30 am Monday. Among other places in Punjab which received rain included Amritsar (24.1 mm), Patiala (80.4 mm), Pathankot (3.6 mm), Bathinda (3 mm), Faridkot (10.2 mm), Gurdaspur (2.7 mm), SBS Nagar (112.7 mm), Mohali (64 mm), Mansa (42 mm) and Rupnagar (82.5 mm). Chandigarh, the joint capital of both states, received 76.5 mm of rainfall. Among other places in Haryana, Ambala recorded 48.4 mm, Hisar (11.8 mm), Karnal (12.8 mm), Narnaul (66 mm), Rohtak (13.4 mm), Sirsa (130 mm), Panchkula (57 mm), Panipat (33 mm) and Gurugram (9.5 mm). Punjab is under the grip of massive floods, caused by the swollen Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers and seasonal rivulets due to heavy rain in their catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Villages worst-affected by the floods were in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar districts. Relief and rescue operations by the NDRF, Army, BSF, Punjab Police and district authorities continued on a war footing in the affected areas.

Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav joins 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar

SARAN: Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday joined the Congress' 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar's Saran district. In a post on X, senior Congress leader K C Venugopal said Yadav is a steadfast ally in the party's fight against the BJP's alleged attempt to destroy the country's democracy. This morning, former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav Jee joined the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Saran. Welcomed him to this historic movement to protect democracy. He has been a steadfast ally in our fight against the BJP's destruction of our democracy, and a strong voice for the poor and underprivileged in UP and across the country, Venugopal said on the social media platform. , ! pic.twitter.com/cgi7XV8o7c K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) August 30, 2025 He also shared photographs of Yadav meeting Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Rohini Acharya, the daughter of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, was also present there. Acharya had contested from Saran in the Lok Sabha polls last year, and failed to win the seat. Gandhi launched the Congress' 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' from Sasaram in Rohtas district on August 17 to protest against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The yatra, supported by all INDIA bloc constituents, will culminate in Patna on September 1. The yatra has so far covered Gayaji, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Katihar, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Purnea, West Champaran, Gopalganj, East Champaran, and Siwan districts. It will pass through Bhojpur and Patna. 'PM Modi is scared,' claims Rahul Gandhi during Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar

SC declines to quash FIR against journalist Abhisar Sharma, grants interim protection from arrest

The top court directed the journalist to approach the Gauhati High Court to quash an FIR lodged by the Assam Police under Section 152 of BNS, which penalises acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India

SC Grants 4-Week Protection to Journalist Abhisar Sharma in Assam FIR Case

Bench refuses to quash FIR but asks Sharma to move Gauhati HC; seeks Centres reply on validity of BNS Section 152

FIR in Assam: SC grants four-week interim protection to journalist Abhisar Sharma

NEW DELHI, Aug 28: The Supreme Court on Thursday granted interim protection for four weeks to journalist Abhisar Sharma in an FIR lodged against him in Assam over a video post allegedly criticising the states policies. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh refused to entertain his prayer challenging the FIR lodged against him in Assam and asked him to approach the Gauhati High Court. It, however, issued notice to the Centre seeking its response on [] The post FIR in Assam: SC grants four-week interim protection to journalist Abhisar Sharma appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Assam land row: Supreme Court grants interim protection to journalist Abhisar Sharma; declines to quash FIR

The Supreme Court has provided journalist Abhisar Sharma with four weeks of protection from arrest regarding an FIR filed by Assam Police. The case stems from a video criticizing the Assam government's alleged communal politics and land allocation for a cement factory.

SC to hear journalists plea against Assam Police FIR over video post on August 28

NEW DELHI, Aug 27: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Thursday a plea filed by journalist Abhisar Sharma seeking quashing of an FIR registered against him by Assam Police over a video post allegedly criticising the states policies. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh is likely to take up the plea of Sharma filed through advocate Sumeer Sodhi for hearing. In his plea, Sharma has challenged the validity of Section 152 of [] The post SC to hear journalists plea against Assam Police FIR over video post on August 28 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Espionage case: Court extends YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra's judicial custody till September 3

She was arrested by Hisar Police on May 16

Espionage case: Court extends YouTuber Jyoti Malhotras judicial custody till Sep 3

Hisar, Aug 25: A Hisar court on Monday extended till September 3, the judicial custody of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested in May on suspicion of espionage. Melhotra appeared before judicial magistrate (first class) Sunil Kumar, who remanded her to judicial custody till September 3, her lawyer Kumar Mukesh said. Malhotra, who hails from Hisar and ran a YouTube channel Travel with JO, was arrested by Hisar Police on May 16. She was arrested at the New Aggarsain Extension [] The post Espionage case: Court extends YouTuber Jyoti Malhotras judicial custody till Sep 3 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Withdraw FIR against Abhisar Sharma: Press Club

The PCI accused the Assam Police of turning a blind eye in not taking cognisance of what the apex court has directed in a similar case pertaining to The Wire editors

SC Bars Assam Police From Arresting Karan Thapar, Siddharth Varadarajan of The Wire

DIGIPUB flays Assam FIR on Abhisar Sharma, says to criminalise the work of a respected journalist like Abhisar Sharma is nothing less than an attack on press freedom.

Case Against Journalist Abhisar Sharma For 'Ridiculing' Assam, Centre

The Guwahati Crime Branch on Thursday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against journalist and YouTuber Abhisar Sharma on the basis of a complaint filed by a local resident alleging that he had uploaded a video ridiculing both the Assam and

FIR filed against journalist Abhisar Sharma by Guwahati police

Guwahati Crime Branch files FIR against journalist and YouTuber Abhisar Sharma for video criticising Assam and Union Governments

Rahul joins second leg of 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar

Rahul Gandhi, who returned to the State after a day-long break, joined the Yatra in Lakhisarai district, hours after the second leg was kicked off by his ally Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD in adjoining Sheikhpura

PM to inaugurate 6-lane bridge in Bihar on Aug 22, travel time to come down

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation the Aunta-Simaria project featuring a six-lane, 1.8 km-long bridge over the Ganga River in Bihar on August 22. The link will reduce travel distance by about 100 km for heavy vehicles ferrying between north and south Bihar and provide direct connectivity between Mokama in Patna District and Begusarai. Modi had laid the foundation in October 2017. The project is part of National Highway 31. The bridge has been constructed parallel to the existing two-lane rail-cum-road bridge Rajendra Setu, which is almost seven decades old and needs repair. Anil Chaudhary, member, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), said, The Rajendra Setu has only two lanes, and the one corridor is closed because of repair work. Only one lane is in use, and it is for light motor vehicles. So, traffic jams are regular. The new bridge will resolve this issue. Heavy vehicles plying on the new bridge will have to travel 100 km less between Begusarai, Supaul, Madhubani, and Araria in North Bihar and Patna, Seikhpura, Nawada, and Lakhisarai in South Bihar. The link will also provide better connectivity to the famous pilgrimage place of Simaria Dham, which is also the birthplace of the renowned poet, the late Ramdhari Singh Dinkar. Overall, the bridge will prove beneficial from an economic viewpoint, boost connectivity to an important cultural centre and enhance ease of travel for people of the region, Chaudhary said. The bridge is the countrys widest extradosed bridgea hybrid structure that combines features of a cable-stayed and girder bridgedesigned with a single segmental structure. Project part of NH 31 The link will reduce travel distance by about 100 km for heavy vehicles ferrying between north and south Bihar and provide direct connectivity between Mokama in Patna District and Begusarai. Modi had laid the foundation in October 2017. The project is part of National Highway 31.

Partnership between EC-BJP; we'll not allow even one vote to be stolen in Bihar: Rahul Gandhi

NAWADA: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that a partnership has been going on between the Election Commission and the BJP to steal votes, and asserted that the Mahagathbandhan will not allow even a single vote to be stolen in Bihar. Addressing a gathering at Bhagat Singh Chowk on the third day of his Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar, Gandhi said the right to vote has been given to the people by the Constitution, and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Election Commissioners are snatching it away from them. This is your right, given to you by the Constitution, and Modi, Shah, and the Election Commissioners are snatching it away from you. (RJD's) Tejashwi (Yadav), I, and the other (Mahagathbandhan) leaders standing here want to tell them that we will not let you steal even a single vote in Bihar, Gandhi said. He alleged that the EC-BJP nexus has stolen elections in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. In Maharashtra, about 1 crore voters were mysteriously added between the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, Gandhi claimed. He said the Congress asked the EC to provide a machine-readable voters' list and CCTV footage, but the poll body refused. Now in Bihar, they are carrying out 'vote chori' in a new manner. They are doing this chori (theft) right before your eyes, but we will not let them steal votes, said the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Opposition holds protest against SIR in Parliament complex Warning the people, he said, First, your voter card will go. Then your ration card will go. And finally, your land will be handed over to Adani and Ambani, Gandhi alleged. This country belongs to farmers, labourers, small traders, and the youthnot to a few billionaires like Adani and Ambani, he added. Gandhi said all the wrong laws, including GST and demonetisation, were aimed at benefiting a few billionaires. You give money and resources, and yet the country cannot give you employment. This has to change, and that is why we have started this Voter Adhikar Yatra, he said in his address to the people, standing atop his vehicle, flanked by RJD's Tejashwi Yadav and CPI(ML) Liberation's Dipankar Bhattacharya. At the start of his address, Gandhi invited a person whose name had been removed from the voters list to speak. The person said he had been a polling agent in the Lok Sabha polls, but his name had been removed during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. There are lakhs of such people in Bihar who voted, but their names have now been cut from the voters list, Gandhi said. There is a partnership going on between the BJP and the Election Commission. They are colluding to indulge in vote chori, he charged. Asserting that vote chori is an attack on Bharat Mata , Gandhi on Monday had warned the Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners of stern action once the INDIA bloc forms the government. Intensifying his attack on the Election Commission, Gandhi also said the whole country would demand an affidavit from the poll body and, if given time, his party would expose the vote chori in every Assembly and Lok Sabha constituency. On Tuesday, the Yatra began from Wazirganj in Gaya and entered Nawada later in the day. The Yatra will conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1. It is being undertaken in a hybrid modeon foot and by vehiclesimilar to Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Manipur to Mumbai ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The Yatra will also pass through Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnea, Araria, and Supaul. Rahul Gandhi will become PM after next Lok Sabha polls: RJD's Tejashwi at Bihar rally

SIR new weapon for 'vote chori', will protect 'one person, one vote': Rahul

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is a ew weapon for vote chori and vowed to protect the one person, one vote principle by stopping vote theft. Gandhi made the remarks in a post on his WhatsApp channel while talking about his meeting with a group of people who had cast their votes in the previous Lok Sabha election but their names were deleted from the electoral rolls during the SIR exercise in Bihar. The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha met the group at the launch of his Vote Adhikar Yatra in Bihar's Sasaram on Sunday. In his post in Hindi along with a picture of the meeting, Gandhi said, The SIR is a new weapon for vote theft. Coincidentally, these people standing with me in this picture are a 'living' proof of this theft. All of them had cast their votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha election -- but by the time the Bihar Assembly polls came, their identity, their existence were erased from the democracy of India, he said. Do you know who they are? Raj Mohan Singh (70): Farmer and retired soldier; Umravati Devi (35): Dalit and labourer; Dhanjay Kumar Bind (30): Backward class and labourer; Sita Devi (45): Woman and former MGNREGA labourer; Raju Devi (55): Backward class and labourer; Mohmuddin Ansari (52): Minority and labourer, he said. The collusion of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission (EC) is punishing them for being Bahujan and poor -- even our soldiers were not spared -- Gandhi said. Neither will they have a vote nor identity or rights, he added. Due to social discrimination and economic conditions, they are unable to fight against the conspiracy of the system. We stand here with them to protect the most basic right of 'one person, one vote', the Congress leader asserted. This is a question of rights and of everyone's participation in a democracy, he said, adding that we will not let it end under any circumstances. Later, in Aurangabad, Gandhi met another set of people who had voted in earlier elections but their names were deleted from the new draft voter list. Sharing an over-four-minute video of his interaction in Aurangabad, Gandhi said, The votes of people who voted in the last four-five elections were also stolen in Bihar. And, when asked for the reason, the only answer received was -- an order has come from above. This is a fight for the rights of the poor -- we will not stop. We will stop vote theft, he said. In the video, Gandhi is seen interacting with people whose names have been deleted from the voters' list. He was accompanied by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Vikassheel Insan Party's Mukesh Sahani and CPI(ML) Liberation's Dipankar Bhattacharya. Gandhi told the group that the Narendra Modi government brought in a law in 2023 to ensure that no one can take action against those who run the EC and it was completely wrong. Meanwhile, Gandhi, Yadav and Sahani also prayed at the Devkund Surya Mandir in Aurangabad as their Voter Adhikar Yatra entered its second day. Travelling from Kutumba, the yatra reached Gayaji on Monday evening. Embarking on the 1,300-km Voter Adhikar Yatra from Sasaram, Gandhi accused the EC on Sunday of stealing elections in collusion with the BJP and asserted that the INDIA opposition bloc will not let their latest conspiracy to steal the Bihar polls through the SIR exercise succeed. After 16 days, the yatra is scheduled to conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1. The yatra is being undertaken in a hybrid mode, on foot and by vehicles, as was Gandhi's Manipur-to-Mumbai Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. It will pass through Aurangabad, Gayaji, Nawada, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnea, Araria, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Chhapra and Ara.

Whole country now knows EC 'stealing' elections in collusion with BJP: Rahul

SASARAM: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday claimed the whole country now knows that the Election Commission is stealing elections in collusion with the BJP and asserted that the INDIA bloc will not let their latest conspiracy to steal Bihar Assembly polls succeed, as he embarked on his 1,300 km 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in the state. Gandhi alleged that assembly and Lok Sabha polls were being stolen across the country and there was a conspiracy in Bihar to do the same through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Addressing the gathering here at the launch event of the yatra covering over 20 districts in Bihar, Gandhi said while he was asked to submit an affidavit after his press conference exposing vote chori, no such demand was made from BJP leaders who made claims in their presser. In the whole country, assembly and Lok Sabha elections are being stolen and their latest conspiracy is to delete and add voters through SIR to steal the elections in Bihar, Gandhi charged. We have come here to tell you that we will not let them steal the election in Bihar. People of Bihar will not let them steal elections. The poor only have the power of vote and we will not let them steal polls, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said. He said the whole country now knows what the EC is doing and the Congress showed how it is carrying out this heft. Wherever this theft is happening, be it Bihar, Maharashtra, Assam, West Bengal, we will catch their theft and put it before the people, Gandhi said. He also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi runs the government along with billionaires. Your vote is stolen and then your money is handed over to 5-6 billionaires...the truth of SIR, the vote chori in Bihar, we will put it before the people, Gandhi said. He asserted that it is a fight to save the Constitution. Gandhi alleged that the RSS and the BJP are trying to erase the Constitution. In every election the BJP wins. In Maharashtra, all opinion polls said the INDIA bloc will win the assembly polls. In the Lok Sabha polls, our alliance won but after four months in the same Maharashtra, the BJP alliance swept the assembly polls as one crore voters were added through magic and wherever such additions happened, the BJP won, he claimed. Gandhi said the INDIA bloc parties complained to the EC and asked for video footage but the poll body refused. He said the Congress had shown that over one lakh votes were stolen in one assembly segment of a Lok Sabha seat in Karnataka in 2024 and the BJP won that parliamentary seat. The Congress leader said the EC asked for an affidavit from him over his press conference but did not ask the BJP leaders to do so when they held their presser and made claims. They say submit an affidavit on the data I had put forward when it is their data that I cited, Gandhi said. The yatra launch event here was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav, Vikassheel Insaan Party's Mukesh Sahani, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI(M)'s Subhashini Ali and CPI's P Sandosh Kumar. With the Assembly polls barely three months away, Gandhi, along with RJD's Tejashwi Yadav and other Mahagathbandhan leaders, launched the yatra from BIADA Ground, Sasaram. After 16 days, the yatra will conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1. The yatra will be in a hybrid mode, on foot and by vehicle, as was Gandhi's Manipur to Mumbai Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, party leaders said. It will pass through Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnea, Araria, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Chhapra and Ara.

Rahul Gandhi's 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' starts from Sasaram in Bihar on August 17

PATNA: With Bihar gearing up for assembly elections, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is all set to launch Vote Adhikar Yatra from Sasaram in Rohtas district on Sunday, to highlight the championing electoral reforms and exposing alleged in voter list through the special intensive revision (SIR) . After landing at Sasaram, Rahul will visit Suara Aerodrome Ground near Sasaram, where he will address a public meeting and meet people from Tribal community. Later in the day, he will hold a roadshow at Dehri-on-Sone and start his Pad Yatra. The 16-day Yatra, aimed at championing electoral reforms and exposing alleged in voter list through special intensive revision (SIR), will culminate in a grand rally in Patna on September 1. Leaders of INDIA bloc partners, including Tejashwi Prasad Yadav (RJD) and Dipankar Bhattacharya (CPI-ML), are expected to join the yatra. The Yatra will cover districts, including Gaya, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Katihar, Purnea, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, West Champaran, Saran, Bhojpur and Patna. On September 1, a mega Voter Adhikar Rally is scheduled to be held at Gandhi Maidan in the state capital, which will be attended by INDIA bloc leaders. Former Bihar Congress chief Alkhilesh Prasad Singh said that all necessary formalities like permission for landing of chopper and ground for public meeting have already been completed for the proposed Vote Adhikar Yatra. Singh, who is a Rajya Sabha member, said that the Yatra will build a tempo in favour of Opposition INDIA bloc ahead of assembly elections in Bihar scheduled to be held in October-November. The Opposition alleged that SIR launched by Election Commission led to deletion of names of 65 lakh electors in state. EC's special intensive revision is a deliberate design to tamper with votes, disproportionately affecting backward, Muslim communities and migrant workers, said Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar. He further said that on August 18, Rahul will start pad yatra which will pass through Dev Road Amba in Kutumba assembly constituency, covering Aurangabad district. On Saturday, Rahul on X said, Sixteen days, 20-plus districts, 1,300-plus kilometres. We are coming among the people with voter rights yatra. This is the right to protect the most fundamental democratic right-one person, one vote. Join us to save the Constitution. 16 20+ 1,300+ .. - , pic.twitter.com/4zturHDnOl Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 16, 2025

'Fight to protect one person, one vote': Rahul Gandhi to embark on 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' from Bihar's Sasaram

BIHAR: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will embark on a 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' across Bihar from here on Sunday, with his party asserting it will fight for the one person, one vote principle and not accept the Election Commission becoming a compartment of the BJP's so-called double engine. The leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, along with RJD's Tejashwi Yadav and other Mahagathbandhan leaders, will undertake the 16-day and 1,300 km-long yatra from Sasaram, which will conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1. In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, 16 days, 20+ districts, 1,300+ km. We are coming among the people with the Voter Adhikar Yatra. This is a fight to protect the most basic democratic right - 'one person, one vote'. 16 20+ 1,300+ .. - , pic.twitter.com/4zturHDnOl Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 16, 2025 Join us in Bihar to save the Constitution, he added. Addressing a press conference at the Indira Bhawan in New Delhi, Congress's media and publicity department head, Pawan Khera, said, Whenever Rahul Gandhi ji has set out for a yatra, the democracy of this country has turned a page. 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' will be a historic march. It will prove to be a milestone in the history of our democracy. We will not accept that the Election Commission becomes a compartment of this so-called 'double engine'. We are fighting against this and will continue to do so in the future, he added. The party has been protesting against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging the EC's exercise is aimed at disenfranchising voters in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections due later this year. The Congress urged the people of Bihar to join the 'yatra' for their rights and entitlements so that democracy can get a direction from Bihar. The yatra, starting in Bihar from August 17, is a journey to make people aware because the conspirators will not be deterred and they will try to steal votes, Khera said. The yatra will conclude with a huge rally in Patna on September 1, and the people of the INDIA bloc will participate in it, he added. He added that the 'yatra' has been planned to fight for the right of 'one person-one vote'. It is possible to breathe freely in independent India because we have the power to vote. Rahul Gandhi has started a struggle so that every citizen of the country can breathe freely, Khera said. The way the game of adding and deducting fake votes was going on, the BJP people have been caught red-handed, he claimed, adding that ow, even ordinary citizens are giving evidence of vote theft. When our INDIA bloc colleagues and social workers appealed together, the Supreme Court also had to intervene. Public has woken up: Rahul Gandhi shares new video highlighting 'vote theft' This conspiracy was not just to snatch votes. It was a conspiracy to snatch your and our identity. Today, the right to vote is being snatched from the Dalits, the deprived, the oppressed, the exploited, the minorities; tomorrow their participation will be snatched, Khera alleged. He claimed that a conspiracy was being hatched to attack the poor, against which the people of the country have raised their voice. The 'yatra' will pass through Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnea, Araria, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Chapra and Ara. At a press briefing in Patna, Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh said that when the Election Commission announced the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, the leaders of the INDIA bloc went to meet poll panel officials, who had stated that 20 per cent of the voters in Bihar would lose their franchise. We demanded a discussion on this issue in the House, but the BJP government did not consider it necessary. When the new draft list came out after SIR in Bihar, many irregularities were revealed. When we are asking for answers on this, the BLO (block-level officer) has no answer, he claimed. In such a situation, we have decided that the Congress will start a 'Voter Awareness Campaign'. In this, we will go to all districts of Bihar and make people aware, so that they are not deprived of their rights, Singh said. He also said that Rahul Gandhi is fighting to save the Constitution. Rahul Gandhi is the voice of the poor, deprived, women, farmers, and labourers of the country. We request the people of Bihar to take part in this journey and help us in foiling the plans of the Election Commission-BJP, Singh added. Gandhi on Thursday said, We are waging a direct fight against 'vote chori' from Bihar with the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra. He asserted that his party will ensure a clean voters' list across the country. 'Vote chori' is not just an election issue but a decisive battle to protect democracy, the Constitution and the principle of 'one man, one vote', he had said. The Congress on Tuesday claimed that vote chori was a do-or-die issue for it, and announced a roadmap to take its allegations to the people through various activities. 'Got a chance to have tea with dead voters': Rahul Gandhi takes shot at EC over Bihar SIR

Tejashwi, Bihar Deputy CM lock horns over twin EPIC cards

PATNA: Verbal exchanges between Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav have heated the ongoing political row over double EPIC cards in the state. On Wednesday, Sinha displayed his matriculation and higher education degrees to prove he was 57 and counter Yadavs allegations about age discrepancies. Yadav had earlier alleged that Sinha was registered as a voter in both Lakhisarai and Patna districts and claimed inconsistencies in the deputy CMs age records. He also alleged that Sinhas age was listed as 57 in one constituency and 60 in another, calling it an age scam. Sinha contended that he had already deleted his name from the Patna voters list. Referring to Tejashwi Yadav as the Yuvraj of Jungle Raj, he asked him to present his degrees and explain how Tejashwi Yadav became 26 and his brother Tej Pratap 25 in 2015? Tejashwi Yadav also alleged that Nirmala Devi (Sahu), a prominent BJP leader and mayor of Muzaffarpur, possessed two EPIC IDs and she, along with her brothers-in-law, had votes at two different booths. The Election Commission has issued notices to them in this connection. EC 'colluding' with BJP to 'steal' votes in Bihar, alleges RJD's Tejashwi

CM Nitish reviews flood situation in Bihar, directs officials to remain alert

PATNA: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar chaired a high-level meeting regarding flooding in 10 districts of the state, where most of the rivers were flowing above the danger mark. Around 25 lakh people have been affected by the deluge. CM Nitish directed the officials concerned to remain alert and make necessary arrangements for the flood victims. Bhojpur, Patna, Vaishali, Saran, Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Munger, Khagaria, Bhagalpur and Katihar are among the worst-affected districts. During the meeting, CM was briefed by officials about the steps taken by the district administration. The officials informed the CM that 16 teams of NDRF and SDRF have been pressed into service to rescue people from flood-affected areas and shift them to safer places. The officials told the CM that the situation worsened in some districts due to torrential rains during the past 24 hours. While some rivers were in spate, incessant rains added to the woes of the people. Over 1,200 country boats have been engaged in rescue work. According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the CM directed the district magistrates of flood-affected areas to prepare a list of flood-affected people and provide them with relief assistance at the earliest. However, no deaths have been reported in any district, the release claimed. CM was expected to conduct an aerial survey of flood-hit districts, but it was deferred due to some unavoidable reasons. CM directed the officials to ensure payment to farmers against loss of standing crops due to floods. Rivers such as Ganga, Bagmati, Kosi, Punpun and Ghaghra are flowing above danger level at several places. Heavy downpour in the catchment areas of Nepal has led to a rise in the water level of these rivers, officials told the CM at the review meeting. The officials of the rural works department and road construction department were directed to ensure the repair of damaged roads in flood-hit districts.

11-Year-Old Dies In Fall During Dahi Handi Practice In Mumbai

Police charge event organiser with death by negligence after boy falls from sixth level of human pyramid in Dahisar

Respect constitutional bodies, will reply to EC notice: Bihar Dy CM on 'possessing' 2 voter cards

Vijay Kumar Sinha, Bihar's Deputy CM, received a notice from the Election Commission. The notice concerns allegations about him having two voter IDs. Sinha stated he respects constitutional bodies. He promised to respond to the Election Commission's questions. He claims he had requested to remove his name from Patna's voter list after registering in Lakhisarai.

Election Commission issues notice to Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha for possessing two EPIC cards

PATNA: The Election Commission on Sunday issued a notice to Bihar deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha following a controversy over possessing two EPIC (elector photo identity card) numbers. Sinha has been asked to send a reply notice by August 14. The notice has been sent to Deputy Chief Minister Sinha by Deputy Collector, land reforms-cum registration officer of Patna Sadar, who is also the election officer of Banki assembly constituency, asking him to explain about possessing two EPIC numbersAFS0853341 and IAF3939337. While EPIC number AFS0853341 listed his name at polling booth number 405 and serial number 757 of Bankipur assembly constituency in Patna district, EPIC number IAF3939337 listed his name as an elector from Lakhisarai assembly constituency. Sinhas name existed in both assembly constituencies during the Special Intensive Revisional of electoral rolls. Sinha, on being contacted, said that he would send a reply notice to the authority concerned. Earlier in the day, he claimed that though his name existed in Bankipur and Lakhisarai assembly constituencies, he voted from Lakhisarai constituency. He also claimed that he had submitted the required form for deletion of his name from one place. He said that his family previously lived in the Bankpur assembly area. I filled up a form for the deletion of my name from the voter list. I got my name added to the voter list of Lakhisarai assembly constituency. I sent a filled-up form for deletion of name from Bankipur after he found his name featured in both lists, he told the media. Earlier, the leader of the Opposition in the Bihar assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav , alleged that the Bihar deputy CM possessed two EPIC numbers and demanded action against him. He also questioned whether the apex poll body would initiate action against Deputy CM Sinha. If an attempt is made to take action against us, will action be taken against Deputy CM Sinha? he asked. Tejashwi is himself surrounded in controversy over possessing two EPIC numbers. The Election Commission has already declared his second EPIC number as fake and asked him to provide the original copy of that EPIC.

Bihar Dy CM has 2 EPIC numbers: Tejashwi Yadav

Yadav claimed that the two EPIC numbers belong to Lakhisarai and Bankipur, respectively; Alleges loopholes in Bihar SIR exercise

'I vote from only one place': Bihar Dy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha on Tejashwi Yadav's 'two EPIC numbers' allegation

Bihar's Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha refuted Tejashwi Yadav's claims of possessing two voter IDs with differing details. Sinha explained he applied to transfer his registration from Bankipur to Lakhisarai in April 2024, but the deletion was rejected. He has since notified the Election Commission and emphasized that he only votes in Lakhisarai, accusing Yadav of spreading misinformation.

Bihar DyCM Vijay Kumar Sinha has two EPIC cards: Tejashwi Yadav

PATNA : RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday alleged that Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha has two voter ID cards and asked what action is being taken against Sinha. Yadav, talking to reporters here, said, Vijay Kumar Sinha is a voter from two different assembly constituencies in two different districts. His name is there in Lakhisarai assembly constituency in the same district and also in Bankipur assembly constituency in Patna district. He has two different Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) cards. Surprisingly, it has happened after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by the Election Commission in Bihar. Who should be held responsible, either Sinha himself or the Election Commission? What action is being taken against Sinha? When will he (Sinha) resign from the post after the revelations? #WATCH | Patna, Bihar: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, Three lakh houses in Bihar have zero house numbers. Is this a joke? What kind of process is this? You are here to strengthen democracy, to conduct fair elections. If the opposition is raising any question, making any pic.twitter.com/bM89zCzYnk ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2025 Reacting to Yadav's allegations, Sinha told reporters on Sunday, Earlier, names of mine and my family members were listed in Bankipur assembly seat. In April 2024, I had applied to add my name from Lakhisarai. I also filled a form to remove my and my family members' names from Bankipur. I have evidence. For some reason, my name was not removed from Bankipur and it appeared in the draft electoral roll. I called the Booth Level Officer and submitted a written application and took a receipt seeking deletion of my name from Bankpur. I have both documents. Sinha said that he has voted from only one place. I vote from only one place. Last time too, I voted from only one place. The prince of Jungle-Raj (Tejashwi) is simply trying to mislead people by giving wrong facts. Entire Bihar knows that he (Tejashwi) plays the game of tarnishing the image of others. He should apologise for making false allegations against me, Sinha said. Tejashwi Yadav denies voter ID duplication, blames Patna officials for changing EPIC number The Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly said Sinha's EPIC ID number in the Lakhisarai assembly constituency is IAF3939337, and in the Bankipur assembly constituency in Patna district, his ID number is AFS0853341. While Sinha's age is 57 years in one list and 60 years in another. Is this not fraud and an age scam? He must have filled two different forms in two different assembly constituencies. He deliberately got two votes registered in two different places. If he did not personally sign both forms, then did the Election Commission create two different votes for him in two different assembly constituencies based on forged signatures? Will he receive two different notices, or are these rules only for the opposition leaders? Yadav alleged. Commenting on the EC asking him to respond to allegations that he holds two EPIC numbers, the RJD leader said, I have replied to the EC, why should I need to give an explanation for this? He accused the EC of attempting to pin on him a mistake committed by its own officials. Recently, the EC had asked Yadav to respond to allegations that he holds two EPIC numbers. Whose lapse is it if two EPIC numbers were issued to me? Galti khud karen aur explanation hamse mangege (They make the mistake themselves and are seeking an explanation from me). Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Kumar in a post on X on Saturday, shared screenshots of the draft electoral rolls in which the DyCM has been shown as a voter in Lakhisarai, his assembly seat, as well as Bankipur in the capital city. PTI, however, could not independently verify the authenticity of the screenshots shared by Kumar. Kumar asked, Had Sinha been casting his vote from two places? How did he file his enumeration forms from more than one place? Would there be an FIR against him for this fraud?.

Bihar DyCM Vijay Kumar Sinha Has Two EPIC Cards: Tejashwi

Patna, Aug 10: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday alleged that Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha has two voter ID cards and asked what action is being taken against Sinha. Yadav, talking to reporters here, said, Vijay Kumar Sinha is a voter from two different assembly constituencies in two different districts. His name is there in the Lakhisarai assembly constituency in the same district and also in Bankipur assembly constituency in Patna district. He has two different Electoral [] The post Bihar DyCM Vijay Kumar Sinha Has Two EPIC Cards: Tejashwi appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Tejashwi Yadav claims Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha has two EPIC numbers

Tejashwi Yadav further asked the ECI and the district administrations of Patna and Lakhisarai, what kind of action would be taken against him, highlighting the ECIs swiftness in issuing him a notice.

Raksha Bandhan Special Train 2025: Check full list of trains, routes, timetable, stoppages and other details

Raksha Bandhan Special Train list 2025: These trains will connect key routes like Mumbai, Nagpur and Patna. Services include one-time trips and daily operations. Passengers can travel from Bhagat Ki Kothi to Bandra Terminus. Jaipur and Hisar will also have special train connectivity. Book your tickets soon for a comfortable journey.

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh gets another 40-day parole, 14th since 2017

CHANDIGARH: Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, a 57-year-old convict in rape and murder cases, walked out of Sunaria jail on his 14th temporary release since 2017. The self-styled godman was granted a 40-day parole this time. Sources said Ram Rahim Singh left Sunaria jail early at 6 AM under tight police security and reached the Dera headquarters in Sirsa around 9 AM in a cavalcade of seven SUVs. This will be the first time in eight years that he will celebrate his birthdayon August 15at the Sirsa dera. In the past, during previous paroles or furloughs around this occasion, he had mostly stayed at his Barnawa Ashram in Uttar Pradesh. He is expected to remain at the Sirsa dera until returning to jail on September 14. According to sources, this will be his 58th birthday, though the celebrations are likely to be limited. He may address his followers virtually, as the administration has reportedly not granted permission for large gatherings at the dera. He was earlier granted a 21-day furlough in April this year, during which he stayed at the Sirsa dera, participated in Dera Foundation Day celebrations, and met several followers. Before that, he received a 30-day parole in January, a week before the Delhi assembly elections. On October 1 last year, he was also granted a 20-day parole before the October 5 Haryana assembly elections. In total, he has spent 326 days out of jail so far. The paroles and furloughs granted to him have often coincided with elections in Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, or Rajasthan. Dera Sacha Sauda has a large following across these states, especially in Haryanas Sirsa, Fatehabad, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, and Hisar districts. He is currently serving a 20-year sentence for the rape of two female disciples, a conviction handed down by a special CBI court in August 2017. In January 2019, he was also convicted, along with three others, for the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati and sentenced to life imprisonment. In May last year, he was acquitted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the 2002 murder of the sect's former manager, Ranjit Singh.

From Kalyan to world stage: How dhaba owners daughter Vaishnavi Patil, chases Olympic dream

Vaishnavi Patil, daughter of a dhaba owner, defied expectations by securing a spot in the World Wrestling Championships after only four years of mat wrestling. Inspired by Sakshi Malik, she transitioned from mud wrestling and swimming, driven by a desire to win an Olympic medal. Her coach credits her dedication and disciplined training in Hisar for her rapid progress.

Rivers in spate in Bihar after heavy rain, CM directs officials to remain alert

PATNA: The water levels in several rivers in Bihar have risen due to heavy rain in the last 24 hours, officials said on Sunday. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed all officials concerned to remain alert. According to the latest district-wise rainfall bulletin issued by the Meteorological Department on Sunday, Light to moderate rain was recorded in many districts, including Patna, Banka, Muzaffarpur, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Bhojpur, Buxar, Gayaji, Jehanabad, Kaimur, Katihar, Khagaria, Munger, Nalanda and Vaishali since August 2. Several key roads and many low-lying areas in Patna were waterlogged following incessant rain in the state capital on Sunday. The Meteorological Department issued an 'orange' alert (be prepared) for several districts, including Patna, Gayaji, Jamui, Aurangabad, Khagaria, Banka, Vaishali, Samastipur, Seikhpura, Lakhisarai, East Champaran, Arwal, West Champaran and Nawada for the next 48 hours. Officials of the state Water Resources Department (WRD) said that incessant rain in several districts has caused rivers and streams to overflow. The increased inflow also caused the water level in many dams to rise, they said. Besides, incessant rainfall in catchment areas of Nepal has also led to the rivers touching or flowing above the danger level in several places, they added. No causality has been reported so far, and in certain areas in East and West Champaran, Bhagalpur and Patna districts, villagers of low-lying areas have been shifted to safer places by the district administration. Owing to moderate to heavy rain in certain areas in the state, major rivers, including Ganga, Kosi, Sone, Bagmati, Gandak, Kamla, and Adahrwa, are maintaining a rising trend in their courses in the past couple of days, the latest report of the WRD said. Ganga is flowing above the danger level in Bhagalpur, and at Gandhi Ghat and Hathidah in Patna, Burhi Gandak in East Champaran, and Kosi in Supaul and Khagaria, it added. Almost all rivers are maintaining a rising trend throughout their courses, engulfing low-lying localities along their courses. However, all embankments are safe, a senior WRD official said. Meanwhile, the chief minister on Sunday inspected the State Emergency Operations Centre of the Disaster Management Department (DMD). According to a statement issued by the DMD, During the inspection, the CM reviewed the rainfall situation in the state, water levels of rivers, and the status of crop coverage. Bihar Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the DMD, Pratyaya Amrit, briefed the CM about the rainfall situation in the state. The CM directed all officials concerned to remain alert, it added. From June 1 to August 3 this year, the state recorded 409 mm of rainfall, which is 22 per cent less than normal. The ACS also mentioned that the state received good rainfall in the past 24 hours, with 25 mm or more rainfall recorded in 222 blocks across the state, the statement said. Regarding the current water levels of rivers in the state, the ACS said that the water levels in the Ganga, Kosi, and Burhi Gandak and some other rivers have risen, but the situation is currently under control. Providing details on crop coverage, he stated that as of August 3, paddy crop coverage in the state stands at 79.43 percent, whereas it was 67.38 percent during the same period last year. It is expected that 100 per cent coverage will be achieved by August 15 under normal circumstances, the statement added.

Leafhopper outbreak in decade hits North Indias cotton belt

A severe outbreak of leafhopper pests, commonly known as jassids, in the cotton fields of North India could significantly impact the country's already declining cotton production. A recent field survey conducted by the South Asia Biotechnology Centre revealed a massive infestation of green leafhoppers, referred to locally as hara tela , in key cotton-growing districts. These areas include Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa in Haryana, as well as Mansa, Bathinda, Abohar, and Fazilka in Punjab, and Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan. The survey was part of the Bandhan project, a programme run by government institutions such as the Central Institute of Cotton Research and various State Agriculture Universities, in collaboration with local non-profit organisations. The aim of this project is to assist farmers in combating Pink Bollworm pests in cotton crops. The survey team, consisting of scientists, found infestation levels of 1215 leafhoppers per leafsignificantly above the Economic Threshold Level (ETL). The team further noted that an alarming number of cotton leaf injuries exceeded ETL, based on the damage grading system. For the past three consecutive weeks, green leafhopper (jassid) populations have exceeded ETL, allegedly triggering widespread yellowing of leaf margins and downward curlingclassic symptoms of jassid attack. Scientists attribute the outbreak to a confluence of weather conditions, including above-average rainfall, an increased number of rainy days, persistent humidity, and cloud cover, all of which have allegedly created ideal conditions for jassid proliferation. Fields were graded 3 to 4 based on the ICAR-CICR infestation scale, indicating severe to extreme damage. Experts confirm this is the worst outbreak in a decade in the North cotton-growing zone. The leafhopper infestation has emerged at a time when the cotton crop stands, and overall condition, are significantly better than in the past three to four years. The crop appears robust across the northern region, except in late-sown areas of Sri Ganganagar, where irrigation was unavailable during the sowing period, noted Dr Bhagirath Choudhary, Founder & Director of South Asia Biotechnology Centres High-Tech R&D Station, Sirsa, Haryana. The survey team noted that failure to control this green leafhopper infestation promptly could lead to substantial damage to the cotton crop in the coming days. Farmers must remain alert and take immediate action to manage the pest effectively to avoid potential yield losses. The field team was led by scientists and cotton experts including Dr Dilip Monga, Dr Bhagirath Choudhary, Dr Naresh, Deepak Jakhar, and KS Bhardwaj.

Bihar: Tejashwi hits back at Union minister Rajiv Ranjan for hosting mutton feast

Patna, Jul 17 (PTI) RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who has repeatedly drawn flak from the ruling NDA for consuming non-vegetarian food during Navratra and Saawan, on Thursday hit back at Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan, alias Lalan, for hosting a mutton party. The feast was reportedly held in Lakhisarai district, which falls under the Munger Lok Sabha constituency, represented by Lalan a former national president of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumars JD(U). Speaking to PTI Video, Tejashwi said, We have been called anti-Sanatan by them. I hope Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Motihari tomorrow, will be full

Denying justice to family of Dalit youth murdered in Hisar shows ugly face of BJP-RSS's 'Manuwadi' system: Rahul

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday raised the issue of the alleged murder of a Dalit youth in Haryana's Hisar and alleged that the harassment meted out to his family for seeking justice is not just a crime but exposes the ugly face of BJP-RSS's 'Manuwadi' system that discriminates against Dalits. He also demanded justice for the youth's family by taking strict action against those behind the murder, as he claimed that he and his party stand firmly with the family of the 16-year-old youth who reportedly died in Hisar. When power sits in the lap of 'Manuwadi' ideology, the lives of Dalits are of no value. The murder of Dalit youth Ganesh Valmiki in Haryana's Hisar and the brutality inflicted on his family is not just a crime, it is the ugly face of the BJP-RSS's 'Manuwadi' system that today considers the lives of Bahujans in India as worthless, deeming them unworthy of equality and respect, he said in a post in Hindi on X. , ! - BJP-RSS pic.twitter.com/BI4hhxsMjT Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 17, 2025 The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha claimed that Ganesh's family alleges that he was killed by police, and even after nine days, no action has been taken. When the family sought justice, they were the ones harassed instead, he also alleged. This is not an isolated incident - in the last 11 years, atrocities against Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities have skyrocketed unchecked. Why? Because the BJP in power has given free rein to violence cloaked in discrimination, the former Congress chief alleged. Gandhi further said the Narendra Modi government has not only remained silent on these atrocities but has also weakened constitutional institutions, turning the police and administration into weapons for such crimes and shields for the perpetrators of such crimes. In Modi's era, being a Dalit, being poor, being marginalized - has become akin to a crime, he claimed. Ganesh Valmiki's death is not just the death of an individual - it is the murder of the Constitution, the murder of Baba Saheb's dreams, Gandhi also said. I stand firmly with the victim's family. This is not just one family's fight for justice; it is a battle for social justice and the soul of India. Immediate and strict action against the guilty will be the minimum justice required, the Congress leader said.

UP schools to be shutdown from 16 to 23 July: What parents need to know

UP School Holiday: Schools in several Uttar Pradesh districts including Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Varanasi, Bareilly and Badaun will close temporarily due to the Kanwar Yatra and its impact on traffic and safety. In Haryanas Hisar district, over 10,000 private schools will remain shut for a day in protest over a school principals murder. Local administrations say the closures are needed to protect students and ensure public order as thousands of Kanwariyas move through major pilgrimage routes this Shravan month.

Fire Breaks Out In Empty Train Coach, No Casualties

A coach of the Hisar-Tirupati Special Express was completely gutted in a fire at Tirupati Railway Yard on Monday, with flames also damaging a generator coach of the Rayalaseema Express; no injuries were reported as passengers had already disembarked.

Tirupati-Hisar Express Compartment Catches Fire

The railway police booked a case and took up the investigation to know the cause of fire

4 Minors Detained For Stabbing Haryana School Principal To Death

The four students who allegedly murdered their school principal in Haryana's Hisar have been detained, said the police on Friday.

Class 11 & 12 students in Haryana stab principal to death on campus for being told to shorten hair

On Guru Purnima, Jagbir Pannu, a school principal in Hisar, was murdered. Two students allegedly stabbed him following repeated reprimands. The students had been warned about their behavior and appearance. After a test, they lured Pannu to an area without CCTV. They stabbed him and fled, discarding the knife. Police recovered the weapon and are searching for the suspects.

Haryana Students Who Stabbed Principal Over 'Haircut' Had Also Threatened To Kill Son

The two students who stabbed a principal of a school in Haryana's Hisar because he asked them to get a haircut had threatened him before as well and demanded Rs 10 lakh to not kill his son, police have said.

Two students stab school principal to death in Haryana after repeated warnings over haircut

CHANDIGARH: Two Class XII students allegedly stabbed the director-cum-principal of a private school at Bass village in Narnaund subdivision of Hisar, Haryana, to death on Thursday after he asked them to get a haircut and follow school discipline. The incident took place at Kartar Memorial Senior Secondary School in Bass village. The director-cum-principal, 50-year-old Jagbir Singh Pannu, was allegedly attacked inside the school premises. He was stabbed multiple times. The students were reportedly angry over being frequently reprimanded for not maintaining proper grooming standards, specifically their haircuts, and for failing to adhere to school rules. Singh had reportedly warned the teenagers multiple times and urged them to mend their ways. After attacking him, both students fled the spot. Pannu was rushed to a nearby private hospital by the school staff and was later shifted to another hospital in Hisar, where he succumbed to his injuries. On receiving information, the police arrived at the scene and started an investigation. Sources said the students involved have been identified. The motive behind the attack remains unclear as police continue to question school staff and other students. Parents and local villagers gathered at the school following the incident. Police have begun scanning CCTV footage from the school premises and recording eyewitness statements. A foldable knife, believed to be the murder weapon, has been recovered. CCTV footage from inside the campus shows the boys running after stabbing the principal, with one of them throwing the knife away. Hansi Superintendent of Police Amit Yashvardhan said that initial investigations suggest the principal had served them notices for indiscipline and often asked them to tuck in their shirts and get their hair trimmed. If there was any personal rivalry between them, it will be revealed during the investigation. The exact circumstances of the murder will be known only after the postmortem report and a detailed investigation, he added. He confirmed that both students are minors and have not been taken into custody yet.

2 Students Murder Haryana School Principal. He Asked Them To Get A Haircut

The principal of a school in Haryana's Hisar was stabbed to death, allegedly by two Class 12 students. The minors allegedly stabbed the Principal with a knife multiple times after he asked them to get a haircut and follow discipline

Hisar SHOCKER! Two students stab school principal to death inside campus on Guru Purnima

In a horrifying incident that has left the entire Hisar district stunned, two students of Kartar Memorial Senior Secondary School in Bans Badshahpur village allegedly stabbed their school principal to deathon the sacred day of Guru Purnima.

Private school Principal stabbed to death by two teenage students in Haryanas Hisar

Hansi Superintendent of Police Amit Yashvardhan said, Efforts are on to nab the juveniles in conflict with the law.

Meet Vijay Vardhan who failed 35 times, then cracked civil services exam twice to become IPS, then IAS with AIR..., he is currently posted in...

Vijay Vardhan holds a degree in electronics engineering from Hisar, relocated to Delhi with the aspiration of becoming a civil servant and began preparing for the UPSC exam.

Pakistan Spy Jyoti Malhotra's Judicial Custody Extended Till July 21

Malhotra was taken into custody by the Hisar police from her residence on May 16. She remains under investigation for her alleged links to Pakistani intelligence operatives.

Bihar to grant arms licences to Panchayat representatives amid rising attacks

PATNA: In a significant move ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, the Bihar government has decided to issue arms licences to representatives of the three-tier panchayati raj institutions across the state. The decision follows a series of violent attacks on panchayat representatives, particularly mukhiyas (panchayat heads). The state government has directed all District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police to begin processing arms licence applications from elected panchayat members. However, the directive emphasises that the established rules for verifying arms licence applications must be strictly adhered to. The verification process should be completed promptly and without unnecessary delay, the government noted. The proposal, initiated by the Panchayati Raj Department, received approval during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday. Kumar instructed officials to expedite the licensing process, treating applications from panchayat representatives as a priority. The move comes in the wake of several high-profile killings. Just last week, a mukhiya and his aide were shot dead in Lakhisarai district while returning home from a function. In February, Mahesh Mishra, Deputy Mukhiya of Chiraila Panchayat in Gaya district and a JD(U) block secretary, was murdered. Similar incidents, including murder attempts and threats, have been reported from multiple districts such as Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Saran, Bhojpur, Jamui, and Nawada. Concerned by the deteriorating security situation, panchayat representatives had previously met senior state officials to demand protection. This measure adds to a series of steps taken by the state government to support local representatives ahead of elections expected in OctoberNovember this year. Allowances for panchayat members have already been increased. In another key decision, the government has approved the construction of marriage halls in every panchayat for the weddings of women from economically weaker backgrounds. A budget of Rs 4,026 crore has been sanctioned for the scheme, which will be implemented through 'Jeevika Didis', members of local womens self-help groups.

Espionage case: YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra's judicial custody extended by two weeks

The Hisar Police arrested Malhotra, who ran a YouTube channel Travel with JO, on the suspicion of espionage on May 16