Bihar Legislator Protests Against Governments Flood Relief Efforts
Bihar MLA Vinay Bihari protests over inadequate flood relief efforts in West Champaran, demanding better assistance for affected residents. Bihar Legislator Protests Against Governments Flood Relief Efforts
India Block Announces Statewide Strike in Odisha on October 8
Political parties under the India Block will hold a statewide strike in Odisha on October 8, demanding key resignations and repeals. India Block Announces Statewide Strike in Odisha on October 8
Thousands of sugarcane growers from across Karnataka and neighbouring Maharashtra and Telangana staged a massive protest at Kittur Chennamma Circle in Hubballi on Tuesday, demanding remunerative prices for sugarcane and a revision of the minimum selling price (MSP) of sugar. After appeal by union minister Pralhad Joshi, intervention by local legislators they agree for talks at Delhi, withdraw protest
Congress Protests Against Election Commission in Mumbai, Vows to Continue Fight
In Mumbai, Congress protests against the Election Commission, demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and questioning electoral processes. Congress Protests Against Election Commission in Mumbai, Vows to Continue Fight
Man Assaults Grandmother, Demands Money To Buy Liquor
Police arrested a 34-year-old man for allegedly assaulting his 82-year-old grandmother to death in Salem after demanding money for alcohol.
Pensioners Stage Dharna For Restoration Of OPS
Government pensioners staged a dharna in Anantapur demanding restoration of the Old Pension Scheme and protection of pension rights.
ACB Busts Bribery Racket Involving GST Official In Rajasthan
The Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested two middlemen and detained a Central GST superintendent for allegedly demanding and accepting a Rs 25 lakh bribe to settle tax evasion matters and activate a firm's account.
Watch: Electoral roll row: CWC demands removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Congress intensifies its campaign over the electoral-roll row, with the CWC demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, suspension of the SIR exercise and restoration of deleted voter names. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also outlined five demands on electoral-roll transparency and accountability. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is set to hear a petition challenging Election Commission decisions under CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
Four Convicted In Dowry Harassment Case
The case was registered by Naidupeta police in 2018 after Cheerala Aruna Kumari complained that her husband, Prasad, and his family members had allegedly subjected her to harassment and violence demanding additional dowry.
Arunachal Guv stresses strengthening Advanced Landing Grounds, air connectivity
Digital Desk | Itanagar, Sep 29 (IANS) Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik (Retd) on Tuesday stressed the need to strengthen Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) and air connectivity infrastructure in the border state to improve logistics, communication and emergency response capabilities, besides boosting overall socio-economic development. Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, on Tuesday called on the Governor at Lok Bhavan in Itanagar, and they discussed national security, advanced landing grounds and assistance during natural calamities and medical emergencies. The Governor commended the Eastern Air Command for its steadfast support to the people of Arunachal Pradesh, particularly during natural disasters, medical emergencies, and other critical situations. He said that the Indian Air Force has consistently demonstrated its commitment to public service by reaching remote and inaccessible areas where timely assistance can make a significant difference. Highlighting the unique geographical challenges of the state, Lt Gen Parnaik (Retd) noted that the IAF plays an indispensable role in responding to floods, landslides, and other emergencies. Through its swift deployment capabilities, the Air Force has been instrumental in airlifting relief materials, rescuing stranded civilians, and evacuating affected persons to safer locations, he said. Recognising the potential of Arunachal Pradeshs youth, the Governor encouraged the Air Force to expand outreach initiatives through career awareness programmes, NCC engagement, air displays, and educational visits. The Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief assured the Governor of the Eastern Air Commands unwavering commitment to supporting the people and the state of Arunachal Pradesh in every possible manner. He reaffirmed that the Indian Air Force would continue to work closely with the state government in disaster response, medical emergencies, connectivity support, and nation-building initiatives, ensuring timely assistance and contributing to the welfare, development, and security of the state. Meanwhile, Eastern Air Command of the IAF, in a post on X, said: Indian and Myanmar Defence Forces personnel conducted joint training with IAF helicopters in Eastern AOR. This was aimed at enhancing operational coordination, interoperability and jointmanship. The training underscores the enduring bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two nations and their Armed Forces.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made a striking appearance at Paris Fashion Week, stepping out at Place Joffre in a Royal Crimson Glam look that brought together bold beauty, rich colour and timeless glamour, set against the unmistakable backdrop of the Eiffel Tower. Her appearance marks yet another chapter in her years-long journey with L'Oral Paris on the global fashion stage, this time celebrating the brand's message of Express Your Worth. Aishwarya's beauty look made a powerful statement with a deep, bold lip. Her signature red made a comeback with the L'Oral Paris Infallible Matte Resistance Liquid Lipstick in shade 423 Audacious Red, one of five new shades from the brand's Runway Matte Collection. With its intense colour payoff and comfortable matte finish, the statement red lent the look a striking sense of depth and confidence, instantly drawing attention on the runway. Her complexion was perfected with the L'Oral Paris Infallible Cushion Foundation in shade N140, delivering lightweight, flawless coverage with a semi-matte finish. The L'Oral Paris Panorama Waterproof Mascara added bold, voluminous lashes, while the L'Oral Paris Infallible Grip Matte Liquid Liner in shade 01 Matte Black brought added definition and intensity to her eyes. The look was locked in with the L'Oral Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Spray, ensuring her makeup stayed flawless and intact through the runway appearance. Completing the Royal Crimson Glam look was a Yara Shoemaker corseted black velvet fishtail gown, featuring a velvet-embellished cape, paired with a jewelled crown that added a distinctly regal sense of drama and grandeur to Aishwarya's presence on the Paris runway. The corseted silhouette and dramatic fishtail cut gave the ensemble a commanding, statuesque quality, further elevated by the cape's sweeping movement. Paired with her bold red lip and glamorous beauty look, the statement ensemble came together as a powerful celebration of confidence, individuality and timeless glamour, bringing the spirit of Express Your Worth vividly to life and reaffirming Aishwarya's status as one of global fashion's most enduring faces. Also Read: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan struts again at Paris Fashion Week: LOrals Le Dfil returns with star-studded line-up
Sparsh Shrivastavas character Bhugol in Dupahiya Season 2 carries more than just the aspirations of a small-town dreamer. As the character steps into a new phase of his life and begins navigating newfound fame, Bollywood and its iconic stars become an important part of how he expresses himself. Sparsh has now revealed how actors including Govinda, Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit influenced Bhugols personality in the upcoming season. According to Sparsh, several familiar Bollywood references were consciously incorporated into Bhugols character, reflecting his fascination with films and stars. The actor particularly pointed to Govinda as an inspiration for a mandir sequence featured in the trailer of the second season. Sharing the inspiration behind that scene, Sparsh said, The inspiration for that was Govinda sir. Theres this moment in Raja Babu, I think, where he goes to his mother and says, Itna pyaar diya tune mujhe, maa, so I was just trying to channel that feeling. Theres a little bit of Govinda in Bhugol, theres a lot of Deewaar, and hes also wearing Salman Khans jacket from Maine Pyar Kiya. So, in a way, everybodys embodiment is in Bhugol. Hes everything. And then theres Madhuri maam as well, of course, especially when it comes to the launda naach in his character. I loved bringing all these little references together because thats how I see Bhugol. Hes this small-town guy who has absorbed so much from the films and stars he loves The Bollywood connection also brought back a personal memory for Sparsh while filming the launda naach sequence. The actor recalled participating in a dance reality show in 2010, where veteran choreographer Saroj Khan was a judge. He remembered receiving 100 notes from her after good performances. Reflecting on the experience, Sparsh said, The choreographer was Kruti, and I remember this one specific moment from that launda naach. When I did a dance reality show back in 2010, Saroj Khan maam was the judge, and after every good dance, she would give you a 100 note. This time, when I did that shoot, Kruti came to me and gave me a 500 note, and I was so emotional. Directed by Sonam Nair, Dupahiya Season 2 is created and produced by Salona Bains Joshi and Shubh Shivdasani under Bombay Film Cartel LLP. The series is created and written by Avinash Dwivedi and Chirag Garg. The second season continues the story established in the first instalment and brings back Gajraj Rao, Renuka Shahane, Sparsh Shrivastava, Bhuvan Arora, Shivani Raghuvanshi and Yashpal Sharma. Dinesh Lal Yadav (Nirahua) joins the ensemble for the new season. Dupahiya Season 2 will premiere exclusively on Prime Video on October 1. Also Read: Dupahiya Season 2 Trailer: Gajraj Rao, Renuka Shahane, Sparsh Shrivastava return as Dhadakpur faces new chaos
Pakistan: Ahmadiyya community condemns growing attacks in Punjab province
Digital Desk | Islamabad, Sep 29 (IANS) The Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan has strongly condemned attack on an Ahmadi man in country's Punjab province, terming it as a cowardly assault and highlighting that it was motivated by his faith and part of a broader pattern of violence and hostility against Ahmadis, a report has detailed. The community's statement came after an Ahmadi man was seriously injured after being stabbed in Lathianwala in Punjab's Faisalabad just days after an Ahmadi man and his son were injured when unidentified assailants opened fire at them. The Ahmadiyya community has urged Pakistani authorities to act against the perpetrators behind the attacks and ensure protection for Ahmadis in the future, 'Voice PK' reported. The report added that persistence of hate-driven violence has raised serious concerns about safety among members of the Ahmadiyya community and the continuous failure of authorities to act against perpetrators could embolden those responsible for such attacks. The victim, identified as Hamid Javed, was injured after he was attacked near his residence in Lathianwala at around 5:30 pm on September 21. He told police that he was returning home when an unidentified man aged between 40 and 42 years approached him and attacked him with a knife. On September 19, an Ahmadi man and his son were injured after gunmen opened fire at them in Punjab's Sargodha, Voicepk.net reported. Earlier this month, Karachi-based International Human Rights Committee (IHRC) called for immediate justice and accountability in the assassination of Mirza Safdar Mahmood, a local leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Pakistans Punjab Province. Mirza Safdar Mahmood, aged 65, was shot dead in the town of Mandi Bahauddin, reported Spanish media outlet 'Atalayar'. IHRC is an organisation focusing specifically on the rights of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. Targeted killing: Ahmadi local official gunned down in Pakistan. Mirza Safdar Mahmood, 65, was shot dead while travelling to an Ahmadi place of worship in Mandi Bahauddin.IHRC calls for immediate justice and accountability, IHRC stated on X, sharing a detailed report. IHRC stated that the targeted killing of Mahmood cannot be viewed in isolation as it comes amid a deeply disturbing backdrop of persistent anti-Ahmadi hatred, incitement and threats across Pakistan. Representatives of the Ahmadiyya Community stressed that the victim had no personal disputes or prior animosities, pointing squarely to a targeted killing motivated by religious intolerance. Mahmood is survived by his wife and two children; his funeral and burial arrangements were subsequently conducted in the city of Rabwah, the report in Atalayar revealed. It noted that the assassination took place amid the escalating incitement and hate speech targeting Ahmadis across the district of Mandi Bahauddin. In recent weeks, regional religious figures had issued virulent threats, including public death threats against a local police officer on account of his Ahmadi faith, as well as explicit intimidation directed at pregnant Ahmadi women. This pattern of lethal violence has direct operational precedents in the immediate area: on 8 June 2024, two members of the Ahmadiyya community were shot and killed in separate armed ambushes carried out on the same day in the locality of Sadullahpur, the report highlighted.
VCK workers stage protest demanding resignation of CEC
HONOR Magic 9 Series Debuts With Dual 200MP Cameras, Flagship SoC And More
The HONOR Magic 9 Series officially debuted in China, introducing the standard HONOR Magic 9 , the performance-focused Magic 9 Super Edition , and the flagship Magic 9 Pro Max . Engineered to elevate mobile photography standards and battery endurance , this high-end flagship lineup targets demanding digital content creators and modern smartphone enthusiasts seeking top-tier specs. HONOR Magic 9 The standard HONOR Magic 9 sports a compact 6.31-inch OLED display running at 120Hz with 2,000 nits brightness. Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor drives the hardware alongside an Adreno 840 GPU , offering up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage . Its standout imaging configuration delivers a dual 200MP camera setup, combining a 200MP primary sensor with a 200MP periscope telephoto lens and a 50MP ultrawide shooter, all processed via the dedicated HONOR H1 image chip. An 8,000mAh battery provides reliable daily battery power with 80W wired and 50W wireless charging , secured within an IP68/IP69/IP69K certified water-resistant body. HONOR Magic 9 Super Edition Prioritizing thermal stability and extended runtime, the HONOR Magic 9 Super Edition features a larger 6.81-inch OLED screen with 2,000 nits peak brightness. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, it integrates an active cooling fan operating at 30,000 rpm combined with a vapor chamber capable of dissipating 12W of internal heat. The handset is backed by an enormous 11,000mAh battery with 80W fast charging . Its triple rear camera configuration features a 200MP primary sensor , a 50MP telephoto camera , and a 12MP ultrawide lens. HONOR Magic 9 Pro Max At the summit sits the HONOR Magic 9 Pro Max , highlighted by a premium 6.8-inch LTPO OLED panel with an adaptive 1120Hz refresh rate and an impressive 10,000 nits HDR peak brightness. Internal processing relies on Qualcomms upgraded Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 platform alongside an Adreno 850 GPU . Its professional camera package incorporates a 200MP primary sensor , a 50MP ultrawide shooter, and a 200MP periscope telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom . Hardware specifications conclude with an 8,800mAh battery offering 100W wired fast charging, 80W wireless charging , cutting-edge Wi-Fi 8 connectivity, and Android 17-based MagicOS 11 . Technical Specifications & Pricing Comparison Specification HONOR Magic 9 HONOR Magic 9 Super Edition HONOR Magic 9 Pro Max Display 6.31-inch OLED (1236 x 2664), 120Hz, 2,000 nits 6.81-inch OLED (1280 x 2788), 120Hz, 2,000 nits 6.8-inch LTPO OLED (1320 x 2868), 1120Hz, 2,000 nits (10,000 nits HDR peak) Processor & GPU Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (Adreno 840) Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (Adreno 840) Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 (Adreno 850) RAM & Storage 12GB / 16GB RAM 256GB / 512GB / 1TB 12GB / 16GB RAM 256GB / 512GB 12GB / 16GB RAM 256GB / 512GB / 1TB Rear Cameras 200 MP (Main) 200 MP (Periscope Telephoto, dual-prism) 50 MP (Ultrawide) 200 MP (Main) 50 MP (Telephoto, 3x zoom) 12 MP (Ultrawide) 200 MP (Main) 200 MP (Periscope Telephoto, 3.5x zoom) 50 MP (Ultrawide) Front Camera 55 MP 50 MP 55 MP Battery & Charging 8,000 mAh 80W wired, 50W wireless, 27W reverse wired 11,000 mAh 80W wired, 50W wireless, 27W reverse wired 8,800 mAh 100W wired, 80W wireless (50W standard wireless), 27W reverse wired Cooling System Standard thermal dissipation 30,000 rpm active cooler + 12W vapor chamber Advanced vapor chamber Durability IP68 / IP69 / IP69K IP68 / IP69 / IP69K IP68 / IP69 / IP69K Connectivity Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC Wi-Fi 8 / Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.3, NFC Dimensions & Weight 151.0 x 72.28 x 8.49 mm 209 g 161.78 x 76.72 x 8.10 mm 277 g 161.64 x 76.98 x 8.59 mm 233 g Operating System MagicOS 11 (Android 17) MagicOS 11 (Android 17) MagicOS 11 (Android 17) Pricing 12/256GB: 4,999 CNY (~$745 USD) 12/512GB: 5,499 CNY (~$819 USD) 16/512GB: 5,999 CNY (~$894 USD) 16GB/1TB: 6,999 CNY (~$1,043 USD) 12/256GB: 4,499 CNY (~$670 USD) 12/512GB: 4,999 CNY (~$745 USD) 16/512GB: 5,499 CNY (~$819 USD) 12/256GB: 6,499 CNY (~$968 USD) 12/512GB: 6,999 CNY (~$1,043 USD) 16/512GB: 7,499 CNY (~$1,117 USD) 16GB/1TB: 8,499 CNY (~$1,266 USD) HONOR Magic 9 Series Debuts With Dual 200MP Cameras, Flagship SoC And More , original content from Ubergizmo . Read our Copyrights and terms of use .
Congress to intensify protests demanding resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
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Karnataka: Farmers intensify sugarcane price protest in Hubballi
Hubballi: Farmers from several districts of Karnataka intensified their protest in Hubballi on Tuesday, September 29, demanding a remunerative price for sugarcane and a revision of sugar prices. Thousands of farmers gathered at Chennamma Circle as part of the agitation led by farmer activist Choonappa Pujari. The protesters have demanded that the price of sugarcane 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 .
Villagers stage protest demanding repair of school building in Arasikere taluk
Asmita: The idea of speaking with you is that the histories of the Domestic Violence Acts in Bangladesh and India are somewhat intertwined, since they developed around the same time. Could you speak to the history of law-making in Bangladesh on domestic violence? Sara: Sure. I think there were two impetuses to the development of the law on domestic violence. First, there was already an understanding in the womens movement and among legal aid groups that domestic violence was a real issue, but we were providing responses based on existing laws, which did not expressly recognise domestic violence, and which had many gaps. Every lawyer who represented a woman or child facing domestic violence understood that protection was needed, but it wasnt clear how to get a legal remedy. The second impetus to drafting the law was international, the model law from the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, which was circulated globally and worked on by UN Women (or UNIFEM, as it was then) for domestication in different countries. Through that process, more womens groups became aware of the issue. In Bangladesh, at least two organisations began drafting a law to address domestic violence, drawing on the international material but also, importantly, on India's legislation which was already in place. The Law Commission in Bangladesh also drafted legislation, again looking partly at Indias. So the international process, once it was grounded in our region through the Indian legislation, became a real catalyst for others to think about what was possible in our own context. We were not working on a blank slate and womens groups already knew we needed a more focused response on DV, and one which prioritised victim/ survivor protection. Asmita: I wanted to understand where the movement in Bangladesh stood on domestic violence at that point. You already had different organisations approaching it in different ways. How did you bring them to the table to participate in drafting the law? Sara: People were working from their own platforms initially. The main legal aid groups, all NGOs, included the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA), BRACs Human Rights and Legal Services Programme (HRLS), Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), and also the National Legal Aid and Services Organisation (NLASO) (now known as the Directorate of Bangladesh Legal Aid); the last wasnt very active on this issue at that time, though it must have had many relevant clients. Then there were womens groups like the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad and Naripokkho, who had focused on campaigns against violence against women from the mid-1980s onward, again, in response to emblematic cases such as the Yasmin or Rima killings, and following international attention on addressing violence against women, and legal changes in the region, including India. In Bangladesh, violence-against-women reforms came through special legislation, the Suppression of Violence against Women and Children Act 2000, dealing with acid attacks, abduction, rape and trafficking initially, rather than through changes being incorporated into the Penal Code or Criminal Procedure Code. In fact thats been a consistent pattern in Bangladesh and any new serious crime, whether violence against women, trafficking, or terrorism, has been carved into separate legislation, with special provisions e.g. for fast-tracking investigations and trials, denial of bail, victim protection measures, and so on. But domestic violence didnt feature in that stand alone violence-against-women legislation, except as dowry-related violence. If there was no dowry demand involved with the ensuing violence, you couldnt access those protections under the special law. Most law reform agendas for the womens movement prior to the DV Act were about personal law reform and certain extreme forms of violence against women, such as rape and acid attacks, not domestic violence. The contrast between how the movement, and how rights organisations worked on rape versus acid attacks is instructive and maybe holds some lessons for how to frame our responses more effectively on DV. Acid violence emerged as an issue in Bangladesh before it did in India, and the response, which included separate stand-alone legislation on acid attacks, plus legislation restricting the sale and availability of acid, was led by the Acid Survivors Foundation. They built a holistic response through data collection, coordination between the government and NGOs on victim support, and, most critically, survivor engagement, so that acid survivors, almost all young women and girl, themselves became the ones speaking about their pain and their need for justice, and their visibility and courage created a real impact on the public, and on justice actors. Much of the work with survivors was catalysed by Nasreen Huq of Naripokkho. That work, and Bangladesh being first on this, seems to have informed Indias later acid legislation. Because the numbers were smaller and more discrete, and the impact of the crime so visible, groups could organise around the issue of acid violence effectively, and incidents of acid attacks have fallen as a result. The initiative to draft the DV Act came with a recognition that we needed to build a victim-centred response, addressing what a woman or child actually needs, and that this is different from a punitive process. Two groups were working on drafts of their own: BNWLA, and ASK. Eventually, and after quite a lot of back and forth, everyone came together in one coalition, the Citizens Initiative on Domestic Violence (CIDV), which let us pool our experience and expertise. BNWLA, BLAST and others, had a huge client base of women who were survivors of violence , so through our reflections on our work and drawing on clients experiences, we could contribute to the drafting far more effectively. We also took an early and important decision to abandon our separate drafts and instead build on the Law Commissions draft, since it was already engaged on the issue and the Law Ministry was more likely to build upon this than purely NGO-prepared drafts. We combined the three drafts, taking useful elements from each, and once that was agreed, we went back to the comparative examples, looking at Indias legislation in much more detail to work out what we needed. Asmita: Bangladesh, like India, has a personal law regime. Do you also have a secular option, like our Special Marriage Act? Sara: Yes, we do have a civil law option for marriage, the Special Marriage Act, 1872, but very few people use this (given it still requires people to formally renounce their faith in the case of Hindus and Muslims), and of course laws like the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 or the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2017 which apply to all irrespective of faith or community. We have separate Family Courts regulated by the Family Courts Act, 2023 (an updating of the earlier law), maintenance applications are made for Muslim and Hindu women under the FCA and based on personal law, and alimony for Christian women under the Divorce Act, 1869, before the Family Court, applying personal law principles. After divorce Muslim women of course can only get maintenance for the limited iddat period , which remains an issue. The initiative to draft the DV Act came with a recognition that we needed to build a victim-centred response, addressing what a woman or child actually needs, and that this is different from a punitive process. Asmita: How was family and domestic defined in the new draft, and what changed? Sara: According to the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2010, 'family means related by blood or marital relation or adopted or joint being members of a family who live or used to live together in a shared dwelling and family relationship means any relationship established by reason of blood relations or marital relations or by reason of being a member of an adoptive or joint family. The Act defines domestic violence as physical abuse, mental abuse, sexual abuse or financial loss to any female or child member of the family or a person having a family relationship. The DV Act isnt used for most cases where domestic violence occurs. Practitioners still see it as not having changed the game much. Many still file maintenance applications outside the Act, since the forum under the DV Act is a magistrate, not a Family Court judge, and other applications go to Family Court judges anyway. People tend to go to the Magistrates Court mainly for protection, residence and compensation orders under the DV Act. It may be seen as less effective, or speedy than the Family Court. Asmita: What were the key features of the drafted law, and the major changes you were pushing for? In India, we got the right to residence, a broader notion of family including natal families. What did you get in Bangladesh? Sara: One big change was the definition of the household and to whom the law would apply, creating new duties and responsibilities, including to a wife and children. However, at the last stage, the definitions were changed, so that a divorced wife could no longer claim; this happened at the last stage of vetting by the Law Ministry back in 2009/2010. A second very important change was to the definition of domestic violence itself, including economic, sexual, physical and psychological aspects, none of which had been clearly articulated before as DV, and none of which would have been accepted in earlier claims. Even now, though very few claims invoke sexual violence as a form of DV. The remedies most sought are protection orders, with residence and compensation orders; maintenance and custody claims still mostly go to the Family Court. Asmita: On the form of the law, was there debate over civil versus criminal? Since domestic violence outside dowry wasnt recognised as an offence, was this Act meant to establish it as one? Sara: There was a lot of discussion. Some pushed hard for it to be a criminal offence, with the same draconian approach used for other kinds of violence against women, so restrictions on bail, and so on. Several activists, with more experience of the abusive dynamics involved in the application of criminal justice, than of trial court work, were adamant we didnt want that baggage. So we pursued an approach that the DV law would be a civil law providing protection and other ancillary orders, focused on what the victim needed, and if the situation escalates, then criminal prosecution could be triggered under the Penal Code. What we didnt anticipate was that the underlying penal provisions on dowry-related violence would not be revised, and that there would be no complementary changes to the Penal Code at the time. The only offence under the DV Act itself is violation of a protection, residence, custody, or maintenance order which has been a major point of criticism from many trial lawyers, who see it as toothless, with no deterrent effect. In practice, the earlier pre DV Act pattern is still often repeated a survivor files a dowry-related violence case under the special law on VAW, alongside her maintenance / custody claims, and this essentially pressures the husband to settle the financial matters at the family court. One shift Ive noticed recently is that in cases where survivors are from a middle or higher income group, where DV Act proceedings may be brought alongside family court maintenance or custody proceedings,, the stigma attached to a DV case has some strategic impact. The deeper challenge is that in situations of serious power imbalance, the person perpetrating violence, in contrast to the survivor, often has the resources to resort to endless interlocutory orders to block the survivor from accessing emergency relief, y. The DV Act was meant to shift the dial for women and children who face domestic abuse, speed things up and make the law actually work for them. How effective its actually been, and what other institutional changes are needed beyond simple law reform is the real question. Even after the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2010 was enacted, the main response to domestic violence in Bangladesh remains largely the same as before, since the majority of cases arise in the context of poverty and low-income households, the key concern is still economic survival, whether or not separation or divorce is involved. Unless a situation of domestic violence reached a very extreme level, women werent asking for much beyond how to survive financially without a breadwinner, even a violent one. So most legal responses were and are in the form of maintenance claims, sometimes child custody, and rarely for protection or residence orders. Asmita: On enforcement, India has protection officers, service providers, and similar mechanisms. What was envisaged for Bangladesh? Sara: We already had two institutions in place to address VAW, the police run Victim Support Centres, only eight in number, and the public hospital based One Stop Crisis Centres,. The DV Act was meant to introduce enforcement officers, but no separate cadre was actually created; for years, existing officers under the Directorate of Womens Affairs at the district level were simply tasked with the role, without dedicated resources or training. A huge problem was that no duty bearers - the judges, magistrates, enforcement officers, and police -- were oriented to the law when it came into force. NGOs were often the only ones familiar with its terms. I remember an early case that BLAST colleagues conducted where they had to hand the magistrate physical copy of the Act repeatedly because theyd never seen it. Even where its possible to secure an emergency protection order, there are real gaps in ensuring consistency of response, given limited resources and capacity.. Victim Support Centres still exist only in 8 districts, and elsewhere the victim is on their own, or dependent on NGO services, and government hotlines and the police. Theres almost nowhere for emergency shelter with less than 20 government run shelters across the country. Meanwhile a woman or child who is a victim of abuse may be juggling a DV case, a dowry case, and a family court matter simultaneously, without the financial or social support to sustain any of it. The social safety net provision that may be available is a few hundred or thousand taka , nowhere near enough. So youre thrown back onto the same social structure, only slightly modified since the Act. Ive tried to find data on the budget for implementing the DV Act which includes training for magistrates, resources for courts but havent found it. Theres a family card programme the new government launched after the elections, essentially a safety net for low-income families, entitling them to services and financial aid. Whether DV survivors are prioritised within that isnt clear. The DV Act was worked on intensely by womens groups and rights organisations, but once it had been enacted, the movements interest moved on, a bit like a baby thats arrived and now everyones attention shifts to other children needing to be fed and clothed. Years later, the main demand we still hear in reviews is to make DV non-bailable or a separate offence and the more structural issues about institutional and financial resources needed for resourcing the implementation of the Act - rarely come up. If we focus on the latter, and build collaborations, including with the social welfare and law ministries, and the judiciary, we can make the law work far more effectively. Years later, the main demand we still hear in reviews is to make DV non-bailable or a separate offence and the more structural issues about institutional and financial resources needed for resourcing the implementation of the Act - rarely come up. Asmita: That runs against what you said earlier, about not wanting a punitive framing and it sounds like weve come full circle. Sara: I dont agree with having punitive framing. But its a debate practitioners and NGOs need to have when reviewing the Act. What some are now proposing is a family support centre to be established for Family Courts, doing what a victim support centre and enforcement officer together were meant to do, coordinating referrals and support, since the enforcement officer alone cant manage all these tasks. BLAST has just started piloting an initiative with the Directorate of Bangladesh Legal Aid on this. Asmita: So were still with the original Act. Sara: Yes. A draft law to amend the DV Act went to the interim government but wasnt approved, perhaps due to lack of prioritisation by the Womens Ministry, which held the file. Parliament is still revising legislation that was adopted by the interim government and the Anti- Sexual Harassment Act is in the same position, amendments were drafted but a stand alone law was not ultimately adopted. However, very significant changes were made to the Bangladesh Labour Act, recognising duties to address gender discrimination and sexual harassment at the workplace and putting in place specific provisions on prevention and protection. Asmita: Whats the future agenda on domestic violence in Bangladesh. Is it reforming the existing law, new legislation, or focusing on procedure and support systems? Sara: After the DV Act, the DV rules were framed, and the Legal Aid and Services Act was reformed to prioritise DV survivors. Those remain ongoing areas of work . The priorities are training and understanding around powers and duties. A fourth feature Id flag, alongside remedies, was recognition of the roles and duties of legal aid groups and other civil society organisations, expressly set out in the Act. After the July Uprising, there was a major turnover in the police (many of whom fled the country after their role in carrying out brutal violence and mass killings of protestors) and in other relevant government offices, and now more changes in personnel after the recent elections. Judicial and police and civil service training academies need to include the DV law in their curricula. Theres also broader institutional work needed to address judicial delays, lack of timely police response, lack of institutional (particularly healthcare) support. A gap in our Coalition is that were still very focused on advocating for changes in the law, and less on institutional support or the financial interventions needed, and also very centred on the Womens Ministry, rather than for example the Law Ministry, Health Ministry or Finance Ministry. Unfortunately, the judiciary hasnt really taken up the issue - eg fast-tracking DV cases or appeals (as has recently been done by the Supreme Court for rape appeals)- and even the Interim Governments Judicial Reform Commission didnt mention relevant reform recommendations on addressing domestic violence, violence against women more generally or family courts. There is a real opportunity for the Judiciary and the Government to address this gap now and to coordinate a response on domestic violence against women and children. Asmita: Why is this so deprioritised? Have violence levels actually gone down, or is it just not getting attention? Sara: The issue of DV is not getting the attention it deserves. Post-Uprising, weve seen some highly misogynistic forces unleashed and an overt backlash against womens rights. We do have 50 women parliamentarians in reserved seats, but fewer than ten women were elected in general seats, and there are even fewer in cabinet. However, some have been active on the ground for years, including on rights issues, while others are survivors of gross violations of human rights themselves, including of disappearances of their family members. These are issues on which the womens movement has been largely silent and its important now for there to be greater connection and communication between citizens organisations and political actors on the pervasive nature of domestic violence and to treat it not just as a legal problem with technical solutions, but as an urgent political priority. Two issues are worth separating. First, theres an issue about how much of the agenda on reforms to the legal and institutional framework on violence against women is shaped by womens and human rights groups. In the last six months, there have been horrendous, high-profile rape cases involving young children, which triggered nationwide protests, resulting in fast-tracking of investigations and cases, setting up a new Supreme Court bench for rape appeals, and police completing investigations in days rather than months (of course raising its own fair-trial concerns). Nothing comparable has happened for domestic violence, even though its very possible that equally brutal DV cases occurred in the same period, but they just arent getting the same response, particularly in the media, despite higher overall incidence, perhaps precisely because the pattern of violence in such cases is so widespread and entrenched and endemic, and has a certain level of social sanction Second, the anti-discrimination movement that led the Uprising was focused on challenging discrimination in the allocation of quotas for government jobs, and many of us hoped it would necessarily extend to addressing issues of discrimination more broadly. But unfortunately it hasnt. Before the Uprising, we had fifteen years with a woman prime minister and women in senior positions, but they made very little real investment in the institutional response to domestic violence. That government could have passed any law it wanted, given it had a total majority, with its opposition subjected to severe repression. But it never chose to review the Acts operation. We assumed the DV Act would be an easy win, and so would its implementation, since theres no religious or personal-law angle to it and the issue affects all communities. What we underestimated was the depth of resistance to change in this area specifically. Its a strong, still-active bloc, and reflects deep seated patriarchal values and conservatism . Asmita: Is the caseload on domestic violence at womens organisations still high, or has it declined? Sara: I dont think client numbers have declined. Id guess the type of cases undertaken and nature of advice given have shifted somewhat given the availability of new remedies under the DV Act, but the bulk of our case load is still maintenance cases, which are resolved either through mediation, and/or litigation before the Family Court. For most women with a background of domestic violence, the ask is still: please get maintenance being paid, so my children and I can survive. Asmita: So maintenance remains the core issue. Sara: What has changed is that women and children who are abuse survivors can and do get protection and residence orders now. Residence orders in particular would be worth studying in more depth. Taslima Akhter had done a study for Action Aid on implementation of the DV Act , but theres no government study to date. Asmita: Looking at this as a South Asian issue, where do you see possibilities for collaboration going forward? Sara : There are many possibilities to collaborate across South Asia to learn about our best (and worst!) practices in responding to DV survivors, and also to identify common challenges in relation to addressing violence against women, and more broadly on how we navigate our work on rights and justice. Its relevant of course that Bangladeshs DV Act drew on Indias, and that Indias acid legislation drew on Bangladeshs laws and policies. But going beyond this - there are many possibilities for collaboration in terms of mapping strategies on reforms to womens rights within the family, and to personal laws, and in relation to violence. .. Given the majoritarian politics and practices across the region, there are obvious political sensitivities in each country regarding reform, and these initiatives can easily be weaponised as minority-targeting. We have made progressive changes with respect to womens Muslim personal laws and womens rights to divorce, inheritance and marriage in Bangladesh . In contrast, in Bangladesh, Hindu and Christian personal laws on marriage and divorce are effectively stuck in the nineteenth century. But we know that Pakistan has already made changes that Bangladesh hasnt, for example in Sindh on Hindu personal law. Much of Muslim personal law in India is similarly also frozen in time. Its worth building the argument, across the region, for how such reform can happen, pointing to what has actually changed, and for whom. We often hear two standard objections: that personal laws affecting the majority community cant be touched, and that minority personal laws cant be touched without trampling on minority rights. In Bangladesh, Hindu and Christian women have made demands for reform themselves and faced pushback from their community leaders, and recently from newly active conservative groups such as the Hindu Mahasabha, who seek to frame demands for reform as an attack on family and community identity. Strategising around that backlash matters in Bangladesh, and across South Asia, right now. Theres also a shared legal and organising history in the womens rights movement in South Asia thats been fractured over the past two decades, as everyone has had domestic fires to deal with, and repressive, authoritarian or highly communal governments to struggle against. We need to learn from each others different histories and stages of organising. Personal laws and violence-against-women laws matter, but so does the strategy, the organising, the navigation of legal procedure and institutions. Exchanges between our countries shouldnt only be about what the law says, but about what has actually worked in practice and also on how we keep alive a culture of respecting rights, and demanding justice and accountability.
Youth Test: Raichandani, Chauhan Star as India Rout Australia
India U-19 secured a commanding innings and 48-run victory over Australia U-19, continuing their dominant run. Lakshya Raichandani's double century and exceptional bowling performances from Yashbardhan Chauhan (6/75) and Ishan Om (4/62) were key to the win. This victory follows India's 3-0 sweep in the preceding Youth ODI series.
Man Tied To Car, Dragged For 2.5 km By Friend In UP, Dies
After the post-mortem, his body was brought to Hardoi, where his family members attempted to block the road near the Dak Bungalow demanding compensation.
ONE CANNOT HELP BUT DRAW painful parallels to the 2012 Nirbhaya case, calling into question whether systemic law enforcement mechanisms have made any meaningful progress in the decade since then, said Supreme Court on September 28 while taking a suo moto cognisance of the recent rape cases in Delhi NCR to evaluate systemic, preventive, and monitoring frameworks currently in place to ensure safety in public spaces across Delhi-NCR. The bench of Justices Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran adduced news reports of over past few weeks, including gang-rape of a 17-year old at Aastha Kunj Park , complaints of recurrent sexual harassment faced by students of Lady Shri Ram College for Women , gang rape and murder of a teenage girl in Swaroop Nagar , sexual assault of a minor girl inside a moving sleeper bus to express their distress and the systemic failure of law enforcement and civil administrative authorities to guarantee basic public safety. Senior counsel Liz Mathew was appointed as the amicus. Public spaces, including parks, roads, buses, metro stations, subways, foot bridges, etc. cannot be permitted to become zones of high risk due to grossly inadequate illumination, poor surveillance, lax patrolling, or other preventable administrative deficiencies, the bench said citing Article 21. The bench stressed upon the need for accountability fixed upon the authorities entrusted with prevention of crime, maintenance of public order and protection of vulnerable persons. The scope of the suo moto proceedings, the Court clarified, is not directed at assessing individual criminal culpability (which will be determined through trial), but at examining the broader institutional failures. The Court has asked authorities to place before it a comprehensive status report regarding (i) the measures undertaken to ensure adequate safety and security arrangements in public places and other areas frequented by women and children; (ii) the manner in which the National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO) is being utilised by the Delhi Police; (iii) the manner in which the Ministry of Home Affairs is utilising the Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO); (iv) operational status of Mission Shakti programme; and (v) functioning status of mechanisms referred to by Ministry of Women and Child Development in its June 2024 report. Further, the bench also ordered immediate interim measures to be undertaken within four weeks which include the constitution of police teams to identify locations of poor lighting, lack of surveillance, insufficient patrolling, etc, preparation of a district-wise vulnerability map, deployment of patrolling and security arrangements at public parks and vulnerable areas, and audit and installment of CCTVs in vulnerable zones. The Court has also has directed the removal of black, tinted or solar-control films on vehicle windows which facilitates the commission of crimes. The Registrar General of Delhi High Court has also been asked to furnish information regarding the present status and functioning of the Fast Track Special Courts and Exclusive POCSO Courts in Delhi. The Court reminded media outlets of mindful and non-sensationalised reportage and asked for a dedicated column in the newspapers and a dedicated time in the electronic media to provide information of the protective devices and the telephone numbers, which could be accessed for immediate assistance in the event of a perceived threat. The matter has been listed on October 5, 2026 for further directions. Background As per the National Crime Records Bureau, which published its annual report of 2024 in 2026, over 1,058 cases of rape were registered in Delhi. According Delhi Police , on the other hand, the city recorded 1,901 rape cases in 2025 as against 2,076 in 2024 and 2,141 in 2023. This month itself, several stories pertaining to rape and sexual assault (of especially minors) emerged from the National Capital Region. On September 10, a 16-year-old girl was brutally gang-raped and repeatedly stabbed after going to meet an acquaintance in North Delhis Swaroop Nagar; her decomposed body was found dumped in a field. On the same day, it came to light that a four-year-old girl disclosed to her family that she had been sexually abused by her school-cab driver in West Delhis Ranhola area. On September 13, a nine-year-old girl was abducted while asleep at home and sexually assaulted by a 40-year-old neighbour in Swaroop Nagar. Around a week later, on September 17, a girl was allegedly lured into a tailoring shop in Sadar Bazar, restrained, and sexually assaulted by the 56-year-old shopkeeper. September 21, a seven-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted in the Desh Bandhu Gupta Road area. That same day, a 17 year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by three men claiming to be policemen near Astha Kunj Park. Of course, these are incidents only in popular media; readers are encouraged to consider the possibility of multitudes of incidents which either go unreported or are overlooked. In the immediate response to the rape ate Astha Kunj Park, the authorities curbed access to public parks and a Lady Shri Ram College, which is located close to the site of the crime, briefly moved classes online. In response, the students at LSR arranged a protest march demanding accountability. Womens safety cannot be addressed only through advisories asking women to be more careful. The focus has to be on safer public spaces, reliable last-mile transport, visible policing, accessible reporting mechanisms and timely accountability, Lady Shri Ram College Students Union president Anusha Garg told NDTV. Last week, chief minister Rekha Gupta admitted to lapses and vowed to improve the security infrastructure in the light of cases of crime against women. Case: In Re: Recent Rape Incidents in Delhi NCR Suo Moto Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 6/2026
INDIA bloc announces Odisha Bandh on Oct 8 over MMDR Act, other demands
Digital Desk | Bhubaneswar, Sep 29 (IANS) The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das on Tuesday announced a statewide strike Odisha Bandh by the political parties of the India Bloc on October 8 over various demands, including the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026, the resignation of state School and Mass Education (S&ME) minister Nityananda Gond and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Speaking to media persons, the OPCC president said, The political parties of the INDIA bloc are protesting over three demands, including the repeal of the MMDR Amendment Act, the resignation and arrest of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, and Odishas education minister Nityananda Gonds resignation. He further said that the INDIA bloc had planned to gherao the Odisha Assembly on Tuesday. Das alleged that the state government, fearing the protest, adjourned the session sine die, even though it was scheduled to continue until October 3. So, the agitation will intensify further, and Odisha, from the capital Bhubaneswar to every village, will remain shut down on October 8. Thousands of workers of all the INDIA bloc political parties will court arrest, said the OPCC president. Meanwhile, the political parties of the INDIA bloc, led by the Odisha Congress, on Tuesday held a massive protest rally, 'Parivartan Rally' in Bhubaneswar against the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, the resignation of state School and Mass Education (S&ME) minister Nityanand Gond over the school textbook error issue and the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) over alleged electoral process irregularities. The members and leaders of Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) Liberation, Forward Bloc, NCP-Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party and RJD from across the state participated in the Parivartan Rally. After a huge protest meeting at the Lower PMG, the protestors marched towards the Chief Ministers residence to stage a gherao to register their protest. Senior leaders from Congress and other political parties addressed the workers at the protest meeting. Tension prevailed at Lower PMG as protesters clashed with police after they were stopped from marching ahead. To bring the situation under control, security personnel later detained several senior leaders and workers of the India bloc and took them away from the protest site. It is worth mentioning here that the opposition Biju Janata Dal also organised a massive protest rally in Bhubaneswar demanding the repeal of the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026 on Monday.
Ktaka farmers intensify Hubballi protest, demand Rs 5,500 per tonne sugarcane
Digital Desk | Hubballi, Sep 29 (IANS) Farmers from various districts of Karnataka intensified their protest in Hubballi on Tuesday, demanding a minimum price of Rs 5,500 per tonne of sugarcane, an increase in the minimum selling price of sugar and the implementation of the Dr M.S. Swaminathan Commission report. Thousands of farmers gathered at Kittur Rani Chennamma Circle. They later staged a protest near the residence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, raising slogans against the Centre and warning that they would continue their agitation until their demands were met. The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene organised the protest, with farmers from Dharwad, Belagavi and other districts participating. Organisers said more than 2,000 farmers had gathered at the venue. Initially, farmers planned to lay siege to Joshis Hubballi office, but shifted to Nehru Maidan after police reportedly denied permission. They later marched from Chennamma Circle towards the Union Ministers residence. Police deployed heavily around Joshis office and residence, with barricades erected to prevent protesters from advancing. Tension prevailed briefly when some farmers attempted to remove the barricades. More than 250 police personnel were deployed around Nehru Maidan and other key locations. Traffic was disrupted on several major roads in Hubballi as farmers staged sit-ins, leaving vehicles stranded in long queues stretching for kilometres. The farmers demanded that the government announce a scientifically determined remunerative price for agricultural produce, fix the minimum price of sugarcane at Rs 5,500 per tonne for the current crushing season and ensure sugar factories begin operations. They also sought an increase in the minimum selling price of sugar from Rs 31 per kg to Rs 60 per kg, citing rising cultivation costs. Farmer leader Chunnappa Poojari said cultivation costs had increased nearly threefold between 2019 and 2026. He demanded sugarcane prices be determined scientifically based on estimates submitted by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). He also sought an additional payment of Rs 300 per tonne to farmers supplying sugarcane during the 202526 season. Poojari further demanded that the Centre and state government waive farmers loans in full, criticising the state for providing only Rs 2,500 in crop-loss compensation. Farmers also called for the implementation of the Mahadayi irrigation project, declaration of minimum support prices for all crops, scientific determination of the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane and purchase of the states entire ethanol production. Addressing protesters, farmer leader Shashikant Guruji of Inchageri Math accused Joshi of failing to address farmers concerns and urged him to meet the protesters in person. He said farmers expected a direct response rather than a video message. Leaders warned that the protest would continue until the government responded. They said the next phase of the agitation would be decided after waiting until 5 p.m., with more farmers expected to join.
Association urges extension of Vizag-Mahabubnagar, Tungabhadra Expresses
Train Travellers Association requests diversion of some trains from Secunderabad Railway Station through Sitaphalmandi-Malkajgiri-Moula Ali chord line
Association urges extension of Vizag-Mahabubnagar, Tungabhadra Expresses
Train Travellers Association requests diversion of some trains from Secunderabad Railway Station through Sitaphalmandi-Malkajgiri-Moula Ali chord line
IIT Delhi Seeks New Director: Application Deadline Approaches
IIT Delhi is inviting applications for the position of Director, with a deadline set for October 31. Candidates must hold a PhD and have significant teaching and administrative experience. The role offers a competitive salary and a five-year term. Interested applicants should prepare a detailed rsum and vision statement. This opportunity also includes similar positions at IIT Mandi and IIT Indore. For more details on eligibility and application procedures, read the full article.
IFA Shield: Punjab FC aim to top group against East Bengal after dominant debut
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 29 (IANS) Punjab FC will look to carry the momentum of their emphatic opening victory when they take on East Bengal FC in their final Group II fixture of the IFA Shield 2026-27 at the East Bengal Ground in Kolkata on Wednesday. The match, scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m., will decide the group toppers, with both Punjab FC and East Bengal having already secured their places in the semifinals after winning their respective opening matches against Calcutta Customs Club. Punjab FC announced their arrival in the competition in emphatic fashion, thrashing Calcutta Customs 7-0 on Sunday in Pavlos Dermitzakis first match as head coach. The result also saw new signing Raphael Messi Bouli make an immediate impact, with the Cameroon international scoring a hat-trick and providing two assists. Boulis three-goal haul has put him level with Mohun Bagans Lallianzuala Chhangte at the top of the tournaments scoring charts. Punjabs attacking options were further underlined by goals from Diego Raposo, Konsam Sanathoi Singh and Bishu Sharma in the opening fixture. The Shers will also be encouraged by the contribution of their academy graduates. Manglenthang Kipgen impressed in midfield against Customs with his pressing and distribution, while Muhammed Uvais, Suresh Meitei and Nikhil Prabhu formed part of a young core that helped Punjab maintain control of the game. Dermitzakis expects a more demanding test against an East Bengal side playing on home turf. We had a fantastic start to the tournament, and the 7-0 victory showed the attacking quality and tactical discipline we possess. However, East Bengal is a historic club playing in front of their home fans, so it will be a completely different test. I am incredibly proud of how our Roundglass Academy graduates, particularly young players like Kipgen, stepped up and controlled the tempo. We will need that same intensity and teamwork tomorrow to secure the top spot in our group. East Bengal, meanwhile, entered the contest after beating Calcutta Customs 3-1 in their opening game. Despite conceding in the 12th minute, Bino Georges side recovered strongly to register a comfortable victory. With East Bengal juggling commitments in the AFC Champions League Two and the ISL, the club has used the IFA Shield to give opportunities to several reserve and emerging players. Akash Hemram and Rohit Danu were among those to find the net against Customs and will again be expected to provide attacking impetus. Punjab FC and East Bengal last met in the ISL in May, when the two sides played out a goalless draw at the Salt Lake Stadium. With a semifinal berth already assured for both teams, Wednesdays encounter will instead determine who finishes at the summit of Group II and gains the corresponding semifinal draw advantage.
'Situation now worse than during British era': CPI and CPI-M protest outside ECI office over SIR
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Members of Left parties, including the CPI and CPI-M, gathered outside the Election Commission of India (ECI) office on Tuesday and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Speaking to IANS, CPI-M leader Brinda Karat noted that nearly 13 crore citizens had been removed from the voter list. Right now, almost 13 crore citizens of our country have been removed from the voter list. The situation made right now is worse than during the British era, she said. CPI-M General Secretary M.A. Baby also targeted the CEC, saying: Gyanesh Kumar cannot continue; we will not allow him to continue. The protest comes amid a broader Opposition campaign against the SIR exercise and demands for action against the CEC. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday demanded the immediate removal of Gyanesh Kumar, alleging irregularities in the SIR, and also sought Prime Minister Narendra Modis resignation on moral grounds over alleged pressure on the poll panel chief. Addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Kharge said the party would intensify its campaign against the CEC and the government, including by taking up the issue on the streets and in Parliament. On September 25, the Congress had led nationwide protests demanding Gyanesh Kumars resignation, accusing him of compromising the integrity of the electoral process. Civil society groups and other organisations also held parallel protests in Delhi and several states. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear next week a petition challenging the functioning of the CEC and questioning the legality of the nationwide SIR. The controversy intensified after an Indian leading daily reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on at least 14 occasions over decisions and orders concerning the SIR during the past 10 months. According to the report, the two commissioners had alleged that some decisions were taken without their knowledge or recommendation. The ECI, however, has maintained that its decisions on the SIR were taken in accordance with the law and has characterised differences within the Commission as part of its internal deliberations.
RU teachers receive death threats, extortion demands from callers claiming
At least five Rajshahi University teachers received threatening calls from individuals demanding money
Smriti Irani Criticizes Congress for Demanding Restoration of Deceased and Duplicate Voter Names
Smriti Irani questions Congresss push to restore deceased and duplicate voter names, highlighting electoral integrity concerns. Smriti Irani Criticizes Congress for Demanding Restoration of Deceased and Duplicate Voter Names
Rights body slams Pakistan over mass evictions in Balochistan's Gwadar, calls it 'state assault'
Digital Desk | Quetta, Sep 29 (IANS) Human rights body Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) strongly condemned the Pakistani authorities for evicting thousands of people in Balochistan's Gwadar district under the pretext of a security threat, describing the move as an occupation of Baloch land and a state assault on Baloch survival. Sardasht area located near Shadi Kaur region in Gwadar, is an ancient Baloch settlement where nearly three thousand people have lived for generations. This entire area, including Reke Bazaar, Syed Muhammad Bazaar, and Tolgo, serves as the centre of the local people's social and economic life. Today, the state is displacing precisely these people from their homes, lands, and ancestral territory under the guise of a security threat, the BYC stated. This justification of security is merely a pretext. The very state constitutionally obligated to protect citizens' lives and property is the one evicting them from their land. If there is a genuine threat in the area, it is the state's duty to provide protection to the people, not to render them homeless. Evicting three thousand people from their homes does not make them safe; rather, it turns them into refugees, unemployed, and displaced within their own homeland, it added. According to the BYC, labelling an entire population as a threat and displacing them from their homes amounts to collective punishment. The rights body said that when communities are displaced and their land cleared in the name of security, under the banner of protection, it becomes clear that the state's target is not some threat, but Baloch land itself. What is happening in Sardasht is not an isolated incident but a link in the chain of a systematic state policy underway in Balochistan, particularly along the Makran coast. The land and coastline of Gwadar are being sacrificed to so-called development projects and the interests of powerful lobbies, while the Baloch people are seen as obstacles and systematically removed, the BYC stated Sometimes it's plans to fence off Gwadar city, sometimes checkpoints at every step, sometimes depriving fishermen of their own sea, sometimes restrictions on border employment, and now evicting people from their homes -- these are all different phases of the same policy, it noted. Expressing grave concern, the BYC said that Pakistan's policy is aimed at gaining complete control over Balochistan's land and resources, reducing the Baloch people to a minority in their own homeland and eroding the economic and social foundations of Baloch society. It called for an immediate halt to the evictions in Sardasht and withdrawal of all related orders, while demanding that displaced families be allowed to return home with dignity and receive full compensation for their losses.
INS Tarkash arrives in Mombasa to boost India-Kenya maritime ties
Digital Desk | Nairobi, Sep 29 (IANS) In a significant step towards deepening maritime cooperation between India and Kenya, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Tarkash, a frontline guided-missile frigate, arrived at Mombasa Port in the East African nation on Tuesday for an operational turnaround, which will run until October 2. The port call will feature professional exchanges, interactions between the crews, and community outreach. INS Tarkash will be open to visitors on 01 October from 11 am4 pm. On departure, the ship is scheduled to undertake a Passage Exercise with the Kenya Navy, the Indian High Commission in Nairobi posted on X. The visit advances India-Kenya maritime cooperation in the Western Indian Ocean and reflects India's MAHASAGAR vision, it added. On September 19, Indian High Commissioner to Kenya, Adarsh Swaika, met the African nation's Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing'Oei, and reviewed potential outcomes from forthcoming high-level exchanges. High Commissioner Adarsh Swaika met Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing'Oei. They reviewed key aspects of bilateral relations, including progress on ongoing initiatives and potential outcomes from forthcoming high-level exchanges, the High Commission of India in Kenya stated on X. High Commissioner highlighted the growing bilateral trade and investment ties and underscored the importance of an investor-friendly business environment, it added. Earlier in April, INS Trikand, a frontline guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy, concluded a highly successful Operational Turnaround (OTR) in Mombasa, which included professional exchanges and community outreach, while strengthening maritime cooperation with the Kenyan Navy. According to the Indian Assistant High Commission in Mombasa, the ship's OTR witnessed a blend of wellness, engagement and professional exchanges. An early morning yoga session saw enthusiastic participation from local residents and Kenya Navy personnel. The Commanding Officer of INS Trikand, along with the Defence Advisor at the High Commission of India, called on Brig. MS Shemote, Commander of the Kenya Navy Fleet, at Kenya Navy Base Mtongwe. Specialist officers also visited the Kenya Navy Training College, sharing insights on training curriculum and infrastructure development, the Indian Assistant High Commission posted on X. The port call by INS Trikand aligned with India's vision of MAHASAGAR and aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation and bilateral ties between India and Kenya.
'Peaceful dissent is not terrorism': Activists slam Pakistan over PoK crackdown at Geneva meet
Digital Desk | Geneva, Sep 29 (IANS) Several Kashmiri political leaders, international human rights defenders, journalists, civil society representatives and activists on Tuesday strongly condemned Pakistan over escalating human rights abuses in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) during an international conference held at the Geneva Press Club. The conference was organised by United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) on the sidelines of the ongoing 63rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. According to the UKPNP, the participants sharply criticised reported extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, communications blackouts and allegations of excessive use of force by Pakistani security forces in PoK. They also expressed solidarity with the civil society group Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and its peaceful people's rights movement in the region. During the meeting, the UKPNP called for independent international investigations, accountability for those responsible for unlawful killings, justice for victims' families, the release of arbitrary detainees and the restoration of fundamental freedoms in PoK. The conference also highlighted the demands for democratic self-rule, ownership of natural resources, freedom of movement, freedom of expression, stability and the rule of law in the occupied territory. The UKPNP reiterated its opposition to terrorism, extremism, political violence and the use of PoK as a weapon for geopolitical interests. On Monday, addressing the UNHRC session, Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, Representative of the African Development Association (ADA) and Chairman of the UKPNP, expressed grave concern over reports of escalating repression by Pakistani authorities in PoK since June 5 this year. He cited deaths, injuries, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, restrictions on peaceful assembly, communications blackouts and the increasing militarisation of civilian life in the occupied territory. He called for an immediate, independent and impartial investigation into reported violations and urged the international community to press Pakistan to ensure accountability and protection for civilians exercising their fundamental democratic rights. Peaceful dissent is not terrorism, and demanding rights is not a crime, Shaukat Ali told the Council. He called on Pakistan to immediately end the use of force against peaceful demonstrators, release all individuals arbitrarily detained, establish the fate and whereabouts of missing persons, and restore unrestricted internet and mobile communications throughout PoK.
CWC meet: Cong calls SIR fraud exercise; plans pan-India stir against compromised poll panel
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Tuesday deliberated on a host of burning issues concerning the 'irregularities' in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and vowed to launch nationwide protests against alleged malpractices by the Election Commission (EC). Addressing a press conference after the CWC meet, Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal launched a scathing attack on the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his immediate sacking while alleging that he was acting at the behest of the Centre to deprive crores of voters their democratic right to cast a vote. The SIR is a complete fraud exercise. The CEC is completely compromised, the Election system is rigged, both the EVMs and the voters' lists are compromised -- designed to favour the BJP in elections, Venugopal claimed. He said that the Congress party will aggressively resist the design to hijack the democracy and launch a pan-India protest soon, after consultation with the INDIA bloc partners. The democracy and the country are under threat under prevailing circumstances. We will fight tooth and nail and wont let EC succeed in its designs, he noted, while highlighting the Congress stir at more than 800 places in the last two-three days. Notably, a meeting of the INDIA bloc allies is scheduled for Wednesday, where all opposition parties are expected to close ranks against the irregularities and formalise a plan to protest, seeking Gyanesh Kumars ouster. The Congress leader, during the press conference, put forth two demands. We are demanding immediate resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, as he has no moral right to continue in the chair for a single day, he said. Congress partys other demand is immediate suspension of SIR, restoration of 13.30 voters, whose names have been illegally struck off from the voters list, he added. Escalating his attack on the Centre, he said that all the CWC members echoed the view that CEC Gyanesh Kumar was not alone but a tool in the hands of his political masters in altering the SIR process unilaterally. Whenever dictators lose confidence, they try to find extraordinary tools to continue in power. This cannot happen without the concurrence of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. The two CECs purportedly wrote to the Cabinet Secretary, and that this must have been brought to the Prime Ministers notice, he said. Jairam Ramesh, citing Rahul Gandhis comments at the CWC meet, said that the Congress party has been raising issues of vote chori and unfair manipulation of electoral rolls, but no one paid heed, and these revelations have exposed the malpractices within the poll panel. Rahul Gandhi told the CWC members that it was because of the Congress party that such disclosures are being made. From the Karnataka to Haryana elections, Rahul cited multiple instances of electoral malpractice and made detailed presentations, but people didnt believe him. Today, the disclosures show that what he was saying was right, he told the press. Venugopal, while spelling out the Congress strategy on protests against the EC, said the party will protest in the Parliament and resist on the streets. However, a clear and designed roadmap for pan-India protest will be taken up after the INDIA bloc meeting on Wednesday, he added.
TRE-4, Group D aspirants stage protest in Patna over recruitment demands
Digital Desk | Patna, Sep 29 (IANS) Protests by Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE-4) and Group 'D' job aspirants continued in Patna on Tuesday, with demonstrators taking to the streets over their respective recruitment-related demands. TRE-4 aspirants gathered outside Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari's residence, demanding that candidates appearing for the CTET 2026 examination also be allowed to participate in the BPSC TRE-4 recruitment process. The demand has been raised previously by candidates appearing for CTET, who have sought an opportunity similar to that provided to candidates appearing for the State Teacher Eligibility Test (STET). Meanwhile, the Group D candidates marched from Gandhi Maidan towards the Chief Minister's residence. Police stopped the protesters near JP Golambar by putting up barricades. Around 500 protesters subsequently sat down at the spot and began a sit-in demonstration. Carrying the Tricolour and displaying posters and banners, they raised slogans demanding appointments and action on their long-pending recruitment process. Some protesters also brought folding cots to the protest site. According to the demonstrators, they have been sitting on a protest at Gardanibagh for around 30 days. One of the protesters said he had applied for the recruitment in 2012 after the advertisement promised employment opportunities to eligible candidates. He alleged that although the examination was intended for candidates with matriculation and Class 8-level qualifications, questions were of a much higher difficulty level. The protesters said they had remained on the streets because their demands had not been addressed and alleged that no government representative had come forward to meet them. Another candidate said that the group comprised 9,720 candidates who had submitted applications in 2023 and appeared for the examination in 2024. He claimed that appointments had still not been made. The candidates are demanding that the government complete the appointment process and resolve their pending grievances. In view of the demonstrations, police erected barricades at several locations along the protest routes. A large number of personnel were deployed to regulate the movement of protesters and maintain security. Water cannons and riot-control vehicles were also kept ready as part of the arrangements. The protests come amid continuing mobilisation by job aspirants in Patna over recruitment delays and examination-related demands. Bihar's government has previously announced changes to the TRE-4 examination process following protests by teacher-recruitment aspirants, including a decision to conduct the examination in a single phase.
Election Commission row: Thackeray cousins to lead MNS-Sena (UBT) protestmarch on Oct. 4
Raj Thackeray also invited all parties to join this protest march, while extended support to the Cockroach Janta Partys (CJP)s Jail Bharo Andolan protest on October 2, demanding for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Yogi Government's Digital Push: All 251 UP Mandis Now Linked to National Agmarknet 2.0 Network
All 251 agricultural mandis in Uttar Pradesh are now linked to Agmarknet 2.0, enabling 100% market reporting and wider access to price and arrival data.
2 MHA Officials Arrested for Seeking Bribes for FCRA Registration
The Delhi Police Special Cell has arrested two government officials, including one currently serving in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Foreigners Division, for allegedly demanding illegal gratification from an association to clear its pending Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration. The arrests were made following a direct tip-off from the MHA after suspicious [] The post 2 MHA Officials Arrested for Seeking Bribes for FCRA Registration appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
Congress has called for the immediate suspension of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Allegations include the illegal removal of 13 crore voters by the Election Commission. The party is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A nationwide agitation is planned to address concerns regarding electoral integrity. The opposition INDIA bloc will meet to strategize further actions related to these issues.
Century-old Texas girls camp puts 749-acre riverfront property up for auction
Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian girls' camp in Texas, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy following catastrophic flooding in 2025 which killed 28 people. The camp's owners plan to auction off property and other assets to repay creditors. Victims' families oppose the sale, demanding accountability and transparency concerning the camp's operations. Investigations revealed negligence in the camp's response to a flash flood alert prior to the incident.
New Delhi [India], September 29: OPPO India today announced the launch of the OPPO K14 Plus, a powerful new addition to the K Series that brings together performance, immersive entertainment, advanced imaging and long-lasting endurance. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7360 MAX, the smartphone features a 1.5K 144Hz AMOLED Ultra Bright Display, 6-Year Durable 8000mAh Large Battery, 50MP OIS Main Camera with 4K video, 5000mm Vapour Chamber for sustained performance. Built around OPPO's Powered to Perform, Built to Last proposition, the K14 Plus is designed to deliver a smooth, dependable experience that keeps up with demanding everyday use while offering the confidence of long-term performance and durability.
Tulshi villagers in Maharashtra have protested decades of water scarcity by putting up 'Village for Sale' banners, demanding action on stalled canal work. Residents say depleted water sources have left the village dependent on tankers.
Private Bus Operators to Observe 24-Hour Strike Demanding Fare Hike
The federation has also raised strong objections to the upcoming expansion of the women's free travel scheme, scheduled for October 2
Abort Patriarchy: DU Women Students Turn North Campus Into a March for Freedom and Safety
A women-only protest march took over Delhi University's north campus on Monday afternoon as students from multiple colleges walked together demanding safer streets and an end to curbs on their movement in the name of protection. The march, organised independently by
India, US discuss evolving Indo-Pacific security landscape, deepening defence cooperation
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) India and the US explored ways to deepen bilateral defence cooperation while exchanging views on the changing security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. The talks were held on Monday between Indian Army chief General Dhiraj Seth and Lieutenant General Joel B Vowell, Deputy Commanding General of United States Army Pacific (USARPAC), in New Delhi. Following the meeting, the Indian Army took to X on Tuesday and posted: Lieutenant General Joel B Vowell, Deputy Commanding General, USARPAC, called on General Dhiraj Seth, COAS, on 28 September. The leaders discussed the evolving security landscape in the Indo-Pacific and explored opportunities to advance bilateral defence engagement across multiple domains. The interaction also focussed on measures to enhance interoperability through joint training and military exercises. The successful outcome of Exercise Yudh Abhyas validated the seamless synergy of joint operations and reaffirmed the commitment of both Armies towards strengthening military-to-military cooperation, it added. Earlier on Monday, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh also held discussions with a bipartisan US Congressional delegation led by Representative Brian Mast on deepening the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, with a particular focus on advancing defence industrial and technological cooperation. In a post on X, the Ministry of Defence said, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh met with a bipartisan delegation from the United States House of Representatives, led by Representative Brian Mast, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Their discussion centred around the evolving India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with special emphasis on defence industrial and technological cooperation. Last week, as part of the Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026, contingents of the Indian Army and the US Army trained side by side across multiple platforms and operational scenarios, sharpening interoperability and deepening mutual understanding of each others tactics, techniques and procedures. US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, said that the bilateral military exercise 'Yudh Abhyas' reflected the strength of the defence partnership between both countries. Gor made the statement after witnessing US and Indian forces training together during the exercise at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan. Impressive to see US and Indian forces training together at Mahajan Field Firing Range. This exercise reflects the strength of our defence partnership: trust, readiness, interoperability, and shared purpose. Proud of what US Army and Indian Army are achieving together, Gor posted on X.
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 29 (IANS) Actress Raveena Tandon shared a reflective note on life, loss and the importance of cherishing loved ones. Taking to Instagram, the Mohra actress spoke about how some chapters of life eventually come to an end, leaving behind memories and lessons. Some days some chapters close, memories are left behind. Losing loved ones is an eventuality. We have to accept, she wrote. The actress also shared her thoughts on the different struggles people go through in life, saying she prays for those facing battles to overcome them. When I hear stories of different lives and their battles, I pray they overcome victoriously, but everyone has to serve what they came here for, learn, earn your good karma and then leave, she added. Concluding her note on a hopeful message, Raveena urged people to make the most of their time and relationships. Till then live and love like never before. Tandon also shared pictures of herself in an elegant white suit. She struck different poses for the camera. Meanwhile, Raveena Tandon recently appeared on the semi-finale episode of Indias Best Dancer Season 5, where she opened up about the demanding work schedules of actresses in the 1990s. She recalled how she and Karisma Kapoor would juggle multiple film projects and shooting locations in a single day. Reflecting on the hectic pace of work during that era, Raveena said that she and Karisma were among the actresses who would often work for what felt like more than 24 hours a day. Raveena admitted that the hectic routine could become so overwhelming that they sometimes even lost track of the characters they were portraying. Reflecting on the hustle of that era, she shared, 90s mein I think do hi heroines thi jo literally 24 ghante mein 36 ghante kaam karte the. Ek Lolo ji hain aur ek main hoon. Aur 6 different productions ke 6 sets pe alag alag ek din mein hum shooting karte the. Do ghante idhar, dedh ghante udhar, teen ghante idhar toh chaar ghante udhar. Hume pata bhi nahi ki hum kaunse character mein hain. Beyond a point, hum bhool jaate the ki joh bhi bola gaya hai woh karo. Uss samay humko kahan rich spoiled brat', ek hi role tha 6 sets pe. (In the 90s, I think there were only two actresses who literally worked 36 hours in a 24-hour day. One was Lolo ji and the other was me. We would shoot for six different productions on six different sets in a single day. Two hours here, one and a half hours there, three hours at another set and then four hours somewhere else. At times, we didnt even know which character we were playing. After a point, we would forget everything and simply do whatever we were told. Back then, there was no such thing as a rich spoiled bratit was the same role across all six sets.)
AAP Leader to Demand FIR Against Delhi Minister Pravesh Verma
AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj plans to approach the police commissioner demanding an FIR against Minister Pravesh Verma for alleged misconduct. AAP Leader to Demand FIR Against Delhi Minister Pravesh Verma
AAP Leader to Demand FIR Against Minister Pravesh Verma
AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj plans to approach the police commissioner demanding an FIR against Minister Pravesh Verma for alleged misconduct. AAP Leader to Demand FIR Against Minister Pravesh Verma
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 28 (IANS) Actor Dev Sharma, who was recently seen portraying Lord Ram in Shri Ramayan Katha, recalled a memorable incident from 2024 during the Ram Mandir inauguration. He recalled when he was shooting in Nainital and witnessed what he described as a fine display of Hindu-Muslim unity during celebrations linked to the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Recalling his experience from Nainital, Dev said he was shooting near the Naina Devi temple when he was hearing reports of tensions and riots in different parts of the country. I would like to say one thing. When the Ayodhya temple was being built in 2024, I was shooting in Nainital. If you have been there, there is the Naina Devi temple in Nainital. And on the way to the Naina Devi temple, there is a very big mosque on the corner. I was hearing everywhere that riots were happening somewhere, this was happening somewhere, that was happening somewhere, Dev said. He recalled how a Ram yatra began from the Naina Devi temple, with the procession passing close to the mosque. During that time, a few things happened, and people told us, Dont go through that area. You have come here to shoot. Today is the construction of the Ram Mandir, so keep watching, he said. Dev said he was surprised by what unfolded as the procession moved ahead. The Ram ji yatra had started from the Naina Devi temple, with people saying, Jai Shri Ram. The mosque was right there, and there were gates on both sides. The whole mosque was full because their prayers had just ended. Everyone felt that something was going to happen because the whole crowd had gathered there, he recalled. According to Dev, the situation unfolded very differently from what people around him had anticipated. He said Muslims who had gathered at the mosque came out and joined the celebrations. You wont believe it. I would like to tell all the audience of India, all the viewers, all the people: every Muslim, whether he was wearing a cap or not, came out and danced to the song of Lalla Shri Ram, Dev said. And they danced in such a way that we were amazed by how happy they were. We were wondering, What is happening? So maybe this is the work of Modi ji, that he has brought everyone together. And when I saw this, I was shaken, he added. I still get goosebumps because whenever I remember it, I am surprised. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, these identities are created by humans. God is the same for everyone, he said. So, the way Hindus and Muslims accepted this at that time was commendable to me, Dev added. Dev Sharma was recently seen portraying Lord Ram in Shri Ramayan Katha, where his portrayal and screen presence received positive responses. The film itself faced criticism from sections of the audience over its treatment of the source material, with viewers questioning its historical and mythological accuracy, storytelling and what they described as deviations from established accounts. The movie directed by Abhishek Singh, also stars Anjali Arora, Sheela Verma and Rajneesh Duggal.
In Islamabad, shipping containers on the streets signal a protest is imminent
ISLAMABAD, September 29, 2026 (AP) Its a familiar sight in Pakistans capital whenever a protest is expected: shipping containers lined up along streets or placed across key routes to restrict demonstrators movement and keep them from reaching sensitive areas. For residents, the steel barriers have become an unmistakable warning of what may follow: blocked streets, snarled traffic and long detours across Islamabad and neighboring Rawalpindi. The latest deployment came ahead of a march by supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan demanding his release. Cranes have lifted red, blue and green containers from trucks and lowered them into
Late September rains bring winter-like chill to Delhi-NCR; more showers likely before dry spell
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Rain brought winter-like weather to Delhi-NCR residents in the early hours of Monday, with the national capital waking up to cooler conditions and cloudy skies. The region is likely to witness isolated rainfall on Tuesday, continuing the light spell recorded on Monday. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), dry weather is expected to set in from September 30, with mainly clear skies likely through the first week of October. Rain, thunderstorms and lightning are expected at isolated places across Delhi, Chandigarh and Haryana on Tuesday. Similar weather conditions are likely in Punjab. However, from September 30, mainly dry weather is expected over several parts of northwest India. As the southwest monsoon nears its final departure from the country, rainfall activity continues across several regions. While some areas are witnessing heavy showers, thunderstorms and strong winds have brought a noticeable change in weather conditions elsewhere. From the hilly states of North India to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Northeast India and several parts of South India, rainfall is expected. Some areas may also receive heavy rain accompanied by strong winds and lightning. According to the IMD, heavy rainfall is likely in Himachal Pradesh, parts of the Northeast, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and South Interior Karnataka. Rain and thunderstorm activity may also continue across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Delhi had received 4.3 mm of rain at Safdarjung on Sunday morning, after recording 0.6 mm until 8.30 p.m. the previous evening, extending rainfall into the final days of September. The September 27 shower was the first rain recorded this late in the month since September 29, 2019, when 0.3 mm was recorded. The late-season rain arrived just four days after the southwest monsoon withdrew from Delhi on September 23. The IMD's normal withdrawal date for the national capital is September 25, based on the 1971-2019 period. This year's withdrawal was the earliest since 2002, when the monsoon exited Delhi on September 20. The 2026 monsoon arrived on July 2, five days later than the normal onset date of June 27. It lasted 83 days, seven days shorter than the normal duration. Delhi's rainfall pattern was also uneven during the season. Safdarjung recorded 728.6 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 23, against the normal 629.7 mm, marking a surplus of 16 per cent. The seasonal rainfall was classified as normal by the IMD despite being above the long-period average. The late showers added at least another 4.3 mm at Safdarjung by Sunday morning. Meanwhile, Delhi-NCR's air quality remained in the 'satisfactory' category. Monitoring stations recorded AQI levels of 58 at Mandir Marg, 60 at Aya Nagar, 60 at Punjabi Bagh, 83 at CRRI Mathura Road, 67 at Sirifort, 72 at IGNOU-Maidan Garhi, 73 at Chandni Chowk, 58 at Burari Crossing, 69 at Anand Vihar, 82 at Mundka, 77 at Jahangirpuri, 70 at Okhla Phase-2 and 65 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Meerut: Security up near mosque ahead of Hanuman Chalisa call
Police have stepped up security around a mosque in the Kesarganj Mandi area here after a video circulated on social media showing a Hindu outfit leader announcing plans to recite the Hanuman Chalisa near the mosque on Tuesday, officials said. Additional police personnel have been deployed outside the mosque and patrolling has been intensified as 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 .
In the grey market, the IPO is commanding a grey market premium (GMP) of over 4%, indicating market expectations of a potential premium over the issue price at listing. However, grey market premiums are unofficial and can change before listing.
Pvt bus operators in TN to observe 24-hour strike on Sept 29 demanding fare hike
The strike will be observed from midnight on September 29 to midnight on September 30
Protests In J and K Assembly Over Statehood
The Jammu and Kashmir assembly has passed a resolution demanding the immediate restoration of full statehood, a move that saw protests and a walkout by BJP legislators. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah questioned the Centre's repeated assurances of restoration at an 'appropriate time'.
Special Place: US Envoy Sergio Gor Visits Amritsar's Golden Temple
During his visit, Gor was briefed about the sacred rituals of Harmandir Sahib, 'Gurbani Kirtan' and the 'Sewa' tradition of the 'Guru Ghar', the SGPC said.
Ruckus in Assembly as BJP storms Well over autonomy reference
Srinagar, Sep 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed a major showdown on Monday as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators led by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma stormed into the Well and staged a sit-in protest over references to the 2000 autonomy resolution and the pre-1953 position in the statehood resolution. The BJP said it was fully in favour of restoration of statehood and was ready for a debate on the issue, but strongly objected to references that, it said, sought to bring the autonomy question and the pre-1953 constitutional position back into the Assembly. We are in favour of statehood, but the language used in the resolution is against the Constitution of India. It is unacceptable, Sharma said in the House. The protests soon disrupted proceedings, with BJP members raising slogans against the government and Speaker Abdur Rahim Rather. The protesting legislators repeatedly entered the Well despite appeals from the Chair to return to their seats. The situation escalated as four MLAsthree from the BJP and one from the Congresswere marshalled out of the House amid the continuing uproar. BJP members raised slogans including Kursi chodo, kursi chodo, Speaker saab kursi chodo and Vande Mataram, turning the Well into the centre of the confrontation. The BJPs protest was triggered by the wording of the resolution, particularly its reference to the Assembly resolution passed in 2000 during the Farooq Abdullah government, which had sought greater autonomy for the erstwhile State and referred to the constitutional position prevailing before August 9, 1953. Statehood yes, autonomy reference no Sharma maintained that the BJP had no objection to restoration of statehood and was prepared to participate in a debate on the issue. However, he said references to autonomy and the pre-1953 position were unacceptable and should not be part of a resolution seeking restoration of statehood. The BJP argued that bringing the 2000 autonomy resolution into the present resolution changed the character of the issue before the House. The Opposition also objected to the Speaker allowing the resolution to be taken up in its present form. BJP MLA R S Pathania moved a motion seeking the removal of Speaker Rather, questioning his decision to admit the resolution. Rather said the motion could not be taken up immediately and would have to follow the prescribed procedure. 'Well turns into protest zone' With tempers rising, BJP legislators moved into the Well and continued their sit-in, raising slogans against the ruling dispensation. The confrontation also saw rival slogans from the treasury and Opposition benches, with BJP members raising Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Mataram, while members on the other side raised slogans demanding restoration of statehood. The marshalling out of four legislators added another flashpoint to the already charged proceedings. The BJP insisted that its position on statehood should not be confused with its opposition to the autonomy reference. The party maintained that restoration of statehood was a separate issue and that the Assembly should debate it without bringing back questions relating to the erstwhile constitutional arrangement. The controversy over the wording of the resolution has consequently turned the statehood debate into a larger political confrontation in the Assembly, with the BJP challenging the inclusion of the 2000 autonomy resolution and the pre-1953 reference, while the ruling benches have defended their right to place the issue before the House. The dramatic scenes, slogans, protest in the Well and marshalling out of four MLAs, including one Congress MLA, marked one of the most turbulent episodes of the ongoing Assembly session.
Congress takes fight against CEC Gyanesh Kumar to streets
The Congress party has launched nationwide protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his removal. Accusing him of acting in favour of the BJP and citing alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions (SIR), party workers burned effigies and clashed with police. Opposition parties plan further action, including a meeting of the INDIA bloc to strategize for his ouster.
Deputy CM questions BJP stand on statehood
Srinagar, Sep 28: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Monday questioned the BJPs stand on restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying the demand was being raised for the people and not for any individual or political party. Speaking to reporters, Choudhary also raised concerns over the functioning of various departments and institutions, saying important decisions should be taken by the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir. He referred to the discussion on statehood in the Legislative Assembly and said the government had already passed resolutions on the issue, while reiterating that the Centre had made commitments regarding restoration of statehood. Two years have passed, but statehood has still not been restored, Choudhary said, adding that instead of restoration, changes in the rules of business had created further hurdles in the functioning of the elected government. He also questioned why a discussion listed in the Assemblys business was opposed, saying that members had the opportunity to put forward their views on the floor of the House. If there was any objection or doubt, this is a democracy. There are microphones and allotted seats in the Assembly, and members could have participated in the discussion, he said. On the statehood resolution, Choudhary said the government had sought to remind the Prime Minister and Home Minister of their earlier commitments regarding restoration of statehood. He said the commitments had been made before the elections and reiterated during the election campaign in Jammu and Kashmir. Choudhary also referred to pending issues concerning reservation and daily wagers, saying recommendations on reservation had already been forwarded by the concerned committee but the matter was still awaiting further action. He said the government wanted greater powers for the elected Assembly so that decisions concerning Jammu and Kashmir could be taken within the region. We are demanding statehood for the common people. We want the people of Jammu and Kashmir to be empowered in this Assembly so that they can secure their rights and interests through their elected representatives, he said. Choudhary further criticised BJP legislators over their protests in the Assembly, arguing that they could have participated in the scheduled discussion instead of disrupting proceedings. He also questioned the circumstances under which Jammu and Kashmirs statehood was altered in Parliament in 2019, asking whether the views of the people or the elected representatives had been sought at that time. The Deputy Chief Minister said the issue of statehood would remain a major political and public concern in Jammu and Kashmir.
AIP backs statehood resolution
Srinagar, Sep 28: Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) senior leader and Langate MLA Sheikh Khursheed on Monday backed the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly resolution seeking restoration of statehood, saying the regions political identity and democratic rights must be restored. Speaking during the discussion on the resolution, Khursheed said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had lost their political identity, flag and emblem and that these should be restored. Statehood is about our political identity, dignity and democratic rights, he said, adding that restoration of statehood should not be treated as a concession or favour. Khursheed also criticised the National Conference for repeatedly referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modis 2024 commitment on statehood, saying political promises should not be remembered selectively. He questioned why the NC did not similarly refer to commitments made by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The commitments made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir have a history and that history cannot be selectively remembered for political convenience, Khursheed said. During the Assembly proceedings, he also displayed a poster carrying the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State flag and emblem, with a message demanding restoration of what he described as rights taken away from the people.
Congress protests over alleged vote chori in Srinagar
Srinagar, Sep 28: The District Congress Committee (DCC) Srinagar staged a protest at the J&K Congress headquarters on Sunday, alleging electoral irregularities and demanding greater transparency and accountability in the electoral process. The protest was led by DCC Srinagar president Dr Audil Farooq Mir and attended by senior Congress leaders, Youth Congress and Mahila Congress workers. Rajya Sabha MP and AICC Media and Publicity Department chairman Pawan Khera also joined the demonstration. The protest took place amid police deployment, barricading and concertina wires around the Congress headquarters. Protesters raised slogans and burned effigies of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Police personnel intervened to extinguish and remove the burning effigies. Addressing the gathering, Mir alleged that the Congress had been raising concerns over what it termed electoral theft and said recent developments had reinforced the partys concerns. He demanded an investigation into decisions taken under Kumars tenure as Chief Election Commissioner and called for his resignation. Mir also demanded the resignations of the Prime Minister and Home Minister, alleging that the Election Commission was acting at their behest. The Congress said the Srinagar demonstration was part of a wider district-level mobilisation across the country and reiterated its demand for safeguards to protect the independence and credibility of the Election Commission.
BJP moves motion to remove Speaker
Srinagar, Sep 28: Opposition BJP on Monday moved a motion to remove Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Abdul Rahim Rather for allowing the resolution brought by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah demanding full statehood restoration. The BJP said the resolution was allowed by the speaker in contravention of the rules. As soon as []
Congress Protests in Punjab Demanding Resignation and Arrest of Chief Election Commissioner
Thousands of Congress workers in Firozpur protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his resignation and arrest. Congress Protests in Punjab Demanding Resignation and Arrest of Chief Election Commissioner
Telangana Congress Protests Demanding Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner
The Telangana Congress staged a massive protest in Hyderabad, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter list irregularities. Telangana Congress Protests Demanding Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner
Catherine Zeta-Jones WARNS About AIs Rapid Rise: Theres NO Guardrails
Catherine Zeta-Jones is speaking out about the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, warning that the technology is moving quickly without enough guardrails. During a London appearance for Kill Jackie, Zeta-Jones said she is particularly concerned about AI chatbots and their impact on vulnerable children. Co-star Daniel Ings also questioned whether AI actors have a future, saying he does not see audiences demanding artificial performers. Kill Jackie premieres October 2.
Bike Patrols, Surprise Night Checks At Delhi Parks After Kalkaji Gang Rape
The measures come after a 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by three men posing as policemen at Aastha Kunj, a DDA-maintained park near Kalkaji Mandir, on September 21. All three accused were subsequently arrested, police said.
Congress stages protest in Kalaburagi demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumars resignation
The Kalaburagi district unit of the Congress on Monday staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioners office here, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the Election Commission was functioning with clear political bias
Maha drought worsens, cancels leave for 11 departments
The Maharashtra government has cancelled leaves for employees across 11 departments involved in drought management to assess widespread crop damage, particularly affecting soybean. This follows the declaration of drought in 265 talukas and the announcement of relief measures. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule is on an assessment tour, facing protests from Congress workers demanding immediate farmer relief.
The also demanded the removal of the CEC, an independent probe into the ECIs decisions, and a public social audit of the electoral roll; if free and fair polls are under threat, then what remains of democracy? asks senior lawyer Kapil Sibal
Himachal Congress holds statewide protest, demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Himachal Pradesh Congress on Monday held a statewide protest against the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI), demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and action against him over what the party alleged were arbitrary and undemocratic decisions concerning the electoral process. Congress district units staged demonstrations at all 12 district headquarters in Himachal Pradesh and submitted memoranda addressed to the President of India through the respective Deputy Commissioners. In Shimla, the rural and urban units of the District Congress Committee jointly submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, raising concerns over the functioning of the Election Commission and demanding the removal and resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. The Congress has been protesting against the way Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has been conducted and has alleged irregularities in the electoral process. The party ha...
District Congress units stage rallies in Mawkyrwat, Jowai demanding CEC
Mawkyrwat/Jowai: Demanding the arrest and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged vote theft through Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026, the Congress on Monday held protest rallies in South West Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills. In Mawkyrwat, the District Congress Committee took out a rally and burnt the effigy of the [] The post District Congress units stage rallies in Mawkyrwat, Jowai demanding CECs arrest over vote theft first appeared on Highland Post .
IIT-Bombay student case: Sahil Wakodes family begin protest at Mumbais Azad Maidan
The parents of Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student who died at IIT Bombay on September 18, have launched a day-long hunger strike at Mumbais Azad Maidan demanding a CBI probe and immediate action against institutional authorities named in their complaint.
Anjali Patils Selvi unveils new poster ahead of Busan International Film Festival premiere
Ahead of its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival, the makers of Selvi have unveiled a new poster featuring National Award-winning actor Anjali Patil in the titular role. The Tamil-language drama is among the two Indian films selected for the Vision Asia section at the 31st Busan International Film Festival. Directed by debut filmmaker Sailesh Rathnakumar, Selvi follows Selvi, played by Patil, a migrant home-care nurse working in the homes of wealthy families. Her job involves demanding shifts that can last anywhere between 12 and 72 hours, leaving her with little time for rest, independence or a life outside work. The film begins as a story centred on migration, female friendship and the realities of caregiving. However, the narrative gradually takes a darker turn when details of an incident from Selvis past begin to emerge. The story then moves into the space of a psychological thriller, exploring themes of memory, survival and the lengths a person may go to protect the life they have built. The newly unveiled poster originated from an idea by Anushka Madhavan, which was further developed by Sailesh and given its final treatment by Shree Teertha. Through its imagery, movement and layered visual elements, the poster seeks to offer a glimpse into Selvis inner world. Anjali Patil, who also serves as the films producer, spoke about the significance of the project and its upcoming premiere at Busan. She said, Selvi is a very personal film for me, and as a producer and actor, this journey has meant a lot. The film looks at migration, caregiving, labour, dignity and survival through an Indian experience, but these are conversations that go beyond borders. Im very excited to take Selvi to Busan and experience the festival with the film. There is something special about seeing a film you have worked on so closely being presented to an international audience. Im looking forward to being there, meeting filmmakers and audiences, and sharing Selvi with them. It feels like a very meaningful moment for all of us. The film has been edited by nine-time National Award winner A. Sreekar Prasad, while the sound design is by National Award winner Anand Krishnamoorthi, who received the National Award for Ponniyin Selvan: Part I. Archana Padmini and Vinoth Kishan are also part of the principal cast. Selvi is co-produced by the Red Sea Fund, an initiative of the Red Sea International Film Festival, and supported by Hong Kong Asia Film Financing. The film is set to have its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival this October. Also Read : Busan International Film Festival unveils trailer of Anjali Patil starrer Selvi; National Award winner stars in Tamil drama about migration and caregiving
Raichandani's 210* puts India U-19 in control vs Australia
Opener Lakshya Raichandani smashed an unbeaten 210, including 20 fours and four sixes, to help India Under-19s secure a commanding 213-run first-innings lead over Australia Under-19s in the opening Youth Test in Rajkot.
Women sat on dharna in front of the liquor shop demanding its closure
Nampally revenue inspector caught taking Rs 15,000 bribe
Hyderabad: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday, September 28, caught a revenue inspector from the Nampally Mandal in the Nalgonda district for demanding and accepting Rs 15,000 as a bribe in exchange for an official favour. The accused, Rallabandi Gopa Raju, allegedly demanded the bribe amount through Adulla Yadagiri, working as an assistant, and the 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 .
Congress stages protests demanding CECs resignation
Congress intensifies protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing threats to democracy and the Constitution. Congress Demands Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Amidst Allegations of Threats to Democracy
CEC Gyanesh Kumar under pressure over alleged manipulation of electoral rolls
NEW DELHI, Sept 28 (Reuters) Opposition groups are demanding the resignation of Indias election chief Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of widespread voter-list manipulation during the verification of the countrys one billion voters. The calls come barely a month after US President Donald Trump praised Kumar, a former bureaucrat who took over as Indias chief election commissioner in February 2025, for insisting that Indian voters prove their identity with photo ID, unlike in the US. Criticism of Kumar, who has denied all allegations, soared last week when the Indian Express newspaper said his two de facto deputies had raised at
Netrokona JCD leader accused of posing as journalist, demanding Tk 50,000 extortion from covered van
Party expels Salman Rahman Pallab as police trying to arrest him, associates
Young Indian Cricketer Shines with Unbeaten Double Century Against Australia
Indias U-19 team takes a commanding lead in the unofficial Test series with a stellar performance from 17-year-old Lakshya Raichandani. Young Indian Cricketer Shines with Unbeaten Double Century Against Australia
Bengal: Teachers protest in Kolkata demanding job security
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 28 (IANS) A section of computer teachers from state government and government-sponsored schools staged a protest at Bikash Bhavan in Salt Lake, Kolkata, on Monday, demanding job security as they face imminent dismissal. Hundreds of teachers sat on the road after police blocked their way, preventing them from entering Bikash Bhavan. When police tried to stop the procession with barricades, protesters attempted to move forward by throwing them down. Police later informed that a delegation of 10 people would be allowed inside, but the teachers insisted they would not withdraw without a government notification ensuring their jobs. More than 3,000 computer teachers in the state were appointed by private organisations before and after 2022 under five-year contracts. Some contracts expire this year, while others end in early 2027. Recently, the organisations issued letters stating contracts would expire on September 30, with all documents to be handed over to the responsible agency by October 9. Since the Left Front era, the government has appointed computer teachers on a contract basis in government and government-aided schools. Later, the Trinamool Congress government also allowed such appointments. Teachers said appointments were made in the sixth and seventh stages through private organisations in 2022 and earlier, but the government did not regularise them. The teachers alleged that salaries had been reduced by about Rs 1,000 in recent months due to changes in government rules. They claimed dismissal would affect their families and school authorities, as most project work is now digital. On Monday, the procession began at Karunamoyee bus stand. As it reached Bikash Bhavan, a scuffle broke out with police. Teachers tried to advance by throwing barricades but were blocked again, after which they sat in front of the building. One teacher said: We are being dismissed from our jobs like this before Durga Puja. What kind of justice is this? The government must take action. We have helped students in schools, and now this is the reward?
Congress and opposition parties continue protests demanding resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar
The News Mill
CBDT Extends Corporate ITR Filing, Tax Audit Deadlines by 21 Days for AY 2026-27
Tax practitioners have been demanding an extension of the corporate statutory audit report and ITR filing deadline from September 30 citing compressed audit window following the August 31 deadline for filing ITR in non-audit cases
'A serious problem, can't just wish it away': Karti Chidambaram on concerns over EC's SIR process
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS) Amid street protests in several states by Congress workers demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, party MP Karti Chidambaram said on Monday that the irregularities in the poll panel about conceptualisation and implementation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a matter of serious concern and it just can't be wished away. He said that the issue of 'widespread discrepancies' in the poll panel's SIR process has left everyone 'alarmed and dismayed' including the civil society, citizens and the political parties and hence it was important to address them. Taking objection to Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda's remarks, where he accused the Opposition of spreading confusion and anarchy, Karti Chidambaram said that the Union Minister can't just brush the problem under the carpet. Referring to voices seeking Election Commission's (EC) justification from NDA's own allies, the Congress leader said, All the political parties are on the same page. There have been instances of alliance partners of BJP from Bihar asking for clarifications. So, it's not just the parties in the Opposition that are raising these questions. Even alliance partners of the BJP are raising these questions. So, this is a widespread problem. When questioned on the recent joint sitting of the Election Commissioners in wake of dissent row, Karti Chidambaram said that the staged event can't remove the doubts that has seeped into the minds of people. A photo opportunity and a staged event can't gloss over grave concerns, the people of India have about the functioning of the Election Commission. The entire SIR process, the way it has been designed, engineered and implemented, raises a lot of questions, he added. Karti Chidambaram also said that these questions have not only been raised by civil society and political parties, but also from within the Election Commission and hence the latter can't run away from the accountability. Earlier on Monday, JP Nadda speaking to the press, accused the INDIA bloc of devising new ways to spread confusion and anarchy, because of its frustration and despondency over country's progress.
US Ambassador Gor pays obeisance at Golden Temple
Digital Desk | Amritsar, Sep 28 (IANS) US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Monday visited the Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh in Punjab's Amritsar as part of a day-long visit to the holy city, leading a 28-member American delegation. Gor paid obeisance at the Sri Harmandir Sahib, Sikhism's holiest shrine that gets millions of visitors annually, where he was welcomed by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami and Acting Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj. With their heads covered, the delegation, comprising Senators, senior government officials and foreign policy scholars, bowed before the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book that is considered as a living guru. During his interaction with Sikh religious leaders, Gor discussed issues concerning the Sikh community, including the principle of human equality and matters relating to Sikhs in the United States. Officials of the SGPC, the mini-Parliament of Sikh religious affairs that controls gurdwaras, including the Golden Temple, welcomed the US Ambassador and members of the delegation according to Sikh traditions. Gor reportedly told Sikh leaders that it was his second visit to the shrine, having earlier visited it with his parents. Following the visit to the Golden Temple, the delegation visited Jallianwala Bagh, the historic memorial commemorating the massacre of April 13, 1919, when British troops opened fire on a gathering of people. The delegation's itinerary also included the Partition Museum, which documents the human tragedy and experiences of people displaced during the 1947 Partition. During Gor's visit to the Golden Temple, a brief demonstration took place outside the shrine's main entrance, where Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) Acting President Emaan Singh Mann and his supporters raised slogans, including Khalistan Zindabad and God Bless America. Elaborate security arrangements were made by the local administration and police for the US Ambassador's visit, with special arrangements for traffic management along the route connecting the city's prominent religious and historical landmarks. The visit provided an opportunity for the US delegation to engage with Sikh religious leadership and explore Amritsar's religious, historical and cultural heritage. Among the prominent world leaders who have visited the shrine are former US President Barack Obama, former UK Prime Minister David Cameron and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Cameron became the first British Prime Minister to visit the Golden Temple in February 2013. In October 1997, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip also paid a visit to the Sikh shrine.
SUCI (Communist) Protests in Bhubaneswar Demanding Removal of CEC and Cancellation of SIR
The Odisha State Committee of the SUCI (Communist) staged a powerful demonstration at Master Canteen Square in Bhubaneswar, protesting the alleged authoritarian removal of over 13 crore citizens from voter lists nationwide. The agitation was part of a nationwide call given by the SUCI (Communist) Central Committee. Leaders strongly criticised Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh [] The post SUCI (Communist) Protests in Bhubaneswar Demanding Removal of CEC and Cancellation of SIR appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
Patna stir turns tense as police use water cannons, lathi-charge protestors
Digital Desk | Patna, Sep 28 (IANS) Patna witnessed heightened protest activity on Monday as thousands of protesters from several organisations took to the streets over a range of demands. The situation turned tense at J.P. Golambar and Dak Bungalow Crossing, where police used barricades, water cannons and subsequently resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse protesters. Nursing and paramedical students were among those participating in the demonstrations. The students were protesting over examination results at the Bihar University of Health Sciences (BUHS) and demanding the removal of the Vice-Chancellor. Tensions escalated as protesters moved from J.P. Golambar towards Dak Bungalow Crossing. Police had erected barricades to prevent the march from advancing, but some protesters allegedly uprooted the barricades and attempted to move forward. A scuffle subsequently broke out between police personnel and protesters. Despite the police intervention, the protesters continued towards Dak Bungalow Crossing. The administration had established a security perimeter at Dak Bungalow Crossing, including barricades and barbed wire, to prevent protesters from advancing further. When some protesters attempted to breach the security arrangements, police deployed water cannons to disperse the crowd. Protesters continued raising slogans despite the water jets, with some reportedly waving slippers towards the police. The situation subsequently escalated, following which the police resorted to a lathi-charge. Protesters alleged that several students were injured during the police action. According to those participating in the demonstration, four students sustained injuries to their heads, hands and other parts of their bodies. However, the exact number of people injured and the nature of their injuries could not be independently established from the available information. Official figures may differ from claims made by protesters. Rural SP Komal Meena was also reportedly injured during the confrontation. A major component of Monday's protests involved nursing and paramedical students of the Bihar University of Health Sciences. The students alleged that around 80 per cent of candidates had failed their examinations and said the results had adversely affected their academic and professional futures. They are demanding a review of the results and the removal of the university's Vice-Chancellor. The 80 per cent failure figure is an allegation made by the protesting students and has not been independently confirmed. Monday's protests involved several groups pursuing different demands. One group of protesters reportedly moved towards the Chief Minister's residence, while CPI-ML activists had announced plans to surround Lok Bhawan. Separately, protesters gathered with posters demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstrations added to the already heightened political activity in the state capital. With multiple groups taking to the streets simultaneously, police deployed additional personnel at key locations and used barricading and crowd-control measures to regulate the movement of protesters. The developments led to disruptions at several major points in central Patna as authorities attempted to prevent the demonstrations from moving beyond designated areas.
No relief for farmers till assessment reports are finalised: Maha Minister
Digital Desk | Yavatmal, Sep 28 (IANS) Despite the state government declaring drought across 75 per cent of Maharashtra, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Monday clarified that farmers will not receive immediate financial aid. He said disbursements would take place only after complete loss assessment reports (panchnamas) are finalised to ensure no affected farmer is excluded or unfairly compensated. Bawankule, who heads the newly appointed Cabinet Sub-Committee on Drought Relief, explained that premature financial aid without thorough ground reports would ultimately harm farmers. Our goal is to ensure that not a single eligible farmer is excluded. Different crops, such as cotton, soybean, turmeric, sugarcane, horticulture and orange orchards, have distinct damage parameters. Releasing funds today without ground assessments would lead to inaccurate compensation. Comprehensive reports are necessary, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will formally announce the financial package once these are finalised, he said. To streamline the process, the Cabinet Sub-Committee will meet every Tuesday to review the evolving situation across affected districts. Bawankule emphasised that precise ground verification is critical for securing funds under National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) guidelines. He also directed MSEDCL to ensure 12 hours of uninterrupted power supply to agricultural feeders, with power availability issues to be reviewed weekly. Responding to letters from opposition leaders, including NCP chief Sharad Pawar, demanding urgent drought relief, Bawankule said the government had received over 2,000 such letters. Opposition leaders are merely performing their duty by writing letters, but our government is not acting solely because of them, he remarked. He added that the Chief Minister had personally visited farm bunds to assess the situation. Talukas omitted from the drought list would also be evaluated after thorough study. He urged political parties to avoid politicising the crisis and contribute to relief efforts. On protests regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Bawankule accused the Opposition of spreading negativity. After raising baseless doubts about EVMs, they are now targeting the SIR process. What is wrong with ensuring accurate voter lists? he asked, alleging that opposition parties fail to work at the booth level and instead rely on false narratives. He added that voters had rejected misinformation during recent elections, resulting in strong public support for the ruling alliance.
