Congress Working Committee to meet on Tuesday, INDIA Bloc on Wednesday

On September 30, top leaders of the INDIA opposition alliance will meet to discuss electoral roll revisions. The Congress Working Committee is set to convene a day earlier to formulate a campaign strategy. The INDIA bloc aims to unite in demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Additionally, Left parties are advocating for broader mobilisation against the Special Intensive Revision process.

Udit Raj Accuses Election Commission of Bias Towards BJP

Congress leader Udit Raj criticizes the Election Commission for alleged bias, citing voter discrepancies and demanding accountability. Udit Raj Accuses Election Commission of Bias Towards BJP

Maharashtra Congress Launches Statewide Protest Against Election Commission

The Maharashtra Congress plans a statewide protest on September 28, demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner amid allegations of bias. Maharashtra Congress Launches Statewide Protest Against Election Commission

Sukhu lays stone for 21 projects worth Rs 136 crore in Mandi

Mandi outreach: Sukhu unveils infra push, scheme revisions

Maha Dy CM demands apology from Rahul Gandhi, slams INDIA Bloc

Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 26 (IANS) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Opposition, demanding an unconditional public apology from Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and leaders of the INDIA alliance for spreading what he termed false and baseless allegations against constitutional institutions. Shinde asserted that the alliances politics relied on fake narratives to mislead citizens and malign national leadership. Referring to recent claims of internal rifts within the Election Commission of India (ECI), he said the Oppositions attempt to celebrate false news had backfired, as the unanimous joint statement issued by all three Election Commissioners had completely deflated the propaganda. Using these false claims, Rahul Gandhi and his allies attempted to defame and target Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Spreading calculated misinformation to weaken faith in democratic processes has become the habit of the Opposition, Shinde said. He added that Rahul Gandhi must apologise to the nation for indulging in smear campaigns. Shinde alleged that the INDI alliance consistently targeted democratic institutions, including the Election Commission and courts, whenever election results did not favour them. He accused opposition leaders of stoking mistrust, spreading rumours and attempting to confuse voters. He asserted that 140 crore citizens stood firmly behind PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, rendering false allegations ineffective. The aware public of the country clearly recognises these political games and will give a fitting reply at the appropriate time, Shinde said, warning that attempts to undermine constitutional sanctity would lead to further political isolation of the Opposition. Meanwhile, former Maharashtra Chief Minister and present BJP MP Ashok Chavan also criticised Rahul Gandhi over his statements on the poll panel. In his post on X, Chavan wrote: One frustrated opposition leader, with a plethora of lies. Rahul Gandhi: SIR was a unilateral decision. MeanwhileECI Press Note: unanimous approval of the Commission. Plot twist: the receipts came from the institution itself.

Maha: Congress protests demanding Gyanesh Kumars dismissal

Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 26 (IANS) The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Saturday escalated its confrontation with the Election Commission of India (ECI), announcing a statewide agitation on September 28. The party is demanding the dismissal and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of acting in a partisan manner to benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and undermining democratic institutions. The announcement comes amid mounting political friction following allegations by the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, regarding widespread Vote Chori (vote theft). Congress claimed these allegations were substantiated by reports of internal dissent within the poll panel, where fellow Election Commissioners reportedly flagged procedural irregularities. At the centre of the partys offensive is the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The MPCC alleged that over 3 crore eligible voters have been erased from Maharashtras electoral rolls under the SIR process. Nationwide, the party alleged 13 crore voters have been deprived of their rights. Congress highlighted that while Maharashtras voter base expanded by 47 lakh electors before the 2024 Assembly elections, the Commission has not verified the current status of these newly added voters. Similar purges of legitimate voters were allegedly carried out in other non-BJP-ruled states, including West Bengal and Bihar. Deleting the names of legitimate, eligible voters from the electoral rolls is an outright assault on the Constitution. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumars authoritarian conduct is a direct attack on Indian democracy, MPCC president Harshwardhan Sapkal said in an official statement. The agitation follows media reports revealing that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally recorded dissent on at least 14 occasions over the past 10 months regarding decisions made during the SIR rollout.

Asian Games: China Leads, India Ranks 10th On Day 7

The Asian Games medals tally after Day 7 shows China in a commanding lead with 176 medals, including 107 gold. Japan and Korea follow, while India is positioned tenth with a total of 30 medals.

Karnataka CM Accuses Election Commission of Colluding with BJP in Vote Theft

Karnatakas CM DK Shivakumar claims the Election Commission is complicit with BJP in vote theft, demanding its dissolution and reform of voter lists. Karnataka CM Accuses Election Commission of Colluding with BJP in Vote Theft

Minister urges police constables to stay disciplined, technically aware

Participating in the passing-out programme of trainee constables, Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy says government giving top priority to filling vacant posts in the police department

UNGA 2026: Vulnerable nations reject climate debt trap

Digital Desk | United Nations, Sep 26 (IANS) Climate-vulnerable countries have told the United Nations (UN) General Assembly they should not be forced deeper into debt to rebuild from disasters they did little to cause, demanding grants and faster access to international finance. Leaders from the Caribbean, Pacific, Indian Ocean and Himalayas said the system often answered storms, floods and rising seas with expensive loans and years of paperwork, transferring the cost to its least responsible victims. Samoan Deputy Prime Minister Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioo said money intended for education, health, water and social protection was being diverted to disaster recovery. Small nations are being asked to finance both development and survival. No nation should have to borrow its way out of a crisis it did so little to create, Molioo said. Saint Lucian Prime Minister Philip J Pierre said eligibility for finance should reflect climate vulnerability as well as national income. We must stop confusing loans with solidarity, Pierre said. A loan is not justice when a small vulnerable nation is forced to borrow to repair damage it did not cause. Nepal made a similar case after catastrophic flash floods killed at least 1,400 people and left more than 6,000 missing. Initial assessments placed physical recovery needs at about 10 per cent of its gross domestic product. When a climate-driven disaster destroys the infrastructure of a poor country, the answer cannot simply be another mega loan or a patchwork of small grants, Prime Minister Balendra Shah said. He called for adequate grant-based support and said the Loss and Damage Fund and other environmental financing mechanisms remained grossly inadequate. When the house is burning, we do not ask the family to complete fifty forms. We act, Shah said. Palauan President Surangel Whipps said countries facing severe sea-level rise should not be burdened with debt simply to purchase a life jacket for their survival. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Godwin Friday said small states could not keep borrowing to replace infrastructure repeatedly destroyed by climate disasters. We cannot continue to walk up the down escalator, pretending it is development, Friday said. Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader said climate finance should be delivered as quickly as storms strike the Caribbean. He called vulnerability a lived reality rather than a statistical category. The Maldives said resilience required finance to reach vulnerable countries without delay. At the scale. At the speed. And on the terms needed to build resilience, Vice-President Hussain Mohamed Latheef said. Seychelles said its climate ambitions were being blocked by structural economic barriers and demanded affordable long-term finance and meaningful debt relief. Mitigation, adaptation, technology transfer, and loss-and-damage funding are not acts of charitythey are legal obligations, President Mathew Antonio Patrick Herminie said. Fijian President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu pointed to the Pacific Resilience Facility, a Pacific-owned climate and disaster-financing mechanism whose first grants were reaching communities. It exists because a village seawall does not need a three-year accreditation process. It needs money that arrives, Lalabalavu said. The Bahamas said lending rules could leave island states too prosperous for help until a hurricane made them poor. Nauru called for vulnerability, rather than income alone, to determine access to development finance.

Gangotri-Gaumukh trek tragedy: Maharashtra tourist falls into gorge, remains untraced

Digital Desk | Uttarkashi, Sep 26 (IANS) A 65-year-old tourist from Maharashtra went missing after falling into a deep gorge along the Gangotri-Gaumukh trekking route in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. According to officials, search and rescue operations are underway for the second consecutive day while heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions continue to persist. According to the District Emergency Operations Centre (DEOC), a group of five tourists from Maharashtra had set out from Gangotri towards Gaumukh on September 25. At around 2:30 p.m., Ram Kumar Hanuman Gupta, 65, reportedly slipped near Kachhidang, beyond Chirbasa, and fell into a gorge estimated to be around 130 metres deep. He has remained untraced since the incident. After the incident, teams from the forest department, police, SDRF and local porters were deployed for the search operation. On Saturday, an 18-member team comprising six SDRF personnel from Gangotri, four Nepali porters, four forest department personnel from Bhojwasa, two police personnel and two porters took part in the operation. The teams searched extensively around Kachhidang, Chirbasa, Devgarh Khale and along the riverbank below Ram Mandir. However, persistent rain and difficult weather conditions hampered the rescue operation, and no trace of the missing tourist was found till late evening. Officials said the search would be intensified once weather conditions improve. The other members of the trekking group have been identified as Deepak Chhotelal, Shivsevak Motilal, Vishal Ram Kumar and Nikhil Suresh. The missing tourist's family members are present in Gangotri, while the other trekkers are staying at a hotel in Gangotri. Meanwhile, in view of the red alert issued by the weather department, the district administration has suspended the pilgrimage to Gangotri and Yamunotri dhams at the Hina and Dobata holding points as a precautionary measure. The emergency operations centre and smart control room have been placed on alert, while rainfall and landslide-related developments are being continuously monitored, said officials. Authorities have also directed the National Highway, BRO, PWD and PMGSY officials to keep machinery and manpower ready for immediate clearance of blocked roads.

Ben Allison's 11-wicket match haul seals Derbyshire demolition

Worcestershire wrap up season with commanding victory at New Road

Tripura BJP serves show-cause notice to prominent leader over Dharmanagar incidents

Digital Desk | Agartala, Sep 26 (IANS) The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has served a seven-day show-cause notice on Barnali Goswami, former Chairperson of the Tripura State Commission for Women, seeking an explanation over her alleged role in recent incidents in Dharmanagar under North Tripura district, a party leader said on Saturday. Goswami is the wife of BJPs sitting Dharmanagar MLA Jahar Chakraborti. The notice, dated September 25, was served on Goswami on behalf of the BJP's Disciplinary Committee by Samrendra Chandra Deb. According to the notice, an unpleasant incident involving BJP workers and supporters recently took place in the Dharmanagar Mandal area of North Tripura district, following which Goswami's name appeared in reports circulated on social media and widely through electronic media. The notice said reports submitted by the BJP's district President and district in-charge regarding the adverse developments had also come to the notice of the state President Abhishek Debroy. It further said that the recent developments had created an adverse reaction towards the BJP both within the organisation and among the public. The Bharatiya Janata Party does not tolerate or approve any provocative activity or activity in violation of party discipline, the notice said. Goswami has been asked to explain, within seven days of receiving the notice, her role and position in connection with the developments and to provide in writing reasons why disciplinary action should not be initiated against her. The notice warned that failure to submit an explanation within the stipulated period would invite action under the party's rules. The show-cause notice comes amid tensions within the BJP's Dharmanagar organisation following a protest by members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) at Dharmanagar Government Degree College on September 22. During the protest, ABVP members raised Go Back slogans when Goswami arrived at the college. The students had raised issues including shortage of teachers, drinking-water facilities and disruption of academic activities. The developments were followed by reports of clashes between rival groups of BJP workers in Dharmanagar. Separate allegations also emerged regarding the assault of the father of an ABVP student leader following the college incident. On September 24, ABVP activists staged a protest outside the Dharmanagar District Magistrate's office, demanding action against those allegedly responsible for the assault. The protesters also burnt an effigy of Goswami. Complaints and counter-complaints have reportedly been lodged in connection with the incidents. The BJP's show-cause notice, however, does not itself establish Goswami's involvement in any assault or clash. It seeks her explanation regarding her role and position in connection with the developments and refers to reports in which her name appeared. Goswamis response to the notice and any subsequent decision by the BJP's state leadership are now awaited. While responding to media queries on the Dharmanagar incidents, Chief Minister Manik Saha had said that the BJPs Disciplinary Committee was looking into the matter. Any kind of indiscipline or unpleasant activity will not be tolerated or approved by the party, Saha said earlier this week.

Congress to protest across Maharashtra on September 28 to demand action against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Congress announced on Saturday that it will stage protests across Maharashtra on September 28, demanding the dismissal and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The party alleged that 13 crore voters were removed from electoral rolls across the country during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and that 47 lakh voters had been added to the electoral rolls before the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections. The party said that its leader Rahul Gadhi's repeated claims of vote theft have been vindicated.

Bengaluru murder: Clothing tag helps police trace Odisha womans body, arrest husband

Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Sep 26 (IANS) A government rule requiring vacant sites to be cleaned has helped Sampigehalli police crack a murder case in MS Nagar Agrahara Layout, where a man allegedly killed his wife and dumped her body at an empty site, police said on Saturday. The accused, identified as Sagar Chandra Rawat, 32, and his wife Anusuya, 28, both from Odisha, had fallen in love and married. The couple worked at different hotels in Bengaluru. According to police, the couple had a heated argument over a financial issue on August 11. During the quarrel, Rawat allegedly strangled Anusuya to death. He then stayed in the house with her body for three days before wrapping it in a mattress and dumping it at a vacant site. The body was discovered after the site owner sent workers to clean the premises under the governments vacant-site cleaning rules. Workers found the decomposed body of an unidentified woman, reportedly partially eaten by stray dogs. Police said sanitation workers cleaning the plot on September 2 noticed a mattress tied with ropes. A foul smell prompted them to alert the police. Officers opened the mattress and found the decomposed body. As the body was badly decomposed, police initially faced difficulties in identifying the victim. A clothing tag bearing the name of a mall was found on the body. Using the tag details and the associated bill, police traced the victims identity. Investigators said the couple often quarrelled over financial matters. On August 11, Anusuya went to Rawats hotel demanding his salary. The argument continued at home, where Rawat allegedly lost his temper and strangled her. Following the investigation, police arrested Rawat nearly 20 days after the murder. The probe is ongoing.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar, ECs Sandhu-Joshi meet; Form 6, SIR decisions clarified (Lead)

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday sought to quell reports of differences within the poll panel, with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi holding a full commission meeting at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi. In a detailed press note accompanied by a photograph of the three commissioners, the EC addressed allegations concerning its internal functioning, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, voter enrolment and its technology systems. The statement came days after The Indian Express reported on September 23 that Sandhu and Joshi had raised objections to several decisions and orders linked to the SIR exercise. The reports triggered a wider political controversy, with Opposition parties questioning the functioning of the Commission and demanding greater transparency. The EC maintained that the June 24, 2025, order launching the SIR across states and Union Territories was approved unanimously by all three commissioners. It said subsequent schedules related to the exercise were also issued with unanimous approval. The Commission further noted that the Supreme Court had upheld the original SIR order. On Form 6, used for enrolment of new voters, the EC addressed concerns over a declaration introduced during the SIR process requiring applicants to establish their linkage with the previous SIR through their parents' names. The Commission said the declaration had been upheld by the Supreme Court. Outside the SIR exercise, it clarified, forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, would continue to be used. The Commission also responded to questions surrounding 97 voters in Goa who had initially been left out of the electoral rolls. It said the Chief Electoral Officer, Goa, had directed Booth Level Officers to conduct house-to-house visits and collect the necessary forms. Of the 97 voters, 81 had already submitted Form 6 for inclusion. On ECINET, concerns had been raised about access to electoral-roll databases and the functioning of the portal. The EC said field officials receive role-based access in accordance with their statutory powers. It announced a review of ECINET by a committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT. The Commission also clarified that a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary concerned the redistribution of work involving an officer on deputation related to the officer's functioning, rather than any policy concerning the EC or its IT division. As part of measures to strengthen internal procedures, the EC said agendas for Commission meetings would be circulated in advance and minutes issued thereafter. It also stated that directions issued by commissioners to officials would be complied with meticulously. The EC further extended SIR deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra, while reiterating that its major decisions had been taken collectively and unanimously.

Himachal CM launches 21 projects worth Rs 136.25 crore in Mandi

The News Mill

Padma Bhushan Is Small, Make Him PM: Pawan Khera Mocks BJPs Praise For Gyanesh Kumar

A sharp political exchange has erupted over Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya said Kumar deserved the Padma Bhushan for overseeing the states Assembly election and voter-list revision. Congress leader Pawan Khera hit back with a sarcastic remark, saying the Padma Bhushan was a very small thing and Kumar should be made Prime Minister. The war of words comes amid Opposition protests demanding Kumars removal, a Supreme Court challenge and controversy over reported objections by two Election Commissioners regarding SIR-related decisions.

Ktaka: BJP asks Shivakumar to clarify twomarriage remark

Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Sep 26 (IANS) BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy on Saturday said Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had created unrest among legislators by claiming that MLAs residing in Bengaluru had married twice, and demanded that he release the list of those with two wives to clear doubts. Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, Narayanaswamy said Shivakumars statement had created suspicion about the MLAs among people in their constituencies. Since the Chief Minister said that some MLAs have married twice, a fire has been created in their homes. People are now looking at them with suspicion in their constituencies, and the MLAs have lost their peace of mind. If the Chief Minister releases the list of those who have married twice, the truth will come out, and the doubts will also be cleared, he said. Condemning Shivakumars remark, Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy asked whether a person holding the post of Chief Minister could make such a statement in the Assembly. He said all 224 Congress MLAs should have protested against the Chief Ministers remarks. Shivakumars statement in the Legislative Assembly that several MLAs who came to Bengaluru from other parts of the state had married twice sparked curiosity, with Opposition Leader R. Ashoka and BJP MLA S. Suresh Kumar demanding that the Chief Minister disclose the names of the legislators he was referring to. Meanwhile, Narayanaswamy urged the Chief Minister to provide additional security to former MP Pratap Simha, BJP MLA C.T. Ravi, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and several other leaders following the arrest of two persons in Chikkaballapur over alleged plans to target prominent political leaders. He termed the matter sensitive and said the state government should not take it lightly. Narayanaswamy said Pratap Simha had protested against a police officers conduct during a Ganesh idol procession and had also spoken about the Nilishal incident. He said he had learnt that an FIR had been registered against the former MP under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Appealing to members of the Dalit community not to escalate the issue, he said nobody should misuse the law. He urged all sides to put the matter behind them and maintain harmony. He also criticised the Congress protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Narayanaswamy said instead of demanding the resignation of the CEC, the Congress should demand the resignation of Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. He alleged that such protests were creating confusion in the country and would not serve any public interest, accusing the Congress of holding them for publicity. Asked about the upcoming Legislative Council elections to two graduates constituencies and a teachers constituency, Narayanaswamy said the NDA alliance had convened a meeting to discuss the polls as part of preparations.

Himachal CM slams previous BJP govt, announces welfare measures

Digital Desk | Mandi, Sep 26 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, saying its doubleengine model had pushed the state into a debt trap and led to misuse of resources. Addressing a large public meeting in the Balh Assembly constituency of Mandi district, Sukhu said the state had received around Rs 60,000 crore through Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation and the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) during the BJP governments tenure, but the funds were not utilised properly. He said the Congress government came to power around 45 months ago, giving someone from an ordinary family the opportunity to become Chief Minister. In its first Cabinet meeting, the government restored the Old Pension Scheme for employees. According to Sukhu, this decision led the Centre to stop financial assistance of around Rs 1,600 crore to Himachal Pradesh. The Chief Minister said the Congress government had faced both natural disasters and political challenges. During the disaster, the state rebuilt around 23,000 damaged houses using its own resources. He added that with people's support and the blessings of the states deities, the number of Congress MLAs again reached 40. Sukhu said his government was committed to making Himachal Pradesh selfreliant, curbing corruption and ensuring people received their due rights. He highlighted financial benefits for employees and pensioners, as well as welfare measures for orphaned children and widows. Referring to the Kishau Multipurpose Project, Sukhu said the government had protected the states interests. He claimed that under a BJP government, people could have faced an additional burden of Rs 3,000 crore, citing Uttarakhands situation. He said Rs 3,000 crore in expenditure had been saved for Himachal Pradesh, and the project could generate annual revenue of Rs 1,200 crore to Rs 1,500 crore in the future. Sukhu also highlighted measures for the dairy sector. He said milk was procured at Rs 32 per litre during the BJP government, while the present government raised the procurement price to Rs 61 per litre for cows milk and Rs 71 per litre for buffalo milk. He added that further increases would be made. The Chief Minister announced changes in eligibility criteria for the Mukhya Mantri Ka Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojana. The mandatory requirement of working for one day under MGNREGA would be removed, and the family income ceiling raised from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000. Sukhu further announced that all eligible women above 21 years would be provided a monthly pension of Rs 1,500. Referring specifically to Balh, Sukhu said that had Congress candidate Prakash Chaudhary won the Assembly election, he would be a minister in the state government today.

Puri Sri Mandir to Craft New Gold Ornaments for Suna Besha; Gundicha Temple Reopens Sept 30

In a significant development for devotees of Lord Jagannath, the Sri Mandir administration has announced plans to craft a brand-new set of gold ornaments for the revered Suna Besha. Interested devotees wishing to contribute can coordinate directly with the temple administration to donate gold or financial assistance. Chief Administrator Dr Arabinda Padhee shared this update [] The post Puri Sri Mandir to Craft New Gold Ornaments for Suna Besha; Gundicha Temple Reopens Sept 30 appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .

RJD stages protest in Ranchi, seeks CEC Gyanesh Kumar''s resignation

RJD workers staged a protest at Ranchi's Albert Ekka Chowk, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protest arose from accusations of unfair electoral advantages given to BJP through manipulated electoral rolls. RJD leaders claimed that around 65 lakh names in Bihar and 27 lakh names in Bengal were removed from voter rolls.

Pakistan braces for bloody PTI confrontation, lockdown imposed amid casualty fears

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) Pakistan is witnessing a virtual lockdown ahead of the massive march planned by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The march originally scheduled to be held on September 27 will now take place on October 4. Intelligence assessments say that the march would well be a defining moment for the Pakistani establishment, especially the military. The PTI has said that this march would not be a symbolic one. Instead, the idea is to seek a permanent and once-and-for-all overhaul to dismantle a corrupt political system in Pakistan. An Intelligence Bureau official said that the establishment in Pakistan realises that this march would be hard to contain. It has sealed off both Islamabad and Rawalpindi, while enforcing strict lockdowns at key entry corridors, the official said. An official said that the focus is more on Rawalpindi as it houses the Pakistan Armys General Headquarters and the Military Intelligence directorate. The PTI is directing all its anger against the military. It has accused Field Marshal Asim Munir of orchestrating the illegal detention of PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The protesters would look to enter Rawalpindi and challenge the military, the official also said. Another official said that hotels, businesses and restaurants have been ordered to shut down ahead of the march. Rawalpindi would remain a no-go zone until the protests are over. The shutdown is an indefinite one, and this shows how worried the Pakistan military is about the protests, the official added. The establishment has also decided to shut down transport services that ferry people to Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The idea is to make it hard for the protesters to reach these places and gather in large numbers, officials say. The Pakistani security forces have also enforced container blockades across Islamabad and the border corridors. Officials say that the protests are likely to turn bloody. Both sides are unwilling to give in, and there is every possibility of the security forces using brute force to curb the protesters. This explains the deployment of heavy machinery at entry points at Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Anticipating large-scale violence and the use of force by the security agencies, hospitals across Rawalpindi and Islamabad have been placed on alert. Hospitals have also been told to postpone non-essential medical procedures and focus more on mass injuries and casualties that are anticipated during the protests. The establishment does not want the protesters to move beyond Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Heavy shipping containers, which have been fitted with metal spike rods and tyre-puncturing barriers, have been set up across the Attock Bridge. This has been done to prevent the protesters from moving beyond KP and, more importantly, from gaining access to Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Owing to these extreme measures taken by the Pakistani establishment, the PTI was forced to postpone its protests from September 27 to October 4. The PTI is demanding the release of Imran Khan, who has been in jail since 2023. The PTI is also demanding the restoration of constitutional and political rights. The other demands include proper medical care for the people of KP and a complete overhaul of the system. The Indian Intelligence agencies are closely watching the developments. The current assessment is that the military would use brute force against the protesters, which could also result in casualties. The protesters, on the other hand, are determined and ready to bite the bullet so that their demands are met. The week ahead for Pakistan would be a hard one, and the atmosphere is likely to remain tense for a long time due to the confrontation between the protesters and the Pakistani security forces, an official said.

Women's empowerment through cooperatives key objective of Modi govt: Shah

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Friday said women' empowerment through cooperatives was one of the core objectives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was speaking after inaugurating various initiatives of cooperative societies under the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Limited (NCCF) aimed at strengthening and promoting women' empowerment in the cooperative sector at Kundara here. Shah said farmers and people associated with the cooperative sector had been demanding the creation of a separate union ministry for cooperation since Independence, but the demand had not been fulfilled. PM Narendra Modi created the Cooperation Ministry and took a major step towards rural development, agricultural development and women's empowerment in the country, he said. He said significant efforts had been made to promote women power (Matrushakti) and their empowerment over the last 10-12 years under PM Modi's leadership. Shah said the share of women in the lab

Odisha Non-Govt Lecturers March from Puri to Bhubaneswar, Demanding Grant-in-Aid

Over 3,000 non-government college lecturers and staff members appointed by management committees between 2008 and 2018 launched a historic padayatra (foot march) from Srikhetra (Puri) to Ekamra Kshetra (Bhubaneswar), demanding immediate inclusion under the government grant-in-aid system. The foot march commenced on Tuesday, September 22, from Saradhabali in Puri after offering floral tributes and seeking [] The post Odisha Non-Govt Lecturers March from Puri to Bhubaneswar, Demanding Grant-in-Aid appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .

Controversy Erupts Over Documentary Screening on Umar Khalid at NALSAR University

BJP leaders criticize NALSAR University for screening a documentary on Umar Khalid, demanding a counter-film on national issues. Controversy Erupts Over Documentary Screening on Umar Khalid at NALSAR University

Vocational Trainers Continue Protest in Srinagar, Seek End To Outsourcing System

SRINAGAR: Vocational Trainers continued their peaceful protest in Srinagar for the third consecutive day on Saturday, demanding an end to the outsourcing system in vocational education and the implementation of recommendations submitted by the Directors of School Education. The trainers are also seeking improved service conditions and a formal job policy aimed at providing greater []

Karnataka Congress protests at Freedom Park, demands CEC's resignation

Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Sep 26 (IANS) Karnataka Congress leaders and workers staged a protest at Freedom Park here on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the Election Commission of India (ECI) was misusing its constitutional authority and excluding eligible voters from electoral rolls. The protest was led by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad and attended by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, former Chief Minister and Union Minister Veerappa Moily, AICC Secretary Gopinath Palaniyappan and several party leaders. Addressing the gathering, Hariprasad said the agitation had been organised to safeguard the Constitution and democratic values. Referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's campaign against alleged electoral irregularities, he said the party would continue its nationwide struggle against what it termed the misuse of powers by election authorities. Hariprasad alleged that eligible voters had been removed from electoral rolls in several states after the BJP came to power in 2024. He claimed that large numbers of voters were excluded in Bihar and West Bengal and alleged that similar exercises had affected voters in Haryana, Maharashtra and other states. He further claimed that in Karnataka, over one crore voters had been removed from electoral rolls, while lakhs of entries had been categorised as fake or placed under other classifications. These figures and allegations were presented by Hariprasad during his address and were not independently verified. The electoral roll is the foundation of democracy. Every citizen has a constitutional right to vote and elect a government once every five years, Hariprasad said, alleging attempts were being made to weaken that foundation. He also urged younger voters, including members of Gen Z, to remain vigilant about protecting their voting rights. Targeting the BJP leadership, Hariprasad alleged that electoral victories could not be attributed solely to political strategy and claimed that electoral-roll manipulation through the Election Commission was being used to influence outcomes. He further alleged that the two other Election Commissioners had differed with decisions taken by the CEC on multiple occasions but that their views had not been adequately considered. The KPCC chief also criticised the 2023 law governing the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners, alleging that the removal of the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel had weakened institutional checks and balances. Hariprasad asserted that the Congress agitation would continue until Gyanesh Kumar stepped down and called upon party workers to intensify the campaign across district headquarters from Monday. The Election Commission has maintained that decisions related to electoral-roll revision and other electoral processes are taken in accordance with the prescribed statutory framework. According to the Commission's official website, Gyanesh Kumar is the Chief Election Commissioner, while Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi serve as Election Commissioners.

Congress Mocks Bengal BJP Chief for Demanding Padma Bhushan for CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Dakshina Kannada Congress to take out rally on September 28 demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumars resignation

Democracy would perish if Gyanesh Kumar continues as the CEC, Mr. Padmaraj said demanding his immediate resignation and arrest for electoral malpractices.

INDIA bloc parties likely to meet on September 30 to discuss EC related concerns: Report

Parties from the India bloc plan to meet in Delhi on September 30 to address various issues. Rising tensions surrounding the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision have prompted protests across several states. Demonstrations have been reported in regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh, among others. Congress workers are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar due to alleged electoral roll manipulations.

Pakistan governments security costs set to rise after Imran Khans party delays protest march to October 4

Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced a long march to Islamabad on Tehreek-e-Insaf, primarily demanding the release of the party founder

Delhi protests: Around 90 detained over Gyanesh Kumar resignation demand

Protests demanding the resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar were held at multiple locations in Delhi on September 25. AISA protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar, while Delhi Congress workers marched towards Nirvachan Sadan. Several protesters, including political and student leaders, were detained by the Delhi Police.

Asian Games: Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda march into Round of 16

Digital Desk | Ichinomiya City, Sep 26 (IANS) Ayush Shetty and Unnati Hooda kept Indias singles campaign alive at the Asian Games 2026, advancing to the Round of 16 with contrasting victories on Saturday. While Ayush needed just 21 minutes to dispatch Kazakhstans Makhsut Tajibullayev 21-7, 21-7, Unnati was pushed to the limit by Malaysias Wong Ling Ching before eventually prevailing 21-14, 20-22, 21-19 in a contest lasting 79 minutes. For Ayush, the second-round encounter offered little resistance. The world No. 20 Indian controlled the match from the outset, denying Tajibullayev any sustained opportunity to build momentum. Ayushs straight-game victory also ensured that he preserved valuable energy ahead of another assignment later in the day. His next challenge will be considerably tougher. Ayush will meet Chinese Taipeis Chou Tien-Chen in the pre-quarterfinals later in the evening, with the Indian trailing 1-2 in their previous meetings. Unnati, meanwhile, had to negotiate a far more demanding contest. The 25th-ranked Indian took charge early against world No. 38 Wong, securing the opening game 21-14. The Malaysian responded in the second, edging ahead during the latter stages to force a decider with a 22-20 win. The deciding game remained tightly contested, with neither player able to establish a decisive cushion. Unnati eventually created two match points at 20-18. Although Wong saved the first, a cross-court attempt went wide on the following rally, handing the Indian the match. Unnati now faces Indonesias world No. 6 Putri Kusuma Wardani in the Round of 16 later in the day. The Indonesian shuttler won their only previous encounter at the 2025 Hylo Open. The progress of both players comes after a difficult stretch for India in the singles draw. Lakshya Sen bowed out in the mens singles second round earlier in the day after losing to Singapores former world champion Loh Kean Yew, leaving Ayush as Indias remaining mens singles representative. While both Ayush and Unnati are through, Lakshya Sen suffered a shock exit in his second round match against Singapores Loh Kean Yew earlier in the day. From the Indian singles contingent yet to play their game on Saturday, ace shuttler PV Sindhu will go up against Chinese Taipeis Chiu Pin-chian.

Asian Games 2026: India To Face Afghanistan In Cricket Quarter-Finals After Nepal-Japan Washout

Asian Games: India will face Afghanistan in the mens cricket quarter-finals at the Asian Games 2026 after Nepal topped Pool A following a rain-affected washout between Nepal and Japan in Nisshin on Saturday. The quarter-final between India and Afghanistan is scheduled for September 28 in Nisshin, with Nepals first-place finish in the group determining the knockout-stage line-up. Japans abandoned match ended their campaign, while Afghanistan advanced alongside Nepal from Pool A. The equation was settled after Japans chase against Nepal was completely washed out. Nepal had posted 149 for four in 15 overs after being put into bat, but persistent rain prevented Japan from beginning its pursuit. Nepals innings was built around an explosive finish from Sundeep Jora and Lokesh Bam. The pair remained unbeaten and accelerated sharply after Nepal found itself at 84 for four at the end of 10 overs. Jora, who came in at No. 3, finished with an unbeaten 57 from 32 deliveries, striking five fours and three sixes. Bam provided the late surge, smashing 52 not out off only 22 balls, including six sixes and a four. Earlier, Aasif Sheikh provided Nepal with a brisk start to the middle phase, making 21 from 15 balls and sharing a 55-run partnership with Jora for the second wicket. Nepal had otherwise struggled to build momentum, with Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla and Gulsan Jha departing for single-digit scores. Japan were therefore left facing a demanding target in a severely shortened contest, requiring 150 from 15 overs. However, before their response could get underway, another spell of rain brought the match to a premature conclusion. The washout proved decisive for the group standings, sending Nepal through as Pool A winners and Afghanistan into the quarter-finals as the other qualifying side. Japan were therefore left facing a demanding target in a severely shortened contest, requiring 150 from 15 overs. However, before their response could get underway, another spell of rain brought the match to a premature conclusion. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories For India, the focus now shifts firmly to the knockout stage, with Afghanistan standing between the side and a place in the semi-finals. Article Source: IANS

Asian Games: India to face Afghanistan in cricket QF after Nepal-Japan washout

Digital Desk | Nisshin, Sep 26 (IANS) India will face Afghanistan in the mens cricket quarter-finals at the Asian Games 2026 after Nepal topped Pool A following a rain-affected washout between Nepal and Japan in Nisshin on Saturday. The quarter-final between India and Afghanistan is scheduled for September 28 in Nisshin, with Nepals first-place finish in the group determining the knockout-stage line-up. Japans abandoned match ended their campaign, while Afghanistan advanced alongside Nepal from Pool A. The equation was settled after Japans chase against Nepal was completely washed out. Nepal had posted 149 for four in 15 overs after being put into bat, but persistent rain prevented Japan from beginning its pursuit. Nepals innings was built around an explosive finish from Sundeep Jora and Lokesh Bam. The pair remained unbeaten and accelerated sharply after Nepal found itself at 84 for four at the end of 10 overs. Jora, who came in at No. 3, finished with an unbeaten 57 from 32 deliveries, striking five fours and three sixes. Bam provided the late surge, smashing 52 not out off only 22 balls, including six sixes and a four. Earlier, Aasif Sheikh provided Nepal with a brisk start to the middle phase, making 21 from 15 balls and sharing a 55-run partnership with Jora for the second wicket. Nepal had otherwise struggled to build momentum, with Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla and Gulsan Jha departing for single-digit scores. Japan were therefore left facing a demanding target in a severely shortened contest, requiring 150 from 15 overs. However, before their response could get underway, another spell of rain brought the match to a premature conclusion. The washout proved decisive for the group standings, sending Nepal through as Pool A winners and Afghanistan into the quarter-finals as the other qualifying side. Japan bow out after showing glimpses of promise during the tournament. They had impressed with the ball against Afghanistan in their opening match and had also competed well against India in the one-off T20I preceding the Games, but their batting ultimately proved a limiting factor. For India, the focus now shifts firmly to the knockout stage, with Afghanistan standing between the side and a place in the semi-finals.

MLAs who come to Bengaluru have 2 marriages: Shivakumar

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's comment in the Assembly that a dozen MLAs have two marriages has ignited a political controversy. BJP leaders are demanding that he disclose the names of these legislators, arguing that such remarks undermine the dignity of the Assembly and create public distrust.

Some workers could get full Social Security at 60 under new bill - heres who may qualify and what you need to know

Rep. Haley Stevens has introduced the Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act to Congress this week. This bill allows eligible workers in physically demanding occupations to receive full benefits at the age of 60. Under current regulations, workers can claim full retirement benefits at 67 or begin collecting at 62 with reduced amounts.

U.P. Congress leaders clash with police, detained during protest against Chief Election Commissioner

The Congress leaders, including State Congress chief Ajay Rai and party workers demanding the resignation of the CEC, were stopped and later detained while trying to march towards the Uttar Pradesh Assembly

Congress legislators flash banners demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumars resignation inside Jammu and Kashmir assembly

During the Question Hour, several Congress legislators stood up and trooped into the well of the house with banners and disrupted the proceedings

Congress protests in Assembly seeking CEC

Srinagar, Sep 25: The Congress on Friday staged a brief protest in the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. As soon as proceedings of the House began, Congress lawmakers carrying banners that read Gyanesh Kumar resign, protect the vote, protect democracy raised slogans demanding the CECs []

Kashmir: A Symphony of the Sacred

Before Kashmir wakes to the noise of its roads, markets and everyday concerns, it has already spoken. In the fragile hour between darkness and daylight, when the mountains are still wrapped in the last shadows of night, and the first light has barely begun to touch the valley, the air carries sounds that seem older than memory. From a mosque comes the Azaan, rising gently over the rooftops, while from a nearby temple the ringing of bells and the first chants of morning worship begin to mingle with it. In many parts of Kashmir, where mosques and temples stand close to one another, these sounds have for generations formed part of the natural rhythm of the morning. Heard together in the stillness of dawn, they create an atmosphere that is difficult to describe in ordinary language. One does not merely hear them; one feels them. There is something deeply beautiful about a land beginning its day in remembrance. Before human activity divides the morning into occupations and obligations, the valley seems to belong to a quieter order of existence. The Azaan calls the faithful towards worship, while the rituals of a nearby temple begin with their own ancient cadence. Their languages, traditions and forms are different, yet both arise from the same human longing to reach beyond the limitations of the individual self. In that early silence, neither sound needs to compete with the other. Each occupies its own space, and together they become part of the valley's distinctive spiritual soundscape. Perhaps this is one reason Kashmir has always seemed to possess a character beyond its physical beauty. Its mountains, rivers, springs, temples and shrines are not merely picturesque features of a landscape. They have accumulated memories, associations and meanings across generations. The land has been looked upon, inhabited and experienced not only with the eyes but with a sense of reverence that has found expression in different religious and mystical traditions. Its spirituality is therefore not confined to a particular building or ritual; it has entered the atmosphere itself. The temples of Kashmir have long been woven into the life of its communities. Their bells have marked the beginning of mornings, their lamps have illuminated evenings, and their courtyards have witnessed generations arriving with flowers, offerings and folded hands. A temple is not simply a place where a ritual is performed. It can become a repository of memory, where the presence of those who worshipped there before us seems to linger in the very stones. The sound of a bell travelling through a quiet village can evoke something that no written description can adequately capture. The mosque carries its own equally powerful presence. The Azaan, particularly in the early morning, has a quality that can transform the atmosphere around it. Its call does not merely announce a time of worship; it momentarily draws attention away from the concerns of the waking world and towards something beyond them. For generations of Kashmiris, it has been part of the sound of home, village and neighbourhood, woven naturally into the rhythm of everyday existence. Where a mosque and a temple happen to stand close to each other, their proximity can offer a particularly moving image of Kashmir's cultural landscape. The two places of worship need not become identical for their presence beside one another to acquire meaning. Their very coexistence reflects a land in which different communities have shared streets, neighbourhoods, memories and seasons. The morning sounds emerging from them can remind us that human beings may approach the Infinite through different names, symbols and traditions while still being united by the impulse to seek something greater than themselves. The natural landscape deepens this experience. Kashmir's mountains have a silence that seems almost deliberate. They stand above the valley without haste, watching the passage of seasons and generations. Snow gathers upon them, melts into streams and eventually becomes part of rivers that travel through the land. Their presence places the human being within a larger measure of time. Standing before such mountains, one becomes conscious of how brief an individual life is and how enduring the rhythms of nature can be. The rivers offer another kind of wisdom. They move continuously, touching villages, fields and towns without belonging permanently to any of them. They accept whatever comes into their course and continue towards a destination beyond what the eye can see. Their movement carries an implicit lesson about change. Nothing remains exactly as it was, yet continuity is not lost. Perhaps this is why the sight of a river can awaken reflection without demanding it. Its movement speaks quietly of time, surrender and renewal. Then there are Kashmir's springs, emerging from the earth with an almost mysterious simplicity. Some have been associated with shrines and traditions for generations, while others remain familiar parts of local memory. Their waters seem to rise from a hidden depth and make the invisible visible for a moment. They remind us that beneath what we see there are forces and movements beyond ordinary perception. The spring does not explain its origin; it simply continues to emerge, offering itself to the world. This relationship between landscape and inwardness has deep roots in Kashmir's intellectual and spiritual traditions. Kashmir Shaivism developed a profound understanding of consciousness and the relationship between the individual and the universal, while the poetry of Lal Ded repeatedly directed attention away from external appearances towards inner realisation. Her verses, like much of Kashmir's mystical inheritance, suggest that the ultimate journey is not necessarily towards a distant destination. It is a movement towards awareness, towards the discovery of what lies behind the restless surface of existence. The valley's spiritual character can therefore be encountered in the simplest moments. It may appear in the first ray of sunlight touching a snow-covered peak, in the sound of water moving beneath a bridge, in the fragrance of flowers carried towards a shrine, in the ringing of a temple bell, or in the Azaan travelling across a still neighbourhood. None of these experiences demands elaborate interpretation. Their power lies precisely in their simplicity. For those separated from Kashmir, however, these experiences can acquire another meaning. Distance changes the nature of memory. A temple that once stood within walking distance may become something one can reach only through remembrance. A familiar mosque, a village spring, a riverbank or an ancestral courtyard may exist physically somewhere in the valley while becoming increasingly distant from one's everyday life. Yet the sounds and images associated with them can remain remarkably alive. The Azaan heard in childhood, the temple bells of an early morning, the fragrance of incense, the sight of mountains from a familiar windowall can return unexpectedly, carrying with them an entire world. Memory in such moments is not merely an archive of the past. It becomes a bridge between what was and what continues to live within us. A place may be physically distant and yet remain intimately present. The geography outside may change, but the geography carried within the heart can preserve its own landscapes. Perhaps this is what makes Kashmir more than a beautiful valley. Its deepest beauty lies not only in its mountains or waters but in the way the land has taught generations to experience the visible and the invisible together. Here, a morning can begin with the Azaan from a mosque and the bells of a temple; a river can become an image of life's passage; a mountain can teach stillness; a spring can suggest hidden depths; and an old ritual can connect the present with generations that have long since disappeared. As the day advances, the sounds of ordinary life gradually overwhelm those quieter notes. Roads fill, conversations begin, shops open, and the valley resumes its daily rhythm. Yet something of that early morning remains. For a brief while, before the world became busy, Kashmir seemed to remember that beneath all our differences there exists a shared human impulse to look beyond ourselves. Perhaps that is the enduring music of the valley: many voices, many traditions, many paths, yet one landscape holding them within its embrace. And perhaps, when dawn speaks in many voices, Kashmir offers its finest lessonnot in words, but in the simple possibility of listening. (The author is RK columnist and can be reached at: sanjaypanditasp@gmail.com )

Congress hits streets seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar

PTI New Delhi Upping the ante over the SIR row, the Congress on Friday staged protests by attempting to march towards state election commission offices in various parts of the country, demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumars immediate arrest, removal from office, and an independent review of all decisions and electoral roll changes made under []

26 years on, CHC Thanamandi still awaits finance nod for 24 posts

Srinagar, Sep 25 (KNO): Over 26 years after the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Thanamandi in Rajouri was upgraded to a Community Health Centre (CHC), the institution is still awaiting the creation of 24 additional posts proposed to strengthen its manpower. The issue came up in the Assembly in response to a question raised by [] The post 26 years on, CHC Thanamandi still awaits finance nod for 24 posts appeared first on Northlines .

Congress Protests Nationwide Demanding Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner

Congress holds nationwide protests demanding the resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged vote theft. Congress Protests Nationwide Demanding Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner

Shah Rukh Khans Rs 200 crore home Mannat is a 27,000-square-foot mansion the Khans rebuilt around its 200-year-old heritage shell, with diamond nameplates, art gym, swimming pool and private theatre

SRKs splendid house, Mannat, is now a cultural landmark in Mumbai. The house reportedly had royal origins. Before the superstar bought the house in 2001 for Rs 13 crore, Gujarati entrepreneur Nariman Dubash owned it, registered it under the Bai Khorshed Bhanu Sanjana Trust, and it was known as Villa Vienna. Raja Bijai Sen, the ruler of Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, is said to have built it in the 1800s.

Turn 'approver' or face trial: Cong's warning to CEC

The Congress party staged nationwide protests, demanding the immediate arrest and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The party accused the Election Commission of an unprecedented attack on voter equality through an alleged 'Mark VIP' feature and called for an independent review of decisions made under Kumar, citing objections from other commissioners regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Police cordons Jantar Mantar, deploys more men at EC office amid protests

Delhi Police have increased security measures outside the Election Commission of India due to planned protests. The protests are organized by the Delhi Congress over electoral roll revisions, demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. Additional protests are also taking place across different states including Madhya Pradesh and Punjab, targeting the Chief Election Commissioner. Opposition parties are preparing to initiate impeachment proceedings against Kumar in Parliament over alleged irregularities.

Cong burns CEC effigy in Shillong, demands removal over SIR

Shillong, Sep 25: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Friday took out a protest march demanding immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. A procession led by MPCC President and former Lok Sabha MP Vincent H Pala began at Congress Bhavan and [] The post Cong burns CEC effigy in Shillong, demands removal over SIR irregularities first appeared on Highland Post .

Mizoram Congress Protests In Aizawl Over Alleged EC Irregularities, Demands Removal Of CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Aizawl, September 25: The Mizoram Congress on Friday staged a protest march in Aizawl demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission. Congress workers and office-bearers marched from Vanapa Hall to the State Election Commission office, where Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee president Lal Thanzara addressed... The post Mizoram Congress Protests In Aizawl Over Alleged EC Irregularities, Demands Removal Of CEC Gyanesh Kumar first appeared on Northeast Today .

Water cannon used against Congress workers demanding CECs resignation

Congress leads protests demanding CECs resignation, arrest

Modi, Shah using Kumar to overcome public opposition through artificial manipulation, says Venugopal; civil society groups hold agitations in Delhi and other States; police use water cannons to stop protesters

Delhi Police detain protesters at Jantar Mantar demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation

Police erected barricades to stop protesters during marches towards the Election Commission office and detained them before taking them away in buses. Members of the Students' Federation of India (SFI), Indian Youth Congress and other groups were among those detained.

HomePod rumors: All we know about HomePod mini 2, HomePod Touch

Macworld Apples HomePod lineup could be about to undergo its biggest expansion since the original HomePod launched. Rather than simply refreshing its existing smart speakers, Apple is reportedly preparing several new smart home devices, including products that blur the line between HomePod, smart display and home hub. The company is said to have three smart home products very nearly ready to release, according to Bloombergs Mark Gurman. However, Apple is reportedly delaying their launch until its redesigned AI-powered Siri is ready, with the new assistant expected to debut alongside the OS 27 updates later this year. If those plans stay on track, Apple could unveil its next wave of HomePod and smart home devices shortly after iOS 27 and the upgraded Siri are released this fall. In this guide, we round up all the latest rumours and reports about Apples upcoming HomePod products, including expected release dates, new hardware, Apple Intelligence features and pricing. What are the new HomePod products? Apples HomePod lineup currently consists of two models, both of which became more expensive following Apples June 2026 price increases. The HomePod mini now costs $129, while the 2nd-generation HomePod is priced at $349. But the real story isnt the current speakers its the next generation of smart home devices Apple is preparing. According to multiple reports, Apple is developing several new HomePod-related products, including updated HomePod and HomePod mini models and a display-equipped smart home hub, widely referred to as the HomePad. Rumored new products include the following, the names arent confirmed, we are using them as placeholders: Placeholder name What is it When Likelihood HomePod mini 2 Updated internals, faster chip, and new colors including red Mid-2026 10/10 HomePod 3 Updated internals, faster chip Mid-2026 10/10 HomePod Touch HomePod with a built-in 6-7in touchscreen Late-2026 6/10 HomePad A smart display with a 6-7in screen possibly wall-mounted. To be the command centre of the home. Late-2026 6/10 HomeHub Combining a HomePod speaker, display, and advanced home-control features (building onHomePod Touch concept, may not be separate product) Late-2026 6/10 Screen mounted on robot arm Display mounted on a robotic arm (could be evolution of HomePod concept) 2027 or beyond 5/10 Security camera A security camera is said to be part of Apples smart home roadmap 2027 or beyond 5/10 Why hasnt Apple launched the new HomePod devices yet? The biggest obstacle is Siri. Apples next-generation Siri is designed to be a far more capable assistant, able to understand conversational context, personal information and on-screen content as part of Apple Intelligence. However, the chips inside todays HomePods simply arent powerful enough to support these features. The HomePod mini uses the Apple Watch S5 chip, while the 2nd-generation HomePod runs on the S7 chip. Those processors work well for music playback, HomeKit control and basic voice commands, but they lack the performance needed for Apples latest AI models. As a result, Apple is widely believed to have delayed its new HomePod hardware until it can launch devices capable of delivering the full Siri AI experience. Bloombergs Mark Gurman reports that several smart home products are effectively ready , but are being held back until the redesigned Siri ships with the iOS 27 software updates later this year. That means the next generation of HomePods is expected to feature significantly more powerful Apple silicon, enabling Apple Intelligence features that the current models cannot support. HomePod mini 2 Well start off with the rumors about the HomePod mini 2. The HomePod mini is Apples smaller, more affordable smart speaker. The new model is expected to offer a new red color option, major processor upgrade and improved connectivity. Foundry When is the HomePod mini 2 expected to launch? October 2026 Apple introduced the original HomePod mini in November 2020, so it is now nearly six years old and overdue for an update. Rumours of a successor have circulated for more than a year. In January 2025, reports suggested a launch toward the end of 2025 , and Bloombergs Mark Gurman subsequently said that new HomePod mini and Apple TV models were expected in autumn 2025 . Those products never materialised. Attention then shifted to spring 2026, with reports suggesting Apples new smart home devices would launch alongside its redesigned Siri. However, that timetable also slipped as Apple continued work on its AI-powered assistant. The latest reports now point to an October 2026 launch. According to Bloombergs Mark Gurman, Apple has several smart home products that are nearly ready but is waiting for the redesigned Siri to ship with the OS 27 updates before introducing new hardware. If those plans remain on schedule, the HomePod mini 2 is expected to launch alongside Apples broader refresh of its smart home lineup this fall, with most reports pointing to October. What changes are coming to the HomePod mini 2? Black, blue, green, pink, and white. The current HomePod mini is available in Midnight, White, Blue, Yellow and Orange. In September 2025, Bloombergs Mark Gurman reported that Apple has tested additional colours for the next-generation model, including red, although it remains unclear whether any new colours will make it to the final product. In September, MacRumors spotted Apple code that revealed the new colors: black, blue, green, pink, and white. Otherwise, it is expected to retain the same compact, spherical design as the current model, with no major external changes rumoured. Instead, Apple is reportedly focusing on more powerful internal hardware, with an S9 or newer chip able to support next-generation AI-powered Siri features. Other changes coming to HomePod mini 2 Alongside a faster processor, the HomePod mini 2 is also rumoured to include: Apple Intelligence support, enabling the redesigned AI-powered Siri, although some features may arrive after launch if Siri development continues to slip. Improved connectivity, including Apples in-house networking chip, Wi-Fi 6E and an upgraded Ultra Wideband chip. Audio improvements, with upgraded drivers and enhanced sound processing. Minor hardware refinements, such as a removable power cable, although this remains speculative. HomePod 3 The larger HomePod is more expensive than the HomePod mini, delivering richer, louder audio with deeper bass and spatial audio. The next generation is expected to get a processor upgrade, improved connectivity and better sound. Michael Brown/Foundry When is the HomePod 3 expected to launch? October 2026 Apple has not officially announced a third-generation HomePod, but Bloombergs Mark Gurman says the company is preparing several new smart home products that are being held back until its redesigned AI-powered Siri is ready. If those plans remain on schedule, the HomePod 3 is expected to launch alongside the HomePod mini 2 following the release of the OS 27 updates later this year. What changes are coming to the HomePod 3? Unlike the HomePod mini 2, there are relatively few leaks about hardware upgrades coming to the full-size HomePod. However, its expected to receive the same core internal upgrades needed to support Apples AI ambitions. Expected improvements include: More powerful chip : The current HomePod uses the S7 chip from the Apple Watch Series 7. A next-generation model is expected to adopt a significantly faster Apple silicon chip, potentially the S9 or newer, to support Apple Intelligence features. Apple Intelligence Support : The upgraded hardware should enable Apples redesigned AI-powered Siri and other Apple Intelligence features, although some capabilities may arrive after launch if Siri development continues to slip. Improved Connectivity : Rumours point to Apples in-house networking chip, together with Wi-Fi 6E and an upgraded Ultra Wideband chip for improved performance and smart home integration. Audio Enhancements : Apple is also expected to refine the speaker system with upgraded drivers and audio processing. In September, a post by itspdfu , who has a history of posting leaks online, said that audioOS27, the operating system for HomePod devices, supports Siri AI. In addition to Siri AI support, the new HomePod will have new animations for the devices display. Beyond these internal upgrades, some reports suggest Apple is experimenting with a HomePod featuring a built-in display. That device is expected to be a separate product rather than a standard HomePod 3, and we cover those rumours in the next section. HomePod with screen Apple has been rumored to be working on a HomePod with a screen for years, and while it hasnt launched yet, the evidence that its coming is now overwhelming. Read on to find out what we know about the HomePod with Screen perhaps called HomePod Touch based on the latest reports. Foundry and Apple When will the HomePod with Screen launch? Possible launch: Delayed until fall-2026 Apple has been working redesigning the HomePod to include a display for some time. Back in March 2023, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed Apple would unveil a redesigned HomePod featuring a 7-inch panel. Kuo initially expected this product to arrive in the first half of 2024, but that timeline slipped. In December 2024, he reported further delays had pushined the launch to after WWDC 2025 , citing software development challenges. Then, in March 2025, Kuo suggested the device had been delayed again, due to Apple Intelligence setbacks . Current speculation suggests a possible release in the fall of 2026, with the release slipping as the major updates to Siri and Apples AI platform have been further delayed . Alternatively, the HomePod Touch may gain AI related features as part of a later software update. HomePod with display incoming? Foundry What will the HomePod with Screen be like? Display size: Touchscreen 6 and 7-inches Software : Custom touchscreen operating system running apps like Weather, Calendar, Photos, HomeKit as well as Apple Music One of the biggest limitations of todays HomePod is that almost every interaction relies on Siri. A built-in display would provide a more direct way to control music, manage smart home devices and access information, putting Apples device in direct competition with the Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub. According to current rumours, Apples display-equipped HomePod will feature a 6-7-inch touchscreen and run a touch-optimised version of homeOS, allowing it to function as both a smart speaker and a smart home hub. Unlike existing HomePods, it is expected to use a far more powerful A-series chip possibly an A18 or similar to support Apples redesigned AI-powered Siri and the more demanding graphical interface. Rumoured features: Large touchscreen : A 6-7-inch display for controlling smart home devices, viewing photos, checking the weather, following recipes and interacting with apps. Powerful Apple silicon : An A-series chip is expected to replace the S-series processor used in current HomePods, providing the performance needed for Apple Intelligence and the touchscreen interface. Dedicated smart home hub : Enhanced HomeKit and Matter controls, with apps including Weather, Calendar, Photos, Apple Music and Home. Improved connectivity : Apples in-house networking chip, Wi-Fi 6E and an upgraded Ultra Wideband chip are all rumoured. FaceTime camera : Reports suggest Apple may include a built-in camera for FaceTime and other video-based features. Possible modular design : Some rumours suggest the display could magnetically dock with a full-size HomePod speaker, allowing it to be used either as a standalone smart display or as part of a higher-fidelity speaker system. If accurate, this would represent Apples biggest expansion of the HomePod lineup since its debut, transforming it from a voice-first speaker into a full smart home controller. Amazon Echo Show beside the HomePod mini, Ben Patterson/Foundry HomePad or HomeHub smart hub: Rumors & release date for smart display with robot arm Possible launch : Late 2026 or 2027 if Siri updates are delayed Strategy : Brand new category of products HomePad release date Apples first-ever smart home display had been rumored to launch in the spring of 2026, but its been delayed due to issues with Siri, according to Bloombergs Mark Gurman. He claims the hardware has been ready for some time , according to anonymous sources with knowledge of the matter. Another leaker, known as Kosutami, who has made accurate predictions in the past, posted on X on March 5 to predict: Autumn. Home. Integrated with Pad. Now coming. That somewhat cryptic post doesnt necessarily refer to the HomePad, but it seems likely. What is the HomePad? Apple has reportedly been exploring a broader smart home strategy for years, and the HomePad could be its most ambitious step yet. As far back as April 2021, Mark Gurman described a high-end device combining a HomePod speaker, a touchscreen, and a camera mounted on a robotic arm that could follow the user around the room during video calls. Gurman has made various references to this over the years. Reports suggest Apple may be planning multiple smart home hub products, potentially split into two tiers: Low-end smart display (J490) : A stationary device with an approximately 7-inch screen, designed for wall mounting or docking. It would focus on HomeKit control and FaceTime calls. High-end robotic hub (J595) : A more advanced version featuring a display mounted on a robotic arm. This Luxo Jr.-like device could function as a videoconferencing system and home security tool, though it may not arrive until late 2026 or even 2027. A revamped, AI-powered Siri is expected to be central to the experience and its ongoing development is widely believed to be the main reason these products have yet to launch. Imagen 3 (Gemini) HomePad Smart Hub Design, Features & Specs Speculation regarding the HomePads internal specifications and software capabilities includes: Processing Power : Internal code suggests the device, codenamed J490, may be powered by the A18 chip , which is capable of supporting advanced Apple Intelligence features. Operating System : The hub will likely run a version of TVos that incorporates iOS-like features . For instance, the inclusion of the ChatKit framework in recent software betas suggests the HomePad may support iMessage and texting, features not currently available on Apple TV or standard HomePods. Kitchen Integration : A new CookingKit framework and expanded food sections in Apple News indicate that kitchen assistance, such as searching for recipes by ingredient, could be a primary selling point. Entertainment : Beyond home control, the device is expected to function as an entertainment hub for streaming music and video, as well as making FaceTime calls via a built-in camera. Advanced Home Control : Code found in the iOS 26 Home app describes an Adaptive Temperature feature, which could allow the HomePad to offer more granular control over smart thermostats, including energy-saving optimizations based on local electricity rates. Camera : There are suggestions that the device could combines a HomePod with a camera, or place a camera on a robot arm. This camera could also be used to recognize gestures. Some years ago a patent was filed that related to a future HomePod that could interpret 3D hand gestures. That patent describes a HomePod that can interpret three-dimensional hand gestures as a means of controlling the device so as to execute an action or function. What chips will power the new HomePods? The biggest limitation of todays HomePods isnt their speakers its their processors. The HomePod mini still uses the Apple Watch S5 chip introduced in 2019, while the second-generation HomePod runs on the newer, but still relatively modest, S7 chip from the Apple Watch Series 7. Those chips are powerful enough for music playback, HomeKit control and basic Siri requests, but they are not capable of running Apples next-generation AI features. Apple Intelligence currently requires an A17 Pro, M1 or newer chip, making it impossible to bring the full AI-powered Siri experience to the existing HomePod hardware. That hardware gap is widely believed to be the main reason Apple has delayed its next generation of HomePods. Rather than updating Siri on the existing speakers, Apple is expected to launch new models with significantly faster processors capable of supporting Apple Intelligence. HomePod mini 2 & HomePod 3 Bloombergs Mark Gurman has said the only confirmed hardware change coming to the new HomePods is a faster chip, although he has not identified which processor Apple will use. The most commonly suggested possibilities are the S9, S10 or S11 chips, but these remain speculative and have not been reported by Gurman or other major Apple analysts. HomePod with a screen The display-equipped HomePod is expected to require substantially more processing power than Apples existing smart speakers. Because it will reportedly run a touch-based operating system alongside Apple Intelligence, most analysts expect it to use an A-series processor, with an A17 Pro or A18 among the leading predictions. Apple has not confirmed the chip, and these reports remain speculative. Whatever processors Apple ultimately chooses, the goal appears to be the same across the entire HomePod range: replacing ageing Apple Watch chips with modern Apple silicon capable of delivering the full Apple Intelligence experience. New HomePod Prices The prices for the HomePods increased in June 2026: HomePod: $349/349 (was $299/299) HomePod mini: $129/129 (was $99/99) With Apple increasing prices in June 2026, we think that these change are like to stick for the updated versions. However, a HomePod with a built-in screen could command a higher price. It may launch as a separate product altogether, potentially starting around $399/399, or higher, depending on features. Buying advice: Should you wait or buy a HomePod now? With prices recently rising on devices that are already underpowered our advice would be: do not buy now. What is on Apples Smart Home Roadmap Apples smart-home roadmap is expected to accelerate in 2026 and beyond, as the company expands its Home ecosystem with new hardware, AI features and services designed to compete with Amazon and Google. Ongoing : Apple continues to lean on the Matter standard to increase device compatibility. Updates like Matter 1.5 have added support for security cameras and energy management, which Apple is expected to integrate into the Home app. February 2026 : On February 10, 2026, Apple ended support for its legacy HomeKit architecture. This transition removed the ability to use an iPad as a home hub, restricting that role to the Apple TV 4K or HomePod. Mid 2026 : Launch of new HomePod mini 2 and HomePod 3. Later in 2026 : Apple intends to overhaul Siri. A completely redesigned, LLM-based Siri is expected to debut in early 2026 to power the new smart hubs. Previous delays in the smart home roadmap were largely attributed to Siris development snags September 2026 : iOS 27 (expected September 2026) may include AI vision recognition, allowing cameras to recognize specific users and their actions to trigger automations while maintaining privacy. Fall 2026 : Launch of Apples HomePad device(s). Other Smart Home products coming from Apple Apple Security Camera : Reports indicate Apple plans to enter the security camera market with its own hardware. Code discovered in iOS 26.2 includes a new isFirstPartyAccessory flag, suggesting support for Apple-branded cameras and doorbells that integrate deeply with the ecosystem. Robotic HomeHub : A home assistant with a display mounted on a robotic arm

Gyanesh Kumar Row: Is Opposition Preparing A Bigger Showdown?

The Opposition intensifies its attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid fresh questions over the functioning of the Election Commission. A report by The Indian Express says two Election Commissioners recorded 14 objections over 10 months on issues including voter additions, deletions and the SIR exercise. Congress has launched nationwide protests demanding the CEC's resignation, while the push for a removal motion in Parliament gains momentum. The CJP has also set a September 26 deadline for Kumar to resign, warning of nationwide protests from October 2.

PM Modi Joins Bhajan Clubbing As Congress Protesters Demanding Gyanesh Kumar

PM Narendra Modi on Friday participated in a Bhajan Clubbing program held at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Park, Delhi, as part of the celebration of 110 years of birth of Bharatiya Jana Sangh's leader, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. At the Bhajan

Odisha Congress gheraos CEO office, demands removal of Gyanesh Kumar

Digital Desk | Bhubaneswar, Sep 25 (IANS) Odisha Congress on Friday organised a massive rally and gheraoed the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Odisha, in Bhubaneswar, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the electoral process. Led by Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das, Congress leaders and workers marched from the ADM office to the CEOs office and staged the gherao. Addressing the media during the protest, Das alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner has been acting at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government and claimed that Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhis allegations of vote theft have now been proved true. Not today, but for the last three years, Rahul Gandhi has been saying that vote theft is taking place. His allegations have been proved true, Das said. He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modis government has been using the Election Commission as a weapon to steal the countrys electoral process. Das added that CEC Kumar, acting as a proxy for the BJP government, oversaw a flawed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) across the country and thereby undermined the democratic system. Das further alleged that over the past 10 months, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on 14 occasions to various decisions of the Commission. He claimed that Kumar ignored their objections and continued to take decisions unilaterally. He also alleged that the two commissioners raised objections as many as four times in a single day, but the Commission ignored them. According to Das, they also learned about important modules, details, and decisions of the Commission through the media, indicating that they had been kept in the dark. Das alleged that Form-6, used to include new voters in electoral rolls, had been changed illegally despite the Commission allegedly lacking the authority to do so. He claimed that Joshi had objected to the change, but his objection was ignored. He also alleged that the agendas of several Commission meetings were neither published in advance nor were their proceedings made public afterwards. The OPCC president also referred to letters written to the Cabinet Secretary in which the two serving commissioners alleged that CEC Gyanesh Kumar had violated the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. This raises the question as to why the two serving commissioners had to take the matter outside the Commission to make their voices heard, and who initially provided political protection to the CEC to act against the law? The Modi government cannot distance itself from the question of accountability, noted Das. Criticising the Election Commissions explanation that decisions were taken unanimously despite differences of opinion among commissioners, Das termed the explanation highly ridiculous. Reiterating LoP Rahul Gandhis statement labelling officials manipulating rolls as traitors, Das demanded Kumars resignation or impeachment, while citing Priyanka Gandhis demand for criminal proceedings against him.

'Gyanesh Kumar should be arrested': Congress stages nationwide protests against CEC

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS) The Congress on Friday staged nationwide protests to demand the resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over 'vote chori' allegations, asserting that the party would not bow down until action is taken against him. The allegations have gained momentum after a media report claimed differences within the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Several Congress leaders and workers were detained during the agitation, including the party's Assam and Punjab chiefs Gaurav Gogoi and Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, respectively. Water cannons were also used to disperse the protesters across states. In the national capital, the Youth Congress held a march demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. Delhi Congress President Devender Yadav said: The demand is clear that Gyanesh Kumar must be arrested because he has murdered democracy. The essence of a democracy is lost when votes are stolen. We clearly demand that Gyanesh Kumar resign and that the elections conducted over the past year undergo a review, he added. Mahila Congress President Alka Lamba recalled that the party, especially Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, has been speaking about the heft of votes for months now. On December 14, the Vote Chor Gaddi Chhodo rally was held at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. The entire Delhi was echoing with the slogan...Today, our only demand is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should seek Gyanesh Kumars resignation. He should be arrested and sent to jail. The illegal decisions taken by him must be stopped and reversed, Lambae told IANS. Congress leaders and workers attempted to 'gherao' the Election Commission office in Chandigarh. Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, who was being detained, told reporters: We have all gathered here demanding the removal of Gyanesh Kumar and his arrest and imprisonment. Our protest is against the SIR. Votes are being stolen across the country, and 20 lakh votes have been deleted in Punjab...Our demand is that SIR should be cancelled and voting should take place without it. Congress Chandigarh President H.S. Lucky asserted that the party would continue the agitation despite the attempts being made by the police to stop them. The police are doing their duty and putting up barricades. Deploy the police, the Army, Income Tax, ED, or any other agency, but the way the people of the country have been wronged, they will not tolerate it. Gen-Z recently held a major protest at Jantar Mantar. Another major movement will emerge in the country. This protest will continue until Gyanesh Kumar resigns, just as (then-Union Education Minister) Dharmendra Pradhan did, Lucky told IANS. Security personnel also used water cannons to disperse agitators in Chandigarh. Leading a protest march in Bhubaneswar, Odisha Congress President Bhakta Charan Das said: This movement is against the stealing of votes, and Gyanesh Kumar will have to resign. Rahul Gandhi has been raising the issue of vote theft from the beginning, but no one was listening. Today, it has been proved how vote theft is taking place. Led by Bihar President Rajesh Ram, Congress workers in Patna marched towards the Election Commission office. However, police put up barricades near the Secretariat to stop them. A heated scuffle broke out between the police and the workers as the latter attempted to break through the barricades and move forward. The police had to use water cannons to bring the situation under control. Speaking to reporters during the agitation, Rajesh Ram said: We are not afraid. We will continue to protest against Gyanesh Kumar, who is a criminal. Another protester alleged that police resorted to 'lathi charge'. Purnia MP Pappu Yadav also took part in the Congress protest in Patna. Criticising the Election Commission, he said: They have committed an injustice against 13 crore people in Bengal, Bihar and Assam. How can they be allowed to go? Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat took part in the Congress protest in Dehradun. Congress state in-charge Kumari Selja said: We are holding protests across the country. People have seen the revelations that have come out regarding the Chief Election Commissioner. The Election Commission is not functioning in the manner it should. There is no unanimity there, and it is not impartial. Similarly, Congress leaders and workers protested outside the Election Commission office in Shimla. Congress Himachal Pradesh in-charge Rajni Patil also recalled Rahul Gandhi's vote theft allegations, saying: Now we are firmly convinced that there are irregularities in the elections...If things go on like this then the Constitution will be totally destroyed. Similar protests also took place in Assam's Guwahati, where state chief and MP Gaurav Gogoi, along with other party members, was detained while trying to break through police barricades

CJP, AAP are hand in glove: Delhi BJP chief

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS) Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra said on Friday that the Cockroach Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi Party are hand in glove. It is becoming increasingly clear that CJP is a party built solely and exclusively on AAP funding, he said. Malhotra said ever since AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal called for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, CJP leaders, who entered politics by raising the issue of students rights and launched agitations allegedly with AAPs money, have also started threatening protests demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. The Delhi BJP President said that Kejriwal fully understands that he and the leaders of his AAP have lost credibility, and that is why he is misusing the new faces of CJP leaders. Malhotra said that it is now clear that CJP is the student or youth wing of the AAP. Whether it is Dipke or Das, they should understand that their violence and agitation at Jantar Mantar, supported by the AAP and criminals, have been exposed, and they will no longer mislead the youth of the country. Earlier, Malhotra led party colleagues in paying floral tributes at a ceremony organised at the National Office Extension on the birth anniversary of revered Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. As the chief speaker, National Organiser V. Satish delivered an extensive address on the life and thoughts of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. State General Secretary Vishnu Mittal conducted the programme. On the occasion, National leaders B. L. Santosh, Shiv Prakash, V. Satish and Nagendra, Delhi BJP Organisation General Secretary Pawan Rana, National Secretary Jaiprakash, Delhi Government Ministers Parvesh Sahib Singh, Ashish Sood and Ravindra Indraraj, MPs Manoj Tiwari, Yogendra Chandolia and Bansuri Swaraj, senior BJP leaders O. P. Babbar and Mool Chand Chawla, along with several senior BJP leaders and office-bearers, paid floral tributes to the statue of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. Speaking on the occasion, Malhotra said that Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya's life remained dedicated to national service, organisational development, and uplifting those at the last rung of society. By giving the nation the ideas of Integral Humanism and Antyodaya, he gave Indian politics and public service a new direction. He believed that the true objective of development is to ensure that facilities and opportunities reach the last person in society. Malhotra said that the ideas of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya continue to inspire BJP workers to work consistently in the national interest and towards public service. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the spirit of Antyodaya is gaining prominence in the Central Government's welfare schemes and in efforts to empower the poor, deprived and vulnerable sections of society, he said.

Centre extends AFSPA in 'disturbed areas' of Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh by six months

Digital Desk | New Delhi/Imphal, Sep 25 (IANS) The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, for another six months in most parts of Manipur, several districts of Nagaland, and certain districts of Arunachal Pradesh, officials said on Friday. According to three separate notifications issued by the MHA, the further extension of the special law would be effective from October 1. The AFSPA, which gives armed forces operating in the notified disturbed areas sweeping powers to search, arrest, and open fire if they deem it necessary for the maintenance of public order, was extended on Thursday for six more months in the entire state of Manipur, excluding the areas falling under the jurisdiction of the 13 police stations of five districts Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching. Of the total 16 districts in Manipur, these five districts are located in the Imphal Valley region. Manipur has been devastated by the ethnic violence between the majority Meitei and the minority Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribals since May 3, 2023. After the prolonged ethnic violence, which claimed over 260 lives since May 2023, Manipur came under Presidents rule on February 13, 2025, four days after Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who was heading the second BJP-led government, resigned on February 9. The Presidents Rule was withdrawn after Yumnam Khemchand Singh took over as the Chief Minister on February 4 this year. Officials in Imphal said that the MHA notification was issued after the review of the law and order situation in the state,in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the AFSPA, 1958. Another MHA notification said that the AFSPA has been extended in nine districts of Nagaland -- Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phekm, Peren and Meluri and 21 police stations in five other districts Kohima, Mokokchung, Longleng, Wokha and Zunheboto - with these areas declared 'disturbed areas for a period of six months. Another MHA notification said that the AFSPA has also been extended in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district of the state, bordering Assam, and declared these areas as a disturbed area for a period of six months with effect from October 1. The law and order situations of the areas of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, where the AFSPA has been extended, were also reviewed by the government. Many organisations in Manipur, including the Manipuri Students Federation (MSF), the Nupi Khunai-Yairipok, and the Meira Paibis, and other Northeastern states have been off and on agitating, demanding withdrawal of the AFSPA from their states. Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier said that the MHA has lifted the AFSPA from many parts of his state. The AFSPA was originally imposed across Assam in 1990, during a peak in insurgent activities led by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). Since then, it has been renewed every six months, with periodic reviews leading to the gradual exclusion of certain areas based on the prevailing security situation. With significant improvement in the security situation, the AFSPA was lifted from Tripura in 2015, Meghalaya in 2018, and Mizoram in the 1980s.

Congress Launches Nationwide Protests Against ECI, Demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar

The Congress on Friday launched nationwide protests against the Election Commission of India (ECI), with party workers demonstrating in several states and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Protests were reported in Delhi, Bihar, Assam, Punjab, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. In Delhi, Congress workers gathered at Jantar Mantar and [] The post Congress Launches Nationwide Protests Against ECI, Demands CEC Gyanesh Kumars Resignation appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .

Government prioritises friendly policing, says A.P. Minister

Savitha says policing is the toughest job, demanding work day and night irrespective of sun or rain, while balancing health and family responsibilities

Protests Erupt in Patna Against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar

Congress and RJD protest in Patna, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over electoral issues. Protests Erupt in Patna Against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar

Venugopal calls for CEC Gyanesh Kumars arrest; CWC, INDIA Bloc to discuss EC row

Digital Desk | Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 25 (IANS) AICC General Secretary and Organising Secretary, K.C. Venugopal, on Friday demanded the arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saying his resignation was not the need of the hour, as reports of serious differences within the Election Commission of India (ECI) over its decisions and processes triggered a fresh political confrontation. Venugopal said the issue would be discussed by the Congress Working Committee at a meeting to be convened next week. He also said a meeting of the INDIA Bloc would be held to discuss the developments surrounding the Election Commission. The remarks came against the backdrop of investigative media reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections internally to decisions and processes of the poll panel over the past 10 months. The three-member Election Commission is headed by the Chief Election Commissioner, who is first among equals rather than the senior most member, with decisions expected to be taken unanimously as far as possible. In Thiruvananthapuram, Congress leaders and workers marched towards the Lok Bhavan on Friday demanding the immediate removal of Gyanesh Kumar. The protest was part of the Congress' campaign against the functioning of the Election Commission, with the party demanding action against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over what it described as serious violations of the principles governing the poll panel. The controversy has centred particularly on the functioning of the Commission during electoral-roll revision exercises, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). CPI(M) leader and former Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, also attacked Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the credibility of the Election Commission, an institution responsible for ensuring free and fair elections, was being seriously undermined. Vijayan alleged that the CEC had overridden legal opinions recorded by the other two Election Commissioners and had undermined the collective functioning of the Commission. He also alleged that non-transparent decisions were being imposed in electoral-roll revision exercises such as SIR and Special Summary Revision, and demanded Kumar's immediate removal. Vijayan called for the revision processes to be stopped and for the voting rights of those allegedly excluded unfairly from the electoral rolls to be restored. He urged democratic forces to participate in nationwide protests scheduled from September 26 to October 2, describing them as a campaign to protect the Constitution and democratic institutions.

BJP Leader's Son Stays Back To Save Mother In Noida Bus Fire. Both Die

Sunita and Shashank, wife and son of Mahoba BJP District Treasurer Neeraj Gupta, were among those who died in the fire. The family lived in the Rajmandir area of Charkhari town.

Bihar Congress, RJD protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over SIR issues; police use water canons

Digital Desk | Patna, Sep 25 (IANS) The Bihar Congress staged a protest march in Patna on Friday against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and over issues related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. The RJD also staged a demonstration in Patna over the issue. Police used water cannons to stop the protesters as they attempted to proceed towards the State Election Commission office. The protest march was organised from R-Block to the State Election Commission office. A large number of Congress leaders and workers participated in the demonstration, raising slogans against the Election Commission and demanding the resignation of the CEC. Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee president Rajesh Ram said the protest was linked to the questions being raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding the electoral process and voter lists. The protest against the Election Commission stems from the fact that Rahul Gandhi was consistently exposing them... today it has been proven that governments in Bihar, Haryana, and Maharashtra were formed through vote theft. The Election Commission has not yet responded to Rahul Gandhi, Ram said. These allegations reflect the Congress party's political position and have not been established as facts by the Election Commission or a court. Tension was reported during the demonstration as Congress workers and police personnel came face-to-face. Some protesters climbed the barricades while carrying an effigy of the CEC, leading to a commotion at the site. Police subsequently used water cannons to disperse the protesters. Congress workers and leaders also demanded the removal and arrest of CEC Gyanesh Kumar during the demonstration. Purnea MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav also criticised the Election Commission amid the nationwide Congress protests. They have committed an injustice against 13 crore people in Bengal, Bihar, and Assam. How can they simply be allowed to get away with it? Yadav said. The RJD, a key constituent of the Mahagathbandhan, also staged a demonstration in Patna over the issue. RJD leaders and workers took to the streets and raised questions over the functioning of the Election Commission, particularly in connection with the revision of electoral rolls and the electoral process. The protests in Bihar are part of a broader political campaign by Opposition parties questioning the Election Commission's handling of voter lists and the Special Intensive Revision. The protests come amid a recent report by a national English daily newspaper alleging that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally recorded objections at least 14 times over a period of 10 months regarding decisions and procedures of the poll panel. The reported objections covered issues including voter registration and deletion, restoration of names, changes to Form 6, new voters and the management of electoral-roll data. The report said some of the objections concerned decisions that the two commissioners stated had been taken without their knowledge or approval. The objections reportedly included concerns about the centralisation of electoral-roll database controls and aspects of the SIR process. The Election Commission has rejected the suggestion that the reported objections demonstrate a lack of consensus within the three-member poll panel. According to the Commission, all decisions taken by it, including those related to the SIR, had the approval of all three Election Commissioners and were reached unanimously. The Commission said that highlighting individual internal notes without considering the broader body of decisions and approvals presents only one part of its decision-making process. The controversy over the functioning of the Election Commission and the revision of electoral rolls continues, with Opposition parties demanding greater accountability while the poll panel maintains that its decisions have been taken in accordance with its established procedures.

Assam CM mocks CJP's 48-hour ultimatum for CEC's resignation

Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 25 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday took a swipe at the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) regarding the body's 48-hour resignation ultimatum to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Chief Minister Sarma told reporters here, There is no point in demanding a resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar within 48 hours by the CJP. This is a laughable remark. The CJP can demand resignation of any individual like tomorrow they may ask about my resignation too. But of course, I will not respond. The Chief Minister however said that the CJP can raise objections on any matter but seeking resignations of persons from a Constitutional post does not hold any water. Chief Minister Sarma earlier also added that the Election Commission of India (ECI) functions collectively and that decisions cannot be taken simply by one individual Commissioner acting alone. His remarks came a day after the CJP demanded CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation within 48 hours and threatened to launch a nationwide agitation, including what it described as Jantar Mantar 2.0, if the demand was not met. The CJP has raised allegations concerning the functioning of the Election Commission and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The organisation has also demanded that upcoming elections be frozen and that the SIR process be rolled back to its earlier status. Chief Minister Sarma said the CEC cannot independently take decisions by disregarding the other Election Commissioners, stressing that decisions are taken collectively through the Commission. The issue follows reports of differences within the Election Commission over certain decisions linked to the SIR exercise. The Election Commission has said that decisions relating to the revision process were taken unanimously, while media reports have cited objections raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on several occasions. The CJP, meanwhile, has said it would begin protests across the country if CEC Gyanesh Kumar does not resign within the stipulated 48 hours. Chief Minister Sarma's comments come amid an intensifying political debate over electoral rolls, the functioning of the Election Commission and the SIR exercise. The Chief Minister said the Election Commission's decisions should be viewed in the context of its collective institutional functioning rather than being attributed solely to the CEC.

India strengthening public health systems through Ayushman Bharat, digital health push: Health Secretary

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 24 (IANS) India highlighted progress on universal health coverage, hepatitis elimination and sickle cell care at two global health events on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, an official statement said on Thursday. Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava highlighted Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, ABPMJAY and e-Sanjeevani as tools bringing healthcare services closer to communities, the statement from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. Srivastava at the Seventh Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) & Global Health highlighted Indias efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery across primary, secondary and tertiary health care, while protecting people from financial hardship. India reiterated its commitment to making quality healthcare accessible and affordable for all, while sharing its experience in strengthening public health systems and addressing priority health challenges, the statement said. India has a network of over 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, which bring a broad range of healthcare services closer to communities, she noted. These services comprise reproductive and child health services, screening and management of non-communicable diseases, mental health, elderly and palliative care, along with preventive, promotive and curative healthcare. Srivastava highlighted the role of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the publicly funded health assurance scheme, in strengthening financial protection for vulnerable and underserved sections of society. She also underlined the importance of the Free Drugs and Diagnostics Service Initiative and the Prime Ministers National Dialysis Programme in reducing the financial burden on patients and improving access to essential healthcare services. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana strengthens financial protection for vulnerable groups and over 900 million citizens hold unique health IDs under Indias growing digital health ecosystem, Srivastava noted. Over 497 million teleconsultations have been facilitated through e-Sanjeevani, alongside services and innovations such as teleradiology, AI-enabled X-rays and Mobile Medical Units. In a related event, the Union Health Secretary highlighted the countrys commitment to the 2030 goal of eliminating Hepatitis B and C as public health threats, and underlined the importance of early diagnosis, affordable access to treatment. Embedded within the National Health Mission (NHM) framework, viral hepatitis screening services are being provided from nearly 1.80 lakh primary healthcare facilities, including Health and Wellness Centres, to tertiary care facilities. The National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme helped screen nearly 225 million beneficiaries, the statement noted.

Tripura: Congress burns effigy of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, demands arrest

Reported by: Mrinal Banik Agartala: Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee on Friday held a protest march in front of the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), demanding the immediate arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Hundreds of Congress activists participated in the protest march, which concluded near the CEO office. The Congress workers and [] The post Tripura: Congress burns effigy of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, demands arrest appeared first on NorthEast Now .

Meghalaya Congress Joins Nationwide Protest Over ECI Row, Demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Shillong, Sep 25: Congress workers staged a protest in Meghalayas capital on Friday, burning an effigy of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and demanding his immediate removal and arrest. The demonstration, led by state Congress president Vincent H Pala, began at Congress Bhavan and concluded near the Additional Secretariat, where party members set the... The post Meghalaya Congress Joins Nationwide Protest Over ECI Row, Demands CEC Gyanesh Kumars Resignation first appeared on Northeast Today .

AISA President Neha Bora, Gaurav Gogoi Detained During Nationwide Protests Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

AISA president Neha Bora and Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi were detained during protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumars removal amid allegations over electoral roll revisions.

Haryana Congress holds protest, demands arrest of CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Chandigarh, Sep 25 (PTI) Haryana Congress on Friday protested here demanding the arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a review of his decisions, with police using water cannons against the protesters to prevent the gherao of office of the chief electoral officer. The protest was organised under the leadership of former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Haryana Congress chief Rao Narender Singh and partys state affairs in-charge Sanjay Dutt. The party leaders raised Vote Chori slogans during the protest in Sector 17 here. Party MPs from Haryana Deepender Singh Hooda, Jai Prakash, Satpal Brahamchari and Varun Chaudhary, Karamvir

Odisha Congress Gheraos CEO Office in Bhubaneswar Over Electoral Roll Irregularities

High-voltage drama unfolded outside the Chief Electoral Officers (CEO) office in Bhubaneswar on Friday as hundreds of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) workers clashed with police personnel while attempting to gherao the premises. Led by OPCC President Bhakta Charan Das, the demonstrators were protesting against alleged irregularities in the electoral rolls and demanding complete transparency [] The post Odisha Congress Gheraos CEO Office in Bhubaneswar Over Electoral Roll Irregularities appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .

Shams Mulani Shines as India A Trounces Australia A by 162 Runs

Left-arm spinner Shams Mulani's impressive match-haul of 7/124, including three wickets in the second innings, propelled India A to a commanding 162-run victory over Australia A in the first unofficial Test at the CAP-Siechem Stadium in Puducherry.

Assam Cong Chief Gogoi, Leaders Detained During Protest Demanding CEC's Removal

In a video released by the Congress, Gogoi said the party had taken a democratic step to stage the protest against the attack on Indian democracy, but police stopped and detained us

Gaurav Gogoi and senior Congress leaders detained during protest demanding CEC

Guwahati, Sep 25 (PTI) Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi and several senior party leaders were detained on Friday while trying to break through police barricades during a protest demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, police said. The Congress, led by Gogoi, had taken out a march from its state headquarters, Rajiv Bhawan, and planned to proceed towards the Chief Electoral Officers office to burn an effigy of the CEC. Police had put up barricades near Rajiv Bhawan, which the protesting leaders, including Gogoi, attempted to cross, following which they were detained. Congress spokesperson Bedabrata Bora alleged that

Top Indian Badminton Pair Stunned At Asian Games

Indian badminton doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, world No. 5, suffered a surprising first-round exit at the Asian Games, losing to Thailand's Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Peeratchai Sukphun. The duo cited a demanding schedule, lack of recovery, and mental struggles as factors, while also acknowledging their opponents' strong performance.

Patnaik blames Odisha BJP MPs for mines law passage in Parliament, warns of revenue loss for the State

The Monsoon Session of the Odisha Assembly has been facing disruptions for four days now, as the opposition BJD and Congress MLAs, sporting black scarves, raised slogans in the House on Friday, demanding repeal of the law. The proceedings had to be adjourned till 4 p.m.

'Secret mission involving 'Gyanesh Gupta' becomes public knowledge': Pawan Khera claims 'over 13cr voters disenfranchised through SIR'

Congress MP Pawan Khera on Friday accused the Centre of being anti-Constitution and alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls had led to large-scale voter disenfranchisement. He claimed over 13 crore voters had been disenfranchised and attacked the Election Commission amid Congress protests demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumars resignation.

Gyanesh Kumar Masks, Handcuffs, Resignation Demand: Congress Takes To Streets

The Congress workers raised slogans and displayed posters and banners demanding accountability from Gyanesh Kumar

CEC Resignation Demand: Congress Leaders, Workers Detained in Jammu

JAMMU, Sept 25: Scores of Congress workers and leaders were detained on Friday after the party staged a protest outside the Election Commission office in Jammu, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration was part of the Congress nationwide protest campaign against the poll panel. Congress MP and AICC general secretary [] The post CEC Resignation Demand: Congress Leaders, Workers Detained in Jammu appeared first on Northlines .

SIR Row: Youth Congress marches to Jantar Mantar as protests intensify; water cannons used in Bihar, Punjab

Indian Youth Congress protested in New Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Protests against Kumar were reported across various states including Bihar, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. Demonstrators voiced concerns regarding the handling of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

SIR row: Karnataka Congress announces protests, seeks Gyanesh Kumar

SIR row: Karnataka Congress announces protests, seeks Gyanesh Kumars resignation, arrest Bengaluru: The Congress in Karnataka will hold a protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Saturday demanding the resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad [] The post SIR row: Karnataka Congress announces protests, seeks Gyanesh Kumars resignation, arrest appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Manipur Congress Protests Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Tear Gas Fired

The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Friday staged a protest in Imphal demanding the arrest and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, as part of the Congresss nationwide agitation against the poll panel chief. Congress workers marched towards the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Manipur, at Lamphelpat and attempted to enter... The post Manipur Congress Protests Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Tear Gas Fired first appeared on Northeast Today .

Indian Youth Congress marches to Jantar Mantar demanding Election Chief

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Congress takes out rally in Kolkata seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar's arrest; police stop it midway

Congress staged a significant rally in Kolkata, calling for the arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, driven by worries surrounding the electoral process's fairness. Authorities stepped in to halt the procession to avoid traffic chaos, leading to protesters burning an effigy of the CEC, while vehemently demanding his resignation. The Election Commission defended itself, highlighting that disagreements among commissioners are a standard aspect of their functions.

Congress youth wing protesters don Gyanesh Kumar masks, demand CEC

New Delhi, Sep 25 (PTI) Wearing masks bearing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumars face and with their hands bound in chains, Indian Youth Congress workers on Friday protested against the Election Commission, demanding Kumars resignation over alleged differences among the poll panels top officers on key electoral decisions. The protesters raised slogans and displayed posters and banners demanding accountability from Kumar as they marched from the IYC office on Raisina Road towards the Election Commission headquarters. IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib led the demonstration, with the youth wing announcing that it would gherao the Election Commission office as part of

Gyanesh Kumar Should Resign Today: Assam Congress Chief Gaurav Gogoi Detained During Protest

Guwahati, Sep 25: Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi was detained by police on Friday while leading a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration came amid mounting controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which has triggered sharp political exchanges across the country. Speaking during the... The post Gyanesh Kumar Should Resign Today: Assam Congress Chief Gaurav Gogoi Detained During Protest first appeared on Northeast Today .

Gaurav Gogoi detained during Assam Congress protest demanding CECs removal

Assam Congress had taken out a march from its state headquarters, Rajiv Bhawan, and planned to proceed towards the Chief Electoral Officers office to burn an effigy of the CEC