The Times of India

South & North Bengal ADGs And A Dozen SPs Shunted Out

Congress accused the BJP of using money power, threats, and a partisan returning officer to secure victory in the Haryana Rajya Sabha polls. The party alleged that five Congress MLAs cross-voted and four votes were wrongly invalidated, claiming the BJP murdered democracy. Congress vowed strong action against the MLAs who betrayed the party's mandate.

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale highlighted Census 2027 as a crucial opportunity for accurate disability data, enabling targeted policymaking post the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. A new handbook aims to help parliamentarians translate legal provisions into actionable policy, addressing barriers faced by persons with disabilities, particularly in healthcare.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday attended the 'Nari Utsav' programme held at the Nirmal Chhaya Complex, where she paid tribute to the strength and contribution of women in nation-building.

India has accused Pakistan of fabricating Islamophobia narratives at the UN, questioning Islamabad's treatment of minorities and its actions against Afghanistan. Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish urged the UN to address all religious discrimination, not just one faith, highlighting India's large Muslim population and pluralistic ethos. He warned against weaponizing religion for political gain.

Trinamool Congress revealed its candidate list for the West Bengal Assembly elections, contesting 291 out of 294 seats. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will run from Bhabanipur, while allies will contest three seats in Darjeeling. The party expressed confidence in retaining power with a significant majority, aiming for over 226 seats.

The Supreme Court has granted approval for passive euthanasia for Harish Rana, a 32-year-old man in a vegetative state for over 13 years. This historic verdict allows the withdrawal of life support, offering a dignified death and ending his family's prolonged agony. The decision follows recommendations from medical boards and personal interaction with Rana's parents.

India's energy crisis persists due to Middle East conflict, but the government assures consumers about LPG supplies. While urging judicious consumption and alternate fuel use, authorities are conducting raids to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders across several states.

TVK functionary Aadhav Arjuna had alleged that the DMK family threatened actor Rajinikanth when he tried to enter politics. Arjuna said he was not criticising Rajinikanth but added that Vijay had the courage to withstand such pressure. TVK organised protests at district headquarters across Tamil Nadu on Thursday, accusing the state government of failing to maintain law and order.

The Supreme Court has struck down a provision in the Social Security Code 2020 that limited maternity leave for adoptive mothers. The court declared the provision irrational, stating adoptive children are no different from biological ones. Consequently, adoptive mothers are now entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave, irrespective of the child's age at adoption.

The LPG tanker Nanda Devi arrived in Gujarat carrying 46,500 metric tonnes of LPG, set for ship-to-ship transfer. This marks the second successful LPG carrier navigating the Strait of Hormuz amid global tensions. The shipment will help manage India's LPG supply pressures.

India's national mental health helpline, Tele-MANAS, has received over 34.34 lakh calls since its October 2022 launch, indicating a significant rise in demand for psychological support. Uttar Pradesh leads in call volume, with other states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka also showing high engagement.

The National Medical Commission has fined seven medical colleges 1 crore each for failing to disclose stipend details for interns and residents. This action follows repeated directives and court orders mandating transparency in payments. The NMC warned of further disciplinary measures for continued non-compliance.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has mandated registration or licenses for all independent milk producers and vendors nationwide. This directive aims to bring unregistered sellers into the food safety regulatory system, addressing concerns over milk adulteration and ensuring better traceability and safety for consumers.

Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who aslo happens to be the son of chief minister MK Stalin, said no conspiracies can break the relationship between the urling DMK and the Muslim coummunity. As long as brotherhood and unity exist, no matter how many attempts or conspiracies take place, no one will be able to break the relationship between the DMK and the Muslim community, said Stalin, who is DMK's heir apparent.

India has voiced strong concerns at the UN regarding the dangerous trend of weaponizing religious identity for political gain by both state and non-state actors. Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish highlighted atrocities in India's western neighborhood, criticizing fabricated Islamophobia claims and brutal repression of minorities. He asserted that Muslims in India have elected representatives and enjoy peaceful coexistence.