The Indian Ministry of Law and Justice has denied the request from the Election Commission to issue a presidential order that would stagger the terms of the four Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, which have been vacant for four and a half years. The ministry cited a lack of provision in the law for such an order. The EC had sought the order to ensure that one-third of the seats become vacant every two years, similar to the terms of other Rajya Sabha members, due to multiple instances of President's rule in the state. This decision means Jammu and Kashmir will have no representation in the Rajya Sabha during future important elections such as for the Vice-President.
The Election Commission's request for a presidential order to stagger the terms of the four Rajya Sabha seats from J&K has been declined by the Union Law and Justice Ministry. These seats have been vacant for over four and a half years, resulting in no representation for J&K in the Rajya Sabha when important elections are held. The EC had sought this order only for J&K and not for other states in similar situations. The Law Ministry cited lack of provision in the law for such an order, delaying the filling of these crucial RS seats.
The Law Ministry has declined the Election Commission's appeal for a presidential order to stagger the terms of four vacant Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir. Citing lack of provision in the law, the Law Ministry denied the EC's request for the terms to be set in a way that one-third of the seats would fall vacant every two years. This has raised concern as J&K will have no representation in Rajya Sabha during the upcoming Vice-Presidential elections in September. Despite a similar situation in Punjab and Delhi, the EC's request was specifically made for J&K, which has been under President's Rule several times in the past 30 years.
The Uttar Pradesh police have ramped up efforts to bring justice in the aftermath of the violent clashes at Sambhal, with seven more accused arrested today, bringing the total to 47. The incident, which left four people dead and many injured, was a result of the protests and clashes during the survey of the disputed site where a temple once stood. The police have registered 11 FIRs and are still on the lookout for 91 more accused. A team of experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory has also been brought in to recreate the scenes of the violence.
Mumbai Congress Chief Sanjay Nirupam claimed that he was placed under "house-arrest" by Mumbai police while organizing a "silent" morcha during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit. However, Mumbai Police denied these claims and stated that the deployment of forces was only for the security arrangements during the PM's convoy. AICC General Secretary Mohan Prakash condemned this act and accused the government of restricting citizens' rights and freedom of expression. Despite the obstacles, the Congress morcha will still take place as scheduled.
A video showing a large crowd has been circulating on social media, claiming to be from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Voter Adhikar Yatra. However, our investigation has found that this claim is false. The video actually shows the annual Jagannath Puri Yatra from June 2025, predating Gandhi's yatra which started in August. We were able to trace the origin of the video to a YouTube channel where it was uploaded in June, further debunking the false claim.
Rohini Acharya, daughter of RJD Chief Lalu Yadav, launched a scathing attack on the NDA government and Election Commission of India over millions of names being deleted from Bihar's voter lists. She alleged that this was a targeted move to disenfranchise supporters of the opposition Grand Alliance. The ongoing "Voter Adhikar Yatra" led by Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav has raised the stakes in the lead up to Bihar's Assembly elections. Amidst this, Acharya welcomed youth participation in politics and stated that Tejashwi is the people's choice for Chief Minister.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin makes a grand appearance in Bihar to support Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's 'Vote Adhikar Yatra'. Stalin accuses BJP of trying to hinder the opposition's victory in the upcoming assembly elections and slams the Election Commission for removing over 65 lakh voters from the list. He is joined by Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders during the 1,300-km yatra that will conclude with a rally in Patna.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin faced backlash over past controversial statements made by his party members and allies about Biharis, as he joined Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar. BJP leaders challenged Stalin to repeat these statements during his visit and accused him of trying to win votes from the same people his party had previously offended. Union Minister L Murugan also took a swipe at Stalin, questioning the usefulness of his presence at the rally and suggesting that his language would reflect a colonial mindset.
In a powerful address marking the 100 years of RSS, Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat called upon India to recognize and embrace its spiritual and cultural identity in order to become a vishwaguru, or world guide, for the modern world. He highlighted the core spirit of the organisation and its commitment to selfless service to the nation and Hindu community. Bhagwat also emphasized the importance of diverse perspectives and informed discourse when discussing RSS and its contributions over the past century.