Amidst controversy and opposition, the Madhya Pradesh cabinet convenes a special meeting at the Rajwada Palace in Indore to honor the 300th birth anniversary of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar. The state is on edge as Minister Vijay Shah, who has been booked for making inflammatory statements against a woman officer, remains elusive and may not attend the meeting. The opposition Congress has threatened to boycott the event if Shah is present, adding more tension to the already charged atmosphere. However, even if Shah attends, he will not be arrested as the Supreme Court has ordered a stay on his arrest and a SIT has been constituted to investigate the matter.
According to Kolkata Police, Pune law student Sharmistha Panoli has been arrested in Gurugram for posting an offensive video on Instagram containing derogatory and disrespectful remarks aimed at a particular religious community. The video, which has since been deleted, went viral and triggered widespread outrage, leading to an FIR against Panoli for promoting enmity and hurting religious sentiments. After multiple failed attempts to serve her a legal notice, police arrested Panoli from Gurugram. However, she has since issued an unconditional apology on social media for her actions.
Kolkata-based activist Sharmistha was arrested in Gurgaon over a video she published criticizing the Kolkata Police. Despite issuing a public apology and deleting the video, Sharmistha was arrested while her alleged harassers remain untouched. She will be presented before a Kolkata court on Saturday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Bhopal on Saturday to pay tribute to Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, an 18th-century queen known for her visionary leadership and welfare initiatives. He will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various women's empowerment and infrastructure projects, release a commemorative postage stamp and Rs 300 coin in her honor, and present the National Devi Ahilyabai Award to a distinguished woman artist. He will also oversee the foundation stone laying for ghat construction works on the Kshipra River for the Simhastha Mahakumbh 2028 in Ujjain.
Sharmistha Panoli, a fourth-year law student from Pune's Symbiosis Institute, was arrested by Kolkata Police in Delhi without prior notice for responding to a Pakistani troll's mocking of India's Operation Sindoor. The arrest has raised concerns about selective policing and suppression of speech, as she had already deleted the video and issued an apology. The use of Section 295A of the IPC, a colonial law criminalizing acts that outrage religious feelings, has once again come under scrutiny.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with several linked organizations will be organizing a two-day conclave to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Deendayal Upadhyaya's concept of integral humanism. The conclave will cover various current issues through the lens of integral humanism, highlighting its relevance in today's society. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Health Minister and BJP President J P Nadda, and Vivekananda International Foundation Chairperson S Gurumurthy will be among the leaders leading sessions at the conclave. The aim of the seminar is to highlight the continuing relevance of Deendayal Upadhyaya's thoughts and actions and how they can be applied to address current challenges in society.
Pranab Mukherjee's daughter Sharmistha has publicly clashed with her brother Abhijit over their father's last book, which has been teased as a tell-all memoir. The two Congress leaders have been at odds over the book's release and contents, causing a rift within the party. Sharmistha, who has a close relationship with her late father, has also posted a moving farewell to him on social media.
Political leaders across party lines took to social media platform X to express their support for the "Operation Sindoor" strikes, which targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. With the death toll rising in the recent Pahalgam attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a free hand to the armed forces for retaliation, leading to a series of diplomatic measures against Pakistan. The army's announcement of "Justice is served" received applause from Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Piyush Goyal, Nitin Gadkari, and Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 50th visit to the state of Bihar was met with both support and criticism on social media platform X. A little-known handle, @WithLoveBihar, launched the hashtag #ModiFailsBihar, while BJP followers responded with #BiharWithModi. The online debate brought attention to unfulfilled electoral promises in the state and highlighted the divide between development and caste-based voting.
Former Fox News host and Trump ally Jeanine Pirro has been appointed as the interim U.S. attorney for D.C. by Trump himself. Despite controversy over his previous pick, Trump has expressed confidence in Pirro as she takes the oath to improve safety and address violence in the nation's capital. Pirro, known for her outspoken support of Trump, has a background in law and has previously ran unsuccessful campaigns for senator and attorney general in New York. However, she has faced criticism for her statements and was suspended from Fox News in 2019.
The Trump administration faces backlash and logistical concerns after threatening to revoke Harvard University's ability to enroll foreign students. This comes amidst a larger campaign against elite universities and accusations of political bias and antisemitism. However, the administration is now indicating a potential change of plans.