In a show of solidarity and appreciation, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted with resounding cheers and chants of ‘Har Har Mahadev’ at a crucial NDA Parliamentary Party meeting. The event comes amidst a heated deadlock in Parliament over electoral roll revisions in Bihar. NDA leaders gathered to pass a resolution honoring the success of Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev, while opposition INDIA bloc protests in front of the Parliament building.
District Collector Shiv Narayan Sharma has announced the launch of the "Har Ghar Tiranga" campaign in Anantapur district as part of the government's Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations. The ten-day campaign, from August 5 to 15, will involve various activities such as flag hoisting, patriotic songs, rallies, and workshops at the village, mandal, and district levels. The Collector has urged citizens to actively participate and make the campaign a success.
A government school teacher in Bareilly, Dr. Rajneesh Gangwar, has been booked under IPC sections for allegedly insulting religious sentiments after reading a poem discouraging students from joining the Kanwar Yatra. The case quickly took a political turn, with opposition leader Akhilesh Yadav questioning the intentions of the BJP government and right-wing groups branding the teacher as having "jihadi" and "anti-Hindu" leanings. The teacher maintains that his poem was meant to promote critical thinking and the case is politically motivated.
Shocking CCTV footage has surfaced showing the Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Boudh Town Police Station and other officers violently attacking a night watchman on a public road. The incident, which reportedly occurred after midnight near a lodge, has sparked widespread outrage and reignited concerns about police brutality in the district. The victim has filed a formal complaint, alleging that the officers were drunk and subjected him to torture without provocation.
The Supreme Court raised concerns about traffic congestion on national highways and questioned the justification for collecting toll taxes if commuters are stuck in traffic for 12 hours. This came amidst a plea against the Kerala High Court's decision to suspend toll collection at a particular stretch of NH 544 due to poor road conditions and excessive traffic. The apex court also criticized the NHAI for referring to a court ruling that only suggests proportionate reduction of taxes, stating that for a 12-hour wait, commuters should be compensated more significantly.
A heated argument between an army jawan and toll staff turned violent at the Bhuni Toll Plaza, leading to the NHAI imposing a hefty penalty on the toll collecting agency and initiating the process of their termination. The local police have also taken action, arresting six individuals. The NHAI has strongly condemned the incident and expressed their commitment to ensuring safe travel on National Highways. The incident occurred due to the failure of the agency to manage the situation and maintain staff discipline.
Amidst accusations of bias and manipulation in voter list revisions by the opposition, the INDIA bloc is reportedly planning to move an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The opposition alleges that the Commission's Special Intensive Revision in Bihar aims to unfairly influence election outcomes in favor of the ruling party. However, Kumar denies these claims and challenges the opposition to provide proof or apologize for baseless accusations that harm the Election Commission's credibility.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera criticized Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for speaking and acting like a BJP member, while general secretary Jairam Ramesh pointed out the ECI's blatant partisanship and incompetence in handling the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar. The opposition party raised questions regarding the ECI's failure to respond to their concerns and for arguing against sharing CCTV footage of polling booths, which they claim is crucial evidence for ensuring fair elections. This comes after the ECI's updated rules on retaining such footage before destroying them, which has raised further doubts about voter privacy and the electoral process in India.
The Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, is set to present the revised Income Tax Bill 2025 in the Lok Sabha today, replacing the earlier version that was tabled back in February. The fresh draft includes technical corrections and incorporates feedback from the Select Committee of Parliament, chaired by BJP MP Baijayant Panda. The Bill proposes a modern, digital-first, faceless assessment system and aims to replace the complex language of the 1961 Act with clearer terms.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated four new Amrit Bharat trains in Bihar's Motihari district, providing improved rail connectivity and a comfortable commuting experience for thousands of commuters. These trains will run between various cities such as Rajendra Nagar Terminal (Patna), New Delhi, Bapudham Motihari, Darbhanga, and more. Divisional Railway Officer Jayant Kumar Chaudhary spoke about the benefits of the new trains and also shared the train schedule, including stops at popular stations such as Kanpur and Prayagraj.