Pawan Singh, a renowned Bhojpuri actor and singer, has been garnering attention for his meeting with political leaders from the BJP and RLSP. With his massive popularity among Bhojpuri-speaking voters, Singh's potential entry into politics is seen as a significant development ahead of the Bihar Assembly Elections. However, his previous decision to contest as an independent candidate in the Lok Sabha elections had a negative impact on the BJP, causing them to lose some seats. Singh's potential alliance with the BJP is expected to energise party workers and boost their campaign, but it remains to be seen if this will have any repercussions on the upcoming elections.
US President Donald Trump warns Hamas to accept the proposed Gaza peace plan, which includes an end to fighting, the return of Israeli hostages, and an international "Board of Peace" to help run Gaza. The plan also mentions the possibility of Palestinian self-determination and statehood, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists it does not mean statehood. Trump gives Israel full backing to take action if Hamas refuses to accept the plan. Our diplomatic correspondent notes that even if a deal is made, it must be able to sustain itself in the long run.
The upcoming film "The Taj Story" featuring actor Paresh Rawal has sparked a huge debate over its poster which displays Rawal removing the dome of the Taj Mahal and a statue of Lord Shiva emerging from it. While the filmmakers claim that the movie does not deal with any religious matters, it has been met with backlash on social media with many calling it propaganda. This is not the first time that a film has been accused of using religious themes as a means of manipulation. The controversy surrounding the poster has brought to light the ongoing debate over the portrayal of historical facts in films.
One of the founding members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, passed away at the age of 93 on Tuesday morning. He had been admitted to AIIMS Delhi and was undergoing treatment for the past few days. The Prime Minister, Defence Minister and Delhi BJP chief all expressed their condolences and remembered Malhotra's contributions to the party and public service. He was known for his knowledge of the Indian Constitution and his dedication to the party's ideology.
In a fiery interview with PTI, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticized RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's recent remarks advocating for every Indian family to have three children. Owaisi accused the RSS and affiliated organizations of promoting anti-Muslim hatred and called out Bhagwat's double standards regarding population control. He also challenged Bhagwat's suggestion, asking who gave him the right to dictate women's priorities and calling for his retirement from politics.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Goa's plans for a permanent campus have been scrapped after strong opposition from villagers in Codar village. The state government cited lack of consultation and local support as the main reasons for abandoning the project, which has faced resistance at five different proposed sites since its establishment in 2016. Despite hopes for research opportunities and community projects, the local MLA and Water Resources Minister emphasized the need for well-rounded thinking and expressed concern over the impact of such opposition on progress.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was attacked by a man during her 'Jan Sunvai' program at her official residence, leaving her in shock. Opinions are divided across the political spectrum, as the BJP condemns the assault while the Congress questions the government's stance on women's safety in the national capital. The attacker has been arrested by the Delhi Police and is being questioned, with further investigations underway. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva denies the involvement of any slap or stone-throwing and calls the incident condemnable.
The stampede at actor Vijay's political rally in Karur on Saturday, triggered by his delayed arrival, has claimed the lives of 41 people. The tragedy has prompted a visit from Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and a judicial inquiry led by a retired High Court judge, with the Madras High Court set to hear both TVK's plea for an independent probe and a victim's petition to ban future rallies. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has expressed deep sorrow and announced compensation for the victims' families, while actor Vijay has expressed his own grief and called for unity in this time of mourning.
Days after the deadly stampede in Tamil Nadu's Karur, a rally by actor-politician Vijay's party triggered the tragedy, resulting in 41 deaths and over 60 people being hospitalized. In an emotional post, Vijay announced financial aid for the affected families and expressed his grief. Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) approached the Madras High Court seeking a CBI or SIT probe into the incident. The court has agreed to consider their request.
Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has announced its plans to appeal against a Karnataka High Court ruling that upheld the government's directives to block certain accounts and posts. The company expressed concerns over the order's potential for arbitrary censorship and emphasized the need to defend free expression. The court ruled that social media platforms must abide by Indian law and criticized X for prioritizing US laws. It also emphasized the importance of regulating the influence of algorithms and complying with the 2021 IT Rules in the evolving digital ecosystem.