Activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and seven others, who have been in jail since 2020, were denied bail by the Delhi High Court on Tuesday. The court found the riots to be an orchestrated conspiracy with a sinister motive, aimed at defaming India globally. The accused argued for bail citing their long incarceration and citing their disconnection from the alleged conspiracy, but the court held that prolonged incarceration alone cannot justify bail in such a grave case.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP are embroiled in a heated political war in Andhra Pradesh. Naidu has challenged the YSRCP to an assembly debate, framing it as a discussion on development versus destruction. In response, the YSRCP is demanding the official status of the opposition party in the assembly, further escalating the conflict between the two political rivals.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar spoke at a public event in Pune on Thursday, stressing that the state's Mahayuti government has been dedicated to the welfare of the public. He also took the opportunity to criticize the opposition, highlighting how the Mahayuti government has been proactive in handling situations. The statement came amidst growing tension in the state assembly.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and BJP workers staged a statewide bandh in Bihar on Thursday in protest against derogatory remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother at a recent rally. Essential services were unaffected by the five-hour shutdown, with the BJP Mahila Morcha leading the protests. Prime Minister Modi also indirectly responded to the comments, calling out the opposition leaders as “namdaars” and asserting that they cannot understand the hardships faced by ordinary citizens. The bandh culminated with a protest march in Muzaffarpur, with demands for a public apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.
On Thursday, women workers from NDA constituent parties spearheaded a five-hour bandh across Bihar to protest derogatory remarks made about PM Modi's late mother during the Congress' "Voter Adhikar Yatra." Protests were held in districts like Nawada, Muzaffarpur, Katihar, and Darbhanga, with BJP leaders vocally condemning the incident and calling for an apology from the opposition leaders. PM Modi himself expressed being "deeply pained" by the incident and urged the people of Bihar to hold the opposition accountable.
As Punjab grapples with severe floods, the shortage of government-owned motorised boats has severely impacted the rescue and relief operations. NGOs and other philanthropic organizations have expressed concern over sarkaari boats being used to ferry politicians instead of aiding flood-hit villages. Shockingly, out of the total 257 boats available in the state, only 114 can be run in motorised mode, causing delays and inefficiencies in the relief efforts. The data shows uneven distribution of boats and engines, with districts worst-hit by floods having fewer resources compared to landlocked ones.
In a tweet, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram praised the Centre's move to rationalise GST and cut rates but criticized the timing, calling it "8 years too late." He questioned the government's motives behind the sudden reforms, speculating about factors such as sluggish growth and upcoming elections. The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) also welcomed the changes as a victory for common people, with the party crediting sustained public and political pressure for the move. The government presented these reforms as a Diwali gift to the nation, aiming to ease household, farmer, and business costs and strengthen the economy.
Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman have announced significant rate cuts across multiple sectors, in what is being described as a Diwali gift for the nation. The revised GST slabs will ease the burden on the common people, with essential items of daily use like hair oil, toothpaste, dairy products, and baby products seeing a reduction in rates from 12% to 5%. The agriculture sector will also benefit greatly from this reform, with significant cuts in GST rates for items like tractors and bi-pesticides.
In a recent statement, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro sparked controversy by claiming that Brahmins in India are profiteering from Russia's oil trade. This statement has been met with backlash on social media, with many calling it casteist and anti-Hindu. The comment has also raised concerns about the strained diplomatic relations between the US and India over tariffs. The issue has snowballed online, with many using the hashtag #BrahminRussians to criticize Navarro's statement and satire memes surfacing on social media platforms.
In his first public appearance in a week, US President Donald Trump addressed rampant online speculation about his health by dismissing it as "fake news". He used this platform to announce the relocation of the US Space Command headquarters, effectively shifting the focus from his health to a major policy decision. Trump also took a swipe at his predecessor, Joe Biden, by comparing their respective public engagement and health statuses. Despite staying out of the public eye for a few days, Trump remained active on his social media platform, further disproving the death rumours.
Due to incessant rainfall, several parts of Punjab and Haryana have been put on a ‘red’ alert by the India Meteorological Department. The rising water level in the Beas river has also caused concern for the Kapurthala district administration, who have advised residents to move to safer locations. In other news, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil continues his protest at Azad Maidan despite Mumbai Police asking protesters to vacate the area. Similarly, despite being booked in a rape case, Punjab AAP MLA Harmit Singh Pathanmajra evaded arrest by fleeing in a white SUV.