On Thursday's episode of Good Morning Britain, host Ed Balls was called out on social media by viewers for interviewing Labour MP and Chancellor Rachel Reeves about her Autumn budget. Critics pointed out that Balls, who is married to Reeves' colleague Yvette Cooper and was previously a Labour Chancellor, was displaying bias in his conversation with Reeves. This isn't the first time Ed Balls has faced criticism for interviewing a family member on the show.
The State Election Commission has pushed back municipal elections in multiple districts of Maharashtra to December 20, causing a stir among candidates and political parties as the previous polling date was looming. The postponement is due to delays in resolving appeals filed by rejected candidates, leading to procedural errors according to the Maharashtra Municipal Election Rules. The new schedule now includes deadlines for symbol allocation, withdrawal of nominations, and voting. This move has major consequences for campaigns and may change the electoral landscape in the affected constituencies.
A mini truck carrying 17 Border Security Force personnel overturned in Kanker district, Chhattisgarh, leaving them injured. The jawans were on their way to Antagarh railway station for a leave when the accident occurred. Four of them were referred to Raipur for further treatment. The state government has declared a 'dry day' on January 22 for Ram Temple inauguration, while a 16-year-old was held hostage and raped in another incident in the state.
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi pays tribute to Shri Pranab Mukherjee, a former President and veteran politician, on his birth anniversary. The PM praises Mukherjee's exceptional leadership and contributions to India's development, highlighting his intellect and unwavering dedication to public service. The post also mentions the privilege of the PM's personal interactions with Mukherjee and the valuable lessons learned from him.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu urges alliance ministers, MPs, MLAs and MLCs to join the Atal Sandesh — Modi Suparipalana Yatra, a program honoring former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's ideals and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiatives. Naidu highlights Vajpayee's legacy and his contributions to India's development, while emphasizing Modi's role in leading the country to become the world's No. 1 nation by 2047. He urges NDA leaders to coordinate efforts and make the yatra a success.
In the Lok Sabha, a special discussion was held to commemorate 150 years of the national song Vande Mataram, which was turned into a battleground for political agendas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress of splitting the song in order to appease the Muslim League and ultimately make the song unrecognizable. This sparked protest and outrage from the opposition who claimed that this discussion was simply an attempt to gain favor for the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal. The session also saw technicalities such as the mispronunciation of the poet's name and the song itself, furthering the divisions in the political discourse.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi commends Home Minister Amit Shah for his compelling speech on the electoral process, in which he exposed the deceptive tactics of the opposition. Shah's detailed account of various aspects of the electoral process and the strength of democracy left little room for opposition's false allegations. He also called out the Congress for their failures and reiterated the importance of strong leadership for electoral success.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has recommended that the government amend the penal provisions for publishing and telecasting fake news to include cancelling the accreditation of journalists or creators found guilty. The committee also stressed the need to define the term 'fake news' and incorporate suitable clauses in existing regulatory frameworks to combat misinformation and protect freedom of speech. They also suggested the implementation of fact-checking mechanisms and internal ombudsmen in media organizations to strengthen self-regulatory measures and combat the spread of fake news.
In a fiery speech on Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused the Opposition Congress of colluding with infiltrators for electoral gain. Shah alleged that incidents of 'vote chori' have occurred in the past, including during the election of prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru despite Sardar Patel receiving majority votes. He also responded to Rahul Gandhi's accusations of 'vote chori' by challenging the Congress leader to a debate. The debate comes as the government initiates a Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls to remove illegal infiltrators.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah delivered a passionate speech in Parliament, targeting the issue of illegal infiltration and accusing the opposition of playing vote bank politics. He emphatically declared the government's policy on illegal residents and intruders: "detect, delete, and deport". Shah also attacked the Congress and the Gandhi family for their alleged history of electoral theft. This led to a heated exchange with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who has been consistently questioning the fairness of elections and the integrity of institutions.