Nation

06

May

By The Press Editor

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Nation, Politics

BJP’s big Bengal bet pays off, sets sights on 2029

Riding on a strong performance in the recently concluded high-voltage West Bengal Assembly elections, the BJP has significantly expanded its footprint across the state, cutting across regional, social, and demographic divides.   According to the party’s post-election assessment, the BJP has taken leads in 29 out of the state’s 42 Lok Sabha seats—an outcome party leaders are calling a crucial stepping stone toward their ambitious target of securing 35 to 40 seats in the 2029 general elections.   The saffron party’s gains appear broad-based. It swept all eight Lok Sabha segments in North Bengal and performed strongly in western districts…

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02

May

By The Press Editor

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Nation, Politics

Pawan Khera granted pre-arrest bail in defamation case

In a notable legal reprieve for Pawan Khera, the Supreme Court has granted the Congress leader anticipatory bail in a criminal defamation and forgery case. The proceedings were initiated by the Assam Police following a complaint from Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.   The bench, consisting of Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice Atul Chandurkar, stepped in after the Gauhati High Court had earlier refused to grant Khera protection. It was pointed out by the judges during the hearing about the exchange of accusations and counter-accusations between Khera and the Chief Minister. It was…

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30

Apr

By The Press Editor

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Nation, Politics

Arvind Kejriwal to skip hearing before Justice Swarna Kanta in excise case

The former Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, has sparked a fresh constitutional stand-off by declaring he will no longer participate in proceedings before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma. In a pointed letter addressed to the Delhi High Court judge, who is currently hearing a challenge to his acquittal in the excise policy case, Kejriwal stated he has lost all faith in her ability to deliver an impartial verdict. This defiance follows the judge’s recent refusal to recuse herself from the matter.   Kejriwal’s primary contention involves an alleged conflict of interest. He claims that the judge’s children, serving as panel lawyers…

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29

Apr

By The Press Editor

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Nation, Politics

Tharoor admits Congress being ‘anti-women’: Kiren Rijiju

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has stepped up his criticism of the Congress party, claiming that MP Shashi Tharoor effectively "admitted" his party holds an anti-women bias. Speaking in an interview, Rijiju recounted a private exchange between the two following a parliamentary session on the Women’s Reservation Bill. According to the Minister, Tharoor suggested that while the Congress might be viewed as anti-women, no woman would ever label him as such. Rijiju argued that this remark was an implicit acknowledgment of the party’s broader stance, even if Tharoor sought to distance his personal reputation from it.   The row follows the…

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27

Apr

By The Press Editor

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Nation, Politics

RS chair backs AAP rebels’ BJP merger

The Rajya Sabha Chairman, CP Radhakrishnan, has formally approved the merger of seven former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This move, led by Raghav Chadha, sees the BJP’s strength in the Upper House climb to 113 members. Alongside Chadha, the newly integrated list includes Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Harbhajan Singh, Swati Maliwal, and Rajinder Gupta.   Union Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed the Chairman's decision on X, welcoming the group to the NDA and taking a swipe at the opposition by bidding "goodbye to the Tukde-Tukde INDI Alliance." Rijiju was quick to…

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25

Apr

By The Press Editor

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Nation, Politics

AAP has changed, none can work with Kejriwal: Swati Maliwal

Defected Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Swati Maliwal on Saturday launched a sharp attack on party chief Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that the party had “strayed far” from its founding principles and that its leader had undergone a fundamental change.   The remarks come a day after AAP suffered a major setback, with seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs, including Maliwal and Raghav Chadha, resigning from the party in one of its biggest internal ruptures since its formation. The other MPs who quit were Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Ashok Mittal, Rajinder Gupta and Vikram Sahney.   Maliwal, who has since joined…

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23

Apr

By The Press Editor

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Nation, Politics

Oppn demands addition of PM’s speech cost to BJP expenditure

The Opposition calls out Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Saturday night address to the nation as a violation of democratic norms, as it was given while elections are still scheduled in several states. The Opposition leaders called it a ‘politically motivated’ speech. PM addressed the delimitation issue and the Women’s Reservation Bill, which failed to get Lok Sabha clearance, calling out the Opposition parties for not ‘standing’ with the ‘naaris’ of the nation.   As per the Opposition’s point of view, PM’s address should be treated as a campaign speech, and its cost should be added to the BJP's election expenditure,…

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21

Apr

By The Press Editor

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Nation, Politics

Muslim BJP leader storms Lenskart store amid Bindi-Hijab row

The controversy surrounding Lenskart’s workplace grooming policies took a dramatic turn in Mumbai when activists, led by a Muslim Bharatiya Janata Party leader, forced their way into one of the retailer's showrooms. The protest follows allegations that the eyewear giant had effectively banned Hindu religious symbols, such as bindis and tilaks, while simultaneously permitting the hijab— a claim that has sparked fierce debate over corporate secularism in India.   Nazia Elahi, a leader within the BJP’s Minority Morcha, headed the group as they confronted staff and chanted "Jai Shri Ram" inside the store. In a tense exchange caught on camera,…

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18

Apr

By The Press Editor

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Nation, Politics

Centre’s plan to change federal structure fails: Priyanka

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday accused the Centre of conspiring to change the federal structure of the country in the garb of women's reservation, asserting that the defeat of its bill in the Lok Sabha to amend the women’s quota law was a victory for the Constitution as well as opposition unity.   She also demanded that the government implement the Women's Reservation Act of 2023 on the current strength of the Lok Sabha. “What happened yesterday was a big win for democracy. The conspiracy to change the federal structure (of the country) was defeated. It was a…

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17

Apr

By The Press Editor

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Nation, Politics

Calm demeanour, sharp digs: Priyanka in Parliament

In a little over 20 minutes on Thursday, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made a definitive mark on the Lok Sabha. The Wayanad MP managed to weave together her family’s political legacy with a sharp critique of the government, all while maintaining a level of oratory that captured the attention of both sides of the House.   Her address was notable for its composure. In a chamber often split by intense hostility, she delivered her barbs with a smile— so much so that she even drew a laugh from Home Minister Amit Shah, while simultaneously energising the Opposition benches and earning a…

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