Politics

24

Oct

By The Press Editor

Politics

Mansa Activist Murder Rocks Punjab Assembly, Congress MLA Suspended

The Punjab Assembly witnessed heated exchanges on the second day of its session on Friday over the October 13 murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa.   Congress legislators entered the well of the House wearing black scarves and raised slogans against the Aam Aadmi Party government. They demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and carried a poster titled ‘Laanat Patra’ (Letter of Shame), accusing the government of failing to address law and order, drug control and gangsterism.   Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan appealed to the protesting members not to interrupt Question Hour. Leader of Opposition…

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23

Oct

By The Press Editor

Politics

Sukhbir Badal Hints at BJP Alliance in Punjab, Names AAP and Congress as Rivals

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal has indicated that his party could consider returning to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections scheduled for early next year.   Speaking after meeting Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Badal identified the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress as the SAD’s principal political opponents in the state. Without directly naming the BJP, he said the Akali Dal was prepared to work with parties that shared its views for the betterment of Punjab.   Speculation about a renewed SAD-BJP partnership has intensified in recent months. Badal…

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23

Oct

By The Press Editor

Politics

Jaishankar Slams Critics Over Marco Rubio Meeting, Asks ‘Was Indira Gandhi Summoned?’

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has questioned the criticism of his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Mumbai, rejecting the suggestion that the interaction amounted to a “summons”.   Speaking at a summit on Thursday, Jaishankar said he did not understand the objections to either the meeting or the choice of Mumbai as its venue. He described Mumbai as India’s financial and Bollywood capital and questioned why there was any reservation about holding the interaction there.   “I failed to get it,” Jaishankar said, while asking why there was criticism of Mumbai. He added that the city…

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22

Oct

By The Press Editor

Politics

Amit Shah’s Big Remark on Rahul Gandhi: ‘Dharna Won’t Win Polls’

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has criticised the Opposition’s protests over alleged “vote theft”, saying political parties cannot win elections by organising dharnas and demonstrations. He said parties should instead focus on working for public welfare.   Shah targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi while defending his prediction that the Bharatiya Janata Party would remain in power for the next 30 years. He accused Opposition parties of refusing to accept electoral defeats while supporting democratic institutions when election results went in their favour.   “You cannot gather party cadres from neighbouring states, stage dharnas in Delhi and reject the people's mandate,”…

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20

Oct

By The Press Editor

Politics

Rahul Gandhi Gets Supreme Court Relief in PM Modi Remarks Case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday put on hold further proceedings in a Maharashtra trial court in a defamation case involving Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over remarks concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi.   A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Aparesh Kumar Singh issued notices to the Maharashtra government and complainant MH Shrishrimal, seeking their replies within four weeks. The court directed that proceedings before the trial court would remain stayed.   The order was passed on Gandhi’s plea challenging the Bombay High Court’s September 8 decision, which declined to cancel the summons issued to him in the case.   Senior…

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20

Oct

By The Press Editor

Politics

Woman With Knife Allegedly Tries to Attack Mamata Banerjee

A woman allegedly tried to approach and attack former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with a knife near her residence in Kolkata’s Kalighat, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has alleged.   The incident allegedly occurred at around 6 pm as Banerjee was leaving to inaugurate a Durga Puja pandal. The woman is accused of running towards Banerjee while addressing her as “pishi”, meaning aunt in Bengali. She allegedly attempted to throw herself at Banerjee, later lay down on the road and shouted abuses.   According to the allegations, the woman tugged at Banerjee’s saree and…

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19

Oct

By The Press Editor

Politics

Rahul Gandhi Backs CJP Leaders Jailed After Protest

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has publicly backed Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, who were sent to five-day judicial custody on Wednesday after being arrested during a protest at Jantar Mantar.   Ranka and Das were accused of trespassing at the venue after the Centre denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site. The development marked Rahul Gandhi’s first public expression of support for the CJP leadership.   “Waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime. Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice,” Rahul Gandhi said in…

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19

Oct

By The Press Editor

Politics

TVK Not Seeking AIADMK MLAs, Minister Says on Defections

Tamil Nadu’s ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) will not actively pursue defections from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), state Health Minister K G Arunraj said on Wednesday. He added that the party would consider the issue if AIADMK legislators chose to leave their party because of differences with its leadership.   Speaking to reporters at Kilpauk Medical College in Chennai, Arunraj said TVK had set no target or campaign to attract opposition MLAs. He said the party would examine the situation if legislators rejected their own leadership and approached TVK.   The minister’s comments came amid a…

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18

Oct

By The Press Editor

Politics

Durga Puja Stampede: Major Challenge for CM Suvendu Adhikari

Five months after taking charge as West Bengal Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari is facing his first major administrative and political crisis following the stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata. The tragedy has raised questions over crowd control, public safety arrangements and the administration’s preparedness for one of Bengal’s largest annual festivals.   At least 19 people died and 25 others were injured when the crowd surged at Chorbagan on the evening of October 17, the first of the two Saptami days in the 2026 Durga Puja calendar. The incident occurred in an area marked by narrow…

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18

Oct

By The Press Editor

Politics

Election Commission Announces Special Summary Revision to Boost Voter Enrolment

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered a Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls in 17 states and Union Territories, with a focus on enrolling young, first-time and other eligible voters who may have been left out during the ongoing controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).   The exercise will cover Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. The qualifying date for inclusion is January 1, 2027.   According to the schedule, draft electoral rolls will be released on…

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