[PICTURES/VIDEOS] Indian Politics - News & Updates Thread

[finalfantasy7]

Why DMK wants to impeach Madras High Court judge and what is Thiruparankundram row?​

Why DMK wants to impeach Madras High Court judge and what is Thiruparankundram row?

What began as a dispute over where a traditional lamp should be lit has spiralled into a confrontation involving judiciary, government, political parties, and religious groups.

www.indiatoday.in

What began as a dispute over where a traditional lamp should be lit has spiralled into a confrontation involving judiciary, government, political parties, and religious groups.​

DMK MPs planning to impeach judge over hilltop lamp lighting order, as per Sources
DMK lawmakers are planning to move impeachment motion against Madras High Court judge Justice GR Swaminathan after his order sent Tamil Nadu into a major legal and political firestorm. This unprecedented step follows the judge’s controversial order directing that the Karthigai Deepam lamp be lit on the Deepathoon pillar at Thiruparankundram, a location situated close to the Sikandar Badusha Dargah and long considered sensitive. The state government refused to carry out the order citing law-and-order risks, even as pro-Hindu groups clashed with police when the temple did not light the lamp as mandated
The DMK argues that Justice Swaminathan’s directive not only contradicts a 2017 Division Bench ruling but also has the potential to trigger communal tensions mere months before Assembly elections. The issue has since escalated into a national flashpoint, spilling into Parliament, prompting clashes on the ground, and now landing before the Supreme Court.

What began as a dispute over where a traditional lamp should be lit has spiralled into a confrontation involving judiciary, government, political parties, and religious groups.

WHAT WAS THE ORDER?​

Justice GR Swaminathan had instructed the Subramaniya Swamy Temple officials to light the lamp on Deepathoon by 6 pm on December 4, after four petitioners sought the court's permission to light up the lamp on the ancient stone.

Though the location was opposed owing to its proximity to the Sikandar Badusha Dargah and the fact that the Karthigai Deepam is usually lit on a Deepa Mandapam near the Uchipillaiyar temple on the hill, Justice GR Swaminathan rejected the objections.

He said while the rights of the dargah or the Muslims will not be affected in any way by lighting the lamp at Deepathoon, not doing so might jeopardise the rights of the Subramaniya Swamy temple over the unoccupied portions of the hill due to alleged attempts made by the mosque trustees to encroach them.

“Even if it is not a matter of custom, asserting the title of the temple over the lower peak by lighting at the Deepathoon is imperative. The 1923 judgment has clarified who owns what. But that did not deter the mosque trustees from disturbing the status quo. It is therefore necessary that the temple management remains vigilant throughout to foil any attempt to encroach on its property,” he said.

The Tamil Nadu government, however, refused to implement the order, citing law and order concerns.

WHAT DOES DMK SAY?​

The DMK argued that such an order could inflame communal tensions, particularly with an Assembly election less than six months away. It has also pointed that Justice Swaminathan's order reverses a 2017 judgement by a Madras High Court division bench.

On December 5, the issue rocked the Lok Sabha with DMK leader TR Baalu accusing the BJP of trying to "ignite" communal tensions in Tamil Nadu.

advertisement

"Who should light the deepam on the hill? Whether the Hindu Religious Endowment Board representative or some miscreants who have got a judgement from a Madras High Court's judge?" asked Baalu.

CLASHES AFTER ORDER​

On December 4, several pro-Hindu groups clashed with the Tamil Nadu police over the Karthigai Deepam preparation at the lower peak of the hillock, known as Deepathoon. As per sources, the members of four Hindu groups, Hindu Makkal Katchi, Hindu Tamilar Katchi, Hanuman Senai, and Hindu Munnani, tried to climb the Thiruparankundram Hill to light up the lamps when they had a tussle with the local police.

Despite the court order, the temple authorities did not light the lamp by 6 pm, which triggered a major controversy. Several people, under the supervision of these four Hindu groups, gathered in front of the temple, and some of them tried climbing over the hillock, which resulted in a scuffle with the local police.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the state government challenging the High Court's order permitting devotees of the Arulmighu Subramaniya Swamy Temple to light traditional 'Karthigai Deepam lamp' at 'Deepathoon'.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Pune Woman Booked for Drugging, Assaulting and Blackmailing Man; Extorted Him for Over One Year​

Pune Woman Booked for Drugging, Assaulting and Blackmailing Man; Extorted Him for Over One Year

A 42-year-old woman from Pune, Gauri Pralhad Wanjale, has been accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a 47-year-old man, recording explicit materials, and subsequently blackmailing him for ₹2 lakh. The alleged abuse lasted nearly a year before the victim sought police assistance. The man...

www.timesnownews.com

A 42-year-old woman from Pune, Gauri Pralhad Wanjale, has been accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a 47-year-old man, recording explicit materials, and subsequently blackmailing him for ₹2 lakh. The alleged abuse lasted nearly a year before the victim sought police assistance. The man claimed he first met Wanjale during a pilgrimage, where she posed as a sisterly figure. Following their trip, she threatened to release the recordings if he did not meet her extortion demands. Investigations are ongoing​

Pune: A 42-year-old woman from Pune has been booked for allegedly drugging and raping a 47-year-old man, recording intimate photos and videos of him, and then using the material to blackmail him for ₹2 lakh, according to an FIR filed at Kothrud Police Station. Police said the alleged abuse continued for nearly a year before the victim approached authorities seeking help.
The accused has been identified as Gauri Pralhad Wanjale, named in the complaint reported by The Free Press Journal, with officers confirming that a detailed investigation is now under way.

How the Alleged Crime Began​

The complainant told police that he first met Wanjale during a family pilgrimage to Tuljapur on 7 November 2024, where she allegedly befriended him by presenting herself as his “sister” and later began visiting his home regularly.
He further stated that the woman contacted his wife and suggested that the two travel together as siblings on a visit to Kashi Vishwanath, an explanation his wife accepted.

During the trip, the accused allegedly gave him intoxicants, sexually assaulted him while he was under the influence, and recorded private photos and videos. The man has also alleged that she kept him with her in Banaras for three days, threatening to leak the explicit footage if he resisted.

Blackmail Allegations and Extortion Demand​

After returning to Pune, Wanjale allegedly demanded ₹2 lakh from the complainant and offered marriage, according to the report. The FIR states she threatened to circulate the images online if he did not comply or pay.
The victim told police he became increasingly distressed over the alleged threats, humiliation and harassment, after which he decided to file a complaint.
Senior Police Inspector Sandeep Deshmane, speaking to The Free Press Journal, confirmed registration of the case and ongoing inquiry.
“It is too early to comment on the matter before the investigation. We are conducting a thorough investigation. Action will be taken accordingly.”
Officers said digital evidence, statements and supporting material will be examined. Specific IPC and legal sections invoked have not yet been disclosed, and no arrest has been confirmed at this stage.

 

[RexRex]

@finalfantasy7 Here is your daily chew toy. Keep yourself busy and enjoy..

 

[finalfantasy7]

Electrical fireworks’ may have sparked Goa nightclub fire that killed 25​

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/12/06/asia/goa-nightclub-fire-india-hnk-intl

A burned-out interior is seen inside the Birch nightclub following a fire that broke out overnight in Goa on December 7, 2025.
Atish Naik/AFP/Getty Images
A nightclub fire in the popular Indian resort region of Goa has killed at least 25 people including five Indian tourists, officials said.

The state’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the fire was likely started by indoor fireworks at the nightclub in Arpora village around midnight on Saturday local time. At the time, witnesses said the dance floor was packed with revelers.

“As per the preliminary inquiry, electrical fireworks at the restaurant caused the fire to break out,” Sawant said, adding the situation escalated when the flames reached flammable substances, triggering a blast that rapidly intensified the fire and spread it to the furniture.

“People began running out to escape, but there were only two gates,” Sawant said.


A group of individuals who were unable to exit the building sought refuge in the underground kitchen, he added. However, that space soon became a death trap.

“Due to the massive levels of smoke entering the kitchen, 23 of the 25 people in that area died of suffocation,” Sawant said.

Twenty of the victims are believed to have been staff, including three Nepali nationals, he added.

Five tourists, including three from one family, were killed in the incident, according to the North Goa district administration. Four of the tourists were from the Indian capital territory Delhi and one was from the southern state of Karnataka. Six people admitted to Goa Medical College are undergoing treatment, Sawant said.

Police have arrested four staff members in connection with the deadly restaurant fire, Director General of Goa Police Alok Kumar said. An arrest warrant has been issued for the two club owners, he added.

Eyewitness told the news channel that the nightclub was “jam packed” with a large weekend crowd. At least 100 persons were on the dance floor, according to Fatima Shaikh, a tourist speaking to News18.

“There was a sudden commotion as the flames started erupting. We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” Shaikh said. A temporary structure covered in palm leaves quickly caught fire, she added.


Goa, a small state on India’s west coast known for its beaches and Portuguese heritage, attracts hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists and millions of domestic tourists every year.

“Today is a very painful day for all of us in Goa,” Sawant said Sunday morning in a post on X.

Videos on social media showed fire trucks and ambulances lining up to help the injured.

Goa’s Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on X that the injured were taken to Goa Medical College and Hospital, and are receiving “the best possible medical care,” with teams working through the night.

“In this moment of profound grief, we stand firmly with the affected families, assuring them of our unwavering support in every possible way,” Rane added.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the fire was “deeply saddening” and pledged that his office would offer compensation of up to 200,000 rupees ($2,200) to each family of those killed and 50,000 rupees ($556) to the injured.

“My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones,” he said on X.

“May the injured recover at the earliest.”

An inquiry has been ordered to examine whether “fire safety norms and building rules were followed,” Sawant said.

Early reports suggest the venue lacked the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) and violated fire regulations, the Director of Fire and Emergency Services Nitin Raiker told News18 on Sunday.

“Fire services were rushed towards the spot immediately,” Raiker told the channel.

“In half an hour we extinguished the fire. NOC was not given, fire norms were not followed by the club.”

The state’s Chief Minister said the owners did not have permission to construct the club, and it had been issued with a demolition notice which was stayed by officials, News18 reported.


@RexRex @Varun @Cover Drive Six - why dont you comment on the topics listed, always quiet

 

[finalfantasy7]

Luthras Fled Delhi, Their Partner Fled Goa: The Hours After Nightclub Fire​

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/goa-nightclub-fire-birch-by-romeo-lane-saurabh-luthra-luthras-fled-delhi-their-partner-fled-goa-the-hours-after-nightclub-fire-9806334

Luthras have been detained in Thailand, and efforts are being made to bring them back​

Panaji:
As the investigation into the Goa nightclub fire deepens, details have emerged about how three owners - Saurabh Luthra, Gaurav Luthra, and Ajay Gupta - reacted to the news about the blaze that claimed 25 lives and revealed huge violations of safety norms.

The Luthras and Ajay Gupta, who run the nightclub, 'Birch By Romeo Lane' in Goa's Arpora, are in trouble after a case of culpable homicide and negligence was registered in connection with the deadly fire. The Luthras have been detained in Thailand, and efforts are being made to bring them back. Ajay Gupta, on the other hand, was taken into custody from a hospital in Delhi.

How Luthras Reacted To Fire

According to the investigators, the probe has revealed how the three reacted to the news of the fire. The Luthras were reportedly attending a wedding. As soon as they got information about the fire and the potential scale of damage, they called their office in Delhi's Model Town and asked the staff to book tickets to Thailand. They also asked their aide, Bharat Kohli, to rush to the office, collect some documents and drop them at their Mukherjee Nagar home. From the wedding venue, the brothers went straight to their home.

Hours after the blaze began, the brothers were on an IndiGo flight to Phuket in Thailand. Investigators are now trying to fill in the gaps, and the deportation of the Luthras will likely answer several other questions, including why the brothers chose Thailand and not another country. Notably, one of the Luthras also had a long-term UK visa.


Ajay Gupta's Quick Moves

While the Luthras took a flight out of Delhi, their business partner, Ajay Gupta, boarded a plane to the national capital. Gupta, who earlier claimed he was a "silent partner," was actually the most active co-owner, the investigation has found. At the time of the fire, Gupta was in Goa. A call from club manager Priyanshu, now arrested, woke him up. As soon as he learnt of the fire, Gupta boarded a Delhi-bound flight from Dabolim. On returning to Delhi, he went to his Gurugram home and then left in a Toyota Innova with his driver at the wheel. While Gupta's phone was switched off, police managed to track his driver's phone and traced him to the Institute of Brain and Spine in Delhi's Lajpat Nagar. According to the investigators, Gupta knew people in the hospital's management and got himself admitted there to evade arrest. This tactic, however, did not work, and police reached the hospital, busted Gupta's fall claim and took him into custody.

A Tragedy In The Making

The investigation into the fire has revealed how the violation of safety norms turned the nightclub into a tinderbox. The club had no functional fire extinguishers or safety alarms, and the access road was too narrow for fire engines. There was no emergency exit either. The restaurant was found operating without proper permissions and licences, according to the FIR registered after the fire. Despite several warnings, the club management did not rectify the safety lapses, the probe has found. The investigators have also said that a former IPS officer's intervention played a role in disposing of a case against 'Birch By Romeo Lane' in the past. This intervention, investigators say, emboldened the owners to continue flouting norms. And then, a tragedy that was waiting to happen claimed 25 lives.


What do you think off the guy running away - wheres the accountabiity? and also how come you indians not listing anything to do with this, sooooooooo quiet


@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @RexRex @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @rickroll @Cover Drive Six

 

[Romali_rotti]

Luthras Fled Delhi, Their Partner Fled Goa: The Hours After Nightclub Fire​

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/goa-nightclub-fire-birch-by-romeo-lane-saurabh-luthra-luthras-fled-delhi-their-partner-fled-goa-the-hours-after-nightclub-fire-9806334

Luthras have been detained in Thailand, and efforts are being made to bring them back​

Panaji:
As the investigation into the Goa nightclub fire deepens, details have emerged about how three owners - Saurabh Luthra, Gaurav Luthra, and Ajay Gupta - reacted to the news about the blaze that claimed 25 lives and revealed huge violations of safety norms.

The Luthras and Ajay Gupta, who run the nightclub, 'Birch By Romeo Lane' in Goa's Arpora, are in trouble after a case of culpable homicide and negligence was registered in connection with the deadly fire. The Luthras have been detained in Thailand, and efforts are being made to bring them back. Ajay Gupta, on the other hand, was taken into custody from a hospital in Delhi.

How Luthras Reacted To Fire

According to the investigators, the probe has revealed how the three reacted to the news of the fire. The Luthras were reportedly attending a wedding. As soon as they got information about the fire and the potential scale of damage, they called their office in Delhi's Model Town and asked the staff to book tickets to Thailand. They also asked their aide, Bharat Kohli, to rush to the office, collect some documents and drop them at their Mukherjee Nagar home. From the wedding venue, the brothers went straight to their home.

Hours after the blaze began, the brothers were on an IndiGo flight to Phuket in Thailand. Investigators are now trying to fill in the gaps, and the deportation of the Luthras will likely answer several other questions, including why the brothers chose Thailand and not another country. Notably, one of the Luthras also had a long-term UK visa.


Ajay Gupta's Quick Moves

While the Luthras took a flight out of Delhi, their business partner, Ajay Gupta, boarded a plane to the national capital. Gupta, who earlier claimed he was a "silent partner," was actually the most active co-owner, the investigation has found. At the time of the fire, Gupta was in Goa. A call from club manager Priyanshu, now arrested, woke him up. As soon as he learnt of the fire, Gupta boarded a Delhi-bound flight from Dabolim. On returning to Delhi, he went to his Gurugram home and then left in a Toyota Innova with his driver at the wheel. While Gupta's phone was switched off, police managed to track his driver's phone and traced him to the Institute of Brain and Spine in Delhi's Lajpat Nagar. According to the investigators, Gupta knew people in the hospital's management and got himself admitted there to evade arrest. This tactic, however, did not work, and police reached the hospital, busted Gupta's fall claim and took him into custody.

A Tragedy In The Making

The investigation into the fire has revealed how the violation of safety norms turned the nightclub into a tinderbox. The club had no functional fire extinguishers or safety alarms, and the access road was too narrow for fire engines. There was no emergency exit either. The restaurant was found operating without proper permissions and licences, according to the FIR registered after the fire. Despite several warnings, the club management did not rectify the safety lapses, the probe has found. The investigators have also said that a former IPS officer's intervention played a role in disposing of a case against 'Birch By Romeo Lane' in the past. This intervention, investigators say, emboldened the owners to continue flouting norms. And then, a tragedy that was waiting to happen claimed 25 lives.


What do you think off the guy running away - wheres the accountabiity? and also how come you indians not listing anything to do with this, sooooooooo quiet


@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @RexRex @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @rickroll @Cover Drive Six

Meh, I thank my lucky stars everyday I didn't end up with a Pakistani Passport.

Alhamdulillah....

 

[Romali_rotti]

I still cant believe it, tears of joy still happening. Custodian Hindu population of Kerala slowly waking up...

Alhamdulillah

 

[RexRex]

I still cant believe it, tears of joy still happening. Custodian Hindu population of Kerala slowly waking up...

Alhamdulillah

They will now impose beef bans all over Kerala

 

[Romali_rotti]

They will now impose beef bans all over Kerala

That will be considered instant blasphemy by the ppl of Kerala

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I still cant believe it, tears of joy still happening. Custodian Hindu population of Kerala slowly waking up...

Alhamdulillah

Congrats bro. Time to leave the burger loving Aus and move back I would suggest.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Congrats bro. Time to leave the burger loving Aus and move back I would suggest.

Thanks bro, but I am happy where I am, unlike you Britstanis who had enough of the evil western world.

Cap, it is time leave the western world behind and move back to Pakistan, relenquish your current role as keyboard Warrior from your comfortable home in the UK

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Thanks bro, but I am happy where I am, unlike you Britstanis who had enough of the evil western world.

Cap, it is time leave the western world behind and move back to Pakistan, relenquish your current role as keyboard Warrior from your comfortable home in the UK

Lol. When at a loss how to answer just copy and paste mine. Probably as good as it gets for you to be fair.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Lol. When at a loss how to answer just copy and paste mine. Probably as good as it gets for you to be fair.

So that means you will continue your role as the keyboard warrior from your comfortable home in the UK.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

So that means you will continue your role as the keyboard warrior from your comfortable home in the UK.

Yes.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Rupee falls 16 paise to 90.05 against U.S. dollar post RBI’s monetary policy decision​

Rupee falls 16 paise to 90.05 against U.S. dollar post RBI’s monetary policy decision

Rupee falls to 90.43 against the dollar amid RBI's restrained intervention and high importer demand, causing market concerns.

www.thehindu.com

Forex traders said the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) rate cut will push the rupee even lower until foreign portfolio investors return in a big way​

side the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) headquarters in Mumbai | Photo Credit: Reuters
The rupee, which opened on a positive note, gave up its initial gains and breached the psychological 90-to-a-dollar level after the Reserve Bank cut key benchmark interest rate for the first time in six months on Friday (December 5, 2025).

Forex traders said the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) rate cut will push the rupee even lower until foreign portfolio investors return in a big way.


The RBI on Friday cut the key benchmark interest rate for the first time in six months and took steps to boost liquidity to support a “goldilocks” economy amid high US tariffs.

ide the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) headquarters in Mumbai | Photo Credit: Reuters
The rupee, which opened on a positive note, gave up its initial gains and breached the psychological 90-to-a-dollar level after the Reserve Bank cut key benchmark interest rate for the first time in six months on Friday (December 5, 2025).


Forex traders said the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) rate cut will push the rupee even lower until foreign portfolio investors return in a big way.


The RBI on Friday cut the key benchmark interest rate for the first time in six months and took steps to boost liquidity to support a “goldilocks” economy amid high US tariffs.


Rupee hits ₹90/dollar as economy awaits U.S.-trade deal

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 89.85 against the U.S. dollar and gained ground, touching 89.69 in morning deals, registering a 20-paise gain from its previous close.

After the RBI’s monetary policy announcement, the rupee lost ground and fell to 90.05 against the American currency, a 16-paise decline from its previous close of 89.89. The currency is down almost 5 per cent against the dollar this year, the worst performer in Asia.

Reserve Bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the central bank does not target any band for the rupee in the forex market, and allows the domestic currency to find its own correct level.

“We don’t target any price levels or any bands. We allow the markets to determine the prices. We believe that markets, especially in the long run, are very efficient. It’s a very deep market,” he said while replying to a question on rupee depreciation at a post-monetary policy press meet.

Mr. Malhotra said fluctuations in the market keep occurring, and the RBI’s effort is always to reduce any abnormal or excessive volatility. “And that is what we will continue to endeavour,” he added.

In its bi-monthly monetary policy, the RBI announced three-year USD/INR Buy Sell swaps of USD 5 billion this month.

When asked if this is aimed at checking rupee depreciation, Malhotra said, “It is a liquidity measure. It is not to support the rupee”.

Stressing that RBI does not target any level of rupee against the dollar, he said the central bank allows “the rupee to find its correct position, correct level”.

The governor further said the country has sufficient foreign exchange reserves and that the current account is manageable, and that, given the strong fundamentals of the economy, the country should witness strong capital flows going forward.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.02 per cent lower at 98.97.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, fell 0.17% to $63.15 per barrel in futures trade.

On the domestic equity market front, Sensex advanced 488.75 points to 85,754.07, while the Nifty was up 163.25 points to 26,197.

Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth ₹1,944.19 crore on a net basis on Thursday (December 4, 2025), according to exchange data.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Uphaar fire tragedy: Delhi court frames charges against convict Sushil Ansal in passport case​

Uphaar fire tragedy: Delhi court frames charges against convict Sushil Ansal in passport case

Delhi Court charges Sushil Ansal for concealing criminal history in passport application linked to 1997 Uphaar fire tragedy.

www.thehindu.com

The court said Ansal "has consciously concealed the details of criminal cases pending against him as also the order of conviction" in the sworn declaration submitted with his 2013 Tatkaal passport application​

A Delhi court has ordered framing of charges against the Uphaar fire tragedy convict Sushil Ansal in a separate case for allegedly concealing criminal cases and submitting false declarations to renew a passport.

Ansal was booked by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police in 2019, and he was accused of furnishing false information, as he failed to declare his conviction in the 1997 Uphaar cinema fire tragedy.


A Delhi court has ordered framing of charges against the Uphaar fire tragedy convict Sushil Ansal in a separate case for allegedly concealing criminal cases and submitting false declarations to renew a passport.


Ansal was booked by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police in 2019, and he was accused of furnishing false information, as he failed to declare his conviction in the 1997 Uphaar cinema fire tragedy.


Chief Judicial Magistrate Shriya Agrawal of Patiala House Courts, in a November 28 order, held that "prima facie, there is sufficient material" to proceed against Ansal for offences under Sections 420 (cheating), 177 (furnishing false information to a public servant), 181 (making false statement on oath) IPC and Section 12 (offenses related to passports) of the Passports Act, relisting the matter for formal framing of charges on January 13, 2026.

The court said Ansal "has consciously concealed the details of criminal cases pending against him as also the order of conviction" in the sworn declaration submitted with his 2013 Tatkaal passport application. The concealment, the judge noted, was used "to induce under misrepresentation, the Regional Passport Office into issuing the passport." The Court said the accused not only withheld information on convictions and pending FIRs but "consciously did not give proper details of his previous address, to evade detection of true criminal history", adding that the alleged false statements were made on two separate occasions, both in 2013 and in 2018.

The court further elaborated in the order dated November 28 and said, "It is a given that subsequent acknowledgment of 'unintentional mistake' by the accused, cannot erode the previous culpability, as the accused had remained in possession and used the valuable document throughout based on misleading declarations in breach of the statutory requirements." Rejecting the defence claim that prosecution was barred from filing a case in the absence of a written complaint, the Court held the condition stood satisfied because the case was initiated pursuant to Delhi High Court directions.

Referring to a Supreme Court precedent, the order said a High Court directive is "on a par with direction of an administrative superior public servant" for the purposes of cognisance.

The defence claim of "double jeopardy" was also rejected, as the court elaborated that the penalty imposed by the Passport Authority and the criminal proceeding in court are separate processes and therefore cannot be considered punishment for the same offence. "The Passport Authority imposing penalty, cannot and would not substitute for formal criminal proceedings under the statute imposing criminal sanction, which can only be considered in judicial proceedings, but for which, a case of double jeopardy would not arise." Lastly, the court declined to proceed on offences regarding sections 192 and 197 IPC.

Reacting to the order, Neelam Krishnamoorthy, chairperson of the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), called the development "not an isolated incident" and said it marked Ansal's third criminal case.

"Each time, he is let off or given concessions on the grounds of 'old age'. But the truth is: he was already 64 when he tampered with judicial records and 74 when he renewed his passport from the authorities by giving false information and without seeking the permission of the court. How long can one individual continue to commit offence after offence and still evade meaningful accountability? The justice system must send a clear message that repeated wrongdoing cannot become a lifelong escape act," said Mr. Krishnamoorthy.

He has already been held guilty in the Uphaar fire tragedy case, where 59 innocent lives were lost and has also been convicted in the evidence-tampering case, an act that was nothing short of an insult to the courts and the justice system, she said.

The Uphaar Cinema case pertains to the fire that had broken out at the film hall during the screening of the Hindi film 'Border' on June 13, 1997, claiming 59 lives.

AVUT has previously been allowed to assist the prosecution in this case in an order dated August 4.

The court had held that the association, at whose instance the proceedings were initiated, was entitled to assist the prosecution and no prejudice would be caused to the accused.

The Supreme Court in September 2015 held the Ansal brothers, Gopal and Sushil Ansal, guilty of causing death due to negligence in that case.

Apart from the one year sentence the two brothers had to undergo, the Supreme Court fined them with ₹60 crore, to be used for building a trauma centre in the national capital.

 

[MP2011]

Rs 70 lakh fireworks at wedding of BJP MLA's son? Viral videos spark buzz online​

The wedding of Anjanesh Shukla, son of BJP MLA Golu Shukla, in Indore has become one of the most talked-about events after videos of the grand ceremonies quickly went viral on social media.

Videos flooding X and other platforms captured the jaw-dropping scale of the lavish wedding, sparking debates on extravagence and privilege.

The videos from the ceremony showed the massive venue and its opulent decor, and a large gathering with a high-profile guest list. One of the video even claimed that a whopping Rs 70 lakh were spent just on fireworks.

MSN

 

[MP2011]

70L spent on fireworks alone! Will ED, CBI be at that MLAs doors? Of course not.

A sanghi can never do any wrong!

 

[finalfantasy7]

Interpol Notice And Movie-Style Arrest Of Wildlife Trafficker In Sikkim​

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/interpol-notice-and-movie-style-arrest-of-wildlife-trafficker-in-sikkim-9759542

The 43-year-old accused was caught on Tuesday in North Sikkim's Lachung, barely a few kilometres from the Indo-China border.​

In a dramatic covert operation stretching across the icy Himalayan border, the Madhya Pradesh State Tiger Strike Force (STSF), in coordination with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), has arrested international wildlife trafficker Yangchen Lachungpa, one of the most wanted wildlife offenders in Asia and a fugitive under an Interpol Red Notice.

The 43-year-old accused was caught on Tuesday in North Sikkim's Lachung, barely a few kilometres from the Indo-China border, following months of surveillance, intelligence operations and night-time manoeuvres in sub-zero temperatures.

Officials involved in the operation said the arrest unfolded in "movie-style conditions" with decoy teams, silent encirclement, intermittent phone signals and alleged local resistance. The fugitive allegedly attempted to destroy two mobile phones and a coded diary containing names of suspects, trafficking routes and hawala references. The operation received full cooperation from Sikkim Police, the Forest Department, district administration and the SSB in Sikkim and Siliguri, as heightened public sentiment demanded a secure and discreet transit.

Yangchen was taken to Gangtok after her arrest and produced before the court on Wednesday, following a medical examination. Her bail plea was rejected, and she was placed under transit remand to Madhya Pradesh, where further legal proceedings will continue in Narmadapuram. The arrest is being hailed as one of the most significant in India, as it is among the few cases where a wildlife criminal has been captured directly due to the issuance of an Interpol Red Notice. The notice was issued only two months earlier, on October 2.

The case against Yangchen dates back to July 13, 2015, when the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department registered a wildlife crime case in the Kamti Range of Satpura Tiger Reserve. The seizures included tiger skin, four pieces of tiger bones, tiger bone oil extract and 1.5 kg of pangolin scales. Another key accused, Jai Tamang, arrested in October 2015, confessed that he supplied wildlife contraband to Yangchen and was sheltered by her, placing her firmly at the centre of an organised trafficking network.

A total of 36 people were named in the case, and 27 were convicted by a Narmadapuram court in December 2022. But proceedings against Yangchen remained incomplete as she ran away soon after being briefly caught by the STSF in September 2017. After violating bail conditions, an arrest warrant was issued against her on July 29, 2019. Her continued evasion and suspected international links prompted WCCB to seek an Interpol Red Notice, which eventually led to her dramatic capture.

Investigators describe Yangchen as a crucial relay point in the transnational trafficking of tiger parts, pangolin scales, shahtoosh wool, red sanders and other high-value contraband. Her alleged network spanned Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan, with operational bases across Delhi, Siliguri, Gangtok, Kolkata, Kanpur, Itarsi and Hoshangabad. Officials said her name has surfaced repeatedly in international wildlife seizures. In 2015, Ethiopian authorities seized eight Indian tiger hides, at least three of which were suspected to have originated from Satpura. In 2013, Nepal Police seized five tiger skins and seven sacks of bones intended for smuggling to Tibet, one of which DNA tests traced back to tigress T-13 of Pench Tiger Reserve.

Authorities believe that payments for the trafficking network were routed through Kathmandu, Siliguri and border villages, and that wildlife stockpiles were hidden across Satpura, Pench, Betul and Tamia. They are now examining encrypted communication and the coded diary recovered during the arrest, which is expected to shed light on the financial backers, poaching syndicates and international buyers involved in the network.

Officials say Yangchen's arrest is expected to open the biggest breakthrough yet in dismantling a sophisticated and long-running wildlife trafficking chain. Her interrogation, they believe, will uncover both backward and forward linkages and may lead to more arrests across multiple states and countries.

 

[finalfantasy7]

‘Electrical fireworks’ may have sparked Goa nightclub fire that killed 25​

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/12/06/asia/goa-nightclub-fire-india-hnk-intl

A nightclub fire in the popular Indian resort region of Goa has killed at least 25 people including five Indian tourists, officials said.

The state’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the fire was likely started by indoor fireworks at the nightclub in Arpora village around midnight on Saturday local time. At the time, witnesses said the dance floor was packed with revelers.

“As per the preliminary inquiry, electrical fireworks at the restaurant caused the fire to break out,” Sawant said, adding the situation escalated when the flames reached flammable substances, triggering a blast that rapidly intensified the fire and spread it to the furniture.

“People began running out to escape, but there were only two gates,” Sawant said.

A group of individuals who were unable to exit the building sought refuge in the underground kitchen, he added. However, that space soon became a death trap.

“Due to the massive levels of smoke entering the kitchen, 23 of the 25 people in that area died of suffocation,” Sawant said.

Twenty of the victims are believed to have been staff, including three Nepali nationals, he added.

Five tourists, including three from one family, were killed in the incident, according to the North Goa district administration. Four of the tourists were from the Indian capital territory Delhi and one was from the southern state of Karnataka. Six people admitted to Goa Medical College are undergoing treatment, Sawant said.

Police have arrested four staff members in connection with the deadly restaurant fire, Director General of Goa Police Alok Kumar said. An arrest warrant has been issued for the two club owners, he added.

Eyewitness told the news channel that the nightclub was “jam packed” with a large weekend crowd. At least 100 persons were on the dance floor, according to Fatima Shaikh, a tourist speaking to News18.

“There was a sudden commotion as the flames started erupting. We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” Shaikh said. A temporary structure covered in palm leaves quickly caught fire, she added.


Goa, a small state on India’s west coast known for its beaches and Portuguese heritage, attracts hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists and millions of domestic tourists every year.

“Today is a very painful day for all of us in Goa,” Sawant said Sunday morning in a post on X.

Videos on social media showed fire trucks and ambulances lining up to help the injured.

Goa’s Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on X that the injured were taken to Goa Medical College and Hospital, and are receiving “the best possible medical care,” with teams working through the night.

“In this moment of profound grief, we stand firmly with the affected families, assuring them of our unwavering support in every possible way,” Rane added.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the fire was “deeply saddening” and pledged that his office would offer compensation of up to 200,000 rupees ($2,200) to each family of those killed and 50,000 rupees ($556) to the injured.

“My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones,” he said on X.

“May the injured recover at the earliest.”

An inquiry has been ordered to examine whether “fire safety norms and building rules were followed,” Sawant said.

Early reports suggest the venue lacked the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) and violated fire regulations, the Director of Fire and Emergency Services Nitin Raiker told News18 on Sunday.

“Fire services were rushed towards the spot immediately,” Raiker told the channel.

“In half an hour we extinguished the fire. NOC was not given, fire norms were not followed by the club.”

The state’s Chief Minister said the owners did not have permission to construct the club, and it had been issued with a demolition notice which was stayed by officials, News18 reported.




Just asking you lot - regarding this article - it states = India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the fire was “deeply saddening” and pledged that his office would offer compensation of up to 200,000 rupees ($2,200) to each family of those killed and 50,000 rupees ($556) to the injured.

Is that enough, or do you belive its on the low side - i cant say as i dont live in India

@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @RexRex @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @rickroll @Cover Drive Six

 

[finalfantasy7]

India's growth fairy is back, but experts are warning of a slowdown in the second half​

India's growth fairy is back, but experts are warning of a slowdown in the second half

India's growth fairy is back with the breeze.Real GDP grew by 8.2% in Q2, FY25 as against 5.6% a year ago, beating both the RBI and consensus estimates. For the

www.newindianexpress.com

As the IMF noted, private investments remain uneven and sluggish, while growth is being fueled by government investment, which has surged 40% so far this fiscal.

ndia's growth fairy is back with the breeze.

Real GDP grew by 8.2% in Q2, FY25 as against 5.6% a year ago, beating both the RBI and consensus estimates. For the first half of FY26, growth rate stood at a robust 8%.

The economy remained resilient, thanks to rising private consumption, investments, and front-loading of production and exports ahead of steep US tariffs. Economists, however, warn that growth could slow in the second half of the fiscal year due to a high base effect, the impact of tariffs and because of the private investments slowdown amid global uncertainty.

The recent GST cuts laid a welcome mat for consumption during the festive season, but it may or may not open that life-altering window as the government is anticipating. So analysts have pared down Q3 and Q4 growth projections to 6.5% and 6.3%, respectively. In other words, the rest of the year may not be as zestful as in the first half.

The IMF too has lowered the full fiscal FY26 growth projections to 6.6% in FY26, down from its July forecast of 6.4% citing high US tariffs. For FY27, it pegged growth at 6.2%. However, the RBI has retained its forecast and so has the government, which too stuck to its projections of 6.3%-6.8% in FY26.

On its part, the government insists that it'll withstand trade-related uncertainties and maintain growth through the rest of fiscal riding on strong demand, steady public spending and easing inflation. Above all, it believes that led by a favourable impact of GST rate rationalisation, the Indian economy was now on a stable footing.

But global uncertainties including shifting trade policies, geopolitical frictions, and financial market volatility pose potential headwinds to exports, capital flows, and investor sentiment.

It means the Asian tiger's ambitious target of emerging as the world's third-largest economy may well be joined by love, but stands separated by distance. The IMF concluded as much on Thursday noting that the $5 trillion target will have to wait a few more years largely due to a weakening rupee.

Consumption and investments are like the twin tusks of an elephant that aid growth, but both remain below potential. While private consumption led the happy way forward clocking a 7.9% growth in Q2, investments stood at 7.3%, lower than the 7.8% seen in Q1.

As the IMF noted, private investments remain uneven and sluggish, while growth is being fueled by government investment, which has surged 40% so far this fiscal. That said, Q2 saw an unforeseen deceleration in government expenditure. Until now, public investment, strapping on the Superman cape, has been saving the day, but in Q2, it contracted by 2.7% as against a growth of 4.3% last year and a healthy 7.4% in Q1, FY26.

According to the data released by the National Statistics Office on Friday, real Gross Value Added (GVA) grew by 8.1% in Q2, FY26 as against 5.8% a year ago, while in H1, FY26, it registered a growth of 7.9%

In absolute numbers, real GDP at constant prices is estimated at Rs 48.62 lakh crore during Q2, compared to Rs 44.94 lakh crore a year before, while for H1, FY26 it stood at Rs 96.52 lakh crore compared to Rs 89.35 lakh crore the previous year.

On the supply side, all three key components, namely agriculture, services and the industrial sector, heaved up national output in good measure. Importantly, manufacturing and services components saw substantial growth during the quarter under review.

The primary sector grew by 3.1% in Q2, FY26, lower than the 3.5% registered during the same period last year. On a sequential basis though, it saw a marginal increase from 2.8% in Q1. Within this, agriculture, and allied sectors saw 3.5% growth as against 3.7% and 4.1% in Q1, FY26 and Q2FY25, respectively. On the other hand, mining and quarrying, however, saw a deceleration of 0.04% as against a negative growth of 0.4% a year before.

During H1, the agriculture and allied sector has bounced back with a 3.6% growth after sub-optimal growth rate of 2.7% last year. Helpfully, growth of manufacturing at 8.4% and the services sector at 9.3% boosted the overall output. However, mining and quarrying was the only sector that saw a de-growth of 1.8% as against 3.6% growth last year.

Secondary or industrial sector growth did one shade better than last year from 6.3% in H1, FY25 to 7.6% in H1, FY26 led by healthy growth from all the three sub-components namely manufacturing, electricity, and other utility services and construction. The biggest contribution came from manufacturing at 8.4% as against 4.8% last year, closely followed by construction at 7.4%. However, electricity, gas, and other utility services paled in comparison with a dismal growth of 2.4% compared to 6.5% a year before.

The services sector retained the growth momentum at 9.3% in H1, FY26 as against 7% during the same period last year. In particular, trade, hotels, transport, communication and services related to broadcasting recorded 8% growth followed by financial, real estate and professional services and public administration and others at 9.9% and 9.7% growth, respectively.

On the expenditure side, private consumption, the largest component accounting for over 56% of the GDP, chucked some luck during Q2. It grew by 7.9% and 7.5% in Q2 and H1, FY26, respectively, higher than the 7% and 7.3% registered during the same period last year. Sequentially too, growth remained resilient.

The biggest setback came from government expenditure that saw a de-growth of 2.7% in Q2, though it registered 2.5% growth in H1, FY26.

Private investments remained healthy at 7.3%, a shade lower than 7.8% in Q1 but higher than 6.7% seen a year before. For the first half of the fiscal, they grew by 7.6%.



is she the growth fairy

 

[finalfantasy7]

SC raps states for non-cooperation in SIR exercise; asks ECI to flag instances of threats to BLOs​

SC raps states for non-cooperation in SIR exercise; asks ECI to flag instances of threats to BLOs

The Supreme Court on Tuesday took serious note of reports that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are being threatened and that the Election Commission of India’s (ECI

www.newindianexpress.com

The Court cautioned that failure to address the situation could “cause anarchy”, and urged the ECI to take firm steps to ensure the smooth conduct of the revision process.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday took serious note of reports that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are being threatened and that the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is being obstructed in West Bengal and several other states.

Expressing concern over the “lack of cooperation” from some state administrations, the Court directed the ECI to immediately bring to its notice any instance where BLOs face intimidation or where officials encounter hurdles in carrying out the SIR exercise. “If such matters are brought before us, we will pass appropriate orders,” the Bench observed.

The Court cautioned that failure to address the situation could “cause anarchy”, and urged the ECI to take firm steps to ensure the smooth conduct of the revision process.

During the hearing, the ECI informed the Court that continued obstruction could compel it to take “police personnel on deputation” to ensure the safety of officials and the smooth conduct of the revision process. The Commission stressed that it possesses all constitutional powers necessary to address threats to BLOs and other staff engaged in the SIR exercise.



Cmon indians you lot can do better, this is basic, anyone can get this right

 

[finalfantasy7]

Palki Curses China's Collapse in Delhi Smog; Indian Netizens Cheer China's Fall Amid Harsh Reality!​

Mr Hunzi is at it again - briliant videos, informatiove but yet hilarious and Palki Sharma being herself as a dodgy presenter who contradict herself constantly

 

[finalfantasy7]

India Trade Deficit Shrinks to $24.5B in Nov 2025: Exports Surge Despite US Tariffs​

India Trade Deficit Shrinks to $24.5B in Nov 2025: Exports Surge Despite US Tariffs

India's trade deficit narrowed to USD 24.53 billion in November from USD 41.68 billion in October, said the data released by the government on Monday. This was driven by a fall in gold, oil and coal imports, it said.

www.republicworld.com

India's merchandise trade deficit fell to $24.5B in Nov 2025 from $41.7B in Oct, driven by robust exports and lower imports of gold, oil. Exports to US rebounded to $7B despite 50% tariffs, led by engineering goods (+4.25% Apr-Nov). Experts note resilience, diversification; CAD may widen in Q3 FY26.​

India's external trade performance showed marked improvement in November 2025, with exports rebounding strongly and the merchandise trade deficit narrowing to a five-month low, reflecting easing import pressures and resilient overseas demand.
According to Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist, ICRA Ltd, "Following supply normalization after the holidays and decreased demand post the festive season, merchandise exports rose and imports declined sharply, compressing the trade deficit to a five-month low of US$24.5 billion in November 2025 from US$41.7 billion in October 2025 and US$31.9 billion in November 2024."
"With the increase in the average merchandise trade deficit in October-November 2025, we estimate the current account deficit to widen to US$20-24 billion in Q3 FY2026 from US$11-12 billion each in Q3 FY2025 and Q2 FY2026," she said.

As per GTRI, "India's exports to the United States in 2025 followed an unusual path as U.S. tariffs rose sharply. Shipments initially held up despite a 10 per cent reciprocal duty, increasing from $8.4 billion in April to $8.8 billion in May, before easing slightly in June and July. The impact became clear in August, when exports fell to $6.8 billion as tariffs were raised in quick steps, eventually reaching 50 per cent by the end of the month. In September, the first full month under the higher tariff, exports dropped further to $5.5 billion, the lowest level of the year."

"The surprising development came afterwards. Even with 50% tariffs still in place, exports recovered to $6.3 billion in October and $7.0 billion in November. This rebound suggests that exporters may have shifted toward products less affected by tariffs. Detailed product data for November are not yet available, but tariff-exempt items such as smartphones and pharmaceuticals may have helped cushion the blow," GTRI added.
GTRI further said India's rebound in exports to the US should strengthen, not soften, its negotiating stance. New Delhi has a strong case to press Washington to cut tariffs from 50% to 25%, especially after India substantially reduced imports of Russian crude, addressing a key US concern.

"India must also insist on a balanced trade agreement, and resist pressure to concede on non-trade issues, whether diluting data protection laws, opening the door to inventory-based e-commerce models, or accepting GM agricultural products. Export resilience is a signal of bargaining power," it said.
Pankaj Chadha, Chairman, EEPC India, said, "Cumulatively, the total engineering goods exports recorded 4.25% year-on-year growth in the April-November period of the current financial year and stood at US$79.74 billion."
"The latest numbers are quite encouraging, especially in light of the 50% punitive tariff imposed by the Trump administration on the bulk of items in India's export basket. The strong performance in November 2025 shows the resilience of the engineering industry and also how it has been swiftly adapting to the evolving global situation with constant support from the government."

"Going forward, we hope that the Indian engineering sector will successfully diversify its market," he said.
Speaking on the trade deficit, Rajeev Juneja, President, PHDCCI, highlighted that the key drivers of merchandise export growth in November 2025 included iron ore (70%), cashew (57%), oil meals (40%), electronic goods (38%), and coffee (34%), among others. Despite global headwinds, India registered positive export growth with 14 out of its 20 major trading partners, reflecting increasing diversification and resilience in external trade.
Looking ahead, Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI, said that India's exports are expected to continue on a resilient growth trajectory, supported by sustained government efforts to diversify export markets and enhance global competitiveness.

He noted that the government's Export Promotion Mission (EPM) and deeper engagement across regions, including the US, EU, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and Asia-Pacific, will play a pivotal role in propelling India's export growth.
India's trade deficit narrowed to USD 24.53 billion in November from USD 41.68 billion in October, according to government data released on Monday. This was driven by a fall in gold, oil and coal imports, it said.

 

[MP2011]

Palki Curses China's Collapse in Delhi Smog; Indian Netizens Cheer China's Fall Amid Harsh Reality!​

Mr Hunzi is at it again - briliant videos, informatiove but yet hilarious and Palki Sharma being herself as a dodgy presenter who contradict herself constantly

This Palki is a hardcore godi anchor so no surprises there at her behaviour.

 

[finalfantasy7]

This Palki is a hardcore godi anchor so no surprises there at her behaviour.

because hes given her some stories to go like her interview with the french president, modi gave that to her - even that interview didnt go to her planning, she asked will you stop buying from china - french president = no,

its so funny that that part of the interview was on all off her first post video for months at the beginning - and the indian comments for these videos was alwasy hilarious (take it off, india looks bad)


More importanty is that shes constantly contradicting her self, she will make a video saying one thing, generally about china, then next day same topic - she says the opposite, Mr Hunzi channel on youtube, catches her all the time:

 

[MP2011]

because hes given her some stories to go like her interview with the french president, modi gave that to her - even that interview didnt go to her planning, she asked will you stop buying from china - french president = no,

its so funny that that part of the interview was on all off her first post video for months at the beginning - and the indian comments for these videos was alwasy hilarious (take it off, india looks bad)


More importanty is that shes constantly contradicting her self, she will make a video saying one thing, generally about china, then next day same topic - she says the opposite, Mr Hunzi channel on youtube, catches her all the time:

Indian media save a few exceptions, is mostly sell out garbage so don't take them seriously.

 

[MP2011]

because hes given her some stories to go like her interview with the french president, modi gave that to her - even that interview didnt go to her planning, she asked will you stop buying from china - french president = no,

its so funny that that part of the interview was on all off her first post video for months at the beginning - and the indian comments for these videos was alwasy hilarious (take it off, india looks bad)


More importanty is that shes constantly contradicting her self, she will make a video saying one thing, generally about china, then next day same topic - she says the opposite, Mr Hunzi channel on youtube, catches her all the time:

Similarly one godi media anchor asked Putin which Indian PM did most for Indo-Russia relations, hoping to hear a favorable answer

Needless to say, Putin was furious with her. That's how these good for nothing journos sully India's name.

 

[finalfantasy7]

WATCH | Adv Rakesh Kishore, who threw shoe at ex-CJI B.R. Gavai, attacked with slippers at Delhi court​

WATCH | Adv Rakesh Kishore, who threw shoe at ex-CJI B.R. Gavai, attacked with slippers at Delhi court

Advocate Rakesh Kishore had become infamous after throwing a shoe in response to the then-CJI Gavai's allegedly offensive comment about the Sanatan Dharma

www.theweek.in

Advocate Rakesh Kishore had become infamous after throwing a shoe in response to the then-CJI Gavai's allegedly offensive comment about the Sanatan Dharma

Rakesh Kishore, a lawyer infamous for throwing a shoe at the then-Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai in the Supreme Court in October, was attacked with slippers outside Delhi's Karkardooma court.

In a video of the incident, which went viral on Tuesday, he can be seen defending himself against the attacker, a young advocate, who tries to hit him multiple times with slippers.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1998305649487139079

“Kaun hai tu, s**le? Sanatan Dharam ki jai ho (Who are you, idiot? Long live the Sanatan Dharma)," the attacker could be heard saying in the video.

“The attacker was a young advocate, who came at me with his slippers. I had gone to court in the morning with a friend to hand over a case. They hurt me. So, I left. They told me they were attacking me because I had previously hurt CJI. They also chanted religious slogans,” Kishore told Hindustan Times, adding that he would not be pressing charges against the "opposition" member.

Kishore can also be seen retaliating verbally as he defended himself from the slipper hits. Though the infamous lawyer also tries hitting the attacker, he is soon stopped by a few other lawyers who gather around him. However, it is not clear whether the fight ended at that point.

The shoe-throwing incident in the Supreme Court​

Back in October this year, Rakesh Kishore made headlines when he threw a shoe at the then-CJI B.R. Gavai, in the Supreme Court.

"Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge (Insulting the Sanatan Dharma won't be tolerated)", a furious Kishore was heard saying, as he was led away by security personnel.

However, Gavai did not press charges at the time.

It was later revealed that Gavai's earlier remarks during a plea hearing about the restoration of a seven-foot-tall dilapidated Lord Vishnu idol in the Khajuraho Temple complex in Madhya Pradesh might have been a reason for the bizarre attack.

“Go and ask the deity itself to do something now. You say you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. So go and pray now. It’s an archaeological site and ASI needs to give permission," Gavai had reportedly said at the time, while dismissing the case.

"I respect all religions," the CJI said in open court two days after the shoe throwing incident, pointing out that he meant no disrespect, and that social media had blown the issue out of proportion.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Punjab Congress suspends Navjot Kaur Sidhu over 'Rs 500 Crore for CM' remark​

Punjab Congress suspends Navjot Kaur Sidhu over 'Rs 500 Crore for CM' remark

The disciplinary action, announced by Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh, follows her controversial statement that one needs 'Rs 500 crore' for the chief minister's chair. While opposition parties like the BJP and AAP seized upon the remark to allege corruption, Kaur later clarified her...

www.theweek.in

The disciplinary action, announced by Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh, follows her controversial statement that one needs 'Rs 500 crore' for the chief minister's chair. While opposition parties like the BJP and AAP seized upon the remark to allege corruption, Kaur later clarified her comment was twisted

The Congress on Monday suspended its Punjab leader, Navjot Kaur Sidhu, for making the controversial remark "Rs 500 crore for chief minister's chair," which landed the party in trouble.

In a statement, Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh said, "Navjot Kaur Sidhu is hereby suspended from the primary membership of the party with immediate effect." Navjot Kaur is the wife of former Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1998024220283195715

During a press briefing on Saturday, Navjot Kaur said her husband, Navjot Singh Sidhu, will return to active politics if the Congress declares him as the party's chief ministerial face in Punjab. "We always speak for Punjab and Punjabiyat...but do not have Rs 500 crore which we can give to sit in the chief minister's chair," Kaur said. Kaur's comments landed Congress in trouble, with the Bharatiya Janata Party and Aam Aadmi Party targeting the party with corruption claims.

However, Kaur later clarified that a twist had been given to her "straight comment". "I am shocked to see the twist given to a straight comment saying that our Congress party has never demanded anything from us. On being asked about Navjot becoming a CM face from any other party, I stated that we have no money to offer for a CM post," Kaur tweeted on Sunday.

The BJP and AAP claimed that her comments exposed the "ugly truth" of how the Congress functions, and the "money bag politics" it indulges in.




Too much crime in India,

 

[finalfantasy7]

Thiruparankundram deepam row: INDIA bloc MPs move to impeach Madurai bench's Justice G.R. Swaminathan​

Thiruparankundram deepam row: INDIA bloc MPs move to impeach Madurai bench's Justice G.R. Swaminathan

A total of 107 MPs from the opposition, including the Congress, DMK and the Left parties, came together to sign the impeachment motion

www.theweek.in

A total of 107 MPs from the opposition, including the Congress, DMK and the Left parties, came together to sign the impeachment motion

Members of Parliament belonging to the INDIA bloc on Tuesday moved an impeachment motion against Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court under Article 217 read with 124 of the Constitution of India. The move demanding his removal comes after his judgment, saying that the Karthigai deepam should be lit atop the Thiruparankundram hill near the Dargah.

A total of 107 MPs from Tamil Nadu and also other states belonging to Congress, DMK and the Left parties who are part of the INDIA bloc signed the impeachment motion. The petition piloted by the DMK drew complete support from the INDIA bloc partners. The petition addressed to the Lok Sabha speaker says that the house passed the motion for the impeachment of Justice Swaminathan on the grounds of misconduct, which has raised serious questions regarding impartiality, transparency, and the secular functioning of the judiciary. It also alleged that the judge showed “undue favouritism” to senior lawyer M. Sricharan Ranganathan in deciding the cases and also favours advocates from a particular community.” The petition also said that Swaminathan was deciding cases on the “basis of particular political ideology and against the secular principles of Constitution.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1998352090373165084

Justice Swaminathan had on December 1 ordered that Karthigai deepam must be lit deepathoon (lamp pillar) atop the hills near the dargah instead of the deepa mandapam near the Uchipillaiyar temple as has been done for years. Though Swaminathan ordered that the lamp must be lit on the lamp pillar, the HR and CE department of the Tamil Nadu government chose to light the lamp near Uchipillaiyar temple as usual, by 6 pm on the festival day, as per tradition. This invited a court contempt.

In the meanwhile, as the Hindutva organisations were staging a protest against the administration, Swaminathan himself went to the spot and asked the CISF personnel guarding the high court premises to give protection to the petitioner and 10 others accompanying him to light the lamp on the deepathoon. But the CISF denied this.

The Madras High Court division bench, which heard an appeal filed by the government against Swaminathan’s ruling to light the lamp on the deepathoon, was apparently dismissed. Following this, the DMK has approached the Supreme Court in the row.

It may be recalled that Swaminathan and the ruling dispensation in Tamil Nadu have had several run-ins earlier. Swaminathan also came under criticism earlier for initiating contempt proceedings against YouTuber Savukku Shankar and advocate Vanchinathan of the Madurai bench of Madras High Court.

However, the impeachment motion will gain strength only if it is passed in both houses of the parliament and no judge has been impeached in the history of India.

 

[finalfantasy7]

60 FIRs for child pornography registered in 2025 based on 1,197 leads from Delhi Police special unit​

60 FIRs for child pornography registered in 2025 based on 1,197 leads from Delhi Police special unit

60 FIRs for child pornography registered in 2025 based on 1,197 leads from Delhi Police special unit

www.thehindu.com

In 2025, Special Police Unit for Women and Children received 10,151 inputs related to child pornography, through referrals from the U.S.-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children​

The Special Police Unit for Women and Children (SPUWAC) has forwarded 1,197 leads on online sexual abuse of minors and child pornography to district units for action during 2025, leading to the registration of 60 FIRs, official data shows.


According to Delhi Police data, from January 1 to December 19 this year, 1,197 Delhi-specific inputs from the U.S.-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) led to the registration of 60 FIRs related to child pornography.


The Special Police Unit for Women and Children (SPUWAC) has forwarded 1,197 leads on online sexual abuse of minors and child pornography to district units for action during 2025, leading to the registration of 60 FIRs, official data shows.


According to Delhi Police data, from January 1 to December 19 this year, 1,197 Delhi-specific inputs from the U.S.-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) led to the registration of 60 FIRs related to child pornography.


Also read: Viewing, storing child sexual exploitative and abuse material an offence under POCSO, IT Act, says Supreme Court


In 2025, SPUWAC received 10,151 inputs related to child pornography, through referrals from the NCMEC. Of these, 106 were referred back to NCMEC after it was found that they did not pertain to India, officials said.

Another 6,022 leads were transferred to other states after verification revealed these incidents were outside Delhi Police jurisdiction, the data says.

Police officials said 2,826 leads were closed following verification as non-actionable, while the remaining Delhi-specific inputs were processed by the SPUWAC and district units.

In 2024, the SPUWAC received 16,321 inputs related to child pornography, according to official figures.

Of these, 7,865 were transferred to other states while another 6,554 leads were closed after verification as non-actionable.

Meanwhile, 1,809 Delhi-specific inputs on online sexual abuse of children were forwarded to district units, leading to the registration of 136 FIRs in 2024, the data shows.

Cumulatively, 3,006 such leads were sent to district units of Delhi Police in 2024 and 2025, leading to the registration of 196 FIRs.

Apart from child abuse-related matters, counselling remained a major function of the SPUWAC, officials said.

Counselling was undertaken in complaints related to dowry harassment, marital disputes, domestic discord and mental harassment, they added.

According to the data, SPUWAC received 3,578 such complaints since 2015 till December 19 this year.

During this period, police registered 976 FIRs when counselling did not suffice and criminal action was warranted, while 42 cases were registered under provisions of the Domestic Violence Act, officials said.

Between January 1 and December 15, 2025, SPUWAC took up 186 counselling-related matters.

Of these, 34 were resolved through reconciliation after counselling, while 6 cases were settled through mutual agreement, officials said.

In 27 cases, no action was taken as complainants or family members did not wish to proceed, while 2 cases were transferred to other districts, they added.

The data shows that 36 pending complaints from 2024 were carried forward into 2025, taking the total number of cases handled by SPUWAC during the year to 222.

According to the figures, all pending complaints from 2024 were disposed of, while 127 of the complaints registered in 2025 were also resolved, bring the total number of cases disposed of during the year to 163, with 59 cases pending.

“The SPUWAC remains committed to the protection and promotion of rights of women and children, and to shielding them from all forms of abuse through diligent investigation and prosecution of offenders,” Deputy Commissioner of Police, SPUWAC, Anjitha Chepyala told PTI.

A designated nodal agency, SPUWAC will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of justice, she added.

Additionally, since 2002 till December 15 this year, 16,922 self-defence training programmes were organised across Delhi, including workshops conducted under SPUWAC, according to the data.

These programmes trained 30,09,298 women and girls over the years as part of community outreach and prevention efforts, police said.

In 2025, 4,13,004 women and girls were trained under such self-defence programmes, the highest annual figure recorded so far, they added.



@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @RexRex @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @rpant_gabba,

 

[finalfantasy7]

NIA arrests ‘linchpin’ in illegal arms trafficking case​

NIA arrests ‘linchpin’ in illegal arms trafficking case

NIA arrests key figure in illegal arms trafficking, uncovering a multi-State syndicate smuggling ammunition across northern India.

www.thehindu.com

Ammunition was illegally procured from ‘gun houses’ in Haryana and other places, smuggled to Uttar Pradesh, and further delivered to Bihar and other parts of the country, the NIA said​

he Hindu
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested the prime accused in a case involving multi-State illegal arms and ammunition trafficking, originating from Bihar and spread across various parts of northern India

 

[finalfantasy7]

Nadda’s big claim: Congress insiders were involved in 2013 Naxal attack that killed many party leaders​

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nadda-big-claim-congress-insiders-2013-naxal-attack-killed-leaders-10433435/

Ex-CM Baghel hits back: 'Security agencies, including NIA, should interrogate him and demand evidence for his claims'​

In a sharp attack on the Congress, Union Health Minister and BJP president J P Nadda Monday alleged that “some people in the Congress were involved” in the 2013 Jhiram Ghati attack by Maoists in which senior Congress leaders were killed during campaigning in Bastar region ahead of the 2014 Assembly elections.

At a public rally ‘Janadesh Parab’ (people’s mandate festival) in Janjgir Champa district to mark two years of the CM Vishnu Deo Sai-led BJP government, Nadda said that during his tenure as the party’s Chhattisgarh in-charge, “… I saw the Jhiram Ghati incident. I want to say with full responsibility… Jhiram Ghati’s incident details and inside information was not given by anyone else but the people among them (Congress) who wanted to get their own people killed and were in touch with Naxals. If the protector himself becomes the oppressor, what will happen to the common people of Chhattisgarh?”




Thats a huge claim to make, won't be surprised if he's telling the truth,

fellow indians your opinions -
@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @RexRex @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti

 

[finalfantasy7]

Tamil Nadu government employees and teachers to go on strike from January 6​

Tamil Nadu government employees and teachers to go on strike from January 6

Tamil Nadu government employees and teachers announce an indefinite strike from January 6 after "disappointing" negotiations with officials.

www.thehindu.com

JACTTO-GEO office-bearers made the announcement after holding talks with Ministers E.V. Velu, Thangam Thennarasu, and Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi. They called the negotiations “disappointing”​

The Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Organisations and Government Employees’ Organisations (JACTTO-GEO) on Monday (December 22, 2025) announced an indefinite strike from January 6.

 

[Romali_rotti]

This is getting too easy for BJP, lack of a credible opposition is not good imo, I have said this for years.

 

[sweep_shot]

Ever since chaiwala came to power, India have lost 3 wars and conceded 2000 sq km of Indian territory. They have also become globally and regionally isolated.

Unless Rahul Gandhi comes to power, I can see India suffering more setbacks.

Chaiwala is incompetent to run a country. He belongs in the chai stall.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Goa court remands Luthra brothers to 5-day police custody in nightclub fire case, denies request for mattress​

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/goa-court-remands-luthra-brothers-police-custody-nightclub-fire-10425698/

During the remand hearing before the Judicial Magistrate First Class court in Mapusa, the counsel for the Luthra brothers sought permission for a mattress for the accused in police custody, citing some “medical concerns”.​

One of the Luthra brothers, co-owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, being escorted by police personnel after medical examination at the district hospital in connection with the December 6 fire incident that killed 25 persons, at Mapusa, in North Goa district, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (PTI Photo)
A Goa court Wednesday remanded Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub where a fire on December 6 killed 25 people in North Goa’s Arpora, to five-days police custody.

Ten days after they fled to Thailand, within hours of the blaze at their nightclub, the Luthra brothers were brought to the state on Wednesday morning by a Goa police team.


They need to make them accountable.... life in prison, only way to set a standard

 

[sweep_shot]

Goa court remands Luthra brothers to 5-day police custody in nightclub fire case, denies request for mattress​

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/goa-court-remands-luthra-brothers-police-custody-nightclub-fire-10425698/

During the remand hearing before the Judicial Magistrate First Class court in Mapusa, the counsel for the Luthra brothers sought permission for a mattress for the accused in police custody, citing some “medical concerns”.​

One of the Luthra brothers, co-owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, being escorted by police personnel after medical examination at the district hospital in connection with the December 6 fire incident that killed 25 persons, at Mapusa, in North Goa district, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (PTI Photo)
A Goa court Wednesday remanded Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub where a fire on December 6 killed 25 people in North Goa’s Arpora, to five-days police custody.

Ten days after they fled to Thailand, within hours of the blaze at their nightclub, the Luthra brothers were brought to the state on Wednesday morning by a Goa police team.


They need to make them accountable.... life in prison, only way to set a standard

Very good from Thailand to return them to India.

India should learn from Thailand and return Hasina to Bangladesh.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Why a Punjab bypoll is still making noise 10 days after the results​

https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/why-a-punjab-bypoll-is-still-making-noise-10-days-after-the-results-10385393/

As arrests of Akali Dal leaders, the party has accused state police of highhandedness to intimidate Opposition workers​

It’s been 10 days since the result for the Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll in Punjab was declared. But the dust raised by the election is yet to settle. Having won the seat, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is battling charges of highhandedness by the state police against Akali Dal leaders, including after the results.

On Tuesday, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav appeared before the Election Commission in person, to explain the registration of multiple FIRs against Akali Dal workers during the by-election.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Net FDI negative for third straight month in October 2025, as inflows fell & outflows grew​

Net FDI negative for third straight month in October 2025, as inflows fell & outflows grew

India's net FDI remains negative for October 2025, with outflows surpassing inflows amid trade deal uncertainties.

www.thehindu.com

RBI data shows direct investment into India fell in October 2025, while outward investment by Indian companies grew. Separately, net portfolio investments were also negative in December 2025 so far​

India’s net foreign direct investment remained negative for the third consecutive month in October 2025, with outflows exceeding inflows by $1.5 billion, an analysis of latest data from the Reserve Bank of India shows. Separately, the RBI pointed out that uncertainty around the India-U.S. trade deal was a major reason why foreign portfolio investors were also taking more money out of the country than putting in it.

The main drivers of the negative net FDI figure are a combination of a year-on-year fall in direct investments entering the country, and an increase in outward direct investments made by Indian companies. Direct investments are typically made in assets and are viewed as growth-generating, as opposed to portfolio investments, which are generally done in equity and debt for expected returns.

 

[finalfantasy7]

‘Biggest fugitives’ Lalit Modi, Vijay Mallya captured on London party video​

‘Biggest fugitives’ Lalit Modi, Vijay Mallya captured on London party video

Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya, India's biggest fugitives, spotted at a lavish birthday party in London.

www.thehindu.com

“We are the two fugitives, the biggest fugitives of India,” Lalit Modi, the founding commissioner of the Indian Premier League (IPL), can be heard saying in the video.​

IPL founder Lalit Modi has posted a social media video from a party for Vijay Mallya’s 70th birthday in London, referring to the pair as the “two biggest fugitives” of India.

The video on his Instagram handle is the second in the past few days capturing birthday celebrations for Mallya, wanted in India on fraud and money laundering charges in connection with loans to the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines.

“We are the two fugitives, the biggest fugitives of India,” Lalit Modi, the founding commissioner of the Indian Premier League (IPL), can be heard saying in the video.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

The caption to the Instagram post reads: “Let’s break the internet down in India again. Happy birthday my friend Vijay Mallya”.

“Something for you media folks. Wat (sic) your heard out with envy,” adds Lalit Modi.

Mallya, who turned 70 on December 18, can be seen smiling along with partner Pinki Lalwani.

The latest video post follows a few others showing glimpses of a pre-birthday bash at Lalit Modi's Belgrave Square home in central London.

“An amazing celebration for my dear friend Vijay Mallya at my house last night for all his friends and family who flew in from all corners of the world. Another cornerstone achieved by the King of Goodtimes – his 70th birthday. Wish him all the happiness and success,” read the previous post.

Images shared by some of the guests who were at the party included glimpses of high-profile guests such as British actor Idris Elba and Indian entrepreneurs including Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.

Both Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya face legal challenges in India around allegations of financial impropriety, which they both have denied.

Mallya is believed to be on bail in the UK as he continues to refuse extradition while a “confidential” legal matter, believed to be related to an asylum application, is resolved.

Earlier this year, a consortium of Indian banks led by the State Bank of India (SBI) won a court appeal in London to uphold a bankruptcy order against him in a long-standing legal battle seeking repayment of a judgment debt of around 1.05 billion pounds owed by Kingfisher Airlines.

In October, it emerged that Mallya had discontinued an application to annul the UK bankruptcy order, which meant the “Trustee in Bankruptcy” could continue to pursue his assets for the banks to realise the repayment of the judgment debt.



Looks like Lalit Modi hasn't chnaged a bit

@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @RexRex @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti
+
@sweep_shot

 

[sweep_shot]

‘Biggest fugitives’ Lalit Modi, Vijay Mallya captured on London party video​

‘Biggest fugitives’ Lalit Modi, Vijay Mallya captured on London party video

Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya, India's biggest fugitives, spotted at a lavish birthday party in London.

www.thehindu.com

“We are the two fugitives, the biggest fugitives of India,” Lalit Modi, the founding commissioner of the Indian Premier League (IPL), can be heard saying in the video.​

IPL founder Lalit Modi has posted a social media video from a party for Vijay Mallya’s 70th birthday in London, referring to the pair as the “two biggest fugitives” of India.

The video on his Instagram handle is the second in the past few days capturing birthday celebrations for Mallya, wanted in India on fraud and money laundering charges in connection with loans to the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines.

“We are the two fugitives, the biggest fugitives of India,” Lalit Modi, the founding commissioner of the Indian Premier League (IPL), can be heard saying in the video.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

The caption to the Instagram post reads: “Let’s break the internet down in India again. Happy birthday my friend Vijay Mallya”.

“Something for you media folks. Wat (sic) your heard out with envy,” adds Lalit Modi.

Mallya, who turned 70 on December 18, can be seen smiling along with partner Pinki Lalwani.

The latest video post follows a few others showing glimpses of a pre-birthday bash at Lalit Modi's Belgrave Square home in central London.

“An amazing celebration for my dear friend Vijay Mallya at my house last night for all his friends and family who flew in from all corners of the world. Another cornerstone achieved by the King of Goodtimes – his 70th birthday. Wish him all the happiness and success,” read the previous post.

Images shared by some of the guests who were at the party included glimpses of high-profile guests such as British actor Idris Elba and Indian entrepreneurs including Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.

Both Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya face legal challenges in India around allegations of financial impropriety, which they both have denied.

Mallya is believed to be on bail in the UK as he continues to refuse extradition while a “confidential” legal matter, believed to be related to an asylum application, is resolved.

Earlier this year, a consortium of Indian banks led by the State Bank of India (SBI) won a court appeal in London to uphold a bankruptcy order against him in a long-standing legal battle seeking repayment of a judgment debt of around 1.05 billion pounds owed by Kingfisher Airlines.

In October, it emerged that Mallya had discontinued an application to annul the UK bankruptcy order, which meant the “Trustee in Bankruptcy” could continue to pursue his assets for the banks to realise the repayment of the judgment debt.



Looks like Lalit Modi hasn't chnaged a bit

@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @RexRex @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti
+
@sweep_shot

Lalit Modi = Founder of IPL/Destroyer of cricket.

Enemy of cricket and fugitive of India too.

They brag about being fugitives. Shameless.

 

[finalfantasy7]

"Attempt To Browbeat": 56 Ex-Judges Slam Opposition's Judge Impeachment​

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/madras-high-court-judge-justice-gr-swaminathan-impeachment-motion-56-ex-judges-write-joint-letter-9797023

The BJP has criticised the opposition MPs' move to impeach the Madras High Court judge, declaring their rivals had no "moral right" to move such a motion against a member of the judiciary.​

NEW DELHI:
Fifty-six former judges, including those who served in the Supreme Court, have issued a statement in support of Justice GR Swaminathan, the Madras High Court judge who ruled on the Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple case and whom the opposition now wants impeached.

The 56 judges expressed "serious exception" to the impeachment motion.

They called it a "brazen attempt to browbeat judges who do not fall in line with ideological and political expectations of a particular section of society". If this is allowed to continue, the judges warned, "it will cut at the very roots of our democracy and the independence of the judiciary".

"Even if the reasons mentioned by the signatory Member(s) of Parliament are taken at face value, they are wholly inadequate to justify resorting to such a rare, exceptional and serious constitutional measure as impeachment."

The judges also referenced the Emergency issued by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 – a topic the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party frequently uses to attack the Congress.

"It may be recalled that even during the dark period of the Emergency, the then-government adopted various mechanisms including supersessions to penalise judges who refused to 'toe the line'," the judges said, pointing to three notable judgements, including the 1973 Kesavananda Bharati case that established the 'basic structure doctrine' limiting Parliament's power to amend the Constitution of India.

These are "sobering reminders of how political overreach can damage judicial independence".

The ex-judges also complained of attempts to "defame" senior members when passing decisions not favourable to "certain political interests", referencing three ex-Chief Justices of India – Deepak Mishra, Ranjan Gogoi, SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, and the current, Surya Kant.

"The very purpose of the impeachment mechanism is to uphold the integrity of the judiciary, not to convert it into a tool of arm-twisting, signalling and retaliation. To wield the threat of removal as a means of compelling judges to conform to political expectations is to turn a constitutional safeguard into an instrument of intimidation. Such an approach is anti-democratic (and) anti-constitutional..."

Opposition files impeachment motion

Earlier this week over 100 INDIA bloc lawmakers – including the Congress' Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party boss Akhilesh Yadav – presented the motion to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

The attempted impeachment was criticised sharply by Home Minister Amit Shah, who accused the opposition of "appeasement politics". "This has never happened (since) independence that a judge is facing impeachment for a judgment. They brought this to appease their vote bank."

The temple lamp row

The Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple case revolves around the lighting of a festival lamp on one of two ancient pillars, called 'deepathon', on a hill in Tamil Nadu's Madurai.

The hill is home to both a sixth-century temple and a 14th-century dargah.

Tamil Nadu temple lamp row court timeline

On Monday, Decmember 1, after a contentious hearing, Justice Swaminathan overruled protests by the state government and temple officials, and ordered the lamp to be lit on the pillar built halfway up the hill instead of the one at the foot of it, which has been the tradition for over a 100 years.

The judge reasoned that the upper pillar is also temple property and must, therefore, be included in the ritual. The court emphasised the necessity of assertion of possession.

The DMK argued, and continues to argue, that such an order could inflame communal tensions, particularly with an Assembly election less than six months away. It has also pointed that Justice Swaminathan's order reverses a 2017 judgement by a Madras High Court division bench.

The temple did not comply with the court's original order; on Wednesday, December 3, the day of the festival, the lamp was lit at the traditional spot on the lower pillar.

An irked judge, citing non-compliance, then ordered it lit on the upper pillar also, leading to unruly scenes as hundreds tried to march up the hill to light the lamp – backed by armed central security forces – prompting district officials to issue orders banning large gatherings.

On Thursday, December 4, appeals by the Tamil Nadu government were heard by a two-judge bench of the Madras High Court. The court decided against the Tamil Nadu government. And on Friday, December 5, the state then moved the Supreme Court, which has not yet fixed a date for the hearing.

Politically, the developments have been seen as a setback for the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, particularly before next year's Assembly election, which already faces accusations of an 'anti-Hindu' stance to appease Muslim voters - a charge it has denied.

Chief Minister MK Stalin hit back to accuse the BJP, which has re-allied with the DMK's arch-rivals, the AIADMK, for the 2026 election, of politicising religious issues. He said the lighting of the lamp had been conducted in line with a century-long tradition. "... some parties have a riot mindset..." he said.

 

[sweep_shot]

"Attempt To Browbeat": 56 Ex-Judges Slam Opposition's Judge Impeachment​

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/madras-high-court-judge-justice-gr-swaminathan-impeachment-motion-56-ex-judges-write-joint-letter-9797023

The BJP has criticised the opposition MPs' move to impeach the Madras High Court judge, declaring their rivals had no "moral right" to move such a motion against a member of the judiciary.​

NEW DELHI:
Fifty-six former judges, including those who served in the Supreme Court, have issued a statement in support of Justice GR Swaminathan, the Madras High Court judge who ruled on the Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple case and whom the opposition now wants impeached.

The 56 judges expressed "serious exception" to the impeachment motion.

They called it a "brazen attempt to browbeat judges who do not fall in line with ideological and political expectations of a particular section of society". If this is allowed to continue, the judges warned, "it will cut at the very roots of our democracy and the independence of the judiciary".

"Even if the reasons mentioned by the signatory Member(s) of Parliament are taken at face value, they are wholly inadequate to justify resorting to such a rare, exceptional and serious constitutional measure as impeachment."

The judges also referenced the Emergency issued by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 – a topic the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party frequently uses to attack the Congress.

"It may be recalled that even during the dark period of the Emergency, the then-government adopted various mechanisms including supersessions to penalise judges who refused to 'toe the line'," the judges said, pointing to three notable judgements, including the 1973 Kesavananda Bharati case that established the 'basic structure doctrine' limiting Parliament's power to amend the Constitution of India.

These are "sobering reminders of how political overreach can damage judicial independence".

The ex-judges also complained of attempts to "defame" senior members when passing decisions not favourable to "certain political interests", referencing three ex-Chief Justices of India – Deepak Mishra, Ranjan Gogoi, SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, and the current, Surya Kant.

"The very purpose of the impeachment mechanism is to uphold the integrity of the judiciary, not to convert it into a tool of arm-twisting, signalling and retaliation. To wield the threat of removal as a means of compelling judges to conform to political expectations is to turn a constitutional safeguard into an instrument of intimidation. Such an approach is anti-democratic (and) anti-constitutional..."

Opposition files impeachment motion

Earlier this week over 100 INDIA bloc lawmakers – including the Congress' Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party boss Akhilesh Yadav – presented the motion to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

The attempted impeachment was criticised sharply by Home Minister Amit Shah, who accused the opposition of "appeasement politics". "This has never happened (since) independence that a judge is facing impeachment for a judgment. They brought this to appease their vote bank."

The temple lamp row

The Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple case revolves around the lighting of a festival lamp on one of two ancient pillars, called 'deepathon', on a hill in Tamil Nadu's Madurai.

The hill is home to both a sixth-century temple and a 14th-century dargah.

Tamil Nadu temple lamp row court timeline

On Monday, Decmember 1, after a contentious hearing, Justice Swaminathan overruled protests by the state government and temple officials, and ordered the lamp to be lit on the pillar built halfway up the hill instead of the one at the foot of it, which has been the tradition for over a 100 years.

The judge reasoned that the upper pillar is also temple property and must, therefore, be included in the ritual. The court emphasised the necessity of assertion of possession.

The DMK argued, and continues to argue, that such an order could inflame communal tensions, particularly with an Assembly election less than six months away. It has also pointed that Justice Swaminathan's order reverses a 2017 judgement by a Madras High Court division bench.

The temple did not comply with the court's original order; on Wednesday, December 3, the day of the festival, the lamp was lit at the traditional spot on the lower pillar.

An irked judge, citing non-compliance, then ordered it lit on the upper pillar also, leading to unruly scenes as hundreds tried to march up the hill to light the lamp – backed by armed central security forces – prompting district officials to issue orders banning large gatherings.

On Thursday, December 4, appeals by the Tamil Nadu government were heard by a two-judge bench of the Madras High Court. The court decided against the Tamil Nadu government. And on Friday, December 5, the state then moved the Supreme Court, which has not yet fixed a date for the hearing.

Politically, the developments have been seen as a setback for the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, particularly before next year's Assembly election, which already faces accusations of an 'anti-Hindu' stance to appease Muslim voters - a charge it has denied.

Chief Minister MK Stalin hit back to accuse the BJP, which has re-allied with the DMK's arch-rivals, the AIADMK, for the 2026 election, of politicising religious issues. He said the lighting of the lamp had been conducted in line with a century-long tradition. "... some parties have a riot mindset..." he said.

BJP doesn't respect high court. BJP doesn't respect anything decent.

BJP is the animal party.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Not Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru: These Tier 2 and 3 Cities to Lead India’s Premium Housing Growth​

Not Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru: These Tier 2 and 3 Cities to Lead India’s Premium Housing Growth

Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are emerging as India’s new luxury housing hubs, driven by infrastructure, lifestyle demand, and NRI interest, with the market projected to reach USD 103 billion by 2030., Bengaluru News, Times Now

www.timesnownews.com

Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are emerging as India’s new luxury housing hubs, driven by infrastructure, lifestyle demand, and NRI interest, with the market projected to reach USD 103 billion by 2030.​

When it comes to real estate growth in India, attention often focuses on metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. However, a recent survey by Magicbricks highlights that Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are emerging as key drivers of India’s luxury housing market.
According to Magicbricks, India’s luxury housing market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35%, expanding from nearly USD 17 billion in 2024 to over USD 103 billion by 2030. This makes luxury housing one of the fastest-growing segments in India’s residential real estate sector, reported news agency ANI.
While metros such as Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, and Bengaluru continue to dominate high-value residential transactions, the report shows a clear shift in buyer interest toward non-metro locations. These cities benefit from improved infrastructure, lower population density, and greater land availability, allowing developers to create low-density, premium residential projects.

Emerging Cities Driving Luxury Housing Growth Include:

• Panchkula
• Mohali
• Raipur
• Bilaspur

Data from ANAROCK also points to strong, sustained demand for premium housing in these cities, driven by rising household incomes, lifestyle upgrades, and a preference for larger, well-designed homes. Premium and luxury homes now account for a higher share of new residential launches in several Tier-2 cities, reflecting developers’ confidence in continued end-user demand, the media report added.
Industry experts note that luxury housing in India is increasingly defined by lifestyle features rather than size alone. Buyers are prioritising privacy, exclusivity, wellness, and experiential living, boosting demand for gated communities, independent floors, and lifestyle-led developments.

NRIs Choice​

Aakash Ohri, Joint Managing Director and Chief Business Officer at DLF Homes, said, "Families seeking a peaceful and fulfilling lifestyle are drawn to the serene environment of places like Panchkula. Buyers are looking for exclusive addresses and resort-like living, valuing privacy, comfort, and amenities,
He added that there has been a noticeable rise in non-resident Indian (NRI) interest in these markets. "We have also observed significant interest and investment from NRIs in the region's real estate market. Many NRIs view current conditions as a favourable opportunity to invest... Over the past three years, there has been a surge in demand for DLF's low-rise independent floors in Panchkula," Ohri said.
Echoing similar trends, Prakhar Agarwal of Rama Group said, "The next phase of India's premium housing growth is clearly moving beyond metros into Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. In regions like Chhattisgarh, particularly Raipur and Bilaspur we are seeing growing demand for well-designed premium homes with modern amenities."
He further noted, "Infrastructure development, rising local affluence, and increasing professional migration are accelerating this shift. At Rama Group, we are focused on creating premium residential experiences in these emerging markets."
Rohit Kishore, CEO, Hero Realty, pointed to Mohali as a key emerging destination, stating, "Real estate in Tier-2 cities is changing rapidly, with more investors exploring options beyond major metros. Mohali stands out as an attractive choice due to urbanization, improved infrastructure, and a desire for a better quality of life."
Both Magicbricks and ANAROCK indicate that the rise of premium housing beyond metros reflects a long-term structural shift rather than a cyclical trend. As wealth creation expands geographically and lifestyle aspirations evolve, premium housing is expected to play a defining role in India's next phase of urban development, with the market firmly on track to cross USD 103 billion by 2030.




Hows the housing market in the places where you live in India, whats your mortgage or rent rate prices?

@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @RexRex @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti

 

[finalfantasy7]

Mockery Of Democracy': BRS' KTR Hits Out At Congress Over Defection Ruling​

'Mockery Of Democracy': BRS' KTR Hits Out At Congress Over Defection Ruling

KTR termed it a clear display of double standards by Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party to protect MLAs who have openly admitted to defecting for 'development'.

www.republicworld.com

KTR termed it a clear display of double standards by Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party to protect MLAs who have openly admitted to defecting for 'development'.​

Hyderabad: BRS Working President KT Rama Rao lashed out at the Congress, stating that they have murdered democracy on the floor of the Assembly today.
Reacting to the Speaker's decision on the defected MLAs, KTR said it has once again been proven that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party have absolutely no respect for the nation's highest courts or the Constitution.
KTR ridiculed the Congress leadership, stating that merely posing for photos holding a copy of the Constitution is not enough.

"Rahul Gandhi will go down in history as an incompetent leader who failed to respect the very Anti-Defection Law brought in by his own father, late Rajiv Gandhi," he said.

KTR termed it a clear display of double standards by Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party to protect MLAs who have openly admitted to defecting for 'development'.
KTR stated that the Congress party is backing away from disqualifying the defectors solely out of fear of facing by-elections. He noted that there is a surge of anti-incumbency across villages against Revanth Reddy's two-year rule, especially with the upcoming Panchayat elections.

"The Telangana society clearly understands that the Congress is delaying action against defected MLAs only because they are terrified of the backlash," he added.
He expressed anger that the Congress party has been making a mockery of the Constitution at every step--from the day CM Revanth Reddy personally visited BRS MLAs' homes to encourage defections, up to today's Speaker's decision. He alleged that the Speaker took a decision contrary to the defection petitions under pressure from the Congress party.
Concluding his statement, KTR made it clear that while the Congress might celebrate saving the defected MLAs temporarily using technicalities, the people of their respective constituencies have already disqualified them in the public court.


Cmon india, do things right, not corruption

 

[finalfantasy7]

India’s Overseas Bill betrays migrant workers​

India’s Overseas Bill betrays migrant workers

The Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2025, billed as a sleek upgrade to the 1983 Emigration Act, is a Trojan horse of deregulation dressed in the garb of efficiency

www.thehindu.com

The legislation, billed as a sleek upgrade to the 1983 Emigration Act, is a Trojan horse of deregulation dressed in the garb of efficiency​

In the shadow of India’s economic ascent, millions of its citizens — predominantly from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Kerala — embark on perilous journeys abroad, chasing the mirage of dignity through sweat and sacrifice.

 

[finalfantasy7]

"1 Cigarette Doesn't Matter": Trinamool MP's Pollution Jibe Amid Smoking Row​

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/trinamool-mp-saugata-roy-parliament-smoking-video-viral-bjp-alleges-he-was-vaping-9797042

Saugata Roy was confronted yesterday by Union ministers Gajendra Shekhawat and Giriraj Singh outside parliament while he was smoking.​

New Delhi:
The row over smoking in parliament has heated up, with the BJP seeking disciplinary action against a Trinamool member for allegedly vaping in Lok Sabha. The Trinamool MP, Saugata Roy, who was spotted smoking outside parliament yesterday, has hit back today, asking the government to focus on reducing pollution.

Roy was confronted yesterday by Union ministers Gajendra Shekhawat and Giriraj Singh outside parliament while he was smoking. They cited public health concerns as they questioned his act, a video of which showed Roy holding a cigarette in his left hand. Defending himself, he said he was smoking in the open and not inside the building.

The Trinamool leader today accused the government of trying to divert attention from the pollution issue.

"Smoking cigarettes inside the House is prohibited, but there is no objection to smoking cigarettes in the open space outside the House. Pollution in Delhi is at its highest during the BJP government. They should focus on this instead of making such allegations. Smoking one cigarette won't change anything," Roy told reporters.

The issue spiralled this morning, with the BJP alleging that Roy used an electronic cigarette, banned in India since 2019, inside the Lok Sabha chamber. In a letter to Speaker Om Birla, BJP MP Anurag Thakur said it did not only constitute a serious breach of law but also sent a dangerous message to the youth.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

"1 Cigarette Doesn't Matter": Trinamool MP's Pollution Jibe Amid Smoking Row​

Saugata Roy was confronted yesterday by Union ministers Gajendra Shekhawat and Giriraj Singh outside parliament while he was smoking.​

New Delhi:
The row over smoking in parliament has heated up, with the BJP seeking disciplinary action against a Trinamool member for allegedly vaping in Lok Sabha. The Trinamool MP, Saugata Roy, who was spotted smoking outside parliament yesterday, has hit back today, asking the government to focus on reducing pollution.

Roy was confronted yesterday by Union ministers Gajendra Shekhawat and Giriraj Singh outside parliament while he was smoking. They cited public health concerns as they questioned his act, a video of which showed Roy holding a cigarette in his left hand. Defending himself, he said he was smoking in the open and not inside the building.

The Trinamool leader today accused the government of trying to divert attention from the pollution issue.

"Smoking cigarettes inside the House is prohibited, but there is no objection to smoking cigarettes in the open space outside the House. Pollution in Delhi is at its highest during the BJP government. They should focus on this instead of making such allegations. Smoking one cigarette won't change anything," Roy told reporters.

The issue spiralled this morning, with the BJP alleging that Roy used an electronic cigarette, banned in India since 2019, inside the Lok Sabha chamber. In a letter to Speaker Om Birla, BJP MP Anurag Thakur said it did not only constitute a serious breach of law but also sent a dangerous message to the youth.

The possession or use of e-cigarettes in government buildings, especially the Parliament complex, is a punishable offense, he pointed out, noting that the use of any nicotine/smoking device has been prohibited within the Parliament House since 2008.

"The open use of a banned substance and a prohibited device inside the sanctum sanctorum of Indian democracy, the Lok Sabha chamber, constitutes not only a blatant violation of parliamentary decorum and discipline but also a cognizable offence under the laws enacted by this very House," read Thakur's letter that did not name Roy and identified him only as a Trinamool member.

Seeking "exemplary action," he requested an inquiry into the incident and called on the Speaker to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the MP.

Thakur had raised the vaping charge during the Question Hour yesterday, claiming that Trinamool MPs have been vaping in the House despite it being banned across India.

Yesterday's video that is being widely circulated showed Shekhawat and Singh, both ministers in the Union cabinet, confronting Roy in the Parliament House Complex.

"It's a threat to your health," Singh told him. Roy tried to reason that smoking in the open was not a violation. That wasn't a valid argument since he was putting everyone's health at risk, Shekhawat added.

Speaking to reporters, Roy denied he used an e-cigarette in the House yesterday.

"I cannot say anything about that, because I was not in the House, and I don't know who smoked and complained. It is for the Speaker to inquire and take action if it amounts to a violation of the rules. Why is it being made a political issue?" he said.

When pressed, he hit back at reporters, "You cannot smoke in the building, but you are allowed (to smoke) outside. Have you become the Speaker? Will you decide? You can make any headline to impress the ministers. I will not comment."




Old man cant accept the rules, cant accept being treated as equales, needs to be looked at as a higher person, typical childish brat = looks like all the indian posters on here

 

[finalfantasy7]

"Attempt To Browbeat": 56 Ex-Judges Slam Opposition's Judge Impeachment​

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/madras-high-court-judge-justice-gr-swaminathan-impeachment-motion-56-ex-judges-write-joint-letter-9797023

The BJP has criticised the opposition MPs' move to impeach the Madras High Court judge, declaring their rivals had no "moral right" to move such a motion against a member of the judiciary.​

New Delhi:
Fifty-six former judges, including those who served in the Supreme Court, have issued a statement in support of Justice GR Swaminathan, the Madras High Court judge who ruled on the Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple case and whom the opposition now wants impeached.

The 56 judges expressed "serious exception" to the impeachment motion.

They called it a "brazen attempt to browbeat judges who do not fall in line with ideological and political expectations of a particular section of society". If this is allowed to continue, the judges warned, "it will cut at the very roots of our democracy and the independence of the judiciary".

"Even if the reasons mentioned by the signatory Member(s) of Parliament are taken at face value, they are wholly inadequate to justify resorting to such a rare, exceptional and serious constitutional measure as impeachment."

The judges also referenced the Emergency issued by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 – a topic the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party frequently uses to attack the Congress.

"It may be recalled that even during the dark period of the Emergency, the then-government adopted various mechanisms including supersessions to penalise judges who refused to 'toe the line'," the judges said, pointing to three notable judgements, including the 1973 Kesavananda Bharati case that established the 'basic structure doctrine' limiting Parliament's power to amend the Constitution of India.

These are "sobering reminders of how political overreach can damage judicial independence".

The ex-judges also complained of attempts to "defame" senior members when passing decisions not favourable to "certain political interests", referencing three ex-Chief Justices of India – Deepak Mishra, Ranjan Gogoi, SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, and the current, Surya Kant.

"The very purpose of the impeachment mechanism is to uphold the integrity of the judiciary, not to convert it into a tool of arm-twisting, signalling and retaliation. To wield the threat of removal as a means of compelling judges to conform to political expectations is to turn a constitutional safeguard into an instrument of intimidation. Such an approach is anti-democratic (and) anti-constitutional..."

Opposition files impeachment motion

Earlier this week over 100 INDIA bloc lawmakers – including the Congress' Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party boss Akhilesh Yadav – presented the motion to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

The attempted impeachment was criticised sharply by Home Minister Amit Shah, who accused the opposition of "appeasement politics". "This has never happened (since) independence that a judge is facing impeachment for a judgment. They brought this to appease their vote bank."

The temple lamp row

The Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple case revolves around the lighting of a festival lamp on one of two ancient pillars, called 'deepathon', on a hill in Tamil Nadu's Madurai.

The hill is home to both a sixth-century temple and a 14th-century dargah.

Tamil Nadu temple lamp row court timeline

On Monday, Decmember 1, after a contentious hearing, Justice Swaminathan overruled protests by the state government and temple officials, and ordered the lamp to be lit on the pillar built halfway up the hill instead of the one at the foot of it, which has been the tradition for over a 100 years.

The judge reasoned that the upper pillar is also temple property and must, therefore, be included in the ritual. The court emphasised the necessity of assertion of possession.

The DMK argued, and continues to argue, that such an order could inflame communal tensions, particularly with an Assembly election less than six months away. It has also pointed that Justice Swaminathan's order reverses a 2017 judgement by a Madras High Court division bench.

"Attempt To Browbeat": 56 Ex-Judges Slam Opposition's Judge Impeachment​

The BJP has criticised the opposition MPs' move to impeach the Madras High Court judge, declaring their rivals had no "moral right" to move such a motion against a member of the judiciary.​

• Reported by:Akhilesh Sharma
• NDTV News Desk
• India News
• Dec 12, 2025 21:21 pm IST
  • Published OnDec 12, 2025 13:25 pm IST
  • Last Updated OnDec 12, 2025 21:21 pm IST

Read Time:5 mins
Share

• Twitter
• WhatsApp
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Email

Madras High Court judge Justice GR Swaminathan (File).
New Delhi:
Fifty-six former judges, including those who served in the Supreme Court, have issued a statement in support of Justice GR Swaminathan, the Madras High Court judge who ruled on the Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple case and whom the opposition now wants impeached.

The 56 judges expressed "serious exception" to the impeachment motion.

They called it a "brazen attempt to browbeat judges who do not fall in line with ideological and political expectations of a particular section of society". If this is allowed to continue, the judges warned, "it will cut at the very roots of our democracy and the independence of the judiciary".

"Even if the reasons mentioned by the signatory Member(s) of Parliament are taken at face value, they are wholly inadequate to justify resorting to such a rare, exceptional and serious constitutional measure as impeachment."

The judges also referenced the Emergency issued by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 – a topic the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party frequently uses to attack the Congress.

"It may be recalled that even during the dark period of the Emergency, the then-government adopted various mechanisms including supersessions to penalise judges who refused to 'toe the line'," the judges said, pointing to three notable judgements, including the 1973 Kesavananda Bharati case that established the 'basic structure doctrine' limiting Parliament's power to amend the Constitution of India.

These are "sobering reminders of how political overreach can damage judicial independence".

The ex-judges also complained of attempts to "defame" senior members when passing decisions not favourable to "certain political interests", referencing three ex-Chief Justices of India – Deepak Mishra, Ranjan Gogoi, SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, and the current, Surya Kant.



https://vdo.ai/contact?utm_medium=video&utm_term=ndtv.com&utm_source=vdoai_logo
LATEST
Ranveer Out Of Don 3, Akshaye Out Of Drishyam: The Dhurandha
Tarique Rahman, With Wife, Daughter And Cat, Returns To Dhak
"You'll Know Me Now": Gunman Told Aligarh Teacher Before Sho
A Nitin Gadkari-Ismail Haniyeh Meet Hours Before Shocking As
Rs 5 Thali At 100 Atal Canteens In Delhi From Today: See Wha
Woman Techie Sold Drugs With Boyfriend, Busted By Hyderabad
"Disrespectful": India On Demolition Of Hindu Deity's Statue
Bus Driver Recounts When He Saw The Speeding Truck As Traged
Australia Take Stunning Decision Ahead Of Boxing Day Test Ag
Zia's Son Tarique Rahman Returns To Bangladesh: A Look At Hi
5 Dead As Bus Goes Up In Flames After Collision With Truck I
Dhurandhar Actor Naveen Kaushik Reveals Why Pakistanis Are L
Ashwini Vaishnaw 'Thanks' Rahul Gandhi In Exchange Over iPho
Ranveer Out Of Don 3, Akshaye Out Of Drishyam: The Dhurandha
Tarique Rahman, With Wife, Daughter And Cat, Returns To Dhak
"You'll Know Me Now": Gunman Told Aligarh Teacher Before Sho
A Nitin Gadkari-Ismail Haniyeh Meet Hours Before Shocking As
Rs 5 Thali At 100 Atal Canteens In Delhi From Today: See Wha
Woman Techie Sold Drugs With Boyfriend, Busted By Hyderabad
"Disrespectful": India On Demolition Of Hindu Deity's Statue
Bus Driver Recounts When He Saw The Speeding Truck As Traged
Australia Take Stunning Decision Ahead Of Boxing Day Test Ag
Zia's Son Tarique Rahman Returns To Bangladesh: A Look At Hi
5 Dead As Bus Goes Up In Flames After Collision With Truck I
Dhurandhar Actor Naveen Kaushik Reveals Why Pakistanis Are L
Ashwini Vaishnaw 'Thanks' Rahul Gandhi In Exchange Over iPho











"The very purpose of the impeachment mechanism is to uphold the integrity of the judiciary, not to convert it into a tool of arm-twisting, signalling and retaliation. To wield the threat of removal as a means of compelling judges to conform to political expectations is to turn a constitutional safeguard into an instrument of intimidation. Such an approach is anti-democratic (and) anti-constitutional..."

Opposition files impeachment motion

Earlier this week over 100 INDIA bloc lawmakers – including the Congress' Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party boss Akhilesh Yadav – presented the motion to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

READ | In Temple Lamp Row, Congress, Allies Back DMK Over Impeachment

The attempted impeachment was criticised sharply by Home Minister Amit Shah, who accused the opposition of "appeasement politics". "This has never happened (since) independence that a judge is facing impeachment for a judgment. They brought this to appease their vote bank."

The temple lamp row

The Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple case revolves around the lighting of a festival lamp on one of two ancient pillars, called 'deepathon', on a hill in Tamil Nadu's Madurai.

The temple in Tamil Nadu at the centre of the lamp-lighting row. Photo: hrce.tn.gov.in

The hill is home to both a sixth-century temple and a 14th-century dargah.

Tamil Nadu temple lamp row court timeline

On Monday, Decmember 1, after a contentious hearing, Justice Swaminathan overruled protests by the state government and temple officials, and ordered the lamp to be lit on the pillar built halfway up the hill instead of the one at the foot of it, which has been the tradition for over a 100 years.

The judge reasoned that the upper pillar is also temple property and must, therefore, be included in the ritual. The court emphasised the necessity of assertion of possession.

The DMK argued, and continues to argue, that such an order could inflame communal tensions, particularly with an Assembly election less than six months away. It has also pointed that Justice Swaminathan's order reverses a 2017 judgement by a Madras High Court division bench.

READ | Drama And Setback For Tamil Nadu Government In Temple Lamp Row

The temple did not comply with the court's original order; on Wednesday, December 3, the day of the festival, the lamp was lit at the traditional spot on the lower pillar.

An irked judge, citing non-compliance, then ordered it lit on the upper pillar also, leading to unruly scenes as hundreds tried to march up the hill to light the lamp – backed by armed central security forces – prompting district officials to issue orders banning large gatherings.

On Thursday, December 4, appeals by the Tamil Nadu government were heard by a two-judge bench of the Madras High Court. The court decided against the Tamil Nadu government. And on Friday, December 5, the state then moved the Supreme Court, which has not yet fixed a date for the hearing.

Politically, the developments have been seen as a setback for the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, particularly before next year's Assembly election, which already faces accusations of an 'anti-Hindu' stance to appease Muslim voters - a charge it has denied.

Chief Minister MK Stalin hit back to accuse the BJP, which has re-allied with the DMK's arch-rivals, the AIADMK, for the 2026 election, of politicising religious issues. He said the lighting of the lamp had been conducted in line with a century-long tradition. "... some parties have a riot mindset..." he said.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Ex-BJP MLA, Son Named In 20,000-Page Chargesheet In Karnataka 'Vote Theft' Case​

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/karnataka-vote-theft-case-sit-files-chargesheet-ex-bjp-mla-subhash-guttedar-among-7-named-9803613

Rahul Gandhi had in September targeted the BJP and the Election Commission with the "massive deletion of voters" claim in the Aland constituency.​

Bengaluru:
A former BJP MLA is among seven persons named in a chargesheet in the vote theft case in Karnataka during the 2023 assembly elections. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) filed the chargesheet, spanning over 20,000 pages, before the First Additional Chief Metropolitan in Bengaluru into the charges of alleged efforts to remove the names of 5,994 voters in the Aland Assembly constituency.

Those named in the chargesheet include Subhash Guttedar, a former four-time MLA from Aland; his son Harshanand Guttedar; his personal secretary Tipperudra; three operators of a data centre in Kalaburagi, Akram Pasha, Mukaram Pasha, and Mohammed Ashfaq; and a youth from West Bengal, Bapi Adya.

Adya, who had allegedly provided an OTP bypass facility to access the Election Commission's online services, was the first person to be arrested in the case but was released on bail.

A court had earlier granted pre-arrest bail to Guttedar, his son, and his personal secretary, reports suggest. The MLA's son has denied the charges against him and his father, claiming that they have been framed in a false case.

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi had in September targeted the BJP and the Election Commission with the "massive deletion of voters" claim in the Aland constituency. The Election Commission had termed Gandhi's allegations "incorrect" and asserted that no deletion of any vote can be done online and without giving an opportunity to be heard to the affected person.

Commenting on the chargesheet, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said, "It is the fact. Nothing is hidden here. MLAs want to discuss this on Wednesday in the assembly. We will have a legal vote bank as Rahul suggested."

His state cabinet colleague Priyank Kharge demanded an answer from the BJP on a former MLA of the party being named in the chargesheet. "When we filed a complaint, they were brushing it. But now the investigation itself is speaking about it. BJP should answer now on why their candidates are involved in such fraudulent acts," he said.

Union minister and BJP leader Pralhad Joshi said anyone can file an FIR, but the court will eventually decide.



BJP voter fraud - caught once again - lets hear the cover up, cmon indians:

@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @RexRex @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti @kron @globetrotter

 

[finalfantasy7]

Ghaziabad: Major Fire in Indirapuram Residential Building, All Evacuated — How Did the Blaze Erupt?​

Ghaziabad: Major Fire in Indirapuram Residential Building, All Evacuated — How Did the Blaze Erupt?

A fire broke out at a residential building in Friends Avenue, Shakti Khand 2, Indirapuram on Wednesday. Several fire tenders have been rushed to the site., Ghaziabad News, Times Now

www.timesnownews.com

A fire broke out at a residential building in Friends Avenue, Shakti Khand 2, Indirapuram on Wednesday. Several fire tenders have been rushed to the site.​

”Ghaziabad: A fire broke out at a residential building in Friends Avenue, Shakti Khand 2, Indirapuram on Wednesday night. The incident occurred amid the Diwali festive season, as the city witnessed over 40 distress calls to the firefighting department seeking help for several major and minor fire incidents.
Chief Fire Officer of Ghaziabad, Rahul Pal, said the blaze erupted around 8:30 PM at Divya Apartments, located in the Shakti Khand-2 area of Indirapuram. Nearly a dozen fire tenders were rushed to the spot after receiving the alert.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1981019441480769940

("All residents were safely evacuated before the fire could spread further. Firefighters worked from both inside and outside the building to bring the flames completely under control within an hour," Pal said.)

Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire started from fibre sheets installed as a temporary structure in the balcony of one of the flats, which later spread to other parts of the building, he added.

Pal said a detailed investigation is underway to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.



Meanwhile, Ghaziabad's neigbhouring metropolitan Gautam Buddha Nagar or Noida reported as many as 26 incidents fire incidents in the past 24 hours, but there were no casualties, an official said on Tuesday.
Pradeep Kumar Choubey, Chief Fire Officer (CFO) of Gautam Buddha Nagar, said that these fire incidents were reported from residences, shops, factories, vehicles, and slums.
“A total of 26 fire incidents occurred in various areas of the district during the 24 hours between October 20 and 21 during Diwali,” Choubey said.
The CFO said the firefighting teams arrived promptly and controlled each fire.
“The major fire incidents occurred in the areas of Fire Station Phase-1, Phase-2, Phase-3, Ecotech-1, Ecotech-3, Greater Noida, Knowledge Park, Gaur City Unit, and Sector-58,” he added.
“There was no casualties in these fire incidents," the officer said.
Related News
Diwali Tragedy in Navi Mumbai: Four, Including Child, Dead in Vashi High-Rise Fire

Highlighted an incident, he said, “On October 20, a call was received about a fire in the balcony of a flat in Aditya Celebrity Homes, Sector-76, Noida. Upon receiving the call, a unit from Fire Station Phase-3 immediately left and extinguished the fire with the help of local people.”
The CFO added, “While returning, a call was received about a fire at two different locations (J Block and K Block) in Ajnara Heritage Society, Sector-74. The unit immediately reached there and after a lot of effort, the fire in the balconies of both the flats was completely extinguished. The entire building was secured by preventing the fire from spreading to other parts of the flats.



Hope everyone is ok

 

[finalfantasy7]

Positioning workers at the centre of India’s migration policies​

Positioning workers at the centre of India’s migration policies

India must prioritize migrant worker rights in bilateral agreements to ensure their security and welfare in global labor migration.

www.thehindu.com

India should forefront bilateral agreements with destination nations that focus on the rights, security, and welfare of migrant workers; the outcomes and effectiveness of such treaties should be rigorously evaluated​

International Migrants Day, observed on December 18, acknowledges the immense contributions of migrants to global development, while underscoring the imperative to safeguard their rights and dignity. This recognition is very important given the rapid transformations and attendant challenges in the dynamics of global labour migration.

The global migrant numbers have doubled over the past three decades — rising from 153 million in 1990 to 304 million in 2024, show UN figures. Close to two-thirds of the migrants aged 15 and above are estimated to be migrant workers. Labour migration flows have.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Early-Morning Fire Engulfs Sixth Floor of Santacruz East Building; No Injuries​

Early-Morning Fire Engulfs Sixth Floor of Santacruz East Building; No Injuries

News from Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai: Stay tuned with Times Now for latest updates as they occur in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Chandigarh, and cities across India. Get real-time alerts and breaking stories., City News, Times Now

www.timesnownews.com

News from Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai: Stay tuned with Times Now for latest updates as they occur in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Chandigarh, and cities across India. Get real-time alerts and breaking stories.

Dec 28, 2025 15:26 IST

West Bengal News LIVE: Nadia’s Tabla Virtuoso Suman Sarkar Honoured with National Art Award​

Tabla artist Suman Sarkar from Nadia, West Bengal, receives a national award in art and culture. She meets the Prime Minister and President, calling the experience enriching and memorable.
Dec 28, 2025 13:36 IST

Kolkata News LIVE: Blue Line Metro Services Terminated Between Dakshineswar and Maidan After Emergency Brake​

Truncated services were running on Metro Railway's Blue Line between Dakshineswar and Maidan stations on Sunday after a technical snag. At around 11:30 am, a train motorman had to apply the emergency brake just before Mahanayak Uttam Kumar station, prompting passenger evacuation at Tollygunge station. The cause of the sudden brake is under investigation. Engineers are on-site working to restore full service along the Dakshineswar–Sahid Khudiram stretch.

Mumbai News LIVE: Early-Morning Fire Engulfs Sixth Floor of Santacruz East Building; No Injuries​

A fire broke out in the early hours of Sunday on the sixth floor of Emgeen Chambers, a six-storey commercial building in Kalina, Santacruz East. Four fire engines quickly responded and extinguished the blaze in about two hours. The fire damaged electric wiring, office files, wooden furniture, computers, the false ceiling, and the glass facade. No injuries were reported. Police, ambulances, power company staff, and BMC officials were on the scene.
Dec 27, 2025 15:38 IST

Kolkata News LIVE: P T Usha Likely to Lead Kolkata Rally for 150 Years of Vande Mataram​

Athletics legend P T Usha is expected to lead a rally in Kolkata, organised by Lok Bhavan, to mark 150 years since Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay penned Vande Mataram. (PTI)
Dec 27, 2025 11:48 IST

IndiGo Issues Travel Advisory at Mumbai Terminal 2 Following Baggage Belt Glitch​

IndiGo Airlines has issued a travel advisory for passengers at Mumbai’s Terminal 2 on Saturday due to a temporary baggage belt malfunction, which may cause slightly longer wait times at check-in and baggage collection. The airline is working with airport authorities to resolve the issue quickly.

Earlier, IndiGo had also warned passengers about flight disruptions in Bangalore caused by dense fog and low visibility, urging travelers to stay updated on flight status.
Dec 27, 2025 08:55 IST

Navi Mumbai Airport Opens with 85% Arrivals, 98% Departures Load Factor​

Navi Mumbai International Airport commenced commercial operations on December 25, handling over 5,000 passengers with 48 flights. Arrival and departure loads surged, reflecting strong demand from Mumbai Metropolitan Region residents.
Dec 27, 2025 08:49 IST

Nuh News LIVE: Man Kills Family of Snakes, Displays Them on Roadside​

A man in Haryana’s Nuh allegedly killed 10 snakes after they emerged from a hut and hung them on a tree, triggering outrage and a wildlife department probe. Wildlife activists said killing wild animals and hanging them publicly is a crime and demanded action against the accused. "The wildlife department team has been informed. Action will be taken based on their complaint," Jasvir Singh, Bicchor SHO, said.
Dec 26, 2025 14:50 IST

Delhi News Live: GST Council meeting can’t be held virtually, Centre tells court​

Appearing for the Union government, Additional Solicitor General N Venkataraman informed the court that meetings of the GST Council are required to be held physically, and cannot be convened through video conferencing. The submission came in response to the court’s earlier query on whether the Council could meet virtually to urgently consider tax relief.
Dec 26, 2025 13:50 IST

Delhi Blast Case: Patiala House Court Extends Police Custody of Yasir Ahmad Dar by 10 Days, Nasir Bilal Malla Gets 8 More Days​

A Delhi court on Thursday extended the police custody of Yasir Ahmad Dar, one of the key accused in the Delhi blast case, by 10 more days, citing the need for further investigation. The Patiala House Court also granted an eight-day extension of police custody for another accused, Nasir Bilal Malla, allowing investigators additional time to question the duo and probe their alleged roles in the blast. The matter will be taken up again after the expiry of the extended custody period.
Dec 26, 2025 13:27 IST

Delhi News Live: Court gives Centre 10 Days to Respond​

A vacation bench of the Delhi High Court, comprising Justices Vikas Mahajan and Vinod Kumar, on Friday granted the Centre 10 days to file a detailed response to a petition seeking reduction of GST on air purifiers. The matter has been listed for further hearing on January 9, after the Centre sought time to place its stand on record.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Trump signs law, wants India’s nuclear liability aligned with global norms​

Trump signs law, wants India’s nuclear liability aligned with global norms

Trump signs NDAA urging alignment of India's nuclear liability with global standards, following India's SHANTI Bill approval for private sector participation.

www.thehindu.com

U.S. President tells Secretary of State to establish mechanism to ‘assess the implementation’ of 2008 nuclear deal; Congress says PM Modi ‘bulldozed’ SHANTI Bill to make peace with ‘once good friend’​

Two days into law the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) on December 19, 2025. | Photo Credit: Reuters
Two days after Parliament cleared the SHANTI Bill, which allows private participation in India’s nuclear sector and eases liability norms by capping operator liability for a nuclear incident to ₹3,000 crore, U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday (December 19, 2025) signed into law the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) advising the U.S. Secretary of State to work with the Indian government and “...align (India’s) domestic nuclear liability rules with international norms”.


The NDAA, signed every fiscal, is a key law through which the U.S. decides the annual budget and expenditures of its Department of Defense. This financial year, considered from October 2025 to September 2026, a portion of the voluminous document says that the Secretary of State “… shall establish and maintain within the U.S.-India Strategic Security Dialogue, a joint consultative mechanism with the Indian government to assess the implementation of the 2008 Indo-U.S. nuclear deal” and “...align (India’s) domestic nuclear liability rules with international norms”.


I really don't think india has the capabilities to change that advanced and within the time frame



@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti @kron @globetrotter @Hitman @jnaveen1980


#FreeMinoritiesOfIndiaFromHindus

#SaveAllIndianMinorities

#FreeIndiaFromHinduExtremism

#SanctionIndia

 

[finalfantasy7]

Goa govt, ministers taking protection money: kejriwal:

Kejriwal Accuses Goa Govt of Corruption and Protection Money | Goa News - The Times of India

Arvind Kejriwal claims the Goa government is corrupt, taking protection money from illegal businesses while failing to ensure public safety, as he campaigns for ZP elections.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Pramod Sawant govt does not want to crack down on illegalities in the state, as “hafta” goes to the ministers, MLAs, and govt officers, said former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kaejriwal.

Kejriwal accused state govt of being under the control of the control of the rich ad powerful.

This is a hafta vasooli govt that will never want things to be right in view of public safety because otherwise, their bribes will stop,” said Kejriwal. “Govt does not want to control these illegalities and that is why there is no fear of govt.


He was talking to the reporters while campaigning door-to-door for the ZP elections. He said the safety violations at the Birch by Romeo Lane club were not an isolated incident
but an indication of the corruption across the state.


“How do clubs get water and electricity connections without occupancy certificates or building permissions? I asked people how this happens and they told me that bribes are paid to govt. Every department of Pramod Sawant govt gets a hafta,” Kejriwal said.


Calling the ZP polls the semifinal elections ahead of the asssembly elections, Kejriwal said that both BJP and Congress are known for corruption. “Both have looted the state. Now, the people want a third alternative,” Kejriwal said.



@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti @kron @globetrotter @Hitman @jnaveen1980


#FreeMinoritiesOfIndiaFromHindus

#SaveAllIndianMinorities

#FreeIndiaFromHinduExtremism

#SanctionIndia

 

[Rajdeep]

When comedian tried to act oversmart but public taught him a lesson

https://twitter.com/x/status/2006206396484968903

@Romali_rotti @Hitman @uppercut

 

[finalfantasy7]

Centre trying to run away from its responsibility, says Kerala minister on new rural employment Bill G Ram G​

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/g-ram-g-kerala-minister-centre-responsibility-10421723/

The NDA government’s Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) or VB-G Ram G Bill, 2025, proposes to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREG) Act, 2005.​

Kerala’s Minister for Local Self Governments, M B Rajesh, has said the Union Government’s new Bill on the rural job guarantee scheme is a blatant move to run away from its financial responsibility.

The NDA government’s Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) or VB-G Ram G Bill, 2025, proposes to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREG) Act, 2005.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Return votes first: male beneficiaries of Bihar scheme for women​

Return votes first: male beneficiaries of Bihar scheme for women

Bihar's male beneficiaries dispute return of ₹10,000, demanding votes be returned first amid controversy over a women's empowerment scheme.

www.thehindu.com

The Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society, an autonomous body under the Department of Rural Development better known as JEEViKA, had sent notices to the male recipients asking them to return the amount after the mistake came to light​

Days after the Bihar government sent notices to a few male residents of Darbhanga’s Jale block seeking the return of ₹10,000 wrongly credited to their accounts under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, some of them have claimed that the amount has been already spent, while others insist that the government should first return their votes if it wants the money back.



Voter fraud by the BJP:


@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti @kron @globetrotter @Hitman @jnaveen1980



#FreeMinoritiesOfIndiaFromHindus

#SaveAllIndianMinorities

#FreeIndiaFromHinduExtremism

#SanctionIndiaIndians

 

[finalfantasy7]

Arrest Warrant Issued Against Maharashtra Sports Minister Nation

Arrest Warrant Issued Against Maharashtra Sports Minister

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis held a meeting with deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar to discuss Mr. Kokate’s possible removal from the cabinet

www.deccanchronicle.com

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis held a meeting with deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar to discuss Mr. Kokate’s possible removal from the cabinet


Mumbai: A Nashik court on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant against senior NCP leader and Maharashtra sports minister Manikrao Kokate, who has been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in a case involving the fraudulent allotment of a government flat. Mr. Kokate has challenged his conviction before the Bombay High Court, which has not stayed the sentence and has posted the matter for hearing on Friday


Opposition parties alleged that the government was shielding the minister. Mr. Kokate is currently admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai. Meanwhile, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis held a meeting with deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar to discuss Mr. Kokate’s possible removal from the cabinet. A senior Mahayuti government source said the Chief Minister has asked Mr. Pawar to decide on the reallocation of the Sports, Youth Welfare and Minority Affairs portfolios, indicating that Mr. Kokate may be divested of his ministerial responsibilities.


Mr. Kokate’s counsel, Advocate Aniket Nikam, said the High Court would hear the matter on Friday. The 68-year-old Sinnar MLA is likely to resign if no relief is granted. Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal accused the government of inaction, alleging selective application of the law. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar demanded Mr. Kokate’s resignation and questioned the delay in disqualifying his Assembly membership.

Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar said he had not received the arrest warrant. On February 20 this year, a magistrate court convicted Mr. Kokate and his brother Vijay Kokate. The duo was sentenced to two years' imprisonment in the case, which pertained to submitting fake documents to get flats under the state government quota. A sessions court had stayed their conviction on March 5. However, sessions court judge P.M. Badar on Tuesday upheld the jail term handed to the minister.


The case pertains to the period between 1989 and 1992, when the state government introduced a housing scheme reserved for the needy, defined as persons with an annual income not exceeding Rs 30,000. The brothers were accused of submitting false affidavits declaring that their income was below this threshold. They were subsequently allotted flats in the Vise Mala area of Nashik in 1994. Though the minister has not resigned, his portfolio has been taken away and he remains a minister without portfolio, a government source informed.




What a thief, still a problem:


@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti @kron @globetrotter @Hitman @jnaveen1980



#FreeMinoritiesOfIndiaFromHindus

#SaveAllIndianMinorities

#FreeIndiaFromHinduExtremism

#SanctionIndiaIndians

 

[finalfantasy7]

Why India's exports may be in the midst of a slow-motion train wreck​

Why India's exports may be in the midst of a slow-motion train wreck

Indian exports seem to be twisting in the wind, thanks to the triple whammy of US tariffs, subdued global demand and falling commodity prices.While cumulative e

www.newindianexpress.com

Indian exports seem to be twisting in the wind, thanks to the triple whammy of US tariffs, subdued global demand and falling commodity prices.

While cumulative exports data during the first half of the current fiscal suggests all is well, monthly data starting September indicates that we may well be in the midst of a slow-motion train wreck. For instance, October saw a widespread contraction, not just to the US, which slapped us with a steep 50% tariff, but to almost every other export destination.

In other words, there's an air of crisis and India's export downturn could worsen amid softening global demand, tariff shocks and geopolitical tensions as we head into 2026.

The export downturn also casts a shadow on the government's ambitious $1-trillion target set for FY26. Official data shows that 34.61% of the target has been met in the first five months, but subdued growth starting September raises a concern if the export weakness will continue rest of the fiscal.

During April-August 2025, India's merchandise and services stood at $346 billion, a 5.19% YoY increase, with merchandise exports accounting for 53.09% and services 46.91%. According to World Bank data, the share of exports in India's GDP rose from 19.8% in 2015 to 21.2% in 2024. Helpfully, India's exports grew by 7.1% in 2024, outpacing global export growth of 2.5%, but whether we can achieve a similar feat remains uncertain.

Not all doom and gloom

First, the good news.

According to SBI Research, India's total merchandise exports during the first half of FY26 rose 2.9% to $220 billion as against $214 billion a year ago. Within this, the distinguishing metric pertains to the US markets as exports shot up 13% to $45 billion from $40 billion.

But here's the catch. These numbers pertain to the pre-US-tariff era, and export numbers are expected to decline sharply in the second half. In fact, September did see negative year-on-year growth of 12% as the 50% tariff on labour-intensive goods continued to hit apparel, leather and other MSME-led sectors. The US currently levies the highest tariffs among Asian nations on India.

Moreover, as the SBI report noted, the share of US in India's exports has been declining since July 2025, moving down to 15% in September 2025, with marine products reducing to 15% in September 2025 from 20% in FY25, followed by precious, semi-precious stones (6% from 37%), RMG cotton (29% from 34%) and cotton fabrics, made up articles exports (31% from 39%) leading the pack even though marine products and RMG cotton saw positive growth during April-September 2025.

With Russian oil shipments to India having decreased since 21 October, the report hopes the US to roll back the 25% tariff linked to Russian oil purchases, and eventually move toward a 15% overall rate, with India prepared to cut its own import tariffs on over 80% of goods while protecting sensitive sectors like agriculture.

The clouds on the horizon

The disappointing news is that, monthly data shows a broad decline with exports plunging 11.8% in October.

According to data from trade think-tank GTRI, year-on-year exports grew in only 5 of the top 20 destinations, with double-digit declines in several key destinations like Singapore, Australia, Italy and the UK. Of the five, only Spain (43.43%), and China (42.35%) saw healthy growth, thanks to higher petroleum product shipments, while Hong Kong (6.00%), Brazil (3.54%), and Belgium (2.22%) saw marginal increases.

In contrast, the remaining 15 markets suffered significant declines indicating broad external weakness. If exports to the US fell 8.58%, shipments to the UAE slipped 10.17%, Singapore and Australia saw far deeper contractions at 54.85%, and 52.42%, respectively, on lower petroleum, jewellery, electrical machinery, cotton textiles, steel products, and electronic shipments.

Similarly, Italy saw a negative growth of 27.66%, followed by the UK at 27.16%, the Netherlands at 22.75%, Malaysia at 22.68%, Korea 16.43%, Germany 15.14%, France 14.28%, Bangladesh 14.10%, Nepal 12.64%, South Africa 7.54%, and Saudi Arabia 1.12%.

This wasn't expected, or perhaps even anticipated as the share of India's merchandise exports to these very destinations rose during the first half of the fiscal, which SBI Research believes was a sign of India's export diversification strategy.

Exports shot up to UAE, China, Vietnam, Japan and Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nigeria during H1, FY26 over FY25, and across different product categories.

The worst-hit

MSMEs, which account for nearly 40% of India's outbound shipments, are the worst hit.

The government has rolled out a Rs 45,060 crore package, including Rs 20,000 crore in credit guarantees to enhance the global competitiveness of Indian exporters and support diversification into new and emerging markets. But whether these initiatives are enough to stem the tide is unclear.

The report also wondered if some destinations were exporting more to the US after procuring from India.

For instance, Australia's share in US imports of pearls, precious, semi-precious stones increased to 9% year-to-date in January-August, 2025 from 2% during the same period the previous year. Likewise, Hong Kong too registered an increase from 1% to 2%.

Meanwhile, during April-October 2025, merchandise exports grew by 0.6%, while merchandise imports rose by 6.4%, widening the trade deficit to $196.8 billion from $171.4 billion in the corresponding period last year.

Compared to flat growth in merchandise exports, services exports sustained buoyancy with near-to-double digit growth of 9.7% during April-September, 2025. The growth was predominantly steered by strong performance in software and business services.

Consequently, India's current account deficit (CAD) stood at 0.2% of GDP in Q1, FY26 as against 0.9% in Q1, FY25, owing to robust services exports and strong inflow of remittances. CAD is expected to be in deficit during Q2 and Q3 of FY26 before turning positive in Q4. For the full fiscal FY26, SBI expects an overall deficit in the range of 1.0-1.3% of GDP.

It's certainly not the news that India optimists will have been wanting to hear.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Manikrao Kokate stripped of Maharashtra ministerial portfolios after conviction; transferred to Ajit Pawar​

https://www.indiatvnews.com/maharashtra/manikrao-kokate-stripped-of-maharashtra-ministerial-portfolios-after-conviction-transferred-to-ajit-pawar-latest-updates-2025-12-17-1022200

Maharashtra NCP leader Manikrao Kokate on Wednesday (December 17) stripped of the portfolios of Sports and Minority Affairs, though he continues to remain a minister in the state government without any portfolio. Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat transferred Kokate's portfolios to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, acting on the recommendation of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Kokate has been convicted and handed a two-year jail term by a Nashik court in a 1995 cheating and forgery case linked to a state government housing scheme.

In a letter, the Governor said, "I have received your letter dated 17th December 2025 recommending to allocate the portfolio of Sports & Youth Welfare, Minorities Development & Aukaf held by Adv. Manikrao Saraswati Shivaji Kokate, Minister to Ajit Ashatai Anantrao Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister (Finance & Planning, State Excise).

I hereby convey my approval to your above mentioned recommendation."

Manikrao Kokate moves HC against conviction​

The Nashik court on Tuesday, while upholding the February 20 order of the magistrate's court, observed that Maharashtra minister Manikrao Kokate had "dishonestly induced" the state government into allotting him a flat reserved for the economically weaker sections, despite being a "prosperous" farmer.

Earlier in the day, Kokate moved the Bombay High Court, challenging his conviction and two-year jail term in a 1995 cheating and forgery case. Kokate's lawyer, Aniket Nikam, mentioned the plea before a single bench of Justice R N Laddha, seeking an urgent hearing. The court posted it for hearing on Friday.

Reacting to the verdict, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Wednesday said he has not yet received a certified copy of the court order and would take a call on Kokate's status as an MLA only after examining it.

Earlier, on February 20, a magistrate's court had convicted Kokate and his brother Vijay Kokate, sentencing them to two years' imprisonment for submitting forged documents to obtain flats under a state government quota. The conviction was stayed by a sessions court on March 5 following an appeal by the duo.

However, Nashik District and Sessions Court Judge PM Badar on Tuesday upheld the two-year jail term awarded by the magistrate’s court, reaffirming the findings against the minister.

What is the case?​

The case pertains to the period between 1989 and 1992, when the state government introduced a housing scheme reserved for the needy, defined as persons with an annual income not exceeding Rs 30,000. The brothers were accused of submitting false affidavits declaring that their income was below this threshold.

They were subsequently allotted flats in the Vise Mala area of Nashik in 1994.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Bengaluru’s New Rent Rules 2025: Why It’s A Big Win for Tenants And Fair Play For Landlords​

Bengaluru’s New Rent Rules 2025: Why It’s A Big Win for Tenants And Fair Play For Landlords

Bengaluru is set to transform its rental landscape with the introduction of Home Rent Rules 2025, aimed at alleviating the burden of high upfront deposits. The new regulations limit security deposits to two months' rent, mandate the registration of agreements, and ensure predictable rent...

www.timesnownews.com

Bengaluru is set to transform its rental landscape with the introduction of Home Rent Rules 2025, aimed at alleviating the burden of high upfront deposits. The new regulations limit security deposits to two months' rent, mandate the registration of agreements, and ensure predictable rent increases, while providing legal protections against sudden evictions.​

Bengaluru: A city that sees thousands moving in every year for work, education and better opportunities, Bengaluru has long struggled with one major problem: the heavy burden of upfront rental deposits.
For years, tenants in metro cities like Bengaluru were expected to pay 6 to 10 months’ rent in advance, often making the first step into a new home more stressful than exciting. Now, that longstanding worry is finally being addressed.
With the Home Rent Rules 2025, based on the Model Tenancy Act (MTA), the government plans to rewrite the way renting works - making the process fairer, simpler and far less expensive for tenants while ensuring landlords are protected too.

Why These New Rules Matter​

Renting in India has largely worked on handshake agreements and informal terms, which often led to disputes, unregulated hikes, sudden evictions and uncertainty. The new rules aim to fix exactly that, giving clarity to both parties and creating a system where trust is replaced with transparency and paperwork finally stands stronger than verbal promises.

What Changes for Tenants?​

These reforms come as a huge relief for anyone planning to rent a home in Bengaluru.
Here’s what becomes easier:

• No more sky-high deposits - only two months’ rent can be charged as security deposit for residential homes.
• Mandatory agreement registration - rent agreements must be registered with the Rent Authority within two months, ensuring everything is legal and clearly recorded.
• Predictable rent hikes - landlords must follow defined rules and must notify tenants before increasing rent, helping families budget wisely.
• Eviction will follow due process - tenants cannot be asked to vacate overnight; legal steps must be followed.
• Disputes won’t drag for months - dedicated Rent Courts and Tribunals will aim to resolve cases within 60 days.

For young professionals, students and families relocating to Bengaluru, this could mean more accessibility, less fear and fairer living costs.

What’s In It for Landlords?​

While tenants benefit greatly, landlords haven’t been left behind.
The government ensures renting remains profitable and safe for owners too.

• TDS exemption raised - from Rs 2.4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh annually.
• Simplified taxation - rental earnings will come under one category: income from housing property.
• Faster action on rent defaults - missing rent thrice a year allows direct Tribunal intervention.
• Possible tax benefits - for affordable rents or energy-efficient upgrades.

A smoother, regulated system means fewer legal hassles and more trust between owners and tenants.

A Digital Push for Smoother Renting​

Bengaluru, already a tech-forward city, stands to gain from the digital streamlining of rental systems, online agreements, e-stamping, official records and easy verification. As more states implement the rules, paperwork could shrink to screens, making renting quick and fraud-proof.
Related News
‘Come What May’: Bengaluru Ex-Corporate Employee Reinvents Life as Auto-Rickshaw Driver – VIDEO

A New Chapter for Urban Living​

The Rental Rules 2025 are more than a policy change, they’re a sign of a maturing rental ecosystem.
For Bengaluru’s large community of migrants and long-term residents, this marks a shift towards affordable, safe and stress-free renting.
In the coming months, as implementation strengthens, tenants may finally be able to walk into a new house without emptying half their savings first and that is the kind of good news a growing city deserves.
Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Bengaluru and around the world.





@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover DriveSix @rickroll @RexRex @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti @kron @globetrotter @Hitman @jnaveen1980


#FreeMinoritiesOfIndiaFromHindus

#SaveAllIndianMinorities

#FreeIndiaFromHinduExtremism

#SanctionIndiaIndians

 

[finalfantasy7]

Vikram Bhatt in custody over ₹30 crore fraud allegations​

https://www.indiatoday.in/author/anandi-saha

Vikram Bhatt in custody over ₹30 crore fraud allegations

The Rajasthan and Mumbai police have arrested filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife Shwetambari Bhatt, for alleged fraud with Ajay Murdia, founder of Indira IVF.

www.indiatoday.in

The Rajasthan and Mumbai police have arrested filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife Shwetambari Bhatt, for alleged fraud with Ajay Murdia, founder of Indira IVF. The Rajasthan police have secured transit remand to take the couple to Udaipur, where the complaint was lodged.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Nearly 62,000 Cases In High Court Stuck For Over 30 Years​

Nearly 62,000 Cases In High Court Stuck For Over 30 Years

Almost 62,000 cases dating back over 30 years are still pending in various high courts, an official data revealed. Three cases have been awaiting resolution since 1952

www.republicworld.com

Almost 62,000 cases dating back over 30 years are still pending in various high courts, an official data revealed.​

New Delhi: Almost 62,000 cases are still pending in various high courts, which are dating back over 30 years. Notably, three cases have been awaiting resolution since 1952—two of which are in the Calcutta High Court and one in the Madras High Court. Additionally, there are four cases pending since 1954 and nine since 1955, an official data revealed.
Across the high courts, there are approximately 58.59 lakh cases pending, comprising 42.64 lakh civil cases and 15.94 lakh criminal cases. The National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) reports that nearly 2.45 lakh of these cases have been pending for 20 to 30 years.

Addressing the national conference of district judiciary here earlier this week, President Droupadi Murmu had called for a change in the "culture of adjournments'' in the judiciary.
She said long-standing pendency and backlog of cases is a big challenge before the judiciary.

"All stakeholders have to find a solution by giving priority to this problem," she said.
According to the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), nearly 2.45 lakh cases are pending in high courts which are 20 to 30 years old.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal had also called for breaking the perception that Indian courts follow the "tareekh pe tareekh culture".
He said the law ministry has analysed that there were cases pending since five, 10, 15, 20 and 30 years.
He said an analysis of pending cases mentioned on the NJDG shows that parties involved in litigation are either not present or not interested in taking the case forward. He said 25 to 30 per cent of such cases can be closed in one go.
In this regard, some high courts have taken effective steps.
Referring to the concepts of 'ageing analysis' and 'clubbing of similar cases', he said these have helped settle pending cases in a time-bound manner.
More than five crore cases are pending in various courts, including district courts, high courts and the Supreme Court.


What the hell have you lot been doing for last 30 yrs, you lot sleeping, how corrupt can you be

@sweep_shot

@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover DriveSix @rickroll @RexRex @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti @kron @globetrotter @Hitman @jnaveen1980

#FreeMinoritiesOfIndiaFromHindus

#SaveAllIndianMinorities

#FreeIndiaFromHinduExtremism

#SanctionIndiaIndians

 

[finalfantasy7]

42 Lakh Names To Be Dropped as First Phase Of SIR Ends In Madhya Pradesh​

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/42-lakh-names-to-be-dropped-as-first-phase-of-sir-ends-in-madhya-pradesh-9850315

Over 22.5 lakh voters have shifted from their registered addresses.​

The first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive aimed at updating the voter list in Madhya Pradesh was completed at midnight on Thursday and the preliminary draft electoral roll will be published on Tuesday, officials said.

The Election Commission has identified nearly 42 lakh voter names for deletion from the draft list. These have been classified into four categories - around 8.4 lakh voters who have died, nearly 2.5 lakh voters with duplicate entries, about 8.4 lakh absent voters, and over 22.5 lakh voters who have shifted from their registered addresses. Names falling under these categories will not be included in the draft voter list.

In addition, the mapping of more than nine lakh voters could not be completed. While these voters submitted enumeration forms, they failed to provide complete or mandatory information. Notices will be issued to them, seeking clarification and responses within the stipulated time.

According to officials, the SIR period was extended twice by the Election Commission to ensure maximum participation and convenience for voters. As of October 27, 2025, Madhya Pradesh had a total of 5,74,06,143 registered voters. Enumeration forms were issued to all, of which 5,74,06,140 were digitised. Voters with incomplete details were identified, following which officials from district collectors to booth-level officers were deployed extensively for door-to-door verification.

During field verification, it emerged that a significant number of people listed as voters were either no longer alive or had moved away a long time ago. Joint Chief Electoral Officer Ram Pratap Singh Jadon said, "Nearly 8.4 lakh names in the electoral roll belong to people who are no longer alive. About 22.5 lakh voters have shifted, and around 2.5 lakh duplicate entries were also detected."

The Election Commission is now moving ahead with the process of deletion, correction, and verification. After the first draft electoral roll is released, if a voter's details do not match the 2003 base records or if discrepancies are found, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) will issue a formal notice.

Jadon said the emphasis remains on accuracy and fairness. "Our objective is to ensure that no genuine voter's name is deleted and that no ineligible name remains on the electoral rolls," he said.


@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @CoverDriveSix @rickroll @RexRex @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti @kron @globetrotter @Hitman @jnaveen1980 @Local.Dada


#FreeMinoritiesOfIndiaFromHindus

#SaveAllIndianMinorities

#FreeIndiaFromHinduExtremism

#SanctionIndiaIndians

 

[finalfantasy7]

Nearly 300 Families Stranded In This Delhi Locality After Sealing Drive By UP Body​

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nearly-300-families-stranded-in-this-delhi-locality-after-sealing-drive-9854763

The action was carried out on court directions to clear alleged encroachments on land claimed by the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department.​

Delhi:
On December 15, officials of the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department, accompanied by the Delhi Police, Uttar Pradesh Police, and paramilitary forces, conducted a large-scale sealing operation in Aali Gaon, located in the Okhla Assembly constituency of South Delhi.

The action was carried out on court directions to clear alleged encroachments on land claimed by the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department.

According to residents, the operation was executed without prior notice to the majority of households. While demolition notices were reportedly served only to a few shops on the main road, the colony residents state that no notice was issued for residential homes. Despite this, around 300 residential structures and several shops were sealed.

The humanitarian impact is severe.

Among the displaced are a woman with a nine-day-old newborn, forced to sleep outdoors without shelter, warmth, or basic facilities. Pregnant women are also among those left homeless, spending nights in the cold without medical support, food security, or protection.

Residents say no government agency has arranged shelter, food, water, or healthcare following the operation.

Families insist they have been living in Aali Gaon for 30 to 40 years and claim possession of legal documents, including identity proofs and property-related papers. They question why homes inhabited for decades were suddenly sealed without notice or rehabilitation and why they are being treated as illegal occupants.

Nearly 300 Families Stranded In This Delhi Locality After Sealing Drive By UP Body​

The action was carried out on court directions to clear alleged encroachments on land claimed by the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department.​

• Reported by:Ahtasham Khan
• India News
• Dec 20, 2025 18:22 pm IST
  • Published OnDec 20, 2025 18:06 pm IST
  • Last Updated OnDec 20, 2025 18:22 pm IST

Read Time:5 mins
Share

• Twitter
• WhatsApp
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Email

Delhi:
On December 15, officials of the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department, accompanied by the Delhi Police, Uttar Pradesh Police, and paramilitary forces, conducted a large-scale sealing operation in Aali Gaon, located in the Okhla Assembly constituency of South Delhi.

The action was carried out on court directions to clear alleged encroachments on land claimed by the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department.

According to residents, the operation was executed without prior notice to the majority of households. While demolition notices were reportedly served only to a few shops on the main road, the colony residents state that no notice was issued for residential homes. Despite this, around 300 residential structures and several shops were sealed.

Due to the enforcement of GRAP 4 (Graded Response Action Plan), the anti-pollution restrictions, bulldozer demolitions were not carried out.

Instead, authorities proceeded with sealing the properties.

During the operation, electricity and water connections were disconnected, leaving families without power or drinking water.

The sealing drive has resulted in the immediate displacement of hundreds of families. With their homes locked and no alternative arrangements provided, residents are now living outside their sealed houses in the harsh December cold in makeshift tents and temporary shelters.


The humanitarian impact is severe.

Among the displaced are a woman with a nine-day-old newborn, forced to sleep outdoors without shelter, warmth, or basic facilities. Pregnant women are also among those left homeless, spending nights in the cold without medical support, food security, or protection.

Residents say no government agency has arranged shelter, food, water, or healthcare following the operation.

Families insist they have been living in Aali Gaon for 30 to 40 years and claim possession of legal documents, including identity proofs and property-related papers. They question why homes inhabited for decades were suddenly sealed without notice or rehabilitation and why they are being treated as illegal occupants.

"We have been living here for many years and possess all the required legal documents, including Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, Voter ID cards, and passports. We have also been regularly paying our electricity and water bills. Despite this, the government has declared us illegal occupants and is claiming our properties. We did not receive any prior notice from the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department or from any court before our homes were sealed. We are currently sleeping outside in the cold December weather as our home has been sealed. We do not have any shelter or alternative accommodation," Tanya, Aali Gaon resident, told NDTV.

Another resident claimed they were not given any prior notice before their house was sealed.


"I'm living here for the last 25 years. We were not given any time or prior notice before our property was sealed. The police arrived suddenly and forced us to vacate our home. We have been living here for many years and possess all the required legal documents, including Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, Voter ID cards, and passports. We have also been regularly paying our electricity and water bills," said Samvira Devi, another resident.

A woman named Shamina was sitting outside her sealed home on a cot with her nine-day-old son, Ali. She said that she had been spending her days outside her sealed home with her nine-day-old baby.

A pregnant woman named Jyoti has been forced to sleep in the cold due to the Delhi sealing drive. She told NDTV that she has no place to live and has been continuously standing outside her sealed home. She does not even have space to sit. Due to her pregnancy, she is unable to stand or sit for long periods. She urgently needs safe accommodation and proper medical care.

A woman broke down in tears on camera after her home was sealed, leaving her without shelter in the winter cold.

"Our tears have not dried, and no one is coming to help us. We are sleeping outside in the cold winter weather. The media comes, ask us questions, and then leave, but nothing happens later. No leader is helping us. We have no arrangement for food. We did not vote for Rekha Gupta or Prime Minister Modi so that our homes would be sealed like this. Now, we feel completely helpless and have lost faith, and we do not wish to vote anymore," said a woman who did not wish to be named.

Another woman was sitting in an open field with her three-year-old son, who was ill and suffering from pneumonia.

NDTV visited the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department office to seek clarity on the action taken against the residents of Ali Gaon following the court order.

We attempted to speak with senior officials to understand the reasons behind the action; however, no official was willing to speak on camera or provide a statement.

The residents of Aali Gaon are now appealing to the Delhi Government and concerned authorities to intervene urgently - provide immediate shelter, food, electricity, and drinking water, de-seal their homes
ensure protection for infants, pregnant women, and elderly residents.

 

[finalfantasy7]

AAP Leader, Supporters Injured After Shots Fired During Rally In Punjab's Ludhiana​

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/aap-leader-supporters-injured-after-shots-fired-during-rally-in-punjabs-ludhiana-9843082?pfrom=home-ndtv_mainnavigation

The police suspect that the defeated candidates of opposition parties are reportedly behind the attack.​

Ludhiana:
A political rally celebrating the Aam Aadmi Party's victory in rural election results in Punjab's Ludhiana on Thursday turned violent when unidentified gunmen opened fire, injuring three people, including the block committee election winner.

According to eyewitnesses, the firing occurred as the AAP leader was celebrating his election win in the Gil constituency. The injured were rushed to the hospital, where they are undergoing treatment. Police have launched an investigation, recovering several bullet casings from the scene.

The police suspect that the defeated candidates of opposition parties are reportedly behind the attack. A manhunt is underway to arrest the gunmen, with several suspects taken into custody.

The block committee election results were declared on Wednesday, and the AAP candidate had organised a victory rally in the Gil constituency on Thursday, allegedly prompting the rival candidate to open fire.

AAP Leader, Supporters Injured After Shots Fired During Rally In Punjab's Ludhiana​

The police suspect that the defeated candidates of opposition parties are reportedly behind the attack.​

Ludhiana:
A political rally celebrating the Aam Aadmi Party's victory in rural election results in Punjab's Ludhiana on Thursday turned violent when unidentified gunmen opened fire, injuring three people, including the block committee election winner.

According to eyewitnesses, the firing occurred as the AAP leader was celebrating his election win in the Gil constituency. The injured were rushed to the hospital, where they are undergoing treatment. Police have launched an investigation, recovering several bullet casings from the scene.

The police suspect that the defeated candidates of opposition parties are reportedly behind the attack. A manhunt is underway to arrest the gunmen, with several suspects taken into custody.

The block committee election results were declared on Wednesday, and the AAP candidate had organised a victory rally in the Gil constituency on Thursday, allegedly prompting the rival candidate to open fire.


The incident has raised concerns about the safety of politicians and the escalating violence in the state. The AAP has demanded a thorough investigation and strict action against the perpetrators.

The police have urged citizens to remain calm and cooperate with the investigation. The situation is being closely monitored, and additional security measures have been put in place to prevent further violence.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Attack on the poor Sonia Gandhi PM Modi over VB-G RAM G Bill: criticises repealing of MGNREGA:

'Attack on poor': Sonia Gandhi slams PM Modi over VB-G RAM G Bill; criticises repealing of MGNREGA | India News - The Times of India

India News: NEW DELHI: Congress Rajya Sabha member Sonia Gandhi, reacting to the VB-G RAM G Bill, criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the central go.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/2002305959599996945

Hello brothers and sisters.I still remember 20 years ago, when Dr. Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister, the MNREGA law was passed unanimously in Parliament. This was a revolutionary step that benefited millions of rural families. It became a source of livelihood, especially for the deprived, exploited, poor, and extremely poor.Migration from one's homeland, village, home, and family in search of employment was prohibited. Legal rights to employment were granted, and village panchayats were empowered.

Through MNREGA, a concrete step was taken toward Mahatma Gandhi's dream of Gram Swaraj in India.In the last 11 years, the Modi government has made every effort to weaken MNREGA by ignoring the interests of the unemployed, poor and deprived people in rural areas, whereas during the time of Covid, it proved to be a lifeline for the poor class.But it's deeply regrettable that the government recently bulldozed MNREGA.

Not only was Mahatma Gandhi's name removed, but the very nature of MNREGA was arbitrarily changed without discussion, without consultation, without taking the opposition into confidence.Now, who will get employment, how much, where and in what manner, this will be decided by the government sitting in Delhi, away from the ground reality.

Congress played a major role in the creation and implementation of MNREGA, but this was never a party-specific issue. It was a scheme that served the national and public interest. By weakening this law, the Modi government has attacked the interests of millions of farmers, laborers, and landless rural poor.We are all prepared to counter this attack. Twenty years ago, I fought to secure employment rights for my poor brothers and sisters. Today, I remain committed to fighting against this draconian law.All Congress leaders like me and lakhs of workers are standing with you.





@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @RexRex @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti @kron @globetrotter @Hitman @jnaveen1980 @Local.Dada @CrIc_Mystique @Van_Sri


#FreeMinoritiesOfIndiaFromHindus

#SaveAllIndianMinorities

#FreeIndiaFromHinduExtremism

#SanctionIndiaIndians

 

[Hitman]

So glad that his bail was denied. He can plan breaking India's chicken neck and seperating my state Assam from India from his jail cell.​

https://twitter.com/x/status/2008151757453734294

@cricketjoshila @Rajdeep @Champ_Pal @Bhaijaan

 

[finalfantasy7]

In Public Interest: Why TN Government employees are unhappy? | Old Pension Scheme | DMK | MK Stalin​

 

[finalfantasy7]

Erratic power supply exasperates residents in Tiruvarur rural pockets​

Erratic power supply exasperates residents in Tiruvarur rural pockets

Residents of Tiruvarur face frequent power outages, disrupting daily life and damaging appliances, sparking frustration and complaints.

www.thehindu.com

Consumers say power goes off four or five times a day and they are kept in the dark about the same; besides disrupting life this has damaged domestic appliances in the region​

Residents of several rural and semi-urban pockets around Tiruvarur have complained of frequent and unannounced interruptions in power supply from the Neelakudi substation, disrupting life, including damage to household electrical appliances.


The Neelakudi substation serves more than 20 villages, including Neelakudi, Vaipur, Nadappur, Perumpugallur and Thirupayathankudi. It caters to residential localities such as Santhosi Nagar, Arooran Nagar, Uppiliyappan Nagar, Muthamizh Nagar, and Dhanalakshmi Nagar in Keezhakavathukudi panchayat, located close to Tiruvarur town, though they draw supply from a substation nearly 15 km away, the residents said.

 

[finalfantasy7]

India probe finds Tata Steel, JSW Steel, SAIL breached antitrust law, regulatory order shows: report​

India probe finds Tata Steel, JSW Steel, SAIL breached antitrust law, regulatory order shows: report

India's CCI finds Tata Steel, JSW Steel, and SAIL guilty of antitrust violations, risking significant fines for price collusion.

www.thehindu.com

The CCI has asked the steel companies to submit their audited financial statements for the eight financial years to 2023, the October order showed.​

India’s competition watchdog has found market leaders Tata Steel, JSW Steel, State-run SAIL and 25 other firms breached antitrust law by colluding on steel selling prices, a confidential document shows, putting ‌the companies and their executives at risk of hefty fines.


The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has also held 56 top executives, including JSW’s billionaire Managing Director Sajjan Jindal, Tata Steel CEO T.V. Narendran and four former SAIL chairpersons, liable for price collusion over varying periods of time between 2015 and 2023, according to a CCI order dated October 6, which has not been made public and is being reported for the first time.


JSW declined to comment, while Tata Steel, SAIL, and the executives did not respond to Reuters queries. The CCI also did not respond to requests for comment.

 

[finalfantasy7]

'Desh Mein Do Namoone': CM Yogi’s Veiled Dig at Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul Gandhi in UP Assembly; SP Chief Hits Back - Watch​

'Desh Mein Do Namoone': CM Yogi’s Veiled Dig at Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul Gandhi in UP Assembly; SP Chief Hits Back - Watch

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed the Assembly, countering accusations from opposition leaders regarding deaths linked to codeine syrup and illegal medication trade. He also criticised two leaders in the country calling them 'namune'. , India News, Times Now

www.timesnownews.com

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed the Assembly, countering accusations from opposition leaders regarding deaths linked to codeine syrup and illegal medication trade. He also criticised two leaders in the country calling them 'namune'.​

New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday launched a sharp attack indirectly mocking former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying there are two samples (namune) in the country who flee whenever there is some discussion in the country.
The Chief Minister was speaking in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on the issue of deaths related to Codeine syrup after the Samajwadi Party (SP) members created an uproar over the alleged illegal trade of the medicine, claiming that hundreds of children had died, a charge strongly denied by the government.

Yogi Adityanath strongly rebutted allegations by Leader of the Opposition in UP Assembly Mata Prasad Pandey over "deaths" due to consumption of fake medicines and codeine syrup, asserting that no such case has come to the notice of the state government so far.

In a veiled attack, the Chief Minister also took an indirect pot shot at SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi saying there are two samples (namune), one sits in Lucknow and another in Delhi, who flee whenever there is discussion in the country.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2002999776623858105

(Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath says, "...'Desh ke andar do namune hain'. One sits in Delhi and the other in Lucknow. When there is any discussion in the country, they immediately flee the country...")

Akhilesh Yadav Hits Back At​

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav hit back at CM Yogi saying the Bharatiya Janata Party should not bring their party's internal squabbles out to the crossroads.
"No one expected the Delhi-Lucknow feud to escalate to this point. People holding constitutional positions should at least maintain some public decorum among themselves and not cross the bounds of propriety. BJP folks should not bring their party's internal squabbles out to the crossroads. If someone takes offence somewhere, you might have to backtrack," CM Yogi Adityanath said.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2003001905342210408

(Self-acceptance!No one expected the Delhi-Lucknow conflict to escalate to this point. Those holding constitutional positions should maintain some respect for each other and refrain from crossing the line of decorum. BJP members should not bring their internal party squabbles to the forefront. If someone takes offense, they will have to retreat.)

Chor ke dadhi me tinka': CM Yogi Takes on Opposition on Codeine Syrup Issues​

CM Yogi said that cases related to illegal diversion of the syrup were being pursued under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the state government had successfully defended its stand in court.
Replying to the issue raised by the opposition as soon as the House proceedings began, Adityanath said the matter appeared to be politically motivated.

"When an issue is raised unnecessarily, one is reminded of the saying 'Chor ke dadhi me tinka' (a guilty person feels the ***** of straw in his beard)," he remarked.

Not A Single Death Due to Fake Drugs in UP, Says CM Yogi​

The chief minister said "there is not a single case of death due to fake drugs reported in Uttar Pradesh till date," and added that enforcement agencies remain vigilant.
"From time to time, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) conducts raids and takes strict action against erring firms," he said.
On codeine cough syrup, Adityanath categorically said, "There has been no death in Uttar Pradesh due to codeine syrup."
"Cases related to illegal diversion of the syrup were being pursued under the NDPS Act and the state government had successfully defended its stand in court," the chief minister said.

Earlier in the day, SP legislators reached the main gate of the Vidhan Bhavan, holding placards with anti-government slogans and staging a sit-in in front of the statue of Chaudhary Charan Singh.
During the Question Hour, SP members rushed into the well of the House, raised anti-government slogans and demanded a discussion on the issue, disrupting proceedings.
Raising the issue, Leader of the Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey alleged that the codeine racket had spread “like a web” across the state and had been operating for a long time.
He claimed that the illegal trade had run into thousands of crores of rupees and alleged that hundreds of children had lost their lives.
Pandey said the government should have acted earlier, as it had intelligence inputs and agencies at its disposal. “Had timely action been taken, hundreds of children’s lives could have been saved,” he said, seeking a discussion and asking Chief
Minister Yogi Adityanath to clarify the government’s stand.
Parliamentary Affairs and Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna rejected the allegations, saying the SP was making “incorrect statements”.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is examining diversion of medicines, financial transactions and links among the accused, with police citing evidence of super-stockists and cross-border trafficking to Nepal and Bangladesh.

 

[finalfantasy7]

"In A Moment Of Anger, I Hit Him": BJP MLA On Slapping Auto Driver In Mumbai​

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-a-moment-of-anger-i-hit-him-bjp-mla-parag-shah-on-slapping-auto-driver-in-mumbai-9866628

BJP MLA Parag Shah said, "Yes, he shouldn't have been beaten. In a moment of anger, I also hit him."​

On slapping an auto-rickshaw driver, BJP MLA Parag Shah, on Sunday, said that "it happened in a moment of anger", claiming that the driver was driving recklessly at a breakneck speed, which the female passenger in the rickshaw also complained of.

During a protest against encroachment in Ghatkopar, Parag Shah told ANI that, "An auto-rickshaw was coming from the wrong side. We signalled him to stop. But he wasn't ready to stop, and the speed he was going at was like someone driving a racing car on an expressway. He was stopped by all the workers together. The lady passenger sitting in the rickshaw said that she had been telling him for a long time to drive the rickshaw properly. But this man wasn't ready to listen..."

He added that the rickshaw driver had no remorse for his act. Parag also said that while the man should not have been beaten, the video of him being beaten by several people is morphed, and he was left with a penalty and a word of advice. "Yes, he shouldn't have been beaten. In a moment of anger, I also hit him. Challan, a penalty was imposed against him.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2002628464495702273

("BJP MLA Slapped an Auto Driver." A video of BJP's MLA Parag Shah went viral after he slapped an Auto-Rickshaw driver in Ghatkopar, Maharashtra. Utterly shameful!This is how the BJP treats common people.)

Speaking to ANI, the BJP MLA further emphasised the growing issue of encroachment in the region, which is causing difficulties for people, calling it "a kind of jihad."

"In Ghatkopar, for the last few months, hawkers, scooter riders, and auto-rickshaw drivers have become a nuisance; people can't live there. Senior citizens can't go out on the streets in the evening. Children are afraid to cross the road. So this is a kind of encroachment, which in our language, we call a kind of jihad," Parag Shah said.

Parag also stated that he was briefing the shopkeepers who had encroached onto the road at the time of the incident. He highlighted his committment to the cause of curbing encroachment, saying that "wrong-doers will be taught a lesson, by hook or by crook."

https://twitter.com/x/status/2002750057926537519

(Mumbai, Maharashtra: On slapping an auto-rickshaw driver, BJP MLA Parag Shah says, "...In Ghatkopar, for the last few months, hawkers, scooter riders, and auto-rickshaw drivers have become a nuisance, people can't live there. Senior citizens can't go out on the streets in the evening. Children are afraid to cross the road. So this is a kind of encroachment, which in our language, we call a kind of jihad. We had organised a protest against that. We were explaining to the shopkeepers who have encroached on the road... At that same time, an auto-rickshaw was coming from the wrong side. We signalled him to stop. But he wasn't ready to stop, and the speed he was going at was like someone driving a racing car on an expressway. He was stopped by all the workers together. The lady passenger sitting in the rickshaw said that she had been telling him for a long time to drive the rickshaw properly. But this man wasn't ready to listen. Yes, he shouldn't have been beaten. In a moment of anger, I also hit him...Challan, penalty was imposed against him...")


The BJP MLA also urged the common people to abide by the laws and support the government, adding that the protest will continue in Ghatkopar to remove encroachments and provide ease to the locals.

Speaking on developments under the BJP-led state and central governments, Parag said people have witnessed and applauded the work of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He emphasised that people have the power to remove anyone from power if they don't see results, as happened to the opposition.

Addressing the upcoming BMC elections, he claimed the BJP will win, noting that this is evident from the party's work in the state.



@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @RexRex @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti @kron @globetrotter @Hitman @jnaveen1980 @Local.Dada @CrIc_Mystique @Van_Sri


#FreeMinoritiesOfIndiaFromHindus

#SaveAllIndianMinorities

#FreeIndiaFromHinduExtremism

#SanctionIndiaIndians

 

[finalfantasy7]

Drama And Setback For Tamil Nadu Government In Temple Lamp Row​

https://www.ndtv.com/south/drama-and-setback-for-tamil-nadu-government-in-thirupparankundram-subramaniaswamy-temple-lamp-row-9750930

At the centre of the dispute is the Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple - regarded as one of six dedicated to the deity Murugan - and the lighting a lamp on the eve of Karthigai Deepam.​

The Madras High Court's Madurai bench on Thursday dismissed an appeal by the Tamil Nadu government and Madurai District Collector challenging a contempt order in the Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple case, which revolves around lighting a festival lamp on one of two ancient pillars built on a hill that is also home to a 14th-century dargah.

On Monday a single-judge bench ordered the lamp lit on the upper pillar in addition to the one built lower down the hill, which had been the traditional spot for the last 100 years.

That order, however, was not executed. And because it was not followed, the judge subsequently allowed the petitioner to climb the hill with 10 others and light the lamp.

In a rare move to enforce its follow-up order, the court also said they were to be protected by central forces, specifically the Central Industrial Security Force. CISF personnel were deployed, the court observed, only because the state government had failed to enforce the earlier order.

Subsequently, the state filed an intra-court appeal against the Madurai bench's order.

Dramatic sequence of events

On December 1, the High Court's Madurai bench ruled the upper stone pillar, also called 'deepathoon', which is near the dargah is also temple property and must be included in the lamp-lighting ritual. The court emphasised the necessity of the temple asserting possession.

On December 2, the temple administration filed an appeal but the court did not list it.

On December 3, the day of the festival, the petitioner filed a contempt plea arguing no arrangements had been made to comply with the court order. The single-judge bench summoned temple officials and the Madurai police chief to appear, via video call, at 5 pm.

The lamp was to be lit at 6 pm and it was argued the petition had been filed prematurely, which prompted the judge to adjourn till five minutes past six. But, by then the lamp had been lit at the traditional site. An irked judge, citing non-compliance, then ordered it lit on the upper pillar also.

More dramatic scenes unfolded as hundreds attempted to march up the hill, breaking barricades and clashing with the police. Some policemen were assaulted. District officials then imposed prohibitory orders, preventing the petitioner and CISF from reaching the pillar.

In court today

The state argued that it (and the dargah, the administration of which also objected to the lamp being lit on the upper pillar) should have had a 30-day window to file an appeal.

A contempt petition should, therefore, not have been taken up 'hurriedly'.

The state also argued deploying CISF amounted to judicial overreach, noting the force is meant to secure court premises and not enforce the law. It also alleged the petitioner had mobilised a people, disturbed public harmony, and triggering imposition of prohibitory orders.

The state further maintained that in contempt proceedings, the court's role is limited to punishment for disobedience and not issuing new operational directions.

It reiterated the lamp had been lit in one place only and shifting the ritual would hurt religious sentiments. The administration also argued temple officials could not join the evening hearing due to the volatile crowd situation.

Separately, the dargah management asked if the responsibility of lighting could legally be shifted from the temple to the petitioner.

The petitioners countered by saying the police refused security despite a court order and that the state government's non-compliance had forced the court to permit them to light the lamp.

Court's observation

The High Court noted communal amity must be built through cooperation rather than preventing one another, reaffirming the principle that legal orders must be followed unless stayed by a higher bench.

Political impact

Politically, the developments mark a significant setback for the ruling DMK, which already faces accusations of an 'anti-Hindu' stance to appease Muslim voters - a charge the party has denied. BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan told NDTV, "It's a slap on the face of the Tamil Nadu government".

For the BJP, which has only a negligible presence in Tamil Nadu, the controversy has emerged as a potent issue with which to attack the DMK and expand its political footprint, especially ahead of the 2026 Assembly election. The ruling DMK has yet to respond formally but a party source told NDTV the BJP 'stands exposed once again, like in the Babri Masjid demolition case. Real devotees are with the government and this won't affect us electorally'.

Government sources said allegations of an 'anti-Hindu stance' are baseless. A senior officer said the state "is not against Hindus. We are only protecting the interests of Hindus"




@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @RexRex @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti @kron @globetrotter @Hitman @jnaveen1980 @Local.Dada @CrIc_Mystique @Van_Sri


#FreeMinoritiesOfIndiaFromHindus

#SaveAllIndianMinorities

#FreeIndiaFromHinduExtremism

#SanctionIndiaIndians

 

[finalfantasy7]

"E-Cigarettes Banned": BJP MP Targets Trinamool In Parliament Vaping Row​

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/anurag-thakur-trinamool-congress-mp-e-cigarette-vaping-row-giriraj-singh-ndtv-interview-9790171

E-cigarettes or vapes are electronic or battery-operated devices that heat a liquid which normally contains nicotine and added flavours into an inhalable aerosol are fully banned in India.​

New Delhi:
Bharatiya Janata Party MP Anurag Thakur on Thursday accused an opposition lawmaker – from Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress – of smoking e-cigarettes in the Lok Sabha.

Thakur made the accusation during Question Hour, asking Speaker Om Birla if these were allowed in the House. When Birla replied in the negative, Thakur said a Trinamool MP – whom he did not name – had been "smoking e-cigarettes in the House for the past several days".

"E-cigarettes are banned across the country… yet you have allowed them in the House? Trinamool MPs have been sitting and smoking them for several days... e-cigarettes are being smoked in the House. Please investigate this immediately," Thakur piped up.

That accusation prompted other BJP MPs to stand up and complain too, triggering a brief uproar to add some variety to other often chaotic scenes that unfold regularly in Parliament.

Birla urged House members to maintain dignity and vowed action. "We must adhere to parliamentary traditions and rules. If such matters come to my attention, I will act," he said.

Thakur and the other BJP MPs are expected to present a written complaint.

NDTV spoke to another BJP leader – Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh – on this subject. "This (smoking of e-cigarettes) is unfortunate. And if an MP smokes it, it is even more unfortunate."

E-cigarettes or vapes are electronic or battery-operated devices that heat a liquid – which normally contains nicotine and added flavours – into an aerosol inhaled by the user.

These were completely banned in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act of 2019, which makes it illegal to manufacture, import, sell, distribute, store, or advertise them.

In fact, even possession is illegal.

However, as with most laws in a country as vast and diverse as India, enforcement remains a challenge. E-cigarettes and vapes, and the inhalable liquid, can still be purchased illegally.

In 2023 the centre wrote to state counterparts to ensure effective compliance, highlighting instances of e-cigarettes being sold at grocery or stationary stores near educational institutions.

It is also worth noting India has banned smoking in public places, which includes the Parliament building and grounds. In fact, the Parliament Rule Book states smoking is "strictly forbidden".

The ban on smoking in Parliament and the closure of a 'smoking room' in the complex, incidentally, led to an uproar too; this was back in 2015 and led to MPs from across party lines complaining to then-Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Centre imposes full ban on new mining leases in Aravallis, calls for urgent ecosystem protection​

https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/centre-imposes-full-ban-on-new-mining-leases-in-aravallis-calls-for-urgent-ecosystem-protection-2025-12-24-1023160

The Centre has imposed a full ban on granting new mining leases in the Aravalli range while tightening oversight of existing activities. Officials said the move reflects the government's commitment to protecting the region's fragile ecosystem and biodiversity.​

New Delhi:
The central government has issued fresh directions asking all states to enforce a complete ban on granting new mining leases in the Aravalli region. Officials said the move aims to safeguard one of India's oldest mountain systems, which faces severe ecological pressure. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has also asked the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education to conduct a detailed assessment to identify more areas that must be kept out of mining activities.

Govt seeks wider protection zones​

According to officials, the prohibition will apply uniformly across the entire Aravalli landscape. The government aims to preserve the uninterrupted ridge that stretches from Gujarat to the National Capital Region. "This prohibition applies uniformly across the entire Aravalli landscape and is intended to preserve the integrity of the range," officials said. The ICFRE has been asked to mark additional zones where mining should be barred based on geological, ecological and landscape factors.

Comprehensive science-based plan underway​

The ICFRE will prepare a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining for the entire region. This plan will be made public for extensive consultations and will examine cumulative environmental impacts, carrying capacity, and vulnerable ecological zones. It will also propose restoration and rehabilitation measures for degraded stretches of the range. Ongoing mining operations will face stricter oversight and additional checks to ensure adherence to sustainable practices.

Centre reaffirms commitment to Aravalli protection​

A senior official said, "The government stands fully committed towards long-term protection of the Aravalli ecosystem, recognising its critical role in preventing desertification, conserving biodiversity, recharging aquifers and providing environmental services for the region." The Supreme Court had earlier accepted a uniform definition of the Aravalli Hills and Aravalli Range to streamline governance and enforcement.

About Aravalli range​

The Aravalli range is a 670-kilometre-long mountain range in northwestern India. The highest elevation of the range has been recorded at 1,722 metres. The hill starts near Delhi, passes through Haryana, Rajasthan, and ends in Gujarat. The highest peak of the range is known as Guru Shikhar, in Mount Abu, Rajasthan. The Aravalli range is the oldest fold-mountain belt in India, dating back around 2 billion years.



@Rajdeep @cricketjoshila @Champ_Pal @JaDed @Devadwal @uppercut @Theanonymousone @straighttalk @Vikram1989 @Varun @Romali_rotti @Bhaijaan @Cover Drive Six @rickroll @RexRex @rpant_gabba, @Romali_rotti @kron @globetrotter @Hitman @jnaveen1980 @Local.Dada @CrIc_Mystique @Van_Sri @nish_mate @SportsWarrior @kaayal


#SaveIndianMinorities

#SaveIndianDalits

#StopMinorityGenocideInIndia

#FreeIndiaFromHinduExtremism

#SaveIndianMuslims

#SaveIndianChristians

#SanctionIndia

#BoycottIndia

#StopIndianAparthied

 

[finalfantasy7]

In Temple Lamp Row, Congress, Allies Back DMK Over Judge Impeachment​

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-temple-lamp-row-congress-allies-back-dmk-over-judge-impeachment-9777337

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam which faces a tricky Assembly election next year has been backed in its bid to remove the judge by allies from the Congress-led INDIA opposition bloc.​

New Delhi:
Over 120 opposition MPs - including the Congress' Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party boss Akhilesh Yadv - have presented a proposal to impeach Madras High Court judge Justice GR Swaminathan over his rulings in the Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple case.

The proposal was submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Tuesday afternoon, underlining the rift between Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK, represented by Kanimozhi, and a member of the state's judiciary.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam – which faces a tricky Assembly election next year – has been backed in its bid to remove the judge by allies from the Congress-led INDIA opposition bloc.

The Thirupparankundram Subramaniaswamy temple case revolves around the lighting of a festival lamp on one of two ancient pillars, called 'deepathon', on a hill in Tamil Nadu's Madurai.


The hill is home to both a sixth-century temple and a 14th-century dargah.

On Monday, after a contentious hearing, Justice Swaminathan overruled protests by the state government and temple officials, and ordered the lamp to be lit on the pillar built halfway up the hill instead of the one at the foot of it, which has been the tradition for over a 100 years. The judge reasoned that the upper pillar is also temple property and must, therefore, be included in the ritual. The court emphasised the necessity of assertion of possession.

The DMK argued, and continues to argue, that such an order could inflame communal tensions, particularly with an Assembly election less than six months away. It has also pointed that Justice Swaminathan's order reverses a 2017 judgement by a Madras High Court division bench.

The temple did not comply with the court's original order; on Wednesday, December 3, the day of the festival, the lamp was lit at the traditional spot on the lower pillar.

An irked judge, citing non-compliance, then ordered it lit on the upper pillar also, leading to unruly scenes as hundreds tried to march up the hill to light the lamp – backed by armed central security forces – prompting district officials to issue prohibitory orders.

On Thursday, December 4, appeals by the Tamil Nadu government were heard by a two-judge bench of the Madras High Court. Among other points made, the state argued it (and the dargah, the administration of which also objected to the lamp being lit on the upper pillar) should have had 30 days to appeal the original order, i.e., the one on Monday, before its enforcement.

The state also argued deploying CISF amounted to judicial overreach, noting the force is meant to secure court premises and not enforce the law. It also alleged the petitioner mobilised crowds and disturbed public harmony at the temple.

The petitioners countered by saying police refused security despite a court order and that non-compliance had forced a second court order allowing them to light the lamp.

The court decided against the Tamil Nadu government and on Friday state filed a plea with the Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the matter but has not yet fixed a date.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Aravalli Showdown: Bhupender Yadav Says Congress ‘Rattled’ by Total Mining Ban​

Aravalli Showdown: Bhupender Yadav Says Congress ‘Rattled’ by Total Mining Ban

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has dismissed Congress's allegations that a new definition of the Aravalli Hills would result in over 90% of the area being unprotected. , India News, Times Now

www.timesnownews.com

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has dismissed Congress's allegations that a new definition of the Aravalli Hills would result in over 90% of the area being unprotected.​

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday rejected Congress allegations that a new definition of the Aravalli Hills would leave more than 90% of the range unprotected, saying the opposition party was “rattled” because the government has imposed a complete ban on mining in the Aravallis.
The Congress earlier claimed the redefinition would open large parts of the Aravallis to mining and other activities. Responding on X to a post by Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, Yadav dismissed the charge and cited official denials.

“No FSI study has been conducted saying what you are claiming. But I know the reason you are spreading these lies despite FSI issuing a categorical denial. Maybe your ‘environmentalist hat’ would be credible if you questioned your party colleague Ashok Gehlot about who destroyed the Aravallis,” Yadav wrote

He added: “You and your coterie are rattled because we have issued a total ban on mining in the Aravallis from Gujarat to Delhi. We will not allow you, Mr Gehlot or anyone else in your party to plunder the sacred Aravalli range ever again. Will continue to work for the restoration of what your party has ravaged.”

https://twitter.com/x/status/2004083349791633871

Ramesh accused the government of launching a “determined assault” on ecological balance by weakening environmental protection laws and loosening pollution norms.
The dispute follows the Centre’s acceptance of a uniform, elevation-based definition of the Aravallis. Under the new definition, an “Aravalli Hill” is a landform with an elevation of at least 100 metres above the surrounding terrain, while an “Aravalli Range” is defined as a cluster of two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other.
After the controversy, the Centre on Wednesday directed states to impose a complete ban on granting new mining leases across the Aravalli range.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has also asked the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education to identify additional areas across the Aravallis where mining should be prohibited, beyond zones already barred by the Centre.
The government has said the measures are aimed at strengthening protection of the fragile mountain range, which plays a key role in the ecology of north and western India.