The Congress Working Committee (CWC) is set to meet to discuss the political situation in India, focusing on strategies to pressure the government regarding student issues, alleged embezzlement at the Ram temple, and upcoming Assembly elections. The meeting will also address the women's reservation bill.
Congress MLA and former Haryana Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Sharma has urged Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to remove Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda from the Congress Working Committee (CWC) over his remarks praising former party leader Sajjan Kumar.
Police in Chatra, Jharkhand, have arrested two individuals, including a minor boy, in connection with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl. The incident came to light after the victim was hospitalised due to deteriorated health, and a Zero FIR led to the arrests.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has called for the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation, citing alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the poll process. Kharge outlined five key demands for electoral transparency and pledged that the Congress party would protest both on the streets and in Parliament.
Bihar is facing a severe flood situation with the Central Water Commission issuing an 'Orange' bulletin as the Gandak and Ganga rivers flow above danger marks, leading to embankment breaches and inundation in Saran and other districts. Relief and rescue operations are intensifying with NDRF and SDRF teams deployed, and ration packets being air-dropped to affected areas.
Bengaluru police have arrested four individuals for allegedly forcing minor children into begging. The operation led to the rescue of 13 children, who were found begging at traffic signals across the city. The accused admitted to their involvement, and the children have been handed over to the Child Welfare Committee.
The Central Crime Branch in Chennai has uncovered evidence suggesting that granite businessman R Veeramani's alleged sexual harassment of minors may span over two decades, predating 2003. The investigation, which began with a 2019 video clip, has identified multiple survivors, leading to charges under the POCSO Act, IT Act, and SC/ST Act against Veeramani and two accomplices. The Child Welfare Committee is also monitoring the case for further action.
The Congress Working Committee has decided to adhere to its 1937 resolution, mandating that only the first two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' be sung at all party events, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP, which labelled the Congress the 'new Muslim League'.
The administration has sounded a high alert in Maharajganj and Kushinagar districts of Uttar Pradesh, while stepping up the monitoring of the Gandak and other water bodies downstream of rivers in Nepal, following devastating flash floods in the neighbouring country that have killed more than 350 people and left thousands missing.
The Ganga river in Varanasi is experiencing a significant rise in water level, disrupting daily activities along the ghats. This has led to severed connectivity between ghats, relocation of cremation activities at Manikarnika Ghat, and growing concern among residents as the river approaches its danger mark.
Uttar Pradesh assembly Speaker Satish Mahana has found himself at the centre of a controversy after he was seen walking away while the national anthem was played at an event in Unnao, drawing flak from the opposition. Mahana, however, claimed that the anthem was not played where he was given the guard of honour.
Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are on high alert following devastating flash floods in Nepal's Gandak river system, prompting emergency measures including evacuations and continuous monitoring by central and state authorities.
Afghanistan has secured automatic qualification for the 2027 Cricket World Cup after defeating Ireland, while the West Indies, ranked 10th, will once again have to navigate qualifiers for the third consecutive edition of the tournament.
The Congress party has strongly condemned the 'purification' of a rally venue in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, after a public meeting addressed by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, alleging it reflects an 'anti-Dalit' mindset of the BJP and RSS.
Rahmat Shah has been appointed as the new Test and ODI captain for the Afghanistan national cricket team, replacing Hashmatullah Shahidi. Shah, who previously served as vice-captain, will lead the team alongside Rahmanullah Gurbaz as vice-captain, starting with the upcoming series against Ireland. Shahidi's tenure saw significant victories and milestones for Afghan cricket, including strong performances in the 2023 World Cup.
The Mumbai police on Thursday ordered a probe and removed a police driver from the duty roster after a viral video purportedly showed him threatening student protesters with false narcotics charges if they returned to demonstrate.
Several districts in Uttar Pradesh experienced rainfall, with Kanpur City recording the highest precipitation. The India Meteorological Department reported a drop in temperatures across the state, including Lucknow, and issued a forecast for continued rain in western UP.
A Christian worship centre in Omallur, Kerala, faced protests from BJP workers following allegations that staff members assaulted a 17-year-old boy. Police have arrested three individuals, including the manager, after a Child Welfare Committee inquiry indicated potential exploitation of children housed at the facility.
Two minor girls from Nepal were rescued from an alleged human trafficking bid by police, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and an NGO in a joint operation, near the Indo-Nepal border in Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh.
Haryana and Rajasthan have signed an agreement to implement the 1994 Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) agreement, allowing Rajasthan to receive water from the Hathini Kund barrage during monsoons. The pact, signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, resolves a 32-year-old issue concerning water allocation among Yamuna basin states.
The Congress party has intensified its criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the Vande Mataram controversy, alleging that he has insulted the Congress Working Committee of 1937 and Rabindranath Tagore. The party demands Modi address current issues instead of historical debates.
Sources said a couple of resolutions are expected to be passed at the crucial meeting, with an eye on the upcoming Bihar polls.
A preacher at a madrasa in Tumakuru district, Karnataka, has been booked after 24 children allegedly escaped the institution citing physical abuse and forced labour. The children were found at a railway station in Bengaluru and are now under the care of the Child Welfare Committee.
A 17-year-old girl died by suicide at a 'One Stop Centre' in Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh, after her parents refused to take her back following her running away with her boyfriend.
A 15-year-old girl from West Bengal, allegedly abducted and trafficked to Greater Noida, was rescued in a joint operation. The accused has been arrested.
The Supreme Court has criticised Haryana Police and Gurugram's Child Welfare Committee for their handling of a three-year-old's rape case, ordering a special investigation team and a fair probe.
A woman in Delhi has been booked for allegedly filing a false complaint under the POCSO Act against her father, with police indicating the allegation stemmed from a property dispute.
An eight-year-old boy's timely intervention helped prevent the child marriage of his friend from Class 5, scheduled on the night of Akshaya Tritiya, highlighting both the persistence of the social evil and the strength of awareness among children.
The Congress party has called on the BJP-led government to adopt a unified national approach to restore India's role as a voice for peace, criticising the government's foreign policy and its impact on India's global standing.
The apex women's association in Mizoram, Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP), has strongly condemned the alleged trafficking and exploitation of women from the state under the guise of employment outside Mizoram. The organisation is pursuing the matter to ensure the accused receive stringent punishment under the law.
Mizoram police, in collaboration with Uttarakhand police, rescued five Mizo women, including two minors, from a sex trafficking racket operating under the guise of a spa in Rudrapur. Six individuals have been arrested, including the alleged mastermind and spa owner.
Odisha is in shock after a pregnant woman was brutally murdered in Ganjam district. Political leaders are calling for swift action and justice for the victim and her orphaned daughter.
Indian Railway Police rescued 163 minor boys from a train in Madhya Pradesh, suspecting they were being trafficked from Bihar to Maharashtra for labour. Eight individuals have been arrested, claiming the children were en route to a madrasa for education.
A private hospital in Noida was sealed after its owner and staff were arrested for allegedly selling a five-day-old girl. Police are investigating the human trafficking case.
The Supreme Court has criticised the Gurugram Police and a magistrate for their handling of a four-year-old rape victim's case, demanding the presence of key officers and investigation records in court.
'Monsoon is the pran (life) of our water system.' 'A weak monsoon will have a very negative impact on crops and people's lives.'
Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel in Jharkhand have rescued four minors, including a girl from Odisha, and arrested a man from Bihar for alleged human trafficking.
The Supreme Court has criticised the Gurugram Police's handling of a three-year-old rape victim's case, citing an 'insensitive' approach and ordering key officials to appear before the court with all investigation records.
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Saturday lauded the organisational power of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-Bharatiya Janata Party as he shared Narendra Modi's old picture and said how a grassroots worker went on to become the chief minister and prime minister by sitting at the feet of their leaders.
The Congress will launch a nationwide campaign against the repeal of the United Progressive Alliance-era rural employment legislation Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) on January 5, similar to the pushback against the three farm laws which eventually forced the Narendra Modi government to rollback its decision, party president Mallikarjun Kharge said.
