Lok Sabha MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay's closed-door meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, just before NCPI MPs were to attend an NDA meeting, has ignited speculation about the Nationalist Citizens Party of India's political future and its potential alignment with the BJP-led alliance. The NCPI comprises 20 rebel TMC MPs who broke away after the West Bengal Assembly election.
Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen has drawn a parallel between the CJP-led protest in Delhi and the 2024 student movement in Bangladesh that ousted Sheikh Hasina's regime, warning that the Bangladesh stir 'fooled us' and was ultimately taken over by 'jihadis'.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta has argued that video-recording of the ongoing CJP-led protest against the NEET paper leak at Jantar Mantar is in 'legitimate state interest' for security reasons, while petitioners allege 'continuous, indiscriminate and intrusive surveillance'.
The Nagaland Baptist Church Council has voiced strong opposition to any directive making the singing of 'Vande Mataram' compulsory, especially for Christians. They argue that patriotism should not be reduced to forced conformity and that India's constitutional values of liberty, pluralism, and freedom of conscience must be respected. The council also called for dialogue and sensitivity from state institutions.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has called for the PM CARES Fund, which holds over Rs 8,452 crore, to be used to improve infrastructure in rural schools and build more than 1,000 new high-tech schools, highlighting the dire conditions faced by children.
BJP MLA Sumitro Chatterjee, a descendant of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, has demanded an unconditional apology from Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi. This demand follows an alleged incident at the AICC headquarters on Independence Day, where Chatterjee claims there were attempts to prevent the full singing of "Vande Mataram," which he described as a "shameless repetition of a historical mistake."
The Resident Doctors' Association of AIIMS, Delhi, has appealed to President Droupadi Murmu for an independent, time-bound inquiry into the alleged use of force against peaceful protesters at Jantar Mantar and raised concerns over activist Sonam Wangchuk's reported inability to leave Safdarjung Hospital.
Nepal is grappling with one of its worst disasters in recent years as massive flash floods, triggered by an ice avalanche, have claimed 270 lives and left thousands missing across multiple districts, prompting urgent rescue and relief operations.
The move comes days after the Delhi police said false information linked to the recent students' protest was being circulated through fake social media posts.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) cancelled permission for a discussion on a book authored by its former student Umar Khalid, currently jailed in the 2020 northeast Delhi riots conspiracy case, citing 'non-disclosure of full facts' about the event. The JNUSU condemned the decision as 'arbitrary and authoritarian', vowing to proceed with the discussion at an alternative venue.
We have built an economy that can deliver everything -- from iPhones to biryani -- to a doorstep in 10 minutes, but it cannot deliver a fire engine through a lane in 20, points out Amit Kapoor.
The youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) announced plans for a protest at Jantar Mantar on June 20, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy. The party highlighted student suicides linked to the issue and called for compensation for affected families.
Families of Delhi Police personnel injured during the July 20 CJP-led 'Sansad Chalo' march are calling for a parliamentary discussion on the trauma and injuries suffered by officers, arguing that the public discourse has unfairly focused solely on allegations of police excesses.
A Delhi court is considering a plea from US citizen Matthew Aaron Van Dyke, an alleged mercenary accused in a terror conspiracy case, who is seeking an "American diet" in Tihar prison due to his inability to tolerate the standard spicy Indian prison food. He reportedly undertook a 50-day hunger strike, consuming only liquids.
For the first time in history, the national song 'Vande Mataram' will be sung at the Red Fort during Independence Day celebrations on August 15.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to opposition parties to support the delimitation-linked Women's Reservation Bill, highlighting its 40-year struggle. The bill aims to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures and increase Lok Sabha seats, requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. Despite previous setbacks and ongoing efforts to secure numbers, the government continues to push for this crucial legislation.
Canada and the UAE have extended their condolences following a devastating fire in New Delhi that claimed 21 lives, including 12 foreign nationals. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirmed that the Ministry is coordinating with concerned embassies to provide necessary assistance to those affected.
Former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh has appealed for peace and dialogue amid the nationwide protests over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak, urging people to work towards an amicable solution.
The challenge thrown by the youth movement creates the opportunity for a more consequential debate on India's economic trajectory because it must remain centered on India's youth as its driving impulse, asserts former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.
The Bombay Bar Association and senior lawyer Satish Maneshinde have strongly criticised the use of police force against students protesting the NEET leak issue in Mumbai. Maneshinde has offered pro bono legal assistance to any student facing legal action, while the BBA emphasised the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and dissent.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's health has deteriorated significantly on the 15th day of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, where the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is protesting alleged examination irregularities. Wangchuk's blood pressure has dropped and he has lost 7.8 kg, while the protest is drawing support from political leaders and public intellectuals.
The Delhi High Court has highlighted the need for a regulatory framework for the media, stating that freedom of the press cannot be a shield for irresponsible journalism or content that endangers public order. Justice Girish Kathpalia expressed concern over the unregulated nature of a significant section of the media, especially with the rise of social media, and stressed the importance of restraint, fairness, and responsibility. The court also criticised "self-styled reporters" for aggressive tactics and selective reporting that can deepen social divisions, while granting bail to two men accused of assaulting freelancers.
The protest at Jantar Mantar against alleged paper leaks and irregularities in public examinations, initially led by students, has now entered its seventh week and is increasingly drawing support from senior citizens, who view it as a fight for the nation's future and education reforms.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Tuesday accused the Centre of resisting the Supreme Court's bid to facilitate quashing of FIRs against students and protesters and demanded that the outfit's members be included in the high-powered committee announced by the court to examine allegations of police excesses and violence against cops.
A 17 year old recounts attending the Mumbai student protests over the NEET paper leak in secret, sharing her experience of solidarity, youth activism, and why she believes collective action can bring change.
A brutal crackdown by Pakistani security forces on protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) over the last two days has reportedly left more than 30 civilians dead and over 33 injured, government sources said on Wednesday.
Former India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan urged students to have 'patience during difficult times and maintain faith in the country's institutions and government.'
Delhi Police have detained six foreign nationals, including five Nigerians and one from Ivory Coast, for allegedly residing in India without valid visa documents.
'After announcing that she will return to Bangladesh, if she does not, her credibility will suffer.'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers and leaders of the National Democratic Alliance allies on Tuesday attended the ruling coalition's weekly meeting of parliamentarians, where the absence of three Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) MPs stood out amid signs of differences within the 20-member group of Trinamool Congress rebels over its association with the alliance.
'When you are standing for what the Constitution guarantees you, you are not alone.'
If you do not insulate your retirement corpus from the true cost of modern critical care, you don't have a retirement plan -- you have a fragile strategy waiting for an expensive medical emergency to break it
In a no-filter conversation with Rediff's Rishika Shah, Miss India World Nikita Porwal has a few confessions to make.
As Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike enters its 19th day, critics question why the government has remained silent despite mounting concerns over student welfare, observes Harishchandra.
The Delhi Police will launch a campaign on women's safety and empowerment from June, with units of all 15 police districts organising awareness and outreach programmes to strengthen public participation and encourage prompt reporting of crimes.
A Delhi court has reinstated jailed activist Umar Khalid's right to two weekly video meetings (e-mulakats) with his family, overturning a reduction to one meeting. The court noted Khalid had consistently used two e-mulakats for six years without violating prison rules, despite jail authorities arguing for a single weekly meeting under current regulations. Khalid is on trial in a 2020 northeast Delhi riots conspiracy case.
A viral video from Mumbai shows a man opening the latch of a police van, allowing detained student protesters to escape during a demonstration in Chembur. The incident occurred amidst a larger student protest against prohibitory orders, where hundreds were initially detained. Another video features a woman criticising police conduct and demanding the Union Education Minister's resignation. Mumbai police have registered multiple cases and booked hundreds in connection with recent protests.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP-RSS, labelling them a "bunch of jokers" with no understanding of India, and criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy as merely "hugging leaders." He also claimed the RSS has become an instrument of large capital, serving Adani and Ambani, and vowed that the Congress would keep pressure on the government until Modi and Shah resign. The BJP hit back, calling Gandhi immature and out of depth.
The Delhi high court has recalled its order regarding The Wire editor Siddharth Varadarajan's OCI status, citing suppression of facts related to a prior court order.
Over 700 citizens, including former civil servants, academics, activists, and journalists, have written to the Election Commission alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's national address on April 18 violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for elections. They are seeking an inquiry and remedial action.
