The Supreme Court has asked the government to consider designating an alternative venue to Jantar Mantar for peaceful protests in the national capital, emphasising the need for a site with basic amenities. This suggestion arose during a hearing concerning proposed restrictions on metro stations and train cancellations due to a protest.
The INDIA bloc, comprising 17 opposition parties and civil society members, met at Rahul Gandhi's residence to strategize against alleged "vote chori" and the denotification of Jantar Mantar as a protest site. Leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Tejashwi Yadav, vowed to continue their united political and people's resistance, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and asserting that those responsible for undermining democracy would be held accountable.
Union minister Chirag Paswan criticised the Opposition for playing politics with protests against the Election Commission, particularly regarding the Cockroach Janata Party's planned demonstrations and the resulting train cancellations. He asserted that such disruptions cannot deter India's youth and urged the Opposition to seek solutions rather than merely protesting.
The INDIA bloc leaders are scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu on Friday evening to press for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. This demand stems from alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The opposition has been protesting for three days, culminating in a sit-in at Rajghat on Thursday, alleging "vote chori" and a "hijacking" of the country. The Election Commission has defended its procedures amidst reports of internal dissent regarding SIR decisions.
AICC general secretary K C Venugopal announced that the INDIA bloc will stage a major protest in Delhi on Monday to protect voting rights, following meetings with the President and a planned meeting with the Chief Justice of India. He accused PM Modi and Amit Shah of attempting to protect Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and criticised the Centre for denying an AIIMS facility to Keralam despite past assurances. Venugopal affirmed the bloc's commitment to ensuring free and fair elections and expressed hope for AIIMS if they come to power.
On Saturday, October 3, Dubai's Crown Prince and UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who is recuperating in a hospital after he was attacked mid-flight by his co-pilot.
Cricket legend Kapil Dev has cautioned against creating 'excessive hype' around 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, drawing parallels with Vinod Kambli's career, and urged the media to give the young talent time to develop.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw warned of increased global turbulence from tech disruptions, AI, and financial risks in the coming years. He stated that India is strengthening its economic and technological resilience to protect its growth from external shocks. India is focusing on domestic manufacturing and design in critical tech areas while maintaining global integration, with trust becoming as crucial as cost in supply chains.
Ajinkya Shinde, a native of Latur, Maharashtra, has taken charge of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) "Jantar Mantar 2.0" protest in Delhi. This follows the detention of CJP's top leaders, including Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka, by Delhi Police on Saturday. Shinde, a former computer engineer and AAP activist, is leading the agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter-list manipulation. The national capital saw a significant crackdown on Saturday, with nearly 500 protesters and leaders detained.
Delhi Police is making extensive security arrangements for a massive protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on October 10, urging personnel to exercise restraint. The protest demands the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation. Authorities have denied permission, deployed thousands of central forces, ordered liquor shops closed, and proposed metro station closures and border vigilance.
India A faces Australia A in the second unofficial One-Day International, aiming to bounce back after a significant loss in the opener. Key players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal, and Sai Sudharsan are under pressure to perform, while Suryansh Shedge emerged as a promising all-rounder for India A.
The Supreme Court has directed the Delhi police commissioner to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe a complaint filed by lawyers who were allegedly assaulted during a protest demanding the resignation of Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Kumar Mishra. This directive comes after the Delhi High Court had dismissed a similar plea, stating it was not maintainable.
'Nobody wrote the dramatic turn like him. Nobody made plot twists, dysfunctional relationships and impossible coincidence so hard to put down.'
The official Congress Keralam 'X' account posted a controversial message against CJI Surya Kant, which quickly went viral before being deleted. The party subsequently removed the individual responsible, with KPCC president Sunny Joseph stating the post was unauthorised and did not reflect the party's stance on judicial impartiality. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju criticised Congress over the incident.
'We all have to go someday. I don't know whether I will be here tomorrow. That time comes in the life of everyone. But before that time comes (we have to think, whether) am I able to do what I want to do? Have I made the effort?'
A protest in Mumbai's Shivaji Park area, supporting the Cockroach Janta Party's stir against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, intensified on Sunday with the arrival of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and MNS' Amit Thackeray. Police detained dozens of protesters, including social activist Anjali Damania, leading to further condemnation from the Thackeray cousins who criticised the police action and the BJP government.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Delhi Police commissioner, seeking a detailed report on alleged sexual harassment of three women journalists by police personnel during a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 3, stating the reports raise serious human rights violation issues.
Elon Musk questioned if Mukesh Ambani is India's "real boss" amidst Starlink's licensing issues, drawing a cryptic response from Rahul Gandhi. The Indian government clarified that security assessments are pending for all satcom licensees, not just Starlink, and the delay is due to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed all states and Union Territories to coordinate with Delhi Police to prevent Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters from mobilising towards Jantar Mantar for a protest on Saturday, October 10. The MHA cited potential public peace disturbances and the CJP's history of non-compliance, noting that the protest request has been rejected.
Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with their supporters, for allegedly forcibly entering Akashvani Bhawan during an opposition march against the Chief Election Commissioner on October 6. The incident occurred after an INDIA bloc protest towards the Election Commission office was halted, leading to detentions.
The Indian government has ordered the removal of Jack Dorsey's Bitchat app from app stores in India, citing law-and-order concerns. The Bluetooth messaging app, which allows offline communication, was previously scrutinised during protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and has now been pulled from both Apple's App Store and the Play Store following the IT Ministry's directive.
Jantar Mantar, a historic protest site in New Delhi, is facing de-notification by Delhi Police, raising concerns about its future as a space for public dissent. The site has been central to numerous significant movements, from Anna Hazare's anti-corruption fast and the Nirbhaya protests to recent agitations over NEET paper leaks and wrestlers' grievances. Its proximity to power centres made it a crucial platform for citizens to voice concerns and demand accountability, a role now threatened by its potential loss of status.
'Nana Patekar's dedication and passion were unmatchable. I remember there was a dinner sequence and the chicken had gone stale. He ate the stale chicken instead of wasting time waiting for fresh food.'
Delhi Police launched a massive crackdown, detaining Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leader Abhijeet Dipke, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, and nearly 500 protesters who attempted to reach Jantar Mantar for a demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Opposition, including AAP and Congress, denounced the situation as 'worse than the Emergency'.
A flash flood in Nepal's Budhi Gandaki River in Gorkha district has swept away houses, damaged two hydropower projects, and left at least 10 people missing. Authorities have rescued nearly 50 people and mobilised security agencies for search and rescue operations, urging riverside villagers to move to safer locations.
India's men's doubles pair Krishna Prasad Garaga and Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy secured a significant upset win against fifth seeds He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu of China at the Arctic Open Super 500, advancing to the second round. However, Indian men's singles players HS Prannoy, Tharun Mannepalli, and Rounak Chauhan faced early exits. Tanvi Sharma also progressed in women's singles.
The Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season is set to begin on Sunday, featuring several prominent India cricketers like KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Their participation aims to provide valuable red-ball practice and fine-tune skills, while also offering a platform for players like Mohammed Shami to impress selectors. The tournament will also highlight emerging young talents from various states.
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali expressed profound sadness over the passing of Bollywood icon Nana Patekar, with whom he shared a close friendship for over three decades, describing him as a 'dear friend, a brother' and a 'living legend'.
Tribal students protesting for better facilities and an inquiry into ashram school deaths were detained by police in Mumbai and driven out of the city. They had marched from Nashik and were seeking to meet the Governor.
Artificial intelligence major Anthropic has launched AI inference capabilities in India through Amazon Bedrock, allowing its Claude AI models to process data within the country's jurisdiction. This strategic move addresses the growing demand from Indian entities, particularly in regulated sectors, for compliance with local data processing norms as per the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. The initiative strengthens Anthropic's commitment to the Indian market, enabling secure and compliant AI deployment for sensitive workloads and fostering trust among major enterprises like Reliance, CRED, and NPCI.
Following the death of veteran actor Nana Patekar, a Maharashtra village, Dhondalgaon, recalls how his NAAM Foundation funded a water conservation project ten years ago, transforming it from a drought-prone area to a 'tanker-free' and economically thriving community. The project, which involved desilting barrages, boosted agriculture and dairy farming, and eliminated farmer suicides.
CPI(M) leader John Brittas was allegedly manhandled and injured by Delhi Police personnel during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Rajya Sabha MP was taken to RML Hospital for examination. Brittas has written to the President, Rajya Sabha chairman, and CJI seeking an independent investigation into the alleged assault, claiming he was dragged, assaulted, and abandoned. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor condemned the incident, and other political leaders like M A Baby and Manoj Jha visited Brittas, criticising the police action and alleging brutality against protesters. The protest was organised to demand Kumar's resignation over alleged electoral roll irregularities.
Eight BJP and two Samajwadi Party candidates are set to be elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh after the nomination papers of two independent candidates were rejected. This ensures all 10 available seats will be filled without a contest, with the BJP fielding new faces ahead of the 2027 assembly polls.
The BJP has announced eight candidates, including minister Dharam Pal Singh, for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. These elections, scheduled for October 16, will fill 10 seats from Uttar Pradesh, one from Uttarakhand, and a bypoll in West Bengal, with several prominent members retiring.
A 17-year-old boy driving a rented Audi car allegedly crashed into three vehicles in southwest Delhi's Kishangarh, resulting in the death of a 45-year-old pedestrian. Police have apprehended the juvenile, seized the vehicles, and are investigating the car rental company for leasing the luxury car to a minor.
An Indian Navy sailor, Pradeep Mukherjee, has been arrested by the Andhra Pradesh Police Counter Intelligence cell for allegedly transmitting classified maritime intelligence to a Pakistani operative. The espionage operation reportedly involved a social media "honey-trap" where a female Pakistani intelligence operative extracted sensitive data on naval assets and operations from Mukherjee.
Former India chief selector Chetan Sharma has lauded his successor Ajit Agarkar for a highly successful three-year tenure, which saw India win three ICC trophies and achieve significant white-ball cricket dominance.
Groups of men wearing saffron scarves, claiming affiliation with the Hindu Raksha Dal, threatened and assaulted demonstrators during Saturday's protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in central Delhi. Four members have been arrested for an assault on DDU Marg, while videos show larger groups operating unhindered, openly supporting police and administration, and justifying violence against "anti-national" protesters. The group's chief, Pinki Chaudhary, claimed responsibility for the attacks on social media.
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes that a strong performance by Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand could pave his way back into the Indian ODI team and secure a spot for the next year's 50-over World Cup. Ashwin highlighted Bhuvneshwar's unique ability to swing the ball and his decent pace as crucial assets, especially in conditions like South Africa and Australia. He also stressed the importance of the pacer maintaining his fitness.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with approximately 250 others including 50 MPs, were detained by Delhi Police after an eight-hour sit-in protest at Akashvani Bhawan. They were attempting to march to the Election Commission's office to protest alleged "vote chori" and irregularities in electoral rolls.
