Happening Now
Protests spread like wildfire, extending to South
At least 250 people have been arrested in Uttar Pradesh over the ‘Agnipath’ protests, which has seen hordes of angry youth, carrying bamboo sticks and stones, storming railway premises across cities and small towns and laying siege to highways. Meanwhile, protests against ‘Agnipath’ left Bihar in flames on Friday...
Navy chief says he did not anticipate violent protests
As the government desperately tries to assuage protestors and list the benefits of the ‘transformational’ new recruitment scheme for armed forces, Aginpath, Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar has backed it and said he didn’t anticipate protests like this. Amid widespread violent protests by Army aspirants, the Navy Chief...
Cong seeks parliamentary panel discussion on Agnipath
Congress MP KC Venugopal on Friday urged Parliament’s Standing Committee on Defence Chairman Jual Oram to convene an urgent meeting of all stakeholders and defence experts to discuss in detail the recently announced Agniveer scheme by the Central government. Noting that violent protests are continuing across the country over...
Trains set on fire in UP, Bihar as Agnipath stir spreads
Mob set trains on fire in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar this morning as the protests over the new military recruitment policy, Agnipath, entered the third consecutive day today. The government has defended the scheme, calling it “transformative”. Trains were set afire, public and police vehicles attacked in both states...
‘One-time’ change to raise Agnipath age limit to 23
The Centre today raised the age limit for the ‘Agnipath’ military recruitment scheme to 23 from 21 amid nationwide protests against the new model of enrolment of soldiers. The decision has been taken as no recruitment has taken place in the last two years, the government said in a...
People burning buses not fit for armed forces: Ex-Army chief
General VP Malik, the Army chief who led India to victory during the Kargil War, expressed support for the Agnipath scheme today and said the Army is not interested in recruiting hooligans responsible for the violence taking place during the protests against the short-term recruitment plan. Violence was reported...
US condemns Prophet remarks, happy over party response
The United States on Thursday condemned remarks by Indian ruling party officials about the Prophet Mohammed that have sparked an uproar in Muslim countries. “We condemn the offensive comments made by two BJP officials and we were glad to see that the party publicly condemns those comments,” State Department...
Widespread protests over Agnipath scheme for military jobs
A day after the Centre launched Agnipath, a radical recruitment plan for the armed forces, protests have erupted at various parts of the country, with youngsters accusing the government of making a fool of them. Protests broke out in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur and Buxar today, with the protesters asking what...
1-day break in ED quizzing on Rahul’s request
Congress’s Rahul Gandhi walked out of the Enforcement Directorate offices after over nine hours of questioning in the third straight day today in an alleged money laundering case connected to the National Herald newspaper. He will be questioned again on Friday — a day’s exemption he asked for having...
Petition before Supreme Court against UP demolitions
The Supreme Court will hear a petition seeking directions to the Uttar Pradesh government to follow rules while carrying out further demolitions in the state. The petition also sought strict action against officials indulging in unlawful demolition. The petition, filed by Muslim body Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, was filed in connection...
Rahul visits Sonia in hospital ahead of third day quizzing
Ahead of Day 3 of questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Congress leader Rahul Gandhi last night visited his mother and party president Sonia Gandhi at a Delhi hospital after he left the probe agency’s office at around 11.30 pm. Rahul Gandhi accompanied by his sister and Congress general...
Kiran Bedi’s joke on Sikhs lands her in trouble
The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday accused former Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi of hurting the sentiments of Sikhs at a book launch event in Chennai. A controversy erupted after a video of the former Indian Police Service officer purportedly cracking a joke on Sikhs at the launch of her...
No going back on bulldozers for troublemakers, says UP Dy CM
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Friday warned that there is no place in the state for those obstructing development work and bulldozers will continue to be used against troublemakers. Talking to reporters after addressing the BJP’s ‘Garib Kalyan Sammelan’ here, Pathak said the rule of law...
Rahul summoned again today after questioning for 10 hours
Congress’s Rahul Gandhi was questioned for more than ten hours yesterday in an alleged money laundering case connected to the National Herald newspaper. Sources said he has been summoned again today for further questioning. The Enforcement Directorate had summoned Rahul Gandhi and mother, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, for questioning...
Lankan official alleges Modi pressure in favour of Adani
A Lankan official has resigned after triggering a massive controversy with his claim that an energy project in Sri Lanka was awarded to industrialist Gautam Adani’s group after Prime Minister Narendra Modi pressured President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. MMC Ferdinando, the chairman of Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), quit three...
Cong march against Rahul’s questioning denied permission
The Congress plans for a show of strength in connection with Rahul Gandhi’s questioning by Enforcement Directorate with a march to the ED offices has received a jolt, with the Delhi police refusing to allow it. Permission was denied in view of the “communal and law and order situation,”...
UP police claims illegal arms found in demolished house
The main accused in Prayagraj violence, Javed Mohammed, had illegal weapons and objectionable posters at his home, the Uttar Pradesh police have claimed. A search was conducted at his house before this morning’s demolition, the police said. “We have found a 12 bore illegal pistol and a 315 bore...
Sonia in hospital, party says her condition stable
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has been admitted to a hospital in Delhi because of Covid-related issues, the party announced on Sunday, adding that she was stable and under observation. “Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi was admitted to Ganga Ram Hospital today owing to Covid related issues. She is stable...
