Page 2 - National Politics

Rahul Gandhi hints at Bharat Dojo Yatra after sharing martial arts video

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday shared a video on martial arts sessions held at campsites of his east to west Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra earlier this year and said a "Bharat Dojo Yatra" is coming soon. Dojo broadly refers to a training hall or school for martial arts. "During the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, as we journeyed across thousands of kilometers, we had a daily routine of practicing jiu-jitsu every evening at our campsite. What began as a simple way to stay fit quickly evolved into a community activity, bringing together fellow yatris and young martial arts students from the towns where we stayed," Gandhi said on X along with the video of the sessions. "Our goal was to introduce these young minds to the beauty of the 'Gentle Art' a harmonious blend of meditation, Jiu-Jitsu, Aikido, and non-violent conflict resolution techniques," the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said. "We aimed to instill in them the value of transforming violence into gentleness, giving them the

J&K polls: Omar Abdullah to contest elections from Ganderbal constituency

Omar represented Ganderbal from 2009 to 2014 when he was the chief minister (CM) of the NC-Congress coalition government

Champai says experienced humiliation as J'khand CM, hints at quitting JMM

JMM leader Champai Soren on Sunday said he experienced "bitter humiliation" as chief minister and three options are open to him, including floating a new outfit. His comment hinting that he may quit the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) came shortly after he reached Delhi amid speculation about a potential switch to the BJP as party supremo and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren accused the saffron party of "poaching" MLAs and "dividing society". BJP leader Babulal Marandi said in reaction to Champai Soren's post that this is "just the beginning of the downfall of JMM, which has deviated from its ideology". In a statement, Champai Soren alleged that all his government programmes in the first week of July, when he was the chief minister, were abruptly cancelled by the party leadership without his knowledge. He said he kept quiet as he was not greedy for power but his self-respect was hurt. "After so much humiliation, I was forced to look for an alternative path," Champai Soren said i

Karunanidhi a towering figure in Indian politics, society, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed late DMK President and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M Karunanidhi as a "towering figure" in Indian politics, literature and society. The late leader's efforts to promote the Tamil language and culture are still remembered by the people, Modi said in a message to Karunanidhi's son and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin. Stalin shared on his 'X' handle, Modi's message for the release of a commemorative coin on the occasion of Karunanidhi's centenary on Sunday by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The CM thanked Modi. "I wholeheartedly thank Hon'ble Prime Minister Thiru. @narendramodi avl. for his kind wishes and support for the grand success of the Muthamizh Arignar Kalaignar Centenary Commemorative Coin release ceremony," Stalin said. In his message, the PM said Karunanidhi "was a towering figure in Indian politics, literature and society." "He was always passionate about the development of Tamil Nadu, as well as national progress."

Ex-J'khand CM Champai leaves for Delhi amid speculations of him joining BJP

JMM leader and former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren left for Delhi on Sunday amid speculations of him likely to join the BJP, sources said. A close associate of Soren claimed that the former chief minister left for the national capital from Kolkata on Sunday. He refused to divulge further details. Soon after landing in Delhi, Soren told reporters that he hasn't met any BJP leader and he is in the national capital on a "personal" visit. Some media reports had on Friday claimed that Soren could join the saffron party ahead of the Jharkhand assembly elections. But, Soren had on Saturday said he had no idea about the speculations. "I don't know anything about such speculations and reports... I am where I am..." he had told reporters here before leaving for Jamshedpur. When BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Amar Bauri was asked about speculations of Soren joining the BJP, he said, "I have no official confirmation. I am getting information only through the media.

'Vetri' for Kamala Harris: Ancestral village in TN awaits her triumph

Prayers, posters, and political hopes - Shine Jacob discovers how Thulasendrapuram is rooting for her presidential bid in US

Delhi's new political economy

No city in India is changing as much as Delhi. Migrants continue to be its backbone as before

'Divider in-chief Rahul Gandhi': BJP defends Anurag Thakur on caste row

Anurag Thakur triggered a row on Tuesday during his Lok Sabha speech by apparently targeting Rahul Gandhi by making veiled references to his caste

Amit Shah appeals to OBCs in Haryana to ensure 'full majority' BJP govt

Addressing a 'Backward Classes Samman Sammelan' in Haryana's Mahendragarh, Shah harped on Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini's OBC identity

An activist's restless dialogue

Patriarchy, misogyny, and many other social ills that confronted IAS-turned activist Aruna Roy are recorded with painful honesty, in all their nuance, in her memoir

Where play meets politics

Gender rights at Olympics emerge as the next frontier where sports and politics are set to collide

Impact on southern politics from GOP's move to field Priyanka in Wayanad

While Priyanka's win from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat appears assured, her entry into Kerala politics may have wider ramifications, explains SHINE JACOB

Modi govt might fall in August, claims Lalu Yadav; BJP says 'hallucination'

RJD president Lalu Prasad on Friday claimed that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre was "weak" and could "fall" as early as within a month. The remark was promptly dismissed by the BJP, which said the ailing septuagenarian was "hallucinating" and that the recent general elections were a reaffirmation of the people's faith in Modi's leadership. Prasad made these predictions at an event organised to commemorate 28 years of the formation of his party, which he founded by splitting the Janata Dal. Prasad, who spoke in a weak voice for less than 10 minutes, with younger son and heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav by his side, said "the Modi government is weak (kamzor). It can fall any time. It can fall in August". He urged party workers to be prepared for such a scenario. He highlighted that in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the RJD had increased its seat count and vote share compared to five years ago. "For quite some time, we have been the single largest party in the Bihar assembly

Hearing of defamation suit against Bengal CM adjourned till Thursday

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday adjourned till Thursday hearing of a defamation suit by West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over alleged comments made by her and some other TMC leaders. The matter will appear for hearing on Thursday after Bose's lawyer makes necessary changes in the application. Claiming that baseless allegations were being made against the governor, Bose's lawyer also prayed for an interim injunction on further statements by the defendants in the defamation suit. Justice Krishna Rao noted that publications referred to in the suit have not been made party in it. The lawyer for Bose sought time to file a fresh application, incorporating necessary changes. Granting permission, the high court said the matter will be taken up for hearing on Thursday. Bose had filed a defamation case against Banerjee on June 28, a day after she claimed women complained to her that they were afraid to visit the Raj Bhavan because of the ...

New criminal laws in India replace colonial-era IPC today: Top points

The Delhi Police has already made an arrest under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on Monday, which replaces the Indian Penal Code, 1860

NEET uncertainty caused restlessness, anger among people: Mayawati

Uncertainty over medical entrance examination NEET has caused restlessness, anxiety and anger among people, BSP chief Mayawati said on Monday and sought a permanent solution in the matter. Allegations of irregularities, including paper leaks, in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) have led to protests and litigation, with various quarters demanding a complete re-examination. The Union health ministry later postponed NEET-PG, scheduled for June 23, as a "precautionary measure" amid the allegations. "Along with the sanctity of various examinations held from time to time in the country, the uncertainty prevailing at present, especially regarding NEET-UG and PG examinations, has naturally created a wave of restlessness, anxiety and anger among the people, for which it is very important to find a quick and correct permanent solution," Mayawati said in a post in Hindi on X. "The matter of paper leaks in examinations held not only at an all-India level but a

Three new criminal laws will be implemented nationwide from Monday

Some stakeholders have expressed reservations about the "hurried" rollout of the laws

INDIA bloc made mistakes in ticket distribution: Dipankar Bhattacharya

The INDIA bloc's performance in Bihar in the Lok Sabha polls was affected as it made "certain mistakes" there, including in ticket distribution, CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya has said. In an interview with PTI editors at the agency's headquarters, the Left party's leader did not rule out the "Nitish Kumar factor" as also being a reason for the bloc's less than expected returns in the polls. Bihar Chief Minister Kumar's Janata Dal (United) was in an alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal-Congress-Left 'Mahagathbandhan' grouping in Bihar and a constituent of the opposition INDIA bloc, but jumped to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) just before the 2024 general elections. The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation general secretary hoped INDIA bloc members the RJD, the Congress and Left parties, including his CPI(ML), will do better in the assembly polls in the state next year. While the BJP and its NDA partners JD(U),

What the tribals fear

Tribal voters are worried about threats to their identity from the UCC and the BJP would do well to keep this in mind

NEET-UG row: Cong protests, Pradhan orders action against NTA. Key updates

The Congress is planning a nation-wide protest demanding justice for students, a day after Rahul Gandhi mocked PM Modi for 'being able to stop Ukraine war' but failing to stop paper leaks