INDIA

As the vote counting for the 2024 elections progresses, the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra is on track for a significant victory, leading in over 200 of the state's 288 seats. In contrast, Jharkhand is witnessing a closely contested race, with the JMM-led INDIA bloc holding a slight edge over the BJP-led NDA. The Mahayuti, a coalition of the BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar’s NCP, and several smaller parties, is securing a commanding position in Maharashtra. With over 221 seats in the early trends, the alliance appears set to retain power in the state. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), consisting of the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar’s NCP-SP, trails with leads in 55 seats. In the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the BJP-Shi...

A Delhi court on Thursday directed the District Judge to transfer a case related to Jammu Kashmir militancy-funding to a court designated to handle cases involving lawmakers, noting that one of the accused, Engineer Rashid, is now a Member of Parliament. Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh, who was also set to rule on Rashid’s application for regular bail, forwarded the case file to the District Judge. The matter is expected to be heard on November 25. Engineer Rashid, currently serving as a Member of Parliament from Baramulla, Jammu Kashmir, has been in custody since 2019 under charges of terror funding filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The case dates back to 2017 and involves allegations of financia...

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday demanded immediate arrest of industrialist Gautam Adani after the billionaire industrialist was charges in the US for alleged bribery and fraud. Addressing a press conference here hours after the US prosecutors charged Adani and associates for allegedly paying USD 250 million bribe to Indian officials, the Congress leader said it is now pretty clear and established in the US that the businessman has broken Indian as well as American laws. The Adani group has not yet reacted to the charges. Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek hain to safe hain' slogan, Gandhi said that as long as the prime minister and Adani are together, they are safe in India. He said Adani should be arrested immediately and interrogated, and his "p...

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has strongly criticized the BJP for a controversial advertisement released during the ongoing assembly elections in Jharkhand, calling it “deplorably communal” and harmful to India’s secular foundations. The advertisement, which was posted on the BJP Jharkhand unit’s official X handle, was later removed following intervention from the Election Commission of India (ECI). Mehbooba accused the BJP of undermining the pluralistic ideals envisioned by leaders who joined India on the basis of its secular values. “This advertisement being deplorably communal contradicts the foundational ideals and secular fabric of the nation. Pure poison,” she said in a post on X. National Conference leader Aga Ruhullah Mehdi also compared the ad to Nazi propaganda, highli...

A recent directive by the Chhattisgarh Waqf Board requiring prior approval of sermons delivered during Friday prayers has ignited a heated debate over constitutional freedoms and religious rights. Opposition parties and community leaders have criticized the move, calling it an infringement on the right to freedom of speech and religion. The Waqf Board issued the directive, citing the need to curb inflammatory rhetoric and promote communal harmony. It mandates that sermons in mosques and other Waqf-managed properties be vetted beforehand to ensure they align with guidelines fostering peace. A senior Waqf official defended the decision, stating, “This is not interference with religious freedom but a step to maintain unity and prevent divisive messages.” The directive has faced...

In a significant development after a five-year hiatus, over 40,000 young aspirants participated in army recruitment rallies held in Poonch and Doda districts of Jammu Kashmir, officials said on Sunday. The rally in Poonch, conducted at the Advance Landing Ground in Surankote from November 8, saw more than 26,000 candidates vying for 307 vacancies for soldier general duty and 45 positions for clerks and tradesmen in the Territorial Army. Open to candidates from 31 tehsils in Jammu division, including Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, and Jammu districts, the rally also welcomed applicants from across Jammu for clerical and tradesmen roles. Separately, a rally at Dugga near Bhalra in Doda district, which began on November 11, drew over 12,000 enthusiastic youths from Reasi, Udhampur, Doda, Ki...

In a significant advancement of its military capabilities, India successfully conducted the flight test of a long-range hypersonic missile off the coast of Odisha. This achievement places India among a select group of nations possessing such advanced military technology. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh termed the successful test a "historic moment" and a "stupendous achievement." He praised the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), armed forces, and industry partners for their contributions to this milestone. The hypersonic missile, developed by DRDO, is capable of carrying various payloads over distances exceeding 1,500 kilometers. Hypersonic missiles typically travel at speeds over five times the speed of sound (Mach 5) and are designed to evade most air defense s...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Saturday that militants no longer feel secure in their homes, a stark contrast to the earlier times when the violence of militancy made ordinary citizens feel unsafe. Addressing the HT Leadership Summit, the Prime Minister emphasized the shift in the security situation, stating, "During the past, terrorism made people in India feel unsafe, but now, the terrorists themselves feel unsafe in their homes." In his address, Modi also referenced the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, recalling the atmosphere of fear and insecurity during that time. He highlighted the "significant change" in circumstances today, where the perpetrators of violence are no longer free to operate as they once did. This statement underlined the government's claim of improv...

The Delhi High Court has granted bail to Javed Ali, accused of raising funds for the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The bench, comprising Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma, overturned an earlier trial court decision that denied Ali bail in April, acknowledging that the trial could be prolonged, with only nine of 221 witnesses examined since his detention on November 10, 2019. Ali was arrested for allegedly arranging funds for LeT operative Sheikh Abdul Nayeem, who is charged with conspiring to carry out militant activities in India. According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Ali’s alleged role involved transferring funds through Hawala channels from Saudi Arabia to Muzaffarnagar, UP, in 2017. These funds were reportedly intended for recr...

Welcoming the Supreme Court verdict on bulldozer actions, Amnesty International said on Wednesday that the landmark judgment must serve as a "turning point" in the "hate campaigns" against Muslims. In a statement, the international non-governmental organisation focused on human rights said the verdict should put an end to the "climate of impunity" around the "cruel and inhuman practice of punishing people by unlawfully demolishing their homes and properties". "This landmark judgment by the Supreme Court of India should put an end to the climate of impunity around the cruel and inhuman practice of punishing people by unlawfully demolishing their homes and properties," Agnes Callamard, secretary general of Amnesty International, said. "We hope this judgment will mark a turning point t...