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Newsbytes
Sep 6, 2026, 03:57 AM
JMM Leader and State Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu Dies at 56

JMM Leader and State Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu Dies at 56

Sudivya Kumar Sonu, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and state minister for Higher and Technical Education and Urban Development, died on Sunday. He was 56.Sonu suffered a cardiac arrest at around 4:00am after being admitted to a private hospital late Saturday night.The JMM expressed its shock and grief over his untimely demise, calling it an "irreparable loss" for both the party and the state.
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Indian Express
Sep 6, 2026, 03:34 AM
Delhi's Political Mood Shifts: Fear Gone, Hope Renewed

Delhi's Political Mood Shifts: Fear Gone, Hope Renewed

There is a new political mood in Delhi. It is complex and hard to define but I shall give it my best shot. In this past week of grey skies and muggy, rainy days, I have wandered about talking to friends who have been in politics for long enough to have reliable opinions. Some are close friends to whom I turn when I am not sure whether I am reading the mood right or not. I went to meet them and said that I detected that something fundamental had changed in recent weeks. They agreed and said that the most crucial thing that had changed was that people seemed no longer scared. Here I need to give you some context. I have never denied that when Narendra Modi first became prime minister, I was one of his most devoted devotees. But allow me to tell you why. My childhood and most of my growing years were spent in that ‘socialist’ India that was defined by shortages of everything from sugar and spice to bread and milk. I remember queues at ration shops of people waiting for sugar. It always disappeared just before festivals like Janmashtami and Diwali. As for things like cooking gas or a telephone, you needed political connections to get these. Modi arrived on the national political stage saying he believed in free markets and that it was ‘not the business of government to do business.’ Words that were music to my ears since it is my considered opinion that India would have been a rich country had our economic policymakers not been ‘socialist’. In the name of socialism, they built a huge, unwieldy, mostly unprofitable public sector instead of building schools and hospitals. When Modi took the same economic road, I was disappointed. What disappointed me more was that he became a prime minister of the strongman kind and instilled fear into the polluted air we breathed. Almost the first victim of his strongman policies was the media. When people speak contemptuously of the ‘Godi Media’, they need to understand that it has been dangerous to displease the government. Delhi which has a tradition of people speaking about politics raucously in restaurants and cafes became, till just the other day, a city in which people looked nervously around before saying anything critical of government policies in a public place. The Cockroach Janta Party may achieve nothing in the future, but it has already achieved a great deal by taking fear out of the Delhi air and kicking it into the dustbin. This has encouraged others to do the same. Last week two Muslim women journalists who were badly treated by the Delhi Police refused to accept this lying down and made videos of their injuries to put on social media. When a Hindutva thug came forward to boast on camera that he was responsible for causing serious head injuries to a Jantar Mantar protester’s father, he was quickly forced to backtrack. He had boasted that it was his connection to important BJP leaders that acted as his shield and kept him from being arrested. Then he quickly retracted this statement and made it more ambiguous. The cockroaches were by then back in protest mode marching to Parliament Street police station to force the Delhi Police to do its job and charge this Hindutva thug with attempted murder. These may seem like small things. They are not. From the time that Modi became prime minister for a second term he has consciously cultivated the image of a strongman who tolerates neither dissent nor disagreement. Elderly Maoists ended up in jail for being ‘urban Naxals’. Some were treated so badly that they died. The message went home swiftly to future dissidents and most of them either retired into the shadows or learned to watch what they said. In Bollywood those who made films that seemed not to be patriotic enough also retired into the shadows. The fear that spread was not imaginary. It was backed up by the weaponisation of state agencies. The prime minister on his foreign travels assures democratic leaders and his devotees in the diaspora that India is the ‘mother of democracy’ and so democratic practices came naturally to Indians. International democracy watchdogs were not convinced. Freedom House moved India from ‘free’ to ‘partly free’ five years ago and that is where we remain. Other watchdogs like Sweden’s V-Dem put India among ten countries in which liberal democracy has declined fastest in the past decade. For someone like me who has seen Delhi change because of this diminishment of liberal democracy it has been depressing to see the city change. This is why it cheered me up enormously to discover last week from my conversations with old political friends that they agreed that something vital has begun to change. The Prime Minister himself has changed his mode of public discourse. When he first changed his platform to Instagram, he posted a reel in which he ‘forgave’ the young women who he said had insulted him and his late mother from Jantar Mantar. He appeared soon to notice that this approach was not working. His recent reels have taken a more conciliatory tone. Does this mean that he has decided to ditch being a strongman and act more like an elected leader, a humble servant of the people? Perhaps not. But something does seem to have changed.
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Indian Express
Sep 6, 2026, 02:34 AM
Modi Targets Opposition in SRCC Centenary Celebrations

Modi Targets Opposition in SRCC Centenary Celebrations

Addressing the centenary celebrations of the Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) here on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted the Opposition and drew a comparison between the present day and the situation the country found itself in back in 2013, when he had made a speech at the institute. That 2013 speech was one of Modi’s first big addresses to the youth outside Gujarat. He was the Gujarat CM and the BJP’s prospective prime ministerial candidate at the time. Modi asked the youth to go to the internet to see what the condition was in 2013. “A gang these days will cut this into small pieces”, he said, adding that he was focusing on what the media reported in those days. The killing of Indian soldiers at the LoC, the downgrading of the GDP numbers by the World Bank, and a helicopter scam were in the news at that time. “These things tell us about the situation of the country at that time. Growth was down on the ground and inflation was sky high. The world talked about policy paralysis in India and counted it among the ‘fragile five’ economies, but now views it as the fastest-growing major economy,” the PM said. “The 7.8% growth has enthused the country. This comes at a time when a war is on in West Asia. This shows India’s capability. But those known for pushing India into the fragile five cannot digest these figures,” Modi said, referring to the recent controversy over the GDP numbers released by the government. Modi recalled that in his 2013 speech at the college, people expected he would attack the then Congress-led Central government at the time, but added that despite being in the Opposition and being the government’s critic, he did not use this stage to attack it. Modi said he offered a vision and spoke with conviction here. Modi said that on that day, he had said a “half-filled glass of water can be viewed in three ways: some see it as half full, some as half empty, and some full to the brim with water and air”. “India is growing and providing new avenues for employment,” Modi said, adding that for the “naysayers, the glass had been half empty since 2013”, and would stay so. “I had talked about pro-people good governance here in 2013. Those in power earlier woke up only during crises. I have changed this approach and proved it since 2014,” he said. At the outset, the PM recalled that SRCC’s journey began in Delhi’s Daryaganj area and that small place had now become a “huge “. “For over 100 years, Shri Ram College of Commerce has given generations of students the opportunity to learn, grow, and make a difference,” Modi said. “In your language, the alumni from here are OG. They have spread the name of SRCC across the world,” he said, using the term associated with Gen Z. The PM’s visit to SRCC comes amid the BJP’s ongoing outreach to the young generation. Thirteen years earlier, the premier institution was the venue of He addressed a packed auditorium, with an enthralled audience of students, though there were stray protests outside the college gate. In the speech back then, Modi said the youth should not be seen as new-age voters alone but as “new-age power” and that Gujarat under him had given one-third focus to each of the agriculture, industry and services sectors so that a crisis in any one in a year would not deeply impact the state. Modi told the audience early in his speech, after sipping half a glass of water in front of him, that the optimists would think that the glass is half full and the pessimists that it was half empty. He added that he belonged to a third kind: he saw it as full to the brim, half with water and half with air. Modi said he wasn’t a teacher but was addressing a college, adding that the country should export teachers to the world who could capture the minds of a generation in other countries. The PM’s 2013 speech largely steered clear of political controversies at a time when the serving UPA government was facing stiff anti-incumbency, and spoke a language of hope for the future of the country. He suggested that India’s time had arrived and it needed to make use of the opportunity. Modi said that while it was said that the world was looking at India as it was a big market to “dump” its goods in, the country should excel as a producer so that it could decide where in the world to sell its produce.
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NorthEast Now
Sep 6, 2026, 01:55 AM
Ladakh Activist Warns of Large-Scale Agitation If Demands Not Met After Talks

Ladakh Activist Warns of Large-Scale Agitation If Demands Not Met After Talks

: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has warned of a “very large-scale agitation” if the Centre fails to make substantial progress on the region’s long-pending demands after the scheduled talks on September 9. Wangchuk said the Leh Apex Body (LAB) could intensify its campaign if the Union government does not take concrete steps to address issues raised by Ladakh’s representatives. A LAB sub-committee is scheduled to meet officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in New Delhi on September 9. He cautioned that what he described as “stepmotherly treatment” of Ladakh and communities living along the region’s borders could prompt the LAB to launch a major agitation after the meeting. Meanwhile, the proposed padyatra from Kargil to Leh, which was scheduled to begin on September 10, has been postponed in view of the upcoming talks with the Centre. Wangchuk said the march could be revived if the September 9 discussions fail to deliver a satisfactory outcome. He also urged people to extend greater support to Ladakh, particularly on issues concerning its environment and border communities. The LAB has designated September as “Martyrs’ Month” to remember those who were killed, injured or jailed during last year’s protests. Four civilians were killed in Leh on September 24 last year in what was reported as police firing. Wangchuk was also detained under the National Security Act during the agitation and was released in March after spending around six months in custody. He had emerged as one of the prominent faces of the protests after undertaking a hunger strike that lasted more than 20 days. Ahead of the September 9 meeting, Wangchuk said the LAB expects the Centre to arrive with a detailed draft outlining the proposed Ladakh Assembly and specifying the powers it would exercise. The LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have been leading the movement for greater political and constitutional safeguards since Ladakh became a Union Territory in August 2019. Their key demands include statehood for Ladakh, constitutional safeguards under Article 371, withdrawal of cases related to last year’s violence, compensation for victims and the publication of the inquiry commission’s report. The September 9 meeting is therefore being viewed as a crucial point in the ongoing negotiations between Ladakh’s representatives and the Centre, with Wangchuk warning of renewed mobilisation if the talks fail to produce tangible results.
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Amar Ujala
Sep 6, 2026, 01:24 AM
Jharkhand Leader Sudivya Kumar Sonu Dies Suddenly at 59

Jharkhand Leader Sudivya Kumar Sonu Dies Suddenly at 59

Sudivya Kumar Sonu, elected MLA from Giridih, also held important portfolios like Urban Development, Tourism, Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs. According to a PTI report, he passed away on Sunday after a sudden illness. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha family is shocked and saddened by the untimely demise of Sudivya Kumar, a dedicated JMM colleague and minister in the Jharkhand government. His demise is a big blow to the party, the government and the state. Ad Sudivya Kumar Sonu played an active role with the JMM and strengthened the party organisation in Giridih. He gradually joined the party's prominent local leaders. His identity was not limited to electoral politics, but he remained active at the organisational level. Later, the party made him its candidate from the Giridih assembly constituency. In the 2019 Jharkhand assembly elections, Sudivya Kumar Sonu contested from the Giridih seat and won the 2024 election on a JMM ticket.
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Dainik Jagran
Sep 6, 2026, 01:17 AM
Jharkhand Cabinet Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu Dies of Heart Attack

Jharkhand Cabinet Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu Dies of Heart Attack

Late on Saturday night in Jharkhand, Sudivya Kumar Sonu, a cabinet minister in the government of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and a veteran leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), died of a heart attack. He was reportedly at his residence in Giridih when his health deteriorated. He was rushed to the local Mercy Hospital in Giridih, where he could not be saved despite the best efforts of doctors. Minister Sudivya's condition had become very critical, he could not be taken to Ranchi for better treatment. Officials of the Giridih administration and supporters of the minister rushed to the hospital as soon as the news of the incident was received. The news of the minister's death sent shockwaves among JMM workers and supporters. Sudivya Kumar Sonu was currently an MLA from Giridih assembly constituency. He won the Giridih Sadar seat for the first time in 2019. He won the 2024 assembly election for the second time and became a cabinet minister in the Hemant Soren government. He had the portfolio of Art, Tourism, Youth Affairs, Sports, Municipal Education and Technical Development in his home state.
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Amar Ujala
Sep 6, 2026, 01:12 AM
Dr. Dinesh Sharma Appointed Lieutenant Governor of Andaman Nicobar

Dr. Dinesh Sharma Appointed Lieutenant Governor of Andaman Nicobar

Since the time of his active politics, Dr. Dinesh Sharma has been holding one post or the other. Currently, he is a Rajya Sabha member and his tenure is going to complete in November. Even before that, he has been appointed Lieutenant Governor. Dr. Sharma, the former Deputy Chief Minister of UP, has also been the Mayor of Lucknow. Ever since the order of his appointment to the post of Lieutenant Governor was issued on Saturday, his residence was flooded with congratulatory messages. The phone rang late into the night. While talking on one phone, the other phone went to the waiting. On getting the new responsibility, Dr. Dinesh Sharma said that the central government has given him a big responsibility. The decision that the leadership has taken will be followed with full devotion. He said that Andaman Nicobar is a very important region for the country. It is also of special importance from the point of view of tourism and there is a large number of tourists from the country and abroad. In such a situation, speciality and sensitivity will have to be maintained while working there. He said that his work will be implemented by strengthening the decision-making system and coordination with the central government.
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Indian Express
Sep 6, 2026, 12:36 AM
Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 8: Mohanlal Returns as Host, Controversial Contestants Rumored

Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 8: Mohanlal Returns as Host, Controversial Contestants Rumored

Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 8 Contestants Name List: Bigg Boss Malayalam, one of the most beloved reality television programmes, is all set for a new edition, with superstar Mohanlal returning as the host for the eighth time in a row. Ten months after the last season ended , Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 8 is set for its grand launch on Sunday evening, September 6, when Mohanlal will officially unveil the contestants’ names. However, rumours are already circulating on social media platforms, speculating on who will enter the house as contestants this time. Meanwhile, a new report has emerged revealing the names of several celebrities who are likely to be part of Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 8. According to the Times of India , two controversial figures are likely to enter the house this time. The first is radio jockey-turned-playback singer Suchitra, infamous for the #Suchileaks social media campaign and her unfiltered comments on Tamil cinema celebrities. She also participated in Bigg Boss Tamil Season 4, when Kamal Haasan was the host. Controversial right-wing political commentator Rahul Easwar is also speculated to enter the house. Rahul was a contestant on Malayalee House — an adaptation of the original Big Brother — which predates Bigg Boss Malayalam. Other rumoured contestants include singer-composer Sreenath Sivasankaran, social media personality and activist Sreelakshmi Arackal, and content creators Vighnesh Venu alias Wikky Thug and Sanoom Lepcha. Unlike previous seasons, the programme had a pre-show, Bigg Boss Agnipareeksha, this time to select commoners for the main show. This format was inspired by the Telugu version of the reality show’s spin-off of the same name. While show alumna Reneesha Rahiman hosted Agnipareeksha, former contestants Ranjini Haridas , Riyas Salim, and Akhil Marar served as judges. The opening ceremony of Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 8 begins at 7 pm on Sunday, September 6. Along with Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 8, the Salman Khan-hosted Bigg Boss Hindi Season 20, Vijay Sethupathi’s Bigg Boss Tamil Season 10, Sudeepa’s Bigg Boss Kannada Season 13, and Nagarjuna’s Bigg Boss Telugu Season 10 will also premiere on Sunday.
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Dainik Jagran
Sep 6, 2026, 12:11 AM
Pakistan's Punjab Province Faces More Security Threats from Neighboring Provinces than India and Afghanistan

Pakistan's Punjab Province Faces More Security Threats from Neighboring Provinces than India and Afghanistan

Maryam Nawaz, the chief minister of Pakistan's Punjab province, admitted on Saturday that Punjab faces more security threats from its neighbouring provinces than from its neighbours (India, Afghanistan). Terrorist activities have increased in Pakistan over the past few years, especially in the Punjab-adjacent provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Referring to the neighbouring province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at an event in Lahore, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said, "Terrorism in Punjab is penetrating through the borders of neighbouring provinces. Sadly, Punjab, with a population of 130 million, is less threatened by neighbouring countries and more by neighbouring states. Terrorism comes to Punjab from there. Thank God Punjab is safe. The threats we face are because of our neighbouring provinces." The leader of the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which leads the provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, described Asad's remarks as "insulting."
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Amar Ujala
Sep 5, 2026, 11:15 PM
US Envoys to Visit Kiev as Efforts to End Russo-Ukrainian War Slow

US Envoys to Visit Kiev as Efforts to End Russo-Ukrainian War Slow

Washington's efforts to end the Russo-Ukrainian War have slowed in the past six months, with the United States focusing on the Iran war. US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and US envoy Steve Witkoff's last known visit to Moscow was in January, during which they met and held talks with Putin at the Kremlin. Ukrainian officials said the two US envoys would visit the Ukrainian capital Kiev for the first time on Sunday to advance the peace process. At the start of the meeting in Moscow, Putin asked Kushner and Witkoff to convey their best wishes and gratitude to US President Donald Trump. He described the current situation in Ukraine as "not easy." Russia launched a full-scale military attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russia's state news agency TASS, "Russian President Putin has ordered that no US ambassador be welcomed at the Moscow airport until three days after the start of the air strike," according to a report by the Russian embassy.
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Amar Ujala
Sep 5, 2026, 10:59 PM
Amit Shah Arrives in Goa for Three-Day Visit

Amit Shah Arrives in Goa for Three-Day Visit

Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Goa on a three-day visit. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant received him. On 6 September, Shah will chair a Goa-related meeting of the Ministry of Home Affairs. He will also hold a press conference on narcotics. Shah will inaugurate the BJP's newly constructed state office, Atal Bhawan. He will also chair a meeting of the party's state core committee. On 7 September, he will attend the Western Zonal Council meeting. Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee will also attend the Goa Police President's Colours Award ceremony at the Indoor Stadium, Talegaon.
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Aaj Tak
Sep 5, 2026, 10:55 PM
Punjab Congress Sees Major Reshuffle Ahead of Assembly Elections

Punjab Congress Sees Major Reshuffle Ahead of Assembly Elections

A major reshuffle has taken place in the Punjab Congress ahead of the assembly elections. The party high command has appointed Sachin Pilot as the in-charge of Punjab, replacing Bhupesh Baghel. The change assumes significance as the Punjab Congress has been grappling with infighting for the past few months. The immediate challenge before Sachin Pilot will be to overcome the ongoing factionalism in the state Congress ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. The development comes just months ahead of the Punjab assembly elections, which are expected to be held early next year. In fact, the Congress in Punjab is largely grappling with its own infighting and infighting. The infighting in the Punjab Congress intensified after the party leadership on July 1 decided to retain Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as the state Congress president and appoint former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi as the chairman of the party's campaign committee. The faction led by Channi opposed the decision to retain Warring as the Punjab Congress president. Channi's supporters demanded that he be removed from the post. Despite the upcoming assembly elections, no anti-Bhupesh Channi be declared the chief ministerial face of the Congress in Punjab.
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Amar Ujala
Sep 5, 2026, 10:24 PM
Huckabee Condemns Settler Violence in West Bank as 'Terrorist Acts'

Huckabee Condemns Settler Violence in West Bank as 'Terrorist Acts'

During a visit to the village of Turmus Ayya, Huckabee said, "If an intruder comes and puts up their flag and takes over land or property that does not belong to them, if they burn a car, set fire to a mosque, break into someone's house, or write offensive things on the walls, it is a criminal act. But it is not limited to crime. It is an act of terror." Turmus Ayya village has been the subject of multiple reports of attacks by Israeli settlers over the past year. According to the United Nations Office of Humanitarian Affairs, there has also been an uptick in settler violence in the West Bank during the war in Gaza that began after the Hamas-led invasion of southern Israel on 7 October 2023. Huckabee used the term "terrorist homes" during a West Bank bus strike last month, following weeks of unrest in the West Bank town of Qusra.
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Aaj Tak
Sep 5, 2026, 10:23 PM
BJP Leader Dr. Dinesh Sharma Appointed as New Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

BJP Leader Dr. Dinesh Sharma Appointed as New Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Former Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and senior BJP leader Dr. Dinesh Sharma has been appointed as the new Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. According to an order issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan late on Saturday night, his appointment will take effect from the date on which he takes charge of the post of Lieutenant Governor. 62-year-old Dinesh Sharma is currently a Rajya Sabha MP and his term was to end in November 2026. In such a situation, it is considered politically important to give him the responsibility of Lieutenant Governor before the completion of the term of Rajya Sabha. Dinesh Sharma has been active in Uttar Pradesh politics for a long time. He was the Deputy Chief Minister in the first government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath between 2017 and 2022. During this time he had the responsibility of important departments like secondary education, higher education, science and technology and IT and electronics. Dinesh Sharma was a professor of commerce in Lucknow University before coming to politics. He has also been the mayor of Lucknow twice. After becoming the mayor for the first time in 2008, he took this post twice. In 2014, he was made the national vice-president of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. He has also been made the national vice-president of the BJP since 2023.
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The Moscow Times
Sep 5, 2026, 09:57 PM
KPCC to Probe Scuffle Between MLA Ramya Haridas and Congress Leaders

KPCC to Probe Scuffle Between MLA Ramya Haridas and Congress Leaders

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a face-saving move to end the internal dispute, the KPCC will launch an inquiry into the scuffle between Chirayinkeezhu MLA Ramya Haridas and Congress leaders that took place in the constituency on Friday night. The issue, which pits Youth Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram district panchayat member Sajith Muttappalam and another party worker Sajjad against the MLA, will be probed by a three-member panel. KPCC president Sunny Joseph on Saturday announced that senior leader M M Hassan will lead the investigation. KPCC general secretary (organisation) Neyyattinkara Sanal and Ramani P Nair will also be part of the team. Meanwhile, the Chirayinkeezhu Police has taken a case on the complaint given by Ramya, with charges including the assault on women and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Notably, no case has been registered on the counter complaints by Thiruvananthapuram district panchayat member Sajith Muttappalam and party worker Sajjad. “We have received their complaints, but they sought time to appear for recording their statements. Once it is done, we will proceed with the same,” Chirayinkeezhu SHO said. The incident took place on Friday evening, when Sajjad posted a message in a Congress WhatsApp group against Palayam Pramod, who claims to be Ramya’s staff, attending a Block Panchayat Committee meeting, and called him an ‘MLA benami’. The message, which alleges that the over-involvement by Pradeep led to Ramya’s defeat in Alathur Lok Sabha constituency in 2024, also claims that he has received huge amounts of money from contractors. Hours after the message was sent to the WhatsApp group, the MLA, along with Palayam Pradeep and others, met Sajjad at Chirayinkeezhu. According to Sajith, they entered Sajjad’s house at around 9.45 pm. Pradeep asked Sajjad’s daughter to read out the message he sent to the WhatsApp group.
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The Moscow Times
Sep 5, 2026, 09:48 PM
Odisha BJP Reviews Performance, Strategizes for Upcoming Elections

Odisha BJP Reviews Performance, Strategizes for Upcoming Elections

BHUBANESWAR: With the three-tier panchayat and urban local body elections expected anytime after the Census operations, possibly in the last week of March or first week of April 2027, the state BJP on Saturday began a two-day state executive committee meeting here on Saturday. The BJP will review the performance of its two-year-old government and work out a strategy to consolidate its political gains at the grassroots. The meeting, held at the Indoor Stadium in Cuttack, assumes significance as the panchayat elections will be the first major electoral test of the BJP’s popularity after it formed its first government in the state in June 2024. Revenue and Disaster Management minister Suresh Pujari said the meeting will deliberate on a 10-point agenda, including the political situation in the state, organisational issues and the performance of welfare and development programmes of both the Centre and the state government. “We will discuss and finalise our strategy for the elections in the two-day meeting,” Pujari said. He said the party will review the implementation and impact of various programmes of the central and state governments, identify shortcomings and decide on corrective measures. The meeting will pass two separate resolutions on the successful completion of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at Centre and its achievements and completion of two years of the state government.
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The Moscow Times
Sep 5, 2026, 09:23 PM
Odisha's Medieval History: Queens Played Crucial Role in Diplomatic Relations

Odisha's Medieval History: Queens Played Crucial Role in Diplomatic Relations

BHUBANESWAR: The most fascinating part of Odisha’s medieval history is that the queens almost served as an index of the diplomatic connections the state had, said author and historian Anirudh Kanisetti at the 14th Odisha Literary Festival on Saturday. In a conversation with senior journalist and session moderator Kaveree Bamzai on ‘Odisha and the Medieval World: A Snapshot’, Kanisetti said queens like Prithvi Mahadevi were instrumental in diplomatic relations and political stability. They held real power, often acting as patrons of art and religion, and maintained dynastic continuity. He described Ratnagiri as one of the most important early sites of tantric development in Odisha. “Patronised by several medieval dynasties, including the Bhaumakaras, the Buddhist monastry reflects Odisha’s importance in the development of religious ideas,” said the award-winning author. Speaking about Lingaraj temple, the historian pointed out that its architectural form neither fitted into the North Indian nor the South Indian model. “The temple complex is an evidence of Odisha’s position as a crossroads of ideas between different parts of the sub-continent,” he said. Kanisetti further added, “In medieval India, the mark of a great conqueror, which is to say the mark of a great politician, is to build a great temple.” He cited the example of the Sun Temple at Konark. Referring to a sculpture of a war horse on the premises of the Sun Temple, Kanisetti said it symbolised victory of the Eastern Ganga ruler Narasimhadeva I over the Bengal Sultanate.
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Aaj Tak
Sep 5, 2026, 09:10 PM
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy Challenges KCR, Vows Congress Will Rule for Next 10 Years

Telangana CM Revanth Reddy Challenges KCR, Vows Congress Will Rule for Next 10 Years

A political war of words is going on in Telangana politics these days. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy challenged former CM K. Chandrashekhar and said that his party (Congress) will remain in power for the next 10 years. In Nalgonda, he said that we will win 100 seats in the upcoming elections and prove it. In a scathing attack on Chandrashekhar Rao, CM Reddy said, "Congress workers will dig your grave and bury you in this land. This is our challenge. Let's see in the upcoming elections." On Congress's preparation, Revanth Reddy said, "If Indira increases the number of seats, we will win 117 seats. If the number of seats remains the same, we will win 90 seats. Today, I am directly challenging KCR and BRS leaders on behalf of Congress workers with courage and determination." He said, "Telugu Desam Party was in power for two terms from 1994 to 2004. Congress was in power from 2014 to 2024. We will rule the state for two terms and BRS for two terms."
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The Moscow Times
Sep 5, 2026, 08:56 PM
BJP Eyes Government in Tamil Nadu by 2031, Focuses on Organizational Building

BJP Eyes Government in Tamil Nadu by 2031, Focuses on Organizational Building

As BJP attempts to increase its presence in Tamil Nadu after the Assembly election, the party’s newly appointed national secretary from TN, M Venkatesan, says it remains focused on building its organisation and is confident of forming the government in the state by 2031. In an interview with Subashini Vijayakumar, he discusses the party’s roadmap and prospects in Tamil Nadu. Edited excerpts: We believe Tamil Nadu needs a BJP government for economic development and to prevent divisive politics. Our state president has charted a path towards this. To mark 25 years of the Modi government, from September 17 to October 17, we will take the achievements of the Modi government to the people and undertake service activities such as planting trees and providing water facilities in villages that lack them. The state and national leadership will decide on the alliance. Our focus now is to prepare all our cadre to contest and strengthen the party at the grassroots through service activities and by taking our principles to the people. BJP will oppose parties that are against the nation. We have seen how bad DMK’s governance has been over the last five years. We will also oppose the TVK government whenever it takes anti-people decisions or fails to fulfil its promises.
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The Moscow Times
Sep 5, 2026, 08:53 PM
Kashmir's Past and History: A Restoration with Abrogation of Article 370, Says Author

Kashmir's Past and History: A Restoration with Abrogation of Article 370, Says Author

BHUBANESWAR: Common Kashmiris never sought independence from India, and the abrogation of Article 370 represents a restoration of the region’s past and a reassertion of its history, said author and ICHR chairperson Prof Raghuvendra Tanwar at the Odisha Literary Festival (OLF) 2026 on Saturday. Speaking at a session titled ‘Writing on Kashmir: Contested Past, Conflicted Present’, moderated by senior journalist Kaveree Bamzai, Tanwar said Kashmir’s past has never been contested, but several false narratives have been built around the region. “Show me one line where the common Kashmiri is talking about independence. On the contrary, you have countless reports of people saying Pakistan is a sinking state and there is no question of Kashmir going that side,” Tanwar said. Tanwar blamed Sheikh Abdullah for what he described as a contradictory position, alleging that he was “one man in the Valley and another man outside the Valley.” “There is no contemporary evidence of anyone asking for special status. If you look at the debates in the Constituent Assembly following the introduction of Article 370, it is amazing. How did this come into being? One man was responsible. And, of course, the rest is history,” Tanwar said. He said the revocation of Article 370 is, in fact, a restoration of Kashmir’s past and a reassertion of its history. “It may be contentious and people can have a different view. But I look at it like this.”
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The Moscow Times
Sep 5, 2026, 08:47 PM
Indian Politician Disqualified from Contesting Elections for Three Years over Unreported Expenses

Indian Politician Disqualified from Contesting Elections for Three Years over Unreported Expenses

CHENNAI: Former Congress MLA of Velachery constituency, JMH Aassan Maulaana, has been disqualified from contesting elections for three years by the Election Commission of India for failing to lodge true and correct account of his election expenses during the 2021 Assembly poll. The disqualification order, passed on August 19 under Section 10A of the Representation of the People Act (1951), bars him from being chosen as, or being, a member of Parliament or a state legislature for three years. Maulaana currently does not have any Assembly seat to lose as he completed his 2021-26 term and lost from Velachery in the 2026 election. According to the ECI order, Maulaana had declared election expenditure of Rs 17,03,548. However, the Chennai District Election Officer (DEO) found that Rs 32,05,915 spent on newspaper advertisements promoting his candidature had not been included in the expenses  Adding the amount would take his expenditure to Rs 49,09,463, well above the Rs 30.8-lakh ceiling applicable to an Assembly candidate at the time. The advertisements, published in 10 newspapers during the 2021 campaign, carried Maulaana’s name, photograph and the Congress hand symbol and appealed to voters to support him in Velachery, the ECI found.
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Amar Ujala
Sep 5, 2026, 08:45 PM
Medical Professionals Elect New Leaders in Narauli

Medical Professionals Elect New Leaders in Narauli

Dr. Azfar Kamal got 24 votes out of total 49 votes cast in the election. Dr. Manmohan Sharma got 23 votes for the post of President. Dr. Vishwas Agarwal, Medical Superintendent, CHC Narauli won two posts of Vice President with 30 votes. Dr. Manoj Kumar Singh, Medical Officer, Narauli got 29 votes for the post of Second Vice President. Dr. Manoj Kumar, Medical Superintendent, Panwasa CHC got 28 votes for the post of Advertisement Secretary. He defeated Dr. Digvijay Singh Chauhan by nine votes. Dr. Manish Arora, Medical Superintendent, CHC Sambhal got 25 votes for the post of Financial Secretary. He defeated Dr. Khilendra Saxena by three votes. Dr. Viras, Medical Superintendent, CHC Junawai was elected unopposed for the post of Member Central Executive. Dr. Raj Kishore, Medical Superintendent, CHC Gunnaur got equal number of votes for the second post of Vice President. Dr. Manoj Kumar Singh, Medical Superintendent, CHC Gunnaur, and Dr. ID Kumar Singh, Medical Superintendent, CHC Gunnaur, got equal number of votes for the post of Vice President.
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Dainik Jagran
Sep 5, 2026, 08:30 PM
Indian Government Appoints Eight New Chief Justices to High Courts

Indian Government Appoints Eight New Chief Justices to High Courts

The central government on Saturday appointed eight chief justices to different high courts in the country. The appointments come days after the Supreme Court Collegium recommended them. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, in a post on'X ', said sitting Delhi High Court judge Valluri Kameswar Rao has been appointed chief justice of Patna High Court. Mumbai High Court judge Ravindra V. Ghuge will be chief justice of Calcutta High Court. Justice Valluri Kameswar Rao (Delhi High Court) - Patna High Court chief justice Ravindra V. Ghuge (Bombay High Court) - Calcutta High Court chief justice Sanjay Kumar Agarwal (Chhattisgarh High Court) - Rajasthan High Court chief justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi (Allahabad High Court) - Bombay High Court chief justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra (Punjab and Haryana High Court) - Punjab and Haryana High Court chief justice Krishna Ram Mohapatra (Odisha High Court) - Chhattisgarh High Court chief justice Alpesh Yeshwant Kogje (Gujarat High Court) - Rajasthan High Court chief justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati (Madhya Pradesh High Court) - Ladakh High Court chief justice.
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Amar Ujala
Sep 5, 2026, 08:27 PM
Samarth Admissions Concludes Process, Filling Most Seats Except for Select Subjects

Samarth Admissions Concludes Process, Filling Most Seats Except for Select Subjects

The admission process, which lasted from July 17 to August 31, saw the release of six merit lists. Most of these seats have been filled. Seats are still vacant in some subjects. Admission in-charge Prof. Jeevan Singh Gadhia and Admissions Assistant Shyam Mewari said that all the seats in Political Science, History, Sociology and Commerce have been filled. There will be no new admissions in these subjects now while there are vacancies in Geography, Pedagogy, Psychology, Music, Home Science, Sanskrit and Economics. Principal Prof. NS Bankoti said that merit lists will be released for the remaining vacancies in Arts and Science on the basis of fresh registrations done from September 2 to September 5 at Samarth Admissions. Admissions will be given in the college for one day on September 9. He said that only those students will be considered in the merit list who have selected the subjects with vacancies.
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Amar Ujala
Sep 5, 2026, 08:22 PM
Women Advocates Make Gains in Leadership Roles at Bar Association

Women Advocates Make Gains in Leadership Roles at Bar Association

For the first time, a woman advocate, Rekha Saini, has been given the responsibility of Assistant Returning Officer (ARO). This is being seen as a sign of increasing participation at the organisational level for women advocates. For the last two years, two women advocates have been included in the executive of the Bar Association as executive members. This is giving women a say in the decision-making process of the Association. Strong in advertising, women advocates are still so present in the leadership that they can influence the electoral arithmetic in favour of any candidate. But the claim of women to the posts of principal, vice-principal and other key positions has still been limited. In particular, no woman advocate has reached the post of principal till date. Many women advocates say that the time has come that instead of limited voting, women are coming forward to participate in the leadership of the Bar Association as executive members. Women advocates are also being encouraged to participate in the elections.
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Amar Ujala
Sep 5, 2026, 08:09 PM
SP President Criticizes Party Slogan, Warns Officials on Scheme Implementation

SP President Criticizes Party Slogan, Warns Officials on Scheme Implementation

Taking a swipe at the PDA slogan, the SP president termed the SP's backward, Dalit and minority (PDA) slogan as politically misleading. He said the SP was still silent on issues like categorisation of OBC reservation and implementation of the Rohini Commission report. Rajbhar claimed that like in 2017 and 2022, the SP will face defeat in the 2027 assembly elections. He said some of the party's advisors were misguiding it instead of giving it the right direction. The cabinet minister also warned officials about the functioning of his department. He said it would not be tolerated if officers of the level of principal secretary or director were negligent or negligent in the implementation of government schemes. Rajbhar said that a written complaint has been made to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath against negligent officials so that 100 per cent benefits of the schemes reach the eligible people and the public does not suffer.
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Amar Ujala
Sep 5, 2026, 07:44 PM
Ramesh Sharma Elected President, Pawan Sharma Vice-President in Gyaragram Panchayat Election

Ramesh Sharma Elected President, Pawan Sharma Vice-President in Gyaragram Panchayat Election

In this, Ramesh Sharma from Gyaragram ward was elected president and Pawan Sharma from Dhabdiana ward was elected vice-president. Both of them got 12-12 votes. The election process could not be started after 12 noon instead of 11 am as the members of the panchayat committee of 23 wards did not arrive on time. The results were announced at 1: 50 am. The political activities regarding the election were in full swing since morning. Ramesh Sharma elected from Gyaragram ward and Rajesh Manga from Morsoo ward were facing each other for the post of president. In the advertisement, Ramesh Sharma was supported by the former MLA Baldev Sharma faction, while Rajesh Manga was in the fray from the camp supported by MLA Indradutt Lakhanpal. In the voting, Ramesh Sharma won the post of president by securing 12 votes. Congress did not field any elected panchayat member candidate for the post of president, but the party was in a minority in the post of vice-president. Congress supported Pawan Sharma of Dhabdiana ward was defeated by the BJP despite winning 12 votes and winning the post of vice-president.
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Amar Ujala
Sep 5, 2026, 07:31 PM
Government Extends Deadline for Inclusion in BPL Category

Government Extends Deadline for Inclusion in BPL Category

BDO Ramanveer apprised the locals present in the programme about the government schemes. Also, he informed that the criteria for inclusion in the BPL category have been set by the government. He said that the government has now extended the last date for inclusion in the BPL till 20th September. He said that eligible families will be included in the BPL category as per the criteria set by the government for the 9th and final phase.
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Amar Ujala
Sep 5, 2026, 07:23 PM
Indian MP Imran Masood Condemns Demolition of Historic Mosque

Indian MP Imran Masood Condemns Demolition of Historic Mosque

MP Imran Masood claimed that the concerned mosque dates back to 1911 and even today there are documents related to its ownership. It is alleged that the action was taken despite providing all the information and documents to the administration. According to the MP, 30 days were given in the order. About 22 days were still left. Despite this, the mosque was demolished. Alleged that the legal provisions related to the Waqf were also not taken care of during the action. The advertisement Imran Masood said that Khasra only shows the current status of the land and on the basis of that the ownership cannot be fully proved. It will be fought from the High Court to the Supreme Court. Calling it a black day, he said that if this happens to a religious place of one community today, then the same action can be taken against others in the future. The government has done this with a focus on the 2027 elections. On this occasion, MLC Shahnawaz Khan, former metropolitan president Varun Sharma, district vice-president Rajeev Chandra Singh, Sardar Ninku Hamza, Dr. Anjum Shah, etc.
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Amar Ujala
Sep 5, 2026, 07:22 PM
Jat Dharamshala Kaithal Election Results Announced

Jat Dharamshala Kaithal Election Results Announced

Kaithal. Elections to Jat Dharamshala Kaithal were held in a peaceful and transparent manner. The election results were declared on 5th September under the supervision of Returning Officer Advocate Harbansh. Roshan Goyat Padla was unanimously elected to the post of Pradhan for the third consecutive time in the election process. Suresh Nambardar Budakheda was given the responsibility of Deputy Pradhan. Jaikishan Man Ataila was unanimously elected to the post of Treasurer, Satyadeo Dhariwal Chhout to the post of General Secretary and Mukesh Nambardar Gyong to the post of Secretary. The executive members included Pratap Chahal Guhana, Surjit Sheoran Balwanti, Bharat Singh Bainiwal, Darbara Nain, Mahendra Singh Dhull and Shamsher Singh Fauji. Nominations were held on 25th August, scrutiny of nomination papers was done on 26th and withdrawal of nominations was done on 27th August.
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Amar Ujala
Sep 5, 2026, 07:22 PM
Haryana MLA Supports Local Audit Bill with Conditions

Haryana MLA Supports Local Audit Bill with Conditions

Kaithal: Congress MLA Aditya Surjewala while supporting the Local Audit Bill said that it is necessary to strengthen the audit of local bodies and panchayats but pointed out several shortcomings. He spoke on the last day of the monsoon session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha on two important bills, the Haryana Local Audit Bill, 2026 and the Haryana State Commission for Women (Amendment) Bill, 2026. He said that the technical guidance of the CAG should be made mandatory. The Director of Local Audit should be given real freedom and security. Unlimited personal liability without notice and hearing is wrong. A mere fine of one to five thousand for destruction of records is insufficient. Audit should be compulsory in bodies with a budget of crores of rupees. He also supported the Women's Commission Amendment Bill but raised serious questions. He said that the proposal to increase the number of non-official members from 5 to 7 has been brought because the work of the Commission has increased over the years, especially since the appointment of the Chairperson of the Commission Renu Bhatia (2021) has been done almost single-handedly.
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The Moscow Times
Sep 5, 2026, 07:15 PM
Indian Ex-Army Chief Releases New Book on Military Traditions and Customs

Indian Ex-Army Chief Releases New Book on Military Traditions and Customs

When former army chief General Manoj Naravane penned his memoir, he was obviously not prepared for the controversy it would generate. The book, Four Stars of Destiny, in which he allegedly referred to the 2020 Galwan Valley standoff, was not cleared for release by the Ministry of Defence. The matter snowballed into a major political storm when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi acquired a copy of the book and sought to put the Modi government on the mat in Parliament on its handling of the build-up of Chinese troops on the Ladakh border. Finding himself in the eye of a storm, it was widely expected that the general would be wary of putting pen to paper again. However, the row over his memoir failed to deter the former army chief, who came out with another book after his earlier one created a stir. Titled The Curious and the Classified , this one promises to “unearth military myths and mysteries”, but steers clear of controversy. Contrary to its title, no military secrets are divulged in this book, no classified information shared, and no mention of how battle strategies are drawn up. Instead, The Curious and the Classified provides a peep into the quirky rituals, beliefs and customs of the country’s armed services which have their roots in the India’s military past but continue to shape the everyday life of the men in uniform. The book is a compilation of 25 essays, each one focused on a particular little-known story or a widely accepted tradition, part real-life event, part folklore.
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Amar Ujala
Sep 5, 2026, 07:07 PM
BJP Government's Linking of Martyrdom to Electoral Gains Sparks Outrage

BJP Government's Linking of Martyrdom to Electoral Gains Sparks Outrage

Godiyal said that Ganesh Joshi's statement, We are a political party, we will take electoral advantage of it, we are not saints, exposes the BJP government's thinking towards martyrs and their families. Hanging the memorial for five years and talking about political gains when elections are approaching is an insult to the families of martyrs. The Sainik Welfare Minister should understand the difference between martyrdom and power politics. Sainik Dham is not the property of any political party. It is a symbol of Uttarakhand's military tradition, the martyrdom of brave jawans and the feelings of their families. The Congress state president questioned whether Ganesh Joshi can say this in front of a martyr's widow. He asked if he would be able to say this by looking into the eyes of those innocent children. It is unfortunate to see this dham made of the soil of the martyrs'houses with electoral gains. Uttarakhand is also Veer Bhumi and Military Land along with Devbhoomi. Linking martyrdom with electoral gains is a direct insult to the soldier families. Godiyal questioned the huge increase in military expenditure, raising questions about transparency and cost monitoring in the government department.
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Amar Ujala
Sep 5, 2026, 06:40 PM
Somveer Singh Calls for Community Involvement, Criticizes Government Policies

Somveer Singh Calls for Community Involvement, Criticizes Government Policies

Former MLA Somveer Singh called upon the office bearers and villagers to participate in the Badhra program on 13 September. In the meeting held under the chairmanship of Congress Committee Halqa President Suresh Sheoran and in the presence of District President Sushil, former MLA Somveer Singh said that due to the arbitrary policies of the government, the common man is suffering.
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