India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
Thiruvananthapuram: Defending the incidents of students washing their teachers' feet during 'Gurupooja' ceremonies, Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Sunday said it is a part of Indian culture and tradition. His statement comes amid strong opposition from the state government over such rituals being conducted in schools managed by Bharatiya Vidya Niketan. "It is our culture to offer flowers at the feet of our guru. Some people have objected to it -- I don't understand from which culture they come," the Governor said while speaking at a Balagokulam event in Balaramapuram, Thiruvananthapuram. "In Kasaragod, even the police asked why it was performed. This is our samskara, the culture of our country. If we forget it, we forget ourselves. We will be nowhere in this world," he added. Education Minister V Sivankutty on Saturday said the government has received reports of students washing teachers' feet at Saraswathi Vidyalayam in Bandadka, Kasaragod, and Vidyadhiraja Vidyapeetom Sainik School in Mavelikara, Alappuzha. Both schools are CBSE-affiliated and managed by Bharatiya Vidya Niketan. "Strict measures will be taken to ensure such practices are not repeated in educational institutions," the minister said in a statement on Saturday. "The Department of Public Education has the authority to act against schools under any syllabus if they violate the Right to Education Act or government regulations." He added that the Director of Public Education has been instructed to seek an explanation from the schools concerned. Responding to the controversy, Vidyadhiraja Vidyapeetom Sainik School clarified to Onmanorama earlier that the ceremony was part of their annual Guru Purnima celebrations. "We conduct Gurupooja every year. This time, the celebration was held a day late due to the Bharat Bandh," said Balu, a staff member. "No one is forced to take part. The rituals are performed willingly," he added, alleging that the controversy was politically motivated.
PRAYAGRAJ, India (AP) -- Millions of Hindu devotees, mystics and holy men and women from all across India flocked to the northern city of Prayagraj on Monday to kickstart the Maha Kumbh festival, which is being touted as the world's largest religious gathering. Over about the next six weeks, Hindu pilgrims will gather at the confluence of three sacred rivers -- the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati -- where they will take part in elaborate rituals, hoping to begin a journey to achieve Hindu philosophy's ultimate goal: the release from the cycle of rebirth. Here's what to know abo ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out searches at 15 places in Mumbai and Kochi in connection with the Mithi River desilting scam that caused a wrongful loss of more than Rs 65 crore to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), official sources said. The massive crackdown is underway at the premises across Mumbai and Kochi linked to the accused and suspects as part of an ongoing probe into alleged financial irregularities. According to the sources, the searches are being carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at locat ...Read More >
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 27 (ANI): A female student was allegedly gang-raped inside a law college in Kolkata's Kasba on Wednesday evening. The police have arrested all three accused within 24 hours. The three accused, named as Monojit Mishra (31), Zaib Ahmed (19), and Pramit Mukhopadhyay (20), were former students or staff members of the same law college. Also Read | Student Gang-Raped at South Kolkata Law College: Police Arrest 3 Youths for Sexually Assaulting Young Woman Inside Law College. According to the police, the accused named in the FIR will be produced before the A.C.J. ...Read More >
Puri, Jun 27 (PTI) Lord Jagannath devotees will get another chance to pull the chariots tomorrow as none of them reached their destination on Friday after Balabhadra's Taladwaja chariot got stuck while negotiating a turn, causing delays that prevented the others from arriving at Gundicha Temple, 2.6km away from the 12th-century shrine. "There is no major issue. It is not unusual for chariots to be pulled on the following day. All rituals were conducted on time. There have been no accidents or untoward incidents," Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said. When Lord Balabhadra's chario ...Read More >
Gorakhpur (UP) |President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University in Gorakhpur and attend a series of official events on the second day of her two-day Uttar Pradesh visit on Tuesday, officials said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the occasion, calling it the beginning of a "new era in health and culture" in the state. According to officials, the President will inaugurate the AYUSH University, built at a cost of Rs 268 crore in Pipri, Bhathat, at around 11.30 am. Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will receive her at the ...Read More >
SRINAGAR, JULY 04: Thousands of Shia mourners participated in the 8th Muharram procession in Srinagar on Friday morning, marking the third consecutive year that the traditional religious practice has been revived along its historic route after a 35-year ban. The pre-dawn procession, which began at 5:00 am from Guru Bazar, passed through BudshahKadal and Maulana Azad Road before culminating at Dalgate. This iconic route, blocked off since the early 1990s due to security concerns, was officially reopened in 2023 under the administration of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, a decision welcomed ac ...Read More >
Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], February 7 (ANI): Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan arrived at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj on Friday and said that the 'Sanatana' culture embodies the oneness of being and that all the differences dissolve in it. Speaking to the media here, Arif Khan highlighted the Indian culture of seeing divinity in humanity, asserting that "manav" (humans) are a reflection of "Madhav" (God). Khan also noted that India's heritage, values, and ideals continue to be celebrated at the Mahakumbh, fostering unity among people beyond personal familiarity. "We should always not ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar has written a strongly worded letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, criticising General Education Minister V Sivankutty for walking out of a function held at Raj Bhavan on June 19. The Governor described the incident as a breach of protocol and an insult to the constitutional office. The letter, dated June 26, refers to an awards ceremony for the Bharat Scouts and Guides, where Sivankutty -- who also serves as President of the Association's Kerala chapter -- objected to the presence of a garlanded portrait of Bharat Mata on the stage, ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, June 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Friday asserted that owing to the blessings of Lord Jagannath, the Ratha Yatra was held in Puri without any major incidents or disruptions this year. "No major incidents occurred during this year's Ratha Yatra, which is the biggest blessing of Lord Jagannath on all of us. The devotees may have faced some minor problems but no major incidents or disruptions had taken place," said the law minister. On Friday, barring some minor delays during the Pahandi ritual of the deities, all other the rituals related to the Rath ...Read More >
T'puram/Kozhikode: Education minister V Sivankutty said no one should dictate terms on what should be done in public schools. If anyone has any issues, they should discuss them with the govt. He stated that he would not accept any threat or warning from anyone regarding the Zumba row."There is an elected govt to decide on academic and non-academic matters in govt schools," Sivankutty told reporters in the capital.The govt is ready to have a discussion on the steps taken, but on issues commonly kn ...Read More >
The Kerala Higher Education Minister R. Bindu on Thursday alleged that the Kerala University Vice-chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal had misused his authority by suspending the Registrar K.S. Anil Kumar for his action, cancelling permission for a programme attended by Governor Rajendra Arlekar at the senate hall on June 25. "Anil Kumar can continue in office as only the university syndicate has the right to take action against the registrar," she told reporters. She also claimed that VC had gone beyond his powers in suspending the registrar. The minister said the registrar had not violated any rule ...Read More >
Bhilwara: Communal tensions flared Saturday in Jahazpur town of Bhilwara district after a minor car collision with a vegetable vendor's cart led to violence in which a young man was beaten to death the previous night.A key temple event was postponed Saturday and permissions for weekend Muharram processions revoked after threats from Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal not to allow any such events in this area of the BJP-governed state. Police deployments were stepped up and markets in Jahazpur town were shut Saturday.The trouble began when Sitaram Keer (25) was headed to Jahazpur with ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 5 (PTI) The presence of a Bharat Mata portrait, allegedly associated with RSS shakhas, at a World Environment Day event at the Raj Bhavan on Thursday led to the state government boycotting the programme, prompting Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to assert that there would be no compromise on Bharat Mata. Kerala Agriculture Minister P Prasad, who boycotted the event, said that the state government respects Bharat Mata, but using an image commonly associated with RSS shakhas for an official function at Raj Bhavan is unconstitutional. While the Raj Bhavan went ahead ...Read More >
Haridwar: A woman politician has been arrested for allegedly letting her boyfriend and others repeatedly rape her 13-year-old daughter in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The horrifying crime, which occurred between January and March, was exposed when the minor bravely confided in her father, prompting a police investigation that led to the arrest of the accused. The accused was arrested with her boyfriend and one more. According to police reports, the minor was gang-raped multiple times, often in the presence of her mother. The minor, who had been living with her father following her parents' separat ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapurm, Jun 6 (UNI) In a scathing attack against Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, senior Congress leader and UDF Convenor MM Hassan alleged that Kerala Raj Bhavan has been turned as RSS Bhavan. He also urged Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to inform the President of India about the recent 'Environment Day programme' in which a portrait of Bharat Mata was kept at the venue of the event held at Kerala Raj Bhavan. MM Hassan, former KPCC President, also appreciated Kerala Agriculture Minister P Prasad for not attending the event and rejecting the demand to offer floral tri ...Read More >
Mumbai, June 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana joins names such as Kamal Haasan, Ariana Grande, and Jeremy Strong at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this year. Ayushmann along with names such as Kamal Haasan Naomi Ackie, Gillian Anderson, Branford Marsalis, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Graham, Jodie Comer and Jason Momoa are among 534 individuals who were invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences on June 26. "We are thrilled to invite this esteemed class of artists, technologists, and professionals to join the Academy," said Ac ...Read More >
Pathanamthitta (Kerala), Jun 27 (PTI) Union Minister George Kurian on Friday said that everything was secondary to the idea of Bharat Mata, amid a controversy over displaying a portrait of the nation as a mother figure with a saffron flag at Kerala Raj Bhavan's official functions. Speaking to reporters here, he said that "the Raj Bhavan and those in the government were secondary to Bharat Mata". The Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Minority Affairs also dared the Congress and the Left parties, CPI(M) and CPI, to try and prohibit the slogan -- 'Bharat M ...Read More >
Srinagar- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said foreign countries were told clearly during the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach that in case of a fresh provocation, India would repeat its action. Speaking at a discussion at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Tharoor said Indian delegations which visited foreign countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor managed to convey that India acted with restraint and responsibility. "In other places, we actually were able to get some very high-placed people to say not only that they respected and supported India's right of self- ...Read More >
Ranchi, Jun 27 (PTI) Lord Jagannath's chariot along with goddess Subhadra and Lord Balbhadra are set to roll out on Friday evening on way to their annual nine-day sojourn to Mausi Bari in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi amid tight security. The chariots of the deities will start rolling around 4.30 pm from Jagannath temple in Dhurwa with traditional rituals. Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Chief Minister Hemant Soren extended their wishes on the occasion of Rath Yatra. "Heartfelt greetings to all devotees on the sacred occasion of Rath Yatra. May Lord Jagannath bless this auspicious ...Read More >
Ranchi: Opposition leaders wished the speedy reovery of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren, who is undergoing treatment at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi since June 19. A team of specialists under Dr A K Bhalla, head of Nephrology Department is treating him and has stated his condition to be stable. Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Kalpana Soren, former minister Basant Soren, party's central general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya and many MLAs are present in Delhi. BJP state president and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Babulal Marandi said the news of former CM being unwell is ex ...Read More >
Kozhikode (Kerala): The Kerala government on Saturday stood firm in its decision to introduce Zumba dance in state schools as part of its anti-drug campaign, saying the opposition to it is "more venomous than narcotic substance". Explaining the government's stance over the matter here, General Education Minister V Sivankutty said a section of people are deliberately creating issues over the matter and nothing harmful for children is being implemented. Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty's Statement "The government is ready to hold talks with those who have misunderstandings in th ...Read More >
Jammu, July 2 (UNI) More than 5500 pilgrims chanting 'Bam Bam Bhole' today morning left for Shri Amarnath Cave Shrine situated in Anantnag district of Kashmir here from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas base camp. The yatra was flagged off by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in the presence of senior administrative and police officials and the members of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board. Officials said that a total of 5892 pilgrims this morning left in a fleet of 310 vehicles comprising light motor vehicles and heavy motor vehicles for the twin Pahalgam and Baltal routes. For Pahalgam, 2489 pilgr ...Read More >
Vice Chancellor Dr. Mohan Kunnummal took action against the Registrar after confirming misconduct during the Governor's event and a violation of service rules. Thiruvananthapuram: The tug-of-war between the Raj Bhavan and the state government looks to escalate further with Kerala University Registrar Dr. KS Anil Kumar suspended from service pending disciplinary proceedings for allegedly creating discord during a function attended by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. Vice Chancellor Dr. Mohan Kunnummal took action against the Registrar after confirming misconduct during the Governor's eve ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: A fresh controversy has erupted after state Agriculture minister P Prasad boycotted an event organised at Kerala Raj Bhavan on the occasion of World Environment Day today, in protest against installation of a Bharatamba image "associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)" on stage inside the premises. The minister accused Governor Rajendra Arlekar, also a former RSS leader, of turning Raj Bhavan into an RSS venue. After the minister objected to use of "politically symbolic image" in the government programme, the event was shifted to the Secretariat. As per report ...Read More >
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/KANNUR: CPI is not ready to leave aside the controversy that erupted over the 'Bharat Mata' portrait at Raj Bhavan. The CPI will hoist the national flag and plant saplings on Saturday to underscore the message that Bharat Mata is truly represented by the tricolour, not the saffron flag.Agriculture minister P Prasad had boycotted the environmental day function at Raj Bhavan on Thursday after governor Rajendra Arlekar rejected the minister's demand that a portrait of Bharat Mata installed on the dais be removed as the portrait is widely used by the RSS. The minister said the a ...Read More >
Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) [India], June 30 (ANI): The main Tibetan temple, Tsuglagkhang, in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala, erupted in vibrant festivities on Monday, as devotees and crowds gathered there to celebrate the 90th birthday of the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, the 14th Dalai Lama. The celebration on June 30 is based on the dates as per the Tibetan calendar, whereas, according to the Gregorian calendar, the birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama falls on July 6. Also Read | Laos Job Scam Alert: Cybercrime Centre Reveals Modus Operandi of Fraudsters Luring Indians Into Cybercr ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala University has been witnessing dramatic developments following the SFI's protest over a Bharat Mata image displayed at an event attended by Governor Rajendra Arlekar on campus, and the suspension of Registrar KS Anil Kumar. The Governor, who is the Chancellor of the university, has sought a report from the Vice Chancellor in-charge, Dr Ciza Thomas, regarding the syndicate's decision to revoke Anil Kumar's suspension. Following the syndicate's revocation of the suspension order issued by Vice Chancellor Dr Mohanan Kunnummal, Anil Kumar returned to his office on Monda ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 9 (ANI): Following the violent protest at Kerala University, a case has been registered against 27 activists of the ruling CPM's Students Federation of India (SFI), including its state secretary P S Sanjeev, who has been named the prime accused, police said. The case also names 1,000 identifiable protesters who have been accused of damaging public property, forcibly entering the university campus, and assaulting police and university staff, police said on Tuesday. Also Read | Nobel Peace Prize 2025: From Mahatma Gandhi to Jawaharlal Nehru, Check Full ...Read More >
Ranchi, June 27: The health of Jharkhand's political stalwart and JMM founder, Rajya Sabha MP Shibu Soren remains critical. JMM has also expressed concern over the health of Dishom Guru Shibu Soren, admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi. Party spokesperson Manoj Pandey said on Friday that a team of doctors is continuously treating him and he has been kept in the ICU, where only limited people are allowed to meet him. Spokesperson Manoj Pandey informed that Shibu Soren's health is stable right now, although no significant improvement or deterioration has been seen in it. He said that al ...Read More >
Bareilly, Jun 30 (PTI) President Droupadi Murmu on Monday said she feels that using the word 'pashu' for animals was "inappropriate" and referred to them as 'jeevan dhan' or wealth of life. Speaking at the 11th convocation ceremony of the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Murmu said life without animals cannot be imagined. "Truly speaking, animals and human beings share a relationship. Today, we have technology, but in the past, they (animals) were our 'saadhan' (for transportation) and 'bal' (force) for the farmers. "Hence, I do not find the word 'pashu' appropriate for animals ...Read More >