Archives for 2025

Satya Pal Malik

New Delhi: Satya Pal Malik, the former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir who oversaw the abrogation of Article 370 and later became a prominent critic of the central government, passed away on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. He was 79.

Malik’s tenure as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, from August 2018 to October 2019, was one of the most consequential in the region’s history. He was at the helm when the Centre revoked the state’s special status under Article 370 and bifurcated it into two union territories.

Following his gubernatorial roles, which also included stints in Bihar, Goa, and Meghalaya, Malik became increasingly outspoken. He gained significant attention for his sharp criticism of the government on various issues, most notably on the 2019 Pulwama terror attack. Malik alleged major security and intelligence lapses had led to the attack, which killed 40 CRPF personnel, and claimed his request for aircraft for the jawans was denied by the Home Ministry.

Furthermore, he repeatedly levelled serious allegations of corruption, claiming he was offered substantial bribes to clear files related to business tycoons during his time as the J&K Governor.

New Delhi: INDIA bloc parties on Tuesday termed “unwarranted” the Supreme Court observations against Rahul Gandhi for his alleged remarks on the Army, and asserted it was the responsibility of political parties to comment on issues of national interest.

The remarks came a day after the Supreme Court censured Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, over his alleged derogatory remarks about the Indian Army during his Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Floor leaders of several parties of the INDIA bloc discussed the remarks of the Supreme Court against Gandhi at a meeting here. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Gandhi were present at the meeting.

“All the leaders of the India parties agreed that the sitting judge has made an extraordinary observation which is unwarranted on the democratic rights of political parties,” the Congress said in a statement.

“It is the responsibility of political parties especially the Leader of Opposition to comment on issues of national interest,” the statement said.

“When a government fails so spectacularly to defend our borders, it is every citizen’s moral duty to hold it accountable,” it further said.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also said that Rahul Gandhi holds the Indian security forces in high esteem and as Leader of Opposition he has every right to question the government.

Asked about the top court’s observations, she told reporters at the Parliament House complex, “With due respect to the honourable judges of the Supreme Court, they do not decide who is a true Indian. It is the job of the opposition leader, it is his duty to ask questions and to challenge the government.”

“My brother would never say anything against the Army. He holds the Army in the highest respect. So it is a misinterpretation (of his remarks),” she said.

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih on Monday told Rahul Gandhi,

New Delhi: The Supreme Court is likely to hear on August 8 a plea seeking directions to the Centre for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan mentioned the matter on Tuesday before a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran.

“The date (on SC website) shows as August 8. Let it not be deleted,” Sankaranarayanan submitted.

The CJI accepted the request.

Tuesday marks the sixth anniversary of the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, which accorded a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

On December 11, 2023, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the revocation of Article 370, even as it ordered that assembly elections be held in Jammu and Kashmir by September 2024 and its statehood be restored “at the earliest”.

Last year, a plea was filed in the top court seeking directions to the Centre for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir within two months.

The application was filed by Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, an academician, and Khurshaid Ahmad Malik, a socio-political activist.

“It is submitted that the delay in the restoration of statehood would cause serious reduction of democratically elected government in Jammu and Kashmir, causing a grave violation of the idea of federalism which forms part of the basic structure of the Constitution of India,” the application said.

The assembly elections and the Lok Sabha polls were conducted peacefully in Jammu and Kashmir without any incident of violence, disturbance or any security concerns being reported, it said.

“Therefore, there is no impediment of security concerns, violence or any other disturbances which would hinder or prevent the grant/restoration of the status of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir as had been assured by the Union of India in the present proceedings,” the plea said.

It said, “The non-restoration of the status of statehood of Jammu & Kashmir will result in Jammu & Kashmir being given a lesser form of elected democratic government, especially in light of the legislative assembly results being declared on October 8, 2024.”

It submitted that despite the apex court’s directions for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir “at the earliest and as soon as possible”, no steps have been taken by the Centre to provide any timeline for the implementation of such directions.

“It is submitted that Jammu and Kashmir is being operated as a Union Territory for a period of almost five years now, which has caused many impediments and grave losses to the development of Jammu and Kashmir and has affected the democratic rights of its citizens,” it contended.

Jammu and Kashmir being an individual state which has gone through many struggles and hardship requires a strong federal structure to help in developing the area and also celebrating its unique culture, the application stated.

In its December 2023 verdict, the apex court held that Article 370, which was incorporated in the Indian Constitution in 1949 to grant special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was a temporary provision. The President of India was empowered to revoke the measure in the absence of the Constituent Assembly of the erstwhile state whose term expired in 1957, the court said.

New Delhi: As of June 2025, 5.46% of children under five in India were found to be wasted (low weight for height), and 15.93% were underweight (low weight for age), according to the latest Poshan Tracker data.

The data, cited by The New Indian Express on Tuesday, showed that among children aged 0–6 years, the underweight prevalence stood at 16.50%.

The figures underscore significant regional disparities in child malnutrition across the country. Bihar leads with some of the highest rates, recording 20.98% underweight and 9.31% wasting. Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand also report high figures, with 24.82% and 19.13% of children respectively being underweight, while wasting in these states stands at 8.19% and 6.68%. Other states with high malnutrition burdens include Tripura, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh, where underweight rates range from 17% to nearly 20%.

The Union Territory of Lakshadweep stands out for its alarming statistics, with 22.54% of children underweight and 11.62% wasted, the highest in the country.

Despite the government’s efforts through initiatives like Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, the data reveals persistent challenges, especially in central and eastern states. However, there are notable success stories where effective interventions have led to improvements.

Goa emerged as a standout performer, with only 0.78% of children being wasted and 1.96% underweight. Other states, including Sikkim (1.95% wasting, 1.69% underweight), Manipur (0.67% wasting, 2.69% underweight), and Himachal Pradesh (2.41% wasting, 6.88% underweight), also recorded low malnutrition rates.

Southern states, while performing relatively better, still face challenges. Tamil Nadu stood out with a low 3.54% wasting and 6.29% underweight children, far below the national averages. Kerala also reported encouraging figures with 3.20% wasting, though the underweight figure was higher at 10.18%. Karnataka, on the other hand, showed moderate progress with 3.18% wasting, but underweight children accounted for 16.50%. Andhra Pradesh reported 4.97% wasting and 7.68% underweight, while Telangana had 5.93% wasting and 17% underweight.

The Poshan Tracker data represents an improvement from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21), which recorded 32.1% underweight and 19.3% wasting among children under five. However, the current data also highlights a critical gap: of the projected 16.1 crore children under six, only 8.61 crore are currently enrolled in Anganwadi services, underscoring the need for expanded coverage and deeper outreach to address the nutrition crisis.

Bengaluru: Ten of India’s top construction firms, including industry giants Adani Group, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Ltd, and Tata Projects, have expressed interest in building a 16.75-km tunnel road that aims to connect Central Silk Board with Hebbal in Bengaluru.

Representatives from these companies attended a pre-bid meeting recently convened by Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B-SMILE) at its Vasanthnagar headquarters, as reported by Deccan Herald on Tuesday. The newly constituted government body had floated tenders nearly 20 days ago for the design and construction of the three-lane underground twin-tunnel corridor.

Other notable companies present at the meeting included Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd, ITD Cementation India, Vishwa Samudra Engineering Ltd, Jayashankar, Ceigall India Ltd, Afcons Infrastructure Ltd, and IRB Infrastructure.

The ambitious project is proposed under a revised Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model. As per this plan, the companies are also expected to invest 60% of the project cost (Rs 10,619 crore), besides depositing Rs 44 crore at the time of submitting the bids. In return, the government will provide toll collection rights for 30 years, added the report.

BS Prahallad, Technical Director at B-SMILE, expressed satisfaction over the response and mentioned that top construction companies had sent their representatives to the meeting. “Some have requested us to extend the last date for bid submission given the complexity of the project. They also raised queries about land allocation for debris disposal and the casting yard. We are confident that many will participate in the final bidding,” DH quoted him as saying.

The proposed tunnel project will involve the deployment of eight Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), each expected to drill approximately 2 km annually. The three-lane underground twin tunnel road—which will have a total tunneling length of 33.49 km— has reportedly come under environment, feasibility and technical scrutiny from various stakeholders.

New Delhi: Seven Delhi Police personnel, including constables and head constables, have been suspended after a dummy bomb went undetected during a security drill at the Red Fort ahead of Independence Day celebrations.

According to reports, the suspension was ordered due to negligence during a routine security exercise carried out by the Delhi Police Special Cell on Saturday. Officers dressed as civilians entered the Red Fort premises with a dummy explosive and security personnel on duty failed to identify.

The Red Fort which is a high-security zone in the run-up to Independence Day, where the Prime Minister will hoist the national flag and address the nation from its ramparts on August 15. These daily drills are part of the preparation for the 79th Independence Day celebrations.

A Delhi Police official confirmed to ANI that the lapse in detection led to immediate disciplinary action. He further informed that security arrangements in the area have been tightened, with enhanced surveillance measures including the deployment of five types of advanced cameras, like headcount sensors and suspicious object trackers.

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the transport strike despite its interim order and warned of contempt proceedings, following which the KSRTC Staff and Workers’ Federation announced suspension of the agitation till August 7, when the matter will be heard next.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Joshi expressed strong displeasure over the strike being carried out despite the invocation of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and the court’s direction not to proceed with the agitation.

The bench warned that the continuation of the strike would not be tolerated and would initiate contempt proceedings against the union leaders.

The court extended its earlier interim order restraining the strike by two more days and directed the unions to submit an affidavit on Wednesday confirming that the strike has been called off.

KSRTC Staff and Workers’ Federation president H V Anantha Subbarao told reporters in Bengaluru that the agitation had been suspended till August 7 and employees had been instructed to return to work with immediate effect.

During the hearing, the Advocate General informed the court that the strike had caused significant hardship to the public.

In response to a query from the bench regarding efforts at conciliation, details of past rounds of talks with the government were submitted.

The court observed that if there are issues then they should be resolved through talks with the government.

It also noted that resorting to a strike even after ESMA had been enforced was unlawful. The court also issued notices to the unions of all four state transport corporations.

The counsel for the Joint Action Committee assured the court that the strike would not continue on Wednesday. The court made it clear that if the strike is resumed, the government is free to take appropriate legal action under ESMA.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said he will soon release an “atom bomb” of data that will send shockwaves through the election system, alleging that it is “already dead” and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were “rigged”.

Addressing the inaugural function of the day-long legal conclave on the theme ‘Constitutional Challenges: Perspectives and Pathways’, he also claimed that the prime minister is sitting on his chair with a “thin majority” and had there been a difference of a few seats, he would have not been there.

Gandhi cited data collected by the Congress from an assembly constituency in Karnataka, where the party checked the photographs and names of electors physically and reportedly found out that 1.5 lakh votes were “fake” out of a total of 6.5 lakh voters.

“You will see the shockwave that is going to go through the electoral system when we release this data. It is literally like an atom bomb,” the Congress leader claimed.

“The truth is that the election system in India is already dead. Please remember one thing that the prime minister of India enjoys a very slim majority. If 10-15 seats were rigged, and we suspect the actual figures to be closer to 70-80 to 100, he would not have been the prime minister of the country,” the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha claimed.

“In the coming few days, we are going to prove to you without any doubt how a Lok Sabha election can be rigged, and it was rigged,” he alleged.

Gandhi will make public details of the “anomalies” in voter list in the constituency in Karnataka on August 5 at Bengaluru’s Freedom park.

Sharpening his attack on the Election Commission, the former Congress chief said, “It’s very clear that the institution that protects this (Constitution), and defends it has been obliterated and taken over.”

Gandhi also said that he did not have the proof earlier and that is why he could not make such statements before.

“But, I am making this statement confidently now because I have 100 per cent proof. And, whoever I have shown it to has fallen off the chair. They literally said how it is possible. But it is possible, it’s happening, literally,” he claimed.

Gandhi said he has been speaking about the election system as he always had a suspicion that there was something wrong.

“Right from 2014, I had a suspicion that there is something wrong, something is not adding up. I had suspicions about the Gujarat Assembly elections… About this ability to score sweeping victories. Congress doesn’t get a single seat in Rajasthan, doesn’t get a single seat in Madhya Pradesh, doesn’t get a single seat in Gujarat… This was surprising to me,” he said.

Gandhi said in Maharashtra three formidable parties “suddenly evaporated” in assembly elections after winning clearly in the Lok Sabha elections a few months ago.

Noting that it was in Maharashtra that started to look seriously into electoral malpractice, he said, “We found it clearly that one crore new voters showed up between Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha and bulk of those votes go to the BJP. Still, we didn’t have clear proof. When I mentioned to my allies that a clear cheating had happened. But, we don’t have proof. Now, I say with absolutely on doubt that we have proof.”

“Now, we have such proof that will show the whole country that the institution of the Election Commission does not exist, that it has disappeared.”

Gandhi said it has taken six months of non-stop proof to find the proof, because the Election Commission does not give us electronic versions of the voter lists and one will be shocked to know that when they give booth-wise paper versions of voter lists that cannot be scanned.

“Why would the Election Commission scan-protect copy-protect the voter lists? You can see with zero doubt now on how the Lok Sabha election was stolen. This is on paper with physical paper voter lists, where out of 6.5 lakh voters, 1.5 lakh are fake,” he claimed.

Gandhi also claimed the Congress had a document on the Rafale deal, that said clearly that the prime minister’s office and the NSA “interfered” in the Rafale deal and “damaged” the Rafale deal.

“This document itself would have brought down any government in any country of the world. Nothing happened. You know where the document went, you know where the document died,” he said.

The former Congress chief said he is fighting 30 cases and anyone who fights the regime, any political person, NGOs, civil society knows the moment they oppose, they will be attacked.

Narrating his conversation with his sister, Gandhi said, “My sister told me I was playing with fire, and I said I know I’m playing with fire, and I’ll continue to play with fire. I am not scared of playing with fire…Eventually, like most of you, I am going to end up in the fire.”

“My family taught me not to be scared of cowards. The most cowardly thing you can ever do is to be scared of a coward. And that’s exactly what we’re dealing with. The ruling ideology is based to a great extent on cowardice,” the Congress leader claimed.

He said the Constitution is a manifestation of India’s identity, its culture. This is not written in 1947 or 1950, this is 3,000 years old and Buddha, Narayana guru, Periyar, speaks through this country, he noted.

“This is our blood and how dare you attack our blood. We are not just defending this red book, we are defending our way of life,” he said.

Gandhi also asked which Hindu tradition says that one should beat up a Muslim child, lynch anyone and not a single tradition of ours say it.

“These people are not attacking our politics, they are attacking us, our religion… they are attacking Hinduism,” he alleged.

Gandhi also lauded the role played by lawyers since the freedom struggle and said “We would not have got freedom if the lawyers of this country would not have fought. All this Constitution would not have been here, if it were not for the lawyers.”

He said it was the legal fraternity who built the legal architecture and it is this that is being destroyed and systematically unravelled on every front.

Gandhi also suggested that just like every hospital has a blood bank, “These days, due to the nature of the RSS and BJP, legal time has become like blood, and many people need it. My suggestion is to get a thousand lawyers to commit a certain amount of time to defend the Indian Constitution, and anyone who needs access to this legal time can come.”