Month: August 2025

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday shared a spoof video inspired by the film Laapataa Ladies, reiterating the Congress’s “vote theft” allegations against the Election Commission and urging people to join the ‘Vote Chori se Azaadi’ campaign.

Sharing the video on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “Chori chori, chupke chupke… ab or nahi, janta jag gayi hai, (Secretly, stealthily… No more now, the public has awakened).”

The video shows a middle-aged man at a police station submitting a theft complaint. When asked by a policeman, “What has been stolen?” the man hesitates before replying, “Vote.” The policeman reacts in shock and asks, “How’s this possible?” The video ends with the message, “Theft of your vote is theft of your right.” The clip is based on a scene in Laapataa Ladies where a husband goes to the police station to report that his wife has been exchanged.

This comes after Congress announced the launch of the ‘Vote Chori se Azaadi’ campaign, asking people to join the movement against alleged “vote theft” by the Election Commission and the BJP.

Earlier, the Congress party in a post on X urged people to change their display picture (DP) on social media to support the campaign.

“On the occasion of Independence Day, join the campaign for freedom from ‘vote theft’. Change your WhatsApp DP,” the post said.

On August 14, ahead of the Assembly elections in Bihar, Rahul Gandhi also announced the launch of the “Voter Adhikar Yatra” against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He appealed to people to “join this people’s movement.”

“From August 17, with #VoterAdhikarYatra, we are launching a direct fight against vote theft from the soil of Bihar,” Gandhi said in a post on X.

He added, “This is not just an election issue – it is a decisive battle to protect democracy, the constitution, and the principle of ‘one man, one vote.’ We will ensure a clean voter list across the entire country. Youth, workers, farmers – every citizen, rise and join this people’s movement. This time, the defeat of vote thieves – the victory of the people, the victory of the constitution.”

On August 7, Rahul Gandhi had also criticised the Election Commission of India, saying elections are “choreographed”. Presenting Congress’s research on voting in the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency in Karnataka, he alleged the theft of 1,00,250 votes.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has repeatedly asked Rahul Gandhi to submit a signed declaration to back up his claims of “vote theft”. (ANI)

The monsoon havoc in Himachal Pradesh has claimed 257 lives since June 20, according to the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HP SDMA).

District-wise data shows that Mandi (26 deaths), Kangra (28), and Kullu (11) were among the worst-affected in rain-triggered disasters.

Among the deaths, 133 were deaths reported in rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods, drowning, and electrocution, and another 124 fatalities in road accidents,.

The cumulative report released on Friday evening paints a grim picture of widespread destruction. The state has also recorded 331 people injured and 37 missing during the ongoing monsoon season.

Landslides and flash floods alone have caused 16 deaths, while 27 people drowned in swollen rivers and nullahs. Other casualties were reported due to lightning, fire, snake bites, electrocution, and accidental falls.

In addition to human loss, the state reported massive damage to property and infrastructure. Over 1,028 houses were fully damaged and another 2,157 partially damaged, besides 285 cow sheds and 699 shops and factories destroyed. Public property worth more than Rs 2,14,403 crore has been lost, including extensive damage to roads, power lines, water schemes, and government institutions.

Animal losses have also been severe, with 1,625 cattle heads and over 25,700 poultry birds perishing in the rains.

The HPSDMA noted that Mandi district alone accounted for the heaviest financial damage, exceeding Rs 1,180 crore, followed by Kangra and Kullu districts.

Meanwhile, Mandi district reported the highest disruption, with 203 roads blocked and 458 transformers out of service, followed by Kullu where 79 roads remain closed, including NH-305 at Jhed (Khanag) due to a major landslide. Water supply schemes were also severely affected in Chamba (24), Kangra (41), and Mandi (44).

In Kinnaur, six roads including NH-5 were blocked after heavy downpours, while Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti reported widespread outages due to flash floods and HT line faults.

Authorities cautioned that intermittent rainfall in the coming days may worsen the situation, and appealed to people to avoid travel through vulnerable stretches.

Officials warned that the situation remains critical with rains expected to continue, urging residents to avoid travel through vulnerable stretches and follow safety advisories. (ANI)

Around 70 per cent of India’s goods exports to the US, equivalent to USD 60.85 billion, are now exposed to the 50 per cent tariff imposed by the US administration, according to an analysis by ICRIER.

This represents just 1.56 per cent of GDP and 7.38 per cent of total exports, far from a catastrophe for a USD 3.9 trillion economy.

A report by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, titled ‘Navigating Trump’s Tariff Blow’ authored by Ashok Gulati, Sulakshana Rao, and Tanay Suntwal, argued that the impact is heavily concentrated in labour-intensive and high-value sectors such as textiles and apparel, gems and jewellery, auto parts and agricultural products, notably shrimp.

“These sectors not only anchor the merchandise exports to the US but also directly affect employment generation and the livelihoods of millions of workers and farmers,” the ICRIER report read.

The textiles and apparel sector faces a tariff disadvantage of over 30 percentage points compared with competitors like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Vietnam, threatening its competitive position in a key export market, the report noted.

Gems and jewellery exports, worth USD 11.9 billion, face similar challenges against suppliers such as Turkey, Vietnam, and Thailand.

Auto parts, which constitute 3 per cent of India’s exports to the US, are also vulnerable.

In agriculture, shrimp exports will be worst hit with 50 per cent tariffs higher than those applied to competitors like Ecuador, Indonesia, and Vietnam, in addition to the existing anti-dumping and countervailing duties India faces, the ICRIER authors argued.

“These are sectors where buyers can switch sourcing relatively quickly, which gives US importers bargaining power and weakens India’s negotiating position,” they supplemented.

Against this backdrop, ICRIER recommended a three-pronged strategic response.

“Firstly, smart negotiations with logic and rationality. Secondly, announce immediate and targeted relief support to hard hit sectors, and last on high priority, diversify our export markets,” it summarised its recommendations.

“The success of our leaders will be ensuring that short-term disruptions give way to long-term gains, reinforcing India’s position as a trusted and indispensable player in the global economy,” the abstract of the ICRIER report concluded.

Initially, US President Donald Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, even as there were hopes of an interim India-US trade deal that would have otherwise helped avoid elevated tariffs. A few days later, he imposed another 25 per cent tariff, taking the total to 50 per cent, citing India’s continued imports of Russian oil.

In contrast to India, competitors such as Vietnam (20 per cent), Bangladesh (18 per cent), Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines (19 per cent), and Japan and South Korea (15 per cent) enjoy lower rates, as per reports.

However, the new US tariff regime excludes pharmaceuticals, energy products, critical minerals, and semiconductors.

Over the past few months, India and the US have been negotiating for an interim trade deal. Still, there are reservations from the Indian side on the US demand for opening up the agricultural and dairy sectors. Agriculture and dairy are critical for India as these two sectors provide livelihood opportunities to a large section of people.

India and the US initiated talks for a just, balanced, and mutually beneficial Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) in March this year, aiming to complete the first stage of the Agreement by October-November 2025.

US President Donald Trump had imposed reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries with which the US has a trade deficit. Since assuming office for his second term, President Trump has reiterated his stance on tariff reciprocity, emphasising that his administration will match tariffs imposed by other countries, including India, to “ensure fair trade”.

On April 2, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order for reciprocal tariffs on various trade partners, imposing varied tariffs in the range of 10-50 per cent.

He subsequently kept the tariffs in abeyance for 90 days, while imposing a 10 per cent baseline tariff, providing time and space for making trade deals. The deadline was to end on July 9, and the US administration later pushed it to August 1.

Faced with tariffs, during the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal made a statement in both Houses, affirming that the government is examining the impact of tariffs and will take all necessary steps to safeguard the national interest.

On India’s import of Russian oil, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also made its position clear, stating that India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer.

MEA said that the targeting of India is “unjustified and unreasonable”.

“Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” India made clear its stance yet again. (ANI)

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Saturday announced that its parliamentary meeting will be held on 19 August 2025 at 9:30 AM, according to an official notification.

The meeting is scheduled to take place in the G.M.C. Balayogi Auditorium of the Parliament Library Building (PLB), and all NDA members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been requested to attend on time. The notice was issued by Dr Shiv Shakti Nath Bakshi, Office Secretary of the NDA Parliamentary Party.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold its parliamentary board meeting on Sunday, 17 August, at the party headquarters in New Delhi. Sources said discussions were likely to include the NDA’s candidate for the Vice-Presidential elections.

A senior party source said, “The BJP parliamentary board meeting was scheduled for 17 August 2025 at the BJP office in Delhi. All parliamentary board members attended. There could have been discussions on the NDA’s candidate for the post of Vice-President of India.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and other parliamentary board members were expected to be present at the meeting.

On 6 August, leaders of the ruling NDA had unanimously passed a resolution authorising Prime Minister Modi and BJP chief and Union Minister JP Nadda to finalise the NDA’s candidate for the Vice-Presidential election, scheduled for 9 September.

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, 74, had resigned from his post on 21 July 2025, citing health reasons. In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu posted on the Vice-President’s official X account, he wrote, “To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice-President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution.”

The Election Commission has announced the schedule for the election of the Vice-President of India. If contested, the poll will be held on 9 September from 10 AM to 5 PM at the First Floor of the Parliament House. (ANI)

After a ruckus erupted during the release of ‘The Bengal Files’ trailer in Kolkata today, actor Pallavi Joshi said, “such a thing did not happen even in Kashmir.”

She said, ” I absolutely did not like the way my film (trailer) was stopped. Is there freedom of expression in this state? As filmmakers and actors, we are not able to screen what we have made. What is the threat they are feeling? Such a thing did not happen even in Kashmir. Can we derive that the situation in Kashmir is better than in Bengal? See what is happening in Bengal today. And this is why films like ‘The Bengal Files’ are important. I want every person in India to watch this film to know the truth about Bengal. It is the state’s responsibility to give respect to artists…”

During the event at ITC Royal Bengal, when the trailer was suddenly stopped, filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri asked everyone to calm down, “Please bear with us..I mean, all this happened with the permissions and approvals, and now, at the last minute, they are saying that they have got some instructions that we cannot play (trailer)…Please sit down..you can see what is happening it seems there are two constitutions in India..one Indian constitution and one special constitution that runs here…”

He added, “If this is not dictatorship/fascism, then what is?…Law and order in your state has failed, and this is the reason that everyone supports ‘The Bengal Files’…” “I have just got to know what some people came here (event venue in a private hotel) and cut all the wires. I don’t know on whose orders this is happening? You know who those people are behind us. After all tests and trials, this program was being held. The hotel managers still can’t tell us why we are not allowed to continue with our program…”

Agnihotri earlier opened up on the cancellation of the trailer launch event of ‘The Bengal Files’ by a leading movie theatre chain and why he decided to unveil the trailer today, August 16.

Speaking to ANI, he said, “Mai America se aaya aur seedhe Kolkata pahucha kyunki trailer launch tha and movie trailers are generally launched in theatres; however, when I reached the airport, I came to know that one of the largest multiplex chains said that they can’t do it because there is a lot of political pressure and if they do it, there will be a political turmoil. So we spoke to another multiplex, they also said that ‘sorry sir’, there is a lot of political pressure, we can’t do it’. If we had known this from the start, why would we have taken on so many teams and actors and spent so much money to come here..”

The film explores the communal violence in undivided Bengal during the 1940s, including events like 1946 Direct Action Day and the Noakhali riots of 1946, a Hindu genocide.

He added, “Aur Direct Action Day,.. Hindu genocide, Murshidabad riots suki film ka trailer kahan launch hona chahiye, Kolkata mein hi hona chahiye..par mai bhi harne vaalon se nahi hu..to aisa pehli baar ho raha hai mera ye andaaz hai ki film ka trailer theatre ki jagah hotel ke banquet hall mein..but mai janna chahta hu hamari awaaz dabane ki koshish kyu ho rahi hai..(And where should the trailer of the film dealing with Direct Action Day, Hindu genocide, Murshidabad riots, be launched.. It should be launched in Kolkata only, but I’m not one of the losers, so this is happening for the first time, I guess that the trailer of the film is being launched in the banquet hall of a hotel instead of a theatre..to hamari awaaz ko dabane ki koshish kyu ki ja rahi hai (but I want to know why efforts are being made to suppress our voice..)

Written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri, ‘The Bengal Files’ features actors Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar, and Pallavi Joshi. It is focused on the events of the “Direct Action Day,” aiming to unveil the “most brutal chapter” of Indian history. A poster of the film was unveiled on Friday morning, promising to deliver the “boldest film.”‘The Bengal Files’ is slated to hit theatres on September 5, 2025. (ANI)

After months of controversy, actor Shwetha Menon has been elected as the first-ever female president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).

Speaking to ANI, Menon opened up about her recent appointment, stating that she has planned to bring changes to necessary matters.

“I haven’t planned anything..”I don’t have an agenda”…This is a very big matter…Please don’t expect miracles, but we will be doing something for a change,” Shwetha Menon said.

The much-awaited election results for the AMMA presidential position came nearly a year after former president, actor Mohanlal, resigned from his position in August 2024.

He resigned as the head of the 17-member executive committee over growing allegations of sexual abuse within the Malayalam film industry. The allegations surfaced in the Justice K Hema Committee’s report on the working conditions of women in Mollywood.

At that time, all other executive members also resigned from their positions.

The controversy stemmed from several complaints and allegations from many female actors in the wake of the Hema Committee report. The government also formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the hardships faced by women in the industry.

A redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee report was also made public, shedding light on harassment faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. The 235-page report noted that the industry is controlled by 10 to 15 male producers, directors, and actors who have been dominating and exerting control.

Earlier in January this year, Malayalam actor Unni Mukundan stepped down as the AMMA treasurer, citing increasing work commitments that had affected his “mental health.”

With Shwetha Menon’s latest appointment, the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists is expected to undergo a major transformation under new leadership. (ANI)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday paid tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary.

Singh remembered his lifelong efforts to build a strong and prosperous India and also added that the nation will always remember his tremendous contribution.

In a post on X, Rajnath Singh wrote, “I pay homage to Atalji on his punyatithi. He worked all his life with the resolve of building a strong and prosperous India. The nation will always remember his tremendous contribution.”

Union Ministers JP Nadda, Kiren Rijiju and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, along with JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, gathered at ‘Sadaiv Atal’, the memorial of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to pay their respects on his death anniversary.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, and was elected three times as the nation’s prime minister.

Vajpayee was the face of the BJP for decades and was the first non-Congress prime minister to have served a full term in office.

Vajpayee served as the Prime Minister of India from May 16, 1996, to June 1, 1996, and again from March 19, 1998, to May 22, 2004. He also served as India’s External Affairs Minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Morarji Desai from 1977 to 1979.

He passed away at AIIMS Hospital in Delhi on August 16, 2018.

Meanwhile, a day earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 79th Independence Day address “excellent and inspiring”, saying it highlighted national progress, security plans, and a roadmap to achieve a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.

In a post on X, the Defence Minister wrote, “An excellent and inspiring address by Pradhanmantri PM Narendra Modiji from the ramparts of Red Fort, in which he highlighted many subjects and emphasised on accomplishing the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047. He presented a roadmap of India’s progress and national security in his speech. It also covered the milestones India has achieved and the potential that lies ahead. I congratulate Modiji for his wonderful speech.” (ANI)

“I was trapped in the debris for around 6 hours,” recounts Subash Chander, a devotee days after a massive cloudburst hit Chashoti village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursdaym, killing at least 60 people.

A massive cloudburst along the Machail Mata Yatra route triggered flash floods and widespread destruction, resulting in multiple casualties among yatris and locals.

Subash Chander who has been undertaking the Yatra for 34 years on the Machail Mata Yatra route said they were about four to five people undertaking langar sewa (free food) in a near by hall when all of a suden “We heard a loud sound”

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told ANI that “Around 60 bodies have been found. The number of missing persons is being assessed”

He said that they will “inquire” after the rescue and relief operation concludes “whether the Administration could have taken any preventive steps when the Met Department had issued a warning and also advised people not to venture out if not needed”

He further added that the personnel from the Army, National Disaster Response Force, the State Disaster Response Force,Police and administration are undertaking a rescue operation joined by workers of different political parties “working on the ground”.

He also mentioned that Centre has assured them of “all possible help”

Chander recounted that it was not “raining heavily” at the time

“But due to the cloudburst, a huge slide of mud, boulders, and trees came crashing onto the building. Had we not run out of the building, we would not have survived… 2-3 people on another building died on the spot. I was trapped in the debris for around 6 hours”

“Nobody came for one hour (for rescue), but after that, the Army and the locals arrived to rescue us…”, he alleged.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh visited the cloudburst-affected areas in Chesoti late on Friday evening.

According to sources, the Indian Air Force will participate in relief and rescue operations, with two Mi-17 helicopters and one Advanced Light Helicopter on standby at Jammu and Udhampur.

Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech, expressed solidarity with those affected by recent natural disasters across India.

“Nature is testing us…Over the past few days, we have been facing natural disasters, landslides, cloudbursts, and many other calamities. Our sympathies are with the affected people,” he said from the Red Fort (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended his greetings to all countrymen on on the occasion Janmashtami and called it a sacred festival of faith.

Sharing an X post, PM Modi wrote, “Heartfelt Janmashtami greetings to all countrymen. May this sacred festival of faith, joy, and enthusiasm infuse new energy and zeal into your lives. Jai Shri Krishna!”

Janmashtami is celebrated as the day when Lord Krishna was born.

Earlier, President Droupadi Murmu extended warm greetings to all Indians in the country and abroad on the eve of Shri Krishna Janmashtami.

According to a release from the President’s Secretariat, the President of India, in her message on the eve of Janmashtami, has said, “On the occasion of Shri Krishna Janmashtami, a festival filled with joy and enthusiasm, I extend my warm greetings and best wishes to all the Indians living in India and abroad.”

President Murmu added, “The life and teachings of Bhagwan Shri Krishna inspire us towards self-development and self-realisation. Bhagwan Shri Krishna enlightened humanity about the attainment of the ultimate truth by following the path of Dharma. This festival inspires us to adopt eternal values embodied by Yogeshwar Shri Krishna. On this occasion, let us all take a pledge to follow the teachings of Bhagwan Shri Krishna and make our society and nation stronger”.

Meanwhile, in Gujarat’s Dwarka, special security and logistical arrangements have been put in place for Janmashtami, with dedicated facilities for senior citizens, differently abled devotees, and mothers, along with provisions for clean drinking water and enhanced sanitation.

Preparations for Dahi Handi festivities and Janmashtami are underway across the country, including Maharashtra, where grand Dahi Handi events witness devotees forming human pyramids to break earthen pots filled with curd, butter, and other milk products — symbolising Lord Krishna’s playfulness and his love for butter and curd. (ANI)

Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded his joint press conference with US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) by inviting Trump for further talks in Moscow.

“Next time in Moscow,” Putin said.

Trump accepted the suggestion, saying, “That’s an interesting one. I’ll get a little heat on that one, but I can see it possibly happening.”

Trump said that the next step now rests with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, adding that a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin would be arranged soon.

“Now it’s really up to President Zelenskyy to get it done,” Trump told the local media. “They’re going to set up a meeting now between President Zelenskyy and President Putin and myself, I guess,” Trump told the media, as reported by CNN.

He declined to disclose the remaining issues holding up a deal, saying only that he wants “to see what we can get done.”

Despite the lack of a formal agreement, Trump described the summit as a success, rating it “10 out of 10, in the sense that we got along great.”

“I want to make sure it gets done,” he added, as per CNN. “And we have a pretty good chance of getting it done.”

Trump said he and Putin agreed that the Ukraine conflict would end with land swaps and US-backed some type of security guarantee.

When asked about territorial concessions that would give Russia land it didn’t have previously and potential US security assurances for Ukraine, Trump said it was a point of agreement with Putin, as per CNN.

“Well, I think those are points that we negotiated, and those are points that we largely have agreed on,” he said. “Actually, I think we agree on a lot. I can tell you, the meeting was a warm meeting,” he said.

He called Putin a “strong guy” and “tough as hell,” but said the meeting was positive. “I think we’re pretty close to the end. And look, Ukraine has to agree to it,” Trump said, as reported by CNN.

On advice for Zelenskyy, Trump said simply, “Gotta make a deal.” (ANI)