Month: August 2025

Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him and industrialist Anil Ambani of orchestrating a “Rs 1,30,000 crore surgical strike on Indian defence forces.”

He referred to Rahul Gandhi’s 2018 accusations against Ambani, who is currently under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for a loan fraud case

“In 2018, My leader @RahulGandhi warned the nation. The PM and Anil Ambani jointly carried out a ₹130,000 crore surgical strike on Indian Defence forces… You betrayed India’s soul.” #RafaleScam. Many laughed. Few believed. ED has now summoned Anil Ambani in a ₹17,000 crore loan fraud case, days after raids on his premises. The same Anil Ambani whose debt-ridden firm was picked for the Rafale offset deal — replacing HAL. Will Modi answer now?

Quoting Rahul Gandhi, Manickam Tagore wrote on X, “In 2018, My leader Rahul Gandhi warned the nation.”

“ED has now summoned Anil Ambani in a Rs 17,000 crore loan fraud case, days after raids on his premises. The same Anil Ambani whose debt-ridden firm was picked for the Rafale offset deal — replacing HAL. Will Modi answer now?” he wrote.

Earlier today, ED summoned industrialist Anil Ambani for questioning in connection with an ongoing investigation into an alleged Rs 17,000-crore loan fraud case, official sources said.

Ambani has been directed to appear before investigators at the ED headquarters in New Delhi on August 5 in connection with the probe pertaining to suspected financial irregularities and possible violations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The agency is examining the role of various entities and individuals linked to the case, and Ambani’s statement is expected to play a crucial role in the investigation.

The move comes almost a week after the ED launched a massive search operation at 35 premises, 50 companies and over 25 persons linked to a money laundering case against Reliance Anil Ambani Group (RAAGA) Companies. The raids were carried out on July 24. The action followed an investigation launched by the ED under the offence of money laundering by RAAGA companies, subsequent to the recording of a First Information Report by the Central Bureau of Investigation. (ANI)

A team of senior specialist doctors are currently monitoring Jharkhand Education Minister Ramdas Soren, who has been on life support after he was airlifted to Delhi’s Apollo Hospital due to serious injuries after falling in his bathroom, stated a release.

Earlier in the day, he was admitted to the Tata Motors Hospital in Jamshedpur.

Further updates will be shared in due course. (ANI)

Five children were killed and 12 others were injured after a mortar shell they were ‘playing’ with exploded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat district, the Dawn reported on Saturday.

Citing the spokesperson for the Bannu region police, Aamir Khan, Dawn reported that children “discovered” the shell in a nearby field and, mistaking it for a toy, brought it back to their village in Sorband.

According to Khan, the device detonated while the children were playing with it. The victims were immediately rushed to Khalifa Gul Nawaz Hospital in Bannu, where the injured are currently receiving emergency medical care.

“The shell exploded, resulting in the deaths of five children and leaving 12 others critically injured… The deceased and injured children have been transported to Khalifa Gul Nawaz hospital,” Khan stated, as quoted by The Dawn.

Bannu Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sajjad Khan visited the hospital to check on the injured children and met with medical staff to assess the quality of treatment, medicine availability, and emergency services. He also met with the families of the injured, offering them reassurance and support and stated that the affected families would receive full assistance and that those responsible would be held accountable.

“He checked on their condition, encouraged them and met with hospital administration to review the provision of treatment, availability of medicines, and other medical facilities in detail,” a statement issued by the RPO read, as quoted by the Dawn.

It further stated that the Bomb Disposal Squad had reached the blast site, collected forensic evidence, and launched an investigation.

This incident highlights the recurring danger of unexploded ordnance in Pakistan.

As per Dawn, similar tragedies have occurred in the past; in October 2023, a grenade explosion in Balochistan’s Wadh area killed one child and injured eight others.

A month earlier, nine people, including four children, died in Sindh’s Kashmore district after a rocket launcher round exploded inside a home.

Authorities continue to urge caution and awareness in regions where leftover military explosives may be present. (ANI)

Senior BJP leader and former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has strongly criticised the Congress government’s decision to reintroduce the lottery system, calling it a “step towards ruin” for the people of the state.

“When I became Chief Minister in 1998, we completely shut down the lottery system in Himachal the next year in 1999,” he said, noting that the move was not just a policy decision but a conscious effort to save countless families from financial devastation.

According to a press release, Dhumal recalled that on April 17, 1996, the Himachal Pradesh High Court had imposed a complete ban on the sale of single-digit lotteries in the state. When the BJP came to power in 1998, his government decided the following year to scrap the entire lottery system.

“At that time, employees, pensioners, labourers, and young people were purchasing lottery tickets in large numbers. This had put salaries, savings, pensions, and hard-earned wages at stake. Families were destroyed. We took a stand to prevent the addiction to this curse,” he said.

He also mentioned that many government employees and retired workers had lost their savings and retirement funds in lotteries.

Dhumal pointed out that in 2004, the Congress government briefly reintroduced lotteries but later, then Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh imposed a full ban on lottery, recognising the social harm it caused. “Even he realised that lotteries are nothing short of a curse,” he said, adding that the state earned barely Rs 4-5 crore from the practice at that time.

Targeting the present Congress government, Dhumal said Himachal currently has over 2.3 lakh government employees, including 1.6 lakh permanent staff, and it has nearly 9-10 lakh unemployed youth. “The lottery system poses a serious threat to their financial security. It is shocking that a government that came to power promising one lakh jobs in its first cabinet and 5 lakh jobs in five years is now presiding over a state that is fast becoming a hub for liquor, drugs, cannabis, and now lotteries,” he said.

Calling it an anti-people decision, Dhumal demanded the immediate withdrawal of the plan to revive the lottery system. “The BJP strongly condemns this move and urges the government not to implement this regressive policy,” he said. (ANI)

Aamir Khan has returned to Gujarat’s Bhuj after 25 years of his Oscar-nominated ‘Lagaan.’ The actor, who was in attendance for the screening of, ‘Sitaare Zameen Par,’ got nostalgic after arriving in the village where the shooting of his 2001 film took place.

Speaking to the media, Aamir said, “My memories of Lagaan got refreshed today.”

Sharing his concerns about a lack of cinema halls in rural areas, the actor added, “The cinema should reach these areas. I wanted my new movie, ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’, to reach every village of the nation. The UPI scheme brought by our government has proven to be very successful. The entire village watched the movie by paying just Rs 100.”

Aamir emphasised that his film delivers a very good social message and that every Indian should watch it.

“This is the first ever screening in the Kotai village of Gujarat. Such screenings should happen in every village. It was my wish to conduct the first screening in Kachchh. This is a historic place. I have so many memories and I felt very happy after revisiting the place,” he added.

At the event, the actor interacted with the villagers as well the school students who attended the screening, which was held at an open space with a shed.

He also joined the audience, seated on the floor with the crowd.

The Bollywood superstar has been lately voicing his vision to reach a wider audience by releasing ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ on YouTube. He explained that the approach will allow people to watch the film at their convenience while also increasing its reach.

The sports drama was made available on YouTube on Friday, August 1. Directed by Prasanna, ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ is a sequel to Aamir Khan’s blockbuster film, ‘Taare Zameen Par.’

The actor is seen essaying the role of a basketball coach, tasked to train a group of neurodivergent children.

Also featuring Genelia Deshmukh, the film opened in theatres on June 20. (ANI)

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting wasn’t impressed with Yashasvi Jaiswal’s ‘time wasting’ antics towards the final moments of the opening session of the third day of the fifth Test between India and England.

India captain Shubman Gill played a sublime drive to find the boundary rope, and then pushed the ball to sprint for a double. Moments after bustling for a couple of runs, Yashasvi Jaiswal started hobbling at the non-striker’s end while pointing at his hamstring.

The slight delay caused by Jaiswal ran the clock down and ensured that it was the final over before lunch. As he returned towards the dressing room, seemingly walking fine, the England players retorted as emotions boiled over.

Words were exchanged, and fingers wagged with Ben Duckett at the centre of the verbal jabs. Gill calmed Jaiswal before the duo returned to the dressing room. Ponting expressed his frustration with Jaiswal and invoked the example of the events that unfolded at Lord’s.

“I didn’t like what I saw there with wasting time in that last over. Especially at the back of what happened at Lord’s when India complained about what the English batters did,” Ponting said as quoted from Sky Sports.

Former England fast-bowling mainstay Stuart Broad shared a different view from Ponting. He expressed his love for the shenanigans between the India and England players, saying, “All the drama that has enthralled us all series, the little dramas that make you smile.”

This wasn’t the first instance of India and England players engaging in a heated verbal altercation in the gruelling five-match series. During the third Test at the ‘Home of Cricket’, Lord’s, temperaments flared, tension simmered, and emotions ran high in the final over of Day 3.

India felt England opener Zak Crawley had resorted to time-wasting theatrics after moving out of the way on the third delivery of Jasprit Bumrah’s opening over. Gill expressed his discontent and yelled at Crawley from the slip cordon. On the fifth delivery, Crawley sustained a blow on the glove.

He quickly removed the glove and asked the physio to have a look at it, which caused pandemonium on the field. The Indian players swarmed the English openers as Gill and Crawley engaged in a fiery verbal exchange while pointing fingers at each other. During the exchange, a couple of expletives were thrown as well.

The drama continued on the final day of the fourth Test in Manchester when the draw was looming large. England captain Ben Stokes went to Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar to offer his hand to pull the curtains down on the Test.

Jadeja and Sundar refused, considering they were on the cusp of reaching their hard-fought centuries. A statement from Stokes was caught on the stump mic as he said, “Jaddu, do you want to get a Test 100 against Brook & Duckett?” Jadeja responded to the English skipper’s comment and said, “What do you want me to do, just walk off?” Zak Crawley, who stood close to the crease, chipped in, saying: “You can, just shake your hand.”

Jadeja and Sundar eventually blazed past the three-digit mark and eventually shook hands to settle the Test. England’s actions drew widespread criticism from fans and former cricketers. (ANI)

BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday targeted Rahul Gandhi over his allegations relating to the Election Commission, saying that they are waiting for the Congress leader to explode the “atom bomb” he spoke of in relation to the poll panel and that the opposition leader is in the habit of making dramatic remarks.

“We are also waiting. Today Rajnathji has said he should explode early, we are also saying let him explode (his atom bomb). It has no power,” Prasad, a former Union Minister, told ANI.

“He (Rahul Gandhi) said that when I speak, Modiji will be shaken. Parliament will be shaken. He keeps saying this. During the debate on Operation Sindoor, he punched the bench in the House so hard that the Speaker had to tell him that this is the property of the House,” Prasad added.

BJP leaders have slammed Rahul Gandhi over his allegations of “voter theft” against the Election Commission.

Speaking in Patna, Rajnath Singh accused Gandhi and other opposition figures of misleading the public with baseless allegations targeting the Election Commission.

Addressing an event in Patna, Singh responded to Gandhi’s recent comments on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, terming them as “sensational, baseless and irresponsible.”

The Union Minister mocked Gandhi’s claim of possessing “atom bomb” of proof regarding vote rigging. “If he has such a bomb, he should test it and show the evidence,” Singh said, adding that Gandhi’s remarks lacked substance.

He recalled previous dramatic statements made by Gandhi, such as triggering an “earthquake,” which Singh said resulted in nothing substantial.

Defending the Election Commission, Singh described it as a “responsible and constitutional institution” and criticised opposition leaders for “misleading statements”.

He emphasised that it is unbecoming for a Leader of the Opposition to make such comments about a body tasked with upholding democracy.

He accused the Opposition of engaging in “dirty politics” instead of helping inform the electorate.

Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, said yesterday that the poll panel was not helpful in probing their suspicions and “the things we found are an ‘atom bomb’ and when this atom bomb explodes, you won’t see the Election Commission in the country”.

Gandhi accused the Election Commission of being complicit in “vote theft” to benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and claimed his party has “open-and-shut proof” of the alleged electoral malpractice.

“Votes are being stolen. We have open-and-shut proof that the Election Commission is involved in this vote theft. And I’m not saying this lightly, I’m speaking with 100% proof. And when we release it (proof), the entire country will come to know that the Election Commission is enabling vote theft. And who are they doing it for? They’re doing it for the BJP,” he alleged.

“We had suspicion of voter theft, and we got into its granularity. Since the Election Commission was not helpful in the investigation, we did our own. It took six months, and the things we found are an ‘atom bomb’ and when this atom bomb explodes, you won’t see the Election Commission in the country,” he added.

Gandhi warned that whoever ECI officials were involved in the alleged malpractice will face action.

“Most importantly, whoever in the Elections Commission is involved in this exercise, right from top to bottom, we will not spare you. You are working against India and this no less than treason. Wherever you are, even if you are retired, we will find you,” he said.

Opposition parties have been protesting against Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.

The Election Commission has rejected the opposition claims of vote theft ahead of the Bihar elections, calling them baseless and irresponsible.

The EC said its officials should continue working fairly and transparently, without being affected by daily threats or false statements.

“Election Commission ignores such baseless allegations being made on a daily basis and despite threats being given daily, asks all election officials to ignore such irresponsible statements while working impartially and transparently,” it said.

It said Gandhi is threatening EC and its staff and termed it deplorable.

The poll panel said Rahul Gandhi has not met the poll panel, despite a mail to him.

“ECI sends a mail to him on 12 June 2025. He does not come.; ECI sends him a letter on 12 June 2025, he does not respond; He has never sent any letter to ECI on any issue, whatsoever; It is very strange that he is making wild allegations and has now even started threatening EC and its staff. Deplorable. ECI ignores all such irresponsible statements and asks all its staff to continue working impartially and transparently.”

Rahul Gandhi repeated his allegations relating to the poll body on Saturday at the AICC Annual Legal Conclave and claimed that election system in India was “already dead” and alleged that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were “rigged”.

Gandhi said that he suspected over 80 Lok Sabha seats were rigged in the 2024 general elections. “The truth is that the election system in India is already dead. The Prime Minister of India holds office with a very slim majority. If 15 seats were rigged, we suspect that the number is over 70 to 80, he would not have been the Prime Minister of India. We are going to prove to you in the coming few days how a Lok Sabha election can be rigged and was rigged,” Gandhi said.

Referring to data analysed by the party pertaining to Lok Sabha polls, he claimed nearly 1.5 lakh voters out of 6.5 lakh who voted were “fake”.

“It makes clear that the institution that defends the constitution has been obliterated and taken over. We have such proof that will show the whole country that the institution of the Election Commission does not exist. It has disappeared. It has taken us 6 months of non-stop work to find this proof. You will see with zero doubt how a Lok Sabha election is stolen. 6.5 lakh voters vote, and 1.5 lakh of those voters are fake,” Gandhi alleged.

Gandhi said he had suspicion about “something being wrong” since 2014. Questioning the BJP’s sweeping victories in the assembly elections of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi noted that they began investigating electoral malpractices following their defeat in Maharashtra, where one crore new voters appeared within months ahead of the assembly elections.

“I’ve been speaking recently about the election system. I had always suspected something was wrong, starting from 2014. I had a suspicion in the Gujarat Assembly elections already. This ability to win sweeping victories. The Congress Party didn’t get a single seat in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, or Gujarat, which surprised me. Whenever we spoke, people said, ‘Where’s the proof?’ Then, something happened in Maharashtra,” Gandhi said.

“In the Lok Sabha, we won the election. And then four months later, we didn’t just lose, we were obliterated. Three formidable parties suddenly just evaporated. We started to look seriously for electoral malpractice. We found that in Maharashtra, one crore new voters appeared between the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections. The bulk of those votes go to the BJP… Now, I say with absolutely no doubt that we have proof,” the Congress leader added. (ANI)

Director of ‘The Kerala Story’, which bagged two honours ar the 71st National Film Awards for Best Director and Best Cinematography has dedicated the win to the girls of Kerala.

“Winning the National Award is a surreal feeling. When a filmmaker starts his journey and goes through several ups and downs amid the struggles, such an achievement with the country’s biggest award feels very special” director Sudipto Sen told ANI.

He acknowledged the contributions of his team and thanked them.

“The journey of making The Kerala Story was a team effort and it is the team’s victory. It was not made in Mumbai but we went to small villages and cities in Kerala and collected facts for the story. It is a different kind of feeling,” he said.

Sen dedicated the National Award win to the girls of Kerala and added, “I hope my hard work and the team’s efforts will spread the message about their sufferings and bring consciousness among people.”

The filmmaker further hailed the work by ‘The Kerala Story’ cinematographer, Prashantanu Mahapatra, who also won a National Award for his work in the film.

“He is among the most sensible cinematographers in the country. I have worked with him in my first film and also my first feature. He has a great cinema, light, and visual sense. He impressively depicted the scenic visuals from Kerala and Ladakh. It was a rarest of the rare camera skill,” Sen said.

The filmmaker also opened up on how producer Vipul Shah showed faith in him and was moved to tears after hearing the story. “I was frustrated. Vipul Ji came like an angel and showed trust in me at that time. He was in tears by the realistic story and was ready to make the film. It is a collective effort by me, Vipul Ji, and the team,” he shared.

Meanwhile, Vipul Shah said the win felt “gratifying and satisfying.”

“The National Award is the country’s biggest honour and the competition is very tough. With hundreds of entries, being appreciated on a national level is very gratifying and satisfying,” he said.

Starring Adah Sharma in the lead, ‘The Kerala Story’ was released in May 2023. (ANI)

The ‘Thenkal Kanmoi’, a major irrigation tank situated in the Thirupparankundram area of Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district, has completely dried up due to extreme heat, raising serious concerns among farmers and local residents who depend on it for irrigation and drinking water.

Spanning an area of 377 acres, the Thenkal Kanmoi is one of the major water bodies in Madurai. It has a storage capacity of 107 million cubic feet and is typically replenished by water released from the Vaigai Dam through the Nilaiyur canal. However, this season, the tank has remained bone dry, highlighting the region’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather conditions and inadequate water management.

The drying up of the tank has significantly impacted both farming operations and daily life in the area. With no water available, agricultural activities have come to a halt, and residents are facing severe water shortages.

Local farmers and residents have appealed to the authorities to take immediate steps to desilt and deepen the tank. They emphasised the urgent need to improve water flow infrastructure to ensure a consistent and adequate water supply during future monsoon seasons. Without timely intervention, they fear the crisis could worsen in the coming years.

While speaking to ANI, a social activist, Arivuselvam, said, “The past summer was extremely harsh, and we are still feeling its impact. As a result, all the tanks in Madurai have completely dried up. None of the tanks in Madurai has been desilted. With the monsoon about to begin in Tamil Nadu, the government must urgently desilt all the tanks.”

“As all the tanks in Madurai have not been desilted, the public is facing severe difficulties. Therefore, it would be beneficial if the government takes appropriate action”, said Pream, a local. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed Operation Sindoor in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi and said that he avenged the loss of the Pahalgam terror attack with the blessings of Lord Mahadev.

Addressing a public meeting, PM Modi dedicated the success of Operation Sindoor to Lord Mahadev.

PM Modi said, “This is the first time I have come to Kashi after Operation Sindoor. 26 innocent civilians were mercilessly killed by terrorists in Pahalgam… My heart was full of sorrow. I had pledged to take revenge for my daughters’ sindoor, and I fulfilled it with the blessings of Mahadev. I dedicate the success of Operation Sindoor to the feet of Mahadev.”

Indian armed forces carried out Operation Sindoor on May 7 to avenge the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 people.

PM Modi also lauded the Kanwar Yatra and said, “These days, when I see the visuals of devotees of Lord Shiva taking Ganga’s water in Kashi, it looks divine. Especially, when our Yadav brothers take the Ganga water from Gauri-Kedareshwar, it is a wonderful sight.”

PM Modi added that he did not offer prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple as it would have caused inconvenience to the commoners visiting the temple.

“I dearly wished to be able to offer prayers to Baba Vishwanath in the holy month of ‘Sawan’. But if I go there, other devotees will face inconvenience and will not be able to offer prayers, so I bow down before Bholenath and Maa Ganga from here,” the Prime Minister said.

During his 51st visit to his Lok Sabha constituency, Varanasi, PM Narendra Modi released the 20th instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, transferring an amount of more than Rs 20,500 crores into the bank accounts of 9.7 crore farmers.

He also laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects worth around Rs 2,200 crore. (ANI)