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<p data-start="218" data-end="648">In a significant shift in ceremonial protocol, the <strong data-start="269" data-end="470">Union Home Ministry on Wednesday directed that &lsquo;Vande Mataram&rsquo; be played before the national anthem, &lsquo;Jana Gana Mana&rsquo;, at all government functions and in all schools and colleges across the country</strong>. The order mandates that all six stanzas of the national song be rendered &mdash; including the four that were set aside in 1937 &nbsp;and requires attendees to stand when it is played.</p>
<p data-start="650" data-end="1156">The directive extends to civilian award ceremonies such as the Padma awards and to events attended by the President, both on arrival and departure. In cinema halls and public spaces, the song will also be played, though standing will not be compulsory there. The government has indicated that protections under the <strong data-start="965" data-end="1013">Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act</strong> will now apply to the national song as well, potentially inviting penalties of up to three years&rsquo; imprisonment for disruption or &ldquo;disrespect&rdquo;.</p>
<p data-start="1158" data-end="1315">The decision is certain to reignite a long-simmering debate over <strong data-start="1223" data-end="1314">national song versus national anthem &nbsp;and, by extension, nationalism versus secularism</strong>.</p>
<h3 data-start="1322" data-end="1369"><strong data-start="1326" data-end="1369">Why Now? Political Timing and Symbolism</strong></h3>
<p data-start="1371" data-end="1657">The move comes against the backdrop of renewed political contestation over the ownership of patriotism. The inclusion of the four stanzas removed by the Congress in 1937 &nbsp;passages that reference Hindu goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati &nbsp;carries unmistakable political symbolism.</p>
<p data-start="1659" data-end="1919">The ruling party has long argued that the Congress diluted the song to appease minorities, thereby weakening national unity. Opposition leaders counter that the earlier exclusions were a pragmatic step to maintain inclusivity in a religiously diverse nation.</p>
<p data-start="1921" data-end="2181">The timing is unlikely to be accidental. With key state elections approaching, particularly in eastern India where Bankim Chandra Chatterjee penned the song, the revival of all six stanzas repositions <strong data-start="2122" data-end="2180">&lsquo;Vande Mataram&rsquo; as a cultural and electoral instrument</strong>.</p>
<h3 data-start="2188" data-end="2233"><strong data-start="2192" data-end="2233">A Song of Freedom, A Nation in Debate</strong></h3>
<p data-start="2235" data-end="2490">Written on <strong data-start="2246" data-end="2265">7 November 1875</strong> and later published in the 1882 novel <em data-start="2304" data-end="2315">Anandmath</em>, &lsquo;Vande Mataram&rsquo; became a rallying cry for freedom fighters against British colonial rule. Its early verses evoke a poetic image of the motherland &nbsp;nurturing yet powerful.</p>
<p data-start="2492" data-end="2877">However, the later stanzas move from metaphor to theology, invoking Hindu deities as embodiments of the nation. In 1937, at its Faizpur session, the Congress resolved that only the first two stanzas would be used for national gatherings, citing concerns that explicit religious imagery might alienate Muslim citizens in an already polarised climate that would culminate in Partition.</p>
<p data-start="2879" data-end="2979">That fault line between cultural nationalism and constitutional secularism persists to this day.</p>
<h3 data-start="2986" data-end="3033"><strong data-start="2990" data-end="3033">National Anthem: Constitutional Primacy</strong></h3>
<p data-start="3035" data-end="3325">India&rsquo;s national anthem, <strong data-start="3060" data-end="3080">&lsquo;Jana Gana Mana&rsquo;</strong>, composed by Rabindranath Tagore in 1911 and adopted by the Constituent Assembly in 1950, enjoys formal constitutional status. It symbolises the republic&rsquo;s unity in diversity, naming regions and peoples rather than invoking religious imagery.</p>
<p data-start="3327" data-end="3743">National anthems worldwide function as official emblems of sovereignty, akin to flags. France&rsquo;s <em data-start="3423" data-end="3440">La Marseillaise</em> set the modern precedent in 1795. The Netherlands&rsquo; <em data-start="3492" data-end="3503">Wilhelmus</em> is the oldest in continuous use. Denmark uniquely maintains two co-equal anthems &mdash; one civil and one royal. In rare geopolitical circumstances, such as joint Korean teams using <em data-start="3681" data-end="3690">Arirang</em>, substitute songs have symbolised temporary unity.</p>
<p data-start="3745" data-end="3914">India, however, now stands at the cusp of elevating its national song to near-equal legal status with the anthem &nbsp;a distinction few countries formally institutionalise.</p>
<h3 data-start="3921" data-end="3966"><strong data-start="3925" data-end="3966">Nationalism and the Saffron Narrative</strong></h3>
<p data-start="3968" data-end="4268">The debate is not merely musical. It is ideological. Over the past decade, symbols &nbsp;from textbooks to temple inaugurations &nbsp;have increasingly reflected a <strong data-start="4124" data-end="4159">majoritarian cultural assertion</strong>. Critics describe it as the saffronisation of the republic; supporters call it civilisational reclamation.</p>
<p data-start="4270" data-end="4526">The Home Ministry&rsquo;s order effectively reorders ceremonial hierarchy, placing a culturally charged song before the constitutionally recognised anthem. For some, it signals pride. For others, it marks a subtle recalibration of the republic&rsquo;s secular grammar.</p>
<p data-start="4528" data-end="4883">India&rsquo;s history offers cautionary lessons. Ethnic and communal clashes &nbsp;from Partition in 1947 to more recent religious riots &nbsp;have often been triggered by symbolic flashpoints. Peace accords and constitutional safeguards have repeatedly sought to preserve pluralism, yet distrust lingers when state power appears to privilege one identity over another.</p>
<h3 data-start="4890" data-end="4940"><strong data-start="4894" data-end="4938">Will It Help the BJP?&nbsp;</strong></h3>
<p data-start="4941" data-end="5300">The directive may consolidate the BJP&rsquo;s core support by reinforcing its nationalist credentials. However, it risks deepening polarisation among minorities and liberal constituencies. Symbolic politics can mobilise emotion, but overuse may dilute impact. Electoral dividends will depend on whether voters prioritise cultural assertion over governance concerns.</p>

PM Modi hoists tricolour at Red Fort (file photo)

Home Ministry orders national song before anthem at all state events

Vande Mataram Before Anthem Rule

<p data-path-to-node="2">The hallowed halls of the Lok Sabha are currently witnessing a level of friction that transcends the usual parliamentary sparring. In a move that signals a total breakdown of trust between the Chair and the Opposition, more than 100 MPs have put their signatures to a notice for the removal of Speaker Om Birla. It is a rare, high-stakes constitutional gambit that underscores just how deep the fissures have grown in the 18th Lok Sabha.</p>
<h3 data-path-to-node="3">A House Divided by Time and Tone</h3>
<p data-path-to-node="4">The heart of the Opposition&rsquo;s grievance lies in a fundamental principle of parliamentary democracy: the right to be heard. Leaders across the aisle allege that the Speaker has functioned in a "blatantly partisan manner," systematically curtailing the time allotted to non-treasury benches. The frustration isn't just about minutes on a clock; it is about the perceived silencing of the Leader of the Opposition and the abrupt truncation of speeches during crucial debates, such as the Motion of Thanks. To the Opposition, this isn't just a procedural tiff&mdash;it&rsquo;s an existential threat to their role as the public&rsquo;s watchdog.</p>
<h3 data-path-to-node="5">The Flashpoint of Physicality</h3>
<p data-path-to-node="6">The government, however, has pivoted the narrative toward decorum and safety. By releasing footage of the chaotic scenes from February 4, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has sought to paint a picture of an Opposition that has abandoned debate for disruption. The sight of members carrying banners and encroaching upon the Prime Minister&rsquo;s path has given the treasury benches the ammunition to claim they are protecting the "sanctity of Parliament." This digital "war of footage" is a modern addition to an old conflict, moving the battle from the floor of the House to the court of public opinion.</p>
<h3 data-path-to-node="7">Constitutional Mechanics vs. Political Reality</h3>
<p data-path-to-node="8">By invoking Article 94(c) of the Constitution, the Opposition is using one of the few formal levers available to challenge the Chair. Yet, the political mathematics remain complex. The absence of the Trinamool Congress from the signatory list suggests that even within the "INDIA" bloc, the strategy is not entirely seamless. For a Speaker to be removed, a resolution must be passed by a majority of all the then members of the House, a tall order given the current numerical strength of the NDA.</p>
<h3 data-path-to-node="9">The Price of a Prolonged Logjam</h3>
<p data-path-to-node="10">The real casualty of this impasse is legislative business. From debates on international trade frameworks to discussions on national security, the agenda remains frozen. We are seeing a historic breakdown where even the Prime Minister&rsquo;s reply to the President&rsquo;s address&mdash;a cornerstone of the parliamentary calendar&mdash;was bypassed by a voice vote amidst the din. When the bridge between the Speaker&rsquo;s podium and the Opposition benches collapses, the very engine of Indian democracy stalls. This notice is less about a change in the Chair and more a desperate cry for a reset in how the House is governed.</p>

MPs allege partisan conduct as parliamentary stalemate reaches a boiling point

Opposition targets Birla with removal notice

<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Senior BJP leader Nitin Nabin is set to assume charge as the party&rsquo;s 12th national president later today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, chief ministers of BJP-ruled states and senior party leaders are expected to be present at the ceremony.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Before formally taking charge, the official announcement of Nabin&rsquo;s election as the BJP president will be made. Earlier in the day, the 45-year-old leader visited prominent religious sites in Delhi, including the Valmiki Temple, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib and the Jhandewalan Temple, where he offered prayers.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">With this appointment, Nitin Nabin becomes the youngest national president in the history of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Previously, Amit Shah had assumed the post at the age of 49, making Nabin&rsquo;s elevation a significant milestone for the party.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The election for the BJP president was held at the party headquarters on Monday. As no other candidate filed a nomination, Nabin was elected unopposed. He had earlier been appointed as the party&rsquo;s working president on December 14, 2025, paving the way for his elevation to the top organisational post.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nabin&rsquo;s appointment is being seen as a move to strengthen the party&rsquo;s organisational structure ahead of key political challenges and upcoming elections.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

PM Modi, Amit Shah to attend as BJP gets youngest national chief

Nitin Nabin to Take Charge as BJP President

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<p data-start="121" data-end="331"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The inclusion of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman in the Indian Premier League has triggered a political storm, with parties sparring over nationalism, sport, and India&rsquo;s strained ties with Bangladesh.</span></p>
<p data-start="333" data-end="693"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The controversy erupted after the IPL 2026 auction, where Kolkata Knight Riders bought Rahman for ₹9.20 crore. While analysts called it a shrewd cricketing move, political backlash followed amid heightened tensions after the killing of a Hindu man in Bangladesh&rsquo;s Mymensingh. KKR&rsquo;s co-owner, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, soon became the focus of the debate.</span></p>
<p data-start="695" data-end="1055"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">BJP leader Sangeet Som backed Hindu spiritual figure Devkinandan Thakur&rsquo;s attack on Khan, with Som branding the actor a &ldquo;gaddar (traitor)&rdquo; and alleging that investing in a Bangladeshi player amounted to supporting a country hostile to India. He cited alleged persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh and questioned cross-border investments under such circumstances.</span></p>
<p data-start="1057" data-end="1329"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam urged Khan to drop Rahman, warning that links with Bangladesh could invite public anger. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey went further, calling for a ban on Bangladeshi and Pakistani players in the IPL, arguing it hurt national sentiment.</span></p>
<p data-start="1331" data-end="1685"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Congress hit back, calling the attacks divisive. MP Manickam Tagore B said branding a cultural figure a traitor over a sporting decision undermined India&rsquo;s pluralism. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate questioned cricket authorities, asking how Bangladeshi players were included in the auction pool and indirectly targeting the BCCI and ICC leadership.</span></p>
<p data-start="1687" data-end="1980"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Muslim organisations also intervened. Maulana Sajid Rashidi said sport and cinema transcend borders and should not be politicised, while Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi said signing a Bangladeshi cricketer did not amount to betrayal and did not diminish concern for minorities in Bangladesh.</span></p>
<p data-start="1982" data-end="2281" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The episode underscores how sport in India is increasingly entangled with geopolitics. What began as a routine IPL auction has turned into a flashpoint over identity, nationalism, and regional tensions. For now, KKR has shown no sign of reversing its decision, and cricket authorities remain silent.</span></p>
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KKR pick sparks political storm over Bangladesh

Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL 2026 signing ignites sharp political debate over nationalism

<p data-start="0" data-end="215"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">India has imposed a safeguard duty on select steel imports for a period of three years in a bid to curb the inflow of low-priced steel and protect domestic manufacturers, particularly amid rising imports from China.</span></p>
<p data-start="217" data-end="608"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">According to an order issued by the finance ministry, the import duty will be levied at 12 per cent in the first year, reduced to 11.5 per cent in the second year, and further lowered to 11 per cent in the third year. The decision follows concerns over a sharp rise in steel imports that authorities say has caused, and could continue to cause, serious injury to the domestic steel industry.</span></p>
<p data-start="610" data-end="940"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The order noted that a &ldquo;recent, sudden, sharp and significant increase&rdquo; in imports of certain steel products had put pressure on Indian producers, necessitating the imposition of a safeguard duty to prevent encouraging further imports. The move is aimed at addressing alleged dumping practices and stabilising the domestic market.</span></p>
<p data-start="942" data-end="1193"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">While the duty will apply to imports from countries including China, Vietnam and Nepal, supplies from some developing nations have been exempted. Specialised steel products, such as stainless steel, have also been kept outside the scope of the tariff.</span></p>
<p data-start="1195" data-end="1538"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The safeguard duty will be implemented in phases. Imports made between April 21, 2025, and April 20, 2026, will attract a 12 per cent ad valorem duty. This will be followed by an 11.5 per cent duty on imports between April 21, 2026, and April 20, 2027, and an 11 per cent duty for shipments arriving between April 21, 2027, and April 20, 2028.</span></p>
<p data-start="1540" data-end="1786" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The latest order builds on an interim safeguard duty of 12 per cent that was imposed earlier in April for a period of 200 days, reflecting the government&rsquo;s continued focus on shielding domestic steel producers from the impact of low-cost imports.</span></p>

India has been facing a rise in cheap steel imports from China

Safeguard duty of up to 12% aims to curb cheap steel imports, mainly from China

India imposes 3-year tariff on steel imports

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<p data-start="118" data-end="350"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The political pitch in West Bengal intensified on Tuesday as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Union Home Minister Amit Shah exchanged sharp attacks, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.</span></p>
<p data-start="352" data-end="848"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Amit Shah, on a three-day visit to the state to kick off the Bharatiya Janata Party&rsquo;s campaign, launched a scathing attack on the Trinamool Congress government, accusing it of fostering an environment marked by fear, corruption and misgovernance. He alleged that development in the state had come to a standstill and claimed that welfare schemes initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi were being derailed by what he described as a &ldquo;toll syndicate&rdquo; operating under the state government&rsquo;s watch.</span></p>
<p data-start="850" data-end="1192"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Shah further accused the Mamata Banerjee-led administration of facilitating illegal infiltration from Bangladesh, alleging that it had significantly altered West Bengal&rsquo;s demography in recent years. He claimed the state government was obstructing border fencing along the India-Bangladesh frontier by refusing to provide land for the project.</span></p>
<p data-start="1194" data-end="1650"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">&ldquo;I have written seven letters to the chief minister on border fencing. Over the past six years, multiple meetings have been held with state officials. Why is the Trinamool Congress government hesitant to provide land? Does it want infiltration to continue?&rdquo; Shah asked, alleging that official documents were being prepared for illegal infiltrators. He asserted that after April 15, 2026, a BJP government would work to revive Bengal&rsquo;s heritage and culture.</span></p>
<p data-start="1652" data-end="2033"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit back strongly, dismissing Shah&rsquo;s allegations and accusing the BJP of turning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise into what she termed a massive scam. She alleged misuse of artificial intelligence during the exercise and claimed that harassment linked to the process had driven several people, including booth-level officers, to suicide.</span></p>
<p data-start="2035" data-end="2359"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Addressing a public gathering, Banerjee invoked characters from the Mahabharata to criticise the BJP leadership, likening them to Duryodhana and Dushasana. She rejected claims that her government had blocked border infrastructure projects, stating that land had been provided for fencing in areas such as Petrapol and Andal.</span></p>
<p data-start="2361" data-end="2671"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Recalling the situation 14 years ago, Banerjee said the state had witnessed significant development under her leadership, including efforts to address water scarcity and regional infrastructure gaps. She accused the BJP of using election season to harass citizens under the pretext of administrative exercises.</span></p>
<p data-start="2673" data-end="2851"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">She also questioned the BJP&rsquo;s narrative on infiltration, asking why responsibility was being pinned solely on West Bengal while ignoring security lapses elsewhere in the country.</span></p>
<p data-start="2853" data-end="3178"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Shah, however, escalated his criticism by alleging that political violence in the state had surpassed even the levels witnessed during the Left Front regime. He claimed that more than 300 BJP workers had been killed and thousands displaced, alleging they were being forced to align with the Trinamool Congress to return home.</span></p>
<p data-start="3180" data-end="3453"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Appealing directly to voters, Shah said the people of West Bengal had already given the Congress, the Left and the Trinamool Congress opportunities to govern and urged them to give the BJP a chance to establish what he called a governance model free of fear and corruption.</span></p>
<p data-start="3455" data-end="3791"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Senior Trinamool Congress leader and state education minister Bratya Basu dismissed Shah&rsquo;s remarks, calling them baseless and asserting that the BJP&rsquo;s campaign would have little impact. He claimed the party would fail to cross even 50 seats in the upcoming assembly elections and predicted a decisive victory for the Trinamool Congress.</span></p>
<p data-start="3793" data-end="3980" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">As the 2026 polls draw closer, the exchange underscores an increasingly polarised political battle in West Bengal, with both sides sharpening their rhetoric and consolidating their bases.</span></p>
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Political heat rises in Bengal as Amit Shah and Mamata Banerjee clash before 2026

Shah, Mamata trade barbs ahead of Bengal polls

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<p data-start="0" data-end="274"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Congress on Saturday announced a nationwide protest against the Viksit Bharat&ndash;Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025, declaring that it will launch the <strong data-start="191" data-end="219">&lsquo;MGNREGA Bachao Andolan&rsquo;</strong> from January 5, 2026, to demand the repeal of the law.</span></p>
<p data-start="276" data-end="689"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi made the announcement while addressing a press conference in Delhi following a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC). Kharge said the party had passed a resolution to begin the movement in response to what it described as the dismantling of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).</span></p>
<p data-start="691" data-end="1096"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Kharge said MGNREGA was not merely a welfare scheme but a constitutional right to work, which, according to him, has been withdrawn to suppress the poor. He added that public anger over the repeal was growing and warned that the government would have to face the consequences of its decision. He also claimed the move would impose additional financial burdens on states and was taken without consultation.</span></p>
<p data-start="1098" data-end="1430"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rahul Gandhi criticised the decision as a unilateral action by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that MGNREGA was dismantled without cabinet discussion or proper assessment. He described the move as a severe blow to poor communities and state governments, comparing it to past policy decisions taken without wider consultation.</span></p>
<p data-start="1432" data-end="1797" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Congress leaders argued that MGNREGA was not only an employment programme but a globally recognised development framework. They said its repeal amounted to an attack on the rights-based development approach and the federal structure, asserting that the scheme played a crucial role in supporting livelihoods and strengthening rural economies across the country.</span></p>
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LoP Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge

Party announces nationwide stir from Jan 5 seeking repeal of VB-G RAM G Act

Congress to Launch MGNREGA Bachao Protest

<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">India on Friday reiterated its support for free, fair, inclusive and participatory elections in Bangladesh, while maintaining a cautious stance on the return of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman to Dhaka ahead of national elections scheduled for February.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Responding to questions on Rahman&rsquo;s return after 17 years of self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the development should be viewed strictly in the context of elections. He underlined that India&rsquo;s position remains consistent and neutral, emphasising democratic processes rather than individual political actors.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">This position mirrors New Delhi&rsquo;s response to repeated queries about the ban imposed on the Awami League by Bangladesh&rsquo;s interim government. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose party was outlawed in May, has been in India since August last year following her ouster.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">At the weekly briefing, Jaiswal faced several questions on whether an election without the Awami League could genuinely be described as inclusive and whether India would recognise such a process. He maintained that India stands for elections that are free, fair, inclusive and conducted in a peaceful atmosphere, adding that all political elements and persuasions should be allowed to participate.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rahman, effectively the head of the BNP and the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and slain President Ziaur Rahman, returned to Bangladesh on Thursday to a large public reception. With little indication that the Awami League ban will be lifted soon, India is treading carefully, particularly given its historically strained relationship with the BNP. However, officials acknowledge that the BNP remains a known political entity for India, with established institutional channels, unlike several newer forces that have emerged since Hasina&rsquo;s removal 16 months ago.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Alongside electoral concerns, India expressed strong alarm over the worsening situation for minorities in Bangladesh. Jaiswal voiced &ldquo;great concern&rdquo; over what he described as unremitting hostility against minorities, including Hindus, Christians and Buddhists, and condemned the recent lynching of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh. He said New Delhi expects those responsible to be brought to justice.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">According to the spokesperson, independent sources have documented more than 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities during the tenure of the interim government, including killings, arson and land-grab cases. He stressed that such incidents cannot be dismissed as media exaggeration or reduced to mere political violence.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jaiswal also addressed questions on whether India was considering sanctions or a review of development projects and broader bilateral cooperation in light of rising anti-India rhetoric in Bangladesh. He said India continues to favour peace and stability and remains committed to strengthening ties with the people of Bangladesh.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Diplomatic tensions have intensified over the past 10 days, with protests taking place outside diplomatic missions in both countries. In Bangladesh, the July Oikyo coalition&mdash;largely comprising youth groups that emerged after the July&ndash;August 2024 uprising&mdash;has demonstrated outside Indian missions, demanding the extradition of Sheikh Hasina following a death sentence awarded to her by a tribunal in November. In India, Hindutva groups have protested outside Bangladeshi diplomatic posts to condemn the lynching of the Hindu youth.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Despite the growing strain, New Delhi has signalled it will continue to engage cautiously, keeping its focus on democratic norms, minority safety and regional stability.</span></p>

Delhi stresses inclusive elections, flags minority attacks, stays cautious on BNP chief

India Backs Fair Bangladesh Polls, Urges Calm

<p data-start="223" data-end="462"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">A political storm has erupted within the <strong data-start="264" data-end="305"><span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Indian National Congress</span></span></strong> in Kerala after a senior councillor alleged that the mayor&rsquo;s post in <strong data-start="375" data-end="416"><span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Thrissur Municipal Corporation</span></span></strong> was effectively sold for large sums of money.</span></p>
<p data-start="464" data-end="847"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The allegation was made by a four-time councillor, who claimed she was sidelined in the mayoral race because she lacked the financial backing allegedly required to secure the position. She alleged that the post went to another party member whose family is financially well-off, adding that senior leaders were &ldquo;moving around with bags of money&rdquo; during the internal selection process.</span></p>
<p data-start="849" data-end="1237"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The claims have triggered sharp reactions within the party. Congress leaders have strongly rejected the allegations, insisting that the choice of mayor was made through internal consultations and democratic procedures. Party representatives said no senior leader should interfere in the election of a mayor and maintained that the process followed constitutional and organisational norms.</span></p>
<p data-start="1239" data-end="1545"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The mayor-elect has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that her selection was based on years of political work and service within the party. She described the allegations as baseless and damaging, stating that she has been active in the organisation for decades and earned the confidence of party colleagues.</span></p>
<p data-start="1547" data-end="1876"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Congress state unit has indicated that it will examine the allegations to prevent further damage to the party&rsquo;s credibility. The controversy comes at a sensitive time, as the party-led United Democratic Front holds key local bodies across Kerala, making leadership positions in municipal corporations politically significant.</span></p>
<p data-start="1878" data-end="2103"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The episode has reignited debate over transparency, internal democracy, and the influence of money in local governance, raising uncomfortable questions for a party that has repeatedly spoken against corruption in public life.</span></p>

Cash-for-Mayor Claim Shakes Kerala Congress

Councillor alleges mayor post was sold for money, party denies charges and orders review

<p data-start="77" data-end="381"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday launched a sharp attack on opposition leaders during the winter session of the state Assembly, taking an indirect swipe at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over their alleged absence during critical national moments.</span></p>
<p data-start="383" data-end="873"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Responding to allegations raised by the Samajwadi Party over an alleged illegal trade in codeine-based cough syrup, Adityanath dismissed the charges as politically motivated. He claimed the controversy pointed to possible involvement of individuals linked to the Samajwadi Party, alleging that financial transactions connected to the case had passed through the account of an office-bearer of the party&rsquo;s Lohia Vahini. The matter, he said, was under investigation by the Special Task Force.</span></p>
<p data-start="875" data-end="1329"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">During his address, the chief minister remarked that there were &ldquo;two namoone&rdquo; &mdash; meaning &ldquo;specimens&rdquo; &mdash; in the country who chose to leave whenever serious national discussions took place. Without naming anyone, he said one of them was based in Delhi and the other in Lucknow. He further mocked Akhilesh Yadav, whom he often refers to as &ldquo;Babua,&rdquo; suggesting that he too would soon travel abroad while his party continued raising slogans inside the Assembly.</span></p>
<p data-start="1331" data-end="1513"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">&ldquo;There are two namoone in the country, one in Delhi and the other in Lucknow. Whenever there&rsquo;s a discussion in the country, these individuals run away,&rdquo; Adityanath said in the House.</span></p>
<p data-start="1515" data-end="1874"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Akhilesh Yadav hit back strongly, calling the chief minister&rsquo;s remark an open admission of internal rifts within the Bharatiya Janata Party. Speaking in the Assembly and later posting on social media platform X, the former chief minister said the comment reflected an ongoing power struggle between the BJP&rsquo;s leadership in Delhi and its state unit in Lucknow.</span></p>
<p data-start="1876" data-end="2067" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Describing Adityanath&rsquo;s statement as a &ldquo;self-acceptance,&rdquo; Yadav said it was surprising that the alleged Delhi&ndash;Lucknow tussle within the ruling party had become so evident in public discourse.</span></p>

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath

SP chief says Yogi’s remark exposes BJP rift between Delhi and Lucknow

Politics