Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said he is anguished and deeply pained over the abuse and insult meted out to his mother from a political stage in Bihar and said that this was not just an insult to his late mother but all the mothers of the country.
Slamming the ‘gaali politics’ and falling political discourse in poll-bound Bihar, PM Modi said that abuses and expletives were hurled at his mother, who is not even on this earth, at the Congress-RJD rally venue, and this has left him deeply hurt.
“As a son, it is a very painful moment for me. I never imagined such a level of politics,” he said, addressing the gathering of women in Bihar via video conferencing. Tearing into Congress-RJD, PM Modi said that the abuse was not just targeted at his mother, but all the mothers of the country have been left humiliated and added the people of the state will not forgive them for such a profane act.
PM Modi also invoked ‘naamdar and kaamdar’ to hit out at the Opposition and said that such abusive conduct was because of their privileged mindset and their belief that those with a poor background remain at their mercy of affluent. He said that naamdars (those belonging to privileged families) consider it their right to abuse and humiliate kaamdars, a term referring to people like him who made their own destiny on the back of hard work.
“Those born in privileged families will never understand the pain and suffering that our mothers go through in raising their children; they can never comprehend what sacrifices our mothers make throughout their lives,” PM Modi said.
PM Modi also took note of ‘tu tadak’ language on the Bihar electoral turf, a reference to Rahul Gandhi’s speech during the Voter Adhikar Yatra and said that such thinking was a reflection of their anti-women mindset. He also called upon the youth of Bihar, including men and women, to demand accountability from those political parties, at every public rally, who don’t respect and recognise the contribution of women in our lives.
“I may forgive you for such brazen insult, but this land of Bihar will never forgive those who hurl abuse at our mothers,” PM Modi remarked. –IANS mr/dpb
-IANS
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Commenting on the row surrounding the inauguration of Mysuru Dasara festivities by Kannada author and Booker Prize awardee Banu Mushtaq, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated on Tuesday that the government cannot ask all participants in the festival to wear ‘sindoor’ and identify themselves as Hindus.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, CM Siddaramaiah, responding to the BJP’s demand that Banu Mushtaq wear ‘kumkum’, bangles, and flowers if she wished to inaugurate the festival, said, “Banu Mushtaq hails from the Muslim community. She is a Kannada writer. Is there a custom in Islam to wear kumkum? We celebrate Dussehra as the Nada Habba (festival of the land). What if we asked people of other religions to come to the ceremony wearing kumkum and become Hindus?”
When asked about comments suggesting that Banu Mushtaq would attend the Dussehra celebration after eating beef, CM Siddaramaiah retorted, “The Opposition will make claims, but have you seen it?” Answering a question on the alleged fatwa issued by Muslim religious leaders against Banu Mushtaq, the Chief Minister said, “Muslim preachers have clarified that they have not issued any fatwas against her. It is false news.”
Reacting further to the controversy, CM Siddaramaiah said, “When late Mirza Ismail was the Dewan of the Mysuru kingdom, the king carried out his procession on the Ambari. Where were the RSS and BJP then? In 2017, the Dussehra festival was inaugurated by author Nisar Ahmad. Where were they then?”
On Banu Mushtaq’s past comments about turmeric, kumkum, and Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, CM Siddaramaiah said, “I don’t know about those remarks. That is a different issue. She is a Kannada writer. Without love for the language, is it possible to write in Kannada? Without love and interest, is it possible to write? Her work has been honoured with the International Booker Prize.”
Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi had questioned the government over the Dasara inaugural invitation to Banu Mushtaq.
“Why is only Booker awardee Banu Mushtaq invited to inaugurate Dasara, while translator Deepa Bhasti is excluded? Deepa Bhasti is excluded because she is Hindu. Banu Mushtaq has stated that Kannada is equated with a goddess and questioned how she could respect it. Does she not feel ashamed to make such a statement after breathing the air of this land and drinking the waters of the Cauvery? If she respects Chamundeshwari and the sentiments of the people, we welcome her,” Joshi said.
-IANS
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More than 1 crore people globally live with a mental health disorder, and women account for over 53 per cent, according to new data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday.
The WHO reports World Mental Health Today and Mental Health Atlas 2024 stated that conditions such as anxiety and depression inflict immense human and economic tolls and called for greater investment and action to scale up services to protect and promote people’s mental health.
“Transforming mental health services is one of the most pressing public health challenges,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Investing in mental health means investing in people, communities, and economies — an investment no country can afford to neglect. Every government and every leader has a responsibility to act with urgency and to ensure that mental health care is treated not as a privilege, but as a basic right for all,” he added.
The reports showed that anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common types of mental health disorders among both men and women. However, women are disproportionately impacted overall. Overall, more females (581.5 million) than males (513.9 million) live with a mental disorder.
“Mental disorders were found common among pregnant women and women in the year after birth, often with severe impacts for both mothers and babies. Worldwide, more than 10 per cent of pregnant women and women in the year after birth experience depression. In low- and medium-income countries (LMICs), this figure is estimated to be substantially higher,” the reports said.
Further, the report showed that suicide remains a devastating outcome, claiming an estimated 7,27,000 lives in 2021 alone. It is a leading cause of death among young people across all countries and socioeconomic contexts, and progress in reducing suicide mortality is too low.
Of the targeted one-third reduction in suicide rates by 2030, only a 12 per cent reduction will be achieved. Further, the economic impact of mental health disorders due to loss of productivity is also staggering. Depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy an estimated $ 1 trillion each year, the WHO report said.
The 2024 Mental Health Atlas showed that fewer countries have adopted or enforced rights-based mental health legislation, and only 45 per cent of countries evaluated laws in full compliance with international human rights standards. The report also revealed a concerning stagnation in mental health investment.
Median government spending on mental health remains at just 2 per cent of total health budgets — unchanged since 2017, with low-income countries spending as little as $ 0.04. The WHO stressed to governments to urgently intensify efforts toward systemic transformation of mental health systems worldwide.
This includes equitable financing of mental health services; legal and policy reform to uphold human rights; sustained investment in the mental health workforce; and expansion of community-based, person-centered care.
-IANS
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Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said on Tuesday that the state government will not hand over the alleged Dharmasthala mass murders case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
He, however, clarified that if the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiates its own probe into the alleged “conspiracy funding” case, the state government cannot stop it. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Tuesday, HM Parameshwara said, “The BJP is demanding an NIA probe into the case. There is no necessity to hand over the Dharmasthala case to the NIA. We have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), and it is doing its job. In this background, when the SIT is already investigating, there is no need to transfer the case to another agency.”
“I have already made a statement in this regard, and the Chief Minister has also clarified it. The BJP is taking the case in a different direction every day and making this demand. There is no necessity to hand over the case to the NIA,” he reiterated.
On the issue of alleged funding to hatch a conspiracy to defame Dharmasthala, HM Parameshwara said, “Let the ED investigate funding if they want; we cannot object to it. They will probe financial and related aspects from their own angle.”
Responding to BJP state President B.Y. Vijayendra’s visit to the residence of Soujanya, the minor girl who was allegedly kidnapped, gang-raped, and murdered in Dharmasthala in 2012, HM Parameshwara said, “I will stick to my stand. We have handed over the Dharmasthala murder case to the SIT. They are demanding an NIA probe, but we will not hand over the case to the NIA.”
“Until the investigation is completed, we cannot disclose any details. I have been repeating this. If the investigation is meddled with, such demands may arise. I don’t know their intentions — whether they want to obstruct the investigation. It appears so to me, because the investigation is being carried out properly and there has been no error on the part of the SIT. The question of handing over the case to another agency arises only if there is an error in the current investigation,” HM Parameshwara said.
He underlined that there has been no lapse by the SIT so far. Asked about his meeting with SIT chief Pronab Mohanty, he said, “Mohanty met me for a different reason. Mohanty meets me regarding various matters, and the SIT is one among them. As he is incharge of the Internal Security Division (ISD), he has other responsibilities as well. In that context, he comes to brief me.”
When asked about a woman’s claim that she had seen a minor girl being kidnapped in Dharmasthala, HM Parameshwara said that all such aspects will be part of the investigation and the SIT will look into it.
“I do not respond to every statement made by BJP leaders. Our responsibility is to ensure the SIT investigates and submits its report,” he said.
On the ED’s reported interest in the case, HM Parameshwara said, “I don’t know the terms of reference under which the ED will probe. As per the SIT’s terms of reference, the statement of Chinnaiah, the ‘mask man’ complainant, before the court is being examined.”
-IANS
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A protest by migrant workers demanding justice for a deceased colleague turned violent on Tuesday at Kattupalli, in Chennai’s northern suburb, after the workers clashed with police personnel.
The unrest broke out following the death of Amaresh Prasad (32), a migrant worker from Uttar Pradesh, who tragically fell from the roof of an under-construction building on September 1 in Kattupalli, located in neighbouring Tiruvallur district.
His death sparked outrage among fellow workers, who gathered in large numbers outside their dormitory on Tuesday morning, demanding an enquiry and adequate compensation for his family. According to police, the demonstration began peacefully but quickly escalated when the workers suddenly started pelting stones at the police party that had arrived to negotiate with them.
A senior officer said the sudden violence caught the police off guard, making it difficult for them to approach the crowd initially. Several policemen narrowly escaped injuries during the attack. As the situation grew tense, reinforcements were rushed to the spot.
Police then resorted to mild force, including baton charge and dispersal measures, to bring the mob under control. Tear gas shells were also reportedly used in a bid to quell the protesters. Later in the day, police teams entered the workers’ dormitory, where several individuals had climbed onto the rooftop as part of their agitation. Officers stormed the premises and rounded up those involved.
More than 55 migrant workers were detained for questioning in connection with the violent incidents, officials confirmed. “We had no option but to intervene after the protest turned violent and police personnel were attacked,” a senior officer said, adding that investigations were underway to determine the circumstances that led to the unrest.
The incident has once again thrown the spotlight on the difficult living and working conditions of thousands of migrant labourers employed in and around Chennai’s industrial belt. Workers have repeatedly voiced concerns over safety standards at construction sites and residential facilities, urging companies and contractors to take stronger measures to prevent accidents and provide adequate welfare support.
Police have assured that an enquiry into Amaresh Prasad’s death is underway and that appropriate legal action will follow. Meanwhile, additional security personnel remain deployed in the area to prevent further flare-ups.
-IANS
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The United States has recently declared The Resistance Front as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity. This was a huge blow for Pakistan as the move exposed Pakistan’s terror playbook.
The Resistance Front is nothing but a proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. It was, in fact, formed and projected as a local outfit from Jammu and Kashmir. The outfit was meant to give both Pakistan and the Lashkar-e-Taiba a deniability factor.
The intention was to project the fight in Kashmir as a localised one. Moreover, Pakistan wanted terror attacks to continue and also ensure that it did not come under the scrutiny of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Going by the latest details that the National Investigation Agency has dug out during its probe into the activities of The Resistance Front, it seems that Pakistan cannot use this proxy to escape from the FATF.
The Resistance Front has a deep-rooted network in Jammu and Kashmir. It has locals who, at the behest of Pakistan, are in touch with people in the Gulf and Malaysia to ensure that the funds are provided to run the activities of this terror outfit. During the probe, the name of one Sajad Ahmed Mir, a resident of Malaysia, cropped up.
Phone calls of a suspect, Yasir Hayat, revealed that he was in touch with Mir to arrange for the funds. Hayat has made several visits to Malaysia to arrange for funds. Details that have cropped up so far reveal that with the help of his Malaysian contact, he had raised Rs 9 lakh for The Resistance Front. The money was given to another operative by the name Shafat Wani to run the activities of the outfit.
Wani, who is a key operative of the TRF, is also said to have visited Malaysia. He stated that he was attending a conference at a university, and it was on this pretext that he visited the country. The university had, however, not sponsored this visit. The NIA also learnt that Hayat, apart from staying in touch with Mir, was also in contact with two Pakistanis. His activities were all about raising funds, and the probe suggests that his job was to be in touch with foreign operatives and raise money for the terror outfit.
While the NIA has plenty of details regarding the operations of the TRF, finding the complete money trail is key to the probe. On August 13, the NIA had said that it had uncovered a foreign trail of funds that was being probed extensively. There are 463 contacts on Hayat’s phone that the NIA is probing extensively. Calls have been made to Pakistan and Malaysia on several occasions.
All these numbers are being probed, and investigators say that this is crucial to uncover the funding network of The Resistance Front. These details are important to uncover the trail, and they would help India expose Pakistan before the FATF. India has been building up a case against Pakistan on terror funding to ensure that it gets back onto the Grey List.
The Resistance Front was created in 2019 to replace the declining Hizbul Mujahideen and also give a fresh identity to local terror activities. It was also created to offer the Lashkar-e-Taiba a deniability cover and to make attacks appear as indigenous resistance, rather than Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. What appeared to be a new homegrown movement was actually a rebranded arm of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, which was designed to misguide the global community and deflect pressure from institutions such as the FATF.
-IANS
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The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed the bail applications of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and seven other accused in the 2020 Delhi riots “larger conspiracy” case. A division bench comprising Justice Naveen Chawla and Justice Shalinder Kaur pronounced the verdict.
The other accused in the case include Athar Khan, Khalid Saifi, Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa ur Rehman, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, and Shadab Ahmed. The accused were arrested on different dates: Sharjeel Imam on 28 January 2020; Umar Khalid on 13 September 2020; Athar Khan on 29 June 2020; Khalid Saifi on 26 February 2020; Mohd. Saleem Khan on 24 June 2020; Shifa ur Rehman on 26 April 2020; Meeran Haider on 1 April 2020; Gulfisha Fatima on 4 April 2020; and Shadab Ahmed on 11 June 2020.
All the accused had challenged the trial court’s earlier orders denying them bail in the case.
During the hearings, Umar Khalid, represented by Senior Advocate Trideep Pais, submitted that “merely being on WhatsApp groups, without sending any message, is no criminality.” Pais also argued that “there is no recovery, money or otherwise, effected from Khalid” and that the alleged secret meeting on the night of 23-24 February 2020 “was not at all secretive as claimed by the prosecution.”
Khalid Saifi, represented by Senior Advocate Rebecca John, contended: “Can UAPA on the basis of innocuous messages or their (prosecution) attempt to make stories out of such messages, can it become a reason to deny me bail or is it even a ground to prosecute me under UAPA?” She further submitted that Saifi deserved to be released on bail on the ground of parity with three co-accused who had been granted bail in June 2021.
Sharjeel Imam submitted that he is “completely disconnected from all the co-accused persons and is not part of any kind of conspiracy or conspiracy meetings as alleged by the Delhi Police.” Imam’s counsel, Advocate Talib Mustafa, added that Imam’s alleged role in the riots “is stated to be till January 23, 2020, and the last overt act relied upon by the Delhi Police is a speech delivered by him in Bihar.”
Opposing the bail pleas, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Delhi Police, said: “If you are doing something against the nation, then you better be in jail till you are acquitted or convicted.” Mehta argued that the accused persons’ intention was “to globally defame the nation by choosing a particular day for more rioting and more arson.” Delhi Police was also represented by Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad.
In a related matter, another coordinate bench of Justice Prasad and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar recently denied bail to co-accused Tasleem Ahmed in FIR 59/2020. The FIR, registered by Delhi Police’s Special Cell, names Tahir Hussain, Umar Khalid, Khalid Saifi, Isharat Jahan, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, Shifa-Ur-Rehman, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Shadab Ahmed, Tasleem Ahmed, Saleem Malik, Mohd. Saleem Khan, Athar Khan, Safoora Zargar, Sharjeel Imam, Faizan Khan, and Natasha Narwal as accused under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
As Tamil Nadu prepares for the crucial 2026 Assembly elections, political commentator Rangaraj Pandey provides an in-depth evaluation of the star candidates likely to shape the electoral outcomes. Drawing on historical voting margins, constituency profiles, and grassroots intel, Pandey’s analysis, offers a nuanced forecast of victories, challenges, and strategic shifts across major political camps in the state.
“Chanakyaa Analysis,” which blends historical voting data, ground-level intelligence (“cephalological input”), and constituency-specific factors, provides one of the most detailed early previews of the electoral battleground, covering over 80 high-profile candidates.
Key Star Candidates and Constituency-wise Forecasts
Let’s first look at the DMK.
The DMK Juggernaut: Certain Victories for the First Family and Staunch Allies
The analysis presents a formidable picture for the DMK-led alliance. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is predicted to easily retain his Kolathur stronghold, a seat he won by over 70,000 votes in 2021. His son and Deputy CM, Udhayanidhi Stalin, is also forecasted to win again from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni.
The DMK’s core leadership appears unshakable. Heavyweights like E.V. Velu (Tiruvannamalai, won by ~94,000 votes), K.N. Nehru (Tiruchirappalli West, ~85,000 votes), and I. Periyasamy (Athoor) are seen as certain winners, their massive victory margins and local influence creating “fortresses” deemed impregnable to opposition challenges.
Other key DMK ministers expected to cruise to victory include Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Geetha Jeevan (Thoothukudi), and Ma Subramanian (Saidapet).
S.M. Nassar (Avadi): With a formidable lead of over 55,000 votes, the senior minister is forecasted to clinch a hat-trick, irrespective of minor shifts in ministerial status or party dynamics.
Dharanidharan Anbarasan (Alandur): He holds a commanding lead of over 40,000 votes and is poised for another successful re-election campaign.
Senthil Balaji (Karur): Winning by roughly 12,400 votes, this influential DMK leader remains a central political figure destined for re-election.
K.N. Nehru (Tiruchi West): With an 85,000 vote margin in a strong party bastion, Nehru’s victory is almost guaranteed.
Anitha Radhakrishnan (Tiruchendur): Despite past challenges, Anitha has rebuilt significant presence with a 25,000-vote margin. Forecasts suggest sustained electoral success.
Ponmudi (Thirukovilur): Although previously a strong ministerial figure, uncertainty clouds his 2026 prospects due to strained party relations, predicting a tough battle.
Raghupati (Thirumayam): With a slim winning margin under 1,500 votes, his reelection chances are bleak given changing political tides.
Velmurugan (Panruti): Likely to lose in 2026, reflecting shifting local allegiances.
M.C. Sampath (Cuddalore): A narrow defeat by 5,000 votes in prior elections places him as a contender for a strong comeback in 2026.
AIADMK’s Mixed Fortunes: EPS Holds Fort, Others Face Uncertainty
For the principal opposition AIADMK, the forecast is a tale of two realities. Leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) is predicted to hold his home turf of Edappadi, though Pandey notes a potential challenge if the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) fields a strong candidate.
Edappadi K. Palaniswami (Edappadi): The former Chief Minister won with an approximate 9,300 vote margin in a constituency with a sizable Vanniyar community. While facing challenges including the possible consolidation of opposition factions, he is still tipped to prevail.
However, the analysis highlights internal strife and slim past margins as major hurdles for other AIADMK stalwarts:
Sellur Raju (Madurai West): Despite winning by over 9,000 votes, he may face intense challenges, possibly leading to reduced margins.
KP Munusamy (Veppanahalli) – Won by 3,054 votes) is tipped to lose.
Ponmudi (Thirukoyilur) – Despite a large past win, faces doubt due to legal troubles.
O. Panneerselvam (OPS) (Bodi Nayakkanur): The former CM, remains a “million-dollar question.” His political future is clouded by uncertainty over which party or alliance he will contest from, if at all. In the previous election, he won by approximately 11,000 votes; expected to maintain electoral strength though candidacy remains to be confirmed.
SP Velumani (Thondamuthur) and Kadambur Raju (Kovilpatti) are among the few AIADMK leaders predicted to secure comfortable wins.
Jayakumar (Royapuram): After a sizeable defeat by over 27,000 votes, he may seek alternate constituencies with better prospects.
Kadambur Raju (Kovilpatti): Holds a comfortable margin of 12,400 votes and is projected to win again, though political alignments may cause shifts.
Vijayabhaskar (Viralimalai): Nearly 24,000 vote lead signals a safe seat for him.
K.A. Sengottayan (Gobichettypalayam): A durable political figure with multiple victories, maintaining a strong voter base.
BJP’s Uphill Battle: Annamalai’s Constituency a Key Question
The analysis underscores the significant challenges facing the BJP in making inroads into the state assembly. While the party is expected to improve its vote share, winning seats remains a tough ask.
The fate of K. Annamalai is a central focus. Pandey notes that Annamalai put up a spirited fight in Aravakurichi in 2021, losing by a narrow margin. However, the analysis strongly suggests he will change his constituency for 2026. His victory, the prediction states, is entirely dependent on which seat he chooses to contest, making it impossible to call at this stage.
Other BJP leaders like Nainar Nagenthiran (Tirunelveli) and MR Gandhi (Nagercoil) are forecast to have a “high chance” or a “safe” win, banking on strong local presence and the potential consolidation of the NDA alliance votes. Conversely, Union Minister L. Murugan is predicted to lose if he contests from Tiruporur again and is advised to seek a different constituency.
Individual Leaders of Interest
Some of the other leaders who are also in the fray include:
Seeman (NTK): Predicted to face defeat if he contests again from Tiruvottiyur. The analysis suggests he will likely change his constituency.
TTV Dhinakaran (AMMK): His prospects are put “on hold,” pending a decision on whether his party will join the NDA alliance or contest alone.
Vijay (TVK): The analysis confirms the actor-politician will contest but labels his chosen constituency a “million-dollar question.” Madurai and the Kongu belt are speculated as potential arenas, with his victory chances entirely dependent on the seat selection.
Congress: The party’s fortunes seem tied to its alliance with the DMK. While a leader like Selvaperunthagai (Sriperumbudur) is predicted to win, Hasan Maulana (Velachery) is forecast to lose.
Manoj Pandian: Navigating intra-party alliances and minority votes, Pandian’s fate depends on broader coalition formations.
V.A. Shanmugam: An influential educationist, he is expected to leverage his local support into electoral success.
Sarathkumar and Radhika: Star power combined with political groundwork makes them prominent candidates, likely to influence multiple constituencies.
Methodology and Caveats
Pandey repeatedly emphasizes that his predictions are not based on fresh polls but are a “rough calculation” derived from past data (2021 results), local caste equations, the strength of party machinery, and the analyst’s own ground-level assessment.
He issues a crucial caveat: these predictions are highly susceptible to change based on:
Alliance Arithmetic: Final seat-sharing agreements between the AIADMK-BJP and within the DMK-led front could drastically alter calculations.
Candidate Changes: A leader switching constituencies or parties, or being replaced by a family member, can upend any prediction.
Rebellion: Internal party rebellions are flagged as a constant threat to sitting MLAs, even those with strongholds.
The Bottom Line
Rangaraj Pandey’s Chanakyaa Analysis sketches a political landscape where the DMK enters the 2026 election as the clear frontrunner, with its core vote base and leadership seemingly secure. The opposition’s best hopes lie in capitalizing on anti-incumbency at the local level, leveraging a strong NDA alliance, and forcing close contests in constituencies where the DMK’s victory margin was thin. However, as of now, the analyst’s crystal ball shows a distinct shade of DMK red across most of Tamil Nadu’s electoral map.
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The Supreme Court on 2 September refused to interfere with a Rajasthan High Court order granting bail to one of the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case.
Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor from Rajasthan’s Udaipur, was brutally murdered in broad daylight in June 2022, allegedly by Mohammad Riyaz Attari and Ghaus Mohammad, a gruesome crime that sent shockwaves across the country. A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma dismissed the special leave petitions (SLPs) filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Yash Teli, the son of the slain tailor Kanhaiya Lal, challenging the Rajasthan High Court order granting bail to the accused Mohammed Javed.
The SLP filed by the deceased’s son said that he was “constrained to approach the Supreme Court” as the Rajasthan High Court, on 5 September 2024, “without properly looking into the facts and circumstances of the case and without properly considering the requirement of Section 43D(5) of UAPA, erroneously allowed the bail application filed by the respondent (Mohammed Javed)”. The plea added that Javed allegedly played a pivotal role in orchestrating the crime. “He was in contact with the main accused prior to the incident and provided information about the deceased’s whereabouts to aid in carrying out the act,” stated the petition, citing witness statements under Section 164 CrPC and call records showing coordination on the day of the killing.
It further argued that the Rajasthan High Court failed to apply the stringent bail restrictions under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). “The Hon’ble High Court has erroneously conducted a mini-trial and questioned the authenticity of the documents relied upon by the Special Judge, Jaipur,” the plea stated.
In November last year, the Supreme Court had agreed to examine the matter and issued notices to the anti-terror agency and the accused, Mohammed Javed.
-IANS
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2 September highlighted India’s robust GDP growth in the April-June quarter despite the challenges in the global market arising due to “economic selfishness”.
The Prime Minister’s remark comes in the backdrop of the tariff turmoil triggered by US President Donald Trump’s policy, which has led to heightened economic uncertainty in global markets. Addressing the SEMICON 2025 event here, PM Modi said, “On the one hand, many of the world’s economies are facing uncertainty and challenges related to economic selfishness. Yet, in this environment, Bharat has achieved a remarkable growth rate of 7.8 per cent,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s oblique reference to Trump’s tariff policy also comes a day after the joint declaration of the heads of member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) which opposed the “unilateral coercive measures, including those of an economic nature, that contravene the UN Charter and other norms of international law, the rules and principles of the World Trade Organisation, damaging the interests of international security, including its food and energy components, negatively affecting the global economy, undermining fair competition, hindering international cooperation and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” the joint declaration states.
The SCO summit, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, adopted a statement on support for the multilateral trading system. The joint declaration agreed to uphold and strengthen an open, transparent, fair, non-discriminatory and multilateral trading system based on universally recognised international principles and rules, which promote the development of an open global economy.
PM Modi said, “The world trusts India. The world believes in India. And the world is ready to build the semiconductor future in India this is the message that Semicon 2025 is sending out to the world,” he said. Affirming that India is moving beyond backend operations and progressing towards becoming a full-stack semiconductor nation, PM Modi reiterated that the day is not far when India’s smallest chip will drive the world’s biggest change. He stated, “Our journey began late… but nothing can stop us now.”
The Prime Minister informed that CG Power’s pilot plant commenced operations on 28 August , just 4-5 days ago. He added that the pilot plant of Kaynes is also about to begin. Test chips from Micron and Tata are already in production. He reiterated that commercial chip production will begin this year, underscoring the rapid progress India is making in the semiconductor sector.
Emphasising that India’s semiconductor success story is not confined to a single vertical or a single technology, PM Modi stated that India is building a comprehensive ecosystem one that encompasses designing, manufacturing, packaging, and high-tech devices, all within the country. He clarified that the Semiconductor Mission is not limited to establishing a single fab or producing a single chip. Rather, India is creating a robust semiconductor ecosystem that will make the nation self-reliant and globally competitive, the Prime Minister added.
PM Modi said that India’s rapid growth is infusing new energy across industries and among every citizen. He affirmed that this trajectory of growth is propelling India swiftly towards becoming the third-largest economy in the world. Emphasising that in the semiconductor sector, speed matters, PM Modi said, “The shorter the time from file to factory, and the lesser the paperwork, the sooner wafer work can begin.” He stressed that the government is working with this very approach. The National Single Window System has been implemented, enabling all approvals from both the Centre and states to be accessed on a single platform. As a result, investors have been freed from extensive paperwork, he further added.
-IANS
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