No convoy of Yatris will move from Jammu to Kashmir on Thursday, as the Amarnath Yatra has been suspended for the day due to heavy rain. Officials stated that, in view of the inclement weather conditions on the Yatra routes, as an abundance of caution, the ongoing yatra convoy will not move from Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu, on this day.
“Due to the heavy rains over in the Yatra area, the movement of pilgrims from the Base camps has been affected. Therefore, it has been decided that no convoy movement shall be allowed towards the base camps Baltal and Nunwan from Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu on 31st July, 2025. Pilgrims shall be kept informed about the situation in due course of time,” Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar said.
So far, over 3.93 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the Holy Cave Shrine during the Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2025. However, in view of maintenance works required to be carried out on the Pahalgam Axis of the yatra route following the recent rainfall, the yatra will continue only through the Baltal Axis from Friday.
“Due to the recent heavy rains, urgent repair and maintenance works are required to be carried out on the Pahalgam Axis of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra route. The Yatra shall continue from the Baltal axis from 1st August onwards”, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said. Notably, the yatra from both the base camps (Baltal and Chandanwari/ Nunwan) was suspended due to heavy rain on July 30. So far, more than 3.93 lakh yatris have paid obeisance at the Holy Cave of Shri Amarnathji this year.
This year’s Yatra started on July 3 and will end on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals. The ‘Chhari Mubarak’ (Lord Shiva’s Mace) will start its journey from Amareshwar Temple in Dashnami Akhara building in Srinagar towards the holy cave shrine on August 4 and will reach its destination on August 9 in the morning.
The cave shrine situated 3888 metres above sea level houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon. Devotees believe that the ice stalagmite structure symbolises the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.
-IANS
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After a wait of 17 years, a Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court is set to deliver its verdict in the 2008 Malegaon blast case on 31 July 2025. The court had reserved its judgment on April 19, after completing hearings and final arguments from both the prosecution and the defence.
The court stated that the hearing concluded in April but given the voluminous nature of the case — comprising over one lakh pages of evidence and documentation — additional time is required to go through all records before pronouncing the verdict. All the accused in the case have been instructed to be present in court on the day of the verdict. The court has also warned that action will be taken against any accused who is absent on that day.
A total of seven individuals are facing trial in the case, including Lt Col Prasad Purohit, former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, and retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay. They have been charged under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
All accused are currently out on bail. The blast occurred on September 29, 2008, in Malegaon, a communally sensitive town in Maharashtra, during the holy month of Ramzan and just ahead of Navratri. The explosion claimed six lives and left over 100 people injured.
Over the course of a decade-long trial, the prosecution examined 323 witnesses, 34 of whom turned hostile. Initially, the case was investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). However, in 2011, the probe was handed over to the NIA.
In 2016, the NIA submitted a charge sheet that cleared Pragya Singh Thakur and several other accused, citing insufficient evidence. The verdict, issued almost 17 years after the incident, is highly anticipated and is likely to have important legal and political consequences.
-IANS
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US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Indian time) declared that the United States has struck a deal with Pakistan to jointly develop what he described as “massive oil reserves”, with a suggestion that this oil could eventually be exported to India. The announcement came just a day after Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Indian goods and warned of additional penalties over India’s continued oil and arms trade with Russia.
Posting on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote, “We have just concluded a deal with the country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive oil reserves. We are in the process of choosing the oil company that will lead this partnership. Who knows, maybe they’ll be selling oil to India someday!”
The statement comes just after Trump announced 25% tariffs on Indian exports and hinted at further economic pressure in response to New Delhi’s continued engagement with Russia for crude oil and defence supplies. In his post, Trump also said he is engaged in negotiations with multiple countries seeking reductions in tariffs.
“We are very busy in the White House today working on trade deals. I have spoken to the leaders of many countries, all of whom want to make the United States ‘extremely happy’,” he said. He mentioned a meeting scheduled with the South Korean trade delegation and noted that Seoul currently faces a 25 per cent tariff rate. “They have an offer to buy down those tariffs. I will be interested in hearing what that offer is,” he added. Trump asserted that such deals would help reduce America’s trade deficit, promising a full report “at the appropriate time.”
Responding to a reporter’s question on the newly imposed Indian tariffs and broader tensions, Trump reiterated his dissatisfaction with India’s role in BRICS, a group of emerging economies comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and several recent entrants. “Well, we are negotiating right now, and it’s also BRICS. BRICS, which is basically a group of countries that are anti the United States and India is a member of that if you can believe it… It is an attack on the dollar, and we are not going to let anybody attack the dollar. So it’s partially BRICS and it’s partially trade,” Trump said. He indicated that ongoing discussions with India might yield clarity “by the end of this week.”
-IANS
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Stock Market savvy, financial expert… nope! Congress member Anand Srinivasan in a video published in his YouTube Channel ‘Makkal Pechu’ has made several misleading and factually incorrect statements regarding Operation Sindoor, India’s counter-terror strike in response to the Pahalgam massacre. His remarks not only misrepresent the government’s actions but also echo Pakistan’s propaganda. Here’s a breakdown of his claims and why they are wrong.
Claim: “Why did India call Pakistan 10 minutes before the strike? You don’t warn your enemy before attacking!”
Truth: No such “warning” was given. Operation Sindoor was a surgical strike on terror camps, not a declaration of war. India followed international protocols by limiting the strike to terrorist targets, avoiding military escalation. After the operation, India informed Pakistan via diplomatic channels that the strikes were limited to terror infrastructure (not military targets) and that India had no intention of further escalation.
By doing so, India made it clear this was not an act of war but a counter-terror operation.
Srinivasan keeps going back and forth about this – at times he claims India warned Pakistan before the attack and then says India informed after the attack.
Claim: “But what does the Geneva Convention say? You should inform them of the war before you go.”
Truth: This is factually incorrect. The Geneva Conventions govern humanitarian treatment of civilians and prisoners during war, not the requirement to notify an enemy before launching a military strike. There is no legal obligation under international law to notify the opposing side before a limited strike, particularly in asymmetric warfare or counterterrorism operations. Srinivasan’s claim implies India violated war protocols, when in fact, pre-strike notifications would be militarily absurd and strategically self-defeating.
Claim:“Pakistan used the information you gave to the Chinese, you gave your location, up to the satellite location, and the Chinese hit 5 planes.”
Truth: This is a serious and unfounded accusation. Srinivasan claims that China provided satellite data that led to the downing of an Indian aircraft, without offering a shred of evidence. No government or credible news outlet has confirmed such an occurrence nor did any of our assets get damaged – as confirmed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the Parliament yesterday. The claim irresponsibly fuels public paranoia about collusion without verifiable proof.
Claim: “Israel first destroys radars before striking Iran. Why didn’t India do the same?”
Truth: Israel-Iran dynamics ≠ India-Pakistan. Israel faces state-sponsored Iranian proxies; India was targeting non-state terror groups (LeT/TRF). India’s goal was measured, precise and non-escalatory – destroying terror infrastructure without provoking full-scale war. Attacking Pakistan’s air defenses would have triggered a wider conflict, which was not the objective. Advocating for direct military confrontation with Pakistan ignores India’s calibrated, successful strategy of deterrence without war.
Claim: “All the hands of those involved in the war, namely Operation Sindoor, were tied behind their backs.”
Truth: This is a repetition of a politically motivated narrative, not a verified fact. Military officials and defense ministry briefings have repeatedly stated that operational autonomy was granted during Operation Sindoor. Rahul Gandhi raised concerns over constraints, but Srinivasan treats this as established fact, without examining contradictory official statements.
Claim: “Five planes have fallen.”
Truth: All through the episode, Srinivasan keeps repeating this lie that was peddled by POTUS Donald Trump amplifying Pakistani propaganda. As mentioned, Defence Minister confirmed that India did not lose or was there any damage to any important asset. If there were, why are there no media reports on wreckage?
Claim: “China gave Pakistan satellite data to track Indian jets. Why didn’t India anticipate this?”
Truth: Zero evidence supports this claim. No Indian jets were lost in Operation Sindoor. India’s strikes were swift and precise, with no reported aircraft losses. If Srinivasan has proof, he should present it – otherwise, this is pure speculation aiding anti-India propaganda. Simply citing his leader Rahul Gandhi over and over again does not become proof.
Claim: “Modi spoke to JD Vance before the ceasefire. Was the US dictating terms? Why did you not speak to Trump? Manmohan Singh spoke to Bush; Vajpayee spoke to Clinton after the war. “
Truth: Diplomatic talks ≠ surrender. India has always engaged with global stakeholders during crises (e.g., Vajpayee-Clinton during Kargil). It was not a ceasefire, but a temporary pause, was based on India’s terms – Pakistan was forced to beg India to stop the retaliation after Indian missiles nearly hit the nuclear bases and had decimated the Pakistani airbases. No evidence suggests Trump “pressured” India. Trump has been trumpeting his “peace” theory everywhere, does not make it the truth.
Claim: “You hit Pakistan first.”
Truth: India hit terror bases in Pakistan as a retaliation for Pahalgam terror attack. Following this, Pakistan launched drone attacks across the length of the border which was successfully shielded by our robust air defence system. India retaliated every time and did not hit Pakistan first any time. He falsely compares Kargil war to Operation Sindoor.
Claim: “Pakistan DGMO said their army is positioned at specific vector position ready to attack us, – Pakistan DGMO told Indian DGMO. If China didnt give the satellite images, how did the Pakistani DGMO know this?”
Truth: It is not clear what Srinivasan is referring to. In general, using open-source technology, anyone will know the approximate location of armed forces bases. There is no necessity for any specific satellite information for this. Also, there is no record of such a conversation available in public domain.
Claim: “Do you remember Jaishankar did not get invitation to Trump’s inauguration? He was waiting for a long time to get one. We ultimately did not get one.”
Truth: On 12 January 2025, it was announced that EAM S Jaishankar was invited to represent India at Trump’s inauguration, and he was given the front row seat.
Claim: “In 2008, after the attack, Shivraj Patil, the then-Home Minister resigned. Did Rajnath Singh take responsibility? Did Amit Shah take responsibility? Why didn’t they resign?”
Truth: While demanding accountability is legitimate, Srinivasan uses it inconsistently. He implies only BJP ministers must resign, ignoring that such resignations are rare across party lines unless under extreme pressure. He also omits context about wartime unity, national morale, and the complexity of resignations during active operations. If someone resigns, it is not easy to get a replacement, a competent one at that to carry on the work done by the predecessor. Is it not enough to exact revenge and put things in place, rather than resign like a coward?
Claim: “America sent 7th fleet (during 1971 war), did Indira Gandhi run away like a coward? Did she not go and meet Nixon and threaten him in Washington?”
Truth: Well, yes she begged USA like a coward. Srinivasan might want to read the letter she sent to Nixon. In her 5 December 1971 letter to US President Richard Nixon, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi reported that Pakistan had launched a large-scale, premeditated air and ground attack across India’s western border. She described the grave danger facing India and framed the war as a result of Pakistan’s military aggression following the Bangladesh liberation movement. Declaring a state of emergency, she emphasized India’s right to defend its sovereignty and democratic ideals. Gandhi urged Nixon to use his influence to persuade Pakistan to halt its aggression and address the root cause of the conflict—the humanitarian crisis in East Bengal. You can read more here.
Claim: “In 2008, they shot down all the terrorists and caught one alive. He was also given death sentence. Now you have killed 3 people and saying they are the terrorists. What is the proof? Will you accept if I did the same?”
Truth: For starters, in 2008, it was by the supreme sacrifice of Tukaram Omble that Ajmal Kasab, who wore the Hindu kalava, was caught alive, that we knew that Pakistan was behind the 26/11 terror attack. The then-Home Minister and the Congress supporters then started peddling the “Hindu terror” lie. Coming back to 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the proof that helped determine who the eliminated terrorists were. Why does Srinivasan want more proof? Why is he following his senior leaders in giving a clean chit to Pakistan?
Claim: “How did the terrorists come inside 250 km into India?”
Truth: To answer Srinivasan – with the help of what they call “over ground workers”! The terrorists neutralized in Operation Mahadev were seen to be well fed, having surplus ration and everything else. Now Srinivasan, go figure.
Claim: “Now why are you playing a match in Asia Cup?”
Truth: Yes, it is a fact that India was playing against Pakistan in the upcoming series. But sources say that India is withdrawing from the series.
It seems that Srinivasan does not have the patience to listen to the EAM S Jaishankar, HM Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh nor the Prime Minister Modi himself. Despite them having answered all his questions, he keeps parroting them to make himself feel relevant. And he fails big time.
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Charmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “diplomatic spell”, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and Sri Lankan President Anura Dissanayake – two leaders who backed a strong anti-India policy before coming to power in their respective nations now seem to have made a major shift in their approach towards New Delhi, the Lankan media cited on 30 July 2025.
The observations were made during Dissanayake’s ongoing 28-30 July State Visit to the Maldives which took place almost immediately after PM Modi’s landmark visit to Male, last week. “With the end of Modi’s visit to the Maldives, Sri Lanka’s pro-China JVP leader, President Anura, has gone to the Maldives at the invitation of the Maldivian President. What happened to Anura, and to the JVP, is the same as what happened to the Maldivian President. They also showed a strong anti-India policy before coming to power,” a report by Lankan media outlet Mawrata News stated.
Last December, Dissanayake, while visiting India on what was his first official foreign visit since assuming office, had thanked India for its “immense support” during the unprecedented economic crisis and also assured Prime Minister Modi that he will not allow the island nation to be used in any way that is detrimental to the interest of India.
On 25 July, PM Modi arrived in Male on a two-day State Visit to participate in the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour. This was Prime Minister Modi’s third visit to Maldives he had visited the Indian Ocean archipelago in 2018 and 2019, earlier – and the first by a Head of State or Government to Maldives during the Presidency of Mohamed Muizzu which began in November 2023.
In a special gesture, President Muizzu had welcomed PM Modi at the airport in Male as he arrived from the United Kingdom. Maldives Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Finance Minister and Minister of Homeland Security were also present at the airport to welcome PM Modi. Breaking with tradition, Muizzu had not made India his first State Visit after assuming the presidency, signalling a clear shift in his foreign policy. He also permitted the Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 3 perceived as a surveillance ship to dock in its waters, raising Indian concerns about potential data collection by Chinese to support submarine operations in the region.
However, Muizzu’s Five-day State Visit to India in October – his second trip to the country in four months after having also attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi – highlighted a significant diplomatic shift. Muizzu, who previously backed an “India Out” campaign in the Indian Ocean archipelago, now sought to navigate the complex relations while balancing the country’s ties with China. This year already, in the first six months, New Delhi has seen nearly half a dozen ministerial level visits from the Maldives. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar’s very first engagement in 2025 was with the Foreign Minister of Maldives.
“Modi’s view of Maldives was that of a younger brother who is angry with his older brother and would come back to him after the anger is over. Modi was right. Finally, the Maldivian President went to India to seek Modi’s help in resolving the Maldivian economic crisis. Modi also forgot the old grudge and helped him,” reported Mawrata News.
-IANS
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There was a furore in Odisha over the sale of a doormat featuring Lord Jagannath’s image on a Chinese e-commerce platform, with several people across the social and political spectrum condemning the act.
Senior BJP leader and Kendrapara MP, Baijayant Panda, on Wednesday condemned the sale of the doormat, calling it deeply offensive. The BJP strongman also smelled a deeper conspiracy behind this sacrilegious act by the Chinese company, which has already been banned in India. He emphasised the need for action against @AliExpress_EN to ensure it faces consequences for its offensive conduct.
“Outraged to see the sacred image of Mahaprabhu Jagannath on a doormat that @AliExpress_EN is selling. As an Odia and one among millions of devotees, this is unacceptable. I see a deeper conspiracy by this Chinese e-commerce site, already banned in India. It’s just the latest in a long line of foreign entities who have kept trying over centuries to belittle Sanatan Dharma and demean its followers. If the seller does not walk this back, several steps must be taken to make it regret its stand,” asserted Panda.
After the issue came to the fore, devotees of Lord Jagannath, political leaders, priests and servitors of Jagannath temple criticised the selling of such objectionable doormats on the Chinese e-commerce platform.
“Absolutely unacceptable! The use of Lord Jagannath’s sacred image on doormats by Chinese e-commerce giant AliExpress is a disgraceful insult to Hindu Sanatan sentiments of people in Bharat and Bharatiyas around the world. I demand an immediate public apology and removal of the product. Until then, I urge not just Hindus but everyone worldwide to boycott AliExpress. We won’t tolerate disrespect to our deities,” posted BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar.
Congress MLA Sofia Firdous also condemned the selling of doormats featuring Lord Jagannath calling it a grave insult to millions of devotees. “Strongly condemn the blasphemous act of selling doormats with the sacred image of Lord Jagannath on @AliExpress_EN. This is a grave insult to millions of devotees and a serious attack on cultural and religious sentiments. Immediate action must be taken to remove the listing and issue a public apology,” wrote Firdous.
Noted sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik also demanded the enactment of stringent laws to stop such objectionable depictions of Lord Jagannath on e-commerce sites and other digital platforms. He also stated that these repeated incidents of disrespect to Lord Jagannath are hurting the sentiments of lakhs of Jagannath devotees across the globe.
-IANS
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The West Bengal Police, on 30 July, arrested a Bangladeshi national from Canning in South 24 Parganas district, who had been living in the country for the last 16 years, police said. The police have said that the person, who had been identified as Akbar Ali Mollah, had voter identity cards from both Bangladesh and India.
According to the police, Akbar had been living in Madhukhali Bhandaripara of Itkhola Gram Panchayat under Canning police station for the last 16 years. Acting on a tip-off, the police officers from Canning police station reached his residence late 29 July night.
After a 29 July night-long questioning, Akbar was finally arrested on Wednesday morning. “A Bangladeshi voter card was recovered from the arrested person. The name on that card is Mohammad Akbar Ali Ghazi. However, he was known in India as Akbar Ali Mollah. He will be produced in a district court today. We will pray for his custody to investigate the matter further,” a district police official said.
During the police questioning, the arrested person said that his ‘real home’ was in Satkhira in Bangladesh. The police are trying to find out how Akbar came to India, how he managed to get an Indian identity card, and finally get his name registered on the voters’ list. Efforts are being made to collect all that information from the arrested person. The police also said that strict measures will be taken against anyone for aiding and abetting infiltration and sheltering infiltrators in Bengal.
An investigation is also underway to find out whether there is any ‘agent cycle’ behind this, whose task is to arrange for fake Indian identity documents for illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators. The arrest assumed significance as the BJP has been accusing the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal of sheltering infiltrators such as Bangladeshi Muslims and Rohingyas. Last month, the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer’s Office told that a thorough investigation removed the name of Newton Das, the youth who was active in the student ‘movement’ in Bangladesh last year and featured as a registered voter in the Kakdwip Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district, has been finally removed from the voters’ list.
-IANS
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An overground worker (OGW) of terrorists was arrested with three pistols in J&K’s Jammu district while he was travelling towards Srinagar in a private vehicle, police said on 30 July.
The youth, identified as Azan Hameed Gazi, son of Abdul Hameed Gazi of Qamarwari area in Srinagar, was arrested after arms and ammunition were recovered from his possession during a check in the Nagrota area of the district on 29th July night.
“Based on specific input, a party from the police station Nagrota laid a special ‘Naka’ (checkpost) at TCP Bypass, Nagrota at around 9.20 p.m. yesterday. During checking, a car, which was heading towards Srinagar from Jammu, was intercepted. During the search of the vehicle, police recovered three pistols, three empty magazines, eight live cartridges, and two empty cartridges from the possession of the driver,” a police official said.
The driver was arrested, an FIR under relevant sections of the Arms Act registered at Police Station Nagrota, and further investigation is going on, the official added. Security forces have intensified their operations against the terrorists, OGWs and terror sympathisers in the hinterland, while the army has been maintaining a 24X7 vigil on the line of control (LoC) to thwart any infiltration from across the border into J&K.
Earlier in the day, under ‘Operation Shivshakti”, the army killed two LeT terrorists on the LoC in Poonch district when an infiltration bid was successfully foiled. On Monday, under Operation Mahadev, three LeT hardcore Pakistani terrorists who carried out the Pahalgam killing of 26 civilians on 22 April, were killed by a joint security forces team.
The three LeT terrorists were identified as Suleman Shah, Abu Hamza, and Jibran Bhai. They were cornered and killed on the foot of the Mahadev mountain peak in the upper reaches of the Dachigam National Park in the Harwan area of Srinagar. Incidentally, the major success came as the Parliament began a debate on the Pahalgam massacre and ‘Operation Sindoor”.
-IANS
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BJP leader Dr. SG Suryah who was earlier the State Secretary of BJP Tamil Nadu has been made the President of the party’s youth wing in the state.
Dr. Suryah holds the distinction of being the youngest ever to be appointed as State Secretary in BJP Tamil Nadu, a position he assumed in May 2022 at the age of 31. His new role as the BJYM chief is seen as part of the party’s efforts to energize its youth base and strengthen its cadre at the ground level, especially ahead of the 2026 state elections and future Lok Sabha polls.
An advocate by profession, Dr. Suryah completed his law degree from ILS Law College, Pune, and is a qualified Company Secretary. He also holds a doctorate in corporate law from Vels University, with his research focusing on corporate social responsibility under the Companies Act, 2013. He is widely recognized for combining academic depth with political acumen during his debates.
Dr. Suryah has also earned international recognition. In 2023, he was selected for the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), a flagship professional exchange program run by the U.S. State Department. Notably, the IVLP has previously hosted towering Indian leaders like former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1960 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 1993.
In addition to the IVLP, he has represented India in global youth delegations—visiting Israel in 2018 and South Korea in 2019 as part of government-sponsored leadership exchanges. These international experiences have helped shape his global outlook while reinforcing his commitment to India’s democratic and civilizational values.
Beyond politics, Dr. Suryah is a prolific writer, having authored seven books before turning 30. These include biographies in Tamil of social worker Palam Kalyanasundaram and political figures like Veer Savarkar and Yogi Adityanath. He is also a regular columnist and television panelist, often voicing strong positions on national and Tamil Nadu-specific issues. He is known for his sharp critiques of the DMK with data points.
Dr. Suryah began his political journey as a swayamsevak in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and joined the BJP formally on his 18th birthday. He has been active in multiple state and national election campaigns since 2012, including digital strategy work for the BJP in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
His elevation as the youth wing president is being seen as a strategic move by the BJP to nurture a new generation of articulate, rooted, and globally-aware leaders in Tamil Nadu. Party insiders believe his combination of intellectual heft, ideological clarity, and on-ground experience makes him a key figure in the BJP’s future plans for the state.
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Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of communal polarisation by naming military and security operations after Hindu symbols. His remarks, made while responding to a query on ‘Operation Mahadev‘, have drawn sharp criticism from BJP leaders.
Chavan alleged that the BJP was injecting religious fundamentalism into national security matters. “They know nothing except naming operations after religious symbols. They inject religious fundamentalism into everything they do. I have read about wars in different countries. Though I am not a historian, but whether it’s world wars or any other war, has anyone used Christian (name for operations)?” he said.
The Congress leader was referring to ‘Operation Mahadev’ – the codename given to the joint operation by the Indian Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police to eliminate terrorists involved in the Pahalgam massacre in April 2025.
“They (BJP) want to mix Hindutva in whatever they do. They are trying to polarise the situation into a Hindu versus Muslim conflict,” Chavan said in a statement to PTI Videos.
Chavan also questioned the significance of the codename ‘Operation Sindoor’, used for India’s military response in May against Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack. “Operation Sindoor — what does it mean? It’s only a Hindu concept, not a world concept. Name of operation doesn’t matter as wars are won when one nation’s planes are attacked and ones destroyed,” he said.
He expressed disappointment with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s speech during Monday’s Parliament debate on the operation. “A discussion on Operation Sindoor is happening after a long time. I heard a few speeches. I was disappointed with the speech of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. We were expecting some facts to come to the fore. There were talks about our jets getting downed (during the conflict), they accepted it happened. When asked how many (jets) were downed, there was no answer,” he stated.
Chavan questioned the government’s claim that over 100 terrorists were killed in the operation and called for transparency regarding Indian losses. “They accepted losses (of fighter jets) happened. CDS Anil Chauhan had said that. (American) President Donald Trump had also said (about jet losses). Are they fearing that when we have spent a lot on Rafale jets, they were downed by Chinese jets (used by Pakistan)?” he said. “Who will challenge them. If I say thousands or two thousands (terrorists) were killed. It’s your figure… is there any evidence of such things?” he asked.
Responding to Chavan’s remarks, BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan called them “most deplorable and shocking.”
In a post on X, Kesavan wrote, “Most deplorable and shocking remarks by Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan, who says the names Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev denote religious fundamentalism. For the Communal Congress, sacred Sindoor and Lord Mahadev symbolise polarisation? What an appalling wretched mindset.”
He further cited national mottos and armed forces’ traditions with roots in Hindu scriptures. “सत्यमेव जयते [Satyameva Jayate] inscribed on our national symbol is from the Mundaka Upanishad. The motto of the Indian Navy ‘शं नो वरुणः’ (Sham No Varunah) is from the Rig Veda. So for the Communal Congress, are सत्यमेव जयते and शं नो वरुणः signs of religious fundamentalism?”
Kesavan demanded an apology from Chavan, stating, “Shame on the Congress party and Mr. Prithviraj Chavan ought to apologise to the armed forces and our nation immediately else it will go on to prove the entire Congress leadership agrees with his dangerous divisive mentality.”
Most deplorable and shocking remarks by Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan, who says the names Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev denote religious fundamentalism. For the Communal Congress sacred Sindoor and Lord Mahadev symbolise polarisation ? What an appalling… pic.twitter.com/0elxhp3ELc
