Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gourav Vallabh, who joined the party in 2024 after quitting the Congress, criticized Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge over his recent remarks against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Vallabh described Kharge as a “living example of a ‘nepo kid’ in politics,” saying he owed his position entirely to family connections.
“Priyank Kharge is a living example of a ‘nepo kid’ in politics. He is in politics only because his father is the President of the Congress Party. Otherwise, what is his contribution to Karnataka? Has he made any contribution to Karnataka’s literature, culture, education, or development model? Nothing at all. His only ‘achievement’ is that he was born into the family of Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress President,” Vallabh said.
Continuing his attack, he added, “He has no knowledge of India’s history, no understanding of the RSS’s contributions, nor of the Congress Party’s own history. He is the type of kid who goes ‘papa papa’. When such kids get upset or angry, they should be given a chocolate. They don’t have the right to question because they do not know that the RSS has worked in every corner of India to spread patriotic thoughts. They are unaware of what kind of work the RSS did for unity, because these are the ‘papa papa’ kids.”
VIDEO | Reacting to Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge’s remark over RSS, BJP leader Gourav Vallabh says, “Priyank Kharge is a living example of a ‘nepo kid’ in politics. He is in politics only because his father is the President of the Congress Party. Otherwise, what is his… pic.twitter.com/0slBz6CaAX
Vallabh, a former Congress spokesperson and academic, joined the BJP at its headquarters in Delhi after resigning from the Congress in 2024. In his resignation letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, he cited “directionless” leadership and the party’s silence on remarks made against Sanatan Dharma by members of the INDIA bloc.
He said, “I was hurt by my party’s silence when some prominent leaders in the INDIA bloc made unsavoury remarks against Sanatan. I also publicly opposed our party’s stand on Ram Mandir (the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Lord Ram Lalla in Ayodhya). I am a Hindu by birth and a teacher by profession. This stance of the party has always irritated and troubled me. Many people associated with the party and (INDIA) alliance speak against Sanatan Dharma and the party’s silence on it is like giving it tacit approval.”
Vallabh, who contested the 2023 Rajasthan Assembly elections from Udaipur, had earlier made his electoral debut in 2019 from Jamshedpur East in Jharkhand. He said he could “neither raise anti-Sanatana slogans nor abuse the wealth creators of the country,” adding that he felt “suffocated” by the Congress’s economic positions.
Drug smuggling in Tamil Nadu continues to escalate, with cannabis remaining the most trafficked narcotic across the state, according to recent enforcement data. Large consignments are being brought in from Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Manipur, Karnataka, and Goa, despite multiple crackdowns by law enforcement agencies.
Between 2021 and 2025, authorities registered 45,800 prosecutions and made 68,055 arrests, seizing more than 1.09 lakh kilograms of cannabis and 2,091 kilograms of other narcotics including synthetic drugs and psychotropic substances.
Officials note that the sustained rise in smuggling indicates the presence of organised interstate networks, particularly operating through coastal and border districts. Keezhakkarai in Ramanathapuram, due to its proximity to the Gulf of Mannar, has emerged as a vulnerable corridor for gold, ganja, and synthetic drug trafficking.
Former Minister M. Manikandan, speaking at an AIADMK event in Keezhakkarai, also raised alarm over the issue, alleging that “there is rampant smuggling of drugs, ganja, and gold through Keezhakkarai,” and that narcotic-laced products are being sold near schools, posing a serious threat to public safety.
Law enforcement agencies have intensified patrols in high-risk coastal areas and are expanding coordination with neighbouring states. However, the steady increase in both seizures and arrests suggests that Tamil Nadu remains a major hub in the regional narcotics supply chain.
The recent death of 24-year-old software engineer Anandu Aji from Ponkunnam, Kottayam, has been prematurely projected in the media as a suicide caused by sexual harassment allegedly experienced in an RSS training camp. However, a closer examination of the facts, using legal reasoning and scientific analysis, reveals several inconsistencies, procedural lapses, and political motivations that demand a thorough and unbiased investigation rather than hasty conclusions.
Anandu left home on the night of 10 October 2025 and was later found dead in a lodge room in Thampanoor, Thiruvananthapuram, a location geographically distant from his native place. The police did not find any ligature marks, injuries, or physical signs typically associated with suicide, which is why the case was registered as an “unnatural death under suspicious circumstances,” not as a confirmed suicide. Importantly, the post-mortem findings have not been publicly released, and the exact cause and method of death remain undisclosed. Despite this, various media houses and political entities, particularly aligned with the Congress party, immediately promoted a narrative blaming the RSS, even before the commencement of a formal forensic investigation. This indicates a pre-meditated narrative rather than evidence-based reporting.
The central basis of the allegation is a purported suicide note posted on his Instagram account as a “scheduled post.” The fact that it was not handwritten but typed and auto-published raises significant cyber forensic concerns. A scheduled post means the content was preset to be published at a future time. This leads to several critical questions: Did Anandu himself schedule the post, or did someone else have access to his account? Was the content altered or manipulated before publishing? What device and IP address were used? Until digital forensics verifies authorship, timestamp integrity, and device usage, the post cannot be treated as conclusive or legally admissible evidence. Furthermore, the content of the post itself lacks specific details, naming only an unidentified “NM” and vaguely referring to others, without providing full names, dates, or concrete incidents. In most genuine suicide cases, especially involving educated individuals who wish to ensure justice, the victim typically names the perpetrators explicitly. The vagueness of the post suggests either coaching, manipulation, or incomplete authorship, further making its credibility questionable.
Additionally, the deceased’s behavior prior to death contradicts typical suicidal patterns. The post reportedly contains systematic financial planning, including instructions to liquidate mutual funds, share market investments, and digital gold, and settle liabilities with the assistance of friends. Individuals experiencing acute suicidal intent rarely engage in rational, long-term financial planning, which suggests either emotional stability or external pressure. There is also no documented history of prior suicide attempts or psychiatric treatment, which further undermines the assumption of impulsive suicide. The most striking behavioral anomaly is the choice of location: Why would an individual travel over 150 km from his hometown to Thiruvananthapuram and book a lodge room to die? In many suspicious deaths in India, hotels and lodges are often used in cases involving third-party involvement or staged suicides. Therefore, CCTV footage, hotel visitor logs, room access data, and mobile call records must be examined to determine if another person was present before his death.
A crucial but largely ignored aspect is the family and social context. Anandu’s father was an RSS swayamsevak, and the family had long-standing ties with the organization. Though Anandu distanced himself from RSS approximately 7–8 years ago, there is no record of him raising any formal complaint or grievance against the organization. In contrast, his sister, Anjita Aji, married a Muslim man named Anjil Bashir, which the family initially opposed. However, Anandu strongly supported this inter-religious marriage and had similarly supported another relative in a similar situation. His Instagram post also references support for his sister’s marriage and clarifies that she or her husband should not be blamed for his death. This indicates that family or societal tensions around interfaith relationships may exist and could form an alternative motive or pressure point, which the media has completely ignored in favor of a politically convenient RSS-centered narrative.
Despite being targeted, the RSS has responded responsibly and transparently. The organization expressed condolences, confirmed its long-standing relationship with the family, and demanded a full, impartial investigation into both the death and the alleged suicide note. The Kottayam unit of RSS formally submitted a petition to the district police, seeking verification of the post through cyber forensic analysis and investigation into the suspicious circumstances of the death. It is uncommon for any accused organization to demand forensic scrutiny unless confident of its innocence, which further indicates that the allegations may be false, fabricated, or politically motivated.
In conclusion, neither the cause of death nor the authenticity of the alleged suicide note has been conclusively established. There is no forensic, medical, or legal evidence proving that Anandu died by suicide, nor is there any verified evidence implicating the RSS. On the contrary, there are multiple red flags indicating possible manipulation, third-party involvement, or alternative motives that demand scientific examination. Under the principles of natural justice, presumption of innocence, and due process, no individual or organization can be held liable based solely on unverified digital content or media speculation. A comprehensive forensic investigation, including autopsy transparency, cyber analysis, CCTV examination, and witness testimony, is essential to uncover the truth. Until then, politically driven narratives must be rejected in favor of facts, evidence, and the rule of law.
This article was originally published in AriseBharat and has been republished here with permission.
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The Supreme Court on 14 October 2025 heard the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) case regarding a massive, alleged liquor scam involving the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC), during which the central probe agency detailed the scale of “rampant corruption” and the discovery of incriminating evidence.
The hearing saw the ED, represented by Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, defend its investigation into what it claims are large-scale irregularities. The agency argued that despite the state government filing 47 police cases, the corruption continued, necessitating its probe into the money laundering aspect.
“There are 47 police cases… there are large-scale irregularities, large-scale corruption. We are only investigating the money laundering aspect. These are all predicate offences,” Raju told a bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai.
The ED’s investigation, which included two sets of raids in March, allegedly uncovered evidence of a major scam. The agency has claimed it found unaccounted cash worth a staggering ₹1,000 crore. Furthermore, it stated it seized “incriminating” data related to corporate postings, and transport and bar licence tenders, as well as indent orders ‘favouring’ a few distilleries.
Crucially, the ED presented what it called “evidence” of fraudulent pricing, specifically surcharges of ₹10 to ₹30 per bottle sold by TASMAC outlets, imposed with the “involvement” of TASMAC officials. In a subsequent raid, the agency claimed to have found ‘manipulated data’ indicating cheating during the award of tenders.
The DMK-run state government and TASMAC had approached the Supreme Court to challenge the Madras High Court’s order that green-lit the ED’s action. Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Mukul Rohatgi, arguing for the state, questioned the ED’s jurisdiction and its methods.
“We already filed FIRs… Why are they (the ED) coming in-between when we have already filed FIRs and we are investigating?” Sibal argued. Rohatgi raised concerns over privacy, asking, “What happens to the right to privacy of TASMAC staff… how could they detain mobiles of the staff? Women employees were held back…”
The bench itself raised pointed questions about the federal structure of the country. “What happens to the federal structure? Are you not taking away the state government’s right to investigate?” the Chief Justice asked, also referencing a section of the PMLA that requires the ED to share evidence of other crimes with the relevant state authority.
This is the second time in six months the top court has questioned the ED on this case. In a previous hearing in May 2025, Chief Justice Gavai had told the agency, “You may register cases against individuals… but corporations? Your ED is passing all limits!”
The case has significant political ramifications, erupting as Tamil Nadu’s political parties prepare for next year’s Assembly poll. While the ED insists it is investigating a major financial scam, the ruling DMK has consistently accused the agency of a “political vendetta” aimed at maligning the state government.
The Kerala Communist government has intervened in a dispute at St. Rita’s Public School in Palluruthy, Kochi, after a Muslim eighth-standard student was barred from wearing a hijab. General Education Minister V. Sivankutty on Tuesday directed the Christian-run private school to permit the student to continue her studies while wearing her religious headscarf and sought an explanation from the management for violating her rights.
The minister said the school’s actions caused mental distress to the student and her parents and constituted a “serious lapse” under the Right to Education Act. Citing an inquiry report by the Ernakulam Deputy Director of Education, Sivankutty stated that the incident amounted to a breach of constitutional rights guaranteeing freedom of religion.
He ordered the school principal and management to address the harm caused and submit a report by 11 AM on Wednesday. “No student should face such hardship in Kerala, which upholds secular values,” Sivankutty said, adding that no educational institution will be permitted to violate constitutional protections.
The report found that the student’s removal from class over her hijab was unlawful, prompting the minister to instruct that she be allowed to attend classes wearing it. However, the school has been given the authority to decide on the colour and design of the headscarf as part of the uniform.
The controversy began when the school declared a two-day holiday on Monday after tensions escalated between the management and the student’s parents. A letter by Principal Sister Heleena Alby, circulated on social media, cited “mental stress” among staff and students following pressure from the student, her parents, and outsiders.
Meanwhile, a PTA representative alleged that the girl’s parents were supported by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) as reported in NDTV, whose members allegedly misbehaved with school authorities, most of whom are nuns. Earlier, Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden said the student’s father was ready to allow his daughter to continue her education in line with school norms.
In the wake of yet another tragic cough syrup scandal that claimed the lives of children in India, platforms like The News Minute and its “journalists” like Pooja Prasanna have positioned themselves as fearless crusaders against a failed system. Their narrative, however, is not one of impartial investigation but of a carefully curated, politically convenient hit job. While rightly slamming systemic failures, they perform all kinds of acrobatics to shield their political master – the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu from the very scrutiny they demand of others.
While she proudly claims that “the truth in the Madhya Pradesh case came out only after the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Drugs Control tested the samples and found them containing nearly 50% Diethylene Glycol (DEG),” she conveniently pushes the blame squarely on the Central and Madhya Pradesh government – lucky for her both are BJP! She said, “But the Madhya Pradesh FDA cleared Coldrif claiming it was free of contamination. The Union Health Ministry repeated the scheme without conducting its own tests.”
Well, the TN Directorate did the tests only after the children died because the origin of the cough syrup was a manufacturer in TN!
The manufacturer of the deadly ‘Coldrif’ syrup, Sresan Pharmaceuticals, operated out of Tamil Nadu. The license to manufacture drugs, a sacred trust to protect human life, was granted to this company by the Tamil Nadu drug regulatory authorities, which operate under the TN government’s Health Department – now the ruling government is the DMK.
Before a drug can kill children in Madhya Pradesh, it must first be produced unsafely in its home state. The primary, most fundamental layer of regulation rests with the state licensing authority.
Under India’s Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and its rules, the manufacturer (production unit) is legally required to test all raw materials, intermediates, and finished formulations.
Each batch must pass quality control (QC) before release.
The company’s in-house or approved lab conducts these tests for purity, potency, identity, and contamination.
Only after satisfactory results and batch release certificates can the product be marketed or transported to other states.
The Tamil Nadu drug control department, under the DMK government, catastrophically failed in its most basic duty: ensuring that a manufacturer within its jurisdiction was not producing poison. This is the ground-zero failure.
The “Political Donations” Angle: A Reckless And Unsubstantiated Allegation
Pooja Prasanna tries to establish that pharma companies donate to political parties and that some of these companies have violations. However, it does not provide a single piece of evidence that a specific donation led to a specific regulatory favor, such as a dropped investigation or a waived inspection. It implies a direct quid pro quo without proving it. This is the most contentious part from an Indian perspective, as it veers into unsubstantiated conspiracy theory.
The report presents the regulatory system as a monolithic failure. However, India’s drug regulation is a federal matter, primarily implemented by State Drug Control authorities.
The report heavily implies that political donations directly buy immunity from prosecution. However, it provides zero evidence linking a specific donation from a violating company to a specific regulatory favor. In India, where political funding is a complex and legal activity, this is a serious allegation made without concrete proof.
It states that 7 of the 35 donating companies were “under investigation.” Being under investigation is not a conviction. Due process is a cornerstone of any democracy, including India’s. To insinuate that all companies under investigation are guilty and are bribing their way out is a violation of the principle of “innocent until proven guilty.”
Prasanna lists down all the drug related deaths allegedly caused by India’s pharmaceuticals as if to portray India in a poor light. At a time when PM Modi speaks about Atmanirbharta in all sectors, when India is aiming to become the leader in the pharma industry, making drugs in India for the world, Pooja Prasanna and TNM’s attempt to push propaganda seems like an effort to please their western masters and add yet another blackmark to the country.
This narrative, aired without irrefutable proof, can be seized upon by international competitors to unfairly damage the reputation of the entire $50 billion Indian pharmaceutical industry, which is a critical source of affordable medicine for the Global South and a point of national pride.
What Pooja Prasanna does not tell you is that in 2023, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) made testing for contaminants like DEG and EG mandatory for all cough syrup exports before release.
The government has blacklisted and cancelled the licenses of several manufacturers involved, such as Marion Biotech and Digital Vision.
The draft New Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill, 2022 is explicitly mentioned but framed as an unfinished failure, without acknowledging it as a proactive (if delayed) step to modernize a colonial-era law.
Lack Of Context On The Scale Of The Industry
The report focuses on the failures but provides no context for the massive scale of the Indian pharmaceutical sector.
India is the world’s largest producer of generic drugs, supplying over 50% of global demand for various vaccines and 20-22% of generic medicine exports. To highlight a few criminal manufacturers without mentioning that thousands of Indian companies comply with global standards (supplying to the US, EU, etc.) creates a distorted image that all “Indian-made medicines” are suspect.
The report dismisses the economic pressures of producing ultra-low-cost medicines for a price-sensitive population like India’s and the developing world. While this never excuses adulteration, a holistic Indian perspective would recognize the challenge of maintaining quality at rock-bottom prices, a challenge Western regulators rarely face to the same degree.
Narrative Of A “Failed State” And Selective Comparison
The tone and framing paint a picture of a negligent state that does not care about its children.
The report praises the US FDA’s response to its 1937 tragedy but fails to mention that the US system itself has had major failures (e.g., the Opioid crisis). Furthermore, it doesn’t acknowledge that the US FDA is a century-old, centrally funded agency with a budget of over $6 billion, while India’s CDSCO and state authorities are severely understaffed and underfunded in comparison, managing a much larger and more diverse market.
The report criticizes the government’s advisories to doctors as “shifting the burden.” From an official Indian perspective, these advisories are a prudent and immediate public health measure to save lives while systemic reforms are implemented. It is a standard practice worldwide to issue such advisories during a health crisis.
There is no denying the tragedy or the need for robust regulation. However, journalism that focuses its fire exclusively on one particular party while ignoring the failures of those actually responsible loses all claim to impartiality. The News Minute, by omitting the Tamil Nadu regulator’s key role and twisting the narrative, scavenges engagement from the deaths of 23 children.
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Electronics major Foxconn has denied reports that it committed a fresh ₹15,000-crore investment in Tamil Nadu, contradicting a statement made earlier by the state’s industries minister T. R. B. Rajaa.
Rajaa had posted on social media that the Taiwanese manufacturer would launch a major new expansion, promising roughly 14,000 new jobs and terming it a milestone for Tamil Nadu’s industrial growth.
In a formal communication issued the next day, Foxconn clarified that Robert Wu, its recently appointed representative for India, had met officials in the Chief Minister’s Office, but the conversation did not include any discussion of new investment proposals. The company emphasized that the meeting was only an introductory exchange.
Following the minister’s announcement, the government said it planned to open a dedicated “Foxconn Desk” within Guidance Tamil Nadu—the state’s investment-promotion body—to fast-track project approvals. Officials described the initiative as a single-window system aimed at quicker decision-making.
Rajaa also stated that Foxconn’s next stage of work in the state would focus on advanced manufacturing, research and development, and AI-driven production lines.
However, Foxconn’s clarification appeared to undercut that assertion, suggesting that no new commitments were finalized during Wu’s interaction with Chief Minister M. K. Stalin. The firm declined to specify whether its existing projects in Tamil Nadu remain on schedule.
As of Tuesday evening, the state government had not released any follow-up statement responding to Foxconn’s denial.
An attack by a gang of alleged ganja addicts on visitors at the popular Veedur Dam in Villupuram district created widespread panic on 14 October 2025.
According to reports, the incident occurred at the well-known tourist destination, which attracts visitors from various parts of Tamil Nadu, especially during weekends and holidays. The location is also frequented by college students and couples seeking privacy. Locals said the area has recently witnessed several instances of harassment, where visitors, particularly couples were intimidated and chased away by miscreants.
On the day of the incident, a group of three men allegedly under the influence of ganja arrived at the dam and began arguing with people present in the area. Eyewitnesses and residents claimed that the gang, believed to have been operating from a nearby cannabis haunt, became violent and attacked the public.
Four people were reportedly stabbed during the assault, and the gang is said to have robbed the victims of their cash and belongings. The canteen owner at the site, who tried to intervene when a student was targeted, was also brutally attacked. All five injured individuals have been admitted to intensive care units for treatment.
The Vikravandi police have launched a manhunt and formed two special teams to trace and apprehend the three accused men. Local residents expressed shock and outrage over the violence, demanding stricter surveillance and better policing at the tourist spot to ensure public safety.
A video circulating on social media shows a man identified in posts as “Madurai Cheetah Kani” issuing threats against BJP leader Annamalai and local party workers, prompting BJP supporters to demand immediate police action.
In the video, he is heard sayin,g “Hey BJP people, understand one thing clearly. Whenever you go asking for votes, you have to come to our street only. In each district, village, there will be atleast one panther (siruthai) and if he doesn’t slipper you, hey Annamalai, no BJP member can walk with his dhoti in Madurai. You have opposed our party and leader, now you cannot do politics anywhere, you hear that. If you go in your vehicle anywhere, we will stop it. Hey there is no town where there is no panther, there is no place where you can’t find a panther. You cannot enter anywhere from now. Wherever he runs to, we must block him. Wherever his car goes, we have to stop/block him. Only then he will know about us. Very easily he says, why does your leader need Z+ security? Hey fools, to protect the people and in order for you to celebrate Deepavali peacefully, our leader has to be free, only then you can celebrate Deepavali. Otherwise, none of you will be able to move around.”
“மதுரை சிறுத்தை கனி” என்ற விசிக ரவுடி,
தலைவர் அண்ணாமலை அண்ணனுக்கும், பாஜக தொண்டர்களுக்கும் கொலை மிரட்டல் விடுகிறான்.😡
மதுரை சிறுத்தை கனி (ரவுடி) மீது தமிழக காவல்துறை வழக்கு பதிவு செய்து கைது செய்ய வேண்டும்.📌
In a shocking escalation of political rhetoric, Karnataka Minister and Congress leader Priyank Kharge has publicly described the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a “dangerous virus” and called for the organization to be “purged” from the nation, language that has drawn severe criticism and accusations of incitement.
The minister’s comments were made on social media platform ‘X’, where he also detailed receiving threatening phone calls. Kharge framed the alleged threats as a response to his official actions, stating he had dared to “question and restrain RSS activities in government schools, colleges and public institutions.”
In his post, Kharge invoked historical figures, asking, “When the RSS didn’t spare Mahatma Gandhi or Babasaheb Ambedkar, why would they spare me?” He concluded by declaring it was time to “purge this nation of the most dangerous viRuSS,” a clear pun on the organization’s acronym.
This public outburst follows a formal letter dated 4 October 2025, in which Kharge urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to impose a comprehensive ban on all RSS activities within state-run institutions and public spaces. In the letter, Kharge contended that the RSS’s belief system is “contrary to India’s ideals of unity and secular framework,” and alleged that its activities, including “aggressive displays… while wielding sticks,” could harm children psychologically.
“Letter to Karnataka CM Siddhramaih to BAN RSS”
Priyank Kharge wants to ban RSS!
Dear @PriyankKharge ,
Even Indira Gandhi tried but couldn’t ban the RSS,
Now,who are you ?
If you’ve got the guts, go ahead and try banning RSS
Kharge’s current confrontational stance presents a stark contrast to his own political family’s history with the organization. Historical records show that in 2002, his father and current Congress President, Mallikarjun Kharge, then the state’s Home Minister, visited an RSS campsite in Bengaluru. The senior Kharge, along with other Congress ministers, was reported to have commended the RSS for its social service initiatives at the time.
Little knowledge is dangerous.
During the preparations for the RSS Samarasata Sangama held at Nagawara, Bengaluru, on January 25, 26, and 27, 2002 — the then Karnataka Home Minister, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge (father of Priyank Kharge, who now wants to ban RSS activities in the… https://t.co/xAd0slwlCXpic.twitter.com/XycaBO2vbq
The use of the term “purge”, a word historically associated with the violent removal or elimination of a group of people, alongside the characterization of a cultural organization as a “virus,” has been condemned by political opponents as reckless and dangerous. Critics argue that such language moves beyond political disagreement and into the realm of demonization, risking further polarization and violence.
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