National

Fadnavis Dismisses Allegations, Claims Rahul Fears Defeat in Delhi Elections

Published

2 years ago

February 7, 2025

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has dismissed the allegations made by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi regarding irregularities in the state’s voter list. Fadnavis asserted that such accusations are motivated by the Congress party’s fear of a significant loss in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections. “Rahul Gandhi is merely providing a distraction as the Congress faces a substantial defeat in Delhi,” he commented during a press conference in Nagpur on Friday.

In addition to his remarks to the media, Fadnavis took to X (formerly Twitter) to respond, stating, “Repeating a joke doesn’t make it funnier (Jab ek hee chutkula bar bar sunaya jaye to uspar hansa nahi karte).” He tagged Rahul Gandhi’s account in his tweet.

During the same media interaction, Fadnavis suggested that Rahul Gandhi, as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, should engage in self-reflection if the Congress party hopes to revitalize itself.

His statements coincided with a press conference where opposition leaders, including NCP MP Supriya Sule, Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut, and Rahul Gandhi himself, pressed the Election Commission to clarify several critical issues related to the ongoing preparations for the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections, citing alleged inconsistencies in the voters list.

Rahul Gandhi raised concerns about recent changes in the process for appointing the Election Commissioner just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. “The selection of the Election Commissioner used to involve a committee with the Chief Justice, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Prime Minister. This was altered by the government, replacing the Chief Justice with a member from the BJP. Consequently, a new Commissioner was appointed before the Lok Sabha elections,” he explained.

He highlighted that while 32 lakh new voters were added between the 2019 assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, an astonishing 39 lakh new voters were registered in just five months prior to the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. “How can there be more new voters now than over the last five years? Who are these additional voters? For context, Himachal Pradesh has an entire population that equals the 39 lakh new voters added in Maharashtra,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi further questioned the discrepancy in voter registration figures, pointing out that while Maharashtra’s population is approximately 9.54 crore, the Election Commission lists the state’s voters at 9.7 crore. “This suggests that new voters are being fabricated in Maharashtra,” he claimed.

He also noted that the number of votes for opposition parties has remained stable, with little change in comparison to the previous electoral results. “In the Kamthi assembly constituency, for example, Congress received 1.36 lakh votes during the Lok Sabha elections and 1.34 lakh in the assembly elections, showing consistency despite a significant influx of new voters,” he stated.

Rahul Gandhi demanded transparency from the Election Commission regarding the voter lists, requesting detailed information, including names, addresses, and photographs of voters. “We want to see who these new voters are, as many names have been removed and others added from different booths, particularly among Dalit, tribal, and minority groups,” he added.

He expressed frustration over the Election Commission’s lack of response, suggesting that the absence of information raises suspicion. “I’m presenting the data without making any allegations; there are questions that need to be addressed,” he concluded at the press conference.

National

West Bengal Man Detained in Bengaluru over Alleged Terror Links

Published

8 hours ago

August 15, 2026

Namma Kudla

Bengaluru: Bengaluru police have detained a 25-year-old man from West Bengal over his alleged links with a terror group.

The accused has been identified as Asafool Mallik. He is a native of Naopara village in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district.

Police detained Mallik in the Jigani area after receiving information about his alleged suspicious online activities.

According to the police, Mallik had allegedly established contact with a person identified as Imran Haider through Facebook. Haider, who is from Afghanistan, is suspected to have links with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Police said Mallik allegedly wanted to travel to Afghanistan and join the group. He also allegedly discussed retaliatory attacks against the Pakistan Army and possible attacks in India.

Mallik had reportedly applied for a visa to travel to Afghanistan. However, he later dropped the plan due to financial difficulties and family responsibilities, police said.

Mallik was living near APC Circle in Jigani. He had been working as a security guard at Tata Advanced Limited in the Jigani Industrial Area since December 2025.

Police said they received information about his activities while conducting patrols in the Bommasandra Industrial Area.

During questioning, Mallik allegedly said he was angry over what he believed were attacks on Muslims in Pakistan. He also reportedly expressed anger over Pakistan’s position on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Police further said Mallik was allegedly being encouraged to retaliate if Muslims faced difficulties in India.

Police later examined Mallik’s mobile phone. They allegedly found chats, voice calls and audio conversations between Mallik and Haider.

The police are now examining the chats, recordings and other material recovered from the phone.

The investigation is underway to determine the extent of Mallik’s alleged links with the terror network.

National

Google Marks India’s Independence Day With Vibrant Doodle

Published

16 hours ago

August 15, 2026

Namma Kudla

Mangaluru: India is celebrating its Independence Day on August 15, 2026. Google has joined the celebrations with a special Doodle on its homepage.

The colourful Doodle reflects India’s rich culture and heritage. It features patterns inspired by traditional Indian textiles.

The artwork replaces the usual Google logo with bright colours and traditional motifs. It gives the familiar logo a distinct Indian look.

The Doodle also highlights India’s cultural diversity. Its detailed designs are inspired by India’s traditional art and textile heritage.

India became independent from British rule on August 15, 1947. The day is celebrated across the country with flag-hoisting ceremonies, cultural programmes, parades and other patriotic events.

Kite flying and cultural activities are also part of the Independence Day celebrations in many parts of the country.

India gained independence on August 15, 1947, after nearly two centuries of British rule.

The freedom struggle involved the sacrifices of millions of Indians. Several prominent leaders and freedom fighters played important roles in the movement.

Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh are among the prominent figures associated with India’s freedom struggle.

As the nation celebrates Independence Day, Google’s special Doodle adds a colourful digital tribute to India’s history, culture and national spirit.

National

India Celebrates Independence Day with Focus on Viksit Bharat

Published

16 hours ago

August 15, 2026

Namma Kudla

New Delhi: India celebrates Independence Day on August 15, 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the national celebrations at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi.

The ceremony highlighted 150 years of the national song Vande Mataram. The event also focused on the power of the youth, or Yuva Shakti.

Prime Minister Modi stressed the vision of building a developed India, or Viksit Bharat, by 2047. He called on the youth to play a key role In achieving this goal.

For the first time in the history of the Red Fort celebrations, Vande Mataram was officially rendered during the ceremony.

Prime Minister Modi appeared in a traditional tie-and-dye red turban. He paired it with a white kurta and a chocolate-brown jacket.

The celebrations followed the traditional state protocol. The national flag was hoisted at the Red Fort. A 21-gun salute was also given.

A ceremonial Guard of Honour was presented to the Prime Minister. He later addressed the nation from the Red Fort.

The 2026 Independence Day celebrations combined India’s historic legacy with a strong message for the future. The focus remained on youth power and the goal of making India a developed nation by 2047.