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Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday (Dec 28) dismissed India's concerns of targeted attacks on minorities in the country, saying that the statements made by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) do not represent the ground reality. Dhaka made these claims despite recent incidents reported widely across the media and a report by The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) flagging a sharp rise in attacks against minorities, especially Hindus. "Our attention has been drawn to the recent comments made by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India regarding the situation of the minority communities in Bangladesh. His comments do not reflect the facts. The Government of Bangladesh categorically rejects any inaccurate, exaggerated, or motivated narratives that misrepresent Bangladesh's longstanding tradition of communal harmony," the statement from the Bangladesh foreign ministry read. Dhaka further alleged that "isolated incidents of criminal" acts are being portrayed as "systemic persecution of the Hindus" to propagate anti-Bangladesh sentiments in parts of India. "We observe a selective and unfair bias in certain quarters, where isolated incidents are amplified, misrepresented and propagated to incite common Indians against Bangladesh, its diplomatic missions and other establishments in India," the statement added.&nbsp;Bangladesh's response comes after the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during the weekly briefing on Friday, said the “unremitting hostility” against minorities in Bangladesh was a “matter of grave concern”.<h2>Report flags sharp rise in attacks on Hindus</h2>The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) has raised serious concerns in its latest report, warning that unfounded blasphemy accusations are increasingly being used to harass minorities, seize their property and, in some cases, kill them.&nbsp;According to the report, 73 false blasphemy-related cases were recorded across 32 districts between June and December 2025, with Hindu minorities emerging as the primary targets. The incidents involved beatings, lynchings and illegal occupation of property.&nbsp;The organisation said such allegations are often deployed as a pretext to settle personal vendettas or conceal disputes over land and other assets. The report documents each case in detail, listing the victims’ names, locations and dates, and also includes the killing of Dipu Das. &nbsp;

The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry voiced concern over what it called a systematic effort to portray isolated criminal incidents as organised attacks against Hindus.

Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday (Dec 28) dismissed India's concerns of targeted attacks on minorities in the country, saying that the statements made by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) do not represent the ground reality. Dhaka made these claims despite recent incidents reported widely across the media and a report by The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) flagging a sharp rise in attacks against minorities, especially Hindus. "Our attention has been drawn to the recent comments made by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India regarding the situation of the minority communities in Bangladesh. His comments do not reflect the facts. The Government of Bangladesh categorically rejects any inaccurate, exaggerated, or motivated narratives that misrepresent Bangladesh's longstanding tradition of communal harmony," the statement from the Bangladesh foreign ministry read. Dhaka further alleged that "isolated incidents of criminal" acts are being portrayed as "systemic persecution of the Hindus" to propagate anti-Bangladesh sentiments in parts of India. "We observe a selective and unfair bias in certain quarters, where isolated incidents are amplified, misrepresented and propagated to incite common Indians against Bangladesh, its diplomatic missions and other establishments in India," the statement added. Bangladesh's response comes after the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during the weekly briefing on Friday, said the “unremitting hostility” against minorities in Bangladesh was a “matter of grave concern”. Report flags sharp rise in attacks on Hindus The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) has raised serious concerns in its latest report, warning that unfounded blasphemy accusations are increasingly being used to harass minorities, seize their property and, in some cases, kill them. According to the report, 73 false blasphemy-related cases were recorded across 32 districts between June and December 2025, with Hindu minorities emerging as the primary targets. The incidents involved beatings, lynchings and illegal occupation of property. The organisation said such allegations are often deployed as a pretext to settle personal vendettas or conceal disputes over land and other assets. The report documents each case in detail, listing the victims’ names, locations and dates, and also includes the killing of Dipu Das.

The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry voiced concern over what it called a systematic effort to portray isolated criminal incidents as organised attacks against Hindus.

Bangladesh calls attacks on minorities ‘isolated criminal acts’, downplays India’s concerns

The victim in the 2017 Unnao rape case on Sunday (Dec 28) said that she has faith that she will get justice from the Supreme Court and appealed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to ensure her safety so she can fight her legal battle without fear. &nbsp;This comes after the Delhi High Court recently granted conditional bail to former Uttar Pradesh MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 rape case. &nbsp;Speaking during the protest organised by All India Progressive Women Association (AIPWA) in Delhi today, the Unnao rape victim claimed that Sengar had bribed officials, including the CBI Investigating Officer and Delhi High Court judge, and said her family had suffered severe consequences since Kuldeep Singh Sengar's bail. &nbsp;"I have faith that I will get justice in the Supreme Court. Kuldeep Sengar has bribed (Delhi HC) judge and a CBI Investigating Officer. My husband's job was snatched away, and my children and witnesses are under threat. Protection must be provided to those whom we name in front of the CBI. I request CM Yogi Adityanath to protect me in a way that I am able to fight my battle fearlessly," the rape victim said to ANI. &nbsp;The members of the All India Progressive Women Association (AIPWA) staged a protest in Delhi in support of the Unnao rape survivor, demanding justice and adequate protection for her and her family. Protesters raised slogans and held posters with written slogans such as "activist in jail, rapists on bail", "zero tolerance for rapists", "cancel Kuldeep Singh's bail" and many more.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/young-woman-s-body-found-in-noida-dumping-yard-with-hands-and-feet-tied-face-burnt-noida-police-crimes-in-india-criminals-1766933628786">Young woman’s body found in Noida dumping yard with hands and feet tied, face burnt</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) appeal on December 29, challenging the Delhi High Court's decision to suspend the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case. &nbsp;A three-judge vacation bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant will hear the plea of the CBI. &nbsp;Sengar was convicted in December 2019 in the Unnao rape case and sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 25 lakh. Though granted bail in this case, he will continue to remain in jail as he is serving a 10-year sentence in another CBI case related to murder.&nbsp;(Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.)&nbsp;

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) appeal on December 29, challenging the Delhi High Court's decision to suspend the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case.

The victim in the 2017 Unnao rape case on Sunday (Dec 28) said that she has faith that she will get justice from the Supreme Court and appealed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to ensure her safety so she can fight her legal battle without fear. This comes after the Delhi High Court recently granted conditional bail to former Uttar Pradesh MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 rape case. Speaking during the protest organised by All India Progressive Women Association (AIPWA) in Delhi today, the Unnao rape victim claimed that Sengar had bribed officials, including the CBI Investigating Officer and Delhi High Court judge, and said her family had suffered severe consequences since Kuldeep Singh Sengar's bail. "I have faith that I will get justice in the Supreme Court. Kuldeep Sengar has bribed (Delhi HC) judge and a CBI Investigating Officer. My husband's job was snatched away, and my children and witnesses are under threat. Protection must be provided to those whom we name in front of the CBI. I request CM Yogi Adityanath to protect me in a way that I am able to fight my battle fearlessly," the rape victim said to ANI. The members of the All India Progressive Women Association (AIPWA) staged a protest in Delhi in support of the Unnao rape survivor, demanding justice and adequate protection for her and her family. Protesters raised slogans and held posters with written slogans such as "activist in jail, rapists on bail", "zero tolerance for rapists", "cancel Kuldeep Singh's bail" and many more. Also Read: Young woman’s body found in Noida dumping yard with hands and feet tied, face burnt Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) appeal on December 29, challenging the Delhi High Court's decision to suspend the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case. A three-judge vacation bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant will hear the plea of the CBI. Sengar was convicted in December 2019 in the Unnao rape case and sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 25 lakh. Though granted bail in this case, he will continue to remain in jail as he is serving a 10-year sentence in another CBI case related to murder. (Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.)

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) appeal on December 29, challenging the Delhi High Court's decision to suspend the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case.

‘I have faith in Supreme Court’: Unnao rape case victim seeks protection from CM Yogi

Noida police launched a murder investigation after a body of a young woman was recovered from a garbage dumping yard in Sector 142 on Saturday (Dec 27). The deceased, believed to be around 25 years of age, was found under a heap of garbage stuffed into a bag with hands and feet tied and visible burnt marks on the face, with authorities suspecting that the victim was murdered elsewhere, and her body was later dumped at the site.&nbsp;The incident came to light on Saturday after a few young men found a bag lying at the dumping yard in Sector 142, when they visited the site to collect the garbage and were shocked to find a body inside the bag after they opened it. They immediately alerted the police.&nbsp;Upon receiving the information, a team from Sector 142 Police Station, accompanied by Forensic experts, reached the spot and launched a murder probe into the incident. The body was taken into custody and sent for a post-mortem to ascertain the exact cause of death.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/2-suspects-in-osman-hadi-murder-escape-to-meghalaya-says-bangladesh-police-indian-authorities-reject-claims-seikh-hasina-muhammad-yunus-1766927253406">2 suspects in Osman Hadi murder escaped to Meghalaya, says Bangladesh police; Indian authorities reject claims</a>&nbsp;Additional DCP Santosh Kumar said the Woman's age appears to be between 22 to 25 years, while her identity has not yet been established. An investigation has been ordered into the case. &nbsp;“Police teams immediately reached the spot. The forensic team also carried out the necessary examination. The body has been sent for post-mortem, and a team has been formed to establish the woman’s identity. Further legal action will be taken accordingly,” he said.&nbsp;Police said they are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby areas and cross-checking missing persons’ records as part of the investigation. They added that all possible angles are being examined. &nbsp;

The shocking incident came to light after locals informed the Noida police about a body stuffed in a bag lying beneath a heap of garbage at the Sector 142 dumping yard.

Noida police launched a murder investigation after a body of a young woman was recovered from a garbage dumping yard in Sector 142 on Saturday (Dec 27). The deceased, believed to be around 25 years of age, was found under a heap of garbage stuffed into a bag with hands and feet tied and visible burnt marks on the face, with authorities suspecting that the victim was murdered elsewhere, and her body was later dumped at the site. The incident came to light on Saturday after a few young men found a bag lying at the dumping yard in Sector 142, when they visited the site to collect the garbage and were shocked to find a body inside the bag after they opened it. They immediately alerted the police. Upon receiving the information, a team from Sector 142 Police Station, accompanied by Forensic experts, reached the spot and launched a murder probe into the incident. The body was taken into custody and sent for a post-mortem to ascertain the exact cause of death. Also Read: 2 suspects in Osman Hadi murder escaped to Meghalaya, says Bangladesh police; Indian authorities reject claims Additional DCP Santosh Kumar said the Woman's age appears to be between 22 to 25 years, while her identity has not yet been established. An investigation has been ordered into the case. “Police teams immediately reached the spot. The forensic team also carried out the necessary examination. The body has been sent for post-mortem, and a team has been formed to establish the woman’s identity. Further legal action will be taken accordingly,” he said. Police said they are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby areas and cross-checking missing persons’ records as part of the investigation. They added that all possible angles are being examined.

The incident came to light after locals informed the Noida police about a body stuffed in a bag lying beneath a heap of garbage at the Sector 142 dumping yard.

Young woman’s body found in Noida dumping yard with hands and feet tied, face burnt

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was full of praise for the World Cup-winning women’s team after they lifted a maiden title in 2025 November. The women’s team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, had a memorable outing during the tournament as they beat South Africa in the final at the D.Y.Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Ahead of the latest program of the prime minister’s feature show, ‘Maan ki Baat’, Modi expressed great admiration for the women’s side.<h2>PM Modi praises women’s side</h2>"2025 was also a memorable year in terms of sports. Our Men's Cricket team won the ICC Champions' Trophy. The women's cricket team won the World Cup for the first time. The daughters of Bharat created history by winning the women's blind T20 World Cup,” Modi said while addressing the nation in the 129th edition of the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme on Sunday.&nbsp;A feat that could reshape Indian women’s sports, Harmanpreet Kaur was at the centre of attention when ICC Chairman Jay Shah presented her with the World Cup trophy on November 2. However, it was her Lionel Messi-like celebration that caught everyone’s eyes.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Having taken the winning catch to dismiss Nadine de Klerk, Harmanpreet Kaur’s India won the final by 52 runs and thus became the new world champions. India also became just the fourth team in women’s contingent to win the World Cup, a feat only achieved by Australia, England and New Zealand.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Once the trophy was presented to Harmanpreet, she danced her way to the podium, where other team members were already present. Her march was similar to Lionel Messi, who had helped Argentina win the FIFA World Cup in December 2022.&nbsp;PM Modi also congratulated the Indian women’s team after they had won the title in November.

A feat that could reshape Indian women’s sports, Harmanpreet Kaur was at the centre of attention when ICC Chairman Jay Shah presented her with the World Cup trophy on November 2.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was full of praise for the World Cup-winning women’s team after they lifted a maiden title in 2025 November. The women’s team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, had a memorable outing during the tournament as they beat South Africa in the final at the D.Y.Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Ahead of the latest program of the prime minister’s feature show, ‘Maan ki Baat’, Modi expressed great admiration for the women’s side. PM Modi praises women’s side "2025 was also a memorable year in terms of sports. Our Men's Cricket team won the ICC Champions' Trophy. The women's cricket team won the World Cup for the first time. The daughters of Bharat created history by winning the women's blind T20 World Cup,” Modi said while addressing the nation in the 129th edition of the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme on Sunday. A feat that could reshape Indian women’s sports, Harmanpreet Kaur was at the centre of attention when ICC Chairman Jay Shah presented her with the World Cup trophy on November 2. However, it was her Lionel Messi-like celebration that caught everyone’s eyes. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes Having taken the winning catch to dismiss Nadine de Klerk, Harmanpreet Kaur’s India won the final by 52 runs and thus became the new world champions. India also became just the fourth team in women’s contingent to win the World Cup, a feat only achieved by Australia, England and New Zealand. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Once the trophy was presented to Harmanpreet, she danced her way to the podium, where other team members were already present. Her march was similar to Lionel Messi, who had helped Argentina win the FIFA World Cup in December 2022. PM Modi also congratulated the Indian women’s team after they had won the title in November.

A feat that could reshape Indian women’s sports, Harmanpreet Kaur was at the centre of attention when ICC Chairman Jay Shah presented her with the World Cup trophy on November 2.

PM Modi praises Indian Women's team for ODI World Cup success, says 'daughters of Bharat created history'

Two prime suspects in the murder of Bangladesh student leader Sharif Osman Hadi fled to India via the Haluaghat border in Mymensingh district, which is connected to Meghalaya, after perpetrating the act, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) claimed on Sunday (Dec 28). Additional Commissioner S N Nuzrul Islam, during a media briefing at DMP media centre, said the suspects, Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Sheikh, crossed into the Indian state of Meghalaya with the help of local associates, as reported by the Daily Star.&nbsp;“According to our information, the suspects entered India via the Haluaghat border. After crossing, they were initially received by an individual named Purti. Later, a taxi driver named Sami transported them to Tura city in Meghalaya," Nazrul Islam said.&nbsp;Nazrul Islam further claimed that they have received informal reports suggesting that the two individuals who helped the suspects, Purti and Sami, have been detained by Indian authorities. He added that the Bangladesh government is engaged with India through both formal and informal channels to secure the return of the suspects.&nbsp;“We are maintaining communication with Indian authorities through both formal and informal channels to ensure their arrest and extradition," he said.<h2>India rejects claims</h2>The Border Security Force (BSF) and Meghalaya police strongly rejected these claims, describing them as "baseless and misleading", and said that they haven't received any communication from the Bangladesh regarding the said individuals.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-spiralling-debt-crisis-pakistan-to-sell-1bn-fauji-foundation-stake-to-uae-pakistan-economy-pakistan-economic-crisis-pakistan-army-1766918849837">Amid spiralling debt crisis, Pakistan to sell $1bn Fauji Foundation stake to UAE</a>“There is no evidence whatsoever of these individuals crossing the international border from the Haluaghat sector into Meghalaya. No such incident has been detected or reported by the BSF. These claims are baseless and misleading,” BSF Inspector General O P Upadhayay said.&nbsp;The slain activist Osman Hadi was a leading political figure and was known for his sharp criticism of India and the Awami League. He rose to prominence during violent student-led agitation in 2024, known as the July mass uprising, which resulted in the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina-led Bangladesh government.&nbsp;Hadi launched a political outfit named Inqilab Mancha, intended to contest the upcoming national elections in February 2026. He was shot in the head by masked assailants in Dhaka on December 12 and died six years later while receiving treatment in Singapore. Osman Hadi's killing sparked widespread violence across the country, particularly in Dhaka, targeting Awami League supporters and Hindu minorities in the country.&nbsp;Protesters went on a rampage during the unrest, ransacking the offices of leading newspapers such as The Daily Star, Prothom Alo and New Age, setting parts of the buildings on fire and disrupting printing operations. Demonstrators also torched or damaged other sites, including the historic cultural centre Chhayanaut and remnants of key political buildings, while in Rajshahi, crowds used heavy machinery, including a bulldozer, to demolish an Awami League party office.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police claimed that two prime suspects in the murder of Bangladeshi political activist Sharif Osman Hadi escaped to India via the Meghalaya border following the killing.

Two prime suspects in the murder of Bangladesh student leader Sharif Osman Hadi fled to India via the Haluaghat border in Mymensingh district, which is connected to Meghalaya, after perpetrating the act, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) claimed on Sunday (Dec 28). Additional Commissioner S N Nuzrul Islam, during a media briefing at DMP media centre, said the suspects, Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Sheikh, crossed into the Indian state of Meghalaya with the help of local associates, as reported by the Daily Star. “According to our information, the suspects entered India via the Haluaghat border. After crossing, they were initially received by an individual named Purti. Later, a taxi driver named Sami transported them to Tura city in Meghalaya," Nazrul Islam said. Nazrul Islam further claimed that they have received informal reports suggesting that the two individuals who helped the suspects, Purti and Sami, have been detained by Indian authorities. He added that the Bangladesh government is engaged with India through both formal and informal channels to secure the return of the suspects. “We are maintaining communication with Indian authorities through both formal and informal channels to ensure their arrest and extradition," he said. India rejects claims The Border Security Force (BSF) and Meghalaya police strongly rejected these claims, describing them as "baseless and misleading", and said that they haven't received any communication from the Bangladesh regarding the said individuals. Also Read: Amid spiralling debt crisis, Pakistan to sell $1bn Fauji Foundation stake to UAE “There is no evidence whatsoever of these individuals crossing the international border from the Haluaghat sector into Meghalaya. No such incident has been detected or reported by the BSF. These claims are baseless and misleading,” BSF Inspector General O P Upadhayay said. The slain activist Osman Hadi was a leading political figure and was known for his sharp criticism of India and the Awami League. He rose to prominence during violent student-led agitation in 2024, known as the July mass uprising, which resulted in the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina-led Bangladesh government. Hadi launched a political outfit named Inqilab Mancha, intended to contest the upcoming national elections in February 2026. He was shot in the head by masked assailants in Dhaka on December 12 and died six years later while receiving treatment in Singapore. Osman Hadi's killing sparked widespread violence across the country, particularly in Dhaka, targeting Awami League supporters and Hindu minorities in the country. Protesters went on a rampage during the unrest, ransacking the offices of leading newspapers such as The Daily Star, Prothom Alo and New Age, setting parts of the buildings on fire and disrupting printing operations. Demonstrators also torched or damaged other sites, including the historic cultural centre Chhayanaut and remnants of key political buildings, while in Rajshahi, crowds used heavy machinery, including a bulldozer, to demolish an Awami League party office.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police claimed that two prime suspects in the murder of Bangladeshi political activist Sharif Osman Hadi escaped to India via the Meghalaya border following the killing.

2 suspects in Osman Hadi murder case escaped to Meghalaya, says Bangladesh police; Indian authorities reject claims

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday (Dec 28) echoed senior leader Digvijay Singh's remarks praising the organisational strength of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP, while pressing for reforms in the grand old party to become organizationally strong, cohesive, and with greater discipline. Backing Singh's arguments, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said discipline is essential for any political party and argued that the Congress, with its long history, had much to learn from its own past. “We have a history of 140 years, and we can learn a great deal from it, including from ourselves. Discipline is very important in any party,” he said.&nbsp;Emphasising organisational strengthening as a common goal, Tharoor added that he, too, wanted the party to grow stronger and more disciplined. “There should be discipline in our organisation. Digvijaya Singh can speak for himself,” he said.&nbsp;Backing the broader argument made by Singh, Tharoor said the Congress needed to improve internal discipline and organisational strength to better meet political challenges. Asked whether he had spoken to Singh after the controversy, Tharoor said such exchanges were natural. “We are friends, and conversation comes naturally. The organisation must be strengthened, there is no question about it,” he said.&nbsp;Tharoor's comments came after Digvijay Singh's comments became the centre of controversy and conversation surrounding the Congress party's future. Singh shared a 1995 photograph on social media in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi can be seen seated on the floor near senior BJP leader LK Advani.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-vile-acts-of-hatred-and-bigotry-us-congressman-condemns-mob-lynching-of-hindu-youth-in-bangladesh-1766919555945">'Vile acts of hatred and bigotry...': US Congressman condemns mob lynching of Hindu youth in Bangladesh</a>&nbsp;In the post on X, Singh highlighted what he described as the organisational strength of the BJP and the RSS. “I found this picture on the Quora site. It is very impactful."&nbsp;“It shows how an RSS grassroots volunteer and a Jan Sangh/BJP worker, who once sat on the floor at the feet of leaders, went on to become a state’s chief minister and the country’s prime minister. This is the power of organisation,” Digvijaya Singh wrote.&nbsp;Singh also tagged Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh, Priyanka Gandhi and other party leaders in the post.

A controversy erupted after Congress leader Digvijaya Singh shared a social media post praising the organisational strength of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday (Dec 28) echoed senior leader Digvijay Singh's remarks praising the organisational strength of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP, while pressing for reforms in the grand old party to become organizationally strong, cohesive, and with greater discipline. Backing Singh's arguments, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said discipline is essential for any political party and argued that the Congress, with its long history, had much to learn from its own past. “We have a history of 140 years, and we can learn a great deal from it, including from ourselves. Discipline is very important in any party,” he said. Emphasising organisational strengthening as a common goal, Tharoor added that he, too, wanted the party to grow stronger and more disciplined. “There should be discipline in our organisation. Digvijaya Singh can speak for himself,” he said. Backing the broader argument made by Singh, Tharoor said the Congress needed to improve internal discipline and organisational strength to better meet political challenges. Asked whether he had spoken to Singh after the controversy, Tharoor said such exchanges were natural. “We are friends, and conversation comes naturally. The organisation must be strengthened, there is no question about it,” he said. Tharoor's comments came after Digvijay Singh's comments became the centre of controversy and conversation surrounding the Congress party's future. Singh shared a 1995 photograph on social media in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi can be seen seated on the floor near senior BJP leader LK Advani. Also Read: 'Vile acts of hatred and bigotry...': US Congressman condemns mob lynching of Hindu youth in Bangladesh In the post on X, Singh highlighted what he described as the organisational strength of the BJP and the RSS. “I found this picture on the Quora site. It is very impactful." “It shows how an RSS grassroots volunteer and a Jan Sangh/BJP worker, who once sat on the floor at the feet of leaders, went on to become a state’s chief minister and the country’s prime minister. This is the power of organisation,” Digvijaya Singh wrote. Singh also tagged Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh, Priyanka Gandhi and other party leaders in the post.

A controversy erupted after Congress leader Digvijaya Singh shared a social media post praising the organisational strength of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Shashi Tharoor echoes Digvijaya Singh’s RSS-BJP comparison, says ‘there should be discipline in Congress'

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday undertook a dived sortie on the Western Seaboard aboard the Indian Navy's indigenous Kalvari-class submarine INS Vaghsheer from the Karwar Naval Base in Karnataka. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi accompanied the President during the sortie. Rashtrapati Bhavan in an official statement said, "President Droupadi Murmu embarked the Indian Navy's indigenous Kalvari class submarine INS Vaghsheer at Karwar Naval Base, Karnataka. The President is undertaking a sortie on the Western Seaboard. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi is accompanying the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces." This marks President Murmu's maiden sortie aboard a Kalvari-class submarine, making her the second President of India to undertake such an experience after former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. "This maiden sortie onboard a Kalvari Class Submarine by President Droupadi Murmu is the second by President of India, after former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam," the post further read. During the dive sortie, President Murmu was briefed on the role of the submarine arm in India's maritime strategy and the operational capabilities and contributions in safeguarding national maritime interests, as per an official statement. President Murmu also interacted with the crew of INS Vaghsheer and commended their dedication, commitment and spirit of selfless service. During her visit President Murmu also lauded the indigenous submarine as a "shining example" of Indian Navy professional excellence, combat preparedness and unwavering commitment to national security. INS Vagsheer, the sixth P75 Kalvari-class submarine, was officially commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 15, 2025. The event was also attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi and several other senior dignitaries. Naval Group's Chairman &amp; CEO, Pierre Eric Pommellet, was also present alongside Naval Group's team from France and India to mark this significant milestone, according to a Naval Group release. INS Vagsheer is built by the Indian shipyard Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) based on the Naval Group's Scorpene design. Launched on 20 April 2022, INS Vagsheer has completed successful sea trials and now has joined its sister vessels INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vela and INS Vagir, which were commissioned respectively in December 2017, September 2019, March 2021, November 2021 and January 2023. The commissioning of INS Vagsheer highlights the success of India's indigenous submarine construction programme. This submarine has been fully built by MDL, with technology transfer from Naval Group, in line with the Indian Government's "Make in India" policy.

During the dive sortie, President Murmu was briefed on the role of the submarine arm in Indias maritime strategy and the operational capabilities and contributions in safeguarding national maritime interests, as per an official statement.

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday undertook a dived sortie on the Western Seaboard aboard the Indian Navy's indigenous Kalvari-class submarine INS Vaghsheer from the Karwar Naval Base in Karnataka. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi accompanied the President during the sortie. Rashtrapati Bhavan in an official statement said, "President Droupadi Murmu embarked the Indian Navy's indigenous Kalvari class submarine INS Vaghsheer at Karwar Naval Base, Karnataka. The President is undertaking a sortie on the Western Seaboard. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi is accompanying the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces." This marks President Murmu's maiden sortie aboard a Kalvari-class submarine, making her the second President of India to undertake such an experience after former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. "This maiden sortie onboard a Kalvari Class Submarine by President Droupadi Murmu is the second by President of India, after former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam," the post further read. During the dive sortie, President Murmu was briefed on the role of the submarine arm in India's maritime strategy and the operational capabilities and contributions in safeguarding national maritime interests, as per an official statement. President Murmu also interacted with the crew of INS Vaghsheer and commended their dedication, commitment and spirit of selfless service. During her visit President Murmu also lauded the indigenous submarine as a "shining example" of Indian Navy professional excellence, combat preparedness and unwavering commitment to national security. INS Vagsheer, the sixth P75 Kalvari-class submarine, was officially commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 15, 2025. The event was also attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi and several other senior dignitaries. Naval Group's Chairman & CEO, Pierre Eric Pommellet, was also present alongside Naval Group's team from France and India to mark this significant milestone, according to a Naval Group release. INS Vagsheer is built by the Indian shipyard Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) based on the Naval Group's Scorpene design. Launched on 20 April 2022, INS Vagsheer has completed successful sea trials and now has joined its sister vessels INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vela and INS Vagir, which were commissioned respectively in December 2017, September 2019, March 2021, November 2021 and January 2023. The commissioning of INS Vagsheer highlights the success of India's indigenous submarine construction programme. This submarine has been fully built by MDL, with technology transfer from Naval Group, in line with the Indian Government's "Make in India" policy.

During the dive sortie, President Murmu was briefed on the role of the submarine arm in India's maritime strategy and the operational capabilities and contributions in safeguarding national maritime interests, as per an official statement.

President Murmu undertakes maiden dive sortie aboard indigenous submarine INS Vaghsheer at Karwar Naval Base

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued to pursue his proactive and expansive foreign policy in 2025 as well and travelled widely, visiting nations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. The PM’s foreign policy aims have largely centred on reinforcing bilateral relations and shaping India’s global role. The PM’s foreign visits in 2025 were focussed on fostering economic cooperation, furthering security and defence ties, and positioning India as a leader of the Global South. Let’s take a look at PM Modi’s foreign visits in 2025 and their impacts.&nbsp;<h2>France (February 10–12) and US (February 13)</h2>&nbsp;PM Modi’s first major foreign visit in 2025 was to France, as he aimed at&nbsp;reinforcing strategic ties with Paris, particularly in technology, defence, and artificial intelligence. During this trip, PM Modi co-chaired the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit with French President Emmanuel Macron, signalling a strong bilateral commitment to advance ethical AI research and innovation. They also emphasised on bilateral cooperation in digital infrastructure and defence technology. The two leaders also jointly addressed the India-France CEOs Forum.&nbsp;PM Modi visited the United States at the invitation of President Donald Trump, and it was the first visit after the start of Trump’s second term. The PM met Tulsi Gabbard, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Trump and Modi announced plans to negotiate the first tranche of a mutually beneficial multi-sector bilateral trade agreement by the fall of 2025, as well as plans to finalise a new 10-year framework for the US-India major defence partnership from 2025 to 2035.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-israel-europe-waging-a-total-war-on-our-country-iran-president-masoud-pezeshkian-1766857358756">US, Israel, Europe waging a ‘total war’ on our country: Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian</a><h2>Mauritius (March 11–12, 2025)</h2>&nbsp;PM Modi attended&nbsp;the National Day celebrations of Mauritius as the chief guest during his visit to enhance the special and historical ties between India and the Indian Ocean state. MoUs for strengthening maritime security cooperation and economic collaboration were also inked on the trip.&nbsp;<h2>Thailand and Sri Lanka (April 3–6)</h2>&nbsp;The prime minister visited Thailand and Sri Lanka in April, reinforcing regional frameworks like BIMSTEC and strengthening ties with Sri Lanka in trade, defence, and energy cooperation. The visits emphasised India’s continued focus on “Neighbourhood First” policy.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yearender-2025-the-year-of-wars-tariff-turmoil-and-climate-disasters-1766568207775">Yearender 2025: The year of wars, tariff turmoil, and climate disasters</a><h2>Saudi Arabia (April 22)</h2>&nbsp;PM Modi went on a state visit to Saudi Arabia, an important partner in energy security and regional geopolitics and held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman focusing on strategic collaboration across energy, trade, and regional security issues. . Saudi Arabia remains central to India’s energy imports. The PM had to cut short his visit and head home because of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir where 26 innocent civilians were killed.&nbsp;<h2>Cyprus, Canada, and Croatia (June 15–19)</h2>&nbsp;Cyprus&nbsp;PM Modi’s visit to Cyprus was the first to the country by an Indian PM in over 20 years. India and Cyprus endorsed a five-year Joint Action Plan (2025–29) to deepen cooperation across defence, counterterrorism, regional security, and technology sectors. Agreements were also signed for cooperation in financial services, cross-border UPI payments, and tourism enhancement.&nbsp;&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney

&nbsp;&nbsp;PM Modi visited Canada and participated in the Outreach Session of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis. He also held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney. They agreed to take calibrated steps to restore stability in the ties, beginning with the early return of High Commissioners to each other’s capitals, and to rebuild trust and bring momentum to the relations that had strained during former PM Justin Trudeau’s term. Their discussions focused on trade, energy cooperation, and diaspora engagement.&nbsp;Croatia<h2>&nbsp;</h2>This visit was historically significant as it was the first by an Indian PM to Croatia in decades. Agreements were signed to enhance agricultural cooperation, cultural exchanges, and science-technology partnerships.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yearender-2025-the-year-dissent-and-angst-triggered-mass-protests-worldwide-1766674340518">Yearender 2025: The year dissent and angst triggered mass protests worldwide</a>&nbsp;<h2>Ghana, Trinidad &amp; Tobago, Argentina, Brazil &amp; Namibia (July 2–9)</h2>&nbsp;In July, PM Modi embarked on a multi-nation tour spanning Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Southern Africa.&nbsp;Ghana&nbsp;Modi’s visit to Ghana focused on expanding cooperation in trade, technology, energy, and education, and highlighting India’s commitment to African engagement.&nbsp;Trinidad &amp; Tobago&nbsp;The visit underscored historical and cultural ties with the Caribbean nation. Several bilateral agreements were signed for infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, and cultural sectors. PM Modi was conferred Trinidad &amp; Tobago’s highest national honour.&nbsp;<h3>Argentina &amp; Brazil</h3>&nbsp;In Argentina, Modi engaged with President Javier Milei, strengthening strategic and economic ties. In Brazil, Modi attended the 17th BRICS Summit, where India and fellow emerging powers discussed multipolar global governance, cooperation in trade, and sustainable development goals.&nbsp;<h3>Namibia</h3>&nbsp;During the Namibia visit, PM Modi met President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and held discussions on digital cooperation, defence, energy, and cooperation in critical minerals, all important areas for India’s strategic interests in Africa.This multi-country tour reinforced India’s leadership within the BRICS framework and its growing engagement with the Global South.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-diplomacy-would-not-work-without-security-zelensky-to-speak-with-allies-before-trump-meeting-1766846371768">‘Diplomacy would not work without security’: Zelensky to speak with allies before Trump meeting</a><h2>United Kingdom (July 23–24)</h2>&nbsp;PM Modi’s visit to the United Kingdom was a milestone in India’s trade diplomacy. The India–United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was signed, aimed at significantly boosting bilateral trade and investment flows. The pact is being seen as a “historic milestone” in economic ties, addressing tariffs, market access, and investment protections. PM Modi and Prime Minister Keir Starmer also discussed global and regional security issues.&nbsp;<h2>Maldives (July 25–26, 2025)</h2>&nbsp;PM Modi was the Guest of Honour at the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day. The visit was crucial for resetting ties after previous tensions. India and the Maldives agreed on a roadmap towards a Free Trade Agreement and signed multiple MoUs covering digital economy cooperation (including UPI), infrastructure, health, aquaculture, and climate action. India also extended a financial support package, including a line of credit and investment treaties.&nbsp;<h2>Japan (August 29–30)</h2>&nbsp;PM Modi’s visit to Japan was timed with the 15th India–Japan Annual Summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Discussions focused on strategic partnership enhancement, defence cooperation, supply chain resilience, and regional security, particularly with respect to Indo-Pacific stability. Japan is one of India’s closest partners in technology collaboration and infrastructure development.&nbsp;<h2>China</h2>&nbsp;The Prime Minister visited China to attend the SCO Summit at Tianjin. He held a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping. Both leaders agreed that the two countries were primarily focused on their domestic development goals and were partners rather than rivals. They also shared a consensus that differences should not be allowed to turn into disputes.&nbsp;<h2>Bhutan (November 11–12)</h2>&nbsp;The PM went on a state visit to Bhutan and participated in the 70th birth anniversary celebrations of the Druk Gyalpo. He also inaugurated major hydroelectric projects, underscoring India’s developmental and cultural ties with its Himalayan neighbour.&nbsp;<h2>South Africa (November 21–23)</h2>&nbsp;The PM went to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa and held several bilaterals with European and African leaders on the sidelines.&nbsp;<h2>Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman (December 15–18)</h2>&nbsp;PM Modi went on a three-nation visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman from December 15 to 18, 2025, to strengthen strategic, economic, and cultural ties with key partners in West Asia and Africa.&nbsp;Jordan&nbsp;In Jordan, PM Modi met King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein to review bilateral relations, deepen cooperation across multiple sectors, and discuss regional and global issues. It was India’s first full-fledged trip to Jordan, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Agreements were signed on renewable energy, water management, cultural exchange, and digital solutions, and the leaders agreed to increase bilateral trade to USD 5 billion over the next five years.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-may-darkness-give-way-to-dawn-sheikh-hasina-slams-yunus-govt-over-attacks-on-minorities-1766685102235">‘Perpetrating unspeakable atrocities’: Sheikh Hasina slams Yunus govt over attacks on minorities</a>&nbsp;Ethiopia&nbsp;PM Modi went to Ethiopia for his first state visit to the nation at the invitation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. The leaders held wide-ranging talks on development cooperation, investment, agriculture, technology, and broader South-South cooperation. PM Modi was conferred Ethiopia’s highest honour, the Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia, underscoring the growing partnership between the two democracies.&nbsp;Oman&nbsp;In the final leg of the tour, PM Modi was welcomed to Oman by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. The visit marked the 70th anniversary of India-Oman diplomatic relations and included high-level consultations on trade, defence, energy, technology, and connectivity. A major milestone was the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to enhance bilateral trade. PM Modi was honoured with Oman’s Order of Oman (First Class) for his contribution to strengthening ties.

PM Modi’s foreign visits in 2025 were focussed on fostering economic cooperation, furthering security and defence ties, and positioning India as a leader of the Global South. The PM’s foreign policy aims have largely centred on reinforcing bilateral relations and shaping India’s global role.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued to pursue his proactive and expansive foreign policy in 2025 as well and travelled widely, visiting nations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. The PM’s foreign policy aims have largely centred on reinforcing bilateral relations and shaping India’s global role. The PM’s foreign visits in 2025 were focussed on fostering economic cooperation, furthering security and defence ties, and positioning India as a leader of the Global South. Let’s take a look at PM Modi’s foreign visits in 2025 and their impacts. France (February 10–12) and US (February 13) PM Modi’s first major foreign visit in 2025 was to France, as he aimed at reinforcing strategic ties with Paris, particularly in technology, defence, and artificial intelligence. During this trip, PM Modi co-chaired the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit with French President Emmanuel Macron, signalling a strong bilateral commitment to advance ethical AI research and innovation. They also emphasised on bilateral cooperation in digital infrastructure and defence technology. The two leaders also jointly addressed the India-France CEOs Forum. PM Modi visited the United States at the invitation of President Donald Trump, and it was the first visit after the start of Trump’s second term. The PM met Tulsi Gabbard, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Trump and Modi announced plans to negotiate the first tranche of a mutually beneficial multi-sector bilateral trade agreement by the fall of 2025, as well as plans to finalise a new 10-year framework for the US-India major defence partnership from 2025 to 2035. Also Read: US, Israel, Europe waging a ‘total war’ on our country: Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian Mauritius (March 11–12, 2025) PM Modi attended the National Day celebrations of Mauritius as the chief guest during his visit to enhance the special and historical ties between India and the Indian Ocean state. MoUs for strengthening maritime security cooperation and economic collaboration were also inked on the trip. Thailand and Sri Lanka (April 3–6) The prime minister visited Thailand and Sri Lanka in April, reinforcing regional frameworks like BIMSTEC and strengthening ties with Sri Lanka in trade, defence, and energy cooperation. The visits emphasised India’s continued focus on “Neighbourhood First” policy. Also Read: Yearender 2025: The year of wars, tariff turmoil, and climate disasters Saudi Arabia (April 22) PM Modi went on a state visit to Saudi Arabia, an important partner in energy security and regional geopolitics and held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman focusing on strategic collaboration across energy, trade, and regional security issues. . Saudi Arabia remains central to India’s energy imports. The PM had to cut short his visit and head home because of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir where 26 innocent civilians were killed. Cyprus, Canada, and Croatia (June 15–19) Cyprus PM Modi’s visit to Cyprus was the first to the country by an Indian PM in over 20 years. India and Cyprus endorsed a five-year Joint Action Plan (2025–29) to deepen cooperation across defence, counterterrorism, regional security, and technology sectors. Agreements were also signed for cooperation in financial services, cross-border UPI payments, and tourism enhancement. Canada

PM Modi’s foreign visits in 2025 were focussed on fostering economic cooperation, furthering security and defence ties, and positioning India as a leader of the Global South. The PM’s foreign policy aims have largely centred on reinforcing bilateral relations and shaping India’s global role.

Yearender 2025: PM Modi’s foreign visits redefine India’s global outreach and influence

President Droupadi Murmu undertook a sortie aboard indigenous submarine INS Vaghsheer at Karwar Naval Base, becoming only the second Indian President to do so after APJ Abdul Kalam. She was accompanied by Naval Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi.

In Pics | President Droupadi Murmu takes sortie aboard submarine INS Vaghsheer

The Assam government on Sunday lifted the ban on the mobile internet services, imposed after the violent protest in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong over the demands of eviction of settlers. Following the violence in which at least 173 personnel of the Assam Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) sustained injuries, Assam government invoked Section 5(2) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, with the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, prohibiting Internet/Mobile Data Services of all Mobile Service Providers in the districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong, with immediate effect on December 23. Additional Chief Secretary of the Home and Political Department of the Assam Government today issued a notification lifting the ban on mobile internet services, citing an improved and normalised law and order situation in the area. "All Mobile Service Providers operating in the districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong are hereby directed to restore Internet/Mobile Data Services with effect from 8:00 AM on December 28," the order read. The escalation occurred after protesters, who were holding sit-in demonstrations demanding the eviction of illegal encroachers from the Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) and Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) lands in the hilly district, set the house of the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) on fire. The protesters pelted stones and attacked security personnel, and forced the cops to blank fire to bring the situation under control in the Dongkamukam area near Kheroni in the West Karbi Anglong district. At least 173 personnel of the Assam Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) sustained injuries during incidents on December 22-23 According to an Assam police post on X, 139 personnel were treated on the scene for injuries, while 33 were transported to various hospitals for further care. "173 personnel of the Assam Police and @crpfindia were injured in the incidents on 22-23 December 2025 under Kheroni PS under West Karbi Anglong. 139 received First Aid at the spot, while 33 were sent for treatment to various hospitals," the post added on X. Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma chaired a meeting at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati with representatives of various organisations representing the Karbi community, members of Karbi civil society, and functionaries of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. During the meeting, the Chief Minister held detailed discussions with the representatives on a range of issues, including the recent incident that occurred in the Kheroni area of West Karbi Anglong district. Briefing the media after the meeting, the Chief Minister stated that, regarding the VGR and PGR land issue currently before a Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court, the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council will file an affidavit in the first week of January. "Simultaneously, Karbi civil society will also present its views as a party to the case. Considering the importance of the matter, the state government will request the court for an expeditious hearing and early verdict, following which appropriate action will be taken by the Government in accordance with the court's decision," the Chief Minister said. The Chief Minister further stated that all government offices currently located on VGR/PGR land in Kheroni will be relocated to alternative locations at the earliest. He also announced that the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council will immediately cancel the licences of all commercial establishments operating on VGR/PGR land.&nbsp;&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Home and Political Department of the Assam Government today issued a notification lifting the ban on mobile internet services, citing an improved and normalised law and order situation in the area.

The Assam government on Sunday lifted the ban on the mobile internet services, imposed after the violent protest in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong over the demands of eviction of settlers. Following the violence in which at least 173 personnel of the Assam Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) sustained injuries, Assam government invoked Section 5(2) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, with the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, prohibiting Internet/Mobile Data Services of all Mobile Service Providers in the districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong, with immediate effect on December 23. Additional Chief Secretary of the Home and Political Department of the Assam Government today issued a notification lifting the ban on mobile internet services, citing an improved and normalised law and order situation in the area. "All Mobile Service Providers operating in the districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong are hereby directed to restore Internet/Mobile Data Services with effect from 8:00 AM on December 28," the order read. The escalation occurred after protesters, who were holding sit-in demonstrations demanding the eviction of illegal encroachers from the Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) and Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) lands in the hilly district, set the house of the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) on fire. The protesters pelted stones and attacked security personnel, and forced the cops to blank fire to bring the situation under control in the Dongkamukam area near Kheroni in the West Karbi Anglong district. At least 173 personnel of the Assam Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) sustained injuries during incidents on December 22-23 According to an Assam police post on X, 139 personnel were treated on the scene for injuries, while 33 were transported to various hospitals for further care. "173 personnel of the Assam Police and @crpfindia were injured in the incidents on 22-23 December 2025 under Kheroni PS under West Karbi Anglong. 139 received First Aid at the spot, while 33 were sent for treatment to various hospitals," the post added on X. Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma chaired a meeting at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati with representatives of various organisations representing the Karbi community, members of Karbi civil society, and functionaries of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. During the meeting, the Chief Minister held detailed discussions with the representatives on a range of issues, including the recent incident that occurred in the Kheroni area of West Karbi Anglong district. Briefing the media after the meeting, the Chief Minister stated that, regarding the VGR and PGR land issue currently before a Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court, the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council will file an affidavit in the first week of January. "Simultaneously, Karbi civil society will also present its views as a party to the case. Considering the importance of the matter, the state government will request the court for an expeditious hearing and early verdict, following which appropriate action will be taken by the Government in accordance with the court's decision," the Chief Minister said. The Chief Minister further stated that all government offices currently located on VGR/PGR land in Kheroni will be relocated to alternative locations at the earliest. He also announced that the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council will immediately cancel the licences of all commercial establishments operating on VGR/PGR land. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Home and Political Department of the Assam Government today issued a notification lifting the ban on mobile internet services, citing an improved and normalised law and order situation in the area.

Assam govt lifts ban on mobile internet services after improved law and order situation in Karbi Anglong

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (Dec 28) hailed the achievements of India in 2025 in the 129th episode of Mann Ki Baat, marking the last address in his monthly radio show for the year. From Operation Sindoor to Maha Kumbh and advancements in science and space exploration, PM Modi lauded several milestones of the country.“From national security to sports fields, from scientific laboratories to major global platforms, India left its strong mark everywhere,” PM Modi said.The prime minister noted that the new year is just a few days away, adding that he would want to reflect on what happened in 2025. “The year 2026 is just a few days away. And today, as I speak to you, my mind is reflecting on the entire year. Many images, many discussions, and many achievements have brought the nation together,” he said.Hailing the May military operations against terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, PM Modi said, “This year, Operation Sindoor became a symbol of pride for every Indian. The world clearly saw that today’s Bharat does not compromise on its security. During Operation Sindoor, pictures of love and devotion towards Mother India emerged from every corner of the world... This same spirit was also witnessed when ‘Vande Mataram’ completed 150 years...”Speaking about achievements in the field of space, PM Modi said, “Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to reach the International Space Station. Several initiatives related to environmental protection and wildlife conservation also marked 2025. The number of cheetahs in Bharat has now crossed 30.”He also recalled the largest spiritual gathering in Prayagraj during Maha Kumbh Mela, saying, “Faith, culture, and Bharat’s unique heritage were all seen together in 2025. The organisation of Prayagraj Mahakumbh at the beginning of the year astonished the entire world. At the end of the year, the flag hoisting ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya filled every Indian with pride.”The prime minister also said, “I am glad to see that the participation of our youth in this initiative is increasing. A few days ago, a pitch competition related to this was held, in which more than fifty lakh young people participated. An essay competition was also held, where students expressed their views on various topics. In this competition, Tamil Nadu secured the first position and Uttar Pradesh the second. Young people in the country are getting new opportunities to showcase their talent. Many platforms are being developed where youth can display their skills and interests. Friends, the Smart India Hackathon 2025 concluded this month. During this hackathon, students worked on over 270 problems from more than 80 government departments...”

The prime minister noted that the new year is just a few days away, adding that he would want to reflect on what happened in 2025.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (Dec 28) hailed the achievements of India in 2025 in the 129th episode of Mann Ki Baat, marking the last address in his monthly radio show for the year. From Operation Sindoor to Maha Kumbh and advancements in science and space exploration, PM Modi lauded several milestones of the country. “From national security to sports fields, from scientific laboratories to major global platforms, India left its strong mark everywhere,” PM Modi said. The prime minister noted that the new year is just a few days away, adding that he would want to reflect on what happened in 2025. “The year 2026 is just a few days away. And today, as I speak to you, my mind is reflecting on the entire year. Many images, many discussions, and many achievements have brought the nation together,” he said. Hailing the May military operations against terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, PM Modi said, “This year, Operation Sindoor became a symbol of pride for every Indian. The world clearly saw that today’s Bharat does not compromise on its security. During Operation Sindoor, pictures of love and devotion towards Mother India emerged from every corner of the world... This same spirit was also witnessed when ‘Vande Mataram’ completed 150 years...” Speaking about achievements in the field of space, PM Modi said, “Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to reach the International Space Station. Several initiatives related to environmental protection and wildlife conservation also marked 2025. The number of cheetahs in Bharat has now crossed 30.” He also recalled the largest spiritual gathering in Prayagraj during Maha Kumbh Mela, saying, “Faith, culture, and Bharat’s unique heritage were all seen together in 2025. The organisation of Prayagraj Mahakumbh at the beginning of the year astonished the entire world. At the end of the year, the flag hoisting ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya filled every Indian with pride.” The prime minister also said, “I am glad to see that the participation of our youth in this initiative is increasing. A few days ago, a pitch competition related to this was held, in which more than fifty lakh young people participated. An essay competition was also held, where students expressed their views on various topics. In this competition, Tamil Nadu secured the first position and Uttar Pradesh the second. Young people in the country are getting new opportunities to showcase their talent. Many platforms are being developed where youth can display their skills and interests. Friends, the Smart India Hackathon 2025 concluded this month. During this hackathon, students worked on over 270 problems from more than 80 government departments...”

The prime minister noted that the new year is just a few days away, adding that he would want to reflect on what happened in 2025.

From Op Sindoor, Maha Kumbh to Shubhanshu Shukla’s space mission: PM Modi hails Indian achievements in 2025’s last Mann Ki Baat

The Pakistan government has once again validated the destruction caused to its military infrastructure during Operation Sindoor carried out by India in May this year in retaliation of the Terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists in April. Pakistan's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, during the year-end press briefing on Saturday, confirmed that India had targeted its Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi's Chakala,&nbsp;He also spoke about the damage caused to its military installation and injuries caused to personnel during the strike.&nbsp;He stated that India had sent several drones to attack the air base of which all were struck down except for one that hit the base and caused damage.&nbsp;"They (India) send drones towards Pakistan. In 36 hours, at least 80 drones were sent... We were able to intercept 79 drones out of 80, and only one drone damaged a military installation and personnel were also injured in the attack," said Foreign Minister Dar.<h2>What India claimed</h2>The Indian Defence Forces had disclosed after Operation Sindoor that the Nur Khan Airbase, located in Rawalpindi, was one of the key military installations targeted during their retaliatory strikes against Pakistan. These strikes were launched in response to a series of drone and missile attacks carried out by Pakistan on several Indian bordering states, after India hit terror infrastructure inside Pakistan.&nbsp;India had struck terror sites of Pakistan-based terror group The Resistance Front (TRF) that claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir. In its strike, India also conducted coordinated airstrikes on multiple other Pakistani military bases to weaken Pakistan’s operational capabilities and send a strong message of deterrence. These targeted bases included Rafiqui, Murid, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian — all strategically important military sites housing critical infrastructure and personnel. The airbases at Skardu, Bholari, Jacobabad, and Sargodha were reported to have suffered extensive damage from the strikes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Pakistan Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, during the year-end press briefing on Saturday, confirmed that India had targeted its Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi

The Pakistan government has once again validated the destruction caused to its military infrastructure during Operation Sindoor carried out by India in May this year in retaliation of the Terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists in April. Pakistan's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, during the year-end press briefing on Saturday, confirmed that India had targeted its Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi's Chakala, He also spoke about the damage caused to its military installation and injuries caused to personnel during the strike. He stated that India had sent several drones to attack the air base of which all were struck down except for one that hit the base and caused damage. "They (India) send drones towards Pakistan. In 36 hours, at least 80 drones were sent... We were able to intercept 79 drones out of 80, and only one drone damaged a military installation and personnel were also injured in the attack," said Foreign Minister Dar. What India claimed The Indian Defence Forces had disclosed after Operation Sindoor that the Nur Khan Airbase, located in Rawalpindi, was one of the key military installations targeted during their retaliatory strikes against Pakistan. These strikes were launched in response to a series of drone and missile attacks carried out by Pakistan on several Indian bordering states, after India hit terror infrastructure inside Pakistan. India had struck terror sites of Pakistan-based terror group The Resistance Front (TRF) that claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir. In its strike, India also conducted coordinated airstrikes on multiple other Pakistani military bases to weaken Pakistan’s operational capabilities and send a strong message of deterrence. These targeted bases included Rafiqui, Murid, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian — all strategically important military sites housing critical infrastructure and personnel. The airbases at Skardu, Bholari, Jacobabad, and Sargodha were reported to have suffered extensive damage from the strikes.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, during the year-end press briefing on Saturday, confirmed that India had targeted its Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi.

India sent 80 drones to strike Nur Khan Air Base during Operation Sindoor, says Pakistan Foreign Minister

In a shocking incident, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura died following a racist assault in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun. Angel Chakma succumbed to his injuries on Friday (Dec 26) after fighting for his life for more than two weeks, sparking massive outrage across Tripura and other northeastern states of India. The police have arrested five people in connection with the attack. Chief Minister Manik Saha has assured that justice will be delivered.Angel Chakma was stabbed and sustained critical injuries after he and his younger brother, Michael Chakma, were attacked by a group of miscreants in a racially motivated attack. The incident took place in a local market in the Selaqui area in Dehradun, which falls under the Premnagar police station limits. According to their friends and witnesses, the attackers hurled racial slurs at them and repeatedly called them “Chinese”.The Times of India reported that Michael told police that his brother responded calmly but firmly, saying, “We are not Chinese... We are Indians. What certificate should we show to prove that?”<h2>What happened?</h2>Speaking of the incident, Pramod Kumar, Superintendent of Police, told ANI, “Two students from Tripura, Angel Chakma and his brother, Michael Chakma, lived near Nanda Chowki in the Premnagar police station area. This incident happened on the evening of the 9th, when they had gone to Selaqui for some work.”He added that the brothers got into an argument with some locals and another youth from the Northeast. The group attacked the two with knives and other blunt objects, seriously injuring them.“A fight broke out between them, during which it is reported that they were attacked with knives and other blunt objects. As a result, they were seriously injured. Their brother took them to the hospital, and subsequently, an FIR was registered,” he said.Initially, the FIR was filed against unknown persons. Following this, police reviewed CCTV footage and gathered information from witnesses to identify and arrest the perpetrators.Five arrested, Rs 25,000 reward for another suspect who fled“The police made every effort and worked diligently. CCTV footage was reviewed, and information was gathered from people in the surrounding area. Four or five names then came to light,” Kumar said. “Those whose names came to light were arrested by the police. A total of five people have been arrested in this case. Three – Avinash Negi, Suraj Khawas, and Sumit – were sent to jail. Two of them were juveniles and were sent to the correctional home.”The SP also confirmed that Angel Chakma succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the hospital. He added, “A murder charge has been added to the case.” Kumar further said one of the accused, originally from Nepal, fled, and a manhunt is underway. He also announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for any information leading to his arrest.<h2>‘Justice would be delivered’</h2>Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday (Dec 28) said that he spoke with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami regarding the incident. He added that an investigation was underway, assuring that justice will be delivered.“Spoke with Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand @pushkardhami Ji, regarding the tragic incident involving our student Angel Chakma, a resident of Nandanagar, Debram Thakur Para, who was brutally assaulted by a group of miscreants in Dehradun on 9th December and later he expires at Graphic Era Hospital,” he wrote on X. “The Hon’ble Chief Minister informed me that, in connection with the case, five accused have already been arrested. Further investigation is underway, and he has assured that justice will be delivered.”

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday (Dec 28) said that he spoke with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami regarding the incident. He added that an investigation was underway, assuring that justice will be delivered.

In a shocking incident, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura died following a racist assault in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun. Angel Chakma succumbed to his injuries on Friday (Dec 26) after fighting for his life for more than two weeks, sparking massive outrage across Tripura and other northeastern states of India. The police have arrested five people in connection with the attack. Chief Minister Manik Saha has assured that justice will be delivered. Angel Chakma was stabbed and sustained critical injuries after he and his younger brother, Michael Chakma, were attacked by a group of miscreants in a racially motivated attack. The incident took place in a local market in the Selaqui area in Dehradun, which falls under the Premnagar police station limits. According to their friends and witnesses, the attackers hurled racial slurs at them and repeatedly called them “Chinese”. The Times of India reported that Michael told police that his brother responded calmly but firmly, saying, “We are not Chinese... We are Indians. What certificate should we show to prove that?” What happened? Speaking of the incident, Pramod Kumar, Superintendent of Police, told ANI, “Two students from Tripura, Angel Chakma and his brother, Michael Chakma, lived near Nanda Chowki in the Premnagar police station area. This incident happened on the evening of the 9th, when they had gone to Selaqui for some work.” He added that the brothers got into an argument with some locals and another youth from the Northeast. The group attacked the two with knives and other blunt objects, seriously injuring them. “A fight broke out between them, during which it is reported that they were attacked with knives and other blunt objects. As a result, they were seriously injured. Their brother took them to the hospital, and subsequently, an FIR was registered,” he said. Initially, the FIR was filed against unknown persons. Following this, police reviewed CCTV footage and gathered information from witnesses to identify and arrest the perpetrators. Five arrested, Rs 25,000 reward for another suspect who fled “The police made every effort and worked diligently. CCTV footage was reviewed, and information was gathered from people in the surrounding area. Four or five names then came to light,” Kumar said. “Those whose names came to light were arrested by the police. A total of five people have been arrested in this case. Three – Avinash Negi, Suraj Khawas, and Sumit – were sent to jail. Two of them were juveniles and were sent to the correctional home.” The SP also confirmed that Angel Chakma succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the hospital. He added, “A murder charge has been added to the case.” Kumar further said one of the accused, originally from Nepal, fled, and a manhunt is underway. He also announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for any information leading to his arrest. ‘Justice would be delivered’ Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday (Dec 28) said that he spoke with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami regarding the incident. He added that an investigation was underway, assuring that justice will be delivered. “Spoke with Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand @pushkardhami Ji, regarding the tragic incident involving our student Angel Chakma, a resident of Nandanagar, Debram Thakur Para, who was brutally assaulted by a group of miscreants in Dehradun on 9th December and later he expires at Graphic Era Hospital,” he wrote on X. “The Hon’ble Chief Minister informed me that, in connection with the case, five accused have already been arrested. Further investigation is underway, and he has assured that justice will be delivered.”

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday (Dec 28) said that he spoke with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami regarding the incident. He added that an investigation was underway, assuring that justice will be delivered.

‘We are not Chinese’: Tripura MBA student’s death after racial attack in Dehradun sparks outrage

New Year is just around the corner and security concerns are the highest when it comes to national capital Delhi and its adjoining areas like Noida, Gurugram and Faridabad. It is even more important for the state machinery to tighten up security in the backdrop of the blast near Red Fort last month. So, keeping this in mind Delhi Police has started Operation Aaghat 3.0 and made several arrests.&nbsp;The Delhi Police has so far apprehended 966 people and seized arms, drugs, illegal liquor, and vehicles under Operation Aaghat 3.0 &nbsp;during an official said on Saturday. The raid was largely focused in the South East Delhi.&nbsp;285 accused were arrested under offences under the Excise Act, NDPS Act and Gambling Act, while others were arrested for criminal history and preventive measures to ensure safe celebrations during the New Year festivities.&nbsp;The police said it targeted habitual offenders by detaining 116 listed as bad characters, while 10 were arrested in crimes involving property offenders and five auto-lifters during the operations.The operation led to the recovery of 21 country-made pistols, 20 live cartridges and 27 knives.&nbsp;The police also seized illegal liquor and narcotics intended for circulation ahead of the New Year parties.&nbsp;In a significant recovery exercise, police traced and recovered 310 mobile phones that had been reported stolen, snatched or lost. A parallel crackdown on vehicle theft gangs led to the seizure or recovery of 231 two-wheelers and one four-wheeler.<h2>Editions of Aaghat</h2>In Delhi Police's first edition of Operation Aaghat in September, cops arrested 70 people in southeast Delhi and seized firearms, narcotics, illicit liquor and stolen property. Also, Fourteen country-made pistols, 24 cartridges and 16 knives were recovered, according to the police.&nbsp;During Operation Aaghat 2.0 in October around 500 people were apprehended, who were either habitual offenders, bootleggers and drug peddlers.&nbsp;

285 accused were arrested under offences under the Excise Act, NDPS Act and Gambling Act, while others were arrested for criminal history.

New Year is just around the corner and security concerns are the highest when it comes to national capital Delhi and its adjoining areas like Noida, Gurugram and Faridabad. It is even more important for the state machinery to tighten up security in the backdrop of the blast near Red Fort last month. So, keeping this in mind Delhi Police has started Operation Aaghat 3.0 and made several arrests. The Delhi Police has so far apprehended 966 people and seized arms, drugs, illegal liquor, and vehicles under Operation Aaghat 3.0 during an official said on Saturday. The raid was largely focused in the South East Delhi. 285 accused were arrested under offences under the Excise Act, NDPS Act and Gambling Act, while others were arrested for criminal history and preventive measures to ensure safe celebrations during the New Year festivities. The police said it targeted habitual offenders by detaining 116 listed as bad characters, while 10 were arrested in crimes involving property offenders and five auto-lifters during the operations. The operation led to the recovery of 21 country-made pistols, 20 live cartridges and 27 knives. The police also seized illegal liquor and narcotics intended for circulation ahead of the New Year parties. In a significant recovery exercise, police traced and recovered 310 mobile phones that had been reported stolen, snatched or lost. A parallel crackdown on vehicle theft gangs led to the seizure or recovery of 231 two-wheelers and one four-wheeler. Editions of Aaghat In Delhi Police's first edition of Operation Aaghat in September, cops arrested 70 people in southeast Delhi and seized firearms, narcotics, illicit liquor and stolen property. Also, Fourteen country-made pistols, 24 cartridges and 16 knives were recovered, according to the police. During Operation Aaghat 2.0 in October around 500 people were apprehended, who were either habitual offenders, bootleggers and drug peddlers.

285 accused were arrested under offences under the Excise Act, NDPS Act and Gambling Act, while others were arrested for criminal history.

What is Operation Aaghat carried out by Delhi Police? Over 900 arrests made ahead of New Year

India has delivered a consignment of ambulances to Afghanistan, fulfilling an earlier commitment made during high-level talks in New Delhi. The delivery follows an announcement in October, when India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in the Indian capital Delhi. During the meeting, Mr Jaishankar described the gift as a "gesture of goodwill". "A gift of 20 ambulances is a gesture of goodwill, and I would like to handover 5 of them to you personally as a symbolic step," Mr Jaishankar said at the time. "India will also provide MRI and CT scan machines to Afghan hospitals and deliver vaccines for immunisation and cancer medicines. We have also supplied drug rehabilitation materials through UNODC and are open to doing more."The delivery of the ambulances is part of broader India-Afghanistan healthcare cooperation. Projects include establishing a Thalassemia Centre, a Modern Diagnostic Centre, and replacing the heating system at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) in Kabul. India has also pledged to build a 30-bed hospital in Kabul's Bagrami district, an Oncology Centre, a Trauma Centre in the capital, and five Maternity Health Clinics in the provinces of Paktika, Khost, and Paktia.Around 75 prosthetic limbs have been fitted to Afghan nationals, a programme that has received appreciation from Afghan authorities. Earlier this month, Afghan Public Health Minister Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali visited India, where he held talks with his Indian counterpart. Discussions focused on long-term medicine supplies, capacity-building, and infrastructure support. A symbolic handover of cancer medicines and vaccines occurred, with larger consignments, including a 128-slice CT scanner, set to follow.India continues to provide medical visas for Afghans for treatment in Indian hospitals. Speaking to WION, the health minister said, "Afghans have been regularly travelling to India for medical treatment for a long time. Medical visas have been a vital humanitarian channel." The Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan administration has been focusing on tertiary healthcare projects, including specialised hospitals, diagnostic centres, and cancer treatment facilities. Both countries discussed forming a Joint Working Group on Health, establishing cancer treatment facilities in Afghanistan, and sending Indian medical teams for capacity-building programmes for Afghan doctors.<h2>Reducing reliance on Pakistan</h2>The latest delivery reinforces New Delhi's commitment to Afghanistan's welfare. Development comes as Afghanistan is trying to reduce reliance on neighbouring Pakistan, after the country attacked Kabul, border areas killing civilians, including children, women and cricketers. In November 2025, the Afghan government announced a complete ban on importing pharmaceutical products from Pakistan, citing poor quality. A three-month transition period was given for importers to settle debts with Pakistani suppliers and shift to alternative sources.

The delivery of the ambulances is part of broader India-Afghanistan healthcare cooperation. Projects include establishing a Thalassemia Centre, a Modern Diagnostic Centre, and replacing the heating system at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) in Kabul.

India has delivered a consignment of ambulances to Afghanistan, fulfilling an earlier commitment made during high-level talks in New Delhi. The delivery follows an announcement in October, when India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in the Indian capital Delhi. During the meeting, Mr Jaishankar described the gift as a "gesture of goodwill". "A gift of 20 ambulances is a gesture of goodwill, and I would like to handover 5 of them to you personally as a symbolic step," Mr Jaishankar said at the time. "India will also provide MRI and CT scan machines to Afghan hospitals and deliver vaccines for immunisation and cancer medicines. We have also supplied drug rehabilitation materials through UNODC and are open to doing more." The delivery of the ambulances is part of broader India-Afghanistan healthcare cooperation. Projects include establishing a Thalassemia Centre, a Modern Diagnostic Centre, and replacing the heating system at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) in Kabul. India has also pledged to build a 30-bed hospital in Kabul's Bagrami district, an Oncology Centre, a Trauma Centre in the capital, and five Maternity Health Clinics in the provinces of Paktika, Khost, and Paktia. Around 75 prosthetic limbs have been fitted to Afghan nationals, a programme that has received appreciation from Afghan authorities. Earlier this month, Afghan Public Health Minister Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali visited India, where he held talks with his Indian counterpart. Discussions focused on long-term medicine supplies, capacity-building, and infrastructure support. A symbolic handover of cancer medicines and vaccines occurred, with larger consignments, including a 128-slice CT scanner, set to follow. India continues to provide medical visas for Afghans for treatment in Indian hospitals. Speaking to WION, the health minister said, "Afghans have been regularly travelling to India for medical treatment for a long time. Medical visas have been a vital humanitarian channel." The Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan administration has been focusing on tertiary healthcare projects, including specialised hospitals, diagnostic centres, and cancer treatment facilities. Both countries discussed forming a Joint Working Group on Health, establishing cancer treatment facilities in Afghanistan, and sending Indian medical teams for capacity-building programmes for Afghan doctors. Reducing reliance on Pakistan The latest delivery reinforces New Delhi's commitment to Afghanistan's welfare. Development comes as Afghanistan is trying to reduce reliance on neighbouring Pakistan, after the country attacked Kabul, border areas killing civilians, including children, women and cricketers. In November 2025, the Afghan government announced a complete ban on importing pharmaceutical products from Pakistan, citing poor quality. A three-month transition period was given for importers to settle debts with Pakistani suppliers and shift to alternative sources.

The delivery of the ambulances is part of broader India-Afghanistan healthcare cooperation. Projects include establishing a Thalassemia Centre, a Modern Diagnostic Centre, and replacing the heating system at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) in Kabul.

India delivers ambulances to Afghanistan as health care cooperation grows

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Saturday (Dec 27) announced that two restrictions under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) will remain permanent in Delhi as part of efforts to curb “severe” air pollution in the national capital. From now on, petrol will not be provided to vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC), the minister said. Sirsa added that vehicles below Bharat Stage VI (BS6) will also be barred from entering Delhi. Meanwhile, air quality in Delhi and nearby regions has remained “very poor” in several parts on Sunday (Dec 28) as thick smog blankets the city.“From now on, it has been decided that out of the restrictions under GRAP-4, we have made two restrictions permanent. The first one is PUCC. You will not get petrol anywhere without a PUCC certificate until next orders,” Sirsa said. “Vehicles from outside Delhi that are below Bharat Stage VI (BS6) will also face restrictions on entering Delhi.”The environment minister also noted that the authorities are closely monitoring weather conditions in the national capital due to the possibility of adverse weather.“The possibility of bad weather is being indicated. Due to the Western Disturbance again, the weather may remain bad. Therefore, we are monitoring the situation.”Sirsa stressed that the government is ensuring that Delhi residents do not have to face repeated pollution-related challenges. “Our effort is that the people of Delhi do not have to face such challenges again,” he said.<h2>Delhi AQI today</h2>Toxic smog continues to blanket the national capital on Sunday (Dec 28), with several areas recording “very poor” air quality. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at 391, falling in the “severe” category. Some areas also recorded an AQI of more than 400, as per the data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).Meanwhile, Stage III of the GRAP is currently in place in the national capital. The measures include restrictions on construction and industrial activities.

The environment minister also noted that the authorities are closely monitoring weather conditions in the national capital due to the possibility of adverse weather.

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Saturday (Dec 27) announced that two restrictions under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) will remain permanent in Delhi as part of efforts to curb “severe” air pollution in the national capital. From now on, petrol will not be provided to vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC), the minister said. Sirsa added that vehicles below Bharat Stage VI (BS6) will also be barred from entering Delhi. Meanwhile, air quality in Delhi and nearby regions has remained “very poor” in several parts on Sunday (Dec 28) as thick smog blankets the city. “From now on, it has been decided that out of the restrictions under GRAP-4, we have made two restrictions permanent. The first one is PUCC. You will not get petrol anywhere without a PUCC certificate until next orders,” Sirsa said. “Vehicles from outside Delhi that are below Bharat Stage VI (BS6) will also face restrictions on entering Delhi.” The environment minister also noted that the authorities are closely monitoring weather conditions in the national capital due to the possibility of adverse weather. “The possibility of bad weather is being indicated. Due to the Western Disturbance again, the weather may remain bad. Therefore, we are monitoring the situation.” Sirsa stressed that the government is ensuring that Delhi residents do not have to face repeated pollution-related challenges. “Our effort is that the people of Delhi do not have to face such challenges again,” he said. Delhi AQI today Toxic smog continues to blanket the national capital on Sunday (Dec 28), with several areas recording “very poor” air quality. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at 391, falling in the “severe” category. Some areas also recorded an AQI of more than 400, as per the data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Meanwhile, Stage III of the GRAP is currently in place in the national capital. The measures include restrictions on construction and industrial activities.

The environment minister also noted that the authorities are closely monitoring weather conditions in the national capital due to the possibility of adverse weather.

Delhi imposes THESE two permanent GRAP curbs for vehicles as AQI remains ‘severe’  – What you need to know

After massive backlash, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) appeal on December 29, challenging the Delhi High Court's decision to suspend the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case. A three-judge vacation bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant will hear the plea of the CBI. This comes after the CBI filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court's December 23, 2025, order that suspended Sengar's life sentence pending appeal and granted him bail. Sengar was convicted in December 2019 in the Unnao rape case and sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 25 lakh. Though granted bail in this case, he will continue to remain in jail as he is serving a 10-year sentence in another CBI case related to murder.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-hc-suspends-kuldeep-sengar-life-sentence-unnao-rape-case-1766644718266">Unnao rape case- Why did Delhi HC suspend life sentence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar?</a><h2>What rape survivor told CBI?</h2>The victim of the 2017 Unnao rape case, along with her mother, met officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the national capital on Saturday and submitted a complaint alleging that the investigating officer (IO) colluded with a judge to ensure the accused side wins. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the victim said she had sought to meet a senior official but was told it was a holiday and that she should return on Monday. However, she said a junior official accepted her complaint."The junior official has received my application and said that the senior official will meet on Monday," the victim told ANI. Alleging serious misconduct, she claimed that the Investigating Officer (IO) had acted against her interests. "The complaint is that the investigating officer has wronged me. He colluded with the judge to ensure that the other party won, so that the rape victim would lose, her courage would be broken, and she would not be able to pursue the case further," the victim pointed out. The victim's mother also spoke to ANI, stating that they are ready to go to the Supreme Court. "They have received my complaint. Now we have to see when the authority meets us. We trust the Supreme Court," she said. She further added that while the CBI is handling the matter, the family's faith would depend on whether the agency stands by them during legal proceedings. "The CBI is there, but I will only trust them if they stand by my side in the Supreme Court," the victim's mother added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/unnao-rape-case-cbi-challenges-delhi-high-court-s-bail-order-for-convict-kuldeep-sengar-1766769459750">Unnao rape case: CBI challenges Delhi High Court’s bail order for convict Kuldeep Sengar</a><h2>What was Delhi HC's decision?</h2>The Delhi High Court, in a decision made by Justice Subramonium Prasad and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, suspended the sentence and released the former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader on bail, requiring him to furnish a bond of ₹15 lakh. Sengar had been sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2019 after being convicted for the rape of a 17-year-old girl in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, in 2017. The Delhi High Court suspended his life sentence, citing that Sengar had already served more time than the maximum sentence allowed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.<h3>Protest after Delhi HC's decision</h3>Protest erupted after the High Court's decision outside its premises, with demonstrators voicing strong opposition to granting bail to Sengar. The victim's mother expressed her anger, saying, “His bail should be rejected. We will appeal to the Supreme Court. We have lost faith in the High Court... If we don’t get justice there, we will look for it elsewhere. The man responsible for my husband's death should face the death penalty.” Footage shared by the news agency ANI showed security forces urging protesters to disperse immediately, warning that legal action would be taken if they failed to leave within five minutes. Earlier, the rape survivor and her mother were forcefully removed by the Delhi Police from a protest site near India Gate, according to reports.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">एक गैंगरेप पीड़िता के साथ ऐसा व्यवहार उच्चित है??? उसकी यही गलती है कि न्याय की माँग कर रही है ? ये कैसा न्याय है ???<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JusticeForUnnaoVictim?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JusticeForUnnaoVictim</a> <a href="https://t.co/F1mSmOhQEs">pic.twitter.com/F1mSmOhQEs</a>&mdash; Yogita Bhayana योगिता भयाना (@yogitabhayana) <a href="https://twitter.com/yogitabhayana/status/2003507142960267508?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What is Unnao rape case?</h2>The Unnao rape case refers to the 2017 abduction and rape of a 17-year-old minor girl in the Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, India, by Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a then-sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Despite reporting the crime, local police initially refused to name Sengar in the First Information Report (FIR). In April 2018, the survivor attempted to self-immolate herself outside the residence of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, to protest police inaction. Shortly after, her father died in judicial custody following an assault by Sengar’s brother and associates. In 2019, when the hearing of the case was going on, a truck with blackened license plates rammed into the survivor’s car while she was traveling to court. Two of her aunts were killed, and the survivor was critically injured.

The Supreme Court will hear the CBI’s plea on December 29 against the Delhi High Court order granting bail to convicted Unnao rape accused Kuldeep Singh Sengar. The survivor alleged collusion by the IO and judge, sparking protests over the bail decision.

After massive backlash, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) appeal on December 29, challenging the Delhi High Court's decision to suspend the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case. A three-judge vacation bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant will hear the plea of the CBI. This comes after the CBI filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court's December 23, 2025, order that suspended Sengar's life sentence pending appeal and granted him bail. Sengar was convicted in December 2019 in the Unnao rape case and sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 25 lakh. Though granted bail in this case, he will continue to remain in jail as he is serving a 10-year sentence in another CBI case related to murder. Also Read: Unnao rape case- Why did Delhi HC suspend life sentence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar? What rape survivor told CBI? The victim of the 2017 Unnao rape case, along with her mother, met officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the national capital on Saturday and submitted a complaint alleging that the investigating officer (IO) colluded with a judge to ensure the accused side wins. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the victim said she had sought to meet a senior official but was told it was a holiday and that she should return on Monday. However, she said a junior official accepted her complaint."The junior official has received my application and said that the senior official will meet on Monday," the victim told ANI. Alleging serious misconduct, she claimed that the Investigating Officer (IO) had acted against her interests. "The complaint is that the investigating officer has wronged me. He colluded with the judge to ensure that the other party won, so that the rape victim would lose, her courage would be broken, and she would not be able to pursue the case further," the victim pointed out. The victim's mother also spoke to ANI, stating that they are ready to go to the Supreme Court. "They have received my complaint. Now we have to see when the authority meets us. We trust the Supreme Court," she said. She further added that while the CBI is handling the matter, the family's faith would depend on whether the agency stands by them during legal proceedings. "The CBI is there, but I will only trust them if they stand by my side in the Supreme Court," the victim's mother added. Also Read: Unnao rape case: CBI challenges Delhi High Court’s bail order for convict Kuldeep Sengar What was Delhi HC's decision? The Delhi High Court, in a decision made by Justice Subramonium Prasad and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, suspended the sentence and released the former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader on bail, requiring him to furnish a bond of ₹15 lakh. Sengar had been sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2019 after being convicted for the rape of a 17-year-old girl in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, in 2017. The Delhi High Court suspended his life sentence, citing that Sengar had already served more time than the maximum sentence allowed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Protest after Delhi HC's decision Protest erupted after the High Court's decision outside its premises, with demonstrators voicing strong opposition to granting bail to Sengar. The victim's mother expressed her anger, saying, “His bail should be rejected. We will appeal to the Supreme Court. We have lost faith in the High Court... If we don’t get justice there, we will look for it elsewhere. The man responsible for my husband's death should face the death penalty.” Footage shared by the news agency ANI showed security forces urging protesters to disperse immediately, warning that legal action would be taken if they failed to leave within five minutes. Earlier, the rape survivor and her mother were forcefully removed by the Delhi Police from a protest site near India Gate, according to reports.

The Supreme Court will hear the CBI’s plea on December 29 against the Delhi High Court order granting bail to convicted Unnao rape accused Kuldeep Singh Sengar. The survivor alleged collusion by the IO and judge, sparking protests over the bail decision.

Unnao rape case: SC to hear CBI's challenge against HC's bail to ex-BJP leader Kuldeep Sengar — What is the case?

The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of issues relating to the definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges and as per the causelist published on the apex court’s website, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, and Justices J K Maheshwari and A G Masih will hear the suo motu writ petition titled “In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues” on Monday, December 29. The Supreme Court has taken up the issue on its own motion amid growing concerns over the protection of the ecologically fragile Aravalli range. The hearing comes after the Centre ordered a complete ban on new mining leases across the Aravalli range from Delhi to Gujarat, and reiterated that existing mines must comply strictly with environmental safeguards and Supreme Court orders.&nbsp;The apex court’s decision to take suo motu cognisance has cheered up environmental activists with expectations of a positive shift in the court’s stance on the matter.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-israel-europe-waging-a-total-war-on-our-country-iran-president-masoud-pezeshkian-1766857358756">US, Israel, Europe waging a ‘total war’ on our country: Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian</a><h2>Union ministry imposes complete ban on new mining leases in the Aravallis</h2>&nbsp;Meanwhile, in a decisive move, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&amp;CC) has directed state governments to impose a “complete ban” on granting any new mining leases in the Aravallis.&nbsp;The ministry said the prohibition will apply uniformly across the Aravalli landscape, covering the mountain range from Delhi to Gujarat. Further tightening the conservation framework, the MoEF&amp;CC has instructed the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to identify additional areas and zones across the entire Aravalli range where mining must be prohibited, over and above the areas already restricted by the Centre.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-diplomacy-would-not-work-without-security-zelensky-to-speak-with-allies-before-trump-meeting-1766846371768">‘Diplomacy would not work without security’: Zelensky to speak with allies before Trump meeting</a>&nbsp;The identification will be carried out based on ecological, geological, and landscape-level considerations, the ministry said.ICFRE has also been tasked with preparing a comprehensive, science-based Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the entire Aravalli region, which will be placed “in the public domain for wide stakeholder consultation”.&nbsp;<h2>SC to hear CBI’s appeal in Unnao rape case</h2>&nbsp;The Supreme Court is also set to hear the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) appeal on Monday challenging the Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case. A three-judge vacation bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant will take up the CBI’s plea.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yearender-2025-the-year-of-wars-tariff-turmoil-and-climate-disasters-1766568207775">Yearender 2025: The year of wars, tariff turmoil, and climate disasters</a>&nbsp;The survivor in the Unnao case has levelled serious allegations against the investigating officer, claiming the IO "colluded with the judge" to ensure that "the other party won." Her accusations come days after the Delhi High Court granted bail to Sengar and suspended his life term. The survivor and her mother met CBI officials on Saturday to submit a formal complaint on the matter.

The Supreme Court has taken up the issue on its own motion amid growing concerns over the protection of the ecologically fragile Aravalli range. The hearing comes after the Centre ordered a complete ban on new mining leases across the Aravalli range from Delhi to Gujarat.

The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of issues relating to the definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges and as per the causelist published on the apex court’s website, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, and Justices J K Maheshwari and A G Masih will hear the suo motu writ petition titled “In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues” on Monday, December 29. The Supreme Court has taken up the issue on its own motion amid growing concerns over the protection of the ecologically fragile Aravalli range. The hearing comes after the Centre ordered a complete ban on new mining leases across the Aravalli range from Delhi to Gujarat, and reiterated that existing mines must comply strictly with environmental safeguards and Supreme Court orders. The apex court’s decision to take suo motu cognisance has cheered up environmental activists with expectations of a positive shift in the court’s stance on the matter. Also Read: US, Israel, Europe waging a ‘total war’ on our country: Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian Union ministry imposes complete ban on new mining leases in the Aravallis Meanwhile, in a decisive move, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has directed state governments to impose a “complete ban” on granting any new mining leases in the Aravallis. The ministry said the prohibition will apply uniformly across the Aravalli landscape, covering the mountain range from Delhi to Gujarat. Further tightening the conservation framework, the MoEF&CC has instructed the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to identify additional areas and zones across the entire Aravalli range where mining must be prohibited, over and above the areas already restricted by the Centre. Also Read: ‘Diplomacy would not work without security’: Zelensky to speak with allies before Trump meeting The identification will be carried out based on ecological, geological, and landscape-level considerations, the ministry said. ICFRE has also been tasked with preparing a comprehensive, science-based Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the entire Aravalli region, which will be placed “in the public domain for wide stakeholder consultation”. SC to hear CBI’s appeal in Unnao rape case The Supreme Court is also set to hear the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) appeal on Monday challenging the Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case. A three-judge vacation bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant will take up the CBI’s plea. Also Read: Yearender 2025: The year of wars, tariff turmoil, and climate disasters The survivor in the Unnao case has levelled serious allegations against the investigating officer, claiming the IO "colluded with the judge" to ensure that "the other party won." Her accusations come days after the Delhi High Court granted bail to Sengar and suspended his life term. The survivor and her mother met CBI officials on Saturday to submit a formal complaint on the matter.

The Supreme Court has taken up the issue on its own motion amid growing concerns over the protection of the ecologically fragile Aravalli range. The hearing comes after the Centre ordered a complete ban on new mining leases across the Aravalli range from Delhi to Gujarat.

Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance of Aravalli row, to hear case on Monday

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday compared the Congress government in Karnataka to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and accused it of executing anti-minority politics. He wrote on X that the Karnataka Congress government has evicted Muslim families who have been living for years in a colony in Bengaluru, adopting a bulldozer ‘policy of the state’. Pinarayi Vijayan said it is unfortunate that the minority-opposing politics of the Sangh Parivar is now being followed by the Congress government in Karnataka as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;In a post on X, Vijayan said, “When a regime rules through fear and brute force, constitutional values and human dignity become the first casualties,” drawing parallels with practices widely criticised in northern states.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The bulldozing of Faqir Colony and Waseem Layout in Bengaluru, uprooting Muslim families who have lived there for years, exposes the brutal normalisation of “bulldozer raj”. Sadly, the Sangh Parivar’s anti-minority politics is now being executed under a Congress Government in…&mdash; Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) <a href="https://twitter.com/pinarayivijayan/status/2004545028744692212?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Reacting to the accusation, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said that external leaders should not interfere in such matters and it is regrettable that a senior leader like Pinarayi has commented on the issue without having full information about it.From December 20 to 23, the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) demolished homes in Waseem Layout and Fakir Colony in the city. It is claimed that these colonies had around 200 houses, housing approximately one thousand people.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chinks-in-congress-exposed-digvijaya-singh-shares-old-photo-of-pm-modi-stirs-row-with-bjp-rss-praise-1766839574664">Chinks in Congress exposed?: Digvijaya Singh shares old photo of PM Modi, stirs row with BJP, RSS praise</a>&nbsp;<h2>‘Houses demolished without notice,’ say families</h2>&nbsp;The affected families allege that BSWML carried out the demolition action without any prior notice to them. They said they were forcibly removed from their homes in the presence of police, after which bulldozers were used to demolish their houses. BSWML officials said that all the demolished houses were built illegally on government land.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-to-launch-mgnrega-bachao-campaign-on-jan-5-demand-repeal-of-vb-g-ram-g-act-kharge-1766830777227">Congress to launch ‘MGNREGA Bachao’ campaign on Jan 5, demand repeal of VB-G RAM G Act: Kharge</a><h2>‘Congress govt does not believe in bulldozer culture,’ says Deputy CM</h2>&nbsp;Shivakumar hit back at Pinarayi Vijayan over his criticism of the Bengaluru demolition drive, and said the Congress government does not believe in “bulldozer culture” and had acted only to protect government land from encroachment.Speaking to reporters at his Sadashivanagar residence, the Deputy CM said the demolished structures stood on encroached government land that was being used as a solid waste dumping site.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yearender-2025-the-year-of-wars-tariff-turmoil-and-climate-disasters-1766568207775">Yearender 2025: The year of wars, tariff turmoil, and climate disasters</a>&nbsp;“The land that was cleared of encroachment was a solid waste pit. There are many health-related issues in the area due to this. We also have humanity, and we had given them an opportunity to move to other areas,” he said.&nbsp;Rejecting the ‘bulldozer raj’ charge, Shivakumar added, “We don’t have bulldozer culture. I appeal to Pinarayi Vijayan not to talk like that. We are only protecting government land in the middle of the city.”He also alleged the role of the land mafia in such settlements. “Land mafia sets up slums in order to encroach upon the land at a later stage. We will not allow that to happen,” he said, while assuring that eligible residents would be rehabilitated.

In a drive carried out from December 20 to 23, the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) demolished homes in Waseem Layout and Fakir Colony in the city. It is claimed that these colonies had around 200 houses, housing approximately one thousand people.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday compared the Congress government in Karnataka to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and accused it of executing anti-minority politics. He wrote on X that the Karnataka Congress government has evicted Muslim families who have been living for years in a colony in Bengaluru, adopting a bulldozer ‘policy of the state’. Pinarayi Vijayan said it is unfortunate that the minority-opposing politics of the Sangh Parivar is now being followed by the Congress government in Karnataka as well. In a post on X, Vijayan said, “When a regime rules through fear and brute force, constitutional values and human dignity become the first casualties,” drawing parallels with practices widely criticised in northern states.

In a drive carried out from December 20 to 23, the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) demolished homes in Waseem Layout and Fakir Colony in the city. It is claimed that these colonies had around 200 houses, housing approximately one thousand people.

Karnataka govt executing Sangh Parivar’s anti-minority politics: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh kicked up another controversy on Saturday with a social media post in which he appeared to “praise” the BJP and the RSS by applauding how grassroots workers who once sat on the floor grew within the Sangh-BJP system and went on to become chief minister and prime minister. “I found this picture on the Quora site. It is very impressive. The way grassroots swayamsevaks (workers) of the RSS and workers of the Jan Sangh/BJP sit on the floor at the feet of leaders and go on to become the Chief Minister of a state and the Prime Minister of the country shows the power of the organisation. Jai Siya Ram,” Singh said in a post on X in Hindi.&nbsp;Singh, who was chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, shared a black and white photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the 1990s and praised the BJP and RSS, which the Congress leadership keeps targeting regularly.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh shared a photo from 1990s, showing PM Narendra Modi sitting on the floor

&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-to-launch-mgnrega-bachao-campaign-on-jan-5-demand-repeal-of-vb-g-ram-g-act-kharge-1766830777227">Congress to launch ‘MGNREGA Bachao’ campaign on Jan 5, demand repeal of VB-G RAM G Act: Kharge</a>&nbsp;The photo showed BJP veteran LK Advani seated on a chair with other leaders while attending an event in Gujarat, and a young Modi sitting on the floor before him.He issued a clarification after his post sparked a controversy and told reporters that he had only praised the organisation, and would continue to oppose the BJP and RSS.The photo shared by Singh was reportedly clicked during the swearing-in ceremony of former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela in 1996.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-360-degree-attack-on-organised-crime-soon-says-amit-shah-lauds-terror-probes-1766773654614">‘360-degree attack on organised crime soon,’ says Amit Shah, lauds terror probes</a><h2>Digvijaya Singh’s post message to party high command?</h2>&nbsp;Since Digvijaya Singh had tagged Congress party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and party’s social media handles in his post, it is being seen as his message to the party high command.&nbsp;A week earlier, Digvijaya Singh had called for reforms within the Congress and urged Rahul Gandhi to look into it. The party needs more “pragmatic decentralised functioning,” he had said on December 19, but regretted that it was “not easy to convince” Gandhi.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RahulGandhi</a> ji you are absolutely “Bang On” in matters of Socio-Economic Issues. Full Marks. But now please look at <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@INCIndia</a> also. Like <a href="https://twitter.com/ECISVEEP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ECISVEEP</a> needs Reforms, So Does Indian National Congress. You have started with “संघटन सृजन” But we need more Pragmatic Decentralised… <a href="https://t.co/jmxjtsxtU9">https://t.co/jmxjtsxtU9</a>&mdash; Digvijaya Singh (@digvijaya_28) <a href="https://twitter.com/digvijaya_28/status/2001870821984473204?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-thy-name-is-lynchistaan-tweets-mehbooba-mufti-s-daughter-iltija-stirs-controversy-1766764386435">‘Thy name is Lynchistaan,’ tweets Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter Iltija, stirs controversy</a>&nbsp;“Rahul Gandhi ji, you are absolutely ‘Bang On’ in matters of Socio-Economic Issues. Full Marks. But now please look at @INCIndia also. Like @ECISVEEP needs Reforms, So Does Indian National Congress. You have started with ‘organisation creation’ But we need more Pragmatic Decentralised Functioning. I am sure you would do it because I know you can do it. Only problem is that it is not easy to ‘Convince’ you,” he said in the post.Singh’s second Rajya Sabha tenure is due to end early next year, and a third term appears unlikely, since Kamal Nath and Meenakshi Natarajan are already in the queue and could be the frontrunners for his seat.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yearender-2025-the-year-of-wars-tariff-turmoil-and-climate-disasters-1766568207775">Yearender 2025: The year of wars, tariff turmoil, and climate disasters</a><h2>‘Truth bomb,’ says BJP to taunt Rahul Gandhi</h2>&nbsp;The BJP taunted Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over Singh’s tweet terming it a ‘truth bomb’. BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan said that Singh’s comment has exposed the “autocratic and undemocratic” Congress leadership.“Will Rahul Gandhi show courage &amp; react to the shocking Truth Bomb dropped by Shri. Digvijaya Singh’s tweet which has totally exposed how Congress first family ruthlessly runs the party in a dictatorial manner and also how autocratic &amp; undemocratic this Congress leadership is (sic),” he said in an X post.

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh, who was chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, shared a black and white photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the 1990s and praised the BJP and RSS, which the Congress leadership keeps targeting regularly.

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh kicked up another controversy on Saturday with a social media post in which he appeared to “praise” the BJP and the RSS by applauding how grassroots workers who once sat on the floor grew within the Sangh-BJP system and went on to become chief minister and prime minister. “I found this picture on the Quora site. It is very impressive. The way grassroots swayamsevaks (workers) of the RSS and workers of the Jan Sangh/BJP sit on the floor at the feet of leaders and go on to become the Chief Minister of a state and the Prime Minister of the country shows the power of the organisation. Jai Siya Ram,” Singh said in a post on X in Hindi. Singh, who was chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, shared a black and white photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the 1990s and praised the BJP and RSS, which the Congress leadership keeps targeting regularly.

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh, who was chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, shared a black and white photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the 1990s and praised the BJP and RSS, which the Congress leadership keeps targeting regularly.

Chinks in Congress exposed?: Digvijaya Singh shares old photo of PM Modi, stirs row with BJP, RSS praise

In a bid to ensure safety in one of the biggest celebrations in the national capital, the Delhi police on Friday (Dec 26) launched a major crackdown on illegal weapons and drugs ahead of New Year celebrations under Operation Aaghat 3.0, arresting more than 504 individuals under various sanctions of the BNS for involvement in criminal activities. &nbsp;The South East Delhi police conducted a special drive, coordinating raids, checks, and surveillance in vulnerable areas across the district. 285 accused were arrested under offences under the Excise Act, NDPS Act and Gambling Act, while others were arrested for criminal history and preventive measures to ensure safe celebrations during the New Year festivities. The police said it targeted habitual offenders by detaining 116 listed as bad characters, while 10were &nbsp;arrested in crimes involving property offenders and five auto-lifters during the operations.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-to-launch-mgnrega-bachao-campaign-on-jan-5-demand-repeal-of-vb-g-ram-g-act-kharge-1766830777227">Congress to launch ‘MGNREGA Bachao’ campaign on Jan 5, demand repeal of VB-G RAM G Act: Kharge</a>&nbsp;The operation led to the recovery of 21 country-made pistols, 20 live cartridges and 27 knives. The police also seized illegal liquor and narcotics intended for circulation ahead of the New Year parties.&nbsp;In a significant recovery exercise, police traced and recovered 310 mobile phones that had been reported stolen, snatched or lost. A parallel crackdown on vehicle theft gangs led to the seizure or recovery of 231 two-wheelers and one four-wheeler.&nbsp;Overall, 1,306 people were taken into preventive custody as police teams carried out night-long checks and intelligence-driven raids across the district.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-appeals-for-restraint-in-yemen-as-saudi-urges-separatists-to-withdraw-peacefully-1766824849155">US appeals for restraint in Yemen as Saudi urges separatists to withdraw peacefully</a>&nbsp;Senior police officers said Operation Aaghat 3.0 was rolled out as a preventive and deterrent initiative to safeguard public order during the New Year period, which usually sees heightened movement of people and a rise in criminal activity.

Operation Aaghat 3.0  was launched as Delhi gears up for New Year festivities.

In a bid to ensure safety in one of the biggest celebrations in the national capital, the Delhi police on Friday (Dec 26) launched a major crackdown on illegal weapons and drugs ahead of New Year celebrations under Operation Aaghat 3.0, arresting more than 504 individuals under various sanctions of the BNS for involvement in criminal activities. The South East Delhi police conducted a special drive, coordinating raids, checks, and surveillance in vulnerable areas across the district. 285 accused were arrested under offences under the Excise Act, NDPS Act and Gambling Act, while others were arrested for criminal history and preventive measures to ensure safe celebrations during the New Year festivities. The police said it targeted habitual offenders by detaining 116 listed as bad characters, while 10were arrested in crimes involving property offenders and five auto-lifters during the operations. Also Read: Congress to launch ‘MGNREGA Bachao’ campaign on Jan 5, demand repeal of VB-G RAM G Act: Kharge The operation led to the recovery of 21 country-made pistols, 20 live cartridges and 27 knives. The police also seized illegal liquor and narcotics intended for circulation ahead of the New Year parties. In a significant recovery exercise, police traced and recovered 310 mobile phones that had been reported stolen, snatched or lost. A parallel crackdown on vehicle theft gangs led to the seizure or recovery of 231 two-wheelers and one four-wheeler. Overall, 1,306 people were taken into preventive custody as police teams carried out night-long checks and intelligence-driven raids across the district. Also Read: US appeals for restraint in Yemen as Saudi urges separatists to withdraw peacefully Senior police officers said Operation Aaghat 3.0 was rolled out as a preventive and deterrent initiative to safeguard public order during the New Year period, which usually sees heightened movement of people and a rise in criminal activity.

Operation Aaghat 3.0 &nbsp;was launched as Delhi gears up for New Year festivities.

Over 500 arrested, arms and drugs seized in national capital as Delhi Police launch pre-New Year drive

The Congress party on Saturday announced that it will launch a nationwide protest against the Centre for replacing the rural employment scheme MGNREGA with the VB G-RAM-G Act 2025. A meeting of the Congress Working Committee was held, after which Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that replacing the scheme named after Mahatama Gandhi is an insult to the father of the nation. “We took an oath in the meeting today. We decided to launch a massive movement across the country to save the MGNREGA scheme. The Indian National Congress party will launch the Save MGNREGA Campaign from January 5th,” Kharge said in the media briefing after the CWC meeting.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">मोदी सरकार ने 16 दिसंबर 2025 को संसद में माना था कि नीति आयोग के अध्ययन में पाया गया है कि &#39;मनरेगा&#39; से ड्यूरेबल असेट्स बनें हैं। मनरेगा बहुत ही शानदार योजना रही, ऐसा कई सारी रिपोर्ट्स में भी बताया गया। कोरोना काल में भी मनरेगा योजना के चलते बहुत से प्रवासी मजदूरों की मदद… <a href="https://t.co/exlCv6XYbx">pic.twitter.com/exlCv6XYbx</a>&mdash; Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/2004854125344030778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;“We will protect the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) at all costs. MGNREGA is not just a scheme but a right to work granted by the Constitution of India. We also pledge to democratically oppose every conspiracy to remove Gandhiji’s name from MGNREGA,” he added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-360-degree-attack-on-organised-crime-soon-says-amit-shah-lauds-terror-probes-1766773654614">‘360-degree attack on organised crime soon,’ says Amit Shah, lauds terror probes</a>&nbsp;Kharge said the people are angry over the repeal of MGNREGA, and the government will have to face the consequences.&nbsp;Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi unilaterally took the decision of replacing MGNREGA without consulting the concerned ministers or the Union Cabinet.&nbsp;“MGNREGA was not just a scheme; it was a rights-based concept… This direct, rights-based concept is now under attack… Finally, I have been informed that this decision was taken directly by the Prime Minister’s Office, without consulting the concerned ministers or the Cabinet,” Rahul said. “This reflects the present situation, where governance has become a one-man show and whatever Narendra Modi wants is done,” he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">हम शपथ लेते हैं 👇 <a href="https://t.co/yHyiTpoE3s">pic.twitter.com/yHyiTpoE3s</a>&mdash; UP Congress (@INCUttarPradesh) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCUttarPradesh/status/2004860633796542467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yearender-2025-the-year-of-wars-tariff-turmoil-and-climate-disasters-1766568207775">Yearender 2025: The year of wars, tariff turmoil, and climate disasters</a>&nbsp;The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill was passed during the recently concluded winter session of Parliament to replace the UPA-era MGNREGA.President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the passed bill which has become the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025.&nbsp;The Congress-led opposition has taken a strong exception to the replacing of MNREGA, alleging that it is an insult to Mahatma Gandhi as his name has been removed from its title.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yearender-2025-the-year-dissent-and-angst-triggered-mass-protests-worldwide-1766674340518">Yearender 2025: The year dissent and angst triggered mass protests worldwide</a>&nbsp;The new law makes a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work.Under the new law, Centre and the state governments will have to share a 60:40 per cent ratio funding for the scheme.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi unilaterally took the decision of replacing MGNREGA without consulting the concerned ministers or the Union Cabinet.

The Congress party on Saturday announced that it will launch a nationwide protest against the Centre for replacing the rural employment scheme MGNREGA with the VB G-RAM-G Act 2025. A meeting of the Congress Working Committee was held, after which Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that replacing the scheme named after Mahatama Gandhi is an insult to the father of the nation. “We took an oath in the meeting today. We decided to launch a massive movement across the country to save the MGNREGA scheme. The Indian National Congress party will launch the Save MGNREGA Campaign from January 5th,” Kharge said in the media briefing after the CWC meeting.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi unilaterally took the decision of replacing MGNREGA without consulting the concerned ministers or the Union Cabinet.

Congress to launch ‘MGNREGA Bachao’ campaign on Jan 5, demand repeal of VB-G RAM G Act: Kharge

Conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar has filed an application before Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma at Patiala House Courts, offering to pay Rs 217 crore (about $24.16 million) to complainant Aditi Singh in connection with the Rs 200-crore ($22.27 million) extortion case.The application has been filed through his counsel, Anant Malik, and it clarifies that the offer is made "without prejudice" to Chandrasekhar's rights and does not constitute an admission of guilt. The matter is stated to be listed for consideration on January 3, 2026. The plea seeks permission for the parties to explore a settlement arising out of an FIR registered by the Special Cell, Lodhi Colony, New Delhi. Chandrasekhar, who is currently in judicial custody, has urged the court to issue notice to the complainant and to record that the settlement proposal is bona fide and subject to her consent. As background, Delhi Police has booked Chandrasekhar for allegedly duping the wives of former Ranbaxy promoters Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh of ₹200 crore. Several separate investigations against him are presently underway across the country. Delhi Police arrested Chandrasekhar and his associate, A Paulose, in connection with the extortion case. They are also facing proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and are under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate. The police have additionally invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the case. According to Delhi Police, Chandrasekhar, Paulose and other accused allegedly used hawala channels and a network of shell companies to park and layer the proceeds of crime. The court is yet to pass orders on the settlement application.

Chandrasekhar, who is currently in judicial custody, has urged the court to issue notice to the complainant and to record that the settlement proposal is bona fide and subject to her consent.

Conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar has filed an application before Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma at Patiala House Courts, offering to pay Rs 217 crore (about $24.16 million) to complainant Aditi Singh in connection with the Rs 200-crore ($22.27 million) extortion case. The application has been filed through his counsel, Anant Malik, and it clarifies that the offer is made "without prejudice" to Chandrasekhar's rights and does not constitute an admission of guilt. The matter is stated to be listed for consideration on January 3, 2026. The plea seeks permission for the parties to explore a settlement arising out of an FIR registered by the Special Cell, Lodhi Colony, New Delhi. Chandrasekhar, who is currently in judicial custody, has urged the court to issue notice to the complainant and to record that the settlement proposal is bona fide and subject to her consent. As background, Delhi Police has booked Chandrasekhar for allegedly duping the wives of former Ranbaxy promoters Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh of ₹200 crore. Several separate investigations against him are presently underway across the country. Delhi Police arrested Chandrasekhar and his associate, A Paulose, in connection with the extortion case. They are also facing proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and are under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate. The police have additionally invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the case. According to Delhi Police, Chandrasekhar, Paulose and other accused allegedly used hawala channels and a network of shell companies to park and layer the proceeds of crime. The court is yet to pass orders on the settlement application.

Chandrasekhar, who is currently in judicial custody, has urged the court to issue notice to the complainant and to record that the settlement proposal is bona fide and subject to her consent.

Conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar offers $24 mn settlement to victim in $22 mn extortion case

In a move which is aimed for reducing students’ screen time and encouraging reading habits, the Uttar Pradesh basic and secondary education department has made newspaper reading compulsory in government schools across the state. On this detailed guidelines have been sent to district- and state-level education officers to ensure proper implementation.According to the order issued by Additional Chief Secretary Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma, newspapers must become a regular part of daily school life. It is said that the step will help students stay informed about current affairs and prepare better for competitive examinations.<h2>Students to read newspapers</h2>The education department said regular newspaper reading improves vocabulary, language style and writing skills. Editorials and opinion pieces help students understand different viewpoints and develop critical thinking, which is important in an age of misinformation and fake news.These new guidelines also noted that while students may prefer certain sections, newspapers expose them to subjects like science, culture and sports. This leads to what the department called “accidental learning”, which broadens general knowledge. Reading printed newspapers, the order added, improves focus and patience compared to digital screens.<h2>What schools have been told to do</h2>New guidelines directed all government schools to ensure the availability of reputed Hindi and English newspapers in school libraries. These newspapers must be easily accessible to students during school hours.&nbsp;Schools have also been instructed to set aside 10 minutes during the daily morning assembly for newspaper reading. On a rotational basis, students will read out key points from editorials and share positive news from national, international and sports events.&nbsp;<h2>Vocabulary, writing and student-led publications</h2>As part of vocabulary building, five new or difficult words must be selected daily from newspapers and explained during the morning assembly. These words, along with the ‘thought of the day’, must be displayed on school notice boards so students see them regularly. Students will also be encouraged to create a monthly or quarterly school newspaper or magazine. These publications will be edited by student teams and will present school activities and achievements in a news format.For senior students from Classes 9 to 12, the guidelines suggest weekly writing exercises or group discussions based on editorial topics to improve expression and confidence.<h2>Focus on community awareness&nbsp;</h2>New guidelines also focus on and encourage students to read and discuss local news related to development projects and civic issues. This will strengthen students’ connection with their surroundings and help them become responsible citizens. Weekly classroom activities such as solving Sudoku, crossword puzzles and quizzes from newspapers have also been recommended. For junior classes (6 to 8), students are encouraged to maintain scrapbooks by collecting interesting news clippings.<h2>Strict compliance ordered</h2>The additional chief secretary has asked senior officials, including the director general of school education and the director of secondary education, to ensure strict compliance with the instructions. Schools have been told to treat newspaper reading not as an extra activity but as a core part of learning.&nbsp;

Uttar Pradesh government has made newspaper reading compulsory in government schools to cut screen time and boost reading habits. Schools must provide Hindi and English newspapers, dedicate daily reading time and use editorials to improve vocabulary, writing and critical thinking.


In a move which is aimed for reducing students’ screen time and encouraging reading habits, the Uttar Pradesh basic and secondary education department has made newspaper reading compulsory in government schools across the state. On this detailed guidelines have been sent to district- and state-level education officers to ensure proper implementation. According to the order issued by Additional Chief Secretary Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma, newspapers must become a regular part of daily school life. It is said that the step will help students stay informed about current affairs and prepare better for competitive examinations. Students to read newspapers The education department said regular newspaper reading improves vocabulary, language style and writing skills. Editorials and opinion pieces help students understand different viewpoints and develop critical thinking, which is important in an age of misinformation and fake news. These new guidelines also noted that while students may prefer certain sections, newspapers expose them to subjects like science, culture and sports. This leads to what the department called “accidental learning”, which broadens general knowledge. Reading printed newspapers, the order added, improves focus and patience compared to digital screens. What schools have been told to do New guidelines directed all government schools to ensure the availability of reputed Hindi and English newspapers in school libraries. These newspapers must be easily accessible to students during school hours. Schools have also been instructed to set aside 10 minutes during the daily morning assembly for newspaper reading. On a rotational basis, students will read out key points from editorials and share positive news from national, international and sports events. Vocabulary, writing and student-led publications As part of vocabulary building, five new or difficult words must be selected daily from newspapers and explained during the morning assembly. These words, along with the ‘thought of the day’, must be displayed on school notice boards so students see them regularly. Students will also be encouraged to create a monthly or quarterly school newspaper or magazine. These publications will be edited by student teams and will present school activities and achievements in a news format. For senior students from Classes 9 to 12, the guidelines suggest weekly writing exercises or group discussions based on editorial topics to improve expression and confidence. Focus on community awareness New guidelines also focus on and encourage students to read and discuss local news related to development projects and civic issues. This will strengthen students’ connection with their surroundings and help them become responsible citizens. Weekly classroom activities such as solving Sudoku, crossword puzzles and quizzes from newspapers have also been recommended. For junior classes (6 to 8), students are encouraged to maintain scrapbooks by collecting interesting news clippings. Strict compliance ordered The additional chief secretary has asked senior officials, including the director general of school education and the director of secondary education, to ensure strict compliance with the instructions. Schools have been told to treat newspaper reading not as an extra activity but as a core part of learning.

Uttar Pradesh government has made newspaper reading compulsory in government schools to cut screen time and boost reading habits. Schools must provide Hindi and English newspapers, dedicate daily reading time and use editorials to improve vocabulary, writing and critical thinking.

Uttar Pradesh government makes newspaper reading mandatory in schools

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that a new plan to launch “a 360-degree attack on organised crime” would be introduced in the coming days. Speaking at the inauguration of the two-day anti-terrorism conference organised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Shah said when the heads of organised crime networks flee abroad to settle, they automatically come into contact with terrorist organisations and then help spread terrorism within the country.“Organised crime networks initially operate for the purpose of ransom and extortion, but when their leaders flee abroad and settle there, they automatically come into contact with terrorist organisations and then use the proceeds from ransom and extortion to spread terrorism within the country,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;The home minister also praised the security agencies for successful probes into the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack and the Delhi blast case.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-blast-terror-suspect-taken-to-al-falah-university-reveals-where-explosives-were-refined-1766759046589">Delhi blast: Terror suspect taken to Al Falah University, reveals where explosives were refined</a><h2>‘Pahalgam attack, Delhi blast probes outstanding instances of watertight investigations’</h2>&nbsp;Shah said the NIA conducted a “complete and successful” investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, which will become a case study for agencies around the world and put Pakistan in the dock at the international platforms.He also lauded the investigation into the November 10 Red Fort blast, saying three tonnes of explosives were recovered before terrorists could use them, and underlined that the probes carried out by agencies in the Pahalgam and Delhi attacks were not examples of routine policing but outstanding instances of “watertight investigations”.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yearender-2025-the-year-of-wars-tariff-turmoil-and-climate-disasters-1766568207775">Yearender 2025: The year of wars, tariff turmoil, and climate disasters</a>&nbsp;Speaking on the Pahalgam terror attack, Shah said, “Through this attack, the terrorists wanted to disrupt communal harmony in the country and deliver a blow to the new era of development and tourism that has begun in Kashmir. Based on extremely precise intelligence, our forces neutralised all three terrorists, delivering a stern message to Pakistan.”The three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack were killed in an encounter with security forces on July 28.&nbsp;&nbsp;Shah said the probes into the terror attacks in Pahalgam and Delhi serve as “significant example of how a constantly vigilant officer can save the country from such a massive crisis”.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yearender-2025-the-year-dissent-and-angst-triggered-mass-protests-worldwide-1766674340518">Yearender 2025: The year dissent and angst triggered mass protests worldwide</a><h2>‘Landscape of terrorism in the world is changing’</h2>&nbsp;He also emphasised that the landscape of terrorism in the world is changing due to the use of technology in terror incidents.“It is the national responsibility of this conference to anticipate invisible future challenges, and to prevent them,” he said.&nbsp;The home minister also inaugurated two databases; one on organised crime networks and another on looted/lost or recovered weapons which can be accessed by state and central agencies to obtain ready information on organised criminals, their modus operandi, past cases, weapons, etc.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-thy-name-is-lynchistaan-tweets-mehbooba-mufti-s-daughter-iltija-stirs-controversy-1766764386435">‘Thy name is Lynchistaan,’ tweets Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter Iltija, stirs controversy</a>&nbsp;The home minister said that NIA has prepared a common structure for anti-terrorist squads (ATS) and sent it to state police forces.“When we establish a common ATS structure across the entire country, it provides us an opportunity for uniform preparation at every level. A common ATS structure for the police across the country is extremely important, and all DGPs from the states should implement it as soon as possible,” Shah said.&nbsp;He emphasised that the use of the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) should be made mandatory in certain types of investigations and stressed that the database of terrorists and criminals should be made a core asset of the zero-terror policy.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the NIA conducted a “complete and successful” investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, which will become a case study for agencies around the world and put Pakistan in the dock at the international platforms.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that a new plan to launch “a 360-degree attack on organised crime” would be introduced in the coming days. Speaking at the inauguration of the two-day anti-terrorism conference organised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Shah said when the heads of organised crime networks flee abroad to settle, they automatically come into contact with terrorist organisations and then help spread terrorism within the country. “Organised crime networks initially operate for the purpose of ransom and extortion, but when their leaders flee abroad and settle there, they automatically come into contact with terrorist organisations and then use the proceeds from ransom and extortion to spread terrorism within the country,” he said. The home minister also praised the security agencies for successful probes into the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack and the Delhi blast case. Also Read: Delhi blast: Terror suspect taken to Al Falah University, reveals where explosives were refined ‘Pahalgam attack, Delhi blast probes outstanding instances of watertight investigations’ Shah said the NIA conducted a “complete and successful” investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, which will become a case study for agencies around the world and put Pakistan in the dock at the international platforms. He also lauded the investigation into the November 10 Red Fort blast, saying three tonnes of explosives were recovered before terrorists could use them, and underlined that the probes carried out by agencies in the Pahalgam and Delhi attacks were not examples of routine policing but outstanding instances of “watertight investigations”. Also Read: Yearender 2025: The year of wars, tariff turmoil, and climate disasters Speaking on the Pahalgam terror attack, Shah said, “Through this attack, the terrorists wanted to disrupt communal harmony in the country and deliver a blow to the new era of development and tourism that has begun in Kashmir. Based on extremely precise intelligence, our forces neutralised all three terrorists, delivering a stern message to Pakistan.” The three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack were killed in an encounter with security forces on July 28. Shah said the probes into the terror attacks in Pahalgam and Delhi serve as “significant example of how a constantly vigilant officer can save the country from such a massive crisis”. Also Read: Yearender 2025: The year dissent and angst triggered mass protests worldwide ‘Landscape of terrorism in the world is changing’ He also emphasised that the landscape of terrorism in the world is changing due to the use of technology in terror incidents. “It is the national responsibility of this conference to anticipate invisible future challenges, and to prevent them,” he said. The home minister also inaugurated two databases; one on organised crime networks and another on looted/lost or recovered weapons which can be accessed by state and central agencies to obtain ready information on organised criminals, their modus operandi, past cases, weapons, etc. Also Read: ‘Thy name is Lynchistaan,’ tweets Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter Iltija, stirs controversy The home minister said that NIA has prepared a common structure for anti-terrorist squads (ATS) and sent it to state police forces. “When we establish a common ATS structure across the entire country, it provides us an opportunity for uniform preparation at every level. A common ATS structure for the police across the country is extremely important, and all DGPs from the states should implement it as soon as possible,” Shah said. He emphasised that the use of the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) should be made mandatory in certain types of investigations and stressed that the database of terrorists and criminals should be made a core asset of the zero-terror policy.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the NIA conducted a “complete and successful” investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, which will become a case study for agencies around the world and put Pakistan in the dock at the international platforms.

‘360-degree attack on organised crime soon,’ says Amit Shah, lauds terror probes

Amid the ongoing visa processing delays, the US Embassy in India has issued an advisory for Indians to be aware of agents offering guaranteed visas or quick approvals. It came after several applicants fell into the scammers' trap, who promised faster services for a fee. "Ever come across messages or agents promising guaranteed visas or faster approvals? Visa scams and fraud are more common than you think, and they can cost you time, money, and your travel plans," the embassy wrote on X. The embassy also urged applicants to stay vigilant, follow official procedures, and rely only on credible sources to avoid falling victim to fraud.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-thwarts-planned-attacks-on-christmas-arrests-over-100-islamic-state-group-suspects-details-inside-1766670065971">Turkey thwarts planned attacks on Christmas, arrests over 100 Islamic State group suspects. Details inside</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Ever come across messages or agents promising guaranteed visas or faster approvals? Visa scams and fraud are more common than you think, and they can cost you time, money, and your travel plans. This <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VisaFriday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VisaFriday</a>, we’re highlighting steps you can take to identify scams, avoid… <a href="https://t.co/4a55mbOihR">pic.twitter.com/4a55mbOihR</a>&mdash; U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAndIndia/status/2004416001387983278?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Officials highlighted that the only possible way to obtain a US visa is via the embassy or consulate. They also said the only way to book an appointment is through our online scheduling portal, which is www.ustraveldocs.com. "If anyone says they can get you a visa outside this process, they are trying to scam you," the embassy said.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-this-is-not-your-home-racist-nick-fuentes-launches-another-hate-speech-against-indians-asks-vivek-ramaswamy-to-go-back-to-india-1766595636877">‘This is not your home’: ‘Racist’ Nick Fuentes launches another hate-speech against Indians, asks Vivek Ramaswamy to ‘go back to India’</a>&nbsp;"Remember, the only fees you need to pay for a US visa are the ones outlined in our application," the embassy added. "For accurate information, applicants are encouraged to visit the official US Department of State website travel.state.gov or the US Embassy India visa website, in.usembassy.gov/visas," the embassy said.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-something-that-would-shake-bangladesh-what-did-sharif-osman-hadi-s-shooter-say-to-his-girlfriend-before-the-attack-1766146632136">‘Something that would shake Bangladesh’: What did Sharif Osman Hadi's ‘shooter’ say to his girlfriend before the attack</a> &nbsp;

Officials highlighted that the only possible way to obtain a US visa is via the embassy or consulate. They also said the only way to book an appointment is through our online scheduling portal, which is www.ustraveldocs.com.

Amid the ongoing visa processing delays, the US Embassy in India has issued an advisory for Indians to be aware of agents offering guaranteed visas or quick approvals. It came after several applicants fell into the scammers' trap, who promised faster services for a fee. "Ever come across messages or agents promising guaranteed visas or faster approvals? Visa scams and fraud are more common than you think, and they can cost you time, money, and your travel plans," the embassy wrote on X. The embassy also urged applicants to stay vigilant, follow official procedures, and rely only on credible sources to avoid falling victim to fraud. Also read: Turkey thwarts planned attacks on Christmas, arrests over 100 Islamic State group suspects. Details inside

Officials highlighted that the only possible way to obtain a US visa is via the embassy or consulate. They also said the only way to book an appointment is through our online scheduling portal, which is www.ustraveldocs.com.

‘If anyone says they can get you US visa...’: US Embassy in India alerts against scammers amid visa delays

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‘360-degree attack on organised crime soon,’ says Amit Shah, lauds terror probes

‘If anyone says they can...’: US Embassy in India alerts against scammers