US polls register widespread dissatisfaction with Trump leadership

A clear majority of Americans believe the United States is heading in the wrong direction, with fresh opinion polls showing President Donald Trump facing growing public dissatisfaction ahead of November's congressional elections.

A national survey conducted by ABC News, The Washington Post and Ipsos found that 70 per cent of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, while another survey by NBC News Decision Desk placed the figure at 71 per cent. Both findings underline widespread unease over economic conditions, government policies and the direction of Trump's presidency.

The findings come as separate national polls register some of the lowest approval ratings of Trump's second term. A CNN survey conducted by SSRS between October 15 and 18 found that just 32 per cent approved of his performance, while 67 per cent disapproved.

A New York Times and Siena College survey placed presidential approval at 36 per cent among likely voters, against 59 per cent disapproval. Although individual surveys differ in methodology and sampling, their findings consistently indicate substantial public dissatisfaction with the administration.

Economic concerns dominate the negative assessments. Rising household expenses, petrol prices and inflation have weakened public confidence in Trump's handling of an issue that remains central to voters' political preferences.

The ABC News, Washington Post and Ipsos survey found that approximately seven in ten Americans considered petrol unaffordable. Half or more described every household purchase category examined in the survey as unaffordable, illustrating the pressure facing consumers.

The survey also found that Americans trusted Democrats over Republicans by 14 percentage points to handle inflation and the cost of living. Democrats enjoyed a nine-point advantage on managing the broader economy, representing a significant shift in public perceptions of the parties' economic competence.

Trump's handling of the conflict with Iran has emerged as another source of dissatisfaction. The New York Times and Siena College survey found that 65 per cent disapproved of his management of the conflict, while 73 per cent disapproved of his handling of petrol prices.

The economic consequences of military operations have become politically significant as higher energy costs affect household budgets. Public attitudes towards the conflict reflect concerns about both American involvement overseas and its domestic financial consequences.

The findings carry implications for Republicans seeking to retain control of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections. The ABC News, Washington Post and Ipsos survey showed Democratic candidates leading Republicans by 52 per cent to 44 per cent among likely voters.

Independent voters appeared particularly important to that advantage. The same survey found that 56 per cent of independent likely voters supported Democratic congressional candidates, compared with 35 per cent backing Republicans.

Another national survey conducted by CNN and SSRS placed Democrats ahead by ten percentage points on the congressional ballot, with 49 per cent supporting Democratic candidates and 39 per cent favouring Republicans.

Nevertheless, national polling cannot establish the outcome of individual congressional contests. Candidate characteristics, district boundaries, local issues and differences in voter turnout can produce results that diverge substantially from nationwide preferences.

The administration continues to retain support among a substantial section of Republican voters, particularly on immigration and border security. The NBC News Decision Desk survey found immigration remained Trump's strongest policy area, although approval of his approach stood at 43 per cent.

Republicans also retained an advantage on crime in the ABC News, Washington Post and Ipsos survey, with Americans trusting the party over Democrats by five percentage points.

Public dissatisfaction extends beyond the president personally. The survey found that 63 per cent held an unfavourable opinion of the Republican Party, compared with 54 per cent expressing an unfavourable view of Democrats.

The findings indicate that neither major party commands universal public confidence, even as Democrats gain ground on economic management and congressional voting preferences.

Voter enthusiasm presents another challenge for Republicans. The ABC News, Washington Post and Ipsos survey found that 72 per cent of Democratic voters were absolutely certain to vote, compared with 65 per cent of Republican voters.

The survey also identified differences in preferred voting methods. Republicans led among those planning to cast ballots personally on election day, while Democrats held advantages among voters intending to participate through early voting or postal ballots.

The ABC News, Washington Post and Ipsos survey interviewed 2,545 adults between October 9 and 13 through the probability-based Ipsos KnowledgePanel. Its overall margin of sampling error was approximately two percentage points, with larger margins applying to individual demographic groups.

US technology workers return to India in growing numbers

An estimated 12,700 technology professionals returned from the United States to India during the first nine months of 2026, as tighter immigration policies under President Donald Trump and uncertainty over employment prospects accelerated the movement of skilled workers.

Data compiled by staffing firm Xpheno indicates that the number of returnees could surpass the record 15,100 recorded throughout 2025. The figures highlight a sustained increase in professionals relocating from the US, although the number travelling in the opposite direction remains higher.

Xpheno recorded 7,200 returnees in 2023 and 9,800 in 2024, before the figure climbed sharply last year. The latest tally represents approximately 84 per cent of the previous annual record, with three months remaining when the September figures were compiled.

Kamal Karanth, co-founder of Xpheno, expects the annual total to exceed last year's level. He indicated that changes affecting the H-1B visa programme could accelerate the movement and potentially reverse the traditional imbalance between professionals leaving India and those returning.

Nearly 14,500 technology professionals moved from India to the US between January and September, compared with 12,700 travelling back, according to Xpheno. The difference suggests that outward migration continues, but the gap between the two flows has narrowed substantially.

The figures cover white-collar technology professionals moving between the two countries and are not restricted to H-1B visa holders. They therefore reflect broader workforce mobility rather than departures directly attributable to individual immigration measures.

Trump's administration has tightened scrutiny of employment-based immigration, introducing additional costs and restrictions affecting employers seeking overseas talent. The changes have increased uncertainty for technology workers whose ability to remain employed in the US depends on visa sponsorship.

The administration maintains that stronger immigration controls are necessary to protect domestic employment and prevent misuse of programmes intended to address specialised labour shortages. Technology employers, however, have warned that restrictions can complicate recruitment and retention of skilled personnel.

Recruitment specialists identify immigration uncertainty, redundancies across major US technology companies and changing career opportunities as factors influencing relocation decisions. Individual circumstances differ, making it difficult to establish how many workers returned specifically because of government policy.

Karanth cautioned that professionals returning to India face considerable difficulties securing suitable employment. Domestic technology recruitment has remained uneven following the expansion of hiring during 2021, leaving employers selective about additional appointments.

Neeti Sharma, chief executive of TeamLease Digital, said employers increasingly prioritise specialised capabilities and relevant experience rather than overseas employment credentials alone. Demand is concentrated in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data management and product leadership.

Cloud computing, cybersecurity and enterprise applications of artificial intelligence also feature among the skills sought by employers. Professionals possessing these capabilities may find stronger opportunities than candidates whose experience does not match current business requirements.

Compensation presents another obstacle. Recruiters estimate that returning professionals may receive only 25 to 33 per cent of their previous US salaries, depending on their responsibilities, experience, employer and location.

Xpheno's compensation assessment places the average annual earnings of a full-stack engineer employed in the US on an H-1B visa at approximately $105,000. Salaries for such positions generally range between $70,000 and $150,000.

Comparable professionals occupying the highest-paying segment of India's employment market may earn between $20,000 and $32,000 annually. These differences can complicate relocation decisions, particularly for workers accustomed to substantially higher dollar-denominated compensation.

Recruiters say employers generally follow domestic salary structures rather than matching overseas remuneration. Candidates consequently face decisions involving lower earnings, different career opportunities and the financial implications of relocating their households.

Sharma estimates that professionals working in applied artificial intelligence can command annual salaries ranging from approximately Rs 16 lakh to Rs 35 lakh, although experienced specialists in senior positions may receive substantially higher packages.

Global capability centres operated by multinational companies offer another employment avenue for returnees. These facilities recruit specialists across engineering, product development, analytics and technology operations, but overseas applicants compete with experienced professionals already working in India.

Xpheno's assessment draws on its candidate database, recruitment management systems and employment platforms covering domestic and international hiring. The firm uses these records to identify patterns in professional mobility, experience and compensation across the two markets.

The estimates represent observed recruitment and workforce movements rather than a government census of returning citizens. They consequently provide an industry-level indication of changing migration patterns, with the figures covering a defined segment of technology employment rather than every occupational category.

The September assessment also distinguishes movements between countries from changes in visa status, an important consideration because professionals may relocate for personal, career or financial reasons without losing their legal eligibility to work in the United States.

Rahul Gandhi questions BJP over Puri Epstein photograph

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday linked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Mumbai visit to a photograph showing Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri with Jeffrey Epstein, raising an unsubstantiated suggestion of political blackmail.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha directed his remarks at workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, questioning whether someone was being pressured as the photograph circulated during Rubio’s visit.

“Rubio goes to Mumbai. The US DOJ releases a picture of Epstein and Puri. Dear BJP and RSS workers, which anti-national traitor do you think they're blackmailing?” Gandhi wrote on X.

Gandhi offered no evidence that the United States was blackmailing anyone, or that Rubio’s visit had any connection with the photograph. The image was contained in material made public by the US Department of Justice in January, rather than newly released during the secretary of state’s trip.

The photograph shows Puri seated across a table from Epstein, the disgraced American financier who died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. No other individual is visible within the frame, although the image alone cannot establish whether others attended the meeting.

Puri, the minister for petroleum and natural gas, has previously acknowledged meeting Epstein but maintained that their contact was professional. He said in February that he encountered Epstein on three or, at most, four occasions through work associated with the International Peace Institute and its Independent Commission on Multilateralism.

“My boss in the IPI, Terje Rod-Larsen, was the person who knew this particular infamous person Mr Epstein,” Puri said while explaining that he had attended meetings as part of an institutional delegation.

Puri’s office has maintained that the photograph does not contradict his explanation. It said he could not recall which meeting was pictured or whether other participants had been present before or after the moment captured.

Congress leaders nevertheless challenged his account. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera said documents available through the US Justice Department indicated substantially more communication than the minister had described, alleging at least 62 emails between Puri and Epstein from 2014 to 2017.

Khera also claimed that records suggested 14 meetings and other interactions, including individual encounters. Those figures were allegations advanced by Congress, rather than findings establishing misconduct. He called for an investigation and asked Puri to explain the nature and extent of the exchanges.

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal separately accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of failing to address questions surrounding Puri’s association with Epstein. His criticism focused on ministerial accountability, but the photograph itself does not demonstrate involvement in Epstein’s crimes. Venugopal also questioned the government’s response to demands for an explanation from a Cabinet minister.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also questioned the minister’s account of delegation meetings after the photograph appeared online. Her intervention added to opposition demands for clarification about who attended the encounters and the circumstances in which they took place.

Rubio was in Mumbai for meetings and public engagements as Washington and New Delhi continued discussions on trade and their strategic relationship. During the visit, he said the two countries were close to finalising a trade agreement, describing the remaining negotiations as a matter of weeks rather than months.

He also urged greater purchases of American energy, technology and defence equipment. Neither those remarks nor the visit provided evidence supporting Gandhi’s suggestion of blackmail, and the Congress leader did not identify an alleged target in his post.

The timing of the photograph’s renewed circulation became a central feature of the opposition attack. However, the distinction between the Justice Department’s earlier publication of the material and its appearance on social media this week is significant to assessing Gandhi’s assertion about its release.

Epstein’s connections with influential figures have drawn scrutiny because of his sexual abuse of girls and the criminal proceedings surrounding his activities. Association or a photograph with Epstein does not, by itself, establish knowledge of or participation in those offences.

Puri has said his interactions took place after his tenure as India’s permanent representative to the United Nations and before he entered the Union Cabinet in 2017. He has denied that the meetings had any connection with Epstein’s criminal conduct. His account places the encounters within the activities of the institute, where he worked following his diplomatic career.

US visa cancellations surpass 300,000 under Trump administration

The Trump administration has revoked more than 300,000 United States visas since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, the State Department announced on Tuesday, signalling a sharp expansion of immigration enforcement affecting legal entry to the country.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the government had cancelled visas more quickly than any previous administration, presenting the figure as evidence of its determination to exclude foreign nationals accused of criminal activity, fraud or threats to national security.

“With over 300,000 revocations, the Trump administration has revoked more visas at a faster pace than any administration in history,” Pigott said. The historical comparison was an administration claim, and the department did not release a comprehensive breakdown allowing independent assessment against previous presidencies.

The new total marks a substantial increase from the more than 175,000 revocations disclosed by the department on 10 August. A further figure of approximately 250,000 was cited in September, indicating that tens of thousands of additional visas have been cancelled within weeks.

Pigott said the administration had “zero tolerance for foreigners here on visas who break the law, commit fraud, or undermine our national security”. He said officials would continue taking action to protect the country's borders and security.

Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar reinforced the message, writing on X that visa holders must respect US laws or lose the privilege of travelling to the country. She linked the enforcement programme to the priorities of Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

A State Department official identified criminal conduct, public safety concerns and immigration violations, including fraud and misrepresentation, among the grounds for cancellation. The department has not published a full nationality breakdown or a detailed account of how many revocations involved each category.

Officials also identified more than 4,000 revocations connected with people accused of participating in or facilitating birth tourism, a term used for travel undertaken to give birth in the United States. The administration has made combating that practice part of its wider visa enforcement programme.

The figures cover visa revocations rather than deportations. Cancelling a visa can prevent its holder from using that document to seek admission to the United States, but does not necessarily establish that the person has been removed from the country. Immigration status and removal proceedings involve separate legal questions.

The enforcement drive forms part of Trump's broader effort to restrict immigration, which has extended beyond unauthorised border crossings to foreign nationals entering through established visa programmes. The administration maintains that tougher scrutiny is necessary to safeguard public safety and address abuses of immigration rules.

Civil liberties organisations have challenged elements of the policy, arguing that some enforcement decisions undermine free expression and procedural protections. Their concerns have been particularly acute where visa decisions followed political protests or statements made on social media rather than allegations of ordinary criminal conduct.

Visa cancellations involving foreign nationals who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations have attracted criticism from rights advocates. They contend that immigration powers should not be used to punish lawful political expression. The administration has defended its authority to consider national security and foreign policy interests when assessing foreign visitors.

Scrutiny has also focused on action against foreigners over online comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Critics say such cases risk deterring political speech, while administration officials have insisted that foreign nationals do not possess an unconditional entitlement to enter or remain in the United States.

The State Department has expanded social media screening and other vetting measures for visa applicants. Supporters view these checks as safeguards against fraud and security risks; opponents warn that broad assessments of online activity can be difficult to challenge and may penalise opinions rather than unlawful behaviour.

The administration has also imposed additional costs and restrictions affecting some employment visa routes, widening the consequences of its immigration agenda for employers and prospective workers. Those measures are separate from the cumulative revocation total announced this week.

For visa holders, the distinction between a cancelled travel document and lawful immigration status remains important. Individual consequences depend on the circumstances of each case, including whether the person is abroad, already admitted to the United States or subject to separate immigration proceedings. The department has not specified how many affected individuals were inside the country when cancellations occurred.

Delhi magistrate releases CJP activists after custody challenge

A Delhi Special Executive Magistrate ordered the release of Cockroach Janta Party activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on Wednesday after they withdrew their challenge to judicial custody before the Delhi High Court.

The development followed the High Court's decision to entertain urgent petitions concerning the two activists and All India Students' Association president Neha Bora, who separately challenged a police notice requiring her to explain why she should furnish a Rs 10,000 peace bond.

Justice Subramonium Prasad heard Das and Ranka's petition during the court's Dussehra vacation but suggested they first pursue the matter before the Special Executive Magistrate, who was due to reconsider the sureties offered for their release.

Their lawyer, Abhik Chimni, subsequently withdrew the High Court petition. Later on Wednesday, the magistrate accepted their sureties and directed their release, ending seven days in judicial custody following a confrontation over access to the Jantar Mantar protest site.

The magistrate's decision followed a police request to extend their detention by another three days. The two activists had been held since October 14, with their original five-day remand extended by two days on October 19.

The release did not terminate the preventive proceedings. Das and Ranka were directed to appear again before the magistrate on October 23, while the inquiry into their alleged breach of peace conditions remained pending.

Bora's separate petition was adjourned until Thursday morning after Chimni told the High Court that he needed to attend the magistrate's proceedings involving Das and Ranka. Her challenge therefore remained unresolved at the end of Wednesday's hearings.

The AISA president is contesting a notice dated October 17, issued under Section 126 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. It required her to appear before the magistrate on October 19 and explain why she should not execute a personal bond of Rs 10,000, backed by one surety, to maintain peace during the inquiry.

Bora was detained on October 16 while travelling to a gathering at Mandi House and released the following morning. She has alleged that police took her to an undisclosed location before holding her overnight at RK Puram police station.

Her petition argues that the preventive proceedings interfere with constitutionally protected speech, assembly and personal liberty. Those allegations have not been determined by the High Court.

The notice refers to alleged sloganeering at Mandi House, participation in protests near Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory restrictions and encouragement of a demonstration at Connaught Place. The police contend that the circumstances warranted preventive action to avert a disturbance of public order.

Section 126 permits an executive magistrate to initiate proceedings where information suggests that a person may breach the peace or disturb public tranquillity. The notice begins a process in which the person concerned can contest the grounds and the proposed bond.

Das and Ranka's case arose from an October 13 protest at Jantar Mantar, where police accused demonstrators of crossing barricades and entering an area no longer designated for protests. The activists had sought to display the national flag and raise slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Police maintained that the activists had breached peace bonds executed earlier in October. The magistrate's October 19 order expressed concern that they might again defy restrictions, while their counsel disputed the continued detention and challenged the rejection of proposed sureties.

During Wednesday's High Court hearing, Justice Prasad questioned the circumstances of the alleged breach and indicated that the magistrate should first examine the fresh surety arrangements. The court did not decide the underlying legality of the preventive action after the petition was withdrawn.

The earlier magistrate's order had cited discrepancies involving identification documents submitted by sureties and questioned whether they could ensure the activists' attendance. Defence counsel maintained that the detention should not continue merely because the authorities found the proposed guarantees inadequate.

The proceedings concerning Bora and the two CJP activists arose from separate police actions, although both were connected to demonstrations challenging the Chief Election Commissioner. Their petitions raised distinct questions: the basis for initiating preventive bond proceedings against Bora and the continued custody of Das and Ranka after their sureties were rejected.

The next magistrate hearing for Das and Ranka is scheduled for Friday afternoon, when they and their sureties have been directed to attend. The court has not yet issued a final determination on the underlying allegations.

Delhi High Court bars release of PM flight records

The Delhi High Court has overturned a Central Information Commission order requiring the Indian Air Force to disclose records of foreign visits undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, citing national security and personal safety concerns.

Justice Amit Mahajan, in a judgment delivered on October 15, held that disclosure of sensitive flight information could compromise security arrangements surrounding the Prime Minister and potentially endanger his life. The court upheld the Air Force's refusal to release the documents under the Right to Information Act.

The judgment allowed a petition filed by the Central Public Information Officer of the Directorate of Personal Services at Air Headquarters, challenging the commission's July 8, 2020, directive to provide certified copies of Special Flight Returns, Part II, relating to the prime ministers' overseas journeys.

The court ruled that the commission had erred in ordering disclosure even after directing the removal of names and identifying particulars of security personnel. Such redactions, it observed, would not necessarily eliminate the risks associated with releasing operational information.

The records contain details concerning aircraft, aircrew, passengers, flight references and security personnel accompanying the Prime Minister. The Air Force argued that these particulars, when combined with information already publicly available, could reveal patterns of security deployment and arrangements for official travel.

Justice Mahajan accepted the security concerns and held that the exemptions under Sections 8(1)(a) and 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act were applicable. These provisions protect information whose disclosure could prejudice national security or endanger an individual's life or physical safety.

The court also rejected the argument that expenditure of public money on overseas visits automatically justified disclosure of the requested documents.

“The mere fact that public funds have been expended on the foreign visits of the Hon'ble Prime Minister does not, by itself, justify disclosure of information which may compromise the security arrangements put in place for such visits,” the judgment stated.

The proceedings originated from an RTI application submitted on June 5, 2018, by retired Commodore Lokesh K Batra. He sought information about foreign visits undertaken by prime ministers aboard Air Force aircraft from April 1, 2013, until the date of his application.

Batra maintained that the information concerned the use of public resources and was therefore of substantial public interest. He specifically sought details of private individuals accompanying the Prime Minister at public expense, rather than the identities of security personnel responsible for protection.

The Air Force opposed disclosure, arguing that the documents contained operational and security information extending beyond passenger identities. It maintained that removing individual names would not prevent sensitive details from being reconstructed through comparison with other available information.

Justice Mahajan observed that neither the High Court nor the information commission could substitute its assessment for that of competent security agencies regarding potential threats arising from disclosure.

The judgment emphasised that determining whether particular information could jeopardise national security or the Prime Minister's physical safety fell primarily within the responsibilities of agencies entrusted with protecting the country's highest executive office.

The court further held that the right to information was not absolute and must operate within statutory limitations protecting security and other legally recognised interests.

Referring to the Supreme Court's decision in Supreme Court of India versus Subhash Chandra Agarwal, Justice Mahajan examined the scope of exemptions relating to national security and threats to personal safety.

The court found that Batra had not established sufficient grounds to require disclosure despite the identified security concerns. It consequently concluded that the Air Force had legitimately invoked the statutory exemptions.

The commission's original direction followed Batra's unsuccessful departmental appeal against the Air Force's refusal to provide copies of the Special Flight Returns. The first appellate authority had rejected his appeal in September 2018, prompting him to approach the commission.

During the initial RTI proceedings, the Air Force had supplied certain information about official overseas travel. It stated that Manmohan Singh had undertaken no journeys aboard Air Force aircraft between April 1, 2013, and May 25, 2014.

The Air Force also provided information concerning Modi's journeys, identifying three visits aboard its aircraft during a specified period. However, it maintained its refusal to furnish the underlying Special Flight Returns, distinguishing general travel information from detailed operational records.

The High Court's order disposed of the pending applications connected with the Air Force's petition, registered as W. P.(C) 10165/2020.

UN experts demand independent probe into protest policing

More than 20 United Nations human rights experts have called for an independent investigation into alleged excessive police force and arbitrary detentions during youth-led protests across India, expressing concern over restrictions on peaceful demonstrations.

The experts, issuing a joint statement in Geneva on Tuesday, criticised what they described as a repeatedly heavy-handed police response to demonstrations in New Delhi and other cities over the past three months. They urged authorities to protect peaceful assembly and ensure accountability for alleged human rights violations.

The statement called for an independent, impartial and thorough investigation into the conduct of law enforcement agencies and affiliated forces, alongside justice and reparations for victims of established abuses.

The experts demanded an immediate end to excessive force, blanket restrictions on public gatherings, misuse of digital surveillance and disruptions to internet services.

They said security personnel had reportedly used batons against unarmed students and prevented thousands of demonstrators from participating in protests, despite the largely non-violent character of the gatherings.

According to information received by the experts, more than 7,000 young people, journalists, lawyers, human rights defenders and political activists were allegedly detained in New Delhi and transferred to distant detention facilities.

The statement alleged that detainees had their mobile phones confiscated and protest-related material deleted. Most were reportedly released within 24 hours, including several protest organisers.

The experts also expressed concern about injuries sustained by demonstrators and allegations of ill-treatment, sexual violence and other forms of gender-based abuse during protests and detention.

Their intervention follows demonstrations organised by student associations, opposition parties and the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party against changes to electoral rolls and government decisions affecting education.

The protests have intensified over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which critics say has resulted in the deletion of approximately 130 million names.

Protest organisers allege that the exercise disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities, including Muslims, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The Election Commission maintains that revisions are intended to remove duplicate and ineligible entries and improve electoral accuracy.

Demonstrators have demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the electoral authorities of compromising the fairness of the voting process. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and election authorities have rejected allegations of politically motivated manipulation.

Police have defended restrictions on demonstrations by citing public order concerns, prohibitory regulations and alleged violations of conditions governing assemblies.

The UN experts nevertheless maintained that restrictions on peaceful gatherings must satisfy international legal requirements of legality, necessity and proportionality.

They expressed particular concern over the reported invocation of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which permits authorities to issue preventive orders under specified circumstances.

According to the statement, these powers had allegedly been used to impose broad assembly restrictions, disrupt public transportation and facilitate internet shutdowns.

The experts warned that indiscriminate restrictions could undermine fundamental protections covering freedom of expression, personal liberty and peaceful assembly.

Human Rights Watch separately accused police of using unnecessary force against protesters and detaining people without adequate justification. Its Asia director, Elaine Pearson, urged authorities to engage with demonstrators over concerns about electoral fairness rather than suppress peaceful participation.

Amnesty International, CIVICUS, Front Line Defenders and South Asians for Human Rights also demanded the release of people arbitrarily detained for exercising their right to peaceful assembly.

Their joint intervention highlighted alleged mistreatment of journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders, alongside restrictions affecting communication and movement.

The UN experts said allegations of sexual violence and gender-based abuse required particular scrutiny, including consideration of the different consequences that policing measures could have for women participating in demonstrations.

They also cautioned against the misuse of biometric technologies and other surveillance measures to identify, monitor or intimidate people exercising their rights.

The statement referred to an earlier incident in March involving 10 student and labour-rights activists who were reportedly detained by plain-clothes officers in New Delhi.

Those activists were allegedly held without outside communication for more than 24 hours and subjected to threats, coercion and ill-treatment before being released following habeas corpus proceedings.

The experts said the March allegations formed part of their wider concerns about restrictions on civic participation and the treatment of student activists.

The signatories are independent human rights specialists appointed under United Nations Human Rights Council procedures. They examine alleged violations and communicate concerns to governments but do not exercise judicial authority or issue legally binding rulings.

Their statement also urged authorities to examine the gender-specific consequences of restrictions on peaceful assembly and alleged reprisals against protesters, including the treatment of women during detention and police questioning.

Uttar Pradesh election office acknowledges duplicate voter card generation

Uttar Pradesh’s election authorities have acknowledged that repeated registration applications can generate multiple voter identity cards, while directing officials to eliminate duplicate electoral roll entries before the next draft is published.

Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa has instructed district election officials to identify voters registered more than once during the Special Intensive Revision and resolve such cases through prescribed procedures. The directions follow a public clarification by his office that the issue of multiple Electors Photo Identity Cards, or EPICs, arising from repeated applications has persisted for years.

The office said it periodically conducts deduplication through ECINET, the Election Commission’s digital platform, and is developing checks to detect multiple applications from the same person when they are submitted. Such screening would allow officials to identify repetition before separate cards are generated rather than relying exclusively on subsequent corrections.

Rinwa told officials at a virtual review meeting on Monday that booth-level officers should identify duplicate entries and ensure their prompt resolution using Form 7, the prescribed application for objecting to inclusion or seeking deletion of a name from the electoral roll. He said cases must be handled according to electoral rules.

The exercise is intended to improve the accuracy of the draft electoral roll scheduled for publication on November 12. Rinwa asked electoral registration officers and other district officials to treat duplicate entries as a priority and warned that negligence in carrying out assigned responsibilities would invite action.

The clarification arose from an exchange on social media platform X between the Uttar Pradesh election office and fact-checker Mohammed Zubair. Zubair questioned how one voter could receive four EPICs despite, he alleged, submitting only two applications after finding the person's name missing from the draft roll.

The election office disputed that description. It maintained that the individual had submitted four applications, not two, and challenged Zubair to provide the reference numbers of the two applications he cited. The office offered to produce the reference numbers for the remaining applications to support its account.

At the same time, the office acknowledged the broader administrative problem. It said multiple forms submitted by one person could result in multiple EPICs and described this as a longstanding difficulty. It maintained that periodic deduplication was already being undertaken, while work continued on identifying repeat submissions at the initial application stage.

The exchange distinguishes between the number of identity cards issued and the accuracy of the underlying voter register. An EPIC is an identity document associated with electoral registration, while eligibility to vote depends on inclusion in the relevant electoral roll. Possession of several cards does not itself establish that a person has cast multiple votes.

The office did not disclose how many duplicate cards had been generated across Uttar Pradesh, how many corresponding entries remained on electoral rolls or how many cases had been resolved through ECINET. It also gave no definite date for introducing the proposed application-stage checks.

The dispute has emerged during heightened scrutiny of the Special Intensive Revision, an exercise intended to verify electoral records and address entries requiring correction. Questions about repeated applications have added to concerns over the reliability of registration processes and the safeguards used to distinguish genuine voters from duplicated records.

Election authorities must also address the separate problem of eligible residents whose names are absent from the register. Rinwa instructed field officials to conduct an extensive awareness campaign and help eligible citizens apply for inclusion, emphasising that correcting duplicate records should not displace efforts to register qualified voters.

Officials are preparing a special campaign day on October 24 as part of that enrolment effort. District election teams and electoral registration officers have been asked to coordinate arrangements, assist applicants and address outstanding registration issues ahead of the scheduled publication of the draft roll.

The instructions place responsibility for identifying questionable entries on officials working at constituency and polling booth levels. Their verification work is expected to complement digital checks, particularly where repeated applications contain overlapping personal details. Electoral registration officers remain responsible for determining whether an entry requires correction or deletion under established procedures.

Form 6 is used to apply for inclusion on the electoral roll, while Form 7 provides a mechanism for objections and deletions. The latter requires examination under the applicable rules, rather than treating a flagged duplication as automatic grounds for removing a voter’s name.

Race Course mosque eviction faces wider political opposition

The eviction notice served on Delhi's historic Race Course mosque has drawn objections from political and religious leaders, while Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind prepares to challenge the six-day deadline before the Delhi High Court.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi, Aam Aadmi Party legislator Amanatullah Khan and Kashmir's chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq raised concerns on Tuesday over the proposed action against the mosque near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.

The Land and Development Office (L&DO) issued the notice on October 19, describing the premises as unauthorised and directing their vacation within six days. The department maintains that the structure occupies government land, while mosque representatives contend that it is a legally recognised Waqf property.

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind said it would approach the Delhi High Court to contest the notice. The organisation indicated that Shoaib Jamai, the AIMIM's Delhi president, was expected to pursue proceedings on behalf of the mosque committee.

The proposed litigation follows an earlier unsuccessful attempt to challenge the matter, which the organisation said was rejected because the petitioner lacked the appropriate standing.

Owaisi urged Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to intervene, questioning why the Delhi Waqf Board had failed to challenge the proposed action despite the mosque's claimed registration as Waqf property in 1977.

He also pointed to the absence of a constituted Delhi Waqf Board since 2023 and questioned why its chief executive officer had not taken steps to protect the property.

Owaisi argued that the mosque qualified for protection under provisions concerning Waqf properties established through longstanding religious use. His interpretation forms part of the dispute surrounding the amended Waqf legislation.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq described the six-day deadline as "deeply disturbing" and questioned the reported failure of Waqf authorities to defend the mosque.

He linked the controversy to his opposition to amendments governing Muslim religious endowments, particularly provisions expanding government involvement in their administration.

Amanatullah Khan, the Okhla legislator and former Delhi Waqf Board chairman, questioned the proposed eviction, citing the mosque's existence before Independence and its inclusion in the New Delhi Municipal Council's notified heritage list.

He said he had contacted the mosque's imam and intended to visit the premises.

The Jamiat delegation met Rijiju on Monday and submitted a memorandum seeking protection for the mosque and its adjoining graveyard. It requested restoration of essential services, unrestricted access for worshippers and intervention against demolition while the property's legal status remains contested.

The organisation also sought information from the Delhi Waqf Board and the New Delhi Municipal Council regarding the mosque's official classification.

Imam Mohammed Harun alleged that electricity and water connections had been disconnected and access to the mosque restricted. He said repeated approaches to the Waqf Board over six months had failed to secure effective assistance.

Harun, who has been associated with the mosque for nearly four decades, maintained that the building was legally established and should not be treated as an encroachment. He questioned the disruption of basic facilities before the dispute had been resolved.

The mosque's representatives have cited an entry in the 1977 Delhi Gazette to support their claim of Waqf recognition. They have also referred to a 2021 survey which, according to their account, did not classify the religious structure as unauthorised.

The New Delhi Municipal Council's heritage register contains an entry identifying the property as "Mosque and Campus, Race Course". However, the extent to which heritage recognition affects the land authority's eviction powers remains a matter requiring legal determination.

The notice also forms part of a wider land clearance dispute affecting a neighbouring settlement. The Delhi High Court has permitted authorities to relocate approximately 700 families from the area to Savda Ghevra, a government resettlement colony roughly 45 kilometres away.

The court directed that arrangements for education, transport and sanitation be provided at the relocation site. A six-week period allowed for vacating the affected area expired on October 6.

The proceedings concerning the settlement and the objections raised on behalf of the mosque involve distinct questions about occupation, land ownership and the legal protection available to the respective occupants.

The Jamiat has requested that no demolition-related action be undertaken against the mosque or its graveyard pending examination of the relevant documents and claims.

Its memorandum also asked the authorities to facilitate prayers and restore access to the premises. The mosque committee maintains that worshippers should be permitted to use the religious site while the dispute remains unresolved.

The adjoining graveyard is included in the organisation's request for protection, alongside the mosque building and its surrounding premises.

Supreme Court permits private complaints over election affidavits

The Supreme Court has ruled that private individuals can file criminal complaints against elected representatives accused of submitting false election affidavits without obtaining approval from the Election Commission or securing a complaint from a public servant.

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu held that Section 195 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which restricts prosecution for specified offences without an authorised complaint, does not apply to allegations under Section 125A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The judgment, delivered on October 16, establishes that a person may approach a magistrate under Section 200 of the Criminal Procedure Code alleging false declarations or concealment of required information in nomination documents. It removes a procedural objection that had been used to prevent a private complaint from proceeding.

However, the court declined to revive the particular prosecution that prompted its ruling. It upheld the closure of proceedings against Karnataka legislator Shailendra Beldale, finding that documents submitted in the case had effectively rebutted the allegation concerning his residential address and made a conviction unlikely.

The dispute arose from a complaint lodged by Rajkumar Madki before the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Bengaluru in August 2023. Madki alleged that Beldale, elected from the Bidar Assembly constituency that year, had supplied incorrect residential information in an affidavit accompanying his nomination papers.

The Karnataka High Court quashed the complaint in March 2025. It reasoned that the alleged offence required a complaint by the Election Commission and that a voter could challenge an election through an election petition rather than initiate private criminal proceedings.

Rejecting that interpretation, the Supreme Court distinguished offences specifically covered by Section 195 from the separate election disclosure offence created under Section 125A. The former provision restricts courts from taking cognisance of certain offences under the former Indian Penal Code unless the concerned public servant, or an authorised superior, makes a written complaint.

Section 125A is not among those listed offences, the bench observed. Parliament introduced the election affidavit provision in August 2002 and subsequently amended Section 195 in April 2006 without extending its restrictions to Section 125A.

The judges considered that omission deliberate. They also pointed to the absence of any other statutory requirement reserving complaints under Section 125A exclusively for public servants.

The election law penalises candidates who fail to provide specified information, knowingly submit false information or conceal required details in nomination papers or accompanying affidavits. The prescribed punishment can extend to six months' imprisonment, a fine, or both.

The ruling addresses access to criminal proceedings, not an automatic finding of wrongdoing against a candidate. A complainant must still present allegations for judicial consideration, while the magistrate retains responsibility for applying the law and assessing whether proceedings should continue.

Beldale's lawyers had argued that allowing unrestricted private complaints could expose elected candidates to harassment through politically motivated or frivolous cases. They maintained that safeguards governing complaints by public servants should extend to alleged false election declarations.

The Supreme Court rejected the proposed restriction, observing that magistrates already possess adequate powers to deal with complaints brought merely to harass elected representatives. It said the prospect of misuse did not justify adding a prohibition absent from the legislation.

The bench also addressed the Election Commission's guidance on complaints about inaccurate candidate disclosures. It noted that the commission had issued statements explaining its approach, including a June 2020 decision to examine serious omissions and refer appropriate matters to investigating authorities individually.

Nevertheless, the judges held that statutory interpretation remains a judicial function. Guidance or press notes issued by the election authority cannot determine the meaning of legislation or bind courts deciding the scope of criminal procedure.

The judgment separates the legal maintainability of a private complaint from its merits. Although Madki succeeded in challenging the High Court's interpretation, the Supreme Court found no justification for requiring the magistrate to continue examining his allegations against Beldale.

The court said further proceedings would consume judicial time when the available documents had already substantially answered the disputed claim. It therefore sustained the High Court's order terminating the case, but substituted different legal reasoning for that outcome.

The appeal, registered as Criminal Appeal No. 3387 of 2026, was disposed of with a direction that both parties bear their own costs.

Election Commission permits searchable rolls without additional safeguards

The Election Commission of India has authorised the distribution of machine-readable electoral rolls to recognised political parties without introducing additional safeguards against data misuse, reversing a longstanding position that had drawn sustained opposition criticism.

The decision, announced on October 15, allows parties to obtain searchable digital copies of draft and final voter lists, although photographs of electors will remain excluded. Commission officials have acknowledged that withholding photographs is the only protection specifically identified against the privacy and manipulation risks previously cited to deny such access.

The directive marks a significant policy change at a time when the commission faces mounting questions over electoral roll revisions, voter deletions and the transparency of its administrative decisions.

Under the revised arrangements, Electoral Registration Officers must supply recognised political parties with two complimentary copies of electoral rolls for each polling station, comprising one printed version and one readable PDF file.

The instruction forms part of the Special Summary Revision covering 17 states and Union Territories, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Manipur. The exercise involves updating voter registrations, correcting entries and removing names after prescribed verification procedures.

Previously, political parties received scanned documents that could be viewed electronically but were difficult to search or analyse systematically. Machine-readable files allow faster comparisons, identification of duplicate entries and examination of additions or deletions across successive versions.

The commission had resisted similar requests from opposition parties, arguing that searchable databases could facilitate extensive data mining, compromise voter privacy and enable the creation or circulation of manipulated electoral records.

Those concerns have not been accompanied by newly announced restrictions on how political parties may process, store or analyse the searchable information.

Officials familiar with the decision have maintained that excluding photographs provides protection against misuse. However, electoral rolls supplied through existing arrangements already omitted photographs from the relevant digital copies, raising questions about what materially changed in the commission's assessment.

The commission has attributed its reversal to operational difficulties encountered during the Special Intensive Revision, particularly complaints that scanned electoral records complicated voter identification and mapping.

Officials indicated that searchable documents would help Booth Level Officers and other personnel locate entries more efficiently, reducing the administrative burden associated with examining extensive voter lists.

The decision also addresses a central demand advanced by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, who sought consolidated machine-readable electoral records following disputes concerning the 2024 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Their requests extended beyond searchable documents to include information about changes made to electoral rolls, including timestamps and historical versions that could establish when particular entries were added, modified or deleted.

The latest directive does not establish that all those additional requirements have been accepted.

Congress welcomed the shift, maintaining that easier access to electoral data would help political parties identify discrepancies and examine allegations of irregularities more effectively.

The opposition has repeatedly questioned the commission's reluctance to provide searchable information when voter registration records are maintained electronically.

Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale also challenged the earlier practice of distributing scanned files, questioning why electronically generated records had been supplied in formats that obstructed automated examination.

The policy change comes amid wider scrutiny of the commission's handling of electoral roll revisions under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi have raised objections concerning aspects of internal decision-making, including the management of electoral databases and procedures governing voter additions, deletions and restorations.

Opposition parties have demanded greater accountability over the Special Intensive Revision, alleging that legitimate voters have been excluded and that existing safeguards have proved inadequate.

The commission has rejected allegations of partisan manipulation and maintained that revisions are necessary to eliminate duplicate, deceased and otherwise ineligible registrations while protecting the rights of eligible electors.

The Supreme Court has also examined challenges concerning the revision exercise, with questions surrounding procedural fairness, electoral registration and the commission's statutory responsibilities forming part of the proceedings.

Separately, the commission has instructed election authorities to conduct enrolment drives for eligible voters omitted during earlier revision exercises, providing opportunities to submit registration applications.

The Special Summary Revision follows a different procedure from the intensive exercise. Existing registered voters generally remain on the rolls unless changes are justified through the applicable verification process.

Under the announced schedule, draft electoral rolls for the 17 states and Union Territories are due for publication on November 12, with final publication scheduled for January 6, 2027.

The revision process also provides opportunities for voters and political parties to submit claims and objections before electoral registration authorities finalise the updated lists.

Samajwadi Party disbands Kannauj organisation after poor turnout

The Samajwadi Party has dissolved its Kannauj district organisation and removed its office-bearers after a poorly attended workers’ conference exposed shortcomings in local mobilisation in party president Akhilesh Yadav’s parliamentary constituency.

State president Shyamlal Pal ordered the dissolution on Sunday, following a conference devoted to the party’s PDA campaign at its Kannauj office. District president Kaleem Khan was removed, alongside members of the district executive and other organisational functionaries.

The decision followed the circulation of photographs and videos showing rows of empty chairs at the programme, despite arrangements for a substantial gathering. Party leaders occupied the stage while attendance among workers appeared well below expectations.

The conference, held over the weekend, was intended to strengthen the Samajwadi Party’s outreach to backward classes, Dalits and minorities, collectively described by the Hindi initials PDA, standing for Pichhda, Dalit and Alpsankhyak.

The dissolution takes effect as the opposition party prepares for Uttar Pradesh’s 2027 Assembly elections, with its leadership seeking to translate the PDA campaign into organised support across constituencies. Kannauj carries particular importance because Yadav himself represents the seat in the Lok Sabha.

The organisational order removed Khan and dissolved the district executive, while also affecting associated party units and office-bearers. The breadth of the action indicated that the leadership was addressing district-level mobilisation rather than simply replacing the organiser of one meeting.

The immediate dispute centres on the organisation of the conference, not on any independently established change in voter preferences. Images of empty seats demonstrate limited attendance at a particular event but cannot, by themselves, establish the strength of support for a party across the constituency.

Khan acknowledged that the district organisation had failed to mobilise sufficient participants for the programme. The leadership’s decision consequently placed responsibility on the local party machinery for preparations and attendance.

The Bharatiya Janata Party seized on the episode, arguing that the sparse gathering undermined the Samajwadi Party’s claims of broadening its appeal beyond its traditional electoral base.

Uttar Pradesh minister Asim Arun, who is associated with Kannauj, criticised the opposition party over the empty chairs and questioned whether changing organisational office-bearers would address its political difficulties.

Another state minister, Om Prakash Rajbhar, challenged Yadav’s leadership and suggested that the episode reflected problems extending beyond the district organisation. His remarks represented a political assessment rather than evidence of how voters would behave in an election.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Udaiveer Singh rejected the BJP’s interpretation, maintaining that the dissolution was an organisational decision. He also disputed the governing party’s attempt to treat attendance at one meeting as a measure of electoral popularity.

The competing statements have turned what began as an internal disciplinary action into a wider argument about political mobilisation ahead of the Assembly contest. The BJP has portrayed the conference as a test of PDA support, while the Samajwadi Party has emphasised organisational accountability.

The party’s PDA formulation is central to its effort to assemble a coalition encompassing several communities. Its electoral importance makes the capacity of district units to convene workers, coordinate meetings and maintain contact with local supporters a practical concern for state leaders.

Kannauj’s prominence has heightened scrutiny of the decision. Yadav won the constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, and the district is closely associated with his party’s leadership. That connection made the poorly attended event especially visible.

Accounts of the programme agree that Pal attended and that substantial seating had been arranged. They differ on whether the conference took place on 16 or 17 October, although the organisational action was announced on Sunday, 18 October.

The material circulated online showed leaders seated on the dais with many chairs unoccupied in front of them. No independently verified attendance figure has been established, and the available images do not provide a reliable count of everyone who attended.

The party has not announced a replacement district president or a timetable for constituting a new executive. Nor has it publicly identified a numerical attendance target against which the conference was judged. The precise number of posts vacated under the order has also not been independently established by the party.

Pal’s order followed the conference at the party’s district office, where the state leadership had sought participation from local workers under the PDA banner. The meeting and the subsequent changes concerned the Kannauj organisation rather than the party’s statewide executive.

Audit identifies Bengal-specific restrictions within ECINET portal code

A third-party examination of ECINET has identified code capable of withholding two electoral-roll functions from registration officers in West Bengal, raising questions about their access to voter records and hearing proceedings.

The examination by civic-technology initiative Charchagram found that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) in West Bengal were singled out for exclusion from the “View Enumeration Form Details” function and the notice-and-hearing dashboard. Equivalent exclusions for officers in other states were not identified.

The finding concerns the publicly accessible front-end software, rather than confirmed restrictions on officers using authenticated accounts. Researchers could not establish whether the condition was activated in practice, whether corresponding server-side controls existed or when the provision first entered the software.

Charchagram data scientist Saurav Rajput examined code on October 2, 6, 7 and 9. The relevant condition remained visible in a version retrieved on October 19, after a new application build was introduced on October 16. Rajput said he first observed the feature on September 28.

Rajput explained that the investigation examined JavaScript files delivered to browsers before login. It did not involve entering the portal through an official account, accessing protected records or making requests to restricted services. Consequently, the findings describe how the interface is programmed, not necessarily what any individual officer could actually access.

The enumeration-form function ordinarily provides information needed to examine a voter's registration record. Its fields include the constituency, polling part, serial number, elector's name and identification number, the person submitting the form, supporting documents and recommendations from booth-level officers.

The interface also contains fields for documents associated with EROs and AEROs and for hearing orders. Available actions include returning an application to a booth-level officer and identifying electors linked to an earlier special intensive revision of electoral rolls.

The second affected function, the notice-and-hearing dashboard, is intended to support the processing and tracking of notices and hearing-related decisions. Both functions are relevant to the responsibilities assigned to registration officers during electoral-roll verification.

The Election Commission of India had not provided a response to questions about the audit when the findings became public. There was therefore no official explanation establishing whether the Bengal-specific condition reflected an operational policy, a temporary configuration or an unused software provision.

The disclosure follows disputes over the special intensive revision in West Bengal, where the verification exercise began in November 2025. The process involved scrutiny of electoral records and notices to people whose details could not be matched with earlier rolls or were flagged for discrepancies.

On February 20, the Supreme Court assigned pending verification hearings to judicial officers after difficulties arose in completing the exercise. A further order on February 24 addressed the scale of outstanding cases and the responsibilities of registration officials assisting the judicial process.

That order placed responsibility on EROs and AEROs to satisfy presiding judicial officers concerning submitted documents. Supreme Court advocate Harshit Anand said an operational restriction preventing those officials from examining relevant forms could conflict with the court's directions and impede the verification process.

His assessment was conditional on the software provision actually restricting access. The public code examination alone does not demonstrate that officials were prevented from discharging duties imposed by statute or judicial orders.

Trinamool Congress parliamentarian Abhishek Banerjee had alleged in February that registration officers in West Bengal could no longer monitor the progress of assistant officers through ECINET. He questioned the arrangement under provisions of the Representation of the People Act governing the preparation of electoral rolls and supervision of assistant officers.

Separately, the Election Commission announced in September that a committee involving an independent technical expert would examine ECINET's compliance with electoral laws and rules. The Commission maintained that field officials received access according to their statutory responsibilities and rejected allegations that registration officers were being locked out.

The Bengal revision generated substantial litigation over exclusions and appeals. Judicial officers completed a major verification exercise in April, while challenges to deletions and inclusions continued before designated appellate tribunals.

The original state revision timetable required registration officers to examine notices, verify supporting documents and decide claims and objections. It also directed them to ensure that eligible electors were not excluded and ineligible names were not retained. The timetable separately identified the enumeration, draft publication, hearing and final-roll stages, assigning registration officers responsibility for decisions on disputed entries.

Lal Hit Janata Party mobilises against CJP demonstrations

A new Delhi-based pressure group, the Lal Hit Janata Party, has organised a membership meeting to oppose demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The organisation held its gathering on Sunday at Malviya Smriti Bhawan, with convenor Ayan Bhatnagar outlining plans to challenge the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), whose campaign has brought protesters onto streets in Delhi and other cities. The new outfit says it does not intend to contest elections.

Bhatnagar accused CJP supporters of undermining confidence in constitutional institutions and disrupting commercial activity. He argued that objections to the Election Commission should be pursued through established legal and democratic procedures rather than confrontations that affect businesses and public order.

The allegations are disputed in the wider debate over electoral administration. CJP organisers say their demonstrations are intended to defend voting rights and demand accountability over changes to electoral rolls. They have called for Kumar's resignation and the suspension of the Special Intensive Revision, an exercise undertaken by the Election Commission to update voter lists.

The Lal Hit organisation, whose name makes a satirical reference to an insect-control product, presented itself as a counterweight to the youth-led movement. Its meeting was also addressed by filmmakers Richa Gupta, Pawan Nagpal and Atul Gangwar.

A statement issued by the group urged younger citizens, including members of Generation Z, to participate in public affairs peacefully, communicate accurately and use lawful channels when challenging official decisions. It emphasised respect for the Constitution and the independence of institutions, including the Election Commission.

Bhatnagar said the organisation would hold gatherings of different sizes to present its arguments against the CJP. He maintained that its purpose was political mobilisation and public debate, not seeking representation through elections. The distinction matters because the word party appears in the names of both groups, although neither name alone establishes electoral registration.

The new group's leaders also criticised the Congress and questioned suggestions that street demonstrations could force a change of government. Bhatnagar contended that even a large turnout did not automatically justify accepting protesters' demands. Those assertions reflect the group's position rather than any determination about the legitimacy of peaceful assembly.

Bhatnagar separately raised concerns about protests around Connaught Place, a major shopping and commercial district. He said demonstrations during the festive trading period could hurt businesses, particularly between Dussehra and Diwali. The extent of any financial losses attributable to the protests has not been independently established.

The outfit had previously staged a gathering at Janpath attended by approximately 200 people. Participants condemned alleged attacks on police personnel and abusive language directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Those allegations have not been established as findings against the CJP movement as a whole.

The competing campaigns have emerged amid disputes about the revision of electoral rolls. Opposition parties and protest organisers allege that eligible voters have been removed and that documentation requirements may exclude vulnerable citizens. The Election Commission maintains that electoral roll revisions are necessary to ensure accurate lists and has rejected accusations that the process is designed to favour the ruling party.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has pressed for Kumar to step down and for the revision exercise to be halted. Demonstrators have also sought scrutiny of procedures used to add and remove voters. Their demands have attracted support from student organisations and some opposition politicians, while the authorities have imposed restrictions on gatherings at certain locations.

The dispute has also led to legal proceedings involving CJP activists. A special executive magistrate in Delhi on Monday extended the judicial custody of Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das by two days following their detention in connection with an attempted protest at Jantar Mantar. Their supporters have demanded their release and challenged the handling of the demonstrations.

The Lal Hit group's statement called for allegations concerning political organisations, funding and possible unlawful activity to be assessed through documentary evidence and lawful investigations. It did not establish wrongdoing by any named organisation. The group also called for transparent procedures when contentious political claims are examined, saying public accusations should not substitute for evidence or official findings.

Its stated motto places the nation, constitutional respect and democracy at the centre of its identity. Organisers said future activity would include meetings and discussions aimed at putting their arguments before the public, including younger participants in the national capital.

Delhi mosque imam alleges eviction order amid demolition fears

The imam of New Delhi’s Race Course Mosque has alleged that authorities ordered him to vacate the premises within six days, raising fears of demolition and prompting a Muslim organisation to seek government intervention.

Maulana Mohammed Haroon said on Monday that electricity and water supplies had been disconnected and the mosque’s gates closed, preventing worshippers from attending regular prayers. He accused the Land and Development Office (L&DO), which administers government land, of imposing restrictions without adequately addressing the mosque’s religious status.

The dispute intensified after Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind approached Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on October 19, requesting immediate protection for the mosque and its adjoining graveyard. The organisation also demanded restoration of essential services and unrestricted access for worshippers.

A delegation led by Jamiat general secretary Maulana Muhammad Hakimuddin Qasmi submitted a memorandum on behalf of the organisation’s president, Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani. It urged the government to examine official records before permitting any action affecting the property.

The organisation said Rijiju listened to its representations and assured the delegation that he would make every possible effort to address its concerns. No formal government decision suspending potential eviction or demolition proceedings was announced following the meeting.

The L&DO has maintained that the premises occupy government land and are unauthorised, according to the position conveyed in the eviction notice. Mosque representatives dispute that assessment, arguing that the property enjoys recognition through historical records and its designation as a waqf institution.

An independently confirmed demolition order has not emerged, and the precise legal basis for any proposed demolition remains unclear. The imam’s account of the six-day deadline has nevertheless heightened uncertainty over the mosque’s immediate future.

Haroon, who has served at the mosque for approximately four decades, said the disruption had affected daily religious activities. He maintained that utility bills had been paid regularly and questioned the decision to disconnect supplies.

The imam also claimed that worshippers had stopped visiting because they feared administrative action. The restrictions, he said, had made it difficult to conduct congregational prayers and maintain normal religious activities.

Jamiat’s memorandum cited several official documents to support its position that the mosque possesses recognised historical and religious significance. These included an entry in the New Delhi Municipal Council’s heritage register, where the organisation identified the property at serial number 22.

It also referred to the Delhi Gazette of 1977, identifying an entry at serial number 18, and a revised property listing associated with the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

The organisation argued that these records warranted a careful examination of the mosque’s status before any irreversible administrative action. The existence of heritage references, however, does not independently settle questions of land ownership or determine whether eviction proceedings are legally permissible.

Jamiat requested that the authorities obtain relevant information from the Delhi Waqf Board and the New Delhi Municipal Council before proceeding further. It also sought safeguards against demolition without completion of applicable legal procedures.

The organisation said it would pursue available legal remedies and other lawful measures to protect the mosque and graveyard. Its representations emphasised the importance of maintaining access to the premises while questions concerning ownership and administrative jurisdiction remain unresolved.

The mosque stands near the Prime Minister’s official residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, behind Safdarjung Tomb. Its location within a prominent government-administered area has brought additional attention to the dispute over the property’s status.

Former Delhi legislator Amanatullah Khan also raised concerns about the possibility of demolition, citing information received from the imam. His intervention reflected growing apprehension among representatives associated with the mosque, although no confirmed demolition schedule was established.

The controversy involves separate questions concerning government land administration, waqf registration and heritage documentation. The competing claims require examination of the relevant records and any notices issued by the competent authorities.

Jamiat’s delegation included Delhi unit president Maulana Muhammad Qasim Noori, vice-president Maulana Qari Arif Qasmi and organisational representative Hafiz Yusuf Azmi.

Haroon, identified by the organisation as the mosque’s imam and khatib, also participated in the meeting. Other members included Maulana Ziaullah Qasmi and Maulana Arshad Nadwi.

The memorandum specifically requested restoration of water and electricity connections, alongside permission for worshippers to enter the mosque for daily prayers.

Maharashtra deploys 15 police teams after Shroff shooting

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has promised strict action against those responsible for shooting at Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai, as police deployed 15 teams to identify and arrest the attackers.

The actor escaped without gunshot injuries when assailants opened fire near Pushpa Narsee Park in the Juhu area on Sunday evening. His driver and an autorickshaw driver were injured, police said, prompting an extensive investigation into the circumstances and possible motive.

Fadnavis spoke to Shroff following the attack and discussed the investigation with Mumbai's police leadership. The state government assured the actor and his family of its support, while officers intensified efforts to trace those involved.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Shroff at his Bandra residence late on Sunday, enquired about his condition and promised security assistance. Shinde said the government would not tolerate organised criminal violence and that investigators would establish who carried out the shooting before proceeding against those responsible.

Police registered a case against three unidentified individuals under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita concerning attempted murder and common intention, along with relevant sections of the Arms Act. No conclusion about the attackers' identities has been officially established.

Investigators are examining security camera recordings, collecting forensic evidence and questioning witnesses who were near the scene. The specialised teams have been assigned to pursue leads arising from the attack, including the movements of the suspects before and after the gunfire.

The shooting occurred as Shroff was leaving a football session on Sunday evening. His vehicle was targeted in an area where other people and vehicles were present. Police secured the location and forensic personnel examined the scene for material that could help reconstruct the sequence of events.

The injured driver was taken to hospital for treatment. Authorities also confirmed injuries to an autorickshaw driver who was caught up in the incident. Accounts have differed over the precise number of shots fired, and investigators have not issued a definitive public reconstruction of the attack.

A message circulating on social media purported to claim responsibility on behalf of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Police have not verified the authenticity of that message or established that the group was involved. Investigators are examining the claim as one possible line of enquiry rather than treating it as proven.

The distinction is significant because identifying the people who posted a message does not necessarily establish who organised or executed an attack. Police must corroborate any purported admission with evidence from the scene, witness accounts and other investigative material before drawing conclusions about responsibility.

Shinde said police would determine who was behind the firing and would act against anyone found involved. He emphasised public safety as the government's priority and said criminal groups would not be permitted to intimidate residents or members of the film industry.

The incident has prompted calls for stronger protection from representatives of film workers. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees condemned the attack and sought security measures for Shroff and his family, reflecting concern about the safety of people working in Mumbai's entertainment sector.

Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe Patil criticised the state administration over the shooting, raising questions about policing and public security. The criticism added a political dimension to the incident, although the immediate focus of the criminal investigation remains identifying the assailants and establishing their motive.

Shroff returned home under police protection after the shooting. Images of his arrival showed security personnel accompanying him, while footage of the incident circulated widely online. Police have cautioned against drawing conclusions from unverified material circulating on social media.

Officers have also recorded the statement of Shroff's driver as part of their enquiries. His account could help establish the position of the vehicle, the direction of the gunfire and the movements of the attackers during the incident.

The police response has involved officers from multiple investigative units, with teams following leads rather than relying on a single search. Authorities have not announced arrests of the gunmen. A person was reportedly detained for questioning in connection with the case, but detention alone does not establish responsibility or imply that charges have been filed.

The attack took place on Sunday, October 18, and the investigation continued on Monday. Police personnel remained engaged in gathering evidence and tracing suspects, while the two injured drivers received medical attention.

Vance concedes flawed wording in H-1B workers dispute

US Vice-President JD Vance has acknowledged shortcomings in his description of foreign skilled workers as “indentured servants”, following objections from India, while defending his administration’s restrictions on employment-based immigration.

Speaking at a televised town hall on Saturday, Vance accepted responsibility for his language but insisted that his criticism concerned corporate hiring practices rather than immigrants themselves. His clarification followed a diplomatic protest from New Delhi over terminology that India's Ministry of External Affairs described as deeply offensive.

“I would say, and to the extent that my rhetoric has been imperfect here, that's on me,” Vance said when challenged about his remarks by a naturalised US citizen originally from India.

The vice-president maintained that employers should not use immigration programmes to replace qualified American workers with overseas recruits. He argued that the United States could welcome skilled migrants while ensuring that domestic employees were not disadvantaged by corporate recruitment decisions.

Vance illustrated his argument with the example of a large company hiring an accountant from abroad while dismissing an existing employee performing comparable work. Such a practice, he contended, would be unfair even if the employer claimed it could not find suitable workers domestically.

“I do think that we can strike that balance in the right way,” he said, adding that the immigration system needed to accommodate both economic contributions from newcomers and employment opportunities for US citizens.

His comments came after India's government formally rejected the description of H-1B visa holders as indentured labourers. The Ministry of External Affairs said the characterisation disregarded the qualifications and economic contributions of professionals from India working in the United States.

The ministry also objected to language associated with colonial-era systems of bonded labour. Its response highlighted the historical sensitivity of the expression, which refers to workers bound by contracts that could severely restrict their freedom and bargaining power.

The dispute has accompanied the Trump administration's decision to suspend several major technology companies from participation in the Permanent Labor Certification programme, known as PERM. The programme provides an important preliminary step for employers seeking employment-based permanent residence for eligible foreign workers.

Companies identified in connection with the restrictions included Microsoft, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini. The measures have raised concerns among employers that depend on internationally recruited engineers, technology specialists and other skilled personnel.

Announcing the action earlier this month, Vance urged companies to stop bringing in what he called indentured servants for jobs that American workers would willingly perform. The formulation prompted criticism because it appeared to characterise visa holders themselves in degrading terms rather than identifying specific employer abuses.

At the town hall, Vance sought to distinguish his objections to business practices from his attitude towards migrants. He referred to his family, including his parents-in-law, who moved to the United States from South India, and his wife, Usha Vance, who was born in America.

He said he loved his parents-in-law and was proud of his wife, using those personal connections to explain that his position did not amount to rejecting people who immigrate and contribute to American society.

The clarification did not signal a reversal of the administration's approach to employment-based immigration. Vance continued to argue that businesses should demonstrate genuine need before recruiting foreign workers and should not use visa arrangements to undercut existing employees.

Technology companies have challenged aspects of that argument. Microsoft has said that most of its H-1B applications concern employees already working for the company, rather than new overseas recruits. Its president, Brad Smith, has disputed accusations that the company misuses the programme and warned that tighter immigration restrictions could damage US competitiveness.

India has separately questioned whether the suspensions advance the two countries’ economic ambitions. Its objections have focused both on the treatment of skilled professionals and on the practical consequences for companies employing workers who seek permanent residence through established channels.

The H-1B system allows employers to recruit foreign professionals for specialised occupations, subject to eligibility requirements and government oversight. PERM serves a different purpose, establishing labour certification for certain applications for permanent residency rather than authorising temporary employment under H-1B status.

That distinction matters because restrictions on permanent-residence sponsorship do not automatically cancel an employee's existing H-1B permission. They can, however, complicate an employer's ability to support a worker seeking a longer-term future in the United States.

Anand Sharma challenges electoral revision, urges restored public trust

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma has questioned the Election Commission’s handling of electoral roll revisions, warning that voters’ rights and public confidence in elections must be protected as the Supreme Court examines fresh challenges to the exercise.

Sharma said the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) had raised serious constitutional and legal concerns, particularly over the removal of names from voter lists. He expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would safeguard electoral rights, while urging the Commission to address questions about its independence and credibility.

Speaking in Shimla on Sunday, Sharma described demonstrations against the revision exercise as protests led by young people. He defended the opposition’s responsibility to raise questions about electoral fairness and called for greater transparency from the constitutional authority responsible for conducting elections.

“The Election Commission must command the confidence of all political parties and the electorate,” he said. Sharma argued that controversies surrounding the poll body could not be dismissed and that the institution needed to respond in ways that strengthened public trust.

He also called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to leave office, pointing to objections attributed to the Commission’s two other members. The Commission has maintained that decisions concerning the revision were taken unanimously, rejecting suggestions that its electoral work was driven by partisan considerations.

The Supreme Court is already considering fresh complaints about deletions and the Commission’s decision-making. On October 15, it issued notice following a petition brought by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition figures, seeking records relevant to decisions taken during the revision process.

That scrutiny follows a significant judgment delivered on May 27, when the Supreme Court upheld the Commission’s legal authority to undertake a Special Intensive Revision in Bihar. The court concluded that accurate electoral rolls were essential to free and fair elections and found sufficient justification for a special verification exercise.

The judgment did not, however, remove the requirement to follow lawful procedures or settle every dispute about individual entries. Complaints about wrongful deletion, documentation and opportunities for affected voters to challenge decisions have continued to reach judicial forums and electoral officials.

Opposition parties allege that the revision has excluded legitimate voters, including people unable to satisfy documentation requirements or correct administrative mistakes promptly. The Commission says its objective is to remove duplicate, deceased and otherwise ineligible entries while retaining qualified electors.

Questions have also emerged about registration procedures for people whose names were removed. The Supreme Court has examined concerns over the use of Form 6, which is designed for applicants seeking inclusion in the electoral roll, including situations involving previously registered voters seeking restoration.

The Commission’s voter services portal provides facilities for registration, checking electoral details, tracking applications, filing appeals and submitting complaints. Those mechanisms remain important for electors attempting to establish whether they are registered or contest a deletion.

Sharma maintained that confidence in the electoral system depended not simply on the Commission’s constitutional powers but also on its willingness to explain contested decisions. He said institutions charged with administering elections must retain the confidence of political parties as well as ordinary citizens.

His remarks come amid opposition protests seeking greater accountability over the revision and over Kumar’s leadership. Demonstrators have demanded protections against wrongful exclusions, while the governing Bharatiya Janata Party has dismissed allegations that the revision was designed to favour it electorally.

Sharma cautioned against describing ordinary electoral changes as “regime change”. Governments, he said, could be replaced through the ballot box without altering the constitutional system. He argued that political fortunes ultimately depended on voters’ decisions rather than predictions about which party might benefit from a controversy.

Asked whether the electoral dispute and other political questions could help Congress, Sharma declined to predict the results of forthcoming elections. He said voters would weigh several considerations, including government performance and how public institutions dealt with complaints.

The electoral dispute has also prompted complaints in constituencies where voters say they discovered discrepancies in their entries. Election officials have pointed to registration and correction procedures, although critics argue that access to those remedies does not resolve questions about how entries were removed.

Himachal Pradesh, where Sharma spoke, is expected to hold its next Assembly election in 2027. Sharma also said the state’s Congress government would be judged partly on whether it fulfilled promises made to voters at the 2022 election.

Dipke outlines CJP regrouping after disrupted Tiranga march

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has announced plans to reassess his organisation’s campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar after police disrupted its Tiranga march in New Delhi.

Dipke said on Sunday that the group would decide its next course of action once two organisers, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, returned from custody. He also disclosed plans to consult advocate Vrinda Grover about the legal issues arising from the police action.

The announcement followed Friday’s attempted demonstration at Connaught Place, where substantial security deployments, barricades and detentions prevented organisers from conducting their march as planned. Nevertheless, protesters carrying national flags assembled around the commercial district, challenging restrictions imposed by the authorities.

Dipke described the detentions as an attempt to intimidate campaigners and insisted that the movement would continue. He said its leadership needed to meet and evaluate the situation before settling on another programme, rather than immediately announcing a replacement march or protest date.

“Once Saurav and Ashu come, we will gather, restrategize, and determine how to move forward,” he said. His comments indicated that decisions about the next phase remained contingent on the two organisers’ release and consultations within the group.

Das and Ranka were taken into custody after an earlier protest at Jantar Mantar, where police accused them of disregarding restrictions and obstructing officers. They were remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14. Their detention has become a central concern for CJP organisers alongside their demand for Kumar’s resignation.

Dipke himself was detained on October 16 after police served him notice warning against proceeding with the Connaught Place gathering. He was released the following day after appearing before a special executive magistrate at Mandir Marg police station and signing a peace bond.

Student activist Neha Bora, president of the All India Students’ Association, was also detained as demonstrators attempted to move towards Connaught Place from Mandi House. She was released on Saturday. The arrests drew criticism from protest organisers, who questioned the restrictions placed on peaceful assembly.

Delhi Police, however, maintained that restrictions were necessary to preserve public order and enforce prohibitory directions. Police registered multiple first information reports concerning alleged violations of orders and obstruction of public servants during the demonstration. Those allegations remain subject to legal proceedings.

The march, promoted under the slogan Lehra Do Tiranga, was intended to press for Kumar’s departure over allegations surrounding the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Campaigners contend that large numbers of eligible voters have been removed unfairly, raising questions about access to the ballot.

The Election Commission has rejected allegations of political bias and defended the revision exercise as a means of improving the accuracy of electoral registers. It says mechanisms exist for eligible citizens to challenge omissions and seek restoration of their names. Allegations that the process favours the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party remain disputed.

Accounts of Friday’s turnout varied. An estimated 2,000 people assembled around Connaught Place despite barriers, while more than 100 were detained. The gathering therefore did not proceed as the organisers intended, although it also did not prevent supporters from demonstrating in the area.

The disruption has left CJP balancing two immediate priorities: securing its organisers’ release and determining how to sustain public mobilisation while complying with, or challenging, restrictions on protest activity. Dipke’s proposed legal consultation signals attention to the first of those questions, but no specific legal action has been announced.

The dispute over demonstration venues has also affected other groups. Delhi Police removed Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest locations on October 12 and identified Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in east Delhi as alternatives.

Separately, police have issued a no-objection certificate for a Congress rally scheduled at Ramlila Maidan on November 1, part of the opposition INDIA bloc’s campaign over electoral roll revisions and the election commissioner. The authorisation covers October 25 to November 3, with police saying they are coordinating arrangements for security and traffic management.

At the Bengaluru demonstration on October 16, CJP supporters joined other campaign groups in a flag march from Town Hall to the Quit India Memorial. Police permitted that route under conditions governing banners, slogans and the duration of the procession.

The permission followed the earlier refusal of a proposed protest route to Mysuru Bank Circle under court-imposed demonstration restrictions.