Two missing police officers found shot dead in Kishtwar

Security forces recovered the bullet-riddled bodies of two missing Special Police Officers in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Thursday, intensifying concerns after a separate militant attack injured three paramilitary personnel in Kulgam a day earlier.

The dead officers were identified as Babi Chand, 57, and Rashpal Kumar, 45, both from Kiyar village in the remote Dachhan area. Their service rifles and ammunition were missing, prompting investigators to suspect that militants killed them and seized their weapons. Authorities have not publicly identified the attackers.

The officers, attached to the Jammu and Kashmir Police's Special Operations Group, disappeared on Wednesday while travelling towards an Army position in the Dharna-Marwah area for patrolling duty. Their bodies were discovered on Thursday morning following an overnight search through difficult forested terrain.

Officials said the missing weapons included an INSAS rifle and a.303 rifle, together with magazines and ammunition. Investigators also recovered spent cartridges described by officials as Pakistani-origin armour-piercing ammunition. The origin of the cartridges does not, by itself, establish the identity or affiliation of those responsible.

Police and Army units reinforced their presence around Kiyar and the route towards Dharna-Marwah. Search teams deployed drones and sniffer dogs to examine wooded slopes and inaccessible stretches, while personnel on the ground looked for signs of the attackers' movements and the missing firearms.

The two officers had been travelling to relieve personnel deployed at a temporary military position. Officials said their telephones were initially reachable but calls went unanswered before the devices were switched off. Residents had also reported hearing gunfire in the area on Wednesday afternoon, adding to concerns about their disappearance.

Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat travelled to Kishtwar and reviewed the security situation with senior police and Army officers. The operation involves the police's Special Operations Group and other security units, with attention focused on identifying the assailants and recovering the stolen weapons.

The killings followed Wednesday's shooting at a Central Reserve Police Force checkpoint near Mir Bazar in south Kashmir's Kulgam district. Suspected militants opened fire on personnel stationed in the Akhran area, injuring three members of the force, one critically, before escaping.

Security personnel continued a cordon-and-search operation in Kulgam on Thursday to locate the attackers. The assailants were described as travelling on a motorcycle, and the search concentrated on routes around the checkpoint and neighbouring areas. No confirmed link between the Kulgam shooting and the Kishtwar killings has been established.

The incidents occurred in separate parts of Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting the challenges faced by security forces in protecting fixed checkpoints and personnel moving through remote terrain. Kishtwar's mountainous forests complicate searches, while the Kulgam attack took place at a staffed roadside security position.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the killing of the two officers and expressed condolences to their families. Political leaders across party lines also denounced the violence and called for those responsible to be apprehended.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary described the two attacks within 24 hours as a serious concern and questioned claims that militancy had been eliminated from Jammu and Kashmir. His remarks reflected renewed political scrutiny of security arrangements following the two incidents.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah also condemned the violence, saying terrorism would not succeed. Opposition figures, including BJP leaders, demanded firm action against the perpetrators, while representatives of other parties expressed sympathy for the bereaved families.

Several organisations, including the Shiv Sena Dogra Front and Bajrang Dal, staged protests in Jammu, condemning the killings and demanding stronger action against militancy. Demonstrators also raised slogans against Pakistan, reflecting public anger over the attacks.

Kishtwar legislator Shagun Parihar said the two bodies were recovered separately, at approximately 8 am and 9 am on Thursday. She urged the Union Home Ministry to ensure that those responsible were brought to justice and travelled towards the affected area after learning of the deaths.

Special Police Officers are locally recruited personnel who assist regular police in security and law-enforcement duties, including operations in areas where knowledge of local terrain is important. The two men were familiar with the Dachhan area, where steep slopes, forest cover and patchy communications can hamper movement and searches.

Security teams were continuing to examine the forest route between Kiyar and Dharna-Marwah, while investigators worked to establish the precise circumstances in which the officers were intercepted. The missing rifles remained a focus of the operation.

NCP reunification debate exposes divisions within Pawar faction

Sharad Pawar faces growing resistance within his Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) over a possible reunification with the rival NCP faction that could bring the veteran leader into an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The differences have become increasingly visible as senior figures from both factions explore political reconciliation, while Rohit Pawar, the party chief's grand-nephew, and other leaders oppose joining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

The proposed merger remains uncertain, with no formal agreement announced and conflicting positions emerging from senior leaders. The central disagreement concerns whether organisational reunification should also require the Sharad Pawar faction to abandon its existing opposition alignment.

Party working president Supriya Sule has stated that she has received no merger proposal. Her intervention follows assertions by Rohit Pawar that neither she nor Sharad Pawar has discussed any arrangement involving the BJP with him.

Rohit Pawar, who represents Karjat-Jamkhed in the Maharashtra Assembly, has publicly challenged suggestions that reunification is inevitable. He has maintained that the two factions cannot simply be brought together under the political conditions governing the ruling coalition.

The legislator has also criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for suggesting that the BJP would necessarily be consulted before any merger involving its existing alliance partner.

Fadnavis has maintained that decisions concerning the two NCP factions belong to their respective leaderships. However, he has emphasised that the BJP, as the principal constituent of the ruling alliance, would expect consultation on developments affecting its coalition arrangements.

The disagreement has exposed competing priorities within the Sharad Pawar organisation. Some leaders regard reunification as an opportunity to restore organisational strength, while others believe association with the BJP would undermine their established political commitments.

There are indications that Rohit Pawar and like-minded colleagues could consider alternative political arrangements if the party leadership eventually endorses participation in the NDA. Suggestions that he might move towards the Congress remain unconfirmed, and no formal decision has been announced.

Such a development would represent a significant challenge for Sharad Pawar, whose political authority has traditionally enabled him to manage competing interests within the organisation.

The uncertainty has been compounded by differing assessments of whether merger negotiations are actually underway.

Senior leaders from both factions have held meetings and maintained contact, but those interactions have not produced an agreed framework covering leadership, organisational responsibilities or political alignment.

Praful Patel, a senior leader of the NCP headed by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, met Sharad Pawar while the latter was undergoing treatment in Mumbai. Their interaction encouraged speculation about further discussions.

Parth Pawar, Sunetra Pawar's son, also met the veteran leader, while several senior figures from the Sharad Pawar faction visited him during the same period.

Those meetings have generated competing interpretations. Some political figures view them as evidence of renewed efforts towards reconciliation, while leaders involved have maintained that personal and health-related considerations also prompted the visits.

Sunetra Pawar has avoided making a definitive public commitment on reunification. Her position is important because her faction remains part of the Mahayuti government alongside the BJP and Shiv Sena.

The question of leadership within a united organisation is another unresolved issue. Any merger would require agreement between figures holding substantial influence over their respective party structures.

The debate follows the death of former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in January. His death altered the political circumstances surrounding discussions about restoring unity between the organisations.

Rohit Pawar has acknowledged that Ajit Pawar favoured reconciliation within the family and between the factions. However, he has questioned contradictory statements about the progress of merger discussions before and after his death.

The Sharad Pawar faction also faces the practical question of maintaining its relationships with opposition parties if negotiations eventually advance towards an agreement involving the ruling alliance.

Several prominent leaders, including Jayant Patil, Shashikant Shinde, Jitendra Awhad and Amol Kolhe, remain influential within the organisation. Their positions would matter in any formal decision on its political future.

For now, the discussions have not established a timetable for reunification, nor has either faction publicly presented a mutually accepted formula.

Sharad Pawar, who turns 86 in December, continues to head the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), while Sule serves as its national working president. The rival NCP is headed by Sunetra Pawar, who succeeded Ajit Pawar following his death.

Modi sends Pitroda Diwali greetings after personal praise

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended Diwali and Gujarati New Year greetings to Congress leader Sam Pitroda on Thursday after the opposition politician praised his personal warmth while reaffirming their ideological differences.

Modi addressed the chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress as “Sam Bhai” in a message posted on X, and included wishes for Pitroda’s wife, Anjana. The public exchange followed an interview in which Pitroda described the Prime Minister as a Gujarati friend with whom he had maintained cordial personal relations despite political disagreements.

“Happy Diwali and Nutan Varsh Abhinandan to you Sam Bhai and to Anjana Ben. Praying for a joyful and healthy year ahead. Jai Jagannath!” Modi wrote, using familiar forms of address associated with Gujarati conversation.

Pitroda, a longstanding Congress figure and associate of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, had said he respected Modi as a person and appreciated the kindness shown to him and his wife during their meetings. His remarks distinguished private relationships from disagreements over political beliefs.

“He is a Gujarati friend. I respect him as a person,” Pitroda said. Recalling encounters involving his wife, he described Modi as “very warm, kind, loving and caring at a personal level”. He also called the Prime Minister a good orator and a hardworking person.

Pitroda said the two got along well and had no personal issues. He recalled visiting Modi’s home in Gujarat several times, saying those encounters had been friendly. His comments offered an unusually positive personal assessment of a leader whose government and political positions he has otherwise criticised.

“I have nothing against Mr Modi as a Gujarati leader, friend or well-wisher,” he said, adding that Modi had been warm towards him and that he appreciated the treatment. Pitroda made clear, however, that his favourable description of the Prime Minister did not amount to an endorsement of his politics.

“But I may have issues with his view of the world and I have issues with his ideology,” Pitroda said. He explained that criticism of a political position was different from hostility towards the person expressing it, and insisted the two should not be confused.

“I can disagree with Mr Modi and I can also have dinner with him and have a laugh,” he added. The observation underlined his argument that personal civility need not prevent robust political disagreement, even between figures associated with rival parties.

The comments and the response were made public on Thursday, with the interview preceding the Prime Minister’s post. Neither man announced a meeting or any further engagement.

The exchange attracted attention because Pitroda has frequently challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party government, while the BJP has criticised his statements. As head of the Congress overseas organisation, he has been associated with the party’s engagement with supporters outside India.

His remarks came amid continuing accusations by BJP figures that Congress leaders maintain links with foreign interests seeking to influence domestic politics. Pitroda rejected allegations involving himself and Rahul Gandhi and billionaire investor George Soros. Those allegations remain political claims.

Neither Modi’s greeting nor Pitroda’s comments indicated a change in party allegiance, policy position or political cooperation. Pitroda explicitly separated his respect for the Prime Minister’s personal conduct from his objections to Modi’s worldview. The Prime Minister’s public response, meanwhile, confined itself to seasonal good wishes.

The wording of Modi’s response reflected the personal tone of Pitroda’s interview. “Bhai” is a familiar expression meaning brother, while “Ben” is a respectful form of address for a woman in Gujarati. The greeting referred to both Pitroda and his wife rather than to the Congress organisation or any political matter. It was issued publicly, making the response visible.

Pitroda’s distinction between friendship and ideology was central to his account of their relationship. He did not withdraw his criticism of Modi’s political outlook or suggest that their disagreements had been resolved. Instead, he presented their encounters as an example of people maintaining friendly relations while holding opposing views.

The message also prompted an informal exchange with another user on X. Mihir Jha asked Modi, in Hindi, whether someone who could wish Pitroda a happy Diwali might also send him greetings. Modi responded directly, wishing him a happy Diwali.

Jha subsequently thanked the Prime Minister for the reply. Modi’s message to Pitroda had also ended with “Jai Jagannath”, a devotional salutation.

Omar presses Railways to retain Anantnag Vande Bharat stop

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has asked Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to make the Vande Bharat Express stop at Anantnag permanent, arguing that the experimental arrangement has improved travel for passengers across south Kashmir.

The request, contained in a letter dated November 2 and made public on Thursday, November 12, seeks the minister's personal intervention to retain the station on the train's regular stopping pattern. No decision approving a permanent halt has been announced by the Railway Ministry.

Abdullah said the experimental stoppage had been welcomed by people in Jammu and Kashmir and had improved convenience for commuters. He described its continuation as a matter of considerable public importance, for travellers who depend on Anantnag as their access point to rail services.

The Chief Minister identified Anantnag as a major commercial and transport centre serving a large population across adjoining districts. A regular Vande Bharat stop, he argued, would allow passengers from south Kashmir to use the service without having to rely on stations farther from their homes or businesses.

He also linked the proposed change to economic activity, saying improved access could support trade and tourism alongside passenger journeys. The argument places the station's wider catchment area, rather than Anantnag town alone, at the centre of the request.

In his letter, Abdullah wrote: “I would, therefore, request your personal intervention in having the experimental halt at Anantnag Railway Station converted into a permanent halt, keeping in view the genuine needs and aspirations of the people of South Kashmir.”

The appeal does not seek the introduction of a new train. It concerns the status of an existing experimental stop and whether that arrangement should become part of Vande Bharat operations. The distinction matters because passengers can currently benefit from the halt without any assurance that it will remain in the timetable indefinitely.

The Railway Ministry would have to consider the request before a permanent stoppage could be confirmed. The Chief Minister's letter does not specify a proposed implementation date, revised timetable or the duration of the experimental arrangement. Nor does it provide passenger counts or other numerical evidence of demand at Anantnag.

Abdullah's intervention follows the expansion of Vande Bharat connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar, which has created additional travel options between the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region. The Chief Minister acknowledged the Centre's investment in the railway network while asking that the benefits extend to passengers in south Kashmir.

He described the introduction of the Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat service as a significant milestone for regional connectivity and an opportunity to encourage economic development. His letter coupled that appreciation with a specific operational request, rather than calling for a broader change to railway policy.

Anantnag's location makes it a practical boarding point for people travelling from neighbouring areas, including Kulgam and Shopian. A permanent stop could reduce the need for some passengers to travel elsewhere to board the train, although the extent of any time or cost savings has not been quantified.

For passengers, the immediate issue is predictability. An experimental halt offers access while it remains in force, but a permanent designation would provide greater certainty for planning journeys. The Chief Minister's request reflects that difference without establishing whether the Railway Ministry will accept the proposal.

The correspondence also highlights the relationship between major rail investments and access at intermediate stations. Faster connections between principal cities do not necessarily give every district the same convenience, particularly when passengers must make separate journeys to reach a scheduled stop.

Abdullah maintained that Anantnag's role as a transport centre justified retaining the facility. He said the stop would benefit a substantial number of passengers and contribute to commercial activity across the region, although the letter did not identify businesses or tourism projects expected to gain.

The Chief Minister expressed hope that Vaishnaw would consider the proposal favourably. The request is directed to the Union Railway Minister because changes to the train's regular stopping arrangements require action by the railway authorities, rather than a decision by the Jammu and Kashmir administration.

The letter specifically concerns the Vande Bharat Express service linking Jammu and Srinagar. It does not seek additional stations, increased service frequency or changes to fares. Its central operational proposal is limited to keeping the existing Anantnag halt in place on a permanent basis.

Home ministry weighs Tripura visit over BSF assault

AGARTALA: The Union home ministry is expected to send a team to Tripura to investigate the November 2 assault on Border Security Force personnel at Ashabari, near the Bangladesh border, amid competing accounts of what triggered the violence.

The proposed delegation could travel to Boxanagar in Sepahijala district within days, although its arrival and composition have not been formally announced. The BSF's Tripura Frontier has submitted an account of the incident to the ministry, while state police continue their investigation.

Three BSF personnel, including an assistant commandant, were injured when a confrontation between villagers and security personnel escalated near the Ashabari border outpost in Sonamura subdivision. Police have arrested 21 people, including two principal suspects, in connection with the attack, Sepahijala Superintendent of Police Bijoy Debbarma said on November 8.

Police suspect that people involved in cross-border smuggling organised or participated in the assault after enforcement operations disrupted illegal trade. Villagers, however, have alleged that BSF personnel assaulted a local man before the confrontation, prompting a protest. Those allegations remain disputed, and responsibility for the initial confrontation has not been independently established.

The prospective ministry visit would bring central scrutiny to an incident that has already prompted arrests, additional security measures and discussions between the state administration and senior border force officers. Its precise terms of reference have not been made public.

Chief Minister Manik Saha condemned the attack and instructed the authorities to pursue action under the law. Senior BSF officers subsequently visited the affected area, while police and other security personnel were deployed to prevent further disturbances.

BSF Tripura Frontier Inspector General Princi Rani visited Ashabari on November 3 and met Saha to discuss the situation. The visit followed complaints concerning both the attack on personnel and the conduct of the force towards residents.

Debbarma has linked the violence to a sustained campaign against smuggling and illegal cannabis cultivation. He said joint teams of the police, Tripura State Rifles and BSF had destroyed at least 1.5 crore cannabis plants across Sonamura subdivision over the past year, inflicting estimated losses of Rs 1,000 crore on illegal operators.

Those figures are police estimates rather than independently audited assessments. Debbarma said enforcement teams had also seized smuggled goods worth several crores of rupees, and argued that the financial impact had angered networks operating along the international boundary.

According to the police account, BSF personnel intercepted a suspected smuggling attempt at Ashabari on November 2 before a group attacked them. The force lodged a complaint at Kalamchoura police station alleging attempted murder, obstruction of public servants and the snatching of weapons.

Residents have described a different sequence. They alleged that a local youth, Hefzur Rahman, was detained and beaten by BSF personnel while clearing vegetation near Natun Bazar. Villagers subsequently blocked a road, and the confrontation intensified when a BSF vehicle approached the protest. The allegation of assault against Rahman has not been established through a publicly available official finding.

The competing accounts make the circumstances preceding the attack a significant issue for investigators. Any central inquiry would need to distinguish evidence of organised smuggling activity from the grievances raised by residents, without treating either side's allegations as proven.

Authorities have also undertaken coordinated searches and border-level discussions following the clash. The state administration has not disclosed whether the expected central team will take statements from injured personnel, residents or local police, or whether its findings will be released publicly. No date for the delegation's arrival has been confirmed. Accounts of the security response indicate that the administration sought to restore order while identifying those directly involved in the violence.

Police say the district's boundary with Bangladesh extends for approximately 99 kilometres and is almost entirely fenced. Debbarma nevertheless acknowledged that trafficking persists, involving cattle, clothing, medicines, essential commodities and contraband.

He said about 300 families live beyond the border fence, a circumstance that complicates surveillance and access in some settlements. Restrictions on permanent construction within 150 yards of the international boundary also influence the location of fencing and habitation.

The confrontation occurred in an area under Kalamchoura police station, where residents and security personnel routinely encounter one another near agricultural land, roads and the border barrier. Investigators have yet to publish a complete account reconciling the allegations surrounding the initial detention with the subsequent assault on the patrol.

BJP challenges Kirti Azad over Ayodhya temple remarks

The Bharatiya Janata Party has criticised Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad for questioning Lord Ram’s treatment of Sita and declaring that he would not visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya, widening a political dispute over faith and opposition leaders’ religious commitments.

Azad, who represents Bardhaman-Durgapur in the Lok Sabha, said on Wednesday that his refusal stemmed from the account of Sita being sent away despite undergoing an agni pariksha, or trial by fire. He invoked his connection with Mithila, traditionally regarded as Sita’s birthplace, to explain why the episode troubled him.

“I will never go there, because Lord Ram abandoned his wife even after she had passed the agni pariksha,” Azad said when asked about Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav’s proposed visit to the shrine.

Azad described Sita as a mother figure for people from Mithila and questioned how he could explain her treatment to children. He also rejected the suggestion that refusing to visit Ayodhya amounted to rejecting Hinduism, pointing to his worship of Goddess Kali and visits to other temples.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused Azad and the opposition INDIA alliance of insulting Hindu traditions for electoral advantage. In a social media response, he characterised the remarks as vote-bank politics and criticised opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.

BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi also questioned what he portrayed as the opposition’s selective criticism of Hindu beliefs, arguing that its leaders were less willing to scrutinise practices associated with other religious communities. Those assertions reflected the BJP’s political position rather than any established consensus about the opposition’s views.

The two disputes involve different opposition parties and positions. Azad has expressly ruled out visiting the temple, whereas Yadav has announced an intention to worship there. The BJP has nevertheless used both developments to question the opposition alliance’s approach to Hindu religious sentiment. Neither politician’s statements establish a common alliance policy on temple visits, and individual expressions of faith remain distinct from formal party positions.

The exchange coincided with a separate confrontation over Yadav’s announcement that he intends to visit the Ayodhya temple with his family on December 12. The BJP has challenged the timing of the trip, while Yadav has insisted that religious worship should not be treated as the preserve of any political party.

“God belongs to everyone,” Yadav said on Wednesday, adding that different religions follow different paths to worship. He said he also planned to visit Kedareshwar and religious sites in Mathura and Vrindavan, and had visited places of worship before.

Uttar Pradesh BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary urged Yadav to visit Ayodhya on December 6 instead and apologise over the police firing on kar sevaks during the government headed by his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, in 1990. December 6 marks the anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992.

Chaudhary alleged that Yadav’s planned pilgrimage was politically motivated. His demand linked the forthcoming visit to an episode that remains contentious in Uttar Pradesh politics, although the events of 1990 occurred under a different chief minister and decades before Yadav himself assumed that office.

Yadav responded by questioning why the BJP was concerned about his religious visits. He recast the Samajwadi Party’s PDA slogan, normally referring to backward classes, Dalits and minorities, as “Pehle Darshan, phir Aashirwad”, meaning worship first and blessings afterwards.

The exchanges come ahead of Uttar Pradesh’s 2027 assembly election, with rival parties disputing both the political meaning of temple visits and the interpretation of earlier events in Ayodhya. The BJP has sought to challenge the Samajwadi Party’s historical position on the Ram temple, while the latter maintains that it supported resolving the dispute through dialogue or the courts.

The dispute has also drawn attention to differences between personal religious choices and the demands placed on elected representatives.

The Ayodhya temple was consecrated in January 2024. Yadav’s proposed December visit would be his first to the temple since that ceremony, making his announcement a focus of political attention even before the trip takes place.

Uttar Pradesh minister Dayashankar Singh separately questioned the Samajwadi Party’s record on Ayodhya’s development during its years in government. He contrasted its approach with the large-scale Diwali celebrations organised under the present state administration, an issue the BJP has repeatedly used to distinguish its policies from those of its opponents.

Election Commission disputes 2024 vote tally mismatch allegations

The Election Commission of India has rejected allegations of discrepancies between votes cast and counted in the 2024 parliamentary and assembly elections, publishing constituency figures and challenging the interpretation of electoral records circulated online.

The commission issued a three-part fact-check on Wednesday after an investigation alleged irregularities in 51 constituencies across Maharashtra, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. It described the social media claims as misleading and said official statistical reports already distinguished registered electors, electronic voting machine votes and postal ballots.

The dispute centres on records examined by The Reporters’ Collective, which said it reviewed returning officers’ documentation for 530 constituencies. Its investigation identified 32 contests where recorded votes cast and counted appeared inconsistent, alongside 19 where entries for voters attending polling stations were marked zero or nil.

The commission questioned the basis for describing some figures as internal records and said the allegations had not adequately identified the documents used. It maintained that Form 17C, completed at each polling station, provides the statutory account against which votes are checked.

Under that procedure, presiding officers prepare Part I of Form 17C after polling closes and provide copies to candidates’ polling agents. During counting, candidates’ representatives compare those figures with the votes recorded in Part II, the commission explained.

Maharashtra’s Chief Electoral Officer offered figures for Mumbai North, where 1,812,115 people were registered to vote in the parliamentary election. The commission recorded 1,036,496 votes cast, including electronic and postal ballots. Officials said the much larger electorate figure had been incorrectly treated as votes polled in the disputed comparison.

The constituency’s figures also require distinguishing ballots cast from those included in the final count. State election authorities listed 1,035,731 counted votes and separately classified 765 votes under applicable counting procedures, rather than treating the difference as unexplained missing ballots.

For Dahanu assembly constituency, Maharashtra officials listed 301,257 registered electors and 221,818 votes cast, including 220,919 electronic votes and 899 postal ballots. The difference between registered electors and participants reflected people who did not vote, the authorities said.

The commission similarly cited Beed assembly constituency, where 384,885 electors were registered and 238,845 votes were recorded electronically. Officials said the allegation that more than 145,000 votes had disappeared confused the number of eligible electors with the smaller number participating.

Haryana election authorities also disputed the interpretation of figures for Kaithal. Their constituency records showed 223,449 registered electors, 167,285 electronic votes and 1,566 postal ballots. They explained that adjustments for test and rejected votes, together with valid postal ballots, produced the final valid-vote total of 168,200.

The distinction matters because the number of people registered in a constituency is not a measure of ballots deposited on polling day. Likewise, the number of ballots received is not necessarily identical to the number of valid votes credited to candidates. Election officials say these separate stages are documented through prescribed forms and counting statements. Their explanations address several of the large numerical gaps highlighted in the controversy, although they do not by themselves resolve every question about entries in the additional returning officers’ reports examined by the investigators.

The investigators’ account, however, raises a separate question about the accuracy and completeness of entries in returning officers’ records, rather than simply comparing the electorate with turnout. The investigation said it had examined thousands of pages and found anomalies in records intended to reconcile polling-station figures with counting totals.

Those findings remain contested. The commission’s constituency examples rebut particular interpretations, but the disagreement also concerns which records should be compared and whether apparent errors in administrative documents have been satisfactorily explained. The investigation did not establish that the reported differences amounted to electoral manipulation.

Maharashtra’s election office said polling agents had received the prescribed records and that electronic machine figures were checked during counting. It also stated that it had received no complaints alleging differences in the voting figures concerned.

The commission publishes election statistics and constituency index cards detailing electors, machine-recorded votes, postal ballots and overall participation. Such categories are not interchangeable: registered electors include those who abstain, while some ballots may be excluded from valid-vote totals under counting rules.

The contested investigation covered 467 assembly and 63 parliamentary constituencies in the three territories. Its authors said one constituency report, from Devsar in Jammu and Kashmir, could not be located among the records they examined.

Iran displays underground missiles and threatens wider US strikes

Iran has unveiled footage of an underground missile complex while warning that American military bases beyond the Middle East could be attacked if Washington resumes hostilities against Tehran.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released images of tunnels containing ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, mobile launchers and military vehicles. The footage, circulated on Tuesday during the force's Aerospace Week, showed senior commanders inspecting what Iranian authorities described as a new missile city.

Iran has not disclosed the facility's location, dimensions or inventory. The images do not independently establish when the complex was built, how many weapons are operational or whether the systems shown could withstand another military campaign. Parts of the footage were obscured.

Major General Ali Abdollahi, chief of staff of Iran's armed forces, and Brigadier General Seyyed Majid Mousavi, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, appeared in the video touring the installation. Abdollahi warned that another attack on Iran would prompt a response extending beyond the region.

The warning was reinforced by Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, who said American installations in European countries and distant locations could be targeted if they supported attacks on Iranian territory.

Rezaei told Al Mayadeen that Tehran would not restrict retaliation to American bases in neighbouring countries. He said military facilities from which US aircraft departed to bomb Iran could become targets, regardless of their distance from the Islamic Republic.

His remarks widened the geographical scope of Iran's declared response, although Tehran provided no independently verifiable evidence that its missiles could reach every location mentioned. The statements were conditional threats rather than announcements of attacks already undertaken.

The footage also showed missiles mounted on transport vehicles and stored alongside launch equipment. Iranian military presentations identified the complex as part of the IRGC Aerospace Force's infrastructure, but did not publish technical specifications or permit independent inspection of the installation.

Among the systems observers identified from the images were missiles resembling Iran's Fattah and Khorramshahr families. Iran has described the Fattah as a hypersonic weapon, but the video offers no basis for verifying its performance, guidance characteristics or readiness for deployment.

IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohibbi had said ahead of the unveiling that missile and drone manufacturing operations were being transferred from exposed surface installations to protected underground facilities. He portrayed the move as an effort to preserve production capacity during aerial bombardment.

Mohibbi also said Iran had removed previous restrictions on missile range. Officials did not specify a revised maximum distance or provide testing evidence supporting an expansion of operational reach. Tehran had previously referred to a self-imposed range ceiling of approximately 2,000 kilometres.

The announcements follow months of confrontation involving Iran, the United States and Israel. American and Israeli attacks have targeted Iranian military infrastructure, while Tehran has sought to demonstrate that its missile forces remain capable of responding despite damage sustained during the fighting.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran was effectively defeated militarily, a characterisation at odds with Tehran's public presentation of its remaining capabilities. Neither side has released a comprehensive, independently verified assessment of Iran's surviving missile stockpiles or launch infrastructure.

Trump also indicated that renewed American air strikes were unlikely, while maintaining pressure on Tehran. The contrasting messages underscored the uncertainty surrounding the military standoff, with Iranian commanders stressing deterrence and Washington retaining the option of further operations.

Iranian officials have described underground storage and manufacturing as central to protecting missile assets from aerial surveillance and strikes. However, footage of weapons inside hardened tunnels cannot establish the facilities' resilience, the availability of replacement components or the ability to sustain launches under attack.

The display came amid competing claims about the effectiveness of earlier strikes against Iran's missile programme. Assessing those claims is difficult because the number of launchers destroyed, repaired or replaced has not been independently established. Underground facilities can conceal equipment and complicate targeting, but their existence does not demonstrate that missiles can be launched at the rate claimed by officials. Iran has supplied no inventory figures allowing comparisons with its arsenal before the fighting.

The video included Iranian flags, Revolutionary Guard insignia and military personnel accompanying the commanders through the passages. Some weapons and equipment were deliberately blurred, limiting identification of systems. Iranian authorities have not announced whether foreign observers will be allowed access to the site.

Police receive complaint over Kharge ammunition post

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge faces a police complaint alleging that a social media post misleadingly connected the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) with ammunition seizures in Bihar and Haryana. Police said on Wednesday that no first information report (FIR) had been registered.

Tejas A Gowda submitted the complaint at Bengaluru’s Banashankari police station on Tuesday, seeking criminal proceedings against the Congress minister. He accused Kharge of circulating false information and attempting to disturb social harmony by suggesting that the RSS was connected with an alleged interstate ammunition trafficking network.

The complaint concerns seizures totalling approximately 44,250 live cartridges across the two states. Gowda alleged that Kharge’s post on X presented the organisation as associated with criminal activities without establishing a factual basis for that connection. The allegations remain untested, and filing a complaint does not itself establish an offence.

Gowda asked police to register an FIR under three provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, subject to evidence disclosing cognisable offences. Section 192 concerns provocation intended to cause rioting, Section 196 addresses promotion of enmity between groups, and Section 353 covers statements contributing to public mischief.

He also requested an impartial investigation free from political interference. Investigators, he said, should preserve electronic records of the minister’s posts, obtain details of the ammunition cases from police in Bihar and Haryana, and determine whether any inaccurate information had been circulated knowingly.

The complaint argued that Kharge’s position as Home Minister imposed particular responsibilities concerning public order. Gowda alleged that statements carrying the authority of that office could mislead the public and heighten tensions if they suggested organisational involvement in crimes without sufficient evidence.

Kharge’s post referred to an alleged interstate ammunition smuggling operation and raised questions about the RSS and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). An accompanying image appeared to depict men dressed in clothing associated with the RSS. Critics alleged that the image had been manipulated using artificial intelligence, but its provenance has not been independently established.

The ammunition seizures themselves are separate from the dispute over Kharge’s interpretation of them. Approximately 19,250 cartridges were recovered in Bihar’s Bhojpur district, while Haryana’s Special Task Force seized approximately 25,000 near the Rohad toll plaza in Jhajjar district. Those figures together account for the quantity cited in the complaint.

The recovery of ammunition does not, by itself, establish that any political or social organisation directed or supported trafficking. No verified police finding establishing RSS involvement in the seizures was available in the accounts of the cases examined. Nor does the complaint demonstrate that Kharge deliberately circulated information he knew to be false.

BJP parliamentarian Tejasvi Surya criticised the minister on X, accusing him of spreading fake news. His intervention widened the political dispute over the post, although his accusation was not a finding by an investigating authority.

Former Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao also questioned Kharge’s intervention, urging him to safeguard the dignity and institutional integrity of the Home Department and Karnataka Police. Rao called attention to policing priorities including infrastructure, vacancies, forensic capabilities and cybercrime investigation facilities.

Kharge has separately renewed his demand that the RSS formally register as an organisation and maintain membership records. He argued that registration would improve accountability and make it easier to verify claimed organisational associations. He offered to facilitate registration and pay the fees himself, addressing RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on X.

The registration demand is a distinct political issue and does not establish a connection between the RSS and the cartridges. The minister’s questions about organisational accountability likewise do not resolve the factual dispute surrounding the photograph or the identities and affiliations of suspects in the ammunition cases.

There was no immediate substantive response from Kharge to the police complaint in the available public accounts. Police had not announced charges or an investigation against him by Wednesday. Whether the allegations meet the legal threshold for registration of an FIR remains a matter for the authorities.

Gowda’s written representation specifically sought coordination between Bengaluru investigators and their counterparts in the two states where the ammunition was seized. The complainant did not specify any RSS affiliation in the written complaint described by police. That request would allow officers to compare the minister’s claims with seizure records, suspect details and any documented organisational links, rather than relying solely on disputed social media material circulated during the controversy.

DU student alleges cash offers for election protest

A Delhi University student has accused former National Students' Union of India (NSUI) office-bearer Anas Khan of offering students up to ₹500 each to join a demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, adding another allegation to a widening dispute over his conduct on campus.

The student alleged that Khan sought to mobilise approximately 100 college students for a protest associated with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Save Democracy campaign. She said participants were offered between ₹200 and ₹500, alongside food, refreshments and transport. There has been no independent confirmation that any payments were made.

Her account, made public on Wednesday, November 11, also described messages allegedly circulated through a college group containing roughly 1,000 members. She claimed the recruitment efforts included offers of free Rapido rides and benefits linked to food delivery services. The authenticity and full context of the messages have not been independently established.

The allegations concern Khan, a student associated with Delhi University's Ramanujan College, whose organisational status has become a separate point of contention. The NSUI, Congress's student wing, says it suspended him during the Delhi University Students' Union elections for indiscipline and activities contrary to the organisation's interests.

The complainant disputed the organisation's account of its response, alleging that Khan stepped down only after criticism intensified and questioning the timing of the suspension communication. Her assertion that a letter was issued retrospectively remains unverified. Neither account, by itself, establishes when Khan ceased to represent the student organisation.

The controversy has also drawn intervention from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a rival student organisation, which has demanded an investigation into separate allegations involving approaches to female students. Its demands extend to scrutiny of possible financial transactions and other suspected links, none of which have been established through a publicly disclosed investigation.

The female student alleged that messages circulated among newcomers invited young women to accompany non-resident visitors in return for payments ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹30,000. She claimed the messages specified appearance and age requirements and included offers of travel and access to a Diljit Dosanjh concert. These are allegations rather than verified descriptions of any arrangement.

The NSUI has condemned the alleged conduct and maintained that Khan had already been suspended. That position distances the organisation from his purported actions but does not resolve the student's questions about the timing of disciplinary measures or the provenance of the messages. No independently verified response from Khan to the specific cash-for-protest allegation was available.

The accusation involving the election protest has prompted questions about whether participants in political demonstrations were being offered inducements. The student's testimony does not establish that Congress, Rahul Gandhi or senior NSUI officials authorised payments, knew about the alleged offers or funded them. Nor does an offer, if proved, necessarily demonstrate that money changed hands.

The protest she described forms part of a wider campaign challenging the Election Commission's handling of electoral matters. Student groups and opposition activists have demanded Kumar's resignation, citing concerns about electoral rolls and the commission's independence. Those political allegations remain distinct from the claims now directed at Khan.

NSUI activists demonstrated in central Delhi in October, demanding Kumar's removal. During one protest around Connaught Place, police detained participants, while the organisation alleged that women activists had been mistreated. The dispute over policing was separate from the allegations about student recruitment and does not establish a connection with the payments described by the complainant.

The student's allegations have nevertheless intensified scrutiny of recruitment practices in campus politics, where rival organisations compete for participation and influence. The question for any formal inquiry would be whether the communications were genuine, who circulated them, and whether the purported incentives were actually offered or delivered.

The student also called for accountability from NSUI leaders and urged Rahul Gandhi to address the matter. Those demands are part of her complaint, not evidence of involvement by the Congress leadership. The ABVP's call for a broader investigation likewise represents a political demand rather than a finding of wrongdoing.

Ramanujan College has separately been identified in accounts of disciplinary action involving Khan. The distinction between any college-level suspension and the NSUI's organisational suspension is material: they are decisions by different bodies, governed by different procedures. The dates and precise terms of those disciplinary actions require confirmation from the respective institutions.

Election Commission curbs political activity by reappointed officials

The Election Commission has instructed the Uttar Pradesh government to prevent retired officials re-employed in public posts from participating in political activities during elections, extending neutrality requirements to appointments previously lacking explicit conduct rules.

The directive, issued on November 9, applies when the Model Code of Conduct takes effect ahead of the state's 2027 Assembly election. It places retired personnel engaged by the government under restrictions already applicable to serving civil servants, regardless of the capacity in which they have been appointed.

Such officials cannot campaign for candidates, canvass for political parties or use their names, positions or authority to favour one political group over another. The Commission has also prohibited them from summoning election-related officers for official discussions or meetings in constituencies and districts where elections have been announced.

The prohibition expressly covers video conferences with officers involved in election duties. It is intended to prevent individuals holding government appointments after retirement from exercising influence over the administrative machinery responsible for conducting polls.

The Commission communicated the instructions to chief secretaries and chief electoral officers in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur. All five states are scheduled to hold Assembly elections in 2027, making the directive relevant to preparations across several administrations rather than Uttar Pradesh alone.

The poll authority identified a gap in the rules governing retired government employees who return to public service as advisers, appointees or other personnel. Although serving officials are bound by conduct regulations, some post-retirement appointments have lacked specific provisions addressing political neutrality during election periods.

The Commission said the restrictions and prohibitions applicable to government servants would similarly apply to individuals attached, engaged, employed or re-employed by state and Union Territory governments where separate neutrality rules were absent. Its instructions concern their conduct during the Model Code period, rather than imposing a general prohibition on political activity by every retired public employee.

The letter warned that any action, or failure to act, contrary to its directions would be treated seriously. State authorities have been instructed to communicate the requirements to those affected and ensure compliance during the election process.

The decision follows concerns over the role of former officials who continue to hold influential positions within state administrations after leaving regular service. Election authorities have received complaints about such appointees convening meetings involving officials responsible for election work while campaign restrictions were operating.

The Commission has not identified particular Uttar Pradesh appointees as having breached the new directions. Nor does the order, as communicated, announce disciplinary proceedings against named individuals. Its immediate effect is to establish a uniform standard for the category of government-appointed personnel covered by the clarification.

The instructions also reaffirm that the Model Code of Conduct applies to government-funded bodies, including organisations, committees, corporations and commissions, whether their funding comes wholly or partly from public sources. Employees of these institutions are consequently expected to observe the relevant election-period restrictions.

Existing conduct rules prohibit serving government employees from taking part in political activities and elections. Earlier Commission instructions also required officials to avoid election campaigning and refrain from lending their official standing to any party, candidate or political group.

The latest clarification builds on earlier election-management measures concerning re-employed officers. Previous directions restricted the involvement of officials serving on extensions or post-retirement appointments in election-related work, subject to specified exceptions for personnel working in the chief electoral officer's establishment.

The distinction matters because an appointment after retirement does not necessarily carry the same service conditions as a regular government post. By explicitly extending election-period restrictions, the Commission has addressed that difference without announcing changes to the underlying terms of appointment.

Uttar Pradesh is due to elect a new Assembly in 2027, with the current legislature's term ending in May. The other four states covered by the communication have Assembly terms ending earlier in the year.

The Commission's instructions distinguish between ordinary administrative responsibilities and activities capable of compromising electoral neutrality. They specifically address contact with election officers after polls are announced, when administrative decisions and official communications face heightened scrutiny under the Model Code of Conduct.

Separately, the Commission has instructed the five states to transfer certain officers connected with election work, including those posted in their home districts or who have completed prescribed periods in the same district. For Uttar Pradesh, the relevant service-period assessment uses May 31, 2027, as its cut-off date.

India challenges US summons procedure in Pannun lawsuit

India's Ministry of External Affairs has rejected allegations against senior government officials named in a United States civil lawsuit brought by Sikh separatist Gurupatwant Singh Pannun, questioning the procedure used to transmit court documents.

Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Tuesday that New Delhi considered the accusations fabricated and malicious, following confirmation that the US State Department had delivered judicial papers to India's embassy in Washington.

“We reject the fabricated and malicious attacks on our high officials. Also, we reject the frivolous lawsuits,” Jaiswal told a briefing in New Delhi.

He insisted that requests to serve judicial documents within India must pass through the Ministry of Law and Justice, the country's designated central authority. His remarks highlighted a procedural dispute alongside the government's categorical rejection of the lawsuit's allegations.

The case names National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and former Research and Analysis Wing chief Samant Goel among defendants. Pannun seeks damages over an alleged conspiracy to assassinate him in New York in 2023. The accusations in his civil complaint have not been established by a court.

The US District Court for the Southern District of New York issued an order on November 9 permitting Pannun to pursue service of summons on Doval and Goel through courts in India. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla directed him to submit a proposed package of documents by November 30 outlining the intended procedure and relevant legal provisions.

That order concerns how defendants may be notified of proceedings. It does not determine whether the allegations are true, establish liability or resolve any jurisdictional objections that the defendants might raise.

Separately, the State Department confirmed in a filing that it had transmitted a summons, complaint and notice of suit to the embassy in Washington. Its diplomatic note was signed on September 30 and delivered on October 9, preceding the November court order.

The department explained that its action followed a request from the federal court under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, which governs certain proceedings involving foreign states before US courts. It said the transmission was a statutory responsibility rather than an endorsement of Pannun's allegations.

The diplomatic communication made clear that Washington was not taking a position on the merits of the claims, the status of any defendant or whether the requirements for service had been satisfied. It also stated that the US government was not a party to the civil action and could not represent its defendants.

The court has not announced a trial date in the civil action, and the dispute over notification remains separate from its claims.

The distinction is significant because delivery of court papers is a procedural stage, not a ruling against the people or institutions named. Questions concerning jurisdiction, immunity and the validity of service remain matters for judicial consideration.

Pannun is associated with Sikhs for Justice, an organisation banned by India. The Ministry of Home Affairs has designated him a terrorist under domestic law. That designation reflects the government's legal position and does not constitute a US judicial finding on his civil claims.

His lawsuit follows a separate US criminal investigation into an alleged plan to kill him. Federal prosecutors accused Nikhil Gupta of participating in a murder-for-hire conspiracy involving an individual they identified as a government employee from India. The criminal allegations and the civil claims involve distinct proceedings and legal standards.

US authorities have also identified Vikash Yadav in connection with the alleged plot. New Delhi previously established an inquiry committee to examine information supplied by Washington about the case, while maintaining that activities contrary to its stated policies would not be tolerated.

The criminal prosecution does not itself establish the responsibility of Doval or Goel for the allegations made in Pannun's civil complaint. Any determination of their legal position would require proceedings before the appropriate court.

The State Department's diplomatic note also explained that jurisdictional defences, including assertions of sovereign immunity, must be raised before the US court hearing the lawsuit. It advised parties seeking to pursue such arguments to obtain legal representation in the United States.

The November 9 order requires Pannun's proposed service package to address applicable provisions of law in India and previous efforts to deliver documents under the Hague Convention framework. Those requirements form part of the court's consideration of the appropriate means of notifying the named defendants.

Shiv Sena challenges Gandhi over Modi's Naxal remarks

Shiv Sena spokesperson Anand Dubey has questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on Naxalism, arguing that the Prime Minister had not named Gandhi or his party while criticising what he described as intellectual Naxalites.

Dubey's intervention on Tuesday intensified a political confrontation between the ruling alliance and the Opposition over Modi's comments during a Diwali address to Central Reserve Police Force personnel in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district.

Speaking in Mumbai, Dubey questioned why Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, interpreted the remarks as a personal attack. He maintained that Modi had referred to an ideological tendency rather than identifying particular political leaders.

"Why does Rahul Gandhi ji keep taking this personally upon himself?" Dubey asked, pointing out that the Prime Minister had not explicitly mentioned the Congress leader.

Dubey also challenged Gandhi's demand for a public debate with Modi, arguing that Parliament provided the appropriate platform for political exchanges. He urged the Congress leader to raise his objections during a parliamentary session rather than insist on a confrontation outside the legislature.

"As far as the debate is concerned, when the Parliament session convenes, come and let us debate," Dubey said. He maintained that public demonstrations and parliamentary discussions served different democratic purposes.

The controversy followed Modi's November 8 address at a CRPF camp in Karanpur, Bastar, where he declared that armed Naxalism had been substantially weakened but warned that what he called intellectual Naxalites remained active within political parties and organisations.

Modi alleged that such elements were encouraging opposition to constitutional institutions and democratic processes. He called for their identification and defeat, presenting the issue as a continuing challenge to national security despite progress against armed Maoist insurgency.

The Prime Minister's language drew criticism from Opposition leaders, who interpreted the reference to political parties as an attempt to associate political dissent with extremist ideology.

Gandhi responded on November 9 through a social media statement addressed to CRPF personnel, accusing Modi of making misleading claims and asserting that the Prime Minister had effectively described Opposition politicians as Naxalites.

"He called us Naxals," Gandhi wrote, renewing his challenge to Modi for a direct debate over allegations of anti-national conduct and foreign influence.

"My challenge stands. Let him debate me on who is anti-national and who is controlled by foreign forces. Any time, any place," Gandhi said.

The Congress leader also claimed that the expressions of security personnel listening to Modi demonstrated scepticism towards the Prime Minister's statements. That interpretation was Gandhi's political assessment, rather than an independently established account of the personnel's views.

Dubey rejected the suggestion that Modi's remarks amounted to a direct accusation against Gandhi. He argued that the terminology concerned individuals holding a particular ideological outlook and questioned the Congress leader's insistence that it referred to him.

Other leaders from the governing alliance joined the criticism. Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC challenged Gandhi's demand for a debate and accused him of supporting political positions she characterised as detrimental to national interests.

Her allegations formed part of the political exchange and were not accompanied by independently established evidence linking Gandhi to extremist organisations.

Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Ram Kadam also criticised Gandhi's approach, arguing that the responsibilities attached to the office of Leader of the Opposition required greater seriousness in political discussions.

Kadam questioned the conditions under which Gandhi wanted to debate Modi and maintained that parliamentary proceedings offered an established opportunity to challenge government policies and statements.

The dispute has consequently extended beyond the original remarks on Naxalism to disagreements over political accountability, parliamentary debate and the language used by government leaders when addressing ideological opponents.

Gandhi's challenge centred on whether the Prime Minister was justified in invoking Naxalism while discussing political organisations. The ruling alliance's response focused instead on Modi's failure to identify Gandhi by name and the Opposition leader's choice of forum.

The controversy also unfolded against the background of the government's campaign against Maoist insurgency, particularly in areas of Chhattisgarh where security operations have been a major policy priority.

During his Bastar address, Modi distinguished between armed insurgents and those he accused of promoting similar ideas through institutions and political organisations.

Dubey, meanwhile, referred to the abrogation of Article 370 while criticising Congress's political positions, broadening his response beyond the immediate disagreement over the Prime Minister's Bastar speech.

Diwali crowds at Charminar temple revive heritage dispute

Thousands of devotees gathering at Hyderabad’s Bhagyalakshmi Temple during Diwali have renewed questions about the protection of the adjoining Charminar, as silver coin distribution and visits by political leaders draw attention to the contested shrine.

The temple, situated beside the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected monument, has attracted long queues for its annual Khazana programme. The crowds have prompted traffic restrictions and objections from activists who want authorities to clarify whether arrangements around the shrine comply with existing court orders.

Devotees began receiving silver coins on Sunday evening, November 8, following special prayers. Temple organisers scheduled distribution through November 11, keeping the premises open around the clock and establishing four queues to accommodate visitors. By Monday, queues extended towards Gulzar Houz, several hundred metres from Charminar.

The coins, distributed as religious offerings, depict Goddess Lakshmi on one side and Charminar on the other. Worshippers associate them with prosperity and good fortune. The silver is collected through donations made by devotees, while the distribution forms part of the temple’s annual Diwali observances.

Temple trustee Shashikala described the turnout as unexpected. Visitors travelled from Hyderabad, Secunderabad and surrounding districts, adding to congestion in the densely populated Old City. The scale of the gatherings has also intensified scrutiny of the arrangements used to manage crowds beside a protected historical structure. Organisers said the separate queues were intended to maintain orderly movement and reduce difficulties for families waiting to enter the shrine.

Hyderabad Traffic Police advised motorists to avoid roads approaching Charminar between November 6 and 11. Its advisory identified the Madina–Charminar, Murgi Chowk–Charminar and Shah Ali Banda approaches as potential congestion points. Police designated parking locations and asked visitors to follow traffic instructions.

Political visits have added another dimension to the dispute. Union Home Minister Amit Shah offered prayers at the shrine on November 2. Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and his wife, Janaki Shukla, visited during Diwali, while Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and representatives of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi also attended.

Among those who visited were Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao, Rajya Sabha member K Laxman, BRS legislators D Sudheer Reddy and Talasani Srinivas Yadav, and former Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya. Their appearances have drawn attention because the temple’s physical relationship with Charminar has been disputed for years.

Rao welcomed the enthusiasm surrounding the festival, while Laxman praised the growing number of worshippers. Their statements emphasised the religious significance of the celebrations. Critics, however, have questioned whether the prominence given to the shrine is accompanied by adequate safeguards for the monument.

Journalist Mubashir Khurram publicly asked who was ensuring Charminar’s protection and called on the ASI to clarify the legal status of structures adjoining it. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Mohammed Mubashir alleged that political parties had enabled structures at the site despite restrictions imposed by the courts. Those allegations have not been established by a fresh judicial finding.

The dispute centres partly on a November 2012 order of the then Andhra Pradesh High Court directing that the temple’s position remain unchanged from October 30 that year. The court also prohibited construction touching Charminar. The temple committee assured the court that the shrine would not be expanded.

The restrictions were subsequently maintained, but the court did not direct removal of the temple. Questions about temporary installations, decorations and alleged expansion have surfaced at different times. In 2022, ASI officials disputed allegations of expansion, saying the changes then observed were temporary.

The present crowds do not, by themselves, establish that construction has occurred or that a court order has been breached. Distinguishing temporary festival arrangements from permanent alterations remains important to assessing the complaints. No new court ruling or official finding of structural damage has been established in connection with this Diwali gathering.

Charminar, completed in 1591, is among Hyderabad’s best-known monuments and stands at the centre of a busy commercial district. Its proximity to the shrine makes crowd management and access particularly sensitive during major festivals, when worshippers, shoppers and other visitors converge on the surrounding streets.

Police also identified slow traffic on November 9 around Salar Jung Museum, Madina, High Court Road and the Afzalgunj–Nayapul corridor. Designated parking areas included Sardar Mahal Road, Charminar Bus Terminal and Government City College, with commuters directed to follow signs and officers stationed along affected routes and nearby junctions.

Naidu seeks withdrawal of Rs 500 currency notes

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has renewed his demand for withdrawing Rs 500 banknotes, arguing that eliminating high-denomination cash would help curb corruption, illicit transactions and the influence of money in elections.

The Telugu Desam Party president made the appeal on Monday, a day after the tenth anniversary of the Union government's 2016 demonetisation decision. He urged greater reliance on digital payments and proposed retaining Rs 100 and Rs 200 notes for cash transactions.

Naidu said he had raised the proposal with Prime Minister Narendra Modi before and intended to continue pressing for changes to the currency system. His remarks amounted to a policy recommendation, not an announcement of any decision by the Union government or the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

“I had urged the Prime Minister to consider this earlier and I am demanding it again now. I will keep raising this issue,” Naidu said. He also advocated removing denominations of Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000, although the former is no longer issued and the latter has already been withdrawn from circulation.

The chief minister linked his proposal to concerns about the use of cash to influence voters. He argued that restricting access to large notes could make the distribution of money during elections more difficult and reduce incentives for candidates to recover campaign expenditure after entering office.

Naidu said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had attempted to establish a different political culture by discouraging cash distribution during elections. He claimed the alliance had achieved considerable success in limiting the practice, although he did not provide independently verifiable figures establishing its extent.

“Politics should not be about money; it should be done with a spirit of service,” he said, describing electoral expenditure as a factor that could encourage corruption among successful candidates.

His argument rests on the premise that smaller denominations increase the difficulty of storing and transferring large amounts of physical cash. However, withdrawing a denomination would not, by itself, prevent unaccounted transactions or establish that corruption had declined. The effectiveness of such a measure would depend on implementation, enforcement and the availability of alternative payment methods.

There has been no announced RBI programme to withdraw the current Rs 500 banknote. It remains legal tender and is widely used for ordinary transactions. Naidu's remarks therefore do not change the status of notes held by households, traders or businesses.

The distinction is important because the 2016 exercise invalidated the then-existing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, while the RBI's later withdrawal of Rs 2,000 notes did not remove their legal tender status. The central bank announced the latter withdrawal in May 2023 as part of its clean note policy.

Under the RBI's published arrangements, Rs 2,000 notes can still be exchanged at its designated issue offices, and holders can use specified procedures to have their value credited to bank accounts. The central bank said in May 2026 that 98.47 per cent of the value outstanding when the withdrawal was announced had been returned by the end of April.

Naidu's renewed intervention places the focus on Rs 500 notes, which remain the highest denomination in routine circulation. His suggestion to retain only Rs 100 and Rs 200 notes would represent a substantial change in the denominations available for everyday cash payments.

The chief minister also promoted technology-driven administration, saying better systems could help address corruption while supporting wealth creation and poverty reduction. He said weaknesses in existing processes had allowed corrupt practices to become entrenched and that he had sought changes over many years.

He connected those concerns with election financing, contending that candidates who spend heavily to secure office may subsequently feel pressure to recoup their expenses. Reducing campaign spending, he argued, could shift political incentives towards public service rather than personal financial recovery.

The proposal also raises practical questions for cash-dependent consumers and small businesses, particularly where electronic payments are unreliable. Naidu did not set out a timetable, an exchange mechanism or an estimate of the costs associated with replacing the denomination.

Naidu leads the Telugu Desam Party, a constituent of the NDA at the national level. His comments were made as a political appeal for currency reform, rather than as a measure initiated by the Andhra Pradesh administration, which does not determine the denominations of banknotes issued by the RBI.

BJP demands Abhishek arrest as Kolkata police investigate clashes

Kolkata Police have registered four FIRs and arrested three Trinamool Congress supporters following violent clashes outside MP Abhishek Banerjee’s Kalighat residence during his birthday celebrations, prompting the Bharatiya Janata Party to demand his arrest.

BJP leader Keya Ghosh accused Banerjee and his supporters of creating disorder on a public street and assaulting police personnel during the confrontation early on Saturday. She demanded action against the Trinamool national general secretary, whose name appears in a complaint filed by a BJP worker.

The confrontation has intensified political tensions between the ruling BJP and the opposition Trinamool Congress, with both parties accusing each other of provoking violence near Banerjee’s residence.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Monday that police were identifying suspects through video recordings and would prosecute those responsible for attacking or threatening officers. He maintained that political affiliation would not protect anyone implicated in the violence.

Adhikari said cases had been registered against individuals identified in footage showing assaults, intimidation and obstruction of police personnel. He instructed investigators to pursue chargesheets against those responsible and ensure that the prosecution proceeded according to law.

The four FIRs registered at Kalighat police station include two initiated independently by police officers. One concerns allegations that personnel were assaulted while attempting to restore order during the confrontation.

Another complaint, lodged by a BJP worker, names Banerjee alongside approximately 30 to 40 others. Banerjee has separately filed a complaint accusing unidentified BJP supporters of attacking his residence and office.

Police have not established Banerjee’s personal involvement in any assault. His inclusion in an FIR does not constitute a finding of guilt, and investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the competing allegations.

Three Trinamool supporters arrested in connection with the disturbances were remanded to eight days of police custody. Two suspects, identified as Mohammad Tauqir Alam and Mohammad Ershad, also known as Tipu, were arrested following the complaint lodged by a BJP worker.

Another Trinamool worker, Sreedip Das, was arrested in connection with allegations involving an assault on police personnel. Investigators are examining recordings from surveillance cameras and other available footage to identify additional participants.

The disturbances began after Trinamool supporters gathered outside Banerjee’s residence shortly after midnight to celebrate his 39th birthday. The gathering included supporters carrying cakes and fireworks.

Police accounts indicate that tensions escalated between approximately 2 am and 3.30 am after BJP supporters arrived near the premises. Rival groups exchanged accusations, and the confrontation developed into physical clashes.

Several political workers and police personnel sustained injuries during the disturbances. The precise sequence of events remains disputed, with investigators examining whether the violence began with attacks on the birthday gathering or confrontations involving those assembled outside the residence.

Banerjee alleged that BJP supporters deliberately targeted his house and office after conducting surveillance of the premises for two days. He accused the attackers of using sticks fitted with nails against Trinamool workers.

The Diamond Harbour MP maintained that the attack was politically motivated and questioned why police had failed to prevent the confrontation despite security arrangements around his residence.

He subsequently staged a demonstration outside his house, demanding action against those allegedly responsible for the violence.

Former chief minister Mamata Banerjee joined the protest and accused BJP supporters of organised intimidation. She criticised the handling of the incident by Kolkata Police and questioned whether officers had acted impartially.

Mamata also challenged the conduct of Kalighat police station officer Balai Bag and demanded the resignation of Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand, alleging failures in maintaining security around the premises.

The BJP rejected allegations that its workers had orchestrated an attack and instead blamed Trinamool supporters for turning the birthday gathering into a confrontation.

The dispute has placed the police response under scrutiny because complaints have been registered against individuals associated with both political organisations.

Authorities have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita in the affected area for two months, restricting gatherings that could threaten public order.

Police are examining footage from streets surrounding the residence to establish the identities and movements of participants during the confrontation.

Investigators are also considering whether additional individuals should be summoned for questioning after reviewing the recordings and statements collected from witnesses.

The clashes occurred near Banerjee’s residence at 121 Kalighat Road, where the midnight gathering had attracted supporters from outside the immediate neighbourhood.

Federal judge halts construction of Trump's Washington arch

A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s plan to construct a towering triumphal arch in Washington, delivering a legal setback days after Republicans lost control of Congress in the midterm elections.

US District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a 14-day restraining order preventing construction of the proposed 250-foot monument near Arlington National Cemetery, shortly after the National Capital Planning Commission approved the project by an 8-4 vote on November 5.

The ruling halted preparations that the Trump administration had indicated could begin immediately following final federal approval. It followed legal challenges brought by the District of Columbia and Virginia, which argued that construction would cause substantial disruption and lacked the necessary congressional authorisation.

Chutkan, sitting in Washington, found that the plaintiffs had demonstrated an immediate risk of harm from construction activities, including traffic restrictions, emergency service disruptions and significant financial costs.

“The harm is certain,” the judge wrote in her 33-page opinion, citing the administration’s notification that work could commence on November 5 once the required approvals were secured.

The temporary order prohibits excavation, demolition, utility installation, road closures and other construction-related activities at Memorial Circle. It does not permanently cancel the project or settle the underlying dispute over its legality.

The decision came after the planning commission spent several hours hearing objections from veterans, preservationists, residents and elected representatives. More than 120 people registered to address the commission, with many questioning the monument’s scale, location and justification.

Despite those objections, the commission approved the proposal, clearing an important administrative hurdle for an initiative that Trump has made central to his plans for reshaping the capital.

The president wants the arch to commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary. Standing approximately 250 feet tall, it would exceed the height of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and occupy a prominent position near Arlington Memorial Bridge.

The administration maintains that the monument would celebrate American history while enhancing the appearance of the capital. Officials have also advanced national security arguments supporting its construction.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described the proposed structure as a potential military asset capable of accommodating surveillance equipment and counter-drone technology.

Administration filings suggested that the arch could provide elevated positions for monitoring aerial threats and supporting protective operations around important federal installations.

Chutkan examined those arguments but questioned whether the government had established sufficient legal authority to proceed. The administration has relied partly on legislation governing Arlington Memorial Bridge, while opponents contend that the Commemorative Works Act requires specific congressional approval.

The judge also scrutinised the timing of the administration’s security justification, which emerged during the litigation after the project had initially been presented primarily as a commemorative monument.

Virginia and Washington authorities warned that prolonged construction would disrupt a heavily used transport corridor connecting the capital with Arlington and neighbouring communities.

Government assessments indicated that building the arch could require extensive lane closures, traffic diversions and excavation over approximately two to three years.

Chutkan accepted that those disruptions could impose substantial costs on local authorities responsible for managing roads, emergency responses and public safety.

The dispute has acquired additional political significance following the November 3 congressional elections, which gave Democrats control of both the House of Representatives and Senate.

The change in congressional leadership, effective in January, could complicate efforts to obtain legislative authorisation should the courts determine that such approval is indispensable.

Trump has sought to advance several architectural projects during his second presidency, arguing that major construction initiatives can leave a lasting contribution to Washington’s landscape.

Opponents maintain that federal monuments must comply with established preservation requirements and undergo appropriate scrutiny regardless of presidential preferences.

The proposed site has generated particular objections because of its proximity to Arlington National Cemetery, where generations of military personnel and prominent public figures are buried.

Preservation advocates argue that a monument of such dimensions could alter historic views connecting the cemetery, Arlington Memorial Bridge and the Lincoln Memorial.

The administration disputes suggestions that the structure would diminish the significance of surrounding memorials, maintaining that its design would honour military service and national heritage.

Separate litigation brought by veterans and an architectural historian also challenges the project’s legality. Chutkan has deferred consideration of their preliminary injunction request while the temporary restrictions remain operative.

The court required the government to notify contractors of the restrictions and submit a compliance report by November 9. The plaintiffs were directed to provide a nominal one-dollar security bond, with the temporary order preserving existing conditions while further proceedings continue.

Adityanath alleges mass Hindu voter omissions in Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has alleged that 1.27 crore Hindu voters are missing from the state's electoral rolls, while Muslim enrolment has increased, escalating a dispute over voter registration ahead of next year's Assembly elections.

Adityanath said the Bharatiya Janata Party had submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission seeking the inclusion of eligible voters allegedly omitted during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). He claimed the number of Muslim electors had risen by 1.65 per cent after the exercise, although publicly available electoral data do not independently establish either community-wise figure.

Speaking at a public discussion in Ayodhya, the chief minister challenged Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav to demand that the revision be withdrawn. He argued that Yadav would avoid doing so because, according to his calculations, Muslim voter numbers had increased despite the overall contraction of the electorate.

Adityanath said discrepancies had emerged when electoral rolls maintained for Assembly elections were compared with those used for panchayat polls. He questioned why people appearing on local election lists were absent from the Election Commission's rolls and called for their eligibility to be examined.

The chief minister identified 66 lakh people allegedly listed for panchayat elections but absent from Assembly rolls. He also cited 55 lakh Hindu beneficiaries of government welfare schemes and approximately 4.5 lakh people aged 18 or 19 whose names, he said, were missing. The categories and their relationship to the overall estimate have not been independently verified.

His intervention has sharpened an unusual political confrontation. The BJP has defended the SIR as necessary to clean up voter lists, while its chief minister is simultaneously questioning omissions arising from the exercise. Opposition parties have criticised the revision over the possibility that eligible electors could lose their voting rights.

Adityanath maintained that removing ineligible entries was legitimate, including those belonging to deceased people. He cited approximately 46 lakh deceased electors and called for the exclusion of foreign infiltrators, while insisting that every qualified citizen should be able to register. Those figures and allegations were presented as his claims rather than findings independently established by election authorities.

Yadav has questioned how the chief minister obtained a religious breakdown of voter registrations when the Election Commission has not published comparable religion-wise totals. The Samajwadi Party leader has also challenged the basis of the alleged exclusions, demanding greater transparency about the data underpinning Adityanath's assertions.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Udaiveer Singh said the chief minister should seek action against election officials if he believed the revision had been mishandled. Singh questioned why Adityanath did not support moves against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and called for scrutiny of officials responsible for the exercise in Uttar Pradesh.

The Election Commission's aggregate figures confirm a substantial reduction in the state's registered electorate. Uttar Pradesh had approximately 15.44 crore voters before the revision began on 27 October 2025. The final rolls published on 10 April 2026 recorded 13,39,84,792 electors, a net decline of roughly 2.04 crore.

The final total included 84.28 lakh additions during the claims and objections process. However, the overall figures cannot establish whether the people removed were predominantly from any religious community, nor whether particular names were omitted improperly. Determining eligibility requires examination of individual records rather than comparisons based solely on population or community estimates.

A separate discrepancy has emerged between Assembly and local-government voter lists. Uttar Pradesh's Chief Electoral Officer has directed district election officers to reconcile Assembly records with panchayat and urban local body rolls following a difference of nearly 2.4 crore between the panchayat electorate and the rural Assembly voter count.

The lists serve different elections and are maintained through separate administrative processes, making reconciliation important before treating every unmatched entry as an excluded eligible voter. The comparison is particularly significant as the state prepares for Assembly elections in 2027 and local electoral arrangements remain under scrutiny.

Yadav has separately proposed linking Aadhaar identification with voting, introducing metal voter identity cards and using fingerprints or iris scans to strengthen identity checks. He argued that such measures would help prevent fraudulent voting, although the proposals have not been adopted as changes to the electoral system.

Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa has indicated that he will address questions about the revision on 17 November, after publication of the draft roll under the Special Summary Revision process.

BJP challenges Sonia Gandhi over Ayodhya demolition remarks

The Bharatiya Janata Party renewed its criticism of Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday, questioning her response to the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid and accusing Congress of overlooking other episodes of violence during its years in power.

BJP spokesperson C R Kesavan, writing on X as Gandhi's memoir reached bookshops, alleged that Belonging: A Journey of Love sought to soften the record of the Nehru-Gandhi family and the Congress. He suggested the book should instead have been called Whitewashing, an accusation reflecting the party's wider challenge to Gandhi's account of political events.

Kesavan asked whether Gandhi had expressed comparable grief over the anti-Sikh violence of 1984, the deaths of security personnel and the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. His questions followed her recollection that she cried while watching the demolition of the Ayodhya mosque on television on 6 December 1992.

The BJP spokesperson also criticised Gandhi's treatment of the Emergency imposed by former prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. He accused her of attempting to justify restrictions on constitutional rights, although Gandhi had described the decision to impose the Emergency as a mistake in an interview accompanying the book's publication.

Gandhi, chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, said the mosque's destruction had convinced her that preserving the secular republic envisaged by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru would require a prolonged political struggle. She also acknowledged that complacency within Congress had contributed to the BJP's rise.

Her comments appeared in an interview published ahead of the memoir's release on 10 November. The book, published by HarperCollins, revisits her family life and experiences of political violence alongside her assessment of the country's changing political landscape.

Kesavan's intervention extended criticism voiced on Saturday by BJP Rajya Sabha member Sudhanshu Trivedi, who argued that Gandhi's emotional recollection demonstrated Congress's sympathy for the Mughal emperor Babur. Trivedi said the party had moved away from Mahatma Gandhi's idea of Ram Rajya towards what he called Babar Raj.

That characterisation was Trivedi's political allegation, rather than an admission or stated position of Congress. Gandhi's remarks concerned the destruction of a mosque and its implications for secularism, not an endorsement of the Mughal ruler.

Trivedi also challenged the chronology of her account, asking which television channel she had watched on the day of the demolition. He questioned whether footage had been broadcast at the time Gandhi described, referring to news coverage and the political developments that followed the mosque's destruction.

The questions did not establish that Gandhi's recollection was false. Her interview did not identify a broadcaster or specify the hour at which she saw the images, leaving the precise circumstances of her viewing unspecified.

The BJP leader broadened his criticism by invoking the 2008 Batla House police encounter and Gandhi's expressions of concern about Gaza. He accused Congress of selective sympathy and contrasted her position with the political symbolism used by her late husband, Rajiv Gandhi, during the 1989 election campaign.

Other BJP figures challenged Gandhi's discussion of Congress's historical record. Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused her of seeking to rehabilitate Indira Gandhi's Emergency, while party leader Tarun Chugh questioned whether the memoir adequately addressed controversies associated with earlier Congress governments.

Gandhi's own account presented a different assessment. She said Indira Gandhi had been uncomfortable with the Emergency and maintained that Rajiv Gandhi had opposed its imposition. Those recollections did not alter the established fact that the Emergency suspended civil liberties and was imposed under Indira Gandhi's government.

The Babri Masjid was demolished by Hindu activists mobilised around the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. The destruction triggered communal violence and became central to a long-running dispute over the Ayodhya site.

The Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that the disputed land should be allotted for construction of a Ram temple and directed that an alternative five-acre plot be provided for a mosque. The court also described the demolition as an egregious violation of the rule of law.

The political exchanges have also focused on how leaders remember separate tragedies. Kesavan cited the 1984 killings and Mumbai attacks as tests of consistency, but did not provide evidence that Gandhi had never previously mourned those victims in public.

HarperCollins announced that Gandhi's memoir would become available in bookshops on Tuesday morning, placing the publication at the centre of the renewed exchange between the governing BJP and the opposition Congress.