The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) requests President Droupadi Murmu's intervention regarding the draft national policy framework on agriculture marketing, which faces opposition for potentially resurrecting controversial farm laws. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal's indefinite hunger strike amplifies their demands for legal crop procurement guarantees.
Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai pledged to boycott footwear until the DMK government is ousted, after the sexual harassment case at Anna University. He announced a personal protest, including self-whipping and fasting, amid ongoing demonstrations led by the BJP and AIADMK accusing the DMK of suppressing dissent.
Simran Singh, a prominent social media influencer and radio jockey from Jammu and Kashmir, was found dead by suicide in Gurugram. Her body was discovered hanging in her room, with no suicide note present. The family reported that she faced ongoing difficulties. A post-mortem was conducted, and no case has been filed. Simran had over six lakh Instagram followers.
The BJP has accused Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar of mistreating women at a Congress event. A video shared on social media shows Shivakumar pushing and making aggressive gestures toward female workers. BJP leaders Amit Malviya and Vishnu Vardhan Reddy criticized Congress, labeling the incident as «shameful» and questioning the party's stance on women's empowerment.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee plans to visit Sandeshkhali on December 30 for a public distribution program amidst earlier protests over sexual harassment accusations against local TMC leaders. The visit will focus on state-run schemes like 'Lakshmir Bhandar' and 'Banglar Bari', benefitting around 20,000 residents.
Indian Railways successfully conducted a trial run of an electric engine on the Anji Khad Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir, marking a significant step toward commencing rail services to the Kashmir Valley by January 2025. The Anji Khad Bridge is part of the USBRL project, aimed at enhancing connectivity, and is lauded for its engineering marvel.
Rahul Gandhi condemns the Bihar government's lathi charge on BPSC candidates protesting against a paper leak and demanding exam cancellation. He calls the act 'shameful and reprehensible.' Lalu Prasad Yadav also criticizes the police's actions. Despite protesters' claims of injuries, the SSP denies them, stating only mild force was used to disperse the crowd.
During the Bhawani Deeksha Viramana event, QR-coded wristbands helped reunite 10 missing children with their families in Vijayawada. Approximately 12,000 children were tagged, with details securely stored on a server. Andhra Pradesh's CM emphasized skilled women employment through co-working centers to balance professional and personal tasks.
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy met with Tollywood representatives to reinforce public safety measures, following the tragic incident at Allu Arjun's film premiere. Emphasizing zero compromise on law and order, he urged the film industry to act responsibly and control their fans. The meeting aimed at addressing the tensions between the state government and Tollywood.
YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, also known as BeerBiceps, shared that he and his girlfriend were rescued by an IPS officer and his IRS wife while nearly drowning in Goa. Both were caught by an underwater current but were saved by a nearby family. The experience left them deeply grateful and reflective.
The Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad dismisses threats by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun against the Maha Kumbh, calling them attempts to sow discord between Hindus and Sikhs. President Mahant Ravindra Puri assures unity, highlights Sikh contributions to Sanatan Dharma, and downplays the threats as routine disruptions.
Two more suspected terror module members operated from Bangladesh were arrested in Assam, bringing the total arrests to 10. The suspects, linked to the Ansarullah Bangla Team and al-Qaida, were apprehended after interrogations and a significant cache of arms and ammunition was seized, averting a major attack.
The Railways has modified AC sleeper trains and a Vande Bharat train for the Jammu-Kashmir route to handle harsh weather. Security checks akin to airports will be implemented. Trial runs on the Katra-Reasi section have been successful, indicating readiness. PM Modi might inaugurate both the train service and the Z Morh tunnel soon.
Three years after a Gujarati family froze to death attempting to illegally cross the US-Canada border, an ED probe uncovers an international human trafficking syndicate involving Canadian colleges issuing student visas. Around 35,000 illegal migrants are sent abroad yearly by two agents in Mumbai and Nagpur.
Some commuters have reported higher cab fares on iPhones compared to Androids for identical rides in Chennai, raising suspicions about ride-hailing apps charging Apple users more. Experts suggest that apps may tweak fares based on device data, frequency of use, and user behavior patterns through dynamic pricing algorithms.
In 2023-24, BJP garnered Rs 2,244 crore in contributions, three times more than in 2022-23, with Prudent Electoral Trust being the largest donor. Congress received Rs 288.9 crore. Electoral bond receipts were excluded as per rules.
Punjab and Haryana HC has ordered a disability pension for the legal heirs of a soldier discharged due to neurosis from recurring nightmares after his lover's suicide. The soldier, invalided out in 1979, had moved HC in 2020 and passed away in 2021. Military authorities are directed to release benefits within three months.
A special NIA court in Bengaluru has sentenced Dr Syed Ismail Afaq to life imprisonment and two associates, Abdul Sabur and Saddam Hussain, to 10 years in jail for planning terror activities, including serial blasts ahead of US president Barack Obama's 2015 visit. Convicts are from Bhatkal, Karnataka, and were arrested by CCB sleuths.
The death toll from the LPG tanker accident on Jaipur-Ajmer national highway increased to 18, following the deaths of three additional burn victims, including a BEd student and two truck drivers. Fourteen patients remain in treatment at SMS Hospital, with one person being discharged.
Leaders of the National Democratic Alliance, including Amit Shah and Chandrababu Naidu, met in Delhi to counter Congress' criticism of Shah's Ambedkar remark. They emphasized good governance and people's welfare, reaffirmed unity in upcoming elections, and discussed Vajpayee's legacy and future strategies.
Life in Katra, Jammu, gets disrupted as Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti leads a 72-hour shutdown, protesting the proposed ropeway project. The agitators argue that the project threatens local livelihoods and traditional pilgrimage practices. Despite police intervention and detentions, the strike continues, with support from BJP and Congress factions.
Police in Maharashtra arrested four men after a 17-year-old girl, who ran away due to academic pressure, alleged she was raped by them under the guise of offering help. The girl, a NEET aspirant, travelled to four different places where the incidents occurred. The Pocso Act has been invoked against the suspects.
Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati assured a group of Bangladeshi Hindus of raising their concerns about religious persecution with the Indian government. The Shankaracharya criticized RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's statements on Hindu leadership issues. Uttar Pradesh has seen multiple temple-mosque disputes and RSS's Bhagwat expressed concern over the resurgence of such conflicts, advocating for a harmonious and inclusive society.
Union home minister Amit Shah inaugurates 10,000 multipurpose Primary Agriculture Credit Societies under an ambitious plan to create 2 lakh such societies nationwide in five years. These societies will support diverse activities and provide essential resources to farmers, promoting financial inclusion and global market integration.
Senior civil servant Arunish Chawla, currently the pharmaceuticals secretary, is appointed as the new revenue secretary. Amit Agrawal will succeed Chawla. Vineet Joshi is selected as the higher education secretary. The reorganisation also includes key shifts like Sanjay Sethi heading the national commission for minorities and Rachna Shah leading the department of personnel and training.
Film producer Dil Raju announced a meeting with Telangana CM Revanth Reddy to discuss support for the victims of the Pushpa 2 premiere stampede. Raju visited KIMS Hospital to check on eight-year-old Sri Tej, who is recovering. Actor Allu Arjun and his team provided financial aid, and long-term support plans are being formulated.
Ghaziabad Police arrested Rohit from Moradabad for spreading fake news about Union Home Minister Amit Shah's 'demise' on social media. The arrest followed an FIR lodged by BJP office-bearer Anil Sharma. Legal proceedings have been initiated, and further investigations are underway. Rohit admitted to posting the false news to gain followers.
