Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath sharply criticized the Congress over the Ram Temple donation row, accusing them of hypocrisy and past anti-devotee actions. He stated that those who once opposed Lord Ram are now eager to visit Ayodhya. This comes as the Congress alleged house arrests of its leaders, including state chief Ajay Rai, who planned to visit Ayodhya amid the embezzlement controversy.
Dhami first assumed office as Chief Minister on July 4, 2021, and following the BJP's victory in the 2022 assembly elections, the party leadership once again entrusted him with the state's command, making him the only Chief Minister of Uttarakhand to secure a second consecutive term.
For six decades, the Shiv Sena survived by changing with Maharashtra. It reinvented itself from a trade union movement into a champion of Marathi identity, and one of India's most influential proponents of Hindutva. Today, however, the party faces an existential crisis unlike any in its history.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor expressed enthusiasm for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's potential return visit to the United States, highlighting President Trump's continued engagement with India. Gor is optimistic about finalizing an interim trade agreement soon, noting the complex negotiations involving thousands of items. He also indicated a likely visit by President Trump to India next year, following PM Modi's attendance at the G20 Summit in Miami.
Ajay Rai, the Congress chief in Uttar Pradesh, has accused the BJP government of placing him under house arrest to stop a party delegation from reaching the revered Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He suggested that the government is anxious about a potential backlash from devotees regarding a donation embezzlement scandal. Rai's wife voiced her concerns, stating that the BJP would be accountable for any harm that might come to him.
INDIA bloc parties have formally petitioned the Chief Justice of India regarding the Election Commission's special intensive revision of electoral rolls and other election-related concerns. This joint letter, signed by 23 parties and an independent, follows a recent opposition meeting where consensus was reached on key issues. The alliance emphasized solidarity and resistance, aiming to address perceived electoral irregularities and demanding the Education Minister's resignation over examination controversies.
Congress alleged its Uttar Pradesh chief Ajay Rai was placed under house arrest to prevent a party delegation from visiting Ayodhya's Ram Temple. The party claims this is a 'cowardly action' by the BJP government amid controversy over temple fund embezzlement. Congress leaders were reportedly detained, with the party deeming such actions unconstitutional and demanding their immediate release to proceed with their visit.
A Nagpur consumer commission has ruled that collecting toll without maintaining roads is a 'deficiency in service'. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was ordered to compensate a motorist whose car was damaged by a pothole. The commission emphasized that providing safe roads is a toll collector's responsibility, and vehicle damage due to poor road conditions warrants compensation for repair costs, distress, and legal expenses.
The ministry of external affairs on Monday strongly condemned Pakistan's air strikes and military operations on Afghan territory, describing them as a «blatant act of aggression», after the attacks reportedly killed dozens of civilians, including women and children. Pakistan claims the operations targeted militants, while Afghanistan decried the strikes as «cowardly» and «brutal».
Champat Rai's brother Sunil Bansal said his brother began professional career as a teacher in Rohtak during 1970-71 before joining RSM Degree College in Dhampur as a physics lecturer in 1972. His remarks came after Champat Rai resigned as the trust's general secretary amid allegations of large-scale embezzlement of devotees' donations, with questions being raised over his alleged role in the matter.
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal criticised the BJP government, alleging corruption and betrayal of faith regarding Ram Temple donations. He urged voters to oust the ruling party, citing broken promises and the «Achhe Din» slogan as false. This comes as an SIT investigates alleged embezzlement, leading to eight arrests. The Supreme Court will hear a related petition in July.
CM Adhikari announced that a draft UCC Bill will be placed before the state cabinet on July 2. The bill will be tabled in the assembly later, he said. The proposed legislation seeks to establish a common civil framework governing marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption irrespective of religion. Ahead of the introduction of the Bill, state BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya asserted that constitutionally protected tribal communities would remain outside its ambit.
Prime Minister Modi concluded a significant three-day state visit to Seychelles, marked by the signing of nine agreements, including an extradition treaty and the launch of India's UPI. A Rs 1,250 crore line of credit for development projects was also announced. PM Modi, the Guest of Honour at Seychelles' Golden Jubilee celebrations, emphasized India's commitment as a trusted partner, fostering stronger ties and people-to-people connections.
India has clarified its stance on recent reports of a Track 2 dialogue with Pakistan. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri stated that these meetings are private initiatives, devoid of any official Indian government participation or backing. He emphasized that such unofficial interactions are common globally and do not hold significant value or recognition from New Delhi's perspective, urging the public not to view them as official engagements.
