Operation Sindoor debate: BJP claims ‘Indira Gandhi sought US help to end 1971 war’; hits back at Rahul Gandhi’s ‘political will’ remark
NEW DELHI: The BJP on Wednesday launched a sharp counterattack in the Lok Sabha against leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the Modi government’s handling of Operation Sindoor. Citing historical records, BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Nishikant Dubey alleged that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had sought US intervention to halt the 1971 India-Pakistan war — a move they claimed undercut India’s battlefield advantage. This political flashpoint erupted a day after Rahul Gandhi, in his speech in the Lok Sabha, accused the government of lacking political will and imposing restrictions on the armed forces during the May 7 cross-border strikes launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Comparing Operation Sindoor with the 1971 war, Gandhi said Indira Gandhi gave the military full freedom, even as the US Seventh Fleet approached Indian waters. Responding during Zero Hour, Anurag Thakur said, “If you dig a little deeper in history, the layers start unravelling. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had written to US President Nixon. It appears as though a supplicant was pleading before the US president.” Thakur read out from a letter dated December 5, 1971, in which Indira Gandhi asked Nixon to persuade Pakistan to desist from aggression. Thakur added, “The nation has to decide whether the government of that day was iron or an irony.” He accused the Congress of distorting history and questioned whether Indira Gandhi lacked trust in India’s armed forces. “This family is adept at bending and begging the US to ask Pakistan to end the war,” he said, drawing protests from Congress benches. Echoing Thakur’s claims, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said, “This is a letter dated 5 December 1971, which Indira Gandhi wrote to the President of America, Richard Nixon. She wrote that our government is in danger, and India wants a ceasefire; you convince Pakistan. Such a big surrender, such a big lie.” Dubey claimed that despite India having captured 93,000 Pakistani soldiers, the war ended with a sudden ceasefire. “The entire history of 1971 is contained in this one letter. When people thought we could take Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, a ceasefire happened. After looking at this history, don’t you think the Congress controlled the entire media?” he said. — ANI (@ANI) He further alleged that Congress misrepresented the events of 1971 to elevate its leadership’s image, saying, “India Gandhi surrendered in 1971.” The BJP’s attack came after Rahul Gandhi’s remarks questioning the Modi government’s strategic messaging and military decisions during Operation Sindoor. Gandhi had stated, “Yesterday, Rajnath Singh compared 1971 and Sindoor. I’d remind him — there was political will in 1971. The Seventh Fleet was approaching, and the PM said do whatever is needed. Indira Gandhi told General Manekshaw: take six months, one year — you must have freedom of action. One lakh Pakistani soldiers surrendered and a new country was formed.” Rahul Gandhi also raised questions over instructions given to the Indian Air Force during the May 7 operation, alleging that pilots were told not to target Pakistani air defence systems. “IAF made no mistake. The mistake was made by the political leadership, which said military targets could not be attacked,” he said, citing statements by Captain Shiv Kumar, Defence Attaché to Indonesia, and CDS General Anil Chauhan. Slamming the government’s post-operation messaging, Rahul Gandhi said, “The Government of India informed Pakistan we don’t want to fight. We have simply carried out this action.” He also referred to US President Donald Trump’s multiple statements claiming he brokered the ceasefire. “If he’s lying, then let PM Modi stand here and say: ‘Donald Trump, you are a liar.’ If he has the courage of Indira Gandhi, let him say it here in Parliament,” Rahul Gandhi said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
‘India paying price for Modi’s friendship’: Congress on Trump imposing 25% tariff; claims ‘foreign policy has failed’
NEW DELHI: The Congress party lashed out at the BJP-led central government minutes after US president Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on India, saying the “country is now bearing the cost of Narendra Modi’s ‘friendship’”. The party said Trump imposed tariffs on India despite PM Modi campaigning for the US Presdient. The BJP’s rival party was referring to the “Howdy, Modi!” event held in Texas in September 2019. “Trump slapped a 25% tariff on India, along with a penalty. The country is now bearing the cost of Narendra Modi’s ‘friendship’. Modi campaigned for Trump, hugged him eagerly, posed for photos, and made it trend on social media. In the end, Trump still imposed tariffs on India. India’s foreign policy has completely failed,” the party said. — INCIndia (@INCIndia) Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh quipped at PM Modi over his ‘Howdy Modi’ event, saying the gesture “meant little”. “President Trump has slapped a tariff of 25% plus penalty on imports from India. All that taarif between him and Howdy Modi has meant little,” Jairam Ramesh said. The Rajya Sabha member claimed PM Modi thought that “if he kept quiet on the insults that the US President has hurled on India”, the nation “would get special treatment at the hands of President Trump. Clearly that has NOT happened”. “Mr. Modi thought that if he kept quiet on the insults that the US President has hurled on India — the 30 claims of stopping Op Sindoor, the special lunch for the Pakistan Army Chief whose inflammatory remarks provided the immediate backdrop to the brutal Pahalgam terror attacks, and US support for financial packages to Pakistan from the IMF and the World Bank — India would get special treatment at the hands of President Trump. Clearly that has NOT happened,” Jairam Ramesh said. — Jairam_Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) Trump on Wednesday announced that India will have to pay 25 per cent tariff from August 1. Trump also said that India will have to pay an additional penalty for buying energy and arms from Russia. The 25% tariff rate announced for India is 1% less than the 26% declared by Trump in his April 2 ‘Liberation Day’ conference. “Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia’s largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE — ALL THINGS NOT GOOD! INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MAGA!” he said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Rahul Gandhi to lead Aug 5 protest in Bengaluru over vote theft
Bengaluru: Congress MP and former AICC chief Rahul Gandhi will visit Bengaluru on Aug 5 and lead a rally to protest alleged electoral malpractices and reveal “the modus operandi of vote theft” based on a deep-dive investigation into a Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka. Later that day, a delegation led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, general secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, chief minister Siddaramaiah, and his deputy D K Shivakumar, will submit a memorandum to the chief electoral officer (CEO) of Karnataka. Responding to the charges, Karnataka’s CEO, V Anbukumar, said, “Electoral rolls are prepared transparently, and no formal appeals were received.” Following a party meeting Tuesday, Shivakumar said, “Rahul Gandhi has voiced concerns against irregularities in elections. He had said that such things took place in Karnataka too, so he will come and give a representation to Election Commission officials and expose the modus operandi.” Rahul’s tentative schedule includes an address to party workers at Freedom Park before heading to the CEO’s office. However, home minister G Parameshwara said, “There will not be a procession.” This is due to a 2022 high court order banning processions and protests in the city’s central business district. Shivakumar revealed KPCC’s research team conducted an extensive study “on how votes were manipulated”. “The team has given [Rahul] a lot of information,” Shivakumar said. “My leader himself will reveal all. It’s not just about Bihar or any one place — the real question is how votes have been misused. There were a lot of complaints about vote theft, even during assembly elections. We have also carried out a major investigation across the state, focusing on a few constituencies. I won’t go into the details right now — my leader will explain everything to you.” On July 23, Rahul had launched a direct attack on the Election Commission, alleging: “In Karnataka, we found ‘bhayankar chori’ (massive theft). I will show it in black and white to you and the EC. We have it in black and white in Karnataka. They know that we have understood their game. We picked one constituency and did a deep dive. Problem is that they give a voters list on paper and the paper list cannot be analysed. We took the full voters list of one constituency. We put it in digital format. It took six months, but we have uncovered their whole system and how they do it, who votes and from where new voters are brought.” He had also alleged: “The EC is not doing its job. We have concrete, 100% proof of the poll panel allowing cheating in a seat in Karnataka… We have caught them.” Supporting the allegations, chief minister Siddaramaiah accused BJP of illegally manipulating the electoral process in Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat “through sudden and suspicious additions of new voters” and arbitrary deletions. Shivakumar, referring to Bangalore Rural, said: “A lot of golmaal had been done.” Sources say Congress has evidence that some voters from Bangalore Central also cast ballots in a neighbouring state. “We have documents to show names of voters belonging to a particular community were selectively dropped from electoral rolls,” a senior party functionary said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Indira ‘literally begged’ Nixon to intervene in ’71 Pak war: BJP
NEW DELHI: BJP Lok Sabha members on Wednesday raised questions over the conduct of former PM Indira Gandhi during the 1971 war with Pakistan, claiming she had “literally begged” then US President Richard Nixon’s to intervene. In a letter to Speaker Om Birla, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused LoP Rahul Gandhi of using “distorted and inaccurate facts”, a day after the Congress neta said if PM Modi had “even 50% courage of Indira”, then he must announce that US President Trump is a liar and did not force the Operation Sindoor “ceasefire”. Raising the issue in zero hour in LS, BJP member Anurag Thakur said Indian soldiers won the 1971 war but “someone else” was declared the “Iron Lady”. He claimed the war was won on the battlefield but lost at the negotiation table. While Thakur flagged Indira’s letter to Nixon on Dec 5, 1971, in the House, Dubey attached a copy of it in his letter to Birla. Thakur read out the letter, wherein Indira urged Nixon to persuade Pakistan to desist forthwith from the policy of wanton aggression and military adventurism. “The nation has to decide whether the govt of that day was ‘iron or an irony’,” he said, amid protests from Congress members. Urging Birla to reprimand Rahul for his “habitual delinquency” and highlighting the letter to Nixon, Dubey said, “She had literally begged before him to use his influence to stop the war with Pakistan.” Rahul has once again “unabashedly betrayed” public trust by twisting well-documented historical facts, which has become his “habit to glorify his family”, Dubey said. Thakur wondered whether Indira did not trust the armed forces and chose to plead with the US to halt the war. “Why did she approach the US?” he asked. Putting up inaccurate facts is a straight case of violation of speaker’s directions, Dubey said and alleged Rahul has an “uncanny habit of making false claims”. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Tirunelveli erupts into protest over Dalit man’s killing
A Dalit youth working at an IT firm was hacked to death for suspected relationship with an upper caste woman. The victim has been identified as Kavin Selva Ganesh (27), a native of Arumugamangalam in Thoothukudi district. The main accused is S Surjith, brother of the woman has been accused of hacking Kavin. His parents, Saravanan and Krishnakumari, both sub-inspectors of police have also been made accused in the case. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https://thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Dalit beaten for worshipping in temple: Gold chain and 10 thousand rupees snatched in Kanpur, car damaged; Victim said- I will sacrifice my life
Worshipping in a temple proved costly for a Dalit man in Shivrajpur area of Kanpur. A person named Surendra Kumar Katheria was getting agricultural work done by laborers on his farm on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Abhishek Pal, Ashish Pal, Ankush and another friend from the village reached there. Objection raised on worship The accused objected to Surendra worshipping in the temple and driving the car. They abused him using casteist words. When Surendra protested, the accused surrounded him and beat him. They broke the gold chain from his neck and snatched Rs 10,470 from his pocket. The accused also damaged Surendra’s car and fled from the spot after threatening him. At the time of the incident, people named Lucky and Sumit from the village were present. Complained in the police station After the incident, the victim informed the police on 112 and reached the police station and lodged a complaint. Surendra expressed deep sorrow over the mistreatment meted out to him due to being a Dalit. He said that he is thinking of committing suicide. The police station in-charge said that the complaint has been received and further action will be taken after investigating the matter. Anand Kumar Tiwari Courtesy: Hindi News
Kamal Haasan urges government to look into honour killing of Dalit man in Tirunelveli
He recommended directing political movements against “the social disgrace of caste-based atrocities” and called for a continual fight against it The other day, a Dalit man, who was working as a software engineer, was reportedly hacked to death in Palayamkottai by his long-time girlfriend’s brother. Many celebrities have condemned the act of honour killing through social media, and Kamal Haasan is the latest to do so. “The honor killing of Kavin Selva Ganesh, a 27-year-old IT employee in Palayamkottai, is shocking,” wrote Kamal in an X post. “I strongly urge the Tamil Nadu government to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice and ensure they receive severe punishment,” he added. The actor also extended his condolences to the victim’s friends and family. He recommended directing political movements against “the social disgrace of caste-based atrocities” and called for a continual fight against it. “We must recognize that caste is our primary enemy,” the actor reminded the public. The accused, a 21-year-old named S Surjith, has reportedly surrendered to law enforcement immediately following the incident. According to reports, his police officer parents are also named co-accused in the case, as they encouraged him to commit the crime and had posed a threat to the victim’s life. Kamal had spoken out against caste-based discrimination and atrocities in the past as well, such as one from 2020 pertaining to Aathuppakkam panchayat president Amirtham. Earlier, filmmaker Mari Selvaraj called out the incident and asked for strong action from the government. Courtesy : Cinema Express Note: This news is originally published on https://cinemaexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Dalit youth beaten to death in Lakhimpur: Dispute over drinking alcohol and casteist remarks, family refuses to pick up the body
A Dalit youth was beaten to death in Tanaja village of Shardanagar police station area of Lakhimpur. The deceased has been identified as Jaiprakash Gautam (35) son of Mallu Gautam. The incident took place in the evening when Jaiprakash was returning to his home from Shardanagar. On the way, he got into a dispute with some people of the village over drinking alcohol and casteist remarks. It is alleged that Jai Singh, Mangal Singh, Nikku Singh and Gurpej Singh of the village attacked Jaiprakash with sticks. Seeing the youth being beaten, the people nearby informed the family. When the family members came to rescue him and were taking him home, Jaiprakash died on the way. The death of the youth created an uproar in the family. As soon as the information was received, the police reached the spot and tried to take possession of the body. However, the family members did not allow the body to be lifted, demanding registration of a case and immediate arrest of the accused. At present, the police is trying to convince the family members. The family members say that until the accused are arrested, they will not allow the body to be lifted. Gopal Giri Courtesy : Hindi News
Ms. Glamika Patel: India’s First Transgender Memory Trainer Certified by IMSC, appointed as The Official City Representative of IMSC for Bhilai & Durg (Chhattisgarh).
In a groundbreaking stride towards inclusion and excellence, Ms. Glamika Patel has emerged as India’s First Transgender Memory Trainer, certified by the prestigious Indian Memory Sports Council (IMSC). Her journey is not just a tale of personal triumph, but a beacon of transformation, talent, and resilience. A Historic Milestone in Hyderabad On 13th July 2025, at a special ceremony held in Hyderabad, Ms. Glamika Patel successfully completed the Triple Certification Program in Memory Skills, Speed Reading, and Study Skills, under the mentorship of Squadron Leader Jayasimha, President of IMSC. With this, she not only earned national recognition but also secured a place in history as a pioneer in the memory training field. Her exemplary performance and passion earned her the title of the Official City Representative of the IMSC for Bhilai and Durg in Chhattisgarh, marking a major step in promoting cognitive education and mental fitness in central India. A Phenomenal Memory Expert Ms. Glamika’s memory demonstrations are awe-inspiring. She can: Memorize and recall 100 random digits in various formats—forwards, backwards, by rows, by columns, and random positions. Remember a randomly arranged rainbow color sequence up to 50 positions. Perform multiple memory feats showcasing mental clarity, concentration, and precision. This rare cognitive skill set positions her as a formidable force in the growing domain of brain development and memory training in India. A Mission to Train Young Minds With unshakable passion, Ms. Glamika Patel has taken on the noble responsibility of training students from Bhilai and Durg for the Indian Memory Championship scheduled to be held in Hyderabad on 12th October 2025. Through her coaching, she aims to instill confidence, learning agility, and mental sharpness among the youth of Chhattisgarh. A Life Dedicated to Service and Excellence Beyond memory training, Ms. Glamika is a Certified Mind Trainer, Life Coach, Counselor, Healer, and Motivational Speaker. Her multifaceted personality shines through her social initiatives, she is serving voluntarily in her mother Ms. Janki Bai Patel’s enterprise, M/s Manobal Maharath Services, to help people. Her commitment to helping others defines her leadership in both personal and professional life. Academic Brilliance and Professional Achievements A rare blend of intellect and hard work, Ms. Glamika Patel secured an All India Rank of 129 in the GATE 2018 examination. She went on to join the prestigious Maharatna PSU, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) as a Management Trainee (Technical) and currently serves as Deputy Manager at Bhilai Steel Plant, an integrated steel plant under SAIL. Her educational path is rooted in determination—from completing her early education at a government school and Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Chandrapur (Chhattisgarh) to earning a Bachelor of Engineering (BE), MBA, and now pursuing an MSc in Psychology. The Heart of a Daughter Despite societal challenges, Ms. Glamika came forward to take responsibility of her mother, Ms. Janki Bai Patel. Her heartfelt gestures, like personally accompanying her mother on spiritual journeys in a wheelchair, have earned her the affectionate title of “Shravan Kumari”—a modern-day symbol of filial devotion. Courtesy : Foxstory India Note: This news is originally published on https://foxstoryindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Operation Sindoor debate: ‘Why is he scared?’ Congress revives Trump charge moments after PM Modi junks it
NEW DELHI: Less than half an hour after Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that “no global leader interfered in Operation Sindoor,” the Congress launched a fresh attack, accusing him of being afraid to confront US President Donald Trump. Congress MP KC Venugopal asked bluntly, “We are asking very clearly whether Trump’s claim is bogus or not, whether he is telling truth or not. No answer… Why is he scared about talking about Trump?” He accused the Prime Minister of hiding behind Pakistan rhetoric instead of addressing serious questions about India’s sovereignty and military decision-making. “When genuine questions are asked by the opposition, he hides behind the Pakistan story,” Venugopal said. Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi echoed this line, claiming the Prime Minister “never said it clearly that Trump was lying” and accused him of failing to name China despite its alleged support to Pakistan. “The whole nation knows that China helped Pakistan in every way, but the Prime Minister and Defence Minister never named China anywhere in their speeches,” Gandhi said. — ANI (@ANI) Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera added a poetic jab: “Trump slapped (him), but he’s upset with Nehru. Hope he realises in time, that Donald is no friend, but unfaithful.” — Pawankhera (@Pawankhera) Earlier, Gandhi had demanded a clear rebuttal to Trump’s repeated assertion that he mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. “If Modi ji has even 50 per cent of the courage that Indira Gandhi had, then clearly he must say in Parliament Donald Trump is lying,” Gandhi said. He criticised the government for informing Pakistan mid-operation that India had only hit non-military targets and didn’t seek escalation. “That’s surrender. Immediate surrender in 30 minutes,” he said, citing Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s own words in the House. PM Modi lashes out at Congress During his address in the Lok Sabha, PM Modi on Tuesday told the Lok Sabha that “no global leader had asked India to halt Operation Sindoor” “India received global support, but the Congress could not support our soldiers’ valour,” he said, criticising the opposition during the debate on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. “No country stopped India from defending itself against terrorism—only three countries backed Pakistan at the UN. PM Modi also dismissed questions raised over US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire. He clarified that on the night of May 9, “US Vice President (JD Vance) tried to reach out to me 3–4 times, but I was busy with meetings with the armed forces.” When he finally returned the call, Vance warned of a possible Pakistani attack. “I told him that if Pakistan attacks India, our response would be much bigger—we will respond to bullets with cannons.” He declared that Pakistani airbases hit during the operation were “still in ICU” and said the masterminds of the April 22 attack had “sleepless nights.” Emphasising India’s strength, Modi said, “We destroyed terror sites deep inside Pakistan within 22 minutes… drones and missiles made in India exposed Pakistani arms.” He accused Congress of echoing Pakistani propaganda and giving the enemy a “clean chit.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.