Nation

Kiran Rao's film Laapataa Ladies has been selected as India's official entry for the Oscars 2025, creating a wave of excitement among the cast and crew. Actor Sparsh Shrivastava, who plays Deepak Kumar, expressed his joy, stating, "Everyone from Aamir Khan Productions to my whole family is really happy. It would be even better if we win."

Congress responded sharply on Tuesday after BJP MP Kangana Ranaut expressed support for the reinstatement of the controversial farm laws, referring to them as “black laws.” Sharing a clip of her statement, Congress challenged the BJP to bring back the laws, emphasizing their commitment to farmers and condemning the Modi government's previous actions that led to the deaths of over 750 farmers. Ranaut, aware her comments might provoke controversy, suggested that farmers should demand the laws be reinstated. This incident follows a warning to Ranaut regarding her earlier remarks about the potential for a Bangladesh-like situation in India amid the farm law protests.

In a recent address to BJP workers in Maharashtra, Union Home Minister Amit Shah sharply criticized Congress, likening it to a student who, despite improving from 20 to 30 marks, still fails to pass. He emphasized the stark difference between BJP and Congress as the 2024 Lok Sabha elections approach. Shah also took aim at Rahul Gandhi's remarks made in the U.S. about India no longer needing reservations, asserting that the BJP would not allow such changes. He highlighted the importance of Karyakartas in the party's success and urged workers to engage with farmers about government welfare schemes, reinforcing the BJP's commitment to cultural nationalism and grassroots involvement.

In a disturbing incident in Delhi’s Shakarpur area, a 30-year-old man was arrested for allegedly installing spy cameras in the bedroom and bathroom of a female UPSC aspirant. The accused, Karan, is the son of the woman’s landlord. The woman became suspicious after noticing unusual activity on her WhatsApp account, leading her to discover hidden cameras in her apartment. During interrogation, Karan admitted to installing the cameras three months ago while the woman was away, exploiting her trust to gain access to her home. Police have seized the devices, and Karan is now in custody.

Nirmala Sitharaman clarified her comments regarding the death of an EY employee, emphasizing that her remarks were not intended to victim-shame. She expressed condolences and highlighted the importance of respectful discourse around such sensitive issues. Sitharaman urged the media and public to focus on supporting the bereaved rather than assigning blame.