Politics

Vinesh Phogat, a former Olympian and newly elected Haryana MLA, has chosen to accept a ₹4 crore cash award from the Haryana government. The state had offered her benefits equal to those of an Olympic silver medalist following her disqualification from the 2024 Paris Olympics. Phogat, who retired from wrestling shortly after the incident, emphasized that her decision was about respect rather than monetary gain.

“We also call ourselves Hindus, but our religion is one that respects and loves everyone, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, or gender,” said Rahul Gandhi, addressing the AICC meeting in Ahmedabad. He criticized the BJP’s treatment of Dalits, citing a controversy in Rajasthan where a temple was washed after Dalit leader Tika Ram Jully visited it. “The hearts of BJP workers are filled with hate,” he added, contrasting this with Congress's inclusive stance. Rahul also praised the Telangana government's initiatives for social justice, including a caste survey and enhanced reservations for backward castes, calling them "revolutionary" and promising to expand such efforts nationwide. He took a swipe at Prime Minister Modi over the imposition of US tariffs, questioning if the Prime Minister would still share hugs with former President Trump in light of the economic fallout.

A recent article in Organiser, the RSS' mouthpiece, discussing Catholic Church land ownership in India, has sparked significant backlash. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned it as part of a larger Sangh Parivar agenda to marginalize minorities. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi warned that the Waqf Amendment Bill, which had just been passed, could set a dangerous precedent for targeting other minority communities, particularly Christians. Both Vijayan and Gandhi expressed concerns about the article's timing and its potential link to future actions against religious institutions.

K. Annamalai has announced that he will not be seeking re-election as the Tamil Nadu BJP state president, stating that he is not interested in any internal competition for the role. While he refrained from commenting on speculation regarding an AIADMK alliance, Annamalai reaffirmed his commitment to the BJP and its future, emphasizing that decisions regarding alliances are made by the party’s national leadership. Despite stepping away from the leadership race, he remains focused on his work as a party worker. The BJP central leadership, while considering an alliance with AIADMK for the 2026 elections, is reportedly keen to continue with Annamalai if he is open to working with the ally.

Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, condemned Anurag Thakur’s baseless allegations against him in the Lok Sabha, stating that the remarks damaged his reputation. Kharge demanded an apology from Thakur and Rajya Sabha Leader of the House, J.P. Nadda, and challenged Thakur to prove his claims or resign. Despite Thakur withdrawing his defamatory remarks, Kharge emphasized that the damage was already done due to widespread media coverage. The Opposition staged a walkout following Kharge's speech.