People urged to support Rahul Gandhi in his fight against ECI
Speaking to the media at Gandhi Bhavan on Wednesday, Mr. Jagga Reddy slammed the BJP and ECI for 'discrepancies and fake votes', accusing the Election Commission of acting as a BJP-affiliated body rather than an autonomous constitutional body.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
26 minutes ago
- NDTV
In Independence Day Eve Address, President's 'Buy Local' Call, Op Sindoor Praise
New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu's address on the eve of Independence day mentioned two key talking points of the day -- buying local and ease of doing business. Both have been areas of concern in the aftermath of the imposition of 50 per cent tariff by the US on Indian goods. The President's address -- traditionally an apolitical one that focusses on national aims and achievements -- traced 'buy local' to its origin in the Swadeshi movement and Mahatma Gandhi's advocacy of Khadi to its modern avatar "Make in India". "Last week, on August 7, the country celebrated 'National Handloom Day' which honours our weavers and their products," President Murmu said. "Since the year 2015, we have been celebrating this day to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement launched during our freedom struggle in the year 1905. The spirit of Swadeshi was strengthened by Mahatma Gandhi to promote the products made by the sweat and toil of Indian artisans and crafts-persons, and by their incomparable skills. The idea of Swadeshi has been inspiring our national endeavours like Make-in-India initiative and Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Let us resolve to buy and use Indian products," she said. The "ease of doing business", she said was as important as ease of living to improve the life of the common man. "For betterment of the lives of the common people there is equal emphasis on improving the ease of doing business as well as on improving the ease of living," she said. "Moreover, we are increasing our self-reliance in every area possible. This has added to our self-confidence and increased the momentum of our journey towards becoming Viksit Bharat," President Murmu added. "Radically improving the ease of doing business" as opposed to incremental reform had been part of the prescription from several analysts and industrialists including Anand Mahindra to make India a coveted destination for investors from across the world in face of spiralling US tariffs. There has also been concern about artisans with jewellery, handicraft and textile industries set to take a hit from the US tariffs. Many in the BJP have now advocated self-reliance in terms of market. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a fresh push for 'Swadeshi', stressing that every individual must work to promote indigenous goods if "we want India to become the third-largest economy". "Whatever we buy, we should ask ourselves - has an Indian toiled to make this? If it has been made by the sweat of our people, with their skills, that product is Swadeshi for us. We must adopt the mantra of 'Vocal for Local'." Traders' groups have already pledged support for PM Modi's call to prioritise domestic goods to bolster economic self-reliance. President Murmu also cited Operation Sindor, saying it was a "test case of the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission in the defence sector". "The outcome has proved that we are on the right path. Our indigenous manufacturing has achieved the critical level that makes us self-sufficient in meeting many of our security requirements. These are landmark achievements in India's defence history since Independence," she said. "I believe Operation Sindoor will go down in history as an example in humanity's fight against terrorism... The world has taken note of India's stance, that we will not be the aggressor, but we will not hesitate to retaliate in defence of our citizens," she added.
Mint
26 minutes ago
- Mint
Uttarakhand to toughen anti-conversion law; life imprisonment, ₹10 lakh fine proposed — check details
The Uttarakhand government's move to bring another legislation to amend the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act is expected to make the law even more stringent. The amendment, approved by the state cabinet, aims to prevent religious conversions through coercion, fraud, or undue influence. The amendment legislation, approved by the state cabinet on Wednesday, proposes a maximum punishment of life imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹ 10 lakh for forced conversion. Currently, the maximum prison term for the offence in the state is 10 years and the highest fine is ₹ 50,000. This is the second legislation to amend the Act, which has been in force in the state since 2018. The first amendment was made in 2022. The Pushkar Singh Dhami-led government is preparing to introduce the legislation during the monsoon session of the state assembly, which is scheduled to begin on August 19, reported news agency PTI, citing sources. According to the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (amendment) legislation, 2025, fraudulent or forced conversion would be a cognizable and non-bailable offence. In such cases, police will be allowed to arrest an offender without a warrant and bail will be granted only if the trial court (sessions court) is convinced that the accused is not guilty and would not repeat the offence. "Yet another amendment legislation to make the law even more strict has been occasioned by recent cases of conversions in the state aimed at demographic change," PTI quoted Ajendra Ajay, BJP leader and former chairman of Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple committee, as saying. Terming the cabinet's decision as historic, Ajay said: "An amended act with stricter provisions will work as a strong deterrent for potential offenders and help preserve the original identity of a border state like Uttarakhand, which is also known as Devbhoomi." The Bill also expands the definition of inducement to include any gift, gratification, easy money, or material benefit in cash or kind, employment, free education, promise of marriage, hurting religious faith, or glorifying another religion, categorising all of them as crimes. It also makes punishable acts such as promoting or inciting conversion through social media, messaging apps, or any online medium.
Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Rahul Gandhi's lawyer withdraws plea citing threat from Savarkar followers
An application filed in a Pune court on behalf of Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, was withdrawn on Thursday after he objected to its contents, saying it had been submitted without his consent. he case pertains to a criminal defamation complaint filed by Satyaki Savarkar over remarks allegedly made by Rahul Gandhi during a programme in London in March 2023. (FILE PHOTO) The application, filed by advocate Milind Pawar, had cited a possible threat to Gandhi from individuals subscribing to the ideology of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. However, Pawar later clarified that the submission, known in legal terms as a 'pursis', was filed without prior consultation with Gandhi and was being withdrawn. Pawar moved the application before the special MP-MLA court, seeking permission to withdraw the pursis, even though the matter was not listed for hearing that day. His plea read: 'The present case is pending before the court and is fixed for hearing on September 10. Today, the defence intends to file withdrawal pursis dated August 13 in this case. However, the said matter is not on today's board. It is respectfully prayed that this matter be kindly taken on board today in the interest of justice.' The submission concluded: 'The pursis is hereby withdrawn as not pressed at this stage.' After filing the withdrawal on Wednesday, Pawar issued a press statement in the evening acknowledging that the original pursis had been filed without Gandhi's approval. 'The contents of the 'pursis' were drafted by me without consulting my client Shri Rahul Gandhi. My client has taken strong exception to the filing and expressed disagreement with its contents,' the statement read. The now-withdrawn application had referred to complainant Satyaki Savarkar's familial relationship to Nathuram Godse and Gopal Godse, both accused in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. It also cited Gandhi's constitutional role as Leader of Opposition, his press conferences alleging electoral malpractice by the Election Commission of India (ECI), and his recent parliamentary exchanges with the Prime Minister on Hindutva. It argued that these factors, coupled with the complainant's ideological affiliations, gave rise to a reasonable apprehension of danger to Gandhi. 'In light of the documented history of violent and anti-constitutional tendencies linked to the complainant's lineage, and considering the prevailing political climate, there exists a clear, reasonable and substantial apprehension that Rahul Gandhi may face harm, wrongful implication, or other forms of targeting by persons subscribing to the ideology of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar,' the pursis stated. The case pertains to a criminal defamation complaint filed by Satyaki Savarkar over remarks allegedly made by Rahul Gandhi during a programme in London in March 2023. The court has scheduled the next hearing for September 10.
