The Hindu Morning Digest, July 30, 2025
The three Pakistani terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack used 'ultra high frequency wireless sets' to communicate with other operatives and also their aides across the border, a senior government official told The Hindu. They were killed in Dachigam in the Kashmir Valley. The three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, identified as Suleman, alias Faizal Jatt; Hamza Afghani; and Zibran,entered India from Pakistan around three years ago.
Ruling dispensation lacked political will to carry out Operation Sindoor: Rahul Gandhi
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that the ruling NDA lacked political will to carry out Operation Sindoor, and the entire exercise was carried out only to protect the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Participating in the special discussion on 'India's strong, successful and decisive Operation Sindoor in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam' in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Gandhi said he wanted to tell the PM that the nation was above his image, his politics and his Public Relations exercise and Mr. Modi must have 'the humility and the dignity' to understand that.
Meghnad Desai, eminent Indian-born economist and author, dies at 85
Lord Meghnad Desai, a 'multifaceted personality', eminent economist, holder of India's third-highest civilian honour, and a member of the United Kingdom's House of Lords has passed away, at the age of 85. Born Meghnad Jagdishchandra Desai, Lord Desai, as he came to be known following his membership to the House of Lords in the U.K., was born in Vadodara in 1940.
U.N. conference backs two-state solution, calls on Israel to commit to a Palestinian state
High-level representatives at a U.N. conference urged Israel to commit to a Palestinian state and gave 'unwavering support' to a two-state solution, signaling widespread international determination to end one of the world's longest conflicts. The 'New York Declaration' sets out a phased plan to end the nearly eight-decade conflict and the ongoing war in Gaza. The plan would culminate with an independent, demilitarized Palestine living side by side peacefully with Israel, and the nation's eventual integration into the wider Mideast region.
Starmer says U.K. will recognize Palestinian state unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the U.K. will recognize a Palestinian state in September – unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza and takes steps toward long-term peace. Mr. Starmer called ministers together for a rare summertime Cabinet meeting to discuss the situation in Gaza. He told them that Britain will recognize a state of Palestine before the United Nations General Assembly, 'unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a two state solution."
Not a single world leader asked India to stop Operation Sindoor, PM tells Lok Sabha
Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India had put Pakistan on notice of retaliation through Operation Sindoor over the Pahalgam terror attack, adding that 'not a single world leader asked us to stop the operation. Our actions were precise and non-escalatory, just as we had committed'. This is a clear refutation of U.S. claims that the country mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Mr. Modi said this in his intervention during a debate in the Lok Sabha on Operation Sindoor, India's military action against terrorist targets in Pakistan that followed the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir that left 26 people dead.
DGCA audit flags 51 safety lapses in Air India operations
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) found 51 safety lapses at Air India in its July audit, including lack of adequate training for some pilots, use of unapproved simulators and a poor rostering system, according to a government report seen by Reuters. The Tata Group-owned airline is already facing warning notices for running planes without checking emergency equipment, not changing engine parts in time and forging records, along with other lapses related to crew fatigue management.
IMF upgrades India's FY26 & FY27 growth forecast to 6.4% in line with global growth uptick
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded India's growth expectations to 6.4% in both 2025-26 and 2026-27 as compared to what it had predicted in April. The growth upgrade, of 0.2 percentage points and 0.1 percentage points, respectively, is in line with the upgrades for global growth. The IMF's World Economic Outlook (WEO) July update released on July 29 upgraded its global growth forecast to 3% for 2025 and 3.1% in 2026, 0.2 percentage and 0.1 percentage points higher than what had been predicted in the April 2025 edition of the WEO.
Deleted, not denied: The truth behind Kanthapuram's claim on Nimisha Priya's reprieve
A curious development unfolded about the reported commutation of Malayali nurse Nimisha Priya's death sentence in Yemen. An ANI tweet about the reprieve, shared by Sunni leader Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar on X, disappeared from his social media handle. On Monday night, Mr. Aboobacker Musliar had announced that Yemeni authorities had waived the death sentence following a series of discussions involving scholars appointed by senior Yemeni Sufi scholar Sheikh Habib Omer bin Hafiz, Northern Yemen representatives and international diplomats.
Torrential rain disrupts life across Bengal; Teesta overflows, landslides in north, house collapses in Kolkata
Normal life was severely affected across north and south Bengal as torrential rain lashed the State over the past two days. The Teesta River overflowed onto National Highway 10 in north Bengal, while dilapidated houses collapsed in parts of Kolkata, injuring three persons. Between July 28 and 29, the water level of the Teesta River rose steadily and crossed the danger mark, according to daily flood reports issued by the Irrigation and Waterways Department of West Bengal. In several areas, National Highway 10 had to be closed due to water submerging key stretches, disrupting road connectivity between north Bengal and Sikkim.
SC assures intervention if draft electoral roll reveals 'mass exclusion' of voters
The Supreme Court promised to step in without fail, and immediately, if persons omitted as dead from the draft electoral roll, scheduled to be published on August 1 as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) conducted by the Election Commission of India (EC) in Bihar, are found 'very much alive'. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi made it clear to the EC that the court would not hesitate to act if the list was riddled with 'mass exclusions'. The petitioners had criticised the SIR as 'citizenship screening'.
In India's first outreach to post-Assad regime, MEA Joint Secretary meets Syrian Foreign Minister Al-Shaibani
Marking a fresh beginning in ties with Damascus in the post-Assad era, India reached out to the Syrian provisional government under the leadership of President Ahmed Hussein Al-Sharaa this week. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Joint Secretary Suresh Kumar, of the West Asia and North Africa division, met with the Syrian provisional government's Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani in Damascus, according to officials here. Sources said he was accompanied by several other Indian officials, including the Indian Ambassador to Syria, Irshad Ahmed.
Dharmasthala: No skeletal remains recovered at first spot
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged 'murders and burials' at Dharmasthala began the process of exhuming remains at the spots identified by the whistleblower/complainant on Tuesday, a long-standing demand of the complainant, his lawyers, and several activists. However, the day ended in an anti-climax, as digging through the day at the first spot the complainant had shown the SIT sleuths on Monday did not lead to any recovery of skeletal remains. The SIT will go ahead and dig up the second of the 13 sites on Wednesday, sources said. The second site is also in the forest area.
National Herald case: Court defers order on cognisance of ED charge sheet
A Delhi court deferred its order on taking cognisance of the charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald case. Court sources said the matter is now listed for August 7 and 8 for certain clarifications. The ED has accused Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, late party leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, as well as Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda and a private company, Young Indian, of conspiracy and money laundering over the alleged fraudulent takeover of ₹2,000 crore worth properties belonging to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the National Herald newspaper.
PM's 'shameful silence' on Israel's assault on people of Gaza height of 'moral cowardice', says Sonia Gandhi
Asserting that Israel's military campaign in Gaza amounts to "genocide", Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi slammed the Modi government for being a "mute spectator to this affront to humanity", and said this was a "cowardly betrayal of our constitutional values". She also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "shameful silence" in the face of Israel's relentless and devastating assault on the people of Gaza is "deeply disappointing", as well as the height of "moral cowardice".
Countdown begins for NISAR satellite launch
The countdown for the NISAR satellite mission started at 2.10 p.m. on Tuesday (July 29, 2025). The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) with the 2,392-kg satellite is scheduled to lift off from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 5.40 p.m. on Wednesday (July 30, 2025). It is the first joint satellite of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
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Hindustan Times
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When politics reeks of bitterness, misconduct
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The ruling dispensation showcased all their facts, but the entire exercise fell far short of clearing the doubts assailing the minds of the citizens. We, as citizens, have some basic expectations from our Parliament. It should not be reduced to an arena of vote politics. Unfortunately, that's become the norm now. I have been a student of parliamentary debates. Our politics has been steadily degenerating. Bitterness has seeped into it, and politicians speak irresponsibly. Political parties of every hue are equally responsible for it. Even before the debate started, the first week of the monsoon session was a wash-out due to vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar's surprise resignation. The media corridors were rattled by Dhankhar's resignation bomb at the end of the first day of the monsoon session. Political developments that day unfolded like a suspense thriller. No one could figure out the climax till the very end. In the morning, he came as usual to the Rajya Sabha, conducted its proceedings, and met leaders from the treasury benches and the Opposition. In the afternoon, he met BJP president JP Nadda and parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju. It seems the talks couldn't be concluded, so another meeting was convened in the evening. Nadda and Rijiju didn't attend, but the minister of State for parliamentary affairs, L Murugan, was present. What transpired in the afternoon meeting? Why didn't the senior ministers attend the evening meeting? Was there any difference of opinion between them and Dhankhar? Did the vice-president resign on his own? Or was he forced to quit? What will Dhankhar's next move be? Will he follow in the footsteps of former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik? Or will he quietly bow out? Queries, conjectures, and concerns remain. It seems we are turning into a democracy that's bogged down in a maze of uncertain, dubious, and unnecessary debates. Dhankhar came into the limelight when he was made the governor of West Bengal. From the moment he entered the Raj Bhawan, he trained his guns on the chief minister, Mamata Banerjee. His words and deeds didn't go down well with those who preferred political propriety. This was the reason when he was made the vice-president, his detractors thought he had been rewarded for what he did in West Bengal, as Banerjee is considered the BJP's prime foe. As vice-president, it was his responsibility to conduct Rajya Sabha proceedings fairly and impartially. The way he conducted the proceedings in his early days raised many eyebrows. Accusations were levelled against him, but he was unfazed. Those opposed to the BJP said he was doing all this as he had an eye on the President's post. Initially, people were surprised by his sudden exit, but there's very little sympathy for him now. Unfortunately, such unpleasant incidents are growing. Look at the recently concluded session of the Bihar Assembly. 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It's not clear who's right or wrong, but it's clear that those gracing constitutional posts are more interested in confrontation than building consensus. Let's address the second question. Are we heading in the right direction? At a time of ever-expanding hate and the normalisation of debased language and political misconduct, it would be tough to suggest that our journey ahead will be smooth. Political parties have devoted decades to creating linguistic, regional and social divides instead of bridging them. They have conveniently forgotten that the growing divides can drown them as well. Dhankhar is only its latest victim. Let's address the third question. The future is shaped by the present; the actions of today build the foundations of a new order. That's the law of nature. If so, can anyone bet confidently on the future when the present is roiled by discontent, inconsistency, incongruity and apprehension? Shashi Shekhar is the editor-in-chief, Hindustan. The views expressed are personal.
India.com
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No Consensus, Just Conflict: Operation Sindoor Debate Sinks Into Bitter Blame Game Between Govt And Opposition
New Delhi: The brief political unity witnessed in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent military conflict with Pakistan seems to have unravelled following the surprise ceasefire announcement on May 10. This week's marathon three-day debate in Parliament on Operation Sindoor laid bare the widening gulf between the government and the Opposition. It reinforces the notion that in today's India, consensus is the exception, not the norm. The debate gave an opportunity to the leaders of both the government and the Opposition to show unity against terrorism coming from Pakistan. While many speakers across party lines called for a common stance, their speeches exposed deep divisions. The Opposition left no stone unturned to corner the lawmakers and pressed for answers on critical issues such as security and intelligence lapses preceding the Pahalgam attack, accountability for those failures, losses suffered by the Indian Air Force, and the true nature of US involvement. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose not to respond in the Rajya Sabha, delegating the reply to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which triggered an Opposition walkout. From the government's perspective, the needle moved favourably, for instance, Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the elimination of the Pahalgam terrorists, and Prime Minister Modi asserted that "no global leader" had urged India to halt its military operation. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar put a full stop to speculations regarding New Delhi's differences with Washington, including issues of deportations, visas, and student concerns, aimed at closing talks around Trump's role in India-Pakistan ceasefire. However, the Opposition remained unsatisfied. Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi challenged the Prime Minister to publicly refute US President Donald Trump's claims of brokering the ceasefire, labeling the challenge 'political rhetoric.' While the PM skipped any mention of Trump and his repeated assertions of having brokered the ceasefire, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh sidestepped questions regarding the fighter jets lost on the first day of conflict, instead urging a results-focused perspective, saying, 'In any exam, the result matters. We should see whether a student is getting good marks and not focus on whether his pencil was broken or his pen was lost.' Congress's Nationalist Strategy In an uncharacteristic move, the Congress party adopted a nationalist stance to continue putting pressure on the government. This approach aimed to score political points by portraying the government as weak on defense. However, the tables turned with former Home Minister P. Chidambaram's suggestion that the Pahalgam attackers might have been "homegrown terrorists", rather than Pakistan-backed. This offered the government an opportunity to criticise the grand old party's inconsistent position. Rahul Gandhi's speech was notably combative, alongside his sister, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra recalled the resignations of Vilasrao Deshmukh as Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shivraj Patil as Union Home Minister after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, to emphasise government accountability. Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of prioritising his image over the armed forces' freedom to operate, warning that 'the forces should be used with freedom and for the national interest' and urged a decisive military effort to 'defeat terrorism once and for all.' 'It is dangerous at this time for the Prime Minister to use the forces to protect his image. It is dangerous for the country. The forces should only be used in the national interest, and the forces should be used with freedom. If you want them to be used … then go all the way, fight properly and defeat them once and for all," he said. Historical Echoes In Debate The discussion frequently revisited historical parallels. The Congress party members highlighted Indira Gandhi's role in the creation of Bangladesh despite US pressure, contrasting it with the current ceasefire announcement influenced by the US. Meanwhile, the government drew attention to the Congress's perceived failings during critical moments, such as Partition, the wars of 1947–48 and 1965, the Indus Waters Treaty, and the 1962 war with China, to question the Opposition's credibility on national security. While the Congress remains burdened by its political legacy, this debate underscored the broader polarisation within Indian politics. Despite shared concerns over terrorism, the parties remain entrenched in mutual recriminations. With other INDIA bloc parties siding with the Congress in criticism of the government, the opposition front remains fragmented under intense BJP scrutiny.
