Tag: politics

On Monday, July 28, 2025, several Members of Parliament from the INDIA bloc, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, staged a protest in the Parliament House complex against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar. The leaders called for an immediate rollback of the revision exercise, which they allege is aimed at disenfranchising voters ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. Ahead of the day’s parliamentary proceedings, top Opposition leaders — including Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, TMC leaders Derek O’Brien and Sagarika Ghose, and DMK MPs Kanimozhi and A. Raja — gathered near the Makar Dwar steps of Parliament and raised slogans against the EC’s move. Holding placards that read “Stop SIR”, and standing in front of a large banner proclaiming “SIR – Attack on Democracy”, MPs from Congress, DMK, TMC, Samajwadi Party, RJD, and Left parties marked the fifth consecutive day of protest on the issue. The Opposition has been vocal in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, demanding a full discussion on the Special Intensive Revision process. They argue that the EC’s actions could lead to targeted voter suppression in Bihar. On Friday, July 25, Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and other INDIA bloc MPs had organized an unusual demonstration by tearing posters marked with “SIR” and placing them into a symbolic “disposal bin.” They also carried out a protest march within the Parliament complex, reiterating their demands for a rollback of the revision and a debate in both Houses.

कांग्रेस के सबसे लोकप्रिय सांसदों में से एक, शशि थरूर ने आज संसद में ‘ऑपरेशन सिंदूर’ पर हो रही विशेष चर्चा में हिस्सा लेने से इनकार कर दिया। पार्टी सूत्रों के अनुसार, कांग्रेस ने थरूर से इस अहम बहस में भाग लेने का अनुरोध किया था, लेकिन उन्होंने स्वेच्छा से इससे मना कर दिया। यह विशेष चर्चा आज दोपहर से शुरू हुई है, जो अप्रैल 22 को पहलगाम में हुए आतंकी हमले के जवाब में भारत द्वारा पाकिस्तान और पाकिस्तान अधिकृत कश्मीर में किए गए सैन्य अभियान के बाद विपक्ष की मांग पर बुलाई गई है। विपक्ष के नेता राहुल गांधी, उनके उपनेता गौरव गोगोई, सांसद प्रियंका गांधी वाड्रा, दीपेन्द्र हुड्डा, परीनेति शिंदे, शफी परम्बिल, माणिकम टैगोर और राजा बारड़ कांग्रेस की ओर से 16 घंटे की इस बहस में भाग लेंगे। हालांकि, शशि थरूर का नाम वक्ताओं की सूची में न होना कई लोगों के लिए हैरानी का कारण बना, क्योंकि उन्होंने ‘ऑपरेशन सिंदूर’ के दौरान अमेरिका में कांग्रेस के सबसे अहम प्रतिनिधिमंडल का नेतृत्व किया था। जब एक NDTV पत्रकार ने उनसे पूछा कि क्या वह आज संसद में बोलेंगे, तो थरूर ने सवाल को टाल दिया और चुपचाप चले गए। पार्टी सूत्रों ने बाद में किसी भी प्रकार के मतभेद की अटकलों को खारिज करते हुए कहा कि पार्टी ने उनसे जरूर संपर्क किया था, लेकिन उन्होंने स्वयं इस बहस में हिस्सा न लेने का फैसला किया। कांग्रेस सांसद और थरूर की सहयोगी रेणुका चौधरी ने कहा, “उन्हें कहीं भी बोलने का संवैधानिक अधिकार है। मैं कौन होती हूं उन्हें अनुमति देने वाली?”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to move a statutory resolution in the Rajya Sabha during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament to extend President’s Rule in Manipur for another six months, beginning August 13, 2025. According to the Rajya Sabha bulletin, Shah’s notice was scheduled for Thursday, July 24, but the House was adjourned around 2:15 p.m. due to Opposition protests over the Election Commission’s Special Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. The official notice states: “That this House approves the continuance in force of the Proclamation dated the 13 February, 2025 in respect of Manipur, issued under Article 356 of the Constitution by the President, for a further period of six months with effect from 13 August, 2025.” Background and Constitutional Context Manipur was brought under President’s Rule on February 13, 2025, following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on February 9. Under Article 356(3) of the Constitution, President’s Rule can initially be imposed for six months and extended every six months with parliamentary approval, up to a maximum of three years. The Hindu had earlier reported on July 17 that the extension was likely, as the Centre continues efforts to restore normalcy, particularly by reopening blocked national highways and recovering looted police weapons. Crisis in Manipur: Over Two Years of Ethnic Conflict Manipur has been mired in deep unrest since May 3, 2023, when violent ethnic clashes broke out between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. The prolonged conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 250 people and displacement of more than 60,000 individuals. Critical infrastructure, including National Highways 2 and 37, which connect the Imphal valley to Nagaland and Assam, runs through Kuki-Zo dominated areas. These routes have remained largely inaccessible to Meitei residents since the conflict began, severely affecting supply chains and essential services. Adding to the challenge is the looting of over 6,000 weapons from police and security forces — many of which still remain unaccounted for. Government’s Focus The central government’s current priorities in Manipur include: If passed, the proposed resolution will extend President’s Rule in Manipur until February 2026, reinforcing New Delhi’s continued direct administration of the troubled northeastern state as efforts toward peace and stability continue.

On July 25, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi achieved a historic political milestone by completing 4,078 consecutive days in office, surpassing former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s record of 4,077 days served in a single uninterrupted tenure from January 24, 1966, to March 24, 1977. With this feat, PM Modi becomes the second longest-serving Prime Minister in a continuous term in Indian history — second only to Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, who held office for over 17 years. A Career of Firsts Narendra Modi now holds several unmatched distinctions in Indian political history: This milestone also marks nearly 24 years of continuous leadership of a democratically elected government — spanning his time as Chief Minister of Gujarat and now as Prime Minister of India. Rise from Modest Beginnings Born in Vadnagar, Gujarat, Modi began life in humble circumstances, helping his father sell tea at a railway station. His political journey began through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), later rising through the ranks of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He became Gujarat’s Chief Minister in 2001 and served for over 12 years before leading the BJP to a landmark victory in the 2014 general elections. Since becoming Prime Minister, Modi has emerged as a dominant political force, shaping India’s domestic and foreign policy, promoting economic reforms, and positioning India as an assertive power on the global stage. As PM Modi enters his third term and continues to break records, this moment stands as a reflection of his enduring popularity, political acumen, and historical significance in India’s democratic journey.