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Susthira Kollam project launched by Minister Bindhu Krishna
The project aims to foster the sustainable growth of the Kollam constituency
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Iran president heads to UNGA, vows to highlight US ‘oppression’
Iran president heads to UNGA, vows to highlight US 'oppression'
Telangana CM, Irrigation Minister seek water from Karnataka to save crops in Palamuru
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy have requested the Karnataka government to release water from the Upper Krishna river system to help save standing crops under stress in the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district. Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy said Telangana had taken up the matter with the Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in view of the difficult water situation in the Krishna basin and the urgent requirement of farmers dependent on the Jurala irrigation system. He said Karnataka was requested to consider releasing some water from the Narayanpur reservoir so that additional inflows could reach Jurala project and provide relief to farmers whose standing crops were under stress. “We have explained the situation and requested them to release some water. They have said they will examine the availability and get back to us,” he said. The Irrigation Minister pointed out that the present situation required careful management of the limited water available in the reservoirs. Any releases for irrigation, he said, had to be calibrated keeping in view the need to maintain drinking-water security if the dry conditions continued. The Minister said the present crisis also underlined the importance of creating adequate storage infrastructure in the upper reaches of the Krishna within Telangana.
Poll Body Likely To Extend Claims, Objections Deadline For Delhi Voter List
The Election Commission has extended the deadline for objections to the Delhi voter list, issuing more than 31 lakh notices to voters. Political parties worry that not all eligible voters have received the notices and may not have enough time to respond before the new deadline.
2 Million Books Scanned In J&K, Over 4,000 Withdrawn For "Anti-National" Content
The records were placed before the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Tuesday in response to a question by an independent MLA, Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad.
As cross-LoC trade falls silent in Kashmir, Mehbooba, traders recall how a dream became reality
Salamabad centre handed over to Tourism Department seven years after trade was suspended; former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti says move closes “a chapter of hope”
'Naxalites can't make law': Heated exchange between lawyers during Vande Mataram hearing
SC hearing on Vande Mataram turns heated over 'Naxalites' remark NEW DELHI: A heated exchange broke out between senior advocate S Muralidhar and solicitor general Tushar Mehta in the Supreme Court on Tuesday after Mehta referred to “Naxalites” during arguments in a case concerning Vande Mataram.Muralidhar, appearing for Carnatic musician T M Krishna, immediately objected to the expression and repeatedly asked Mehta to withdraw it.“Law-making is as per the Constitution. Law-making cannot be as per the Naxalites idea,” news agency PTI quoted Mehta saying. His remarks came after Muralidhar questioned the manner in which an amendment relating to the national song had been enacted.“The solicitor must withdraw the expression he just used now. This is going live. I don't want an expression of the solicitor going live. I strongly object. Let the Solicitor repeat the expression he used,” Muralidhar said.Mehta maintained that he was responding to Muralidhar’s objection to the decision-making process and said Parliament had enacted the law in accordance with the Constitution.“I do not want anyone to question...he says he is objecting to the decision-making. It is as per the Constitution,” the solicitor general said.Muralidhar continued to press for a withdrawal of the remark.“He started it. Why is the Solicitor using this kind of an expression? This does not behove a law officer. I have never heard a law officer using this expression,” Muralidhar said.“You cannot challenge the Constitution,” Mehta responded.Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the exchange was creating “unnecessary tension and emotion”, while Chief Justice Surya Kant intervened and said the bench was examining only the legal issue of constitutional interpretation.“Decorum is expected of law officers,” Muralidhar said.The bench later sought the Centre’s response to Krishna’s petition challenging penal provisions relating to Vande Mataram. It also asked the government to keep in mind a 1986 judgment that protected children from penal action if they did not sing the national anthem.Muralidhar, however, raised the “Naxalites” remark again after the order was dictated and sought to place his protest on record.“The learned solicitor used an expression which does not behove a law officer. I have to register my strong protest,” he said.Justice Bagchi replied, “We have not taken note of the comments. We restrict ourselves to the Constitutional issue.”Mehta said he was not apologetic and repeated his position.“I can repeat what I said. He said he is objecting to the way in which the decision-making was done. Decision-making was by the Parliament. I said that is the constitutional way, and not what the Naxalites want. I am not sorry about it,” the solicitor general said.Muralidhar accused Mehta of “playing to the gallery” and again protested.“Your lordships will not encourage this from a law officer,” he said.“Save your arguments for the next date,” the CJI told him.Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, who was present in court for another matter, then intervened, saying, “To have a mind of one's own is not to be a Naxalite.”Justice Bagchi said that even if someone was labelled a Naxalite, that person would not lose their constitutional rights.Mehta clarified that he was not labelling any individual a Naxalite but was referring to an ideology.After Muralidhar left and the court moved to the next matter, Justice Bagchi returned to the issue while addressing Mehta.“I tell you, at least from my personal experience, we have continuously fought against extra-constitutional forces, both as members of the bar and of the bench. Our survival and our justification with the Constitution is to defeat these forces,” Justice Bagchi said.He stressed the importance of constitutional courts and due process, saying even people accused of terrorism were entitled to equal constitutional rights and fair trials.“Why will people come to courts and not to kangaroo courts? There are kangaroo courts. Constitutional courts have the respect and credibility. Why? Because we feel, even alleged terrorists, must have equal rights,” Justice Bagchi said.Mehta reiterated that he was referring to people who did not believe in constitutional decision-making.“Solicitor, we have not taken note of the comments,” Justice Bagchi said. Join conversation View All Comments → Share your thoughts in the comments Insightful Agree Disagree Skeptical Concerning Promising Worth Reading Big Development Post Comment Be respectful · TOI community guidelines “I don't know why he took it personally,” Mehta said. What was the Vande Mataram case about? The bench, comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, was hearing Krishna’s petition challenging penal protection given to Vande Mataram.During the hearing, Muralidhar argued that the amendment had been enacted without adequate public discussion or efforts to build a broader national consensus.“Ideally, these things should evolve as the building up of a public opinion,” he said, arguing against a “top down approach” to law-making.The court sought the Centre’s response to the plea and asked the government to consider the 1986 judgment concerning the national anthem while responding to the petition.
Airport operators’ ownership plan under review
The government will assess the “pros and cons” of allowing airport operators to own stakes in airlines and adopt a balanced approach, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said. He stressed the need for more airlines to meet rising travel demand, while noting that no decision has been taken on the proposal. Naidu also said India should aim for more than 350 airports and at least five airlines operating 100 aircraft each.
Telangana Ministers leave for Karnataka to seek release of water to Jurala
Telangana Animal Husbandry Minister Vakiti Srihari, Excise and Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao and MLAs Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy, Madhusudhan Reddy and Megha Reddy left for Bengaluru to meet Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and seek release of water to Jurala. The delegation is expected to request Mr. Shivakumar to facilitate the release of water in phases so that irrigation and drinking water requirements in the Palamuru region can be met. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday (September 22, 2026), Mr. Srihari said the government was taking into account the available water, drinking water requirements, anticipated inflows and the prevailing rainfall situation before deciding on water releases from Jurala. “Providing water to farmers is our responsibility. At the same time, the government has a responsibility to protect drinking water requirements. Releasing all the available water at once and creating a drinking water problem in the coming months cannot be a responsible policy,” he said. The Minister said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, his ministerial colleagues and elected representatives from the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district were in constant touch with the Karnataka government on increasing inflows into Jurala. He said the government was prepared to release water to farmers in phases as soon as the inflows improved and appealed to farmers not to panic.
2.06 crore voter roll exclusions in Maharashtra 'alarming', says Congress; seeks probe
In a letter to Chief Electoral Officer S. Chockalingam, the Opposition party raised objections to the ongoing SIR in the State, saying a large number of voters could face disenfranchisement and sought a two-month extension of the claims and objections period
'Look what happened in Bengal': Cong hits back after SP's 'only Akhilesh' pitch
Who will take on BJP in UP? SP-Congress spar over leadership role NEW DELHI: The war of words between Congress and Samajwadi Party took a fresh turn over who will lead the fight against the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.The latest disagreement started after SP MP Iqra Hasan said Congress "can't achieve much on its own" and claimed that party chief Akhilesh Yadav was the only leader who could defeat the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. Congress leaders quickly pushed back.Congress MP Imran Masood said, "She (Iqra Hasan) also cannot do it alone. What is the problem with that? Iqra is our child. She is like our niece." "People from the Trinamool Congress were also saying a lot. Look at what happened in Bengal. Let us move together, and we will remain in peace," he added. Congress leader Udit Raj also questioned Iqra's claim, pointing to the SP's performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha election."That may be her (Iqra Hasan's) own statement, but we can understand this through an example: when the alliance was formed in 2024, the Samajwadi Party won 36 seats. What was its performance before that? The Samajwadi Party had only six MPs in 2019. So, in politics, one plus one does not always make two; one plus one can make eleven. Therefore, I think she should correct her understanding," Udit Raj told IANS.The BJP has also joined the exchange, questioning whether the opposition parties can stay united. Uttar Pradesh BJP vice-president Neeraj Singh said, "Congress will not be able to achieve anything on its own across the country. And even if it forms an alliance with the Samajwadi Party or any other party in Uttar Pradesh, the people of Uttar Pradesh have already formed an alliance in their hearts with the BJP government. Join conversation View All Comments → Share your thoughts in the comments Insightful Agree Disagree Skeptical Concerning Promising Worth Reading Big Development Post Comment Be respectful · TOI community guidelines "Iqra had made the remarks on Monday, saying, "It is an absolutely foolish statement. I think that if there is anyone in Uttar Pradesh who can defeat the BJP, it is only Akhilesh Yadav. Congress will not be able to do anything on its own. If the alliance remains, it will be very good; if it does not, it is a loss for them (Congress), not for us." The exchange comes as both parties prepare for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly election. While the BJP is preparing keep its foot strong in the state to have third-term in country's largest state assembly.
Vande Mataram row: Karnataka Governor asks Chief Minister to reconsider GO restricting rendition to two stanzas
The issue is not merely one of administrative convenience but concerns conformity with national prescribed protocol governing national symbol, argued the Governor in his letter to the Chief Minister
UN General Assembly live: Trump, Qatar emir to speak as Iran war dominates
First day of high-level meeting to kick off with speeches from world leaders, including from Brazil, US, Turkiye, Qatar.
Election to four Karnataka Legislative Council seats announced
The polling is being held to Karnataka South East Graduates’, Karnataka West Graduates’, Karnataka North East Teachers’ and Bangalore Teachers’.
Supreme Court says Delhi SIR notices seem ‘machine-generated’ and mechanically issued
The court asked the Election Commission’s counsel if the people to whom these notices were sent at least know what logical discrepancies they have to prove incorrect; petitioners argue that the term ‘logical discrepancies’ was not defined by the ECI
I cannot be held responsible for all social media posts by DMK handles, functionaries: Stalin tells Madras High Court
Denies the charge of having instructed or approved DMK IT Wing’s X post, which reportedly claimed that a narcotic drugs case accused John Britto was Minister Aadhav Arjuna’s relative
Before becoming Delhi CM, Rekha Gupta was DUSU president on a scooter; this Congress leader was her rival
In 1995-96, Rekha Gupta became general secretary of DUSU. The following year, in 1996-97, she was elected president of the Delhi University Students’ Union.