Rahul Gandhi Slams Modi Govt: Says 'India Is a Dead Economy' Except for PM and FM 2
In a sharp political attack, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday claimed that everyone except Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman acknowledges that India is a “dead economy.” He alleged that the BJP-led government has systematically destroyed the nation’s economic, defence, and foreign policies.
Speaking to reporters at the Parliament House complex, Gandhi reacted to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments calling India and Russia “dead economies,” and announcing a 25 per cent tariff along with other penalties on India. “He is right,” Gandhi said. “Everybody knows this except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. I’m glad President Trump has stated a fact.”
Gandhi also took a swipe at India’s foreign policy, suggesting that the Prime Minister blindly follows U.S. interests. “A trade deal will happen, Trump will define it, and Modi will do what he tells him to,” he remarked.
Further criticizing the government, Gandhi alleged that economic policy has been manipulated to benefit industrialist Gautam Adani. He questioned the effectiveness of India’s global diplomacy, pointing to the lack of international condemnation against Pakistan and rising Chinese aggression. “How are they running the country? They simply don’t know how,” he said.
Sudden Brakes on Highways Are Negligence, Rules Supreme Court in Landmark Road Safety Verdict 4
In a landmark ruling that may shape future road safety norms, the Supreme Court of India has held that abruptly halting a vehicle on a highway without warning constitutes negligence. The apex court observed that a driver must provide clear signals before stopping, especially on high-speed roads, where such actions can trigger catastrophic consequences.
The judgment was delivered by a bench comprising Justices Suddhanshu Dhulia and Aravind Kumar, who were hearing the plea of S Mohammed Hakim, an engineering student from Coimbatore. Hakim’s life changed forever on January 7, 2017, when his motorcycle collided with a car that had stopped suddenly on the highway. The impact threw him onto the road, where he was tragically run over by an oncoming bus, resulting in the amputation of his left leg.
The car driver defended his action, citing a sudden vomiting sensation experienced by his pregnant wife. However, the court found the justification unreasonable, stating that “on a highway, high speed is expected, and it is a driver’s duty to signal if they intend to stop.” The bench ruled that the driver bore 50% liability for the accident, rejecting his explanation as insufficient and irresponsible.
While acknowledging that Hakim lacked a valid driving license and had not maintained adequate distance, the court limited his contributory negligence to 20%, noting that the root cause of the accident remained the car’s sudden braking.
The bus driver was held 30% liable. The Supreme Court recalculated the total compensation to be ₹1.14 crore, deducting 20% due to the victim’s contributory negligence. The court directed the insurance companies of both vehicles to pay the remaining amount within four weeks.
This decision overturned earlier findings by both the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, which had absolved the car driver, and the Madras High Court, which had assigned 40% liability to the car driver and 30% to Hakim.
Sadhvi Pragya, Six Others Acquitted in 2008 Malegaon Blast Case After 17-Year Trial 6
In a landmark verdict 17 years after the deadly Malegaon blast, a special NIA court in Mumbai on Thursday acquitted all seven accused, including BJP leader and former MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, citing lack of conclusive evidence and procedural lapses. The 2008 explosion, which occurred in the communally sensitive town of Malegaon in Maharashtra’s Nashik district, claimed six lives and left over 100 injured.
Delivering the judgment, Special NIA Judge A.K. Lahoti stated that while the prosecution established that a bomb blast occurred — involving explosives allegedly fitted to a motorcycle — it failed to prove the critical detail that the bomb was actually placed on that specific motorcycle. The explosion happened near Bhikku Chowk on the night of September 29, during the holy month of Ramzan, just before Navratri, in a town with a sizeable Muslim population.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which took over the probe, had charged seven individuals: Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Major (Retd) Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, and Sameer Kulkarni. The court, however, ruled that the evidence against them was insufficient.
“There is no evidence that explosives were stored or assembled at Lt Col Purohit’s residence,” the judge observed. He also noted that no proper sketch of the scene was drawn during the investigation, no fingerprints or digital data were recovered from the site, and that the motorcycle’s chassis number was unclear, undermining claims of its ownership.
In Sadhvi Pragya’s case, the court said the prosecution failed to establish that the bike was in her possession immediately before the blast. Furthermore, the judge dismissed the application of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the case, declaring both sanction orders as defective and non-compliant with legal procedures.
The accused were charged under various sections of the UAPA and Indian Penal Code, with the trial beginning in 2018 and concluding in April 2025. The verdict brings closure to a prolonged legal saga, highlighting critical shortcomings in investigation and prosecution.
India Safe from Tsunami Threat After Massive 8.7 Magnitude Earthquake in Russia: ITEWC 8
India remains unaffected by the massive 8.7 magnitude earthquake that struck off the East Coast of Kamchatka in Russia early Wednesday, according to the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC). In a morning bulletin, the centre confirmed that based on pre-run model scenarios, there is no tsunami threat to the Indian coastline.
“No threat to India,” the ITEWC bulletin stated, reassuring coastal communities and halting any immediate concern. It also added that no further bulletins would be issued unless new information becomes available.
The ITEWC operates under the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) based in Pragati Nagar, Hyderabad.
The quake, among the strongest recorded globally in recent years, triggered small tsunami waves in Japan and Alaska. Warnings were also issued for Hawaii, parts of North and Central America, and several Pacific islands extending toward New Zealand. Despite its intensity, the impact on India remains negligible as per official assessments.
Congress Slams PM Modi for Silence on Trump's Ceasefire Claims: "On a Very Weak Wicket" 10
The Congress party has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of deliberately refusing to unequivocally deny former US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Citing over 30 such statements by Trump across various countries, the Congress alleged that Modi is “on a very weak wicket” and has “much to cover up.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the prime minister’s silence, stating, “He doesn’t even have the guts to call Trump a liar. In his two-hour-long speech in Parliament, he didn’t mention Trump even once. It seems there’s something fishy.” Kharge reiterated India’s long-standing policy against third-party mediation in Indo-Pak affairs and demanded that the government clarify why Trump’s version has gone unchallenged.
On Tuesday, Trump once again claimed — while speaking aboard Air Force One — that he played a key role in halting hostilities between India and Pakistan. Sharing a video of Trump’s comments, Congress communications head Jairam Ramesh said, “Why is the PM still refusing to categorically deny what Trump has said now 30 times? It’s because he has something to hide.”
Congress media department head Pawan Khera drew a sharp analogy, saying, “Trump is coiled around Modi like a snake, hissing bitter truths. Rahul Gandhi gave Modi a perfect opportunity to wriggle out—just say Trump is lying. But Modi’s refusal speaks volumes.”
In the Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi dared Modi to state plainly in Parliament that “Donald Trump is lying.” Modi, however, refrained from addressing Trump’s remarks directly. He only said no foreign leader had asked India to halt Operation Sindoor, and blamed the Congress for failing to back Indian soldiers during the crisis.
Post-debate, Rahul Gandhi reiterated his point, saying, “Trump has claimed 29 times that he helped secure a ceasefire, and yet Narendra Modi didn’t once respond to it.”
Since May 10, when Trump declared on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a ceasefire after mediation by the US, he has consistently repeated the claim. However, the Indian government maintains that the ceasefire was the result of direct discussions between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two nations.
Last month, in a 35-minute phone call with Trump, Modi reportedly made it clear that India has never accepted and will never accept third-party mediation. The call came days after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. The operation targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India and Pakistan agreed to cease hostilities on May 10 following four days of cross-border strikes.
Sonia Gandhi Leads Seventh Day of Opposition Protest Against Bihar Voter Roll Revision 12
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, along with several MPs from the INDIA bloc, staged a protest in the Parliament House complex on Wednesday for the seventh consecutive day, demanding the rollback of the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
Before the day’s parliamentary proceedings began, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other opposition MPs gathered near the Makar Dwar entrance, holding placards that read “Stop SIR” and standing behind a large banner that declared “SIR – Loktantra Pe Vaar” (SIR – An Attack on Democracy). The coordinated protest was aimed at drawing national attention to what the opposition alleges is a deliberate attempt by the Election Commission to disenfranchise voters in Bihar ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Leaders from Congress, DMK, TMC, Samajwadi Party, RJD, and Left parties united in protest, raising slogans and demanding a debate on the issue in both Houses of Parliament. The opposition maintains that the EC’s voter roll revision could significantly impact electoral fairness and transparency, calling the move unconstitutional and politically motivated.
PM Modi Mocks Congress: No World Leader Asked India to Stop Operation Sindoor 14
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday declared in the Lok Sabha that no global leader asked India to halt Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Taking a sharp dig at the Congress, he accused the opposition of siding with terrorists and echoing narratives crafted across the border in Pakistan.
Responding to over 16 hours of debate on the terror attack and subsequent military action, Modi rejected claims that foreign leaders, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, mediated a ceasefire. The Prime Minister revealed he had told U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on May 9 that if Pakistan initiated an attack, India would respond with a far stronger offensive — and did just that.
Modi hailed the Indian military’s success in Operation Sindoor as a “vijayotsav” (victory celebration), claiming that India crippled Pakistan’s terror infrastructure between May 9 and 10. Over 1,000 Pakistani drones and missiles were destroyed mid-air, he added, highlighting India’s technological prowess and readiness for modern warfare.
Taking aim at the Congress, Modi said the opposition was shedding tears for terrorists while the world supported India’s right to defend itself. “Terrorists are crying, their handlers are crying, and some people here are crying watching them,” he said, alluding to Congress leaders.
He accused the Congress of importing issues from Pakistan and questioned the loyalty of opposition leaders who doubted the intelligence linking Pakistani nationals to the Pahalgam attack — a reference to former Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s controversial remarks.
The Prime Minister asserted that Operation Sindoor achieved its objectives with 100% success, neutralizing terror masterminds and destroying their camps, both in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and deeper within Pakistani territory. He said even Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations had called India pleading, “Bas karo, bahut mara… stop the attack.”
Modi slammed the Congress for politicizing national security and reminded the House of the party’s past blunders, including the ceding of Aksai Chin and the signing of the Indus Waters Treaty. “Before asking why PoK hasn’t been taken back yet, Congress must answer—who let it go in the first place,” he said.
He concluded by saying Operation Sindoor showcased India’s indigenous defence capabilities and boosted international interest in Indian-made weaponry.
Akhilesh Yadav Slams Govt, Calls Operation Sindoor a Symbol of Intelligence Failure 16
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the central government, calling the launch of Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam attack a glaring symbol of its intelligence failure. Speaking during a debate in the Lok Sabha, Yadav questioned the government’s decision-making, particularly asking why India ended its conflict with Pakistan so abruptly and under whose influence the ceasefire was initiated.
Yadav, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, said the tragic Pahalgam incident was a result of a severe intelligence lapse and criticized the government for failing to prevent such attacks. “Who will take responsibility for the intelligence lapse in the Pahalgam attack?” he asked, stressing that such an incident should never have occurred.
He further expressed concern over India’s foreign policy, claiming it has “completely collapsed.” Yadav didn’t mince words as he referred to China as a “monster” that, according to him, continues to devour both Indian territory and markets.
The Samajwadi Party chief argued that the cost of this intelligence failure has been the loss of precious lives and the exposure of deep vulnerabilities in India’s border strategy.
Gold Heist at Unguarded SBI Branch in Andhra: Thieves Flee with Rs 38 Lakh Cash and 10 Kg Gold 18
In a daring burglary that has exposed serious security lapses, unidentified thieves looted ₹38 lakh in cash and 10 kilograms of gold from a State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Thumukunta village, Sri Sathyasai district of Andhra Pradesh. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. on Sunday but came to light only on Monday, according to Hindupur Sub-Divisional Police Officer KV Mahesh.
The branch, shockingly operating without a security guard for the past four years, was targeted through a large, weakly-secured window that the culprits easily pried open. Surveillance footage initially captured one suspect entering the bank, who later disabled the CCTV system. Investigators believe more people joined him during the two-hour-long heist inside the bank premises.
“There were prior warnings,” Mahesh said, revealing that the local Inspector had cautioned the branch about its inadequate security setup just three months ago. Despite this, no action was taken. The vulnerable window reportedly had flimsy grills that could be bent by hand—highlighting the sheer negligence.
Police have registered a case and launched a manhunt to trace the suspects behind the audacious robbery.
Pahalgam Terror Mastermind Eliminated in Operation Mahadev, Amit Shah Confirms Justice Delivered 20
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that all three terrorists behind the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack have been neutralised by Indian security forces. Identified as Suleman (alias Asif), Jibran, and Hamza Afghani—all Pakistani nationals affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba—the trio was gunned down in a high-intensity encounter by Army para commandos on the outskirts of Srinagar.
“Justice has been served,” Shah declared during a debate on Operation Sindoor, a counterterrorism offensive launched in response to the April 22 massacre at Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam, which left 26 civilians, including Hindu and Christian tourists, dead.
According to officials, the Army launched Operation Mahadev after intercepting satellite phone signals linked to the Pahalgam attackers. The elite 4 Para unit and personnel from the 24 Rashtriya Rifles located the group in a forested area, leading to a prolonged firefight.
Among the slain was Suleman, believed to be the mastermind of the Pahalgam killings. His associate Jibran was also allegedly involved in the deadly attack on the Sonamarg Tunnel project in October last year, where seven, including a doctor, were killed. The third terrorist, Hamza Afghani, was also a key operative.
During the operation, security forces recovered one M4 carbine rifle, two AK rifles, and other munitions. The terrorists’ bodies have been handed over to the local police for identification and further formalities as per standard procedures.
Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Zone), V K Birdi, confirmed the success of the long-drawn encounter, while the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Three terrorists have been neutralised in an intense firefight. Operation continues.”
Additional reinforcements have been deployed amid inputs about more terrorists in the vicinity, as the forces continue their crackdown on cross-border terror infrastructure.
