NEW DELHI: Indian police are investigating allegations of embezzlement at a temple in the country&#39;s north that has been a focal point of Prime Minster Narendra Modi&#39;s Hindu-first politics, a top state official said Friday. The Ram Mandir temple in Uttar Pradesh state, built on grounds where <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bjps-social-media-post-on-babri-masjid-highlights-antimuslim-bias" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Babri mosque</a> stood for centuries before being torn down by Hindu zealots, was inaugurated in 2024 with great fanfare by Modi himself.&nbsp;Cash syphoned of&nbsp;Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Y<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/outrage-after-hindutva-goons-threaten-to-demolish-delhis-jama-masjid" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">ogi Adityanath</a> said that a Special Investigations Team (SIT) had been set up to look into alleged syphoning of cash offerings made by devotees. &quot;We have set up an SIT inquiry on the recommendation of the trust&quot; the administers the temple, said Adityanath, a firebrand Hindu monk, at a public function. &quot;If anyone has any documentary proof, please provide it to the SIT,&quot; he added.&nbsp;Over $20MThe scale of the alleged embezzlement is unclear but opposition parties and local media reports say it could amount to more than $20 million. The construction of the temple cost an estimated $240 million, all of which was sourced entirely from public donations, according to the project&#39;s backers. According to The Indian Express newspaper, daily offerings from devotees, average around $10,000, going up to $60,000 on auspicious days. Devout Hindus believe that the god Ram was born in the town of Ayodhya -- home to the temple -- more than 7,000 years ago, but that the Babri mosque was built over his birthplace by a 16th-century Muslim emperor.&nbsp;Mosque&rsquo;s demolition&nbsp;India&#39;s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party -- then in the opposition -- played an instrumental role in public campaigning that eventually led to the mosque&#39;s demolition in 1992. The destruction helped propel the party, and eventually Modi, as unstoppable electoral juggernauts, displacing the secularist Congress party that had governed India almost without interruption since independence from Britain.

India

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says a Special Investigations Team has been set up to look into alleged syphoning of cash offerings made by devotees.

India probes embezzlement allegations at temple built on Babri mosque

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ISLAMABAD: Indian National Congress, India&rsquo;s main opposition party, has announced the first phase of a nationwide campaign against alleged examination paper leaks, recruitment irregularities, unemployment and what it described as the Modi government&#39;s failure to safeguard the interests of young people. In a statement issued on Saturday, Congress General Secretary K. C. Venugopal said the campaign would be launched under the leadership of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 897px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065639460566667543&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=88694f70cb01be24fd9760e0e89ab4a730e54ed9&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>According to the party, Rahul Gandhi will address a series of large student conventions beginning in Kota on June 17, followed by events in Allahabad on July 10, Patna on July 11 and Delhi on July 14. The gatherings are expected to bring together students, job aspirants, educators and youth organizations affected by examination controversies and employment challenges. The Congress said the campaign aims to highlight the difficulties faced by millions of young Indians due to repeated paper leak incidents, rising examination costs and concerns over transparency in recruitment and education systems.&nbsp; The party said it would mobilize students through its affiliated organizations, including the National Students&#39; Union of India (NSUI) and Youth Congress, using campus outreach, social media campaigns, public meetings and direct engagement with students across the country. As part of the movement, Congress reiterated demands previously raised by Rahul Gandhi, including decentralization of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), abolition of examination fees, stricter legal action against those involved in paper leak cases and greater accountability from government officials. The party also renewed its call for the resignation of India&#39;s education minister over the handling of examination controversies.&nbsp; The campaign comes amid heightened political debate in India over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET medical entrance test. Congress leaders have repeatedly accused the government of failing to prevent paper leaks and protect students&#39; interests, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has rejected the allegations. Congress said it would also seek a broader discussion in Parliament on issues affecting the country&#39;s youth, including employment opportunities, examination reforms and equal access to education.

Rahul Gandhi, Indian Leader of the Opposition. (Screenshot: X/ @RahulGandhi)

India's opposition Congress party has launched a nationwide campaign led by Rahul Gandhi against paper leaks, exam irregularities and unemployment. The campaign will include student conventions across major cities and seeks accountability over examination scandals and youth-related issues.

India's opposition launches nationwide campaign over paper leaks, unemployment

ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of residents in Surat&rsquo;s Muslim-majority Nasirnagar locality have been left scrambling for shelter after nearly 100 houses were demolished in what locals described as a &ldquo;ghost demolition&rdquo; carried out without clear official accountability, The Observer Post reported on Wednesday. Nasirnagar, Surat, is an area largely inhabited by working-class Muslim families. Residents told the publication that bulldozers arrived with police protection and razed dozens of homes, leaving families homeless overnight. According to local accounts, many residents claimed they were not given adequate notice before the operation. The demolition reportedly affected around 95 houses and displaced hundreds of people, including women, children and elderly residents. Several families said household belongings, documents and personal possessions were buried under the rubble. The controversy deepened after multiple government departments reportedly denied authorizing the demolition. Rights group Indian American Muslim Council flagged the incident on Thursday in a post on the social media platform X. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2064766219593425378&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=ed944e922fd35313ddeef5d28bdbfc89aa71021f&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Residents and activists questioned how such a large-scale operation could have been conducted without a formal order from any authority. According to Indian media, officials from the Surat Municipal Corporation and other agencies distanced themselves from responsibility for the action. The lack of clarity has fuelled allegations of administrative irregularities and demands for an independent investigation. Affected families said they were struggling to find temporary accommodation and were relying on relatives, neighbors and community organizations for support. Local activists alleged that the operation disproportionately affected a Muslim-majority neighborhood and demanded transparency regarding the decision-making process. Community members also raised concerns about the absence of rehabilitation arrangements for those displaced. Residents said they had repeatedly sought answers from officials regarding who ordered the demolition and under what legal provisions it was carried out. Rights advocates called for authorities to release all relevant documents related to the operation. They also demanded compensation for families who lost homes and property during the demolition. The incident has drawn wider attention to concerns surrounding demolition drives and housing rights in several parts of India. Authorities had not publicly clarified responsibility for the operation at the time of reporting. For many displaced families in Nasirnagar, uncertainty continues as they seek accountability and answers over the destruction of their homes.

Nearly 100 homes in Surat’s Muslim-majority Nasirnagar demolished, hundreds of residents displaced; authorities deny ordering the operation, prompting demands for accountability, compensation and an independent investigation.

Muslim families displaced after nearly 100 houses razed in Surat, India

ISLAMABAD: Preliminary findings of investigations into the deadly fire that killed around two dozen people in a Delhi hotel indicated that the building was operating well beyond its approved capacity, with authorities turning a blind eye to the irregularity, reported Indian media. Officials investigating the incident told the media that the five-storey property in Hauz Rani was registered under Delhi&#39;s Bed &amp; Breakfast (B&amp;B) scheme and approved for only six rooms. However, initial findings suggest the establishment was allegedly operating nearly 25 rooms at the time of the fire. Investigators are now examining how such a significant expansion went undetected and whether the premises had effectively transformed from a residential home-stay into a commercial lodging facility while retaining its B&amp;B registration. Meanwhile, Delhi Police arrested the owner of the hotel, Lavkesh Bajaj, who had escaped from the site on seeing the fire and the burning of people. Delayed responseComplaints regarding delayed responses from the fire brigade and other rescue services also came to light. In a video posted by the President of the Aam Admi Party, Delhi Saurabh Bharadwaj, on X, people could be heard saying that the fire brigade is very late, has not arrived.&quot; <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 945px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2062120468069687569&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=46adb72edaf857712d4b131f3b910bc1848d8bde&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> BJP chief minister is yet to visit&nbsp;Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has come under criticism from the Opposition over her absence from the site of the devastating hotel fire. The chief minister, however, ordered an inquiry into the incident and promised strict action against those responsible. While some opposition party leaders visited the site, Chief Minister Gupta remained away from the location.&nbsp; Her absence, however, drew criticism from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)&#39;s Delhi unit Chief Saurabh Bharadwaj. In a post on social media platform X, Bharadwaj wrote: &quot; Twenty-one innocent lives brutally snatched away in the Malviya Nagar fire, while eyewitnesses again accuse the Delhi Government for the late response of fire brigades. Delhi is shattered, furious, and in tears. Yet CM Rekha Gupta hasn&#39;t shown her face at the spot, hasn&#39;t met a single grieving family, and offers only cosmetic statements from her ivory tower...&quot;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 744px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2062208995151216976&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=46adb72edaf857712d4b131f3b910bc1848d8bde&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> <div style="align-items: center; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: row; flex-shrink: 1; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; z-index: 0; max-width: 100%;"><a href="https://x.com/Saurabh_MLAgk" style="align-items: stretch; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 1; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; z-index: 0; cursor: pointer; outline-style: none; max-width: 100%;"> </a></div><div style='align-items: stretch; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: row; flex-shrink: 1; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; z-index: 0; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal;'> <div style="align-items: baseline; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-basis: auto; flex-direction: row; flex-shrink: 1; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; z-index: 0;">Questions Over Compliance Monitoring</div></div>According to an NDTV report, the incident has raised serious concerns about how authorities monitor compliance after granting approvals. Officials familiar with the process acknowledged that inspections are typically conducted during registration, while follow-up checks are limited and often depend on complaints being filed.&nbsp; The apparent violation has intensified criticism of enforcement agencies and prompted questions about the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms. Investigators are also looking into reports that rooms at the property were advertised on online booking platforms despite exceeding approved limits. Media outlet The Page Today reported, &quot;The blaze originated in an unauthorised hotel operating in the basement. BSES promptly cut power supply, aiding containment. Local MLA expressed grief and assured strict investigation and action against violations. B&amp;B Scheme Faces Fresh QuestionsThe B&amp;B framework was introduced to promote affordable accommodation in residential neighbourhoods. Under the rules, a property can operate a maximum of six double-bedrooms and must comply with fire safety, ventilation and infrastructure requirements. The Hauz Rani case has renewed concerns that some establishments may be functioning more like commercial hotels without being subjected to the same level of regulatory scrutiny. Citywide Crackdown OrderedIn response to the tragedy, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu ordered a month-long citywide inspection drive targeting hotels, lodges, nursing homes, coaching centres, restaurants and other commercial establishments. Joint teams comprising district officials, police, municipal authorities and fire service personnel will conduct inspections to verify fire safety compliance, emergency exits, water storage facilities and firefighting equipment. Authorities have warned that establishments found violating safety norms or operating beyond sanctioned capacities could face closure, sealing and legal action.

Criticism of BJP Delhi government on social and traditional media for criticising the BJP government for flouting the building code by-laws, resulting in loss of 21 precious lives in a hotel fire.

Delhi fire tragedy exposes regulatory failures as illegal expansion allegations surface

DELHI: The creator of India&#39;s satirical &quot;Cockroach People&#39;s Party&quot; vowed on Monday to lead a protest in New Delhi to take the viral social media campaign to the streets. The parody &quot;Cockroach Janta Party&quot; (CJP), echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has won millions of online followers on social media sites since its launch last month. It was set up after Chief Justice Surya Kant reportedly called young people who criticized the government &quot;cockroaches&quot; and &quot;parasites&quot; during a hearing. Kant later said his comments were taken out of context and that he was referring to those who use fake degrees.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2061351455995416776&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=46b7f21cc48789b1cb2b73aeaf0060348b8c69be&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Abhijeet Dipke, the 30-year-old Boston University graduate behind the online movement, said on social media platform X that he would return to India to lead a &quot;peaceful protest&quot; on Saturday. He called for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who has faced criticism over alleged irregularities in several key examinations. &quot;Students have committed suicide, and the hard work of tens of thousands of students has been destroyed,&quot; Dipke said in a video message posted online. &#39;For the youth&#39; Social media handles of the CJP, which calls itself &quot;a political front for the youth, by the youth, for the youth&quot;, have been blocked repeatedly in India. Its Instagram handle has more than 22 million followers -- more than double the BJP&#39;s 9.5 million followers on the same site, as well as the main opposition Congress Party&#39;s 13.9 million followers. Dipke called on followers to meet him at Delhi airport before accompanying him to seek police permission for a demonstration. &quot;My friends and family are afraid that I will be arrested right at the airport and then sent to jail,&quot; he said. &quot;But I still hope that our country is still a democracy today and that we will be granted permission to protest peacefully.&quot; Critics have repeatedly accused Modi&#39;s government of using state institutions to stifle dissent, a charge it rejects.

Creator of India's satirical 'Cockroach People's Party,' Abhijeet Dipke, says on Monday that he will return to India to lead a protest in the capital, taking the viral social media campaign to the streets.

India's viral 'Cockroach' party founder plans street protest

NEW DELHI: Hundreds of people in India&#39;s border region with Bangladesh have fled to the frontier, police said Wednesday, after the government ordered the construction of detention centres for undocumented Bangladeshi migrants and Rohingya refugees. Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept to power in West Bengal state in early May with a hardline policy to &quot;detect, delete and deport&quot; illegal migrants. India&#39;s right-wing have long argued that illegal migration is a national security threat, and warned of changing demography in India&#39;s border states. West Bengal government&#39;s last week ordered the setting up of &quot;holding centres&quot; for &quot;apprehended foreigners&quot;, singling out both Bangladeshis and Rohingya. The decision has fuelled anxiety among West Bengal&#39;s roughly 35 million Muslims, many of whom share linguistic and cultural ties with neighbouring Bangladesh. Indian police officer Shirshendu Pati, from the Swarupnagar Police Station about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the Bangladesh border, said streams of people had arrived since Tuesday. &quot;People who say they are from Bangladesh and want to return home have been coming here since yesterday,&quot; Pati told AFP. &#39;Holding centre&#39;Pati said that the process had &quot;been peaceful and smooth so far&quot;, and they received about 200 people on Tuesday and 40 people early Wednesday. &quot;While we verify their identities and complete the necessary paperwork, all of them are in a holding centre,&quot; he said, noting they will be handed to India&#39;s border security force and sent to Bangladesh. &quot;The local administration is catering to all their needs including food, water and lodging,&quot; Pati added. On Tuesday, Home Minister Amit Shah announced the formation of a special committee on demographic change. &quot;Illegal migration and other reasons for unnatural demography change are a big challenge for any country&#39;s present and future,&quot; Shah said in a speech. &quot;Demographic change is a serious issue linked not only to our sovereignty but also to national security, law and order (and) profound changes in social structure,&quot; Shah added. Top BJP members have previously referred to Bangladeshi migrants as &quot;termites&quot; and &quot;infiltrators&quot;. Critics say BJP&#39;s rhetoric and policies have added to the unease and marginalisation of India&#39;s estimated 200 million Muslims, accusing the party of conflating religious identity with illegal migration. The West Bengal centres have drawn particular concern because of the state&#39;s porous border with Bangladesh and its long history of migration. Relations between India and Muslim-majority Bangladesh soured after a 2024 revolution in Dhaka ended the autocratic rule of then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, an ally of New Delhi who subsequently fled to India. The detention order&#39;s apparent inclusion of Rohingya refugees -- &nbsp;a mainly Muslim group who fled Myanmar during a brutal military crackdown in 2017 -- has also drawn criticism.

Bangladesh

Hundreds of people in India's border region with Bangladesh flee to the frontier after the government ordered the construction of detention centres for undocumented Bangladeshi migrants and Rohingya refugees.

Hundreds flee India migrant crackdown towards Bangladesh

DELHI: Indian authorities have sought to block the social media handle of the satirical &quot;Cockroach People&#39;s Party&quot;, formed last week in response to comments from the country&#39;s top judge seen as critical of young people. The parody &quot;Cockroach Janta Party&quot; (CJP), echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was created after Chief Justice Surya Kant reportedly called youth involved in criticism of the government &quot;cockroaches&quot; and &quot;parasites&quot; during a hearing. He later said his comments, which spawned a slew of social media sites, were taken out of context and that he was referring to those who use fake degrees. Abhijeet Dipke, 30, an Indian student at Boston University in the United States and a political communications strategist who formerly worked with the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), created the fictional party online on May 16. Its popularity soared, using the slogan &quot;a political front for the youth, by the youth, for the youth&quot;. 20 million followersOn X, it gained 218,000 followers. It was soon blocked in India before a new account was created. That X handle, titled &quot;Cockroach is Back&quot;, rapidly generated nearly 150,000 followers within hours, alongside multiple parody &quot;branch&quot; handles. India tightly regulates social media content, asking platforms to withhold accounts or remove &quot;objectionable&quot; content. The party&#39;s Instagram handle, still online in India, has nearly 20 million followers, more than double the BJP&#39;s 9 million followers on the same site, as well as the main opposition Congress Party&#39;s 13 million followers. &quot;The more you try to suppress us, the stronger we will rise,&quot; it posted on Friday. Dipke said in a post on Instagram that young Indians &quot;are far more mature, aware, and politically conscious than many give them credit for&quot;. &#39;Peaceful and democratic means&#39; &quot;They understand their constitutional rights and will express their dissent through peaceful and democratic means,&quot; he added. There was no immediate comment from the information technology ministry, but Indian media reported the X handle was blocked on the recommendation of the internal intelligence agency. The Times of India dedicated its editorial on Friday to the CJP. &quot;Roaches... scurry fearlessly into every nook and cranny, and are nigh impossible to dislodge, no matter how big the effort,&quot; it said. &quot;We dare say CJP can be serious competition for existing political parties.&quot;

Indian media report that the X handle of the satirical 'Cockroach People's Party', formed last week in response to comments from the country's top judge about young people, was blocked on the recommendation of the internal intelligence agency.

India seeks to stamp out viral 'Cockroach' youth party

ISLAMABAD: India&rsquo;s national medical entrance examination system has come under renewed scrutiny after the 2026 exam was cancelled over a major paper leak scandal that triggered arrests, protests and political accusations against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian media reported on Thursday.&nbsp; The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG), conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), is India&rsquo;s largest medical entrance examination and is taken by millions of students seeking admission to medical colleges. The exam leak has been linked to several deaths by suicide across the country, sparking enmasse protests, according to local media reports. The controversy erupted after investigators uncovered evidence that parts of the examination paper had allegedly been leaked before the May 3 test.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2054503708528914729&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=45e0dc866212ecc67dc924808ba0686663c25a73&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 785px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>The CBI has arrested at least five people in connection with the case and is investigating what officials described as a wider conspiracy involving multiple states.&nbsp; Reports said &ldquo;guess papers&rdquo; circulating before the exam allegedly matched large portions of the actual question paper. Following mounting outrage, the NTA cancelled the examination and announced a re-test scheduled for June 21.&nbsp; The scandal has triggered fierce political reactions, especially in Rajasthan, where opposition leaders accused the BJP government of delaying action despite early indications of a leak. Allegations against BJP According to The Wire and The Indian Express, Congress leaders alleged that individuals linked to the BJP&rsquo;s youth wing were connected to the racket.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2054600775964533236&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=45e0dc866212ecc67dc924808ba0686663c25a73&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 576px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Leader of Opposition of Rajasthan, Tika Ram Jully, questioned why authorities allegedly waited several days before registering a formal police complaint. Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot also accused the BJP government of attempting to suppress the issue while students&rsquo; futures were put at risk.&nbsp; The BJP has denied the allegations and accused the opposition of politicizing the scandal.&nbsp; The issue has also reignited criticism of the National Testing Agency, which has faced repeated controversies over examination management and allegations of irregularities in recent years.&nbsp; Student groups and opposition parties have demanded structural reforms, greater transparency and accountability in the conduct of national examinations.&nbsp; The controversy has sparked protests in several cities, with many students expressing frustration over uncertainty surrounding one of India&rsquo;s most competitive examinations.

India’s NEET-UG 2026 cancellation over an alleged paper leak has triggered arrests, protests and political accusations, with opposition parties demanding accountability and reforms in the national exam system.

BJP under fire after Indian medical exam paper leak

ISLAMABAD: A sexual harassment case involving the son of Indian Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has ignited significant political controversy in Telangana, The Wire reported on Tuesday. The complaint was filed by the family of a minor girl, who accused the minister&#39;s son, Bandi Sai Bageerath, of sexual harassment. Police registered the case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO), a stringent law dealing with crimes against minors. The issue has intensified political tensions, with opposition parties accusing the BJP of double standards on women&rsquo;s safety and child protection. Reports say investigators later examined the minor&rsquo;s statement and added more serious POCSO provisions, underlining the gravity of the allegations. Fair probe in doubtAccording to The Wire, the case is particularly sensitive because Bandi Sanjay is the Union minister of state in the home affairs ministry, which oversees law enforcement and internal security. Opposition leaders have questioned whether a fair probe is possible when the accused is the son of a powerful BJP leader. They have also accused the BJP of loudly raising women&rsquo;s safety issues against rivals while appearing defensive when allegations involve its own leaders or their families. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has reportedly directed police to ensure a swift and transparent investigation. Case politically motivated, claims BJP The BJP has rejected the allegations, writes The Wire, with Bandi Sanjay claiming the case is politically motivated and intended to damage his reputation. He has alleged a conspiracy and said a counter-complaint has been filed accusing others of extortion and entrapment. However, opposition parties argue that such claims should not be used to weaken or delay an investigation involving a minor. The case has now become a political flashpoint in Telangana, placing the BJP under pressure at a time when it presents itself as a party of strict law and order. As the probe continues, the key question is whether authorities can conduct an impartial investigation without political pressure. The outcome could affect public confidence in how sensitive cases involving influential political families are handled.

Child sexual abuse case against Union minister's son triggers political row in India, with opposition parties questioning BJP’s stance on accountability and women’s safety.

BJP under pressure in India after child sexual harassment case against minister’s son 

ISLAMABAD: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing fresh allegations of post-election intimidation in West Bengal after Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders accused BJP-backed groups of burning homes and shops following the party&rsquo;s historic victory in the state. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee shared footage on X alleging that &ldquo;BJP-backed miscreants&rdquo; had set fire to the homes of party workers in the chief minister&rsquo;s district, leaving families devastated. The post added to a growing stream of claims that opposition supporters were being targeted after the BJP&rsquo;s takeover of the state. The allegations escalated after TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee accused BJP-linked attackers of torching more than 60 shops at Hijli Sharif in Khejuri&rsquo;s Nichkasba gram panchayat area in East Midnapore.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2053341938557079827&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=a029064d74d2d3de9d512fab3e7fd84dd04700de&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 723px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>UNI reported that the shops belonged to both Hindu and Muslim owners, with Banerjee calling the incident an attempt to spread fear among ordinary people. The Statesman also reported Banerjee&rsquo;s accusation that the Khejuri attack was aimed at disrupting Bengal&rsquo;s social harmony. The BJP has denied involvement and sought an investigation, while the fire has become a flashpoint in the wider post-poll crisis. The violence has undercut BJP claims that its victory would bring stability to West Bengal. Reuters reported that hundreds of people were arrested after post-election violence killed at least three people, including an aide to a senior BJP leader. The Guardian reported that tensions remained high after more than 200 criminal cases and 433 arrests were recorded amid the unrest. The violence followed the BJP&rsquo;s defeat of Mamata Banerjee&rsquo;s long-ruling TMC, a result that expanded the party&rsquo;s dominance across much of India. The spread of arson, political killings and communal fears has cast a harsh light on India&rsquo;s ruling party and the political climate it has helped create.

BJP faces allegations of post-election intimidation in West Bengal after TMC leaders accused BJP-backed groups of arson, as wider unrest killed several people and triggered hundreds of arrests.

BJP accused of arson as post-poll violence spreads in West Bengal

ISLAMABAD: A mob attacked and vandalized the Jama Masjid in Jorpokhri, Darjeeling, on Wednesday, shortly after the West Bengal Assembly elections in India, as reported by the Observer Post. The elections resulted in a victory for the Hindu right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party. The attack came as West Bengal entered a volatile political transition following the BJP&rsquo;s first major capture of power in the state, where the party won more than two-thirds of the 294-seat assembly, ending the Trinamool Congress&rsquo;s three-term-long dominance. The desecration in Jorpokhri has intensified fears among Muslim residents and rights advocates that the BJP&rsquo;s electoral surge in Bengal could embolden Hindutva-aligned groups targeting minority religious spaces. The Darjeeling mosque attack followed reports of political clashes in several districts after the vote count, adding to concerns that post-election violence has taken on both partisan and communal dimensions. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2051861735016104061&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=9dbb24720119e48bf7b82a61d1aabc6274e88271&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The desecration of mosques and Muslim religious spaces has become synonymous with India&rsquo;s Hindutva-centered political landscape under BJP rule. Amnesty International has documented the demolition of Muslim homes, businesses and places of worship through what rights groups call &ldquo;bulldozer justice,&rdquo; describing such actions as unlawful, punitive and discriminatory. Human Rights Watch has also reported that authorities have failed to act adequately against BJP supporters accused of attacks. Rights groups say victims of violence have themselves faced state action, including demolitions of Muslim-owned properties. This pattern reflects the deeper normalization of Hindutva politics in India, where Hindu majoritarian ideology increasingly shapes public life, state action and electoral mobilization. From the controversial Ayodhya temple built on the site of the martyred Babri Mosque to more recent disputes over mosques and Muslim neighborhoods, India&rsquo;s secular framework exists only in name.

Desecration heightens fears that Hindutva politics has normalized attacks on Muslim religious spaces across India.

Hindutva mob vandalizes Jama Masjid in India's Darjeeling after BJP’s Bengal victory

ISLAMABAD: India&rsquo;s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) marked the 33rd anniversary of the demolition of the historic Babri Masjid with a social-media post that laid bare the party&rsquo;s anti-Muslim bias. The Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, India&#39;s Uttar Pradesh, was a centuries-old mosque that was demolished in 1992 in a well-planned attack by mobs allegedly instigated by leaders of the BJP, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), and other Sangh Parivar organizations. The post on X stating, &ldquo;Reviving. ✨Rebuilding. 🔱 Not just Ram Mandir &mdash; but entire India&rdquo;, carries a video that starts with the opening word &ldquo;REVOLT&rdquo; celebrating the demolition of the historic mosque, and shows the Indian prime minister worshiping at the Hindu temple, Ram Mandir, which was built on top of the ruins of the razed mosque.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 802px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1997181102419746904&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=7198ddce1ecb50330ec44fb247e1d1d082539647&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&lsquo;Celebration of destruction&rsquo;&nbsp;Indian academic Professor Rakhi Tripathi, in her post on X, lambasted the BJP, writing: &quot;Calling this a &#39;revolt&#39; is a shameless whitewashing of history driven by hate and a collapsing education system after 2014.&rdquo; &ldquo;Glorifying the demolition of the Babri Masjid is not nationalism, it is the celebration of destruction,&rdquo; she asserted.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 947px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1997293330464690577&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=7198ddce1ecb50330ec44fb247e1d1d082539647&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Calling it the &ldquo;most difficult period&rdquo; of his career, Indian journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, in a post on X, lamented the horror of the day and its aftermath. He wrote: &ldquo;December 6 &hellip; a day of great shame and blood-letting that will be etched in memory forever, the day the Babri Masjid was demolished, the Constitution dismantled and Mumbai was scarred with horrific violence in which more than a 1000 people died.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1997134581359907071&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=7198ddce1ecb50330ec44fb247e1d1d082539647&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Demolition of mosques&nbsp;The demolition of mosques has continued to take place in various parts of India under the BJP rule. Shahi MasjidIn January 2023, Shahi Masjid, a 16th-century mosque on G.T. Road in Uttar Pradesh&rsquo;s Saidabad, Prayagraj, was demolished by authorities to widen the highway, according to an Indian media report. Barabanki MosqueAccording to the same report, at the height of the pandemic in 2021, the Barabanki district administration in Uttar Pradesh demolished the Masjid Garib Nawaz Al Maroof, claiming it was an &ldquo;illegal structure.&rdquo; Muzaffarnagar MosqueSimilarly, in November 2022, a 300-year-old mosque was razed to the ground in Uttar Pradesh&rsquo;s Muzaffarnagar because it blocked the 709 A.D. Panipat-Khatima highway in Sherpur. The Muzaffarnagar sub-divisional magistrate had claimed that the razing was carried out to expand the highway, and the locals had failed to move the structure by the stipulated period, according to the report. Pakistan&rsquo;s position&nbsp;On Friday, Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, in a statement on the anniversary of the destruction of Babri Masjid, remarked, &ldquo;On 6 December 1992, this historic mosque in Ayodhya was destroyed in circumstances that continue to evoke deep sadness and concern. The event remains unsettling for all who stand against intolerance and religious discrimination.&rdquo; He said, &ldquo;Pakistan maintains that the preservation of religious heritage and sacred sites is a shared responsibility of the international community. It is essential that all acts undermining Muslim religious symbols or historical legacy be addressed with transparency, accountability, and a firm commitment to justice.&rdquo; The spokesperson said, &ldquo;Pakistan emphasizes that the desecration of any place of worship constitutes a violation of the principles of religious equality and undermines the collective sense of security and mutual respect that all communities deserve.&rdquo; He said, &ldquo;The continued sense of marginalization and emotional distress experienced by Indian Muslims in the wake of this event remains a serious concern.&rdquo; &ldquo;Emboldened by state patronage, Hindu fascist organizations are now clamoring for the complete ghettoization of Indian Muslims and other religious minorities.&rdquo;

The BJP’s anniversary post celebrating Babri Masjid’s demolition has drawn criticism for glorifying destruction; demolition of mosques has continued in India, including Shahi Masjid and Barabanki Mosque, and a 300-year-old Muzaffarnagar mosque.

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