PM Modi Becomes First World Leader To Receive Ethiopia's Highest Honour 'Great Honour Nishan'

A heated debate unfolds over the history of the Somnath Temple, sparked by the Prime Minister's recent comments. BJP National Spokesperson, Sanju Verma, argues that Jawaharlal Nehru showed 'deep contempt, Nehru showed disdain for Hinduism', citing a 1951 letter to Dr. Rajendra Prasad regarding the temple's inauguration. Countering this, Congress National Spokesperson, Dishant Rawal, defends Nehru's secular approach during a sensitive post-partition era and claims it was Mahatma Gandhi who advised against using government funds for the temple's reconstruction. Adding a scholarly perspective, historian Dr. Ravi Bhatt suggests that Indian history as taught in schools often focuses on disappointments and that there is 'plenty of room to refresh' the narrative by including multiple perspectives, including those of Persian historians, to create a more balanced view.

This India Today bulletin reports on a major political controversy ignited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks at the 'Somnath Swabhiman' event. The Prime Minister claimed that forces opposing the Somnath temple's reconstruction post-independence are still active today. He asserted that historical attacks on the temple were not for wealth but to 'attack the entire Hindu civilization'. The report details the BJP's accusations against India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, alleging he had a 'Hindu virodi mindset' and actively opposed the temple's revival, citing letters written by him. In response, the Congress party hit back, stating that the temple was, in fact, rebuilt while Nehru was Prime Minister. The bulletin covers the ongoing political mudslinging over this historical issue.

This special report from India Today covers Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the iconic Somnath temple in Gujarat for the 'Somnath Swabhiman Parth'. The Prime Minister led a 'Shaurya Yatra' to honour those who died protecting the temple from Mahmud of Ghazni's army. During the visit, he offered prayers, performed a Rudra Abhishek of the Jyotirlingam, and played a Damru, Lord Shiva's sacred instrument. Hailing the temple's endurance against historical attacks, Prime Minister Modi stated that 'invader Ghazni could not erase Somnath.' The report captures the devotional fervour of the event, which celebrated faith, resilience, and India's civilizational spirit.

In this report, India Today's Ritwik Bhalekar details the manifesto released by the Mahayuti alliance for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. A key and ambitious promise is the use of an AI tool to identify and remove illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya settlers from Mumbai. Bhalekar reports the alliance's prime focus will be using 'advanced technology and AI, they will be identifying the citizens in the coming years and they will free Mumbai from Rohingyas and Bangladeshis.' The manifesto also includes significant welfare schemes for women, such as a 50% concession on public bus fares and interest-free loans of up to five lakhs for those starting small businesses. The alliance is also promising a 'Slum Free' and 'Flood Free' city, shifting the election narrative beyond the typical Marathi versus non-Marathi debate.