VHP Burns UNICEF Poster in Lucknow Protest Against Killing of Hindu Youth in Bangladesh

A significant security scare has been reported in Ayodhya after a man allegedly tried to offer namaz inside the Ram Mandir complex. The accused, identified as a resident of Shopian in Kashmir, has been arrested by police. Authorities are treating the incident with high alert as they investigate the man's motives and determine 'whether he's linked to any organization or whether he was simply a miscreant.' As part of the ongoing probe, officials are conducting thorough searches at the accused's residence in Kashmir. The investigation aims to uncover more details about the individual and the reasons behind this major security breach at the sensitive religious site.

A language dispute has erupted between Karnataka and Kerala over a bill that seeks to make Malayalam the compulsory first language in Kerala's schools. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has strongly opposed the move, writing to his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan that it is a 'coercive approach that violates constitutional safeguards for linguistic minorities'. While the Kerala government, through Finance Minister K N Balagopal, insists it respects every language, Karnataka remains concerned about the impact on Kannada-speaking populations. An unidentified speaker commented on the issue, stating that 'the sense should prevail on the Kerala government to allow people to... continue to learn in their mother tongue and to adapt and respect their freedom'. The BJP has also urged the Vijayan government not to impose Malayalam in border areas.

This India Today special report examines the status of the Congress party's pre-election promise to the women of Himachal Pradesh: ₹1500 per month under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behen Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana. Nearly three years into the government's term, the report finds that lakhs of women are still waiting for the financial aid. While the government states over 35,000 women have received benefits, many on the ground report irregular or no payments, with one woman stating, 'I didn't even get 5 rupees, how will I get 1500 rupees?'. The report travels to Sisu and Mandi, highlighting the discrepancy between the poll guarantee and its implementation. The government cites financial constraints for the phased rollout, but the opposition calls it a betrayal, questioning whether the promise was for empowerment or merely to win votes.

The Enforcement Directorate has escalated its tussle with the West Bengal government over the IPAC case, approaching the Supreme Court of India. In its plea, the probe agency claims its 'right... to conduct a fair investigation has been curtailed by the state machinery' and has sought a CBI probe into the matter. This move follows raids carried out on IPAC, an organisation associated with the Trinamool Congress. The legal filing details the events of the past few days concerning the case, referencing an Article 32 petition. The ED's plea alleges that the state machinery, in collusion with others, has shown a complete disregard for the law, drawing parallels to previous legal arguments where the Calcutta police were accused of overreaching their authority.