On 2nd September, the Delhi High Court dismissed the bail application of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 anti-Hindu Delhi riots larger conspiracy case. The division bench of Justice Naveen Chawla and Justice Shalinder Kaur noted that at this stage, prima facie material exists to show both of them played a role in planning and mobilising protests that spiralled into riots. While rejecting the bail applications of Khalid and Imam, the court clarified that it was not going into the merits of the case but found no ground for parity with other accused who had been granted bail earlier, as the roles attributed to the two were of a different nature.
Court on early mobilisation after CAB
The Delhi High Court observed that in the events that unfolded soon after the Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed in December 2019, it was Khalid and Imam who allegedly took the first steps towards mobilising dissent. The judgment noted, “prima facie it appears that the appellants were the first ones to act after the CAB was passed in early December 2019, by creating WhatsApp groups and distributing pamphlets in the Muslim populated areas calling for protests and Chakka-Jaams, including the disruption of essential supplies.”
Source: Delhi High Court
The bench noted that the prosecution has alleged that there was a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, specifically the Muslim community, into believing that CAA and NRC were anti-Muslim laws. According to the court, this went beyond simple political opposition and was aimed at laying the groundwork for disruption.
Khalid and Imam described as intellectual architects of conspiracy
The court also emphasised the role of speeches delivered by Khalid and Imam, and observed that when considered together with other material, they revealed more than just routine political expression. During the hearing, the Solicitor General argued that Imam and Khalid were “the intellectual architects behind the entire conspiracy, working in tandem with the other co-conspirators.”
Source: Delhi High Court
Though the bench did not comment on the ultimate merits, it accepted that, prima facie, “the alleged inflammatory and provocative speeches delivered by the appellants, when considered in totality, prima facie indicates towards their role in the alleged conspiracy.”
The court was satisfied that the speeches could not be viewed in isolation. Such speeches had to be read in the wider context of coordination, mobilisation and disruption that the prosecution alleged was by design.
Physical absence not enough to negate role
The defence had strongly pressed the point that Sharjeel Imam had been in custody since January 2020 and therefore could not have had a role in the riots. In the case of Umar Khalid, he was also not present at the protest sites on the day of the riots. The High Court, however, dismissed this line of argument.
Source: Delhi High Court
The bench noted, “it is irrelevant whether the appellant was physically present at the protest sites or in meetings” that were held after 28th January 2020 as the key acts attributed to them, “initial planning, creation of groups, conceptualisation, and incitement regarding the CAA/NRC”, had already been completed.
The absence of Imam and Khalid, therefore, could not wipe away their involvement in the larger conspiracy behind the riots. The order concluded that “the mere absence of appellant Sharjeel Imam a few weeks prior to the ultimate riots, and the appellant Umar Khalid’s absence a day or two before, at this stage, may not be sufficient to mitigate their role, as they have been alleged to be the key conspirators in planning and designing the scheme of events.”
Bail rejected on distinct roles
While refusing bail, the court stressed that though it was not entering into a detailed evaluation of the evidence or the merits of the charges, bail could not be granted on parity. The court noted that unlike some other accused, including Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal, who had obtained bail, Khalid and Imam could not be granted bail as they stood on a different footing. Their actions, as recorded in the observations, showed a degree of planning and leadership that could not be equated with others.
US President Donald Trump’s tariff war against India has backfired monumentally. Not only has India embarrassed Trump by stating that it will continue buying Russian oil, exposed US’s hypocrisy and its own profiteering off Russia-Ukraine war but also bolstered its ties with Russia and China. India’s resilience coupled with the unintended consequences of Trump tariffs, particularly, the consolidation of BRICS, has sparked backlash against Trump administration within the US media.
China buys most of Russian oil but faces no tariffs, Trump’s mindless ‘punishment’ to India brought RIC and BRICS together
Ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Summit, former US Trade Representative, Michael Fronman, appeared on CNBC TV’s show Squawk Box’ and discussed how and why of India’s drift away from China. When asked by anchor about how the US has for decades been trying to keep India away from China, but Trump’s 50 percent tariffs have brought India and China closer, Fronman said that since the Clinton administration, the US has “changed” the nature of Indo-US ties.
“The recent actions on tariffs have very much struck India by surprise to be among the highest tariff countries in the world… This is Modi’s first trip to China in seven years, and it’s a direct reaction to the fact that Us imposed these tariffs. They don’t feel they can rely on the United States as a strategic partner going forward, and they’re exploring their other options with China and the other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization… India’s been wondering why it’s facing a 25 percent tariff because of the oil it is buying from Russia, where China, which buys more oil from Russia, faces no such tariff,” Fronman said.
He added that while India and China have a lot of issues which are not going to get resolved anytime soon, India and China’s recent bonhomie is a “signal to the US and a very important domestic political signal for Modi that they are not going to be taken f or granted by the United States going forward.”
Interestingly, India knows why China gets a pass despite being the biggest buyer of Russian oil. The US cannot afford a discontinuation of the supply of rare earth magnets from China, and fearing that, Trump has on one hand threatened to impose 200 percent tariff if rare earth magnet supply is curbed, on the other, he has also said that the US is interested in bringing in 6 lakh Chinese students.
Pakistan bribed Trump by nominating him for Nobel Peace Prize, India got tariffed not dancing to Trump’s tunes: American podcaster criticises Trump’s ‘bromance’ with Pakistan
Popular American podcaster, ‘Speaknsee’, slammed the European leaders for having failed to reach out to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the Russia-Ukraine war. He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him the “greatest of all time/G.O.A.T”. The podcaster compared the approval ratings of Western leaders, most of whom having their rating below 50% including Trump with a 45% positive approval rating, with PM Modi’s who has 72% approval rating. He went on to criticise Trump for his ‘bromance’ with Pakistan. He further asserted that Trump should stop daydreaming about Nobel Peace Prize, adding that “there’s no way that a phone call (by Trump) offering a deal can stop something (India-Pakistan conflict) like that magnitude.
The Speaknsee podcaster proceeded to say Pakistan has “bribed” Trump by nominating him for the Nobel prize, while Narendra Modi has never tried to bribe Trump to get things done his way.
Trump administration is a combination of “stupid and desperate” to bring India and China together and is isolating itself
A Dialogue Works discussion on 31st August, featuring American economists Richard D Wolff and Michael Hudson, garnered over 3 lakh views on YouTube. The discussion revolved around White House Trade Adviser, Peter Navarro’s unhinged rants against India, particularly, the one where Navarro called Russia-Ukraine war as “Modi’s war”.
Richard D Wolff called Navarro “not the sharpest knife in the drawer”, asserting that anyone have trade relations with Russia is in some way making money off that trade because that is why trade happens. Wolff pointed out that Russia is having trade with over 100 countries but only India gets singled out and targeted by Navarro.
Calling Navarro’s reasoning “stupid” Wolff said, “On that grounds, there should be an endless war of everybody against everybody because Mr. Mr. Putin would be able to say exactly the same thing about the United States and everybody who trades with the United States. You are providing uh profits for the United States which are taxed and used by the government to kill Russians in Ukraine.”
He went on to say that while Trump administration is blaming PM Modi and India for the Russia-Ukraine war, the war in Ukraine runs through Washington DC, which decided to push NATO to the frontier of Russia. Wolff stressed that in its quest to ‘punish’ the whole world, Canada and Mexico then and India now, the US is isolating itself.
Meanwhile, Michael Hudson also expressed his discontent over Trump’s approach towards India. He highlighted that American foreign political-economic policy has left out the political aspect, while India has not. Both Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have explicitly said that the 50% import tariffs are an attack on India’s sovereignty and freedom to have trade with whichever country it wants. PM Modi refuses Trump’s calls because he knows that Trump would want PM Modi to agree to his terms, which the Indian PM cannot.
Emphasising that since 1945, America has a policy of making other countries dependent on its grain exports to weaponize food and even got regime change operations executed in foreign countries for its own interests, Hudson said that the US want India to open its markets for American food exports. Hudson asserted that PM Modi is not going to comply with Trump’s demand. He added that is impasse has resulted in India’s pivot towards China despite having its own set of issues to resolve with Beijing.
“Trump has performed the act of peace by driving Russia and China together for the next generation. Trump has now driven India together with China and Russia,” he said.
He speculated that while India was earlier seen as the “weakest link” in the BRICS giving India’s vicinity with the US in the technological arena, now with Trump’s failure to grasp the political aspect of the situation, Beijing and New Delhi might join hands to dominate equal halves of the Silicon Valley. He highlighted that PM Modi and the Indian people are nationalistic, and by neglecting this fact, Trump has achieved opposite results from his tariffs against India.
Meanwhile, Wolff opined that Trump is either “desperate” or “stupid” or a “combination of both, to be going after Indian exports and to be bringing together China and India, the two giants of future technology.
American conservative political commentator, Victor Davis Hanson, noted that India and the US have had good relations in the past. India’s geography and its democracy made it an ideal counterweight to a communist autocratic China. Indian immigrants coming to America have also been skilled and law-abiding rich minorities. However, the Indo-US relations nosedived after Donald Trump imposed 50 percent tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. He highlighted that despite traditionally getting benefits from the US, Trump’s tariffs have made India and China improve relations, while Russia has always been India’s ally. He added that even historically, the US was on the wrong side by supporting an Islamic Pakistan against a democratic India, which Russia backed.
“…my point is that it has strong ties historically with Russia and it’s developing ties with China and it’s pulling away from us (America)…” Hanson said and wondered how it is going to end.
Trump tariffs ruined America’s reputation
The Daily Show put out a video in April this year, with the title “Trump’s Tariffs Ruined America’s Reputation. Does Anyone Still Respect Us?, wherein the anchor discussed how during his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly said that under his leadership, America will be ‘respected again’, however, the reaction of Chinese government and social media, French and Italians, Canadians, Polish, Singaporeans, Germans, Australians, and Britishers, shows that under Trump’s leadership, America has not gained but lost respect.
Trump worries more about Rose Garden patio in the White House than his policies
YouTuber Tim Miller for The Bulwarks criticised Donald Trump over his misplaced priorities as the latter put up a Truth Social post on 31st August, raging against the contractor for allegedly damaged newly installed stonework in the White House Rose Garden. Miller said that Trump’s focus on trivial issues over policy matters amidst speculations around his deteriorating health, raises the question whether Trump is even fit for the job.
Trump’s presidency is in chaos after tariffs struck down
Recently, American YouTuber Mallen Baker, published a video on YouTube, wherein he criticised Trump’s utilisation of tariffs as an economic bludgeon and political punishment weapon against India and Brazil for political, not economic, reasons. He asserted that with the US court saying that Trump exceeded his powers and authorities in slapping these arbitrary tariffs, Trump’s presidency will be left in chaos and invite embarrassment to the US, as all the tariffs will have to be paid back in the court upholds its decision against him.
Besides tariffs, Donald Trump unexpected reneging on his poll promise of releasing the Epstein Files has also triggered discontent among his supporter base. Trump supporter and popular radio show host, Alex Jones has slammed Trump over Epstein Files and also said that MAGA is turning out to be a “cult”.
The damage is done: India will no longer trust America, says Fareed Zakaria on CNN
The seriousness of the strain in Indo-US ties due to Trump’s tariff tirade against India can be understood from the fact that even known Modi detractor, CNN journalist Fareed Zakaria has said that the damage by the Trump administration is beyond repair and India will never trust the US.
Zakaria said two weeks back that Donald Trump’s sudden inexplicable hostility toward India reverses policies pursued under five administrations including his own previous one. “If it holds, this reversal may be the biggest strategic mistake of the Trump presidency so far.”
He highlighted that while India has over the years been cooperating with the US, Trump in his second term, has “undone decades of painstaking effort by American diplomats. He has placed India in the highest category of 12 countries, long with Syria and Myanmar, while placing Pakistan at just 19%and offering joint efforts to look for oil in that country.
Zakaria said that Trump hosted lunch for Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, his family backed firm has done crypto deal with Pakistan’s newly-created National Crypto Council and at the same time, called India’s economy ‘dead’ even as it is thriving. “India had slowly but surely been embracing closer ties with America. No more. Even if Trump reverses course once again,
the damage is done. The country is united in its shock and anger at Trump’s insulting behaviour,” he said.
Indeed, the damage is done. India has a long memory and Indians will never forget Trump’s ‘dead economy’ jibe and the anti-India rhetoric unleashed by his attack dogs Peter Navarro and Scott Bessent, who accused India of profiteering from Russia Ukraine war even as US has profiteered the most, and continue to vilify New Delhi.
Donald Trump was already facing backlash for having backtracked from his promise of releasing the Epstein Files. Now the unintended consequences of his tariffs against India, especially what is said to be the revival of the Russia-India-China troika, consolidation of BRICS and needless antagonization of the only country which has been an effective counterweight to China, has added to his slumping popularity. The American angst against Trump is comprehensible given Trump promised MAGA – ‘Make America Great Again’ but ended up delivering ‘Make Asia Great Again’.
A disturbing case of kidnapping and religious conversion of a minor Hindu girl has come to light in the Konia area of Adampur police station in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
A case has been registered against four accused, including an unidentified person, at the direction of the Commissioner of Police, Mohit Aggarwal.
According to reports, the father wrote to the Commissioner of Police, informing him about the kidnapping and religious conversion of his daughter and requested legal action against the accused.
The complainant said that the accused Nihal, a resident of Konia, had kidnapped his daughter three months ago. When the complainant came to know about this, he confronted Nihal and demanded the release of his daughter.
However, Nihal dismissed him, saying that his daughter had been converted to Islam and was married to a Maulvi. He reportedly referred to the complainant as ‘Kafir‘ and said that he would send him to ‘Jahannum‘ (hell).
Nihal told the father of the victim that now his daughter belonged to them and would not return. Nihal’s father, Abbu Shareef, brother, Lalu, and a few other relatives threatened to kill the complainant.
Soon, a mob of around 200 people surrounded the victim’s father and tried to lynch him. He somehow managed to escape from there and save his life.
The father alleged that he informed the local police at the Kazzakpura police post and the Adampura police station, but was turned away without any help.
The disheartened father finally appealed to the Commissioner of Police, Mohit Aggarwal, for help. On Monday (1st September), the Commissioner of Police ordered the filing of the FIR, after which the police sprang into action.
Two people were arrested by the police, including Nihal and a woman, in connection with the case late on Monday (1st September).
The police are looking for the father and the brother of Nihal, who are on the run. The accused have been booked under Section 137(2), 351(2), 352, and 191(2) of the BNS and Section 5(3) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.
The police have assured to take strict legal action against the accused and rescue the girl. An investigation is currently underway.
Bollywood filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri has appealed directly to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, urging her to allow the peaceful release of his upcoming film The Bengal Files. The film is scheduled to hit theatres nationwide on September 5, 2025. However, Agnihotri fears that political resistance in Bengal, particularly from Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers who have staged protests, could lead to an unofficial ban in the state.
On Tuesday (September 2), the director shared a video on social media addressing Banerjee. In his message, he highlighted the anxiety of theatre owners who, according to him, are under immense political pressure.
URGENT: An open appeal to Hon’ble CM @MamataOfficial. Please listen till the end and share widely as your protest against banning of a film on Hindu Genocide. #TheBengalFiles In cinemas 05 September 2025 pic.twitter.com/AvDuVlixmx
“Theatre owners are telling me that even if the film is not officially banned, they will have to pay a heavy price for showing it. Many are simply too afraid. The workers of your party are also asking to ban this film. That’s why I request you to ensure a peaceful release in West Bengal,” he said.
Agnihotri reminded Banerjee of her constitutional responsibilities, pointing out that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had cleared the film. “You have taken an oath to protect the rights and free speech of every citizen. The CBFC is a constitutional body, and once it has passed the film, it is your duty to see that it releases without disruption,” he stressed.
The filmmaker went on to explain why the story of Bengal needed to be told. He called Bengal’s past “a painful yet forgotten chapter of Hindu genocide,” citing Direct Action Day and the Noakhali massacres as moments of immense suffering. “Bengal is the only state that has been partitioned twice, in 1905 and 1947. No one has sacrificed as much as Bengal has, but does today’s generation know this? If you think beyond politics, like a true Indian and a true Bengali, you will not ban this film. You will salute it,” he said.
Clarifying that The Bengal Files was not targeted against any community, Agnihotri said it was about “truth and healing.” He argued that banning the film would be equivalent to silencing the voices of victims. “This film is not about hatred. It is about acknowledging history. If you ban it, you ban the soul and suffering of those who faced genocide,” he remarked.
Concluding his appeal, Agnihotri urged Banerjee to watch the film and allow healthy debate. “If we do not tell the story of Direct Action Day and Noakhali now, then when will we? If telling the truth about Hindu genocide is a sin, then yes, I am a sinner. You may punish me as you wish,” he said.
The Bengal Files revisits Bengal’s turbulent political and communal past. Featuring Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Anupam Kher, Simratt Kaur, and Darshan Kumarr, the film weaves real testimonies and historical events into its narrative.
The term “Godi media” has been popularized by key elements of the Congress ecosystem to discredit, demean, and belittle individuals who support the Bharatiya Janata Party or do not adhere to their political narrative of Hindu animosity under the guise of secularism.
Figures like Ravish Kumar who try hard to present themselves as “neutral journalists” while disseminating the propaganda of a particular ideology coined this term when their preferred party was ousted from power through the world’s largest democratic exercise.
The incomprehensible development not only shocked the conceited grand old party but also its lackeys in the media. Hence, the discontented opposition and its supporters have since embraced this term to invalidate the people’s mandate and cast aspersions on anyone who does not submit to their interpretations of divisive, communal or biased.
As Congress has remained out of power for over a decade and lacks any foreseeable chance of a comeback, its servers in the media have dispensed with their already non-existent facade of neutrality.
These elements regularly illustrate how they have borrowed from the propaganda manual of Joseph Goebbels, accusing the other side of being “Godi media” while they continue to function as courtiers for a particular party with decades of unrelenting servitude to their political masters.
The same was clearly evident when Ravish Kumar, in his attempt to exalt Rahul Gandhi, went to the extent of comparing him to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in one of his videos. He attempted to portray the Lok Sabha MP as an enlightened person who is indifferent to electoral triumphs and is solely advocating for the people of the nation.
“The question often arises regarding Rahul Gandhi’s failure to win elections. However, he has managed to separate his political pursuits from electoral outcomes. Even after several defeats, he returns to the political arena shortly thereafter. He has ended the opposition’s sense of hopelessness. Perhaps the BJP is troubled by his apparent lack of frustration. He is actively involved on multiple fronts simultaneously and indeed, he creates a new front for himself each day. He has risen above the threats of legal action and imprisonment,” Kumar stated in his video on 25th August.
Young people need to see this
Watch how Ravish Kumar compares Rahul Gandhi to Mahatma Gandhi!
Kumar then offered a ridiculous comparison between Rahul Gandhi and MK Gandhi, suggesting that both abolished the apprehension of jail from their political battles. He declared, “Mahatma Gandhi’s significant contribution to the freedom movement was his ability to eliminate the fear of prison among the poor and innocent, making incarceration a component of political existence. This is why, during British rule, Jawaharlal Nehru was thrown behind bars for 9 years. It was not just him but countless ordinary Indians were also jailed. For a long time, there were efforts to trap Rahul Gandhi through court cases. However, he has begun to confront those challenges as well.”
Interestingly, the alleged journalist in his unwavering loyalty, seeks to paint the Gandhi scion and his party as a non-governmental organisation dedicated to uplifting the underprivileged. However, the stark reality is that the latter has left no stone unturned, including exploiting caste and community fault lines to score trivial political points against the saffron party.
From the repeated references to the purported Adani-Ambani collusion with the Modi government which were recently reiterated by the Trump administration to attack New Delhi to the promises regarding the removal of Supreme Court’s 50% cap on reservations and the redistribution of wealth, the parliamentarian employed every tactic to convince voters to support his party yet he failed miserably.
The former Congress chief is such a devoted well-wisher of India that he even urged President Donald Trump to use Gautam Adani’s indictment in a United States Court to intimidate Prime Minister Narendra Modi to adhere to his demands. Notably, Mossad revealed how Rahul Gandhi, Sam Pitroda (the head of Indian Overseas Congress) and the US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research aimed to harm India’s economy through the Adani Group, only to malign the Modi government.
Furthermore, the I.N.D.I. Alliance choose to believe Trump’s remarks in relation to mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan rather than endorsing the official stance of its own government. The opposition has prioritized political interests over national security and diplomatic interests at every critical juncture, with its leaders expressing skepticism even towards the Indian Armed Forces and their notable operations. However, their ecosystem has not strayed from its habitual sycophancy in the slightest.
Nevertheless, all of this appears to be the actions of an altruistic politician (which is an oxymoron in itself) from Kumar’s perspective who is employing every strategy to depict Gandhi as the savior of the ordinary people of India while simultaneously lashing out at “Godi media” for not showing Gandhi via his prism of “objectivity” to the general public. Irony must have suffered a thousand deaths.
Past antics of Ravish Kumar
Ravish Kumar was employed at NDTV prior to his departure and the commencement of his new innings on YouTube. Notably, the channel was formerly recognized as an unofficial spokesperson for the Congress party. It even celebrated its 25-year journey with a grand ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2023. Essentially, NDTV represented the original embodiment of “Godi media.”
Kuamr transitioned to social media for his propaganda, however, he continued to work as the mouthpiece for Congress. His videos are saturated with the opposition’s narrative while he deliberately targets the ruling party, not for any other reason but because it does not conform to his self-serving agenda.
Kumar has consistently opposed the BJP without regard for the validity of the arguments as he evidently pursues a specific agenda that, despite his futile efforts to depict otherwise, is neither neutral nor beneficial for the nation. Despite presenting himself as a proponent of democracy, he swiftly opposed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiative in Bihar which intended to prioritize legitimate voters and discard fraudulent ones.
He has even been accused of trying to replicate the “Bangladesh toolkit” to undemocratically overthrown the current government through violent means (as happened in the neighboring country) by provoking the voters as he followed the lead of the Congress-led bloc.
Kumar was profoundly distressed after the Modi government’s decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. “You can stop the water of six rivers, who gets to decide that? Nature or Modi’s ministers,” he retorted while insisting that India could not possibly stop the rivers from flowing into Pakistan and the centre was deceiving the public.
In yet another striking example of being a “neutral journalist,” Kumar not only sanitized the atrocious Sandeshkhali crimes but also connected the horrific event to a BJP conspiracy, accusing the media of highlighting the offenses committed by TMC leaders. Predictably, Kumar exhibited an extraordinary level of confidence and thus thoroughly asserted that the I.N.D.I. Alliance will secure over 295 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Reporters Without Borders (also known as Reporters sans frontières, or RSF) even presented Kumar with the “Independence Prize” at their 32nd Press Freedom Awards ceremony in Washington, DC. RSF, a Western government-funded outfit supported by the Ford Foundation, is well-known for its anti-Indian and anti-Modi reporting. It appears that his overlords have acknowledged his tireless efforts to spread their propaganda.
Conclusion
The aforementioned incidents merely represent a glimpse into how Ravish Kumar while disseminating disinformation and a specific narrative to benefit Congress and other opposition parties, shamelessly accuses other media outlets of the very actions he himself is guilty of. Nevertheless, with the saffron party currently in power, his frustration is likely to escalate and he will continue to advance his notorious agenda in the coming times.
An incident involving Christian conversion activities has come to light in Ahiri village of the Mau police station area in the Chitrakoot district of Madhya Pradesh. Four individuals were arrested by the police on Sunday (31st August) after Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) member Mukesh Vajpayee informed the police about Christian conversion activities taking place inside the home of Phoolchandra, one of the arrestees.
In his written complaint submitted to the police, Vajpayee said that for the past year, the culprits have been organising Christian prayer meetings in the village. In these meetings, they brainwash poor villagers by praising Jesus Christ and abusing Hindu deities and also lure them by offering money for converting to Christianity.
An FIR was registered at the Mau police station under Section 299 of the BNS and Section 3(5)(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, against Phoolchandra, Rajkumar, Santlal and Babulal. Police seized a copy of the Bible and another book relating to Christianity from the possession of the accused.
According to Mukesh Vajpayee, he received information about the Christian missionary activities taking place in Phoolchandra’s house on Sunday. He, along with some VHP members, reached the spot and found that around two many people had a group of people had gathered at Phoolchandra’s house. They were being encouraged to convert to Christianity. When Vajpayee and other VHP members tried to stop them, the four accused started arguing with them.
Vajpayee added that he informed the police about the Christian prayer meeting before reaching Phoolchandra’s house. The police arrived just when the meeting was over, and people started leaving. The police stopped and questioned the people who attended the meeting. They admitted to the police that they were attending a Christian prayer meeting and that they believed in Jesus. Station House Officer, Durgvijay Singh, said that an investigation is going on in the case.
Missionary activities in government school exposed
A few days ago, a case of missionary activities taking place in a government school had come to light in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. A complaint was filed by a parent whose son was enrolled in the Nava Kranti School in Jangipura locality of Dabra town in Gwalior. According to the complaint, for the past year, some teachers have been preaching Christianity in the school and luring students and their parents to convert to Christianity by offering them jobs and other opportunities. The complainant came to know about the Christian activities when his son told him that the school teachers talked about Jesus and Christianity.
An FIR was registered by the police under Section 5 of the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021, on August 29, 2025, at the Itarsi Police Station.
India took a decisive leap in its semiconductor mission with the unveiling of the nation’s first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor, Vikram, at the Semicon India 2025 conference on Monday. Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presented the processor, along with test chips from four approved projects, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it a historic moment in India’s technological advancement.
#WATCH | At Semicon India 2025, Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw presents Vikram 32-bit processor and test chips of the 4 approved projects to PM Narendra Modi.
The Vikram processor, developed by ISRO’s Semiconductor Laboratory, is specially designed to withstand the extreme conditions of space launch vehicles. Vaishnaw described it as a milestone in India’s efforts to cut reliance on imported chips, noting that self-reliance in this sector is not just an economic necessity but also a strategic imperative.
Showcasing the progress of India’s semiconductor infrastructure, Vaishnaw said that construction of five semiconductor units is currently underway. One pilot line has already been completed, and two more are expected to begin production in the coming months. “The design of five additional units is progressing very well. Ecosystem partners for chip manufacturing are all here,” he remarked, underlining the momentum behind India’s chip ecosystem.
Giving credit to Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the minister recalled the launch of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) in 2021: “Just a few years ago, we made a new beginning driven by the Prime Minister’s farsighted vision. In just 3.5 years, the world now looks at India with confidence. Today, we presented the first ‘Made-in-India’ chip to PM Modi.”
Vaishnaw also positioned India as a rare beacon of stability amid global uncertainty. “We are living in unprecedented times. Global policy turmoil has created huge uncertainty. In these turbulent times, India stands as a lighthouse of stability and growth. You should come to India because our policies are stable,” he told investors.
The minister highlighted India’s strong domestic demand and rapid growth in electronics. Over the last decade, electronics production has increased sixfold, while exports have surged eight times. “With stable policies, growing demand, and an expanding ecosystem, now is the right time for global players to invest in India’s semiconductor sector,” Vaishnaw added.
The unveiling of Vikram is only the first step in a much larger ambition. A Bastion Research report noted that nearly 20 per cent of the world’s chip design engineers are based in India, making the country an indispensable hub for global semiconductor design. Industry giants such as Qualcomm, Intel, Nvidia, Broadcom, and MediaTek already run large R&D and design centres in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Noida, reinforcing India’s role in the global value chain.
The report also praised New Delhi’s proactive policy push. The Semicon India Programme under ISM 1.0 has rolled out incentives worth Rs 76,000 crore to attract manufacturers and strengthen India’s quest for self-reliance in chips.
The launch of Vikram, backed by expanding infrastructure and global partnerships, signals that India is not only aiming to be a design powerhouse but is also determined to become a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing and innovation—crucial for economic growth, technological sovereignty, and strategic independence.
On Monday (1st September), the Bombay High Court slammed the Maratha reservation protestors, who are holding demonstrations across Mumbai, for blocking the streets and bringing the city to a standstill.
While criticising the protestors for deviating from the designated protest site and blocking the roads across the city, the High Court directed the protestors to vacate the streets by Tuesday (2nd September) forenoon.
A special bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Gautam Ankhad came down heavily on the protestors for creating a blockage outside the High Court.
“They are right outside the High Court. They are blocking entry to lawyers and judges. You boasted yesterday that more people will come. How do we deal with a person who is refusing to obey the law?” the court remarked.
Justice Ravindra Ghuge had to walk to the court
One of the judges, Justice Ravindra Ghuge, had to walk to the court on Monday as the route outside the court was blocked by the protestors.
The High Court criticised the protestors for placing it “virtually under siege” and said that the protests have not remained peaceful.
“In fact, today, when one of us (Ravindra Ghuge) was travelling to the Court around 12.30 pm in the official car, there was a huge blockade in front of the City Civil Court and the High Court building,” the court stated. Government counsel, Purnima Kantharia, also had to walk along with the judge. “The High Court was virtually under siege. Whilst the hearing was going on inside the Court hall, doors of which were closed, slogan shouting was clearly audible to us as well as all the lawyers and litigants,” the bench stated.
The judges took note of several photographs and visuals of protests in newspapers, showing that major parts of the city, including the entire region around Azad Maidan, an area designated by authorities for protests, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Flora Fountain (located directly in front of the High Court), Marine Drive, P’Demello Road, Mantralaya and the area around Oval Maidan.
The agitators have been cooking, dancing, bathing and playing games, like kabaddi, on the streets.
Counsel appearing for protestors admit that the protests have paralysed the city
Even the counsels appearing for the protestors did not deny the fact that the protestors had deviated from the designated protest site and effectively paralysed the entire city.
One of the counsels, reportedly, said that he would make an effort to convince Manoj Jarange Patil, who is leading the Maratha quota protests, and the protestors to vacate the roads. However, he added that some of the protestors were acting independently and were not in Jarange’s control.
State to ensure no new protestors enter the city: HC
Holding that the organisers of the protest violated the court’s earlier directions, the High Court directed all the protestors, except those at the designated protest site (Azad Maidan), to vacate public streets and areas by Tuesday forenoon.
The Court directed the State to ensure that new protestors do not enter the city to join the protests until further notice. It further instructed authorities to comply with the order and keep a watch at all entry points into the city.
On 26th August, the High Court had ordered the protestors to strictly comply with the rules. Additionally, the High Court allowed the provision of food packets and medical facilities to protestors at Azad Maidan.
The Court added that Jarange, who is on hunger strike, should be provided adequate medical aid in case his health deteriorates.
Jarange has been leading the agitation with the demand of 10% reservation for the Maratha community in government jobs under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
He has been on a hunger strike at Azad Maidan, in South Mumbai, since Friday (29th August). His supporters have reportedly claimed that he stopped consuming water on Monday.
The strategic effects of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin were felt even hours after it ended. Images of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin attending the summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi sparked intense reactions from the American political establishment.
On 1st September, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro stated, “It was a shame to see Modi getting in bed, as a leader of the biggest democracy in the world, with the two biggest authoritarians in the world in Putin and Xi Jinping. That doesn’t make any sense. I’m not sure what he’s thinking particularly since India has been in a cold war, and sometimes a hot war, with China for decades. We hope the Indian leader comes around to seeing that he needs to be with the US, Europe as well as Ukraine and not Russia.”
It's a shame to see Modi getting in bed with Xi Jinping and Putin – Trump's trade adviser @RealPNavarro
Trump himself shared the stage with Putin only a few days ago and met Pakistani General Munir twice last month.
While the United States is once again demonstrating its hypocrisy by criticising India, it is important to highlight that President Donald Trump met with Putin in Alaska last month. However, the meeting did not yield any productive results, despite Trump’s bold assertions.
Meawhile, the White House trade czar has regularly attacked New Delhi’s ongoing oil trade with Moscow since Trump dropped his 50% tariff shocker on India. He has not even shied away from making outrageous statements including claims that the revenue from oil purchases is financing the Ukraine war and that Brahmins are benefiting at the cost of the Indian citizens. Navarro even described the Ukraine conflict as “Modi’s war.” He declared that India is “Maharaja of tariffs” and the nation refuses to admit that it has the highest tariff rates among major economies.
On the other hand, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tried to undermine the crucial development at Tianjin. “This is a longstanding meeting, it’s called the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and I think it’s largely performative. I think at the end of the day, India is the most populous democracy in the world. Their values are much closer to ours and to China’s than to Russia’s,” he remarked. He had earlier alleged that “wealthy Indian families” were exploiting the situation to profit from Russian oil.
The Trump administration has not hesitated to adopt the terminology used by the Indian opposition to target the Modi government. From Rahul Gandhi’s references to the Adani-Ambani nexus to the invocation of caste politics, US officials have employed various tactics to pressure India into refraining from purchasing Russian oil.
India faces an additional tariff of 25% for the procurement of Russian oil while the US has not only relieved Beijing from any tariffs on Russian oil purchases but also defended this double standard. Nevertheless, a resolute New Delhi has only intensified their frustration, leading them to engage in further rants.
On Tuesday (2nd September), Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Semicon India – 2025’, aimed at catalysing India’s Semiconductor ecosystem, at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi.
The Prime Minister will also participate in the Conference on September 3 from around 9:30 AM, during which he will also attend the CEOs roundtable, the PMO said on Monday in a statement.
The three-day Conference, from September 2nd to 4th, will focus on advancing a robust, resilient, and sustainable semiconductor ecosystem in India.
It will feature sessions on the progress of the Semicon India Programme, semiconductor fab and advanced packaging projects, infrastructure readiness, smart manufacturing, innovations in R&D and artificial intelligence, investment opportunities, state-level policy implementation, and other topics.
A defining chapter in India's semiconductor journey is unfolding, with innovation and investment driving a new wave of growth. Addressing Semicon India 2025 in Delhi. https://t.co/5jurEGuYnI
The event will highlight initiatives under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, the growth of the startup ecosystem, international cooperation, and the future roadmap for India’s semiconductor sector.
As per a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, over 20,750 attendees will participate in Semicon India 2025, including more than 2,500 delegates from over 48 countries, over 150 speakers, including over 50 global leaders, and more than 350 exhibitors. It will also include 6 countries Round Table discussions, country pavilions and dedicated pavilions for Workforce Development & Start-Ups among others.
Taking to X, Prime Minister Modi highlighted that Semicon India conference will bring together leading stakeholders from the world of semiconductors.
“At 10 AM tomorrow, 2nd September, will inaugurate Semicon India – 2025, an important platform that brings together leading stakeholders from the world of semiconductors. This is a sector in which India’s recent strides have been remarkable. The Conference will focus on key themes like Semiconductor Fabs, Advanced Packaging, Artificial Intelligence, research and investment,” PM Modi posted.
At 10 AM tomorrow, 2nd September, will inaugurate Semicon India – 2025, an important platform that brings together leading stakeholders from the world of semiconductors. This is a sector in which India’s recent strides have been remarkable. The Conference will focus on key themes…
Notably, the Modi government has been working to make India a hub for semiconductor design, manufacturing and technology development.
During his address on the occasion of India’s 79th Independence Day, PM Modi highlighted the work India is putting in to become self-reliant in the field of semiconductors.
PM Modi said, “Today we are pursuing the goal of semiconductors in mission mode. We have laid the foundation of six semiconductor units. In our country, 50 years ago, files for semiconductors were started. Ideas started. But the youngsters will be surprised to know that 50-60 years ago those files got stuck.”
“The idea of semiconductors was aborted. After us, many countries are establishing their power in the world by mastering semiconductors. Today we are moving forward with the goal of semiconductors in mission mode. We have laid the foundation of six semiconductor units. By the end of this year, Made in India, that is, chips made in India, made by the people of India, will come in the market,” PM Modi said.
During his recent Japan visit, PM Modi visited a semiconductor plant. He was accompanied by Japanese Prime Minister of Shigeru Ishiba for the visit to Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture on a bullet train. In Sendai, the two leaders visited Tokyo Electron Miyagi Ltd (TEL Miyagi), a leading Japanese company in the semiconductor sector. Prime Minister Modi was briefed about TEL’s role in the global semiconductor value chain, its advanced manufacturing capabilities and its ongoing and planned collaborations with India. PM Modi highlighted how India has made significant strides in the semiconductor sector and that India and Japan are expanding cooperation.
In a detailed analysis, Bastion Research observed that, unlike the global race for cutting-edge nodes, India is positioning itself to fill a critical gap in the global supply chain by producing essential, widely used chips. India is already delivering world-class, high-quality integration services. What sets India apart is its ability to match global standards, both in capability and talent, and its swift progression towards scaling these operations to meet the growing demand for advanced semiconductor-based solutions, the report said.
India is well poised to capture a larger share of the global market, as the China +1 strategy has become a powerful global trend, which is pushing companies to diversify their supply chains and look for alternatives to China.
In 2021, the Indian government launched the Semicon India Programme (also referred to as Indian Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 1.0) with Rs 76,000 Crore in incentives to attract global manufacturers, build fabs, packaging units (OSAT & ATMP, discussed later in detail), and a local supply chain to reduce reliance on imports. The initial focus is on mature-node fabs (28nm to 65nm), not bleeding-edge nodes like 5nm or 3nm, which are dominated by TSMC and Samsung.
In August this year, the Centre cleared four new semiconductor manufacturing projects with a total investment of Rs 4,600 crore under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM). These semiconductor units will be set up in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab. The approvals take the total India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) portfolio to 10 projects across six states with cumulative investments of Rs 1.6 lakh crore.
In May, the Union Cabinet approved India’s sixth semiconductor manufacturing unit in Jewar in western Uttar Pradesh. It will be established near Jewar Airport through a joint venture between the HCL Group and Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn.
Among the five semiconductor plants, four are in Gujarat: Tata Electronics-PSMC Semiconductor fab, CG Power-Renesas-Stars Microelectronics ATMP unit, Micron Technology’s ATMP unit, and Kaynes Semicon ATMP unit, while the Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test (TSAT) Unit is in Assam.
