Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai withdrew his appeal on Wednesday (2nd July) against a Delhi High Court order that directed him to remove an 18-second-long video of BJP leader, Shazia Ilmi, which was shot without her consent, from his social media.
Sardesai had appealed against an interim order passed by a single bench of Justice Manmeet Singh Arora on April 4, 2024, that granted partial relief to Ilmi in a defamation suit filed by her against Sardesai. In the order, Justice Arora asked Sardesai to take down the video citing that it violated her right to privacy. Besides, the judge imposed a cost of ₹25,000 on Ilmi for concealing certain tweets. In his appeal, Sardesai challenged the order of the single bench on the ground that Ilmi had concealed facts.
However, the journalist withdrew his appeal after a division bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Renu Bhatnagar expressed reluctance to interfere in the matter. The court told Sardesai that he infringed her privacy. “You are clearly infringing on her privacy. Once interview is over…Once she has gotten up, moved away she wasn’t coming back…there is clearly someone following her. Don’t take our comments on this, we are telling you. The learned single judge has mildly left you out. It was clear breach of privacy. That once she has gotten up, you can’t be following her. And in her house? What else will she do…Once consent ended, she has gotten up…” the court said.
Background of the case
The defamation suit arose from an incident that happened during an India Today debate on Agniveers and Kargil Diwas July 26, 2024, in which Ilmi participated. She allowed an India Today cameraman to record her at her residence during the debate. However, Ilmi chose to leave the debate following Sardesai’s heckling and her audio being muted. But the cameraperson continued to film her despite her requests to stop recording.
A Hindu teacher in the Sadar Kotwali area of Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun is reportedly being forced to embrace Islam. According to her, she is under constant pressure to convert from Pappan Peer, also known as Tariq Hussain, who is a member of the Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf gang and a cleric at a dargah. She has appealed for justice in a letter of complaint addressed to the Chief Minister of the state, the President and the Government of India.
The police have begun an investigation into the matter. According to the victim, Pappan Peer forced her husband, father-in-law and mother-in-law to change their religion. He is now attempting to convert the victim and her 5-year-old daughter. She revealed that the accused persistently threatened her that he won’t spare her if she didn’t comply.
She mentioned that he frequently visited the house of her in-laws for many years. He declared that there are multiple deities in Hinduism while Muslims only worship one God. The latter can also produce multiple children and have large families. She disclosed that the offender claims to be a relative of Ashraf’s brother-in-law Saddam.
Pappan Pir, alias Tariq Hussain, linked to the Atiq-Ashraf gang, pressured a Hindu teacher to convert to Islam, threatening her and her daughter in Badaun, UP.
He allegedly converted her in-laws and husband. Pappan boasts of gang ties, relentlessly intimidating her.
The woman expressed that she got married on 10th February 2019 and her husband, who is a devoted follower of Pappan Peer, has not come to see her in the last 1.5 years. She is being threatened after she went to the offender’s place to find her spouse who even shares their personal matters with him. She asserted that her in-laws have become Muslims and want her to do the same. She had charged them with dowry harassment almost a year beforehand.
Victim accuses police of inaction
On 8th April 2024, her husband filed for divorce on the behest of the cleric. Her mother-in-law also filed a domestic abuse case against her earlier on 3th April. Meanwhile, the cops did nothing when she attempted to ask them for assistance, due to his pressure. She has been going to police officials for a year and a half, but to no avail. She showed up at the offcie of Circle Officer City on 30th June and demanded action.
The victim stated that Pappan Peer threatened her in the name of the mafia Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf when she began to oppose him and her in-laws. He alleged to be in touch with the two and boosted about his good relations with the gang. He used WhatsApp to intimidate her by sending letters from Atiq Ahmed who was incarcerated. He has been tormenting her and her little girl to convert to Islam for a long time. He even harasses her on the road and she is scared of him.
She had submitted an application to the police, but no formal complaint was filed, however, action was taken after government’s order. The City Kotwali police has registered an FIR against Pappan Peer late on 1st July evening. Additionally, the woman has accused another leader and a BJP MLA of aiding the perpetrators.
Husband refutes allegations
On the other hand, her husband asserted that he registered his statement with the circle officer and accused her of harassing him and his family. According to him, she has taken over his home and he now stays with his parents in a rented house. He accused her of fighting with him, the rest of the family and other people in their locality.
The husband stressed that he and his family are Hindus and have complete faith in Sanatan Dharma. He referred to the issue as a domestic conflict. He further insisted that he is friends with Pappan Peer and she is trying to trap him as well.
According to Kotwali Inspector Praveen Kumar, the woman has already filed a case. Pappan Peer was helping her in-laws. Hence, an FIR has been lodged against him as well. The matter is currently under inquiry.
Assembly elections are set to be held in Bihar by the end of this year. As part of preparation for the elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is undertaking the crucial task of verification of the voter list. This is called Special Intensive Revision (SIR). In this exercise, Booth Level Officers (BLOs), who oversee voting process in every village and locality, go door to door to verify the names of people in the voter list. This is to ensure that those with the right to vote are included in the list and those who are not entitled to vote for some reason, or those who have passed away, are removed from the list.
According to the Election Commission that the exercise is being carried out to make sure that there is no irregularity in voting. There are currently 7.89 crore voters in Bihar, and verification will ensure that only the legitimate and eligible people cast their votes. For this, more than 1.5 lakh booth-level agents (BLAs) have been appointed, who are working in collaboration with all the parties.
— Chief Electoral Officer, Bihar (@CEOBihar) June 30, 2025
However, opposition parties like Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), AIMIM, Trinamool Congress (TMC) and leaders like Tejashwi Yadav, Asaduddin Owaisi, and Sagarika Ghosh are baselessly equating this verification exercise with the NRC (National Register of Citizens). They say that all this is a conspiracy of the BJP and the NDA, to remove the poor, the Dalits, the backward classes and the Muslims from the voter list. Let us understand the verification process, what it entails, why it is happening and why the opposition is so uncomfortable with it.
How is the verification process being carried out?
The Election Commission started the verfication on 25 June 2025 and it will continue till 26th July. After the exercise is over, a revised and correct voter list will be published on 30th September. As part of the verification process, Booth Level Officers (BLO) are visiting all houses across the constituencies. They carry partially filled forms, which they handover to the people and ask people to fill in their details, such as names, addresses and attach some documents. These documents are needed to ensure that the person is eligible to vote.
If a voter’s name is in the voter list of 2003 (when the verification process was last carried out in Bihar), then he or she just has to confirm his/her information. If their parents’ names are in the list, then no additional documents are needed. However, if their parents’ names are not in the old list, then they need to provide some documents, like a birth certificate or any other relevant document.
Photo Credit: X_ECI
The BLOs upload all this information on a mobile app (ECINet). They also provide receipts to people after they fill out the forms. The EC has instructed that elderly, sick people or disabled people should not be unnecessarily troubled during the verification and should be provided with adequate assistance. The 2003 voter list has names of 4.96 crore people in Bihar. The Commission said that the people included in the list and their children do not need to provide any special documents. That means around 60% of the people will face no inconvenience.
#Bihar SIR: 2003 Electoral Rolls Uploaded on #ECI Website
✅ 4.96 crore electors do not need to submit any documents
✅ Children of these 4.96 crore electors need not submit any other document relating to their parents
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) June 30, 2025
Why the verification is being carried out?
The Election Commission said that it is necessary to update the voter list from time to time because many things change. Like-
Urbanization: People in Bihar are now moving from villages to cities. Migration: Many people have moved out of Bihar for jobs or other reasons. New voters: Names of youths turning 18 years old have to be added to the list. Death: Some people have died, but their names are still in the list. Illegal migrants: There may be some people who are not citizens of India but have got their names included in the list.
The commission said that after the necessary updates, a correct voter list will be ready. Article 326 of the Indian Constitution says that only Indian citizens who are above 18 years of age and live in a constituency can become voters in that consituency. The rules of the Representation of the People Act-1950 are being followed in the verification process. The Commission’s aim is that no genuine voter is left out and no wrong person is included the list.
Why is the opposition creating ruckus?
Opposition parties and some people are making a lot of noise about the verification process. They are claiming that this verification is a petext of the BJP to remove the poor, the Dalits, the backward classes and the Muslims from the voter list.
Tejashwi Yadav (RJD): Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav termed the verification as “suspicious and worrying”. He claimed that the BJP and the RSS want to snatch the voting rights of the poor people of Bihar under the pretext of this verification. He wrote on X, ” The sudden announcement of a special intensive revision by the Election Commission before the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar is highly suspicious and concerning. The Election Commission has ordered that all current voter lists be canceled, and every citizen must reapply to have their name added to the voter list, even if their name is already on the list. Why do BJP-RSS and NDA want to weaken the Constitution and democracy? We have asked some questions to the BJP’s puppet Election Commission. Please read and share with others.”
बिहार में आगामी विधानसभा चुनाव से पहले निर्वाचन आयोग द्वारा अचानक विशेष गहन पुनरीक्षण की घोषणा अत्यंत ही संदेहास्पद और चिंताजनक है।
निर्वाचन आयोग ने आदेश दिया है कि सभी वर्तमान मतदाता सूची को रद्द करते हुए हर नागरिक को अपने वोटर लिस्ट में नाम जोड़ने के लिए नए सिरे से आवेदन देना… pic.twitter.com/H7b8AbHeya
Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM): AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi described it as ”backdoor NRC”. He claimed that due to this verification, poor people will be removed from the list because they do not have documents like birth certificate. He further claimed that in 2000, only 3.5% people had birth certificate. Owaisi wrote a letter to the commission objecting to the verification.
The Bihar backdoor NRC will exclude genuine voters and citizens, making them vulnerable to constant harassment. The Election Commission requires Biharis to prove their and their parents’ place and date of birth with one of 11 documents. In 2000, only 3.5% of people had birth… https://t.co/04oyMncUxE
Sagarika Ghosh (TMC): Sagarika Ghosh of Trinamool Congress claimed that the verification process involves strict scrutiny, it requires people to provide their parents’ birth certificates. She questioned where the common people, especially the poor, will get such old documents from? Notably, the TMC does not have foundation in Bihar, yet it is speaking on this issue.
The @ECISVEEP’s new revision process of electoral rolls — the Special Intensive Revision ( SIR) —risks disenfranchising lakhs of voters because of the impractical proofs of identity required , particularly birth certificates of parents. Where will Indian voters find date & place… pic.twitter.com/r14kL7I6oR
Manoj Jha and Ravish Kumar: RJD MP Manoj Jha asked if 8 crore people could be verified in a month? He claimed that this could deprive poor and vulnerable people of voting. Journalist Ravish Kumar promoted Jha’s claims by sharing his post.
Ravish Kumar has supported Manoj Jha’s tweet by retweeting it , screenshot of the same tweet (Photo courtesy: X_Ravish_Journo)
Meanwhile, Congress leader Digvijay Singh said that if the commission does not listen to the opposition, the ‘INDI’ alliance will go to court. He alleged that this investigation is an attempt to remove the poor and the marginalized from the voter list.
What is the NDA’s response?
The ruling NDA is supporting the verification process. NDA leaders believe that the opposition is making wild claims and inventing excuses out of fear of defeat. Union Minister Chirag Paswan said that correcting the voter list is in compliance with the law. The Representation of the People Act, 1950 states that it is necessary to update the list from time to time to remove discrepancies, such as the names of dead people or wrong people.
Former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said that there are up to 20,000 fake voters enrolled in voter lists in some places. This investigation will remove them, which will harm the opposition. That is why they are making noise. The NDA said that verfification will bring transparency and the right voters will benefit.
Voter verification is a normal process and has happened before
Voter verfication is not a new concept. Such exercises have been conducted several times since independence to correct and update the voter list.
1952-56: After the first general election, the lists for some areas were revised every year under intensive scrutiny.
1956: Special inspections were conducted in cities, working class areas, and areas where people moved around a lot.
1962-66: After the Lok Sabha elections, intensive and small-scale verification was conducted across the country in a few years.
1983-88: Intensive investigations were conducted in villages and towns.
1995-2002: Voter lists were also revised extensively in 1995 and 2002.
The last voter verification was conducted in Bihar in 2002 and the updated list was published in 2003. At that time, no one linked it to the NRC. But now, because the elections are near, the opposition is making it a big issue.
There are many ways to update a voter list-
In-depth checking: A fresh verification is done without referring to the old list.
Summary check: Updated without no door-to-door visits.
Special tests: If something abnormal is detected, special verifications are conducted.
Mixed checking: Verification by referring to the old list and going door to door.
A mixed investigation is currently underway in Bihar, for which the 2003 list has been taken as the basis.
The same old tune of the opposition
This noise by the opposition is not new. Before every big election, they raise some issue or the other. Sometimes they raise questions on the EVM, sometimes on the voter list and sometimes they call the Election Commission an ally of the BJP. Interestingly, when an opposition party wins an election, like in West Bengal or Tamil Nadu, all these questions disappear. But on losing, they level these allegations again, like the Congress is still making noise chasing the ghost of defeat in Maharashtra elections, and rehashing the same debunked lies even after being summarily rejected by the Election Commission and the High Court.
On 30th June 2025, the Guildford Crown Court in the United Kingdom sentenced two men to 24 and 4 years’ jail terms respectively after they were found guilty of multiple child sex offences earlier this year. The convicted duo are identified as Stephan Ireland (40) and David Sutton (27). Stephan Ireland was convicted last year for raping a 12-year-old boy while Sutton helped him.
Taking to X, renowned author and women’s rights activist JK Rowling slammed Stephan Ireland, a former LGBTQ+ activist, who led an online mob against the Harry Potter author and labelled her a ‘TERF'(trans-exclusionary radical feminist) after she questioned gender-neutral terms such as “people who menstruate.”
Ireland, who co-founded ‘Pride in Surrey’ and projected himself a voice of LGBTQ+ youths, led an online mob that, for years, harassed JK Rowling for expressing views about biological sex and women’s rights.
“Stephen Ireland, who targeted me with endless abuse on here because I oppose the chemical castration of children and the removal of protected spaces for women and girls, has just been sentenced to 30 years in jail for child rape,” Rowling wrote.
Stephen Ireland, who targeted me with endless abuse on here because I oppose the chemical castration of children and the removal of protected spaces for women and girls, has just been sentenced to 30 years in jail for child rape. pic.twitter.com/0HHctRocB4
Notably, Stephan Ireland was found guilty in April 2024 of sexually abusing a youngster he had cultivated on the gay dating app Grindr. With the help of 27-year-old David Sutton, who was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, Ireland drugged and raped the child, after luring him to a flat.
Ireland had a troubling private life that included grooming children, arranging the commission of child sex offences with young boys, and possessing child pornography, even though he claimed to be an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. He and Sutton were convicted of voyeurism, aiding and abetting child sex abuse, and possessing obscene pictures of children.
“Stephen Ireland, 40, (DOB: 8/3/1984) from Addlestone, was sentenced to 24 years in prison, with a further six on extended licence, after being found guilty of the rape of a child under 13, three counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and the sexual assault of a child under 13, as well as: Conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child; Arranging commission of a child sex offence; Six counts of making indecent photographs of children; Four counts of distributing indecent photographs of a child; Possession of prohibited images of children; Possession of an extreme pornographic image,” a press release by the Surrey Police states.
Notably, JK Rowling has always been unabashed in her criticism of gender identity politics, which is quickly becoming the popular and dominant political narrative in the Western world. In certain nations, biological male sex offenders are sent to women’s prisons based solely on self-identification, which requires a man to simply ‘claim’ to be a woman, and he then gets ‘identified’ as a woman. Such male sex offenders who ‘identify’ or simply lie that they are women are then sent to women’s prisons. In many cases, these male offenders have been accused of sexually abusing women prisoners.
In March 2024, JK Rowling had complained about trans persons being allowed in women’s changing/locker rooms. “When men – all men, however they identify–are banned from women’s spaces, those who disregard the ban can be challenged, inside the space and out.”
Back in 2022, Rowling drew the ire of ‘gender-identity’ fanatics for wishing “merry terfmas”. Notably, TERF is an acronym that stands for a “trans-exclusionary radical feminist”, a term she has been labelled with by Trans activists online.
In 2021, Rowling received online hatred and abuse for questioning Scotland Police’s stand that they would be recording rapes committed by offenders with male genitalia as being “committed by a woman” if the rapist just says he is a woman.
In July 2021, JK Rowling received death threats from LGBTQ activists for flagging the dangers women face in public toilets from men identifying themselves as women. Rowling shared a screenshot of a tweet posted by one of the nasty internet trolls, who apparently wished her “a very nice pipebomb in the mailbox”.
In 2020, Rowling published an X post with the hashtag “StandWithMaya” expressing solidarity with researcher Maya Forstater. The British woman had stated online that there are only two biological sexes, for which she was fired by the U.K. poverty think tank that employed her for questioning government plans to allow people to self-identify as another gender.
Rowling’s women’s rights activism and criticism of trans activists hijacking women’s rights have won her significant support as well as backlash over the years. However, the noted author remains undeterred from her stance on gender issues.
China putting restraints on multiple issues is not a new topic to discuss, but the recent crackdown on women writers has jolted the world. China’s continuous dominance has already made it difficult for people to breathe. While some writers find solace by pouring their hearts onto pages, China’s recent actions have metaphorically torn those pages apart and spilled ink all over them. These actions clearly reflect how the country censors the publishing of gay erotica.
At least 30 writers—nearly all of them women in their 20s—have been arrested across the country since February. Some are currently in custody, some have received bail, and others have been summoned for questioning.
Books on erotica. Picture credit- Pexel
The authors had published stories on a Taiwan-hosted platform known for its ‘danmei’—a genre of boys’ love and erotic fiction. The platform is often compared to a gay version of Fifty Shades of Grey, and Chinese women have been reading these stories religiously.
The question that arises is whether writing about bold topics can truly be considered unlawful. China is accusing these writers of breaking the country’s pornography laws for “producing and distributing obscene material.” Imagine—a writer who creates to earn a living could be jailed for more than a year just for violating a vaguely defined law.
“Is sex really something to be ashamed of?” asked a Weibo user, arguing that China’s anti-obscenity laws are outdated and out of touch with reality. Another user wrote that women never get to decide what is obscene because they don’t control the narrative. Even legal scholars have expressed concern that just 5,000 views of any content deemed “obscene” qualifies as criminal “distribution,” significantly lowering the threshold for arrest.
Repression on women writers
These women, who have long worked in the shadows of a society where terms like homosexuality and eroticism are stigmatized and sensationalized, are now being exposed through legal probes, leading to social consequences that are often more damaging than legal ones.
One writer shared:
“I was always the good girl in my parents’ eyes. But that day, I brought them nothing but shame. They’ll never hold their heads up again.”
An author who has been writing for almost 20 years said the crackdown won’t stop her:
“I can’t let go of the connections I’ve made with the community.”
Haitang and danmei have become uniquely female spaces, though the stories are often centered around men. In a culture where female sexual desire is routinely policed, danmei offers a coded and creative escape for women—a space where they can express their desires, including those for other women. These writers understand that tolerance needs to evolve, so they cleverly navigate censorship with metaphors—“making dinner” stands for sex, and “kitchen tool” is a euphemism for male genitalia.
“Danmei frees me from thinking about all those potential dangers in relationships portrayed in traditional heterosexual romance,” explains one writer who has been active in the danmei world for over a decade.
This platform has been under scrutiny for years, particularly as Beijing has launched a series of clean-up campaigns targeting so-called ‘rotten content’ on the internet. In 2018, a danmei author was sentenced to 10 years in prison for selling 7,000 copies of her book titled Occupy.
Now, police raids on writers are being treated like criminal investigations, carried out with such severity that they demand global attention. One well-known author, who earned approximately 1.85 million yuan, was sentenced to nearly five years in prison. Police in Jixi County, in eastern China, made a large number of arrests.
This is not where it ends. Chinese police have been reported to search phones without warrants. Authorities assessed the “severity” of crimes by adding up the views of each chapter of the written content.
“Right now, I can only hope the law will look beyond the words on the page—and see the girl who skipped meals to save money, the girl who sold her hair to buy a pen, the girl who believed her mind could carve a path through fate. I hope it gives all of us a fair chance,” says one writer.
An issue rooted in the past
Homosexuals Image source- pexel
In 2020, the organizers of Shanghai’s long-running LGBT Pride festival cancelled the event without prior notice. The decision was reportedly driven by government pressure, marking the start of a massive crackdown.
Following these events, students on campuses began to feel the impact. There were increasing attacks on gender identity, with a growing push to reinforce the idea that “men must be macho.” The government had already imposed strict controls on state-run television and newspapers, including China Daily, closely monitoring the content being produced.
Dr. Shuaishuai Wang, a lecturer in New Media and Digital Culture at the University of Amsterdam, explains: “In talent shows, many male contestants appear in unisex clothing and heavy makeup. Their styles are well-received among young audiences. But this diversity—and the challenge it poses to the heterosexual norm—has been viewed as a threat by authorities.”
LGBTQ (Image source- pexel)
Gender and sexuality have now become major targets in China’s censorship campaigns. While depictions of same-sex love—like men kissing or holding hands—are banned from film and television, many tech platforms have attempted to bypass censorship to meet the growing demand for gender-diverse and LGBT content.
Ironically, the Chinese government claims LGBTQ+ identities are Western imports, despite historical evidence proving otherwise. For instance, Shen Defu, a writer from the Ming Dynasty, wrote extensively about gay relationships and described them as common, particularly in Fujian Province. Records indicate that about 5% of the population identified as LGBTQ+ at the time.
“Today, we not only see a proliferation of public expressions of LGBT identity, community, and culture in urban China; we also see a rising consciousness of gender variance, sexual diversity, and citizen rights—all of this was unthinkable 30 years ago,” said Dr. Wang.
Despite this social awakening, China still lacks basic protections for people against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Same-sex marriage remains illegal, and Human Rights Watch describes the situation for LGBT people in China as precarious in its most recent review.
In February 2021, China’s education ministry introduced new teaching methods designed to promote “masculinity” and improve schoolboys’ mental and physical health. The initiative was widely seen as an attempt to train boys to conform to traditional male stereotypes from an early age.
In September of the same year, China’s top media regulator announced a boycott of “sissy idols” as part of a broader effort to “clean up” the entertainment industry. The authorities took issue with pop idols who wore makeup or didn’t conform to the traditional, macho image of masculinity. They were viewed as threats to traditional social values.
This crackdown extended into the world of video games, where depictions of gay relationships and “effeminate men” were banned, categorized under promoting “the wrong set of values.”
China’s government is using nationalism paired with patriarchal masculinity to tighten its grip on gender and sexual expression, areas where it feels increasingly threatened. The state views non-heterosexual identities as deviant and foreign simply because they don’t align with its heteronormative principles.
On 1st July, Odisha Bharatiya Janata Party president Manmohan Samal suspended five members from the party’s primary membership. The action took place in the wake of their involvement in the violence at the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) office, the day before. An on-duty Odisha Administrative Services (OAS) official was attacked by a group of individuals in his office chamber on the grounds of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Senior OAS officer & Additional Commissioner of BMC, Ratnakar Sahoo dragged, kicked and assaulted by a BJP Corporator along with his associates in Bhubaneshwar Municipal Corporation’s office.
The incident happened while Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo was holding a meeting in his chamber to address grievances. The attackers hauled him from his office, slapped, punched, and kicked him. Afterwards, they made him apologise to Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jagannath Pradhan.
Ward No. 29 Corporator Aparup Narayan Rout (also known as Jeevan Rout), along with Rashmi Ranjan Mahapatra, Debashis Pradhan, Sachikanta Swain and Sanjeev Mishra have been ousted by the saffron party. “The police have so far arrested three persons, including a BJP corporator Jeevan Rout, in connection with the assault and are searching for others,” an officer informed.
Several sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) including 109 (attempt to murder) have been invoked against the perpetrators. According to police sources, further arrests in the case are imminent.
OAS and ORS officers on indefinite strike
The attack has prompted employees of the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) and the Odisha Revenue Service (ORS) in sixteen districts of the state to go on indefinite leave starting 1st July including Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Rayagada, Deogarh, Nuapada, Subarnapur, Balasore, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Bolangir, Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and Jharsuguda.
The officers have stated unequivocally that they will not resume their duties unless the matter is addressed in a concrete manner. The Cuttack district has seen about 150 OAS and ORS officers take mass leave. However, they have promised to return to work in the event of an emergency.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also communicated with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. He urged the latter to take prompt and exemplary measures against not only the individuals who committed this act but, more crucially, the political leaders who orchestrated and conspired this disgraceful attack.
“If a senior officer is not safe in his own office, then what law and order will ordinary citizens expect from the government,” he added and hoped for immediate action in the case.
I am utterly shocked seeing this video.
Today, Shri Ratnakar Sahoo, OAS Additional Commissioner, BMC, a senior officer of the rank of Additional Secretary was dragged from his office and brutally kicked and assaulted in front of a BJP Corporator, allegedly linked to a defeated… pic.twitter.com/yf7M3dLt9C
The Odisha Administrative Service Association had earlier decided to launch an agitation and asked its members to take a “mass leave” starting on 1st July in protest of the instance. However, they have decided to postpone their decision after receiving assurances from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi that all the culprits, irrespective of their political background or influence, would face harsh consequences.
Bhubaneswar sanitation workers have also cancelled their services and demanded that everyone involved in the incident be arrested right away.
On the other hand, the BMC officer reportedly mistreated a female sanitation worker for attending rallies led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, claimed BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan, who denounced the incident.
“When the woman sanitation worker informed me about the misbehaviour, I called the officer (Sahoo) to enquire about it. He then misbehaved with me,” he argued and refuted claims that he instructed his followers to assault the official.
BMC workers continued to participate in a cease-work demonstration while BMC Commissioner Rajesh Patil assured that measures are underway to improve office security to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Govt attempts to alleviate the situation
On the evening of 30th June, the state government met twice with representatives from the OAS association.
“The first meeting was held with Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja in the presence of DGP (Director General of Police) Y B Khurania. Later, another round of meetings was conducted under the chairmanship of the chief minister in the presence of the chief secretary, DGP, police commissioner and advocate general. The meeting lasted till midnight,” stated an official.
On 1st July, petrol and diesel supply to 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles has been stopped in Delhi. Over 400 petrol pumps across the national capital have been equipped with special cameras to identify such vehicles. The government has also deployed teams to identify and seize these vehicles. The entire effort is part an initiative to reduce pollution in Delhi. Reportedly, several lakh vehicles are likely to be affected by this campaign.
How old vehicles are not allowed to operate in Delhi-NCR?
Diesel vehicles that are over 10 years old and petrol vehicles that are over 15 years old are not allowed to operate in Delhi-NCR as per the new regulations. If these are found on the road, they will be seized and fined. Furthermore, these vehicles will be sent for scrapping. This rule applies to small vehicles, trucks, buses and even bikes.
Why is there a ban on old vehicles in Delhi-NCR?
The decision to ban old vehicles in Delhi-NCR was taken to improve the deteriorating air quality. The air quality in Delhi has reached dangerous levels in the past few years. By 2014–15, the quality had drastically dropped during the winter months.
Reportedly, the decline in air quality was mainly due to pollution. Vehicular emissions contribute to more than 50% of the pollution. The worst offenders are older vehicles that are not properly maintained.
Moreover, diesel vehicles pollute more, as they use a different technology compared to petrol vehicles. Hence, the NGT decided to impose a ban on such vehicles. In addition, a decision was also taken to cancel the registration of vehicles that were already registered earlier.
When did the NGT impose the ban on old vehicles?
This ongoing campaign against old vehicles in Delhi-NCR is not a new decision. In fact, it is the result of a decision taken by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2014 and 2015.
In November 2014, the NGT had ruled that diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles over 15 years old would not be allowed to run in Delhi-NCR. The NGT also ordered that such vehicles must not be registered in Delhi and the surrounding NCR districts.
What did the Supreme Court say about old vehicles?
The NGT’s order was challenged in the Supreme Court. In 2018, the Supreme Court upheld the NGT’s decision, stating that 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles would not be allowed to operate in Delhi-NCR. Since then, continuous action has been taken against such vehicles in Delhi.
Following the NGT order, in 2022, the Delhi government decided to deregister all diesel vehicles that were 10 years old and all petrol vehicles that were 15 years old. The Delhi government also stated that if such vehicles were found on the roads, they would be seized.
What action is now being taken on old vehicles in Delhi-NCR?
In Delhi, over 400 petrol pumps will no longer supply fuel to such vehicles. This action is being enforced at 459 petrol pumps. Of these, traffic police have been deployed at 350 petrol pumps. Additionally, 100 petrol pumps have police personnel posted. Besides this, teams from the Delhi Transport Department have been deployed at 59 petrol pumps.
Special cameras have been installed at these petrol pumps to identify old vehicles. These cameras scan the vehicle number and match it with data from the vehicle portal. If the data reveals that a vehicle is either a 15-year-old petrol or 10-year-old diesel vehicle, the petrol pump staff will receive an alert.
These vehicles will then be denied fuel. They could also face fines of up to Rs 10,000 and may be seized. This action has already started at several petrol pumps in Delhi. Several cars and bikes have already been seized at petrol pumps.
What will happen to old vehicles now?
The question arises, what will people living in Delhi-NCR with old vehicles do now, and what will happen to their vehicles? In fact, vehicle owners have two options. Either they scrap their vehicle (i.e., sell it to a scrap dealer) or sell it in states where such vehicles are still allowed.
What is the scrappage policy for old vehicles?
In 2024, the Delhi government introduced a policy regarding scrapping old vehicles. Under this, vehicle owners were offered discounts on registering new vehicles if they scrapped their old ones. On presenting the scrappage certificate, a discount of 10%–20% is offered.
What are the rules for selling to other states?
Vehicles no longer permitted in Delhi-NCR can be sold in other states. However, the rules of the receiving state must be followed. Vehicles removed from Delhi-NCR roads can be sold in districts of other states where registration is still allowed. This excludes NCR districts in Uttar Pradesh. Sales may be possible in states like Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
What did Delhi CM Rekha Gupta say about action on old vehicles?
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has issued a statement on this matter. She said that both the courts and the pollution control board have consistently demanded the removal of old vehicles from the roads.
#WATCH | Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta says, "In the light of pollution in Delhi, the Supreme Court and pollution control bodies, including CAQM, have consistently stated that End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) should be phased out. Such vehicles should not be provided with petrol.… pic.twitter.com/UuFWXPGHVd
She stated that the government is working to effectively implement this decision. She also mentioned that work is ongoing on the plan to install cameras at petrol pumps.
This report was first published on OpIndia Hindi and can be checked here.
The fued between the United States President Donald Trump and his former bestie billionaire Elon Musk over the flagship spending legislation, “The One Big Beautiful Bill,” has once again emerged as a prominent issue in current American politics due to its continued criticism by the latter.
Trump attacked Musk and threatened to curb government funding for his corporations. He added, “Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies.” He then mocked that the South African-born tech entrepreneur would “probably have to close up shop and head back home” if his administration reduces subsidies provided to his enterprises, including SpaceX and Tesla.
“No more Rocket launches, satellites, or electric car production, and our country would save a fortune. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? Big money to be saved,” he challenged.
“Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly endorsed me for president, that I was strongly against the EV mandate. It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one,” the Republican leader asserted.
Predictably, Musk also retaliated and dared the president to keep his word and eliminate the subsidies provided to his businesses. Musk, who chaired the government’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) until May and was Trump’s presidential advisor, had a heated public spat with him last month over the proposal.
He reiterated his scathing objection and his demands for the creation of a new political party when the senate convened to vote on the bill.
Musk reshared the results and claimed that 80% people voted for a new political party on his social media poll, last month and remarked, “Vox Populi Vox Dei” which is a Latin phrase meaning “the voice of the people is the voice of God.”
Furthermore, Trump announced that he will be furious with any Republican member of Congress who opposes his massive tax and spending plan while Musk has promised to take on any Republican who endorses the legislation. He repeatedly outlined that the United States is heading towards bankruptcy as the debt ceiling is continuously raised.
Background of the dispute
Musk’s public split from Trump started in early June when he denounced the latter’s spending plan and budget as a “disgusting abomination,” citing the soaring deficit and reductions in EV tax credits. The tycoon also slammed the Trump administration with new opposition, calling the bill “utterly insane.” Furthermore, he suggested that the discontent with Democrats and Republicans would lead to the creation of a third political party.
Trump reacted aggressively and voiced his displeasure in the White House and then threatened to revoke billions of dollars in federal contracts and subsidies for Musk’s companies. Musk retorted by accusing Trump of being inconsiderate, declaring that he “would have lost the election” without his backing.
Musk even hinted that he would decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spaceship which plays a key role in NASA’s (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) operations. He even suggested that Trump should be impeached. He claimed that Trump’s name was in the infamous Epsteins files but later withdrew his charge, expressed regret and even deleted the accusatory post.
The “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which would strengthen border security and prolong Trump’s first-term tax cuts that are about to expire at a cost of $4.5 trillion is an attempt to cement his legacy. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the amendment to the bill would boost spending by around $3.3 trillion over the next ten years, surpassing the version taken by House of Representatives by almost $1 trillion.
However the program, might reportedly deprive millions of the poorest Americans of health care and increase the national debt by more than $3 trillion. It has divided Republicans as they prepare for the 2026 midterm congressional elections. On the other hand, the wealthiest person in the world, Musk, charged Republicans with encouraging “debt slavery” as legislators started voting on the plan on 30th June.
A chilling account of unchecked campus terror has emerged following the arrest of Monojit “Mango” Mishra, the prime accused in the gang rape of a 24-year-old student at the South Kolkata Law College.
While speaking anonymously to NDTV, students detailed how Mishra, an alumnus-turned-contractual employee, wielded fear for years with impunity due to political patronage.
“Nobody dared to touch him,” one student stated, capturing the institutional paralysis that enabled his crimes.
She said, “There was an atmosphere of intimidation on the campus. He used to click photos of female students, morph them and circulate them on WhatsApp groups. He also sexually harassed them. There was so much intimidation that students were scared to attend classes.”
A student named Vaagmi Trivedi told The Times of India that the TMC leader behaved inappropriately with girls during a picnic in Oct 2023.
A drunk Monojit demanded that she sing for him and his friends. Trivedi recounted that he sat on the lap of a female student during an auto ride and later instructed the victim to sit on his lap.
“He went and sat on her lap. Shocked, we told him to sit in front. He did go but asked my senior to sit on his lap,” she added. Another student informed that the TMC leader molested a 1st year girl in her room and then intimidated her into silence.
A female student named Rokeya Dasgupta narrated, “We stopped coming to college for this (disturbing gaze).”
Mango Mishra: a symbol of terror
A student revealed that there were hardly any female students left on the college campus who had not faced him at some point or another. He had, in a way, become synonymous with terror. The college students used to call him “Mango Mishra.”
A 4th year student stopped going to college since September 2025 after being assaulted by Monojit Mishra for not including him at the Teacher’s Day event. He was forced to relocate to New Town and undergo several months of treatment.
Monojit Mishra was a former student of this college and had used his influence in the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to get himself appointed as a temporary employee at the same college. His word was law within the college. Everyone feared him. Even the teachers could not say anything against him.
Protected by TMC
Trinamool Congress had made him so politically secure that no one dared to touch him. The opposition has accused that with the support of the ruling party, antisocial elements like Monojit commit crimes and escape.
The main accused in the rape case, Monojit, along with co-accused Pramit Mukhopadhyay and Jaib Ahmed, have been arrested.
The victim, a 24-year-old law student, has informed that she was raped on campus on June 25th, and the other two later recorded video of this heinous act to blackmail her.
Multiple complaints filed with the Police
According to the report, atleast 11 cases are registered against Monojit Mishra with the police and four of them include molestation. He was out on bail in these cases.
The charges against him include: tearing the dress of a Kolkata Law College student in July 2019, stealing a music system, perfume, and sunglasses from a friend’s house in December 2019; molesting a woman and attempting to murder a man on Swinhoe Lane in March 2022 (in this case, he was also arrested in April 2017).
Additionally, he is accused of assaulting a college guard and damaging college property in May 2024.
In a significant development for regional energy cooperation, Bangladesh has cleared its pending dues amounting to USD 437 million to Adani Power, marking the single largest payment made under the bilateral power supply agreement.
Sources familiar with the matter confirmed that payments include outstanding bills, carrying costs, and charges linked to the power purchase agreement (PPA) signed between Bangladesh and the Indian conglomerate in 2017.
The development comes after months of uncertainty in power supply from Adani’s 1,600 MW Godda power plant in Jharkhand, which supplies electricity exclusively to Bangladesh. Supply had been reduced last year due to payment delays, a consequence of Bangladesh’s worsening financial situation amid rising energy import costs following the Russia-Ukraine conflict and domestic political instability.
However, according to officials aware of the developments, Bangladesh has now regularised its payments over the past few months, consistently paying USD 90-100 million per month. The June payment of USD 437 million has effectively cleared all outstanding dues. As an added financial safeguard, Bangladesh has implemented Letters of Credit (LCs) covering about two months’ worth of billing and extended sovereign guarantees for all dues, providing additional security to Adani Power.
Earlier last year, Bangladesh’s Power Minister Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan told Reuters that the country could cope without Adani’s power supply, citing increased domestic generation capacity, though he admitted not all domestic units were operational. Despite that claim, mounting power shortages and strained infrastructure appear to have forced a course correction.
With financial issues resolved, Bangladesh has requested Adani Power to resume full electricity supply from both units of the Godda plant, as per the Bangladesh Power Development Board’s (BPDB) schedule. The plant meets approximately 10% of Bangladesh’s electricity demand.
Concerns regarding the PPA, which had attracted criticism from opposition leaders and activists in both countries, were also subject to review by Bangladeshi authorities. Sources stated that no adverse findings emerged from these investigations, with officials reaffirming the project’s importance for Bangladesh’s energy security. Data from BPDB indicates that electricity supplied by Adani Power is among the most competitively priced sources available to Bangladesh, although critics have previously questioned the broader terms of the agreement.
Adani Power has also undertaken corporate restructuring to merge the Godda unit with its parent operations, aimed at improving financial and operational efficiency. Industry analysts suggest that these developments may bolster Adani Power’s credit rating, with expectations of an upgrade from AA to AA+, potentially lowering borrowing costs for the company.
The 2017 power agreement has often been the subject of political debate, with critics raising concerns over pricing, transparency, and dependence on imported coal-based power. Proponents argue that the Godda plant has provided Bangladesh with reliable and competitively priced electricity, helping to address chronic power shortages.
The recent financial settlement reflects Bangladesh’s efforts to stabilise its energy sector and fulfil its contractual obligations. With payments back on track and supply fully restored, stakeholders on both sides are cautiously optimistic about the stability of the arrangement moving forward.
