Nation

Chaos erupted in the Lok Sabha on Thursday after BJP MP Anurag Thakur alleged that a Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP was using an e-cigarette inside the House, despite a nationwide ban on such devices. Thakur Questions: “Is E-Cigarette Use Allowed in the House?” Raising the matter during Question Hour, Thakur asked Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla whether he had granted permission for e-cigarette use in Parliament.The Speaker responded firmly, saying: “No. No member is permitted to use an e-cigarette inside the House.” Thakur then claimed that certain TMC MPs were using the device during proceedings. Although he did not name anyone, he urged the Speaker to take strict action. Noise and Protests in the House Following the allegation, the Opposition benches erupted, leading to loud...

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has slammed opposition parties for introducing an impeachment motion against Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench, calling it unprecedented since India’s independence. The motion was submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla by 107 MPs of the India Mahagathbandhan, including members from Congress, DMK, AAP, Samajwadi Party, CPI, CPM, and the Shiv Sena (UBT). Shah Takes On OppositionDuring a discussion on electoral reforms in the Lok Sabha, Amit Shah indirectly addressed the impeachment, saying, “It has never happened in independent India that a judge, after delivering a verdict, faces such an impeachment motion.” He accused opposition MPs of acting to protect their vote banks rather than out of genuine concern. He also criticized ...

The Karthigai Deepam controversy near the Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, has drawn a response from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat emphasized that Hindus in Tamil Nadu are capable of resolving the issue themselves and that the organization will intervene only if absolutely necessary. Bhagwat Calls for PatienceSpeaking at an event marking 100 years of the RSS, Bhagwat was asked whether the dispute should be taken up at the national level. He replied, “The Tirupparankundram case is still under judicial consideration. Let the court decide. If further action is required, it will be taken.” Hindus’ Awakening Key to ResolutionBhagwat highlighted that the awakening of Hindus in Tamil Nadu is likely sufficient to bring about the desir...

A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake has struck Japan, causing significant damage to roads, power stations, and residential buildings, leaving thousands of people affected. In response, Japan’s Meteorological Agency has issued a “mega-earthquake” warning near the northern coast, signaling an elevated risk of earthquakes of magnitude 8 or higher over the next seven days. Tsunami Alert IssuedThe earthquake occurred near a trench off the coast of Hokkaido and northeastern Japan, a known subduction zone where the Pacific Plate slides beneath the Honshu main island. Following the quake, the Meteorological Agency initially estimated a magnitude of 7.6 and warned of potential tsunami waves reaching up to 3 meters. In Iwate Prefecture, tsunami waves measured up to 70 centimeters. Government A...

In a significant judgment, the Supreme Court of India emphasized that the power to punish for contempt should not be used as a tool to silence critics. The apex court highlighted that judicial mercy is an essential part of judicial discretion. In line with this principle, the Supreme Court set aside a Bombay High Court order that had sentenced a woman to one week in jail for allegedly making derogatory remarks about the judiciary in a circular concerning stray dogs. Background of the CaseThe case involves a former director of the Seawoods Estates Limited Residential Complex in Navi Mumbai. She had issued a circular that was deemed contemptuous by the Bombay High Court. However, the Supreme Court noted that the woman had immediately submitted a response expressing genuine remorse and off...

New Delhi: The controversy over Vande Mataram continues in Parliament, with Home Minister Amit Shah presenting a list of opposition leaders who have either refused to sing the song or raised objections to it. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Shah accused the Congress party of appeasement politics, claiming that opposition to Vande Mataram dates back to Jawaharlal Nehru’s era and contributed to the partition of the country. Opposition Leaders on the List The list presented by Amit Shah includes several Congress and other opposition leaders, citing incidents from both recent and earlier years. Notable names include: Imran Masood, Congress MP Aga Syed, National Conference Ziaur Rahman Bark, Samajwadi Party Arif Masood, Congress MLA Siddaramaiah, Congress MP Sau...

New Delhi: India’s beloved festival of lights, Deepavali, has officially been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The announcement was made as part of the 2025 list, which includes 20 cultural heritages from around the world. UNESCO’s representative list aims to safeguard living traditions, social practices, festivals, folk arts, and traditional knowledge systems that have been integral to societies’ cultural identity for generations. This year, in addition to Deepavali, Bangladesh’s Tangail sari weaving tradition was also included in the prestigious list. What is Intangible Cultural Heritage? According to UNESCO, cultural heritage is not limited to monuments or physical objects; it also encompasses living traditions passed do...

New Delhi: The Indi Alliance has launched a formal move seeking the impeachment of Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madras High Court, following his directive to light traditional lamps at a prominent hill near a temple in Madurai, which has sparked widespread controversy. On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, over 100 Lok Sabha MPs from the Indi Alliance submitted a written notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, requesting the initiation of impeachment proceedings against Justice Swaminathan. Allegations Against Justice Swaminathan The notice accuses Justice Swaminathan of misconduct, questioning his impartiality, transparency, and secular conduct. Opposition MPs have alleged that the judge showed bias in favor of a specific community’s senior advocate and delivered decisions based on a pa...

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday presented the Shilp Guru Awards and National Handicraft Awards for 2023 and 2024, honouring the nation’s finest artisans, designers, and innovators in the handicrafts sector. The ceremony was held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, in the presence of Union Minister for Textiles Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for Textiles Pabitra Margherita, Textiles Secretary Neelam Shami Rao, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) Amrit Raj, along with artisans, industry representatives, exporters, and senior officials. Awards Distribution and Recipients A total of 48 awards were presented: 12 Shilp Guru Awards and 36 National Awards, including 2 Design-Innovation Awards. Among the awardees, 20 were women artisans, highlighting the growing role of women i...