September 26, 2026

At the meeting to be held at 1 pm, the committee will deliberate on provisions of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 NEW DELHI: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann will hold a meeting of the seven-member coordination committee constituted to examine the amended anti-sacrilege law, at his residence here on Sunday.At the meeting to be held at 1 pm, the committee will deliberate on provisions of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 and matters related to its implementation, with an aim to uphold the highest standards of ‘satkar’ (reverence) for the Sikh Holy Book Guru Granth Sahib, according to an official statement issued on Saturday.All members of the coordination committee will attend the meeting.The seven-member panel comprises former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, Sant Giani Harnaam Singh Khalsa, Sant Baba Sewa Singh, former Justices Jaswinder Singh and Gurbir Singh, former IPS officer Jatinder Singh Aulakh and Advocate Preet Inder Paul Singh.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe amendment bill was unanimously passed by the Punjab Assembly on April 13. It includes provisions for stricter punishment, including life imprisonment and fines from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, for any act of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib.However, the Akal Takht has raised several objections to the law, especially on the definition of “custodian” of the religious text and on assigning unique numbers to the holy “Birs”.On June 29, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj directed the state government to address objections concerning the anti-sacrilege law within a month.Gargajj on July 30 rejected the Punjab government’s response regarding the anti-sacrilege law as “unsatisfactory” and announced a five-member committee to engage with the AAP dispensation on the issue.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAlbanese Hails Modi’s Energy Push: ‘India Gave More People Access Than Anywhere In History’Delhi Skeleton Mystery: Skeleton-Like Structure Found During BJP Cleanliness Drive | Watch‘Padma Bhushan Is Small, Make Him PM’: Pawan Khera Mocks BJP’s Praise For Gyanesh KumarSkyStriker, HIMARS, Apache: India, US Showcase Firepower At Yudh Abhyas 2026 | WatchTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained123Hot PicksMandeep K BhandariBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysOdisha school textbooksPunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

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At the meeting to be held at 1 pm, the committee will deliberate on provisions of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 NEW DELHI: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann will hold a meeting of the seven-member coordination committee constituted to examine the amended anti-sacrilege law, at his residence here on Sunday.At the meeting to be held at 1 pm, the committee will deliberate on provisions of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 and matters related to its implementation, with an aim to uphold the highest standards of ‘satkar’ (reverence) for the Sikh Holy Book Guru Granth Sahib, according to an official statement issued on Saturday.All members of the coordination committee will attend the meeting.The seven-member panel comprises former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, Sant Giani Harnaam Singh Khalsa, Sant Baba Sewa Singh, former Justices Jaswinder Singh and Gurbir Singh, former IPS officer Jatinder Singh Aulakh and Advocate Preet Inder Paul Singh.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe amendment bill was unanimously passed by the Punjab Assembly on April 13. It includes provisions for stricter punishment, including life imprisonment and fines from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, for any act of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib.However, the Akal Takht has raised several objections to the law, especially on the definition of “custodian” of the religious text and on assigning unique numbers to the holy “Birs”.On June 29, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj directed the state government to address objections concerning the anti-sacrilege law within a month.Gargajj on July 30 rejected the Punjab government’s response regarding the anti-sacrilege law as “unsatisfactory” and announced a five-member committee to engage with the AAP dispensation on the issue.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAlbanese Hails Modi’s Energy Push: ‘India Gave More People Access Than Anywhere In History’Delhi Skeleton Mystery: Skeleton-Like Structure Found During BJP Cleanliness Drive | Watch‘Padma Bhushan Is Small, Make Him PM’: Pawan Khera Mocks BJP’s Praise For Gyanesh KumarSkyStriker, HIMARS, Apache: India, US Showcase Firepower At Yudh Abhyas 2026 | WatchTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained123Hot PicksMandeep K BhandariBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysOdisha school textbooksPunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court


Anti-sacrilege law: Mann to hold meeting of coordination committee to discuss provisions
At the meeting to be held at 1 pm, the committee will deliberate on provisions of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026

NEW DELHI: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann will hold a meeting of the seven-member coordination committee constituted to examine the amended anti-sacrilege law, at his residence here on Sunday.At the meeting to be held at 1 pm, the committee will deliberate on provisions of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 and matters related to its implementation, with an aim to uphold the highest standards of ‘satkar’ (reverence) for the Sikh Holy Book Guru Granth Sahib, according to an official statement issued on Saturday.All members of the coordination committee will attend the meeting.The seven-member panel comprises former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, Sant Giani Harnaam Singh Khalsa, Sant Baba Sewa Singh, former Justices Jaswinder Singh and Gurbir Singh, former IPS officer Jatinder Singh Aulakh and Advocate Preet Inder Paul Singh.

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FIP seeks formal consideration of its inputs in AI171 probe NEW DELHI: The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has urged the civil aviation ministry to ensure that its technical submissions on the Air India AI171 crash are formally considered before the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) finalises its probe report.The AAIB investigation into the June 12, 2025 crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people, is at an advanced stage.In a letter to civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu on Friday, FIP sought to be nominated as an “independent technical participant in the review of the draft AI171 final investigation report”.FIP said it had “reliably learnt that the government/ ministry has directed or is considering requiring the draft report to undergo examination by an independent committee before it is circulated/ finalised”. It said that if such a review mechanism is being constituted, the pilots’ body should be formally nominated and represented as an independent technical stakeholder representing the professional pilot community.The federation also requested that its technical submissions receive formal and documented consideration before the final report is issued.The FIP had last week urged the AAIB to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of electrical-system evidence related to Boeing 787 aircraft as part of the AI171 investigation.The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, registered as VT-ANB, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad for London Gatwick on June 12, 2025. Of the 242 people on board, 241 died, while 19 people on the ground were also killed. All 12 crew members died and one passenger survived.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe aircraft, manufactured in 2013 and powered by GE engines, had flown 41,868 hours. Its Airworthiness Review Certificate was valid until May 23, 2026.In its latest update on the investigation, the AAIB said significant progress had been made and that the final report would be released after completion of all investigative activities and the required international review and consultation processes.The bureau has said the investigation team has examined technical, operational, organisational and human factors associated with the accident, without disclosing specific findings from the probe.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAastha JhaAastha Jha is a writer at The Times of India, covering politics. She also writes on business, global affairs, social issues, with a focus on policy, governance and their impact on everyday lives. Her work brings together reportage and analysis, tracking developments in India and abroad while examining the broader social and economic currents shaping public discourse.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAlbanese Hails Modi’s Energy Push: ‘India Gave More People Access Than Anywhere In History’Delhi Skeleton Mystery: Skeleton-Like Structure Found During BJP Cleanliness Drive | Watch‘Padma Bhushan Is Small, Make Him PM’: Pawan Khera Mocks BJP’s Praise For Gyanesh KumarSkyStriker, HIMARS, Apache: India, US Showcase Firepower At Yudh Abhyas 2026 | WatchTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained123Hot PicksMandeep K BhandariBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysOdisha school textbooksPunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

FIP seeks formal consideration of its inputs in AI171 probe NEW DELHI: The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has urged the civil aviation ministry to ensure that its technical submissions on the Air India AI171 crash are formally considered before the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) finalises its probe report.The AAIB investigation into the June 12, 2025 crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people, is at an advanced stage.In a letter to civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu on Friday, FIP sought to be nominated as an “independent technical participant in the review of the draft AI171 final investigation report”.FIP said it had “reliably learnt that the government/ ministry has directed or is considering requiring the draft report to undergo examination by an independent committee before it is circulated/ finalised”. It said that if such a review mechanism is being constituted, the pilots’ body should be formally nominated and represented as an independent technical stakeholder representing the professional pilot community.The federation also requested that its technical submissions receive formal and documented consideration before the final report is issued.The FIP had last week urged the AAIB to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of electrical-system evidence related to Boeing 787 aircraft as part of the AI171 investigation.The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, registered as VT-ANB, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad for London Gatwick on June 12, 2025. Of the 242 people on board, 241 died, while 19 people on the ground were also killed. All 12 crew members died and one passenger survived.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe aircraft, manufactured in 2013 and powered by GE engines, had flown 41,868 hours. Its Airworthiness Review Certificate was valid until May 23, 2026.In its latest update on the investigation, the AAIB said significant progress had been made and that the final report would be released after completion of all investigative activities and the required international review and consultation processes.The bureau has said the investigation team has examined technical, operational, organisational and human factors associated with the accident, without disclosing specific findings from the probe.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAastha JhaAastha Jha is a writer at The Times of India, covering politics. She also writes on business, global affairs, social issues, with a focus on policy, governance and their impact on everyday lives. Her work brings together reportage and analysis, tracking developments in India and abroad while examining the broader social and economic currents shaping public discourse.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAlbanese Hails Modi’s Energy Push: ‘India Gave More People Access Than Anywhere In History’Delhi Skeleton Mystery: Skeleton-Like Structure Found During BJP Cleanliness Drive | Watch‘Padma Bhushan Is Small, Make Him PM’: Pawan Khera Mocks BJP’s Praise For Gyanesh KumarSkyStriker, HIMARS, Apache: India, US Showcase Firepower At Yudh Abhyas 2026 | WatchTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained123Hot PicksMandeep K BhandariBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysOdisha school textbooksPunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

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NEW DELHI: Australian PM Anthony Albanese has credited PM Narendra Modi with providing energy access to India’s population on a scale that, he said, no other country has achieved before.Talking to former Australian PM Kevin Rudd on Sept 24 at an event organised by Asia Policy Institute in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings, Albanese said, “To give Prime Minister Modi credit, more people have been connected with access to energy in India under his reign than has occurred in any decade in any country or any region in human history.”Under the Ujjwala scheme, over 10.5 crore domestic cooking gas connections have been provided since 2016, while the Saubhagya scheme helped electrify over 2.8 crore rural and poor urban households. The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the world’s largest domestic rooftop solar initiative, has connected over 50 lakh households with solar energy. Nearly 2.5 million farmers have also benefited from the PM-KUSUM scheme, which promotes solar energy in agriculture through solar-powered irrigation systems.Albanese’s statement comes at a time when energy security is high on India’s agenda, with global supplies facing disruptions amid the ongoing war in West Asia.India diversified its energy supplies from 27 to 41 countries over the past decade to ensure energy security for its population of over 140 crore. This helped it tide over supply disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, which carries a fifth of the world’s total energy trade, amid the West Asia conflict and, more recently, disruptions in the Red Sea. India also imported LNG from Australia when supplies from Gulf nations were scarce.Albanese spoke about India’s growing economic strength and efforts to deepen bilateral ties. He said the India-Australia partnership had been “under-utilised” and that he and PM Modi were “very keen on rectifying that”.“He is someone who we have a strong relationship with. I think there’s a lot more can be done in our economic partnership,” Albanese said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAlbanese, along with a delegation from the Business Council of Australia, is likely to visit India in Dec for the G’Day Namaste event, where bilateral trade, investment and cooperation in clean energy, education and technology are expected to be discussed.During PM Modi’s visit to Australia in July this year, the two countries issued a joint statement calling for stronger cooperation on reliable energy supplies, renewable energy, supply-chain resilience and electrification. They also agreed on Australian uranium exports to India for its nuclear energy programmes and reaffirmed cooperation on critical minerals and renewable energy.Commerce minister Piyush Goyal recently said that bilateral trade between the two countries stood at .09 billion in 2025-26.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDelhi Skeleton Mystery: Skeleton-Like Structure Found During BJP Cleanliness Drive | Watch‘Padma Bhushan Is Small, Make Him PM’: Pawan Khera Mocks BJP’s Praise For Gyanesh KumarSkyStriker, HIMARS, Apache: India, US Showcase Firepower At Yudh Abhyas 2026 | WatchTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMos123Hot PicksMandeep K BhandariBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysOdisha school textbooksPunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

NEW DELHI: Australian PM Anthony Albanese has credited PM Narendra Modi with providing energy access to India’s population on a scale that, he said, no other country has achieved before.Talking to former Australian PM Kevin Rudd on Sept 24 at an event organised by Asia Policy Institute in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings, Albanese said, “To give Prime Minister Modi credit, more people have been connected with access to energy in India under his reign than has occurred in any decade in any country or any region in human history.”Under the Ujjwala scheme, over 10.5 crore domestic cooking gas connections have been provided since 2016, while the Saubhagya scheme helped electrify over 2.8 crore rural and poor urban households. The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the world’s largest domestic rooftop solar initiative, has connected over 50 lakh households with solar energy. Nearly 2.5 million farmers have also benefited from the PM-KUSUM scheme, which promotes solar energy in agriculture through solar-powered irrigation systems.Albanese’s statement comes at a time when energy security is high on India’s agenda, with global supplies facing disruptions amid the ongoing war in West Asia.India diversified its energy supplies from 27 to 41 countries over the past decade to ensure energy security for its population of over 140 crore. This helped it tide over supply disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, which carries a fifth of the world’s total energy trade, amid the West Asia conflict and, more recently, disruptions in the Red Sea. India also imported LNG from Australia when supplies from Gulf nations were scarce.Albanese spoke about India’s growing economic strength and efforts to deepen bilateral ties. He said the India-Australia partnership had been “under-utilised” and that he and PM Modi were “very keen on rectifying that”.“He is someone who we have a strong relationship with. I think there’s a lot more can be done in our economic partnership,” Albanese said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAlbanese, along with a delegation from the Business Council of Australia, is likely to visit India in Dec for the G’Day Namaste event, where bilateral trade, investment and cooperation in clean energy, education and technology are expected to be discussed.During PM Modi’s visit to Australia in July this year, the two countries issued a joint statement calling for stronger cooperation on reliable energy supplies, renewable energy, supply-chain resilience and electrification. They also agreed on Australian uranium exports to India for its nuclear energy programmes and reaffirmed cooperation on critical minerals and renewable energy.Commerce minister Piyush Goyal recently said that bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $21.09 billion in 2025-26.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDelhi Skeleton Mystery: Skeleton-Like Structure Found During BJP Cleanliness Drive | Watch‘Padma Bhushan Is Small, Make Him PM’: Pawan Khera Mocks BJP’s Praise For Gyanesh KumarSkyStriker, HIMARS, Apache: India, US Showcase Firepower At Yudh Abhyas 2026 | WatchTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMos123Hot PicksMandeep K BhandariBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysOdisha school textbooksPunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

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BJP MP Sambit Patra criticises opposition for alleging BJP-ECI ‘collusion’ (File photo) NEW DELHI: The ruling BJP on Saturday said that the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) statement on the SIR row has “clearly established” that the decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was taken with the full consensus of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the two election commissioners.Also Read | SIR row: EC says final decisions unanimous, clarifies officer’s role, voter inclusion process”In the recent months, the Commission has taken numerous decisions including SIR across the country. The order for the SIR issued on 24.6.2025 for all the States/UTs, starting with Bihar, followed by West Bengal and 30 other States/UTs was issued with the unanimous approval of the Commission. The same has been upheld by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India vide its order dated 27.5.2026. The schedule for SIR for 12 States and UTs was issued on 27.10.2025 and those for 19 States/UTs was issued on 14.05.2026 with the unanimous approval of the Commission. The final figure of number of electors will be known only after final publication in the remaining 12 states of Phase-III,” the poll panel’s statement read.The ECI response and Patra’s subsequent remarks came amid a political row over the SIR exercise following an Indian Express report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected at least 14 times over 10 months to decisions and orders related to the roll revision process.“ECI’s letter has now clearly established that the SIR was conducted with the signatures and full consensus of all three commissioners… The Supreme Court ruled in favour of the SIR… The public statement issued today by the Election Commission contains a photograph on its final page showing all three commissioners sitting together. Regarding the attacks that were being made on the Election Commission, the truth has clearly come to light today,” BJP MP Sambit Patra told news agency ANI.Patra also criticised the Congress-led opposition for alleging “collusion” between the BJP and the ECI.“Various opposition parties and the Congress Party in particular launched an aggressive attack on the Election Commission of India and the BJP. They alleged collusion between the Election Commission and the BJP, claiming that India’s democracy was being compromised. The manner in which the Congress Party has attempted to launch an attack clearly demonstrates a lack of maturity within the party, as well as a nefarious design to undermine the Constitution,” the Puri MP added.Patra further accused the Congress of repeatedly targeting constitutional and other institutions, alleging that the party had questioned the credibility of various bodies since 2014.“Looking at the history of the Congress party since 2014, there is not a single institution that the party has not attacked. No other political party in India has attacked the Indian Army. But the Congress party and some of its allied ‘satellite’ parties have indeed attacked the Indian Army.”Opposition parties, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Shiv Sena (UBT) and Left parties, have intensified their criticism of the ECI, raising concerns over electoral transparency and demanding accountability.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesCongress units in several states, including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Manipur, also staged protests over the issue.The Election Commission, meanwhile, has maintained that internal technical notes and written queries are part of the normal functioning of a multi-member body. It has also asserted that all final decisions related to the SIR process were taken unanimously and had the approval of all three commissioners.The Congress has indicated that opposition parties may move a fresh impeachment motion against CEC Kumar in Parliament. The issue is expected to come up at the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled for September 29 in New Delhi.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDelhi Skeleton Mystery: Skeleton-Like Structure Found During BJP Cleanliness Drive | Watch‘Padma Bhushan Is Small, Make Him PM’: Pawan Khera Mocks BJP’s Praise For Gyanesh KumarSkyStriker, HIMARS, Apache: India, US Showcase Firepower At Yudh Abhyas 2026 | WatchTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMos123Hot PicksMandeep K BhandariBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysOdisha school textbooksPunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

BJP MP Sambit Patra criticises opposition for alleging BJP-ECI ‘collusion’ (File photo) NEW DELHI: The ruling BJP on Saturday said that the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) statement on the SIR row has “clearly established” that the decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was taken with the full consensus of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the two election commissioners.Also Read | SIR row: EC says final decisions unanimous, clarifies officer’s role, voter inclusion process”In the recent months, the Commission has taken numerous decisions including SIR across the country. The order for the SIR issued on 24.6.2025 for all the States/UTs, starting with Bihar, followed by West Bengal and 30 other States/UTs was issued with the unanimous approval of the Commission. The same has been upheld by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India vide its order dated 27.5.2026. The schedule for SIR for 12 States and UTs was issued on 27.10.2025 and those for 19 States/UTs was issued on 14.05.2026 with the unanimous approval of the Commission. The final figure of number of electors will be known only after final publication in the remaining 12 states of Phase-III,” the poll panel’s statement read.The ECI response and Patra’s subsequent remarks came amid a political row over the SIR exercise following an Indian Express report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected at least 14 times over 10 months to decisions and orders related to the roll revision process.“ECI’s letter has now clearly established that the SIR was conducted with the signatures and full consensus of all three commissioners… The Supreme Court ruled in favour of the SIR… The public statement issued today by the Election Commission contains a photograph on its final page showing all three commissioners sitting together. Regarding the attacks that were being made on the Election Commission, the truth has clearly come to light today,” BJP MP Sambit Patra told news agency ANI.Patra also criticised the Congress-led opposition for alleging “collusion” between the BJP and the ECI.“Various opposition parties and the Congress Party in particular launched an aggressive attack on the Election Commission of India and the BJP. They alleged collusion between the Election Commission and the BJP, claiming that India’s democracy was being compromised. The manner in which the Congress Party has attempted to launch an attack clearly demonstrates a lack of maturity within the party, as well as a nefarious design to undermine the Constitution,” the Puri MP added.Patra further accused the Congress of repeatedly targeting constitutional and other institutions, alleging that the party had questioned the credibility of various bodies since 2014.“Looking at the history of the Congress party since 2014, there is not a single institution that the party has not attacked. No other political party in India has attacked the Indian Army. But the Congress party and some of its allied ‘satellite’ parties have indeed attacked the Indian Army.”Opposition parties, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Shiv Sena (UBT) and Left parties, have intensified their criticism of the ECI, raising concerns over electoral transparency and demanding accountability.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesCongress units in several states, including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Manipur, also staged protests over the issue.The Election Commission, meanwhile, has maintained that internal technical notes and written queries are part of the normal functioning of a multi-member body. It has also asserted that all final decisions related to the SIR process were taken unanimously and had the approval of all three commissioners.The Congress has indicated that opposition parties may move a fresh impeachment motion against CEC Kumar in Parliament. The issue is expected to come up at the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled for September 29 in New Delhi.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDelhi Skeleton Mystery: Skeleton-Like Structure Found During BJP Cleanliness Drive | Watch‘Padma Bhushan Is Small, Make Him PM’: Pawan Khera Mocks BJP’s Praise For Gyanesh KumarSkyStriker, HIMARS, Apache: India, US Showcase Firepower At Yudh Abhyas 2026 | WatchTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMos123Hot PicksMandeep K BhandariBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysOdisha school textbooksPunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

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“The CEC thinks he can hide behind ‘bureaucratise’ and protocol. He stands exposed and is now petrified,” claimed Jairam Ramesh NEW DELHI: Congress hit back at the election commission over the statement they issued amid the ongoing SIR row, claiming they’re in “damage control mode” and adding that EC didn’t deny the media report claims and gave a “wishy washy” statement which “avoids answering the questions regarding the deliberate targeting of Gen Z voters.””The Election Commission is in damage control mode after it has already caused massive damage to our democracy. It has just issued a wishy-washy Press Note that raises further questions on its intent, integrity, impartiality and credibility,” said Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on X, while sharing his full response to the EC press note.He raised 6 points in his statement as below:First, the Press note does not directly deny the story or its findings. It makes a defensive attempt to downplay the same in paragraph 3(i) and 3(ii) but does not say that the allegations are baseless.Second, in the case of Goa, after having been caught out the ECI has sheepishly stated that Form 6 has already been filled out for inclusion by 81 of the 97 deleted voters. To put this another way, you disenfranchise voters through a broken and corrupt system, and when caught say that they are being added back.Third, it seeks to justify the Commissions actions by appealing to the Order of the Supreme Court dated May 27th, 2026. The Order which was pronounced well before the recent revelations will not save the CEC for the malicious deletion of targeted voters, for the incompetence that has resulted in citizens being wiped off the roles, for the crores lost in both expenses and man-hours due to the confusion and harassment caused to entire families.Fourth, it extends the deadlines for voter registration in Delhi and Maharashtra. But what happens to the voters of Karnataka and Telangana? What happens to the voters disenfranchised in Bihar and West Bengal? Do the voters of these and other states who were deleted due to one man’s corruption not deserve answers?Fifth, the Press Release also states the ECI will now involve experts from IIT/IIIT to review the ECINET portal and submit a report to ensure it complies with rules. Aside from being a meaningless safeguard (since the concern is not about the technical soundness but rather the centralization which prevents voter addition at ground level) this confirms the concerns attributed to the two other Election Commissioners per the reportage.Sixth, the Press Note avoids answering the questions regarding the deliberate targeting of Gen Z voters. The ECI has no answer for its targeted disenfranchisement, beginning mid-July 2026 through wholly illegal changes made to Form 6 (unseen and unapproved by Parliament) which placed an unfair burden on them to find and disclose their parents and/or grandparents’ details.Further continuing the party’s “vote chori” allegations, he added, “The revelations regarding (1) the unilateral nature of decision making by the CEC, (2) his open hatred and bias against the Opposition resulting in a clear bias, (3) his willing participation and abetment in Vote Chori by the ruling regime, (4) his specific attack to prevent the enrollment of Gen Z voters, (5) his corruption exposed ironically by his negligence in purging and pruning voter lists, needs to be answered for.”Jairam Ramesh also called for suspension of SIR and prosecution against Gyanesh Kumar, saying, “The CEC thinks he can hide behind ‘bureaucratise’ and protocol. He stands exposed and is now petrified as an entire country seeks to hold him accountable. The ongoing SIR which has turned to be method of massive disenfranchisement of several crores of India must be suspended immediately without delay. In the meantime, nothing short of the CEC’s resignation or prosecution will suffice.”Congress has took multiple jabs at EC, since the report of 2 election commissioners disagreeing amid the SIR process came out. In another development, Rahul Gandhi, questioned the EC over former kerala chief secretary Jiji Thomson claimed in a media interview that Gyanesh Kumar approached and asked him to contest on a BJP ticket, even offering a ministerial position. The LoP added to those claims, saying on X, “First, Gyanesh Kumar – then a serving IAS officer – was used to recruit for the BJP. Then Modi and Shah made him the umpire and put him in charge of match-fixing India’s elections.”This comes as the Election Commission (EC) issued a clarification on Saturday amid reports of differences within the poll panel over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The EC said all decisions on SIR, including the nationwide exercise, were approved unanimously by the Commission.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIt also announced measures to ease the process for voters who receive notices over unmapped names or discrepancies. BLOs will visit their homes to collect documents, while hearings will be held only in exceptional cases, preferably online.The EC said SIR has been completed in 20 states and UTs, while excluded voters and first-time voters can seek inclusion through continuous updation.The Commission also extended claim and objection deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra and said an IIT/IIIT expert would be part of a committee reviewing the ECINet system.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTrisha MahajanTrisha Mahajan is a journalist with The Times of India digital, with keen interest in covering business and corporate affairs. She also reports on key national and world developments and global news trends. A keen reader with a strong interest in storytelling that adds context, clarity, and depth to complex issues.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDelhi Skeleton Mystery: Skeleton-Like Structure Found During BJP Cleanliness Drive | Watch‘Padma Bhushan Is Small, Make Him PM’: Pawan Khera Mocks BJP’s Praise For Gyanesh KumarSkyStriker, HIMARS, Apache: India, US Showcase Firepower At Yudh Abhyas 2026 | WatchTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMos123Hot PicksMandeep K BhandariBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysOdisha school textbooksPunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

“The CEC thinks he can hide behind ‘bureaucratise’ and protocol. He stands exposed and is now petrified,” claimed Jairam Ramesh NEW DELHI: Congress hit back at the election commission over the statement they issued amid the ongoing SIR row, claiming they’re in “damage control mode” and adding that EC didn’t deny the media report claims and gave a “wishy washy” statement which “avoids answering the questions regarding the deliberate targeting of Gen Z voters.””The Election Commission is in damage control mode after it has already caused massive damage to our democracy. It has just issued a wishy-washy Press Note that raises further questions on its intent, integrity, impartiality and credibility,” said Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on X, while sharing his full response to the EC press note.He raised 6 points in his statement as below:First, the Press note does not directly deny the story or its findings. It makes a defensive attempt to downplay the same in paragraph 3(i) and 3(ii) but does not say that the allegations are baseless.Second, in the case of Goa, after having been caught out the ECI has sheepishly stated that Form 6 has already been filled out for inclusion by 81 of the 97 deleted voters. To put this another way, you disenfranchise voters through a broken and corrupt system, and when caught say that they are being added back.Third, it seeks to justify the Commissions actions by appealing to the Order of the Supreme Court dated May 27th, 2026. The Order which was pronounced well before the recent revelations will not save the CEC for the malicious deletion of targeted voters, for the incompetence that has resulted in citizens being wiped off the roles, for the crores lost in both expenses and man-hours due to the confusion and harassment caused to entire families.Fourth, it extends the deadlines for voter registration in Delhi and Maharashtra. But what happens to the voters of Karnataka and Telangana? What happens to the voters disenfranchised in Bihar and West Bengal? Do the voters of these and other states who were deleted due to one man’s corruption not deserve answers?Fifth, the Press Release also states the ECI will now involve experts from IIT/IIIT to review the ECINET portal and submit a report to ensure it complies with rules. Aside from being a meaningless safeguard (since the concern is not about the technical soundness but rather the centralization which prevents voter addition at ground level) this confirms the concerns attributed to the two other Election Commissioners per the reportage.Sixth, the Press Note avoids answering the questions regarding the deliberate targeting of Gen Z voters. The ECI has no answer for its targeted disenfranchisement, beginning mid-July 2026 through wholly illegal changes made to Form 6 (unseen and unapproved by Parliament) which placed an unfair burden on them to find and disclose their parents and/or grandparents’ details.Further continuing the party’s “vote chori” allegations, he added, “The revelations regarding (1) the unilateral nature of decision making by the CEC, (2) his open hatred and bias against the Opposition resulting in a clear bias, (3) his willing participation and abetment in Vote Chori by the ruling regime, (4) his specific attack to prevent the enrollment of Gen Z voters, (5) his corruption exposed ironically by his negligence in purging and pruning voter lists, needs to be answered for.”Jairam Ramesh also called for suspension of SIR and prosecution against Gyanesh Kumar, saying, “The CEC thinks he can hide behind ‘bureaucratise’ and protocol. He stands exposed and is now petrified as an entire country seeks to hold him accountable. The ongoing SIR which has turned to be method of massive disenfranchisement of several crores of India must be suspended immediately without delay. In the meantime, nothing short of the CEC’s resignation or prosecution will suffice.”Congress has took multiple jabs at EC, since the report of 2 election commissioners disagreeing amid the SIR process came out. In another development, Rahul Gandhi, questioned the EC over former kerala chief secretary Jiji Thomson claimed in a media interview that Gyanesh Kumar approached and asked him to contest on a BJP ticket, even offering a ministerial position. The LoP added to those claims, saying on X, “First, Gyanesh Kumar – then a serving IAS officer – was used to recruit for the BJP. Then Modi and Shah made him the umpire and put him in charge of match-fixing India’s elections.”This comes as the Election Commission (EC) issued a clarification on Saturday amid reports of differences within the poll panel over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The EC said all decisions on SIR, including the nationwide exercise, were approved unanimously by the Commission.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIt also announced measures to ease the process for voters who receive notices over unmapped names or discrepancies. BLOs will visit their homes to collect documents, while hearings will be held only in exceptional cases, preferably online.The EC said SIR has been completed in 20 states and UTs, while excluded voters and first-time voters can seek inclusion through continuous updation.The Commission also extended claim and objection deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra and said an IIT/IIIT expert would be part of a committee reviewing the ECINet system.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTrisha MahajanTrisha Mahajan is a journalist with The Times of India digital, with keen interest in covering business and corporate affairs. She also reports on key national and world developments and global news trends. A keen reader with a strong interest in storytelling that adds context, clarity, and depth to complex issues.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDelhi Skeleton Mystery: Skeleton-Like Structure Found During BJP Cleanliness Drive | Watch‘Padma Bhushan Is Small, Make Him PM’: Pawan Khera Mocks BJP’s Praise For Gyanesh KumarSkyStriker, HIMARS, Apache: India, US Showcase Firepower At Yudh Abhyas 2026 | WatchTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMos123Hot PicksMandeep K BhandariBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysOdisha school textbooksPunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

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