VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html 10 women dead in 2 months: South Africa probes possible links in Ekurhuleni killings EAM S Jaishankar Describing Pakistan as a serial practitioner of terrorism in his UNGA address, foreign minister S Jaishankar said that there must be no dilution of the zero-tolerance approach to the menace. Without naming Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, who had raked up the Kashmir issue in his General Assembly speech on Friday, Jaishankar said he had misrepresented facts and invoked arguments to normalise terrorism and claim immunity from its consequences.”That will not stand,” said the minister, adding that the scourge of terrorism had been a persistent threat to peace.Jaishankar called state-sponsored terrorism with a cross-border purpose a direct challenge to the global order, adding that India’s right to defend itself from terrorism will be exercised.In his remarks, Sharif had yet again given credit to US President Donald Trump for ending the India-Pakistan conflict last year with his “timely intervention”.”Govts indulging in such practices must be held accountable. There must be no dilution in our zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism. Its financial aspects, in particular, should be exposed and should be countered,” said Jaishankar.”Friendship and goodwill cannot co-exist with terrorism. And understandings premised on that will naturally be called into question. It is for the perpetrator of terrorism to mend its ways,” he added.He also flagged the need to end conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine, saying the inability to maintain peace is not just undermining security but threatening progress and retarding development. “In a globalised world, the effects of war are felt worldwide. Countries far from conflicts are being penalised for no fault of theirs. Those most impacted often have the least say.””The targeting of commercial shipping and seafarers transiting international waterways is simply unacceptable,” he said. Speaking on the West Asia crisis, the minister backed the two-state solution for durable and lasting peace.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesJaishankar spoke about the Global South predicament in today’s world and also the misuse of AI. He said a mindset of extreme competition had set in, undermining institutions and establishing choke points.”Global South’s right to industrialise is also undermined by non-market practices and market denial. The march of technology that was meant to instill hope has now become a source of anxiety. Misuse of AI is sharpening bias and diluting mutual respect. These directions bode ill for the aims and objectives of the UN.”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 PicksAsian Games India ScheduleBank 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 Libra Horoscope Today, September 27, 2026: Confidence rises as studies, career and social connections flourish Kharge, Sonia and Rahul pay homage to late PM Manmohan Singh EPFO wage ceiling hike NEW DELHI: With EPFO increasing the mandatory wage ceiling from Rs 15,000 a month to Rs 25,000, employees will now contribute Rs 3,000 (at 12% contribution of Rs 25,000 wage) towards their PF savings from Rs 1,800 earlier, govt said in a set of FAQs released. This will be along with a contribution of Rs 917 by employers (at 3.67%), up from Rs 550, taking the mandatory monthly PF contributions to Rs 3,917.In addition, Rs 2,083 – an 8.3% contribution from employers’ share – will now go towards the pension kitty from earlier Rs 1,250. On Sept 17, govt increased EPFO wage ceiling to bring one crore additional workers into the social security net as minimum wages in at least seven states and UTs – Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand – have crossed the Rs 15,000 threshold.In the case of an employee with a monthly wage of Rs 20,000, the mandatory PF contribution will be Rs 3,134 – the employee share Rs 2,400 and the employer share Rs 734, with an additional Rs 1,666 going towards EPS from employer’s share. But if an employee earns, say, Rs 35,000 a month, the mandatory PF contribution will be Rs 6,000 (Rs 3,000 from employee and employers each), with no amount going towards pension as EPS is available only to those whose wages do not exceed the EPFO wage ceiling. The retirement savings agency said the new regime kicked in from Sept 17 and asked employers to review contractor compliance, wherever contract labour is engaged, and update its payroll systems.Allaying employee fears of attempts to pass on the contribution by deducting more from salaries, it said an employer’s statutory contribution cannot simply be treated as an employee deduction merely by describing it as part of CTC.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesWhile the move will likely increase compliance costs for small and medium enterprises, the potential costs due to the rise in the wage ceiling can be partly offset by the incentive of up to Rs 3,000 per month for every additional employment created under PM Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana.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 PicksAsian Games India ScheduleBank 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 Leo Horoscope Today, September 27, 2026: Slow down and avoid risky decisions, arguments and careless travel Scientists play reef sounds through underwater speaker in Hawai‘i; cameras record 4 to 14 times more baby fish at treated site Opposition INDIA bloc parties will meet on September 30 to discuss alleged poll-roll manipulation under the SIR process and a possible joint campaign seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. NEW DELHI: Opposition INDIA bloc will meet on Sept 30 to discuss the alleged manipulation of poll rolls under SIR and a possible joint struggle to press for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.The meeting has been scheduled against the backdrop of nationwide outrage triggered by revelations that ECs SS Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had questioned many of the decisions regarding SIR.The opposition, led by Rahul Gandhi, has said the revelations tie in with their allegations of ‘vote chori’ in favour of BJP over the last two years. It has demanded the scrapping of the SIR process.TMC MP Derek O’Brien said the demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation is “non-negotiable”, while other issues will also be discussed at the meeting. “We will work unitedly and purposefully.”The meeting is expected to be attended by the leading lights of the anti-BJP front, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray and MA Baby.The meeting has been scheduled after CPM’s MA Baby wrote to parties (including AAP, DMK and CJP) seeking an immediate meeting.Trinamool’s Mamata Banerjee also reached out to INDIA bloc members. She called the CEC “Vanish Kumar”, demanded his ouster and said the Bengal mandate was stolen.The joint brainstorming will follow a Congress Working Committee meet on Sept 29.The parties are also planning to submit a fresh “removal notice” against Kumar in both Houses of Parliament.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesCPI-ML’s Dipankar Bhattacharya said that there is a strong belief within INDIA bloc that some parties (Aam Aadmi Party and DMK) which are not part of the alliance umbrella should also be roped in to boost the campaign. It also released a fact-finding report regarding SIR in constituencies that the party lost narrowly in recent Bihar assembly polls and claimed it found 17-25% of voters had been wrongly deleted.The meeting assumes special significance as Cockroach Janata Party and other youth outfits have already announced a stir over the issue.CJP has reiterated that it will launch a nationwide agitation from Mumbai on Oct 2 after its ultimatum seeking the resignation of Kumar ended Saturday. Azad Maidan is most likely to be the venue of its protest.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 PicksAsian Games India ScheduleBank 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 Westlife star Mark Feehily sues bariatric surgeon Nick Carter in £200,000 lawsuit over weight-loss surgery, alleges recurring sepsis led to stomach removal; surgeon denies negligence Virgo Horoscope Today, September 27, 2026: Accept support from loved ones and keep risky investments away Congress owes nation a public apology: Nabin after EC statement Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu backed the Election Commission’s statement on SIR, saying it reaffirmed the integrity and credibility of constitutional institutions NEW DELHI: BJP’s allies on Saturday closed ranks to hit out at opposition, with TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu saying EC’s statement reaffirmed “the integrity and credibility of our constitutional institutions” and ended “misconceptions” around it. “Attempts to undermine global confidence in India’s democratic framework for short-term political gains are deeply unfortunate,” he said, urging opposition to accept wins and losses with grace.LJP (Ram Vilas)’s Chirag Paswan said opposition is spreading confusion and questioned why it keeps silent on states where it has formed govt.JDU member Sanjay Jha said rising frustration over poll defeats have led opposition to spread propaganda to undermine the democracy.Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde said Congress keeps mum when it wins but attacks EC when it loses. The united stand came a day after some allies had pressed EC to clarify concerns raised in media reports.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 PicksAsian Games India ScheduleBank 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 Taurus, Weekly Horoscope, September 27 to October 03, 2026: A slow start gives way to renewed confidence and gains PM Modi, Shah put CEC in charge of match-fixing elections: Rahul Gemini, Weekly Horoscope, September 27 to October 03, 2026: Social respect rises, but think twice before major decisions New Form 6 enrolments where no SIR is under way won’t need mapping After Daunte Wright’s 2021 death, a GoFundMe raised about $1.04 million; a year later, the mother of his only child sued his parents and Ben Crump, alleging the boy received none of the money promised for his support Cancer Horoscope Today, September 27, 2026: Unexpected financial gains brighten the day, but keep emotions steady Merely 11% of IIT-B faculty from reserved categories: RTI What do the latest US visa wait times reveal: Hyderabad, Mumbai near a year for B1/B2 appointments; Delhi at 10 months Albanese highlights India’s energy connectivity under PM Modi. NEW DELHI: Australian Prime Minister 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.Speaking at an event on Sept 24 organised by Asia Policy Institute in New York on the sidelines of UNGA meetings, he said, “To give PM 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 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 has connected over 50 lakh households with solar energy.Albanese is likely to visit India in Dec when bilateral trade and cooperation in clean energy are expected to be discussed.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 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 PicksAsian Games India ScheduleBank 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 Cancer, Weekly Horoscope, September 27 to October 03, 2026: Career progress shines, while family matters need patience India, Bangladesh look towards Rahman visit in Nov Who is Christos Marafatsos, the Greek-American businessman accompanying Kimberly Guilfoyle to key meetings? Gemini Horoscope Today, September 27, 2026: Career progress brings relief as useful contacts open new doors Kai Cenat shares plans for a Seven Wonders streaming tour as fans accuse him of copying IShowSpeed Leo, Weekly Horoscope, September 27 to October 03, 2026: Luck, recognition and financial gains brighten the week Brittany Mahomes earns major recognition as KC Current’s $375 million rise highlights her growing impact A Pennsylvania grandfather built a backyard amusement park with a 105-foot waterslide, go-kart track and vintage carousel; his $24,700 roller coaster then triggered a zoning fight Chadwick Boseman’s widow Taylor Simone Ledward hits back at his brothers over $3.4 million estate dispute, says $150,000 was already paid to Derrick and Kevin and calls lawsuit a ‘public-relations stunt’ Taurus Horoscope Today, September 27, 2026: Maintain financial balance and let delayed plans unfold naturally Meet Jessica Lee, 17-year old Honolulu high school senior who logged 420 hours of volunteer service, competed in varsity golf and completed a multi-day expedition before earning the US Congress’s highest youth award Indian-origin woman robbed of $20,000 worth of jewelry during evening walk in Canada, stranger lady touched her feet, hugged, swapped gold necklace with fake in seconds Virgo, Weekly Horoscope, September 27 to October 03, 2026: Fortunes improve after midweek hurdles and emotional strain Influencer flaunts gold buy, posts vacation plan; thieves strike it rich Aries Horoscope Today, September 27, 2026: Control spending and avoid unnecessary family conflicts “My goal is really to focus on growing my faith”: Chiefs’ billionaire heiress Gracie Hunt opens up on her life away from the Kansas City J&K high court rejects ED plea to add charges in JKCA fund scam case JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir high court Friday rejected an Enforcement Directorate‘s petition that challenged a Srinagar CJM court’s order denying permission to add charges related to the receipt and concealment of stolen property in the alleged Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) fund scam.Justice Sanjay Parihar held that ED’s prayer for invoking sections 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) and 424 (dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property) of Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) lacked merit based on the material currently available.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHowever, the HC set aside the trial court’s reasoning that ED lacked a “locus standi“ to move such an application.The case dates to the period between 2002 and 2011, when BCCI granted Rs 94.06 crore to JKCA. A CBI probe found that Rs 43.69 crore was misappropriated by the then office-bearers of JKCA.ED argued that although CBI filed the primary chargesheet under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant) of RPC, the material gathered during the money-laundering probe disclosed sufficient grounds to frame charges for receiving and concealing stolen property as well.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 Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts’ Notting Hill home with famous blue door listed for £7.95 million nearly 30 years after film’s release Horoscope today: Daily Astrological Predictions for September 27, 2026 Dwayne Johnson built an $800 million empire after WWE by turning The Rock’s wrestling fame into Hollywood success, brand ownership, investments and lasting business power Tangila Islam Asha with her husband, Mohd Abdul Hakim Shabuj, when he was alive. (PC: Tangila Islam Asha) A 26-year-old Bangladeshi woman has alleged that a leading private hospital in Bengaluru withheld her husband’s body for eight days over unpaid dues of Rs 35.79 lakh and retained her passport after he died during treatment. She received the body on Saturday after seeking help from Bangladesh High Commission. The hospital confirmed releasing the body but did not respond to her allegations. The hospital later said the patient had undergone critical care and surgical treatment after arriving with severe breathing difficulty and died despite the efforts of its medical teams.Tangila Islam Asha, 26, of Naugaon, told TOI that she and her husband, Mohammed Abdul Hakim Shabuj, 32, a contractual govt teacher in Bangladesh, arrived in Bengaluru on Sept 5 for treatment of his kidney ailment. Shabuj was admitted to ICU at Manipal Hospital on Old Airport Road the next day after developing severe chest pain and breathing difficulty.Asha said Shabuj underwent multiple procedures over the following days and his right leg was amputated on Sept 14 after it developed an infection. His condition subsequently deteriorated and he died around 1.30pm on Sept 18.“During his treatment, I paid a total of Rs 7.5 lakh in several instalments whenever they asked. After his death, I was trying to understand how I would take his body back to Bangladesh when the hospital asked me to pay Rs 35.79 lakh and said the body would not be released without payment,” Asha told TOI.She alleged that the hospital neither provided receipts for the Rs 7.5 lakh nor gave her a prior cost estimate or explanation for the outstanding amount. “I was completely helpless. After they withheld the body for eight days and retained my passport, I wrote to hospital management and also contacted Bangladesh High Commission for help. Finally, they handed over the body on Saturday after making the dues nil,” she said.Mohammed Moqtadir Hossain, Shabuj’s friend from West Bengal, who travelled to Bengaluru after learning of her situation, said local activists helped Asha recover her passport on Friday and complete formalities for taking the body home. “Apart from the Rs 7.5 lakh she had already paid, she paid nothing more,” he told TOI.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesWhen contacted, a Manipal Hospital office-bearer confirmed that the body was handed over on Saturday but declined to respond to Asha’s allegations. In a statement issued later, the hospital said Shabuj arrived with severe breathing difficulty, was found hypoxic and shifted to ICU, where he suffered a cardiac arrest and was resuscitated twice before being put on ECMO and ventilator support.The hospital said surgeons performed a pulmonary thromboendarterectomy on Sept 9 after tests showed clot formation and blockages in several regions. “Despite best efforts from the critical care as well as the surgical team, the patient succumbed to his illnesses on 18th September 2026,” it said.’Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKalyan DasSpecial Correspondent at The Times of India, Dehradun, covering global issues with special focus on South Asia, defence, crime, sports and human interest stories. Have profound love for knowing about food and cultures around the world.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 Libra, Weekly Horoscope, September 27 to October 03, 2026: Relationships and finances improve with patience and caution Who is Jey Uso’s wife Takecia Travis? Exploring the high school sweethearts’ marriage, children and family life amid divorce filing Three siblings in Essex cut down their neighbours’ 33-foot Leylandii trees after a boundary row; the dispute ended with about £30,500 in damages and £178,668 in the neighbours’ legal costs Sunil Sharma meets HM Amit Shah in New Delhi SRINAGAR: A day after CM Omar Abdullah moved an assembly resolution for restoration of J&K’s statehood with a reference to a similar document of the year 2000 on autonomy, BJP leader of opposition Sunil Sharma met Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday for “advice” even as PDP upped the ante and sought an amendment to condemn Article 370’s abrogation.Vowing to block the resolution, Sharma said Shah “reaffirmed the Union govt’s unwavering commitment to peace, development and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir”.Sharma made it clear that BJP was prepared to debate the statehood restoration document brought by the Omar-led National Conference (NC) govt but would not accept attempts to “smuggle in” issues of Article 370 and the 2000 autonomy resolution.“When the (Omar-led) govt has lost its strength on governance, an attempt is being made to recover that by invoking references designed to stir emotion among the people of Kashmir. At no cost will the so-called autonomy resolution or Article 370 be allowed to become part of this debate,” Sharma said.PDP would have none of it. It called Friday’s resolution “weak” and demanded that the document begin with a denunciation of Article 370’s revocation by the Centre on Aug 5, 2019. PDP legislator Muntazir Mehdi disclosed that he had moved an amendment calling on the House to “express its deep anguish over the unilateral measures” of 2019 and urging the Centre to ensure “immediate restoration of J&K’s full statehood along with its constitutional safeguards”.Omar had moved the resolution amid a BJP backlash to the autonomy reference, with its members ripping up copies amid anti-national chants directed at NC. MLAs of NC ally Congress supported the resolution and confronted rivals. CPM, Peoples Conference and PDP also backed the resolution. The autonomy resolution was passed by the assembly in June 2000 when J&K was a state.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesExplaining the reference to previous resolutions, Omar said the aim was to convey that the House continued to stand by all past decisions. He rejected BJP’s charges, asked “how demanding statehood can be anti-national” and pointed out that statehood was a promise made by the Centre and reaffirmed by PM Narendra Modi at an event where BJP’s Sharma was present.Omar has been under pressure for months now, accused by rivals of dropping demands to restore Article 370 and demanding statehood only. On Saturday, NC spokesperson Tanvir called the resolution a powerful reminder that the party had “not forgotten” its agenda. BJP MLA Devyani Rana accused NC of raking up 25-year-old autonomy demands on the pretext of statehood.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 Scorpio, Weekly Horoscope, September 27 to October 03, 2026: Career and relationship opportunities grow, but guard your plans Wangchuk apologises for comparing Ladakh situation with Tibet IShowSpeed opens up about feeling alone despite becoming a global streaming star Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the Commission had issued the statement only after the media reports and nationwide protests seeking Kumar’s removal. NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday demanded the immediate suspension of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and called for chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation or prosecution. Their demand comes after the Election Commission issued a fresh statement defending its decisions amid reported differences within the poll body.Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh accused the EC of going into “damage control” mode following an Indian Express report and subsequent media coverage on differences between the three election commissioners. The party alleged that the SIR exercise had led to the “disenfranchisement” of crores of voters and questioned the Commission’s explanation on changes to Form 6, used to add names to electoral rolls.”The ECI’s press note today is too lame, too little, too late,” Congress’ head of media and publicity department Pawan Khera said.Ramesh said the Commission had issued the statement only after the media reports and nationwide protests seeking Kumar’s removal.”It has just issued a wishy-washy Press Note that raises further questions on its intent, integrity, impartiality and credibility,” he said on X.”The ongoing SIR, which has turned out to be a method of massive disenfranchisement of several crores of Indians, must be suspended immediately without delay.”In the meantime, nothing short of the CEC’s resignation or prosecution will suffice,” he said in a two-page statement.Congress questions EC’s explanationThe Election Commission said all SIR orders were issued after approval from all three Election Commissioners. It also said changes to Form 6 had been upheld by the Supreme Court.The Commission further said letters written by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi to the Cabinet Secretary were not related to any policy decision of the Commission or its IT division. According to the EC, the letters concerned the functioning of an officer deputed to the poll body.Ramesh said the EC statement did not directly deny the findings reported by the Indian Express.”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,” he said.On Goa, he said the EC’s response showed that 81 of the 97 deleted voters had already filled Form 6 to be included again in the electoral rolls.”To put this another way, you disenfranchise voters through a broken and corrupt system, and when caught say that they are being added back,” Ramesh said.Khera also alleged that the EC had not addressed objections raised by the other two Election Commissioners over changes to Form 6.”That objection was not resolved then. It was not resolved since. And this ‘mother of all objections’ has still not been addressed – even after today’s so-called unanimous meeting,” Khera said on X.”So until the ECI answers this specific legal objection, no length of press notes, no claim of unanimity or any other clownery can save Gyanesh Kumar Gupta’s face,” he said.”It is still not too late for him. He should resign and turn approver, or prepare for jail,” Khera added.Congress raises questions over voter deletionsRamesh also questioned the EC’s reliance on a Supreme Court order of May 27 saying the order had preceded the recent media revelations.”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,” he said.He also questioned the extension of voter registration deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra and asked what would happen to voters in Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar and West Bengal.”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,” Ramesh said.The Congress leader also criticised the EC’s decision to involve experts from IITs and IIITs to review the ECINET portal and submit a report on whether 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,” he said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesDispute over Gen Z votersRamesh alleged that the EC’s statement had not addressed concerns over the deletion of young voters.”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 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,” he said.He listed several allegations that he said required answers, including the “unilateral nature of decision making by the CEC”, alleged bias against the Opposition, alleged participation in “vote chori”, the enrolment of Gen Z voters and alleged negligence in the deletion and updating of electoral rolls.Ramesh said the CEC could not avoid scrutiny through bureaucratic procedures.”He stands exposed and is now petrified as an entire country seeks to hold him accountable,” Ramesh said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorVijaya SrivastavaVijaya Srivastava is a journalist and feature writer whose expertise lies in covering human-centred developments. Her stories explore how policy, technology, economic shifts and social change influence people’s everyday lives. Her work also focuses on bringing depth, context and a human perspective to complex issues. Her reports primarily cover society, healthcare, safety, public policy and emerging trends, alongside other political developments.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