VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Udhayanidhi challenges Vijay over corruption claims NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu leader of opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday challenged chief minister C Joseph Vijay to make public the alleged corruption files linked to the previous DMK government and take action if there was evidence of wrongdoing.Speaking during a debate in the assembly, Udhayanidhi responded to Vijay’s earlier remarks that he would reveal “corruption files from the previous DMK regime at an appropriate time”.During the debate, Udhayanidhi criticised Vijay’s approach and said the Assembly was not a place for cinematic rhetoric.“Don’t deliver punch dialogues like in cinema in the assembly,” he told Vijay.Udhayanidhi questioned the delay in making the findings public, suggesting that the government did not have sufficient evidence to support its allegations.”I urge him to open the files immediately and take action if there’s solid evidence of corruption. Why is the Chief Minister hesitant to release the files? Is he waiting for his astrologer to fix the date?” Udhayanidhi added.While Vijay did not respond directly to Udhayanidhi’s remarks in the House, the state’s School education minister intervened to defend the government. The minister reiterated that Vijay was committed to transparency and would make the alleged graft files public at an “appropriate time”.The exchange led to heated arguments between DMK and TVK MLAs, with members raising slogans and briefly disrupting proceedings before the House resumed its business.The exchange comes after Vijay said on Wednesday that he had files detailing alleged corruption in three government departments and warned former DMK ministers and legislators against forcing him to “open” them. Vijay said he would make the findings public at an “appropriate time.”Earlier, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly witnessed heated exchanges on August 7 between members of the ruling TVK and the opposition DMK over allegations of corruption, fiscal management and the implementation of welfare schemes.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe exchange took place during a discussion on the State Budget between former minister and DMK MLA Raghupathi and the TVK government.Highlighting the debt incurred during the previous DMK regime, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Wilson said, “He (MK Stalin) is also responsible for the debt of Rs 1.28 lakh on the head of every citizen. They say our leader is present in the women’s entitlement scheme. We say that the debt is also present in it.”DMK leader and former minister Nehru defended the previous government’s borrowing, saying, “The Finance Secretary clearly stated after the Budget was presented that the government borrows money only for development purposes.””The government cannot borrow money without the approval of the Reserve Bank of India. Instead of talking about debt, look at how many schemes have actually been implemented,” he added.The Assembly also passed a resolution on the same day urging the Centre to ensure an equitable and fair devolution of taxes, invoking the principle of fiscal federalism.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAadrita HalderWrites on social matters, geopolitics, and trending issues for the Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu MeetingPolicy Shift Or Just Words? 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Until I see the letter, I will only tell you that this is a concocted story of yours (media). There is no such letter, nor is there any such criticism, even if it were 9 pages long; he has not made any such criticism. This is merely a made-up story by you (media) people.”Rai had resigned as general secretary of the trust about a month ago amid allegations of misappropriation of donations linked to the Ram Janmabhoomi temple project. His resignation had raised questions about the functioning of the trust.Most temple construction work completedMisra also gave an update on the progress of the Ram temple and said most of the construction work has been completed.”A review of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple construction has been conducted. In total, there are approximately 70 construction projects, out of which 60 have been completed. They have already been handed over and transferred to the Trust and the Nyas. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Trust will now oversee its maintenance. Most importantly, we will conduct an internal audit of the construction work that has been handed over to the Trust,” he said.He also addressed reports of waterlogging on the temple premises during the monsoon and said work was under way to resolve the issue.”Yesterday, discussions were held with both the Commissioner and the Municipal Commissioner regarding development. Due to the current rainy season, water was accumulating in the temple premises; discussions were held on how to connect it to the municipal drains. This work will be completed within two months,” he informed.Auditorium, museum and office work in final phaseMisra said the focus has now shifted to completing the remaining facilities, including the auditorium, trust office and museum.”There are about four months of work remaining for the auditorium and the Trust office. Yesterday, we held a meeting with the Managing Director of the Rajkiya Nirman Nigam. Today, we are visiting the museum. The main discussion is to be held on the script prepared for each gallery; the promoter company wants to show a 3D presentation according to that script and obtain approval for it. We will look into that and make a decision today,” Misra added.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHe also highlighted that the temple project was funded entirely through donations collected by the trust and did not use government funds.”The matter of greatest pride is that no government money–neither from the Central nor the State government–has been used in this. The temple was built solely from the funds collected by the Nyas.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAbhishek MishraAbhishek Mishra is a Digital Content Producer at The Times of India, working with the news desk. He writes with a keen eye on foreign policy, defence developments, and the shifting currents of geopolitics-and yes, Indian politics always finds a way onto his radar too.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu MeetingPolicy Shift Or Just Words? 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Doctor explains what your body needsWhy does homemade curd turn slimy during monsoon and 3 ways to prevent itThe history of the white shirt: How a simple staple became the ultimate fashion icon10 enchanting baby girl names inspired by fantasy, mythology and folkloreSugar price hike by Rs 8 per kg: 9 natural Indian sweeteners and how to use them123Hot PicksTCS laptop monitoring softwareTNEA counsellingRupee trade ruleH-1B visaGold Rate TodayAbhijeet DipkeWeather tomorrowSIM card rulesPakistan High CommissionTop TrendingHyderabad Aston Martin AccidentLadakh TouristMumbai Rape AirhostessMadhapur Road AccidentKerala MurderAbhijeet DipkeSukesh ChandrashekharRahul GandhiBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir “Empathy is not a soft skill; it is the hardest skill we learn,” says Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella: Here’s how cricket taught him about leadership Margaret Qualley plays it bold with ‘barefoot heels’ at ‘The Dog Stars’ London premiere How to crack walnuts without a nutcracker: Easy kitchen methods to open them safely | Microsoft is hiring a legal engineer to teach lawyers across the company how to… ‘Pass on the weed’: Ex-India cricketer mocks AB de Villiers over Virat Kohli- Sachin Tendulkar take ‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’ Twitter review: Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju’s rom-com gets mixed reactions with viewers calling it ‘simple, refreshing’ ‘Starlink would help the least served in India, especially in rural areas’: Elon Musk In 2016, the Burt’s Bees co-founder gave the US 87,500 acres and backed it with $40 million; 10 years later the Maine wilderness is a national monument Telangana CM Revanth Reddy (File photo) NEW DELHI: Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy has been denied permission by the Centre for his planned visit to the United States, the Telangana Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said on Friday.Reddy, who is in London currently, has planned to visit the US and return to Hyderabad on August 30.”The official Telangana Rising delegation led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has been forced to cancel their visit to the United States of America (USA) after the Ministry of External Affairs has denied permission,” a CMO release said.Reddy had on Thursday skipped the 31st Zonal Council meeting chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah with chief ministers and representatives of southern states and Union territories.(Developing story)Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu MeetingPolicy Shift Or Just Words? 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PS Mithran reveals, ‘a major part of the journey involves both versions’ of the actor Margaret Qualley goes barefoot on the red carpet in Chanel’s bizarre sandals, leaves fans confused ‘Freeze seats for 25 years’: Congress backs Vijay-led Tamil Nadu govt’s delimitation stand Sajjan Kumar was sevring life imprisonment in Delhi’s Tihar Jail NEW DELHI: The BJP on Friday hit back at the Congress after several of its leaders paid tribute to former party leader Sajjan Kumar, a convict in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, who died at 80.Congress MP Deepender Hooda described the death of Kumar, a former three-term Lok Sabha MP, as an “irreparable loss.””Today, the country’s political landscape has suffered an irreparable loss… Sajjan Kumar ji was a leader whose connection with people in Delhi and across north India was cited as a model across the country,” he said.Reacting to Hooda’s remarks, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused the Congress of “eulogising the killers of the Sikh community”, referring to Kumar’s role in the anti-Sikh riots.”Congress calls late Sajjan Kumar, a man convicted in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, a ‘role model’! How can Congress eulogise the killers of our Sikh community?” Bhandari posted on X.”This is the real mindset of ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukkan’ (shop of love) of Rahul Gandhi and exposes the innate hate Congress has for the Sikh community!” Bhandari added, referring to a phrase used by Congress leader and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha.The BJP spokesperson further demanded that Congress apologise for “insulting” the victims of the anti-Sikh riots and “rubbing” salt into the wounds of the survivors and victims’ families.Congress leader Udit Raj also described Kumar’s death as a “great loss” for the party.”It is a great loss for the Congress. He was a very senior Congress leader, and it will be difficult to fill the void… He did a lot of work, especially for the poor,” Raj stated.Sajjan Kumar died at Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital on Thursday.”Sajjan Kumar was brought to Safdarjung Hospital by police with altered sensorium around 11 am. He was immediately admitted and resuscitation measures were initiated. Despite providing all necessary medical and life-support measures, he could not be saved and passed away at 12:30 pm,” the hospital’s statement read.”He was a known case of high blood pressure and Parkinson’s disease and had a history of multiple hospital admissions in the past,” the statement added.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesKumar was serving multiple life sentences after his conviction in cases linked to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.He was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court on December 17, 2018, in a case related to the killing of five Sikhs and the burning of a gurdwara during the anti-Sikh riots.He was also sentenced to life imprisonment by a Delhi court in February 2025 in another case relating to the killing of two Sikh men during the riots.Kumar resigned from the primary membership of the Congress after the 2018 conviction.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu MeetingPolicy Shift Or Just Words? 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The two countries will also look at “cross-border occupation”, where citizens of one nation farm, live on or hold land falling on the other side, across the 1,880km open border.The decision was taken at the 13th meeting of Survey Officials Committee, led by deputy chiefs of Nepal’s Survey Department and Survey of India, in Lucknow last week. Officials said the exercise will create a jointly verified technical record of affected areas, which can later help the two countries negotiate removal of encroachments, restoration of land or compensation.The issue returned to Nepal’s political centre stage after PM Balendra Shah told Parliament in May that “Nepal had also encroached on Indian land”. The remark came when Shah was questioned about Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani — territories under India which Nepal claims as its own — and triggered opposition protests. Nepal’s foreign ministry later clarified that Shah was referring to Dasgaja encroachments and cross-border occupation, not territorial claims.Nepal Survey Department spokesperson Dayanand Joshi said, “It has been decided to map cross-border occupation using drones.” He added, “This includes cross-border occupation and also encroachment of Dasgaja.”Border expert and former Survey Department director general Buddhi Narayan Shrestha said the decision could help settle disputes that have lingered for decades. “Indian farmers have encroached on the land of Nepali farmers along the border, and Nepali farmers have also encroached on the land of Indian farmers to some extent. I call this cross-border land grabbing,” he said.Shrestha said his 2005 field study found Indian farmers occupying Nepali land at 84 locations and Nepali farmers occupying Indian land at 27 locations. He said such disputes arose where boundary pillars were missing or mistakes were made during local land use. “It will take some time for technicians from Nepal and India to compile such a list,” Shrestha said. “Once the data is in hand, the decision on how to resolve the issue should be made through negotiations by higher-level officials sitting at the table.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines”Shrestha cited Nepal’s past border demarcation with China, where local officials from Tibet and Nepal resolved similar disputes through sale windows and compensation. He said nearly 42 per cent of the 8,553 border pillars shown on maps are yet to be installed, making drone mapping crucial for preventing village-level disputes from turning into diplomatic flashpoints.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu MeetingPolicy Shift Or Just Words? 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Benefits, side effects, and the right way to use it123Hot PicksFlorida Police Officer ArrestJoe RootPV SindhuSensex TodayGold Rate TodayFaceless assessmentRSS sanctionZepto internshipPakistan High CommissionTop TrendingShadow the Hedgehog FortnitePakistan High CommissionTwisha SharmaKarnataka MurderKerala MurderAbhijeet DipkeSukesh ChandrashekharRahul GandhiBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir How VVS Laxman & Co. kept Manav Suthar on India’s radar Middle East oil squeeze: How much crude is actually flowing through Hormuz A look into ‘Captain America’ Chris Evans’ LA home, where he’s lived for more than 10 years: From luxury interiors to private pools Why the US is deporting migrants to Liberia instead of their home countries Seafarers take cover as small boats surround vessel in Hormuz The Federation of Seafarers and Indian Seafarers Union (FSUI) has released an old video showing a vessel carrying 22 crew members, including 21 Indians, coming under attack in the Strait of Hormuz on April 22.The footage shows several small boats surrounding the vessel, an RPG being fired and seafarers rushing to the ship’s alleyways to take cover as the confrontation unfolded.The union also released images showing crew members taking cover while the vessel was under attack.“These were not pirates. They were naval forces of the IRGC,” the FSUI said in a post on X.The union added that the footage highlighted the risks faced by seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that advisories and guidelines alone could not ensure their safety.“Innocent seafarers need the assured presence of naval forces to truly protect them,” the FSUI said.The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) recently said 166 Indian seafarers remained in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz region, including 125 aboard six Indian-flagged vessels and 41 working on foreign-flagged ships.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIn an update on August 4, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said 3,972 Indian seafarers had been repatriated from the Gulf region, highlighting the scale of the effort to bring them out of the conflict zone.India is the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers after the Philippines, with 311,936 personnel accounting for 12.16 per cent of the global maritime workforce, according to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026. Indian officers account for 13.41 per cent of the global officer workforce, while 171,218 Indian ratings make up 11.29 per cent of the global ratings workforce.The large presence of Indian seafarers in the region has also resulted in casualties since the Iran war began. Last month, the MEA said Indian seafarers had recorded the highest number of fatalities among all nationalities in attacks on commercial shipping.The government later informed Parliament that 10 Indian seafarers were among the 16 Indian nationals killed in the Middle East conflict.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAadrita HalderWrites on social matters, geopolitics, and trending issues for the Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu MeetingPolicy Shift Or Just Words? 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We have fought wars with both of them. We have unsettled borders. So they will always remain on our radar as a threat, as a challenge,” PTI quoted Naravane as saying at a book launch event in New Delhi.However, he distinguished between the two, saying India’s immediate focus on Pakistan was driven largely by the continuing threat of terrorism, while describing China as a “competitor” rather than an “enemy.” He emphasised that he had “purposely” used the term “competitor” for China.”We have fought major wars with Pakistan, and because of their continued support to terrorism, our attention is towards our western borders. But I think we are very clear that in the long term and in the years to come, China is going to be our main competitor. And I purposely use the word competitor and not enemy,” Naravane said.Naravane, who was Chief of Army Staff during the 2020 Ladakh clashes with China and led India’s response, further stated that the two countries would be competitors across multiple domains, including politics, economics, trade and military affairs.”They are going to be our main competitor in all fields. Political, economic, trade, and of course military also. And wherever there is competition, there is always a little bit of conflict,” the retired Army general observed.He emphasised that India should seek to manage such differences through dialogue and diplomatic mechanisms rather than resorting to force.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines”It is up to us to try to resolve those conflicts, those differences, through the mechanisms of talks, dialogues. And taking recourse to the use of force should always be the last priority,” he said.However, he also stressed that India must maintain credible military preparedness to deter any potential misadventure.”There comes a moment when you realise that this is not going to happen. And therefore, you have to have a strong deterrence. That is why the armed forces have to be ready at all times. You have to have a strong deterrence to stop anybody from taking recourse to the use of force or any misadventure,” he remarked.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. 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