VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html 123456 Standing in a book-lined room at Le Cercle Littéraire in Kala Ghoda last week, Céline Malraux is trying to solve a family mystery.The French author never met her grandfather André Malraux, who died two years before she was born. Now, fifty years after the death of the celebrated novelist, Resistance fighter and France’s first culture minister, she is retracing a journey that took him from New Delhi to Elephanta caves and Ellora monuments, and beyond.”I yearn for a serendipitous moment where suddenly I get it,” she says. “His fascination with Indian mythology, how he felt when he first saw the Elephanta caves. I’d really like to see India through his eyes.”For many Indians, Malraux is now little more than a footnote. But when he travelled through the country at Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s invitation in 1958, he was one of the most influential Western voices arguing that Indian art and civilisation deserved to be viewed on the same terms as those of Greece and Rome.That fascination, Céline explains, stemmed from questions that occupied him throughout his life. “Malraux was deeply interested in the human condition: death, suffering, absurdity of life,” she says. “He thought the answer lay in spirituality, in finding the sacred within art.”But she is wary of reducing his relationship with India to a familiar Western search for enlightenment. “Malraux didn’t see India simply as a land of spiritual quest. He always believed the country could connect spirituality and action.”The connection feels unusually tangible in Mumbai. Le Cercle Littéraire, where Céline was on Friday, is a short ride from Gateway of India, where ferries leave for Elephanta. The caves were one of the stops on Malraux’s 1958 state visit to discuss cultural exchange. “Nehru didn’t want Malraux to meet ascetics and sages,” Céline says. “He wanted him to see the potential of modern India. And Malraux understood that.”His itinerary reflects that. Hosted by the prime minister, he visited not only Elephanta caves and the rock-cut complexes of Ellora, but also Bhakra Nangal dam, one of the great symbols of India’s post-independence ambition.She pauses before quoting him. “Malraux once said that India’s fate is inseparable from the fate of the world. He knew that India’s experiment, modern statehood built upon an ancient civilisation, had significance far beyond its borders.”The visit deepened a friendship that had begun more than two decades earlier. Nehru and Malraux first met in Paris in 1936 and then in 1958. They then remained in touch until Nehru’s death, through years that would transform both men into global figures.”My grandmother, who accompanied him on the India trip, told me that only a few people can meet after twenty years and continue the same conversation,” Céline says.It is, in many ways, an unlikely friendship. Nehru was a rationalist and moderniser. Malraux, though politically engaged, was drawn to religion, mythology and the spiritual questions he found reflected in texts such as the Bhagavad Gita.Malraux described Nehru as a man who remained at “an enigmatic distance from India”, and yet each saw something in the other. “There was a kind of brotherhood,” Céline says. “They shared the same values on freedom and human dignity.”Nehru travelled to France several times after that, and on one visit Malraux walked with him personally through his landmark 1960 exhibition, Treasures of India: 5,000 Years of Indian Art, a show that introduced countless Europeans to Indian sculpture and painting, and quietly rewrote how the West understands Indian civilisation.Yet despite all this, Malraux has largely faded from Indian memory. “There are so many people who are more influential in shaping India’s own history,” Céline says. “What he shared with India was a one-sided love affair,” she laughs.What she has not made peace with, and perhaps does not want to, is how relevant some of his battles still feel. Malraux first made his name as an anti-fascist intellectual during the Spanish Civil War, warning about the rise of fascism before many others recognised the threat.”Last year marked fifty years since Franco’s death, and I saw people celebrating him,” she says. “You see this everywhere, a nostalgia for fascism. It is the perfect moment to speak about people who dedicated their work and risked their lives to fight it.”Art, she says, remains part of that struggle. “He made a film about Spanish war. It was Top Gun of 1930s,” she says with a laugh. “Art can be political. Sometimes it needs to be. We are at a moment when artists are very aware of that. Malraux was too.”As the evening in Kala Ghoda draws to a close, the conversation keeps returning to India: to Elephanta, to Ellora, to the places she is still moving through.For Céline, this trip is not simply about commemorating a famous intellectual. It is about following a trail left by someone she never knew, through a country that never forgot what he saw, even if it forgot him. “I’d really like to see India through his eyes,” she says.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorAkshay BhagwatAkshay Bhagwat loves to read, write, sing and discuss politics. He believes in the power of the people. In his previous lives, he was a political consultant and an environmental researcher.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPM Modi To Skip Khamenei Funeral; Bihar Governor, MoS External Affairs To Represent India: Report’In 3 Or 6 Months’: Stalin Predicts Early Polls, Says Vijay-led TVK Govt May Not Last Full TermExplained: Why The Akal Takht Has Summoned 87 Sikh Legislators Over Punjab’s Anti-Sacrilege LawIndia’s First Integrated Battle Groups Explained: A New Era of Border Readiness32 Years After the Pact, Rajasthan Finally Set to Get Yamuna Water from HaryanaPM Modi’s Seychelles Visit: Why This Tiny Island Is Key to India’s Battle for the Indian OceanMumbai Muharram Poison Plot: Why Police Are Investigating the Iran-Iraq Angle?Nah Tribal Body Claims PLA Occupied Ancestral Land, China Built Roads and Camps in Arunachal PradeshSC Defers Urgent Hearing on Plea Seeking CBI Probe Into Alleged Ram Mandir Donation EmbezzlementPakistani National Apprehended Near LoC, Poonch, Second Cross-Border Intrusion Reported In 2 Days123PhotostoriesPsychology says people who don’t have many close friends may be more selective in love, and that’s not always a bad thing10 timeless baby girl names inspired by courageous women warriors in history4 secrets the happiest couples you meet are hiding from youVande Bharat routes under ₹1,500: From Goa to Kerala, these budget trips are worth every rupeeTaylor Swift’s best white gowns, ahead of her wedding with Travis Kelce: From ‘Folklore’ to ‘The Fate of Ophelia’PM Narendra Modi says “Chutney and Samosa reflect the shared heritage of India and Seychelles”: 6 traditional dishes that prove itHow to care for antique kundan and polki jewellery: Expert tips to prevent tarnishingOTT releases this week (June 29-July 5): ‘Pritam and Pedro’, ‘Enola Holmes 3’, ‘Tavvai’, ‘Isakapatnam’ and more5 ways to fall in love with your life and feel alive again5 cutest fish in the ocean you’ll instantly love123Hot PicksIreland CoachKerala HSCAP third allotment listWeather tomorrowFIFA world cup 2026Ketan Agarwal murder caseMumbai monsoonFIFA World Cup Round of ScheduleUS Strike on IranVaibhav SooryavanshiTop TrendingRam Mandir Donation TheftSimone BilesNoida fireFIFA World Cup 2026CBSE Three language GuidelinesBengaluru TechieAnukalp MishraSergei IvanovMK StalinMumbai Local Train News Ben Stokes: The man who refused to leave quietly, then left at tea NBEMS recruitment 2026: Registration to begin on July 7 for 53 vacancies; check eligibility and steps to apply South Indian cinema controversies from first half of 2026: Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’ censor row, ‘Drishyam 3’ and AMMA crisis explained Comcast to split into two companies in major media shake-up Sun sets on Bazball: Ben Stokes signs off with defeat as New Zealand seal 2-1 series win vs England | Cricket News ‘Shah Rukh Khan is like this’: Farah Khan recalls ‘King’ star flying out the entire cast and crew of ‘Happy New Year’ to Dubai for premiere Awanish Sharan Transformation: “The greatest achievement is becoming healthier at 45 than I was at 39”: IAS Awanish Sharan shares his epic transformation journey without any crash diet; shares fitness formula for beginners Russian troops survive just ’20–35 minutes’ on Ukraine frontlines, pro-war bloggers claim ‘Tried my best’: Indian-origin techie says he has ‘made peace’ after failing to land job in US despite 15+ years of experience “Ayodhya ki loot jhanki hai, Kashi-Mathura abhi baaki hai,” Pawan Khera said. NEW DELHI: The Congress party Monday claimed the State Bank of India (SBI) had recommended removing officials posted at the donation counting centre at Ayodhya Ram Temple, while taunting the ruling BJP as the probe into the fund embezzlement case widens.Calling the arrest of eight people in the case “only a glimpse”, Congress leader Pawan Khera targeted those “protecting” the people behind the alleged fund embezzlement.Khera tweaked the RSS-BJP’s popular Ram Mandir movement slogan in a piercing attack, saying, “Ayodhya ki loot jhanki hai, Kashi-Mathura abhi baaki hai (the alleged loot in Ayodhya was only a glimpse, Kashi and Mathura were yet to come)”.The Congress leader alleged, “SBI had recommended three months ago that those posted at the donation counting centre be removed. Who has been protecting them? Nagpur or Delhi?”Khera also targeted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and said he should be asked whether bulldozer action would be taken against the RSS or the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) over alleged irregularities in the handling of donations and offerings made by devotees at the Ram Temple.”The RSS and PMO were directly looking after the Ram Mandir administration. Ask Adityanath, if there has been wrongdoing there, will bulldozers be sent to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s residence or to the PMO? Just ask him this question and he will have no answer,” he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.On the reported move by the new BJP government in West Bengal to bring a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill, Khera alleged such issues were being raised to divert people’s attention from the Ram Temple donation theft case.”The purpose (of the UCC bill) is only to change the headlines and divert attention from what is happening in the name of Lord Ram in Ayodhya,” he claimed.Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court refused to grant an urgent hearing on a petition seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)-led multi-agency probe into the alleged embezzlement case.The top court observed that “heavens are not going to fall” if the matter is heard after the court resumes regular functioning following the summer break.The plea came amid an ongoing police investigation into the case. As part of the probe, former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai’s statement has been recorded by the police, while statements of other senior trust officials, including trustee Anil Mishra, may be recorded if required.Earlier, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said it was “shocked, hurt, and deeply saddened” by the allegations and reiterated its commitment to a fair investigation. The Trust also confirmed receiving the resignations of Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, adding that the matter would be considered at its next meeting.Seeking to reassure devotees, the Trust said all valuables personally offered to Lord Ram, including silver bricks and jewellery, were safe and fully accounted for, expressing confidence that the truth would ultimately prevail. Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPM Modi To Skip Khamenei Funeral; Bihar Governor, MoS External Affairs To Represent India: Report’In 3 Or 6 Months’: Stalin Predicts Early Polls, Says Vijay-led TVK Govt May Not Last Full TermExplained: Why The Akal Takht Has Summoned 87 Sikh Legislators Over Punjab’s Anti-Sacrilege LawIndia’s First Integrated Battle Groups Explained: A New Era of Border Readiness32 Years After the Pact, Rajasthan Finally Set to Get Yamuna Water from HaryanaPM Modi’s Seychelles Visit: Why This Tiny Island Is Key to India’s Battle for the Indian OceanMumbai Muharram Poison Plot: Why Police Are Investigating the Iran-Iraq Angle?Nah Tribal Body Claims PLA Occupied Ancestral Land, China Built Roads and Camps in Arunachal PradeshSC Defers Urgent Hearing on Plea Seeking CBI Probe Into Alleged Ram Mandir Donation EmbezzlementPakistani National Apprehended Near LoC, Poonch, Second Cross-Border Intrusion Reported In 2 Days123Photostories10 timeless baby girl names inspired by courageous women warriors in history4 secrets the happiest couples you meet are hiding from youVande Bharat routes under ₹1,500: From Goa to Kerala, these budget trips are worth every rupeeTaylor Swift’s best white gowns, ahead of her wedding with Travis Kelce: From ‘Folklore’ to ‘The Fate of Ophelia’PM Narendra Modi says “Chutney and Samosa reflect the shared heritage of India and Seychelles”: 6 traditional dishes that prove itHow to care for antique kundan and polki jewellery: Expert tips to prevent tarnishingOTT releases this week (June 29-July 5): ‘Pritam and Pedro’, ‘Enola Holmes 3’, ‘Tavvai’, ‘Isakapatnam’ and more5 ways to fall in love with your life and feel alive again5 cutest fish in the ocean you’ll instantly loveGaurav Khanna shifts to a luxurious new house amid divorce with Akanksha; A look at his lavish new property123Hot PicksIreland CoachKerala HSCAP third allotment listWeather tomorrowFIFA world cup 2026Ketan Agarwal murder caseMumbai monsoonFIFA World Cup Round of ScheduleUS Strike on IranVaibhav SooryavanshiTop TrendingRam Mandir Donation TheftSimone BilesNoida fireFIFA World Cup 2026CBSE Three language GuidelinesBengaluru TechieAnukalp MishraSergei IvanovMK StalinMumbai Local Train News Jun 29, 2026, 19:19 IST HSSC CET Group C recruitment 2026: Registration ends tomorrow for 1,238 posts; direct link to apply here Lauryn Hill honored with Inaugural Living Legend Icon Award at 2026 BET Awards: ‘I fight for y’all’ Over 1,300 dead in Europe: How ‘Omega Block’ turned a heatwave into a continent-wide death trap Two Indian soldiers put country on world rowing map with 1st-ever World Cup gold | India News ‘I didn’t qualify for a loan’: Shreyas Talpade on how Shah Rukh Khan helped him buy his first house, Farah Khan reacts saying, ‘we paid you so little for Om Shanti Om’ 10 timeless baby girl names inspired by courageous women warriors in history Lawsuit filed against Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron, claims these companies restricted RAM supply to inflate prices Indian man found dead in Kansas after his car was swept away by floodwaters, locals saw car going into water with someone inside The Chetak official said the Cessna landed on side of a highway. NEW DELHI: A trainee pilot operating a Cessna 152 belonging to Chetak Aviation “crash-landed” along a Highway near Aligarh on Monday. An official of the flying school said the woman (28) is safe. The DGCA has ordered a probe.This is the second flying training related accident in UP within a week. Last Friday, a woman trainee pilot was injured while deboarding a twin-engine trainer aircraft of Garg Aviation with the propeller running at Kanpur’s Chakeri Airport. “On June 29, a Chetak Aviation Cessna 152 aircraft (VT-AFB) engaged in solo flying at Aligarh crash landed in field in Kasgunj. She is reported to be safe. DGCA is investigating the occurrence,” the aviation ministry said in a statement.The Chetak official said the Cessna landed on side of a highway. Further details will be known following the DGCA probe.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPM Modi To Skip Khamenei Funeral; Bihar Governor, MoS External Affairs To Represent India: Report’In 3 Or 6 Months’: Stalin Predicts Early Polls, Says Vijay-led TVK Govt May Not Last Full TermExplained: Why The Akal Takht Has Summoned 87 Sikh Legislators Over Punjab’s Anti-Sacrilege LawIndia’s First Integrated Battle Groups Explained: A New Era of Border Readiness32 Years After the Pact, Rajasthan Finally Set to Get Yamuna Water from HaryanaPM Modi’s Seychelles Visit: Why This Tiny Island Is Key to India’s Battle for the Indian OceanMumbai Muharram Poison Plot: Why Police Are Investigating the Iran-Iraq Angle?Nah Tribal Body Claims PLA Occupied Ancestral Land, China Built Roads and Camps in Arunachal PradeshSC Defers Urgent Hearing on Plea Seeking CBI Probe Into Alleged Ram Mandir Donation EmbezzlementPakistani National Apprehended Near LoC, Poonch, Second Cross-Border Intrusion Reported In 2 Days123Photostories4 secrets the happiest couples you meet are hiding from youVande Bharat routes under ₹1,500: From Goa to Kerala, these budget trips are worth every rupeeTaylor Swift’s best white gowns, ahead of her wedding with Travis Kelce: From ‘Folklore’ to ‘The Fate of Ophelia’PM Narendra Modi says “Chutney and Samosa reflect the shared heritage of India and Seychelles”: 6 traditional dishes that prove itHow to care for antique kundan and polki jewellery: Expert tips to prevent tarnishingOTT releases this week (June 29-July 5): ‘Pritam and Pedro’, ‘Enola Holmes 3’, ‘Tavvai’, ‘Isakapatnam’ and more5 ways to fall in love with your life and feel alive again5 cutest fish in the ocean you’ll instantly loveGaurav Khanna shifts to a luxurious new house amid divorce with Akanksha; A look at his lavish new propertyWhat one year of learning a musical instrument did to young children’s brains surprised researchers123Hot PicksIreland CoachKerala HSCAP third allotment listWeather tomorrowFIFA world cup 2026Ketan Agarwal murder caseMumbai monsoonFIFA World Cup Round of ScheduleUS Strike on IranVaibhav SooryavanshiTop TrendingRam Mandir Donation TheftSimone BilesNoida fireFIFA World Cup 2026CBSE Three language GuidelinesBengaluru TechieAnukalp MishraSergei IvanovMK StalinMumbai Local Train News ‘Cricket’s return to Olympics a landmark moment’: Jay Shah after ICC and IOC confirm LA28 qualification pathway KMAT Karnataka 2026 registration ends tomorrow: Here’s how to apply for MBA, MCA After ‘Dhurandhar’, ace action team reunites for Salman Khan and Vamshi Paidipally’s Eid 2027 film | Hindi Movie News Tia Bhatia: “Our daughter is not a defective toy”: They were told to ‘replace’ her and what her parents did will remain an example forever California’s earthquake stress levels are now the highest seen in 1,000 years, study finds Uruguay’s FIFA World Cup exit turns chaotic as federation cancels team flight home | Football News French proverb of the day: ‘Little by little, the bird makes its nest’ — a lesson on why slow, steady effort builds the strongest foundations RSSB 4th Grade revised result 2026 out at rssb.rajasthan.gov.in: Direct link to download merit list here Metallica donates GBP 20,000 to Cardiff Foodbank ahead of sold-out Cardiff Principality Stadium show NASA’s Hubble spots two enormous galaxy clusters merging billions of light-years away Katie Miller is not impressed with Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife MacKenzie Scott who has donated billions; says: MacKenzie Scott has given away $26 billion, almost entirely to groups that seek to dismantle … Jr NTR reunites with Trivikram Srinivas for a mythological epic on lord Karthikeya: ‘Born in North, worshipped in South’ Mount Etna erupted twice but each eruption came from a completely different underground route As Meta keeps delaying the release of its new AI model to developers, Google’s message to Meta comes in picture ‘Ram ko loota, desh ko loota’: Sibal attacks BJP over Ram Mandir donation case NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal on Monday took a pot shot at the BJP government with a poetic dig, urging people to vote out the ruling party and alleged that it had “looted” both, the country and Lord Ram.Amid the Ayodhya Ram Temple fund embezzlement row, the senior advocate took to X and targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s “achhe din” slogan of 2014, calling it a “lie”. Sibal said, “Defeat this government, Ram ko loota, desh ko loota, achhe din ka nara jhootha” (They looted Lord Ram, they looted the country, and the promise of ‘achhe din’ turned out to be false).”Aise shasan ko tordein ge; Mil ke Desh ko jordein ge; Na dilon ka ho ga batwara; Sab ka Desh hai Desh hamara,” he further added, asserting that such governance must be defeated and that the country should be united without divisions.The Independent Rajya Sabha MP’s remarks come amid growing opposition criticism over the alleged embezzlement of donations collected at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Opposition parties have also questioned PM Modi’s silence on the issue and demanded stringent action against those responsible.The Congress has termed the alleged irregularities not merely a financial “scandal” but a “betrayal of faith”, arguing that the Ram Temple construction was projected by the BJP as a national movement and that devotees across the country had contributed to it.Earlier on June 13, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) following a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust after allegations of misappropriation of temple donations surfaced.The SIT comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan.Based on the SIT’s findings, eight individuals: Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lav Kush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ram Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar alias Tinnu Yadav, were arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement. The accused were reportedly involved in counting cash and valuables donated at the Ram Temple.Earlie in the day, a local court in Ayodhya remanded all eight accused to 14 days’ judicial custody. The eight had earlier been remanded to three days’ judicial custody till Monday by a special remand magistrate.Meanwhile, the Supreme Court declined to grant an urgent hearing on a petition seeking a CBI-led multi-agency probe into the alleged embezzlement of Ram Temple donation funds.Observing that “heavens are not going to fall” if the matter is heard after the court resumes regular functioning following the summer break, a bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and Sheel Nagu said the petition would be taken up during the week of July 12-17.The public interest litigation, filed by two advocates, sought a court-monitored investigation by the CBI and other agencies, arguing that the ongoing probe by the Uttar Pradesh Police did not inspire confidence and that crucial evidence was not being preserved properly.As part of the investigation, police have recorded the statement of former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai. Statements of other senior trust officials, including trustee Anil Mishra, may also be recorded if required.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’In 3 Or 6 Months’: Stalin Predicts Early Polls, Says Vijay-led TVK Govt May Not Last Full TermExplained: Why The Akal Takht Has Summoned 87 Sikh Legislators Over Punjab’s Anti-Sacrilege LawIndia’s First Integrated Battle Groups Explained: A New Era of Border Readiness32 Years After the Pact, Rajasthan Finally Set to Get Yamuna Water from HaryanaPM Modi’s Seychelles Visit: Why This Tiny Island Is Key to India’s Battle for the Indian OceanMumbai Muharram Poison Plot: Why Police Are Investigating the Iran-Iraq Angle?Nah Tribal Body Claims PLA Occupied Ancestral Land, China Built Roads and Camps in Arunachal PradeshSC Defers Urgent Hearing on Plea Seeking CBI Probe Into Alleged Ram Mandir Donation EmbezzlementPakistani National Apprehended Near LoC, Poonch, Second Cross-Border Intrusion Reported In 2 DaysBengal Moves Toward Uniform Civil Code as BJP Government Prepares to Introduce UCC Bill123Photostories4 secrets the happiest couples you meet are hiding from youVande Bharat routes under ₹1,500: From Goa to Kerala, these budget trips are worth every rupeeTaylor Swift’s best white gowns, ahead of her wedding with Travis Kelce: From ‘Folklore’ to ‘The Fate of Ophelia’PM Narendra Modi says “Chutney and Samosa reflect the shared heritage of India and Seychelles”: 6 traditional dishes that prove itHow to care for antique kundan and polki jewellery: Expert tips to prevent tarnishingOTT releases this week (June 29-July 5): ‘Pritam and Pedro’, ‘Enola Holmes 3’, ‘Tavvai’, ‘Isakapatnam’ and more5 ways to fall in love with your life and feel alive again5 cutest fish in the ocean you’ll instantly loveGaurav Khanna shifts to a luxurious new house amid divorce with Akanksha; A look at his lavish new propertyWhat one year of learning a musical instrument did to young children’s brains surprised researchers123Hot PicksIreland CoachKerala HSCAP third allotment listWeather tomorrowFIFA world cup 2026Ketan Agarwal murder caseMumbai monsoonFIFA World Cup Round of ScheduleUS Strike on IranVaibhav SooryavanshiTop TrendingRam Mandir Donation TheftSimone BilesNoida fireFIFA World Cup 2026CBSE Three language GuidelinesBengaluru TechieAnukalp MishraSergei IvanovMK StalinMumbai Local Train News 8 Years of ‘Sanju’: Ranbir Kapoor’s extraordinary transformation into Sanjay Dutt still leaves fans in awe | Hindi Movie News 5 killed in shooting in northern Germany; motive behind attack unclear West Bengal government announced a committee to draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. NEW DELHI: Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari-led West Bengal government Monday announced a committee to draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state.”Former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai to head committee to draft UCC in West Bengal,” CM Suvendu Adhikari as quoted as saying by news agency PTI.CM Adhikari announced that a draft UCC Bill will be placed before the state cabinet on July 2. The bill will be tabled in the assembly later, he said. The proposed legislation seeks to establish a common civil framework governing marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption irrespective of religion.Ahead of the introduction of the Bill, state BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya asserted that constitutionally protected tribal communities would remain outside its ambit.”The BJP’s position on the UCC is longstanding and unequivocal. It is part of our political commitment and election manifesto,” Bhattacharya said in a social media post on X.Bhattacharya also rejected allegations that the proposed legislation was linked to family-size regulation, saying such provisions were “neither the objective nor a part of the UCC”.Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress has accused the BJP of attempting to use the legislation as a political instrument rather than pursuing genuine legal reform.TMC chairperson and former CM Mamata Banerjee directed the party to mount an aggressive resistance to the Bill inside and outside the Assembly, arguing that the proposal raises larger questions about constitutional morality, social consent and India’s plural character.”The question is whether the UCC is genuinely being brought for the welfare of citizens and constitutional values, or whether it is being used as an instrument of political polarisation,” a senior TMC leader said, reflecting the party’s official position.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’In 3 Or 6 Months’: Stalin Predicts Early Polls, Says Vijay-led TVK Govt May Not Last Full TermExplained: Why The Akal Takht Has Summoned 87 Sikh Legislators Over Punjab’s Anti-Sacrilege LawIndia’s First Integrated Battle Groups Explained: A New Era of Border Readiness32 Years After the Pact, Rajasthan Finally Set to Get Yamuna Water from HaryanaPM Modi’s Seychelles Visit: Why This Tiny Island Is Key to India’s Battle for the Indian OceanMumbai Muharram Poison Plot: Why Police Are Investigating the Iran-Iraq Angle?Nah Tribal Body Claims PLA Occupied Ancestral Land, China Built Roads and Camps in Arunachal PradeshSC Defers Urgent Hearing on Plea Seeking CBI Probe Into Alleged Ram Mandir Donation EmbezzlementPakistani National Apprehended Near LoC, Poonch, Second Cross-Border Intrusion Reported In 2 DaysBengal Moves Toward Uniform Civil Code as BJP Government Prepares to Introduce UCC Bill123PhotostoriesVande Bharat routes under ₹1,500: From Goa to Kerala, these budget trips are worth every rupeeTaylor Swift’s best white gowns, ahead of her wedding with Travis Kelce: From ‘Folklore’ to ‘The Fate of Ophelia’PM Narendra Modi says “Chutney and Samosa reflect the shared heritage of India and Seychelles”: 6 traditional dishes that prove itHow to care for antique kundan and polki jewellery: Expert tips to prevent tarnishingOTT releases this week (June 29-July 5): ‘Pritam and Pedro’, ‘Enola Holmes 3’, ‘Tavvai’, ‘Isakapatnam’ and more5 ways to fall in love with your life and feel alive again5 cutest fish in the ocean you’ll instantly loveGaurav Khanna shifts to a luxurious new house amid divorce with Akanksha; A look at his lavish new propertyWhat one year of learning a musical instrument did to young children’s brains surprised researchersMix these 4 ingredients into fenugreek water for stronger and thicker hair naturally123Hot PicksIreland CoachKerala HSCAP third allotment listWeather tomorrowFIFA world cup 2026Ketan Agarwal murder caseMumbai monsoonFIFA World Cup Round of ScheduleUS Strike on IranVaibhav SooryavanshiTop TrendingRam Mandir Donation TheftSimone BilesNoida fireFIFA World Cup 2026CBSE Three language GuidelinesBengaluru TechieAnukalp MishraSergei IvanovMK StalinMumbai Local Train News IIT Kanpur B.Cyber admission 2026 shortlist released at iitk.ac.in; entrance test on July 5 ‘Love Island UK’: Gabriel Garland gets dismissed after 2019 stabbing incident, while Maya Jama takes over Casa Amor drama Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna’s home is all things quirky with a mix of elegance: Art inspirations to take away | Who is Puneet Sharma, the Axis Bank CFO who has resigned? Chinese proverb of the day: ‘Be not afraid of growing slowly. Be afraid only of … ‘ — a lesson on why slow progress always beats no progress Maharashtra TET paper leak: Uproar in Assembly as opposition demands education minister’s resignation, walks out It’s official! Suriya to reunite with ‘Jai Bhim’ director TJ Gnanavel; composer and female lead revealed From Goa to Kerala, these budget trips are worth every rupee Strong aftershock rocks Caracas as Venezuela battles earthquake aftermath Antarctica Dinosaur Fossil: Antarctica’s oldest known dinosaur fossil was hiding in a museum drawer for 40 years | World News Evening news wrap: India to attend Khamenei’s funeral; Delhi won’t register new petrol two-wheelers from 2028, and more | India News