VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Suriya and Mamitha Baiju starrer ‘Vishwanath and Sons’ crosses Rs 100 crore worldwide in just two days Can aluminium foil keep pigeons away? Here’s what to know about the balcony hack UP officers invoke Bhagat Singh, Buddha to explain duty, justice and use of force China launches 24th batch of low-orbit internet satellites from Hainan site Aug 16, 2026, 16:37 IST Yash on wife Radhika Pandit’s reaction to his bold scenes in ‘Toxic’, feels every partner will be uncomfortable: ‘She trusts me’ Emraan Hashmi and Disha Patani starrer is set to cross a massive Rs 70 crore on its first Sunday Bangladesh PM’s proposed India visit conditional on Hasina extradition, officials say Kerala CM VD Satheesan at Independence Day ceremony NEW DELHI: The BJP has sharply criticised the Kerala government after national song Vande Mataram was not sung at its official Independence Day function, accusing the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) administration of “succumbing to pressure from extremist organisations.”Kerala BJP leader Shone George accused chief minister VD Satheesan of “surrendering to the dictate of Jamaat-e-Islami”, alleging that the chief minister had maintained an “illicit relationship” with the organisation and “anti-India forces” for the past year.”We were convinced of this. Because this is not new—for the past one year, the CM has had an illicit relationship with Jamaat-e-Islami and anti-India forces, both openly and covertly in Kerala,” he told reporters.Referring to the Kerala General Education Department’s guidelines, he claimed officials had indicated that singing the national song was not mandatory.“If an official has issued such an order, make no mistake, that official will face consequences,” George warned.George also accused the state government of attempting to “communalise” the song and discouraging its singing in schools, claiming this would “inject poison into young children’s minds”. He claimed that Congress ally Indian Union Muslim League is “controlling” the General Education Department and “influencing” the government’s position.Senior BJP leader PK Krishnadas separately accused the UDF government of having “completely disrupted” this year’s Independence Day celebrations and alleged that it had imposed a “complete ban” on Vande Mataram.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHe also questioned whether the directive had come from “the hubs of Jamaat-e-Islami, Social Democratic Party of India, or Popular Front of India”.Krishnadas alleged that the state government had “effectively challenged” Parliament and the Constitution by “restricting” the national song. “Therefore, this is not just anti-national, but also unconstitutional and illegal,” he claimed.He reiterated that the BJP would pursue both legal and political action against what he described as the UDF government’s “anti-national, unconstitutional stance.”(With PTI inputs)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‘Derogatory’: PM Modi’s ‘Dimaagi Naxals’ Remark Triggers Row; Congress, CJP, Left Parties Hit BackActivist Devendra Mahto Stopped From Tiranga March As Jharkhand Student Protest Escalates On I-Day‘Came From The Top’: Mahua Moitra Alleges Late-Night Pressure, Seeks Speaker Om Birla’s InterventionDid Congress Leaders Signal Stop? 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What a shuffle, sway or slower step could be telling you123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingPM ModiCM VijayBengaluru Namma MetroAsish BanerjeeManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke Updated: Aug 16, 2026, 16:30 IST Market recap: Top 5 firms lose Rs 1 lakh crore in market value; TCS, Reliance suffer biggest hit When Govinda REVEALED he wanted to marry Neelam Kothari; ‘I asked Sunita to leave me’ Weekly Love Horoscope Predictions, August 16 to August 22, 2026: Your zodiac love forecast for this week Virginia installed 46 water-control structures across 150 miles of old drainage ditches to re-wet a swamp; restored peat now traps 200,000 metric tons of carbon a year Hawaii’s 34,000 acres of managed eucalyptus plantations could become a local source of lumber for homes and infrastructure The matter was scheduled for hearing after the Supreme Court said on August 12. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court is set to hear on Monday the Tamil Nadu government’s plea seeking directions to Karnataka to release its due share of Cauvery water immediately.The case is listed before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, according to the court’s cause list for August 17.The matter was scheduled for hearing after the Supreme Court said on August 12 that petitions filed by Tamil Nadu and others, including the DMK, would be taken up on August 17.Tamil Nadu approached the top court on August 3, arguing that it was not receiving its allocated share of Cauvery water despite the state facing a rain-deficient year.The state government has alleged that both the quantity recommended for release by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee and the actual water supplied by Karnataka were far below its requirement.ALSO READ | Mekedatu project long-term solution to Cauvery water dispute: MinisterTamil Nadu flags shortfall in water releaseAt a meeting on July 28, the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from July 29.Tamil Nadu, however, said the actual flow recorded at Biligundlu on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border was only between 158 and 550 cusecs from July 29 to August 2.The state government also pointed to water storage levels in Karnataka’s four reservoirs. As of August 3, the combined storage in the Krishna Raja Sagara, Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathy reservoirs was 77.537 TMC, according to a Tamil Nadu government statement.Tamil Nadu argued that Karnataka would be able to release its due share without facing difficulty.State claims 26.954 TMC is dueTamil Nadu said recent rainfall in the catchment areas of the KRS and Kabini reservoirs had increased the amount of water that should flow to the state.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAccording to the state government, the proportionate quantity due at Biligundlu should be 26.954 TMC.”Accordingly, the Cauvery Water Management Authority order allocating 4.536 TMC is very less,” the release added.Tamil Nadu has alleged that Karnataka has “failed” to release its due share and maintained that the state should receive 26.954 TMC.The Supreme Court will now hear the Tamil Nadu government’s plea seeking immediate directions to Karnataka over the release of the Cauvery water.ALSO READ | Water released from KRS? BJP claim puts Karnataka govt on spotGet 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‘Derogatory’: PM Modi’s ‘Dimaagi Naxals’ Remark Triggers Row; Congress, CJP, Left Parties Hit BackActivist Devendra Mahto Stopped From Tiranga March As Jharkhand Student Protest Escalates On I-Day‘Came From The Top’: Mahua Moitra Alleges Late-Night Pressure, Seeks Speaker Om Birla’s InterventionDid Congress Leaders Signal Stop? 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What a shuffle, sway or slower step could be telling you123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingPM ModiCM VijayBengaluru Namma MetroAsish BanerjeeManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke Updated: Aug 16, 2026, 16:00 IST The PhD thesis Albert Einstein said had ‘lifted a corner of the great veil’ Yash REACTS to Allu Aravind’s ‘Who was Yash before ‘KGF’?’ comment: ‘Cinema doesn’t just belong to a producer’ Weekly Wealth Horoscope Predictions, August 16 to August 22, 2026: Your money luck for the week How 3 members of England’s 1939 Chess Olympiad team became wartime codebreakers during WWII In 1905, a 13-year-old crawled through a tiny Tennessee cave passage and found a hidden underground lake 19% in Lok Sabha, 39% in Rajya Sabha: How Monsoon Session unfolded beyond the Parliament NEW DELHI: For 25 days, Parliament’s Monsoon Session played out on two different stages.Inside the Houses, proceedings were repeatedly disrupted, adjournments were frequent and Question Hour had barely any time remaining. Outside, political activity rarely stopped. Students marched, opposition leaders protested, ministers traded charges, and the Parliament complex itself became a stage for demonstrations and symbolic political performances.Held from July 20 to August 13, the session produced an unusual contrast: legislation moved forward, but much of the political confrontation surrounding it played out beyond the floor of the two Houses.Parliament sees low productivityThe numbers underline that contrast. Lok Sabha functioned for approximately 19% of its scheduled time, while Rajya Sabha functioned for around 39%. Question Hour was particularly badly hit, with less than 1% of its scheduled time utilised. The session had 19 sittings spread over 25 days.Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju acknowledged the distinction between legislative output and debate.“It was a good session…we have passed 13 bills; but it was not a good session in terms of discussion,” he said, while accusing the opposition of avoiding debate despite the government’s willingness to discuss issues.’Not a good session in terms of discussion’Yet government business did move, much of it through voice votes amid opposition sloganeering.Bills passed in ParliamentEleven Bills were introduced in Lok Sabha and two in Rajya Sabha. Twelve Bills were passed by Lok Sabha and 12 by Rajya Sabha, with 12 Bills cleared by both Houses during the session.Two Bills replacing and incorporating the provisions of ordinances issued before the session, the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026 and the Income-Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, were also passed by both Houses.The Demands for Excess Grants for 2022-23 were taken up, with the related Appropriation Bill passed by Lok Sabha on August 4 and returned by Rajya Sabha on August 6. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 was referred to a Joint Committee for examination.Among the more politically significant measures was the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, introduced amid concerns over public examinations and paper leaks.Bills passed by both the HousesThe Bill came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced stringent measures to prevent such incidents in the future, including multiple selfie videos directly addressing students.It provides for speedy investigations and time-bound trials, with investigations to be completed within two months and trials within three months. It also provides for Special Fast Track Courts and Special Public Prosecutors, allows the Centre to constitute Special Task Forces where necessary, enhances penalties and creates a time-bound appellate mechanism before a Division Bench of the High Court.The Bill was passed by both Houses and received presidential assent.Its debate also offered a glimpse of how political parties were trying to speak directly to younger voters. BJP’s younger leaders took the lead in explaining the legislation and the Centre’s position, while the opposition made its own pitch. Both sides adopted Gen Z vocabulary, trading barbs with phrases such as “clock it”, “FOMO” and “delulu”.Other major Bills passed during the session included the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to bring Vande Mataram within the ambit of the 1971 Act; the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, which proposes stricter procedures for delayed registration; and the MSME Development (Amendment) Bill, which provides for a national digital platform for voluntary registration and seeks to improve access to finance and resolve delayed-payment disputes faster.The Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill expands the definition of bankers’ books to cover physical, electronic, digital, virtual and cloud-based records. The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill proposes changing the state’s name from Kerala to Keralam. Other legislation dealt with cooperative development, tribunals and the mining sector.But these measures were not what defined the political atmosphere of the session. That distinction belonged to the protests outside.The session began with a protestThe Monsoon Session opened against the backdrop of a large student mobilisation at Jantar Mantar over NEET examination irregularities.The protest had been building for weeks. Scientist and activist Sonam Wangchuk had been on a hunger strike for more than 20 days when the Centre intervened and removed him from the protest site.His removal intensified the agitation, with students going ahead with their scheduled “Sansad gherao”. Security personnel, including the Rapid Action Force and Delhi Police, were deployed as the protesters marched towards Parliament.The distance was less than 1.5 km, but the march quickly turned into a major confrontation.Pellet guns, lathi-charge and tear gas were used, with more than 60 people injured and admitted to nearby Lady Hardinge Medical College and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.The police action immediately became a political issue, with opposition leaders turning their focus towards Union home minister Amit Shah because the security forces involved came under the home ministry’s jurisdiction.The student protests subsequently spread beyond Delhi. The pressure group Cockroach Janta Party’s delegation met PM Modi-led cabinet ministers Jagat Prakash Nadda and Jitendra Singh, after which the situation moved towards normalcy.One of the protesters’ major demands was the removal of Dharmendra Pradhan as education minister.On July 25, Pradhan resigned from the post, making his departure one of the defining political developments of the session.From Pradhan to ShahPradhan’s resignation did not end the political confrontation.Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi had not joined the initial Jantar Mantar protest but emerged as a prominent voice in the political battle that followed. His focus shifted from Pradhan to Shah, whom he repeatedly attacked over the police crackdown on students on July 20.“As home minister, did you approve the use of lethal force including pellet guns against students? If not, who did? Are the people in plainclothes seen beating students with lathis police personnel or volunteers? Youth and students, future of our country, are demanding answers and accountability,” Rahul said.Rahul Gandhi trains guns at Amit ShahHe argued that Shah either directly ordered the use of pellet guns, shock batons, lathicharge and tear gas, making him “culpable” for the treatment of the protesters, or did not know what the police were doing, making him “incompetent”.“In either case, he has to go,” Rahul said, calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack the home minister.Rahul also alleged that students were facing threats, including through face recognition and Bajrang Dal. “These are our children and the govt has no business threatening them or beating them. They have not committed any crime. They should not be punished,” he said.He later made the demand for Shah’s removal explicit, saying: “Shah is responsible and we are not going to let him get away with it.”At the AICC headquarters, with Shah’s photograph displayed on a large screen, Rahul accused the home minister of being responsible for the treatment of students and criticised his absence from Lok Sabha, saying it showed that he was “guilty”.Inside Parliament, opposition leaders across parties continued to seek answers from Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The issue contributed to repeated disruptions.The government, meanwhile, maintained that Shah was ready to discuss the student protests.The debate that moved between the House and outsideIn the final week of the session, Shah offered to address the opposition’s concerns directly.He offered to sit in Parliament from “3pm till 3pm the next day” to hear the opposition and respond to its points. Rahul rejected the offer, saying they “seek answers, not lectures”.Shah’s offer came amid demands that he make a statement in Parliament on the police action during the July 20 march over the NEET paper leak.He later wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking time for a discussion on the student protest and NEET paper leak.“As you are aware, Hon’ble parliamentary affairs minister Shri Kiren Rijiju has agreed, on behalf of the government, to a discussion in Parliament on the student movement concerning the NEET examination, during the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee,” Shah said.He also pointed out that the Lok Sabha had already discussed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill during the session, but opposition MPs had not raised the NEET examination issue during that debate.The exchange captured the central political tension of the session.The government pointed to its legislative response and willingness to debate. The opposition demanded direct answers over the handling of the protests and accountability for the police action.The argument was therefore no longer simply about an examination paper leak. It had become a contest over responsibility, policing and ministerial accountability, much of it fought outside the chamber.Jharkhand adds another layerExamination irregularities also became a political issue in Jharkhand, where the Centre’s political opponents were in power.Students in the state protested over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including JPSC and JSSC, under the Hemant Soren government.In Ranchi, protesters marched towards the state assembly in an “assembly gherao”. The Soren government said it was open to talks and held rounds of discussions with student delegations.For the BJP at the Centre, the Jharkhand protests provided an opportunity to counter Rahul Gandhi’s attacks over the student movement in Delhi.Pradhan, days after resigning as education minister, turned his fire on Rahul.“The leader of opposition, who habitually lies, neither wants to come to Parliament nor listen to answers. They just want to spread their lies and shed crocodile tears,” Pradhan said.Pradhan calls Rahul Gandhi a ‘habitual liar’He also accused Rahul of making “baseless, factless false accusations” against Shah.The political irony was clear: the examination issue that had put the Union government under pressure in Delhi was now being used by the BJP to target the Congress, which is part of the ruling alliance with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha government led by Hemant Soren.Then came the Ram Mandir protestThe student protests showed how street mobilisation could shape parliamentary politics. Another demonstration showed how the Parliament complex itself could become a stage for political messaging.The alleged theft of donations at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya became another opposition issue during the session.On Friday, Independent MP Pappu Yadav, along with other opposition MPs, staged a symbolic protest at Makar Dwar over the alleged embezzlement of Ram Temple donations. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party MPs Awadhesh Prasad and Dharmendra Yadav, and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Mahua Maji participated.The MPs held placards and a large banner reading “Amit Shah Sadan Se Gayab Kyun?” They also raised slogans demanding Shah’s resignation and his presence in the House.Pappu Yadav, whose real name is Rajesh Ranjan, dressed as a temple priest carrying a photograph of Lord Ram and sat beside donation boxes. Opposition MPs acted as devotees and placed money in the box. Yadav then symbolically slipped the money into his pocket, representing the opposition’s allegation of theft.Videos circulating online also showed Rahul Gandhi putting money into the donation box. Another MP, playing a devotee, confronted the “priest” over the alleged act.The priest denied wrongdoing before theatrically leaving the scene. The INDIA bloc said the demonstration was intended to highlight the alleged embezzlement of Ram Temple donations and demand accountability from the Centre.It was a symbolic protest, but it reflected the broader character of the session: political messaging increasingly spilled into the physical spaces around Parliament.A Parliament that worked, but talked lessThe Monsoon Session cannot simply be described as one in which Parliament failed to function. Bills were introduced and passed, financial business was completed, ordinances were replaced and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill became law.But the productivity figures tell another story. Lok Sabha functioned for approximately 19% of its scheduled time, while Rajya Sabha functioned for around 39%.Inside the Houses, protests and sloganeering repeatedly led to adjournments. Key government Bills were passed, often through voice votes. Outside, meanwhile, Parliament’s premises became venues for demonstrations and political performances.That contrast defined the session.The Jantar Mantar protest became a parliamentary issue. The police action turned into a political battle over Amit Shah. Pradhan’s resignation followed sustained pressure over the examination controversy. The same issue travelled to Jharkhand, where it became another weapon in the Centre’s political contest with the opposition. The Ram Mandir controversy then produced a symbolic demonstration inside the Parliament complex.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIn each case, the politics extended beyond the floor of the House.The Monsoon Session thus offered an unusual picture of parliamentary politics: legislation continued inside, while confrontation, mobilisation and political messaging increasingly took place outside. The Houses passed 12 Bills, but some of the session’s most visible battles were fought through protests, slogans, press statements, letters and demonstrations.Parliament was still working. But it was talking less, while the political argument increasingly moved beyond its walls.On August 13, both Houses adjourned sine die and will meet again in the Winter Session.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 MediaVideos‘Derogatory’: PM Modi’s ‘Dimaagi Naxals’ Remark Triggers Row; Congress, CJP, Left Parties Hit BackActivist Devendra Mahto Stopped From Tiranga March As Jharkhand Student Protest Escalates On I-Day‘Came From The Top’: Mahua Moitra Alleges Late-Night Pressure, Seeks Speaker Om Birla’s InterventionDid Congress Leaders Signal Stop? 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Giant 10-foot hairball ‘Tumblehair’ takes over the streets of NYC Over 100 arrested in Morocco over fresh Ceuta migrant crossing attempt Rijiju said that Prime Minister’s remarks were not meant for opposition leaders. NEW DELHI: Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on “dimagi naxals” were not meant for the opposition leaders.Amid opposition’s criticism over PM’s remarks during his Independence Day speech, Rijiju said that the “dimagi naxals” referred only to those who supported Maoists and rejected Constitution.”PM Narendra Modi ji didn’t say opposition leaders as dimagi naxals,” Rijiju said in a social media post on X.”Only following are dimagi naxals: 1. Who support Maoists and reject Indian Constitution. 2. Who stand with separatists & support Article 370. 3. Who want to cut chicken neck to separate North-East from India,” he added.In his Independence Day speech, PM Modi said that while Naxals who took up arms in the jungle have been eliminated, there are also “dimagi naxals”, who are in various parts of the country and need to be “identified and isolated.””For years, people with Maoist thinking were there in public life, even in government committees this thinking had affected various institutions and initiatives. My dear countrymen, we have been able to curb and free the country from ‘hathariya naxal’ (armed naxal),” The Prime Minister said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines”Even if these naxals are gone, but the ‘dimagi naxal’ (people with naxal thinking), are looking for an opportunity, looking to see ways of violence, and trying to drag the country to a wrong path. We need to identify these dimagi naxal, isolate them, and bring the youth together for a developed country,” he added.Soon after his speech, Congress dismissed PM Modi’s warnings against “dimagi naxals” as hollow political rhetoric.Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the term carries no real substance, drawing a parallel to previous debates surrounding the phrase “urban naxal”.”Two or three years ago, he (PM Modi) called his political opponents ‘urban naxals’; at that time, the question arose in Parliament as to what the definition of ‘Urban Naxal’ was. The Home Minister replied that there is no such thing as an ‘urban naxal,’ nor is there any definition for it. Today, the Prime Minister is using the term ‘mental naxal’ (ideological Naxal) for his political opponents from the Red Fort,” Jairam Ramesh alleged.Former Union minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on also targeted PM Modi over his “dimagi naxal” remarks, saying he was “proud” to be described by the term.“I am proud to be a dimagi naxal!” Chidambaram said in a post on X.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‘Derogatory’: PM Modi’s ‘Dimaagi Naxals’ Remark Triggers Row; Congress, CJP, Left Parties Hit BackActivist Devendra Mahto Stopped From Tiranga March As Jharkhand Student Protest Escalates On I-Day‘Came From The Top’: Mahua Moitra Alleges Late-Night Pressure, Seeks Speaker Om Birla’s InterventionDid Congress Leaders Signal Stop? Viral Vande Mataram Video Sparks Political Firestorm In New DelhiIndia Signs ₹1,577 Crore Drone Deals As Army Powers Up Precision Strikes And Unmanned WarfareAjit Doval Breaks Silence On Operation Sindoor, Reveals PM Modi’s Immediate Response After PahalgamPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgeRahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event Again As Congress Flags Threats To Democratic InstitutionsPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgePM Modi From Red Fort On 80th Independence Day: ‘India Must Dream Big And Move Forward’123PhotostoriesHow to remove Rahu’s negative energy according to your birth date5 things parents should never let others do to their child at a social gatheringInside Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash’s opulent Dubai home: Large balconies, a private pool and moreVaani Kapoor goes full maximalist in Mayyur Girotra’s Kutch-embroidered suit, leaving us completely obsessedHimanshi Khurana on battling depression, traumatic childhood and breakup with Asim Riaz over religious differences; says ‘I felt I was betraying God’10 unusual foods from India that tourists are often afraid to try7 Food items naturally rich in vitamin D to add to your dietStop throwing away stale bread: 7 surprisingly useful ways to use itLove quote of the day by Maya Angelou: ‘I sustain myself with the love of family’Why do Indian brides wear a maang tikka?123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingPM ModiCM VijayBengaluru Namma MetroAsish BanerjeeManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke Aug 16, 2026, 15:33 IST India cooks up LPG safety net: Govt fixes refinery-wise output targets; Reliance gets biggest quota Anurag Kashyap on why Bollywood bends to power and South doesn’t: ‘They sometimes feel ashamed, but…’ 5 things parents should never let others do to their child at a social gathering How to remove Rahu’s negative energy according to your birth date TMC leader’s suicide case: CM Suvendu Adhikari vows probe into possible ‘threat’ angle At 20, Finnish immigrant Maggie Walz arrived in Michigan with just $7; in 1903 she claimed 160 acres on a Lake Huron island and the colony she founded grew to five settlements with around 1,000 people West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari slams Sonia Gandhi NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday slammed Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi over the controversy surrounding the recitation of Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters on Independence Day, saying the ‘Entire Bengal fuming, Congress must apologise’.Adhikari also accused the Congress of indulging in “appeasement politics”.”It’s appeasement politics, Cong trying to satisfy particular vote bank,” he said while further adding that it’s an insult to nationalism, and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe row erupted after visuals from the August 15 event showed senior Congress leaders speaking among themselves while Vande Mataram was being recited.BJP leaders has lodged a formal complaint against at the Urwa Police Station in Karnataka.Congress rejects allegationsThe Congress has rejected the charge and said there was no attempt to stop the rendition.Maintaining that the allegations are baseless, the party said there was no attempt to stop the full version of Vande Mataram and that Sonia Gandhi was only trying to ensure proper arrangements at the event, including asking for a chair for Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing.In a first for Independence Day celebrations, Vande Mataram, with all six stanzas, was rendered at the Red Fort complex on August 15, followed by the national anthem.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‘Derogatory’: PM Modi’s ‘Dimaagi Naxals’ Remark Triggers Row; Congress, CJP, Left Parties Hit BackActivist Devendra Mahto Stopped From Tiranga March As Jharkhand Student Protest Escalates On I-Day‘Came From The Top’: Mahua Moitra Alleges Late-Night Pressure, Seeks Speaker Om Birla’s InterventionDid Congress Leaders Signal Stop? 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