VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday took a sharp jibe at the Congress over the alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement row, saying that “those who used to shoot bullets at Ram bhakts are talking about devotion towards Lord Ram.”Addressing a public gathering in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur, Adityanath accused the Congress of refusing to believe in Lord Ram and Lord Krishna before 2017.”Those who used to lathicharge people for chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ are advocating for ‘Ram Bhakti’ today. Those who used to shoot bullets at Ram bhakts are talking about devotion towards Lord Ram today,” Adityanath said.”Those who used to shoot bullets at Ram bhakts are talking about devotion towards Lord Ram today. Congress, which had refused to believe in Lord Ram and Lord Krishna before 2017, is eager to visit Ayodhya today. Lord Ram knows who is right and who is wrong. They are upset over how Ayodhya and Kashi Vishwanath have become so beautiful. Now that they are not able to do anything, they are leaning on lies,” he added.His remarks came hours after the Congress alleged that several of its leaders had been put under house arrest after the party announced that a delegation would visit Ayodhya on Tuesday amid the donation embezzlement row.UP Congress chief Ajay Rai targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party, claiming that the BJP government “got scared” and had him detained to prevent the delegation from visiting Ayodhya.”The BJP government’s authoritarianism has reached its peak! A delegation of the Uttar Pradesh Congress was scheduled to visit Ayodhya on June 30 to offer prayers to Lord Ram,” Rai said.Meanwhile, the UP Congress also claimed that its Pratapgarh district president, Neeraj Tripathi, had been placed under house arrest by the police without any clear reason.”Has it now become a crime in UP to even have darshan of Lord Shri Ram? Yesterday, that is, on June 30, a programme was proposed for the Congress delegation, under the leadership of State President Shri Ajay Rai ji, to visit Ayodhya and have darshan and worship of Lord Shri Ram. But the BJP government, scared of this journey, has started cowardly actions!” the party said in a post on X.Amid the Ram Temple donation embezzlement row, a high-level Congress delegation led by Rai was scheduled to visit Ayodhya on Tuesday.The delegation included Amethi MP Kishori Lal Sharma, Rakesh Rathor, Ujjwal Raman Singh and Tanuj Punia, according to a statement issued by the Congress.The Congress had also informed the local administration about the proposed visit.On Monday, a special court in Ayodhya remanded all eight accused arrested in the alleged Ram Temple donation theft case to 14 days of judicial custody after the investigating agency chose not to seek their custodial remand.The development came as the police continued to gather documentary, financial and witness evidence.The accused are Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav, Anukalp Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Karunesh Pandey, Manish Yadav, Lavkush Mishra, Ramashankar Mishra and Subhash Srivastava.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 MediaVideosDelhi’s Biggest EV Policy Yet! 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Who can get free legal aid in India and how to apply Meet the world’s most fertile woman who gave birth to 44 children, including three sets of quadruplets | World News The Sena’s status was elevated as it moved from managing factory unions to the lucrative BMC. Earlier this month, the Shiv Sena completed 60 years of its existence. The milestone came in the backdrop of a bitter power struggle, marked by defections and betrayals.Once run as a tightly-controlled family enterprise, the Uddhav Thackeray (UBT) faction now stares at an existential crisis. Even as it embarks on a period of soul-searching to establish itself as the rightful political heir in the minds of the collective consciousness, its future remains in choppy waters. Watch Six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Join Shinde Camp, Uddhav Suffers Fresh Political BlowFor sixty years, the Sena wooed the art of reinvention with finesse. Governments came and went, ideologies shifted at the centre of power – and, yet, through all these transitions, the Sena made itself useful to remain relevant.Identity MattersIn 1966 Bal Thackeray (then a cartoonist with the Free Press Journal) launched the party from Shivaji Park, primarily, as an agency for the Marathi worker who found himself increasingly sidelined in jobs by the migrant Tamil labour, and the neighbouring Gujarati, and North Indian. From textile mills to engineering companies, ports, banks and government offices, the Marathi-speaking youth found himself a spectator, and not a stakeholder in the city’s commercial success and prosperity.The Shiv Sena saw this as a window, and tapped into the growing economic anxiety faced by the Marathi manoos. It accorded a local-vs-outsiders tenor to the (economic) struggle, and snatched the idea of a macro industrial conflict that was controlled by the powerful, Communist trade unions.Uddhav Thackeray (left) pay tributes at the Bal Thackeray statue in Colaba on Monday. (Right) The portrait that was unveiled at the central hall of the assemblyThe narrative was no longer about “How should workers be treated?”. Instead, the Sena managed to steer it towards “Who deserves the jobs?”. And thus it secured a loyal constituency – the working class – that led to altering the city’s political vocabulary, eventually as its shakhas disseminated the ‘local-first’ message via shakhas in working-class neighbourhoods. Electoral politics apart, the Sena managed to carve a spot through ‘friendly’ mediation, employment networks and local patronage.The ordinary worker became the Sena’s political hero.No Full Stops in Bombay And stayed so, till about the early ‘80s when the contours of Bombay changed.On January 18, 1982, approximately 250,000 workers from over 60 textile mills halted operations in solidarity, demanding better wages and higher bonus payments. The Great Bombay Textile Strike of 1982 stretched over 18 months as trade unionist Dr Datta Samant led the workers to demand the scrapping of restrictive labor laws.As Bombay stopped being a city defined by industrial labour, the Sena gradually moved away from labour politics. Over the next three decades, as winds of liberalisation blew across the country’s economy, the metropolis transformed into India’s financial capital.The Sena, too, had a new script to follow.Even though Marathi pride remained at its core, by the late 1980s, the Sena was warming up to the idea of Hindutva that was being pushed by the Bharatiya Janata Party with whom a later alliance would follow suit after the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. This partnership gave the Sena room to blend regional identity with religious nationalism, and propped up its political fortunes.The Sena’s status was elevated as it moved from managing factory unions to the lucrative Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which ranks among the richest municipal corporations in India and Asia. Control of the BMC yielded contracts, welfare, influence, and was good for optics as the shakhas micro-managed neighbourhoods and continued with their political mobilisation.One-Man ShowAt the centre of the Sena stood, or sat, rather, Bal Thackeray in his princely home, Matoshree. The cartoonist founder of the party became its emotional centre and anchorage, traversing multiple political arcs over the years. (The Sena supported Mrs Gandhi’s Emergency, supporting the Communists etc). Never anointed as CM, yet he managed to keep the Vajpayee govt on its toes at the Centre when the alliance was in power.The cartoonist founder of the party became its emotional centre and anchorage, traversing multiple political arcs over the years.From invoking Marathi pride to jobs for locals to becoming a de facto patron figure of the Hindi film industry, Thackeray senior had the rich and the powerful seek him out as the Sena became an influential urban political organisation. In the aftermath of the 1992-93 riots, the party projected itself as the uncompromising defender of Hindu interests even as critics slammed it for playing the communal card.1995 saw the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance first forming the government in Maharashtra. The symbolic renaming of Bombay as Mumbai validated the Sena’s long-standing emphasis on regional Marathi identity, a plank that would be used by it in later years.Existential CrisisFor almost three decades thereafter, the BJP and Shiv Sena stuck it out together, trying to make the union work. As the BJP started to gain prominence in the national consciousness under Narendra Modi, it became the primary custodian of Hindutva. A spectacular show at the electoral booths in 2014 gradually dented the Sena’s monopoly over the ideological space that it had once helped build.Uddhav Thackeray; Bal Thackeray; Eknath ShindeTensions surfaced, and eventually exploded after the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections. Despite contesting jointly, disagreements over the chief minister’s post led Uddhav Thackeray to sever ties with the BJP and form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government with the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress (parties the Sena had spent decades opposing). It was perhaps the most extraordinary ideological pivot in the party’s history.After three years, the MVA experiment proved short-lived. In 2022, Eknath Shinde led a rebellion that split the party down the middle. Backed by the BJP, his faction eventually secured official recognition as the “real” Shiv Sena, including its iconic bow-and-arrow symbol. The split was more than organisational; it represented competing visions of the Sena itself.Heir & Now: Sense of PurposeFor Uddhav Thackeray, the youngest of Bal Thackeray’s sons (he is estranged from his older brother Jaidev, and his oldest brother Bindumadhab passed away in 1996), the challenge no longer lies in proving that he is the political heir of the Sena. It lies in establishing the Sena’s sense of purpose in politics.The MVA experiment, in its own way, drove a silent wedge between the party and its core vote bank. Many Sena loyalists saw it as an ideological departure from the predominant Hindutva stance that had been painstakingly established by Bal Thackeray over the years. And it is perhaps this perception that helped Eknath Shinde to present his rebellion not simply as a revolt against leadership but as a return to the party’s original convictions and roots.The MVA experiment, in its own way, drove a silent wedge between the party and its core vote bank, and gave Eknath an advantage. For the Uddhav camp, that perception has cast a long shadow.While the INDIA alliance has accorded political relevance to the UBT after the split by widening its social coalition, it has also raised an uncomfortable truth about its own history. Can the UBT permanently coexist within an alliance led by the Congress, the party against whom it had been in opposition? Can the Sena hold on to its faithful while seeking a new user base that is (perhaps) more moderate?The Road AheadThe textile mills that once dotted the Sena’s horizons have largely disappeared. Mumbai’s economy is now driven less by industrial labour and more by BFSI, tech, media and real estate. For the GenZ Marathi voters, aspirations are different.This changing social landscape presents the Sena with its greatest challenge: its original ‘sons of the soil’ politics no longer carries the same urgency in a globalised Mumbai. Hindutva is now a crowded political space in which the BJP is the overwhelmingly dominant force, and the Shiv Sena a smaller force.The Shiv Sena has spent sixty years adapting to a changing Maharashtra, and reinventing itself. For the first time, however, it is looking to craft a new narrative.Can it?Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorLopamudra GhatakA new-media professional who has straddled the worlds of television and digital. Has worked extensively in the Internet news space for over a decade, and has seen the rise (and fall) of Orkut, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A news and people junkie, likes most things digital and dramatic. Is fascinated by emerging tech trends and wonders if social media is a boon or bane! Guilty pleasures include Nordic crime – books and shows – and Netflix. And an MS Dhoni fan, for life!Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDelhi’s Biggest EV Policy Yet! 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Prime Minister Narendra Modi used traditional Indian handicrafts and textiles as instruments of cultural diplomacy during his visit to Seychelles, presenting a carefully curated collection of gifts that reflected not only India’s diverse artisanal heritage but also the shared history, environmental values and deepening strategic partnership between the two Indian Ocean nations.The gifts, presented to Seychelles’ top leadership and their spouses, complemented a visit widely seen as significant for India’s engagement in the Indian Ocean Region. PM Modi’s visit underscored New Delhi’s continued focus on strengthening maritime cooperation, security partnerships and development ties with Seychelles, a key partner located along critical sea lanes in the western Indian Ocean.Gifts rooted in shared heritage and symbolismFor Seychelles President Dr Patrick Herminie, PM Modi presented a Muradabadi Brass Tortoise, a handcrafted artefact from Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad, known internationally for its brass craftsmanship.The gift carried symbolism beyond its artistic value. While the tortoise represents wisdom, resilience and longevity in Indian philosophy, it also resonates strongly with Seychelles, home to the world-famous Aldabra Giant Tortoise. The selection reflected both countries’ shared respect for nature and conservation while symbolising the enduring friendship between India and Seychelles.Vice-President Sebastien Pillay received an Orchid Painting from Sikkim, bringing together two powerful national symbols. The artwork depicts India’s national bird, the peacock, surrounded by orchids, the national flower of Seychelles, celebrating biodiversity and the two nations’ common commitment to environmental preservation.Showcasing India’s textile traditionsThe gifts also highlighted India’s rich handloom heritage through textiles sourced from different regions of the country.Speaker of the National Assembly Azarel Ernesta was presented with a Toda Embroidered Shawl, crafted by the indigenous Toda community of Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri Hills. Distinguished by its hand-embroidered red and black geometric patterns on white cotton, the shawl represents generations of indigenous craftsmanship and cultural continuity. The choice echoed Seychelles’ own efforts to preserve its cultural traditions and community heritage.Second Lady Lina Pillay received Kanchivaram Silk Fabric, one of India’s most celebrated weaving traditions from Tamil Nadu. Woven from fine mulberry silk and adorned with intricate gold zari work, the fabric reflected centuries-old craftsmanship inspired by temple architecture, nature and traditional motifs.First Lady Veronique Herminie was gifted a Maheshwari Silk Stole, a lightweight handloom textile from Madhya Pradesh known for its elegant weave and understated geometric designs. She also received a Bidriware Box, a classic example of Karnataka’s centuries-old metal inlay craft, featuring intricate silver work set against a distinctive black metallic finish.Cultural diplomacy alongside strategic engagementTaken together, the gifts represented India’s diverse artistic traditions from across the country, spanning textiles, paintings and metalwork while carrying messages tailored to Seychelles’ own cultural identity and ecological heritage.The presentation of handcrafted artefacts formed part of the broader diplomatic engagement during Modi’s visit, reinforcing people-to-people connections alongside discussions on strategic cooperation. With Seychelles occupying a vital position in the Indian Ocean, India has long viewed the island nation as an important maritime partner in advancing regional security, connectivity and sustainable development.By pairing traditional Indian craftsmanship with symbols that resonate deeply with Seychelles, the gifts served as more than ceremonial exchanges, reflecting New Delhi’s effort to strengthen bilateral ties through cultural affinity as well as strategic partnership.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. 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How Indian brokers plan to make it easier IPU to hold offline counselling for BMS admissions on July 7 at Dwarka campus with merit-based allotment Dia Mirza faces backlash after 5-year-old son SCHOOLS delivery boy over plastic bags: ‘The entitlement is unreal’ Psychology says parents who do these 7 things often teach children to hide their feelings Cancer Monthly Predictions for July 2026: Your career and reputation soar Bengaluru physiotherapist found dead at homestay in Nandi Hills; boyfriend unconscious | Bengaluru News UBT MLC Sachin Ahir joins Shinde Shiv Sena NEW DELHI: Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) suffered another setback as MLC Sachin Ahir joined the Eknath Shinde-led faction on Tuesday.He filed nomination for Maharashtra council deputy chairperson post as Mahayuti candidate.The latest rebellion in Shiv Sena (UBT) involves 6 of the party’s nine Lok Sabha MPs crossing over to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, dealing another major blow to Uddhav Thackeray. The MPs who switched sides are Sanjay Haribhai Jadhav, Sanjay Dina Patil, Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure, Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar and Omraje Nimbalkar. Their defection reduces the Uddhav faction’s strength in the Lok Sabha to just three MPs, while the Shinde-led Shiv Sena now has 13 members.The significance of the move lies in the numbers. The six MPs constitute two-thirds of Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Lok Sabha strength—the threshold required under the anti-defection law to merge with another party without inviting disqualification. Their formal induction into the Shinde camp marks the first major parliamentary split in the Uddhav-led faction since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.The split is the latest chapter in the Shiv Sena’s internal battle that began in June 2022, when Eknath Shinde led a rebellion against then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, toppling the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. In February 2023, the Election Commission recognised Shinde’s faction as the official Shiv Sena and allotted it the party’s iconic ‘bow and arrow’ symbol, while Uddhav Thackeray’s group was renamed Shiv Sena (UBT). Since then, both factions have been competing to claim the political and ideological legacy of party founder Balasaheb Thackeray.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 MediaVideosIndia, US Close to Major Boeing Defence Deal, Says Sergio Gor; Cites $20.5 Billion Investment BoostRajya Sabha Numbers Tilt Towards NDA, Bringing Two-Thirds Majority Within Striking DistanceIndia Condemns Pakistan’s Airstrikes In Afghanistan, Calls Them Assault On Sovereignty & Peace’No Official Role, No Official Support’: India Distances Itself From India-Pakistan Track-2 DialogueUS Ambassador Says Trump’s India Visit Could Happen Soon, Confirms Quad Meeting in PhilippinesAre We Learning Nothing From Deadly Fire Accidents Across India? 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How Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance worked behind closed doors for India’s biggest offering He scored just 1 in Chemistry and didn’t crack JEE, years later he became IIT Madras Director and even chaired the same exam Ranjeet shares a fond memory of working with Bindu: ‘I have a photograph in which you’re pulling my ears’ Rita Seymour: Great-grandmother, 79, receives nationwide ban from Sainsbury’s and Argos stores and supermarkets: Here’s what led to it How Ram Temple donations were received, counted and deposited: Police quiz Champat Rai as Ayodhya probe picks up pace SIR begins in 4 states, 1 UT NEW DELHI: The Election Commission’s voter verification drive under the special intensive revision (SIR) began on Tuesday across Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Meghalaya and Jharkhand, with booth level officers (BLOs) starting house-to-house visits to verify electoral rolls.As part of the month-long exercise, BLOs will visit every household between June 30 and July 29, distributing and collecting enumeration forms from existing voters. The verification aims to ensure that only eligible citizens remain on the electoral rolls while removing ineligible entries. Watch SIR in Bengal: Voter Deletions, Turnout Pressure and the Gerrymandering DebateThe draft electoral rolls will be published on August 5, followed by a period for claims and objections before the final electoral roll is released on October 7.Here’s look at the key questions voters may have about the verification process and what they need to do.Do I need to do anything if I’m already a voter?Yes. When the Booth Level Officer (BLO) visits your home, you should fill the enumeration form, return one copy to the BLO and collect an acknowledgement.When will the BLO visit my house?House-to-house visits will take place between June 30 and July 29.What if I’m not home when the BLO comes?If your house is locked, the BLO will leave the enumeration form and make at least three visits to collect the completed form.Will I have to submit Aadhaar, passport or any other document?No. The chief electoral officer (CEO), Delhi, has clarified that no document has to be submitted along with the enumeration form.Can I submit the form online instead of waiting for the BLO?Yes. The enumeration form can also be filled online through the Election Commission’s voter portal.Do I have to provide details from the previous voter list?Yes. While filling the enumeration form, existing voters will be required to provide details relating to the last special intensive revision (SIR).What if I don’t remember my old voter details?You can search your details using:Your EPIC (voter ID) numberYour name and other detailsYour polling stationWhat if my name wasn’t on the voter list during the last special intensive revision?If your name wasn’t included but your parents’ or grandparents’ names were, you’ll need to provide their details in the enumeration form.My parents have never been registered as voters. What should I do?You can mention their names in the enumeration form. You may be asked later to give sup-porting documentsI got married and my name wasn’t in the last SIR. Whose details should I provide?You can mention the details of your parents or grandparents (your parental family), not your in-lawsHow do I know if my details are correct?The draft electoral roll will be published on August 5. If you find any errors or omissions, you can file claims or objections between August 5 and September 4.Where can I get help if I have questions?You can call the voter helpline 1950, contact your BLO through the book-a-call facility, or visit your nearest voter centre or district election office.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. 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