VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Centre finalising Article 371 framework for Ladakh, says Rijiju Govt notifies Legal Metrology (IST) Rules, 2026, making IST mandatory for all legal, commercial and administrative activities from March 2027. NEW DELHI: From March next year, all entities in India will be required to use Indian Standard Time (IST) for legal, commercial, digital and administrative activities, with govt on Saturday notifying the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026.The rules, notified under the Legal Metrology Act, will come into force 180 days after their publication in Gazette, making IST mandatory from around March 2027. Violations of the rules will attract penalties under the Act.The notification makes IST the mandatory time reference for all legal, administrative and official documents unless specifically exempted. It also makes IST the standard time reference across commerce, transport, public administration, legal contracts and financial operations.Entities will not be allowed to use, display or record any time reference other than IST for official purposes, except where foreign time zones are clearly labelled or where alternative time sources are permitted for scientific research, navigation or astronomy.The rules are significant as modern digital infrastructure depends on microsecond-level timing accuracy. Payment systems, stock exchanges, telecom networks, 5G services, digital navigation, power grids and data centres require synchronised clocks to authenticate transactions, coordinate operations and maintain network reliability.The notification establishes a nationwide system for time synchronisation, traceability and cybersecurity, recognising accurate time as critical digital infrastructure. Under the rules, CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (NPL) will continue to maintain India’s primary time scale, UTC(NPLI), from which IST is derived, while Regional Reference Standards Laboratories (RRSLs), ISRO’s NavIC and other authorised timing sources will disseminate official time.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAnother major feature of the rules is the focus on cyber resilience. Organisations must deploy proper time-synchronisation systems, protect networks against spoofing, jamming and cyberattacks, integrate multiple authorised timing sources and maintain contingency mechanisms, including atomic clocks where necessary, to ensure uninterrupted operations.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Reprimands Three Delhi MPs Over Visit To Sajjan Kumar’s Home After His DeathKolkata Police Files Case Against Mamata Banerjee Over Rally, TMC Hits Back At BJP Govt | WatchRahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over Kharge ‘Shuddhikaran’, Demands Action Under SC/ST ActPakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC: Indian Army Intensifies Surveillance In J&K | WatchPM Modi’s 4-Day Central Asia Visit: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & SCO Summit | India’s Diplomatic PushB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch123Photostories10 baby names that bring the beauty of the seasons to lifePainful periods, changing cycles and menopause: Which symptoms are normal, which need attention and can protein help?Blueberries vs Grapes: What happens to blood sugar when you eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it?Why do some eggs have double yolks? The science behind it explainedUse an old toothbrush to clean your taps: 7 places this tiny tool can reachStrong bones aren’t just about milk: 7 foods that help support bone density as you age5 things happy couples do before going to bed every nightFrom Kapil Sharma to Krushna Abhishek: Richest Indian comedians and their net worth8 of the smallest birds you can find in IndiaNepal flash flood: 5 key differences between glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) and regular flood123Hot PicksNepal floodUGC NET June 2026 resultCNG Price HikeMumbai milk priceRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderInflation dataTop TrendingSophie Cunningham CareerChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash ‘Shiva saved us’: Son of Indian-American couple recounts moment when his mother called after surviving deadly Nepal flood Meghan Markle House Hunting: A film studio for Meghan, privacy for Harry: Inside the Sussexes’ UK home search US deports far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos back to UK after ICE detention Horoscope Today: Daily astrological predictions for August 30, 2026 The deadly forces behind Nepal’s Himalayan disasters Quote of the day by Brock Lesnar: “Nobody likes to lose, and I’m a sore loser, especially when…” – why losing can hurt even more when you blame yourself | World News MHA finalising special Article 371 framework for Ladakh, says Union minister Kiren Rijiju; PM Modi to visit and share views on proposed provisions. SRINAGAR: Ladakh is poised for a bespoke constitutional shield, with MHA putting the final touches to a special Article 371 framework for the Union territory, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said.PM Narendra Modi will visit Ladakh to share his views on the proposed framework with people, Rijiju said Friday at a function at Druk Padma Karpo School in Leh district.“Autonomous hill development councils and other existing arrangements are not as empowered. So, recent announcement made by home minister Amit Shah to provide a special provision for Ladakh under Article 371 is going to take shape with the blessings of PM Narendra Modi,” Rijiju said.Unlike Article 370, which gave J&K a high degree of autonomy before its abrogation in 2019, Article 371 provides special, temporary and transitional provisions for balanced regional development and protection of tribal cultures, customary laws and local employment.The proposed Ladakh model is being framed as a “sui generis” governance arrangement. It is expected to offer administrative flexibility and safeguards for tribal land, environment, traditional practices and jobs without granting statehood or directly bringing the region under Sixth Schedule.Rijiju said the provisions would include seven councils, matching Ladakh’s expanded district map. “Earlier, Ladakh had only two districts. Leh and Kargil. Now there are seven districts and along with them there will be seven councils,” he said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesLadakhi representatives from Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance, the region’s two major political groupings, have been in talks with MHA since 2023 for constitutional safeguards covering land, jobs, culture and environment. Next round of talks is scheduled for Sept in New Delhi.Rijiju said Modi had long believed Ladakh needed special attention and had worked towards its development since taking office in 2014. He said the region’s transformation had been striking, pointing to roads, electricity, water, mobile connectivity and telecommunications that were largely absent a couple of decades ago.“When we were in university, and later when I became an MP in 2004, I came to Ladakh,” he said. “There were no roads, electricity, water or other basic facilities. Today, the situation has changed. With mobile phones available everywhere, vast road network, telecommunication facility, we no longer have to wonder how long it takes to travel from one part of Ladakh to another.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Reprimands Three Delhi MPs Over Visit To Sajjan Kumar’s Home After His DeathKolkata Police Files Case Against Mamata Banerjee Over Rally, TMC Hits Back At BJP Govt | WatchRahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over Kharge ‘Shuddhikaran’, Demands Action Under SC/ST ActPakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC: Indian Army Intensifies Surveillance In J&K | WatchPM Modi’s 4-Day Central Asia Visit: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & SCO Summit | India’s Diplomatic PushB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch123Photostories10 baby names that bring the beauty of the seasons to lifeBlueberries vs Grapes: What happens to blood sugar when you eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it?Why do some eggs have double yolks? The science behind it explainedUse an old toothbrush to clean your taps: 7 places this tiny tool can reachStrong bones aren’t just about milk: 7 foods that help support bone density as you age5 things happy couples do before going to bed every nightFrom Kapil Sharma to Krushna Abhishek: Richest Indian comedians and their net worth8 of the smallest birds you can find in IndiaNepal flash flood: 5 key differences between glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) and regular floodBlood sugar suddenly rising while using an inhaler? Doctor explains when respiratory medicines could be responsible123Hot PicksNepal floodUGC NET June 2026 resultCNG Price HikeMumbai milk priceRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderInflation dataTop TrendingSophie Cunningham CareerChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash 4 injured as helium balloons explode during Velankanni festival in Tamil Nadu In 1997, a woman bought a condemned 1888 San Diego mansion for $188,500; after an 8-year restoration, it has 30-plus chandeliers, a secret bar, ‘Titanic’ movie-set columns and a $4.5 million asking price Different faiths, one truth: Bhagwat’s oneness pitch in New York NEW DELHI: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday placed Hindu inclusiveness and society-led political change at the centre of his closely watched address at Madison Square Garden, saying a Hindu who wanted India without Muslims would “not remain Hindu” and arguing that public opinion—not political power—was the starting point for lasting change.Bhagwat said the RSS wanted to influence policies, prevent conflicts and “stop wars”, but could not begin by seeking political influence. “Politics has now become a game of self-interest,” he said. Change, he argued, must start in society and create a public view that governments cannot disregard. “If there is public opinion, then no politician will dare to go against it,” he said.Speaking at the “Universal Oneness Celebration” at the Infosys Theatre in Madison Square Garden, Bhagwat said religions were different routes to the same truth. Rituals and religious discipline were necessary, he said, but they should not become more important than the larger goal of reaching the divine.“Diversity is a decoration for our humanity,” he said, adding that it must be “accepted, respected and protected”. While diversity was the rule of nature, unity was the truth behind it, he said.Bhagwat recalled being asked by Muslims during a 2018 lecture series in Delhi whether the RSS’s idea of a Hindu Rashtra meant they would be driven out. “I said, no. That is not Hindu. If any Hindu thinks that there should be no Muslim in Bharat, he will not remain Hindu,” he said. Hindu thought, he added, required acceptance that different paths could lead to the same truth and that every human being had equal dignity.He said the RSS had since continued dialogues with Muslims and Christians, even though results had been slow. Dialogue and service, he said, must proceed together. He cited the organisation’s 1.3 lakh service projects and said assistance was provided without religious discrimination.Bhagwat also addressed questions about the RSS’s public image. The organisation, he said, was once “minuscule” and ignored but had acquired “some say” in Indian society over its 100-year journey. He blamed doubts about it on “wrong narratives” and said they would disappear if people saw the organisation from within.Calling for work at the local level, he asked religious and community leaders to create examples of unity and selfless service in their own countries and gradually take the dialogue to provinces, districts and smaller communities. Changing entrenched attitudes would be “laborious, tedious and time-consuming”, he acknowledged, urging participants not to abandon dialogue because it produced no immediate result. “RSS with all its might is always with you,” he said.The address came after days of controversy around the centenary-year event, organised by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue and supported by more than 200 Hindu American organisations. New York mayor Zohran Mamdani opposed the gathering, describing the RSS’s vision as exclusionary, but acknowledged that the city might not have the authority to cancel a private event.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesA coalition of civil-rights, interfaith and community groups sought its cancellation, while USCIRF called for Bhagwat’s visa to be revoked and sanctions considered against RSS members. India rejected the commission’s remarks as biased. AHEAD’s X account was briefly suspended and later restored. American singer Mary Millben and BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli separately criticised Mamdani, arguing that opposing the event contradicted his stated commitment to pluralism.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Reprimands Three Delhi MPs Over Visit To Sajjan Kumar’s Home After His DeathKolkata Police Files Case Against Mamata Banerjee Over Rally, TMC Hits Back At BJP Govt | WatchRahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over Kharge ‘Shuddhikaran’, Demands Action Under SC/ST ActPakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC: Indian Army Intensifies Surveillance In J&K | WatchPM Modi’s 4-Day Central Asia Visit: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & SCO Summit | India’s Diplomatic PushB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch123Photostories10 baby names that bring the beauty of the seasons to lifePainful periods, changing cycles and menopause: Which symptoms are normal, which need attention and can protein help?Blueberries vs Grapes: What happens to blood sugar when you eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it?Why do some eggs have double yolks? The science behind it explainedUse an old toothbrush to clean your taps: 7 places this tiny tool can reachStrong bones aren’t just about milk: 7 foods that help support bone density as you age5 things happy couples do before going to bed every nightFrom Kapil Sharma to Krushna Abhishek: Richest Indian comedians and their net worth8 of the smallest birds you can find in IndiaNepal flash flood: 5 key differences between glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) and regular flood123Hot PicksNepal floodUGC NET June 2026 resultCNG Price HikeMumbai milk priceRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderInflation dataTop TrendingSophie Cunningham CareerChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash ‘One more day, we too would have been trapped’: Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims recall narrow escape from Nepal floods Horoscope Today, August 29, 2026: Three Chinese Zodiac Signs May Find Success; Three Should Avoid Overconfidence Flood scare in MP: IAF helicopters, SDRF teams deployed as Mandakini river overflows Sydney’s Dr Sadhana thought she found the love of her life, but he was a convicted fraudster on the run. Real estate agent solved the puzzle Aug 29, 2026, 23:05 IST ‘If any Hindu thinks there should be no Muslims in India, he’s not Hindu’: RSS’ Mohan Bhagwat in US Quote of the day by Queen Elizabeth: “But let us not take ourselves too seriously. None of us has a monopoly of…” – a timeless advice on respecting opinions different from your own | World News Javed Akhtar recalls having just 20 naye paise in Bombay after producer failed to pay him: ‘Sometimes I had food, sometimes I didn’t’; reveals why he never had a Plan B Nepal flash floods: How tea break saved lives of 5 Chhattisgarh friends Pakistan hospital fire: 8 officials suspended over deaths of 14 newborns Love & Relationship Predictions, 30th August, 2026: These Zodiac Signs Will Be Lucky in Love; Patience Unlocks True Romance Man tied to tree, ‘assaulted’ by mob after visiting woman in UP; video emerges ‘Haunted’ Drake’s Island: Tiny UK island with Grade-II listed house, 6.4-acre site, mysterious underground tunnels and 43-bed hotel plan goes on sale for offers above £2 million Aug 29, 2026, 22:00 IST ‘I urge other cricketers to speak up’: Moin Khan makes emotional appeal for Imran Khan Who is Anima Anandkumar? Meet the Indian AI scientist who’s made it to TIME’s AI 100 list Flood fears in Bihar as several rivers cross danger marks amid Nepal rains In 2024, England turned old fishing nets into a 16-metre footbridge; the 3.5-tonne structure needs smaller foundations and less maintenance than a conventional bridge No one calls UP ‘Bimaru’ state anymore: CM Yogi inaugurates Rs 305 cr projects in Deoria, says mafia crushed; encephalitis eradicated Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said the state has shed its image as a “Bimaru” state, stating that Uttar Pradesh now commands a “respectable image” due to improvements in healthcare, connectivity, education and law and order.Addressing a programme in Deoria, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 80 development projects worth ₹305 crore, Adityanath said encephalitis was not merely a disease but reflected what he described as the “sick mindset” of previous Samajwadi Party and Congress governments.”Encephalitis was not merely a disease; it was a sick mindset. It was the sick mentality of the Samajwadi Party and Congress governments of that time — a mentality that was devouring the innocent lives here while the authorities remained completely indifferent. They stayed silent; their empathy had died, and the innocent paid the price. Over forty years, more than fifty thousand innocent lives were lost. Not once did a Chief Minister from the Samajwadi Party or the Congress, nor a Prime Minister from the Congress, ever come here to see the situation. They never came to inquire or check on the well-being of the poor,” Adityanath said.The Chief Minister alleged that the previous governments remained indifferent to the plight of the poor and claimed that a parallel “mafia rule” operated across the state.Adityanath also highlighted the government’s law-and-order measures, saying that the mafia had been “crushed” and warning those who threaten women and traders that they would face either jail or “hell”.He said the government had shifted its development focus from “one district, one mafia” to “one district, one medical college”, pointing to the establishment of medical colleges in Deoria and Kushinagar. Adityanath said encephalitis had also been eradicated, linking the achievement to the government’s healthcare initiatives.”A parallel mafia rule operated across the state. Today, I can say that UP has truly lived up to its name. No one calls UP a ‘Bimaru’ state anymore. No one questions Uttar Pradesh now. The state now commands a respectable image. The mafia has been crushed, wiped out completely. For those who threaten the safety of daughters and traders, there are only two places: either jail or hell; there is no third option. It is no longer a case of ‘one district, one mafia’; now, it is ‘one district, one medical college’, which is why Deoria and Kushinagar now have medical colleges. Just as we have crushed the mafia, we have also eradicated diseases like encephalitis forever,” Yogi said.Highlighting development works in Deoria, he said the district now has a medical college named after Maharishi Deoraha Baba. He said connectivity was being improved through bypasses and flyovers, while roads were being upgraded from single-lane to double-lane, double-lane to four-lane and four-lane to six-lane roads.”Today, there is a medical college in Deoria. The medical college here has been constructed in the name of Maharishi Deoraha Baba, whose spiritual practice was dedicated to public welfare and national welfare. Deoria is today establishing new benchmarks of development. Here, connectivity is improving, bypasses and flyovers are being constructed. Single-lane roads are being converted to double lanes, double-lane roads to 4-lanes, and 4-lane roads to 6-lanes.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines Composite schools are being built. At the same time, the upgradation of Kasturba Gandhi schools is also underway,” CM Yogi said.He said Abhyudaya coaching facilities were being arranged to help young people prepare for competitive examinations, while basic education schools were being transformed under the government’s ‘Operation Kayakalp’ programme.”Arrangements for Abhyudaya coaching are being made for the preparation of competitive exams for the youth, and comprehensive transformations are being carried out in basic education schools under ‘Operation Kayakalp’, so that the bright future of our children can be advanced,” Yogi added.CM Adityanath said these initiatives were aimed at strengthening education, healthcare, infrastructure and opportunities for the youth and establishing new benchmarks of development in Deoria. (ANI)Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Reprimands Three Delhi MPs Over Visit To Sajjan Kumar’s Home After His DeathKolkata Police Files Case Against Mamata Banerjee Over Rally, TMC Hits Back At BJP Govt | WatchRahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over Kharge ‘Shuddhikaran’, Demands Action Under SC/ST ActPakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC: Indian Army Intensifies Surveillance In J&K | WatchPM Modi’s 4-Day Central Asia Visit: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & SCO Summit | India’s Diplomatic PushB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch123Photostories10 baby names that bring the beauty of the seasons to lifeBlueberries vs Grapes: What happens to blood sugar when you eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it?Why do some eggs have double yolks? The science behind it explainedUse an old toothbrush to clean your taps: 7 places this tiny tool can reachStrong bones aren’t just about milk: 7 foods that help support bone density as you age5 things happy couples do before going to bed every nightFrom Kapil Sharma to Krushna Abhishek: Richest Indian comedians and their net worth8 of the smallest birds you can find in IndiaNepal flash flood: 5 key differences between glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) and regular floodBlood sugar suddenly rising while using an inhaler? Doctor explains when respiratory medicines could be responsible123Hot PicksNepal floodUGC NET June 2026 resultCNG Price HikeMumbai milk priceRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderInflation dataTop TrendingSophie Cunningham CareerChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash Career & Money Predictions, 30th August, 2026: These Zodiac Signs May Build Stronger Career Stability; Focus Shifts to Long-Term Success Karnataka HC slams cops for ‘illegal arrest’ of activist over social media post on Kunal Kamra’s show cancellation In 2024, a 192,560 sq ft industrial project won approval on 22 acres beside New Jersey’s Monmouth battlefield; two years later the state paid $15 million to preserve the former strawberry farm as part of the park Dhami on Saturday said the Congress had become “issue-less” and was pushing unnecessary issues Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday said the Congress had become “issue-less” and was pushing unnecessary issues, while responding to Rahul Gandhi’s statement over the purification row.Dhami said no BJP worker was among those who carried out the purification programme in Haldwani, where Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had addressed a rally.He questioned whether anyone in Uttarakhand knew the caste of Kharge.”Religious frenzy slogans were raised there, and people from a specific religion did this. In response, some religious organisations held a purification program there,” Dhami said.”I think the Congress party has become issue-less, so they are pushing forward unnecessary issues,” he added.Dhami also questioned who in Uttarakhand would believe that there was caste discrimination in the state and said work was being carried out under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership with the mantra of “Sabka Saath-Sabka Vikas-Sabka Vishwas”.”Who in Uttarakhand will believe that there is caste discrimination here? Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, work is being done with the mantra of Sabka Saath-Sabka Vikas-Sabka Vishwas…” he said.His remarks came after Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, earlier in the day, attacked the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over the incident, calling ‘purification’ another name for untouchability and alleging that it amounted to a crime under the Constitution.Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Gandhi said the country was witnessing a political contest between the ideology of the Constitution and that of the BJP and RSS.”Our CLP leader in Rajasthan visits a temple, and BJP leaders perform a ‘purification’ ritual. Congress President Kharge ji, who has dedicated his entire life to the country and the Constitution, goes to the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani to deliver a speech, and a purification ritual is performed there. Who does this? It is the people from the BJP and RSS,” Gandhi said.”Only BJP and RSS members do this, and it is a crime. Under India’s Constitution, this is a crime, a criminal activity. ‘Purification’ is actually just another name for untouchability. Untouchability was outlawed, yet BJP members practice it openly,” he added.Gandhi also alleged that the ritual conveyed that Dalits were “unclean” and should not be touched.”When they perform this purification, they are effectively saying that Dalits should not be touched, that Dalits are unclean, and this constitutes a crime under the Indian Constitution,” he said.The controversy stems from a Congress rally held at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani on August 8, ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections. Members of a right-wing group later conducted a purification ritual at the venue, drawing criticism from Congress leaders.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesCongress president Mallikarjun Kharge had also raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha, linking the incident to his identity as a Dalit leader.Kharge had said that he did not mention any community or religion during his speech at the venue but alleged that people associated with the BJP subsequently conducted a purification ritual of the stage.”But after my speech, people associated with the BJP carried out a ‘purification’ ritual of that stage. You may have read about this in the newspapers. Is this the way things should happen in a democracy? How are you protecting the Constitution?” Kharge had said.He later called for strict legal action and demanded that a case be registered under the Untouchability Act against those who conducted the ritual.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Reprimands Three Delhi MPs Over Visit To Sajjan Kumar’s Home After His DeathKolkata Police Files Case Against Mamata Banerjee Over Rally, TMC Hits Back At BJP Govt | WatchRahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over Kharge ‘Shuddhikaran’, Demands Action Under SC/ST ActPakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC: Indian Army Intensifies Surveillance In J&K | WatchPM Modi’s 4-Day Central Asia Visit: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & SCO Summit | India’s Diplomatic PushB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch123Photostories10 baby names that bring the beauty of the seasons to lifeBlueberries vs Grapes: What happens to blood sugar when you eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it?Why do some eggs have double yolks? The science behind it explainedUse an old toothbrush to clean your taps: 7 places this tiny tool can reachStrong bones aren’t just about milk: 7 foods that help support bone density as you age5 things happy couples do before going to bed every nightFrom Kapil Sharma to Krushna Abhishek: Richest Indian comedians and their net worth8 of the smallest birds you can find in IndiaNepal flash flood: 5 key differences between glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) and regular floodBlood sugar suddenly rising while using an inhaler? Doctor explains when respiratory medicines could be responsible123Hot PicksNepal floodUGC NET June 2026 resultCNG Price HikeMumbai milk priceRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderInflation dataTop TrendingSophie Cunningham CareerChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash Trump vs Carney: Cars, homes, booze and more caught in US-Canada tariff war In 1962, Marilyn Monroe bought her first home for about $75,000; it became her final home and narrowly escaped demolition decades later Career turning point: “I’m literally living my dream right now”: How Coco Gauff’s victory over Venus Williams at Wimbledon changed the course of her career forever As Lindsay Clancy jury deliberates, US mother found not guilty in deaths of 2 children Aug 29, 2026, 21:44 IST BFSI firms drive India’s GCC office leasing as demand shifts beyond tech Americans don’t always want to move to coastal cities for tech jobs, leaving families: Indian-origin founder Apoorva Govind explains why companies have to hire H-1Bs What does Tom Brady save from each of his 7 Super Bowl wins? His answer has nothing to do with rings Aug 29, 2026, 21:02 IST ‘He could be in the realms of Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar’: Geoffrey Boycott’s big Harry Brook warning SBI recruitment 2026: Registration underway for Trade Finance Officer posts; check eligibility, direct link to apply Hugh Jackman offers fans a month of free rent through Bilt as his $28.75 million New York City apartment, once listed for $38.9 million and rented for $125,000 a month, remains unsold after divorce Pisces, Weekly Horoscope, August 30 to September 05, 2026: Start the week with warmth and joy; balance ambition and care for health After Bombay HC rap, FDA withdraws orders against Cipla, MCA eateries Delhi auto, taxi unions oppose latest hike NEW DELHI: Auto-rickshaw and taxi unions in Delhi have opposed the latest CNG price hike, saying drivers are already grappling with rising operating costs and do not want to pass the additional burden on to commuters.Rajendra Soni, general secretary of the Auto Rickshaw Association and Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union, said CNG prices had risen by Rs 10-12 over the past two-and-a-half to three months, while repeated requests for a meeting with the government had received no response.”We do not want to burden the people of Delhi. Over the past two and a half to three months, CNG prices have increased by Rs 10-12. We have written several letters to the government requesting a meeting to discuss the problems faced by auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers. It has been one and a half years since the government came to power, but nothing has been done,” Soni said.This comes as Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has raised CNG prices in Delhi-NCR by Rs 3.89 per kg, citing higher import costs of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The revised price took effect on Saturday, taking CNG to Rs 86.98 per kg in Delhi.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThis is the fifth CNG price increase in the region this year and the first since May, when IGL raised prices by a total of Rs 6 per kg in four phases over 10 days amid a global rise in energy prices during the West Asia conflict.CNG now costs Rs 95.59 per kg in Noida and Ghaziabad, Rs 95.47 per kg in Meerut and Rs 92.01 per kg in Gurugram. Prices vary across states because of differences in value-added tax (VAT) rates.The latest increase is expected to add to pressure on passenger and freight fares across Delhi-NCR, where auto-rickshaws, taxis and a large number of goods carriers rely on CNG.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAadrita HalderWrites on social matters, geopolitics, and trending issues for the Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Reprimands Three Delhi MPs Over Visit To Sajjan Kumar’s Home After His DeathKolkata Police Files Case Against Mamata Banerjee Over Rally, TMC Hits Back At BJP Govt | WatchRahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over Kharge ‘Shuddhikaran’, Demands Action Under SC/ST ActPakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC: Indian Army Intensifies Surveillance In J&K | WatchPM Modi’s 4-Day Central Asia Visit: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & SCO Summit | India’s Diplomatic PushB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch123Photostories10 baby names that bring the beauty of the seasons to lifeBlueberries vs Grapes: What happens to blood sugar when you eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it?Why do some eggs have double yolks? 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