In a PIL filed by the Association For Protection of Civil Rights, the Bombay High Court has directed the Thane Municipal Corporation to make the Swatantrya Sainik Hakim Ajmal Khan hospital functional and provide free medical services to the poor, in accordance with a resolution passed in 2022. Any agreement entered into by the TMC to run the hospital must be in conformity with this resolution. In other political news, the first seat-sharing talks between the Congress and the DMK have reaffirmed their partnership, despite recent challenges within the INDIA bloc.
On December 16, India celebrates Vijay Diwas to honour the 1971 Indo-Pak war and pay tribute to the soldiers who fought for the nation's victory. The conflict was a response to Pakistan's genocide in East Pakistan and saw brave Indian soldiers sacrificing their lives for the cause of independence. With remarkable displays of strength and strategy, India emerged victorious and this day serves as a reminder of the resilience and courage of the Indian armed forces.
On this Vijay Diwas, President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh honored the brave soldiers who fought in the 1971 war, securing a historic victory for India and leading to the creation of Bangladesh. Their sacrifices and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations and serve as a source of national pride. As the nation remembers and pays homage to the fallen heroes, political leaders reaffirmed the unwavering courage and dedication of India's armed forces.
A historian has written a letter to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, accusing Sonia Gandhi of removing important Nehru papers from the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library in 2008. These papers include Nehru's correspondences with significant figures such as Edwina Mountbatten and Albert Einstein. The issue was allegedly discussed in the society's Annual General Meeting earlier this year, and the historian is seeking Rahul Gandhi's help in retrieving the documents. This comes after the PMML Society's term was extended, and the historian urges for the preservation of India's historical heritage.
In the recent expansion of the Shiv Sena cabinet, party chief and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde carefully balanced regional and caste considerations, as well as the upcoming civic polls. With a strong message to his party members, Shinde retained five ministers and dropped three, while also including six new faces, following a rotation policy for ministers. Despite controversy surrounding some of the dropped ministers, Shinde's focus was on expanding the party's reach across all five regions of the state.
Amidst ongoing controversy over the US presidential election, President-elect Donald Trump appointed Devin Nunes, the CEO of Truth Social, as the chairman of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board. Nunes' previous experience as the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and involvement in exposing Russian interference in the 2016 election were cited as qualifications for the role. The President's Intelligence Advisory Board provides independent advice to the President on the effectiveness and future plans of the country's intelligence community. In other news, Trump has also nominated Indian-American Harmeet Dhillon for a high-ranking position in the Department of Justice.
In a much-awaited cabinet expansion, the BJP-led Maharashtra government saw 39 new ministers being sworn in, taking its strength to 42. The coalition partners Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party received 11 and 9 ministerial berths respectively. This expansion marks the second time since 1991 that the swearing-in ceremony has been held in Nagpur, signalling the BJP's stronghold in the state. The move comes after the BJP and its allies secured a landslide victory in the state elections, gaining 235 Assembly seats.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to express his condolences for the passing of Shri SM Krishna, a well-respected leader and former Chief Minister of Karnataka. Known for his dedication to improving the lives of others, Shri Krishna will be remembered for his focus on infrastructural development in the state. PM Modi also shared his personal interactions with the late leader, highlighting his profound impact and influence.
Over 50 students from Jammu and Kashmir pursuing B.Sc Nursing at Mewar University in Rajasthan are facing academic and physical challenges due to the university's failure to obtain necessary approvals for the course. The convenor of Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has sought the intervention of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, alleging that the university has been misleading students with false promises and infringing on their right to seek justice. The students have been protesting for months and their future remains uncertain as the university has failed to provide a resolution. The association has also accused the university of pressurizing the students to abandon their protests and threatening suspension and fee reimbursements under the Jammu and Kashmir Student Scholarship Scheme.
In a virtual launch event for Arvind Panagariya's book on the Nehru Development Model, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed his concerns about the model's repercussions on both domestic and foreign affairs in India. He argued that the beliefs propagated by this model still hold weight in influential sectors of the country, despite efforts towards reform. He also quoted an American policymaker's infamous misinterpretation of India's interim Hindu government in 1947, and suggested that it may not have been entirely wrong.
Speaking out against his ally's stance on Electronic Voting Machines, newly elected Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah criticized the Congress for changing its tune on EVMs after their loss in recent elections. He called for consistency in opinions about the voting mechanism and emphasized that parties should not blame machines for their defeat. Abdullah also expressed his support for the controversial Central Vista project in Delhi, which has further strained relations between the NC and Congress.