Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has joined the growing chorus of BJP leaders calling out Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the Swati Maliwal assault controversy. During a press conference at the party's Delhi headquarters, she criticized Kejriwal for remaining silent and demanded an apology from him. Sitharaman also mentioned other instances of AAP leaders being accused of attacks against women and pointed out the party's failure to field any female candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. With Delhiites doubting the CM's claims on women's safety, Sitharaman declared that Kejriwal is "anti-women" and accused him of supporting the assault.
Chief Ministers Chandrababu Naidu and MK Stalin are urging families in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to have more children, citing concerns about ageing population and potential loss of Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming delimitation process. While Naidu has even proposed legislation to incentivize larger families, Stalin has jokingly suggested aiming for 16 children for prosperity, highlighting the impact this population growth could have on the political landscape in India. Meanwhile, a recent government report predicts a significant rise in the number of elderly citizens in the country, particularly in the southern states.
At a mass marriage event in Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin referenced a Tamil adage and expressed concern over the impact of the Lok Sabha delimitation exercise on family planning. He urged couples to continue giving Tamil names to their children and reminded them that the traditional saying about acquiring 16 types of wealth does not refer to having 16 children. This comes just days after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu controversially advocated for women to have more children to stabilize the population in his state.
Lidia Thorpe, a prominent Indigenous activist and independent senator, made headlines for her controversial protest during King Charles III's visit to Australia. Shouting for a treaty and the return of stolen Aboriginal remains, Thorpe's outburst in the Australian parliament shed light on ongoing issues of colonization. Despite facing backlash, Thorpe remains dedicated to her stance on formal recognition and commitment to addressing systemic injustices towards Indigenous peoples.
After deciding to vacate the Budgam Assembly seat, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has officially announced that he will be representing the Ganderbal constituency. He expressed his gratitude towards the people of Budgam and promised to continue working for them over the next five years. This move marks the end of the six-year period when J&K didn't have an Assembly and the NC, with support from other parties, will continue to hold the majority in the 95-member Assembly.
After 26 days of fasting, activist Sonam Wangchuk and his supporters have finally ended their protest after receiving assurance from the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding talks on Ladakh's demands. The protest was organized by Wangchuk and others to demand Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, which aims to protect its cultural and environmental heritage. The Ministry has assured that the high-powered committee, which was holding talks with representatives from Ladakh, will resume discussions on December 3.
Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud, the 50th Chief Justice of India, is known for his progressive judgements and unwavering commitment to upholding the Constitution. With a legacy inherited from his father, the longest-serving CJI, Justice Chandrachud has become one of the most influential and respected judges in the Supreme Court. Notably, his lead judgement in the historic right to privacy case and his stance against the criminalisation of same-sex relations under Section 377 have solidified his reputation as a champion of individual rights and liberties.
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has expressed his confidence in becoming the Chief Minister of Karnataka again before 2028. He highlighted his previous 14-month stint as CM, promising to use his experience to deliver good governance if he gets a full five-year term. Kumaraswamy also criticized the current Congress government, urging the people to give him a chance to implement his plans for the state's prosperity.
Supreme Court Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud shared his experiences working on the controversial Ayodhya-Babri Masjid dispute case, stating that it was a difficult case to adjudicate. He revealed that he even prayed to God to help find a solution. This statement was made during his address to a gathering in a village in Khed taluka. Soon after, the 5-judge bench, led by Justice Chandrachud, delivered the verdict in November 2019, allowing the construction of a Ram Temple on the disputed site. The judge also mentioned that regular prayers and faith can lead to finding a solution in challenging cases.
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, accused US President Joe Biden of using nuclear arms talks as a ploy to gain electoral points for Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris. Lavrov also revealed that Moscow is against engaging in strategic stability talks without preconditions, as urged by the US, in order to prevent any unilateral military advantages. This comes ahead of the upcoming US presidential elections on November 5, in which Harris was selected as the Democratic nominee after Biden's withdrawal following a controversial televised debate with Republican nominee Donald Trump.
In a recent case at the Kerala High Court, an FIR against a university director accused of sexually harassing a female student during a youth festival was quashed. The court held that the physical contact that occurred was not sexual in nature, but rather part of a resistance effort to maintain discipline. The petitioner argued that the FIR was filed with malicious intent due to a delay in filing and strict event guidelines implemented by the university. The court cautioned the petitioner against any retaliatory measures that may hinder the complainant's studies.