In an exclusive interview with CNN-News18, senior Supreme Court lawyer Harish Salve speaks out against the opaque and flawed process of judges appointing judges in India. With the recent discovery of a large sum of cash in the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma, the Supreme Court collegium has proposed to transfer him to his parent High Court in Allahabad. Salve argues that more transparency and stricter consequences should be applied to maintain the integrity of the judiciary.
At the first general council meeting of Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), actor and party leader Vijay launched a scathing attack against the Centre and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu. Vijay accused the BJP-led Centre of trying to reduce the state's power, and warned PM Narendra Modi to "handle Tamil Nadu carefully". He also criticized the DMK for creating obstacles for TVK's functioning and declared that the upcoming assembly polls in 2026 will be a two-party fight between TVK and DMK. The party passed several resolutions, including urging the Centre to withdraw the controversial Waqf Bill and finding lasting solutions for challenges faced by fishermen.
In a strong opposition to the proposed Waqf bill, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board has urged all Muslims in the country to wear black armbands during Friday prayers as a sign of peaceful protest. This appeal comes ahead of the highly anticipated 2025 Delhi Assembly Elections and the Union Budget announcement, showing the board's determination to make their voices heard. With this move, the community hopes to bring attention to their concerns and urge the government to reconsider their decision.
Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has written a letter to the Governor requesting the deployment of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in Mothabari, after a large-scale attack on Hindus by miscreants. Adhikari has accused the state government and ruling party of appeasement politics and claimed that the police have failed to contain the violence. He vows to take legal action against the perpetrators and protect the Hindu community.
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faced tumultuous disruptions during her speech at Oxford University as students questioned her on the RG Kar rape case, Tata's pullout from Bengal, and her stance on Hindus. Banerjee defended herself, pointing out that Tata has already started a project in Kharagpur while also urging the students to not make the event a political platform. She also addressed the Jadavpur University incident and advised the protesters to focus on strengthening their party in Bengal. The Chief Minister reminded them to not disrespect their country by insulting her and her role as a representative.
In a recent interview, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the Godhra train burning incident that occurred in 2002, which left 59 people dead. He described it as a tragedy of unimaginable magnitude and equated it to the global outcry after 9/11. He also hinted that the riots in Gujarat during that time were linked to the tense and volatile situation after the Godhra incident. PM Modi shared his memories of that day, saying they were in the Assembly for a budget session when the tragic news came in.
The Calcutta High Court's single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh will continue the fresh hearing in the RG Kar rape and murder case on Friday, with the CBI set to submit the case diary. The Supreme Court had given clearance for the parallel hearing in the case earlier this month. During the previous hearing, Justice Ghosh had directed the CBI to clarify whether the case was one of "rape" or "gang-rape," and also asked for details on the second round of investigation. The West Bengal government, represented by Kalyan Banerjee, raised questions on the legal tenability of a fresh probe after Sanjay Roy's conviction, while also stating that the state was not opposed to it.
A video shared by BJP leader Amit Malviya shows Mamata Banerjee being confronted by members of the Bengali Hindu community at Oxford University's Kellogg College. The protesters questioned her about the RG Kar College case and post-poll violence in West Bengal. Malviya also accused Banerjee of being responsible for crimes against women and corruption, and labelled her a disgrace to the state.
Data shows a notable increase in the number of RSS Shakhas in Madhya Banga Pranta between 2023 and 2025, making it the fastest-growing region in Bengal. This growth has political implications as BJP insiders believe it could impact future electoral outcomes. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's visit to Burdwan, part of Madhya Banga, and the BJP's focus on demographic changes in Bengal indicate the significance of the rise in Shakha numbers.
The CBI will submit the case diary in the RG Kar rape and murder case at the Calcutta High Court's single-judge bench. This comes after the Supreme Court's clearance earlier this month and will be the second day of the fresh hearing at Justice Ghosh's bench. All eyes and ears will be on the proceedings to see whether the CBI counsel clarifies whether it was a case of "rape" or "gang-rape" in accordance with the court's previous direction. With the victim's parents approaching the court with a fresh petition and the West Bengal government and Trinamool Congress MP raising questions on the legal tenability of a fresh probe, the case has taken a political turn.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spoke at Oxford about her governance model that prioritizes the welfare of all sections of society and does not allow discrimination. She highlighted the importance of unity and inclusive development, stating that division leads to downfall. Banerjee also emphasized her state's diversity and the need for a human-centric approach to governance. Her address focused on the theme of 'Social Development - Girl, Child and Women Empowerment in West Bengal'.