Prominent Haryana politician Captain Ajay Singh Yadav has resigned from the Congress party, expressing discontent with the leadership after Sonia Gandhi stepped down as party president. Yadav, who comes from a family with a long history of association with Congress, announced his decision on social media and stated that he will share his experiences of being mistreated by certain leaders in the party. His resignation comes as the third prominent exit from the party in Haryana over the past two years.
After the Kerala HC issued a directive to launch a Crime Branch investigation against Fisheries, Culture, and Youth Affairs Minister Saji Cherian, the CPM party has decided that Cherian does not need to resign. The party's state secretariat meeting concluded that Cherian had already resigned in 2022 on ethical grounds related to the case at hand. The CPM will also seek further legal counsel and stands by the court's decision to entrust the investigation to the state police rather than the CBI.
As India celebrates the 75th anniversary of the adoption of its Constitution on November 26, top leaders including President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will address the nation at a special event. The Prime Minister will not be addressing the event, instead a commemorative coin and stamp will be released. However, the Opposition has raised objections over their leader Rahul Gandhi not being invited to speak at the event. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has dismissed these claims, stating that arrangements have been made for the Leader of Opposition in both houses of parliament to be present on the dias.
In a united front, legislators from various parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including the Awami Ittehad Party, Peoples Democratic Party, and J&K Peoples Conference, have moved a resolution against the Centre's decision to revoke Article 370 and 35A. They label the move as "unconstitutional and unilateral" and call for the immediate restoration of the articles in their original form, along with the reversal of changes introduced by the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. The leaders urge the Union government to preserve the region's distinct identity, culture, and political autonomy, respecting its democratic and constitutional sanctity.
At a BJP rally in Jharkhand's Palamu, Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of showing a "fake" copy of the Constitution, void of any content and with "Constitution of India" written on the cover, in order to mock the sacred document and its makers. Shah also accused Congress of trying to take away reservations from OBCs, tribals, and Dalits and give it to minorities, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared 26 November as Constitution Day.
Former Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani called out the Congress-led INDIA Alliance for their attempts to strangle the Indian Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir. She questioned whether the leaders of the alliance would stand in the way of the rights granted to tribal communities after the removal of Article 370. Accusing them of working for their own self-interest, Irani asserted that Article 370 would not be restored and their attempts to separate Jammu and Kashmir from India would not be successful.
Tensions escalated into physical altercations during the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly session when a banner demanding the reinstatement of Article 370 was unfurled by the brother of jailed MP Engineer Rashid. The session, the first in six years, has been marked by disputes, including the passing of resolutions opposing the revocation of Article 370 and calling for the state's unique position to be restored. The special provision, which granted Jammu and Kashmir considerable autonomy, was repealed by the Central Government in 2019, leading to ongoing conflicts within the state's government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas in Gujarat and hailed the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, along with the new Chief Minister taking oath on the Constitution. He also highlighted the importance of implementing Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution across the country. Addressing issues of militancy in North-East India, Modi stated that peace and development have been achieved through dialogue and trust, emphasizing recent agreements and ending unrest in the region.
Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed revealed that Bangladesh is unlikely to regain the benefits of the generalised system of preferences (GSP) from the United States in the near future due to labour rights concerns and the involvement of the US Congress in the decision-making process. This news comes after the IMF slashed the country's growth forecast to 4.5 percent and 41 activists were acquitted after 11 years in Rangpur. In the wake of this development, pressure is mounting on the president to step down as the ruling party's student wing is being called for a ban and the 1972 constitution to be scrapped.
The iconic statue of Lady Justice at the Indian Supreme Court's judges' library has been reimagined to align with a more indigenous legal identity. The statue, traditionally depicted with a sword and blindfold, now holds a copy of the Indian Constitution with her eyes unveiled. This shift symbolizes a move towards fair and equal treatment for all citizens, placing emphasis on the Constitution as the foundation of justice. This change, overseen by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, is part of a broader effort to shed colonial symbols and traditions. Additionally, Sikkim Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang recently attended a State-Level International Labour Day celebration, marking the state's commitment to indigenous practices and traditions.