In an exclusive interview for India Today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah mocked the absence of Rahul Gandhi from Amethi during the general elections. He stated that instead of challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi, Gandhi should have contested from his own seat. Meanwhile, the Vadodara Traffic Police personnel in Gujarat were provided with Air Conditioned (AC) helmets to beat scorching heat amid soaring temperatures in the state. Additionally, a bank employee became suspicious of a fake customer, Paulo Braga, due to his unusual appearance.
On the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami, leaders of the ruling Trinamul Congress and opposition BJP in West Bengal came together to attend religious processions and rallies, under tight security arrangements by the police. TMC supremo and chief minister Mamata Banerjee urged for peace in her festive greetings, while TMC and BJP candidates in various districts led processions without any violent incidents. However, the state BJP posted a video allegedly showing stone pelting in Murshidabad, raising concerns about security for Hindus in the area.
A video of Delhi Education Minister Atishi Marlena speaking at a public event has gone viral, with false claims that she apologized for saying "Jai Shri Ram" in front of a group of Muslims. However, the full video shows that she was addressing a different issue of naming a school, and pacified the residents of Shri Ram Colony by referring to the school as the Shri Ram Colony school. The false claims of minority appeasement sparked controversy, highlighting the political divide in India.
Popular devotional singer Anup Jalota was seen humming a 'Ram Bhajan' along with co-passengers while boarding a flight to Ayodhya for the inauguration of the Ram Mandir. The video, shared on social media, shows Jalota humming 'Jai Shri Ram, Jai Jai Shri Ram' along with others, setting the tone for the grand event. Ahead of the inauguration ceremony scheduled for January 22, numerous Bollywood celebrities have been invited, including Ranbir Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, and Akshay Kumar.