Kiren Rijiju

Several Union ministers carpooled to a cabinet meeting at Seva Teerth. This follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to reduce vehicle fleets. Ministers like Nitin Gadkari, J P Nadda, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Mansukh Mandaviya shared rides. This initiative emphasizes sustainability and leads by example amid global energy concerns. Earlier, ministers and chief ministers had reduced their convoys.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has drawn severe criticism from the BJP for claiming Adolf Hitler inspired the name of his task force, HYDRAA. Reddy stated 'Hydra' was Hitler's favorite word and his core team was an assassination squad. The BJP accused the Congress of echoing Rahul Gandhi's language and displaying a 'dangerous Hitler mindset'.

Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed claims of discrimination against minorities in India as propaganda and a malicious campaign. He highlighted a significant increase in the ministry's budget over the past decade, from Rs 1,949 crore to Rs 4,115 crore, as evidence of the government's commitment.

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke refutes BJP claims of Pakistani followers. He presented audience analytics showing over 94% Indian users. Union minister Kiren Rijiju and BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar had alleged significant Pakistani engagement. Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar called it a cross-border influence operation. The party gained traction online discussing unemployment and policy issues.

A high-level committee, headed by retired Supreme Court judge Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar, has been formed to examine demographic changes in India, including those caused by illegal immigration and abnormal population shifts. The committee will assess causes and impacts, recommending policy and legal frameworks to address these challenges within a year.

The BJP has accused Rahul Gandhi of a significant financial discrepancy, alleging his foreign travels over two decades cost approximately Rs 60 crore, far exceeding his declared income. The party questions potential Foreign Contribution Regulation Act and tax law violations, demanding transparency regarding the source of funds for his numerous international trips.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh assured citizens that India is prepared for global supply chain disruptions, with ample petroleum products and robust foreign exchange reserves. He urged fuel conservation to ease the nation's financial burden amid high international crude prices. The government is implementing measures for fuel efficiency and responsible consumption.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior leaders updated their X profile pictures to commemorate the first anniversary of "Operation Sindoor." This operation, launched after the Pahalgam terror attack, saw Indian forces strike terror bases in Pakistan and PoJK, destroying launchpads and eliminating over 100 terrorists. The military response was a significant act of valour and patriotism.

Reiterating the Congress party’s position, Tharoor pointed to its past record on women’s representation and said the party has consistently backed reservation for women. “@INCIndia has stood for women's rights and women's reservation under a strong woman President in Sonia Gandhi, initiated the Women's Reservation Bill, passed it in the Rajya Sabha during our tenure and supported it in the Lok Sabha when it was brought by GoI in 2023,” he said.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju welcomed seven Rajya Sabha MPs who defected from AAP to BJP, praising their parliamentary conduct. The move significantly boosts BJP's strength in the Rajya Sabha, while AAP has petitioned for the disqualification of the defecting members.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju asserted a strong pro-BJP wave in West Bengal, stating the party aims to revive the state as a growth engine. He believes the Trinamool Congress has "destroyed" Bengal and only the BJP can restore it. Rijiju also defended the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, deeming it essential for voter list integrity.

Kiren Rijiju refuted claims of coercion as seven Rajya Sabha MPs switched from AAP to BJP, stating "good people" have left Arvind Kejriwal. He accused Kejriwal of running AAP as a "private party." Rijiju also criticised the INDIA bloc, alleging internal rifts and a lack of principles, while backing West Bengal's electoral roll revision ahead of polls.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor shared a lighthearted exchange with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, where Rijiju conceded Tharoor couldn't be labelled anti-women. This follows the defeat of a bill proposing 33% women's reservation in legislatures, which aimed to increase Lok Sabha seats. The government's proposal faced opposition, with the Congress criticising the timing and linkage to delimitation.

Around 1.25 lakh Indian Haj pilgrims face a last-minute Rs 10,000 airfare hike due to rising jet fuel costs amid Middle East instability. Airlines initially sought a larger increase, but the government capped it, shifting the burden to pilgrims despite years of careful financial planning.

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan criticized Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's "terrorist" remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting Kharge struggles to differentiate between concepts. This follows Kharge's controversial statement during the Tamil Nadu election campaign. A BJP delegation has urged the Election Commission to take strict action against Kharge, demanding an apology.

Delhi LoP Atishi has declared the Rajya Sabha Secretariat's acceptance of seven AAP MPs merging with the BJP as "unlawful and unconstitutional." She argued that the Constitution and anti-defection laws do not permit such mergers, warning PM Modi of historical consequences for increased "atrocities."

The Election Commission has formally alerted Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge with a show-cause notice over his controversial labeling of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a 'terrorist.' The commission has highlighted that this statement seems to violate established campaign standards and the decorum expected during elections. Kharge is given a 24-hour window to clarify his statements, or he may face penalties.

Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday referred to PM Modi as a “terrorist” and later issued a clarification, in remarks expected to trigger political controversy during the ongoing election season. Kharge made the statement in Chennai at a press conference on the final day of campaigning for the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, scheduled for Thursday. He was criticising the opposition AIADMK over its alliance with PM Modi's BJP.

Seven Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MPs have officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, bolstering the NDA's numbers in the Upper House. This move, facilitated by the anti-defection law's provision for two-thirds party mergers, sees the BJP's strength increase significantly. The party anticipates further gains by year-end, nearing a crucial two-thirds majority.

The government faced a setback as the women's reservation bill failed to pass in the Lok Sabha, requiring a two-thirds majority. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju blamed the Congress and opposition parties, calling it an anti-women stance and a significant blow to the nation. The opposition, while supporting reservation, opposed its linkage with delimitation and census.