Lotus has bloomed from Gangotri to Gangasagar: PM on BJP's big win in Bengal

A billionaire legislator in Mumbai stepped out onto the streets disguised as a beggar to experience the life of an underprivileged citizen ahead of the sacred Jain period of Chaturmas. Giving up official security and luxury vehicles, the legislator walked with a begging bowl across the constituency following advice from a spiritual mentor. During the experiment, several local residents offered food to him. After spending a few hours on the road, the lawmaker removed the disguise, returned to the visited locations, and later felicitated the individuals who had extended help, stating the exercise was intended to connect with overlooked sections of society.

A suspected counterfeit medicine racket has been uncovered in Bengaluru, prompting an investigation by a Special Investigation Team and the Drugs Control Department. Investigators suspect expired and rebranded low-cost medicines, including cancer drugs, were supplied at steep discounts to more than ninety hospitals and clinics across the city. A pharmacy owner linked to a raided healthcare facility near Minerva Circle has been arrested. The crackdown follows an earlier raid at a farmhouse in Bengaluru South District, where counterfeit medicines worth five crore rupees, fake labels, and filling equipment were seized. The probe has expanded across Karnataka, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra to trace the supply network.

A debate on The News Today examines the Modi government's gazette notification regarding merchant fees on high-value digital transactions. Under the new rules, transactions up to Rupees 2,000 on UPI and RuPay debit cards remain entirely tax-free, while payments above that threshold face a merchant discount rate of up to 0.4%. Former State Bank of India Chairman and current Mastercard India Chairman Rajnish Kumar defends the measure, clarifying, 'No, it is not a tax. That's not the right word to use. This is a fee which is payable by the merchant for the convenience.' Kumar argues the system requires massive capital for technology, cybersecurity, and fraud prevention, which cannot remain cross-subsidised indefinitely. In contrast, former Additional Solicitor General Bishwajit Bhattacharyya warns that merchants will pass the burden to consumers, effectively turning it into a destination-based consumption tax, and urges the government to continue subsidising India's digital payment ecosystem.

A panel discussion examines the alarming surge in hit-and-run incidents across Indian roads following a severe accident involving female biker Siya Chauhan in Gurugram. Former IPS officer Dr Kiran Bedi highlights the absence of road discipline and fear of punishment, calling for interconnected surveillance cameras and dedicated police motorcycle interceptors to ensure swift arrests. The victim, Siya Chauhan, alongside her father Roshan Chauhan, recounts the terrifying experience of being deliberately chased and struck by an aggressive driver. Panelists including biker Pratiksha Das, SafeLIFE Foundation founder Piyush Tiwari, and riding instructor Suparna Sarkar debate systemic road safety failures, gender-based harassment on highways, lax law enforcement, and the urgent necessity of stringent penalties to prevent fatal reckless driving.