Assembly polls: Ground reports from UP, Goa; PM Modi attacks Congress, says it cannot give stable govt in Punjab; more

At the Ramlila celebrations, the Shri Keshav Ramlila Committee set ablaze a cockroach effigy alongside traditional festivities to deliver a social message aimed at cleaning up filth across the country. Addressing the gathering from the dais, Kapil Mishra stated that as India grows stronger, anti-India forces come out on the streets, explaining the reasoning behind the initiative. However, questions emerged regarding adherence to the flag code of conduct at the venue, as the Indian tricolour was hoisted below a religious flag on the event grounds.

A controversy has erupted in Kolkata during Durga Puja as ideological clashes broke out over competing book stalls set up by left and right-wing organisations. In South Kolkata near Jadavpur University, party workers blocked a JCB machine sent to remove a CPM book stall that has operated during the festival for 49 years, forcing the administration to retreat. In North Kolkata, ABVP workers reportedly targeted another bookstore, drawing resistance from elderly visitors and prompting widespread criticism. The season also witnessed the debut of a saffron book stall set up by BJP and RSS workers. While the state BJP distanced itself from allegations of vandalism, the Trinamool Congress and Congress offered support to the left.

Are the BJP and RSS in sync on protests? Do claims of a “foreign hand” overshadow protesters’ grievances? RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s Vijayadashami speech warned of forces exploiting agitations, while also urging governments to respect citizens’ dignity and constitutional limits. On News Today, Rajdeep Sardesai examines the message and what it means for the right to dissent.