Chandigarh STA Suspends Uber and Rapido Licences Over Fare, Insurance Norms

The Delhi government swung into action following the Satya Niketan tragedy and evacuated students late at night from an unsafe paying guest facility in Chirag Delhi after large cracks appeared in the dilapidated building. The building has since been sealed by the administration, and the students have been shifted to safer vocational college accommodations. The government is arranging food and lodging for the rescued students, alongside providing assurances regarding the refund of their security deposits from the PG facility. The incident has also triggered a political conflict regarding civic accountability in the area.

Following the collapse of a paying guest accommodation in Satya Niketan that killed seven Delhi University students, the Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi have initiated widespread enforcement actions. Five individuals, including the building owner Hariram Gupta, his family, and PG operators, have been arrested in connection with the incident. Civic authorities have launched phased demolition drives targeting unsafe, dilapidated, and unauthorised structures in Satya Niketan, Pandav Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Mukherjee Nagar, and Nehru Vihar. In Pandav Nagar, an illegal fifth floor is being demolished following repeated violations, while an unauthorised tilted structure in Laxmi Nagar is being brought down with jack supports. Alongside the demolition and sealing drives, the government has announced strict regulations for PG accommodations. The new rules mandate official registration, area-wise rent caps, a maximum security deposit limit of three months, and compulsory CCTV cameras and night guards for facilities housing more than 15 students.

A major political row has erupted between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress party in Punjab following the death by suicide of Gulzar Singh in Sangrur. Gulzar Singh allegedly died after being pressured to apologise for questioning Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema regarding the illicit drug supply in his village. Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi demanded the resignation of Harpal Singh Cheema and sought an impartial investigation into the matter. In response, AAP leaders, including Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Manish Sisodia, accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of doing dirty politics over the death of a labourer. Mann stated that the deceased's son is satisfied with the police investigation and shared videos of locals confronting Congress leaders. Opposition parties including the BJP and the Akali Dal also staged protests across multiple locations in the state, demanding strict legal action.

A political controversy has erupted between allies National Conference and Congress in Jammu and Kashmir over the rendition of Vande Mataram. Congress expressed displeasure after the full version of the national song was played at the International Film Festival inauguration in Srinagar, where Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah stood in respect. Congress argued that only three stanzas should be sung to maintain communal harmony. Hitting back, the National Conference stated that Parliament enacted a law regarding Vande Mataram and the entire nation must respect the national song. The National Conference urged Congress to avoid falling into the Bharatiya Janata Party's narrative trap and to focus on pressing national issues like unemployment and the economy. The party also cited instances of leaders standing for the full song during Independence Day events in Karnataka, calling the controversy unnecessary.