DMK Targets CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Alleges SIR Exercise Led to Deleted Votes

Villagers from five villages in Dholka near Ahmedabad have been protesting for over a month against severe industrial pollution. Residents of Bethawara, Thrasad, Nesta, Paldi, and Ambali accuse nearby factories of dumping chemical-laced waste into local drains, linking it to rising cancer cases and skin infections. Villagers claim that despite appealing for 15 years to local bodies, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, and the state government, no action has been taken. The protesters plan to escalate their agitation with a Chakka Jam on roads and highways.

A political controversy has emerged as opposition parties demand fresh elections in Bihar and Bengal, raising questions over the functioning of the Chief Election Commissioner. Following calls from other opposition leaders, demands have been raised alleging that the poll body is functioning under government influence and compromising constitutional institutions. Concerns were also highlighted regarding reports indicating that decisions were taken without consulting fellow election commissioners on fourteen occasions. While opposition parties continue to demand accountability, the Election Commission has maintained through a press release that all due processes were strictly followed.

A major political confrontation has erupted between the opposition and the ruling party over allegations concerning the Election Commission. The opposition has intensified its offensive, planning street protests and legal action while questioning the independence of the poll panel. In response, the Bharatiya Janata Party has defended the democratic functioning of the institution and dismissed the accusations. With party wings holding demonstrations and further public addresses scheduled, the political dispute is set to escalate across multiple fronts.

Hundreds of students from Delhi University colleges, including Lady Shri Ram College and Gargi College, held a massive protest march in the national capital demanding safety and security for women. The demonstration was organized in solidarity with a 17-year-old girl who was allegedly gang-raped near the area after visiting the Kalkaji Mandir on her birthday. Protesters carried placards with slogans against patriarchy and raised chants demanding freedom to walk safely on the city's streets. Many students kept their faces covered during the march to protect their identities amid concerns over college administrative rules barring interactions with the media. A heavy deployment of police personnel and PCR vans monitored the protest as students raised concerns over the lack of adequate security measures for women across the national capital.