Government should take steps to construct Ram temple, says RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

A fierce political war of words has broken out between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress over escalating protests and allegations of attempts at regime change. The ruling party has accused Rahul Gandhi and the Cockroach Janata Party of functioning as tools of global forces aiming to incite anarchy, destabilise the country, and undermine constitutional institutions. Ministers also hit out at protest leaders for questioning the Election Commission of India and the judiciary, maintaining that democratic governments in India are elected through ballots rather than street agitation. Meanwhile, Karnataka Congress leader B K Hariprasad defended backing demonstrations against the Modi government to safeguard democracy and the Constitution, before clarifying that state funds were not being allocated for the protests. Defending the opposition, Congress leader K C Venugopal emphasised that democratic administrations change exclusively via free and fair elections, alleging that the ruling party is seeking institutional control to hold on to power.

A crucial high-level meeting is underway at the West Bengal Police Headquarters, Bhawani Bhavan, where the Chief Minister is reviewing the ongoing investigation into the recent stampede incident. Senior police officers, the Director General of Police, and Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Aggarwal are present. Taking lessons from the incident in Kolkata, the administration is focusing on safety and security measures for pandal hoppers across districts including Malda, Howrah, and Siliguri. Discussions are focused on chalking out strategies and precautionary steps to manage huge congregations throughout the Durga Puja celebrations under direct supervision.

A massive stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata has claimed the lives of at least 19 people, including 13 women and six minors, leaving over 25 others injured. The mishap occurred after heavy rainfall caused visitors to rush into the pandal for shelter, creating a severe choke point at the narrow exit lane. Families of the victims have blamed the Puja organizers and local administration for poor crowd management, narrow passage lanes, and inadequate lighting. Following the incident, police arrested seven individuals, including committee organizers, and imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita around the area. Senior officials, including the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, held high-level meetings to review security and crowd control measures across West Bengal, while several other pandals with heavy footfalls were temporarily closed as a precaution.

A stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata claimed the lives of 19 people after severe rainfall triggered panic and overcrowding. According to eyewitness accounts, poor crowd segregation, narrow entry and exit points, and inadequate official deployment aggravated the crisis as visitors rushed inside for shelter. Wet staircases near the exit gate created a critical choke point where several people slipped and were crushed by the surging crowd. Seventeen individuals were declared dead on arrival at the hospital, while two others succumbed to injuries later. Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the injured undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospital alongside Suvendu Adhikari. Meanwhile, Kolkata Police registered an FIR at Girish Park Police Station and arrested seven persons, including the puja committee's secretary and vice president, under charges including negligence and culpable homicide. The Centre announced an ex gratia of two lakh rupees for the next of kin of the deceased, while the state government announced compensation of 25 lakh rupees and a government job.