Punjab Drug Crisis Escalates Political War Following Man's Suicide Over Alleged AAP Harassment

Political tension has erupted over the presence of a dargah near Shivneri Fort, the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party inspected the ancient fort and raised concerns regarding alleged illegal construction within the protected monument area overseen by the Archaeological Survey of India. Terming the structure land jihad, leaders submitted satellite images to the Revenue Department, Forest Department, and the Archaeological Department, demanding its removal. An ultimatum between eight to fourteen days has been issued, with a warning that failure to act will lead to a hunger strike at the site alongside other organisations.

Indian equity markets opened lower with the Nifty breaching the crucial 23,500 support mark amid rising crude oil prices nearing 100 dollars a barrel. The domestic currency opened at 94.87 against the US dollar, registering a five paise downtick. Major IT stocks including Infosys, HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra, Wipro, and TCS emerged as top laggards, pulling the IT index down significantly. Meanwhile, Adani Airport Holdings announced plans to raise 9,825 crore rupees by selling a 5.5 per cent stake to global investors including BlackRock, Temasek, and Premji Invest, valuing the airport business at 1.78 lakh crore rupees. In the auto sector, JSW Group signed a non-binding pact with Skoda Auto Volkswagen Group for a proposed 51-49 joint venture. Additionally, the primary market witnessed a historic rush with six initial public offerings opening on a single day to raise around 4,300 crore rupees.

Municipal Corporation of Delhi authorities have initiated the manual demolition of a tilted residential building in Indira Vihar, Mukherjee Nagar. The action comes after cracks emerged between structures, posing collapse risks in the area populated by students. Although civic notices were pasted earlier identifying the structure as dangerous, formal demolition commenced following ground reports on the site. Ground visuals showed first and second floors undergoing demolition alongside disconnection of power supplies by the electricity department. Local residents reported that the building had remained tilted for several years without prior intervention despite repeated representations to municipal representatives. Furthermore, neighbouring property owners highlighted land subsidence and structural damage linked to continuous water pipe leakage and sewer line issues, alleging that multiple complaints submitted to the Delhi Jal Board regarding water supply seepages and sludge accumulation had remained unaddressed.

A political dispute has emerged over the singing of the national song, Vande Mataram, following an event at the International Film Festival in Srinagar where all six verses were played. The dispute intensified after calls were made for allies to adhere to singing only the first two stanzas, in line with the 1937 position adopted during the freedom movement. The stance maintains that the two-stanza version protects the secular, pluralist, and inclusive ethos of the country, citing historical counsel. In contrast, criticism was levelled against this position, arguing that opposing the full version demonstrates a communal outlook and disrespects the national song despite legislative support for the complete six verses at public events. The disagreement highlights differing views over whether the full rendition or the selected stanzas best reflect national unity and diversity.