Ram, rashtra and rajneeti: Does opposition have a counter to this? Experts debate

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings on the occasion of Vijayadashami and Dussehra. The Prime Minister wished the people joy, confidence, good fortune, prosperity, and success, expressing hope that the festival strengthens everyone's resolve and imparts new strength. He conveyed his heartiest wishes to everyone, hoping that the festival of victory filled with joy and conviction enriches people's lives and resolutions.

A crucial meeting on the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections was held at Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's residence. Key party leaders, including Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam, State President Ajay Rai, and Working President Imran Masood, attended the discussion. According to sources, five major decisions were discussed, and the Congress will deliberate over the next two days to finalize its seat-sharing list. The party is likely to seek between 125 to 140 seats from the Samajwadi Party while remaining open to minor adjustments. Leaders affirmed that discussions are in preliminary stages, emphasizing that the alliance will contest elections strongly while state district president appointments remain underway through standard organizational processes.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is visiting Punjab for the second time in twenty days to meet the families of victims affected by the state's drug menace, including slain anti-drug activist Parwinder Jhoota in Mansa, Bikramjit Singh's family in Gurdaspur, and Gurjar's family in Sangrur. Ahead of his visit, Shah accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government of pushing the state into drug addiction and pledged to eradicate the drug trade from Punjab by 31 December 2029. The visit has triggered a sharp political confrontation across parties. The Congress hit back at the Home Minister, alleging that the central government shares equal responsibility for failing to curb cross-border drug smuggling and questioning Shah for remembering Punjab after twelve years. Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party accused the BJP of politicising Parwinder Jhoota's death, while Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal wrote to Shah demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the murder.

A Delhi court has extended the judicial custody of CGP leaders Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka by two days until October 21 in connection with a trespassing case transferred to the crime branch. The court observed that both leaders deliberately breached their peace bonds signed on October 11, showed disregard for the law, and that their assurances of not repeating the alleged acts failed to inspire confidence, alongside concerns over potential disturbance of public tranquility. Fresh sureties were also deemed necessary as prior sureties failed to ensure appearance. Meanwhile, CGP founder Abhijit Dipke criticized the proceedings, alleging misuse of state machinery, courts, and police to stifle dissent and target youth opposition voices.