PM Modi Meets Putin at SCO Summit in Bishkek, Discusses Bilateral Ties, Trade & Ukraine War Resolution

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad registered a victory in the Punjab University student elections, maintaining its winning streak in a four-corner contest against the Congress-backed NSUI, Aam Aadmi Party-backed student groups, and SACH. ABVP president Ankita Dadan celebrated the outcome alongside supporters waving saffron flags and flashing victory signs. Out of sixteen thousand five hundred eligible voters across multiple centres, some students reported facing issues casting their votes. Despite a narrower winning margin compared to the previous year, ABVP supporters marked the triumph with firecrackers on campus.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the SCO summit to discuss key bilateral, regional, and international issues. The talks focused on strategic autonomy, energy security, and bilateral trade, which has reached 100 billion dollars alongside a rising trade deficit. The leaders also addressed connectivity projects including Arctic exploration and the Vladivostok process, reaffirming that dialogue and diplomacy remain the path forward.

A live news broadcast detailed the bilateral meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. Discussions focused on India's stance in support of peaceful efforts and diplomatic engagement to resolve the Ukrainian conflict. Key takeaways highlighted the strengthening relations between Russia and India, aided by personal engagement between both leaders, alongside a reported sixteen percent increase in tourist exchanges between the two nations in 2025. The broadcast underscored the broader geopolitical context, including the global impact of regional conflicts on wheat and fuel supplies, diplomatic optics, and international scrutiny surrounding multilateral summits.

A major political and legal face-off has erupted over the Haldwani purification controversy following a party rally held at Ramlila Maidan. A right-wing group conducted a purification ritual at the ground three days after the event, claiming objectionable slogans were raised. The issue escalated after demands were raised for legal action against the organisers, describing the ritual as an act of untouchability. However, an FIR was subsequently registered against the opposition leadership based on a complaint by those who performed the ceremony. The case involves provisions under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 196 and 299, along with the SC and ST Act. Opposition leaders have questioned the lack of police action against the ritual organisers and accused the ruling party of polarisation. In response, the ruling party accused the opposition of using identity politics for electoral gain. The controversy has triggered local protests and reignited broader debates concerning caste discrimination, legal equality, and dignity in public life.