Karnataka BJP accuses Congress of phone tapping, row erupts in Assembly
India Today
A heated exchange broke out in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly after BJP members accused the Congress government of phone tapping, following remarks made by Law Minister HK Patil about the Governor receiving instructions over the phone from New Delhi.
A major uproar erupted in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly after BJP members accused the ruling Congress government of tapping phones at Lok Bhavan, the Governor’s residence. The controversy began when Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil told the House that “Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot had been receiving instructions from New Delhi over the phone.”
The allegation surfaced during the Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s address on Wednesday, prompting BJP legislators to demand immediate clarification and accountability.
BJP MLA Suresh Kumar recalled a similar episode from January 2011 involving then-Governor H.R. Bharadwaj and questioned the current Siddaramaiah government’s conduct, citing Patil’s remarks as a serious concern.
He said such statements could undermine public trust in the government and the Assembly. “Is the Lok Bhavan phone being tapped? The Law Minister should explain,” Kumar said, emphasising the gravity of the allegation.
The session quickly descended into disorder, with opposition MLAs pressing the government to provide documentary evidence supporting Patil’s claim.
In response, IT Minister Priyank Kharge claimed that calls to Lok Bhavan were not only coming from Delhi but also from Keshava Krupa, the RSS headquarters in the state, in an apparent attempt to counter the BJP narrative.
According to local sources, he has been trying for nearly 12 years to free his land from alleged encroachment by a steel manufacturing company. Following information about the episode, the local Tehsildar, SDM, and police officials rushed to the spot.
As per the Bill, those involved in unlawful conversions on the pretext of marriage will be punished with imprisonment of seven years and shall also be liable for a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Violations in respect of a minor, a person of unsound mind, a woman or a person belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe will be punished with imprisonment of seven years and a fine of Rs 5 lakh.
A video showing Bhojpuri singer Dhananjay Sharma lifting a female dancer and throwing her into the crowd during a live show has sparked outrage online. Sharma later claimed the dancer misbehaved with him.
Authorities say he coordinated with handlers in India, Pakistan, and abroad, aiming to overthrow democratic governance and establish Sharia law under an ISIS-style caliphate.
A 23-year-old man in Panipat was murdered by three friends after he allegedly applied Holi colour to one accused's lover. The accused got him drunk, attacked him with a screwdriver and placed him alive on a railway track to make the killing look like an accident.
Responding to media queries, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government "categorically rejects" the report and its characterisation of India. He said the commission has repeatedly presented a "distorted and selective picture" of the country.
The NDA won all five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar after four Opposition MLAs skipped voting, dealing a setback to the Mahagathbandhan. The alliance also secured two seats in Odisha amid cross-voting by Opposition MLAs during the biennial polls.
A 46,000-tonne LPG shipment aboard Shivalik reached Gujarat's Mundra Port, carrying around 32 lakh domestic cylinders, as authorities rushed supplies to ease shortages triggered by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
India depends on imports to meet its demand for urea, one of the most widely-used fertilisers in India.
India Today's OSINT team identified at least 22 Indian-flagged vessels operating in the Gulf region, including seven LPG carriers, seven oil tankers, four container ships, two bulk carriers, one tug and one dredger.
India on Monday said it has not held bilateral talks with the United States on deploying naval vessels to secure merchant shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The clarification came after US President Donald Trump urged countries to send warships to keep the strategic waterway open amid tensions with Iran.
After attacking his wife, Nafees attempted suicide by inflicting injuries on himself with the same scissors. Neighbours intervened after hearing the commotion and stopped him from taking his own life.
The victim, identified as Naitik Kumar, allegedly rammed his speeding Bullet motorcycle into a scooter near Janeshwar Mishra Park in Lucknow, triggering a crash that left him dead and two others injured.