Important News - 2025-08-08
08 August 2025
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Festivals (1)
Eluru to Host International Tribal Day on August 9 with High-Level Dignitaries
The International Tribal Day celebrations, observed annually on August 9 to honor and promote the rights of indigenous peoples worldwide, will be held this year at the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) Parade Ground in Kotarama Chandrapuram, Eluru. Announced by ITDA Project Officer Sri Ramulu Naik, the event is set to commence at 9 a.m. and will feature the participation of key dignitaries, including State Ministers, Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs), Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), the District Collector, officials from various government departments, and public representatives.
Schemes (2)
Punjab Land Pooling Policy 2025 Stalled by High Court Amid Transparency and Legal Challenges
The Punjab government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), notified the Land Pooling Policy, 2025 on June 4 to promote urban development by consolidating fragmented agricultural land for planned urban estates. The policy targets the acquisition of over 65,000 acres across key districts including Ludhiana, Mohali, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala, Moga, and Tarn Taran, with participating landowners receiving a 1,000 sq. yd. residential plot and a 200 sq. yd. commercial plot per acre as compensation. However, it has faced strong opposition from farmers, farm labour unions, political parties like Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and experts, who allege a lack of transparency, violation of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, and risks to food security due to reduced agricultural land. On August 7, the Punjab and Haryana High Court imposed an interim stay on the policy's implementation, giving the state government four weeks to respond to these concerns, while Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann defended it as 'farmer-friendly' and denied forcible acquisitions.
CM Revanth Reddy Endorses Musi River Rejuvenation as Permanent Flood Solution for Hyderabad
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy asserted that the rejuvenation of the Musi riverfront is the sole permanent solution to address flooding and waterlogging in Hyderabad during heavy rainfall. This statement was made during a meeting with senior officials on a recent Thursday, following reports of severe waterlogging in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area. Reddy directed officials to expedite works on rejuvenating local tanks and widening nalas (drains), ensuring all are connected to the Musi river to facilitate the efficient discharge of excess rainwater. He highlighted that current obstructions to water flow exacerbate flooding, and the project will also help mitigate traffic-related issues in urban regions upon completion.
Politics (4)
BJP Records Consistent Vote Growth in Mahadevapura Since 2008, Says Limbavali Amid Vote-Theft Row
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Minister Arvind Limbavali addressed allegations of 'vote theft' in Bengaluru's Mahadevapura Assembly Constituency, asserting that the BJP's growth there is organically driven by increasing public support. Limbavali, whose wife currently represents the constituency, cited electoral data showing the BJP has won all four Assembly elections held in Mahadevapura since its creation in 2008 and secured the highest votes in this segment during four consecutive Lok Sabha polls, with both vote share and victory margins rising consistently. He linked this growth to rapid constituency development, noting revenue collection surged from ₹361 crore in 2016-17 to ₹885 crore in 2024-25, while property counts grew from 1.48 lakh to 3.59 lakh. Limbavali countered Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's claim that Congress lost the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha seat due to BJP's lead in Mahadevapura alone, stating BJP led in four segments: Rajajinagar, Gandhinagar, C. V. Raman Nagar, and Mahadevapura. He also dismissed allegations of fake voters with '00' addresses, pointing out similar instances in Congress-held constituencies like Varuna.
Brinda Karat Calls on Kerala to Champion Secularism at P. Govinda Pillai Centenary Event
On August 8, 2025, at the inauguration of the centenary celebrations for Marxist ideologue P. Govinda Pillai in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat called upon Kerala to lead India in protecting equality and secularism. Delivering a keynote address on 'Cultural politics in contemporary India', Karat criticized neoliberalism for reducing citizenship to consumer identity and depoliticizing society, while accusing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of promoting homogenized religious beliefs based on hatred. She referenced an incident involving Sister Preeti Mary, a nun attacked by Bajrang Dal in BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh and labeled a 'termite' by the Home Minister, to highlight cultural intolerance. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who inaugurated the event, honored Pillai's roles as a Marxist thinker, writer, former MLA, and editor, and announced the allocation of land in Mettukada, Thiruvananthapuram, for a P. Govinda Pillai Study and Research Centre, which will include his private collection of over 25,000 books for public use.
Kerala High Court Allows Withdrawal of ₹7 Lakh NHRC Compensation for Sidharthan Ragging Case
The Kerala High Court recently permitted the family of Sidharthan J.S. to withdraw a compensation of ₹7 lakh, which had been deposited by the Kerala State government. Sidharthan, a 20-year-old student, was found dead in February 2024 at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Wayanad, with allegations of ragging being linked to his death. The compensation was initially ordered by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in October 2024. Subsequently, on July 2, 2024, a Division Bench of the High Court, headed by Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basanth Balaji, directed the government to deposit the amount with the court registry. The State government had challenged the NHRC's order earlier in 2024, arguing that the commission lacked the authority to mandate such compensation, but the court noted delays in the government's petition filing and enforced the deposit. The funds can now be withdrawn while the government's appeal awaits a final decision.
BNP Demands Withdrawal of BBMP Property Tax Notices Citing Violation of RERA 2016 and Supreme Court Ruling
The Bengaluru NavaNirmana Party (BNP), a local political entity in Karnataka, has demanded the immediate withdrawal of property tax notices issued by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the civic body governing Bengaluru. BNP leaders criticized these notices as arbitrary and legally flawed, asserting they violate Supreme Court judgments, particularly the 2010 ruling in Nahalchand Laloochand Pvt. Ltd. vs. Panchali Cooperative Housing Society, which clarified that stilt and open parking areas are part of common amenities under the super built-up area and cannot be taxed separately. They also referenced the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA), to argue that such taxation contradicts statutory provisions. Issues were raised regarding retrospective tax demands on apartment owners, causing undue financial burden. Furthermore, the BBMP's e-Nyaya portal, intended for citizens to respond to notices, has been non-functional due to glitches, and some Assistant Revenue Officers (AROs) are reportedly refusing to accept manual responses, leaving citizens without a viable appeal mechanism. BNP founder Srikanth Narasimhan emphasized that parking spaces are not owned but used exclusively, with taxes covered in the super built-up area. H.L.N. Prasad, BNP leader for E-khata, described the situation as indicative of chronic mismanagement in BBMP's revenue systems.
Ranks & Reports (1)
Nagamohan Das Commission Recommends Renaming Derogatory Caste Labels to Address Stigma in Karnataka
The Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das Commission, which was appointed to examine internal reservation for 101 Scheduled Castes in Karnataka, has submitted a report recommending that the state government request the Central government to allow changes to the names of specific castes that are derogatorily used as cuss words. Affected communities include Ghantichor, Holeya Dasari, Halalkhor, Kalla Korama, and Chandala, whose members avoid identifying with their caste due to the stigma, stemming from historical British actions like the 1793 criminalization and the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 that labeled them 'criminal nomadic tribes.' This has led many to adopt caste certificates under alternative names such as Adi Karnataka, Adi Dravid, or Adi Andhra. The commission also noted requests to remove 'Sugali' and 'Sukali' as synonyms for Banjaras and Lambanis from the Scheduled Caste list, clarifying that while the Supreme Court prohibits changing one's caste, the state can propose name modifications. Additionally, the report highlighted misuse of caste certificates for Buduga Jangama and Beda Jangama groups, with a 2025 population estimate of 1.44 lakh based on 2011 fertility rates contrasting sharply with survey data showing 3.22 lakh individuals—a 123% artificial increase across 16 districts, likely for reservation benefits. It urged anthropological studies (Kulashastra adhyayana) to authenticate community membership.
Elections (2)
BJP Refutes Rahul Gandhi's Electoral Fraud Claims with Maharashtra 2024 Poll Data
On August 8, 2025, BJP leader and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav responded to allegations by Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, concerning the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. Yadav refuted Gandhi's claims of large-scale electoral manipulation and a one-crore vote increase, citing Election Commission of India (ECI) data that showed only a 40 lakh vote rise between the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. He highlighted that the Congress and its allies, including the NCP-Shiv Sena, secured victories in most constituencies with increased voter turnout, such as the Mumbra-Kalwa Assembly seat (constituency 149), where votes grew by 41,663 and Jitendra Ahwad won by 96,228 votes. Yadav condemned Gandhi's threatening language towards the ECI and other constitutional institutions, urging him to file a formal affidavit to support his accusations.
Recurring Electoral Roll Irregularities in Bengaluru's Mahadevapura Constituency Under ECI Scrutiny
Allegations of electoral roll manipulation in Bengaluru's Mahadevapura Assembly constituency have resurfaced, prompting calls for an Election Commission of India (ECI) investigation. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recently accused 'vote theft' here, echoing long-standing local concerns about voter list discrepancies. Activists and residents highlighted similar issues during the 2018 and 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, citing both voter suppression and wrongful deletions. Specific instances include the 2017-18 'Million Voters’ Rising' campaign, where 66% of voter applications were rejected abnormally high, leading to a re-scrutiny ordered by then Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar and a Karnataka High Court petition. In 2022, the 'Chilume Trust' NGO, engaged in voter awareness (SVEEP campaign), faced allegations of illegally collecting voter data, storing it on foreign servers, and having BJP links, resulting in BBMP severing ties. Residents and analysts like P.G. Bhat stress the need for transparent ECI action to uphold electoral integrity, cautioning against politicization.
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