LIVE: We believe we will be able to free India from left wing extremism by March 2026, says Shah

"We believe we will be able to free the country from Left Wing Extremism by March 2026," Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday, after a meeting on Maoist menace in Raipur in Chhattisgarh. He added that there has been a 53 per cent drop in Naxal incidents during 2014-24 as compared to 2004-14 period. "Strong, ruthless strategy required for launching last assault against Naxals," he said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Saturday said in Prayagraj that 90% of the people are not a part of the system. "90 per cent of the people are not a part of the system. They have the required skill, talent but they are not connected with the system. That's why we are demanding for a caste census. BJP leaders are saying that an OBC section will be given after caste census...We want the list of different communities. For us caste census is not just a census, it is a foundation for policy making...Just conducting a caste census is not enough, it is also important to understand how the wealth is being distributed...It is also important to find out how much is the participation of OBCs, Dalits, workers in the bureaucracy, judiciary, media," he said.

The lie detection tests on prime accused and six others in the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has started. The polygraph test on Sanjay Roy, the main accused will be conducted in the prison, where he is lodged, while the remaining six, including ex-principal Sandip Ghosh and four doctors who were on duty during the night of the incident and a civil volunteer, will undergo test at the agency's office. A team of polygraph specialists from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Delhi have flown to Kolkata to conduct these tests, officials said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to attend an interstate anti-Naxal review meet starting on August 24 in Chattisgarh's Raipur. For the same, Shah arrived in Raipur today, where he was welcomed by Chief Minister Vishnu deo Sai and other state BJP leaders. HM Shah is on a three-day visit to the state and is expected to assess both the measures taken against Naxal insurgency and the advancement of infrastructure projects in regions known as Red corridors within nine states troubled by Left Wing Extremism (LWE)

Shikhar Dhawan announced his retirement from domestic and international cricket today morning. The left-handed hard-hitting batter took to social media to post an emotional message for fans, announcing his decision to retire from all forms of cricket. Dhawan last played for the Indian cricket team in 2022 during the ODI series against Bangladesh. However, he lost his place to Shubman Gill and other young opening batters in the last couple of years. Dhawan posted a long video message on X thanking his fans and the associations for the love and support he received during his career.

The Ministry of External Affairs has expressed grief over the deaths of Indian nationals in the Nepal road accident in Tanahun district, and assured that the Indian Embassy in Nepal is extending all possible support. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal informed that Indian Embassy has set up emergency helpline numbers for affected families, to reach out in case of assistance required. This comes after a bus carrying around 43 passengers, mostly Indian tourists, veered off the road into the Marsyangdi River at Ainapahara in Nepal's Tanahun August 23.