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3 years of Modi govt: All is rosy in Imaginary India, who cares for the lynched when trolls rule?

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3 years of Modi govt: All is rosy in Imaginary India, who cares for the lynched when trolls rule?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]All you see is garbage strewn around, cows and more cows and ATMs running out of cash but BMKJ!

Ranjona Banerji

There are two very distinct views on India right now. The first says that India has never done better and if life is not perfect yet, it soon will be. The other says that India has never been worse and the very idea of India is in peril.

If you look out of your window anywhere in India, the chances are that it looks pretty much the way it has always done. In this season, it is hot, dusty, garbage strewn here and there, construction debris lying around, uneven pavements, hanging wires, stray cattle, ATMs running out of money and so on. We all know where we are, why pretend it is otherwise?

But pretending is much easier than facing reality. Therefore many people on social media believe that an artist’s impression of how a bus station in Rajkot is going to look is the bus station itself, even if the foundation stone has barely been laid. Others, including Paresh Rawal, a famous actor who is also a BJP parliamentarian, read a diabolical invented interview with writer Arundhati Roy, which has been reposted through various dubious websites, and decide that she deserves to be tied to the front of an army jeep in Kashmir to deter stone throwing youths because she is evil and anti-national.

Once you pretend that any city in India looks like Singapore and all Indian villages look like those in the Cotswold, that India’s economy has never done better, that demonetisation ticked every box it was supposed to and caused no losses, then why should a digital illustration of something that does not exist or a false interview from a dubious source be so hard to believe?

The world of “fake news” is real and everyday on the internet. Sometimes, even legitimate newsrooms fall for totally invented pieces of news. WhatsApp, though it is unfair to blame the medium itself, is nonetheless rampant with all sorts of invented gunk, reminiscent of those endless “forwards” when email first began. Most of those re-circulated old jokes and even older prejudices. Now we have the same hatred peddled more frequently and evidently with more damaging effect.

It does not take long for invented “news” to heat up all those biases and start an upsurge of hate and violence on social media. That of course is the intention of fake news. And it provides ballast to trolls and abusers on the internet to target all those who do not agree with them.

It is increasingly difficult in one of the two Indias to stand up for due process or rule of law without getting abused or dubbed anti-national. The army major who tied a citizen of India to his jeep to deter “stone-pelters” in Kashmir is a hero and anyone who stands up for the rights of the man used as a human shield is disrespectful of the army and practically guilty of treason.

Much worse, of course, is the official silence on the collapse of rule of law in various Indian states. Mobs are dispensing “justice” and killing and thrashing people practically at whim. The incident in Jharkhand, where four men were beaten to death on suspicion of being kidnappers while the police watched, is not just horrific – it is frighteningly symptomatic of the other India. Mere lip service is paid to these crimes by politicians in power, while tears are shed for victims of terror attacks in other countries by the prime minister. BJP spokespersons condescendingly inform us that the prime minister cannot speak on every subject – the very argument the BJP mocked when the Congress used it for Manmohan Singh.

Meanwhile, in the first India, threats of rape on social media are seen as defendable examples of freedom of expression. Bollywood singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya’s Twitter account is suspended because of a rape threat he made to a student. This is not Bhattacharya’s first offence and he has been picked up by the police for his online behaviour. In solidarity, Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam closes his Twitter account, to stand up for Bhattacharya’s apparently inalienable right to threaten rape.

Yes, all is really going well in Imaginary India. Enjoy the bus ride from that station that doesn’t exist.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Security tightened across Delhi metro stations after bomb threat emails

Delhi is on high alert after bomb threat emails targeted metro stations, the Red Fort and the Assembly. Authorities confirmed the threats were hoaxes but tightened security as a precaution.

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Delhi Metro

Security has been intensified across all metro stations and major installations in the national capital after a series of bomb threat emails were received on Monday. Authorities later confirmed that the threats were hoaxes following detailed inspections by security agencies.

According to officials, several key institutions — including the Delhi Secretariat, Delhi Assembly, the Red Fort and two schools — received threatening emails earlier in the day. Extensive searches were carried out at all the locations mentioned in the messages, but nothing suspicious was found.

A senior police officer said cyber teams are working to trace the origin of the emails. Preliminary findings suggest that the senders may have used Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in an attempt to conceal their identities and mislead investigators. Officials expressed confidence that those responsible would be identified.

Metro stations under heightened surveillance

Following specific references to metro services in the emails, security arrangements were strengthened across the entire network of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Additional personnel have been deployed at stations, and anti-sabotage checks are being conducted.

Police said random frisking of passengers and intensified CCTV surveillance are being carried out as part of precautionary measures. Bomb disposal squads and dog squads were stationed at sensitive sites, including the Red Fort, Delhi Secretariat and the Assembly complex.

The threatening emails reportedly included the slogan “Delhi banega Khalistan” and warned of explosions at an Army school, the Assembly and the Red Fort at specific times during the day. Officials stated that all mentioned locations were thoroughly checked and declared safe.

Authorities also coordinated with counterparts in neighbouring states to enhance security at metro stations falling under their jurisdictions.

While no explosives were found, officials said the tightened security arrangements will remain in place as a precaution. Cyber teams continue efforts to trace the IP addresses and identify those behind the threat emails.

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JNU protest turns violent as Left and Right student groups trade charges

A late-night protest at JNU turned violent as Left and ABVP student groups accused each other of stone-throwing and attacks near the East Gate.

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JNU Protest

Tension gripped the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University in the early hours of Monday after a protest march allegedly spiralled into violence, with rival student groups accusing each other of triggering the unrest.

Students claimed that the incident occurred around 1.30 am when a confrontation broke out during a march called by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union. The protest, named “Samta Juloos”, was headed towards the East Gate and was organised to demand the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit and the withdrawal of a rustication order.

According to protesters, several students were injured after alleged stone-throwing during the clash. They alleged that the university administration did not intervene during the march and instead permitted members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad to confront demonstrators.

However, the ABVP denied the allegations and countered that Left-affiliated organisations instigated the confrontation and were spreading misinformation about the events.

Left-backed groups, including the All India Students’ Association, claimed that ABVP activists targeted the JNUSU encampment and hurled stones at “unarmed students”, leading to multiple injuries.

Videos shared by students on social media reportedly showed chaotic scenes near the protest site, with members of rival groups engaged in heated exchanges and physical scuffles.

University authorities did not immediately respond to queries regarding the incident. Students said the situation on campus remained tense following the overnight clashes.

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World praised India’s AI potential at AI Impact Summit, says PM Modi

PM Modi said the world praised India’s AI potential at the AI Impact Summit 2026, where 89 countries endorsed the New Delhi Declaration on artificial intelligence.

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pm modi speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the world wholeheartedly praised India’s potential during the recently concluded AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, highlighting the growing global confidence in the country’s young technology talent.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the summit demonstrated how the mindset of India’s youth in the field of technology would serve humanity at large. He described the event as historic and underlined the positive global response to India’s AI capabilities.

The AI Impact Summit 2026, organised in New Delhi last week, concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact. The declaration has been endorsed by 89 countries and international organisations, signalling broad global agreement on promoting artificial intelligence for economic growth and social welfare.

Broad global participation

The summit saw the participation of several prominent world leaders and top technology executives. Among those present were UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Swiss President Guy Parmelin.

Other leaders attending the summit included Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Croatia Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic, Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay, Estonia President Alar Karis, and Finland Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

Chief executives and senior leaders from major global technology firms were also part of the gathering.

Focus on inclusive AI growth

Held under the theme ‘Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay’ (welfare for all, happiness of all), the summit aimed to position India as a global leader in artificial intelligence while ensuring that AI development remains inclusive and sustainable.

The event brought together more than 500 international AI leaders. This included around 100 CEOs and founders, 150 academicians and researchers, and 400 CTOs, vice presidents and philanthropists. Additionally, over 100 government representatives and nearly 60 ministers and vice ministers participated in discussions.

The New Delhi Declaration seeks to strengthen international cooperation and ensure that AI technologies contribute to economic progress, social good and environmental protection.

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