Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav engaged in a fresh war of words after the chief minister spoke about what he described as “love jihad” and “land jihad” during a public event in Lucknow.

Addressing the closing ceremony of the Ramkatha Mahotsav, Yogi Adityanath urged people to remain vigilant against attempts that he alleged were aimed at altering the country’s religious and demographic landscape. He said India could not become a refuge for those lacking loyalty to the nation and stressed the need for society to remain united against divisive forces.

The chief minister also referred to concerns about unlawful religious conversions and highlighted the Uttar Pradesh government’s anti-conversion legislation enacted in 2020. He called for greater public awareness and vigilance, arguing that society must collectively confront activities he described as threats to social harmony.

Akhilesh Yadav counters chief minister’s remarks

Responding to the statements, Akhilesh Yadav took a swipe at the chief minister, saying he “doesn’t understand love”. The Samajwadi Party leader remarked that the Uttar Pradesh chief minister appeared to have more concern for land than love.

Referring to the “land jihad” comments, Yadav questioned property ownership records in Gorakhpur and suggested they should be examined before making such allegations. He also said that Sanatan Dharma promotes love, brotherhood and truth, and accused the state government of deviating from those values.

Debate over ‘love jihad’ and ‘land jihad’

The terms “love jihad” and “land jihad” have frequently featured in political debates, particularly among right-wing groups that allege organised efforts involving religious conversion through marriage or illegal land acquisition. Critics, however, dispute these claims and argue that such terminology targets specific communities.

According to the Union Home Ministry’s earlier statements in Parliament, “love jihad” is not formally defined under Indian law. Several states, including Uttar Pradesh, have instead enacted laws dealing with religious conversions carried out through force, fraud, coercion or inducement.

The latest exchange between the two leaders adds to the continuing political rivalry between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party ahead of the next major electoral contests in Uttar Pradesh.

Delhi witnessed powerful winds reaching speeds of up to 111 kmph on Tuesday evening, bringing dramatic weather conditions across several parts of the national capital. Despite the strong gusts, temperatures remained significantly above normal levels, with residents continuing to experience intense heat.

According to weather officials, the strongest wind speed was recorded at Palam, where gusts touched 111 kmph. The sudden change in weather led to dusty conditions and reduced visibility in some areas, while several parts of the city experienced strong winds during the evening hours.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Delhi is likely to witness a partly cloudy sky, with the possibility of thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places over the coming days.

Temperatures remain well above normal

Even as strong winds swept through the city, temperatures remained elevated across Delhi. The Ridge weather station recorded the highest maximum temperature at 44.7 degrees Celsius, highlighting the continued impact of intense summer conditions.

The Safdarjung observatory, considered the city’s primary weather station, recorded a maximum temperature of 43.5 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 29.2 degrees Celsius. These readings remained above seasonal averages, indicating that the heat has not significantly eased despite the change in weather.

IMD issues weather outlook

The IMD has forecast partly cloudy conditions for Delhi and surrounding areas, along with the possibility of thunderstorms and lightning at isolated locations. Weather officials have advised residents to remain cautious during periods of strong winds and thunderstorm activity.

The department is closely monitoring weather developments as fluctuating conditions continue to affect parts of north India, including Delhi-NCR.

As the capital navigates a mix of scorching temperatures and intermittent weather disturbances, residents are expected to face challenging conditions over the next few days.

The West Bengal Crime Investigation Department (CID) on Tuesday carried out a search at the Kalighat residence-cum-office of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee as part of its investigation into an alleged signature forgery case that has triggered a major political controversy in the state.

The probe relates to allegations that signatures of several Trinamool Congress MLAs were forged on a communication submitted to the Assembly Speaker regarding the selection of senior party leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of Opposition.

According to the complaint, two party MLAs, Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, informed the Speaker that no resolution had been adopted at a May 6 meeting as claimed in the official communication. They further alleged that signatures were added later and questioned the authenticity of several entries on the document.

The CID team, accompanied by police personnel, arrived at the premises located at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street in Kolkata. The location serves as both Mamata Banerjee’s residence and an important party office. Investigators reportedly conducted the search after seeking information connected to the collection of signatures under scrutiny.

The development comes amid an intensifying investigation that has already seen multiple notices issued to Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. Searches were also conducted at locations linked to him as investigators sought to verify details regarding the process through which the signatures were collected.

The signature forgery controversy has added to the political challenges facing the Trinamool Congress, with the issue exposing internal divisions within the party following its recent electoral setback in West Bengal.