Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, criticized the BJP government on Saturday for what he called “cronyism and regulatory mismanagement,” claiming these policies have pushed India’s banking sector into crisis. He argued that junior employees bear the brunt of this mismanagement, facing “stress and toxic work conditions.”

Gandhi alleged that the government had waived off ₹16 lakh crore in loans for “billionaire friends,” while ordinary bank employees suffered the consequences. “The BJP’s economic policies have a human cost—thousands of honest professionals are paying the price,” he said.

In a post on social media platform X, Gandhi shared a video of his meeting with former ICICI Bank employees who accused the bank of unfair dismissals and workplace harassment. He promised that the Congress party would fight for their rights and work to end “exploitation in the banking sector.”

“Their accounts reveal a disturbing trend—retaliation for exposing bad loans, sudden terminations without proper procedure, and even tragic cases of suicide,” Gandhi said. He encouraged other affected employees to share their stories through his official website.

A delegation of 782 former ICICI Bank employees met Gandhi in Parliament on Friday, sharing claims of being fired while on medical leave or after raising concerns about management practices. According to the Congress, these employees said such practices are common in private banks due to extreme profit pressures.

The employees alleged that whistleblowers faced retaliation and that many were dismissed without following legal procedures. The Congress argued that these issues are not isolated but part of a wider problem in India’s banking industry.

ICICI Bank has not yet commented on the allegations. The Congress, meanwhile, has demanded action, calling for investigations into labor practices in private banks.

“If you have faced similar injustice, share your experience with me,” Gandhi said, directing affected individuals to his official portal. 

A shocking incident rocked the Indian Air Force Station in Prayagraj on Saturday, as civil engineer SN Mishra, 51, was shot dead at his official residence in the cantonment area. The assailant, whose identity remains unknown, allegedly fired a bullet through the window while Mishra was asleep, police officials confirmed.

The incident occurred in Engineers Colony inside the Air Force Station, under the jurisdiction of Puramufti Police Station. Mishra sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and was rushed to the Army hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

CCTV footage shows security breach

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) Abhishek Bharti, CCTV footage from the Air Force Station captured a person jumping over the boundary wall and entering the premises. Surveillance teams have visited the spot and are reviewing the footage for further leads.

Efforts to identify and arrest the suspect are underway, officials said.

Investigation underway

SHO Manoj Singh stated that the body has been sent for post-mortem, and that a formal FIR will be registered once the family lodges a complaint.

Mishra is survived by his wife, son, and daughter. The incident has triggered concerns about security lapses within the high-security Air Force residential zone, with investigators yet to determine whether the killing was personal or premeditated.

Further legal action will follow once more details emerge from the ongoing investigation.

In a significant breakthrough in anti-Maoist efforts, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday lauded security forces for a major operation in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, where 16 Maoists were killed and a large cache of automatic weapons seized.

Describing the operation as one of the biggest in Sukma’s history, Shah emphasized that the central government remains firmly committed to ending Maoist violence by March 31, 2026.

“Another strike on Naxalism! Our security agencies have neutralised 16 Naxalites and recovered a massive cache of automatic weapons in an operation in Sukma,” Shah wrote on X. He further appealed to those still involved in Maoist activities to give up violence, stating, “Weapons and violence cannot bring change; only peace and development can.”

Joint anti-Maoist operation marks major success

The encounter involved coordinated action by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), based on specific intelligence inputs. Officials said the joint team launched the operation on March 28 in the Kerlapal area of Sukma, leading to an exchange of fire that continued into Saturday morning.

Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan confirmed the recovery of the bodies of 16 Maoists and the seizure of advanced weapons including AK-47s, Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), and INSAS rifles. He added that two security personnel were injured during the operation and are receiving medical care.

The identities of the slain Maoists are yet to be established, and search operations are underway across the surrounding forest areas.

Maoist violence on decline, says Shah

Citing Parliament data, Shah recently highlighted a sharp decline in Maoist violence over the last decade. Between 2004 and 2014, there were 16,463 violent incidents, which fell by 53% in the subsequent ten years.

The number of security personnel martyred dropped from 1,851 to 509—a 73% decline—while civilian casualties reduced by 70%, from 4,766 to 1,495.

Highlighting development in Maoist-affected regions, Shah said 11,503 km of highways and 20,000 km of rural roads have been constructed since 2014. Furthermore, over 4,800 mobile towers have been installed in two phases, with another 4,000 underway, aiming to ensure full mobile connectivity by December 1.

Sukma, situated in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, has long been a hotbed of Maoist activity. However, security forces’ intensified operations and government-led development initiatives are steadily reclaiming ground from insurgents.