Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday expressed his disagreement with L&T chairman Subrahmanyan’s proposal for a 90-hour workweek, emphasising the principles advocated by Jawaharlal Nehru and BR Ambedkar regarding workers’ rights to an eight-hour workday.

He made these comments during a speech to party leaders following the inauguration of the Congress’ new headquarters at 9A, Kotla Road, Delhi, which was constructed by L&T. While thanking the company for their work, Kharge responded to Subrahmanyan’s suggestion with a touch of sarcasm, saying, “Some dues are also left from our side,” which elicited laughter from those present.

“I appreciate L&T construction, the architects, and the labourers involved in this project. However, I cannot agree with the CEO’s proposal for a 90-hour workweek,” Kharge stated.

He recalled the historical perspective of Nehru and Ambedkar while formulating the Factories Act, which established that workers should not be required to work more than eight hours a day, highlighting that a labourer becomes fatigued after eight hours of work.

Kharge also remembered past discussions about a 70-hour workweek initiated by former Infosys chairman Narayana Murthy, noting that there have been suggestions for longer hours since then. “While the L&T chief mentions 12 to 14 hours, I believe he should reconsider that stance. Nevertheless, I commend the company for their excellent work,” Kharge added.

Subrahmanyan’s controversial remarks, including his disappointment over not being able to schedule Sunday work for employees, have sparked debate about work-life balance. He said, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you just sit there with your spouse? It’s time to come to the office and start working.”

In an undated video that circulated on social media, he further lamented, “I regret I cannot make you work on Sundays. If I could have you work on Sundays, I would be much happier because I work on Sundays.”

On Tuesday night, two bombs—suspected to have been dropped by drones—exploded in Kangchup Phayeng, Imphal West, according to Manipur police. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

In addition, a large stockpile of arms, explosives, and ammunition was discovered on Wednesday in the border areas of Aigejang and Leimaram Uyok Ching in Bishnupur district. An officer indicated that Kuki militants are believed to be behind the drone attack in Imphal West.

An officer has indicated that Kuki militants are believed to be responsible for the drone attack in Imphal West. The attack involved two bombs that exploded around 9:27 PM and 9:30 PM, reportedly dropped from drones, with the blasts occurring approximately 15 feet away from a temporary security barrack and sentry post of the Manipur police. This incident marks the first drone bombing in 2025.

A similar attack took place in the area on November 11, 2024. Forensic experts who investigated the site recovered fragments of the bombs, including drone propellers attached to a ring.

Manipur police commandos and the Lamshang police responded to the incident, but no additional gunfire was reported. A police officer, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated, “We are implementing necessary security measures to avert any further incidents.”

Ajit, a resident of Kangchup—a predominantly Meitei area—shared with HT that no drones had been seen in the region since November 11 of the previous year. “Yet, in the past three days, drones have been frequently observed flying overhead. We didn’t panic, thinking they were just surveillance drones,” he remarked.

The incidents occurred in the hilltops of Kangchup and nearby areas in Kangpokpi district, where central forces, including four companies from the 112th and 158th battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), are stationed.

“We are not seeking compensation for injuries or deaths from militant attacks. Our priority is to restore peace with the help of the nearly 60,000 central forces reported to be deployed in Manipur,” Ajit emphasized.

A case has been registered at the Lamshang police station, and further investigations are ongoing.

In a separate development, a joint operation by state and central security forces led to the recovery of a significant cache of arms, explosives, and ammunition in the border areas of Aigejang and Leimaram Uyok Ching. This included an SLR rifle with a magazine, a 51 mm mortar tube launcher, a sniper rifle, three 40 mm lathode shells, four live rounds for the SLR, four HE grenades, a smoke bomb, two wireless sets, various cartridges, rubber bullets, and additional shells.

This operation was conducted following intelligence reports regarding armed miscreants and potential weapon caches in the area. The recovered items have been forwarded to the Nambol police station for further investigation.

BJP president and Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Wednesday hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he said his party was fighting the Indian state itself and not just the BJP or RSS’s ideology, which had proven harmful to democracy.

In a post on X, Nadda said, “No longer hidden, the ugly truth of the Congress is now exposed by their own leader. I ‘compliment’ Mr. Rahul Gandhi for clearly stating what the nation knows — that he is fighting against the Indian state!”

He further accused Gandhi of having connections to urban naxals and the deep state, claiming that he was attempting to incite division and discredit India.

Other BJP leaders, including Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, also reacted strongly to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks during the inauguration of the Congress party’s new headquarters in Delhi. In response to Gandhi’s comments, Hardeep Singh Puri suggested that Rahul Gandhi should “get his mental stability checked.”

During his address, Gandhi criticised RSS leader Mohan Bhagwat’s assertion that India’s independence should be celebrated on the day of the Ram temple’s consecration rather than on August 15.

Gandhi labelled Bhagwat’s statements as treasonous, asserting that Congress was not only contesting the BJP and RSS’s ideology, which he deemed harmful to democracy, but was also fighting against the Indian state itself.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman questioned Gandhi, who serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, saying, “The LoP, who took an oath on the Constitution, is now declaring, ‘We are fighting the BJP, the RSS, and the Indian State itself.’ So why do you carry a copy of the Constitution?”

Amit Malviya, BJP’s IT cell chief, shared a clip of Gandhi’s speech on X, stating, “Rahul Gandhi has now declared an open war against the Indian State itself. This is straight out of George Soros’s playbook.”

During his address, Gandhi asserted, “Those in power today do not salute the tricolour, nor do they believe in the national flag or the Constitution; they have a vastly different vision for India. They want to control India through a secretive society led by one person, silencing the voices of our nation.”

He also emphasised that the Congress party remains the only viable alternative to the BJP-led central government, adding, “The people in this room are facing systematic attacks and assaults on their lives because they belong to the Congress party and refuse to surrender to the BJP and the RSS.”