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75th Anniversary of Quit India Movement: Modi talks of ‘sankalp se siddhi’, Sonia says secular, democratic values in danger today

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PM Modi in Lok sabha

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]To mark the 75th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s Quit India Movement, both houses of Parliament debate the country’s past and present. Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls for ‘sankalp se siddhi’ but Opposition reminds government of the threat to freedom of expression, India’s secular ethos

As both houses of Parliament participated in a discussion to mark the 75th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Quit India’ call to the British, Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed corruption, poverty and illiteracy as “the greatest challenges” facing India today and sought special initiatives to end these over the next five years.

While Modi took the opportunity to move his ‘sankalp se siddhi’ (accomplishment through resolve) campaign, the Opposition took advantage of the Prime Minister’s presence in the House to attack him and his government for the growing threat to India’s secular and democratic fabric and the Constitution in the wake of rising incidents of caste and communal violence and the perception of a tacit approval by the State to muzzle any form of dissent.

The Prime Minister re-phrased Gandhi’s oft-quoted mantra during India’s freedom struggle – Karo ya maro (Do or Die) – into Karenge Aur Kar Ke Rahenge(We will do and surely do) and said that it is this spirit that would help end the ills of corruption, poverty, illiteracy and malnutrition

“In 1942, the clarion call was Do or Die; today it is ‘Karenge Aur Kar Ke Rahenge.’ The next five years should also be about ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi’, a resolve which will lead us to accomplishment,” Modi said during his 30-minute address.

Asserting that by 2022 – the 75th anniversary of India’s independence from the Raj – the country must try to bring positive changes so that it can become an inspiration for other nations, Modi said: “In 1942 (when the Quit India call was given), conditions internationally became favourable for India to gain independence. Today again, global conditions are favourable for India”.

Modi said the recollection of movements such as the Quit India was a source of inspiration and the current generation has a responsibility of passing on the legacy of such movements to the future generations.

However, soon after Modi finished addressing the House, Congress president Sonia Gandhi rose to take not-so-subtle jibes at the BJP, asserting that “some organisations opposed the Quit India movement”.

Sonia’s comment was a pointed reference to VD Savarkar, an icon for the BJP and its parent organization – the RSS, who opposed Mahatma Gandhi’s movement.

Sonia Gandhi in Lok Sabha“We must not forget that some organizations opposed the Quit India Movement, such organisations had no role in the freedom struggle,” the Congress president said, as Modi listened in.

Given that the Treasury benches, predictably, refused to highlight the contribution of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and the Congress party in the freedom struggle, Sonia made it a point to assert that “During the freedom struggle, Pandit Nehru spent several years in jail, many Congress workers died in jail…A lot of atrocities were committed on the (Congress) protesters, but no one stepped back”.

Sonia wondered if the “forces of darkness” were trying to destroy the roots of democracy in India today while saying that there was a feeling that the “clouds of the politics of division and hate are hovering over the plural and egalitarian values enshrined in the Constitution”.

“It seems secular, democratic and liberals values are being endangered. The public space for debate and difference of opinion is shrinking… Have the forces of darkness emerged? Is there a fear about the existence of a sense of freedom? Are attempts being made to destroy roots of democracy which is based on equality, social justice, law-based system and freedom of expression,” Sonia said.

Sonia said that people today have to fight for the India that was envisioned by its founding fathers and that “We cannot and will not allow the idea of India to be a prisoner to narrow mindedness, divisive and communal ideology. If we have to preserve freedom, we will have to defeat the forces endangering it. We can’t and we won’t allow sectarian forces to succeed”.

What other MPs said:

In the Rajya Sabha, CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said: “If there is anything that must quit India today, it is the neo-liberal reforms and communalism that must.”

In the Lok Sabha, BJD MP Tathagata Satpathy made an impassionate speech, insisting that “We’ve changed Gandhiji’s “karo ya maro” to “kare ya maare”, adding that “We cannot afford to give an ‘us vs. them’ country to our people…We cannot give our teenagers a distorted image of this country. It is sad to see that we, in our petty desires, have forgotten the interests of this country”.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Journalist files police complaint against Rahul Gandhi over push allegation

Journalist Richa Parashar has filed a criminal complaint against Rahul Gandhi and others, alleging that she was pushed while covering the Opposition’s march to the Supreme Court. The Congress has denied the allegation.

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Journalist Richa Parashar has filed a police complaint against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over an alleged incident during the INDIA bloc’s march to the Supreme Court in New Delhi on October 12. She has sought the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Gandhi and others, alleging that she was pushed while covering the protest.

Parashar submitted her complaint to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), New Delhi district, on Friday, seeking immediate action. She has said she was three months pregnant at the time of the alleged incident and accused those involved of mistreatment, threats and the use of force.

What Richa Parashar alleged in her complaint

Parashar alleged that she was reporting on the Opposition’s march when the incident occurred. According to her earlier account, she was waiting near a gate on the Supreme Court premises to seek a response from Gandhi when he allegedly grabbed her hand and pulled her forward. She further alleged that his security personnel pushed her away, causing her to fall on the Supreme Court steps.

In her complaint, Parashar said she asked Gandhi questions before he allegedly pushed her towards a gate. She claimed that the force caused her to lose her balance and fall, and that her repeated requests not to be pushed were ignored.

Parashar has sought legal action against Gandhi and others whom she alleges were involved. The complaint reportedly seeks action under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including Sections 74, 115(2), 131, 125 and 3(5). These provisions concern alleged assault or criminal force against a woman, voluntarily causing hurt, assault or criminal force, acts endangering human life or personal safety, and joint liability for acts committed with common intention.

The allegations and the sections cited in the complaint do not, by themselves, establish criminal liability.

Congress disputes the allegation

The Congress has challenged Parashar’s account of the incident. According to report, the party said a video released by the journalist did not show the sequence of events she described.

Congress leader Alka Lamba also questioned the circumstances surrounding the incident and accused those raising the issue of attempting to manufacture propaganda.

The allegations remain disputed. The complaint and the competing accounts should not be treated as an established finding of wrongdoing.

Incident took place during Opposition’s Supreme Court march

The alleged incident occurred on October 12, when Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders marched to the Supreme Court to submit a petition concerning alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The Opposition has raised concerns about the voter-list revision process and alleged irregularities.

Parashar’s police complaint adds a legal dimension to the controversy surrounding the march. Any further action will depend on the police process and the relevant legal proceedings.

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Delhi court orders release of CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke

A Delhi court on Saturday ordered the conditional release of Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, who was detained and subsequently arrested ahead of a planned protest march at Connaught Place.

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Abhijit Dipke

A Delhi court on Saturday ordered the conditional release of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, a day after he was detained and subsequently arrested ahead of a planned protest march in the national capital. The march was scheduled to take place at Connaught Place as part of demonstrations against alleged electoral irregularities.

Dipke was asked to furnish a bond and undertake to maintain peace as a condition of his release, according to reports. The court’s order came after he was produced before a Special Executive Magistrate following his arrest on Friday.

Why Abhijeet Dipke was detained

Dipke had planned to participate in the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Connaught Place, where participants intended to gather and wave the national flag. The proposed demonstration was part of ongoing protests over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

According to the Delhi Police, Dipke was taken into preventive custody before being formally arrested in a case related to the apprehension of a breach of peace. Police cited Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Neha Bora was also detained

All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was also detained on Friday ahead of the planned march. She was released early Saturday morning after completing the formalities associated with her detention, according to the report.

Bora criticised the police action and called for the release of protesters who remained in custody. She also demanded an end to the SIR exercise and sought the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. These were her demands and allegations, rather than findings established by the court.

Protests over electoral rolls continue

The demonstrations involving CJP, student groups and opposition supporters have centred on allegations of irregularities in the voter-list revision process. Critics have questioned the exercise, while the Election Commission has maintained that its decisions were approved by the Supreme Court. The BJP has criticised the protests, describing them as attempts to spread anarchy, according to the report.

Dipke’s conditional release marks the latest development in the dispute over the planned Delhi protest. The court’s order concerns his release under specified conditions; it should not be interpreted as a judicial finding on the wider allegations surrounding the electoral-roll revision.

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Anirudh Ravichander to marry Kavya Maran in November, reception on November 21

Anirudh Ravichander and Kavya Maran are set to marry in November, with their Chennai wedding reception scheduled for November 21.

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Music composer Anirudh Ravichander and Sunrisers Hyderabad executive Kavya Maran are set to marry in November. Their wedding reception is scheduled to take place in Chennai on November 21, according to an announcement by Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s office.

The development followed a meeting between Revanth Reddy and Kavya’s parents, Sun Group chairman Kalanithi Maran and Kavery Maran, at the chief minister’s residence in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad.

According to the Telangana Chief Minister’s Office, the couple’s reception is scheduled for November 21, with Kavya’s parents extending an invitation to the chief minister.

Telangana CM’s office announces reception date

The Telangana CMO shared photographs and videos of the meeting on its official social media account on October 16. The announcement stated that Kalanithi Maran and his wife had met Revanth Reddy to invite him to their daughter’s wedding reception.

The post specifically confirmed that the reception of Kavya Maran and Anirudh Ravichander would be held in Chennai on November 21.

The announcement provided an official confirmation of the reception date and venue, while details about the wedding ceremony itself have also been reported separately.

Who are Anirudh Ravichander and Kavya Maran?

Anirudh Ravichander is a prominent music composer in the Indian film industry. He gained widespread recognition with the song “Why This Kolaveri Di” and has since composed music for several major films, including Leo, Indian 2, Vettaiyan, Vidaamuyarchi and Coolie.

Kavya Maran is the daughter of Kalanithi Maran, chairman of the Sun Group. She serves as an executive director at Sun TV Network and is widely recognised in cricket circles for her association with Sunrisers Hyderabad, the IPL franchise.

Wedding rumours and reported ceremony details

Speculation about a possible marriage between Anirudh Ravichander and Kavya Maran had circulated before the latest announcement. Earlier reports in August 2026 discussed the possibility of a November wedding in Greece.

A subsequent report said the wedding was reportedly scheduled to take place in Greece on November 11. However, the couple had not directly confirmed their wedding plans in the cited report.

The Telangana Chief Minister’s Office has confirmed that the reception is scheduled for November 21 in Chennai. The reported wedding ceremony details should therefore be attributed to reports rather than presented as officially confirmed information.

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