Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday asserted that the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh has improved, leading to the state government’s receipt of investment proposals totaling Rs 40 lakh crore.

In contrast, the Opposition party, the Samajwadi Party, challenged Adityanath’s claims, alleging that the state is experiencing a “jungle raj” characterized by widespread loot, hooliganism, and anarchy.

The Chief Minister’s Office posted a video on X, featuring Adityanath stating that there is a significantly enhanced security environment in the state, fostering public trust in law and order.

“It is the result of this that Uttar Pradesh has received investment proposals of Rs 40 lakh crore,” he said.

He emphasised that this improved situation is reflected in the substantial investment proposals received.

However, shortly after this announcement, the Samajwadi Party’s Media Cell countered by sharing news reports on X detailing recent incidents of murder and dacoity in Varanasi and Chitrakoot.

“This is CM Yogi’s shameful and ruined law and order which he boasts about from packed stages,” read the post which SP chief Akhilesh Yadav also shared.

The party’s post, endorsed by SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, criticized Adityanath, branding the law and order situation he touts as “shameful and ruined.”

The Samajwadi Party questioned the validity of the Chief Minister’s assertions, stating that in his governance, the atmosphere is rife with anarchy, looting, and murder.

They further accused the government of collusion between police, the BJP, and criminals, suggesting that looted goods are shared among them. The party provocatively asked Adityanath if he led a gang of robbers or merely trained them.

“In CM Yogi’s rule, there is collusion between police, BJP and robbers and the looted goods are distributed among all… CM Yogi should tell if he is the CEO of this gang of robbers or the trainer,” it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday stated that the Indian diaspora has enriched Kuwait’s landscape with the vibrancy of Indian skills, emphasising that India possesses the manpower, expertise, and technology essential for a ‘New Kuwait.’

This trip to Kuwait, at the invitation of Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, marks the first time in 43 years that an Indian Prime Minister has visited this Gulf nation.

“It takes just four hours to fly from India to Kuwait, but it has taken four decades for an Indian Prime Minister to come here,” PM Modi remarked during his address to the Indian community.

Welcoming attendees ahead of a series of upcoming festivals, he noted, “You have all gathered here from various parts of India, and it truly feels like a mini India has come together.”

He praised the contributions of the Indian community, saying, “Every year, hundreds of Indians arrive in Kuwait; you have added an Indian essence to Kuwaiti society, filling its canvas with the colors of Indian skills, complemented by our rich traditions, technology, and talent.” He reiterated India’s readiness to support the development of ‘New Kuwait’ with its skilled workforce and advanced technology.

In an interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), PM Modi expressed India’s commitment to assisting in the restoration of peace in Gaza and Ukraine, emphasizing that solutions must be reached through dialogue rather than conflict.

He highlighted the necessity for sincere and constructive engagement among stakeholders to bridge differences and achieve negotiated resolutions. He also reaffirmed India’s backing for a two-state solution to create a sovereign and independent Palestine with recognized borders.

Modi emphasized the profound and historic ties between India and Kuwait, noting that the two countries are on the cusp of transforming their traditional buyer-seller relationship into a strategic partnership by exploring new opportunities throughout the oil and gas value chain. As Kuwait serves as India’s sixth-largest crude supplier and fourth-largest LPG supplier, he mentioned, “The potential for further collaboration is vast, especially as India becomes the third-largest global consumer of energy, oil, and LPG.” He highlighted that Kuwait holds about 6.5% of global oil reserves.

He identified the petrochemical sector as another area ripe for collaboration, projecting that India’s rapidly expanding petrochemical industry will reach $300 billion by 2025. Modi remarked that the energy partnership is not just a cornerstone of economic relations but also a catalyst for diversified and sustainable growth, paving the way for mutual prosperity.

Describing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as a crucial organization for India, he highlighted the historical, cultural, and trade connections that bind India and the Gulf nations.

The GCC region represents approximately one-sixth of India’s total trade and is home to around one-third of the Indian diaspora. He noted, “About nine million Indians living in the region are making significant contributions to its economic development.”

The Congress on Saturday slammed the Election Commission of India (ECI) for altering certain regulations concerning electronic documents, including the inspection of CCTV footage, webcasting recordings, and candidates’ video clips. The party claimed these rule changes reflect “the rapidly eroding integrity of the electoral process overseen by the Election Commission.”

The Congress also accused the election authority of compromising transparency in the electoral process.

In a post on X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “If there was ever a vindication of our claims regarding the rapidly declining integrity of the electoral process managed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in recent times, this is it.” He referred to a notification issued on December 20 and stated, “We will legally challenge this decision by the ECI immediately.” He further questioned, “Why is the ECI so afraid of transparency?”

According to reports, the government has revised an election rule to restrict public inspection of specific electronic documents, including CCTV footage, webcasting recordings, and video clips of candidates, to prevent potential misuse. Following a recommendation from the Election Commission, the Union law ministry amended Rule 93(2)(a) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, to limit the types of “papers” or documents available for public inspection.

As per Rule 93, all “papers” related to elections should be open for public viewing. The amendment, however, adds “as specified in these rules” after “papers.” Officials from the law ministry and the EC clarified that this amendment was prompted by a court case.

While documents like nomination forms, election agent appointments, results, and election financial statements are specified in the Conduct of Election Rules, electronic documents such as CCTV footage, webcasting recordings, and candidates’ videos during the Model Code of Conduct are not included.

An EC official informed PTI, “There have been cases where such electronic records were requested under these rules. The amendment ensures that only the documents specified are available for public inspection, and any documents not referenced in the rules cannot be inspected.”

EC officials expressed concerns that misuse of CCTV footage from polling booths could jeopardize voter confidentiality. They also noted that such footage could be manipulated to create misleading narratives using artificial intelligence.

“All such materials, including footage, will remain accessible to candidates even after the amendment. However, individuals can still approach the courts to request access to these electronic records,” another EC official stated.