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BJP’s Punjab outreach faces fresh challenge as farmers return to Shambhu border

The BJP’s push to shift Punjab’s political focus towards development has encountered a fresh challenge as farmers resume protests at the Shambhu border over concerns surrounding the proposed India-US trade agreement.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Punjab had signalled what many viewed as a fresh political outreach by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a state where it has struggled to recover from the fallout of the 2020-21 farm laws protest. However, the return of farmers to the Shambhu border over concerns surrounding the proposed India-US trade agreement has once again brought agrarian issues to the forefront.

Thousands of farmers gathered at the Punjab-Haryana border, while Haryana Police stopped them from marching towards Delhi. The scenes have drawn comparisons with both the 2020-21 farm laws protest and the farmers’ agitation witnessed in 2024.

BJP’s development narrative faces disruption

During his recent Punjab visit, Prime Minister Modi focused on development, infrastructure and investment, signalling the BJP’s intention to shift political discussions away from the farm laws controversy ahead of the Assembly elections, which are expected in about six months.

His decision to wear a green turban, a colour closely associated with Punjab’s farming community, was widely viewed as a symbolic gesture aimed at reaching out to rural voters.

However, the ongoing protest over the proposed India-US trade agreement has interrupted that narrative, with farmers once again mobilising at the Shambhu border.

Concerns over proposed India-US trade agreement

Farmer organisations have expressed concern that lower import duties under the proposed India-US trade agreement could allow heavily subsidised American agricultural and dairy products to enter the Indian market. They argue this could reduce domestic prices and negatively impact farmers’ incomes.

The groups have also maintained that waiting until the agreement is finalised would leave little opportunity to safeguard farmers’ interests.

Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon has appealed to farmers not to draw conclusions before the agreement is finalised. He said no final pact has been signed and asserted there would be “no compromise on the interests of farmers and livestock rearers”. He also said Prime Minister Modi has assured that Punjab’s farmers would not be adversely affected.

Opposition steps up attack

The issue has quickly become a political flashpoint in Punjab.

The Congress has launched a campaign against the proposed trade agreement, alleging it could adversely affect the state’s agriculture and dairy sectors.

The Aam Aadmi Party has described the proposed pact as the “biggest betrayal of farmers” and has demanded that the Centre make the draft agreement public.

The Shiromani Akali Dal has also extended support to the agitation, accusing the Centre of ignoring the concerns of Punjab’s farming community.

Political implications ahead of Punjab polls

The BJP has been attempting to broaden its support beyond its traditional urban voter base by expanding its presence in rural Punjab ahead of the Assembly elections.

Political observers had viewed Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit as the beginning of that outreach. However, the renewed farmers’ mobilisation risks reviving memories of the 2020-21 farm laws agitation, which had significantly affected the BJP’s standing among many farmers in the state.

Unlike the earlier movement, which centred on domestic agricultural reforms, the current agitation focuses on a proposed international trade agreement. If the movement gathers further momentum, it could become India’s first large-scale farmers’ protest against a foreign trade pact, bringing renewed attention to how political parties balance international trade objectives with the interests of domestic agriculture.

With Assembly elections approaching, the renewed agitation has the potential to once again make farmers’ concerns a central issue in Punjab’s political discourse.

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India hits back at Shehbaz Sharif at UN, says terror will have consequences

India hit back at Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s UN speech, with New Delhi warning that terrorism will have consequences.

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India has responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks at the United Nations, delivering a strong message on terrorism and warning that such actions will have consequences.

The response came after Mr Sharif addressed the UN and raised issues concerning India and Pakistan. New Delhi rejected the narrative presented by the Pakistani prime minister and highlighted the issue of terrorism.

India’s message was delivered by Petal Gehlot, who represented New Delhi in the response to Pakistan.

India warns Pakistan over terrorism

India’s response focused on Pakistan’s record and its approach towards terrorism. New Delhi made clear that terrorism cannot be separated from its consequences and that those responsible cannot expect such actions to go unanswered.

The Indian side also pushed back against the claims and allegations made by Mr Sharif during his UN speech.

The exchange comes amid continuing tensions between India and Pakistan, with terrorism remaining a major point of disagreement between the two countries.

Shehbaz Sharif’s UN remarks

In his address, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke about India-Pakistan relations and raised several issues concerning New Delhi.

India subsequently exercised its right of reply to respond to Pakistan’s statements at the United Nations.

New Delhi’s response underlined its position that terrorism remains a serious issue in the relationship and that there would be consequences for terrorist actions.

The latest exchange at the UN adds to the continuing diplomatic confrontation between the two neighbouring countries.

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Veeramani POCSO case: Vijay questions Stalin over earlier probe

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has questioned MK Stalin over the handling of the Veeramani POCSO case, while Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected anyone.

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Actor Vijay

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay has questioned DMK president MK Stalin over the handling of the POCSO case involving Gem Granites founder R Veeramani. The political exchange follows renewed investigation into allegations involving minor girls.

Vijay’s remarks came as the ruling TVK stepped up its questions about how the case was handled during the previous DMK government. The party’s IT wing has alleged that the earlier investigation was weakened and questioned why a final report was filed.

The allegations have been rejected by the DMK. Stalin has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to protect anyone in the case and has called the allegations false and defamatory.

What did Vijay say about the Veeramani case?

Vijay questioned Stalin over the handling of the case and demanded an explanation from the former chief minister.

The TVK has specifically questioned why action was not taken against Veeramani during the previous administration and why the earlier investigation resulted in a closure report.

The party has also raised questions about the role of officials involved in the earlier investigation. These are political allegations made by the TVK and have not been established as facts.

What is the Veeramani POCSO case?

The case concerns allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving R Veeramani, the founder of Gem Granites.

The case came under renewed scrutiny after a special POCSO court rejected an earlier closure report and ordered further investigation. The expanded probe has subsequently identified additional alleged survivors who were minors at the time of the alleged offences, according to current reporting.

The investigation is also examining the circumstances surrounding the earlier probe and whether there were any lapses in how the case was handled.

What has MK Stalin said?

Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected Veeramani.

He has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to shield anyone in the case. Stalin has also said that everyone responsible for the alleged offences, including anyone who aided or attempted to protect the accused, should face the law.

The DMK president has further said that the focus should remain on securing justice for the affected girls rather than making political allegations.

Why has the case become a political issue?

The Veeramani case has become the subject of a political dispute between the ruling TVK and the DMK over the handling of the earlier investigation.

The TVK is questioning the previous government’s handling of the case, while the DMK has denied that it intervened to protect the accused.

At this stage, claims about political interference or deliberate weakening of the earlier investigation should be treated as allegations unless established by the ongoing investigation or judicial proceedings.

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Women wrestlers challenge Brij Bhushan’s acquittal in sexual harassment case

Four women wrestlers have challenged the acquittal of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case.

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Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Four women wrestlers have approached a Delhi court challenging the acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case.

The wrestlers have also challenged the acquittal of co-accused Vinod Tomar. The matter is scheduled to be heard by a Special Judge at the Rouse Avenue Courts.

The appeal challenges the order passed by an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate on August 3, 2026, when Brij Bhushan and Tomar were acquitted in the case.

Wrestlers challenge court’s reasoning

In their appeal, the wrestlers have argued that the acquittal order is legally unsustainable and that the evidence was not assessed appropriately.

They have also alleged that the order relied on assumptions about how victims of sexual assault and harassment were expected to behave instead of assessing the evidence and circumstances of the complainants.

The challenge seeks judicial scrutiny of the findings that resulted in the acquittal of Brij Bhushan and Tomar.

Brij Bhushan was acquitted in August

The Rouse Avenue court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on August 3 in the sexual harassment case involving women wrestlers. The court’s decision followed consideration of the evidence and statements presented during the proceedings.

The case had emerged after several women wrestlers accused the former WFI chief of sexual harassment. The allegations had led to a major protest by wrestlers in 2023.

The latest appeal means the acquittal is now being challenged before a higher court.

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