Delhi Metro services will start at 4 am on August 15 to facilitate the movement of special guests, invitees and members of the public attending the Independence Day celebrations, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said on Thursday.

Metro trains will operate at 30-minute intervals on all lines from 4 am until regular revenue services begin according to the scheduled timetable for the day.

Special QR tickets for Independence Day invitees

The DMRC said 1.30 lakh special pre-vended QR tickets have been supplied to the Ministry of Defence for the travel of special guests and bona fide invitees attending the celebrations.

Invitees carrying valid physical admit cards issued by the Ministry of Defence will also be provided special pre-vended QR tickets at designated Metro stations to facilitate their travel.

The cost of journeys made using these special QR tickets will be reimbursed to the DMRC by the Ministry of Defence, the corporation said.

Nearest Metro stations to Red Fort

The Lal Quila, Jama Masjid and Delhi Gate Metro stations are the nearest stations to the venue of the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort.

The early start of Metro services is aimed at facilitating the movement of people attending the celebrations on Independence Day.

The West Bengal government has withdrawn the Banga Bibhushan, the state’s highest civilian honour, from BJP Rajya Sabha MP Nagendra Ray, popularly known as Ananta Maharaj, amid controversy over his remarks about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. 

The award was conferred on Ray on February 21, 2026, when the Mamata Banerjee government was in power. The state government said the honour recognises distinguished and exemplary contributions to the state and its people and carries a high degree of dignity and prestige.

Why Bengal withdrew the award

The decision came less than 24 hours after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari directed the police to take stringent action, including arrests, against people making derogatory remarks about Netaji on social media.

Adhikari had also said that the law would apply equally to MPs, MLAs and government officials.

The directive followed remarks by Ananta Maharaj in which he described Netaji as a “war criminal” and questioned his leadership as well as the role of the Azad Hind Fauj in India’s freedom struggle.

What the Bengal government said

In its order, the state government said that “certain facts and circumstances” had emerged that raised questions over Nagendra Ray’s continued retention of the honour.

The government said the competent authority had concluded that retaining the Banga Bibhushan was inconsistent with the dignity, prestige and purpose of the award.

It therefore withdrew and annulled the honour conferred upon Nagendra Ray on February 21, 2026, with immediate effect. The order did not specifically identify the particular offence behind the decision.

Who is Nagendra Ray?

Nagendra Ray, popularly known as Ananta Maharaj, is a BJP Rajya Sabha MP from West Bengal who hails from Cooch Behar in the northern part of the state and is a leader of the Rajbanshi community. 

The withdrawal of the state honour comes amid controversy over his remarks concerning Netaji, a prominent figure in India’s freedom struggle and a revered personality in Bengal.

Akali Dal chief and former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked at a gurdwara in Maharashtra’s Nanded on Thursday afternoon. According to sources, a Nihang Sikh attacked Mr Badal with a kirpan while he was leaving the place of worship after offering prayers.

Mr Badal sustained an injury to his hand and was taken to a private hospital in Nanded for treatment. Akali Dal sources said the injury was not life-threatening and that he received stitches.

A security personnel deployed with Mr Badal, identified as Santosh Kendre, was also injured during the incident.

Attack took place after prayers

According to a statement from the Nanded Superintendent of Police, the incident occurred at around 1:50 pm at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Deva Ji in Muga village, in the Mudkhed taluka of Nanded district.

The police said Mr Badal had completed his darshan when a Sikh sevadari attacked him with a dagger, causing the injury.

Mr Badal had visited the gurdwara with his family. His wife and Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal was also present when the attack took place.

The attacker was identified as Jaspal Singh, a Nihang Sikh. Sources said he had been working at the gurdwara for around two years. He was taken into custody following the attack.

Security personnel intervened

According to sources, the attacker allegedly attempted to stab Mr Badal in the stomach. A security personnel intervened, preventing the attack from reaching its intended target.

A video recorded after the incident showed Mr Badal walking with a saffron cloth wrapped around his right hand.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke to the Nanded Superintendent of Police shortly after the incident and sought details. He also directed the police to investigate the motive behind the attack.

Sukhbir Badal faced attack in 2024

This is the second reported attack on Mr Badal in recent years. On December 4, 2024, he survived an assassination attempt outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

The gunman in that incident was quickly overpowered and arrested, while Mr Badal remained unharmed.

The 2024 incident occurred while Mr Badal was performing ‘sewadar’ duties after the Akal Takht had pronounced a ‘tankhah’, or religious punishment, against him and several other Akali Dal leaders over what it described as mistakes committed during the party’s rule in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.

Mr Badal has a Z-plus security cover because of a high threat perception.