India News

Congress protests after Supreme Court raps Madhya Pradesh over Vijay Shah case

Congress workers protested in Bhopal after the Supreme Court asked the Madhya Pradesh government to decide within two weeks on prosecuting minister Vijay Shah for his remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.

Published

3 months ago

January 21, 2026

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The Congress staged a protest in Bhopal on Tuesday, escalating pressure on the Madhya Pradesh government after the Supreme Court sharply criticised the delay in taking action against state minister Kunwar Vijay Shah over his derogatory remarks against Indian Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.

The demonstration followed the apex court’s direction to the Mohan Yadav-led government to take a decision within two weeks on granting sanction for Shah’s prosecution. The court observed that the state had been sitting on the report submitted by a special investigation team for several months.

Led by Congress state general secretary Amit Sharma, party workers carried out a symbolic protest by parading a man wearing a mask resembling Vijay Shah, with his hands tied, outside the Pradesh Congress office. The protesters later marched to a nearby police station and symbolically “handed over” the masked man, demanding immediate legal action against the minister.

Addressing reporters, Sharma accused the government of shielding Shah despite the gravity of his remarks. He said Colonel Qureshi was a “daughter of the nation” who brought honour to the country and alleged that the BJP government was protecting a minister who insulted a woman officer of the Indian Army. Sharma demanded Shah’s immediate removal from the cabinet.

Background of the controversy

Vijay Shah came under fire in May last year for making derogatory and discriminatory remarks while speaking at a public event in Indore. Referring to Operation Sindoor, Shah said, “They stripped and killed our Hindus, and Modi ji sent their sister to their house to teach them a lesson.” The comment triggered widespread outrage, with critics accusing him of disrespecting Colonel Qureshi.

Shah later described the remark as a “linguistic mistake” and said he was prepared to apologise multiple times. A Supreme Court-appointed team investigated the matter and submitted its report, but the state government has yet to grant sanction for prosecution.

During a recent hearing, the Supreme Court told the Madhya Pradesh government that it had been holding on to the SIT report since August 19, 2025, despite the statute placing an obligation on it to act.

Congress leaders described the court’s remarks as a moral and political setback for the ruling dispensation. Sharma said the Supreme Court’s order showed that the truth had prevailed and accused the government of deliberately delaying action to protect a minister.

Protests intensify in Bhopal

Separately, Youth Congress workers protested outside Vijay Shah’s bungalow in Bhopal, smearing black paint on the nameplate and raising slogans against him.

Reacting to the developments, Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Umang Singhar said on social media that the issue went beyond a single statement and reflected an “insensitive and hateful mindset flourishing under the protection of power”. He added that there could be no compromise on the honour of the Indian Army and its women, and that the law must apply equally to ministers as well.

During the Supreme Court hearing, senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Shah, informed the bench that the minister had apologised and was cooperating with the investigation. However, the bench rejected the apology, with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant remarking that it was delayed and inadequate, and that the court had already commented on its nature.

Neither Chief Minister Mohan Yadav nor the BJP has issued an official response to the Supreme Court’s observations so far.

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Turnout crosses 80% in Bengal and Tamil Nadu till 5 PM in key elections

Bengal phase 1 and Tamil Nadu elections witness strong voter turnout, crossing 80% with largely peaceful polling.

Published

6 hours ago

April 23, 2026

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Polling for the 2026 Assembly elections is underway in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, with voters turning out in large numbers across key constituencies.

In West Bengal, voting is being held across 152 constituencies, with around 3.6 crore voters expected to participate in this phase. Security arrangements were tightened, and long queues of voters were seen at polling stations from early morning.

Turnout rises steadily through the day

Voter participation increased consistently as polling progressed. By afternoon, turnout had crossed the halfway mark in both states, indicating steady engagement.

As per latest updates till 5 PM, West Bengal recorded 89.92% turnout, while Tamil Nadu reported 82.24% voter participation.

Large electorate participates in phase 1

In West Bengal, nearly 3.6 crore eligible voters took part in the first phase across several districts, including Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri.

Tamil Nadu is witnessing a three-way contest between the DMK-led alliance, the AIADMK-BJP alliance, and actor Vijay’s entry into the political space.

Sporadic incidents reported

Polling has been largely peaceful, though isolated incidents were reported, including an attack on BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul’s car and a boycott reported in parts of Tamil Nadu.

Despite these disruptions, voting continued without major interruptions, and authorities maintained overall control.

High-stakes political contest

The elections are being closely watched as major political parties compete for power. West Bengal is witnessing a closely fought contest, while in Tamil Nadu, key regional rivals are battling for control of the state Assembly.

The outcome is expected to play an important role in shaping the political landscape of both states.

Education

UP Board result 2026 declared: Class 10 pass rate at 90.42%, class 12 at 80.38%

UP Board 2026 results are out with strong pass rates. Here’s how to check your score and key highlights.

Published

7 hours ago

April 23, 2026

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The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad has declared the UP Board Class 10 and Class 12 results for 2026 on April 23 at 4 pm.

This year, more than 52 lakh students registered for the exams, including over 27 lakh candidates in Class 10 and nearly 25 lakh in Class 12. The examinations were conducted between February 18 and March 12 across around 8,000 centres in the state.

Pass percentage and performance trends

The overall performance remains strong:

Class 10 pass percentage: 90.42%
Class 12 pass percentage: 80.38%

Girls have once again outperformed boys in both classes, continuing the trend seen in previous years.

How to check UP Board result 2026

Students can access their results through official platforms by following these steps:

Visit the official website: upmsp.edu.in or upresults.nic.in
Click on the result link for Class 10 or Class 12
Enter roll number and required details
View and download the provisional marksheet

Alternatively, results are also available via DigiLocker and other digital platforms.

What students should do after results

Students are advised to:

Download and print the provisional marksheet immediately
Collect the original marksheet from their respective schools later
Apply for re-evaluation or compartment exams if required

India News

Voting underway in West Bengal phase 1 and Tamil Nadu as turnout crosses 50% by afternoon

Voter turnout crosses 50% in West Bengal phase 1 and Tamil Nadu as polling continues across key constituencies.

Published

11 hours ago

April 23, 2026

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Voting is underway in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu as the 2026 assembly elections see active participation from voters across both states. In West Bengal, the first phase of polling is being held across 152 constituencies in 16 districts, marking the beginning of a multi-phase election process.

Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, is witnessing single-phase polling across all 234 assembly seats, making it a crucial electoral day for the state.

Polling began in the morning with voters arriving at booths early, and arrangements were in place to ensure smooth voting.

Turnout figures show steady participation

As voting progressed, turnout figures indicated moderate to strong participation in both states.

West Bengal recorded around 62.2% voter turnout by 1 pm
Tamil Nadu saw approximately 56.8% turnout by the same time

Earlier in the day, initial turnout trends showed gradual momentum as queues built up at polling stations.

High-stakes contest in both states

The elections are significant for major political parties in both regions.

In West Bengal, the contest remains largely between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, with several key constituencies drawing attention. Around 3.6 crore voters are eligible to vote in this phase, highlighting the scale of the exercise.

Tamil Nadu’s election features a traditional contest between the DMK and AIADMK alliances, with the outcome expected to shape the state’s political direction.

Security and arrangements in place

Authorities have deployed security personnel and made logistical arrangements to ensure peaceful polling. Reports indicate that voting is largely proceeding smoothly, with monitoring systems in place across sensitive areas.

The election process in West Bengal will continue with the second phase scheduled for April 29, while Tamil Nadu will conclude voting in a single day.