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Digvijaya accuses BJP government and NIA chief of protecting Lt Col Purohit in Malegaon blasts probe, kicks up row

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8 years ago

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Infamous for his controversial remarks, the Congress general secretary alleges that the NIA chief was being given extensions by the Modi government to ensure that all RSS-affiliated men accused in terror attacks are acquitted

Being increasingly sidelined by his own party, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh is back to doing what he is best at – stirring up controversies with his comments on micro-blogging website Twitter.

On Monday, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister who has often embarrassed his party with his unsubstantiated allegations against the BJP or even public officials and their role in either spreading or shielding ‘Hindu terror’, trained his guns at National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief SK Sinha.

Soon after the Supreme Court announced bail for Malegaon blasts accused Lieutenant Colonal Shrikant Purohit on Monday morning, Singh alleged that while the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre was “protecting all the accused connected with RSS in all bomb blast cases (sic)”, the NIA chief was now set to win a suitable post-retirement position.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Singh comments against the NIA chief came in light of the Supreme Court accepting Purohit’s application for bail after his lawyer, Harish Salve, argued before a two-judge Bench of Justices RK Agrawal and AM Sapre that: “Lieutenant Colonel Purohit was caught in a political crossfire and was falsely implicated in the case”. Senior advocate Salve had told the Bench that his client – who had been in jail for the past nine years for his alleged role in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case – “did not want to be discharged from the case at present, but for the interest of justice, wanted an interim bail”.

The NIA, Salve claimed, had filed a new chargesheet in the case which contradicts the agency’s claims made in its earlier chargesheets. The critical issue, according to Salve, was that the NIA, after it filed the supplementary chargesheet, had noticed the discrepancies in chargesheet filed by the Anti-terrorism Squad on two key issues – first , people who had given statements in the case had retracted their statements saying they were forced to give them, and thereafter, there was a serious question on recovery of RDX from the premises of Purohit.

Salve had also argued that even if charges were framed against Purohit, the maximum penalty that he was liable for is seven years. However, Purohit had already been in jail for the past nine years.

Digvijaya Singh’s allegation that the BJP and NIA were working in tandem to ensure acquittal of all RSS-affiliated people who have been accused in various bomb blast cases was also a reference to the Bombay High Court’s order earlier this year under which key Malegaon blasts accused, Sadhvi Pragya, was granted relief after the NIA claimed that it did not have sufficient evidence to prove her involvement in 2008 blast that had killed 4 people and left 79 injured. However, the NIA had then claimed that it had enough evidence to prove the involvement of Lt Col Purohit, who then challenged the Bombay High Court’s order of not granting him relief in the Supreme Court.

The Congress, which often has been forced to distance itself from Singh’s remarks related to Hindu terror, however, seemed to back him on his latest salvo. The party’s chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala insisted that the bail granted to Purohit “is not a reflection of whether or not Purohit was guilty in the blast case”.

Surjewala seemed to concur with Singh’s remarks about the NIA chief getting two extensions in office, saying it is “strange” that the Modi government could not find any competent police officer in India to head the NIA and had to give two extensions to the current chief.

The BJP, expectedly, has slammed Singh’s comments with several party leaders claimed that Purohit was granted bail by the Supreme Court and the Congress leader “has no right to question the judgement of the country’s highest court”.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India and Russia vow to walk together against terrorism, reaffirm strategic partnership

PM Modi and President Putin reaffirm India-Russia unity against terrorism, deepen energy and trade cooperation, and discuss peace efforts amid the Ukraine conflict.

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3 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday underlined that India and Russia “walk together in the fight against terrorism,” reinforcing a decades-old strategic partnership that remains steady amid global geopolitical churn. The leaders issued the joint statement following talks at Hyderabad House in Delhi, where they also announced steps to boost trade, economic cooperation, and energy collaboration.

India-Russia stand firm on counter-terror cooperation

PM Modi described President Putin as a “dear friend” and highlighted Moscow’s consistent support to India on counter-terror efforts. Russia had earlier strongly condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, allegedly linked to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, and reiterated solidarity with India’s fight against terrorism in all forms.

The joint remarks emphasized that the bilateral friendship, rooted in trust and mutual respect, has remained resilient for decades despite global challenges.

Focus on energy, trade and use of national currencies

A key highlight of the engagement was Russia reaffirming “uninterrupted shipments” of fuel to India. PM Modi expressed gratitude for Russia’s commitment, noting energy cooperation as a crucial pillar of the relationship. While he did not specifically mention oil purchases, given ongoing Western pressure, he emphasised cooperation in civil nuclear and clean energy.

The two countries also discussed expanding economic ties, including a possible free trade agreement. President Putin said bilateral trade was being targeted to reach USD 100 billion, and acknowledged progress toward using national currencies for payments — a remark expected to draw global attention.

Putin shares peace plan insights on Ukraine conflict

Putin briefed the Prime Minister on Russia’s perspective for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing Ukraine war and appreciated India’s continued role as a “champion of peace.” PM Modi reiterated India’s consistent position on dialogue and diplomacy.

Agreements across jobs, health, shipping and minerals

Officials exchanged multiple agreements covering employment mobility, health, shipping, chemicals and cooperation in critical minerals — further broadening the strategic footprint of the partnership.

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RBI cuts repo rate to 5.25%, paving the way for cheaper loans

The RBI has cut the repo rate to 5.25%, aiming to support growth as inflation softens. The central bank also raised GDP projections and announced liquidity-boosting measures.

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8 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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Reserve Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the key repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% on Thursday, signalling relief for borrowers as banks are expected to offer lower EMIs on home and vehicle loans. Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced the move after the conclusion of the three-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

RBI prioritises growth as inflation eases

Malhotra said the decision was unanimous, with the central bank choosing to focus on supporting economic momentum despite concerns over a weak rupee. The repo rate was earlier cut in June from 6% to 5.5% amid easing inflation trends.

The RBI now projects Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation at 2% for FY2025-26, significantly softer than earlier estimates. For the first quarter of FY2026-27, inflation is expected at 3.9%, lower than the previous projection. The governor noted that rising precious metal prices may contribute to the headline CPI, but overall risks to inflation remain balanced.

GDP outlook strengthened

In a strong upward revision, the central bank increased the GDP forecast for the current financial year to 7.3%, previously estimated at 6.8%. Growth for the October–December quarter has also been revised to 6.7%.

The last quarter registered a six-quarter high expansion of 8.2%, reflecting resilient demand and steady credit flow.

“The growth-inflation balance continues to offer policy space,” Malhotra said, reiterating that the RBI’s stance remains neutral.

Other key decisions

Alongside the repo rate cut, the RBI announced adjustments to key policy corridors:

  • Standing Deposit Facility (SDF): 5%
  • Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): 5.5%

To improve liquidity and strengthen monetary transmission, the RBI will conduct forex swaps and purchase ₹1 lakh crore worth of government bonds through Open Market Operations (OMO).

RBI reviews a challenging year

Reflecting on 2025, Malhotra said the year delivered strong growth and moderate inflation even as global trade and geopolitical uncertainties persisted. He added that bank credit and retail lending remained healthy, providing support to the economy.

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India News

IndiGo flight chaos deepens as over 500 services cancelled, passengers stranded for hours

Over 500 IndiGo flights were cancelled nationwide, leaving passengers stranded without food, clarity or their luggage as airports struggled to manage the disruption.

Published

9 hours ago

on

December 5, 2025

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IndiGo flight

India’s largest airline continued to face massive operational breakdowns, triggering frustration among travellers at major airports across the country. From piles of unattended suitcases to passengers waiting over 12 hours without food or clarity, the disruption stretched into its fourth consecutive day.

Long delays, no communication leave passengers anguished

Several travellers at Delhi airport described the situation as “mental torture”, as thousands of unclaimed suitcases lay scattered across the terminal. Many slept on the floor, while others expressed anger over the lack of communication from airline staff.

One flier said he had been waiting for over 12 hours without any explanation: “Every time they say one-hour or two-hour delays. We were going to a wedding but don’t even have our luggage.”

A passenger in Hyderabad recounted a similar ordeal, saying the flight was delayed indefinitely with no food, water, or updates from the airline. At the airport, some travellers blocked an Air India flight in protest over the lack of arrangements.

Goa and Chennai airports also witnessed tense moments. Videos from Goa showed fliers shouting at IndiGo staff as police attempted to calm the situation. At Chennai, CISF denied entry to IndiGo passengers due to heavy congestion.

Major metro airports impacted; cascading cancellations nationwide

Flight cancellations and delays were reported across multiple airports:

  • Over 200 flights were cancelled in Delhi
  • More than 100 each in Mumbai and Bengaluru
  • Around 90 in Hyderabad
  • Dozens more in Pune, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai and Bhopal

Pune airport stated that parking bay congestion worsened the situation, as several IndiGo aircraft remained grounded due to lack of crew. Other airlines continued operations without disruption.

Airport authorities said they had mobilised additional manpower for crowd control and passenger support.

IndiGo admits planning lapses, says more cancellations expected

The airline acknowledged a “misjudgment” in assessing crew requirements under revised night-duty norms, which it said created planning gaps. Winter weather and airport congestion further aggravated the crisis.

IndiGo informed the aviation ministry and DGCA that some regulatory changes—such as the shift in night-duty timings and a cap on night landings—have been rolled back temporarily to stabilise operations.

The airline warned that cancellations may continue for another two to three days, and from December 8, schedules will be trimmed to prevent further disruption.

In a message to employees, CEO Pieter Elbers said restoring punctuality would not be an “easy target”.

Airline issues apology amid nationwide frustration

In a late-night statement, IndiGo apologised to customers and industry partners, acknowledging the widespread inconvenience caused by the disruptions. The airline said all teams were working with authorities to bring operations back to normal.

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