Tamil actor Dhanush has sparked political rumours after urging his fan clubs to focus on public service and “find a purpose” beyond celebrating his films during a blood donation camp in Chennai.

While his remarks triggered widespread discussion online, the actor hasn’t formally announced his political entry.

Addressing members of his fan associations, Dhanush encouraged them to channel their collective strength towards welfare initiatives that could positively impact society. He urged his supporters to identify the needs of people in their local communities and extend help wherever possible, saying he wanted his fans to be known for their service rather than just their support for his films.

The speech quickly gained attention on social media, with several users drawing comparisons between Dhanush and actor-politician Vijay, whose fan clubs had similarly expanded their welfare activities before he formally entered politics. Many online users interpreted Dhanush’s emphasis on organised social work as a possible indication of future political ambitions.

Dhanush did not make any reference to joining politics or launching a political outfit during his address. His speech remained focused on encouraging fans to undertake blood donation drives, charitable work and other community welfare initiatives.

The actor’s fan clubs have long been involved in social service activities, including relief work, blood donation camps and assistance during natural disasters. His latest remarks have, however, brought back online discussions over whether he could eventually follow the path taken by Vijay and several other Tamil cinema personalities who entered public life.

Kuki-Zo organisations on Thursday launched a counter-economic blockade in Manipur, demanding that the Centre and the state government ensure uninterrupted movement of essential commodities to the hill districts amid renewed tensions over access to the highways.

The counter-blockade comes in response to the ongoing disruption of traffic on Manipur’s major transport routes with Kuki-Zo groups alleging restrictions on goods have hit residents of hill areas. They urged authorities to restore the free movement of food, medicines, fuel and other essential supplies, saying civilians should not bear the weight of the ongoing ethnic conflict.

In a joint statement, the organisations said the protest would continue until the government took concrete steps to guarantee safe passage for essential commodities and secure national highways. They also appealed to the authorities to prevent any further obstruction to the supply chain and ensure that relief and emergency services remain unaffected.

The development follows heightened tensions over the movement of vehicles on Manipur’s trunk routes, which serve as the primary lifeline for transporting goods across the state. The blockade is expected to impact logistics and transportation if the deadlock continues.

Security has been tightened along vulnerable stretches of highways, with additional personnel deployed to maintain law and order and facilitate the movement of essential supplies. Officials said the administration is monitoring the situation and is making efforts to prevent further escalation while ensuring that basic commodities continue to reach affected areas.

Manipur has witnessed repeated disruptions to road connectivity since ethnic violence erupted in the state, with competing blockades affecting supply of essential goods and normal life. The latest counter-blockade highlights the continuing challenges facing the administration in restoring stability and maintaining uninterrupted access to critical transport routes.

The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Delhi Police action leading to lathicharges during the student protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20.

The bench of Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana observed that a peaceful protest can’t be net with a lathicharge. The court made the remarks while hearing petitions against excessive force used by Delhi Police against students protesting irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination and other public examinations.

The court said the right to peaceful and lawful protest is under the protection of the Constitution. The court observed that the presence of a protest can’t be a ground for police action and said that any allegation of police excess has to be independently examined.

The petitions concern the events of July 20, when thousands of students and supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party tried to march from at Jantar Mantar to Parliament as the Monsoon Session opened. The protesters were demanding action on paper leaks, examination system reforms and government accountability.

Police said they had stopped the march because of security concerns and restrictions in central Delhi. There was a clash later and police used tear gas and lathi charge to disperse the crowd. Over a 100 protesters and a similar number of police were injured in the incident.

The petitioners had sought an independent probe into the police action during the hearing. They also demanded the retention of CCTV footage, body-camera recordings and other electronic evidence, as well as compensation for those injured in the crackdown.

The case comes amid a nationwide debate over reforms of examinations and the handling of student protests. The Centre has brought in legislative measures to strengthen anti-paper leak laws, even as student organizations continue to demand greater accountability.