President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi extended their greetings to the nation on the occasion of Ram Navami.

In a post on X, Murmu expressed her heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to everyone celebrating the sacred festival of Ram Navami. She emphasized that this festival embodies the principles of religion, justice, and duty.

She noted that Lord Shri Ram, revered as Maryada Purushottam, exemplifies the ideals of sacrifice, commitment, harmony, and courage. Murmu urged all citizens to take a pledge on this auspicious occasion to work collectively towards building a developed India.

Prime Minister Modi conveyed his wishes, stating that he hopes the blessings of Lord Ram will always guide everyone in their endeavors. Later in the day, he plans to visit Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu to offer prayers at the Ramanathaswamy temple.

“Ram Navami greetings to all! May the blessings of Prabhu Shri Ram always be with us and guide us in all our endeavors,” he wrote on X, also mentioning his anticipation of his visit to Rameswaram.

Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, also shared his wishes for Ram Navami, hoping that this divine festival brings happiness, peace, and prosperity to everyone.

In Rameswaram, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the new Pamban Rail Bridge, India’s first vertical lift sea bridge, around noon. He will also flag off a train and a ship from the road bridge while observing the operation of the bridge.

Following this, at approximately 12:45 p.m., he will perform darshan and puja at the Ramanathaswamy temple. Around 1:30 p.m., Modi will lay the foundation stone and dedicate various rail and road projects worth over ₹8,300 crore to the nation in Tamil Nadu, and deliver a speech to the gathered crowd on this momentous occasion.

Authorities have issued notices to 300 individuals who protested against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, by wearing black badges during Friday prayers. They have been required to submit bonds of ₹2 lakh each, the police official said on Sunday.

Congress MP Mohammed Jawed and AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi have filed a petition with the Supreme Court challenging the Waqf Bill.

The number of individuals initially identified stood at 24 by Saturday. Superintendent of Police (City) Satyanarayan Prajapat stated that notices were issued to 300 individuals after they were recognized through CCTV footage. Police are continuing efforts to identify additional protesters. Prajapat confirmed to reporters on Saturday that 24 notices had previously been served.

The notices, issued by City Magistrate Vikas Kashyap based on the police report, require the protesters to present a bond of ₹2 lakh each when they appear in court on April 16. The individuals who received these notices had worn black badges on their arms during prayers at various mosques on March 28 to express their dissent against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

Parliament approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill early on Friday after the Rajya Sabha passed the controversial legislation following a debate that lasted more than 13 hours. The discussion was marked by strong opposition from various parties, which criticized the Bill as “anti-Muslim” and “unconstitutional,” while the government defended it as a “historic reform” aimed at benefiting the minority community.

In the Rajya Sabha, the Bill received support from 128 members, while 95 voted against it. Earlier, in the Lok Sabha, it was approved with 288 in favor and 232 opposed. President Droupadi Murmu granted her assent to the Bill on Saturday.

In a fiery show of defiance, tens of thousands took to the streets across the United States and Europe on Saturday, unleashing the largest wave of anti-Trump protests since his return to the White House.

From Washington’s National Mall to New York, Los Angeles, and London, demonstrators railed against Donald Trump’s aggressive downsizing of the government, crackdown on civil liberties and global trade wars.

The demonstrations were organized by a broad coalition of progressive groups under the banner “Hands Off,” with events held in over 1,000 locations across the US and even in parts of Europe. Issues cited by protestors ranged from government downsizing, civil liberties concerns, and abortion rights, to fears of economic instability due to aggressive trade measures.

In Washington, a large crowd gathered at the National Mall, with speakers from across the country criticizing what they described as a dangerous and authoritarian shift in American politics. Representative Jamie Raskin, who played a key role in Trump’s second impeachment, addressed the demonstrators, warning against a “dictator who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

In New York, protestor Shaina Kesner criticized the leadership as privileged and unaccountable. Meanwhile, demonstrators in Los Angeles used creative symbolism, including dressing as characters from The Handmaid’s Tale to protest restrictive reproductive laws.

Across the Atlantic, rallies in cities such as London and Berlin echoed the disapproval. Protestors called out Trump’s foreign policies and his approach to global trade. In Berlin, one retiree went as far as to label Trump a “lunatic,” while others in London warned of global economic fallout.

One common thread across all protests was concern over the perceived erosion of civil rights and increasing authoritarian tendencies. Protestors warned against the jailing of opponents, attacks on immigrants, and pressure on democratic institutions. “We’re out here to stop the, honestly, fascism,” said Dominic Santella in Boston.

The economic direction under Trump also drew criticism. Many blamed his trade tariffs and diplomatic confrontations for market instability and international strain.

Despite the scale of the protests and dropping approval ratings, the White House has largely dismissed the unrest. President Trump remained defiant, stating, “My policies will never change,” reaffirming his stance on key issues.