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Pranab Mukherjee, Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen Hazarika awarded Bharat Ratna: Gandhis skipped the ceremony

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Pranab Mukherjee, Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen Hazarika awarded Bharat Ratna: Gandhis skipped the ceremony

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Former president Pranab Mukherjee, late Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Nanaji Deshmukh and late singer Bhupen Hazarika were conferred the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award at a grand ceremony held in Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday (August 8).

President Ram Nath Kovind gave away the award to Mukherjee, Hazarika’s son Tej and Vikramjeet Singh, a close relative of Deshmukh as Hazarika and Deshmukh were given the Bharat Ratna posthumously.

Vice-President M Venkaikah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, several Union Cabinet ministers, Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal were amongst those present at the event held at the imposing Durbar Hall. 

However, News agency ANI reported that the most prominent members of Congress party: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi were not present for the ceremony. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also not seen at the event.

The Bharat Ratna has been conferred after a gap of four years. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and founder of Banaras Hindu University Madan Mohan Malviya were given the award by the Narendra Modi government in 2015.

Mukherjee (83) fondly known as ‘Pranab Da’, became the fifth president to receive the award. The elite club of former presidents who were awarded the nation’s highest civilian honour is Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Rajendra Prasad, Zakir Hussain and Varahagiri Venkata Giri.

Mukherjee (83) was the president of the country between 2012 and 2017. Prior to that, in 1982, at the age of 47, he became India’s youngest finance minister. From 2004, he went on to head three crucial ministries — external affairs, defence and finance — and became the first occupant of the Rashtrapati Bhavan to have this distinction.
Mukherjee expressing heartfelt gratitude for the honour tweeted, “The Bharat Ratna for me is also indeed an acknowledgment of the millions who strive every day to make Bharat – the diverse, plural, compassionate and inclusive idea that it is.”

Also Read: Centre approves higher train speed from Delhi to Mumbai

 Nanaji Deshmukh was one of the founder members of the Bharatiya Jan Sangh, which later evolved as Bharatiya Janata Party. He was known for starting a chain of RSS-inspired schools throughout India. He was also one of the architects of the Jai Prakash Narayan’s movement against the Emergency in 1975 and amongst the key persons in the formation of the Janata Party government in 1977. He made immense contribution in the fields of education, healthcare and rural development. He died at the age of 94 in 2010 in Satna, Madhya Pradesh. 

Bhupen Hazarika was a playback singer, lyricist, musician, singer, poet and filmmaker from Assam. He introduced folk music of Assam and North East to Hindi cinema and popularized India’s musical traditions globally. He was awarded Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1987), Padma Shri (1977), Dada Saheb Phalke Award (1992), Padma Bhushan (2001) and Padma Vibhushan (2012-posthumously). In 2004, he had unsuccessfully contested the Guwahati Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket. He was also an Independent MLA in Assam during 1967-72. He died in 2011.

With these three recipients, 48 eminent people have been conferred the Bharat Ratna so far.

Although the Gandhis stayed away from the ceremony, other Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, former vice-president Hamid Ansari and Shashi Tharoor attended the programme. Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi was present at the event.

Also Read: Srinagar Metro to employ 1,300 engineers & others

Although, the reason for the Gandhis’ absence was not known, in June 2018, there was a rift between the party leaders and Pranab Mukherjee at the latter’s decision to attend a meet of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological mentor of the BJP, at Nagpur.  It was reportedly frowned upon by the Congress leadership. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

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Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

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India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

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Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

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Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

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Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

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