Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has criticized the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government following recent violent protests in Murshidabad over the Waqf Amendment Act. Referring to the unrest, Adityanath said “Bengal is burning” while its Chief Minister remains “silent”.

Addressing a public meeting in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, the BJP leader remarked that “danda” — the Hindi term for a stick — is the only effective solution against rioters. Drawing comparisons, he claimed that prior to 2017, when BJP came to power in Uttar Pradesh, riots were a frequent occurrence in the state.

“Danda is the only treatment for rioters. You can see, Bengal is burning. The Chief Minister is silent. She is calling rioters ‘peace ambassadors’,” he stated during his speech.

Adding further, Adityanath used a Hindi proverb to reinforce his stance: “Laton ke bhoot baaton se kahan manne wale hain,” which loosely translates to “Those who respond only to force don’t understand words.”

The Uttar Pradesh CM accused the West Bengal administration of enabling violence under the guise of secularism. “In the name of secularism, they have given freedom to rioters. The government is silent. Such anarchy should be controlled,” he added.

These remarks come amid growing political tension over the Waqf Amendment Act, with opposition voices criticizing both state and central policies. The violence in Murshidabad has drawn widespread attention, placing the West Bengal government under scrutiny.

A 26-year-old man from Gujarat, who allegedly issued a bomb threat to Bollywood actor Salman Khan, has been found to be mentally unstable, Mumbai Police confirmed on Tuesday. The individual, identified as Mayank Pandya, is a resident of a village in Waghodia taluka of Vadodara district and is currently undergoing treatment for mental illness.

Threat traced to Vadodara village

The matter came to light when Mumbai Traffic Police received a WhatsApp message on Sunday, in which the sender threatened to blow up Salman Khan’s car and physically assault him at his residence. The actor is under Y-Plus category security due to previous threats.

Mumbai Police immediately registered a case under Section 351(2)(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for criminal intimidation. Security was further tightened around Khan’s Bandra residence, Galaxy Apartments.

Following the message, a police team launched a probe and traced the sender to Gujarat. Accompanied by local Waghodia police, Mumbai Police visited Pandya’s home on Monday. Authorities confirmed the man was mentally ill and had been receiving medical treatment.

No arrest made, notice served

Although he was not arrested, Pandya was served a notice by the Mumbai Police, instructing him to appear before investigators as and when required during the ongoing probe.

“Considering his medical condition, we chose not to take him into custody at this point. The investigation will continue,” an official stated.

Previous threats and heightened security

This incident adds to a series of threats faced by Salman Khan over the years. In April 2024, assailants on a motorcycle fired gunshots outside Khan’s residence. He has also been threatened in the past by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which demanded an apology from the actor for the alleged killing of a blackbuck — a sacred animal for the Bishnoi community.

In light of such threats, the actor has been granted Y-Plus security by Mumbai Police. Last year, Navi Mumbai Police also claimed to have thwarted a Bishnoi gang plan to attack Khan during his travel to his farmhouse in Panvel.

In a significant move aimed at asserting Tamil Nadu’s rights within the Indian federal structure, Chief Minister MK Stalin has constituted a high-level committee to examine and propose measures to enhance state autonomy. This step comes amid intensifying disputes between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led state government and the BJP-led central government, particularly over the administration of education and the role of the Governor.

The committee will be headed by retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Kurien Joseph and includes former civil servants Ashok Shetty and Mu Nagarajan. The primary objective is to review existing laws and suggest how powers once exclusively under state control—but later moved to the concurrent list—can be reclaimed. The aim, as declared by Stalin in the Assembly, is to uphold the rights of all Indian states while ensuring cooperative federalism.

Interim report by 2026, final recommendations by 2028

The panel is expected to deliver an interim report by January 2026 and its final recommendations by 2028. The scope includes recommending frameworks that enhance the functioning of state governments without compromising the unity of the nation.

Standoff over NEET and Governor’s actions

This initiative gains importance in the backdrop of Tamil Nadu’s ongoing resistance to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The DMK has consistently opposed NEET, demanding the right to admit students to medical courses based on Class XII marks alone. The Assembly had twice passed a bill to this effect, only for it to be rejected by President Droupadi Murmu earlier this month.

The tension further escalated as the Supreme Court recently criticized Governor RN Ravi for withholding ten bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly, calling his delays “arbitrary” and “illegal.” These bills, now signed into law, include provisions limiting the Governor’s role in appointing Vice Chancellors to state universities.

Education autonomy and language policy dispute

Tamil Nadu has also demanded that education be removed from the concurrent list and reinstated as a state subject, reversing changes made via the 42nd Constitutional Amendment. The DMK argues that central control over education undermines regional diversity and federal values.

Another flashpoint is the three-language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP), which the DMK views as an attempt to impose Hindi. The state has historically followed a two-language policy, comprising Tamil and English. The DMK has also accused the central government of attempting to “blackmail” the state by threatening to withhold Rs 2,500 crore in education funds—a charge denied by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Political backdrop ahead of elections

These confrontations are unfolding as Tamil Nadu prepares for Assembly elections next year. The BJP, which has renewed its alliance with the main opposition AIADMK, is seeking to expand its presence in the state. Meanwhile, the DMK has voiced concern over the upcoming delimitation exercise, fearing it may reduce southern states’ parliamentary representation in favor of the Hindi-speaking north.