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Sushma Swaraj launches Passport Seva app post Lucknow passport row

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Sushma Swaraj launches Passport Seva app post Lucknow passport row

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj has announced a passport application can now be processed easily from anywhere in India from mobile phones via Passport Seva App.

Marriage certificates will no more be required at the passport offices and divorced women will no longer be required to fill the name of their ex-husband and their children of their estranged father, said EAM. The app was launched on Tuesday, 25 June.

Swaraj, while addressing the officials of several Passport Seva Kendras and members of the Ministry of External Affairs on the occasion of Passport Seva Diwas, stated that the two new schemes – Passport application from anywhere in India and filling passport application forms from mobile phones – would now make the procedure for obtaining passports simpler.

A person can apply for a passport from any of the Regional Passport Offices (RPO) and Passport Seva Kendras (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSK) from any city, irrespective of the place of stay.

The passport will be printed and dispatched to the applicant’s address mentioned at the time of submitting the form from the same centre where he/she had applied, the MEA said. Once an applicant submits the form and all the required documents and fee, the further process of police verification, if needed, will be conducted at the address specified in the application.

Swaraj also launched a mobile app – ‘mPassport Seva App’ through which a person can apply, pay and schedule appointment for the purpose. The app will be available on Android and iOS operating systems.

This new scheme and the mobile application was launched on the occasion of sixth Passport Seva Divas on Tuesday.

As of now, to apply for a passport, one had to travel to the RPO office under the jurisdiction of his/her place of stay. But now onwards, a person who is staying temporarily in Delhi and has his/her permanent address in another city can apply for a passport at any RPO or the above-mentioned centres in Delhi.

The app ‘mPassport Seva App’, Swaraj said, will further ease the process for applying for the document which is required when you travel abroad.

While terming it as a “passport revolution”, the minister said that the simplified new passport application rules will make things much easier for hundreds of Indian citizens. During her speech, she also stated that new passport centres now function in separate northeast regions of the country as earlier there was just a single centre in Guwahati.

“In the first two phases, we announced 251 passports registration centres out of which 212 centres are already established. In the third phase, 38 additional centres were announced out of which two centres have been operationalized,” the EAM said.

Addressing the officials of several Passport Seva Kendras and members of the Ministry of External Affairs on the occasion of Passport Seva Diwas, she said, “Married men and women complained that their marriage certificates are required at the passport office, we scrapped the rule.”

The step comes at a time when recently there was much controversy regarding the documents of an inter-faith couple, Tanvi Seth and Mohammad Anas Siddiqui after they took to twitter to allege harassment by Passport Granting Officer Vikas Mishra in Lucknow. Then there were a series of reports suggesting that the matter was regarding consistency of documents presented as a proof.

The Husband alleged that he was asked by the Passport Seva Official Vikas Mishra to convert to his wife’s religion (Hindu) if he wanted a passport.

A day later, the Regional Passport Office in Lucknow transferred Mishra and issued passports to the couple.

Mohammad Anas Siddiqui and Tanvi Seth show their passports issued to them by the Regional Passport Office, in Lucknow on June 21

Mohammad Anas Siddiqui and Tanvi Seth show their passports issued to them by the Regional Passport Office, in Lucknow on June 21

A section of social media also trolled Swaraj and the ministry for taking action against Mishra, claiming that he was just doing his duty.

The Congress on Sunday jumped into the fray and responded to the external affairs minister’s statement, saying, “No matter what the situation or reason, nothing calls for threats of violence, disrespect and abuse. Sushma Swaraj ji, we applaud your decision to call out the heinous trolls of your own party.”

Meanwhile, UP Police said Tanvi Seth has not been staying at the current mentioned address for a year. “We have sent our report to the Regional Passport Office, further investigation will be done by them,” said Deepak Kumar, ANI reported.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India hits back at Shehbaz Sharif at UN, says terror will have consequences

India hit back at Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s UN speech, with New Delhi warning that terrorism will have consequences.

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India has responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks at the United Nations, delivering a strong message on terrorism and warning that such actions will have consequences.

The response came after Mr Sharif addressed the UN and raised issues concerning India and Pakistan. New Delhi rejected the narrative presented by the Pakistani prime minister and highlighted the issue of terrorism.

India’s message was delivered by Petal Gehlot, who represented New Delhi in the response to Pakistan.

India warns Pakistan over terrorism

India’s response focused on Pakistan’s record and its approach towards terrorism. New Delhi made clear that terrorism cannot be separated from its consequences and that those responsible cannot expect such actions to go unanswered.

The Indian side also pushed back against the claims and allegations made by Mr Sharif during his UN speech.

The exchange comes amid continuing tensions between India and Pakistan, with terrorism remaining a major point of disagreement between the two countries.

Shehbaz Sharif’s UN remarks

In his address, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke about India-Pakistan relations and raised several issues concerning New Delhi.

India subsequently exercised its right of reply to respond to Pakistan’s statements at the United Nations.

New Delhi’s response underlined its position that terrorism remains a serious issue in the relationship and that there would be consequences for terrorist actions.

The latest exchange at the UN adds to the continuing diplomatic confrontation between the two neighbouring countries.

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India News

Veeramani POCSO case: Vijay questions Stalin over earlier probe

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has questioned MK Stalin over the handling of the Veeramani POCSO case, while Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected anyone.

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Actor Vijay

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay has questioned DMK president MK Stalin over the handling of the POCSO case involving Gem Granites founder R Veeramani. The political exchange follows renewed investigation into allegations involving minor girls.

Vijay’s remarks came as the ruling TVK stepped up its questions about how the case was handled during the previous DMK government. The party’s IT wing has alleged that the earlier investigation was weakened and questioned why a final report was filed.

The allegations have been rejected by the DMK. Stalin has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to protect anyone in the case and has called the allegations false and defamatory.

What did Vijay say about the Veeramani case?

Vijay questioned Stalin over the handling of the case and demanded an explanation from the former chief minister.

The TVK has specifically questioned why action was not taken against Veeramani during the previous administration and why the earlier investigation resulted in a closure report.

The party has also raised questions about the role of officials involved in the earlier investigation. These are political allegations made by the TVK and have not been established as facts.

What is the Veeramani POCSO case?

The case concerns allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving R Veeramani, the founder of Gem Granites.

The case came under renewed scrutiny after a special POCSO court rejected an earlier closure report and ordered further investigation. The expanded probe has subsequently identified additional alleged survivors who were minors at the time of the alleged offences, according to current reporting.

The investigation is also examining the circumstances surrounding the earlier probe and whether there were any lapses in how the case was handled.

What has MK Stalin said?

Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected Veeramani.

He has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to shield anyone in the case. Stalin has also said that everyone responsible for the alleged offences, including anyone who aided or attempted to protect the accused, should face the law.

The DMK president has further said that the focus should remain on securing justice for the affected girls rather than making political allegations.

Why has the case become a political issue?

The Veeramani case has become the subject of a political dispute between the ruling TVK and the DMK over the handling of the earlier investigation.

The TVK is questioning the previous government’s handling of the case, while the DMK has denied that it intervened to protect the accused.

At this stage, claims about political interference or deliberate weakening of the earlier investigation should be treated as allegations unless established by the ongoing investigation or judicial proceedings.

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India News

Women wrestlers challenge Brij Bhushan’s acquittal in sexual harassment case

Four women wrestlers have challenged the acquittal of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case.

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Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Four women wrestlers have approached a Delhi court challenging the acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case.

The wrestlers have also challenged the acquittal of co-accused Vinod Tomar. The matter is scheduled to be heard by a Special Judge at the Rouse Avenue Courts.

The appeal challenges the order passed by an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate on August 3, 2026, when Brij Bhushan and Tomar were acquitted in the case.

Wrestlers challenge court’s reasoning

In their appeal, the wrestlers have argued that the acquittal order is legally unsustainable and that the evidence was not assessed appropriately.

They have also alleged that the order relied on assumptions about how victims of sexual assault and harassment were expected to behave instead of assessing the evidence and circumstances of the complainants.

The challenge seeks judicial scrutiny of the findings that resulted in the acquittal of Brij Bhushan and Tomar.

Brij Bhushan was acquitted in August

The Rouse Avenue court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on August 3 in the sexual harassment case involving women wrestlers. The court’s decision followed consideration of the evidence and statements presented during the proceedings.

The case had emerged after several women wrestlers accused the former WFI chief of sexual harassment. The allegations had led to a major protest by wrestlers in 2023.

The latest appeal means the acquittal is now being challenged before a higher court.

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