The political temperature in Parliament rose sharply after the Lok Sabha passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, with the BJP demanding an apology from Congress leader Sonia Gandhi for her sharp criticism of the legislation. Mrs Gandhi called the Bill a brazen assault on the Constitution and accused the ruling BJP of pushing India toward permanent polarisation.

Her comments, made during a Congress Parliamentary Party meeting at Samvidhan Sadan, drew a swift backlash from the BJP, with MPs led by Nishikant Dubey demanding a formal apology. They accused her of undermining constitutional values and the Parliament’s authority. The protests led to the adjournment of Lok Sabha proceedings on Friday morning, as BJP members chanted slogans calling for her apology.

Sonia Gandhi alleges ‘bulldozing’ of legislation

Sonia Gandhi strongly criticized the passage of the Waqf Bill, claiming it was bulldozed through the Lok Sabha. She also targeted the Modi govt’s push for the One Nation, One Election initiative, calling it a direct subversion of India’s constitutional framework. “Whether it is education, civil rights and liberties, our federal structure, or the conduct of elections, the Modi government is dragging the country into an abyss,” she said.

She accused the government of promoting a surveillance state and claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi was rebranding initiatives started during the UPA era as his own. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi were present during the meeting, where Mrs Gandhi urged Congress MPs to aggressively counter BJP narratives.

Waqf Bill passed after intense debate in both Houses

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha after a 12-hour debate. Amendments proposed by opposition members were rejected via voice vote. The final vote count stood at 288 in favour and 232 against. The Bill later cleared the Rajya Sabha with 128 votes supporting it and 95 opposing, amid claims from opposition parties that it is anti-Muslim and unconstitutional.

The government defended the Bill as a historic reform for the benefit of the minority community. The Congress has since announced that it will challenge the law in the Supreme Court, with Jairam Ramesh stating that the party would very soon contest the Bill’s constitutional validity.

The BJP on Tuesday seized the moment by sharing a viral clip of the viral girl from the CSK vs RR match, using it to mock the Congress-led Karnataka government. The jibe comes in response to the state’s recent decision to increase prices for Nandini milk, BMTC bus fares, and Namma Metro tickets, sparking widespread criticism.

Sharing the viral clip on X (formerly Twitter), the Karnataka BJP captioned, “That too, right after hikes in BMTC, Metro, and Milk prices!”

During the Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals match, a female fan’s reaction to Dhoni’s departure captured attention online. Her expression, as Hetmyer caught a ball that Dhoni had hit, quickly became popular meme material across the internet.

Bengaluru residents are grappling with a wave of price hikes that have swept across essential services over the past year, from public transportation to household staples. The escalating costs of metro fares, bus tickets, milk, and electricity are placing a growing burden on daily commuters, families, and small businesses alike.

One of the steepest increases has come from the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL), which rolled out a fare revision in February. The maximum fare for a metro ride jumped from ₹60 to ₹90, while the minimum balance required on smart cards doubled from ₹50 to ₹90. This adjustment translates to a 50-90% fare hike, a significant blow for the thousands of daily passengers who depend on the Namma Metro as an affordable lifeline. For a city known for its traffic woes, the metro’s rising costs are forcing many to rethink their budgets.

The pain at the ticket counter doesn’t stop with the metro. In January, the Karnataka government greenlit a 15% fare increase for state-run transport corporations, directly impacting the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). As a result, bus commuters—many of whom rely on BMTC services to navigate the city—are facing higher prices. An ordinary daily pass now costs ₹80, up from ₹70, while a weekly pass has risen from ₹300 to ₹350. Monthly pass holders, including students and regular travelers, are shelling out ₹1,200, compared to ₹1,050 previously. The fare surge is yet another hurdle for those already stretched thin by rising living costs.

For households, the sting of inflation is also evident at the breakfast table. The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) has raised the price of its popular Nandini milk by ₹4 per litre, effective April 1. This marks the third hike in less than a year, following increases of ₹3 per litre in July 2023 and ₹2 per litre in June 2024. A litre of Nandini toned milk, which retailed for ₹40 last year, now carries a ₹46 price tag. While KMF insists its rates remain competitive with brands like Amul and Heritage, the steady upward trend has left consumers frustrated and budgets tighter than ever.

Adding to the financial squeeze, the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has approved higher fixed charges for electricity consumers over the next three years. The new rates, set to appear in bills starting May, will impact households and businesses across the state. However, there’s a silver lining for some: beneficiaries of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, which provides free electricity, will be shielded from these increases. For everyone else, the rising cost of power is yet another expense to juggle.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday firmly stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will continue to lead the nation in 2029, asserting that there is “no need to search” for a successor as Modi will retain his position, after Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut claimed Modi’s successor will likely be from Maharashtra.

This statement by Fadnavis came in response to claims by Raut, who suggested that Modi had visited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur on Sunday to inform RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat of his impending retirement. Modi will turn 75 in September this year.

Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnavis emphasized, “There is no need to look for his successor. He (Modi) is our leader and will continue to lead.” He also rejected speculations that Modi’s successor might come from Maharashtra, saying, “In our culture, it is not right to talk about succession while the father is still present. That is the way of the Mughals. The time to discuss this has not yet arrived.”

Raut had earlier claimed that the RSS is seeking a change in political leadership. “He (Modi) probably went to the RSS headquarters to submit his retirement application in September,” Raut said. He added, “PM Modi visited the RSS office to announce his retirement. As far as I know, he has not visited the RSS headquarters in the last 10-11 years. The RSS wants new leadership, and now PM Modi is stepping down.”

However, Modi’s visit to the RSS headquarters marked his first since becoming Prime Minister. During the visit, he also laid the foundation stone for the Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, a new extension of the Madhav Netralaya Eye Institute & Research Centre, named after the late RSS chief Madhavrao Golwalkar.

Addressing the gathering, PM Modi praised the selfless work of RSS volunteers across various fields and regions of India. “The RSS is like a banyan tree of India’s eternal culture and progress, with ideals and principles aimed at safeguarding national awareness,” he said. “This great tree is not ordinary.”

Modi also highlighted the RSS’s dedication and organization over the past century, noting that their efforts are bearing fruit as India moves toward its goal of becoming a developed nation, ‘Viksit Bharat,’ by 2047. “The period from 2025 to 2047 is crucial because we have big goals ahead. We must lay the foundation for the next 1,000 years of a strong and advanced India,” he added.

The statements from both leaders have sparked a political debate, with Fadnavis staunchly supporting Modi’s continued leadership, while Raut’s claims suggest a potential shift in the political landscape.