A Ganesh Puja organised at Belur Bazar in Howrah, near Kolkata, has sparked a controversy over its theme featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lord Ganesha together. The display has a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ theme and has attracted discussion on social media.

The display shows PM Modi and Lord Ganesha seated together, with both holding cups of tea. The arrangement represents the concept of ‘Chai Pe Charcha’, or discussion over tea.

The words ‘Hindu Rashtra’ are displayed in the background, while a map of India and a Hindu flag have also been placed nearby.

What the organiser said

The organiser, Khokan Kanra, said the theme was his personal initiative and that he has been organising the puja for a long time.

Kanra said he comes up with a different theme every year and that this year’s concept was his own idea. He also denied allegations that the theme was linked to his recent joining of the BJP.

He said his intention was not to offend any religion. According to Kanra, he portrayed Prime Minister Modi as a symbol of the nation and Lord Ganesha as a symbol of religion.

TMC criticises the theme

The theme was criticised by Trinamool Congress leader and Central Howrah MLA Arup Roy.

Roy said individuals who had recently joined the BJP were attempting to gain favour through such acts. He also said the BJP leadership and the Prime Minister might not be aware of the display and called on the district and state BJP units to take action.

BJP says there is nothing wrong

The BJP took a different position on the display.

Howrah District BJP Secretary Omprakash Singh said he saw nothing wrong with the theme. He said different kinds of pujas and themes are organised in West Bengal.

Singh also said the district BJP would discuss the matter and take action if necessary.

Row comes amid debate over puja themes

The controversy comes amid a separate debate over comments by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad regarding themes used in Durga Puja pandals.

VHP eastern region secretary Amiya Sarkar had said the organisation’s request was that Durga Puja themes should not be against Indian culture, spirituality or national morale, and that religious sentiments should not be hurt.

The Howrah Ganesh Puja display has since become a subject of discussion, with political reactions emerging from both the Trinamool Congress and the BJP.

India could face a tariff of up to 100 per cent under a US bill targeting countries that continue to buy oil and gas from Russia, after the legislation cleared a procedural hurdle in the US House of Representatives.

The Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 was advanced by the House on Tuesday evening in a 214-211 vote. The bill is expected to face a final House vote on Wednesday.

If passed by the House and subsequently signed by President Donald Trump, the legislation would authorise the US president to impose 100 per cent tariffs on Russia’s major oil-trading partners, including India and China.

However, no new 100 per cent tariff on India has been imposed under this bill at this stage. The legislation still has to clear the House and then be sent to the President for his signature.

What the Russia sanctions bill proposes

The bill seeks to impose additional sanctions on Russia’s leadership and energy sector. It also targets the so-called “shadow fleet” of vessels used to help Moscow circumvent sanctions linked to oil deliveries.

The legislation would give President Trump authority to impose 100 per cent tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.

The US argues that revenue from Russia’s crude oil trade is helping finance the war in Ukraine.

Bill already passed US Senate

The US Senate passed the legislation on August 7 with an 86-11 vote.

The Senate version does not specifically name Russia’s trading partners. Instead, it refers to the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas by volume.

The House legislation is now moving through the lower chamber, where lawmakers are expected to hold the final vote before the chamber begins an early recess on Thursday.

Why India is facing tariff risk

India is among the major purchasers of Russian oil and gas. The proposed legislation seeks to give the US President the authority to impose tariffs on countries that continue such purchases.

The measure comes as groups supporting Ukraine have increased lobbying efforts among US lawmakers. The Ukraine Action Summit, organised by the American Coalition for Ukraine, is also taking place in Washington.

Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has opposed the bill. He argued that it could give President Trump broad authority to impose tariffs without sufficient safeguards.

What happens next

The House is expected to take up the bill for a final vote on Wednesday. If it passes, the legislation would then be sent to President Trump for his signature.

The House is scheduled to begin an early recess on Thursday and is expected to reconvene on November 9 after the US midterm elections.

For now, the key point is that India faces a potential 100 per cent tariff under the proposed legislation, but the tariff has not yet been imposed as a result of this bill.

A new charging framework for certain UPI merchant payments above Rs 2,000 will come into effect from October 15, 2026. However, consumers will continue to use UPI without paying the new charges.

The new UPI Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework applies to payments made by consumers to merchants. Under the framework, a 0.4% charge will be levied on eligible merchant transactions above Rs 2,000. The charge will not be passed on to customers, according to the Finance Ministry.

Which UPI transactions will attract charges?

The new framework covers person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions above Rs 2,000. Payments between individuals, or person-to-person (P2P) transactions, will remain free irrespective of the transaction amount.

P2M transactions up to Rs 2,000 will also remain outside the scope of MDR.

For certain merchant categories, including railways, telecom services, insurance and fuel, a flat charge of Rs 5 will apply to UPI payments above Rs 2,000.

Consumers will not have to pay the new fee

The new charges are applicable to merchants and are not meant to be added to the amount paid by customers.

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) said consumers will continue to transact using UPI free of cost. This means that sending money to another person through UPI will remain free, while eligible merchant transactions above Rs 2,000 will come under the new MDR framework.

New UPI framework starts October 15

The revised MDR framework will become effective from October 15, 2026. The changes introduce charges for specified merchant transactions while keeping person-to-person payments and smaller merchant payments outside the MDR framework.