West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has ordered police action against people making derogatory remarks about freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose on social media. Adhikari said such posts should be deleted and followed by an apology, stressing that the law would apply equally to MLAs, MPs and government officials. His direction came days after BJP MP Ananta Maharaj described Netaji as a “war criminal” and questioned his leadership and the Azad Hind Fauj. Adhikari also directed MLAs to establish Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Seva Kendras in their constituencies. The state will provide ₹30,000 per month to support the centres, subject to conditions. (PC: X)

Kangana Ranaut on Wednesday clarified her controversial “gutter” remark, saying it targeted a specific section of young people, not the entire youth population. The BJP MP and Mandi Lok Sabha representative said her comments were misinterpreted as blanket criticism of young people. Ranaut explained that those who identify themselves as “cockroaches” would naturally “live in a gutter,” adding that she would reject such a description if applied to her. She stressed that discussing youth involved in drugs, betting, gambling or the dark web did not mean condemning all young people. Her remarks followed criticism of young participants in Cockroach Janata Party protests, whom she called “Generation Gutter”. She also criticised Rahul Gandhi’s conduct in Parliament and predicted his current Leader of Opposition term would be his last.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin? No — Chief Minister Vijay has moved a resolution opposing the proposed delimitation exercise and seeking to permanently retain the Lok Sabha’s existing 543 seats. The resolution argues that southern states should not lose parliamentary representation because of population-control measures. It also calls for maintaining the existing inter-state seat allocation and implementing 33% reservation for women in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections using the current 543 constituencies. The Tamil Nadu Assembly subsequently passed the resolution on August 12. The move follows the state government’s recent anti-NEET legislation and intensifies its opposition to proposed changes in parliamentary representation. (PC: PTI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on August 12 offered the Opposition a 24-hour window to end the ongoing Parliament logjam, proposing discussions from 3 pm Wednesday to 3 pm Thursday. Shah asked the Opposition to submit a letter to the Speaker by 2 pm and assured that he would remain present to hear all concerns and answer questions. The deadlock has centred on alleged police action against students during NEET protests and demands for a discussion on alleged Ram Temple donation theft. Shah blamed the Opposition for disrupting proceedings, while Rahul Gandhi rejected the offer, demanding accountability over the alleged crackdown on protesting students. (PC: India Today)

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s grandnephew Chandra Kumar Bose has announced plans to launch the Azad Hind Party, drawing inspiration from recent Gen Z-led protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Bose said the proposed political outfit will focus on young people and seek to promote Netaji’s inclusive and secular ideology. He alleged that widespread corruption across politics and institutions has left India’s youth increasingly frustrated with the existing system. The announcement marks another shift in Bose’s political journey. He recently resigned from the Trinamool Congress after joining the party ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, following an earlier stint with the BJP. Bose had previously called his decision to join the BJP a “mistake” before leaving the TMC citing personal reasons. (PC: Indsia Today)

  White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have a “very good working relationship” and will resolve differences over potential tariffs linked to Russian oil purchases. His remarks came as the Lindsey Graham Russia Sanctions Bill threatens tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian crude and natural gas, including India and China. The bill passed the US Senate 86-11 but still needs approval from the House of Representatives. Navarro also criticised India’s response to his earlier comments on Russian oil, saying he faced strong online backlash from Indians. (PC: X)

The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution urging the Centre to abolish NEET for undergraduate medical admissions. Moved by Health Minister KG Arunraj, the resolution argued that the exam places rural, economically disadvantaged and Tamil-medium students at a disadvantage by increasing dependence on costly coaching centres. It also cited alleged paper leaks, examination irregularities and student distress as reasons for ending the system. The ruling TVK, Congress, DMK, AIADMK and other parties supported the resolution, while the lone BJP MLA walked out. The state has proposed using Class 12 marks for medical admissions instead of NEET. (PC: HT)

Union Minister JP Nadda on Monday denied claims that police opened fire at protesting students at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. He accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of misleading people and disrupting Parliament. Nadda said the firing claim was false and called for a proper discussion on the issue. He said Home Minister Amit Shah was ready to answer questions from the Opposition. Nadda also alleged that Congress was avoiding discussions on issues such as electoral roll revision and inflation. He accused Rahul Gandhi of changing his demands and creating confrontation. Nadda also questioned Congress’ response to student protests in Jharkhand and alleged double standards. (PC: PTI)

The article reports that the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has formed a 12-member leadership team to steer its movement for the next six months. The team was announced after a two-day meeting in Sambhaji Nagar, shortly after the organisation ended its 36-day Jantar Mantar protest following acceptance of its key demands. CJP says it will remain a youth-focused organisation rather than become a formal political party. Founder Abhijeet Dipke has been named national convener, while Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das are co-conveners. The team includes professionals from journalism, engineering, law, accountancy, entrepreneurship, hotel management, public policy, finance and technology.

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday condemned the use of force against protesting students in Jharkhand, calling for dialogue to resolve their grievances. His remarks came as thousands of JPSC-JSSC aspirants marched towards the Jharkhand Assembly in Ranchi over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. Police used water cannons, tear gas and lathi-charge after protesters breached barricades, with several protesters claiming injuries. Gandhi said students have a right to peaceful protest and urged the Jharkhand government to continue hearing them out and resolve their issues immediately. The students’ agitation has continued for weeks, with protesters demanding action over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.