The INDIA bloc will target the Centre during the monsoon session over the Pahalgam terror attack, Donald Trump’s ceasefire claims on India-Pakistan, and alleged voter suppression in Bihar. At a meeting of 24 opposition parties, leaders demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi address these issues in Parliament. Restoration of J&K’s statehood, ‘One Nation, One Poll’, and rising crimes against minorities are also on their agenda. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to brief Parliament on Operation Sindoor. The government signaled readiness to discuss Trump’s claims but Modi is unlikely to speak directly on these matters, sources said. (PC: HT)

Over 41 lakh voters in Bihar risk exclusion from electoral rolls, the Election Commission said, citing deaths, migration, and duplicate registrations. Of these, 14.1 lakh are confirmed dead, 19.7 lakh shifted, and 7.5 lakh are registered at multiple addresses. Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav called the revision an assault on democracy, alleging BJP influence. He wrote to 35 opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee, seeking support. The EC is conducting door-to-door visits and verifying foreign nationals’ names. The final date to submit forms is July 25. Opposition claims the process is rushed to manipulate voter lists. (PC: NDTV)

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has pressed Prime Minister Modi to clarify US President Donald Trump’s assertion that “five jets were shot down” during India’s Operation Sindoor in early May. Gandhi posted on X, “Modi ji, what is the truth about the five jets? The country has the right to know!” He criticized Modi for not addressing Trump’s repeated claims during the upcoming Monsoon Session starting July 21. Congress leaders, including Jairam Ramesh, echoed the call for transparency. India maintains the ceasefire was reached via direct military talks, while conflicting versions persist—Pakistan claims it downed three Rafales; India admits unspecified aircraft losses. (PC: PTI & Reuters)

Jan Suraaj founder and poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor sustained a rib injury during a roadshow in Arrah, Bihar. The incident occurred when Kishor leaned from his vehicle to greet supporters during his “Badlaav Yatra” at Veer Kunwar Singh Stadium. A large crowd caused commotion and jostling, leading to his injury. Kishor, experiencing severe rib pain, was rushed to a private hospital without addressing the gathering. He had arrived late at the venue due to delays. The rally was part of his larger Bihar outreach campaign ahead of state elections. Further updates on his condition are awaited. (PC: HT)

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) officially announced its exit from the INDIA bloc on Friday. Senior leader Sanjay Singh said AAP joined the alliance only for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and has since contested assembly polls independently in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Gujarat. Singh confirmed AAP will not attend the INDIA bloc’s meeting ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on July 21. He criticized Congress for failing to lead the opposition alliance effectively. However, AAP will maintain strategic ties with parties like TMC and DMK on parliamentary issues while positioning itself as a strong opposition. (PC: News18)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Trinamool Congress during his rally in Durgapur, accusing it of shielding the accused in the Kolkata gangrape case and failing to ensure law and order in West Bengal. He alleged TMC leaders were linked to the accused and criticized the government’s handling of crimes against women. Modi also accused TMC of extorting businesses through a so-called ‘Gunda Tax,’ hindering investment and job creation. He launched infrastructure projects worth Rs 5,400 crore, including Bharat Petroleum’s City Gas project and the Durgapur-Kolkata gas pipeline, promising development despite the state’s alleged governance failures. (PC: India Today)

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of misusing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to systematically target senior Congress leaders. Speaking to the media on July 18, Venugopal alleged that the Modi–Shah duo seems to have assigned the ED a "monthly assignment" against opposition figures. His comments followed recent ED raids, including on Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, linked to an alleged liquor scam. Congress leaders condemned the actions as political harassment, demanding accountability and warning against the misuse of investigative agencies. (PC: ANI)  

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee led a massive protest in Kolkata, daring BJP to “prove Bengali-speaking migrant workers are Rohingyas.” She accused the BJP of harassing Bengalis in NDA-ruled states and manipulating voter rolls to rig elections. Banerjee claimed 22 lakh Bengal migrants have valid documents and warned BJP against similar attempts in Bengal. Thousands joined the TMC rally, disrupting traffic, ahead of PM Modi’s Bengal visit. Meanwhile, BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari led MLAs to the Election Commission, demanding deletion of alleged “Rohingya” names from voter lists. TMC cited these actions as evidence of rising linguistic discrimination. (PC: News18)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, in a forceful op‑ed marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, warns that India’s democracy was critically undermined when Indira Gandhi suspended civil liberties between June 1975–March 1977. He highlights the incarceration of journalists, activists, opposition leaders, judicial submission including suspension of habeas corpus and “horrifying” human‑rights abuses: torture, extrajudicial killings, forced vasectomies and slum demolitions orchestrated by Sanjay Gandhi. Tharoor stresses that today’s India is stronger, but must heed lessons: protect freedom of information, ensure an independent judiciary, and resist executive overreach. He cautions that unchecked power, even with parliamentary majority, threatens democratic norms. The Emergency, he concludes, remains a stark reminder that democracy is precious and fragile. (PC: News18 & BBC)

At least 10 people died after a part of the Gambhira Bridge in Vadodara, Gujarat, collapsed on Wednesday. Five vehicles, including two trucks and an auto-rickshaw, fell into the Mahisagar River. Rescue work is still going on. Opposition leaders blamed the BJP government. The Trinamool Congress asked, “Is this an act of God or an act of fraud?” Congress said locals had warned that the bridge was shaking. Supriya Shrinate called the “Gujarat Model” a symbol of corruption. PM Modi said the incident was “deeply saddening” and announced ₹2 lakh for families of the dead, ₹50,000 for the injured. (PC: AP)