UPDATED: Nov 5, 2026 14:34 ISTA major political row has erupted in Karnataka following price hikes on Nandini dairy products, including butter, ghee, and paneer, alongside sharp increases in state bus fares. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party staged symbolic protests across Bengaluru, including at the central bus stand, accusing the Congress-led government of fiscal mismanagement and running an empty treasury.
Amid the economic pressure, the Karnataka government approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking financial assistance for 177 drought-affected taluks and demanding minimum support price revisions for sugarcane farmers. Concurrently, the state government faced criticism over delayed payments under the Gruha Lakshmi guarantee scheme after acknowledging treasury fund constraints before the Karnataka High Court.
Adding to political activities in the state capital, members of the INDIA bloc staged demonstrations at Freedom Park demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and calling for the scrapping of the Special Summary Revision process. Read MoreVIDEOS FROM OTHER SECTIONSLATEST VIDEOSPM Modi Slams Congress Over Metro Growth, Highlights Network Boom Across 26 CitiesPrime Minister Narendra Modi targeted the Congress over the development of urban transport, comparing the pace of metro expansion under the previous regime with current infrastructure achievements.
Highlighting the transformation, he stated that in 2014, India had only 248 kilometres of operational metro lines across five cities, whereas the network has expanded to 1,200 kilometres across 26 cities, catering to over one crore daily commuters. Raising questions over earlier development speeds, he noted that cities like Pune would have faced decades of waiting for metro connectivity if expansion had continued at the pre-2014 pace.
Modi remarked that the impact of the rapid transit growth extends beyond statistics, providing citizens with reduced commuting time, enhanced family life, and improved productivity. The remarks follow the launch of a new metro line in Pune, alongside broader upgrades across Indian rail and road connectivity over the past 12 years.AMU Student Polls: Row Erupts Over Speech Invoking Sharjeel Imam, Gaza & Azam KhanA controversy has erupted during the Aligarh Muslim University student elections, being organized after an eight-year hiatus following extensive student protests demanding polls similar to Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University.
During an election address, presidential candidate and third-year PhD history scholar Noman Ashraf sparked intense debate by raising international and national political issues rather than campus-specific matters like seat shortages, facilities, and academic concerns. The candidate referenced jailed figures Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, questioning labels attached to them before judicial verdicts and court trials conclude.
Furthermore, the speech expressed solidarity with the people of Palestine, Gaza, Iran, and Sudan, while also demanding the release of former student and politician Azam Khan. Network reporters noted that the speeches within the university campus have heavily politicized the student elections, evoking strong reactions across student factions and political observers.'Ready To Call Special Parliament Session For Debate On SIR': Amit Shah Challenges Rahul GandhiAddressing a 'Loktantra Bachao, Anarchy Hatao' padayatra rally in Karnal, Haryana, Union Home Minister Amit Shah threw an open challenge to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over the SIR irregularities controversy.
Directly countering Rahul Gandhi's call for a debate, Amit Shah dared him to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting, "We are ready to call a special session of Parliament to discuss SIR. Stop lying." He accused the Congress leader of attempting to spread anarchy and unrest across the country rather than engaging in genuine discussions on the floor of the House.
The counter-campaign, launched by the Bharatiya Janata Party across multiple states including Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, aims to push back against opposition narratives and mobilise cadres ahead of crucial state elections.Stubble Burning in Punjab Sparks War of Words Between Delhi and Punjab Governments as Fires PersistA ground report from Patiala highlights persistent stubble burning amid an ongoing political war of words between the Delhi and Punjab governments over air pollution. Although farm fire counts in Punjab have witnessed a significant reduction compared to previous years, nearly 2,000 incidents of stubble burning have still been recorded across the state.
While the Delhi government continues to accuse Punjab of failing to curb farm fires, the Punjab government maintains that consistent measures have reduced blaze numbers and counter-accuses Delhi of administrative mismanagement. Visuals from between Sangrur and Patiala show active stubble burning taking place on the ground.