India Archive

In recent times, the United States has developed a pattern of singling out India whenever the Russia-Ukraine war is mentioned. What began as occasional remarks from American officials has gradually become a repetitive exercise, almost a ritual, where India is either lectured, vilified, or outright blamed for the continuation of the conflict. For many in India, these accusations have even turned into meme material, given how detached they are from ground realities.

On Tuesday, 26th August, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the elevation of 14 lawyers to the Bombay High Court. Among them was Raj Damodar Wakode, whose inclusion has raised many eyebrows. The reason is not hidden — Wakode is the son of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R. Gavai’s cousin, and in many circles, he is casually described as the CJI’s nephew.

Jammu and Kashmir is reeling under the full force of the monsoon, with heavy rains triggering landslides, flash floods, and serious damage to infrastructure across the Union Territory. The most tragic incident has been reported at Adhkuwari on the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route in Reasi district, where a devastating landslide struck on Tuesday.

On 26th August, a group of retired judges issued a strongly worded response that has reignited the debate on judicial accountability. Their intervention came after some sitting judges and activists defended former Justice B. Sudershan Reddy from political criticism. The retired judges, however, plainly stated that judicial independence was not under threat from Amit Shah’s remarks.

The I.N.D.I. Alliance, led by the Congress party, has been repeatedly accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of being involved in voter fraud. These allegations have been fact-checked several times in the past, and each time the claims have been found to be misleading or false. Despite this, the accusations have not stopped. The latest controversy involves Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party (SP), which went as far as to allege that the Election Commission was acting like “Dhritrashtra” instead of presenting proof to back its charges.

After the complete collapse of the much-publicized “Chowkidar Chor Hai” slogan during the 2019 elections, Rahul Gandhi has once again picked up a similar line of attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In what many describe as another desperate attempt to destabilize the government, the Congress leader has launched a fresh campaign, this time accusing the ruling party of stealing votes. The opposition has branded this movement as the “vote chori” campaign, alleging that the Election Commission of India is colluding with the Modi government to disenfranchise ordinary voters and tilt the process in favor of the BJP.

Activist Syeda Saiyidain Hameed, a former member of the Planning Commission during the Manmohan Singh–led Congress government, said that Bangladeshis have the right to live in India. She made this statement during a visit to Assam, at a time when the state government is evicting illegal encroachers from government land and pushing back illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Her remarks came directly in the context of these ongoing drives.

On 24th August, a shocking revelation surfaced in Bhagalpur, Bihar. Two women identified as Imrana Khanam and Firdousia Khanam, both of Pakistani origin, were discovered to have their names listed in the state’s official voter list. Alongside this, they also possessed Aadhaar cards, documents that normally establish the holder’s identity as an Indian resident.

In December 2016, a young woman named Nikki entered into marriage with Vipin Bhati in Greater Noida’s Sirsa village. On the very same day, Nikki’s elder sister Kanchan married Vipin’s brother, Rohit. The two sisters became brides in the same household, a union that their family believed would be a happy beginning. To honor the marriage, Nikki’s family provided a lavish dowry. The gifts included a Mahindra Scorpio SUV, a Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle, a large amount of cash, gold jewelry, and several other valuables.

Lieutenant Colonel Rishi Rajalakshmi often wears a veil to cover the scars from his battlefield injuries, but his valor and spirit remain unscarred. A native of Muthukulam in Alappuzha district of Kerala, this Indian Army officer’s life is an inspiring story of extraordinary courage and dedication. Severely wounded in a counter-terror operation in Kashmir, he not only returned to serve with undiminished fervor but also went on to lead life-saving disaster relief efforts in his home state with the same passion and commitment.