Kolkata | 28 Aug 2026

Trinamool Congress chief and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sharply criticised Kolkata Police on Friday during the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad foundation day programme in Kolkata, held on Raksha Bandhan, a day after a confrontation at Abhishek Banerjee’s Camac Street office led to three FIRs and the arrest of 13 people.

Mamata Banerjee targets Kolkata Police over TMC office action

Addressing supporters at Cathedral Road, Banerjee accused the police of acting unfairly against her party and questioned the police action at Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Thursday. She alleged that officers had entered the premises forcibly and that TMC workers were subsequently arrested.

Banerjee contrasted the present police administration with the force she had worked with during her 15 years as chief minister, alleging that its conduct had changed after the change of government. Her remarks were political allegations against the present administration and police; Kolkata Police has separately defended its action through the cases registered over Thursday’s confrontation.

Banerjee also announced that she would begin touring districts to stand with party workers and people she described as deprived. She said that even if police permission was not granted for her political programmes, she would continue her outreach, including travelling on foot where necessary.

Three FIRs filed, 13 arrested after Abhishek Banerjee office clash

Kolkata Police said three cases were registered following Thursday’s confrontation involving police personnel, Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials and TMC members at Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Camac Street. Thirteen people were arrested.

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien and other party figures were named in cases arising from allegations that officials were obstructed while attempting to enter a common area of the building and remove an allegedly unauthorised billboard.

According to the authorities, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation had received a complaint concerning the billboard and its officials went to the site accompanied by police. The police alleged that party supporters and private security personnel obstructed officials and that a confrontation followed.

The TMC has disputed that account. Abhishek Banerjee alleged that civic and police personnel entered the office without proper authority and pushed or heckled party leaders and workers. His faction has indicated that it will pursue legal remedies over the action.

TMCP foundation day coincides with Raksha Bandhan

The confrontation with police became a major theme at Friday’s TMCP foundation day gathering, which coincided with Raksha Bandhan. Banerjee had earlier called for the occasion to carry a message of harmony because the student organisation’s annual foundation day fell on the festival this year.

The gathering itself was held under restrictions imposed by the Calcutta High Court after rival TMC factions sought permission to organise separate TMCP programmes at the traditional Mayo Road venue.

The court did not allow either faction to use Mayo Road. Mamata Banerjee’s faction was permitted to hold its programme on Cathedral Road, while the rival group led by Ritabrata Banerjee was allotted Rani Rashmoni Road.

High Court capped attendance and ordered traffic lane to remain open

The Calcutta High Court fixed the timing of both programmes between noon and 3 pm and imposed an attendance ceiling of 1,500 people for each gathering. Each faction was also directed to provide Kolkata Police with the contact details of 15 volunteers to help coordinate security arrangements.

The court further ordered that the programmes be restricted to one lane at their respective venues while the other lane remained available for traffic.

There was significant crowding around the Cathedral Road event after Banerjee arrived. Local reports said several vehicles became caught near the gathering and an ambulance was also temporarily affected. Banerjee was seen directing party workers to allow vehicles to pass and asking supporters to cooperate with police before the political speeches continued.

Mamata says political and legal fight will continue

At the programme, Banerjee also renewed her challenge to the BJP-led West Bengal government over the 2026 Assembly election. She alleged that the BJP had secured its victory through unfair means and said her party would continue its legal fight. The allegation has not been established as fact and remains part of the political dispute between the two sides.

The BJP came to power in West Bengal in the May 2026 Assembly election, ending 15 years of Mamata Banerjee-led government. Since that defeat, the TMC has also been hit by an internal split, with competing factions claiming organisational legitimacy.

Friday’s simultaneous student-wing programmes, the dispute with Kolkata Police and the Camac Street cases have therefore added another layer to an already intensifying political and legal confrontation in West Bengal.

Mumbai | 28 Aug 2026

Disha Patani, now appearing opposite Emraan Hashmi in the recently released Awarapan 2, built her film career after leaving engineering studies, moving to Mumbai with limited savings and facing repeated auditions and early rejection. Her breakthrough in Hindi cinema came with M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story in 2016, a decade before she joined the cast of the Awarapan sequel.

Disha Patani moved to Mumbai with ₹500

Patani has spoken publicly about the financial uncertainty of her early career. In a 2018 interview with Hindustan Times, she said she had left her studies and moved to Mumbai, where she lived independently and tried to support herself through modelling, commercials and auditions.

“I came to Mumbai with ₹500 and after a point, I didn’t have any money.”— Disha Patani, actor

She said she regularly auditioned for television commercials and faced the practical pressure of securing enough work to pay her rent. Her account also makes clear that her entry into the film industry was not backed by an established film family.

Before moving fully into entertainment, Patani was studying engineering. She later said modelling assignments increasingly clashed with the attendance requirements of her college, eventually forcing her to choose between continuing her studies and pursuing modelling.

Disha Patani auditioned for Heropanti but did not get the role

One of Patani’s early auditions was for Heropanti, the 2014 Hindi debut of Tiger Shroff. The female lead eventually went to Kriti Sanon.

Patani later recalled during an interview with Bollywood Hungama that she was still studying at the time and had travelled for the audition without having established herself as an actor.

“I was horrible in the audition.”— Disha Patani, actor

The available interview establishes that she auditioned for the film and did not secure the part. It does not support portraying the episode as her being removed from Heropanti after being formally cast.

A separate launch film also fell through

Patani has, however, confirmed that another project intended to launch her did not go ahead with her in the role. In her 2018 interview, she said she had been replaced by another actor before that film started.

She described rejection as an experience that pushed her to work harder rather than abandon acting. The title of that abandoned launch project was not identified in the interview, so linking it definitively to Heropanti would be inaccurate.

M.S. Dhoni film brought wider Hindi-cinema recognition

Patani made her acting debut in Telugu cinema with director Puri Jagannadh’s Loafer in 2015, opposite Varun Tej. Her first Hindi film release came the following year with Neeraj Pandey’s M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story.

In the biographical sports drama, starring Sushant Singh Rajput as former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Patani played Priyanka Jha. The film was released on 30 September 2016 and became the project that brought her substantially wider recognition among Hindi-film audiences.

Her subsequent credits included Kung Fu Yoga with Jackie Chan, Baaghi 2, Bharat, Malang, Ek Villain Returns, Yodha, Kalki 2898 AD and Kanguva.

Disha Patani stars as Zara in Awarapan 2

Patani’s latest theatrical appearance is Awarapan 2, released on 14 August 2026. Central Board of Film Certification records identify Emraan Hashmi and Disha Patani as the film’s main actors and list Nitin Kakkar as director, with Mukesh Bhatt and Vishesh Bhatt as producers.

The CBFC certified the Hindi film UA 16+ on 5 August with a running time of about 140 minutes. Patani plays Zara, while Hashmi reprises Shivam Pandit, the character he played in the 2007 film Awarapan.

The sequel follows Shivam years after the events of the original film as he is drawn back into a dangerous criminal world. Shabana Azmi and Shriya Saran are among the other credited cast members.

From modelling auditions to mainstream films

Patani has previously said acting was not originally her childhood career plan and that she had once wanted to become an Air Force pilot. Modelling opportunities during college gradually altered that path.

Her career therefore developed through a sequence of modelling assignments, commercial auditions, unsuccessful film opportunities and regional cinema before her Hindi-film breakthrough. The record also shows why two frequently repeated parts of her story require distinction: she did audition unsuccessfully for Heropanti, while the film in which she says she was formally replaced was a separate, unidentified launch project.

Kathmandu | 28 Aug 2026

At least 84 Indian nationals have been rescued after catastrophic Nepal floods devastated the Bhote Koshi–Trishuli river basin, while about 290 Indians remained uncontactable in the latest Indian government updates. Nepal Police said on Friday that the death toll had risen to 469 as search teams continued operations across flood-hit districts and authorities monitored the risk of further flooding from the Tibet side.

84 Indians rescued as authorities trace stranded pilgrims and workers

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said 63 Indian nationals working at the Trishuli-I hydropower project had been rescued. They joined 21 people from Tamil Nadu, who were travelling for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and were rescued earlier, taking the confirmed number of rescued Indians to 84.

The number of Indians still out of contact has been changing as communications are restored and rescue teams verify the whereabouts of different groups. The MEA initially put the figure at 288 on Thursday and subsequent updates and reports citing the ministry placed it at about 290.

Officials have stressed that “uncontactable” does not necessarily mean confirmed missing or dead. Communications and road links were severely disrupted across the disaster zone, complicating efforts to establish the location of travellers and workers.

Around 200 other Indian nationals on the Tibet side, many associated with the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, have also sought assistance for evacuation. Indian authorities are coordinating with officials in Nepal and China.

Nepal flood death toll rises to 469

Nepal Police said on Friday that 469 bodies had been recovered following the devastating flash flood. It also reported that 1,545 people had been rescued from affected areas.

Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority had listed 977 people as missing or out of contact in its latest status report available from Thursday. The figures remain subject to revision as bodies are identified, survivors are located and information arrives from areas where communication systems were damaged.

Thousands of security personnel have been deployed in search-and-rescue operations, while helicopters, drones and ground teams are being used to reach isolated settlements and search riverbanks and debris fields.

Flood surged into Nepal from Tibet after Himalayan collapse

The disaster struck on 26 August when a massive surge entered Nepal from the Tibet side and moved through the Bhote Koshi river system into the Trishuli, devastating areas including Timure, Syaphrubesi and Rasuwagadhi before causing destruction farther downstream.

Preliminary assessments by Nepali authorities and geological analysis indicate that an ice-and-rock or glacial collapse generated a major debris flow and flood. Early reports had raised the possibility of an earthquake, but subsequent analysis indicated that the seismic signal was associated with the collapse rather than being the primary cause of the disaster.

The flood destroyed critical infrastructure. Nepal’s Department of Roads said the 42-kilometre road between Betrawati and the Rasuwagadhi border was damaged at multiple locations, with several bridges also swept away.

New barrier lake keeps downstream areas on alert

Authorities have also warned of a continuing risk from a barrier lake formed upstream on the Tibetan side. Nepal’s hydrological authorities said they had received information from China about the development and advised people along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors to remain away from riverbanks and follow official warnings.

The possibility of another sudden release of water has added urgency to rescue work in areas already cut off by collapsed roads, destroyed bridges and heavy deposits of mud and debris.

India sends 47.5 tonnes of emergency assistance to Nepal

India has sent 47.5 tonnes of humanitarian and disaster-relief supplies to Nepal aboard two military transport aircraft. The assistance includes temporary shelters, tents, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, dewatering pumps, generators, medicines and food supplies.

The MEA has also said India is mobilising Bailey bridges to support relief and connectivity requirements if requested by Nepal. Indian and Nepali authorities remain in contact over rescue operations and assistance for affected nationals.

Indian Embassy issues emergency helplines

The Embassy of India in Kathmandu has asked Indian nationals affected by the flash floods or their families seeking information to contact its emergency numbers: +977 985 131 6807, +977 970 910 7500 and +977 981 032 6117. The embassy says the numbers can also be contacted through WhatsApp.

Search, rescue and identification operations remain under way, and casualty and missing-person figures are expected to change as authorities receive verified information from the affected region.

India | 28 Aug 2026

Raksha Bandhan 2026 is being celebrated across India on Friday, 28 August, with Shravan Purnima continuing until about 9:48 am. Panchang calculations place the principal Rakhi-tying window after sunrise and before the Purnima Tithi ends, while the exact starting time varies slightly by location.

Raksha Bandhan 2026 Shubh Muhurat and Purnima timings

According to Drik Panchang, the Purnima Tithi began at 9:08 am on 27 August and ends at 9:48 am on 28 August. It lists Raksha Bandhan on 28 August and says the Bhadra period had ended before sunrise.

Because sunrise differs from city to city, the morning Rakhi window is not identical across India. For Jaipur, Rajasthan, Drik Panchang gives the Raksha Bandhan thread ceremony time as approximately 6:04 am to 9:48 am, a duration of about three hours and 43 minutes.

People following a traditional Panchang should therefore check timings for their own city rather than applying one nationwide sunrise-based time. The end of Purnima, however, is listed at about 9:48 am in the referenced calculations.

Why Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on Shravan Purnima

Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi or Rakhi Purnima, is traditionally observed on the full-moon day of the Hindu month of Shravan. The ceremony is centred on a sacred thread tied as a symbol of affection, protection, trust and responsibility.

In its most familiar form, a sister applies tilak and ties a Rakhi on her brother’s wrist while praying for his well-being. The occasion is also widely understood today as a broader celebration of mutual care and responsibility among siblings and families.

The Ministry of Tourism’s Incredible India platform links the festival with several traditions and mythological narratives, including stories associated with Goddess Lakshmi and King Bali. Other widely told traditions connect the idea of a protective thread with figures such as Krishna and Draupadi. These accounts belong to religious and cultural tradition rather than a single independently established historical origin for the modern festival.

President Murmu highlights trust and mutual responsibility

President Droupadi Murmu, in an official message issued by the President’s Secretariat on 27 August, described Raksha Bandhan as an integral part of India’s culture and tradition and said its meaning now extends beyond the ritual itself to warmth, respect and mutual responsibility.

“This festival reminds us that every relationship rests on the pillars of trust, sensitivity and mutual cooperation.”— Droupadi Murmu, President of India

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also greeted people on the eve of the festival, describing Raksha Bandhan as a celebration of love, affection, trust, respect and the commitment to stand by one another.

Partial lunar eclipse falls on Raksha Bandhan, but not visible from India

A deep partial lunar eclipse also occurs on 28 August 2026. NASA’s lunar-eclipse catalogue lists the partial phase as lasting about three hours and 18 minutes, with visibility across the eastern Pacific, the Americas, Europe and Africa.

India is not included in NASA’s listed visibility region for the eclipse. This is significant because several reports have generated confusion over whether the eclipse can be seen from India. Astronomically, the eclipse does not provide a visible lunar-eclipse event for observers in India during the listed circumstances.

Religious rules concerning eclipse-related observances or Sutak vary by tradition and should be distinguished from the astronomical question of visibility. The confirmed astronomical position is that the 28 August partial lunar eclipse is not listed by NASA as visible from India.

Rakhi ritual reflects a wider message of family bonds

Customs differ among families and regions, but the common Raksha Bandhan ritual typically includes a prayer or puja, tilak, tying of the Rakhi and exchange of sweets or gifts. The central theme remains affection, protection and mutual responsibility rather than the material value of the thread or gift.

Government and cultural institutions have increasingly described the festival in broader social terms, emphasising harmony, dignity, family bonds and responsibility. That wider interpretation has helped Raksha Bandhan retain its cultural prominence while practices continue to vary across communities.

Bengaluru | 27 Aug 2026

National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, has cancelled its 34th Annual Convocation for the graduating Class of 2026, which had been proposed for 12 September. The university cited “unavoidable circumstances” and said students would instead receive their degrees in absentia. The decision comes after hundreds of students and alumni opposed the proposed participation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra.

NLSIU Says Degrees Will Be Conferred in Absentia

NLSIU informed graduating students on 27 August that the physical convocation would not be held. The university’s Academic Administration team had earlier told students on 3 August that the annual ceremony was proposed for 12 September.

“Despite our collective best efforts, due to unavoidable circumstances, we are unable to hold the 34th Annual Convocation.”— National Law School of India University notice

The university said degrees would be conferred in absentia after the required approvals from its governing bodies. Graduates will be given the option of receiving their certificates by courier or collecting them from the NLSIU campus.

NLSIU has not publicly stated that the student protests or objections to the proposed guests caused the cancellation. Its official communication attributed the decision only to “unavoidable circumstances”.

Students Opposed CJI Surya Kant and BCI Chairman’s Proposed Participation

The cancellation follows an open letter signed by 165 students from NLSIU’s graduating Class of 2026, 409 current students and 128 alumni. The signatories opposed the proposed presence of CJI Surya Kant and BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra at the convocation.

The statement was issued amid a wider dispute involving NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad and the Bar Council of India.

“Offensive, humiliating, and a mockery of students and their struggles.”— NLSIU students and alumni, in their joint statement

The NLSIU signatories also expressed solidarity with NALSAR students and faculty and sought an unconditional apology from the BCI over its action against NALSAR’s 2026 graduating batch.

NALSAR Dispute Triggered Wider Law-School Protests

The controversy intensified after a section of NALSAR students opposed the proposed participation of CJI Surya Kant at their convocation. On 13 August, the Bar Council of India initially directed state bar councils not to enrol graduates from NALSAR’s 2026 batch while seeking information about those involved in the campaign.

The BCI withdrew the enrolment restriction within hours following criticism. Later that night, Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra said proceedings against the graduating batch had been closed and no further action against the students was required.

The reversal did not end the controversy. NLSIU students and alumni subsequently questioned the proposed participation of both Mishra and the Chief Justice of India at their own convocation.

What Happens Next for NLSIU’s 2026 Graduates

Although the ceremonial event has been called off, graduating students will still receive their degrees after approval by the university’s governing bodies. NLSIU is expected to communicate the procedure for choosing between campus collection and courier delivery of degree certificates.

As of 27 August, the university has not announced a replacement date for the 34th Annual Convocation or indicated that the ceremony will be rescheduled.

New Delhi | 27 Aug 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged schools and families to prioritise physical activity over screen time during the Khelo India Dialogue on Thursday, while outlining a wider strategy to identify young talent and prepare India for the 2036 Olympics.

PM Modi urges schools to build a sporting culture

Addressing young people nationwide through video conferencing, Modi said physical education should become an essential part of school life rather than remain a co-curricular activity. Stronger participation at the grassroots, he argued, would expand India’s talent pool and encourage families to support aspiring athletes.

“Sports centres are more important than screens. Playgrounds are more important than PlayStations.”— Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India

Modi also presented sport as a way to improve health, resilience and discipline. He said participation teaches people how to compete, recover from setbacks and perform under pressure, while helping young people stay away from substance abuse.

India’s 2036 Olympics strategy targets more disciplines

The Prime Minister said India must expand its participation across Olympic disciplines to improve its medal prospects. Referring to the 2012 Olympics, he noted that India competed in only 13 sports and said the country had historically remained absent from a substantial number of medal events.

He identified surfing, sport climbing and winter sports among the areas where India could make better use of its coastline, mountains and regional strengths. Each district, he said, should assess its potential and develop athletes for sports suited to local conditions.

Modi called for the immediate identification and long-term preparation of athletes capable of qualifying for the 2036 Olympics. He referred to a nationwide talent hunt for children aged five to 15, with selection based on their interests and physical suitability for particular disciplines.

He said the government would support athletes from the talent-identification stage through advanced training and international competition. Specialised sports universities, modern training centres and cooperation in sports science and coaching would form part of this ecosystem, according to the Prime Minister.

Khelo India Dialogue invites ideas from young people

Modi described the Khelo India Dialogue as a policy-shaping platform rather than a ceremonial discussion. He encouraged participants to submit ideas on talent development, sports governance and emerging career opportunities.

The programme, organised by Mera Yuva Bharat as part of the National Sports Day 2026 celebrations, brought together young participants at two colleges in every district across states and Union Territories. Local interactions were scheduled with athletes, medal winners, public representatives and MY Bharat volunteers.

The dialogue focused on five themes: sport, Olympic aspirations, youth leadership, Viksit Bharat and Nasha Mukt Yuva. Modi said the initiative was intended to connect India’s sporting ambitions with youth-led nation-building.

Sports careers and para-athletes highlighted

The Prime Minister highlighted growing career opportunities beyond competitive sport, including sports technology, equipment design, medicine, nutrition, psychology and data analytics.

He also praised Indian para-athletes, including Sheetal Devi, Avani Lekhara, Sumit Antil and Nitesh Kumar, saying their achievements had transformed public attitudes towards disability and inspired families across the country.

Modi offered advance greetings for National Sports Day on 29 August and paid tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. He said Khelo India had developed into a major platform for nurturing talent and helping young athletes pursue their sporting ambitions.

New York | 27 Aug 2026

The Hindu American Foundation has issued a security advisory ahead of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s 29 August appearance in New York, urging attendees to remain vigilant and calling on Mayor Zohran Mamdani to protect their safety and civil rights after he publicly opposed the event.

• HAF issues security alert for attendees
• Why Mayor Mamdani opposes the event
• Protests planned outside Madison Square Garden
• Scrutiny surrounding Mohan Bhagwat’s US visit

HAF Security Alert Urges Vigilance and Restraint

The Hindu American Foundation said it issued the community advisory before the Universal Oneness Celebration at the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden. Bhagwat is scheduled to address the gathering on Saturday.

“Stay vigilant, remain situationally aware, and keep interactions civil.”— Hindu American Foundation

HAF advised attendees to respect the rights of others to assemble, protest and express their views. It asked people to report suspicious activity to security personnel or law enforcement, leave the area if they felt threatened and avoid confrontations with anyone making provocative or threatening statements.

The organisation alleged that activists targeting Hindu Americans had attempted to disrupt or cancel the celebration. Its public advisory did not identify a specific imminent threat.

HAF also urged Mamdani to uphold his responsibility to protect all New Yorkers, including those attending the programme, and guarantee their safety and civil rights.

Mamdani Opposes Mohan Bhagwat’s New York Event

Mamdani said he did not support the gathering but acknowledged that New York City might not have the authority to prevent a private event from proceeding.

“I don’t support the rally, but I don’t know if the city has any jurisdiction on cancelling a private event.”— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City

The mayor said his understanding of India was rooted in a pluralistic and secular republic where every person belonged. He expressed concern about what he described as the rise of an exclusionary political vision.

No cancellation of the event had been announced as of 27 August, and the programme remained scheduled for 29 August.

Protests Planned Outside Madison Square Garden

Hindus for Human Rights and other organisations opposing Bhagwat’s participation have announced demonstrations outside Madison Square Garden on the day of the event. The Indian American Muslim Council and the Interfaith Center of New York are among the groups that have criticised the planned appearance.

American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue, the event’s organiser, describes the Universal Oneness Celebration as a gathering promoting shared heritage, interfaith engagement and unity among Hindu Americans and other communities.

The RSS has said the programme will involve a diverse, multicultural and multi-faith audience. The organisation rejects allegations that it promotes intolerance and describes itself as a Hindu-centred cultural and civilisational movement.

US Panel Adds Pressure During Bhagwat’s Visit

The controversy has intensified during Bhagwat’s US visit after the US Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended targeted sanctions against RSS members and Indian officials it accused of involvement in religious-freedom violations. The commission also called for Bhagwat’s US visa to be revoked.

USCIRF is a bipartisan government body, but its policy recommendations are not binding. The United States government had not announced sanctions in response to the latest recommendation.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has rejected USCIRF’s assertions, describing the commission as biased and lacking credibility. The Indian government denies discriminating against religious minorities and maintains that its welfare policies benefit citizens across communities.

New York | 26 Aug 2026

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has opposed an August 29 event featuring Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat at Madison Square Garden, triggering divided reactions from Indian political leaders and civil rights organisations.

• Mamdani opposes Bhagwat’s event
• Universal Oneness Celebration
• Indian political leaders respond
• Groups seek cancellation

Mamdani opposes Mohan Bhagwat’s New York event

Mamdani said he did not support the private gathering but acknowledged that the New York City administration might not have the authority to prevent it from taking place.

“I don’t support the rally, but I don’t know if the city has any jurisdiction on cancelling a private event.”— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City

Mamdani, New York City’s first Muslim and Indian-American mayor, said his family had taught him to view India as a pluralistic and secular republic in which every citizen belonged equally. He described movements based on what he called an exclusionary vision as troubling and said they conflicted with New York’s commitment to diversity.

His comments did not amount to an order cancelling the programme, and no cancellation had been announced as of August 26.

Universal Oneness Celebration scheduled for August 29

Bhagwat is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Universal Oneness Celebration on August 29. The programme is being organised by the AHEAD Forum, formally known as American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue.

Organisers describe the gathering as an initiative promoting shared heritage, interfaith harmony and the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning “the world is one family”. The AHEAD Forum said more than 200 Hindu American organisations were supporting the programme.

The event coincides with Raksha Bandhan and is part of the RSS’s centenary-year international outreach. Bhagwat’s overseas itinerary also includes visits to Canada and the United Kingdom.

Indian political leaders divided over Mamdani’s position

Mamdani’s opposition prompted contrasting responses from Indian political parties. BJP leaders Syed Zafar Islam and Bhola Singh criticised his position and defended the RSS as an organisation involved in social service and nation-building.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Shaina NC accused Mamdani of appeasement politics and questioned what she described as double standards towards the RSS and organisations associated with its community work.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey also called the opposition unwarranted. Although acknowledging his party’s political differences with the RSS, Dubey argued that those disagreements should not result in opposition to an Indian leader visiting another country.

Congress MP Imran Masood questioned the purpose of the programme and the message its organisers intended to convey internationally. Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy, meanwhile, said opposition to the event was understandable in a religiously diverse city such as New York.

Interfaith and civil rights groups seek cancellation

Several interfaith, civil rights and community organisations have urged Madison Square Garden to cancel Bhagwat’s appearance. Groups involved in the opposition include Hindus for Human Rights, the Indian American Muslim Council and the Interfaith Center of New York.

The organisations have raised objections to the RSS’s ideology and record. The RSS rejects allegations of intolerance and describes itself as a Hindu-centred cultural and civilisational movement focused on social organisation and national development.

The AHEAD Forum has maintained that the programme is intended to promote mutual respect, unity and dialogue across communities. With Mamdani questioning the city’s jurisdiction over a privately organised indoor event, any decision affecting the booking would rest with the venue or organisers unless a valid legal or public-safety ground emerged.

New Delhi | 25 Aug 2026

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the government aims to make India free of illegal immigration in the shortest possible time, describing unauthorised entrants as a threat to national security, the economy and demographic stability.

• Four-pronged border security plan
• Long-term internal security strategy
• Criminal laws and fugitives
• Technology and narcotics enforcement

Four-pronged plan targets illegal immigration

Addressing the valedictory session of the Intelligence Bureau’s two-day National Security Strategies Conference in New Delhi, Shah said the Home Ministry had visited every state sharing a land border during the past eight months.

He said the ministry had shared a document setting out a four-pronged border security approach with those states. Each state should appoint a nodal officer of at least Senior Inspector General or Additional Director General rank to coordinate the campaign, he added.

“Our aim is to make the country infiltrator-free in a very short time.”— Amit Shah, Union Home Minister

Shah said India was not a “dharamshala” for people entering or staying illegally. Foreign nationals wishing to live in the country must use legal channels and obtain the required permission from the ministries of External Affairs and Home Affairs, he said.

The conference was attended physically and virtually by senior police officers, directors general of police from the states and representatives of central security agencies.

Shah calls for long-term internal security strategy

Shah urged security agencies to study trends that could shape India’s internal security over the next 15 to 20 years and prepare preventive strategies before emerging problems become major threats.

He said security planning must account for global instability, uncertainty over energy and resources, supply-chain disruptions, growing radicalisation, cyber warfare and misinformation campaigns. Stronger coordination between the Centre, states and security agencies would be essential, he added.

Shah also asked the Intelligence Bureau to convene a meeting with districts along India’s maritime borders before the next conference and prepare a time-bound security roadmap.

Criminal laws and fugitive tracking

The Home Minister said the three new criminal laws would be fully implemented within the next year. He claimed the reforms would help conclude criminal cases through the Supreme Court within three years and increase the conviction rate by 25 per cent.

Shah said the government had strengthened mechanisms for bringing fugitives back to India, with around 274 people returned from abroad between 2019 and 2026. He asked state police forces to establish dedicated systems for pursuing fugitives residing overseas.

He also highlighted provisions for trials in absentia under the new legal framework and asked police chiefs to create dedicated units to follow up on such cases.

Technology and narcotics enforcement

Shah said an integrated data bank connecting CCTNS, ICJS, NATGRID and NAFIS had been created. He encouraged officers to use artificial intelligence for data analysis, identifying criminal methods and generating actionable intelligence.

On narcotics, he directed state police forces to implement the Narcotics Control Vision Document 2026–2029 and follow the “Detect, Disrupt and Destroy” approach. Dedicated teams should be formed in every state to carry out the programme, he said.

Shah said early identification of security challenges, supported by Centre-state cooperation, was necessary to build what he described as a secure, infiltration-free and drug-free India.