India News

Rain threat looms large as defending champions India take on a second-string Afghanistan side in the second quarterfinal of the cricket event at the Asian Games on Monday.

New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) Delhi BJP Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said that the “slapping” incident that took place in the Tilak Nagar Assembly constituency on Sunday afternoon is unfortunate and, as PWD Minister Parvesh Verma himself has said, it should not have happened. However, it is also important to understand the circumstances under which the incident took place. The Delhi BJP Spokesperson said that since last week, Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Tilak Nagar Assembly constituency, Jarnail Singh, had been raising certain personal complaints regarding the contractor working on the road being constructed in Vikaspuri and had been pressuring officials to arrange a meeting with him. When the contractor did not meet the MLA, he started putting pressure through videos on social media. This also came to the notice of Minister Parvesh Verma, following which he decided to conduct an administrative inspection of the site. While proceeding towards Vikaspuri, Minister Parvesh Verma, as a matter of propriety, called AAP MLA Jarnail Singh and requested him to meet at the site. When the MLA did not arrive, the Minister called him again. The MLA then arrived with around 50 AAP workers and started behaving in an indecent and uncivilised manner, said Kapoor. As a matter of official protocol and propriety, Minister Verma had invited MLA Jarnail Singh to join the inspection visit, but the MLA created a commotion by resorting to mob politics, said Kapoor. The Delhi BJP Spokesperson said that if the Minister had wanted, he too could have brought 100–200 workers and raised slogans against the MLA. However, he chose the democratic approach of meeting the MLA and finding a solution to the issue, he said. Instead, MLA Jarnail Singh, displaying an uncivilised form of political conduct, spoke to the PWD Minister in an inappropriate manner and also got his accompanying workers to behave similarly. When the PWD Minister was walking towards his vehicle, one of MLA Jarnail Singh’s aides and others surrounded him and used abusive language. After hearing the abusive remarks, Minister Parvesh Verma became agitated, and the unfortunate incident took place, Kapoor said. The Delhi BJP Spokesperson said that the entire incident appears to have been a well-planned conspiracy by MLA Jarnail Singh; otherwise, why did he take 45 minutes to arrive at a government inspection despite being informed in advance, and why did he bring a crowd along with him? The Delhi BJP Spokesperson said that what happened in Vikaspuri on Sunday has itself been termed wrong by the PWD Minister, and we all regret it. However, MLA Jarnail Singh should also explain why, despite being informed in advance by the Minister, he arrived 45 minutes late and why he came with a crowd, said Kapoor. The manner in which MLA Jarnail Singh deliberately provoked the BJP Minister by bringing a crowd reminds us of how former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, through a similar conspiracy, had got the Delhi Chief Secretary and even his own party’s MP assaulted, said Kapoor. --IANS rch/uk

Kolkata, Sep 27 (IANS) The Indian women's national team will play their first-ever international matches in Kolkata, taking on Russia in two friendlies at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan on October 8 and 11, 2026, during the FIFA Women's International Match Window, the AIFF announced on Sunday. The fixtures will be India's first international matches since they were crowned champions of the SAFF Women's Championship for a record-extending sixth time in June 2026. The October window will provide 69th-ranked India with an opportunity to test themselves against a strong European opposition. Russia are ranked 27th in the world. It will also mark India's first appearance in West Bengal since the 2016 SAFF Women's Championship, which was held in Siliguri and saw the Blue Tigresses lift the title. That remains the only previous occasion on which the Indian women's national team has played in the state. The Russian women's national team last travelled to India in 1994 for the eight-nation Jayalalitha Cup in Chennai. India were eliminated in the group stage, while Russia, who were placed in a different group, went on to finish runners-up. The October fixtures will be the third and fourth meetings between India and Russia. Their previous two encounters both came in international friendly tournaments in neutral venues. India suffered a 0-8 defeat to Russia at the Turkish Women's Cup in 2021, before losing 0-2 at the Pink Ladies Cup 2025 in the UAE. Indian women's national team head coach Crispin Chettri said, “Playing against quality opposition is always valuable for the development of the team. We have already faced Russia at the Pink Ladies Cup in Dubai, where we lost 2-0, so these matches will give us another opportunity to test ourselves against a strong side. “While results are important, we also have to look at these games with a long-term vision. It is important to give opportunities to upcoming players, expose them to high-level opposition and continue developing a squad that can perform at the international level in the future," he added. The Blue Tigresses have been training in Kolkata since September 18. Chettri will finalise and name the squad closer to the matches. “Having Kolkata host these matches will also be a huge opportunity for the players. They will not only get to play against a quality team like Russia, but, hopefully, in front of a good crowd as well. Experiencing the expectations and atmosphere that come with playing in front of fans is also part of their development. These are the habits and experiences we need to build if we want to compete at a higher international level,” he said. --IANS sds/

Rain threat looms large as defending champions India take on a second-string Afghanistan side in the second quarterfinal of the cricket event at the Asian Games on Monday.

President Donald Trump returns to the Presidents Cup for the second time as the honorary chairman, making Sunday in the Chicago suburbs his fourth visit to a golf tournament this year.

Congress calls EC’s SIR steps “damage control,” accusing the electoral roll revision of being a disaster with unaddressed concerns and alleged disenfranchisement.

Vice-President Radhakrishnan urges compassionate advancement with modern progress at Mata Amritanandamayi's 73rd birthday event, highlighting seva and unity.

During 21–25 September 2026, the Supreme Court releases 27 neutral-cited decisions: 20 reportable, six non-reportable and one unmarked. Major rulings govern re-arrest after constitutional breach, POCSO safeguards in custody disputes, a Constitution Bench reference on Election Commissioners, fresh investigation, death sentencing, arbitration and maritime arrest.