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1984 anti-Sikh riots: Final arguments in case against Sajjan Kumar to be heard at Rouse Avenue Court today

New Delhi, Oct 29, 2025

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has concluded the trial in the case against Sajjan Kumar, an accused in the Janakpuri and Vikaspuri violence cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The court has scheduled the hearing of final arguments from both sides for Wednesday.

On July 7, Sajjan Kumar declared himself innocent, stating that he could not have been involved in such crimes “even in his wildest dreams” and that there was no evidence against him. Earlier, on November 9, 2023, the victim in this case, Manjeet Kaur, recorded her statement before the court.

Sajjan Kumar, who was a Member of Parliament at the time of the riots, has been accused of inciting mobs to kill members of the Sikh community. In an earlier verdict, the Delhi High Court had delivered a scathing judgment, stating that the accused had managed to evade justice for decades due to “political patronage.”

The 1984 anti-Sikh riots broke out following the assassination of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards.

The assassination of the Prime Minister was triggered by widespread anger over Indira Gandhi’s decision to order the Indian Army into the Golden Temple earlier that year to flush out terrorists hiding there.

Following her assassination, mobs targeted and murdered Sikhs, particularly in Delhi, where large-scale arson and killings occurred.

The violence, which spread across the country, claimed the lives of more than 3,000 Sikhs. The worst incidents took place in the national capital, Delhi, where more than 2,700 people were killed.

For over three decades, several high-profile politicians accused of involvement in the riots managed to escape conviction. However, this changed when Sajjan Kumar was convicted by the Delhi High Court, which sentenced him to life imprisonment. His lawyer, however, stated that Kumar would appeal the verdict before the Supreme Court.

There are multiple cases against Sajjan Kumar in connection with the 1984 riots, including one related to the killing of a family of five in Delhi. In the present case, Kumar faces charges for his alleged role in the murders of two Sikhs, Sohan Singh and his son-in-law Avtar Singh, in Janakpuri, as well as another incident in Vikaspuri, where one Gurcharan Singh was allegedly set ablaze.

Deposing before Special Judge Digvijay Singh of the Rouse Avenue Courts, the 77-year-old Kumar maintained that he had been falsely implicated and that the charges were politically motivated.

According to the Nanavati Commission report, constituted to investigate the violence, 587 FIRs were filed in Delhi relating to the riots, which resulted in the deaths of 2,733 people. Of these, about 240 FIRs were closed by police as “untraced,” while 250 cases ended in acquittals. Only 28 cases led to convictions, involving roughly 400 individuals, of whom about 50 were convicted for murder, including Sajjan Kumar.

Kumar, a senior Congress leader and MP at the time, was also convicted in another case concerning the killing of five persons in Delhi’s Palam Colony on November 1 and 2, 1984. He was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court, and his appeal challenging the sentence is currently pending before the Supreme Court.(Agency)

Vidya Malavade reveals yoga is all about being ‘fully present’

Mumbai, Oct 28, 2025

Actress Vidya Malavade believes yoga is all about being ‘fully present’ in the moment.

The ‘Chak De! India’ actress took to her official IG and posted a video of her recent yoga session.

She was seen practising the ‘Fall and Rise’ pose in the clip where she revealed that she fell twice while doing the asana and got it right only on the third try.

Sharing how everyday is unique, she wrote, “This practice is truly humbling after decades of acing this tradition… today I fell…twice over! Sure we aced it on the third go. Everyday is different.. Body mind feels differently and as long as there is no ego, falling or rising all is well (sic).”

The post further included the caption, “My practice is my Guru .. my lifeline..And it is truly humbling…Progressing or regressing.. it’s all about coming back on my mat and being fully present (evil eye emoji) was wonderful to practice with fellow Yogi @jayseaswell at @theglustudio. (sic).”

Vidya loves to share her journey of well-being with her Insta Family.

Back in September, she shared her shower affirmation to ward off negative energy.

Vidya disclosed that she has not used soap on her skin for the last decade, yet her skin feels as soft as ever.

Her ritual includes getting your skin wet, taking a spoonful of salt, and adding a few drops of water. Next, apply the paste to your entire skin. After that, step out of the shower for 30 seconds and say the affirmation.

“Thank you for taking away any intentional and unintentional Nazar coming towards me and mine …And anything that doesn’t serve me!”

Once done, step into the shower again and visualise the water washing the salt along with aches, pains, worries, anxiety, anger, etc going down the drain.

Vidya advised doing this every month for 10 days straight and then taking a break, as salt can lead to dry skin.(Agency)

India’s youth boxers shine bright as six enter finals, one wins bronze in Asian Youth Games

Manama, Oct 28, 2025

India’s young pugilists continued to make waves at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 in Manama, Bahrain, with six boxers, including five girls and one boy, storming into their respective finals. India also confirmed one bronze medal following a strong semifinal run from Anant Deshmukh in the men’s category.

In the girls’ semifinals, Khushi Chand (46kg) began India’s dominant run with a commanding 5:0 victory over Mongolia, followed by Chandrika Bhoreshi Pujari (54kg), who outclassed her rival from Kazakhstan with another 5:0 win. Harnoor Kaur (66kg) displayed excellent composure and counterattacking flair to defeat Chinese Taipei (5:0), while Anshika (+80kg) overpowered China in another clean sweep.

In Session 2, Ahaana (50kg) showcased her grit to overcome a tough challenge from Uzbekistan, winning 3:2 in a close contest to complete India’s perfect record in the girls’ semifinals.

Among the boys, Lanchenba Singh Moibungkhongbam (50kg) continued his stellar form with a 5:0 unanimous win over the People’s Republic of Korea, entering the finals in style. Meanwhile, Anant Deshmukh (66kg) fought valiantly against a strong opponent from Kazakhstan but had to settle for a bronze medal after a hard-fought semifinal bout.

With six finalists and one bronze medal, India has already recorded one of their most successful youth boxing campaigns ever at the continental level. The Indian contingent, which underwent an intensive training camp at NS NIS Patiala under national coaches Vinod Kumar (head coach boys) and Jitender Raj Singh (head coach girls), will now aim to convert their momentum into gold medals as the tournament concludes on October 30.

Earlier, Team India’s young boxers continued their impressive run at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025, adding four more victories to their tally as Lamchemnba, Udham Singh, and Anant Deshmukh registered commanding wins, following strong performances by Ahaana and Dhruv at the Exhibition World Bahrain.

Leading the charge on Saturday, Lamchemnba displayed sharp reflexes and solid control to defeat his opponent from the Philippines 4–1, marking another confident showing for India. Udham Singh followed with a flawless performance against Thailand, winning his bout with a clean 5–0 verdict, while Anant Deshmukh outclassed his opponent from Tajikistan with another unanimous 5–0 win, showcasing India’s technical depth and superior preparation.(Agency)

India rejects ‘biased’ UN report claiming Pahalgam massacre influenced treatment of Rohingya refugees

United Nations, Oct 29, 2025

India has strongly denounced as biased and communal a human rights report on Myanmar that claims the Pahalgam terrorist massacre in April affected the treatment of Rohingya migrants.

“I strongly denounce the biased approach adopted by the SR [special rapporteur] of the innocent civilian victims of the April 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam through biased communal lens”, BJP MP Dilip Saikia said on Tuesday.

“The allegation that this terrorist attack impacted displaced persons from Myanmar has absolutely no factual bearing”, Saikia told a briefing on human rights in Myanmar.

He was reacting to the allegations made against India by the special rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar, Thomas Andrews, a US Democrat politician-turned Harvard academic.

“My country rejects such prejudiced and blinkered ‘analysis’ by the special rapporteur”, said Saikia.

He is one of the MPs joining India’s delegation to the General Assembly.

Referring to the Rohingyas in India, he said, “My country is seeing an alarming level of radicalisation among the displaced persons leading to consequential pressure and impact on the law and order situation”.

The Rohingya organisation behind the crisis in Myanmar is the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) led by Ataullah abu Ammar Jununi, a Karachi-born Rohingya.

In August 2017, ARSA launched communal attacks on Hindus in Myanmar, killing 99 of them — women, men, and children — and abducting several, according to Amnesty International.

Regarding India’s approach to its neighbour, Saikia said India is for an immediate cessation of violence, release of political prisoners, unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance, and inclusive political dialogue.

“We firmly believe that sustainable peace can only be secured through inclusive political dialogue and the early restoration of democratic processes through credible and participatory elections”, he added.

In his report, Andrews claimed that after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, “refugees from Myanmar have been under severe pressure in India even though no individuals from Myanmar were involved in the attack”.

Giving a communal tinge, he said the terrorist attack was on “Hindu tourists” even though the terrorists’ motive was to kill non-Muslims and their victims included a Christian.

Saikia told Andrews “not to depend upon unverified and skewed media reports whose sole purpose appears to be maligning my country where people of all faiths live, including more than 200 million Muslims, which is about 10 per cent of the world’s Muslim population”.

Special Rapporteurs are unpaid independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor human rights situations in countries or about issues and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Secretary-General or the UN.

Andrews is a former Democratic Party member of US Congress and is now the director of Harvard University’s Southeast Asia Human Rights Project.

He said Rohingya refugees told him that in recent months they “have been summoned, detained, interrogated and threatened with deportation by Indian authorities”.

He alleged that about 40 Rohingya refugees were taken by sea and let off the coast of Myanmar, while others were deported to Bangladesh.

The Rohingya exodus began after the terrorist group ARSA attacked Myanmar security posts in August 2017 sparking a massive retaliation.(Agency)

Montha hits Andhra coast, triggers heavy rains with strong winds

Amaravati, Oct 29, 2025

Severe cyclonic storm ‘Montha’ crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam close to Narsapur during midnight, triggering heavy rains with strong winds, uprooting trees and disrupting electricity supply.

According to Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), the cyclone crossed the coast between 11.30 p.m. and 12.30 a.m. The rear sector of the cyclone entered the land early Wednesday morning.

APSDMA said in a weather update at 6.30 a.m. on Wednesday that ‘Montha’ moved northwestwards with a speed of 10 kmph during past six hours and weakened into a cyclonic storm.

“It is likely to move nearly northwestwards across coastal Andhra Pradesh and maintain its intensity of cyclonic storm during next 6 hours and weaken further into a deep depression during subsequent 6 hours,” it said.

The cyclone triggered heavy rains accompanied by strong winds with the speed of about 105 km per hour. Even after the landfall, the strong winds with speed of 85-95 kmph were continuing.

APSDMA has advised people in coastal Andhra to remain vigilant due to strong winds blowing through the region.

The cyclone triggered storm surges along the coast. High tidal waves inundated roads in Konaseema district. High waves also lashed Uppada coast in Kakinada district. Electricity supply was disrupted in Rajahmundry due to strong winds.

Coastal Andhra districts were receiving heavy rains since Tuesday, inundating low-lying areas. Main roads in Ongole town were flooded.

Under the impact of the cyclone, Kavali received highest rainfall of 23 cm. Ulavapadu recorded 17 cm rainfall followed by 15 cm in Chirala.

The IMD has issued red alert to all districts in coastal Andhra and Telangana for Wednesday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast rains in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka under the impact of cyclone.

Heavy rainfall likely to occur at one or two places over Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Eluru, Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu, Prakasam and Nellore districts of Andhra Pradesh.

Moderate to heavy rainfall is likely to occur at one or two places over Kakinada, Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, Kurnool, Nandyal, Ananthapuram and YSR Kadapa districts.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu remained at Real Time Governance centre at Secretariat till 11.30 p.m. to review the situation.

He directed officials to remain alert throughout the night to prevent loss of life and property

The Chief Minister held a teleconference with district collectors to review the current status of the cyclone. He instructed ministers to visit the cyclone-affected areas, interact with the people, and immediately implement relief measures to instil confidence among them.

He emphasised that power supply should be restored promptly after the cyclone by repairing damaged electric poles and substations. He further stated that he has requested the Centre to send central teams to assess the overall cyclone damage, including crop losses.(Agency)

Mommy-to-be Bharti Singh craves for ‘Amritsari Kulche’ during pregnancy

Mumbai Oct 29, 2025

Indian television host Bharti Singh, who is expecting her second child, recently shared a post on her social media account highlighting her pregnancy cravings.

In the story, she wrote, “Amritsar wale kulche khaane ka bohot man karraha hai (I feel like having Amritsari Kulche),” with a crying and sulking emoticon. For the uninitiated, Bharti and her husband, Haarsh, announced their second pregnancy through a heartwarming social media post while the couple, along with their elder son, Lakshya, and family, were in Switzerland on a family trip earlier this month.

They were all seen having a ball of a time. Bharti recently shared an emotional video on her YouTube channel where she was seen having an emotional conversation with her son Lakshya, fondly known as Gola, about the arrival of his soon-to-be sibling. Bharti was seen preparing her young son for the changes that lie ahead.

In the vlog, Bharti was seen gently explaining to Lakshya that he will soon have to share his mother’s love with his younger sibling but was also assuring him that no matter what, she will always love him the most in the world, even more than the newborn. Bharti’s assurance made Lakshya smile, who reacted with a surprising maturity. Instead of showing any signs of insecurity or jealousy, the little boy responded by saying that Bharti should love the little baby equally and that he too will love the baby a lot. The comedian was visibly moved by his words, as he was seen wiping away tears as her son spoke with a lot of understanding for his age. In one of the most adorable moments further, Lakshya referred to the unborn baby as his “own son” and called him “Mera Beta”, making Bharti emotional all the more.

Towards the end of the video, Bharti admitted that she feels nervous about balancing her time and affection between both children. She says she wants to ensure that neither of them feels left out and both feel equally loved, attended to, and well parented.

For the uninitiated, Bharti Singh tied the knot with writer-producer Haarsh Limbaachiya in December 2017 in Goa. The couple welcomed their first child, Lakshya, on April 3, 2022.(Agency)

North Korea responds to Trump’s meeting offer with cruise missile launch

Seoul, Oct 29, 2025

North Korea has remained tight-lipped about US President Donald Trump’s repeated offer to meet leader Kim Jong-un, responding only with a cruise missile test-fire, a move analysts interpreted as likely ‘rejecting’ the offer.

The North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported it test-fired sea-to-surface strategic cruise missiles in the Yellow Sea on Tuesday after improving them for ship-based launches.

The surprise missile test was reported hours before President Trump arrived in South Korea to attend Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation events in the southeastern city of Gyeongju and hold talks with President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Ahead of and during his ongoing Asia swing, President Trump has repeatedly extended offers to meet with Kim, which would mark the first meeting between them in more than six years if it takes place.

Trump called North Korea a “sort of nuclear power,” suggesting the possibility of negotiating sanctions relief with the country. He also said he could extend his trip for a meeting with Kim.

North Korea’s state media had remained silent on Trump’s meeting offers as of Wednesday morning. Trump is staying in South Korea from Wednesday to Thursday.

Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies, interpreted Tuesday’s missile launch as a signal that reaffirms Kim’s rejection of Trump’s “tenacious meeting offers.”

“I view the likelihood of a US-North Korea meeting as having gone down,” he said.

North Korea now appears to have fewer incentives to re-engage with the US at a time when its military alignment with Russia provides the country room to circumvent international sanctions and its once-restrained ties with China are recovering.

Speaking at a parliamentary meeting last month, Kim said the North remains open to talks with the US if Washington drops demands to de-nuclearise. But he also added that the country will never engage in any quid pro quo negotiations with enemies for the sake of sanctions relief.

Experts also predicted North Korea may be waiting for Washington to offer a bigger compromise, such as the suspension of joint military exercises with South Korea, before deciding to engage in talks, Yonhap news agency reported.

The possibility of a Trump-Kim meeting may nevertheless remain in place, albeit highly limited, until Trump leaves the Korean Peninsula, they said.(Agency)

Cyclone ‘Montha’ makes landfall near Kakinada; TN to experience rain for six days

Chennai, Oct 29, 2025

Cyclone Montha made landfall near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh early on Wednesday morning, unleashing heavy rains and strong winds across the coastal districts.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that the cyclone, which had formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal earlier this week, struck land between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam with wind speeds reaching up to 110 kmph.

According to IMD officials, Montha brought intense rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning to several parts of Krishna and Machilipatnam districts, uprooting trees and damaging property.

In Alluri district, a woman was killed after a tree fell on her during the storm, while two others sustained serious injuries and were admitted to hospital.

Disaster management teams were deployed to clear fallen trees and restore power in affected areas. The severe cyclonic storm, which had been moving northwestward since Monday, weakened slightly after crossing the coast but is expected to bring widespread rainfall to southern India.

The IMD said that due to Montha’s influence, Tamil Nadu is likely to receive moderate rainfall for the next six days.

A weather bulletin issued on Wednesday morning warned that gusty winds of 45 to 55 kmph, occasionally reaching 65 kmph, may lash the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and the Kanyakumari Sea.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea until conditions improve. In Chennai, skies are expected to remain mostly cloudy with intermittent light to moderate showers in some areas.

The Greater Chennai Corporation and the Tamil Nadu Disaster Management Authority have kept all emergency control rooms on alert to handle possible rain-related incidents.

Authorities in Tamil Nadu have also directed local administrations to closely monitor water levels in rivers and reservoirs and ensure preventive steps are taken in low-lying and flood-prone zones.(Agency)

Siddharth calls wife Aditi Rao Hydari his ‘greatest strength’ as he wishes her on birthday

Mumbai, Oct 28, 2025

Actor Siddharth compiled a beautiful, heartfelt poem dedicated to wife Aditi Rao Hydari as he wished her on birthday.

The ‘Rang De Basanti’ actor uploaded some candid photos of Aditi on his official Instagram handle.

He also shared some heart-melting words for the ‘Heeramandi’ actress that went like this, “My love was born today (red heart emoji)

In every second of every day

I feel you in my being.

Wherever I go you go with me.

My best friend, my greatest strength

I am because you make me want to be.

Thank you for being born. Thank you for this life.

Thank you for the strength, my Queen,

Thank you my gifted, blessed, beautiful wife.

Happy Birthday Adu.

I love you (red heart emoji) (sic).”

Reacting to the post, Aditi commented, ‘My Siddhuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu bestest! (red heart emojis) Come back soon (teary-eyed and red heart emojis)”

Recently, Siddharth thanked wife Aditi for being his rock.

Elated about joining Freida Pinto as the co-lead for the series “Unaccustomed Earth”, Siddharth shared a note thanking Aditi.

He took to his official Instagram handle and shared a news article about him being a part of the series based on the Jhumpa Lahiri collection of short stories.

Touted to be an epic, soapy, and culturally vibrant drama, “Unaccustomed Earth”, revolves around a tight-knit Indian American community navigating love, desire, and belonging.

“Thank you to the Universe. Overwhelmed and so grateful for this next chapter in the dream that is my life!,” he shared the caption.

The forthcoming series will also include Sarayu Blue, Indraneil Sengupta, Adi Roy, and Iyla Sundarsingh Mckaig as part of the core cast.

Honored to get the opportunity, Siddharth added, “It’s an honour to be a part of Unaccustomed Earth and to work with such an incredible Cast and Crew. Let’s gooooooo. @johnwellsproductions @warnerbros @netflix @lahirijhumpa @madplays @riteshbatra28 Thank you @aditiraohydari for being my rock! (sic).”(Agency)

Anta bypoll: Kejriwal’s support to independent candidate takes local contest to national map

Arvind Kejriwal Former Delhi CM 5 and AAP

Jaipur, Oct 28, 2025

The upcoming November 11 by-election for the Anta Assembly seat in Rajasthan’s Baran district has taken a national political tone after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal openly extended his support to independent candidate Naresh Meena, a Congress rebel.

On Tuesday, Naresh Meena sought AAP’s backing on social media platform X, writing that he was “fighting for change” and needed Kejriwal’s support. Within hours, Kejriwal responded, “Naresh ji, the Aam Aadmi Party is completely with you.” Following this, Meena expressed his gratitude, saying he was thankful for the party’s solidarity.

AAP workers across Rajasthan have since jumped into the campaign.

The hashtag #AAPStandsWithNareshMeena started trending on social media, giving the local by-election a national spotlight.

The Anta by-election has now turned into a triangular contest where vote division could play a crucial role. Congress has fielded Pramod Jain Bhaya, a seasoned leader with a strong hold in the Hadoti region and multiple terms as MLA.

The BJP has nominated Morpal Suman, a relatively new face but backed by the party’s organisational machinery.

Independent candidate Naresh Meena, popular among the Meena and Dhakad communities, has gained fresh momentum after AAP’s endorsement.

His appeal to youth, urban voters, and those seeking change is expected to reshape the electoral dynamics. Political observers believe that Naresh Meena’s rebellion could dent the Congress’s traditional vote bank. His former supporters, including a significant youth segment, may drift away.

With AAP’s support, the anti-incumbency and anti-corruption narrative has further strengthened, potentially benefiting the BJP through a split in Congress votes.

Taking the by-election seriously, the BJP has executed a micro-level strategy.

By the last date for withdrawal of nominations, the party managed to pacify rebels. Former MLA Rampal Meghwal and four others withdrew their nominations and publicly extended support to Morpal Suman.

State BJP President Madan Rathore said, “Preparations have been made to take the matter to the micro-management level. Workers are deployed at every booth, and the organisation’s grip is strong. We have shown unity by persuading the rebels.”

The party is holding door-to-door campaigns and rallies featuring central leaders to consolidate its base. A total of 15 candidates are in the fray in the Anta contest, but the real battle is among Congress’s Pramod Jain Bhaya, BJP’s Morpal Suman, and Independent Naresh Meena.

Voting will take place on November 11 from and results will be declared on November 14.

The BJP had won the Anta seat in the previous election, but this time, with Kejriwal’s intervention and AAP’s entry, a new political equation has emerged.(Agency)

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