News Today

A judicial inquiry report into the deadly stampede at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium blames the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), event managers DNA Networks, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for organising an unauthorised victory parade that left 11 people dead on June 4.

This episode of News Today covers the suicide of a 20-year-old student in Balasore, Odisha, who died by self-immolation after her sexual harassment complaints against her Head of Department, Sameer Sahu, were allegedly ignored by college authorities.

The top focus of this episode of News Today is an exclusive India Today special investigation that delves into the ground reality of the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.

The preliminary report on the Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad has raised more questions than answers. While Air India claims no mechanical faults were found, pilot associations are pushing back strongly against suggestions of pilot error.

A 25-year-old national-level tennis player, Radhika Yadav, was allegedly shot dead by her father, Deepak Yadav, at their home in Gurugram on Thursday morning.

On News Today, the Supreme Court has questioned the Election Commission's timing and Aadhaar exclusion in the Bihar voter list revision hearing but has not ordered a stay on the process. The court asked if the EC has the power to conduct a citizenship exercise and suggested de-linking the revision from the Bihar Assembly elections. The EC opposed the suggestions, stating it has the authority to revise electoral rolls and assured that no one will be deleted without due process. The court emphasized the need to preserve voters' rights and democracy. The next hearing is scheduled for July 28th. In an exclusive interview with India Today, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressed speculation about his tenure, stating he will complete the full 5-year term. He dismissed rumors of a power-sharing agreement with Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, saying there is no such arrangement. Siddaramaiah refuted claims of financial strain due to welfare schemes, asserting there is 'no dearth of money' for guarantees. He accused central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate of targeting only Congress MLAs and ministers in Karnataka. On the recent stampede during an RCB event, Siddaramaiah admitted regret over the deaths but denied any government failure. The Chief Minister also confirmed plans to conduct a new caste census in the state within 3-4 months.

The big focus of this episode of News Today is on the Gujarat bridge collapse and Rahul Gandhi versus the Election Commission over Bihar electoral roll revision.

On News Today, the focus is on the imminent announcement of a limited trade deal between India and the United States. Sources indicate that agriculture and dairy products will not be included in this initial agreement. The programme also covers the escalating language war in Mumbai, with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Shiv Sena UBT protesting against perceived injustices to Marathi speakers. The language debate in Maharashtra has intensified, with political parties clashing over Marathi pride and alleged Hindi imposition. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have opposed recent government orders making Hindi mandatory in schools from class 1 to 5. Critics argue this is an attempt to diminish Marathi language and culture. The ruling Shiv Sena faction defends the government's stance, citing efforts to promote Marathi. The controversy has sparked wider discussions on language politics, cultural identity and the balance between regional languages and Hindi across India. Violence and intimidation tactics by some groups have been condemned. Additionally, the show addresses the ban on old cars in Delhi NCR to combat pollution, and the government's response to X's (formerly Twitter) claims of press censorship in India. Other top stories include the Air India plane crash probe and Bihar's election promises.

The Election Commission's special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar has sparked controversy, with opposition parties filing petitions in the Supreme Court challenging the move. The revision requires voters added since 2003 to submit proof of date and place of birth, effectively their citizenship. Opposition parties claim this targets poor, Dalit and Muslim voters and could lead to disenfranchisement. The EC maintains the revision is working smoothly, with 2.88 crore forms collected covering 37% of Bihar's voters. However, ground reports show many citizens struggling to provide the required documents. Former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa says while roll purification is legitimate, the timing and new procedures raise questions. The Supreme Court will hear the petitions on Thursday. Concerns have been raised about the Election Commission of India's voter registration drive. A former Election Commissioner states there are practical and conceptual issues that need clarification, such as the acceptance criteria for enumeration forms and required documents. He calls for establishing open and credible channels of communication to address doubts, though stops short of saying the EC faces a crisis. The discussion also touches on allegations by some politicians that the EC is acting as a rubber stamp for the government, which the former official suggests should not be assumed without evidence.

Families of victims of the Air India AI 171 crash claim they are being coerced to disclose financial details to determine payouts, while Air India denies these allegations and assures that all compensations will adhere to protocol.

A big Congress versus Election Commission war has erupted ahead of the Bihar assembly polls over voter list revision.