Guwahati, Sep 8: In a boost to its preparations for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, the Congress on Monday welcomed three former legislators into its fold, while launching a sharp attack on the ruling BJP over “corruption and company-style governance”.

Former Sipajhar MLA Binanda Saikia, former Kamalpur MLA Satyabrata Kalita and former Karbi Anglong MLA Dr. Mansingh Rongpi formally joined the Congress at Indira Bhawan in Guwahati.

The joining ceremony was attended by AICC General Secretary in-charge of Assam Jitendra Singh, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi and several senior party leaders.

The Congress said the induction of the three leaders, each with influence in different regions of the state, reflects growing disillusionment among political figures and common people with the BJP-led government.

“All sections of Assam are yearning for change. What the people have got in the past years is the most corrupt rule in the state’s history – a government run like a private company by Himanta Biswa Sarma. Rampant corruption and loot of public resources, along with divisive governance, have been its hallmark,” Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal said in a post on X.

The Congress leadership stressed that the party was working to consolidate its organisation at the grassroots level and present itself as a credible alternative to the BJP. Gaurav Gogoi said that the party’s emphasis would be on “restoring governance based on honesty, unity and justice”, claiming that people are increasingly turning to Congress for a pro-people government.

Party insiders said the induction of former MLAs would help strengthen its presence across constituencies, particularly in lower Assam and the hill districts. The APCC has been holding a series of outreach programmes across the state in the run-up to the polls expected early next year. With the BJP facing questions over price rise, unemployment and corruption, Congress leaders believe the mood is gradually shifting in their favour.

“The upcoming Assembly elections will be decisive. The people of Assam will support Congress to bring back an inclusive and transparent government,” Venugopal asserted.

IANS

New Delhi, Sep 8: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday asked students to uphold a strong sense of national pride in all their endeavours and emphasised the role of discipline, service, and patriotism in shaping their character and aspirations.

As part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Navy Children School (NCS), Delhi, Rajnath Singh interacted with the students and the Principal of the school at his office in South Block. Addressing the students, the Defence Minister encouraged them to dream with purpose, pursue their goals with sincerity.

He exhorted them to stay humble yet strong and fulfil their duties in whichever capacity with honesty and respect. Emphasising character development of children in their formative years, the Defence Minister lauded the role of NCS in shaping the character and aspirations of students through discipline, service, and patriotism.

He acknowledged the vital role schools under the Ministry of Defence play in nation-building, emphasising that these institutions are not just centres of learning, but platforms that imbue the next generation with values of leadership, integrity, and responsibility.

During the event, the Defence Ministry was given a brief overview of the NCS’s vision and achievements, with the students sharing their experiences of how the school is playing a central role in their holistic development.

The students also presented handcrafted tokens of respect to the Raksha Mantri, along with a Coffee Table Book and Crest. Earlier, the Defence Minister underscored the importance of ‘Atmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in the defence sector, calling it a “condition for survival and progress” in the 21st century. He said that in the prevailing geopolitical circumstances, dependence on foreign countries for defence requirements is “not an option” for India.

Highlighting the rapidly changing global environment, he said, “Be it pandemics, terrorism, or regional conflicts, this century has proven to be the most unstable and challenging on every front so far. In such circumstances, if we talk about today’s strategic requirements, it becomes clear that Atmanirbharta is not just an advantage but has become a necessity.” IANS

New Delhi, Sep 8: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to accept the Aadhaar card as the “12th document” for identification purposes in the revised voters’ list being prepared as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar. Directing the poll body to issue instructions to its officials on the ground regarding the acceptance of Aadhaar — in addition to the 11 documents already permitted for identification, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi clarified in its order that while Aadhaar is not a proof of citizenship, it could be used to establish the identity of a person.

The Justice Surya Kant-led Bench added that the ECI officials will be entitled to verify the authenticity and genuineness of Aadhaar cards furnished by the voters. The apex court was hearing a clutch of petitions challenging the ECI order directing the SIR exercise in poll-bound Bihar.

The direction regarding the acceptance of Aadhaar came after senior advocate Kapil Sibal pointed out that the ECI had not issued instructions to its officials on the ground to accept Aadhaar cards, and therefore, the earlier apex court orders were not being implemented.

The Justice Surya Kant-led Bench, in an order passed on August 22, had ordered that the claim form for inclusion in the voters’ list could be submitted with any of the 11 documents originally listed by the ECI, or with an Aadhaar card. During the hearing, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the ECI, submitted that the Aadhaar card cannot be accepted as proof of citizenship and urged the apex court to adjudicate whether, for the purpose of electoral rolls, the ECI has the authority to decide if an applicant is a citizen. In its interim order, the Justice Surya Kant-led Bench observed that Aadhaar may be accepted at least as proof of identity and should be treated as the “12th document” during the revision of the voters’ list. “Adhaar card shall be taken into consideration as one of the documents for establishing the identity of a person for inclusion/exclusion in the revised voter list of Bihar. Aadhaar card shall be treated as the 12th document by authorities,” it said. “However, it is clarified that authorities shall be entitled to verify the authenticity and genuineness of the Aadhaar card itself. It shall not be accepted as proof of citizenship. ECI shall issue instructions in this regard during the course of the day,” the apex court added. Amid the pending legal challenge to the SIR in Bihar, the sources claimed that the ECI is considering conducting SIR across the country and has called a meeting of all the state Chief Electoral Officers (CEO) in Delhi on September 10. The meeting will be attended by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, the Election Commissioners, and other senior poll body officers. The issue assumes significance as polls are due next year in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry, and according to reports, the poll body is likely to conduct the SIR in the whole country. –IANS pds/vd

Srinagar, Sep 8:  Another terrorist was killed in the ongoing operation by joint security forces in J&K’s Kulgam district on Monday, taking the number of terrorists killed to two. Officials said that two terrorists were killed in the ongoing operation against terrorists in the Gudar forest area of Kulgam.

The soldiers, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), were injured in this gunfight. The injured soldiers were shifted to the hospital for treatment. A gunfight had broken out as joint teams of the security forces started a CASO (Cordon and Search Operation) in the Gudar forest area, following information about the presence of terrorists.

“As the joint forces came closer, hiding terrorists opened fire, after which an encounter started,” an official said. Joint forces have started aggressive anti-terrorist operations in J&K, and these operations are targeted against the terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs), and sympathisers.

Security forces believe that in order to dismantle the ecosystem of terror in the UT, the focus should not merely be on the elimination of the gun-wielding terrorist, but also those helping to sustain terrorism. After ‘Operation Sindoor’ was suspended, there have been attempts by the terrorists to infiltrate into J&K from the Pakistani side of the Line of Control (LoC).

J&K has a 740-Km-long LoC, which is guarded by the army. In addition to the LoC, there is nearly a 240-km-long International Border in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts that is also guarded by the BSF. With the help of Pakistan, terrorist outfits have been using drones, especially along the International Border, to drop weapons, drugs and cash on the Indian side for the terrorists.

The BSF has been using special anti-drone technology to ensure that the handlers of terrorism sitting in Pakistan are prevented from using these means to sustain terrorism in J&K. Drug smugglers and drug peddlers are also under the radar of the security forces since it is believed that the funds generated by drug smuggling and hawala money rackets are ultimately used to sustain terrorism.

In the majority of such cases, the roots of drug smuggling and hawala money rackets have been traced to Pakistan and the handlers of terror operatives based there.

IANS

New Delhi, Sep 8: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday urged exporters to give priority to local supply chains to strengthen India’s economic security amid global trade uncertainties that can disrupt domestic production schedules.

“We have recently seen whenever any nation limits or puts export controls, then it impacts our exporters and industry. This is why Atmanirbhar Bharat is the key,” Goyal said in his address at the platinum jubilee celebration of the Engineering Exports Promotion Council (EEPC).

Goyal’s advice came in the backdrop of China’s restrictions on the export of rare earth magnets which have disrupted the production schedules India’s automobile and electronics manufacturing.

The minister also urged the industry to pass on to consumers the entire benefit of the reduction in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) announced by the government. He also highlighted that steps to simplify the indirect tax system and reduce rates would lead to an increase in domestic demand, which would spur economic growth.

India’s economy grew 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2025-26, surpassing market estimates, driven by buoyant growth in the services sector. Goyal has assured Indian exporters that the government is actively engaged in creating an enabling environment to help them navigate the challenges arising from rising trade tariffs.

Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Jitin Prasada, said the Indian exporters must also adopt new technologies and sustainable practices, and expressed confidence that businesses will be able to tackle the present uncertainties.

“The global environment is not without challenges. Geopolitical tensions and the rising protectionism in some regions pose uncertainties, but I am confident our exporters will rise to the occasion with innovation and resilience,” Prasada added.

Meanwhile, Goyal chaired a meeting with Export Promotion Councils and Industry Associations last week to chart a path forward amid shifting trade dynamics. He urged exporters to upgrade product quality, align with global standards, diversify supply chains, and explore alternate markets.

There was a broad consensus on the need for alternative mechanisms, with the Government committed to addressing sectoral concerns and driving sustained export growth. The Union Minister emphasised that India’s long-term goal is to strengthen domestic manufacturing, boost exports.

He assured EPC and industry representatives that the government remains committed to providing a supportive ecosystem through ease of doing business initiatives, targeted trade support, and timely policy interventions to mitigate the impact of rising tariff measures.

IANS