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Delhi vs Haryana over toxic water: AAP doubles down on charge; BJP calls it ‘poll gimmick’

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New Delhi, Jan 28: A press conference by Delhi Chief Minister Atishi accusing the BJP-led Haryana government of “deliberate and indiscriminate” release of untreated water in the Yamuna River, with an intent to derail Delhi’s water supply has triggered a flurry of reactions including demonstrations, protest and defamation threats over the ‘Yamuna poisoning’ charge.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP on Tuesday doubled down on its claims on release of toxic water into the Yamuna River by the Haryana government.

CM Atishi reiterated the charge and informed that her government will take up the matter with the Election Commission today and complain about the BJP’s brazen bid to “influence” the elections with contaminated water supply to the national Capital.

As the startling allegations by the Delhi CM created a political furore, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini responded with a defamation threat for baseless charge.

The Haryana CM, speaking to the press said, “Arvind Kejriwal must apologise for baseless allegations or else be prepared for a defamation case.”

The raging row over the ‘poisoning’ of the Yamuna River with the industrial waste from Haryana emanated after Delhi CM Atishi claimed that alarming levels of ammonia in water supply from the Wazirabad barrage had brought three water treatment plants of Delhi “near closure” and deeply impacted its functioning.

Meanwhile, the AAP supremo addressed a press conference on Tuesday morning, informing that Delhi CM Atishi and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann will meet the Election Commission later in the day to raise the matter before the poll panel.

Responding to the Haryana CM’s defamation warning, Kejriwal said, “You have already put me behind bars. Do you want to hang me? I won’t allow dirty water to Delhiites. Haryana must stop releasing poisoned water.”

Meanwhile, several Haryana ministers have dismissed Kejriwal’s charges as ‘unfounded and unsubstantiated’, terming it a political gimmick ahead of Delhi Assembly elections.

Anil Vij, a tall BJP leader and transport minister in the Haryana government accused Kejriwal and the Delhi dispensation of stoking needless controversy with baseless claims.

“The AAP government has been in power in Delhi for the past ten years. They failed to clean river Yamuna but go on freely blaming others for their own shortcomings,” he claimed.

He also asked the AAP government to do a reality check on Delhi’s water and conduct a lab test, adding that it will reveal the whole truth.

Ranbir Gangwa, another Haryana Cabinet minister blasted the Delhi government saying, ”Kejriwal and his aides are shifting blame on others to hide their own failures.”

Denouncing the AAP’s charges, he told the press, ”We have always fulfilled Delhi’s demand for water. We always met their demands for water.”

Krishan Lal Middha, Haryana Assembly Speaker also objected to the poisoning charges and said that the AAP was resorting to such tactics because of its anxiety and nervousness ahead of Delhi polls.

“The AAP is fearing a rout in the upcoming elections. It doesn’t know how to convince the electorate about its good works. They have misguided the people earlier also. This is another attempt to mislead the people and to win their support,” he said.

The political blame game over supply of toxic water to Delhi got a fresh twist, with the Congress, too, wading into the controversy. Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said that he was surprised that Haryana police was not initiating any action against AAP leaders for such ‘blatant lies’.

Maharashtra

Mumbai 26 July 2005 Floods: When City Was Submerged With 944 mm Of Rain In 24 Hours Leaving 914 Dead, Thousands Displaced

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Every year, the monsoon season disrupts life across Indian cities with heavy rainfall, waterlogging and traffic chaos. But July 26, 2005, stands out as a day that etched itself into Mumbai’s history as one of its darkest and most devastating.

On that day, Mumbai received an unprecedented 944 mm of rain in just 24 hours, nearly half of its annual average. Between 8 am and 8 pm alone, 644 mm poured down. It remains the eighth-highest 24-hour rainfall ever recorded anywhere in the world. The city, unprepared for such intensity, was brought to a grinding halt.

Internet Flooded With Old Visuals, Still Haunting Mumbaikars

Several netizens took to social media to share haunting visuals from the 2005 Mumbai floods, recalling the day when the city came to a complete standstill. Many described it as an unforgettable chapter in Mumbai’s history, marked by chaos, resilience and unity.

While some reflected on the overwhelming scale of the disaster, others remembered how the crisis revealed the undying spirit of Mumbai, with strangers helping each other and communities coming together in the face of adversity.

Mumbai’s Lifeline Took Serious Hit, 52 Local Trains Damaged

As floodwaters rose, roads vanished beneath torrents of water. Local trains, the city’s lifeline, stopped completely, with tracks submerged and 52 trains damaged. Thousands were stranded in stations, schools and offices overnight. Low-lying areas like Dharavi and the Bandra-Kurla Complex were heavily inundated, while vehicles were swept away or immobilised.

The scale of disruption was staggering. Over 37,000 auto-rickshaws, 4,000 taxis, 900 BEST buses and 10,000 trucks and tempos were either damaged or rendered unusable. Even the skies were no refuge. For the first time ever, Mumbai’s airports shut down, with Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and the Juhu airstrip closed for more than 30 hours. More than 700 flights were cancelled or delayed, creating nationwide ripples in air traffic.

Over 900 Killed, Property Worth ₹5.5 Billion Destroyed

The economic loss was estimated at Rs 5.5 billion (around 100 million USD). But the cost in human lives and suffering was far greater. According to official reports, 914 people lost their lives, many due to drowning, electrocution and landslides. More than 14,000 homes were destroyed, leaving thousands without shelter, food or drinking water.

Communication networks also failed. Around 5 million mobile users and 2.3 million landline connections went dead for several hours, hampering emergency rescue operations. Emergency services were overwhelmed, as the city grappled with a disaster it had never imagined.

The 2005 floods served as a harsh wake-up call, exposing Mumbai’s vulnerability to extreme weather. In the years since, the government has worked on improving disaster preparedness, such as creating specialised disaster management units, upgrading early warning systems and installing floodgates and dewatering pumps at critical points.

Yet, even two decades later, as visuals from 2005 resurface each year, a haunting question persists: Is Mumbai truly prepared to face another flood of that magnitude?

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National News

Congress Leader Jairam Ramesh Slams PM Modi’s ‘Boasted Friendship’ With Donald Trump, Cites US Engagement With Pakistan

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New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “much boasted friendship” with US President Donald Trump is now proving to be “hollow” and cited several overtures the latter recently made to Pakistan.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh also alleged that Indian diplomacy was failing in the light of the US partnering with Pakistan.

“The abject failure of Indian diplomacy, especially in the past two months, is revealed most tellingly by four facts. These expose the tall claims made by the Prime Minister and his drum-beaters and cheerleaders,” he said in his post.

Ramesh said that since May 10, 2025, Trump has claimed 25 times that “he personally intervened to stop Operation Sindoor, threatening India and Pakistan that if they didn’t bring the war to a halt, they would not have a trade agreement with the USA.” On June 10, 2025, he claimed, Gen Michael Kurilla, the head of the US Central Command, hailed Pakistan as a phenomenal partner of the US in countering terrorism.

On June 18, 2025, Trump held an unprecedented luncheon meeting with Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in the White House, Ramesh noted.

“Two months earlier, Munir’s inflammatory, incendiary, and communally provocative remarks had provided the backdrop to the brutal Pahalgam terror attacks on April 22, 2025,” he said.

Just yesterday, the Congress leader claimed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and thanked Pakistan for its partnership in countering terrorism and preserving regional stability.

“The PM’s clean chit to China on June 19, 2020, has already cost India heavily. His much boasted friendship with President Trump is now proving to be hollow,” Ramesh said in his post.

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National News

Government Cracks Down on OTT Platforms Over Obscene Content

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New Delhi, July 25, 2025 — In a significant move targeting explicit digital content, the Government of India has taken steps to block several over-the-top (OTT) platforms accused of streaming obscene and vulgar material. Platforms such as ALTBalaji, ULLU, and a few others have come under the scanner for allegedly violating Indian content regulations and societal norms.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, acting on multiple complaints from citizens and civil society groups, initiated the ban after conducting an internal review. Authorities stated that certain shows and web series available on these platforms contained content that was “sexually explicit,” “vulgar,” and “not suitable for public viewing,” especially in households with children.

The decision has stirred a wider debate around content regulation and creative freedom in India’s rapidly growing digital entertainment sector. While officials maintain that the step was necessary to uphold decency standards and protect cultural values, critics warn of overreach and censorship.

A senior official said, “This is not about targeting creative freedom. This is about ensuring that OTT content does not cross legal and moral boundaries. There are clear guidelines, and platforms are expected to adhere to them.”

The platforms affected reportedly failed to comply with warnings issued earlier regarding their programming. Despite advisory notices and reminders to filter or restrict adult content, several web series continued to feature nudity, explicit scenes, and suggestive themes without proper age-gating or viewer discretion tools.

In recent years, OTT platforms have grown in popularity, especially among younger audiences, with many bypassing traditional film and TV regulations. The government had previously introduced a self-regulation framework for digital content providers, but critics say enforcement has been lax, leading to the current clampdown.

Some media rights advocates and artists expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the banning process and called for an independent review mechanism. Others, however, welcomed the move, stating that unchecked access to graphic content could have a detrimental effect on social behavior and minors.

As of now, the banned platforms remain inaccessible in India. The Ministry has hinted at further actions if other OTT providers do not align their content with the prescribed code of ethics and IT rules.

This development marks a turning point in India’s digital media regulation and sets the stage for possible stricter content monitoring across streaming platforms in the future.

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