Chidambaram’s Remarks Ignite Political Firestorm
A massive row erupted in India as Congress leader P Chidambaram suggested “homegrown terrorists” might be behind the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians. In an interview with The Quint, he questioned the lack of evidence linking Pakistan to the April 22 massacre and criticized the government’s silence on Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory strike. The BJP slammed him, with Amit Malviya accusing Congress of giving Pakistan a “clean chit” and acting like “Islamabad’s defence lawyers.” Chidambaram hit back, claiming his words were twisted by trolls. He also questioned why PM Modi hasn’t addressed Parliament on the issue, noting the ceasefire was announced by Donald Trump, not India. As Parliament gears up for a heated Operation Sindoor debate, Congress MP Imran Masood backed Chidambaram, accusing the BJP of equating India with Pakistan by agreeing to the ceasefire.
TCS Layoffs Spark Union Outrage
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) announced plans to cut 12,000 jobs, affecting 2% of its workforce, triggering fierce opposition from IT unions. The Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union called the layoffs illegal, urging workers not to resign under pressure and demanding reinstatement. The Forum for IT Employees (FITE) insisted TCS provide notice pay, severance packages, and insurance benefits for a year. TCS attributed the cuts to a “skill mismatch,” not AI, and promised support like outplacement and counselling. However, unions argue the profitable company is prioritizing profits over workers. Employees were advised to document everything and contact labour authorities if coerced. The layoffs, targeting mid and senior-level staff, have raised concerns about job security in India’s IT sector, with unions vowing to fight for fair treatment. TCS insists it’s on a path to become a “future-ready” organization, but the controversy continues.
Indian Envoy Defends Russia Oil Imports
India’s High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, hit back at Western criticism over India’s oil imports from Russia. Speaking on Times Radio, he bluntly asked, “Do we switch off our economy?” Doraiswami pointed out that Western nations buy energy from sources India once relied on, driving up costs for the world’s third-largest oil importer. He explained India’s shift to discounted Russian oil followed sanctions on Moscow after the 2022 Ukraine invasion. Defending India’s ties with Russia, he cited long-standing security relations and questioned why India should face a “loyalty test” when others maintain convenient ties. On the Russia-Ukraine war, he reiterated PM Modi’s stance that “this isn’t an era of war,” urging an end to global conflicts. Doraiswami’s remarks highlight India’s pragmatic approach to energy and diplomacy amid geopolitical tensions.
Jadeja and Sundar Save India in Thrilling Draw
At Old Trafford, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar scripted a dramatic draw for India against England in the fourth Test, keeping the series alive at 2-1. Their unbeaten centuries—Jadeja’s 107 and Sundar’s 101—formed a 203-run partnership, rescuing India from early pressure led by England’s Ben Stokes. Shubman Gill’s gritty 103 and KL Rahul’s 90 set the stage, countering a pitch with variable bounce. The duo batted 55.2 overs, draining England’s energy. Stokes, battling injury, shook hands with the centurions, who comically turned down easy runs to complete their tons. The draw sets up a thrilling final Test at the Oval. India’s resilience showcased their depth, while England’s fight highlighted their tenacity. This match was a testament to cricket’s drama, with both sides leaving everything on the field.
Air India Express Flight Grounded by Technical Glitch
An Air India Express flight from Hindon airport in Ghaziabad failed to take off on Sunday due to a technical issue, compounded by airport watch hour limits. The airline confirmed the flight would depart the next morning, offering passengers hotel stays, free rescheduling, or full refunds. This incident follows a string of Air India issues: a Kolkata-bound flight aborted takeoff in Delhi on July 21 due to a snag, a Doha-bound flight returned to Calicut on July 23 after a mid-air fault, and a Jaipur-Mumbai flight made an emergency return on July 25. Each time, passengers were safely deplaned, and flights were rescheduled. These recurring glitches raise concerns about Air India’s fleet reliability, though the airline is addressing passenger needs. The Hindon delay underscores the challenges of maintaining smooth operations at smaller airports.
ISRO Gears Up for NISAR and Gaganyaan
ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan announced the launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite by July 30 via the GSLV-S16 rocket. This mission will study Earth’s surface changes, like earthquakes and glaciers, using dual radar systems—an L-band and S-band—for precise data. It’ll track land and ice movements every 12 days, aiding disaster response and climate research. Narayanan also shared updates on the Gaganyaan mission, with a humanoid robot, Vyommitra, set for a December test. Two uncrewed missions will follow in 2026, paving the way for India’s first crewed mission in March 2027, as per PM Modi’s vision. NISAR’s unique radar tech and Gaganyaan’s ambitious goals mark India’s growing prowess in space exploration, promising breakthroughs in science and human spaceflight.
Haridwar Stampede Prompts Compensation and Inquiry
A tragic stampede near Haridwar’s Mansa Devi Temple killed six and injured several on Sunday morning amid a devotee rush. The Mansa Devi Temple Trust and Uttarakhand government announced ₹2 lakh for families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. CM Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered a magisterial inquiry and ensured top medical care, with some patients transferred to AIIMS Rishikesh, where four remain critical, including two children. Dhami visited victims, promising full support. President Droupadi Murmu expressed condolences, praying for the injured. The incident, occurring around 9 am, highlights safety challenges at religious sites during peak times. Authorities are now focused on preventing future tragedies while supporting affected families. This news roundup underscores the urgency of crowd management reforms at India’s sacred sites.
Men Sneak Into Maharashtra’s Women-Only Scheme
In Maharashtra, over 14,000 men fraudulently received ₹1,500 monthly payouts under the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a scheme for low-income women aged 21–65. This caused a ₹21.44 crore loss, part of a ₹1,640 crore hit from ineligible beneficiaries. The Mahayuti coalition’s flagship program, which helped them win last year’s election, supports 24.1 million women with ₹3,700 crore monthly. Scrutiny revealed 162,000 women with four-wheelers and 287,000 over 65 were dropped, alongside 797,000 third-family-member cases. Payments to fraudulent accounts have stopped. The scheme aims to boost women’s health and well-being but has strained state finances. This scandal highlights the need for tighter verification to protect welfare funds, raising questions about implementation in large-scale programs.
Hari Hara Veera Mallu Holds Strong at Box Office
Pawan Kalyan’s Hari Hara Veera Mallu Part 1: Sword vs Spirit continues its box office run, earning ₹8.9 crore on day four, nearing ₹75 crore total. The Telugu film, with dubbed Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam versions, saw a slight dip from its ₹34.75 crore opening but held steady with ₹9.15 crore on day three. Hyderabad recorded the highest Telugu occupancy at 39%. Worldwide, it hit ₹90 crore by day three, with ₹13.8 crore overseas. Directed by Krish Jagarlamudi, the 17th-century Mughal-era saga stars Kalyan as warrior Veera Mallu, battling to reclaim the Koh-i-Noor diamond, alongside Bobby Deol. Despite a weekend slowdown, the film’s strong start and fanbase keep it competitive. Final day-four figures await night show data, but it’s a solid performer.
