Tamil Nadu Power Outages Spark Creative Protest as Free Movie Tickets Offered for Outage Selfies
A political controversy has surfaced in Tamil Nadu over recurring power cuts, prompting an unusual protest by an AIADMK ward councillor in Tiruppur. The councillor launched a social media campaign offering free tickets and a special theatre screening of the movie Jailer 2 to residents who submitted selfies during power outages. Over 55 people shared photos with their families in the dark, leading to approximately 125 residents attending a free screening. The campaign aims to highlight frequent electrical disruptions across the state, which have escalated with recent rains, while targeting the ruling administration over alleged inaction.
Punjab Assembly Drug Row: BJP Brings Victim's Kin, AAP Defends Action Amid Uproar
A political showdown erupted outside the Punjab Legislative Assembly over the drug crisis and deteriorating law and order in the state. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sunil Jakhar brought the family of an aggrieved victim to the assembly premises, prompting security personnel and police to escort them out. The incident sparked intense sparring between opposition parties and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party. While opposition leaders highlighted the killings of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota and youth Ajay from Abohar, AAP MLA Goldy Kamboj defended the Bhagwant Mann administration, stating that the state government immediately referred the Jhota case to the Central Bureau of Investigation upon the family's demand. Kamboj also questioned the central government's vigilance across border areas regarding drug smuggling from across the border. Meanwhile, proceedings inside the Punjab Assembly were adjourned shortly after paying obituaries, cutting the scheduled full-day sitting short amid intense political tensions.
India Bloc Plans Ramlila Maidan Protest, CEC Removal Demand as BJP Slams November 1 Date
The opposition India bloc is set to hold a virtual meeting chaired by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to chalk out strategy ahead of their planned protest at Delhi's iconic Ramlila Maidan from 1 November. The agitation follows earlier demonstrations by opposition leaders marching to Parliament, the Election Commission office, Jantar Mantar, and Rajghat. Opposition parties remain adamant on demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and seeking the interim suspension of the Special Summary Revision drive across states alongside greater transparency. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party has criticised the rally date, claiming that holding the event on 1 November insensitively coincides with the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Delhi Art Show Faces Political Bias Claim as Over 70 Protest Photos and Tricolour Pulled Down
An art exhibition at Bikaner House in Delhi has triggered controversy after artist Rehan Vadra was asked to take down dozens of photographs documenting Delhi protests just hours before opening. Over seventy artworks were ordered removed after the administration cited the context and timing of events in India, deeming the pieces political in nature. Vadra stated that authorities issued an ultimatum to take down seventy-four artworks or face cancellation and sealing of the venue. Objections were also raised against displaying an Indian flag photograph, which was subsequently taken down. Describing the blanket removal of art as political bias and curtailing of freedom of expression, Vadra refused to abandon the remaining exhibition, maintaining that the visual documentation contained no derogatory or inflammatory content. While two rooms housing the disputed photographs were vacated, the rest of the show remains open, with plans underway to exhibit the removed collection elsewhere.