Rahul, Kharge to participate in ‘vote adhikar rally’ in Bengaluru; SC may hear plea on J&K statehood

By Admin

08 Aug, 2025

Congress to Stage Protest at Freedom Park
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will address the party’s “Vote Adhikar Rally” at Bengaluru’s historic Freedom Park on Friday. The rally, announced by AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, aims to protest against alleged electoral irregularities. Surjewala accused the Election Commission of becoming the “Election Capture of India” and vowed that the Congress would not allow democracy to be dismantled.

The protest comes amid a growing controversy over electoral roll revisions in Bihar. Rahul Gandhi had earlier alleged that elections in India are being “stolen” and claimed the party had uncovered the modus operandi of “vote theft” after studying a parliamentary constituency in Karnataka.

A preparatory meeting for the rally was attended by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Congress chief and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, and senior party leaders. The event was initially scheduled for August 5 but was postponed following the death of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Shibu Soren. Shivakumar confirmed that the rally would be held in compliance with court orders restricting large-scale protests in the city.

Supreme Court to Take Up J&K Statehood Plea
The Supreme Court is likely to hear on Friday a plea seeking directions to the Centre for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan mentioned the matter before a Bench led by Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, requesting that the scheduled date of August 8 remain unchanged.

The petition, filed by academician Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and socio-political activist Khurshaid Ahmad Malik, argues that delays in restoring statehood undermine democratic representation and violate the principles of federalism enshrined in India’s Constitution.

On December 11, 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the revocation of Article 370, ordering that assembly elections be held by September 2024 and statehood be restored “at the earliest.”

Amit Shah to Inaugurate Sita Temple Redevelopment Project
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will lay the foundation stone for the redevelopment of the Janki Mandir at Punauradham in Bihar’s Sitamarhi district believed to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita on Friday. The Rs 882.87-crore project is expected to be a landmark development for the region.

Bihar BJP spokesperson Niraj Kumar said the occasion would be “historic” for the people of Bihar. The event will also be attended by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Union ministers, and other dignitaries. Shah is scheduled to arrive in Darbhanga on Friday morning before traveling to Sitamarhi for the ceremony.