File photo: Activist Sonam Wangchuk and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi
- Sonam Wangchuk to end fast only if protesters get legal immunity.
- Rahul Gandhi demands Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over NEET row.
- Kalyan Banerjee suspended, calls rebel NCPI MPs “traitors”.
- Sensex, Nifty tumble as Iran tensions and Trump tariffs rattle markets.
- US-Iran tensions deepen with fresh strikes, warnings and regional alerts.
Here are the top stories of the day:
Sonam Wangchuk says he’ll end fast only after assurance for protesters
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has refused to end his hunger strike over the NEET paper leak until the Centre guarantees that no legal action will be taken against participants of the July 20 ‘Chalo Sansad’ march. In a letter to Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, Wangchuk said he wanted to return to teaching but would continue his fast unless the government assured protection for peaceful protesters and addressed key demands on accountability. Read full story
Rahul Gandhi demands Dharmendra Pradhan’s exit over NEET row
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Centre of turning India’s education system into a “rigged system” over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and demanded education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Backing student protests, he alleged 152 paper leaks in the last decade with “zero convictions” and criticised police action against demonstrators. Read full story
Kalyan Banerjee suspended, calls rebel MPs ‘traitors’
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee was suspended from the Lok Sabha for the remainder of the Monsoon Session over alleged indecent and misogynistic remarks against women MPs during a heated exchange with rebel NCPI members. After the suspension, Banerjee called the rebel MPs “traitors” and claimed they lacked public support in West Bengal. Read full story
Sensex, Nifty slide as global risks spook markets
Equity markets fell sharply, with the Sensex shedding 715 points and the Nifty slipping below 24,000 as escalating US-Iran tensions, surging crude oil prices and fresh tariff threats from US President Donald Trump dampened investor sentiment. Pharma stocks led the losses after Trump’s proposed tariffs on imported generic medicines, while a weaker rupee and rising US Treasury yields added to the market pressure, wiping out nearly Rs 4.25 lakh crore in investor wealth. Read full story
US-Iran tensions escalate amid strikes, regional alerts
The US and Iran exchanged fresh warnings as secretary of state Marco Rubio said Washington remained open to diplomacy but would not tolerate threats to commercial shipping or the Strait of Hormuz. Iran claimed to have targeted military bases in Jordan, while reports also emerged of explosions in southern Iran and an alleged US strike on Larak Island. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia activated emergency alerts as regional tensions continued to intensify. Follow live updates
