NEW DLEHI: Bollywood bid farewell to veteran actor Dharmendra, widely known as the industry’s “He-Man”, who passed away in Mumbai at the age of 89 after a brief illness. With a prolific six-decade career featuring over 300 films, including the iconic Sholay, he leaves behind a towering legacy. Meanwhile, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to the Election Commission flagging two “disturbing” developments – the outsourcing of data entry work and a proposal to set up polling booths in private housing complexes – warning these could compromise electoral neutrality. In Delhi, a protest initially centred on air pollution took a contentious turn when some demonstrators at India Gate allegedly raised slogans supporting a slain Naxal commander, drawing sharp criticism from BJP and resulting in arrests for blocking and assaulting police personnel. The BJP also targeted Rahul Gandhi for skipping the oath ceremony of new Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, alleging it reflected disregard for constitutional values. In sports, India’s Test side faced a major setback in Guwahati after collapsing to 201 on a benign pitch, with South Africa’s Marco Jansen claiming six wickets and putting his team on the brink of a series victory.
Here are your top stories of the evening:
Dharmendra no more: Hindi cinema loses a legend; nation remembers his golden era
Veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra, often hailed as the industry’s ‘He-Man’, died in Mumbai on Monday at the age of 89 following a short illness. With a career that stretched over six decades and included more than 300 films – among them the classic Sholay – he leaves behind a lasting legacy in Indian cinema. His final film, Ikkis, is scheduled to release next year, adding a posthumous chapter to his celebrated body of work.Read full story
BJP says ‘masks were off’ to Cong after pro- Hidma slogans at Delhi pollution protest
BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi condemned demonstrators at India Gate for shouting slogans in praise of a slain Naxal commander, alleging they were acting under the “pollution of Marx and Mao.” What began as a protest over air pollution reportedly saw some participants displaying posters of Madvi Hidma. Delhi Police later detained several individuals on charges of blocking officials and assaulting them.Read full story
‘Why? Why? Why? Asks angry Mamata to EC; flags two disturbing decisions over polls
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has raised concerns with the Election Commission over two “disturbing” developments involving the state’s election process. She sought clarity on the Chief Electoral Officer’s decision to outsource data entry tasks and objected to a proposal to establish polling stations inside private housing complexes, warning that both moves could compromise neutrality and open the door to political influence. Read full story
‘Don’t respect Ambedkar, Samvidhan’: BJP slams Rahul’s ‘boycott’ of CJI’s oath taking
The BJP has took aim at Rahul Gandhi for not attending the swearing-in of Justice Surya Kant as the new Chief Justice of India. Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla claimed Gandhi’s absence reflected a lack of regard for BR Ambedkar and the Constitution, arguing that he prioritises “parivaar tantra” over constitutional values. The ceremony was attended by key government leaders and dignitaries.Read full story
India hit the Jansen wall again; South Africa closes in on historic series victory
India suffered a dramatic batting collapse on day three in Guwahati, undone by questionable shot selection and decision-making against South Africa. On a surface widely described as a “road,” the hosts were dismissed for just 201, with Marco Jansen taking six wickets. With a commanding 314-run lead, South Africa is firmly on track for a series win, while India is left needing nothing short of a miracle.Read full story
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