Evening news wrap: India suspends visa ops in Bangladesh’s Chittangong; Shivraj alleges conspiracy to ‘mislead’ nation over MGNREGA and more | India News
Visa operations at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Bangladesh’s Chittagong have been suspended indefinitely amid heightened tensions in the neighbouring country and a protest near the Indian High Commission in capital Dhaka earlier this week. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan defended the VB-G RAM G Bill, saying in a video message that “once again, a conspiracy is underway to mislead the country in the name of MGNREGA.” Meanwhile, Satadru Dutta, the organiser of the Lionel Messi event in Kolkata, received Rs 89 crore for the footballer’s India tour, with another Rs 11 crore paid to the government as tax. Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer questioned the basis on which wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan was selected ahead of opener Yashasvi Jaiswal after Shubman Gill was axed from India’s squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. A massive power outage plunged large parts of San Francisco into darkness, affecting nearly a third of the city, before electricity was gradually restored.Here are your top 5 stories of the day:Bangladesh unrest: India suspends visa services in Chittagong; cites security concerns, protest near high commissionThe suspension comes amid heightened tensions in Bangladesh and a protest near the Indian high commission in Dhaka earlier this week. A large group of demonstrators had marched towards the Indian High Commission. Following the incident, IVAC in Dhaka was shut for a day, and visa facilities in Khulna and Rajshahi were also closed. Ministry of external affairs (MEA) also summoned Bangladesh’s high commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, to convey its “strong concern.” Read full story
Congress mounts protest over ‘desecration of groundbreaking law’, minister alleges ‘conspiracy’ to mislead country in name of MGNREGAAmid mounting attack from opposition parties, rural development minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday in a video message alleged that “once again, a conspiracy is underway to mislead the country in the name of MGNREGA”, while the Congress held protests across its district headquarters in the country and accused the Modi government of “effectively dismantling MGNREGA.” Read full story
Messi India tour chaos: Organiser says Rs 89cr paid, Rs 11cr as tax; alleges pressure to triple access cardsLionel Messi received Rs 89 crore for his India tour and another Rs 11 crore was paid to the govt as tax, Satadru Dutta, the organiser of the event, told police. Dutta was arrested within hours of the mayhem breaking out at Salt Lake Stadium during the Messi event, with the police holding him responsible for the disorder, him being the chief organiser. Read full story‘Yashasvi Jaiswal deserved spot over Ishan Kishan’: Ex-India batter calls out India’s T20 World Cup picksWasim Jaffer’s comments come in the wake of a shock announcement on Saturday that saw Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill axed from the squad, ahead of both the World Cup title defence and a preparatory five-match T20 series against New Zealand. All-rounder Axar Patel has been appointed vice-captain, while Kishan earned his place following a standout campaign in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Read full story
San Francisco blackout: Power outage leaves nearly a third of city in darkness; transport, businesses hitA massive power outage plunged large parts of San Francisco into darkness on Saturday, affecting nearly a third of the city and disrupting transport, businesses and daily life, before electricity was gradually restored late in the evening. At its peak, around 130,000 of the city’s 414,000 electricity customers were without power. Read full story
