NEW DELHI: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Tuesday took on Rahul Gandhi over his allegation of electoral malpractices against the govt, saying EVMs were introduced by former PM Rajiv Gandhi to curb poll irregularities, and blamed “pro-Muslim” politics of Congress and regional parties for their opposition to SIR, as he cited disproportionate rise in Muslim population in states like West Bengal to back the exercise.Dubey rebutted Gandhi’s allegations – including over “vote chori” and govt’s decisive say in appointment of election commissioners – saying Congress put its favourite bureaucrats in poll bodies and rewarded them with berths and party tickets. As member of the selection committee, the LoP is now part of the process and can file his dissent which was never the case when Congress was in office, he said.Cong involved in ‘vote chori’ since 1952, claim BJP netasIntervening in the discussion on election reforms in the lower House of Parliament, law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the special intensive revision of electoral rolls has been held multiple times since 1952 & was necessary to clean up rolls, which change due to migration and rapid urbanisation.Meghwal accused Congress of engaging in “vote chori” since the first LS elections, including in the defeat of B R Ambedkar. He emphasised that the Modi govt did not change the law regarding appointment of the CEC and fellow election commissioners, but created a framework following a 2023 SC ruling. Nishikant Dubey said former CEC TN Sheshan was given a Congress ticket to contest against BJP’s LK Advani, while another CEC, MS Gill, became a minister in the Manmohan Singh govt after “favouring” Sonia Gandhi in the “office of profit” row. “They talk of transparency. Congress worker Batuk Singh was made UPSC chairman,” he said.He said Parliament’s select committees dating back to the 60s and 70s recommended SIR and voting machines for reforming polling process, while a joint committee that included MPs from Jana Sangh, BJP’s forerunner, favoured in 1972 reducing the voting age to 18 from 21. Rajiv Gandhi implemented this in 1988, and Congress is claiming it to be the biggest polls reform, he said.Batting for SIR, he named a number of districts, including Kolkata and Murshidabad, in poll-bound West Bengal and Jharkhand, and cited 2011 Census data to flag disproportionately high rise in the Muslim population compared to their national growth since independence to claim the presence of Bangladeshi infiltrators. BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal said Congress did “vote chori” by picking Nehru as PM over Sardar Patel, who was favoured by most party units, while Indira Gandhi did it by imposing Emergency.

India kicked off the T20I series against South Africa in commanding fashion, securing a massive 101-run victory in the opening T20I at the Barabati Stadium. After posting a competitive 175/6 on a sluggish surface, the hosts produced a sensational all-round bowling display to bundle out South Africa for just 74 in 12.3 overs.

Hardik Pandya powers India to 175 after early setbacks

Put in to bat, India faced early pressure as Shubman Gill (4 off 2) departed quickly despite a crisp boundary. Abhishek Sharma tried to inject momentum with a lively 17 off 12, but South Africa kept chipping away, thanks largely to Lungi Ngidi‘s incisive spell that removed both openers.

With wickets falling regularly, India needed stability. Tilak Varma (26 off 32) and Axar Patel (23 off 21) offered some resistance, but the innings truly ignited when Hardik Pandya walked in and unleashed a counter-attacking masterclass. The Indian star smashed 59 off just 28 deliveries, peppering the boundary with six fours and four towering sixes. His assault shifted the momentum decisively, lifting India from a modest total to a competitive one.

Late cameos from Shivam Dube (11 off 9) and Jitesh Sharma (10 off 5) ensured India finished strongly. Among the South African bowlers, Ngidi stood out with impressive figures of 3/31, while Lutho Sipamla picked up two wickets but proved expensive.

India’s bowlers rip through South Africa’s batting

Chasing 176, South Africa needed a solid start but instead walked straight into India’s disciplined pace attack. Arshdeep Singh struck in the opening over to remove Quinton de Kock for a duck, while Jasprit Bumrah‘s sharp lines kept the pressure mounting.

Skipper Aiden Markram (14) and Tristan Stubbs (14) attempted to stabilise the innings, but both fell just as they looked set. Dewald Brevis provided the only notable resistance with a brisk 22 off 14, showing glimpses of his explosive ability, but India’s spin duo soon tightened the noose.

Varun Chakaravarthy (2/19) and Axar Patel (2/7) created havoc through the middle overs, exploiting the surface perfectly. Pandya chipped in with a wicket, and Shivam Dube capped off the innings with a scalp in his very first over. South Africa’s lower order collapsed without a fight, with only Marco Jansen (12 off 12) showing brief aggression. India’s collective bowling brilliance meant South Africa folded for a mere 74, marking one of their most underwhelming T20I performances in recent years.

Also READ: IND vs SA: Fans fume as India drop Sanju Samson in the first T20I against South Africa

Here’s how fans reacted:

An emphatic win in the #INDvSA T20I series opener 🥳#TeamIndia register a 1⃣0⃣1⃣-run victory in Cuttack to go 1⃣-0⃣ up 🙌

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/tiemfwcNPh@IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/mw3oxC5AHw

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 9, 2025

New threads 🧵, same Magician 🪄 pic.twitter.com/VuhI6fzVSx

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) December 9, 2025

The Pandya knock was one of the better T20 innings in a long time. Just seemed like he was batting on a different pitch. The innings had everything. pic.twitter.com/8zuPEUeED3

— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) December 9, 2025

India DESTROY South Africa! 🔥🇮🇳

SA bowled out for just 74, their lowest ever, as India clinch the 1st T20I by 101 runs! 💥

Scorecard: https://t.co/5FHw91y0Zw#Cricket #cuttack #T20I #INDvSA #india #ArshdeepSingh #jaspritbumrah pic.twitter.com/k6DkYDjsPY

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 9, 2025

Hardik Pandya is India’s MVP, an asli impact player. With him in team India play with 12 players – good pacer, great finisher. How much india missed him.

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 9, 2025

Good night from Cuttack! 👊#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/bLHs2tOzKW

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) December 9, 2025

Solid win from team India. Looked liked a below par score but defended like champion by Indian bowlers. Hardik’s comeback was solid. Arshdeep singh is so crucial for this team,he showed with early wickets.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) December 9, 2025

Started with a 𝘽𝘼𝙉𝙂 💥 pic.twitter.com/aSUfciqg5q

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) December 9, 2025

Bro so GOATed that there is not even a single replacement of him in country of 1.5 billion people. Hardik Pandya My GOAT. 😭🐐 pic.twitter.com/vTBSeAWJP9

— Selfless⁴⁵ (@SelflessCricket) December 9, 2025

🚨 MATCH RESULT 🚨

India takes the series opener by 101 runs, going 1‑0 up in the five‑match T20I series. 🏏

Still plenty to play for heading to the second T20I on Thursday as #TheProteas Men will aim to level the series. 🇿🇦#Unbreakable pic.twitter.com/vHUHx1nA0t

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 9, 2025

– Virat Kohli in ODI series.

– Hardik Pandya in T20I series.

TWO SWAGGER BOYS OF INDIAN CRICKET. 🥶🔥 pic.twitter.com/mqE1ik2ecn

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) December 9, 2025

Hardik Pandya in stripes… 𝐇𝚰𝐓𝐒 𝐃𝚰𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2EaKSuxwEK

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) December 9, 2025

– On a pitch where almost every batter struggled.
– Opponents couldn’t even cross 100.
– No batter with 15+ runs had a strike rate over 150.
– Hardik Pandya came in down the order and smashed at 200+.
– Dragged India to a par score all by himself.
– No other batter even reached… pic.twitter.com/YhROX1fqni

— Mahi Patel (@Mahi_Patel_07) December 9, 2025

Also READ: India’s opening conundrum intensifies as Suryakumar Yadav clarifies roles of Sanju Samson and Shubman Gill ahead of South Africa T20Is

Mumbai: After sitting on the drawing board for more than a decade, the BMC on Tuesday finally issued a Rs 3,000 crore tender to construct the 69-metre Gargai dam in Palghar district, along with a 1.6km, 2.2-metre diameter tunnel that will carry water to the Modak Sagar reservoir. The tunnel will be bored through the hill separating the two water bodies. Like Middle Vaitarna, Gargai will also be built as a roller compacted concrete (RCC) dam.Once commissioned, Gargai will add 440 million litres per day (MLD) to Mumbai’s water supply, making it the city’s first new reservoir since Middle Vaitarna became operational in 2014. The BMC is eyeing a 2029 completion, a year that coincides with the next Lok Sabha and assembly polls.Officials said Gargai was first approved as a source for Mumbai in a state govt GR issued in Nov 2013, after which preliminary engineering studies began. Gargai is a sub-tributary of the Vaitarna river. Although the execution period is set at four years, the BMC plans to finish the main dam structure in nine months, compared to the 15 months Middle Vaitarna took, despite that project being ranked the ninth fastest dam construction in the world.According to officials, the first year post-work order will go into securing permissions and creating infrastructure for relocating six affected villages. Dam construction is planned in the second year, followed by the installation of electrical systems in the third year. The project includes a 1,200-kilowatt hydropower unit, intended to offset the dam’s electricity costs. Middle Vaitarna, they said, took nearly 21 years from proposal to completion.However, the project comes with environmental implications. Around 3 lakh trees must be transplanted across neighbouring villages —two directly affected by the dam and four more required for tree relocation. Compensatory afforestation has been proposed across 658 hectares in Washim, Chandrapur, and Hingoli. All residents from affected villages will be shifted to Devali in Wada taluka, with full infrastructure planned at the new site, said officials. The project is still awaiting key clearances: Forest nod from the state and Centre, and National Board for Wildlife permission from the PMO.

US President Trump’s threat of new rice tariffs is unlikely to significantly impact India, as exports to the US are a small fraction of global sales and already face high duties. Experts suggest this is a negotiation tactic amid ongoing trade deal talks, with India aiming to lift existing US tariffs.

NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump’s latest threat to impose fresh tariffs on rice is unlikely to have a severe impact on Indian exports.“India exported $392 million worth of rice to the US in FY2025, just 3% of its global rice exports, and already faces tariffs of about 53% in the US market; 86% of these shipments are premium basmati. New duties would scarcely dent Indian exporters, who have strong markets elsewhere, but would make rice costlier for American households,” said trade research body GTRI.A bulk of the 6 million tonne exported to the US may be headed to kitchens of Indian-origin Americans or those on visas. The only substitute for basmati rice can be from Pakistan but the quantities are much lower. Overall, a bulk of India’s rice exports consists of non-basmati rice.Trump’s latest threat comes amid a team from the US visiting India with talks on the much-delayed trade deal scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. While the agenda for the latest discussions were not immediately known, the visit was a surprise as govt officials had earlier said most issues had been sorted out and last-mile talks were expected. News about the US delegation’s trip came ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India.While Trump has taken unilateral measures on trade since returning to office, India’s rice exports are not seen as “dumping” as claimed by the US president, who is not seen as someone who always sticks to facts. Given volumes, neither are rice exports causing harm to domestic market, nor are they subsidised. As a result, it is seen as a pressure tactic amid talks for a bilateral deal.India and the US had launched negotiations for a trade deal in Feb and hoped to close talks by Sept-Oct. But with govt refusing to agree to Trump’s demand for reducing levies on food and GM crops, the US hit back with 25% reciprocal tariffs and another 25% secondary tariffs, citing India’s purchase of Russian oil and defence equipment. In the first phase, which govt is hoping can be clinched by the month-end, India expects the secondary tariffs to be lifted while also seeking concessions on reciprocal tariffs.Trump, in the same event, also threatened high tariff on agriculture imports from Canada and other countries.

The Supreme Court has mandated all states to provide robust security for booth-level officers during voter enumeration, warning of severe action against any threats or obstructions. The court emphasized that non-cooperation with the Election Commission’s work is a serious matter, extending beyond West Bengal to all states, and stressed the need for BLOs’ safety to prevent anarchy.

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Tuesday asked all states to provide adequate security to booth-level officers engaged in special intensive revision, and warned that it would seriously view any instance of BLOs being threatened or impediments being placed in their work.The observations were made by a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi after senior advocate V Giri, appearing for NGO Sanatani Sangsad, demanded security for BLOs, alleging that they were being intimidated and threatened during voter enumeration work in West Bengal. EC, through senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, said the commission had written a strong letter to WB govt on security of BLOs and assured the court that it had adequate powers under the Constitution to handle the situation. Dwivedi said such situations were arising because EC had no control over state police. The petitioner sought deployment of paramilitary forces in WB for safety and security of BLOs.Giving a pan-India dimension to the issue raised in the petition, the bench said, “If EC had any grievance about non-cooperation from state officials or police regarding safety and security of BLOs, it should approach the SC. We will pass appropriate orders. It is not only about West Bengal but for all states. Non-cooperation with EC work is a serious issue. BLOs must get full security.”While seeking a response from the Centre and EC, the bench asked the poll panel to assess the situation in all states and move SC for appropriate directives, if needed. “We will take strong action to protect BLOs. Their safety and security must be ensured, otherwise there will be anarchy,” the CJI-led bench said and referred to its Dec-4 order directing states to allow BLOs who are stressed or face health issues to withdraw from SIR work and provide adequate replacements.When Dwivedi and senior advocate Maninder Singh said problems were arising in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal because their state govts had made public their opposition to SIR, the bench said BLOs unwilling to carry out SIR work would have to file an application before the district electoral officer, who would inform the state.During the proceedings, Justice Bagchi questioned the material submitted by Sanatani Sangsad to allege intimidation of BLOs in West Bengal. “Apart from a solitary FIR, there is no other credible evidence to substantiate the allegations. Based on a solitary incident, can it be said that it is done only in West Bengal and not in other states? Is it not a narrative from one side? Should police in all states be put under EC?” he asked. EC said there had been certain incidents in West Bengal that saw electoral officers being gheraoed and threatened by the public. “A lot of narratives are being floated by political parties. At present, a BLO is to do enumeration of a maximum of 1,200 voters in 37 days, which is roughly 35 per day. Is it too much work?” the poll panel said.Justice Bagchi said, “This is not a desk job where the quota of 35 is met easily. A BLO must go from house to house, verify enumeration forms and then upload it. There could be stress and physical strain. We want to ensure that SIR at ground level is done without a hitch.” EC said the narrative of BLOs being under stress was being spread by political parties. The CJI said that was why the court had directed states on Dec 4 to augment the workforce.

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GOA: The Goa government has ordered the demolition of an illegal beach shack at Vagator owned by the fugitive proprietors of a nightclub where 25 people died in a fire over the weekend. Chief minister Pramod Sawant instructed the district administration to complete all formalities and carry out the demolition on Tuesday.

Officials said the shack, known as ‘Romeo Lane’, was illegally built on government land. Machinery and staff have already been prepared for the operation. The shack is the third property owned by brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who fled to Thailand hours after the blaze at their ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub in Arpora, which occurred around midnight on Saturday. Interpol has issued a Blue Corner notice against the brothers, the Chief Minister’s Office confirmed. Following the fire, authorities had already sealed the Vagator shack, along with another property in Assagao, earlier on Monday as part of the investigation.Investigations also have revealed that the deaths could potentially have been avoided, according to a senior local police officer aware of the probe. Two local police units — Anjuna police station and the crime branch — had previously issued notices to the club’s owners to submit documents and permissions required to operate. Senior IPS officers, however, allegedly intervened to prevent further action.Also read: The ‘burning’ empire of Luthra brothersThe officer said top officials also pressured local police to close an FIR registered against the club in connection with loud music violations. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Anjuna police inspector Prashal Desai had sought details about the club’s permissions, but a senior IPS officer, now retired, blocked the inquiry.Subsequent attempts by crime branch DSP Rajesh Kumar and Anjuna PI Paresh Naik to pursue violations were also reportedly halted, with officers being instructed not to confront the club owners and, in some cases, to file closure reports. Investigators believe that call records of IPS officers, both serving and retired, could directly link them to the club owners.On Sunday, state revenue minister Atanasio “Babush” Monserrate questioned whether IAS and IPS officers implicated in wrongdoing would face suspension, as three government officials were suspended following the tragedy.Also read: As Goa club burned, they boarded IndiGo plane: Luthra brothers flee to Thailand The suspended officials include former director of panchayats Siddhi Halarnkar, former member-secretary of the Goa State Pollution Control Board Shamila Monteiro, and former secretary of Arpora-Nagoa village panchayat Reghuvir Bagkar.The state government said demolition of the nightclub was necessary to prevent further risk and to assist in ongoing investigations.

Mumbai: Upholding compensation granted by a railway claims tribunal to the family of a man who died due due to falling from a Mumbai suburban train two decades ago, Bombay high court said there was no negligence on his part.“If a person has to travel for his work and it is very difficult to enter inside the compartment, the passenger has no choice, but to risk his life by standing near the door. This reality cannot be brushed away by the court. Therefore, to attribute negligence on the part of the deceased merely because he was standing near the door cannot be accepted,” said Justice Jitendra Jain on Monday.The railways appealed against the tribunal’s Dec 16, 2009 order allowing compensation for his dependents – his widow, two daughters and his mother. On Oct 28, 2005, around 10am, the man, while travelling from Bhayander to Marine Lines, fell out of the train between Bhayandar and Mira Road stations. He was taken to the hospital. On Nov 2, 2005, he succumbed to his injuries.While the railways asserted that man was not a bona fide passenger as his local pass was not found at the accident site, Justice Jain noted his widow produced it alongwith the identity card before the tribunal. It was valid. The railways disputed its genuineness, but could not prove it. “The genuineness of the local pass stands proved. There could be various reasons that on that date of the accident the deceased may have forgotten the pass at home, but that would not disentitle the compensation amount to the dependents,” said Justice Jain, adding that the finding that the deceased was a bona fide passenger “cannot be faulted”.The railways next contended the man was negligent in standing near the door and therefore he fell from the train. Justice Jain said it is “an accepted position that a Virar-Churchgate train is very much crowded” and it is very difficult for any passenger to enter the compartment more so at “Bhayander station”. “This is a situation even today, therefore to contend that a passenger is negligent while standing near the door cannot be accepted,” he added.Justice Jain was not shown any provision in the Railways Act which states that if a person is standing near the door due to heavy rush and he falls down, such incident will not be covered by the “untoward incident” as defined.” “In view of above, there is no infirmity in the impugned order of the tribunal directing compensation to be paid to the respondents by the appellant,” he concluded.