TMC Rebel Faction Seizes Party Headquarters in Kolkata; Heatwave, IWT, and Security Updates
The internal dynamics of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) turned volatile on Friday as a faction led by Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee occupied and locked the party headquarters along the Eastern Metropolitan bypass in Kolkata. This move marks an escalation in the ongoing tussle between different camps within the party.
In the United States, a severe heatwave forced the cancellation or postponement of numerous Fourth of July events across the eastern and central regions. The Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington DC, a central event for the nation's 250th birthday celebrations, was among the disrupted activities.
On the diplomatic front, India announced on Friday that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) will remain in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably ceases its support for cross-border terrorism. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal made this statement in response to a recent international conference in Pakistan that called for the treaty's restoration.
Security agencies in Gujarat arrested eight individuals, including two teenagers, for alleged links to the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad officials stated that the group was attempting to establish a Jaish network and planning attacks in the state and other parts of India.
In the Union Territory of Ladakh, a Ministry of Home Affairs draft proposes adopting a customised model under Article 371 that is tailored to the region's specific needs. The draft was shared with civil society leaders on Friday.
The Union government issued orders to block battery management apps that allowed users to remotely shut down e-rickshaw batteries while vehicles were in operation, posing a safety risk. The developers of the three identified apps—Shenzhen Grenergy Technology, Shenzhen Ruichuang Lineng Technology, and Daly BMS—have not responded to queries.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to review the security situation in Manipur on Saturday, as violence spreads to new areas. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh is expected to visit the Kuki-Zo-majority district of Churachandpur on the same day.
In Tamil Nadu, Law Minister R. Nirmalkumar stated that officials are not obliged to attend review meetings convened by the Governor, asserting that they should only attend meetings conducted by elected representatives or as per legal requirements.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is summoning Meta officials following a report on the proliferation of child sexual abuse material advertisements on Instagram. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the development.
