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- News Update | Bhaskar Smart Brief Jharkhand Students Face Lathicharge; Shah To Reply Over CJP Protest Crackdown
Good morning! Here’s your quick catch-up on the biggest stories making headlines.
Jharkhand’s JPSC-JSSC protest has escalated, with police lathicharging students near the Assembly after they broke through barricades. Rahul Gandhi has condemned the use of force, while a protesting student leader was hospitalised.
In the national capital Delhi, the Opposition is pressing Home Minister Amit Shah for answers over the alleged crackdown on students, while the government says he is ready to respond.
Also in today’s Bhaskar Smart Brief, don’t miss our coverage of the Ram Mandir Trust row, with Champat Rai back in contention for the top post he resigned from amid allegations linked to the temple donation case.
Along with these, we’ve rounded up the other top stories you need to start your day.
Today’s Top Headlines
Jharkhand protest: Rahul condemns police action on students, several hurt
The JPSC-JSSC row has moved beyond exam grievances, with students now confronting the state government on the streets. What began as a demand for action over alleged irregularities escalated when protesters broke through barricades near the Assembly gate and police resorted to lathicharge.
Amid the confrontation, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticised the use of force, while an ailing student leader was hospitalised. Gandhi said, “The use of force against students protesting in Jharkhand is wrong,” urging the government to listen and resolve their grievances through dialogue. READ MORE
Opposition steps up attack on Amit Shah over Delhi Police crackdown
The Delhi protest row is now threatening to deepen the political standoff in Parliament, with the Opposition demanding answers from Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged use of force against students. The dispute has widened beyond the crackdown, with Congress raising the Ram Mandir donation issue and seeking an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The government rejects the Opposition’s claims, saying no firing took place and Shah is ready to respond. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has asked the Opposition to hear him out without disruption. The key question now is when Shah will make his promised statement, and whether it will cool the confrontation or sharpen it further. READ MORE
Modi’s foreign trips cost ₹557 crore; what did it achieve?
PM Modi’s foreign trips have cost ₹557 crore since 2021, but the bigger story is what India gained from them. Foreign visits are not just about meetings and photo-ops; they can open doors for defence, trade, technology and strategic partnerships.
Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh also travelled extensively and shaped India’s global ties in their own ways. Under Modi, however, India’s diplomacy has become more networked, with stronger ties across the US, Europe, Japan, Australia and the Gulf, while keeping Russia close.
From the Quad to the G20, the focus has been on expanding India’s global influence and protecting its strategic autonomy. READ MORE
Champat Rai back in the race for Ram Mandir Trust post
The Ayodhya Ram Mandir Trust is heading for a leadership rethink, with Champat Rai back in contention for the top post he resigned from amid allegations linked to the temple donation case.
The VHP has cleared him of wrongdoing, and several Ayodhya seers back his return. But the decision remains open as the SIT awaits its final report.
Rai has since resumed consultations with seers and mahants on temple management, keeping speculation over his comeback alive. VHP leader Bajrang Lal Bagda is another name under consideration, meaning the final decision could still reshape the trust’s leadership. READ MORE
7.4-magnitude quake rocks Colombia: 47 dead, hundreds injured
A powerful earthquake has shaken Colombia, leaving at least 47 people dead and hundreds injured. The 7.4-magnitude tremor sent residents rushing from their homes and forced evacuations. With the country among South America’s most seismically active regions, the scale of the latest quake has renewed concerns over its preparedness for major tremors.
The epicentre lay near Palmar, about 400 km west of Bogotá. Rescue teams are assessing the damage as authorities face the immediate challenge of reaching those trapped and accounting for casualties. READ MORE
The Day Ahead
- Jharkhand protest likely to intensify after lathicharge: Student leaders warn CM’s position at risk if demands remain unmet
- Monsoon Session Day 17: HM Amit Shah likely to reply in LS on police action against Jantar Mantar protesters
- NDA Parliamentary Party meet today; all NDA MPs expected to attend the huddle at 9:30 am in Sansad’s library building
- IMD warns of heavy to very heavy rain in J&K, Himachal; flash flood, landslide risk in vulnerable areas
- NEET PG 2026 City Slip likely today: record 2.73 lakh candidates registered, 12.5% more than 2025
- No UGC NET answer key after 40 days; aspirants warn of Aug 11 protest outside NTA office
Visual Of The Day
Today In History
Statement Of The Day
News With A Twist
British candidate contests election wearing a dustbin on his head
Some news stories make you pause simply because they sound too strange to be true. From an election candidate campaigning with a dustbin over his head to people hugging watermelons to beat the heat, some unusual stories have grabbed attention around the world.
A goat near a temple has become a local attraction, while a farmer’s ₹5 lakh savings were destroyed by termites after being buried in a field. In another bizarre incident, a flight in Canada was cancelled after a child refused to wear a seat belt.
Here are five quirky stories that grabbed attention across the world. READ MORE
News in Headlines
No nuclear deal? Trump still ready to end Iran war READ MORE
26/11-linked Lashkar terrorist Abdul Aziz dies after collapsing outside an Islamabad mosque READ MORE
Trump faces a 65% chance of losing the US midterm polls READ MORE
An Indian student accused of murdering his girlfriend is arrested in Germany READ MORE
Why India is not yet a nuclear superpower READ MORE
BCCI plans to seek government permission for the Bangladesh tour READ MORE
