India Political News Highlights: Bihar minister's remark on Ramcharitmanas 'betrayed sick mentality', says Nityanand Rai

Congress leaders ashamed of Sanatan Dharma, want to eradicate it: Anurag Thakur

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday lashed out at the Congress, claiming its leaders are ashamed of Sanatan Dharma and want to eradicate it. Addressing a rally in Bhilwara during the BJP's Parivartan Yatra, Thakur also said that Sanatan Dharma will continue to exist.

Congress to boycott Odisha Speaker’s election on September 21

The Congress on Thursday said its legislature party would boycott the election for the Odisha Assembly Speaker on September 21. Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra said the party's MLAs will not join the election process as the day on which the poll will be held happens to be Nuakhai, a major festival of western Odisha.

Rajasthan CM Gehlot blames Centre for Kota airport construction delays

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday blamed the Centre for delays in construction of the proposed greenfield airport in Kota.

He also accused Lok Sabha Speaker and local MP Om Birla of not playing a positive role for the airport's development for fear of the credit going to the state's Congress government.

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Assam CM lashes out at Opposition amid Sanatan Dharma row

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says, "The motive of the alliance made by the Opposition is to work against 'Sanatan'...The upcoming Lok Sabha election will be the fight for civilisation. People of India will keep Sanatan protected."

DMK leader attacks BJP for terming I.N.D.I.A's decision to blacklist several TV anchors against 'freedom of expression'

Congress-ruled states increased VAT on petroleum products: Anurag Thakur

"The Modi government reduced petrol prices twice in the last 1.5 years by decreasing the excise duty. However, Congress-ruled states like Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh increased the VAT on petroleum products," says Union minister Anurag Thakur at a press conference in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

...Few people call it the I.N.D.I.A alliance, but it is the INDI alliance: Pralhad Joshi

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi says, "...Few people call it the I.N.D.I.A alliance, but it is the INDI alliance...You can't say alliance twice. It is not an INDI alliance, it is a 'Ghamandi' alliance..."

"It pains us that when the country was grieving over the loss of our soldiers in Kashmir, some opposition leaders were making anti-national remarks," says BJP leader Sambit Patra at a press conference in Delhi.

On I.N.D.I.A bloc blacklisting several TV news anchors, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia says, "Those who have black hearts only they do such deeds of blacklisting. You should see the role of the I.N.D.I.A alliance all over the country from North to South...The people are going to blacklist this alliance."

BJP leader Sambit Patra continues his tirade against the Opposition, says, "I am surprised that even when such a situation (Anantnag encounter) is unfolding in the country, a few leaders give statements that are against the country. Congress leader Saifuddin Soz said that India must not only hold talks with Pakistan but PM Modi should also try to understand what is going on in the minds of terrorists...We condemn this statement. As far as Farooq Abdullah and other leaders are concerned, they have also spoken about talks with Pakistan. India has said a thousand times that talks and terror can never move together. Still, when soldiers are sacrificing their lives and when their last rites are being performed, such statements are being given - this is not only inappropriate but also sad. India will give an answer."

The BJP on Friday took a swipe at the Congress over the opposition I.N.D.I.A bloc's decision to boycott 14 broadcast media anchors. "If there is someone who the Congress should indeed boycott for its own benefit, then his name is Rahul Gandhi... Your leader has no strength. Who all will you boycott? If you have to boycott and move ahead, then boycott your leader," said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra. (PTI)

Parivartan Yatra aimed at exposing corruption of Baghel government, ousting Congress from power in Chhattisgarh: BJP chief JP Nadda.

The Trinamool Congress on Friday alleged that BJP activists assaulted a trader in West Bengal's Nadia district for refusing to donate money for a public meeting of Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. Senior TMC leader and West Bengal minister Partha Bhowmik told reporters that the trader was thrashed allegedly by local BJP leaders and workers as he refused to pay for the expenses of Adhikari's meeting in the area. (PTI)

BJP leaders on Friday lauded the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a survey named him as the leader with the highest approval rating globally following the conclusion of the G20 Summit. The latest survey of Morning Consult, which puts out weekly approval ratings of elected leaders, said 76 per cent of people approved Modi's leadership while 18 per cent disapproved. He has constantly topped the survey, with his approval rating mostly hovering in 70s. (PTI)

Karnataka BJP leaders burn effigy of CM Siddaramaiah in Hubbali over Ganesh idol installation issue at Idgah Maidan.

NCP leader Jayant Patil.

Maharashtra Nationalist Congress Party chief Jayant Patil on Friday said if those who left the party have a "change of heart" and want to return, then their overtures must not be rejected as "numbers hold considerable importance in politics". (PTI)

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai on Friday strongly condemned Bihar minister and RJD leader Chandra Shekhar's controversial remarks likening scriptures such as Ramcharitmanas to "potassium cyanide". In a strongly worded statement, Rai, who is a former Bihar BJP president, alleged the remarks "betrayed a sick mentality" and were aimed at "appeasement of a section of the society". (PTI)

Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath on Friday said India is home to many religions and Sanatan Dharma does not teach anyone to keep other faiths away. His statement comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the opposition I.N.D.I.A bloc of trying to "destroy" Sanatan Dharma. (PTI)

That's all for today from the world of Indian politics. See you tomorrow.