Morning Brief: Khalistani Extremists Attack Devotees At Hindu Sabha Temple In Canada; Indonesian President Likely Chief Guest At Republic Day 2025; And More

Dear reader, make sense of the day’s news with Swarajya's roundup of what’s making headlines this morning. 

Khalistani Extremists Attack Devotees at Hindu Sabha Temple in Canada

A disturbing incident unfolded at the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton, Canada, where Khalistani extremists attacked Hindu-Canadian devotees on Sunday. This attack underscores the rising tide of violence associated with Khalistani extremism in the country.

The event has drawn widespread condemnation from various political figures, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, Toronto MP Kevin Vuong, and Member of Parliament Chandra Arya, all expressing solidarity with the affected community.

This incident comes in the wake of strained relations between Canada and India, following Prime Minister Trudeau’s claims of “credible allegations” linking Indian government agents to the death of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

In response, New Delhi has vehemently rejected these allegations, describing them as "absurd" and "motivated," while accusing Canada of providing a platform for extremist elements that threaten Indian interests.

Indonesia’s New President Prabowo Subianto Expected To Be Chief Guest At Republic Day 2025

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is likely to be the chief guest for the 2026 Republic Day celebrations in India.

While a formal invitation is yet to be extended, preparations are underway for a meeting between President Subianto and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the upcoming G-20 summit in Brazil, where they are expected to discuss this significant visit.

A number of high-level interactions with the new Indonesian government and defence deals including proposed export of BrahMos missiles are on the anvil. There is also consideration for inviting the Indonesian military to participate in the Republic Day parade, further strengthening the ties between the two nations.

Indonesia’s first President Sukarno was India’s first chief guest for the Republic Day parade in 1950, and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was invited in 2011, while President Widodo attended the parade along with leaders of all ASEAN countries in 2018.

From The States

Will Exempt Tribal People From UCC In Jharkhand, Says Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Sunday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) plans to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Jharkhand, should they come to power, while exempting tribal communities from its provisions. This declaration was made during the release of the party’s manifesto for the upcoming state assembly elections in Ranchi.

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) aims to establish a common set of laws governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance, applicable to all citizens regardless of religion.

However, many tribal groups have expressed concerns that the UCC could undermine their customs and traditions, which are legally protected, and threaten their cultural identity.

The BJP has previously exempted tribal communities from the UCC in states like Uttarakhand, Assam, and Gujarat, addressing similar concerns regarding customary laws. In Jharkhand, approximately 38 percent of the population belongs to Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Castes (SC), while Other Backward Communities (OBCs) make up about 46 percent.

With 26 million voters set to participate, Jharkhand's elections will take place in two phases: November 13 for 43 seats in the eastern region and November 20 for 38 seats in the west

Centre Grants Conditional Approval For K-Rail Project

The ambitious K-Rail semi-high-speed rail project has received a conditional green light from Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

On Sunday, the Minister stated that the project could advance provided the State government effectively addresses the technical and environmental concerns associated with its design.

The controversial project has been kept pending due to intense protest from the public as well as the Opposition parties. 

The project involves the construction of a 529.45-kilometre-long semi-high speed rail corridor connecting the northern-most Kasaragod district with the state’s capital, Thiruvananthapuram, in the south, and running “semi-high-speed trains” at an operating speed of 200 km per hour.

The corridor is to pass through 11 of the 14 districts of Kerala and will be implemented by the Kerala Rail Development Corporation (K-Rail), a joint venture between the Ministry of Railways and the Kerala government.

From The Economy

India Railways' Super App To Launch In December

The Indian Railways is is gearing up to launch its super app - a one-stop offering for passenger services - by December-end, the Economic Times reported.

The mobile app, being developed by Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), will integrate with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the report said.

This innovative app will provide a wide range of services, including booking passenger and platform tickets, as well as checking train statuses.

Currently, commuters rely on multiple official apps and websites for various services, such as IRCTC Rail Connect for ticket booking, IRCTC eCatering for food delivery to train seats, Rail Madad for complaints and suggestions, UTS for unreserved ticket booking, and the National Train Enquiry System for train information.

NHAI Invites Applications For India's First Bank-Led Toll Collection

In an initiative aimed at eliminating physical toll plazas across the nation, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is seeking applications from banks to implement the country's first multi-lane free flow (MLFF) toll collection system on the Dwarka Expressway.

If successful, this innovative approach will replace the only toll plaza currently on the 28-kilometer stretch of the expressway, allowing banks to automatically deduct toll fees based on vehicle data.

Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has emphasized the government's commitment to removing traditional toll plazas from highways in the coming years.

The new tolling system will utilize advanced field equipment and sensors to capture information from passing vehicles. This data will then be transmitted to an electronic toll payment system for seamless fee deductions, enhancing the efficiency and convenience of toll collection for commuters.