NDA Finalises Seat-Sharing In Bihar; Taliban Endorses India's Sovereignty Over Jammu And Kashmir; And More

NDA Seals Seat-Sharing Deal For Bihar Assembly Polls: BJP, JD(U) To Contest 101 Seats Each; Chirag Paswan's LJP(RV) Gets 29

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday (12 October) announced that the BJP and JD(U) will each contest 101 seats in the upcoming 243-member Bihar Assembly elections as part of the NDA’s finalised seat-sharing plan.

Under the alliance agreement, Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will field candidates on 29 seats, while the Rashtriya Lok Morcha and Hindustani Awam Morcha will contest six seats each.

Pradhan, who is serving as the BJP’s Bihar election in-charge, noted that all NDA partners accepted the distribution amicably, adding that discussions took place in a positive and cooperative environment.

"The NDA allies have completed the distribution of seats in a cordial atmosphere. All workers and leaders of NDA parties warmly welcome this. Bihar is ready and a NDA government will be formed again," Pradhan said in a post on X.

On the opposition front, the INDI alliance—seeking to challenge Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s rule— is yet to announce its seat-sharing deal.

Bangladesh’s Yunus Calls Reports On Anti-Hindu Violence ‘Fake News’, Blames India

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus dismissed reports of violence against Hindus in the country, calling them “fake news” spread by India.

“One of the specialities of India right now is fake news. A barrage of fake news,” Yunus told US journalist Mehdi Hassan in an interview last week.

He acknowledged “normal conflicts” between neighbours over land and local issues but argued these disputes should not be portrayed as communal violence.

Yunus also rejected several international reports documenting attacks on Hindus following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government last year.

“I would say, government is very alert on that one because this is the one thing that India is always pushing that we are bringing pressure...,” he said.

Reports of communal incidents drew global attention shortly after Hasina’s ouster, with US President Donald Trump reportedly describing Bangladesh’s treatment of Hindus as “barbaric.”

Reacting to this, Yunus said, “Whether Donald Trump ever said anything like that, whether he had any knowledge of what's happening in Bangladesh right now...”

Yunus also appealed to Hindus in Bangladesh to see themselves as Bangladeshi citizens, not just as Hindus, so that they don’t feel "isolated.

“My message to them when I meet them, as a community, group of community leaders, is don't go back and say, I'm a Hindu, so protect me. Always say I am a citizen of this country. I'm entitled to all the protection, the state is supposed to give it to me. So, then you've a bigger coverage," he said.

Finance Ministry to Review US Tariff Impact on MSME Sector

India's Finance Ministry will convene a critical review meeting on Monday, 13 October, with public-sector banks to assess the devastating impact of US tariffs on the country's MSME sector.

The review comes as MSMEs, which contribute over 45 per cent of India's exports, face severe disruptions from the additional 50 per cent US tariff imposed on Indian goods.

The government estimates these tariffs will impact $48.2 billion worth of exports, potentially causing an annual business loss exceeding $30 billion. Officials warn the duties could render US shipments commercially unviable, triggering widespread job losses and slower economic growth.

Particularly vulnerable are MSME-dominated sectors like diamond polishing units and marine products exporters. In response, the Ministry of MSME had already announced a Rs 25,000 crore emergency support package featuring subsidized credit, alternative market development assistance, and expedited export clearances to help affected businesses navigate this crisis.

Other developments

Taliban Endorses India's Sovereignty Over J&K, Sparking Pakistan Outrage

The Taliban's recognition of India's sovereignty over Jammu and Kashmir has triggered a diplomatic crisis with Pakistan, already strained by recent deadly border clashes. The endorsement came through a joint statement following External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's meeting with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in India.

Pakistan lodged a formal protest, with President Asif Ali Zardari accusing the Taliban of betraying Kashmiri Muslims and the Muslim Ummah. Islamabad summoned Afghanistan's ambassador, calling the statement "highly insensitive" and claiming it violates UNSC resolutions on Kashmir's legal status.

New Delhi justified the statement by emphasizing that India and Afghanistan are contiguous neighbours, with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir sharing a 106-km border with Afghanistan. Jaishankar reiterated India's deep interest in Afghanistan's development as a neighbouring nation.

Meanwhile, Muttaqi accused "certain elements" in Pakistan of fomenting trouble and denied sheltering Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants. He stated Afghanistan achieved its military objectives during recent clashes but paused operations following mediation by Qatar and Saudi Arabia, warning Pakistan that Afghanistan "has other options" if peace isn't pursued.

Trump Departs for Israel-Egypt Visit, Declares Gaza War Over

US President Donald Trump departed Sunday for Israel and Egypt, calling the trip a "very special moment" as he hailed the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. "The war is over," Trump declared confidently before boarding Air Force One with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and CIA Chief John Ratcliffe.

Trump expressed optimism about the ceasefire holding, stating people are "tired" of centuries of conflict. Trump will attend a joint ceremony celebrating the ceasefire and co-chair a Gaza peace summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, with over 20 nations participating.

However, Iran announced it would skip the summit despite receiving a late invitation, citing recent US-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and ongoing American sanctions and threats against Tehran.

From the states

West Bengal Erupts in Protests Over Gang Rape of Medical Student in Durgapur

Opposition parties held statewide protests Sunday following the alleged gang rape of a medical student from Odisha in Durgapur on Friday night. Three Durgapur residents have been arrested in connection with the crime.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee assured exemplary punishment while urging female hostel boarders not to venture out late at night. Her statement triggered fierce political backlash, with CPI(M)'s Sujan Chakraborty asserting it confirms West Bengal is unsafe for women.

BJP supporters staged sit-ins at Asansol South police station, while former MP Locket Chatterjee was denied hospital entry to meet the survivor. BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya questioned Banerjee's moral right to continue as Chief Minister, claiming her advice admits the state's law and order collapse.

Left Front chairman Biman Bose demanded capital punishment for the accused. Members of Abhaya Mancha and medical associations visited Durgapur expressing solidarity, recalling the 2024 RG Kar Hospital rape-murder case.

Akhilesh Yadav Calls Yogi Adityanath 'Infiltrator,' Demands Return to Uttarakhand

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav launched a scathing attack on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, calling him an "infiltrator" from Uttarakhand who should be sent back. Speaking on socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia's death anniversary, Yadav labeled Adityanath an "ideological infiltrator," referencing his Hindu Yuva Vahini background before joining the BJP.

The remarks followed Union Home Minister Amit Shah's accusations that opposition parties treat infiltrators as vote banks. Yadav accused the BJP of peddling fake statistics to mislead the public, turning Shah's infiltration rhetoric against the ruling party by targeting the Chief Minister's non-UP origins.

Kerala Police Register FIRs in Sabarimala Gold Misappropriation Case

Kerala police have registered two FIRs concerning alleged gold misappropriation at Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, naming priest-turned-businessman Unnikrishnan Potti as the main accused alongside Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) staff members. The cases have been transferred to a Special Investigation Team formed by the Kerala High Court.

One FIR addresses irregularities in gold-clad panels of Dwarapalaka idols, while the second involves alleged misappropriation from side frames and lintel of the Sreekovil sanctum sanctorum. The probe will examine unauthorized gold extraction, illegal transportation, and fraudulent transactions.

The High Court observed similarities between both frauds, noting that approximately 474.9 grams of gold were directly handed to Potti without equivalent quantities being entrusted to TDB records. The vigilance report implicates former TDB secretary S Jayasree for facilitating material handover to Potti, while TDB officers allegedly colluded in replacing gold-cladded panels with gold-plated ones.

The SIT will begin investigations by questioning Potti and ten indicted TDB officers.