PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday recalled the incident when late BJP leader and former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had asked him to prepare his 2014 UN speech and not speak impromptu. “One may be a fine orator but there are some forums which have their own traditions. This was the first lesson Sushma ji had taught me,” PM said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that it would be better for her to die than prove her religion before entering a Hindu temple. “I know more Sanskrit scriptures than those who criticise me and question my religious identity,” Mamata added. The TMC was protesting against the Centre’s decision to serve I-T notices to Durga Puja committees.

Speaking about former Union Minister Sushma Swaraj’s demise, AIIMS spokesperson said, “Doctors tried their best to revive her…for more than 70 minutes and all treatment measures were taken to get her out of the critical condition.” “However, it didn’t work and she breathed her last at 10.50 pm,” the spokesperson added. Swaraj passed away on Tuesday following a cardiac arrest.

Parliament approved the resolution abrogating special status to Jammu and Kashmir given under Article 370 of the Constitution. Home Minister Amit Shah said in Lok Sabha, “The curfew wasn’t put in place because the law and order situation has deteriorated. It is precautionary, it has been put in place so the situation doesn’t deteriorate.” He added that over 41,500 people lost their lives in JK due to militancy since 1989.

US President Donald Trump on Monday blamed video games for mass shootings in the country after more than 30 people were killed in two shootings within 24 hours. “We must stop the glorification of violence in our society. This includes the gruesome video games…We must stop or substantially reduce this and it has to begin immediately,” he added.

After scrapping Article 370, the Ministry of Home Affairs has told all states and Union Territories that immediate instruction may be issued to security forces & law enforcement agencies to put them on maximum alert. It also said, “Ensure safety and security of residents of Jammu & Kashmir, especially the students hailing from J&K, in various parts of the country.”

When a group of rebelsturned-disqualified MLAs landed at Bengaluru airport on Sunday night, the fanfare usually associated with such landing was missing. “They came back in a regular flight. No more special aircraft,” said former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy in the assembly on Monday with a smile at his successor BS Yediyurappa.

The craze for a “muhurat” or auspicious time has reached a new high. We have heard of politicians approaching pundits to perform yagams for favourable election results or reaching out to vaastu specialists before moving into or constructing a government building or office. But many leaders from Congress and TDP, who want to join the BJP, are delaying their move due to “Ashadham”, which is supposed to be an unfavourable time to begin something new. BJP leaders say they expect more people to join the party after this season is over.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday paid tributes to Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during Kargil war. “Homage and gratitude to the martyrs of Kargil who defended the nation and led us to victory. This country will always remember the sacrifice, courage and valor (sic) of our brave soldiers,” he said in a tweet on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Congress-JD(S) alliance government in Karnataka failed to prove majority in the Assembly during the floor test on Tuesday. The Congress-JD(S) alliance received 99 votes against the BJP’s 105. This comes after the Supreme Court said rebel MLAs can’t be forced to attend the trust vote.

Former CM Siddaramiaah is learnt to have said no to the CM post which the JD(S) reportedly offered him in an attempt to placate the rebel MLAs camping in Mumbai, many of whom are his loyalists. According to sources, CM Kumaraswamy made the offer after realising that it would be impossible for him to win the trust vote unless some of the 15 rebels back the coalition government. However, Siddaramaiah politely rejected the offer saying he could not run a shaky coalition government for the next four years as his temperament did not allow it.

US President Donald Trump, who treats Twitter as his typewriter, is followed by almost one in five adult Americans on the micro-blogging platform. Trump is a prolific Twitter user, using the social media site to promote his policies and criticize his opponents. A new Pew Research Center analysis on Monday estimated that around one in every five adult Twitter users in the US (19 per cent) follow Trump’s personal account on the platform, @realDonaldTrump. Trump’s immediate predecessor, Barack Obama (@BarackObama), is followed by 26 per cent of US adult Twitter users.

Amid speculations on MS Dhoni’s retirement from cricket, BJP leader and former Union Minister Sanjay Paswan said the cricketer may join BJP after retirement. “Dhoni is my friend, he is a player of world fame and there have been discussions on bringing him into the party fold,” he stated. The decision will be taken only after his retirement, Paswan added.

Many actors had recently campaigned for the YSRCP in AP. And as they await their rewards for their support, a source informs us that the party plans to offer the post of MLC to comedian Ali. “Though he initially wanted to contest in the elections as an MLA, he had no time. So instead, Ali agreed to campaign and Jagan had promised him a favour in return,” added the source. Now that Jagan has become the CM, he seems to have lived up to his promise by offering the MLC to Ali. “Ali has also agreed to take on the role of MLC. Later, Jagan is likely to give him a key post,” informs the source.

BJP has received donations to the tune of over Rs 900 cr in the period between 2016 and 2018 from more than 1,500 corporate houses, a report said on Tuesday. The amount is more than 16 times of what the Congress received in the same period. The report released by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) was prepared considering donations made by corporate houses to national political parties during 2016-18.