Raftaar e Deccan
A series of stunning revelations has shaken India’s political and security landscape. NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar ignited a political firestorm by claiming that two unidentified individuals met him and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi before the Maharashtra assembly elections, guaranteeing a victory in 160 out of 288 seats. Pawar stated both leaders rejected the offer, choosing to trust the public mandate instead.
Pawar’s allegation adds to a growing storm over electoral integrity, as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s claims of over 100,000 “fake voters” in a Bengaluru constituency gain traction. Former Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat supported the need for a probe, while the current Election Commission has challenged Gandhi to file a formal complaint or apologize. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav echoed these sentiments, accusing the EC of orchestrating “vote dacoity” in Uttar Pradesh.
In a separate and equally startling revelation, Air Chief Marshal Amarpreet Singh, after three months of silence, claimed that India shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one larger aircraft during “Operation Sindoor.” This explosive statement is significant as this level of detail was never shared in official briefings during the operation, marking a major disclosure in India-Pakistan military history.
The day was also marked by tragedy and turmoil elsewhere. In Delhi, seven people were killed after a temple wall collapsed onto adjacent slums following heavy rainfall. In Kolkata, a protest march over the rape and murder of a doctor turned violent, with police lathi-charging BJP demonstrators, including Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who claimed over 100 protesters were injured.