India news, 14 October 2026: ‘Satellite internet subject for discussion,’ says Parliamentary panel amid Musk row

Rahul Gandhi urged protesters to record videos of alleged police action and send them to him, saying those responsible would be held accountable.

14 Oct 2026, 03:25 · The Indian Express · Join

Lok Sabha MP and Parliamentary Panel chief Nishikant Dubey

A Parliamentary panel has selected satellite internet as a key subject for a thorough examination in the coming days, amid the ongoing row over Elon Musk’s remarks about the delay in the government’s approval for his company, Starlink, to launch the service in India.

Musk’s Starlink, along with Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite, have applied for permission to start satellite internet service in the country.

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Jio Satcom is Reliance Jio’s satellite venture, while Eutelsat OneWeb is backed by Bharti, which runs the pan-India mobile and internet network, Airtel.

BJP MP Dubey, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, said the panel has selected satellite internet for close examination.

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Air India Frankfurt-Delhi pilot may have hit security flag by mistake, say sources

An Air India flight operating from Frankfurt to Delhi was diverted to Jaipur on October 14 following a security alert.

All 306 passengers on the flight landed safely in Jaipur at 9.35 am on Wednesday, said Jaipur Airport head Charan Singh. The passengers will be taken to their respective destinations as per the standard operating procedure (SOP). Preliminary indications suggest that the pilot may have issued the call by mistake, but an investigation is underway to ascertain the facts.

After anti-drug activist’s murder, bulldozer action begins at accused chemist’s house in Mansa

Bulldozer action was initiated to raze the house of accused chemist Ashwini Kumar in Mansa, Punjab, following public outrage over the murder of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota, PTI reported.

Kumar, a medical store owner who allegedly shot Jhota dead in broad daylight on Tuesday, was taken into custody from Salasar. Jhota had confronted Kumar over the alleged sale of drugs to an elderly man, and the shooting was captured during a live Facebook session hosted by the activist.

CJP members Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka put under preventive arrest at Jantar Mantar

Members of the Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms (CJP), including Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were placed under preventive arrest in connection with their entry into Jantar Mantar, according to the linked report. The development brings a fresh focus on police action and restrictions around protests in the national capital. See the report for details on the arrests and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

States seek urgent funds to sustain women’s livelihood mission; no word on NULM 2.0 yet

Several states have sought urgent funding to sustain the women’s livelihood mission, while clarity on NULM 2.0 remains awaited. The issue raises questions about the continuity of livelihood support programmes and funding for initiatives that support women.

Kerala Mini Cooper case gives CPI(M) an opportunity to target Congress

The Kerala Mini Cooper case has opened a fresh political front, giving the CPI(M) an opportunity to target the Congress over the probe. The controversy has become part of the wider political contest in the state, with the investigation and the parties’ responses drawing attention.

Behind drugs and phone supply in Ludhiana jails, an alleged nexus involving staff, guards and inmates

An alleged network involving jail staff, guards and inmates is at the centre of the supply of drugs and mobile phones inside Ludhiana jails, according to the report. The case raises concerns over prison security, the movement of prohibited substances and mobile devices, and possible collusion within the jail system.

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Oct 14, 2026 06:02 PM IST
Satellite internet selected as subject for discussion: Par panel chief Nishikant Dubey

A Parliamentary panel has selected satellite internet as one of the key subjects for a threadbare examination in the coming days, amid the ongoing row over Elon Musk's remarks on the delay in the government's approval of his company Starlink to launch the service in India.

Musk's Starlink, along with Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite, have applied for permission to start satellite internet service in the country.

Jio Satcom is Reliance Jio's satellite venture, while Eutelsat OneWeb is backed by Bharti, which runs the pan-India mobile and internet network, Airtel. BJP MP Dubey, who is the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, said the panel has selected satellite internet as one of the subjects for close examination.

Oct 14, 2026 04:11 PM IST
Cabinet approves Productivity Linked Bonus of 78 days for Railway employees

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved payment of PLB of 78 days for Rs.2009.61 crore to 11,40,770 railway employees, in recognition of the excellent performance by the Railway staff.

Payment of PLB to eligible railway employees is made each year before the Durga Puja/Dusshera holidays. This year also, PLB amount equivalent to 78 days' wages is being paid to about 11.40 lakh non-gazetted Railway employees. The payment of PLB acts as an incentive to motivate the railway employees for working towards improvement in the performance of the Railways

Oct 14, 2026 03:47 PM IST
Delhi Police serves notice to Congress MP Angomcha to join probe into sexual harassment allegations

Delhi Police has served a notice to Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, who was sacked from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) following sexual harassment allegations, asking him to join the investigation.

The notice comes after the university initiated action against the MP following its internal enquiry. Police are yet to disclose further details about the case, including the nature of the investigation and the allegations being examined.

Akoijam, a professor at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems under JNU's School of Social Sciences, was dismissed with immediate effect on October 9 following an inquiry into sexual harassment allegations against him, charges he has denied.

According to reports, at least 11 female students had filed sexual harassment complaints against him in May this year. The complaints alleged that he invited students to his campus residence on the pretext of meetings or gatherings and attempted to sexually harass them. Some students had also alleged that he made obscene and inappropriate remarks in class. (PTI)

Oct 14, 2026 02:53 PM IST
Protestor plays flute as response to cop action

Rahul Gandhi asks a demonstrator allegedly assaulted by the police to show his response to the brutality. The man pulls out a flute and starts to play.

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Oct 14, 2026 02:36 PM IST
CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke arrives in Delhi, questions arrest of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke arrived in Delhi and questioned the reported five-day jail remand of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka after they unfurled the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar. Dipke compared the arrests with those of freedom fighters during British rule and criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Is unfurling the Tricolour in this country a crime? Ashutosh and Saurav have been sent to jail for five days. Why? Because they went to Jantar Mantar and unfurled the Tricolour. The last time this happened was when the British ruled us. During British rule, freedom fighters who unfurled the Tricolour in public places were arrested and jailed. Narendra Modi is doing something similar," he said.

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Oct 14, 2026 02:29 PM IST
Delhi News: Police stop SFI-DYFI joint protest march on Firozeshah Road

The Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) held a joint protest march from Firozeshah Road to Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Wednesday. Police stopped the march midway.

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Oct 14, 2026 01:58 PM IST
Rahul Gandhi’s call for evidence to ‘punish’ those behind Delhi crackdown

Asad Rehman from Delhi reports that Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, told reporters at 10, Janpath, the official residence of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, that everyone was together in a fight against the Centre regardless of gender, caste, or religion. He was gesturing to the demonstrators who were with him and who were allegedly assaulted by police while they were being held. “This is one national voice. Please take a close look at this, Amit Shah ji. This voice is being opposed by you. I’m arguing that nobody can oppose this voice, so you shouldn’t.”

Gandhi appealed to protesters to record videos as evidence of alleged police action and send them to him, saying those responsible would be held accountable. Asked whether he would file an FIR, he said the decision should be left to him.

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Oct 14, 2026 01:51 PM IST
‘She was beaten, but not afraid’: Rahul Gandhi praises woman protester

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi addressed a press conference alongside protesters and introduced a female demonstrator as “our sherni”. He said she had been beaten but was not afraid and had no hatred in her heart.

"Yesterday, all NSUI workers were protesting peacefully when we were detained in three buses. There were many of our colleagues, around 30-40 in each bus. In our bus, there were two girls and 20-30 other NSUI colleagues. There was a woman constable in the bus named Chanchal Yadav. After being detained, we tried to get off the bus again through the gate and continue leading the protest. We tried to stop the bus and sat down beneath it so that our protest could somehow continue. But Chanchal Yadav grabbed me tightly by the neck and pushed me, causing me to fall backwards onto the seat. She then scratched my face with her nails, leaving scratches across my face and near my ear. When I resisted her, she slapped me so hard and said, 'Here, take another slap across your face,'" she said.

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Oct 14, 2026 01:47 PM IST
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke boards flight to Delhi from Nagpur

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke boarded a flight to Delhi from Nagpur in Maharashtra.

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Oct 14, 2026 01:41 PM IST
Protesters detained outside IIT Bombay in Mumbai

Police detained protesters outside IIT Bombay in Mumbai during a demonstration over the death of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode. The protest followed a call by his father, Ravindra Wakode, urging people to gather at the campus under the slogan “Chalo IIT Bombay”.

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Oct 14, 2026 01:22 PM IST
Mansa demolition: SSP Vaibhav Choudhary cites illegal construction

Mansa SSP Vaibhav Choudhary said police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order as the administration took action against alleged illegal construction in Mansa, Punjab.

"We are here to maintain law and order. Action is being taken by the administration here. So, we had received an intimation regarding the same. So, we have come here with the force to maintain law and order. There was input regarding illegal construction and action is being taken in connection with that," said Choudhary.

Oct 14, 2026 12:46 PM IST
After anti-drug activist Jhota’s murder, bulldozer action begins at accused chemist’s house in Mansa

Bulldozer action was initiated to raze the house of accused chemist Ashwini Kumar in Mansa, Punjab, following public outrage over the murder of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota, PTI reported.

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Oct 14, 2026 12:42 PM IST
Fire breaks out at factory in Karnataka's Mastenahalli

A fire broke out at a factory in the Mastenahalli KIADB Industrial Area in Chikkaballapur, Karnataka. Fire and emergency services personnel rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control after several hours of firefighting operations.

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Oct 14, 2026 12:31 PM IST
Keralam government to take time-bound steps to prevent Vembanad flooding

Keralam Chief Minister VD Satheesan has said the state government will take time-bound steps to prevent flooding in the Vembanad Lake region.

Oct 14, 2026 11:55 AM IST
Air India Frankfurt-Delhi flight diverted to Jaipur, pilot may have hit security flag by mistake, say sources

Another official said that "The passengers were de-boarded under the watch of security agencies and taken to the terminal building. The situation is under control. Passengers and their relatives need not panic at all."

Oct 14, 2026 11:54 AM IST
Air India Frankfurt-Delhi flight diverted after 'Squawk Code 7500' alert, says report

Air India flight AI2030 from Frankfurt to Delhi was diverted to Jaipur after the pilot reportedly activated Squawk Code 7500, signalling unlawful interference, news agency PTI reported, citing a source.

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Oct 14, 2026 11:32 AM IST
Air India flight makes emergency landing in Jaipur following bomb threat

An Air India flight operating from Frankfurt to Delhi was diverted to Jaipur on October 14 following a security alert. The aircraft landed safely at Jaipur International Airport, where security agencies initiated checks, news agency PTI reported, citing sources. The flight AI2030, operated with a Boeing 787-9 aircraft, was taken to an isolation bay for security checks upon landing.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Malviya Nagar, Shiv Dayal told PTI that airport authorities had informed police about the emergency landing of the Frankfurt-Delhi flight following a bomb threat.

According to a source, cited by PTI, the pilot activated ‘Squawk Code 7500’, which indicates unlawful interference, while the aircraft was in the Mumbai Flight Information Region (FIR).

Oct 14, 2026 11:04 AM IST
Rekha Gupta slams INDIA bloc over protest in national capital, cites Delhi business losses

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta criticised the INDIA bloc's protest, questioning why Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party had raised objections now. Citing the previous SIR exercise in Delhi in 2002, she accused opposition parties of pursuing a political agenda and claimed the protest had caused losses worth crores of rupees to traders and the public.

"It is quite surprising, because SIR is not happening in the country for the first time... Why weren't such objections raised back then? The last SIR in Delhi took place in 2002. There was a Congress government at the Centre at the time; yet, was Congress able to win even a single seat in Delhi after 2015? Was SIR the reason for that? The public has completely rejected Congress, and that is the reason for these parties' resentment," she said.

"I also want to ask the Aam Aadmi Party: everything was fine when your government came to power after the SIR, but now that the people of Delhi have rejected you, you suddenly remember protests and sit-ins. Why isn't your focus on Punjab? Just yesterday, a murder took place in the state. Drug rackets are operating there. Common people cannot raise their voices... It has been Congress's policy to assert a sense of entitlement over everything that happens in the country... Driven by this resentment, they are troubling the nation, misleading the public, and creating difficulties for the entire country to serve their political agenda. Today, Delhi has suffered a loss of crores of rupees; traders and the general public are facing immense hardship," the Delhi CM added.

Oct 14, 2026 10:42 AM IST
Rahul Gandhi calls jailing of CJP leaders 'an act of cowardice'

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that waving the Tricolour during a demonstration is not a crime. Criticising the jailing of youth, he said students, young people, journalists and the INDIA bloc were united in demanding their constitutional rights and asserted that Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India.

"Waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime. Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice. Students. Youth. Journalists. The INDIA bloc. Different banners, one cause. All protests are one: citizens demanding their constitutional rights. Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it," he said in a post on X.

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Oct 14, 2026 10:16 AM IST
'Impose emergency officially': CJP Founder Abhijit Dipke

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke, speaking in Nagpur, Maharashtra, challenged authorities to produce evidence and act on allegations against the group. Referring to the Emergency, Dipke said that if the government intended to impose it, it should do so officially, while questioning the basis of the allegations.

"If you want to impose Emergency, do so officially; why are you being such a coward? Why are these people just making allegations? You have all the resources, you have all the investigative agencies, come up with the evidence, do the investigation and take some action," he said.

On senior advocate and former Solicitor General of India Harish Salve's allegations, Dipke said, "I want to tell Harish Salve to please provide that evidence to Amit Shah. Somehow, Amit Shah has not been able to prove yet that we have been receiving foreign funding. So, if Harish has the evidence, he should hand it over to Amit Shah, because he is clearly struggling to find any."

He added, "We will be having a meeting shortly, as soon as I land in Delhi, and after that, we will decide our next course of action."

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Oct 14, 2026 09:52 AM IST
CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke says group shares common cause with INDIA bloc

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke said in Nagpur, Maharashtra, that the group shares a common cause with the INDIA bloc in its agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, while stressing that CJP will remain an independent pressure group.

"...We all have a common cause and are fighting against Gyanesh Kumar, who is rigging elections and helping Narendra Modi to stay in power...Cockroach Janta Party is an independent pressure group and it will always be an independent pressure group. But it doesn't mean that we are against the INDIA bloc. Our and the INDIA bloc's agitations are for a common cause."

"No, there is nothing like that," he says when asked if CJP is getting registered as a political party.

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Oct 14, 2026 09:38 AM IST
Bihar boat tragedy: Bodies of victims taken for cremation in Vaishali

At least 13 children died after a boat capsized in the Raghopur Diara area of Bihar’s Vaishali district. The bodies of the victims are being taken for cremation.

Oct 14, 2026 09:26 AM IST
CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka sent to Tihar Jail

Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to five-day judicial custody and lodged in Tihar Jail on Wednesday for allegedly violating their peace bonds and trespassing into Jantar Mantar, news agency PTI reported, citing sources.

Bail bond formalities for their associate Ajinkya Shinde are being finalised.

The three, on Wednesday morning, were produced before the Executive Magistrate again.

Oct 14, 2026 08:57 AM IST
Punjab anti-drug activist murder main accused nabbed from Rajasthan

The main accused in the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Punjab's Mansa district has been nabbed in Rajasthan, news agency PTI reported, citing sources. Ashwani Kumar, a medical store owner who allegedly shot Jhota dead in broad daylight on Tuesday, was taken into custody from Salasar. Jhota had confronted Kumar over the alleged sale of drugs to an elderly man, and the shooting was captured during a live Facebook session hosted by the activist. The killing sparked tension in Mansa, with supporters vandalising the medical shop and Jhota's family refusing to cremate his body in protest. Opposition parties have attacked the ruling AAP government over the incident, alleging a breakdown of law and order.

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