A political storm has erupted in Madhya Pradesh after a video surfaced showing Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya making controversial remarks suggesting that a man’s mind can get “distracted” on seeing a beautiful woman, leading to rape, while also linking sexual violence to religious scriptures. The clip, from an interview circulating on social media, shows the Bhander MLA claiming that religious texts promise “spiritual rewards” for sexual violence against women from SC, ST and OBC communities.

In Meerut, Anubhav Kalra waited three months to sell his house, but no Hindu buyer came. Eventually, Shahid Qureshi purchased the house for ₹1 crore. Now Hindu organizations have opposed the sale. They asked the police to seal the house, and the police locked it. Hindu groups recited the Hanuman Chalisa at the police station today. They want the house to be vacated by Shahid Qureshi. Meanwhile, Shahid says that if anyone gives him ₹1 crore, they can buy the house from him. | Archit Gupta