imrantelegraph

Journalist with Telegraph @ttindia. Write on defence & internal security. Earlier with The Indian Express & Statesman. Views personal & Retweets not endorsement

[John Brittas @JohnBrittas]

Senior journalist and former editor of The Telegraph, Shri R. Rajagopal, has finally received his renewed passport. Its renewal had been rejected because his name was deleted from the electoral roll during the SIR in West Bengal. While it is a relief that he has finally received it after a long delay, it is deeply unfortunate that he had to miss his daughter's wedding because of this bureaucratic hurdle.

As Rajagopal pointed out in his letter to me: "This is not merely about one citizen seeking renewal of his passport. It concerns a question of public policy that could affect countless individuals across the country. Citizens should not be left uncertain about the consequences of an electoral process that was never intended to determine citizenship or passport entitlement." Clarity in policy regarding the SIR and its unintended consequences is still urgently needed.

Dear Rajagopal, Through your fearless journalism, you have boldly uncovered the plight of the common man and the grave injustices happening in this nation. It was truly an honor to stand with you against this systemic injustice.

#SIR #RRajagopal #Passport

[IndiaToday @IndiaToday]

"The Election Commission told the Supreme Court that the SIR would be used only for inclusion or deletion from the voter list. But immediately after the court upheld the policy, it began being used for other purposes. In my case, it's my passport. I've also heard of welfare benefits being threatened because names were removed from the SIR," says R. Rajagopal, former editor of The Telegraph.

#NewsToday | @SardesaiRajdeep

[Sujan Dutta @reportersujan]

Friend and colleague for 30 and more years, R.Rajagopal: I Was an Editor Once. Today, I Am a Voteless, Passportless Football Kicked Around Like Millions of Indians https://t.co/6IzVukCPvD

[Umashankar Singh उमाशंकर सिंह @umashankarsingh]

अब ये स्वीकारा गया है कि ऑपरेशन सिंदूर में 6 भारतीय सैनिक शहीद हुए

पर सुनिए

संसद में 28 जुलाई 2025 को जब रक्षा मंत्री राजनाथ सिंह ने विपक्ष को ललकारते हुए कहा था

“आपको प्रश्न पूछना है तो यह पूछिए की क्या इस ऑपरेशन में हमारे जवान सैनिकों को कोई क्षति हुई? तो उसका उत्तर है नहीं”

और इस पर सत्ता पक्ष ने जमकर ताली बजायी थी… मेज़ थपथपाई थी

[Pavel Durov @durov]

India’s IT ministry banned Telegram for one week because some users shared leaked exam questions.

This punishes 150M+ ordinary Telegram users in India — not the insiders who leaked the exam materials.

And the ban hasn't stopped anything. The leaks just moved to other apps.

[Suhasini Haidar @suhasinih]

Breaking down US statement, that marks an escalation over the issue of 3 Indian seafarers being killed by US Navy, here's what it says:

1. Vessels must comply with US orders (Why?)
2. US forces are seeking to uphold peace and security( By shooting unarmed ships?)
3. In the Strait (But US ships are in the Gulf of Oman)
4. Violations of US Blockade ( which have been many)
5. Illicit transport of Iranian oil (Not according to international law, and US sanctions are only punitive economically)
6. Won't be tolerated (Regardless of loss of lives, or contravening international law)

Awaiting MEA response.

https://t.co/iSaCjKJU5F

[Rahul Gandhi @RahulGandhi]

Muthu ji, your political views are your own - but please do speed up the returns on my investments. 😃

[Rajdeep Sardesai @sardesairajdeep]

A Qs for those living outside Tamil Nadu: would any other major state welcome as chief minister in today’s India someone whose full name is Chandrasekaran Joseph Vijay . What TN has shown today, may India do tomorrow: respect our unique multi-religious, multi-cultural diversity and give everyone a fair shot at their dreams. ⭐️👍

[Sayantan Ghosh @sayantan_gh]

#unpopularopinion: I think this needs to be said. There’s a clear gap between what we see on Twitter, on TV, and what is actually being sensed on the ground in the West Bengal Assembly elections. Those who are travelling, engaging, and observing closely across the state are often describing a very different reality from what exit polls or the dominant narrative suggest.

I am not claiming that one side is right and the other is wrong. I’m only suggesting that perhaps some layers are being missed in the broader reading of the situation. West Bengal’s electoral behaviour is deeply complex and cannot be reduced to a single narrative.

Even within the so-called bhadralok of Kolkata, the variations are striking. A few broad observations (not exhaustive, just indicative):

1. Bengali-speaking voters often behave differently from non-Bengali-speaking voters
2. Those with older Left leanings vote differently from those without that legacy
3. Economic strata—upper middle class, lower middle class, and the poor—show distinct voting patterns
4. Religious identities continue to shape political choices in different ways
5. Among Bengalis, the Ghoti–Bangal divide still influences political outlooks in many cases
6. Among non-Bengali communities, Bihari, Marwari, Gujarati, and Sikh voters all engage with politics differently
7. Professional identities matter—Bengalis in business and Bengalis in service sectors often think politically in different ways; the same applies to non-Bengali groups
8. Gender and generational shifts are crucial—women across classes and the youth are emerging as distinct political voices
9. Age cohorts reflect very different political memories and priorities:
• 60–80: shaped by Left-dominated politics
• 40–60: lived through economic stagnation and job scarcity
• 30–40: often migrants with different exposures
• 25–30: split between those in Kolkata and those who have left
• 18–25: first-time or early voters with entirely different aspirations
10. Bhodrolok of Chowringhee thinks very differently of politics than that of Bhodrolok of Kasba.

All of this makes West Bengal a layered, multi-dimensional electoral landscape—far more complex than what a single exit poll or narrative can capture.

[imrantelegraph @imrantelegraph]

@Saurabh_Unmute @TheRedMike Best wishes

[Saurabh shukla @Saurabh_Unmute]

While the world watches from a distance, @TheRedMike is on the front lines in Iran.

Moving past the headlines to bring you the unfiltered ground reality of the conflict with Saurabh Shahi.

Watch Full Video on #TheRedMike’ s youtube channel.

#TheRedMikeSuperExclusiveReport
#Iran #Tehran

[Tamal Saha @Tamal0401]

This is how INJUSTICE looks like!

He is Ranjit Chitrakar, a #Muslim artist who paints #Hindu deities, sings songs on #Ramayan - one of the few 100s left who have kept the art of Pat Chitra alive in #Bengal along with the folklore.

He received honour from President of #India & #ElectionCommission of India DELETED his daughter and 2 other members from the voter list

I urge India to watch the story, not for me but for these people who are yearning for their dignity. All the artists here in this village are Muslims and 99% of them have passports. Since they do shows abroad. And…90% of them have been deleted - mostly women. They now fear as D voters if they will be pushed to other human rights violations. All their lives they have represented India abroad. But today India denied them representation in #Indian democracy? Full story here

https://t.co/Ek2sCoovel

[Upala Sen @UpalaSen]

Right through this high-pitched, hi-tech, frenzied and muscular run-up, the voter has been reduced to a caricature of an entity… Calcutta must vote in three days. For a new government, decidedly. But also to reclaim the power and place that is the ordinary voter’s. @ttindia

[Press Trust of India @PTI_News]

VIDEO | Balasore: Priyadarshini Acharya, wife of Pahalgam terrorist cttack victim Prashant Kumar Satpathy, said she is still awaiting the promised government job.

She said, “It has been one year, and today completes one year since his passing. Since that day, life is just going on somehow, days are passing but it does not feel normal. After he left, everything is gone, the happiness of our home and all the happiness of my life has ended. At that time, many promises were made by the government, such as giving me a government job, support for my children’s education, and financial help. Financially, I have received an amount of Rs 20 lakh, but the government job has still not been given. In other states like Maharashtra, such jobs have already been provided. I was told that I would be given a government job according to my qualifications, which would be good because I have seen that in Maharashtra a person was given a Group B post, like an Administrative Officer in the Municipal Corporation, based on their qualifications. I have completed my graduation in Physics and also an MBA, so I would like to say that the government should fulfill the promises soon, as it has already been one year. Everything of mine is gone, and I still cannot forget it; whenever I close my eyes, those moments come back.”

#Pahalgamterrorattack

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/bIyFWTfmBd)

[Umashankar Singh उमाशंकर सिंह @umashankarsingh]

संसद के भीतर हो या संसद के बाहर… हिंदी/अंग्रेज़ी हो या बंगाली भाषा… तृणमूल कांग्रेस की सांसद @sayani06 अपनी वक्तृत्व कला से समाँ बांध देती हैं। सुनिए कि हिंदू-मुस्लिम-सिख-ईसाई एकता और धार्मिक सद्भावना पर इन्होंने कैसे शानदार उद्बोधन किया!

[Dr. S.Y. Quraishi @DrSYQuraishi]

ECI must announce how many voters were in the que at 6 pm. Exact numbers are known, polling station wise, as numbered chits are distributed at the end of polling. The last person in Q is numbered 1 so that no new person can join. @ECISVEEP

[Dr. S.Y. Quraishi @DrSYQuraishi]

People speculating on unprecedented 92 % voter turnout. This figure would have been 83% if 7 million had not been deleted.

[Deepal.‏‎‎Trivedi @DeepalTrevedie]

Bengal once again has proved to be the mother of all electoral battles in India! I find the voters in W Bengal very different from the part I come from (Gujarat) and their awareness about rights and responsibilities a notch higher than more Northern and Western States. Here is a piece of mine in Anandabazar Patrika where I argue that @MamataOfficial s the only politician who is equipped to take on the juggernaut of @narendramodi Her resources compared to Modi are limited but her passion is boundless. Thankyou everyone for appreciating the few pieces I did from and on W Bengal. Here is one from Ananda Bazar Patrika. #Bengal #Gujarat #MamataBanerjee #NarendraModi @MyAnandaBazar

[Seema Chishti @seemay]

@pervaizalam I cropped it by mistake - do see the full picture here.