Author: Arijit Bose

Yogi Adityanath Backs Diwali Fireworks, Brushes Off Pollution Worries

Arijit Bose

LUCKNOW – Speaking at a government event in Lucknow on Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made it clear he has no regrets about how the state celebrated Diwali, even as air quality across north India took a beating. The event was an appointment-letter distribution ceremony, but the chief minister used part of his speech to address the pollution debate that followed the festival. He said some people were blaming Diwali for the foul air, and he questioned why that should bother anyone, since the pollution would clear in…

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A Muslim-Dalit front takes shape in Uttar Pradesh

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh politics is shifting ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. On 11 November 2026, multiple reports said AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Azad Samaj Party (ASP) leader Chandrashekhar Azad, also known as Ravan, have agreed to contest together. A joint press conference is set for 12 November in Lucknow to announce the alliance, seat-sharing and strategy. Many see it as an attempt to move beyond the Muslim-Yadav (MY) formula tied to the Samajwadi Party (SP) and build a Muslim-Dalit combination. Where MY came from For decades, MY was…

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The Gomti: a river Lucknow lives beside but rarely looks at

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: Every morning, Lucknow wakes up next to the Gomti. Office-goers cross its bridges, joggers circle the riverfront promenade, and devotees get ready for the ghats. And yet most people in the city barely notice the river. It’s scenery. With Chhath only days away and the winter flow already thin, that is getting harder to get away with. The question is a simple and uncomfortable one: is the Gomti getting cleaner, or just better-looking? What the water says Post-monsoon assessments don’t offer much comfort. Dissolved oxygen is often far below…

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Metro Stuck, City Growing: Who Moves Lucknow Now?

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav recently said the BJP government “has not been able to extend the metro network even by 10 centimetres in 10 years.” He also credited the earlier SP government with starting the Lucknow, Kanpur and Agra metro projects. With the 2027 Assembly elections drawing closer and politics heating up, the claim invites a simple question: is it true? The honest answer is that it depends on what you count. Lucknow’s only working line is the North-South Red Line, which runs 22.9 km from CCS Airport…

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Akhilesh Yadav Steps Up Attack on Yogi Government, Targets Voter Lists, Expressway Tenders and School Mergers

Arijit Bose

SP chief challenges CM to repost claim of 1.27 crore missing votes, turns ‘80-20’ formula into political taunt; Brajesh Pathak hits back with ‘one district, one mafia’ charge Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav has intensified his attack on the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, raising questions over electoral rolls, alleging irregularities in expressway contracts and criticising the government’s school merger policy. His latest remarks have triggered a fresh exchange with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other senior BJP leaders as political preparations gather momentum ahead of the 2027…

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Lucknow’s AQI Worsens to 245 After Diwali, Improves to 172 as Winds Disperse Pollutants

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: Lucknow witnessed a sharp deterioration in air quality over the Diwali weekend, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) rising from 207 on November 7 to 233 on Diwali, November 8, and reaching 245 on November 9. However, stronger winds brought some relief on Tuesday, November 10, bringing the AQI down to 172. According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, based on readings from six monitoring stations across the city, the AQI remained in the ‘Poor’ category (201–300) on Diwali and the following day. The improvement on Tuesday brought…

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Supporters Launch ‘Run Ro’ Campaign Urging Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna to Enter 2028 US Presidential Race

Arijit Bose

Washington: A group of Democratic supporters has launched an early campaign encouraging Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna to contest the 2028 US presidential election. The initiative, named ‘Run Ro’, aims to build a support network, generate fundraising momentum and persuade the California lawmaker to consider seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination. Khanna has not announced any intention to run for president. He has indicated that he will discuss his political future with his family after the holiday season before making a decision. The campaign is being led by former Democratic Congressman Jamaal…

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Sanjay to Lead Young Indian Men’s Hockey Team on New Zealand Tour

Arijit Bose

New Delhi: Defender and drag-flick specialist Sanjay has been appointed captain of India’s young men’s hockey team for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, where the two sides will play a three-match series in Auckland from November 19 to 22. The series marks 100 years of hockey ties between India and New Zealand. The Indian team will face the hosts at Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium on November 19, 21 and 22. The historic connection dates back to 1926, when an Indian Army hockey team led by legendary player Major Dhyan…

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Ramayana: A Grand Cinematic Spectacle Blending Faith, Acting and Technology, but Does It Uphold the Epic’s Values?

Arijit Bose

New Delhi: Director Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Rise of a Legend – Part 1 attempts to bring one of India’s most revered epics to the big screen through large-scale production, advanced visual effects and a prominent star cast. Released on November 5, 2026, the approximately three-hour-and-15-minute film combines mythology, technology and dramatic storytelling while facing the challenge of living up to the cultural and spiritual significance of the Ramayana. The film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana and Ravi Dubey as Lakshmana. Each actor…

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IAF May Expand GE-Powered AMCA Mk1 Procurement If Indigenous Engine Development Is Delayed: Former Air Chief

Arijit Bose

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) may consider acquiring more than the initially planned two squadrons of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Mk1 if the development of the indigenous engine intended for the next-generation Mk2 variant faces delays. The possibility was raised by former Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal (Retd.) R.K.S. Bhadauria during an appearance on Episode 64 of the Ctrl + Alt + Defence podcast. He indicated that the IAF may need to keep its fighter induction plans flexible to avoid gaps in its…

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