“If you're a true Indian...” SC raps Rahul | Hook News Wrap
A Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice AG Masih on Monday rebuked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The judges expressed their disapproval of comments Gandhi made about the Indian Army in the context of India-China border clashes.
While hearing a defamation plea against Gandhi, the judges asked his lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, how the Amethi MP came to know that 2,000 square kilometres of Indian territory were being occupied by the Chinese.
The judges further questioned Gandhi, asking whether he was present there or possessed any credible material. They noted that if Rahul Gandhi were a true Indian, he would not have said what he did.However, despite the strong words, the court stayed proceedings in the criminal defamation case for three weeks.
Shibu Soren passes away
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha founder Shibu Soren passed away on Monday morning, his son and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren confirmed. The 81-year-old leader had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Delhi for over a month for kidney-related issues.
The mortal remains of the former Jharkhand Chief Minister will be taken to his native village in the Ramgarh district on Tuesday. His last rites will be performed there.
Condoling his death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Shibu Soren was a grassroots leader who rose through the ranks of public life with unwavering dedication to the people.
Shri Shibu Soren Ji was a grassroots leader who rose through the ranks of public life with unwavering dedication to the people. He was particularly passionate about empowering tribal communities, the poor and downtrodden. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 4, 2025
India–US tariff tussle
The Indian government is working on support measures for exporters in sectors such as textiles and chemicals, to cushion the impact of the “Trump tariff”.
According to a PTI report quoting an unnamed official, the Commerce Ministry has held meetings with export-sector representatives to understand the challenges they may face due to the high tariffs.
The report adds that Indian exporters have sought financial assistance and affordable credit to cope with the tariff hike. US President Donald Trump has announced an additional 25 per cent import duty on Indian goods entering America from 7 August.
LTIMindtree to implement PAN 2.0
The Income Tax Department has selected IT firm LTIMindtree to implement the Permanent Account Number, or PAN 2.0, project. According to a PTI report quoting unnamed officials, the project is expected to go live within 18 months.
PAN 2.0 will comprehensively address issues related to PAN and TAN, including allotment, updates, and corrections. It will also handle Aadhaar-linking, re-issuance requests, and online PAN validation.
Monday cheer on D-Street
Indian equities started the week on a strong note, shrugging off the sluggishness of the past week. The Sensex gained around half a per cent, ending the day at 81,000. The Nifty also inched closer to 25,000, posting similar gains.
