Daily Briefing: A behind-the-scenes look at under-construction Ram Mandir; what Imran Khan’s arrest means for Pakistan

⚡ Big Story

The arrest of Imran Khan from the premises of the Islamabad High Court Tuesday afternoon may only serve to enhance his status among his followers as a fighter for a democratic Pakistan. That, in turn, means there are no easy exits from this spiralling new crisis for any of the key actors in this saga. In this explainer, we break down what the latest development means for Imran and the country’s Army.

📰 From the Front Page

All Indian Army officers of the rank of Brigadier and above will wear a common uniform from August 1 this year, irrespective of their parent cadre and appointment.

Days after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot claimed that his predecessor Vasundhara Raje had helped save his government in 2020 by opposing the BJP’s attempts to bribe MLAs, former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot launched a no-holds-barred attack against Gehlot, saying it appeared that his leader was Raje and not Sonia Gandhi.

👉🏽 Must Read

Voting began in Karnataka at 7 am today with the BJP, Congress and JD(S) locked in a triangular contest. Though the BJP raised the pitch over the Congress manifesto, calling it an insult to Hanuman and His devotees, at the Lord’s birthplace, the party faces an uphill climb with anti-incumbency and Congress’s popular “guarantees”.

🗳️ Follow latest updates on the polling in Karnataka here.

In his weekly column, C Raja Mohan writes: “The weekend meeting in Riyadh between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the national security advisers of the US, UAE, and India underlines the growing strategic convergence between Delhi and Washington in the Gulf. It also highlights India’s new possibilities in the Arabian Peninsula.”

A panel formed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has recommended a ban on the use of diesel-powered four-wheel vehicles by 2027 in cities with a population of more than 1 million. How will this impact India? We decode.

⏱️ And Finally

IPL 2023, MI vs RCB: How did Suryakumar Yadav react to the fall of the openers in the fifth over in a 200-run chase? Like a boss. In an admirably risk-free in-control knock, he plundered a weak RCB attack without much fuss to ensure the game was done with nearly four overs to spare. Here’s a look at the match highlights.

Delhi Confidential: At the end of a high-voltage campaign in Karnataka, the BJP seems to have begun the stock-taking exercise on the role played by each leader and the response of the crowd. Here’s how B S Yeddiyurappa’s son Vijayendra ensured that he cannot be ignored by the national leadership.

🎧 In today’s episode of the ‘3 Things’ podcast, we take a look at BJP’s Karnataka campaign with Liz Mathew. We also discuss how Haryana’s farm unions and BJP leaders are lending support to protesting wrestlers. Lastly, we talk about gangster Tillu Tajpuriya, who was murdered in Tihar jail.

Until tomorrow,

Rahel Philipose