Raipur, Jun 17: A Congress legislator in Chhattisgarh reportedly spoke of the need for Hindus to unite so that "Hindu Rashtra" can be formed, prodding the ruling party to say the remarks were "personal views" and that it swore by the Constitution and secularism.

Dharsiwa MLA Anita Yogendra Sharma reportedly made the appeal on Friday while addressing an event in Raipur to mark the birth anniversary of Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati.

"Wherever we are, be it in a village or any place we should pledge and talk for Hindus. When we Hindus come together then only Hindu Rashtra can be created," she said in Chhattisgarhi language.

Reacting to the statement, Chhattisgarh state Congress communication head Sushil Anand Shukla said, "The Congress party stands with the Constitution. It is firm on secularism that is mentioned in the Constitution drafted by leaders like Babasaheb Ambedkar, Pandit Jawarharlal Nehru, Dr Rajendra Prasad".

Asserting that what Sharma said was her "personal views", Shukla said the Congress welcomes every person's ideology, religion, opinion and differences.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters during the day, Sharma said her statement had been misinterpreted.

"I was only talking about the unity of people who live in the country," she claimed.

Chhattisgarh Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Kedar Gupta said if the Congress supports the Uniform Civil Code, which he claimed was in the pipeline, then "Ram Rajya will prevail as the UCC will end the appeasement politics".

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Srinagar, May 14 (PTI): An FIR was registered on Wednesday against a missing soldier after a video appeared on social media in which he had claimed that the Pahalgam terror attack was an "inside job".

The soldier, Dlhair Mushtaq Sofi, is a sepoy of 29 Rashtriya Rifles and a resident of the Tral area of Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, according to police.

"The missing report... was lodged on 11.03. 2025. (It) has been converted into an FIR after a video showing him surfaced on social media," a police official said.

In the video, Sofi claims that he is aware of "each and everything and how fake encounters are being done."

"Indian government, RAW, IB and Army were involved in the Pahalgam attack. I wanted to stay silent, but my conscience does not allow me to remain silent anymore," says the soldier in the video.

The soldier also mentions that his parents had committed a mistake by making him join the armed forces.

The police official said the video, verified by Sofi's father and uncle, prompted the registration of FIR No. 75/2025 under Sections 197(d), 152 BNS at Police Station Ganderbal.

Section 197 of the BNS deals with offences related to imputations, assertions or communications prejudicial to national integration. The section covers making false or misleading statements that could endanger India's sovereignty, unity, or integrity.

Section 152 deals with the acts endangering India's sovereignty, unity and integrity.

The police official said preliminary enquiry has revealed the soldier was involved in online gambling and had debts exceeding Rs 10 lakh.

An investigation has been initiated, the official added.