Prakash Raj questions peace bonds and calls for removal of Chief Election Commissioner

NEW DELHI — Actor and activist Prakash Raj has publicly questioned the imposition of peace bonds on peaceful demonstrators, calling for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Alongside his demands regarding electoral administration, Raj urged authorities to halt the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The revision exercise has drawn ongoing scrutiny and political debate regarding its implementation and potential impact on eligible voters across the country.

In national cultural developments, photographs of artwork by Raihan Vadra were removed from an exhibition at Delhi’s Bikaner House after venue officials raised objections. Meanwhile, Sonia Gandhi has made her Instagram debut and provided a first look at her forthcoming memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love. The book, scheduled for release on November 10, 2026, traces her life from post-war Italy to India, including her family life and the assassinations of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. The Indian edition is published by HarperCollins India after Penguin Random House India did not proceed with publication following editorial disagreements.

Law enforcement agencies are also examining a separate controversy involving content creator Amir Shokeen. Tripura Police and the Delhi Police IFSO unit opened investigations into a viral video that allegedly featured racially derogatory remarks directed at a young man from Tripura. Shokeen subsequently issued a public apology, claiming the controversial video was scripted.

In defense developments, carrier trials are underway in Goa for the French-made Rafale-Marine fighter aircraft. The tests are taking place at the Shore-Based Test Facility at INS Hansa, following an inter-governmental agreement signed in April 2025 for the procurement of 26 aircraft. Deliveries of the naval fighters are scheduled to run from late 2028 to early 2029.