Bishkek, Aug 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, in Bishkek, on the margins of the 26th SCO Summit. This was their first meeting this year. The two leaders had earlier met in Delhi for the 23rd Annual Summit in December 2025.

The two leaders reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation in a range of fields, including political, economic, defence, energy, space, mobility and people-to-people ties. They welcomed the outcome of the 27th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic and Cultural matters, which was held on 24 August 2026 in Moscow.

 The leaders exchanged views on India-Russia engagement in the multilateral arena, in particular in BRICS under India’s Chairship for 2026. They also shared perspectives on key regional and global issues of mutual interest, including the conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region which have impacted maritime trade and the safety and security of Indian seafarers. Prime Minister reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy was the way forward in resolving conflicts.

The two leaders agreed to remain engaged to further strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries, which continues to register significant growth and has shown resilience in the backdrop of geopolitical uncertainties.

Prime Minister stated that he looks forward to welcoming President Putin in India for the 18th BRICS Summit on 12-13 September 2026.

New Delhi, Aug 31: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board on Monday announced a nationwide “people’s movement” to protect the “Constitution and Sharia (Islamic law)”, under which it would organise public meetings and protest programmes in major cities across the country.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) said it will prepare and disseminate a comprehensive white paper documenting incidents of discrimination against Muslims, constitutional violations, and human rights abuses to the media, human rights organisations, intellectuals, elected representatives, and relevant institutions.

It said the “Movement for the Protection of the Constitution and Sharia” is not a movement of any particular community or section but a shared national struggle to safeguard the Constitution of India, the supremacy of democracy, the rule of law, religious freedom, human dignity, national unity, peace and fraternity.

“We firmly believe that justice, love, dialogue, mutual respect and constitutional struggle are the true guarantees of India’s peaceful future. With this conviction, we invite every justice-loving, democratic and peace-loving citizen of the country, every social and religious organisation, and every responsible member of civil society to join this movement,” the Board members said at a press conference.

The Board said over the past several years, conditions have continuously emerged in the country in which vulnerable and marginalised sections, particularly Muslims, have been subjected to severe pressure, insecurity and discriminatory treatment at religious, social, political and economic levels.

“Mob violence, extra-legal bulldozer demolitions, targeting of mosques, madrasas and shrines, illegal occupation of Waqf properties and graveyards, arbitrary arrests of Muslim youth under baseless cases, interference with religious freedom, attempts to undermine Muslim Personal Law through the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), and attempts to undermine the beliefs of minorities by making the singing of Vande Mataram compulsory, have deepened a sense of insecurity among a large section of the population,” the AIMPLB said.

Eminent scholars, religious leaders of different faiths, intellectuals and social and political personalities will address these gatherings, and a protest will be organised in New Delhi, it said.

The Board said it will submit a comprehensive Charter of Demands to the President of India through the Governors in each state and the district administrations in every district.

New Delhi, Aug 31: In the presence of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, an MoU was signed between Bihar and Jharkhand on the sharing of Sone River water. Chief Minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren, Chief Minister of Bihar Samrat Choudhary, Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil, the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, the Union Home Secretary, and senior officials from the Government of India and both states were present on this occasion.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah said that today’s agreement between Bihar and Jharkhand has resolved a long-awaited water dispute in eastern India. He said that this agreement will provide irrigation water to lakhs of farmers in large rural areas of Bihar and Jharkhand, along with drinking water for the people.

Amit Shah stated that the agreement reached today regarding the sharing of the Sone River’s waters is an excellent example of the ‘Team Bharat’ vision and cooperative federalism championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that while all states possess their own distinct identities, if they move forward as ‘Team Bharat’ within the national context, there is no problem which cannot be resolved. Shri Shah added that this marks the fourth water agreement between states this year, which will enhance water availability for irrigation, rural development, and drinking purposes.

Union Home Minister said that the agreement reached today to resolve the nearly 25-year-old water dispute between Bihar and Jharkhand exemplifies that any problem can be solved through dialogue conducted with the spirit of cooperative federalism. He said that issues concerning vast geographical areas, farmers, rural regions, and drinking water supplies in both states have been permanently resolved today.

Amit Shah said that today’s agreement would ensure the availability of adequate water for drinking and irrigation to a large population across the districts of Bhojpur, Buxar, Rohtas, Kaimur, Aurangabad, Arwal, Gaya, and Patna in Bihar. Moreover, water would become available for irrigation and drinking purposes in the Palamu, Garhwa, and other regions of Jharkhand.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for resolving the issue of Sone River water sharing.

On the initiative of Home Minister Amit Shah, long-pending water disputes between various states that had been unresolved for several decades are being resolved through the Inter-State Council, so far this year, four historic agreements have been reached.

On July 7, 2026, a historic agreement regarding the settlement of outstanding payments was signed among the ‘Narmada Award’ beneficiary states — Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh — in the presence of the Union Home Minister. This agreement marks a milestone in resolving long-standing disputes among these states concerning cost-sharing for the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Project, with the outstanding dues being resolved through a one-time settlement.

On June 29, 2026, a significant agreement was signed between the governments of Rajasthan and Haryana regarding the construction and implementation of the Yamuna Water Project. Under this agreement, approximately 580 MCM of water will be conveyed from the Yamuna Canal to Rajasthan via three underground pipelines. The project aims to deliver Rajasthan’s share of Yamuna water from the Western Yamuna Canal through these underground pipelines. This will enable Rajasthan to effectively utilize the water allocated to it under the 1994 agreement regarding the sharing of usable surface water in the Upper Yamuna Basin. The project will ensure a continuous supply of drinking water to the arid and low-rainfall regions of Rajasthan and foster socio-economic development, thereby benefiting millions of people.

On June 16, 2026, a consensus was reached among the concerned states regarding the long-pending ‘Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project’ during a crucial meeting held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah. During the meeting, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the ‘Kishau Multipurpose Project.’ Regarding the project, the Central Government will provide 90% of the funding for the water component as central assistance, while the six states will bear the financial burden of the remaining 10%. An agreement was reached to allocate the water assigned to Himachal Pradesh to Delhi and Rajasthan in exchange for sharing the cost of the project’s power component.

Bishkek, Aug 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday that India wants to “expand and diversify” the trade basket with Iran in the “times to come” and called for resolution of the West Asia conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.

Modi held talks with Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the SCO summit in this capital city of Kyrgyzstan.

“Met President Masoud Pezeshkian in Bishkek. Reiterated our commitment to strengthening India’s long standing friendship with Iran across diverse sectors,” the prime minister said on social media.

“We want to expand and diversify our trade basket in the times to come. We had a discussion on the prevailing situation in the region. India will continue to support all efforts aimed at ensuring lasting peace,” he said.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the two leaders discussed the West Asia conflict and shared perspectives on the evolving situation.

“The prime minister expressed concern at the escalation of tensions in the region and reiterated India’s consistent position that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy,” it said.

Modi also reiterated the need for continued efforts to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region.

“Calling for safeguarding the freedom of navigation and commerce, he emphasised that civilians and civilian infrastructure, including commercial shipping and seafarers must not be harmed under any circumstances,” the MEA said.

“Reiterating India’s readiness to closely cooperate with Iran in multilateral organisations, including BRICS and SCO, the prime minister conveyed that he looked forward to welcoming President Pezeshkian to India for the BRICS Summit,” it said in a statement.

An Iranian readout of the Modi-Pezeshkian meeting said the Iran president expressed “appreciation” for New Delhi’s support and cooperation with Iran during the recent war and emphasised the need to intensify diplomatic efforts to establish peace and security in the region.

“From the very beginning of our administration, our efforts have been focused on ensuring peace and security and resolving issues through dialogue and negotiations,” Pezeshkian said.

“Unfortunately, instead of making use of diplomatic mechanisms, the Americans have chosen the path of war, insecurity and imposing their will through force,” he said, according to the readout.

Pezeshkian added: “Our responsibility requires us to protect our people from danger and insecurity and to create the conditions necessary for them to achieve peace, tranquility and security.”

The President referred to India’s important position and capacities in the region and the world, as well as the deep historical and cultural ties between the two nations.

Pezeshkian urged Modi to use India’s extensive contacts with various parties to help them move away from the path of war and bloodshed and return to the path of dialogue and agreement.

The Iranian president emphasised that the desire and will of the “wise and responsible” actors in the region and the world is for peace, security, tranquility and the avoidance of war.

“We believe that the solution to the issues we face lies in dialogue and cooperation, and that all available capacities must be mobilised to prevent the spread of insecurity and conflict,” he said.

Modi also held a separate bilateral meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

“A wonderful meeting with Prime Minister of Armenia, Mr. Nikol Pashinyan on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek,” the prime minister said.

“India-Armenia cooperation is all set to grow in defence, IT, space, education, pharmaceuticals and more. We are equally certain to deepen trade and investment linkages in the times to come,” he said.

Srinagar, Aug 31: On the death anniversary of former President of India Pranab Mukherjee, Chairman of the Kashmir Policy and Strategy Group Ashok Bhan paid tribute to the veteran statesman, describing him as a “towering statesman, an unwavering Constitutionalist and a political scholar” whose public life embodied the finest traditions of Indian democracy.

Bhan said Mukherjee’s journey from a modest beginning in a village in Bengal to the highest constitutional office of the country was marked by intellect, humility, experience and an abiding commitment to public service.

He said Mukherjee possessed a rare understanding of India’s political institutions and the complexities of its democratic journey, earning respect across political lines.

‘A man of culture and political scholarship’

Recalling Mukherjee’s multifaceted personality, Bhan said his journey included his early years as a teacher and journalist in a small village in Bengal before he emerged as an avid reader, prolific writer and standard-bearer of India’s intellectual heritage.

His vast knowledge of history, politics, economics and parliamentary practice made him an exceptional repository of institutional wisdom, Bhan said.

“His vast knowledge of history, politics, economics and parliamentary practice made him an exceptional repository of institutional wisdom,” he said.

Bhan added that Mukherjee believed deeply in dialogue, accommodation and the strength of democratic institutions.

“His interventions were informed not merely by political expediency but by scholarship and a profound understanding of India’s civilisational and constitutional inheritance,” he said.

‘His legacy continues to inspire’

Bhan said Mukherjee remained, above all, an unwavering Constitutionalist whose commitment to the rule of law and good governance was central to his political and administrative philosophy.

He said Mukherjee consistently urged younger generations of leaders to uphold India’s constitutional values and demonstrate deep respect for democratic institutions.

“His passing left a void in public life, but his legacy continues to remind us that politics, at its finest, is an instrument of national service, constitutional responsibility and the pursuit of the common good,” Bhan said.

Pranab Mukherjee, who served as the 13th President of India from 2012 to 2017, passed away on August 31, 2020, aged 84. His death anniversary is observed on August 31.