As Bihar election approaches, protest against the Waqf Amendment Bill threatens to polarise the state voters. RJD and opposition parties oppose the Bill, claiming it targets minorities, while BJP supports it for minority welfare. BJP allies face dilemma on bill’s polarizing potential amid opposition attacks.

This move has sparked concerns that it could be used to deport foreign students amid a crackdown on illegal immigrants as well as student protesters in US colleges and universities

Sources in the Punjab government said the state is under heavy debt, facing a fiscal deficit of 3.84% currently, and will have to borrow more to deliver the women’s scheme. The cost of the scheme is almost Rs 12,000 crore a month, as there are nearly 1 crore women in Punjab above 18 years of age