Opposition MPs in the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs have questioned the “haste” in adopting the draft reports on the three bills to replace the IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act, as a meeting has been called later this week for the purpose.

The committee, which is examining the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bills, has informed its members through a notice that the draft reports will be adopted on October 27.

According to sources, at least two opposition MPs have written to the panel’s chairperson raising concerns about the process of scrutiny of the bills and have also urged him to postpone the meeting.

Questioning the “haste”, both the MPs have said that they did not get enough time to go through the three reports which were sent to them only on the late evening of October 21.

Members of the panel who belong to parties of the opposition INDIA bloc are set to submit dissent notes against adopting the reports. In the 30-member panel, the BJP has 16 members.

Opposition MPs, who have in the past raised questions over the experts being called for examination, have questioned the short notice for calling the meeting even as a number of experts suggested by them are yet to be called.

One of the opposition MPs, in his letter to the panel chairperson, pointed at an “alarming lack” of consultation with stakeholders and shared a list of experts that had been suggested by them for examination.

Former Chief Justice of India U U Lalit, retired Supreme Court judge Justice Madan B Lokur, eminent jurist Fali Nariman, Senior Advocate Rebecca John and Advocate Menaka Guruswamy are among the names included in the list.

Requesting postponement of the panel’s meeting, another opposition MP pointed out that the draft report was sent in the middle of festivals even though the next Parliament session is at least four weeks away.

TMC MPs in the panel have, meanwhile, raised concern over the meeting being called a day before Lakshmi Puja which is celebrated in Bengal a few days after Durga Puja.

“It shows that the BJP does not understand anything about the culture of Bengal,” said a TMC MP, who is a part of the parliamentary panel.

Raising concern about the bills, an opposition MP alleged that these proposed laws which are meant to replace the colonial-era procedural laws are “even more colonial”.

The 30-member Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has 16 BJP MPs including the chairperson, four of the Congress, two each of DMK, TMC, JD(U) and BJD, and one of the Shiv Sena.

It was given three months to examine the three bills and submit its report after Home Minister Amit Shah had requested the Lok Sabha chair to refer the bills to the panel for threadbare examination. In the 11 meetings held so far, the panel took the views of various experts, including the Law Commission.

The IPC and the Evidence Act are colonial-era procedural laws that form the backbone of Indian criminal jurisprudence along with CrPC.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday accused the United States of “directing” strikes Israel has been carrying out on Hamas in Gaza in response to the October 7 attacks.

Israel has heavily bombarded the Gaza Strip since Hamas gunmen crossed the border and entered Israel and, according to Israeli officials, killed more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians.

The Hamas-controlled health ministry said on Wednesday that 6,545 people have been killed in Gaza since the conflict broke out, including 2,704 children.

“America is a definite accomplice of criminals,” said Khamenei during a speech in Tehran.

“The United States is in some way directing the crime that is being committed in Gaza.”

Khamenei said the hands of Americans “were tainted with the blood of the oppressed, children, patients, women and others”.

The United States, the sworn enemy of Iran, has moved two aircraft carriers into the eastern Mediterranean in a move it says is to deter Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, both allies of Hamas, from getting involved in the Hamas-Israel war.

It has also confirmed this week that it has sent a “few” military advisers to Israel as part of its support for its close ally.

Iran, which financially and militarily backs Hamas, hailed the October 7 attacks on Israel as a “success”.

But the Islamic republic has insisted it was not involved in the onslaught, during which more than 220 people were also taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities.

“Let everyone know that in this matter and future matters, the Palestinian nation is victorious and the future world is the world of Palestine, not the world of the Zionist regime,” Khamenei said, referring to Israel.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Iran that the United States would respond “decisively” to any attack by Tehran proxies, as tensions rise over the conflict.

“The United States does not seek conflict with Iran. We do not want this war to widen,” Blinken told a UN Security Council session.

“But if Iran or its proxies attack US personnel anywhere, make no mistake. We will defend our people, we will defend our security — swiftly and decisively,” he said.

The Islamic republic lashed out at Blinken for what it said was his attempt to “wrongly place the blame on Iran”.

“Iran categorically rejects these groundless allegations,” Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani said.

Actor Kangana Ranaut on Wednesday shared pictures of her meeting with Israel’s Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon and expressed hope of Israel emerging victorious in the “war against terrorism”.

Taking to Instagram, Kangana Ranaut posted a series of pictures of herself and the Israeli envoy.

Sharing the pictures, she wrote, “Had a soulful meeting with Israel’s ambassador to Bharat Shri Naor Gilon ji. Today the whole world, especially Israel and India are fighting their war against terrorism. Yesterday when I reached Delhi to burn Ravana, I felt the Israel Embassy should come and meet those who are defeating terrorists like today’s modern Ravana Hamas. The way young children and women are being targeted is heart-wrenching. I have full hope Israel will win this war against terrorism. I discussed with them about my upcoming film Tejas and India’s self-reliant fighter jet Tejas.#tejas @israelinindia.”

Naor Gilon also shared photos from the meeting and expressed heartfelt gratitude not only to her but also to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It was lovely meeting @KanganaTeam who was in Delhi for her movie premiere & visited our embassy to extend her support to @Israel.

I expressed our heartfelt gratitude not only to her but also to PM @narendramodi ji and our Indian friends for their unwavering support in our… pic.twitter.com/SegcrOQnli

— Naor Gilon (@NaorGilon) October 25, 2023

He wrote, “It was lovely meeting @KanganaTeam who was in Delhi for her movie premiere & visited our embassy to extend her support to @Israel. I expressed our heartfelt gratitude not only to her but also to PM @narendramodi ji and our Indian friends for their unwavering support in our shared battle against terrorism.

Israel’s Deputy head of mission to India, Ohad Nakash Kaynar also shared a picture of Kangana and Naor Gilon from the meeting on X.

Sharing the picture, he wrote, “In these horrible times, some support is just brave. No other word for it. @KanganaTeam you are brave for saying the truth as clearly as you do. Israel and India share the same values and same courage. Jai Israel Jai Hind.”

As many as 1,400 Israelis have died in the onslaught of the Hamas attack on October 7. In this attack, Hamas launched a sudden ground, air, and sea offensive against Israel, with over 2,500 fighters crossing the border and causing destruction in southern towns. This resulted in the deaths of more than 1,400 people, primarily civilians, and the taking of over 220 hostages.

More than 5,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7, CNN quoted Palestinian health officials as saying.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of Dussehra, Kangana Ranaut on Tuesday attended Delhi’s largest Ramlila, organised annually at the historic Red Fort grounds where she was given the honour to perform the ‘Ravan Dahan’.

Apart from Kangana, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena were also present for the festivities, which the Lav Kush Ramlila Committee arranged.

Earlier on Monday, Kangana Ranaut announced that she is going to be the first woman to burn the Ravan effigy at the famous Lav Kush Ramlila, Red Fort ground, Delhi.

Taking to Instagram Kangana Ranaut shared a video and wrote, “In the 50 years of history of the event, held annually at the Red Fort, this will be the first time a woman will set the effigy of Ravana on fire. Jai Shri Ram.”

Meanwhile, Kangana Ranaut is currently busy promoting her upcoming action film ‘Tejas’.

The film revolves around the extraordinary journey of Tejas Gill, an Air Force pilot, and aims to inspire and instill a deep sense of pride in every Indian, showing how Indian Air Force pilots work tirelessly to defend our nation, confronting numerous challenges along the way.

Written and Directed By Sarvesh Mewara and Produced By Ronnie Screwvala, the film is scheduled to release in theatres on October 27, 2023.

Apart from that, Kangana Ranaut also has ‘Emergency’ in her kitty.