Did government backtrack because of public outrage and not 'voluntary uptake'?

The government has reversed a directive that would have mandated the pre-installation of the 'Sanchar Saathi' app on smartphones. Critics and opposition parties raised alarms over privacy and potential surveillance, with some likening the move to Pegasus spyware. However, the government defended the app as a security measure to help citizens combat cyber fraud and track lost or stolen phones. This report also covers tensions in Madurai, where the state government defied a Madras High Court order to light the Karthigai Deepam at a contentious pillar near a Dargah. Additionally, it features a Congress protest on Delhi's air pollution and an exclusive interview with BJP leader Captain Amarinder Singh. Singh stated that the BJP must form an alliance with the Akali Dal to win the 2027 Punjab elections, asserting, 'There is no other way to form the government.'