5 stories you must read today, Sep 28: From Vijay rally stampede to India’s response to Pak at UN and more

The toll in the September 27 stampede at actor-politician Vijay-led rally in Karur in western Tamil Nadu climbed to 40 on Sunday with over 60 being treated as in-patients, and at least 2 were critical, officials said. As the toll mounted, Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) moved the Madras High Court Madurai Bench seeking a CBI or an independent probe into the stampede. Vijay, facing flak from various quarters, also announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh each to the families of the victims, while expressing profound grief over the incident that left 40 dead. Click here to read the ground report by Arun Janardhanan.

As this news story is being written, Pakistan faces India in the Asia Cup final in Dubai, and the former's Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan started steadily before slowing ramping up the pressure against India, putting up a score of 77/0 after 9 overs. India won the toss and opted to field first against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final in Dubai. India had some bad news with Hardik Pandya missing out with a niggle with Rinku Singh replacing him. Also, Jasprit Bumrah and Shivam Dube returned in place of Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh.

The last rites of two of the four youths killed in the September 24 violence were performed in curfew-bound Leh town on Sunday amid tight security, with no relaxation in restrictions, officials said. Prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons also remained in force in other major parts of the Union Territory, including Kargil. The chorus of opposition leaders criticising the Centre's handling of the matter, including the detention of activist Sonam Wangchuk under NSA on Friday, grew louder with former Congress president Rahul Gandhi alleging that Ladakh's people, culture, and traditions were under attack by the BJP and RSS. Click here to read our reporter Deeptiman  Tiwary's interview with Leh apex body co-chairman.

India hit out at Pakistan at the UN after Islamabad responded to remarks by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on terrorism, even though Pakistan was not named in his speech.

“It is telling that a neighbour who was not named chose to nevertheless respond and admit their longstanding practice of cross-border terrorism,” said Rentala Srinivas, Second Secretary in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, delivering the Right of Reply. He said, “Pakistan’s reputation speaks for itself. Its fingerprints are so visible in terrorism across so many geographies. It is a menace not only to its neighbours but to the entire world.” He added, “No arguments or untruths can ever whitewash the crimes of terroristan.” Read more

United States Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick Sunday sharpened the US’ attack on its crucial trading partners, including India, urging them to “open their markets, stop taking actions that harm America.” “We have a bunch of countries to fix like Switzerland, Brazil, like India. These are countries that need to really react correctly to America,” Lutnick said in an interview to NewsNation. Lutnick’s comments come amid escalating tensions between India and the US, after the Trump administration imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India, including a 25 per cent duty on New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil. Read more