Category: India

https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttar-pradesh/rahul-gandhi-a-national-spokesperson-of-anti-india-forces-up-dy-cm-brajesh-pathak-3910696Speaking to reporters in Lucknow on Tuesday, Pathak said, “Congress party and Rahul Gandhi have reached a level of falsehood, a level from which there is no return.”

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Tuesday slammed Rahul Gandhi, calling him a “national spokesperson of anti-India forces”, amid the latter’s video message in which he claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sold the country’s interests under the Indo-US trade deal.

Speaking to reporters in Lucknow on Tuesday, Pathak said, “Congress party and Rahul Gandhi have reached a level of falsehood, a level from which there is no return. The baseless allegations Rahul Gandhi makes against Prime Minister Modi and the Government of India every day, and the venom he spews on social media, are not only condemnable but also constitute treason.” “Today, the country is witnessing how far Rahul Gandhi’s political standards have fallen. His sole objective now is to utter lies after lies, incite the public, spread anarchy, and undermine India’s strength,” Pathak said.

In a post on X on February 23, the Congress leader had also claimed that Modi is unable to sleep at night due to a court case against industrialist Gautam Adani in the United States and alleged that it is a case against the ruling BJP and its financial architecture.

The video message posted on X was in response to Modi’s “shameless politics” attack on Congress in connection with the Indian Youth Congress’ “shirtless” protest during the AI summit in Delhi.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttar-pradesh/rahul-gandhi-a-national-spokesperson-of-anti-india-forces-up-dy-cm-brajesh-pathak-3910696

Underscoring the idea that the re-naming is a big political move ahead of the Kerala assembly elections, she alleged that the Centre remembers Bengal only during elections.

The Centre’s move to rename Kerala has had ripples in distant West Bengal, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the government of being anti-Bengal. Underscoring the idea that the re-naming is a big political move ahead of the Kerala assembly elections, she alleged that the Centre remembers Bengal only during elections. Government sources, however, have refuted the allegations, listing the reasons for the Centre’s refusal to rename Bengal.

Sources said the most important reason to turn down the latest name suggested – Bangla — is that the name is similar to Bangladesh and may cause confusion in the international community regarding the name of this major state of India.

The Ministry of External Affairs has also expressed its views on this matter.

In 2016, the West Bengal government had proposed three names: Bangla in Bengali, Bengal in English, and Bangal in Hindi.

The Central government had rejected this proposal, pointing out that the same state cannot have three different names in three different languages. The name should be consistent across all languages.
Mamata Banerjee had proposed changing the state’s name after assuming power for the first time in 2011.

At the time, she proposed changing West Bengal’s name to Paschim Banga or Paschim Bango.

This was rejected, citing it as a minor change.

The Central government has also argued that changing the name of a vast state like West Bengal involves a lengthy process.

It requires consultation with various departments, including the Railways, the Postal Department, and the Ministry of Aviation, as the state’s name is changed in all records. Additionally, a bill must be passed in Parliament with a simple majority to change the name.

Government sources, however, said there is a significant political reason behind not changing West Bengal’s name.

In the British period, then Viceroy Lord Curzon had split Bengal in East and West Bengal – ostensibly to aid the administration of a large province. But he had to roll back the move afer massive protests.

After the partition of India in 1947, the eastern part of Bengal went to Pakistan and was known as east Pakistan.

In 1971, after the Bangladesh war, it became Bangladesh. India, still, retained the name West Bengal as a nod to history.

Mamata Banerjee has argued that since there is no longer an East Bengal, there is no point in using “West” before “Bengal”.

She also wants to change the name because, according to her, with the state’s name beginning with a “W”, Bengal comes last in any state-specific event, including Chief Ministers’ conference.

In competitions, the state’s children compete last and are often exhausted by then.

Citing this, Banerjee had launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah earlier today.

Declaring that she has raised the issue whenever she met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, she said, “Much to my surprise, nothing has happened”.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/why-changing-west-bengals-name-will-not-be-easy-11131943?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The Congress MLAs held placards with various issues and raised slogans against the ruling BJP government. They alleged corruption in MNREGA, irregularities in paddy procurement, poor condition of sports stadiums and neglect of athletes, irregularities in the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC), farmers’ problems, unemployment and job crisis and the drug problem.

Alleging rampant corruption under the BJP rule, the Congress MLAs, who were led by leader of Opposition (LoP) Bhupender Singh Hooda, on Tuesday took out a protest march to the assembly.

Congress state president Rao Narendra Singh and several other senior leaders also took part in the protest march which began from the High Court chowk.

The Congress MLAs held placards with various issues and raised slogans against the ruling BJP government. They alleged corruption in MNREGA, irregularities in paddy procurement, poor condition of sports stadiums and neglect of athletes, irregularities in the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC), farmers’ problems, unemployment and job crisis and the drug problem.

While addressing newspersons, the two-time chief minister, Hooda said that the BJP government has failed on every front.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/bhupender-singh-hooda-leads-congress-protest-march-to-haryana-assembly

What is Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposed Hexagon of Alliances? What is India’s role in it? What does it mean ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s visit? Explained

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed the ‘Hexagon of Alliances’, a strategic framework designed to formalise a network of allied nations to counter regional threats.

Netanyahu’s vision positions India as a cornerstone of the new bloc. What is it? Who are the partners? News18 explains.

PM Modi’s Israel visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in Israel on February 25, 2026 for a historic two-day state visit. This marks his first visit to the country in nearly nine years and his second overall since the landmark 2017 trip.

PM Modi is expected to become the first Indian leader to address the Knesset (Israeli Parliament). Immediately upon landing in Tel Aviv, he will hold a private meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he has frequently described as a “dear friend”.

Discussions will focus on high-tech cooperation, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum computing, cybersecurity, and semiconductors. The visit coincides with reports of massive new arms deals worth approximately $8.6 billion, including precision-guided bombs and advanced missile systems. Both leaders are expected to set a roadmap for finalizing a Free Trade Agreement by the end of 2026. Discussions will also cover the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a strategic transit project aimed at connecting India to European markets via Israel.

What is the Hexagon of Alliances?

The ‘Hexagon’ refers to a six-sided system of alliances involving:

Israel: Central coordinator

India: Strategic anchor and global power

Mediterranean Partners: Specifically Greece and Cyprus

Arab Nations

African Nations

Asian Nations

Why the alliance?

The alliance aims to institutionalise coordination across three main pillars:

Security: Deepening intelligence sharing and defense cooperation against common “radical” adversaries.

Diplomatic Alignment: Creating an “axis of nations” that share similar strategic assessments of regional challenges.

Economic Cooperation: Enhancing trade, technology partnerships (especially in AI and quantum computing), and infrastructure connectivity similar to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

Hexagon will counter…

Netanyahu explicitly framed the bloc as a counterweight to what he described as:

The ‘Radical Shia Axis’: Led by Iran and its network of proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis.

The “Emerging Radical Sunni Axis”: A newer framing intended to address emerging extremist threats in the region.

By anchoring India to Greece and Cyprus, the alliance creates a powerful maritime front that opposes Turkey’s claims over Eastern Mediterranean oil and gas reserves.

The analysis

Analysts have described the proposal as a “branding exercise” to formalise existing ad hoc relationships and project that Israel is not diplomatically isolated.

While India values its friendship with Israel, it remains highly pragmatic and typically avoids rigid bloc politics to maintain its “strategic autonomy”. Some potential partners, such as Greece and

Cyprus, are members of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, complicating formal state-level alliances.

India and Israel

In Netanyahu’s Hexagon of Alliances, India is positioned as the strategic anchor and “central core” of the new regional architecture. While the framework is still emerging, India’s specific roles are defined by several key functions.

Netanyahu has explicitly framed India as a “global power” whose involvement provides the alliance with international legitimacy and weight. India’s role involves deepened coordination in intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism operations, particularly targeting what Netanyahu calls “radical axes”.

India is one of the largest buyers of Israeli defense equipment, and the alliance seeks to move toward joint defense research and production under India’s “Make in India” initiative.

A major focus of the India-Israel axis within the hexagon is collaboration on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and quantum computing. The ‘hexagon’ is seen as a strategic formalization of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), where India acts as the primary trade and connectivity link between Asia and the Mediterranean.

India cautious

New Delhi maintains a cautious stance due to its own strategic interests. India historically avoids joining rigid, confrontational blocs. Analysts note that while India values its relationship with Israel, it is unlikely to join an explicitly “anti-Iran” military bloc.

Source : https://www.news18.com/explainers/ahead-of-pm-modis-israel-visit-netanyahus-hexagon-of-alliances-with-india-at-its-core-explained-ws-l-9926558.html

Ahead of Holi, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration seized thousands of litres of edible oil and destroyed paneer, mawa and sweets in a statewide crackdown on adulteration.

The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration has launched a statewide crackdown on adulterated food items ahead of Holi, seizing large quantities of edible oil, paneer, mawa and sweets across multiple districts.

Officials said the intensified drive is aimed at ensuring food safety during the festive season, when demand for dairy products and sweets surges sharply.

In Hapur, the department seized 32,500 litres of suspected adulterated edible oil during inspections of manufacturing and storage units. Authorities said samples have been sent for laboratory testing.

The broader Holi campaign led to the seizure of nearly 30,000 units of edible oil from different parts of the state.

PANEER, MAWA DESTROYED MULTIPLE DISTRICTS

In Gautam Buddha Nagar’s Tilpata area, officials destroyed 200 kg of adulterated paneer ahead of Holi.

In Saharanpur’s Rampur Maniharan, authorities seized 6.30 quintals of suspected illegal paneer during the festive crackdown.

Ghaziabad witnessed one of the biggest actions. In just 72 hours, officials destroyed 2,500 kg of paneer and 200 kg of mawa after finding them unfit for consumption.

In Sambhal, a rasgulla manufacturing unit was raided and 225 kg of sweets were destroyed due to suspected adulteration.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/uttar-pradesh-cracks-down-on-adulterated-food-ahead-of-holi-seizes-30000-oil-units-2873863-2026-02-25

The complainant, a BJP worker, has alleged that Rahul Gandhi referred to PM Modi as ‘commander-in-thief’ while addressing a public rally in Rajasthan in September 2018.

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday reserved its order on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s plea seeking the quashing of a defamation complaint pertaining to alleged remarks made by him against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018.

A single-judge bench of Justice NR Borkar heard advocates at length before reserving the order. The matter is related to a criminal defamation proceeding initiated before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court at Girgaon on August 28, 2019 by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member named Mahesh Shrishrimal.

He has said in his complaint that Gandhi referred to PM Modi as “commander-in-thief” while addressing a public rally in Rajasthan in September 2018. Shrishrimal has alleged that the Congress leader also targeted the prime minister with the same term on social media as well.

The complainant claimed that Gandhi’s alleged name-calling amounted to describing all BJP members and Indian citizens as thieves.

The magistrate’s court had issued a summons to Gandhi, who challenged it in the High Court, terming the complaint frivolous and vexatious, which deserved to be quashed.

In his petition, the Congress leader said that the complaint was motivated by the sole purpose of furthering the complainant’s latent political agenda.

His counsel cited Section 199(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) – a provision which prescribes that a sessions court is required to take cognisance of an offence where the offence is alleged against a public servant in respect of conduct in the discharge of his public functions.

Gandhi’s lawyers argued that, in view of the aforementioned provision, a legal bar existed on Shrishrimal against filing a complaint.

It was also argued before the High Court by the petitioner that a political party is not identified as a group of persons eligible to file a defamation complaint in accordance with explanation 2 under Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code.

Gandhi’s legal team argued that this disbars Shrishrimal from filing a complaint in a representative capacity.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bombay-high-court-reserves-order-on-rahul-gandhi-plea-on-defamation-case-for-alleged-pm-modi-remarks-2873852-2026-02-25

Speaking in the Assembly, the Deputy Chief Minister said the investigation determined that the ghee supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams was manufactured using palm oil and chemicals rather than milk.

A CBI-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) has conclusively found that no milk was used in the manufacture of ghee supplied for the preparation of Tirumala prasadam laddus, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan told the state Legislative Assembly, triggering sharp political exchanges and renewed scrutiny over one of the country’s most revered temple prasadams.

Speaking in the House, Pawan Kalyan said the investigation determined that the ghee supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) was manufactured using palm oil and chemicals rather than milk.

“The SIT has conclusively found that no milk was used in the manufacture of the ghee supplied for Tirumala laddu preparation,” he said, adding that while adulterants were identified, the team could not conclusively determine the exact chemical composition or origin of the substances used.

According to him, the inquiry identified 36 accused and pointed to a deliberate conspiracy to defile the prasadam offered to Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala.

He alleged that tender conditions for ghee supply contracts were altered to favour specific companies.

Eligibility norms were allegedly relaxed, allowing firms with lower turnover, limited dairy experience and reduced production capacity to qualify.

The companies that won contracts between 2020 and 2023, including Bhole Baba and its associates, reportedly did not supply ghee made from milk.

Citing official records in the Assembly, Pawan Kalyan said that out of 480 million laddu prasadams sold between 2019 and 2024, around 200 million were allegedly prepared using adulterated ghee.

IT’S A MAHAPAPAM: CHANDRABABU NAIDU

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, meanwhile, termed the episode a “Mahapapam, not just about one laddu; an organised conspiracy,” and launched a scathing attack on the previous government led by Jagan Mohan Reddy.

“The people of the state have already expressed their concern. We must also remember the conspiratorial actions involved. Even during British rule, Lord Venkateswara Swamy was not subjected to such things. If we fail to act with concern now, we will be neglecting our responsibility,” Naidu said.

“That is why there is a conspiracy angle here. A syndicate has been formed, and this has been proven to a large extent through forensic evidence”.

Describing the alleged scale of the adulteration, he said, “Adulteration of 59.71 lakh kg of ghee has taken place, and Rs 234.51 crore has been spent on adulterated ghee. Between 2019 and 2024, as many as 20.01 crore laddus were prepared using adulterated ghee. This happened with the cooperation of officials, experts, and a syndicate. The laddu prasadam was defiled through organised crime, which would not have been possible without laboratories turning a blind eye during tenders.”

Naidu informed lawmakers that the CBI had reached the stage of filing a chargesheet on January 23, 2026, which was submitted to the Supreme Court of India the following day.

THE TIRUPATI LADDU CONTROVERSY

Singh’s counsel today admitted that the actor’s comments were reckless, but argued that he had no intention to hurt any sentiment, and that he has also apologised for the remark.

Sources said the committee will comprise experts from the fields of education, medical, technical and mental health.

In a step towards framing a policy on regulating digital content accessed by children, the Karnataka government has decided to constitute an expert committee.

The decision follows Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s statement at a recent meeting with university vice chancellors regarding a proposal to ban the use of mobile phones by children below 16 years.

Sources said the committee will comprise experts from the fields of education, medical, technical and mental health.

Officials from the department of school education and literacy will also be part of the panel.

“The committee is yet to be formed. Once it is formed, the terms of reference will be given to it. Based on the committee report/recommendation, the government will take a final call on imposing mobile ban, restricting social media and various digital content available on the internet which are not age-appropriate for children,” said a source.

The expert committee will basically study the ill-effects of mobile phones on children’s academics, physical and mental health, among others.

“Several stakeholders, including parents, child rights activists and the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, have requested the government to impose mobile ban and also regulate digital content for children,” the source explained.

School management associations and parent bodies have welcomed the move, but suggested not to impose a complete ban on mobile phones. Instead, they suggested restricting the use of social media.

BN Yogananda of the Karnataka Private School College Parents Associations Co-Ordination Committee said: “Social media has become a big enemy of children. Instead of going for a complete mobile ban, the government must look at restricting use of social media. Recent decisions taken by the Australian government can be studied and adopted.”

The Associated Management of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka advised for a standard operating procedure-based restriction, instead of a total ban.

D Shashi Kumar, general secretary of the association, said: “It is not possible to control or monitor kids after school hours when it comes to the use of mobile phones and it is being misused more after school hours, and even with support from parents.”

Responding to this, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the proposal to ban mobile phones for children below 16 years is under discussion and that there is pressure from parents to go ahead with the proposal.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/karnataka-govt-to-frame-policy-to-regulate-digital-content-use-by-kids-3909248

The crash happened shortly after the aircraft took off from the Ranchi airport at 7:11 pm. The service was operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd.

All seven people on board an air ambulance lost their lives as the aircraft crashed in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Monday while flying to Delhi from Ranchi.

The crash happened shortly after the aircraft took off from the Ranchi airport at 7:11 pm. The service was operated by Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd.

The victims have been identified as crew members Captain Vivek Vikas Bhagat and Captain Savrajdeep Singh, patient Sanjay Kumar, doctor Vikash Kumar Gupta, paramedic Sachin Kumar Mishra, and attendants Archana Devi and Dhuru Kumar.

“The aircraft went missing around 7.30 pm. It crashed at Bariatu Panchayat area in Simaria,” she said, adding that the plane crashed deep inside a forest.

“All seven on board the air ambulance were killed in the crash. The plane was on the way to Delhi from Ranchi,” Chatra Deputy Commissioner Keerthishree G told PTI.

The bodies of all seven dead have been recovered, SDPO Shubham Khandelwal told PTI.

Redbird, which is a Delhi-based non-scheduled operator, has six aircraft in its fleet including the one that crashed, according to DGCA website.

The air ambulance was arranged by one of the patients from the Devkamal Hospital, according to PTI report quoting hospital CEO Anant Sinha.

“The patient, Sanjay Kumar (41), a resident of Chandwa in Latehar district, was brought to the hospital with 65 per cent burn injuries on February 16. He was being treated in the hospital,” Sinha said, adding that the family members decided to take him to Delhi for better treatment.

“They arranged an air ambulance on Monday. The patient left the hospital for Delhi around 4.30 pm,” he said.

In a post on X, former Chief Minister and BJP leader Champai Soren said he was deeply saddened by the news of the crash.

“I pray for the deceased individuals, including the crew members aboard the plane from Marang Buru (the supreme tribal deity), and for strength to their families during this difficult time,” he posted.

Ranchi airport director Vinod Kumar said that the plane lost contact with the air traffic control about 20 minutes after takeoff.

“Inclement weather could be a reason behind the crash, but the actual cause will be ascertained only after a probe,” he said.

In a statement, the DGCA said, “On 23.02.2026 Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd Beechcraft C90 aircraft VT-AJV operating medical evacuation (Air Ambulance) flight on sector Ranchi-Delhi crashed in Kasaria Panchayat of Chatra district, in Jharkhand. There were seven people on board, including two crew members.”

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jharkhand/all-seven-on-board-including-patient-doctor-killed-in-jharkhand-air-ambulance-crash-3909351 

A Jodhpur priest challenges blind beliefs, saying “Ye Shashtron Mein Nahi Hai” to discourage harmful rituals and promote civic sense, blending faith with social responsibility and encouraging cleanliness and practical thinking.

The debate around civic sense is currently gaining momentum in India, and a priest from Rajasthan’s Jodhpur appears to be taking it upon himself to explain its true meaning. Pandit Jeevraj Shrimali has been actively cleaning religious ponds and urging devotees to use designated bins to dispose of prayer leftovers such as flowers, cloth pieces, coconuts and other ritual items. He often shares the shocking items he finds in these water bodies – objects that people throw in due to superstitious beliefs. Many think that immersing old pictures of deities, sweets, grains or oil in water brings good fortune or spiritual merit. However, such practices pollute water bodies and harm aquatic life. This is why responsible waste disposal and moving away from superstitious customs are important.

Akshat Pratap Singh confessed to killing his father during interrogation.

In a shocking incident, a 19-year-old youth has been accused of killing his father and attempting to conceal the crime by cutting up the body and hiding it inside their home, reported India Today, citing police.

The victim, Manvendra Pratap Singh, who owned Vardhman Pathology, had been missing since February 20. A missing person complaint was filed soon after he could not be traced.

During the search, police recovered his decomposed remains from a drum kept inside the house.

As a part of the investigation, officers questioned his son, Akshat Pratap Singh, a B.Com student. He confessed to the crime during interrogation.

DCP Vikrant Veer said the accused told officials that he shot his father with a rifle at around 4.30 AM on February 20 after an argument. The son allegedly claimed he was upset because his father was pressuring him to prepare for competitive examinations.

Police said that after the shooting, the accused moved the body from the third floor to a room on the ground floor. He then allegedly cut the body into pieces in an attempt to hide the evidence. Some body parts were reportedly disposed of near Sadarouna village, while others were kept inside a drum at the house. During the search, officers recovered several remains from the ground floor.

Source : https://www.news18.com/cities/lucknow-news/upset-over-exam-pressure-lucknow-teen-shoots-father-dead-dismembers-body-hides-it-in-drum-ws-l-9925552.html

Ahead of West Bengal Assembly elections, PM Narendra Modi wrote an open letter greeting people with ‘Joy Maa Kali’ and urging them to vote wisely. He highlighted central schemes like Jan Dhan and Ujjwala Yojana, praised Bengali icons, and criticized the TMC for misrule. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh responded, noting the central government froze state funds.

Ahead of the high voltage Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday has penned an open letter for the people of Bengal urging them to vote wisely.

In the letter instead of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chant, Modi had adopted the local invocation and greeted people with ‘Joy Maa Kali’ at the beginning of the letter.

“Joy maa Kali! Only a few months remain, after which the fate of West Bengal will be decided. The future of the next generation depends on your well-considered decision. From the children to the elderly are victims of extreme deprivation today. My heart is heavy with their pain. Therefore, from the depths of my soul, I have taken a single pledge: the pledge to make West Bengal ‘developed and prosperous’ and build ‘Shonar Bangla’,” wrote the Prime Minister.

In the open letter, Modi had also mentioned the legacies of Bengali icons such as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Swami Vivekananda, Rishi Aurobindo and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and also stated about the central welfare schemes like the Jan Dhan Yojana and Ujjwala Yojana.

“Despite non cooperation of the state government five crore people in West Bengal have been brought under the banking network today through the central ‘Jan Dhan Yojana’. Through the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’, we have made it possible to construct 89 lakh toilets in the state. Over 52 hours of farmers have been benefited,” further mentioned Modi.

Slamming Trinamool Congress (TMC) Modi mentioned that the ruling party is ‘busy snatching away people’s employment’.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/pm-modi-urges-west-bengal-voters-to-choose-wisely-in-open-letter

Opposition parties, led by Revolutionary Goans Party MLA Viresh Borkar, have been protesting at Azad Maidan for the past two days, demanding the scrapping of a section of the Town and Country Planning Act that allows the conversion of non-settlement zones into settlement zones, paving the way for construction activities.

Several hundred persons protested on Monday in front of the private residence of Goa Minister Vishwajit Rane demanding the scrapping of a section of Town and Country Planning Act that enables the conversion of non-settlement zone into settlement zone, paving the way for construction activities.

Opposition parties led by Revolutionary Goans Party MLA Viresh Borkar have been protesting at Azad Maidan here for last two days demanding scrapping of the controversial section 39A of TCP Act. Borkar, who is on an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan demanding immediate repeal of the section, had also sought suspension of police personnel who allegedly manhandled him and his supporters during the agitation.

The agitators had given a deadline of 4 pm on Monday to the government to accept their demands. They began walking towards the private residence of TCP minister Rane after there was no response from the government.

The protestors reached Dona Paula suburb, where Rane’s house is located, after travelling for almost 5 kilometres on foot and continued their protests, an official said.

Among those who took part in the stir were Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, MLAs Venzy Viegas, Carlos Ferreira, Revolutionary Goans Party chief Manoj Parab and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee vice president Sunil Kawthankar.

Speaking on the issue, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said those taking part have the right to agitate but they should do it considering the limits of the agitation.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/hundreds-march-to-goa-minister-residence-over-green-land-conversion-law-2873268-2026-02-24

Israel and India are moving toward a Free Trade Agreement, potentially finalised this year. PM Modi’s upcoming visit will also deepen defence ties and expand collaboration in technology, infrastructure, and innovation.

Israel and India are moving toward a Free Trade Agreement that could be finalised this year, Israeli Ambassador Reuven Azar said on Monday, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the Jewish nation starting February 25.

In a social media message, Azar said Israel was excited to host PM Modi, describing New Delhi-Tel Aviv ties as a partnership rooted in trust and driven by innovation.

“Namaste. This is an exciting moment for India-Israel relations. We are looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel. Now, when India and Israel come together, it’s never just a meeting. It’s a partnership built on trust, powered by innovation, and guided by a clear understanding of the challenges of our time,” he said in a post on X.

The Israeli envoy also indicated that the two sides intend to move forward decisively during PM Modi’s upcoming visit.

“During this visit, we will move forward decisively. First, on security and defence. India and Israel have worked closely for years and we are proud of this strong cooperation. But the world is changing fast and so are the threats. In order to meet them, we will deepen our defence relationship by updating our security agreements. This will allow us to engage in more sensitive projects and develop together a logical solution,” Azar said.

The ambassador said both countries were working towards signing an FTA, with an Israeli delegation expected to arrive in India for negotiations. He expressed hope that the first phase of the trade pact could be completed in the coming weeks, after which pending issues would be taken up.

“Second, our economic partnership is gaining real momentum. We signed a bilateral investment treaty and we are moving forward to sign a free trade agreement hopefully this year,” he added.

Speaking from Jerusalem, Azar said Modi is “very loved in Israel” and shares a special relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He added that several agreements are expected during the visit, particularly in the defence sector, with an emphasis on co-production and co-development of new technologies for counterterrorism and other challenges.

His remarks came a day after Prime Minister Modi said he was looking forward to his visit to Israel, responding to Benjamin Netanyahu’s message on X about the upcoming trip.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/modi-israel-visit-free-trade-deal-tel-aviv-new-delhi-benjamin-netanyahu-fta-2873239-2026-02-23

A case was filed against a Delhi couple after three Arunachal women alleged racial abuse during a Malviya Nagar dispute; Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma sought strict legal action.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Monday termed the alleged racial abuse of three northeastern women in Delhi as “very unfortunate”, urging strict legal action and greater public sensitisation to curb such incidents.

Speaking to India Today TV days after the episode, Sangma said such behaviour reflects the thinking of a small section of people and should not be seen as representative of the country.

“This is truly a very unfortunate incident that has happened. It is not that the majority of people think like that. There are small groups or individuals who have such a mindset, which is very sad. Incidents like this send a very wrong signal to the rest of the nation,” he said.

The Chief Minister stressed that such episodes undermine the idea of national unity. “While we are trying to position ourselves as a united nation, incidents like these spoil the entire environment. This is something we all should condemn and there has to be a lot of sensitisation about it,” he added.

Sangma also urged people from the Northeast to raise their voices against such discrimination. “People must talk about this. I tell people of the Northeast to speak up. The more we talk, we create awareness. Only then will we be able to overcome such shortcomings,” he said.

Addressing the recurring issue of people from the Northeast being stereotyped based on appearance, food or attire, Sangma said India’s diversity must be respected.

“The whole country is different. If you go from one part of the country to another, that is what makes India so special. When you go to the southern part they have different food habits, attire and culture, and the same is the case in all regions. People who have such a narrow mindset are the ones who create such differences,” he said.

Calling for accountability, the Meghalaya Chief Minister said action must follow the law. “A strong message must go that these kinds of incidents will not be tolerated. At the end of the day, there has to be some self-realisation in people. There has to be a change in mindset. I expect that the Delhi Police will take stern action as per law,” he said.

ARUNACHAL WOMEN FACE RACIAL ABUSE

India has condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghanistan, labelling them a violation of sovereignty and an unnecessary escalation that led to civilian casualties, including women and children.

India has issued a strong condemnation of Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghanistan, calling them a violation of sovereignty and a needless escalation that has cost innocent lives, including women and children. Official Spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, reiterated New Delhi’s resolute stance against cross-border military action and asserted that Islamabad’s decision to deploy air power over Afghan territory during the holy month of Ramadan was both irresponsible and unjustifiable.

“India strongly condemns Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghan territory that have resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, during the holy month of Ramadan. It is another attempt by Pakistan to externalise its internal failures. India reiterates its support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence,” Jaiswal said.

Pakistan said early Sunday that it had carried out strikes along its border with Afghanistan, targeting hideouts of Pakistani terrorists it blames for a series of recent attacks inside the country. Officials in Islamabad did not initially specify the precise locations of the strikes. According to reports, the operations also targetted the Ghani Khelo and Garda Samia districts inside Afghanistan. Local reports said at least 17 Afghan civilians were killed in the strikes.

In comments posted before dawn on X, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the military had conducted what he described as “intelligence-based, selective operations” against seven camps belonging to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, and its affiliates. He added that an affiliate of the Islamic State group had also been targeted in the border region.

Pakistan carried out similar strikes deep inside Afghanistan in October, also aimed at terrorist hideouts.

Tarar said Pakistan “has always strived to maintain peace and stability in the region,” but added that protecting the safety and security of Pakistani citizens remained the government’s top priority.

The latest strikes follow a string of deadly attacks in northwestern Pakistan. Days earlier, a suicide bomber, backed by gunmen, drove an explosives-laden vehicle into the wall of a security post in the Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, which borders Afghanistan. The blast caused part of the compound to collapse, killing 11 soldiers and a child. Authorities later said the attacker was an Afghan national.

Hours before the reported cross-border strikes, another suicide bomber targeted a security convoy in the nearby Bannu district, killing two soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel.

After Saturday’s violence, Pakistan’s military warned it would not “exercise any restraint” and that operations against those responsible would continue “irrespective of their location,” language that suggested rising tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.

Tarar said Pakistan had “conclusive evidence” that recent attacks — including a suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad earlier this month that killed 31 worshippers — were carried out by terrorists acting on the “behest of their Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers.”

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/india-condemns-pakistans-airstrikes-on-afghanistan-during-ramadan-calls-out-paks-dangerous-adventurism-article-153669583

Air India Flight Cancel News: Air India has announced the cancellation of all flights to and from New York, New Jersey, and nearby areas on February 23 due to an impending severe winter storm.

Akhilesh Yadav, leader of the Samajwadi Party and an ally of the Congress party, condemned the recent “shirtless” protest at the AI Impact Summit, labeling it as an embarrassment for the nation.

Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and INDIA bloc ally, has condemned the Indian Youth Congress for carrying out a “topless” protest at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. Speaking to reporters in Jhansi on Saturday, Akhilesh Yadav said that while parties may have political differences with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a protest that brings “shame” to the nation in front of foreign dignitaries should not have been carried out. On Friday, Youth Congress workers carried out a “shirtless” protest inside the summit venue, waving t-shirts with protest messages targeting ‘compromised Prime Minister Narendra Modi”.

“This was wrong. We may have internal rifts, and the whole nation knows that the BJP lies. But, they should have refrained from doing something that brings shame to our country in front of foreign delegates and world representatives,” the SP chief said.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is leader of the bloc, without whom “the ‘I’, ‘N’, ‘D’, ‘I’, ‘A’ of the INDIA alliance will be gone,” Mani Shankar Aiyar said.

Congress’s Mani Shankar Aiyar, known for his controversial statements on multiple issues, this time advised his party’s senior leader Rahul Gandhi to leave INDIA Bloc’s driving seat to leaders of the regional parties. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he said, was leader of the bloc, without whom “the ‘I’, ‘N’, ‘D’, ‘I’, ‘A’ of the INDIA alliance will be gone”.

“Mamata Banerjee is the leader of this alliance. Along with her, there are two or four others who can achieve this position,” he told reporters in Kolkata this afternoon, sparkling a political row ahead of the assembly polls in Bengal.

Then he went on to add, “I hope that instead of trying to remain in this position, which belongs to smaller parties -be it Stalin, Mamata Didi, Akhilesh, Tejashwi, or someone else – Rahul Gandhi should let them handle it.”

Mani Shankar Aiyar – suspended by Rahul Gandhi earlier over his derogatory comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been praising his party’s regional opponents for a while. Recently he made headlines with his praise for Kerala Chief Minister and CPM leader Pinarayi Vijayan. His irked party colleagues said it was his personal opinion.

The Bengal Congress leaders have responded sharply to Mani Shankar Aiyar’s comment.

Congress state general secretary Suman Roy Chowdhury has told NDTV,

“Let us make it clear in the beginning — for a long time, Mani Shankar Aiyar is no more attached with the activities of Congress Party. Five Rajya Sabha seats from Bengal are vacant now. Was that a reason behind such a comment from Mani Shankar Aiyar? We wonder,” he said.

He then proceeded to attack the senior leader directly.

“Mani Shankar ji do you know Mamata Banerjee acts as behind the curtain stooge of BJP against whom the INDIA block is fighting? I don’t think after staying away from the party, you have any stakes to make any decision of the Congress Party”.

“I will not comment right now because we are all busy with the Bengal elections,” said Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mamata-banerjee-india-bloc-chief-mani-shankar-aiyars-message-to-rahul-gandhi-11121956?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Sources said the Jaish-e-Mohammed has been pushed “below threshold level” in Jammu region following ‘Operation Trashi-I’, which led to the death of Jaish commander Saifullah Baloch

The Jaish-e-Mohammed network in the Jammu region has suffered a massive blow after security forces gunned down three terrorists linked to the Pakistan-based group in Kishtwar on Sunday.

According to top intelligence sources, the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has been pushed “below threshold level” in Jammu following ‘Operation Trashi-I’, in which one of the three terrorists killed was Jaish commander Saifullah Baloch.

The intelligence sources told News18 that Indian security forces have successfully pushed the JeM into “panic mode” by striking local command structure and communications, as well as by focusing on their remote and high-altitude hideouts in the Doda-Kishtwar belt. Saifullah Baloch, a Pakistani national, was described as a “notorious infiltrator” responsible for orchestrating multiple attacks against security forces in this region over recent years.

The sources said Saifullah’s elimination, alongside two Pakistani aides, has effectively dismantled the local command structure of Jaish and severely crippled its ability to plan future strikes.

INTELLIGENCE-DRIVEN DATA KEY TO TRACKING TERRORISTS

The sources said Operation Trashi-I took place in the remote, forested Passerkut area of the Chatroo belt.

They said multi-agency teams – the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir police, and CRPF – used intelligence-driven data to track the terrorists to a nomadic hut. During a fierce gunfight, this hideout caught fire, and security forces subsequently recovered two AK-47 rifles along with a significant cache of ammunition.

The success of this operation, the sources said, is a turning point in regional security. Intelligence reports indicate that the remaining JeM elements have been forced into a “panic mode”, characterised by a total breakdown in their logistical and communication frameworks. The group has been stripped of its sophisticated equipment; instead of using secure ultra sets or satellite phones, they have been reduced to the primitive tactic of snatching mobile phones from local residents due to an intense fear of detection.

“This operation shows the effectiveness of multi-agency coordination, precise intel, and forward deployment in denying space to terrorists,” a source said, highlighting that the group now has “limited ability to execute large-scale attacks or expand its footprint”.

With six Jaish terrorists eliminated in the Jammu region this year, sustained operations have successfully contained the threat, the source said.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/jaish-e-mohammed-panic-mode-jammu-kashmir-encounter-communications-remote-high-altitude-hideouts-target-commander-saifullah-killed-ws-l-9923318.html

This is not the first time that the Trinamool MP has lashed out at the Centre for its engagement with Taliban officials. In October 2025, she condemned the government after Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi addressed a press conference in Delhi attended exclusively by men journalists.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has lashed out at the Taliban after reports emerged that a newly introduced penal code in Afghanistan effectively legitimises domestic violence against women and equates their status with that of “slaves”.

In a scathing attack, Moitra accused the Taliban regime of codifying gender-based brutality and took a swipe at the Centre for engaging diplomatically with the Islamist group.

“The Indian government laid out the red carpet for this very Taliban a few months ago. As an Indian woman, I hang my head in shame. For my Afghan sisters — we stand with you against these demons,” she tweeted.

Details of the reported penal code from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan have alarmed women’s rights activists.

According to accounts circulating among rights groups, the code places women on the same legal footing as “slaves”.

It also allows husbands or “masters” to physically punish wives or dependents, as long as no bones are broken or open wounds inflicted.

This is not the first time that the Trinamool MP has lashed out at the Centre for its engagement with Taliban officials.

In October 2025, she had condemned the government after Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi addressed a press conference in Delhi attended exclusively by men journalists.

“The government has dishonoured every single Indian woman by allowing the Taliban minister to exclude women journalists from the presser. Shameful bunch of spineless hypocrites,” Moitra had said at the time.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/trinamool-congress-mp-mahua-moitra-slams-talibans-anti-women-law-jabs-government-for-engagement-with-islamist-group-2872670-2026-02-23

Under investigation, the Tejas fighter jet suffered severe damage during landing after a routine sortie, though the pilot ejected safely. Following the accident, the Indian Air Force has grounded its entire fleet of around 30 single-seat Tejas jets to carry out an intensive technical probe.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has lost another Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) in an accident, triggering investigations and extensive technical checks across the fleet.

According to sources, the incident took place earlier this month in an operational area at a key air base when the indigenously made fighter jet was landing after a routine training sortie. Preliminary assessment pointed to a suspected technical glitch, possibly involving a failure in onboard systems, the source said.

Following the accident, the Indian Air Force has grounded its entire fleet of around 30 single-seat Tejas jets to carry out an intensive technical probe, news agency PTI reported.

The aircraft has suffered severe airframe damage and may be written off. The pilot, however, ejected safely and escaped without serious injury.

This is the third Tejas aircraft lost since induction into the IAF.

The first crash took place near Jaisalmer in March 2024 while the jet was returning from a firepower demonstration; the pilot had ejected safely. The second incident occurred during an aerobatic display at the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, in which the pilot was killed. An investigation into that crash is still underway.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/another-tejas-fighter-jet-crashes-during-training-sortie-pilot-ejects-safely-2872595-2026-02-22

High Commissioner Pranay Verma was speaking with reporters after he met with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, days after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman took oath on February 17.

India looks forward to engaging with the new government in Bangladesh, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pranay Verma said on Sunday, expressing New Delhi’s willingness to reengage with Dhaka.

High Commissioner Verma was speaking with reporters after he met with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, days after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman took oath on February 17.

“In today’s meeting with the Foreign Minister, I reiterated our position that we look forward to engaging with the new government in Bangladesh,” Verma told reporters after the meeting, which was also attended by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed.

The envoy said he “conveyed that we want to strengthen our people-centric cooperation in all domains, working together in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner, based on mutual interest and mutual benefit”.

Verma called the meeting more of a ‘courtesy’ call and an “initial exchange of views” since it was his first meeting with the new Foreign Minister and Minister of State after the new government took charge in Bangladesh.

After his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) bagged a two-thirds majority in the crucial February 12 elections, Tarique Rahman, 60, took oath on February 17, ending the 18-month Muhummad Yunus’ rule, when ties with India went south, their lowest ebb since 1971.

The Indian envoy said, “You are aware of our recent high level communications with Bangladesh” since the election, pointing out Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congratulatory message to Tarique Rahman on February 13 soon after BNP’s victory. “They also spoke on the phone later that day,” Verma disclosed on Sunday.

He also recalled that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla visited Dhaka to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government, representing India and also had a bilateral meeting with the new Bangladesh prime minister.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-bangladesh-relation-envoy-pranay-verma-khalilur-rahman-tarique-rahman-dhaka-2872593-2026-02-22

‘This feature enables PhonePe users to initiate and complete in-app tasks via natural language text or voice commands, enhancing convenience and bringing personalisation to the platform’s overall experience,’ PhonePe said in a statement.

PhonePe on Saturday launched an AI-powered natural language search feature built using Microsoft Foundry, allowing users to navigate, pay and track transactions on the app through simple voice or text commands.

“This feature enables PhonePe users to initiate and complete in-app tasks via natural language text or voice commands, enhancing convenience and bringing personalisation to the platform’s overall experience,” PhonePe said in a statement.

The feature replaces traditional menu-based navigation with intent-based routing, enabling users to complete in-app tasks conversationally. For instance, commands such as “Pay Hemanth 20 rupees” automatically open the payment interface with the intended recipient pre-selected or display relevant contacts. Requests like “Recharge FASTag” or “Gold price” direct users to the appropriate service or information page within the app.

The company said the tool goes beyond basic navigation by interpreting user intent – whether making a payment, completing a purchase or seeking support. It uses a hybrid model combining on-device and cloud inferencing while ensuring that no personal or transactional data leaves the PhonePe environment.

Rahul Chari, Founder, Whole-time Director and CTO of PhonePe, said the launch marks a shift from payment apps being purely transactional tools to more intelligent, user-centric platforms.

“For years, payment apps have been built as utilitarian tools, optimised for transactions and not people. This launch is the first step towards changing that. Our vision is to make payments accessible to every Indian, and AI enables us to build an intelligent interface that anticipates what users need before they even go looking for it.

“Through our collaboration with Microsoft, we aim to simplify payments further by understanding intent, not just inputs. And we believe intelligence at the edge is the future and the most thoughtful way to deliver real value without compromising on privacy or security,” he said.

Puneet Chandok, President, Microsoft India and South Asia at Microsoft, said the collaboration reflects growing adoption of natural language interfaces in India. He noted that Microsoft Foundry provides the underlying capabilities to help build secure, scalable and human-centred digital experiences.

“As more Indians embrace natural language to interact with digital services, PhonePe’s new AI-powered experience is a strong step toward more intuitive and accessible digital payments. Microsoft Foundry provides the underlying capabilities that help innovators like PhonePe build secure, scalable and human-centred products for millions. We’re committed to supporting India’s digital ecosystem with trusted AI that empowers organisations to deliver simpler and more meaningful customer experiences.” The feature will be rolled out in phases across India and can be accessed through the app’s Global Search Bar, Help Center and History tab.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/phonepe-launches-ai-powered-natural-language-search-built-on-microsoft-foundry-3906680

According to the official release by the Election Commission (EC) today, large numbers of ineligible electors were removed during the revision process.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has been completed across six states and Union Territories across India, with significant changes recorded in voter lists. According to the official release by the Election Commission (EC) today, large numbers of ineligible electors were removed during the revision process.

Among all regions, Gujarat recorded the highest net deletion, with 68,12,711 electors removed. The roll declining from 5,08,43,436 before SIR to 4,40,30,725 after SIR (-13.40%). Madhya Pradesh followed with 34,25,078 deletions, reducing the electorate from 5,74,06,143 to 5,39,81,065 (-5.97%).

Other states also witnessed substantial revisions. Rajasthan saw the number of electors fall from 5,46,56,215 to 5,15,19,929 (-31,36,286). Chhattisgarh recorded a decline from 2,12,30,737 to 1,87,30,914 (-24,99,823). Kerala saw a reduction from 2,78,50,855 to 2,69,53,644 (-8,97,211), while Goa recorded a drop from 11,85,034 to 10,57,566 (-1,27,468). Among Union Territories, Andaman and Nicobar Islands saw electors decrease from 3,10,404 to 2,58,040 (-52,364), Puducherry from 10,21,578 to 9,44,211 (-77,367), and Lakshadweep from 57,813 to 57,607 (-206).

Officials stated that the net change reflects electors found ineligible minus newly added eligible voters. Reasons for deletion include death, permanent relocation, multiple registrations, or other eligibility issues. The electoral roll update remains a continuous process, and eligible citizens can still apply for addition, deletion, or correction of entries.

The hideout was set up inside a natural cave and was unearthed during a search operation in the general area of Hari Budha bowl, said the White Knight Corps.

The Indian Army on Saturday busted a terrorist hideout in a remote village in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir and seized a pistol, some magazines and other logistic supplies.

The hideout was set up inside a natural cave and was unearthed during a search operation in the general area of Hari Budha bowl, the Army’s White Knight Corps said in a post on X. “Based on specific inputs, troops of White Knight Corps undertook a search operation in the general area of Hari Budha Bowl.” it said.

During the systematic search of suspicious locations, including cave-like structures, the troops recovered a pistol, two magazines, clothing, eatables and other logistic stores. “The operation reinforces sustained surveillance and proactive domination of the area,” the White Knight Corps said.

This came after the Indian Army foiled an infiltration attempt by terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. As per the officials, a huge consignment of arms and ammunition was recovered from the operation.

West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police Amit Renu confirmed the incident, stating that the blast occurred during an ongoing anti-Naxal operation. Following the explosion, security forces intensified combing operations in the area and heightened vigil to prevent further attacks.

An improvised explosive device (IED) blast injured two personnel of the CRPF’s 209 CoBRA battalion during an anti-Naxal operation in the Saranda forest of Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district on Saturday, officials said.

The incident took place near Chadri Dera village under the Chhota Nagara police station when a joint team of district police and CRPF was conducting a search operation against CPI (Maoist) cadres in the densely forested and highly insurgency-affected region.

According to officials, the security personnel came in contact with an IED allegedly planted earlier by Maoists in the forest. The explosion left two CoBRA jawans injured, one of them reportedly in serious condition.

The injured personnel were immediately evacuated from the forest area and provided primary treatment before being airlifted to Ranchi for advanced medical care.

West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police Amit Renu confirmed the incident, stating that the blast occurred during an ongoing anti-Naxal operation. Following the explosion, security forces intensified combing operations in the area and heightened vigil to prevent further attacks.

Security agencies said that forces have achieved several successes in recent operations against Maoists in the region, which may have prompted the insurgents to plant IEDs at multiple locations to target security personnel.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/two-crpf-jawans-hurt-in-ied-blasts-during-anti-maoist-ops-in-jharkhands-saranda-forest-2872284-2026-02-22

India and Brazil aim to increase their bilateral trade to USD 20 billion over the next five years, following discussions between Prime Minister Modi and President Lula.

India and Brazil on Saturday set a target to raise annual bilateral trade to USD 20 billion over the next five years and signed an agreement on cooperation in critical minerals following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The two leaders also pledged to expand cooperation in defence, energy, healthcare, digital public infrastructure and emerging technologies, while calling for stronger strategic coordination amid global geopolitical uncertainty.

“Brazil is India’s largest trading partner in Latin America. We are committed to taking the bilateral trade beyond USD 20 billion in the next five years. Our trade is not just a figure, it is a reflection of trust,” Modi said in a joint media statement.

India-Brazil trade stood at USD 12 billion in 2024-25, with Indian exports at USD 6.77 billion and imports from Brazil at USD 5.43 billion.

Modi said the agreement on critical minerals and rare earths would help build resilient supply chains. The two sides also adopted a joint declaration on digital partnership and signed memoranda of understanding covering mining, micro, small and medium enterprises, healthcare and traditional knowledge systems.

Officials emphasised that while the measures are precautionary, the public should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

Delhi is in a state of high alert as of Saturday, February 21, following specific intelligence reports regarding terror attacks being planned by Pakistan-based banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the national capital, officials said. The threat is centred around religious sites, with a temple in the Chandni Chowk area near the iconic Red Fort identified as a potential target.

‘Revenge’ linked to Islamabad blast
The terror outfit is allegedly seeking to “avenge” a suicide bombing that occurred on February 6 at a Shia mosque in Pakistan’s capital city, Islamabad, news agencies cited sources as saying. That blast claimed at least 31 lives.

Pakistan has previously implied external involvement in the Islamabad blast, a claim India has categorically dismissed. In a statement released earlier this month, India noted, “It is unfortunate that, instead of seriously addressing the problems plaguing its social fabric, Pakistan should choose to delude itself by blaming others for its home-grown ills. India rejects any and every such allegation, which is as baseless as it is pointless”.

Specific threats of IED attacks
Intelligence sources have provided specific details regarding the nature of the potential strike. At least two senior Delhi Police officers, speaking on the condition of anonymity, reportedly said the first set of inputs regarding these threats were received prior to Republic Day celebrations.

While those initial inputs were later assessed, new specific intelligence received on Saturday suggests an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack is being plotted.

Tactical deployment

In response to the current threat, security has been fortified across key religious and heritage sites, officials said. Central agencies and Delhi Police units are maintaining close coordination to monitor vulnerable points. Surveillance has been intensified through CCTV monitoring and stringent vehicle checks.

“Bomb disposal squads, dog squads and quick reaction teams have also been placed on standby at strategic locations,” officials told news agency PTI. A DCP-rank officer, accompanied by trained commandos, was recently deployed at the Gauri Shankar temple in Chandni Chowk during Mahashivratri celebrations as part of these heightened measures.

Officials emphasised that while the measures are precautionary, the public should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/why-delhi-is-on-high-alert-lashkar-threat-revenge-motive-religious-sites-on-hitlist-chandni-chowk-red-fort-101771673669758.html

Shinde hailed the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde on Friday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the Youth Congress protests at the AI Impact Summit, saying he was unfit to run his own party and to serve as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

In a post on X, Shinde said the Congress has chosen spectacle over substance at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought together innovators, investors and leaders to showcase India’s rise as a technology and economic powerhouse.

“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society,” said Shinde quoting Mark Twain.

At a moment meant to highlight India’s growing global stature, Congress workers resort to theatrics that only embarrass the nation, Shinde said.

A group of Indian Youth Congress workers staged a dramatic “shirtless protest” at an AI Impact Summit exhibition hall, walking around holding t-shirts with slogans against the government and the India-US trade deal printed on them.

“I hope India’s principal opposition party clothes itself with wisdom and integrity — above all, love for India,” Shinde said.

Shinde hailed the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

“Under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, India’s profile as a digital leader and fast-growing major economy has strengthened dramatically. Global platforms are being hosted with confidence, vision and competence. That is statesmanship,” Shinde said.

“In contrast, the opposition offers noise instead of ideas, stunts instead of solutions. Democracy needs a serious opposition — but what we are seeing is a collapse of credibility,” the Shiv Sena leader said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/rahul-gandhi-unfit-to-be-leader-of-opposition-shiv-senas-shrikant-shinde-3906264

Singh, the DJ owner, junked the claims of multi-crore showers as false.

Chandigarh: A video of a wedding in Punjab’s Tarn Taran has gone viral across social media platforms, showing the groom and several guests showering a bride with notes worth crores of rupees until the dance floor is buried under a carpet of cash.

The video clip has fueled wild claims online, with some users alleging a staggering amount of Rs 10 crore was showered during the wedding. However, a DJ owner at the event dismissed the social media speculation as a gross exaggeration.

The ceremony, solemnised on February 14 in Patti area, caught the attention of thousands of social media users as the groom was filmed pulling wads of cash from a bag and tossing them into the air. Several guests joined in the gesture, a practice commonly seen at Punjabi weddings, leaving the entire dance floor covered in notes.

Singh, the DJ owner, junked the claims of multi-crore showers as false.

“Some people are claiming Rs 8 crore, 10 crore or Rs 10 lakh on their social media accounts. They are making such claims only to seek views,” he said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/internet-abuzz-with-rumours-of-rs-10-crore-cash-shower-at-punjab-wedding-3903327

The alert comes nearly three months after a car explosion near Red Fort on November 10, 2025, which left at least 12 people dead and over two dozen injured, in one of the deadliest terror incidents in the capital in recent years.

Security agencies have sounded a high alert in the national capital following intelligence inputs warning of a possible terror plot by Pakistan-based outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba targeting crowded religious and heritage locations in Delhi.

Sources said specific intelligence inputs indicated that a temple in the Chandni Chowk area could be among potential targets, with terrorists allegedly planning an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in and around sensitive zones, including areas near the Red Fort. The suspected plot is being linked to an attempt by the terror group to avenge the February 6 blast at a mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, though officials said the inputs are still under verification.

Security has been tightened at all temples in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk area of Old Delhi following the terror alert. Paramilitary personnel have been deployed to maintain round-the-clock surveillance, monitoring temple premises from elevated positions as well as ground level. Teams of Delhi Police have also been stationed across the locality to regulate movement, conduct checks and ensure enhanced security in and around religious sites.

The latest alert comes nearly three months after the November 10, 2025 car bombing near Delhi’s Red Fort, one of the deadliest terror incidents in the capital in recent years. The explosion, triggered by an explosives-laden Hyundai i20 near the Red Fort Metro Station, killed at least 12 people and injured over 20 others, while setting multiple nearby vehicles on fire. Investigators later confirmed that ammonium nitrate-based explosives were used in the blast.

Probe agencies identified the vehicle’s driver as Umar Mohammad alias Umar Un Nabi, a doctor associated with Al-Falah University in Faridabad. DNA analysis of human remains recovered from the wreckage confirmed his presence inside the vehicle at the time of the explosion, with investigators linking him to a wider terror module operating out of neighbouring Haryana.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/terror-alert-in-delhi-as-let-plans-terror-attacks-on-temples-near-red-fort-chandni-chowk-intel-sources-2871945-2026-02-21

NHAI is considering discontinuing cash payments at National Highway toll plazas from April 1, 2026, moving to a fully digital system.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is contemplating discontinuing cash transactions at National Highway fee plazas across the country from April 1, 2026, as part of its plan to create a fully digital tolling ecosystem.

If implemented, all toll payments at National Highway fee plazas will be processed exclusively through digital modes such as FASTag or Unified Payments Interface (UPI). The move aims to consolidate the gains achieved in Electronic Toll Collection and strengthen the efficiency and reliability of fee plaza operations.

NHAI said the transition will enhance ease of commuting for highway users by improving lane throughput, reducing congestion at fee plazas and bringing greater consistency and transparency to toll transactions.

Over the past few years, FASTag penetration has crossed 98 percent, significantly transforming toll collection practices in the country. At present, most toll transactions take place electronically through RFID-enabled FASTags affixed to vehicles, allowing seamless and contactless movement across toll plazas.

Authorities have also operationalised UPI payment facilities at National Highway toll plazas to ensure instant and accessible digital payment options for commuters nationwide.

Under National Highway fee rules, vehicles entering a fee plaza without a valid and functional FASTag must pay twice the applicable user fee if the payment is made in cash. However, users who choose to pay via UPI are charged 1.25 times the applicable user fee for their vehicle category.

According to plaza-level assessments, cash-based payments contribute to congestion, longer waiting times during peak traffic periods and transaction-related disputes. NHAI believes that a complete shift to digital-only payments will strengthen operational efficiency, improve traffic management, minimise delays and enhance the overall user experience at over 1,150 fee plazas on National Highways and Expressways across the country.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nhai-cashless-toll-plazas-digital-payments-fastag-upi-april-1-2871867-2026-02-20

Aam Aadmi Party slammed the BJP after Donald Trump claimed he threatened 200% tariffs on India and Pakistan to halt May 2025 military tensions, calling it an “open insult” to India.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over US President Donald Trump’s claim that he had threatened to impose a “200 per cent tariff” on India and Pakistan to stop military tensions in May 2025.

In a post on X, AAP said Trump had “openly insulted” India on a global platform by claiming he forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to halt the conflict through economic pressure. The party said even Pakistan’s Prime Minister was seen laughing during the remarks.

“Donald Trump is repeatedly questioning India’s credibility on the world stage, and Prime Minister Modi’s silence refuses to break,” AAP said. The party added that people in the country were asking how any true patriot could tolerate an insult to India.

Trump made the remarks while speaking at an event of the Board of Peace. Referring to the India-Pakistan military tensions of May 2025, he claimed he had threatened both countries with 200 per cent tariffs if they continued fighting.

“I knew Prime Minister Modi very well… I called them and I said, listen, I’m not doing trade deals with you two guys if you don’t settle this up,” Trump said. “If you fight, I’m going to put 200 per cent tariffs on each of your countries.”

He claimed that both sides were willing to fight but stepped back when faced with economic consequences. “When it came to losing a lot of money, they said, I guess we don’t want to fight,” he said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/aap-slams-bjp-donald-trump-tariff-claim-india-pakistan-tensions-modi-2871848-2026-02-20

The 594-km Ganga Expressway will soon open to the public, reducing Meerut–Prayagraj travel time to 6–8 hours while boosting connectivity across 12 UP districts.

Income tax authorities have leveraged AI tools to uncover substantial tax evasion by biryani restaurant chains in Hyderabad, revealing sales suppression of at least Rs 70,000 crore since the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

Income tax officials using AI tools, including Generative AI and data analysis, have unearthed how a biryani restaurant chains in Hyderabad evaded tax by suppressing sales turnover worth at least Rs 70,000 crore since the 2019-2020 financial year. The IT sleuths minced at least 60 terabytes of transaction data from a pan-India billing software that is used by over hundreds of thousands of restaurants across the country and unveiled sales suppression of at least Rs 70,000 crore, TOI reported.

According to the Income Tax department, its officials used different technology tools, including AI tools, Generative AI, data analysis softwares, and minced data spanning 1.77 lakh restaurant IDs across the country.

As per IT officials, the billing software provider recorded post-sales deletions totaling Rs 13,317 crore out of the Rs 70,000 crore. Digging more into this, officials found that only Andhra and Telangana alone suppressed sales of Rs 5,141 crore.

Sara Hooker said the sheer scale of the summit, which saw more than 300,000 attendees, was a testament to its success.

As the AI Impact Summit 2026 drew to a close in the national capital, the event left behind not just sweeping policy conversations and ambitious declarations, but also an unexpectedly viral moment that captured the internet’s imagination. At the centre of it was Sara Hooker, computer scientist and CEO of US-based AI firm Adaption Labs, whose late-night room service order after missing a high-profile gala dinner became a talking point across India.

Hooker, who was in Delhi to attend the summit and participate in high-level discussions, shared on X that she had been invited to the gala dinner hosted alongside the Prime Minister. However, a brief return to her hotel to change into formal attire turned into a misadventure familiar to many Delhi residents: gridlocked traffic. By the time she made it back, the gala was over, leaving her with just one option at 11 pm, room service. Her tweet about ordering a “home-style chicken curry” and potato curry quickly went viral, sparking amused reactions about Delhi traffic and Indian food culture.

Speaking to NDTV Senior Executive Editor Aditya Raj Kaul on the sidelines of the summit, Hooker took the viral moment in stride, calling it part of the “essence of Delhi”. “Traffic had other plans for me that day,” she said, adding that the sheer scale of the summit, which saw more than 300,000 attendees, was a testament to its success. “Delhi feels like it is shut down for the summit, but that’s also part of the prestige of everyone being here.”

Beyond the humour, Hooker’s reflections underscored the significance of the AI Impact Summit itself. A veteran of global AI safety discussions, she noted that this summit marked a shift in focus. “At earlier summits, the conversation was about existential risk and AI as a threat,” she said. “Here, what stood out was how AI can make an impact in everyday people’s lives, multilingual coverage, real-world safety issues, and practical deployment.”

Hooker, whose career has spanned frontier AI research at leading labs, emphasised the importance of building models that adapt in real time to different cultures, languages and patterns of harm. “Harm is adversarial, as soon as you identify one pattern, it changes,” she said, arguing that flexibility and adaptability are now central challenges for AI developers.

On regulation and governance, she struck a cautious note. While summits are valuable for bringing together policymakers, researchers and industry leaders, Hooker said the real test lies in what follows. “I respect what happens six months after a summit more than what is announced during it,” she said. “That’s when you see what actually sticks.”

Addressing concerns around global misuse of AI, including fears of surveillance and disinformation, Hooker said the issue goes far beyond any one country. With AI research expanding from a niche community to a field impacting millions, she stressed the responsibility on scientists to inform governments about both benefits and risks, and highlighted the growing relevance of “sovereign AI” as a counterbalance.

Hooker also spoke warmly about India-US collaboration in emerging technologies, noting that global talent is the backbone of innovation. Calling Adaption Labs “global-first from day one”, she said partnerships between India and the US could unlock far greater potential in AI research and deployment.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/part-of-the-prestige-ai-summit-attendee-whose-dinner-post-went-viral-11114883

The union’s allegations stem from a 52-minute podcast released on February 16, in which the VC appeared and spoke about JNUSU’s office bearers’ rustication

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union on Friday condemned what it described as “blatantly casteist statements” made allegedly by Vice Chancellor Shantisree Dhulipudi Pandit during a podcast about UGC regulations, even as the latter refuted the allegation.

Responding to the JNUSU’s accusation, the vice chancellor said, “I did not mean that, I meant that Wokes have written history like this,” adding, “And those who opposed Wokes had this to say about permanent victimhood and imaginary worlds being created.”

The union’s allegations stem from a 52-minute podcast released on February 16, in which the VC appeared and spoke about JNUSU’s office bearers’ rustication, reversing the ‘university’s anti-national image’ and UGC equity regulations.

In a statement issued on Friday, the students’ union demanded her resignation, saying, “We are shocked at the blatantly casteist statements made by the VC on a podcast.”

JNUSU claimed that Pandit’s remarks about UGC regulations were unnecessary.

Meanwhile, Pandit said that snippets of the full-length podcast were taken out of context.

“When UGC regulations were criticised, the whole controversy was unnecessary, and there is suspicion that due diligence was not put into place. This is the perception,” she told PTI.

The union also cited her remarks that one “cannot progress by being permanently a victim or playing the victim card.” In response, the VC said, “I am a Bahujan myself, I come from an OBC background.”

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jawaharlal-nehru-university-vice-chancellor-shantisree-dhulipudi-pandit-sparks-row-over-casteist-remarks-on-ugc-rules-students-union-seeks-resignation-11116429

Retired IAS officer Dinesh Kumar has been appointed to study the SIT’s self-contained note and recommend action, if required, against TTD officials.

In continuation of the probe into allegations of ghee adulteration in the making of the sacred Tirupati Laddoos, which the ruling Telugu Desam Party-led NDA government has levelled against the previous YSRCP regime, the Andhra Pradesh government has now set up a one-man committee to examine the findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Retired IAS officer Dinesh Kumar has been appointed to study the SIT’s self-contained note and recommend action, if required, against Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials and committee members.

According to the government order, Kumar has been tasked with examining the SIT note and recommending initiation of suitable action, if deemed necessary, against erring committee members and senior TTD officers.

The committee will specifically look into administrative lapses in the relaxation and enforcement of tender conditions. It will also examine whether decisions were taken with due diligence, proper recorded justification and procedural compliance.

The panel has also been asked to identify the extent of administrative responsibility, if any, of officers, committee members or TTD functionaries in relation to the lapses flagged in the SIT report, and recommend appropriate administrative or disciplinary action.

The government has made it clear that the committee’s examination will be confined strictly to administrative and governance aspects.

The move comes after the state Cabinet, in its last meeting, announced that a separate panel would be set up to examine the SIT report. The latest order formally gives effect to that decision.

The government order refers to the FIR/ Crime No. 470/2024 was registered at Tirupati East Police Station over the alleged supply of adulterated and sub-standard ghee to TTD.

It also references the Supreme Court, through its October 4, 2024 order in W.P.(C) No. 622/2024 where it entrusted the investigation to an independent SIT functioning under the supervision of the Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation.

After completing the investigation, the SIT filed its charge sheet before the court on January 23, 2026. Along with this, it submitted a self-contained note recommending that suitable action be initiated against committee members and senior TTD officers for lapses, omissions and failures in both relaxing and enforcing ghee tender conditions.

It is based on these findings that the government has now constituted the one-man committee.

The committee has been given the power to call for records, seek written clarifications and obtain expert assistance, subject to prior government approval. It has been directed to submit its report within 45 days from the date of the order.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/tirupati-laddu-row-andhra-govt-sets-up-committee-to-examine-sit-report-exclusive-ws-l-9920391.html

The spotlight is firmly on Shamani’s podcast, Figuring Out with Raj Shamani, which has climbed to the No. 1 position on Spotify in India as of early 2026.

At just 28, Raj Shamani added another milestone to his growing resume — a one-on-one conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron. A clip from their interaction has gone viral, not just for the diplomatic exchange, but for Shamani’s bold revelation about his podcast’s global ambitions.

During the discussion, Shamani shared that his show currently ranks 25th globally and expressed confidence that it could claim the No. 1 spot within the next 18 months. The moment quickly caught attention online, with many hailing it as a significant achievement for an Indian digital creator engaging directly with a world leader.

Applause And Criticism

The Macron interview has intensified conversations around Shamani’s influence. Supporters view the meeting as proof that Indian creators can command global relevance and access. Many see his trajectory as emblematic of a new, ambitious generation blending entrepreneurship with media.

Critics, however, argue that while the platform is impressive, some conversations can lean toward promotional or surface-level exchanges. The divide reflects the broader scrutiny that comes with rapid digital fame.

PM Modi’s Israel visit aims to strengthen defence ties, focusing on Mission Sudershan and missile tech.

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Israel from February 25, New Delhi is preparing to strengthen its strategic and defence partnership with Tel Aviv significantly.

Although no formal defence contracts are expected to be signed during the trip, the two sides are likely to sign an MoU on security cooperation. Both sides are advancing long-term collaboration estimated to be worth around $10 billion in the coming years, according to a report in Hindustan Times.

An agreement on security cooperation is likely, building on the groundwork laid during Defence Secretary RK Singh’s visit to Israel last November, when an expanded defence cooperation framework was concluded.

Mission Sudershan Gains Momentum

India is particularly interested in jointly developing advanced anti-ballistic missile systems under Mission Sudershan, aimed at shielding Indian territory from long-range missile threats.

Israel’s expertise in layered missile defence — including long-, medium-, and short-range systems — makes it a key partner. The country has demonstrated strong interception capabilities in recent conflicts, reinforcing its reputation in this domain. In addition to missile defence, Israel has reportedly agreed to provide cutting-edge technologies, including advanced laser-based defence systems and other high-precision stand-off weapons, the report stated.

In a landmark verdict, a UP POCSO court sentenced suspended junior engineer Rambhawan and his wife Durgawati to death for sexually abusing 33 boys, some as young as three. The couple lured children using gifts and online video games between 2010-2020 in Banda and Chitrakoot. The court termed the crimes “rarest of rare” and ordered ₹10 lakh compensation for each victim.

In a landmark judgment, a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district on Friday awarded the death penalty to Rambhawan and his wife Durgawati after convicting them in a case involving the sexual assault of 33 minor boys, some as young as three years old.

The court described the crimes as falling in the “rarest of rare” category.

CBI Probe & Chargesheet

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered the case on October 31, 2020, against Rambhawan and other unknown persons on allegations of sexually abusing children, using them for pornographic purposes, and creating and disseminating Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) online.

Following the investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet on October 10, 2021. Charges were framed by the court on May 26, 2023.

Rambhawan was employed as a Junior Engineer in the Irrigation Department at the time of the offences.

Systematic Exploitation Over A Decade

According to the CBI, the convicts remained active in Banda and Chitrakoot districts between 2010 and 2020. Investigators found that the accused used various methods to lure children, including offering money, gifts, and access to online video games.

The agency said the crimes involved orchestrated and aggravated penetrative sexual assaults against 33 young boys.

Severe Physical & Psychological Trauma

The CBI revealed that several victims suffered injuries to their private parts during the assaults, with some requiring hospitalisation. A few reportedly developed squint eye conditions.

Many of the children continue to suffer psychological trauma as a result of the abuse.

The investigating agency stated that special care was taken during the probe to ensure the emotional well-being of the minor victims, including providing counselling support during examinations.

PETA India confirmed that Chitkara University will no longer allow the forced swim test, where small animals are placed in water to study depression. The move follows a Pharmacy Council of India directive and concerns over cruelty and reliability. The university said it remains committed to ethical research practices.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India (PETA India) has announced that Chitkara University will no longer permit the forced swim test to be conducted at its institution. The decision follows concerns raised about the experiment’s cruelty and scientific validity.

The forced swim test involves dosing mice, hamsters and other small animals with test substances and placing them in inescapable beakers filled with water.

The animals are made to swim to avoid drowning, in experiments purportedly aimed at studying human depression. Critics argue that when animals stop struggling and float, it reflects energy conservation and adaptation rather than despair. Some research has suggested that the test may be no more reliable than chance in determining the effectiveness of antidepressant medications.

In an email to PETA India, Chitkara College of Pharmacy Professor and Dean Dr. Thakur Gurjeet Singh stated that the institution remains committed to ethical research practices and regulatory compliance. He noted that, in line with a notification from the Pharmacy Council of India, the forced swim test will not be considered or approved for any future academic or research activities at the university.

Earlier in April, the Pharmacy Council of India directed all agencies under its purview, including Chitkara University, to review and take necessary action regarding the continued use of the experiment after representations from PETA India.

Dr. Anjana Aggarwal, Scientist and Research Policy Advisor at PETA India, described the test as cruel and ineffective in advancing understanding of human mental health. She welcomed the university’s decision and called on the Committee for Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA) and institutions under its oversight to prohibit the experiment nationwide.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/fpj-exclusive-cruel-near-drowning-experiment-on-animals-banned-at-chitkara-university

The second installment of The Kerala Story 2 faced political criticism from Shashi Tharoor and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, with continued controversy ahead of its February 27 release.

Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday criticised the makers of “The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond”, alleging that the sequel, like the original film, promotes divisive narratives without factual basis and will only spread hatred in society.

Speaking on the controversy, Tharoor described the first installment, The Kerala Story, as a “hate-mongering film” that lacked foundation. He disputed claims made in the original movie about large-scale religious conversions, saying the numbers cited were exaggerated.

“The first film, Kerala Story, was a hate-mongering film. It lacked any foundation. They were saying that thousands of people were converted, which is not true. I think there were around 30 such cases over a number of years. Ours is a very big country. If a case occurs here and there, it doesn’t mean you should turn it into a big story and use it as propaganda,” Tharoor said while speaking to reporters in New Delhi.

Drawing a contrast with earlier cinema, he referred to films such as Amar Akbar Anthony, which he said celebrated harmony and even received entertainment tax exemptions in their time.

“What’s the point of saying things that will only spread hatred in people’s minds and are not even correct?… In our childhood, films like Amar Akbar Anthony used to get entertainment tax exemptions,” he said.

The sequel, The Kerala Story 2 – Goes Beyond, is slated for release on February 27. Its recently released trailer explored themes of religious conversion, with stories set in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala.

The makers, in a statement accompanying promotional material, said the film addresses targeted radicalisation and declared, “They targeted our daughters. They broke their trust. They stole their futures. This time, we do not stay silent. The story goes beyond. Is bar sahenge nahi… ladenge (sic)”.

Directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh, the first installment of the movie won Best Direction and Best Cinematography at the 71st National Film Awards.

The sequel has now sparked legal scrutiny. A petition challenging the trailer and its portrayal of Kerala has been filed before the High Court. Acting on the plea, the court has issued notices to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Central Board of Film Certification, and the film’s producer. The matter is scheduled to be heard on February 24.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/the-kerala-story-2-teaser-shashi-tharoor-slams-film-makers-hate-mongering-kamakhya-narayan-singh-2871214-2026-02-19

Trump also increased the number of jets shot down during Operation Sindoor from seven to 11 in his latest claim.

US President Donald Trump has once again reiterated his claim of stopping the military stand off between India and Pakistan. Speaking at a Board of Peace meeting on Thursday, the US President once again stated that his tariff threat is what stopped the conflict from escalating, but this time, Trump shared he threatened both countries with a 200 per cent levy.

“He (Pakistani PM) said in front of our Chief of Staff that President Trump saved 25 million lives when he stopped the war between us and India…That war was raging. Planes were being shot down. And I got on the phone with both of them, and I knew them a little bit. I knew Prime Minister Modi very well…I called them, and I said, listen, I’m not doing trade deals with you two guys if you don’t settle this up,” said Trump.

“And all of a sudden, we worked out a deal. I said, if you fight, I’m going to put 200 per cent tariffs on each of your countries. They both wanted to fight. But when it came to money, it’s nothing like money. When it came to losing a lot of money, they said, I guess we don’t want to fight…11 jets were shot down. Very expensive jets,” he added further.

Trump’s remarks come as a reference to the May 2025 military conflict between India and Pakistan. Following a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, India carried out a tri-service military strike in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir called ‘Operation Sindoor’.

India’s response triggered a breakdown in diplomatic ties with Pakistan and escalated the tensions between the two neighbours.

The stand off between India and Pakistan concluded on May 10, 2025 with a “ceasefire understanding.” However, before both countries could announce the cessation in fighting, Donald Trump took to Truth Social and claimed he had ‘stopped the war”.

India, time and again, has denied any involvement of the US in the ceasefire understanding, stating that it was the Pakistani DGMO that called New Delhi for truce.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nothing-is-like-money-donald-trump-claims-200-tariff-threat-stopped-india-pakistan-conflict-operation-sindoor-101771557799605.html

The six year-old victim was travelling to school with her maternal grandmother in Delhi’s Janakpuri, when a speeding Santro car rammed into their e-rickshaw from behind, causing it to overturn. The child later died in the hospital.

Fourteen days after a speeding SUV mowed down a 23-year-old biker in Dwarka, another tragic case of reckless driving has surfaced in West Delhi, where a minor schoolgirl lost her life after an e-rickshaw was hit by a speeding car in Janakpuri.

The accident occurred around 7.40 am on February 17 near the Janakpuri Fire Station. The six year-old victim Preshelle Prince was travelling to school with her maternal grandmother, Mercy Xavier (57), when a speeding Santro rammed into their e-rickshaw from behind, causing it to overturn. Both were thrown onto the road and sustained serious injuries.

They were initially rushed to Mata Chanan Devi Hospital in Janakpuri and later shifted to a private hospital in Dwarka for advanced treatment. The child succumbed to her injuries during treatment, police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sharad Bhaskar said, “A case has been registered at the Janakpuri police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to rash and negligent driving causing death. The offending vehicle has been seized and the accused, identified as Sanjeev, a resident of Majra Dabas, has been taken into custody. Further investigation is underway.”

Recounting the harrowing moments after the crash, the grandmother alleged that bystanders failed to help.

“I begged a car driver, who was standing there watching us, to help and take the child to the hospital. Instead of helping, he ran away. I don’t remember if it was the same car which hit us,” she alleged recalling the horror that unfolded in front of her eyes.

The child’s mother, who works at a hospital, said she received a distress call from her mother informing her of the accident.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/delhi/story/6-year-old-on-way-to-school-killed-after-speeding-car-hits-e-rickshaw-in-delhi-2871322-2026-02-20

A viral video showing a Mahindra Thar allegedly crashing into an NH-48 highway signboard has sparked online debate, with many questioning whether the dramatic clip is real or AI-generated. Moreover, a closer examination of the viral video revealed several inconsistencies.

A video is going massively viral on social media showing a Mahindra Thar crashing directly into a high-positioned highway exit signboard. In the clip, the signboard appears to read “Delhi, Gurugram, Jaipur” along with “Exit 22” and “NH-48.”

As the video spread rapidly, many viewers found it hard to believe what they were seeing. The incident looked almost unreal, sparking a debate online: Is the video real, or is it AI-generated? Let’s take a closer look and fact-check the claims.

Galgotias University faces controversy after a robotic dog and drone shown as in-house projects were identified as commercial devices. Here’s who owns and runs the institution.

Galgotias University in Noida, Uttar Pradesh has come under controversy after a robotic dog displayed at the India AI Impact Summit was allegedly presented as an in-house innovation but was later identified as a Chinese-made device.

At the university’s stall on Tuesday, representatives introduced a robot dog named Orion, saying it had been developed by the institution’s Centre of Excellence. Soon after, social media users pointed out that the machine closely resembled the Unitree Go2, a quadruped robot made by China-based Unitree Robotics and widely used in robotics training and research.

According to sources, authorities directed the university to vacate its stall at the expo following the dispute. Staff and students were later seen clearing the pavilion, and the power supply to the stall was reportedly cut.

The university faced further scrutiny the same day over a soccer drone displayed on campus. It had been described as a fully homegrown project built end-to-end by staff and students, from engineering design to application. However, online users alleged that the drone resembled the Striker V3 ARF, a commercially available model sold in India for around Rs 40,000. The device is reportedly the Helsel Striker V3 developed by South Korea-based Helsel Group for drone sports.

Amid the backlash, Galgotias University Registrar Nitin Kumar Gaur said the confusion arose from the use of the words “develop” and “development”. Blaming Prof. Neha Singh for the episode, the university said she was “ill-informed” and not authorised to speak to the media.

Who Owns Galgotias University?

The university is part of the Galgotias Education Group, which traces its roots back to 1933. The family’s association with education began even earlier when the Galgotia family ran a bookstore named E.D. Galgotia & Sons in Connaught Place, Delhi, in 1930.

Later, Suneel Galgotia took over the family business and expanded it further. In the 1980s, he started Galgotia Publications and gradually built a presence in the education sector. The university functions under the Smt. Shakuntala Educational and Welfare Society, established in 1998 and based in New Delhi, which manages the administration and growth of the Galgotias institutions.

The Galgotias Education Group also runs Galgotias Institute of Management and Technology (GIMT), Galgotias College of Engineering and Technology (GCET) and Galgotias College of Pharmacy (GCP). Over the years, it has expanded from specialised professional colleges into a full university system.

The leadership includes Suneel Galgotia, Padmini Galgotia and Dhruv Galgotia, who oversee academic planning, administration and long-term strategy. Dhruv Galgotia also works on industry collaborations and partnerships to support internships, training and placements.

About the University and Courses Offered

Galgotias University is a private multidisciplinary university located in Greater Noida and recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Established in 2011, the campus is situated near the Yamuna Expressway. Currently, the group has over 40,000 students enrolled, including international students from more than 40 countries pursuing higher education.

Source : https://www.news18.com/education-career/who-owns-galgotias-university-tracing-its-roots-from-a-delhi-bookstore-to-campus-empire-9916969.html

Neha is the longtime partner of Bobby Kabutar, a high-profile gunman and weapon supplier for the gang, who was also taken into custody.

The Delhi Police Special Cell Counter Intelligence has arrested Khusnuma Ansari, alias Neha, a woman accused of managing a drug syndicate for the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Neha is the longtime partner of Bobby Kabutar, a high-profile gunman and weapon supplier for the gang, who was also taken into custody along with two others.

Bobby Kabutar, whose real name is Mahfooz, allegedly served as a primary logistics link for the Lawrence Bishnoi and Hashim Baba gangs. Investigators state he procured high-end firearms from Salim Pistol, reputedly India’s largest illegal arms dealer with links to Pakistan’s ISI.

These weapons were reportedly used in several high-profile crimes, including the Sidhu Moosewala shooting, the firing outside actress Disha Patani’s residence, the Nadir Shah murder in Delhi, and the Seelampur double murders.

The shows a growing trend of women taking operational roles within the Bishnoi gang. Neha is the third “Lady Don” linked to the syndicate to be arrested recently, following Deepa and Zoya Khan (the wife of gangster Hashim Baba).

To the public, Neha operated a beauty parlour in Northeast Delhi. However, police claim this business was merely a front to mask the gang’s illegal activities and manage their drug distribution network. Neha and Bobby have been associated for seven years. During the arrest near the Mahipalpur flyover, police recovered a significant quantity of drugs, leading investigators to refer to her as “Madam Zeher.”

New details have emerged regarding the 2022 killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. According to police sources, Bobby Kabutar was responsible for conducting the initial reconnaissance (recce). He tracked Moosewala’s movements and routes, passing this critical intelligence to the shooters.

He was reportedly in close contact with Shahrukh, another gangster involved in the planning of the assassination. Bobby had been evading the Special Cell for months by using fake identities and frequently changing his location.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/parlour-owner-by-day-madam-zeher-by-night-delhi-lady-dons-dual-life-11072153?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

The Crown Prince was in New Delhi to participate in the AI Impact Summit, underscoring the growing centrality of technology and innovation in India-UAE relations.

India and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday deepened their fast-expanding strategic partnership with a strong push on artificial intelligence, advanced technology and investment, as Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan concluded a two-day official visit to India.

The Crown Prince was in New Delhi to participate in the AI Impact Summit, underscoring the growing centrality of technology and innovation in India–UAE relations. The visit marked his second official trip to India, following his September 2024 visit, and reflected the momentum of high-level exchanges between the two countries.

On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Sheikh Khaled on February 19. The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of the India–UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which spans political engagement, economic cooperation, energy security, culture and strong people-to-people ties. They also recalled recent high-profile visits to India by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other members of the Abu Dhabi and Dubai royal families, describing them as milestones that have added depth and trust to bilateral relations.

The leaders reviewed the “tremendous progress” achieved across sectors such as defence and security, trade and investment, education, and cultural cooperation. February 18, 2026, marked four years since the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a period during which bilateral trade and investment have recorded robust growth. Both sides expressed satisfaction over expanding two-way investment flows and encouraged UAE sovereign wealth funds to further increase their presence in the Indian economy. In this context, they acknowledged the potential role of L’Imad, the UAE’s newest sovereign fund, in strengthening long-term economic cooperation.

Beyond trade and finance, discussions covered collaboration in strategic and future-oriented domains including space, nuclear energy, technology, and innovation, signalling a broadening of the partnership beyond traditional areas.

Several concrete initiatives were welcomed during the visit. India and the UAE finalised a Memorandum of Understanding between their health ministries aimed at cooperation in health and medicine. The agreement will promote professional exchanges, joint research, digital health initiatives, pharmaceutical collaboration, and the development of modern medical technologies for the benefit of citizens in both countries.

A key technology milestone was the finalisation of a term sheet between the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, G42, and the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence for the deployment of a supercomputer cluster in India. Announced earlier during the UAE President’s January 2026 visit, the project will now move into the implementation phase. The supercomputer cluster will form part of the AI India Mission and will be accessible to public and private stakeholders for research, application development, and commercial use.

In the financial services sector, the setting up of an office of the Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company at Gujarat’s GIFT City was also welcomed.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-uae-ties-get-ai-boost-as-abu-dhabi-crown-prince-wraps-key-delhi-visit-11093453

Ashoka warned that within the next two days, Bengaluru would turn ‘stenchy’ as garbage was not being cleared, and garbage lorries and auto rickshaws were stranded on the outskirts.

Garbage collection in Bengaluru is likely to be disrupted on Thursday due to the ongoing blockade of waste-laden compactors at Bellahalli landfill even as the issue snowballed into a political slugfest. While Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday blamed BJP MLAs for the obstruction, Opposition leader R Ashoka charged that the government has become “garbage mafia”.

Villagers in Mahadevapura on Wednesday continued to block hundreds of vehicles from dumping the waste at Bellahalli, which takes nearly half of the city’s garbage.

The trigger for the blockade, which started on Tuesday, was the death of a two-year-old boy in a road accident on Sunday, with villagers — who obstructed traffic on roads including the stretch leading to the landfill – holding the state government responsible for the poor condition of roads in their area.

While none of the vehicles that went to the landfill could return after emptying their loads, the situation was no different at the seven other processing plants spread across the city.

However, officials of the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML) claimed that these facilities were running smoothly.

It is learnt that a few MLAs such as Krishna Byre Gowda (Congress), Manjula Limbavali (BJP), S T Somashekar (expelled from BJP), Dheeraj Muniraju (BJP), M Krishnappa (Congress) have resisted dumping of garbage in their constituencies, especially after the state government did not approve a special grant of Rs 350 crore promised in the Bengaluru civic body’s annual budget.

Shivakumar warned that strict action would be initiated under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) if the blockade continued and alleged that BJP MLAs were behind the obstructions. Stating that MLAs cannot blackmail the government for funds, he warned BJP legislators that the garbage would be dumped in front of their houses and BJP offices if they continued to obstruct the disposal of waste.

“If Arvind Limbavali and Dheeraj Muniraju keep objecting to the disposal of waste in their constituencies for want of funds, where do we dispose of the garbage? We will have to send it to the homes of R Ashoka, Vijayendra or the BJP party office,” he said and added that the processing plants and landfills had existed even before he took over as the Bengaluru development minister.

Reacting to the accident that killed a boy, he said the law will take its course in such cases but the garbage disposal can’t be stopped.

“The waste is being disposed of in the constituencies of S T Somashekar, B Shivanna and Krishna Byre Gowda also.”

Meanwhile, Ashoka warned that within the next two days, Bengaluru would turn “stenchy” as garbage was not being cleared, and garbage lorries and auto rickshaws were stranded on the outskirts.

Cautioning that public anger would mount, Ashoka demanded the immediate release of funds.

“Earlier, there was a garbage contractor mafia from Andhra in Bengaluru. Today, the state government is the mafia. There is a 7% commission to award a tender, another 7% each for settling the bill and issuing a special NOC. The government takes 21%, and the engineers swallow 71%. There is nothing left for picking up the garbage,” alleged the BJP leader.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/garbage-lorries-stuck-tempers-high-bengaluru-stares-at-citywide-waste-chaos-3903721

The Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticised the Modi government and said the incident has brought “international embarrassement” for the country. Following the controversy, the University was asked to vacate the Expo.

Amid the Galgotias University’s Robodog controversy, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJP government, accusing them of ‘copy-paste’. In a post on X on Wednesday, he said, “First, they copied UPA Schemes and Congress guarantees and rebranded them as their own grand vision. Now, even technology is copy-paste.”

Criticising the Centre, the Karnataka chief minister wrote that the Modi government does not believe in ‘Make in India,’ instead, “they believe in ‘Fake in India’.’’

He said that the incident has brought “international embarrassment” to the country on such a prominent platform as the AI Impact Summit.

Siddaramaiah alleged that the private institution is BJP-linked, and wrote, “At the AI Impact Summit, a BJP-linked institution passed off a Chinese robot as ‘Indian innovation’. Chinese media quickly exposed it – turning the spectacle into an international embarrassment.” He further said, “As the leader, so the follower.”

The Karnataka CM said that because of this incident, India’s reputation has suffered, and said, “That is the real shame.”

What is the Robodog Controversy? 

At the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Galgotias University presented a robodog, named “Orion,” allegedly as their own innovation. The backlash began after a video went viral on social media, with many people pointing out that the machine closely resembles the Go2 model produced by Unitree, which is available to purchase for around Rs 2–3 lakh.

Following the criticism, the University posted on X and clarified that they never claimed to have built the robotic dog. It said the device had been procured from the Chinese firm and was being used as an instructional tool to help students explore robotics and artificial intelligence.

However, an X Community Note attached to the post claimed the university’s assertion was misleading, stating that the institution had indeed presented the robot as its own by naming it “Orion” and referring to it as developed by its team during the summit.

Later, the controversy fuelled up even more after a video of a woman went viral, in which she introduced the machine as part of the university’s Centre of Excellence, explained the robot’s features, and claimed that “Orion” had been developed internally.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/copied-upa-schemes-now-even-technology-is-copy-paste-karnataka-cm-siddaramaiah-on-robodog-row-at-india-impact-ai-summit-3903250 

Mallya, who left India in March 2016, is accused of defaulting on multiple loan repayments amounting to several thousand crores. He was declared a Fugitive Economic Offender in January 2019 by a special court hearing cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Following the declaration, extradition proceedings against him were initiated.

Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya on Wednesday informed the Bombay High Court that he is unable to provide a definite timeline for his return to India as his passport has been revoked and he is barred from leaving England and Wales under orders passed by courts in the United Kingdom.

Mallya made the submission through his counsel Amit Desai before a bench comprising Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad. The statement was filed in response to the court’s earlier direction asking him to clarify whether he intended to return to India to face trial while pursuing his petitions challenging the order declaring him a fugitive economic offender and the constitutional validity of the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act.

Mallya, who left India in March 2016, is accused of defaulting on multiple loan repayments amounting to several thousand crores. He was declared a Fugitive Economic Offender in January 2019 by a special court hearing cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Following the declaration, extradition proceedings against him were initiated.

In his statement, Mallya said he was unable to travel due to restrictions imposed by UK courts.

“Pursuant to orders passed by the Courts in England, the petitioner is not permitted to leave or attempt to leave England and Wales or apply for or be in possession of any international travel document. In any event, the Petitioner is unable to precisely state when he will return to India,” the statement said.

Desai further submitted that Mallya’s presence in India was not necessary for the High Court to hear his petitions challenging the fugitive offender tag and the provisions of the Act.

Opposing the plea, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, argued that Mallya had invoked the extraordinary writ jurisdiction of the High Court, which is equitable in nature. He submitted that a person who does not comply with the law cannot seek discretionary relief from the court.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/passport-revoked-uk-ban-in-place-mallya-tells-bombay-high-court-he-has-no-return-timeline-2870686-2026-02-19

With inadequate police deployment to manage the surge, the situation remained tense for some time at Pune’s Shivneri Fort. At narrow entry and exit points such as the Hathi Darwaza and Ganesh Darwaza below the Amberkhana, several people moved forward simultaneously, triggering the stampede.

A huge crowd assembled at Shivneri Fort in Pune district for Shivaji Jayanti, resulting in a stampede that injured several people, including women and young children. The incident occurred as attendees arrived to participate in festivities and rituals at the historic site.

Many visitors, including those carrying the ceremonial Shiv Jyot and members of various organisations, have been gathering at the fort since Wednesday night. This heavy turnout led to congested conditions at important access points within the premises.

In a video shot from the top of the fort, a sea of people can be seen carrying Shiv Jyot and saffron flags, moving slowly. Moments later, several people are seen attempting to escape the sluggish, overcrowded line by climbing onto the dilapidated structure of the fort, where others were also present.

In a desperate bid to get out, some people can also be seen climbing up with the help of others who had already taken shelter in the cracks of the fort walls, which were nearly filled.

Authorities noted that the police deployment on-site was not adequate to handle the unexpected crowd surge. The situation escalated at narrow entry and exit points, specifically the Hathi Darwaza and Ganesh Darwaza below the Amberkhana, where groups moved forward at the same time, prompting the stampede.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/uncontrolled-crowd-at-punes-shivneri-fort-several-women-children-injured-in-stampede-like-chaos-during-shiv-jayanti-2870715-2026-02-19

Galgotias University said Professor Neha Singh mistakenly presented a Chinese-made robotic dog “Orion” as its own during the India AI Impact Summit. The university clarified she was unaware of the robot’s origins and was not authorised to speak to the press, attributing the error to her enthusiasm on camera.

Galgotias University has issued a formal statement on Wednesday following a controversy caused by professor Neha Singh, who mistakenly described a Chinese-made robotic dog as an in-house innovation during the India AI Impact Summit. According to the university, Singh was unaware of the product’s technical origins and, “in her enthusiasm of being on camera”, she gave factually incorrect information. The university in its statement also said that Singh was also not authorised to speak to the press.

Stating that there was “no institutional intent to misrepresent this innovation,” the university said it remains firmly committed to academic integrity, transparency and responsible representations of its work.” Further adding, it said that it has vacated the premises “understanding the organiser’s sentiment”.

Details Of The Robodog Controversy

The controversy erupted at Bharat Mandapam when a video circulated of Singh demonstrating a four-legged robotic dog. In the footage, she explicitly introduced the robot as “Orion,” stating it was developed by the “Centre of Excellence” at Galgotias University.

She further linked the robot to a massive Rs 350 crore investment by the institution, describing it as a sophisticated surveillance tool designed for difficult terrains.

As the video went viral, social media users highlighted that the robot was actually a Unitree Go2, manufactured by China’s Unitree Robotics and commonly used in research and education worldwide. The University faced severe online and offline criticism.

The private university has been asked to vacate its stall at the AI Impact Summit after the controversy. Following which, IT Secretary S Krishnan said the government does not want any exhibitor to showcase items that are not their own. “We do not want such exhibits to continue,” he said.

“If you mislead… we do not want a controversy (and) so we do not want a controversial agency… whom people believe are exhibiting something which is not theirs,” Krishnan said.

Neha Singh On Robodog Controversy

While speaking to about the controversy, Singh told PTI, “The controversy happened because things may not have been expressed clearly and the intent may not have been properly understood.”

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/enthusiasm-of-being-on-camera-galgotias-university-issues-apology-over-robodog-row-says-representative-was-ill-informed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted people on Ramzan, wishing peace and togetherness. Akhilesh Yadav, Kiren Rijiju, S Jaishankar and Priyanka Gandhi also extended greetings on X. The holy month begins on February 19 after the crescent moon sighting, with Muslims set to observe the first Roza on Thursday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended his wishes to people on the start of the holy month of Ramzan. Taking to X PM Modi said, “Ramzan Mubarak! May this auspicious month further the spirit of togetherness in our society. May there be peace and prosperity everywhere,” the post read.

Former Uttar Pradesh CM and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also extended greetings.

“May this sacred month bring peace, compassion and spiritual strength to everyone. Wishing you all a blessed and peaceful Ramzan,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiran Rijiju posted on X.

“Greetings on commencement of the holy month of Ramzan. May it bring peace, good health and prosperity,” EAM S Jaishankar posted on X.

“Warm greetings on the blessed month of Ramadan. May this sacred time bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to every home. Ramadan Mubarak,” Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi posted.

As the crescent moon has been sighted today, the first roza (fasting) will be observed on Thursday, 19 February. During Ramadan, it is recommended to perform Taraweeh prayers, which are special night prayers, in addition to the five daily prayers.

City-Wise Taraweeh Prayer Timings for Ramadan 2026 in India (Tentative)

Delhi: 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Mumbai: 7:15 PM – 7:45 PM

Hyderabad: 6:50 PM – 7:20 PM

Bengaluru: 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Kolkata: 6:15 PM – 6:45 PM

Chennai: 6:35 PM – 7:05 PM

Lucknow: 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Ahmedabad: 7:10 PM – 7:40 PM

The above timings are tentative. Please check with your local mosque. The month of Ramadan is one of the most sacred and auspicious periods in Islam. It is the holiest time for Muslims around the world to observe fasting.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/may-there-be-peace-prosperity-pm-modi-extends-wishes-as-ramzan-begins

The Chhattisgarh High Court has reduced the sentence of the accused from seven years to three and a half years after medical evidence indicated that the survivor’s hymen was intact.

Ejaculation without full penetration constitutes attempted rape and not actual rape, the Chhattisgarh High Court ruled on Monday. Consequently, the court reduced the sentence of the accused from seven years to three and a half years after medical evidence indicated that the survivor’s hymen was intact.

A single bench of Justice Narendra Kumar Vyas said that the accused’s intent was “criminal and clear”, the prosecution failed to establish penetration beyond a reasonable doubt, a necessary ingredient for rape under Section 375 of the IPC as it stood in 2004. Consequently, the conviction under Section 376(1) was modified to Section 376/511 (attempt to rape).

The case dates back to May 21, 2004, in Dhamtari district.

According to the prosecution, the accused forcibly dragged the victim from her home to his house, stripped her, and attempted sexual intercourse against her will. The horror did not end there. The victim was allegedly locked inside a room, her hands and feet tied, and a cloth stuffed into her mouth. Hours later, her mother rescued her from confinement. In 2005, the trial court convicted the accused under Sections 376(1) and 342 of the IPC and sentenced him to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for rape, along with six months for wrongful confinement.

The appeal pivoted on a single, crucial legal question – Was there penetration? The High Court meticulously examined both the victim’s testimony and the medical report. In her initial statement, the victim alleged penetration; later, she admitted that the accused had only placed his private parts over hers without actual penetration. The medical report confirmed the hymen was intact. Redness on the vulva and the presence of human sperm on clothing were established.

The Court concluded that while there was clear evidence of sexual assault and intent, full penetration, the sine qua non for rape under the pre-2013 IPC, was not conclusively proved. Justice Vyas observed that genital rubbing and partial contact, even accompanied by sperm presence, indicated an attempt but did not satisfy the strict legal definition of rape

Citing multiple Supreme Court precedents, the Court clarified the difference between preparation and attempt. Forcibly taking the victim inside a room, stripping her, and rubbinghis genitals against her were acts that crossed the threshold of preparation and clearly demonstrated an attempt to commit rape. However, without definitive proof of penetration, Section 376 could not be invoked. Thus, the conviction was altered to Section 376 read with 511 IPC attempt to commit rape.

The defence attempted to question the victim’s age. The Court rejected this argument, holding that the school register qualifies as a valid public document under Section 35 of the Evidence Act and that no credible evidence was produced to disprove it.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ejaculating-without-penetration-isnt-rape-chhattisgarh-high-court-11053717?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

India has not yet confirmed or denied Washington’s claim that it has committed to stopping the procurement of Russian crude oil.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said it has “no reason” to believe that India has changed its position on buying Russian oil, which it said is beneficial for both countries and maintains stability in the global hydrocarbons market.

The remarks came in the backdrop of Washington’s claim that New Delhi has agreed to stop importing Russian crude oil.

“We have no reason to believe that India has changed its position on buying Russian hydrocarbons. India’s purchase of Russian hydrocarbons benefits both countries and helps maintain stability in the international energy market,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in her weekly briefing.

“There is nothing new in the claims of US President Donald Trump, as well as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who have grabbed the right to dictate to independent nations,” Zakharova said.

Following a recent phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump, both sides announced a reduction of the US tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from 50 per cent.

The reduction included the removal of a 25 per cent tariff that Trump had slapped on India in August last year for New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil.

Last week, Rubio said that India has committed to stop buying Russian oil, days after New Delhi reiterated that “national interests” will be the “guiding factor” for India’s energy procurement.

While announcing the trade deal with New Delhi early in February, Trump had also claimed India had agreed not to procure crude oil from Russia.

India has not yet confirmed or denied Washington’s claim that it has committed to stopping the procurement of Russian crude oil.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/no-reason-to-believe-change-in-indias-stance-on-russian-oil-moscow-11055467?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The woman, who had remarried, had filed a domestic violence case against the man, because of which he could not return to Canada.

Frustrated that a domestic violence case filed by her had prevented him from returning to Canada, where he worked at an IT firm, a man allegedly barged into his ex-wife’s house in Hyderabad and killed her by stabbing her repeatedly in the head.

The man also held the woman, who was 29 years old and also an IT company employee, responsible for his mother’s death.

In his complaint, the woman’s second husband said she was three months pregnant. Police, however, said this has not been confirmed so far, and a post-mortem report is awaited.

The man, who is in his 30s, married the woman in 2022. The wedding was held in India, and the man later moved to Canada, where the woman joined him.

“Some differences arose between the couple and she later returned to India. She subsequently filed a domestic violence case against him in Maharashtra,” an official said.

The couple got divorced in 2024, and the woman married again in April 2025.

The man returned to India in March 2025 following the death of his mother. An official said a look-out circular had been issued against him because of the domestic violence case and his passport was suspended. Because of this, he could not go back to Canada. He was unemployed and was living at his parents’ house in Telangana’s Peddapalli district.

The man, officials said, felt he and his family had faced mental suffering because of the ex-wife. He also believed that his mother’s death was due to this mental agony.

Plot, Execution

The man decided to kill her and managed to track down her address through her social media accounts. He reached Hyderabad two months ago and began staying in a hostel.

“He had also recced the victim’s apartment recently,” an official said.

He reached the woman’s apartment on Wednesday with a bag containing two knives, a drilling machine, and a can with five litres of petrol.

The man barged into his former wife’s residence, entered the room she was in, and locked it from the inside. He stabbed her multiple times in the head with a knife, killing her instantly.

The woman’s mother-in-law was on the balcony when this happened. Family members called the police and a team reached the house, only to find that the man had poured petrol all over the room and locked himself in the toilet.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/man-barges-into-techie-ex-wifes-house-in-hyderabad-stabs-her-to-death-11055907?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

An exciting lineup is set for Day 4 of the AI Impact Summit in India. Among some of the key speakers today are names such as Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Wipro’s Executive Chairman Rishad Premji. Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder and Gates Foundation Chair, is also expected to be present at the summit. Earlier, it was reported that Gates might be skipping the summit in Delhi during his India visit. However, as per a statement from the Gate Foundation, the chairman will be in attendance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be addressing the summit today. As per an official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the opening ceremony of the summit on Thursday will also be addressed by French President Emmanuel Macron and Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres.

The previous day at the summit saw a firestorm over Galgotias University. The Noida-based university was at the centre of major backlash after it presented a Chinese robotics firm’s robot dog as their own development. While the university has clarified that they never claimed the robotic dog was their product, they were asked to vacate the premises.

Six days later, on February 10, the JJB granted the 17-year-old interim bail to enable him to appear for his Class 10 board examinations.

The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), before which a 17-year-old boy appeared a day after he allegedly drove a speeding Mahindra Scorpio that killed 23-year-old biker Sahil Dhaneshra in Dwarka, observed that the minor “appeared to show no remorse” and “did not understand the preciousness of taking a life,” showed the board’s order accessed by HT.

“Upon enquiry from the CCL [child in conflict with law, the 17-year-old], it appears that he does not understand the preciousness of life of a person and is not remorseful towards his act,” the JJB noted in its February 4 order. The minor was subsequently sent to an observation home for “rehabilitation and appropriate counselling” and for his “safety and security”, according to the order.

Six days later, on February 10, the JJB granted the 17-year-old interim bail to enable him to appear for his Class 10 board examinations, directing him to surrender on March 9 after completion of the exams. The relief came in response to a plea by the juvenile’s counsel, who argued that the boy was “unable to study” in a conducive environment at the observation home.

Principal magistrate Chitranshi Arora observed that the board was conscious of the juvenile’s status as a Class 10 student and that his academic future ought not to be prejudiced. “The need for immediate academic preparation and the continuity of studies constitutes a relevant consideration under the rehabilitative and reformative object of the JJ Act,” the board held.

As an interim arrangement, the juvenile was permitted to remain in his father’s custody upon furnishing a personal bond of ₹10,000 with one surety of the like amount, valid until the next hearing on March 9.

The board, however, imposed several conditions, including that the father ensure the juvenile’s presence before the board whenever directed, that the minor not come into conflict with law during the interim period, and that the time granted be utilised strictly for academic preparation.

The order also clarified that the arrangement was “purely temporary and interim in nature” and would not be treated as a precedent. The father has been directed to appear with his son on March 9, when the regular bail plea will be heard.

The incident occurred on February 3 when Sahil Dhaneshra was travelling on his two-wheeler. Police allege that a speeding SUV with the teenager at the wheel struck him and then rammed into a parked cab, critically injuring its driver. The minor, who did not possess a driving licence, was apprehended and sent to an observation home. Police registered a case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) dealing with rash and negligent driving, causing death by negligence, and endangering human life. The juvenile’s father has been bound down by police.

In his bail plea, the 17-year-old described himself as a student with a “remarkable academic record” and claimed he was being falsely implicated.

The plea stated the incident was “purely accidental” with no intention or mens rea to cause injury or death. It contended that the accident occurred on a single-lane road and that the juvenile stepped out immediately after the crash and “attempted to assist the victim”.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/teen-driver-behind-suv-accident-in-delhis-dwarka-appeared-to-show-no-remorse-says-juvenile-justice-board-101771457373237.html

At least 26 children died after allegedly consuming the cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh last year.

Hasin Jahan argued that Shami travels across countries and thus has sufficient resources and measures to contest the cases in Delhi.

Petroleum crude usually constitutes about 80% of India’s total merchandise imports from Russia.

India’s merchandise imports from Russia in January fell 40.48% to $2.86 billion compared to $4.81 billion in January 2025, according to latest data released on Monday, with the reduction largely on account of Indian refiners drastically cutting Russian crude purchases .

Petroleum crude usually constitutes about 80% of India’s total merchandise imports from Russia, it is estimated that actual imports of Russian crude oil in the month were around $2.3 billion, perhaps less, people aware of the matter said, requesting anonymity. While the government on Monday released trade data for January 2026, it is yet to release data by product lines and countries. Other than crude, India imports coal, coke, certain petroleum products, fertilizer, iron, newsprint, project goods, pulses, pearl, precious and semi-precious stones from Russia.

The reduction in Russian crude oil imports in 2025-26 started from a peak of $4.73 billion in April 2025, the month that saw the US government announcing its Liberation Day tariffs . It also saw Washington pressurizing India against buying Russian crude. Later, from August 27, the US imposed an additional 25% punitive tariff on Indian merchandise exports — essentially a penalty for purchasing Russian crude. This saw India’s import of Russian crude falling to $3.32 billion in September, nearly 30% drop from the month of April.

The decline in Russian imports is in lines with Indian refiners’ statements that they have stopped buying Russian crude, the people mentioned above said. Reacting to a news report on January 9, India’s biggest private refiner Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) said on social media platform X that it was not expecting “any Russian crude oil” deliveries in January. RIL’s refining capacity exceeds 68 million tonnes per annum.

“The fall in merchandise imports from Russia is expected to be sharper in coming months when Indian refiners will move to buy cheaper Venezuelan crude as compared to Russian oil,” one of the people cited above said. Indian refiners are considering the US offer to buy Venezuelan crude, he added. US President Donald Trump on January 31 told reporters aboard Air Force One that India would buy Venezuelan oil . Before US sanctions on Venezuela, India was one of the key buyers of Venezuelan crude.

The Trump administration on February 6 withdrew the 25% punitive tariff imposed on Indian goods in its market saying India has “committed to stop directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil” and agreed to purchase US energy products. The US is also keen that India should resume purchase of energy from Venezuela.

In 2012-13, India imported crude worth $14.10 billion from the South American country. Imports of Venezuelan crude gradually fell due to various geo-political reasons and became zero in 2021-22, according to official data.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indias-merchandise-imports-from-russia-drop-40-in-jan-crude-oil-worsthit-101771377793177.html

Renowned Hindi and Marathi actress Pravina Deshpande passed away at 60 after battling multiple myeloma since 2019. Known for Ghar Ek Mandir, Kumkum, and films like Ready, she faced skin eruptions, severe back pain, chemotherapy, and a bone marrow transplant during her cancer journey. The disease affects plasma cells and weakens bones.

Pravina Deshpande, a renowned television and film actress, passed away after a long battle with cancer in Mumbai. The 60-year-old, who featured in famous television shows like Ghar Ek Mandir, Kumkum, and films like Jalebi and Ready, was under treatment for multiple myeloma – a type of blood cancer- since 2019.

In an earlier interview, Pravina had spoken about how she started having eruptions on her skin, which spread gradually, before the diagnosis. “It began with minor skin eruptions and gradually spread,” she said in an interview with The Times of India. In 2022, Pravina suffered extreme back pain once her first round of treatment was over.

“While performing in a play, I suffered severe back pain, indicating it was time to start treatment. I completed shooting a web series in September and was admitted for chemotherapy the same month, followed by a bone marrow transplant,” she said.

She had been vocal about her family support, especially her husband Aniruddh, who she said stood like a rock during her long treatment.

Seven villagers, mostly children, have died within weeks in Chayasa village of Haryana’s Palwal district after suffering hepatitis, fever, vomiting and sudden liver failure, triggering panic among residents.

A winter haze hangs low over Chayasa village in Haryana’s Palwal district. The handpumps creak as women draw water, children weave through narrow lanes, and conversations drop to whispers at the mention of hepatitis.

In less than three weeks, seven people — most of them children, have died after complaining of eerily similar symptoms: stomach pain, vomiting, fever, and, in several cases, sudden liver failure.

When India Today’s sister channel, Aaj Tak’s team, reached the village, grief sat heavy inside modest brick homes where charpoys have replaced schoolbags and laughter. Families say the illness struck fast and without warning.

The first death came on January 27. 14-year-old Sariq, a Class 6 student, had complained of severe stomach pain the previous day. He was admitted to hospital on January 26 but died within 24 hours. “He was fine until that evening,” a relative said quietly. “We thought it was just a stomach infection.”

Two days later, on January 29, nine-year-old Hufaiz, a Class 4 student, was rushed to a private hospital in Palwal after his blood pressure spiked at night. Within hours, he was referred to Faridabad. Doctors later told the family his liver had failed. He died the same day.

On January 30, 15-year-old Huma began vomiting and developed a fever along with acute stomach pain. She was admitted to Nalhad Medical College in Mewat. Her uncle, Parvez, recalled the rapid decline. “My niece had stomach pain, vomiting and a mild fever. When her condition worsened, we took her to Nalhad Medical College. She was admitted there for three days. Eventually, she started having seizures.” Huma died on February 3.

By then, fear had begun to spread across Chayasa.

Sixty-five-year-old Jameela fell ill on January 28. Her son, Noor Mohammad, got her admitted to Nalhad Medical College, where she died on February 4. “My mother also had liver problems. Her condition worsened in the last few days, and she died,” said Wasim, her son. “She was 58 years old.” The family says doctors mentioned liver damage but offered few details.

On the same day, Shamshuddin also succumbed. According to his mother, Sakina, “My son had a fever for four days. He was admitted to Faridabad and Gurugram hospitals, but he died. He was 32 years old.” The family says his condition deteriorated despite treatment in multiple facilities.

Seven-year-old Payal’s story follows a familiar pattern. She developed a fever on February 1. Her family first sought medicine from a village practitioner. When she did not improve, another doctor was consulted. On February 4, she was taken to Hathin Government Hospital and referred onwards to Palwal and then Nalhad Medical College. She died on February 5. “My granddaughter had a fever, then her condition worsened,” said Mahendra, her grandmother. “The doctor did not tell us what happened to her. She was only five.”

The most recent death was that of 22-year-old Dilshad. He began experiencing fever and stomach pain on February 1, was admitted to Nalhad Medical College on February 10, and died the next day.

Across households, the pattern is strikingly similar: fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, sudden deterioration, and in several cases, liver failure. Noor Muhammad, who lost his mother, described the sudden turn. “My mother initially had a fever, which subsided. Then she suddenly stopped talking. After that, she was taken to the medical college, where she was admitted for several days. The doctor said her liver was also damaged. She was 60 years old.”

Vasudev Gupta, the nodal officer, said about the deaths that triggered alarm, “There are various reasons for deaths. Among those dead, 3–4 tested positive for Hepatitis B.”

Villagers now avoid shared water sources and speak of contaminated supply and unsafe medical practices in hushed tones. Some allege that injections from unqualified practitioners may have played a role; others blame dirty water. No official cause has yet been confirmed publicly, but health teams have visited the village and collected samples.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/chayasa-palwal-haryana-mysterious-illness-seven-deaths-liver-failure-probe-2869909-2026-02-17

Opposition leaders have questioned how 75 files could be processed and signed within a short span, especially on a day when the state administration was reportedly preoccupied with the breaking news surrounding Ajit Pawar.

A fresh controversy has erupted in Maharashtra over administrative decisions taken on January 28, the same day news of senior leader Ajit Pawar’s plane incident emerged, triggering widespread political and bureaucratic activity in the state.

According to sources, the Maharashtra Minority Department cleared as many as 75 files related to minority schools on January 28. The files reportedly included proposals linked to recognition and approvals for minority educational institutions. The development has raised serious questions in political and administrative circles, with opposition parties alleging irregularities in the sudden clearance of such a large number of files in a single day.

Opposition leaders have questioned how 75 files could be processed and signed within a short span, especially on a day when the state administration was reportedly preoccupied with the breaking news surrounding Ajit Pawar.

“The clearance of so many files in one day creates suspicion. It is important to know whether due procedure was followed and whether proper scrutiny was conducted,” an opposition leader said.

The issue has also led to administrative action. Milind Shenoy, Deputy Secretary in the Maharashtra Minority Department, has been transferred amid the controversy.

Sources said the government has initiated an inquiry into the matter and further action is also underway.

Several key questions are now being raised: why and how were 75 files signed on the same day, whether all proposals underwent proper verification and legal procedures, and whether the approvals had been pre-planned or granted suddenly.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/75-minority-school-files-cleared-on-day-of-ajit-pawar-plane-news-spark-controversy-deputy-secretary-transferred-2869996-2026-02-18

A schoolteacher was allegedly lured from Uttar Pradesh’s Jalaun to a village in Madhya Pradesh as part of a honeytrap scheme. However, he was strangled to death there after he resisted being photographed with a woman in an objectionable manner.

A murder case in Uttar Pradesh’s Jalaun district has unravelled into a failed honeytrap conspiracy that ended in the killing of a man, police said.

Six people, including a woman, were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the case. The main accused has been identified as Krishpal alias Kuldeep, a cousin of the victim’s.

Police said the victim, Raghavendra, was a schoolteacher by profession. Krishpal, described as a gambling and alcohol addict by the police, had accumulated significant debt and had borrowed money from Raghavendra as well.

When Raghavendra began pressuring him to repay the loan, Krishpal allegedly conspired with his girlfriend, Sonia, to silence him through blackmail.

As part of the plan, Krishpal and his associates allegedly lured Raghavendra to a village in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh on the pretext of returning the money.

After reaching a farm, the accused allegedly tried to take objectionable photographs of Raghavendra with Sonia, intending to use the pictures to blackmail him, Jalaun’s Superintendent of Police Durgesh Kumar said.

When Raghavendra resisted, the group allegedly assaulted him and strangled him to death with a data cable, the officer said.

The accused then dumped the body in nearby bushes. A missing person’s report was filed on February 11, a day after Raghavendra disappeared from his village.

Police formed three teams to trace him. His body was recovered days later, and a murder case was registered on February 14.

Relying on informant inputs and technical surveillance, investigators arrested Krishpal and five others, including Sonia. Police said the case was cracked within 72 hours of registering the murder case, prompting the SP to announce a cash reward of Rs 25,000 for the team.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/teacher-killed-by-cousin-his-aides-as-honeytrap-bid-goes-wrong-in-jalaun-teacher-murder-case-uttar-pradesh-up-news-2869995-2026-02-18

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee questioned the Election Commission after it declared certain documents invalid during an SIR hearing. She alleged voter deletions in Bengal, accused the poll body of bias, and claimed officials were being targeted. BJP countered that she fears the SIR exercise.

A day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) declared certain documents as ‘invalid’ during SIR hearing, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday had questioned why those documents were ‘valid’ during SIR in Bihar.

“A woman functionary in the BJP IT cell removed names of 58 lakh voters’ from Bengal using AI. The EC is defying Supreme Court orders and undermining democracy. The poll body is working at the behest of BJP and is behaving like Hitler and Tughlaq. The deletion of voters’ names is like Sita being kidnapped by Ravana,” said Mamata addressing a press conference at the state secretariat Nabanna.

Speaking about the suspension of seven officials for alleged ‘misconduct’, Mamata said that the victims were not given a chance to speak for themselves.

“In the name of deletion of voters’ names the poll body is snatching away the rights of the voters. If Bengal officers are being victimized then we will 100 per cent protect them. In the name of logical discrepancies Bengal is being targeted to please BJP. Same manipulation was done in Haryana and Maharashtra,” further added the West Bengal Chief Minister.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/west-bengal-cm-mamata-banerjee-describes-election-commission-as-hitler-and-tughlaqi-commission

The massive investment will cater to the development of artificial intelligence technology through “one of the world’s largest integrated energy-compute commitments”. The investment will be made till 2035 and the data centres will be powered by renewable energy, the company said in an exchange filing

The Adani Group on Tuesday announced an investment of $100 billion to build data centres, catering to the development of artificial intelligence technology through “one of the world’s largest integrated energy-compute commitments”. The investment will be made till 2035, and the data centres will be powered by renewable energy, the company said in an exchange filing.

“The initiative will establish a long-term sovereign energy and compute platform designed to position India as a global leader in the emerging intelligence revolution,” the company said in a statement.

The announcement of the massive investment has come at a time when India is hosting the AI Impact Summit, with various global leaders expected to join the gathering.

The company further noted that this investment will attract an additional $150 billion across server manufacturing, advanced electrical infrastructure, sovereign cloud platforms and supporting industries. This is projected to create a $250 billion AI infrastructure ecosystem in India over the decade, it said.

“The world is entering an Intelligence Revolution more profound than any previous Industrial Revolution,” said the group’s chairman, Gautam Adani.

“Nations that master the symmetry between energy and compute will shape the next decade. India is uniquely positioned to lead. At Adani, we are building on our foundation in data centres and green energy to expand into the complete five-layer AI stack focused on India’s technological sovereignty. India will not be a mere consumer in the AI age. We will be the creators, the builders and the exporters of intelligence, and we are proud to be able to participate in that future.”

The company said it will also co-invest in domestic manufacturing partnerships of critical infrastructure components, including high-capacity transformers, advanced power electronics, grid systems, inverters and industrial thermal management solutions. This will ensure protection from global supply-chain volatility.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/adani-group-to-invest-100-billion-to-build-ai-data-centres

Bhupen Kumar Borah will join BJP on February 22, confirmed by Himanta Biswa Sarma, with Dilip Saikia present at the event.

Former Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah will officially join the BJP on February 22 in the presence of state BJP President Dilip Saikia, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday.

“… Bhupen Borah will join BJP on February 22. Dilip Saikia will work out the details. Along with him, a good number of Congress leaders will join the BJP in Guwahati and North Lakhimpur … He is the last recognised Hindu leader in Congress…,” Sarma said at a press conference that was joined by Borah.

He further said: “Our National President Nitin Nabin has already approved his joining and welcomes him… Bhupen Borah will be accorded all due respect and dignity… Joining the BJP will be like a homecoming for him because it is a party with many people like him, whose fathers did not occupy any high offices.”

He further said: “… Bhupen Borah’s joining will completely create an image, which is a reality too, that Congress is no longer a party of mainstream Assamese people.”

The announcement came after Sarma visited Borah’s residence in Ghoramara area of Guwahati, and was welcomed by his wife and son with ‘aarti’.

On Monday, Borah submitted his resignation to the Congress by allegedly blaming Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s “highhandedness” for his decision.

In his resignation letter, Borah said he was being ignored by the party leadership and was not given his due in the state unit. He said he had informed the high command about how the party was functioning in the state and that the situation had affected his self-esteem and dignity.

Source : https://www.news18.com/cities/guwahati/days-after-leaving-congress-bhupen-borah-meets-himanta-sarma-to-join-bjp-9910903.html

Sahil Dhaneshra, who was going to his office, was killed after a Scorpio, allegedly driven by the minor, rammed his motorcycle head-on near Lal Bahadur Shastri College around 12 noon on February 3.

The father of the teen whose SUV ran over a 23-year-old biker in Delhi earlier this month told NDTV that the tragic accident was a “mistake” and that his family is “very, very sorry”.

“I am also a parent. It was a mistake. I am very, very sorry,” the father, who spoke in Hindi, told NDTV.

Sahil Dhaneshra, who was going to his office, was killed after a Scorpio, allegedly driven by the minor, rammed his motorcycle head-on near Lal Bahadur Shastri College around 12 noon on February 3. The impact also led to a collision with a parked cab, leaving its driver seriously injured.

The accused, who did not possess a driving licence, was detained and produced before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), which sent him to an observation home.

On February 10, the Board granted him interim bail, citing his ongoing Class 10 board examinations, police said.

“My wife got a call on the 3rd. It was around 11.30 or 11.45 am. The child met with an accident. I got scared. I asked her, ‘How did this happen? She said, ‘It happened in a car’. She was scared. I was scared too,” the father, who returned to Delhi on the same day, said, recounting the tragic day.

The man said he asked his wife to take the child to the hospital, to “save the child”.

He took a flight and returned to Delhi around 6 pm, nearly four hours after the accident, and went straight to the police station in Dwarka.

“We got all the information about the accident. They said, this is your car. We said, ‘Yes sir’. They asked if this is your son, I said, ‘Yes’. I told them I was away from home and I got to know through you and my wife’s call about the accident. I presented all the documents to the police,” he said, adding there was a lot of crowd at the police station.

“We were being threatened at the police station,” the father said.

Pressed to answer who is responsible for giving an SUV to a minor, the father said,” I was not at home. I was away. The child made a mistake. He made a mistake. This is wrong.”

When questioned about the 13 challans, including nine for speeding, against the car, and why was the teen still allowed to drive the vehicle, the father said,”The car is involved in my business. We have drivers and the challans are because of them not because my child was driving the car around.”

Did you ever stop your son from driving? this reporter asked the father.

“I never knew about it. He was very scared of me,” he said, clarifying that his son did not even have a driving licence.

Asked if the teen’s sister who was with him at the time of the accident was making reels, the father said,”No, she was not making reels. She was taking pictures and making a video.”

Inna Maakan, the mother of the 23-year-old victim, has claimed that the accused teen was “out on his Scorpio to make fun reels”.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sahil-dhaneshra-road-accident-a-mistake-very-very-sorry-father-of-teen-whose-suv-ran-over-delhi-biker-11041291?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Tom Cooper, one of the world’s foremost aviation historians and analysts, says he has plenty of proof to back up his claim.

The question of whether one particular strike was the straw that broke the camel’s back and made Pakistan approach the Indian side and push for a ceasefire after Operation Sindoor last year has long been debated. One of the world’s foremost aviation historians, analysts and experts may finally have the answer.

Despite the Indian Air Force denying that it had struck Kirana Hills, one of Pakistan’s main storage facilities for nuclear weapons and a former nuclear testing site, Tom Cooper is convinced the facility was hit and that “Pakistan was finished by then”.

“It’s a place you hit when you want to send a clear message without causing, let’s put it this way, too much damage. It means, “Listen, guys in Pakistan, we can hit you severely where we want, whenever we want, with as much ammunition as we want. Stop it, finally’,” Cooper told NDTV’s Shiv Aroor in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

“And considering the timing of that strike, and when one cross-checks what was happening in the background on the diplomatic scene, how Islamabad was calling Washington, calling New Delhi, and begging for a ceasefire. Of course, it was not literally begging for a ceasefire… But eventually, that was that… It cannot be clearer anymore,” he asserted.

‘Several Pieces Of Evidence’

Asked what proof he had that the attack actually took place, the aviation expert insisted there was not just one piece of evidence, but several, including videos shot by Pakistanis showing contrails from missiles coming in, diving down, and hitting the hillside. Smoke rising from the radar station of what he described as the 4091st Squadron of the Pakistani Air Force, Cooper said, bolsters this theory.

“And the evidence is so clear that the Indian Air Force hit these radar stations first to disable the Pakistani capability to counter its attack, and then hit at least two entrances to the underground storage facilities. And Kirana Hills is one of the centrepieces of the Pakistani nuclear programme. They have run something like 20-24 non-critical nuclear tests over there. I mean, it’s not Disneyland,” he said.

“Pakistan was finished by then. Its Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos (launched in response to Operation Sindoor) had failed. It was blocked by Indian air defence, and then by this massive strike that morning in May,” he added.

Cooper said this strike was one of the key reasons he had declared the conflict a clear-cut victory for India.

“You don’t target such places without knowing that the enemy or the other side cannot strike back without having absolute certainty,” he explained.

The other evidence, Cooper said, came from “personal contacts” in Pakistan who confirmed the facility was hit.

Nuclear Proof

To a question on how he was sure Kirana Hills housed a nuclear facility, Cooper said a bulletin of atomic scientists in the US had described it in that manner, and analysts in India had arrived at the same conclusion.

“It is really amazing what kind of stuff they are finding. So when you find 40 hardened shelters, two maintenance facilities, 50 or more entrances to underground facilities… When you know the history of the site, with its nuclear tests. I mean, again, it is not a fun park. It is a nuclear facility for testing purposes, for storage purposes. There might not be a reactor over there, but it doesn’t mean there are no nuclear weapons,” he said.

The expert also pointed to Sargodha, one of the Pakistan Air Force’s principal facilities, being very close to Kirana Hills. He asked why a squadron of F-16s was being trained for the delivery of nuclear weapons at the base if there was no storage facility nearby.

“What can be a better storage facility in this area than Kirana Hills, with all of its tunnels, hardened shelters, three complexes of ammunition depots and so on?” he argued.

Escalation?

On the possibility of escalation following such a strike, Cooper said the context was important. Pakistan, he highlighted, had fired missiles and other projectiles and sent drones, and all of them were shot down, except for one or two missiles.

“Everything that was sent India’s way was shot down. Several Pakistani Air Force jets were shot down. Pilots were killed. So this operation (Bunyan-un-Marsoos) was a complete failure… And then the Indian Air Force launched a counter-strike, hit 12 or 13 air bases, and Pakistan was still trying,” Cooper recalled.

“And then came the strike on Kirana Hills. And with this action, you make it clear to the opponent: ‘You can’t do anything. You are finished. You can fire whatever you like at us, and we are still going to shut down everything coming our way and hit you very hard. And if you continue, we are going to hit you even harder because we can, and you can’t,'” he stressed.

This was a big cause of the clear-cut victory, Cooper insisted, and led to Pakistan calling for a ceasefire and India agreeing to a break in the operations.

Weaponry, Integration

On whether specialised aircraft or weapons were needed for the precision strikes on Kirana Hills, Cooper said that was not necessary.

“You had Su-30s launching BrahMos and Rampage – air-launched ballistic missiles. You had Jaguars launching Rampage. You had Rafales launching SCALPs, and so on. This was perfectly enough,” he explained.

Cooper was all praise for India’s integrated air defence system and said that it had made all the difference. Not only did the system function very well defensively and thwart wave after wave of Pakistani missiles and projectiles, but it also made it possible to go on the offensive very quickly.

“…to simultaneously coordinate such a massive operation by the Indian Air Force on the morning of the 10th and to hit Pakistan that hard. This is something that people are not understanding enough,” he maintained.

“So Pakistan can now buy, you know, 200 (Chinese-made) J-20s and whatever else. The Indian air defence system is still good enough to detect this one way or the other, because there’s plenty of built-in redundancy in this system. There are so many different radars that one of them would pick it up. And when you detect that, stealth is not stealth anymore,” Cooper explained.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/tom-cooper-kirana-hills-like-sun-rising-in-east-expert-on-india-hitting-paks-nuclear-site-during-op-sindoor-11050914?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Misri conveyed greetings to Shafiqur on his new role and reaffirmed India’s enduring support to Bangladesh, underscoring the people-centric nature of the ties.

New Delhi: Signalling its intent to move on from the acrimony of the past, New Delhi on Tuesday reached out to Jamaat-e-Islami, which was once known for its hostility to India and now emerged as the principal Opposition party in Bangladesh.

Even as of Tarique Rahman as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had a courtesy meeting with Shafiqur Rahman, the ‘Ameer’ (supremo) of the Jamaat-e-Islami, which won 68 of the 299 parliamentary constituencies in the recent parliamentary elections in the neighbouring country.

Birla met Tarique soon after the swearing-in ceremony in Dhaka, congratulated him and handed over to him a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who invited his new counterpart to visit New Delhi at the earliest convenience. Misri, on the other hand, met Shafiqur, who was appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in the newly elected Jatiya Sangsad, the parliament of Bangladesh.

Misri conveyed greetings to Shafiqur on his new role and reaffirmed India’s enduring support to Bangladesh, underscoring the people-centric nature of the ties. Shafiqur highlighted the deep civilisational bonds shared by India and Bangladesh and expressed hope for stronger bilateral relations, New Delhi’s diplomatic mission in Dhaka wrote on X after the meeting.

The Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh, has a history of ties with the radical forces in Pakistan. It had opposed the 1971 Liberation War, which had led to the birth of Bangladesh, ending Pakistan’s rule over what had previously been known as East Pakistan.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/india-reaches-out-to-jamaat-e-islami-bangladesh-signals-intent-to-move-on-from-past-animosity-3902412

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal on behalf of Wangchuk’s wife submitted that some of the words attributed to the activist were never said by him.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Centre over translations of the transcripts of videos submitted by it against Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk, saying it should be precise in the age of Artificial Intelligence.

A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Prasanna B Varale told Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj that it wanted actual transcripts of Wangchuk’s statements from the government as senior advocate Kapil Sibal on behalf of Wangchuk’s wife submitted that some of the words attributed to the activist were never said by him.

“We want an actual transcript of the speech. What he relied upon and what you say are different. We will decide. There should be an actual transcript of what he says. You may have your reasons. At least, whatever he stated, the true translation should be there… Your translation goes on for 7 to 8 minutes, but the speech is for 3 minutes. We are in the era of Artificial Intelligence; precision is at least 98 per cent for translation,” the bench observed.

Sibal claimed this is a very unique detention order, where the authorities relied on something that did not exist and then, it was said it was based on subjective satisfaction.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/delhi/we-are-in-age-of-ai-supreme-court-questions-centre-over-translation-of-sonam-wangchuks-speech-3900885

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor spent a late evening in Bengaluru with BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, combining street food with strategic conversation as the two spoke about the growing India-US partnership.

Sharing photographs and videos on X, Surya said he welcomed the ambassador to Karnataka’s capital and hosted him over masala dosa and strong filter coffee in Indiranagar.

The discussion, he said, centred on trade, technology and innovation, particularly in the backdrop of the recently finalised interim trade agreement between the two countries.

In his post, Surya said they had “an engaging conversation on the growing India US partnership, especially in trade, technology and innovation following the interim trade agreement” and added that he also introduced the ambassador to a “Namma Auto” ride, calling it “a memorable ride indeed.”

‘India’s most happening city’

A video shared by the BJP MP shows the two travelling in an auto rickshaw through the city’s streets, with Gor at one point recording the roads on his phone.

In the clip, Surya welcomes him to what he describes as “India’s best city” and “India’s most happening city,” thanking the ambassador for his role in strengthening India-United States relations. Gor, responding to the warm reception, described Surya as the “most incredible host” during his first visit to Bengaluru.

Focus on trade and technology

Surya later said that Ambassador Gor brings “uncommon energy and dynamism to diplomacy” and has a genuine belief in the “limitless potential” of India-US ties. He added that a late-night auto ride was the “real Bengaluru experience” and called the city the “crown jewel of the India-US partnership.”

Gor, in his own post, said he had just arrived in Bengaluru and praised the city’s energy, from startups to street food, calling it unmatched and thanking Surya for hosting him.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/gurugram-news/gurugram-cops-nabs-woman-running-illegal-telecom-setup-aiding-cyber-fraud-calls-101771294482355.html

IndiGo has extended cancellations of flights to several Central Asian and Caucasus cities amid rising tensions around Iran. The airline prioritises passenger safety while adjusting schedules to manage operational constraints caused by geopolitical developments.

IndiGo on Monday extended the cancellation of flights to and from Tbilisi, Almaty, Baku and Tashkent till March 28 due to developments related to Iran.

Earlier, the carrier had cancelled the services to these cities till February 28.

IndiGo and Air India have stopped using the Iranian airspace and are flying alternative routes for their long-haul flights.

Considering the ongoing developments in the region around Iran and its associated airspace, flights to/from Tbilisi (Georgia), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and Baku (Azerbaijan) remain impacted, IndiGo said in a post on X.

“The previously announced cancellations have been extended until 28th March 2026. The safety and well-being of our customers and crew remain our highest priority, and we continue to closely monitor the situation, while reviewing schedules to minimise inconvenience,” the airline said.

Tensions have escalated between Iran and the United States, and there are apprehensions that the situation could result in a military conflict.

On February 4, IndiGo said it will adjust its long-haul flights operated with leased Dreamliners, wherein services to Copenhagen will be suspended from February 17, while flights on Delhi-London-Heathrow and Delhi-Manchester routes would also be reduced.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indigo-extends-flight-cancellations-amid-iran-tensions-check-affected-routes-2869323-2026-02-16

In Bhopal, Pritam Kushwaha, jailed earlier for axing his three sons to death, murdered 50-year-old woman who had sheltered him, stabbing her at an under-construction house. He died by suicide under a train, exposing a chilling past, broken trust, and a crime that shocked the city deeply.

A man who had already served 18 years in jail for murdering his three sons in Madhya Pradesh, struck again, this time killing a woman who had given him shelter, before dying by suicide under a train.

The victim, 50-year-old Durga, was stabbed to death in the Bhopal’s Gautam Nagar area by her gurubhai (fellow-disciple) and relative Pritam Kushwaha, who had been living in her house for nearly a year after being released from prison.

Police said the murder took place inside Durga’s under-construction house in Gautam Nagar. Kushwaha allegedly took her there on the pretext of cleaning and then attacked her repeatedly with a sharp weapon, inflicting multiple wounds to her chest and abdomen.

Investigators believe the crime was triggered by tensions between the two. Durga had reportedly been pressuring him for the past six months to vacate the house, angering the accused.

CONVICTED FOR MURDER OF HIS 3 SONS WITH AXE

Police Station in-charge Mahendra Singh Thakur said Kushwaha, a native of Tendukheda, had earlier been convicted for killing his three sons with an axe and had completed an 18-year sentence. After his release last year, he was socially ostracised in his village, and Durga had given him refuge in Bhopal.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/madhya-pradesh/story/woman-killed-by-triple-murder-convict-she-sheltered-accused-dies-by-suicide-2869362-2026-02-17

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Mumbai for a three-day India visit and was welcomed at the airport by Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. Macron will hold talks with PM Narendra Modi to deepen the India–France strategic partnership. The leaders will launch the Year of Innovation 2026 and discuss cooperation in defence, tech and digital sectors.

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Mumbai in the early hours of Tuesday, marking the start of his three-day official visit to India, during which he will hold key discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review and deepen the India–France strategic partnership.

President Macron was received at Mumbai airport by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar were also present to welcome the French leader and First Lady Brigitte Macron.

CM Fadnavis Extends Warm Welcome Greetings

Shortly after Macron’s arrival, Fadnavis took to X to extend a warm welcome. “Bienvenue à Mumbai! A very warm welcome to the President of France, H.E. Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron as they arrive in Mumbai! Maharashtra welcomes you! Wishing Hon President Macron and the entire French delegation a pleasant stay and a successful visit,” he wrote.

Ahead of his departure for India, President Macron had underlined the importance of the visit in a post on X, saying he was travelling with business leaders and representatives from economic, industrial, cultural and digital sectors to further strengthen the tangible ties between the two countries. He described India as a close partner and said the visit would aim to take bilateral cooperation “even further.”

During his stay in Mumbai, President Macron and Prime Minister Modi will hold bilateral engagements at Lok Bhavan in South Mumbai. Their discussions are expected to focus on reviewing progress under the India–France strategic partnership and exploring ways to further diversify cooperation into new and emerging areas, including technology, innovation, defence and digital collaboration. The two leaders will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/bienvenue-mumbai-maharashtra-cm-devendra-fadnavis-extends-warm-welcome-to-french-president-emmanuel-macron-arriving-in-city-as-part-of-3-day-india-visit

Infighting, strain with allies to senior leaders’ comments: A look at the Congress’s poll position, alliances in Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Bengal

Be it the strain with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) over power-sharing or Assam senior leader Bhupen Kumar Borah’s resignation which the party said he later withdrew or even the war of words involving Mani Shankar Aiyar in Kerala, the Congress seems to be a divided house in four poll-bound states.

Pradip Bhandari, Bharatiya Janata Party’s national spokesperson, wrote on X: “Loyalists who spent entire life time in Congress; now openly speaking against Rahul Gandhi! When your own leaders do not believe in your leadership; imagine the state of your party. Mani Shankar Iyer-“I am a Rajivian not a Rahulian” Congress vs Rahul Gandhi! Congress rejects Rahul Gandhi!”

A look at the party’s poll position, alliances in Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Bengal.

KERALA: THE MS AIYAR ROW

In a move that has left the party red-faced, senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Sunday predicted that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will retain power for a third consecutive time in the upcoming Assembly polls. He also praised the ruling LDF government’s panchayati raj model. The Congress was quick to distance itself from Aiyar’s remarks, saying they were made in a personal capacity. The Congress-led UDF, the principal opposition, is fighting against Pinarayi Vijayan and his party to come back to power.

“So in the presence of the Chief Minister, who I’m sure will be the next Chief Minister, I renew my plea to reinforce Kerala as the best Panchayati Raj state in the country,” Aiyar said, speaking at the international seminar titled Vision 2031 International Conference on Democracy and Development.

On X, Vijayan wrote, “The charismatic words of Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar during the #Vision2031 International Conference resonate well with the contemporary scenario. We stand united in the belief that democracy only flourishes when power resides with the people. We will continue to strengthen our local bodies as the heartbeat of growth.”

Congress leaders, including Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh, reacted to his remarks. Khera said, “Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar has had no connection whatsoever with the Congress for the past few years. He speaks and writes purely in his personal capacity.” Ramesh asserted that Kerala would bring the Congress-led UDF back to power by removing the Left Front.

“I want the Congress to win, but I don’t believe it will. Congress leaders hate each other more than they hate the Communists,” Aiyar said in reply. Aiyar also took aim at four-time Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, alleging that the senior leader harbours ambitions of becoming the next foreign minister.

ASSAM: BHUPEN KUMAR BORAH RESIGNS

In a major setback to the Congress ahead of the Assembly polls in Assam, former state unit chief Bhupen Kumar Borah resigned on Monday morning. Borah is learnt to have blamed Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s “highhandedness” for his decision. The development comes just days before Priyanka Gandhi’s scheduled visit to Assam.

Sources said Borah sent his resignation letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. He also wrote to Rahul Gandhi. In his letter, Borah said he was being ignored by the party leadership and was not given his due in the state unit. He said he had informed the high command about how the party was functioning in the state and that the situation had affected his self-esteem and dignity.

Borah said, “I sent my resignation to the Congress High Command at 8 am this morning and explained in detail why I was compelled to take this stand. This is not a personal decision. I have given 32 years to the party and joined it in 1994. This principle is not merely personal; it is driven by concern for the party’s future. That is why I conveyed everything in detail to the Congress High Command.”

By afternoon, the Assam Congress claimed that Borah had withdrawn his resignation.

TAMIL NADU: POWER TUSSLE WITH DMK

The rift within the Congress-DMK alliance in Tamil Nadu is out in the open, with power-sharing a major bone of contention.

Congress leaders are seen clashing with the ruling DMK, and even backing a tie-up with actor-turned-politician Vijay and his party TVK. Congress MP Manickam Tagore has warned of retaliation if Congress is sidelined, while DMK leaders have hit back sharply.

Chief Minister MK Stalin has categorically ruled out power-sharing, signalling tension in the alliance.

Amid this backdrop, Vijay and TVK have been hinted they are open to cooperation against common opponents. Reports claim even the Congress is looking for more “options”.

BENGAL: WILL THEY ALLY WITH TMC?

TMC leader Mamata Banerjee has ruled out any formal pre-poll tie-up with Congress in the 2026 Bengal polls, saying her party will fight alone. This view has been reaffirmed by key TMC leaders, reflecting TMC’s long tradition of contesting state elections independently.

Source : https://www.news18.com/explainers/congress-poll-position-in-assam-tamil-nadu-kerala-bengal-aiyar-borah-to-stalin-tussle-ws-l-9906480.html

Inna Makan seeks justice after Sahil Dhaneshra died in a Dwarka crash caused by a minor driving a Scorpio for fun reels. Police registered an FIR and the accused got interim bail.

Inna Makan, the mother of 23-year-old Sahil Dhaneshra, who died in a road accident in Delhi’s Dwarka, has appealed for strict action against the minor allegedly driving the SUV that collided with her son’s motorcycle, calling the incident a “criminal activity” rather than an accident.

Speaking to ANI, she said, “My son was going to the office on the 3rd of February. He (Scorpio driver), along with his sister, was out on his Scorpio to make fun reels. The speed with which the Scorpio is being driven is clearly visible in the reel. He (Scorpio driver) was driving in the opposite lane and came right in front of the bus and performed a stunt. My son looked to the right to see whether there was space. Because there was an e-rickshaw on the left side of the bus. The Scorpio collided with the motorcycle and hit the roadside parked car. The Scorpio driver did not apply the brakes after the collision. Even a cab driver has been seriously injured in the accident.”

“This is a criminal activity. Some people think that they can do anything on the road because their parents are wealthy; this is a criminal mentality. This is not just an accident. My son died due to their fun reel.”

Makan demanded accountability from both the accused and his family. “There are already many speeding challans against him (Scorpio driver), yet his father did not stop him from driving. I want justice for my son. No one is safe on the road due to people like them. Strict action should be taken against them. He (Scorpio driver) does not even have a license,” she said.

She further alleged that there was no attempt to slow down even after the first impact. “The bus driver fled the scene, likely wanting to avoid controversy. However, the taxi driver was in no condition to move; the public had to pull him out. Even after hitting my son, they didn’t brake; they hit the taxi, which then hit the bus. There was no control over their speed. After the destruction, the public caught them.”

“This act demonstrates criminal activity. These children think they can do anything on the roads because their parents have money and they won’t face punishment. This is a criminal mentality, not a ‘mistake.’ You cannot call this a mere accident because they left home specifically to perform stunts for a video. Because of their reel, my child’s life is gone. There are other students there; their lives could have been lost too if more children had been on that road,” she added.

According to Delhi Police, the incident took place near Lal Bahadur Shastri College in Dwarka South. An FIR was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita after a PCR call was received at around 11:57 am regarding a serious crash. Police found three damaged vehicles and a motorcycle at the scene. Sahil Dhaneshra was declared dead at the spot, while an injured taxi driver was shifted to IGI Hospital.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/this-is-crime-not-an-accident-mother-of-23-year-old-dwarka-crash-victim-seeks-justice-ws-l-9908511.html

CCTV cameras installed near the house captured Dhamnotiya, arriving with the student on February 10. Roughly two and a half hours later, the same cameras recorded him leaving alone, carrying a bag.

He lit incense sticks in a secluded corner of Panvel near Mumbai. He watched YouTube videos on “how to summon spirits.” He whispered apologies into the darkness, claiming he wanted to speak to the ‘aatma’ (spirit) of the woman he had murdered hours earlier.

This is not fiction. According to police, this was the conduct of Piyush Dhamnotiya, the accused in the brutal killing of an MBA student in Indore’s Dwarkapuri area. Now on a three-day police remand, the details emerging from interrogation have sent shockwaves across the city.

CCTV cameras installed near the house captured Dhamnotiya, arriving with the student on February 10. Roughly two and a half hours later, the same cameras recorded him leaving alone, carrying a bag.

Investigators say what happened inside that room was calculated.

According to police sources, Dhamnotiya pressured the student for sex. She refused, stating she was unwell. He allegedly forced himself on her. After the assault, he tied her hands and feet with ropes found in the apartment and blindfolded her, claiming he wanted to give her a “gift.”

When she resisted again, he stuffed cloth into her mouth and sat on her chest, choking her until she lost consciousness. Realising she had stopped breathing, he allegedly stabbed her near the chest with such force that the knife broke.

But the brutality did not end with death. Police say he remained inside the room even after killing her. He stepped out, bought beer from a liquor shop, returned, and drank beside her lifeless body. During interrogation, he allegedly admitted to sexually assaulting the corpse before changing his clothes and fleeing, leaving the young woman naked.

Earlier that day, the student had left home saying she needed to correct her Aadhaar card. Her father dropped her near the collectorate. She later called her younger sister, saying she was going to a birthday party with her classmate Piyush Dhamnotiya and would return by 11 pm.

At 11 pm, a chilling message was sent from her phone: “Tell Papa she won’t be returning home.”

Her phone was switched off soon after. Investigators later discovered that 11 objectionable videos of the two had been shared in a college group. The same clips were uploaded to the woman’s WhatsApp status and sent to contacts saved in her phone, alarming relatives.

During interrogation, Dhamnotiya repeatedly changed his version of events.

In one statement, he claimed he wanted to marry her, but she was distancing herself and had not spoken to him for about 15 days. He said he noticed a dating app on her phone and assumed she was communicating with another man. An argument followed, and he allegedly strangled her.

After the murder, Piyush fled to Mumbai, travelling through Panvel and staying in hotels. He reportedly roamed metro stations and broke the student’s mobile phone to destroy evidence.

What shocked investigators further was what they found in Maharashtra, signs suggesting he had attempted black magic rituals in an isolated area. Indore DCP Krishnalal Chandni provided a detailed statement on the case “Piyush Dhamanotia, the accused in the Uncle Gali murder, was arrested in Mumbai and is currently in police remand. He had been in a relationship with a woman, but her family wasn’t ready for the marriage, which was causing a dispute. He went to her home to resolve the matter, and they had a physical relationship. An argument ensued, leading to the woman’s strangulation. That same night, he returned to Panvel in Mumbai, stayed in a hotel, and the next day, he destroyed her mobile phone. We arrested him with the help of the Mumbai Police.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indore-mba-student-murder-beer-whatsapp-black-magic-boyfriends-trail-after-killing-indore-mba-student-11012029?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

‘The tax incentives announced in the Budget are designed to accelerate investment in this space, lower the cost of building advanced facilities and position India as a globally-competitive destination for data infrastructure,’ Modi said.

With the Budget providing incentives to turbocharge investments in data centres, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday pitched India as a global hub for digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence, saying the country is ready to host the world’s data and lead the next wave of the technology revolution.

“The tax incentives announced in the Budget are designed to accelerate investment in this space, lower the cost of building advanced facilities and position India as a globally-competitive destination for data infrastructure,” Modi said in an exclusive interview to PTI.

In a strong global-outreach message, the prime minister said, “We invite the whole world’s data to reside in India!” In the just-unveiled Budget for the financial year starting April, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced that the likes of Amazon, Google and Microsoft could receive a tax holiday until 2047 on global cloud revenues if they route foreign workloads through Indian data centres.

Also, data-centre services are now eligible for a coverage under the Safe Harbour Rules, with a margin of 15 per cent, as the Budget 2026-27 has pushed to attract AI investment, boost infrastructure and jobs, while managing competition, data protection and enforcement risks.

Modi underscored the importance of data centres. “When we think of technology, we often focus on what is visible, such as applications, platforms and devices. But equally important are the foundational layers that make all such things possible. Data centres are one such critical layer,” he said.

Linking this to AI, the prime minister said, “The importance of this becomes even more apparent when we look at the domain of artificial intelligence. AI needs computing power and data-centre infrastructure. By expanding capacity today, we are laying the foundations for a thriving Indian AI ecosystem.” Recognising this potential, major investments have already been announced in this space by international and Indian companies in the recent past.

“The tax incentives announced in the Budget are designed to accelerate investment in this space, lower the cost of building advanced facilities and position India as a globally-competitive destination for data infrastructure. The result of this, too, will be a massive number of jobs for our youth,” Modi said in the written interview.

In a strong pitch to global investors, the prime minister added: “We invite the whole world’s data to reside in India!” His pitch came a day before India hosts the global assembly of tech tycoons, AI business leaders, policymakers, investors and innovators. The Global AI Impact Summit, to be held in New Delhi from February 16 to 20, will see a host of heads of state and government, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, along with the representatives of more than 60 other countries.

Modi said India must move beyond digital adoption to digital leadership, arguing that in a technology- and data-driven world, leadership, and not mere participation, will determine inclusion, competitiveness and growth.

“The world has been undergoing significant shifts in its technological landscape. Now, nations cannot be content with just digital adoption but must also aspire to digital leadership. As we saw in the digital payments space, only with digital leadership will digital inclusion become possible,” he said.

Drawing a historical contrast, the prime minister added: “During the Industrial Revolution, we were left behind due to colonisation. During the earlier manufacturing revolution, we were left behind due to neglect by post-independence governments. But now, in this technological and data-driven revolution, it is important that we take the lead.” He said India’s scale and diversity give it a unique advantage.

“India, with an aspirational population of 140 crore people, is one of the world’s largest generators and consumers of data. We are one of the most diverse nations in the world and our data also reflects this diversity. Such a massive and diverse data pool has great potential only when it can be leveraged safely and productively. So we are paying attention to every aspect of the data ecosystem, including security, skills, software and infrastructure,” the prime minister said.

On safeguards, he pointed to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/pm-modi-invites-world-to-host-data-in-india-3899749

The high-profile event, which will be held from February 16 to 20 at the Bharat Mandapam here, will focus on inclusive and impact-driven AI.

The India AI Impact Summit, one of the biggest artificial intelligence conclaves in the Global South, will begin in New Delhi on Monday.

The high-profile event, which will be held from February 16 to 20 at the Bharat Mandapam here, will focus on inclusive and impact-driven AI.

It is expected to witness participation from over 100 countries, including 15-20 heads of government, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Lula da Silva, and over 50 ministers from various countries.

The summit happens at a time when AI is reshaping businesses, industries and daily life.

More than 40 CEOs of leading global and Indian tech companies, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and Mistral AI co-founder and CEO Arthur Mensch, are expected to participate in the summit.

The summit has seen more than 35,000 registrations so far, with around 500 startups to engage across 500 sessions, according to the Ministry of Electronics & IT.

There will be sessions on ‘future of employability in the age of AI’, ‘effective AI assessments, verification and assurance’, ‘establishing the foundations for responsible AI’, and ‘building a future-ready workforce in the age of AI’, among others.

The India AI Impact Expo 2026 will be held on the sidelines of the summit, where organisations will display their latest AI solutions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the expo on Monday evening.

The summit aims to ensure that AI serves as a catalyst for inclusive human development, environmental sustainability and equitable progress worldwide.

The event will be anchored on three foundational pillars, known as Sutras — people, planet and progress.

While the People Sutra envisions AI as a force for human progress, respecting cultural diversity, preserving dignity and ensuring inclusion in its design and deployment, the Planet Sutra calls for AI to advance innovation responsibly. The Progress Sutra envisages AI as an engine for inclusive growth, aligning its benefits with global development priorities and equitable access to opportunity.

The deliberations at the summit will be organised around seven interconnected Chakras: human capital; inclusion for social empowerment; safe and trusted AI; resilience, innovation and efficiency; science; democratising AI resources, and AI for economic growth and social good.

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently said that AI will power the Fifth Industrial Revolution, with a focus on societal impact, adoption and governance.

During the summit, Deloitte India will launch GenW.AI, an indigenous, next-generation low-code platform created to enable enterprises to rapidly prototype and deploy diverse applications and AI agents. It is designed to integrate with a wide range of large language models (LLMs). GenW.AI will be officially launched at the India AI Impact Summit.

Also, the national finale of GenAI Innovation Challenge-OpenAI Academy X NxtWave Buildathon will be held on February 17. The buildathon is a key initiative aligned with the IndiaAI Mission, taking AI learning and innovation to students from Tier-2 and 3 cities. Over 300 students from across India have qualified for the national finale, where they will get the opportunity to pitch their ideas on a global stage.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/business/ai-impact-summit-begins-today-focus-on-inclusivity-impact-3899900

Mumbai Traffic Police have imposed major traffic restrictions on the Western Express Highway on Monday due to the visit of the PM Modi and the French President. Heavy Motor Vehicles are banned on 17th Feb from 8 AM to 9 PM between Vakola Flyover and Dahisar Toll Naka. Exemptions include ambulances, fire brigade, police, and VIP security vehicles. Commuters are advised to plan travel accordingly.

The Mumbai Traffic Police have imposed major traffic restrictions on the Western Express Highway on Monday in view of the visit of the Prime Minister of India and the President of France.

According to the advisory, a complete prohibition on the movement of Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) will remain in force on February 17th from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM a total of 13 hours.

The restrictions will be implemented on both the northbound and southbound carriageways of the highway, specifically between Vakola Flyover and Dahisar Toll Naka.

Traffic police officials said the curbs are part of elaborate security arrangements for the visiting dignitaries and are aimed at preventing congestion along the crucial arterial route.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-traffic-alert-13-hour-hmv-ban-on-western-express-highway-today-for-pm-modi-french-president-visit

PM Modi said that New Delhi’s growing manufacturing base, expanding services sector and stronger MSMEs have empowered the country to conclude FTAs with 38 nations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India now negotiates trade deals from a “position of strength” because of its growing manufacturing base, expanding services sector, and stronger MSMEs.

In an exclusive interview with news agency PTI, the Prime Minister said that political stability and political predictability have restored investor confidence in India, enabling the country to conclude free trade agreements (FTAs) with at least 38 nations.

“Political stability and political predictability have restored investor confidence in India,” he said, adding that the government’s consistent policy approach has strengthened India’s standing in global trade negotiations.

PM Modi further emphasised that the country’s FTAs are designed to expand market access for MSMEs, particularly in sectors like textiles, leather, chemicals, handicrafts and gems and jewellery. These agreements, he said, aim to create new opportunities for Indian exporters while deepening India’s integration with global supply chains.

He also lashed out at previous Congress-led UPA governments over their economic management, claiming that India was then unable to negotiate trade pacts with confidence. He said that little real substance was achieved at that time despite long negotiations.

“During UPA rule, talks would begin and then breakdown; a little real substance was achieved despite long negotiations,” he said.

PM Modi further highlighted that India’s goods exports have repeatedly broken earlier records in recent years, reflecting the country’s increasing competitiveness and integration with global markets.

He emphasised that while incentives and tariff preferences can catalyse growth, durable competitiveness must rest on innovation, efficiency and scale.

His remarks came following a spate of trade deals India has signed with multiple countries, including the United States and the European Union.

Trump and PM Modi announced the breakthrough trade deal following a telephonic conversation that effectively ended a period of severe trade tensions between Washington and New Delhi. The agreement slashes US tariffs on Indian goods from a punitive 50% down to 18% as Washington dropped an additional 25% punitive levy that had been imposed in August last year in response to India’s continued purchases of Russian oil, bringing the total effective tariff down from the previous 50%.

Last month, India and the European Union (EU) concluded negotiations of an EU-India free trade agreement, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling it the “mother of all trade deals.”

Von der Leyen described the proposed pact as a “historic” agreement that could reshape economic ties between India and the 27-nation European Union.

The European Union is currently India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade in goods valued at $135 billion in the 2023–24 financial year. Negotiations for the free trade agreement were first launched in 2007, stalled in 2013, and revived in 2022.

Additionally, New Delhi and London signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) on July 24, 2025. Under the pact, 99% of Indian exports will enter the British market at zero duty, while India will reduce tariffs on British products such as cars and Scotch whisky.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/political-stability-predictability-boosted-investment-climate-pm-modi-on-trade-deals-9905294.html

Unless organisations in India abandon the myth that Indians are not private when implementing our new data protection law, they may be in for a surprise.

Indians are not private and do not understand the right to privacy. So goes a myth that possibly emerged in lobbying circles during the years when India was trying to enact a data protection law. Over those 15 odd years, this was repeated so frequently in policy submissions, conferences and consultations that it gradually gained acceptance, including in boardrooms. It now has the tendency to derail the effective implementation of India’s data privacy law in both public and private organisations.

Therefore, it is important to examine this assumption through a historical lens, drawing on the societal, cultural, and linguistic clues that India, as a civilization, offered regarding personal boundaries, dignity, and the ethics of intrusion.

One common argument often used to justify this myth is that Indian languages lack an equivalent of the English word “privacy”.

This is based on a misunderstanding of how Indian languages conceptualise personal boundaries.

In Sanskrit, the term svakarya conveys something personal, a matter belonging solely to oneself. The same idea exists in Malayalam as svakaryatha, in Tamil as ‘thaniyuramai’, and in other Indo-Aryan languages as ‘vyaktigat’.

Meanwhile, the Sanskrit word rahasya suggests secrecy, and antara or antaraṅga indicates something internal, intimate or part of the inner life. Similar words across multiple Indian languages refer to inner secrecy, confidentiality, etc. They have existed for centuries, long before any Western articulation of privacy, that certain things are not meant for public consumption.

It is also important to note that the English language itself does not have an ancient or ‘pure’ word for privacy.

The etymological roots of ‘privacy’ originate from the Latin term privus, meaning ‘to oneself’ or “pertaining to a person’s own domain”. Therefore, the argument that Indian languages lack a precise word for privacy overlooks the context of linguistic evolution.

Another common misconception is that Indians do not value privacy because of our limited physical space. We live in crowded cities and multigenerational households, and we commute in packed trains and overflowing buses, leading some to believe that privacy is unimportant to us.

However, privacy is not solely about physical separation; it encompasses several aspects, including informational privacy, bodily privacy, psychological privacy, communicational privacy, decisional privacy, and more. If members of multigenerational households did not have personal secrets, Indian soap operas would have been devoid of content.

Privacy is also interpersonal. One may choose to reveal salary information to a potential employer but may prefer to hide it from a colleague. One will disclose medical history to a doctor but not to their neighbour.

Privacy is relational and contextual, and we get the right to choose who to reveal that information to and when. This is not a Western construction; it is how any human behaves every single day.

Historically, we have always valued privacy, as shown by our epics. Rama eavesdropped on his citizens to gauge public sentiment, which is justified as a king’s duty to monitor the populace.

However, the epic makes it clear that breaching privacy can lead to grief, moral conflicts and tragic exile.

Likewise, violations of bodily and informational privacy are prevalent throughout the Ramayana, including the abduction of Sita and issues surrounding Agni Pariksha, among others.

The Mahabharata also offers cultural insights into privacy, ranging from secrets to vows, including Karna’s birth secret, Kunti’s mantras, and Draupadi’s disrobing.

It assigns severe consequences to each privacy breach, including death, loss of reputation or insults. Additionally, the Mahabharata addresses mental privacy through tapas, emphasising that the inner self must be protected from intrusion. Disturbing a sage’s meditation is regarded as a serious offence.

These ideas are not just confined to mythology. Modern Indian popular culture has consistently affirmed privacy as a fundamental value. The classic film ‘Anand’ explores the right of the protagonist to selectively share personal medical information, while Kal Ho Na Ho addresses the right to endure suffering in solitude.

The film ‘Pink’ highlights a woman’s right over her choices and her autonomy in decision-making, whereas Masan presents a contemporary tragedy driven by the fallout from unwanted exposure.

These films emphasised the importance of privacy, reached broad audiences, resonated throughout India, and became embedded in our pop culture.

Finally, even before the landmark constitutional recognition in the Puttuswamy case, India had a long, dispersed yet unmistakable privacy jurisprudence.

The right of a pardanashin woman to spatial privacy was acknowledged as early as the 1890s. Post-independence, privacy jurisprudence emerged as a check on the state’s excesses during law-and-order exercises and later evolved to address medical confidentiality, restraint in reporting private facts, bodily autonomy in narcoanalysis cases, and telephone tapping.

There are at least twenty Indian judgments addressing privacy-like rights across various High Courts and the Supreme Court, even before the Puttuswamy case. This clearly indicates that the Supreme Court did not merely invent the right to privacy as a spectrum of rights but formally unified the privacy jurisprudence that has developed over the last 50 years, rooted in India’s civilizational values.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/columns/debunking-the-myth-that-indians-are-not-private

Vinod Khosla warned that AI would wipe out most expertise-based professions, though it could democratise access to healthcare and education

Tech billionaire and venture capitalist Vinod Khosla has predicted that IT services and BPOs will “almost completely disappear” within five years due to artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Speaking to HT ahead of the India AI Summit, Khosla warned that AI would wipe out most expertise-based professions within 15 years, though it could democratise access to healthcare and education.

While acknowledging US-China dominance, Khosla backed India’s push for sovereign AI and criticised US President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

Edited excerpts:

You’ve had a long journey in Silicon Valley over the last 50 years from founding Sun Microsystems to leading your own venture capital firm. Tell us a bit about it.

Well, my dream the day I graduated from IIT was to do a startup of my own, because I heard about a Hungarian immigrant Andy Grove starting a company called Intel in Silicon Valley. I found my way to Silicon Valley and started my first company, which was also quite successful, but people don’t know about it. It went public, and then I started Sun Microsystems right after that, and I’ve been in the business of enabling entrepreneurs, helping entrepreneurs, assisting entrepreneurs my whole life, helping create large impactful companies and social impact. So that’s sort of been my area of interest in how I got where I did. It’s always trying to make things happen that you want to happen.

You first moved to America in the 1970s. You must have been one of the very few Indian entrepreneurs in tech and Silicon Valley, completely in contrast to what we see today. What was that like?

Well, the startup ecosystem back then in 1980 when I started my first company was very, very different. It wasn’t a 20 year old starting a company. It was establishment people starting companies because only they could get large amounts of funding to start a company. So my approach was very simple. Just do it. Don’t worry about the rules, the regulations, the biases, all that. Just ignore it and just go start a company, which is what I did, and I mostly just ignored everything else.

The centre was shut as several families refused to send their children after the Dalit helper, Sharmistha Sethi, was recruited as the helper to prepare food.

The controversial Odisha anganwadi centre, which remained shut after protests erupted over the appointment of a Dalit anganwadi helper, finally resumed operations after the local administration stepped in. The district administration intensified its efforts with the state’s Women’s Commission member Kalpana Mallick, Sub-Collector Arun Nayak, and a local police officer visiting door-to-door and holding meetings with several individuals to do away with their caste prejudices.

In addition to this, a pala (folk celebration) was organised in the village where the artists performed and spread a message against caste-based discrimination through songs and dance performances.

The collective effort soon bore fruit as several villagers who earlier protested and decided not to send their children to the anganwadi centre agreed to send their children from Monday. The district administration confirmed that the issue has been resolved.

The controversy erupted three months ago when the anganwadi centre announced the appointment of the Dalit woman as the anganwadi helper who would help to cook food that was supposed to be consumed by the children. The post was vacant for several months as no one applied until Sharmistha Sethi, a graduate from the local SC community, applied and got the job as the only applicant.

As soon as the announcement surfaced, some families started protesting as the parents refused to send their kids to the anganwadi centre. They reportedly said that their children could not eat food prepared by the lady. Despite multiple appeals from the state administration, the families remained firm in their position.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/odisha-anganwadi-set-to-open-after-being-shut-for-86-days-2868694-2026-02-15

Earlier, AAP MLA from Ludhiana Central, Ashok Parashar Pappi, had also received threats, following which his security was enhanced and he was provided with a bulletproof vehicle.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Ludhiana’s Atam Nagar, Kulwant Sidhu, has reportedly been receiving threatening calls. The MLA confirmed the development and alleged that Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was behind the threats.

On Saturday night, a suspected recce was conducted outside Sidhu’s residence. A black-tinted ‘i20’ car was seen parked outside his house while he was holding a meeting inside.

The occupants reportedly waited for some time after noticing people present at the house.

When suspicious movement was spotted on CCTV cameras, people inside stepped out to check. Seeing this, the suspects fled the scene.

It is suspected that they may have been planning an attack or attempting to confirm the MLA’s residence as a target.

Earlier, AAP MLA from Ludhiana Central, Ashok Parashar Pappi, had also received threats, following which his security was enhanced and he was provided with a bulletproof vehicle.

SECURITY TRIED TO STOP THEM, BUT THEY ESCAPED

Sidhu stated that around 9 pm on Saturday, a meeting was underway at his residence when a black-tinted car stopped outside for about two minutes, seemingly identifying the house.

By the time his gunman attempted to stop them and went inside to inform him, the suspects had sped away.

‘I AM NOT AFRAID’

Reacting strongly to the threats and suspicious activities, Sidhu said he is not afraid of any threats. He added that he has the blessings of Baba Deep Singh Ji and will continue serving the public without fear.

Sikhs for Justice is a Khalistani terrror organisation banned in India. Its leader, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has previously issued death threats to MLA Kulwant Sidhu.

In view of the threat perception, the administration has advised him not to answer calls from unknown international numbers.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/aap-mla-kulwant-singh-sidhu-threats-sikhs-for-justice-gurpantwant-singh-pannun-police-investigate-2868693-2026-02-15