Pawar, whose party is Thackeray's ally, also reminded that the Congress led by Indira Gandhi had to pick a new symbol in 1978, but it had no damaging consequences for the party. 

He was reacting to the Election Commission's decision to recognise the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena, and award it the original `bow and arrow' symbol. 

"Once a decision is given, there can be no discussion. Accept it, take a new symbol. It (loss of the old symbol) is not going to have any impact," the NCP chief advised the Thackeray group. 

He recalled that Indira Gandhi faced a similar situation in the aftermath of the Emergency. 

"Congress used to have the 'two bullocks with a yoke' symbol. After they lost it, they adopted 'hand' as the new symbol, and people accepted it. Similarly, people will accept the new symbol (of the Uddhav faction)," the veteran politician said. -- PTI

Presenting his government's last budget in the legislative assembly, he said with this, an opportunity is created for dog-lovers to adopt dogs by registering their names. 

Further pointing out that Mudhol Hound Dog Breed has been recognised as an Indian native breed by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, the chief minister also said, in order to develop this breed, a grant of Rs 5 crore will be provided. 

To prevent violence against animals and for the welfare of animals, a grant of Rs 5 crore will be provided to the Animal Welfare Board, he said. 

Mobile veterinary clinics will be launched by the board in Bengaluru for the treatment of deserted animals. 

In 2021, videos and pictures of Bommai flanked by family members bidding farewell to his dog 'Sunny' by reaching down to kiss it, just ahead of the pet's last rites were to be performed, and wiping his eyes with a handkerchief, had gone viral on social media. 

It was on July 12, 2021, when he was the home minister. 

He took over as CM, a few days later on July 28. -- PTI

As the operation to eliminate them is underway, two militants have been killed and three people -- including one ranger and a police officer were injured, said  Pakistan media. 

Armed men opened fire at the head office of the port city's police, situated on the main artery of Sharea Faisal in Karachi. 

At least 8-10 terrorists are inside the police office with the exchange of fire still going on, said Pakistan's Geo News.

The inspector general of Sindh said that 2 terrorists were killed in the exchange of fire with the security officials while the operation is still underway to neutralise possibly up to five more terrorists in the Karachi police office, said Pakistan's ARY News. -- ANI

He also announced that Rs 300 crore will be provided for the re-construction of roads which need repair in the 110 villages included in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike limit. 

To reduce the traffic congestion in the Bengaluru city, it is proposed to develop 75 important junctions with high traffic congestion at a cost of Rs 150 crore, Bommai said. 

The CM said, as a supplement to this, traffic congestion will be reduced by using Artificial Intelligence for the management of traffic signals by adopting seamless signalling. 

Further, traffic congestion will be reduced by constructing a five km elevated road at a cost of Rs 350 crore from Tin factory to Medahalli and the integrated flyover from Yeshwanthpur Railway Station to Mathikere and BEL Road and by providing direct access, he said, adding that this will be done by integrating it with the rail networking of Sub-Urban Railway Corporation. -- PTI

They (Eknath Shinde faction) have stolen our bow and arrow symbol, but people will avenge this theft, Thackeray told reporters at his Matoshree bungalow in suburban Bandra, Mumbai. 

Claiming that there was no democracy left in India, Thackeray said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should declare that dictatorship has started in the country. 

"We will challenge in Supreme Court the poll panel's decision to recognise Eknath Shinde faction as real Shiv Sena," he said. 

The EC decision is very dangerous for democracy, he added. 

The EC decision indicates that the Mumbai municipal corporation elections will be declared soon, he said. 

Speaking at the executive body meet of the Nagpur unit of the BJP, he alleged the Maha Vikas Aghadi government of Uddhav Thackeray worked from home and was mired in corruption. 

The BJP used to routinely allege Thackeray, as chief minister, would rarely move out of Mumbai, despite pressing issues brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown, as well as heavy rains distressing farmers. 

BJP workers, however, continued to meet people during the pandemic, and a change in government in June last year has accelerated development in the state, Fadnavis claimed. 

"We are working to win more than 150 seats (out of 288 seats) in the assembly polls. Schemes of the Central government as well as eradication of corruption has brought relief to citizens. The middle class has got relief in the Union Budget, including higher income tax rebate," he said. 

Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, addressing the meet, asked booth workers to take benefits of welfare schemes of the state and Central governments to the citizens through door-to-door campaigns. -- PTI

A 26-year-old man taking part in the police recruitment drive in Mumbai died on Friday after running 1600 metres as part of a set of physical tests for the job, an official said. 

The incident took place in the Vidyanagri campus ground of the Mumbai University at 11am and the aspirant has been identified as Ganesh Ugale, a resident of Washim district, some 550 km from Mumbai, the official said. 

"After completing the 1600 metre run, Ugale collapsed on the ground due to dizziness. He was rushed to the civic VN Desai hospital in Santacruz where doctors declared him dead on arrival," the official informed. 

"His brother, who is also a police job aspirant, was running beside him. The cause of Ugale's death will be clear after we get the post mortem report. His kin have been informed and his body will taken to Washim for final rites," the official added. 

An accidental death report has been registered at Bandra Kurla Complex police station, he said. -- PTI

Talking to ANI, Amit Aseri, municipal commissioner, Municipal Corporation Aligarh said, "Municipal corporation has directed all meat shows owners to keep their shops closed on the occasion of the Maha Shivratri festival celebration. Action will be taken against violators." Strict action against meat sellers will be taken against those who violate the order," said municipal commissioner. 

Amit Aseri said any meat vendors found violating the order their license for the shops will be cancelled and legal actions will also be taken. 

Maha Shivratri is one of the most auspicious Hindi festivals which is celebrated by devotees across India. 

The chants of Har Har Mahadev are heard throughout the nation on this day. This year the festival will be observed on February 18, 2023. 

It's celebrated annually in honour of Lord Shiva, who is considered one of the main deities in Hinduism. -- ANI

His party will "go to the people," he said. 

The poll panel's decision was on the expected lines and he did not have faith in the ECI, Raut added. 

The ECI earlier on Friday also ordered allocation of the "bow and arrow" poll symbol to Maharashtra Chief Minister Shinde's group. 

In a 78-page order on the protracted battle for control of the organisation, the Commission allowed the Uddhav Thackeray faction to keep the "flaming torch" poll symbol allocated to it till the completion of the assembly bypolls in the state. -- PTI

This will be her first visit to Tamil Nadu after becoming President. 

Special security arrangements have been made for the President's smooth participation in the mega celebrations in Coimbatore, Isha Foundation said in a statement on Friday. 

The night-long festival will begin at 6 pm on February 18 and continue till 6 am the following morning, in the presence of Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. 

The Mahashivratri proceedings will be livestreamed online in 16 languages and telecast on all major television networks in India in English, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, and various other regional languages, it was stated. 

Explaining the importance of Mahashivratri, Sadhguru said: "Mahashivratri -- not of religion or beliefs, not of race or nation; a night in which planetary positions cause a natural energy upsurge in the human system." 

Renowned artists from different parts of the country like Rajasthani folk singer Mame Khan, award-winning sitar maestro Niladri Kumar, singer Ram Miriyala, playback singer Velmurugan, Mangli, Kutle Khan, and Bengali folk singer Ananya Chakraborty will be performing this year. -- PTI

"I thank Election Commission. Majority counts in democracy," Shinde said, reacting to the poll panel's decision, seen as a major blow to the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction. 

"This is the victory of Balasaheb's legacy. Ours is the true Shiv Sena,' he said. "We set up the government in Maharashtra (with BJP) las year keeping in mind thoughts of Balasaheb,' Shinde said. -- PTI

The 30-share BSE Sensex declined by 316.94 points or 0.52 per cent to settle at 61,002.57 as 22 of its constituents ended in red. 

Among major Sensex losers, Nestle fell the most by 3.12 per cent. 

IndusInd Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, State Bank of India, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Tata Consultancy Services, HCL Technologies, Axis Bank, Infosys and Bharti Airtel were among the laggards.

The Commission observed that the current constitution of the Shiv Sena party is undemocratic. It has been mutilated to undemocratically appoint people from a coterie as office-bearers without any election at all. Such party structures fail to inspire confidence. 

In a landmark decision with far-reaching implications on political parties and their conduct, ECI advised all political parties to reflect democratic ethos and principles of inner party democracy and regularly disclose on their respective websites aspects of their inner party functioning, such as organisational details, holding of elections, the copy of constitution and list of office-bearers. 

"The constitution of political parties ought to provide for free, fair and transparent elections to the posts of office-bearers and a further free and fair procedure for the resolution of internal disputes. These procedures ought to be difficult to amend and should be amendable only after ensuring larger support of the organisational members for the same," the ECI said. 

"The constitution of SS amended in 2018 is not given to ECI. Amendments had undone the act of introducing democratic norms in the party constitution of 1999, brought by the late Balasaheb Thackeray at the insistence of the commission," the ECI added. 

The ECI observed that the undemocratic norms of the original constitution of Shiv Sena, which was not accepted by the Commission in 1999, have been brought back in a surreptitious manner, further making the party akin to a fiefdom.

Law Minister Kiren Rijiju announced the fresh appointment on Twitter. 

"Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra, judge in Uttarakhand high court has been appointed as Chief Justice of Jharkhand high court. I extend my best wishes to him," Rijiju said. -- PTI

Anjaneya, as Hanuman is also referred to, is seen with his mace in battle mode and the caption below the sticker read, "The storm is coming". 

An HAL official, on condition of anonymity, told PTI that they carried out orders as received. 

The HTFT-42 trainer aircraft has been kept at the HAL's Hall-3 in Bengaluru at the five-day aviation exhibition. 

Three days ago, the display came up at the pavilion eliciting curiosity among onlookers. 

As it hit headlines, the defence PSU removed it without citing any particular reason. -- PTI

The Central Board of Direct Taxes issued a statement without naming the media organisation and said that I-T teams unearthed crucial evidences by way of statement of employees, digital proof and documents.

Officials said the statement pertains to the British Broadcasting Corporation.

According to the statement, several discrepancies and inconsistencies with regard to transfer pricing documentation were found during the survey.

The survey was launched on February 14 at BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai and it ended after about 60 hours on Thursday night. -- PTI

The incident had taken place early Wednesday morning outside a luxury hotel in suburban Santacruz following an argument between Shaw and the social media influencer and her male friend after the player refused to click selfies with her. 

Gill was arrested on Thursday evening, while cases were also registered against her friend Shobhit Thakur and six others for alleged rioting and extortion. 

As per the complaint, Thakur and Gill approached Shaw for a selfie at the hotel. 

Initially, the cricketer obliged. 

But they insisted on clicking more selfies, a demand that Shaw turned down. 

After that, Gill and Thakur allegedly started arguing and misbehaving with him. 

The complaint also said that both of them (Gill and Thakur) were in an inebriated condition. -- PTI

According to a notification issued by the Union home ministry, the JKGF has been involved in infiltration bids, narcotics and weapon smuggling, carrying out terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, and regularly issuing threats to security forces. 

The outfit has also been using various social media platforms to incite the people of Jammu and Kashmir to join terrorist outfits against India. 

In exercise of the powers conferred by the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the JKGF has been designated as a terror group, the notification stated. -- PTI

A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala directed that the election of the Delhi mayor shall be conducted at the first MCD meet and once elected, the mayor shall preside over the deputy mayor's election. 

"We have heard the counsel for the parties. We are unable to accept the submission on behalf of the municipal corporation. The Constitution has imposed a restriction in terms of which nominated members do not have the right to vote. The prohibition on nominated members in the exercise of the right to vote applies on the first meeting. 

"The notice for the election of mayor and the first meeting of the MCD shall be issued within 24 hours and the notice shall fix the date at which the elections of mayor, deputy mayor and standing committee members shall be held," the bench said. 

The top court's order came on a plea moved by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) mayoral candidate, Shelly Oberoi, seeking an early conduct of the election. 

The apex court had, on February 8, sought the responses of the lieutenant governor's (LG) office, MCD's pro-tem presiding officer Satya Sharma and others on Oberoi's plea.

 According to the Rajasthan Police, half a dozen people have been detained for interrogation in connection with the death of the two men who were allegedly abducted by cow vigilantes on Wednesday and their bodies were found inside a burnt car in Loharu in Bhiwani on Thursday morning. 

 The family members of the deceased have alleged in their complaint to police that the people who abducted the two men belonged to the Bajrang Dal.

 "Those named in the FIR are associated with the Bajrang Dal but whether they were involved in the crime or not is yet to be ascertained," Rajasthan's Bharatpur Range Inspector General of Police Gaurav Srivastava told PTI.

 Bajrang Dal is the youth wing of the VHP. Reacting to the allegation, VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain said, "It seems that without preliminary investigation, the Rajasthan Police have assumed that the names taken by the smuggler's brother are responsible for the incident." 

 The VHP leader termed the incident extremely unfortunate and demanded that a CBI probe be ordered into the case, saying the society in the state doesn't expect justice from the Rajasthan government which suffers from political bias. 

"The Congress is in power in Rajasthan. The culprits must be punished after "a fair investigation" into the case," he said, demanding that no person be arrested till the completion of the investigation. 

 "The role of the Rajasthan government in such cases has always been influenced by vote bank politics. It has been proved in many cases earlier also. The Bajrang Dal's name is unnecessarily being dragged into the matter as part of a political agenda, which is unfair," Jain charged. 

 The VHP leader said it was "extremely unfortunate to find some charred skeletons in a burnt vehicle at Loharu, Haryana." 

 "Whether this fire took place accidentally or was set by someone, it is yet to be investigated. The car belongs to Rajasthan but the identity of the skeletons is a matter of investigation, he claimed. 

 "The Rajasthan government is guilty of taking the name of Bajrang Dal unnecessarily and it should apologize for levelling a false allegation," the VHP leader demanded. PTI

 The BJP-ruled Centre's dealings with the Adani Group smacks of crony capitalism and the creation of government-sponsored private monopolies, he said and claimed that giving the control of airports and ports to a company like Adani is the biggest threat for our country. 

 The Congress leader said that the Adani Group enjoys 30 per cent of the port capacity and 40 per cent of the container capacity of the country. 

 The Congress party wants to ask the Modi government why it is scared of forming a JPC on the issue. If the then Narasimha Rao government (Congress) could form a JPC for Harshad Mehta scam, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee (BJP) for Ketan Parekh scam, then why aren't you setting up a JPC (for Adani stock rout)? he asked. 

 Adani Group stocks have taken a beating on the bourses after US-based short-sheller Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations, including fraudulent transactions and share-price manipulation, against the business conglomerate led by Gautam Adani.

 The Adani Group has dismissed the charges as lies, saying it complies with all laws and disclosure requirements. 

 Asked about Union Home Minister Amit Shah's claim in a recent interview that there were scams of over Rs 12 lakh crore during the Congress era, Maken said that the BJP government has failed to arrest or prove anyone guilty of corruption in these cases in the last nine years of its rule. 

"If they could not do anything, they have no right to say anything... Congress is demanding a JPC, an investigation into the matter. At least grant us that opportunity for the investigation. You are denying us the probe," he said. 

 He said the Congress will continue to press the government for a JPC probe into the issue as it is concerned about "the open loot of public exchequer to fund crony capitalists.

"People want to know how one group with doubtful credentials and alleged links with tax haven-operated offshore shell companies is monopolising the assets of India, but all the government agencies are either missing from the action or facilitating that very process," the former Union minister said.

" Whenever privatisation of public assets takes place," he said, "two things must be taken care of one, there should be one tender, open bid, and second, there should be no monopoly. This government has set aside both these things to help the capitalists close to it," Maken said. 

"What worries me is that the company which has received Rs 37,000 crore and Rs 1,23,000 crore from entities located abroad has been handed over strategic sectors like airports and ports. Then this is the biggest threat for the country," he said. 

 The Congress leader said the country wants to know who is the real owner of the black money being routed to India via offshore shell companies operating from tax havens. -- PTI

Manesar's comments come in the wake of a heinous crime in Haryana. 

Half a dozen people were been detained for interrogation in connection with the death of two Muslim men whose bodies were found in a car in the state after they were allegedly abducted by cow vigilantes. 

It is also being investigated whether this is a case of cow vigilantism.

 Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot condemned the incident and said police have been directed to take strict action in the matter. 

 Nasir (25) and Junaid alias Juna (35), both residents of Ghatmeeka village in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, were allegedly abducted on Wednesday and their bodies were found inside a burnt car in Loharu in Bhiwani on Thursday morning. 

 The families of the deceased alleged in their police complaint that the people who abducted the two men were from the Bajrang Dal. 

 "Half a dozen people have been detained and are being interrogated. Those named in the FIR are associated with the Bajrang Dal but whether they were involved in the crime or not is yet to be ascertained," Inspector General of Police, Bharatpur range, Gaurav Srivastava told PTI. 

 Junaid had a past criminal record of bovine smuggling. Five cases were registered against him at different police stations, the officer said.

 Superintendent of Police, Bharatpur, Shyam Singh said an FIR has been registered at Gopalgarh police station against five people -- Anil, Srikant, Rink Saini, Lokesh Singhla and Monu -- on the basis of a complaint lodged by the victims' family members and teams have been formed to nab the accused. 

 The operation started on February 3 and 3,031 people have been apprehended against registration of 4,225 cases till Tuesday. 

 Reports are coming from various parts of Assam that several families have cancelled pre-scheduled marriages between underage children after our drive against such illegal practices, Sarma wrote on Twitter. 

"This is definitely a positive impact of our two-week long crackdown against child marriage, he added on the micro-blogging site. Opposition parties have criticised the manner in which the drive is being carried out, terming the arrests of teenage husbands and family members as an "abuse of law" for political gain, and equating the police action with "terrorising people".

 The Gauhati High Court had also come down heavily on the state government for slapping stringent laws like the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) and rape charges on child marriage accused, and stated that these are "absolutely weird" allegations. 

 Observing that arresting a large number of people in the crackdown has created "havoc in the private life of people", Justice Suman Shyam had on February 14 said there is no need for custodial interrogation of the accused in such cases.

 Coming under criticism for failing to secure the future of the affected women and their children, the government had on February 9 formed a cabinet sub-committee for rehabilitation of the "victims". 

 Asserting that the drive will continue till the 2026 Assembly election, Sarma had justified the measures and said nearly 17 per cent of over 6.2 lakh pregnant women in Assam last year were teenagers, according to the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) portal. 

 The state cabinet had recently approved a proposal to book men who have married girls below 14 years of age under the POCSO.

The allegation came a day after IOC took to Twitter to clarify its initial pact for hiring the Adani Group port for LPG imports in addition to existing pacts with nearby ports, saying there is no take-or-pay agreement. 

 IOC's statement, which came in response to TMC leader Mahua Moitra raising a stink of a scam in hiring of the port facility without a tender, contradicted Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited's earning call presentation that said "MoU signed with IOCL for a take-or-pay contract at Gangavaram Port for building LPG handling facilities". 

 Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, as part of the party's 'Hum Adani ke Hain Kaun' (How are we related to Adani) series, under which it poses three questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Twitter every day, said he had questioned the PM's role in facilitating an Adani Group "monopoly" in the ports sector earlier and Friday's questions were a follow up and related to the IOC agreement to use the LPG facilities in the Gangavaram Port. 

 "It is now widely known that you (PM) have used all the means at your disposal to help Adani (Group) expand its ports business, whether by giving port concessions in the absence of bidding or by inflicting income tax raids on business groups to encourage them to sell their valuable assets to Adani," Ramesh alleged in his statement. 

 He asked the prime minister why he was "intentionally undermining" the public sector that his government was meant to be stewarding on behalf of the citizens of India. 

 "Your government had previously blocked a 2021 bid by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust for the Dighi Port in Maharashtra, which ended up in Adani's hands. Now we learn that IOC, which was earlier importing LPG via the government-run Visakhapatnam Port, is instead being made to use the neighbouring Gangavaram Port, and that too via an unfavourable 'take-or-pay' contract," the Congress leader charged.

 "Do you view India's public sector simply as a tool to enrich your cronies," Ramesh asked Modi. 

 He pointed out that IOC has clarified that it has only signed a non-binding MoU with Adani Ports and that there is no binding take-or-pay agreement "as of now". 

 "Did Adani Ports inadvertently reveal the game before it was finalised? Does the signing of an MoU not clearly indicate the direction in which IOC is being pushed? Does the fact that a take-or-pay contract was at all on the table not betray the fact that Adani was going to be made the primary port for the import of LPG rather than one of many, as IOC has stated," he asked. -- ANI

 The court on Friday directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to file its say on the plea of Mane, who was arrested in April 2021 and is currently in judicial custody. The application seeking pardon was received by the court on Thursday and Special NIA Judge AM Patil took it on record on Friday, after which he asked the prosecution to respond. 

 As per the NIA, Mane was part of the conspiracy to kill Mansukh Hiran, a Thane-based businessman, who purportedly owned the explosives-laden vehicle that was found parked near Ambani's house 'Antilia' on February 25, 2021. Hiran's body was found in a creek in Thane on March 5 that year. PTI

 The court on Friday directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to file its say on the plea of Mane, who was arrested in April 2021 and is currently in judicial custody. The application seeking pardon was received by the court on Thursday and Special NIA Judge AM Patil took it on record on Friday, after which he asked the prosecution to respond. 

 As per the NIA, Mane was part of the conspiracy to kill Mansukh Hiran, a Thane-based businessman, who purportedly owned the explosives-laden vehicle that was found parked near Ambani's house 'Antilia' on February 25, 2021. Hiran's body was found in a creek in Thane on March 5 that year. PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday sought to know why a central team was not sent to probe the death of a mother-daughter duo in Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Uttar Pradesh during an eviction drive.

The duo died allegedly due to self-immolation during an anti-encroachment drive in Kanpur's Dehat district on February 13.

Banerjee claimed that the drive in UP was being conducted to evict 'poor' people.

"But no probe is instituted in such cases; why was no central team sent there?" she asked, while speaking at a programme in Bankura.

She asserted that her government gives land rights to the poor to ensure their safety.

Banerjee and her party Trinamool Congress have been vocal about central teams being sent to West Bengal on various issues, with the most recent ones being on mid-day meal distribution and MNREGA implementation in the state.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death of the mother-daughter duo in Kanpur Dehat during an anti-encroachment drive.

Claiming that the state was freed of ultra-Left terror under her party's rule, Banerjee said that earlier people could not go out of their homes in the affected Jangalmahal area, spread across Bankura, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram and Purulia districts, owing to depredations of the Maoists.

"Touchwood, no Maoist attack or ambush has taken place in the last 11 years and no one has had to stay indoors out of such fear," she said.   -- PTI

 The Delhi and Mumbai offices shuttered a few weeks ago, with remaining staff now working from home, sources privy to the matter said. However, the number of employees affected by the move could not be immediately ascertained. 

 A mail sent to Twitter on the issue, did not elicit a response. 

 The closure of the two offices in key locations in India comes as the platform has initiated massive cost cutting drive globally, after billionaire Elon Musk's USD 44 billion takeover of Twitter, last year. 

 The firm downsized from more than 7,000 people to 2,300 active employees across the globe -- the mass-layoffs began with firing of CEO Parag Agrawal as well as the CFO and many other high ranking leaders last year.

 In the retrenchments that followed, Twitter fired the majority of its over 200 employees in India as well. Only a handful were spared as layoffs culled roles across engineering, sales and marketing, and communications teams.

 The US-based social media platform, in an internal e-mail to employees in early November said, "in an effort to place Twitter on a healthy path, we will go through the difficult process of reducing our global workforce..." PTI

The party's remarks after Soros said the turmoil engulfing Gautam Adani's business empire may open the door to a democratic revival in the country.

"Whether the 'PM-linked Adani scam' sparks a democratic revival in India depends entirely on the Congress, Opposition parties and our electoral process. It has nothing to do with George Soros," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter. 

 "Our Nehruvian legacy ensures people like Soros cannot determine our electoral outcomes," he also said.

 The BJP has, however, hit out at Soros saying the investor has attacked not only Prime Minister Narendra Modi but also India. The Congress has been demanding a JPC probe into the allegations against the Adani Group by US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research. The Adani Group has dismissed the allegations as baseless. -- PTI

In a documentary, the BBC, based on thoroughly reported documents and interviews -- commits a crime only an outsider can: it spells out India's worst kept secret, shattering a twenty-year etiquette to remain silent. 

Over two decades, as the Gujarat model was expanded, corpses piled up and bloated around us, while we, the people of India, kept our eyes fixed on our five trillion economy, our soft power and our new messiah, Narendra Modi.   

Read more here. 

BJP says billionaire investor George Soros not only attacked PM Modi but also targeted Indian democratic system. 

BJP MP Smriti Irani, referring to George Soros, says that the man who broke bank of England and is designated by the nation as an economic war criminal has now pronounced his desire to break Indian democracy. 

"George Soros an international entrepreneur has declared his ill-intention to intervene in democratic processes of India. 

"Today, as a citizen I call upon every Indian and organisation, societal or political, to denounce the intention of this individual who seeks to demonise our democracy and who brings an onslaught to the economy of India so that he can personally gain.

The BJP's attack on the billionaire investor comes after Soros said that the turmoil engulfing Gautam Adanis business empire thats sparked a punishing stock market selloff and shaken faith in India as an investment opportunity may open the door to a democratic revival in the country. 

Irani added, "Those who Mr Soros finds pliable need to know India has defeated imperialistic design before and shall do so again. Democracy has prevailed in India and will continue to do so. Designs to weaken Indian democracy will be met with might of India under leadership of PM Modi."

The European Space Agency manages Europe's space program and it has been training its astronauts with their Chinese counterparts. 

In 2017, it said the goal was to fly European astronauts on the Chinese space station from 2022. The current international space station is slated to retire in 2030. 

It involves five members, the U.S., Russia, Japan, Europe, and Canada, but Russia is going to pull out in 2024 to set up its own space station, NTD reported.

Though China invited a lot of countries to join research activities in its space station, the US did not sign on. According to Beijing, the space station would host scientific projects from seventeen nations, including Switzerland, Poland, Germany, and Italy.According to a recent Indo-Pacific Center for Strategic Communications (IPCSC) report, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has warned that China could claim resource-rich regions of the moon as its own as the country intends to gain economic benefits through space exploration.According to the IPCSC report, China's efforts to use its space program to transform itself into a military, economic, and technological power will soon reshape the world order. China in 2020, announced its plans to establish an economic zone with an output value of USD ten trillion.Nelson in an interview with Politico on January 1, said he was concerned that China would build scientific research facilities in a desirable area on the moon and then claim sovereignty over it.China, last year, built a space station orbiting the Earth and performed several missions around the moon to extract samples. Beijing also plans to build an autonomous lunar research station near the moon's so

 This would ensure availability of hassle-free and need-based loan facility for making necessary preparation for farm-related activities, Bommai, who also holds the finance portfolio, said presenting the 2023-34 budget in the state Legislative Assembly. 

 "This year, loan of Rs 25,000 crore will be distributed to more than 30 lakh farmers," he said.

 A 'majestic' temple dedicated to Lord Ram will be built in Ramadevara Betta of Ramanagara district, the Chief Minister said. The government, Bommai said, decided to give an additional subsidy of Rs 10,000 in the year 2023-24 under a new scheme 'Bhoo Siri' for 'Kisan Credit Card' holders. This would facilitate the farmers to purchase seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and other farm inputs in times of exigencies, the Chief Minister said. 

 The state would contribute Rs 2,500 and NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) would give Rs 7,500. "This will benefit around 50 lakh farmers of the state," he said. 

 Assembly elections in Karnataka are expected to be held during April-May. The Chief Minister, in the budget, also announced 'Shrama Shakthi' scheme that would provide financial assistance of Rs 500 per head every month to landless women farm labourers through direct benefit transfer (DBT).

 Aimed at enabling all children who graduate from high schools to continue their higher education, he announced free education in Government Pre-University and Government Degree Colleges under 'CM Vidya Shakti Scheme'. 

This will benefit eight lakh students of the state, he added. Noting that for the first time in the state, post COVID pandemic, revenue receipts are estimated to be more than revenue expenditure by Rs 402 crore, Bommai said this is a "revenue-surplus" budget. PTI

 The resolution condemns additional Chinese provocations, including China's use of military force to change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control, construction of villages in contested areas, publication of maps with Mandarin-language names for cities and features in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, and expansion of Beijing's territorial claims in Bhutan. 

 The resolution says that China claims Arunachal Pradesh as its own territory, which it calls South Tibet'', and has invoked these claims as part of its increasingly aggressive and expansionist policies. 

 The United States recognises the state of Arunachal Pradesh not as a disputed territory but as an integral part of the Republic of India, and this recognition is not qualified in any way, says the bipartisan resolution introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley, a Democrat, and Bill Hagerty, a Republican. Senator John Cornyn, Co-Chair of the India Caucus, has co-sponsored the resolution. 

 Pushing back against Chinese claims that Arunachal Pradesh is its territory, which is part of Beijing's increasingly aggressive and expansionist policies, the Senate resolution reaffirms that the US recognises the McMahon Line as the international boundary between China and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. 

 The line that was agreed to by Britain and Tibet as part of the 1914 Simla Accord is named after Sir Henry McMahon, foreign secretary of the British-run Government of India and the chief negotiator of settling disputes with China. 

 On December 9, The Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a fresh clash in the Yangtse area of Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang sector, in the first such major flare-up after the deadly hand-to-hand combat in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades. -- PTI

Nasir, 25, and Junaid, 35, had been kidnapped from Rajasthan's Bharatpur district on Wednesday, their families alleged in their complaint to the police.

"The same bolero car was found in burnt condition in Loharu, Bhiwani district in Haryana. Two burnt bodies were also found. Their identification would be done only after DNA analysis," Gaurav Srivastava, IG, Bharatpur Range said.

He added that special teams have been formed to nab those named in the FIR filed by the victim's family. Junaid has five cases pertaining to cow smuggling against him. 

Whether the two were burnt alive or died in a fire that broke out in the car is being investigated. The families of the two kidnapped men identified the vehicle and said that the owner of the car was known to Nasir and Junaid.

Image: Forensic Science Laboratory and other teams inspect a charred bolero where two skeletons were found, at Loharu, in Bhiwani on Thursday. ANI Photo

Swara's husband Fahad Ahmad is the state president of the Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha, the youth wing of the SP. 

 Seeking to expand fleet as well as operations, the airline has placed orders for acquiring a total of 840 aircraft that includes an option to buy 370 planes. This is one of the largest aircraft order by any airline. 

Currently, Air India has around 1,600 pilots to operate its 113 aircraft fleet and in recent times, there have been instances of ultra-long haul flights getting cancelled or delayed due to shortage of crew. 

 The airline's two subsidiaries -- Air India Express and AirAsia India -- together have around 850 pilots for flying their 54 planes while the joint venture Vistara has more than 600 pilots. 

The latter has a fleet of 53 aircraft, one of the sources told PTI. Air India, Air India Express, Vistara and AirAsia India together have little over 3,000 pilots to operate the combined fleet of 220 aircraft. 

 The latest Airbus firm order comprises 210 A320/321 Neo/XLR and 40 A350-900/1000. The Boeing firm order comprises 190 737-Max, 20 787s and 10 777s. 

 "Air India is taking these 40 A350 majorly for its ultra long-haul routes or flights which lasts over 16 hours. The airline will require 30 pilots -- 15 commanders and 15 first officers -- per aircraft, which means some 1,200 pilots for A350s alone," the source in the know said. 

 According to the source, 26 pilots are required for one Boeing 777. If the airline inducts 10 such planes, it will require 260 pilots while 20 Boeing 787 will require some 400 pilots considering that each such aircraft needs 20 pilots -- 10 commanders and 10 first officers. 

 Taken together, the induction of 30 wide-body Boeing planes will require a total of 660 pilots, the sources said. On an average, each narrow-body plane, whether it is Airbus A320 family or Boeing 737 Max, requires 12 pilots, implying that 400 such planes in the fleet will require not less than 4,800 pilots for their operations. 

 On Thursday, Air India Chief Commercial Officer Nipun Agarwal in a Linkedin post said "the order comprises 470 firm aircraft, 370 options and purchase rights to be procured from Airbus and Boeing over the next decade". 

 According to Air India's former Commercial Director Pankaj Shrivastava, enough opportunities have to be created for the Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL) holders to get them type rated. Type ratings is a particular training that makes a pilot qualify to operate a particular type of aircraft. 

 "Air India would definitely have some plan in place. They would not be buying these planes to put them on ground," he said. 

 These aircraft are not going to be inducted tomorrow but over a period of time. During that period, Shrivastava said that he was confident that Boeing and Airbus along with Air India will be able to create a large enough pool of pilots by having in place the required number of flight simulators and pilots training. Air India earlier this year announced its plans to set up a training academy, which is a new initiative for the Tata Group. -- PTI

He also said that the documentary did not look at the "all-important fact" that India's Supreme Court investigated the claims against Narendra Modi in connection with the 2002 riots and found that there is not a shred of evidence to support them.

In an interview with ANI, Blackman also talked about the issue "around the review of the British Broadcasting Corporation's tax affairs" in the context of Income Tax department's survey at its offices in India and said "this is nothing new and has been going on for quite sometime". 

He said there have been discussions between the Income tax authorities in India and the BBC and the broadcaster has to follow the relevant rules and regulations.

Blackman is a member of ruling Conservative and MP for Harrow East, said that as Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2002, Narendra Modi had done his best to try and appeal for calm during the riots.

Blackman accused the BBC documentary of casting aspersions and said it is extremely regrettable because it would seem as if there was some sort of agenda of BBC to disrupt UK-India relations. "I think that's a great shame." -- ANI

 While speaking at the 76th Raising Day celebrations of Delhi police at Kingsway camp, Shah said, "India's law and order, and safety have seen positive development since 2014. Every day in Kashmir used to be a place for protests, stone pelting & revolution. Today, Kashmir is filled with tourists." Shah was referring to the development that had taken place in Kashmir post abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India. 

 "It is a moment of pride that I am part of a legacy of more than 75 years. Delhi Police has been known for their work since independence to the present day and has been appreciated by the whole nation," he added. 

 "We feel empowered as we think of Kashmir as we travel across the country. The instances of leftist politics & extremism have decreased now considerably," he stated. 

 On Thursday, Shah said the government is going to bring changes to all three laws of the IPC, CRPC, and Evidence Act. 

 Speaking at the 76th Raising Day celebrations of Delhi police at Kingsway camp, Shah said, "The government is going to bring changes to all the three laws of IPC, CRPC and Evidence Act in the coming days." 

 "We have launched a trial in Delhi Police and are going to make it mandatory (for police personnel) to visit the forensic team for every crime with a punishment of more than 6 years," Shah added. 

Two men were found charred to death in a car in Haryana's Bhiwani district Thursday after they were allegedly abducted from Bharatpur district in Rajasthan by men said to be cow vigilantes.

The families of the deceased, in their complaint to the police, said the people who abducted them were from Bajrang Dal.

However, a police officer said they are investigating whether it is a case of cow vigilantism or not.

Nasir (25) and Junaid alias Juna (35), both residents of Ghatmeeka village of Pahari tehsil in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, were allegedly abducted on Wednesday and their bodies were found in the charred car in Loharu in Bhiwani on Thursday morning, according to the police.

Police said they were alerted by a villager about a burnt car.

Police rushed to the spot and found two charred bodies in the car, Jagat Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Loharu (Bhiwani), said.

Police are investigating the possibility of the vehicle being driven to Loharu, some 200 kilometres from Bharatpur, and then set on fire.

Superintendent of Police, Bharatpur, Shyam Singh said an FIR has been registered at Gopalgarh police station against five persons on the basis of a complaint lodged by the victims' family members.

He said teams have been formed to nab the accused.

Singh said Bolero found burnt in Bhiwani is the same one missing from Bharatpur.

He said a DNA examination of the bodies would be conducted to ascertain their identities.

One of the victims, Junaid, had a criminal history, he said.

Asked about the involvement of cow vigilantes in the incident, the police officer said it is a matter of investigation.

In Bhiwani, police said they identified the owner of the vehicle as Aseen Khan from the chassis number of the four-wheeler.

The family members of the deceased were called and they also identified the vehicle, the police said, adding the bodies were handed over to them after legal formalities.

A case under relevant sections, including 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person) of the Indian Penal Code, was registered at Gopalgarh police station in Rajasthan, the Haryana Police said.   -- PTI

No untoward incident was reported from any part of Panki during the day, deputy commissioner Anjaneyulu Dodde said adding that an FIR has been registered against 145 people by name and 500 unnamed. 

Senior police officers including district SP Chandan Kumar Sinha are camping in Panki, where police and para-military personnel staged a flag march to inculcate confidence among the residents. 

Schools and markets remained closed. 

Around 1000 district police and para-military personnel were deployed in the town to maintain law and order, Dodde said. 

A clash between two groups belonging to different communities broke out in Panki over erecting a welcome gate for the Shivratri festival. 

While one group wanted the gather, the other did not. 

Over half a dozen people including a junior police officer and four constables were injured in brick-batting. 

All types of internet services in Palamu district had been suspended from 4 pm on Wednesday to 4 pm on Thursday. 

Considering the prevailing situation, the suspension was extended till 10 am of February 19, Dodde said. -- PTI

Bhandari (61), admitted in the night at the National Burns Centre at Airoli in Navi Mumbai, a satellite town of India's financial capital, has suffered 35 per cent burn injuries and put on a ventilator, but his condition is "stable" and he will undergo an operation on Friday, doctors treating him said. 

The politician and his mother suffered burn injuries on Wednesday night when a cooking gas cylinder exploded at the lawmaker's residence. 

While Bhandari's mother Harikala Adhikari died on Thursday while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kathmandu, Bhandari was flown to Mumbai in an air ambulance for further treatment, said the party sources. 

Nepalese doctors attending to the leader recommended taking him to a health institution with better medical facilities abroad as his health condition deteriorated, Bhuwan Bhusal, Bhandari's personal secretary, was quoted as saying in a report by the Kathmandu Post. -- PTI