Union minister Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday accused the West Bengal government of failing to utilise central funds properly and politicising the issue of financial assistance from the Centre.

While explaining the significance of the Union Budget, Yadav, who is in Kolkata, also launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over pending dues to state government employees. The Chief Minister has repeatedly alleged that the Centre has withheld Rs 2 lakh crore, which the state owes. Trinamul Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee has also raised the issue in recent weeks.

Asked whether he would refute the allegation, Yadav refrained from directly countering the claim or commenting on the figures cited by the Chief Minister. Instead, he alleged that the state government itself had kept its employees’ legitimate dues pending for years. Referring to the ongoing dearness allowance (DA) case, Yadav said: “Mamata Banerjee is perhaps the only Chief Minister who is fighting a legal battle against her own government employees. Have you seen such a Chief Minister anywhere?” He pointed out that while the Seventh Pay Commission has been implemented across the country, nearly 20 lakh state government employees in West Bengal are still battling over Sixth Pay Commission benefits. Citing the recent Supreme Court observation on the DA matter, Yadav said the court had clearly stated that DA is a rightful entitlement meant to help employees cope with inflation.

“You went to the Supreme Court over SIR. You could have gone for your employees too. Instead, you fought against them and lost. Now, you should apologise to them,” he said. Yadav further alleged that the state government was attempting to make the SIR process opaque. He accused the Mamata Banerjee government of “administrative failure, compromising national security, and lack of transparency.”

Referring to land issues related to border fencing along the India-Bangladesh frontier, he claimed the state was delaying land allocation despite court directives.

The West Bengal government and the Election Commission of India (ECI) have locked horns over the deployment of 8,505 micro-observers, with the former alleging that certain vested interests were deliberately distorting the database of Group-B officers submitted to the poll panel in connection with the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state’s electoral rolls.

The Trinamul Congress government has termed recent media statements alleging manipulation or impropriety in the list of Group B officers submitted to the poll panel as “completely false and baseless.”

In a notification issued by Nabanna on Tuesday, the state government alleged that it had come to its notice that some quarters were intentionally misrepresenting the contents of the Group-B officers’ database furnished to the Election Commission, despite the process being carried out in line with the Supreme Court’s observations made on 9 February.

The notification categorically rejected allegations of irregularities in the list of officers proposed for micro-observer duties.

Clarifying its stand, the state government said the list of Group-B employees submitted to the Election Commission was fully compliant with the criteria of existing pay scales as notified by the state finance department’s memorandum dated 6 October, 2020.

As per the memorandum, state government employees are clearly classified into Group A, B, C and D categories, and the preparation and submission of the Group-B list followed these notified rules without any deviation.

The notification was issued hours after the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, sought additional details on the proposed deployment of the 8,505 Group-B officers as micro-observers, effectively delaying the deployment process that was scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

According to sources, the CEO office has asked the chief secretary to provide officer-wise details, including place of residence, current place of posting and vigilance clearance status, within 24 hours.

The chief secretary directed district magistrates to compile and submit the information by Tuesday evening.

The fresh round of queries has put the deputation of micro-observers on hold, further intensifying the standoff between the state government and the poll panel.

The issue has its roots in the hearing of the SIR-related case in the Supreme Court on 4 February, when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was personally present in court.

During the hearing, the Election Commission’s counsel told the court that despite repeated requests, the state had not provided an adequate number of eligible officers, making it difficult to complete the SIR exercise.

The Chief Minister, however, assured the court that the state was ready to provide the required number of qualified officers.

Subsequently, on 7 February, the state agreed to deploy 8,505 Group-B officers for the SIR process.

During the 9 February hearing, the state acknowledged that the complete list had not been sent earlier as it was awaiting the commission’s concurrence, and the list was handed over to the ECI’s lawyer during the proceedings.

Ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections, police, in coordination with the concerned authorities, carried out an eviction drive at Porajhar along the banks of the Mahananda near Siliguri on Wednesday, demolishing several makeshift structures allegedly built on government land.

The sudden action left many local residents and a section of political leaders taken aback. Police also served notice to several families who have constructed houses on irrigation department land, informing them that their structures could face demolition shortly.

As officials and police personnel arrived at the site, residents gathered in large numbers, attempting to resist the demolition and urging the media to convey their plea for rehabilitation to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Many claimed they had nowhere else to go.

Political observers see the development as significant, given that Assembly elections are due within a few months.

According to local sources, most of the residents are working-class Hindus who migrated from different parts of the neighbouring regions and initially lived in rented accommodations. Over time, many allegedly purchased small plots along the riverbank, reportedly paying up to Rs 80,000 per cottah through local Trinamul Congress leaders. Allegations have surfaced that sections of local leaders had illegally sold government land at inflated prices.

During the drive, plainclothes police personnel informed residents that they would have to vacate the land. When some expressed their inability to do so, they were advised to approach the police station and submit applications clarifying their land status. Officials later assured residents that their houses would not be demolished immediately and requested cooperation to continue clearing makeshift structures under high-tension power transmission lines linked to the power grid.

The Bihar Pradesh Congress leadership and a dissident faction are once again at odds. The state Congress has accused the dissident group of misleading party workers and weakening the organisation.

In a letter, the Bihar Congress advised party members to stay away from district tour programmes organised by “leaders involved in anti-party activities.”

“The following individuals are touring Bihar and misleading Congress workers while weakening the Congress party. These individuals have been involved in anti-party activities since the time of the Assembly elections. Therefore, disciplinary action has been taken against them by the Party Disciplinary Committee,” the letter stated.

Among the dissident leaders named in the letter are Chhatrapati Yadav, Anand Madhab, Sudhir Kumar alias Bunty Chaudhary, Raj Kumar Rajan, Nagendra Paswan Vikal, Madhurendra Kumar Singh, Pradyumna Yadav, Shakeelur Rahman, Urmila Singh Neelu, Sudha Mishra, Wasi Akhtar, Kaiser Khan, Kundan Gupta, and Raj Kumar Sharma.

District-level office-bearers have been instructed to send the names of those involved in anti-party activities to the State Congress Disciplinary Committee to ensure action against them.

However, the dissident faction maintains that it is working to strengthen the organisation, and claims to be receiving strong support from party workers. The group alleges that the state leadership’s statements are driven by fear.

Congress leader Anand Madhab said the faction has been receiving an enthusiastic response from workers during the tour, with district office-bearers also in attendance. He alleged that the current leadership has become apprehensive due to the support they are garnering.

The dissident faction is scheduled to hold a conference in Patna on 17 March, which it claims will see participation from Congress leaders across Bihar.

Madhab further said the state leadership has no substantive issues left and, instead of engaging in dialogue, is adopting the wrong approach. He added that the central leadership should initiate talks with them.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Wednesday said the State Budget 2026–27 would play a key role in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India while ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth in the state.

Addressing a press conference after the Budget presentation, Sharma said, “This Budget is a document of our duties towards the eight crore people of Rajasthan.”

He said the proposals were prepared with a focus on rapid economic growth, fulfilling the aspirations of the people and ensuring holistic development.

Noting that the Budget was presented on the death anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, the proponent of the philosophy of Antyodaya, the Chief Minister said it was dedicated to the welfare of the person standing at the last rung of society. “It is dedicated to women, youth, labourers, farmers and the underprivileged,” he added.

Sharma said the Budget includes substantial provisions for strengthening basic sectors such as electricity, water, education and healthcare, along with infrastructure development, which would help make Rajasthan developed, prosperous and self-reliant.

According to the Chief Minister, the total size of the State Budget for 2026–27 is Rs 6,10,956 crore — 41 per cent higher than the 2023–24 Budget. “Our Budget is based on 10 strong pillars,” he said.

Highlighting the government’s performance, Sharma said the state was rapidly fulfilling its promises. Of the 1,441 announcements made in the 2025–26 Budget, 1,246 (86 per cent) have been implemented. Similarly, 1,188 out of 1,277 announcements (93 per cent) made in 2024–25 have been fulfilled.

He also said that Rajasthan’s per capita income has crossed Rs 2 lakh for the first time.

As per the Budget Estimates for 2026–27, the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is projected at Rs 21,52,100 crore, about 41 per cent higher than in 2023–24. Per capita income is estimated to reach Rs 2,23,497 — a 21.15 per cent increase over 2023–24.

The Chief Minister said the Budget provides for capital expenditure of Rs 53,978 crore for infrastructure development, more than double the allocation in 2023–24. A provision of Rs 32,526 crore has been made for medical and health services — 53 per cent higher than in 2023–24.

The Green Budget component has an allocation of Rs 33,476 crore, marking a 20.81 per cent increase over the previous year.

In a development that has once again brought the growing menace of cybercrime into sharp focus, son of a former Commissioner of Kolkata Police, Manoj Verma, has fallen victim to online fraud.

Following a complaint lodged with the cyber cell of Kolkata Police, one accused has been arrested from Odisha. Piyush Verma, son of Manoj Verma, currently Director of Security, was reportedly searching for a rented flat in Delhi when he came into contact with an unidentified individual. During the course of their communication, Piyush transferred money through a UPI ID. He later discovered that Rs 30,000 had been fraudulently withdrawn from his bank account. Although the incident occurred in Delhi, Piyush Verma filed a written complaint at the cyber crime police station at Lalbazar on 2 February after returning to Kolkata.

Acting on the complaint, the cyber cell of Kolkata Police initiated an investigation and traced the transaction trail to Odisha. Based on technical inputs, police arrested one Rakesh Pradhan from Odisha. During interrogation, however, Rakesh claimed that his bank account had been used by two Delhi-based individuals, identified as Sanjay and Akshay. He alleged that the transactions were carried out under their instructions. Investigators are currently questioning the accused in police custody and conducting further raids to trace the remaining suspects.

The incident has renewed concerns over the rising incidence of cyber fraud across the country. Amid this backdrop, Kolkata Police on Tuesday launched a 24-hour cyber crime helpline to ensure swift registration and redressal of complaints related to online fraud. The toll-free number ~ 1800-3450066 ~ was inaugurated at Lalbazar by Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar. Citizens can lodge complaints or seek assistance round-the-clock through the helpline, officials said.

Recently, Manoj Verma was moved from the post of Kolkata Police Commissioner and appointed Director of Security in charge of the Chief Minister’s security. Supratim Sarkar, formerly ADG (South Bengal), has since taken over as the new Commissioner.

With an eye on the forthcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal, BJP national spokesperson and Darjeeling MP Raju Bista on Wednesday extended a formal invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the Darjeeling Hills, Terai and Dooars region.

He also thanked the Prime Minister for prioritising the region’s development, including the recent announcement of a proposed high-speed bullet train project connecting Siliguri to Varanasi.

“On behalf of the people of our region, I have extended a humble invitation to the Prime Minister to visit our region,” Mr Bista said.

Highlighting the region’s strategic importance from a national security perspective, Mr Bista noted that despite its significance, the area had remained deprived of adequate infrastructure for decades after Independence. He said the challenges of mountainous terrain and prolonged neglect had contributed to economic stagnation and limited access to essential services.

The MP further claimed that under the Prime Minister’s leadership, the Darjeeling Hills, Terai and Dooars are now on an accelerated path to bridge longstanding infrastructural gaps. He expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for granting him an audience in New Delhi on Wednesday and for listening to the concerns and aspirations of the people of the region.

The Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), Satish Jha, paid a courtesy visit yesterday to Peeyush Pandey, the acting Director General (DGP) of West Bengal Police, at his office in Kolkata.

During the meeting, a range of matters concerning the central public sector coal-producing company were discussed in a cordial and constructive atmosphere. Sources said that DGP Peeyush Pandey assured his full cooperation and continued support on the issues deliberated, reaffirming the importance of coordinated efforts between the administration and the company.

The interaction underscored a shared commitment to strengthening institutional collaboration in the interest of smooth operations and mutual development.

Incidentally, IPS officer Peeyush Pandey had earlier served as Superintendent of Police (SP) of the erstwhile Burdwan district during the Left Front regime and is well acquainted with the coal-bearing areas of the Asansol and Durgapur sub-divisions, as well as the socio-political background of the region.

The meeting between the head of the state’s largest coal mining company and the state’s top police officer is significant, particularly at a time when the CBI and the ED are investigating several cases related to coal theft in ECL’s coal-bearing areas.

Although the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and ECL’s security department are responsible for guarding and patrolling both underground and opencast coal mines in West Bengal and Jharkhand, law and order is maintained by the respective state police departments.

Sactoria, near Asansol, is the headquarters of ECL, while Settalpur serves as the headquarters of the CISF unit of ECL, led by an officer of the rank of senior commandant.

Following the recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid controversy, SI Manoranjan Mondal, officer-in-charge (OC) of Budbud police station, has been transferred to the Special Branch (SB) of the Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate (ADPC) in a late-night order issued yesterday.

SI Laltu Kumar Pakhira, inspector-in-charge (IC) of Kalyaneswari Police Outpost, has been promoted as the new OC of Budbud police station. A fresh transfer order involving 22 police officers of the ranks of Inspector, sub-inspector and assistant sub-inspector was issued by the Commissioner of Police (CP), Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate, Sunil Kumar Choudhary, late last night.

Inspector Akhil Mukherjee, OC of Andal police station, has been transferred to the detective department (DD) of the ADPC, while SI Abhijit Singhya Roy, IC of Banbahal Police Outpost, has replaced him as the new OC of Andal police station, according to the latest order.

Although ADPC sources claim the reshuffle is routine, political parties allege that the transfer follows the ED raid at SI Manoranjan Mondal’s residence in City Centre, Durgapur, on 3 February. The raid was conducted in connection with the money trail in illegal sand mining cases and followed the subsequent arrests of two sand dealers — Chinmay Mondal and Kiran Khan — on Monday.

There is speculation that the ADPC sought to avoid further complications amid fears of possible arrest, as SI Mondal reportedly failed to appear in response to an ED summons issued last Monday.

The court has remanded Chinmay Mondal and Kiran Khan to custody until 18 February for further investigation. Both have previously been arrested several times by the Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate in connection with illegal sand mining cases. The duo, who are relatives, have allegedly been questioned by the ED regarding approximately Rs 150 crore of unaccounted money in their bank accounts.

Earlier, SI Manoranjan Mondal had also been suspended from the post of OC of Barabani police station and posted to the Special Branch of the ADPC for a year over allegations of irregularities.

During search operations on 3 February, the ED also seized cash reportedly amounting to between Rs 65 lakh and Rs 80 lakh from a house in Jamuria.

The ED has been conducting fresh raids in connection with illegal sand and coal mining cases in West Burdwan district over the past few months. Following the arrests of the two sand dealers, the agency is now reportedly attempting to trace influential individuals allegedly involved in the illegal trade and the associated money trail.

With more than 70 per cent of the Rishikesh-Karanprayag rail project over, the Uttarakhand’s Pushkar Singh Dhami government is now looking for another hill-centric rail project between Karnaprayag and Bageshwar. CM Dhami said he would take up the matter with the Centre to declare it as a national project.

Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday asked his officials to hammer out a proposal and feasibility action plan for the extended Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project as Karnaprayag-Bageshwar rail link connecting Garhwal and Kumaon hill areas. “Possibility of extending the rail line from Karnaprayag to Bageshwar must be explored and worked out to link hill areas of the two ranges in the state,” he instructed the state officials in a review meeting of under-construction and proposed rail projects in the state on Wednesday.

Dhami said, “Apart from proposals for Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail line possibilities for other alternate routes under this project must be worked out along with focus on connecting Almora and Someshwar regions to benefit the majority area and the people in the both Kumaon and Garhwal regions. The Chief Minister assured that he will request the centre for granting nod to Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail link project as a national project to accelerate the construction work.
Officials in the meeting informed on behalf of the Railways that more than 70 per cent work of the Rishikesh-Karanprayag rail line project, including 95 per cent tunnel construction works of the total 125 kilometers, is completed. They said 28 tunnels are being constructed under this project. These include 16 main and 12 escape tunnels.
The officials added that names of the railway stations in the Rishikesh-Karanprayag rail project are based on the themes of the state’s spiritual places, cultural tradition and patriotic figures. Shivpuri station ahead of Rishikesh will showcase the blessings of Neelkanth Mahadev, Byasi is for Maharishi Ved Vyas, Devprayag is backed by the theme of Samudra Manthan, Janasu will exhibit Uttarakhand culture, Maletha will showcase the determination and grit Veer Madho Singh Bhandari, Srinagar will document the spiritual aura of Raj Rajeshwari Devi while Dhari Devi is named after Deity Dhari Devi.

The Child Education Society (CES) hosted the 4th CES Vidya Utsav at the Manekshaw Centre Auditorium, bringing together policymakers, educators, cultural thinkers and education stakeholders in a meaningful dialogue on reimagining education to shape future-ready citizens.

The event, hosted on 7 February, was graced by Sanjay Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India, who addressed the gathering on the theme “Shaping Futures Beyond Classrooms”.

He emphasised the need for experiential and application-based learning to nurture critical thinking, adaptability and real-world skills among students.

Kumar also highlighted the importance of multilingualism in enhancing access, inclusivity and the overall impact of education.

Nikhil Channa, president, Child Education Society, in his address, focused on redefining education to make it more relevant, holistic and inclusive, underscoring the importance of a value-based and humane approach that nurtures empathy, character and social responsibility alongside academic excellence.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued notices to former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) secretary S Jayasree and Kalpesh, an alleged intermediary, in the Sabarimala gold heist case. They have been asked to appear for interrogation at the Kochi office of the agency next week.

Jayasree is alleged to have made corrections in the minutes of board documents related to the gold plating of temple artefacts. The ED is examining whether any alterations were made to official records in connection with the execution of the work.

Kalpesh is suspected to have handled the transfer of gold from Smart Creations, a Chennai-based firm where the gold plating of temple artefacts was carried out.

The main accused, Unnikrishnan Potty, has not yet been questioned by the ED. Sources said the agency is carefully assessing documentary evidence and financial trails before proceeding against Potty.

The agency has also issued a summons to Malayalam actor Jayaram to appear for questioning in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case.

He has been directed to appear at the agency’s Kochi unit office next Tuesday. Earlier, the ED questioned former Sabarimala administrative officer Murari Babu and another former official, S Sreekumar.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday issued a point-by-point rebuttal to the charges made by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi during the debate on Union Budget 2026 in the Lok Sabha, selling out the nation, surrendering before US President Donald Trump and compromising India’s interests.

Taking to social media platform X, BJP’s chief spokesperson and Lok Sabha MP Anil Baluni accused Rahul Gandhi of making “baseless and misleading” charges on the India-US trade deal.

He alleged that the LoP chose theatrics over truth and made “convenient misinterpretations”. “He did not merely critique the document. He misquoted it, misread it, and then built an argument on that distortion. Parliament deserves scrutiny grounded in facts, not selective readings and convenient misinterpretations. Deliberately misrepresenting the Budget weakens democratic debate and disrespects the intelligence of the people of India,” Baluni said.

On Rahul Gandhi’s charge that the Narendra Modi government has given away Indians’ data, the “most powerful asset of the 21st century”, to the US, Baluni said that the Union Budget has proposed a tax break for companies setting up data centres in India until 2047. “This will further India’s goal of data localisation. With more data centres in India, our IT companies will be able to deliver cloud and other AI solutions to clients in the West. More data centres in India equals more opportunities for our IT companies, and equals data localisation in the long run. The data of 1.4 billion Indians stays in India,” he argued.

The BJP spokesperson also refuted Rahul Gandhi’s claim that the Budget 2026 didn’t have any provision to fortify India’s supply chains amid global uncertainties, stating that there is a proposal for rare earths, a new semiconductor mission that will focus on all the levels of the value chain and critical mineral corridors running through Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

The BJP leader also accused Rahul Gandhi of quoting the “older version” of the White House fact sheet on the India-US trade deal. He stated that India has not opened up its farming sector for US exports, as claimed in the US fact sheet that was updated after the initial version claimed that certain pulses would be imported from the US. “The updated fact sheet of the US Government carries no mention of pulses,” Baluni said.

Facts are clearly not the LoP’s strong suit.

Rahul Gandhi has once again chosen theatrics over truth, misleading both the House and the Nation. During today’s Budget discussion in the Lok Sabha, he did not merely critique the document. He misquoted it, misread it, and then built…

— Anil Baluni (@anil_baluni) February 11, 2026

He echoed Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal that India is not opening up its farming and dairy sector to the USA and the same stance has been maintained during the “mother of all deals” with the European Union. “He is citing an older US government fact sheet that framed India’s proposed $500 billion purchases as a commitment. That language has since been corrected. By relying on an outdated fact sheet, Gandhi is presenting an inflated claim that the US government itself has walked back,” he wrote.

He termed Rahul Gandhi’s claim that the US has increased its tariffs on Indian imports to 18 per cent from 3 per cent that New Delhi purportedly paid before Trump’s imposition of 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs as an “incomplete assessment.”

‘You are going to talk to us as equals’: LoP Rahul Gandhi’s message to Donald Trump amid trade deal row

Rahul Gandhi had also claimed that India is not receiving any commitment from the US on its exports. On this, Baluni informed that since FY15, India’s trade surplus with the US has doubled from $20 billion to $40.9 billion in FY25. “Our exports to the US have risen from $42.4 billion in FY15 to $86 billion in FY25. Since 2022, our electronic exports to the US have gone from almost zero to $20 billion in 2025.”

On Rahul Gandhi’s accusation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi succumbed to US pressure and compromised Indian interests by agreeing to stop purchasing Russian oil, the BJP leader said that India has always prioritised its national interests, adding that imports from Russia rose from about 0.1 million barrels per day to nearly 2 million barrels per day in 2023.

“The Modi government has shown that it will bypass Western pressure to secure India’s energy needs. Rahul Gandhi’s argument has already been disproven, and it is worth recalling that his own party opposed Russian oil imports at the time,” he added.

Replying to the debate on the Union Budget 2026–27 in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched a sharp counterattack on Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of “not reading the Budget properly” and alleging that the Congress had “sold out farmers” through its 2013 agreement at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Defending the government’s allocations across sectors including artificial intelligence, food security, energy transition and MSMEs, Sitharaman accused previous Congress-led governments of neglecting key national interests. Hitting back at Gandhi’s remark that the “government sold India,” she asserted that it was the Congress that had compromised the country’s interests.

She also took a swipe at Gandhi’s references to martial arts during his speech, while Union Minister Giriraj Singh repeatedly referred to him as an “abodh balak” from behind her. “LoP Rahul Gandhi spoke on several issues. He used the language of Jujutsu and martial arts — grip and control. He also told Jagdambika Pal, who was in the Chair, that he respects him because he was once in his party. But he called Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu a traitor, who was also once in his party. I would like to respond to all his points,” she said.

Dismissing Gandhi’s concerns about artificial intelligence and his claims that India’s data was being sent abroad, Sitharaman termed the allegations incorrect. Expanding her attack on the Congress, she accused its governments of compromising national interests and betraying farmers.

“The Leader of the Opposition is lecturing us. He has no moral right because his party’s government traded national interests in Bali. In 2009, at Sharm El Sheikh, Manmohan Singh hyphenated India and Pakistan and delinked talks from terror. You are the ones who sold India. And you are lecturing us,” she said.

The Finance Minister claimed that the 2013 WTO agreement signed in Bali was detrimental to Indian farmers and weakened the country’s bargaining position.

“The Opposition says India is selling farmers and that Modi ji has surrendered. Prime Minister Modi has stood on the frontlines to fight for farmers’ needs,” she said.

“I will tell you who really sold the farmers… You sold out farmers in Bali, traded Indian interests in Bali. In 2013, at the WTO Summit in Bali, the Congress signed an agreement compromising the interests of farmers and the poor. This meant that India could not procure foodgrains from farmers at the MSP from January 2017 onwards and could not distribute subsidised rations to the poor. It was Prime Minister Modi who negotiated a peace clause after coming to power in 2014 and ensured procurement at MSP continued,” Sitharaman said amid Opposition protests.

She added that the peace clause enabled the government to distribute free rations to 80 crore people during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Diya Kumari on Wednesday presented a ₹24,313-crore revenue deficit Budget for 2026–27, dedicating it to the cause of “Service, Security and Good Governance” for all sections of society, particularly the weaker and vulnerable groups.

Presenting her third successive Budget in the State Assembly, Diya Kumari said the total Budget outlay of ₹6,10,956 crore reflects the government’s ambition and commitment towards achieving the goal of Viksit Rajasthan 2047.

The Budget is based on estimated revenue receipts of ₹3,25,740.14 crore and revenue expenditure of ₹3,50,054.07 crore, resulting in a revenue deficit of ₹24,313.93 crore. The fiscal deficit has been estimated at ₹79,492.52 crore, which constitutes 3.69 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and remains within the permissible limits.

The Finance Minister said sustained efforts by the government had helped reduce the budget deficit by around ₹8,000 crore.

In her nearly two-hour-and-50-minute speech, which was heard peacefully in the House, Diya Kumari said that soon after assuming office in December 2023, the government set a clear target of making Rajasthan developed and self-reliant by 2047. A Vision Document based on 10 pillars was formulated two years ago to achieve this objective, and the present Budget has also been structured around these pillars.

Highlighting achievements, she said the government has taken multiple initiatives to enhance farmers’ incomes and improve their access to facilities. Last year, Rajasthan presented its first Green Budget dedicated to environmental conservation and ecological enrichment.

She added that improvements have been made in water and electricity availability, social security pensions have been expanded and enhanced, and several measures have been taken to create employment opportunities for youth. As a result, the state’s per capita income has risen from about ₹1.61 lakh to ₹2.03 lakh per annum.

An allocation of ₹1,800 crore has been proposed for road construction, repairs, upgradation of state highways, railway overbridges (RoBs), railway underbridges (RUBs), flyovers and elevated roads.
₹1,400 crore has been earmarked for non-patchable road works, ₹600 crore for Missing Link Roads, ₹500 crore for 250 Atal Pragati Paths, and ₹400 crore for approach roads to industrial areas and logistics parks. In addition, over ₹3,000 crore has been proposed for other road projects.

₹5,000 crore has been proposed under the Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) to cover 6,245 villages and cities with approved master plans. A Bureau of Water Use Efficiency will also be constituted.

Under the second pillar aimed at enhancing quality of life, installation of seven lakh street lights has been proposed. A special fund — Rajasthan Structured Enabler for Transformative Urban and Infrastructure Financing (RAJ-SETU) — will be launched.

Modern rest houses will be constructed in hospitals attached to six medical colleges in Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Kota. Atal Arogya Food Courts will be established with an investment of ₹100 crore.

Inland Container Depots (ICDs) and multi-modal logistics hubs will be developed to promote industrial growth and investment.

A Rajasthan State Testing Agency (RSTA), on the lines of the National Testing Agency (NTA), will be set up to ensure transparent and efficient conduct of entrance and recruitment examinations. Interest subsidies for one lakh beneficiaries under the Chief Minister Self-Employment Yojana were also announced.

A new programme — Rajasthan Mental Awareness, Mentoring and Treatment for All (Raj-MAMTA) — will be launched, with Mental Health Care Cells at district headquarters.

A State Drone Policy is being formulated, and a State Drone Cell with an AI/ML-based data repository will be established.

Under the Lakhpati Didi scheme, the loan ceiling has been increased from ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh. Fifty new enterprises will be promoted with an outlay of ₹20 crore, and ‘Raj Sakhi Stores’ will be opened at divisional levels.

An Ultra-Luxury Special Tourism Zone (STZ) will be developed in Khuri (Jaisalmer), and a Tourist Facilitation Centre will be set up in Kuldhara. A ‘Thar Cultural Circuit’ covering Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Barmer and Jalore will be created. A War Museum is proposed in Jhunjhunun.

₹12,800 crore has been allocated for irrigation upgradation and farmers’ welfare initiatives. The agriculture budget has been enhanced by 7.59 per cent, and a separate Agriculture Budget has been presented as part of the roadmap towards achieving a USD 4.3 trillion economy by 2047.

Under the Haryalo Rajasthan mission, Namo Nurseries will be set up at district headquarters, Namo Vans at each Panchayat Samiti in a phased manner, and ‘Oxy Zones’ in 16 districts at a cost of ₹32 crore.

On taxation, the Finance Minister said the government, under Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma’s leadership, aims to boost economic development while keeping the tax burden on common people, labourers, youth and industrialists to a minimum.

Emphasising the principle of “lower burden, higher trust and faster decisions” — as advocated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi — she said no additional tax burden would be imposed on citizens.

A major scuffle and chaotic scenes occurred during the reception given to VD Satheesan-led UDF’s Puthu Yuga Yatra (New Era Journey) at Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode district. There was a lot of pushing and shoving on the stage.

The commotion started when Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil expressed strong displeasure at being invited to speak after the scheduled time. He was meant to speak before Satheesan, but the DCC secretary, Pramod Kakkattil, invited Satheesan first to speak.

In the footage, Shafi MP can be seen arguing with the DCC secretary. It showed Shafi Parambil pushing the DCC secretary aside in frustration. Later, when the welcome speaker tried to invite him to the microphone after Satheesan finished, Shafi blocked him in protest, leading to an argument on stage. Amidst the push-and-shove on the crowded stage, senior Congress leader Mullappally Ramachandran fell to the ground.

There has been widespread criticism over the push and shove that occurred at the reception of the UDF’s Puthu Yuga Yatra at Kuttiyadi.

Social media is mocking the incident as a clear example of the power struggle in Congress. Netizens are airing the view that the Congress leaders have tarnished the dignity of the event.

BJP leader and Congress leader K Muraleedharan’s sister, Padmaja Venugopal, raised the question, “What is the price that Shafi and his team are paying for VD Satheesan, who is conducting the Puthyuuga Yatra?”

However, the Congress cyber handles claim that the only thing that was seen on the stage was the chaos that occurred when they reached Kuttiadi later than scheduled.

Ahead of civic elections in Hyderabad, the Telangana government has reorganised the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) into three separate entities — Greater Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Malkajgiri. The move follows the recent merger of 27 suburban municipalities with the GHMC, significantly expanding the city’s geographical limits and transforming it into a megacity.

Under the new arrangement, the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation — covering the IT hub and financial district — will comprise the Serilingampally, Kukatpally and Qutbullapur zones. The Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation will include the Malkajgiri, Uppal and LB Nagar zones. The reconstituted GHMC will oversee the Shamshabad, Rajendranagar, Charminar, Golconda, Khairtabad and Secunderabad zones.

According to the government order, “The Government, after careful examination and consideration of the administrative requirements arising out of the expansion of the city, hereby decides to reorganise the existing Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation into three separate municipal corporations.”

The state government has appointed senior IAS officer and Special Chief Secretary Jayesh Ranjan as the Special Officer for all three municipal bodies. R.V. Karnan will continue as Commissioner of GHMC, while G. Srijana has been posted as Commissioner of Cyberabad and T. Vinay Krishna Reddy as Commissioner of Malkajgiri.

Politically, the reorganisation comes at a time when the Congress has struggled to gain ground in Hyderabad. In the recent Assembly elections, the party failed to win a single seat in the city. Most Assembly seats were secured by the BRS, with the BJP winning one and the AIMIM seven. However, Congress has since won two by-elections in Hyderabad, defeating the BRS.

In the previous GHMC elections, the Congress managed to secure only two wards, while the BJP performed strongly at the expense of the BRS. The BRS retained control of the civic body with the support of the AIMIM. With the inclusion of peripheral municipalities and the administrative restructuring, the Congress hopes to regain lost ground in the city.