Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the central government, saying the Narendra Modi government has entered into a trade deal under pressure from the United States, which will cripple the country’s farmers and directly burden the common people with inflation.

He termed it a “decision that mortgages the country’s self-respect.”

In a statement issued by the party on Tuesday, Sanjay Singh said that the details of this agreement came to light not from the Indian government, but from a tweet by the US President, which shows that important economic decisions for India are now being made in Washington.

He alleged that the way has been opened to buy oil from the US and Venezuela instead of Russia, even though American oil is expensive and Venezuelan oil is of lower quality. This will affect the prices of petrol, diesel, and everyday necessities.

Regarding farmers, he said that the decision to impose zero duty on agricultural products coming from the US will prove fatal for Indian agriculture. This will allow American cotton, wheat, and vegetables to enter the Indian market at cheaper prices, leaving domestic farmers without buyers for their crops. He claimed that 70-80 crore people in the country are directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture, and this decision is an attack on the livelihood of millions of families.

The AAP leader warned that if this trade deal is not withdrawn and the decisions against farmers and the general public are not reversed, his party will launch a widespread movement from the streets to Parliament. He said that the country’s farmers are not weak and the government should not underestimate their strength.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar has been given the role of guardian minister for both Pune and Beed districts, according to the Maharashtra government’s General Administration Department (GAD), which released an official circular to formalise the decision on Tuesday.

“I accept this responsibility with a heavy heart but a firm resolve. The values of duty and commitment to the people that Ajit Dada taught me will be my guiding light as I serve these districts,” Maharashtra Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar stated after the official announcement.

However, sources said that the decision to give the additional charge to Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar is part of a damage control exercise by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who has “temporarily” kept the strategic finance portfolio with him, which used to be with the late Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.

According to Ajit Pawar-led NCP leader Praful Patel, who is known to be close to the BJP, “Ajit Pawar used to hold the finance portfolio. We had a discussion about it with Chief Minister Fadnavis, who said that Sunetra Pawar has been newly appointed to the Maharashtra government. It will take some time for her to understand the rest of the process”.

“The Chief Minister said that the Maharashtra state budget will be presented in a few days. Presenting the budget is not just a matter of talking. It has to be discussed thoroughly. and questions have to be answered. The process of preparing the budget is also a long one. Ajit Pawar had a lot of experience with the finance portfolio, and so he never faced any problem. But since the state budget day is very near, Sunetra Pawar, who is new to the cabinet, should not end up facing any technical difficulties while handling a big responsibility like the budget. Therefore, the Chief Minister will be handling the finance portfolio for some time, and he has taken up this responsibility,” Praful Patel said.

Responding to allegations that Sunetra Pawar was hastily appointed, Praful Patel said, “Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal, Hasan Mushrif and other senior leaders took this decision together. We had met Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar as well. The public and workers felt that a person from the Pawar family should take up this responsibility, and accordingly, this decision was taken”.

As Guardian Minister for Pune and Beed, Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar will have direct oversight of regions that were central to Ajit Pawar’s political identity and legacy. As the Pawar family’s home turf, Pune was the engine of Ajit Pawar’s influence, and Sunetra Pawar’s role here would be to oversee major infrastructure projects that he had initiated, sources said.

Before Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar, it was her late husband, Ajit Pawar, who was the Guardian Minister of Pune and Beed districts between 2004 and 2014. The position of Guardian Minister is not just administrative but also deeply political. During this time, Ajit Pawar expanded the NCP’s base throughout the district. The Guardian Minister’s position allows a leader to remain in direct contact with the public and strengthen their influence by getting local leaders to carry out their work. The appointment of Sunetra Pawar in districts like Pune and Beed is seen as a major effort to maintain the Pawar family’s political dominance.

The position of Guardian Minister is a very special one in Maharashtra’s administrative system. Typically, a minister in the state cabinet is appointed the “guardian” of his or her own district or another district. If a district lacks a representative in the cabinet, this responsibility is assigned to an outside minister. A minister may also be in charge of more than one district. This position serves as a strong link between district development and administration. The Guardian Minister is the person responsible for ensuring the strict implementation of government schemes at the district level.

Also, the Guardian Minister is legally the ex-officio chairperson of the District Planning Committee (DPC). According to the Constitution of India, the existence of a DPC is mandatory in every district. This committee is always headed by the Guardian Minister. Its primary function is to coordinate between the panchayats and municipalities. Whether it’s water distribution or infrastructure development, every major decision requires the Guardian Minister’s approval. Plans for the proper use of natural resources and environmental protection are also passed through the DPC.

The Guardian Minister has extensive powers regarding the district budget and oversees the combined budget of all local bodies in the district. The Guardian Minister is responsible for preparing and passing a common draft budget for the district’s development. The Guardian Minister reviews budget expenditure every three months and oversees the proper use of funds received from the central and state governments, besides directly deciding how much money will be spent in which area of the district.

In a metropolis like Pune, the role of the Guardian Minister is even more significant. Here, the Guardian Minister chairs the canal committee meeting, which decides the proportion of dam water allocated for drinking, agriculture, and industry. The Guardian Minister also plays a key role in solving the city’s waste management problems and acquiring land for mega-projects like highways and airports, besides overseeing arrangements for major events like the Ashadhi Ekadashi Palkhi procession and the Ganesh Utsav.

Bihar Finance Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav presented the budget for the financial year 2026-27 in the Bihar Assembly on Tuesday. This year, the state budget exceeded Rs 3.47 lakh crore, more than Rs 30,000 crore higher than that of the last year. For the financial year 2026-27, Bihar’s growth rate is estimated at 14.9%.

This budget is aimed at fulfilling the resolve of ‘Viksit Bihar’ (Developed Bihar). Based on the principle of ‘development with justice’, the budget takes care of all sectors and all sections of society, including farmers, entrepreneurs, youth, and women. It is a comprehensive, inclusive, and growth-oriented budget.

The minister said this is Bihar’s biggest budget so far, which is focused on ensuring “Respect for All — Ease of Life”, a major initiative of the Bihar government under the ‘Saat Nischay 3’ (Seven Resolves 3) programme focused on making civic services simpler, more accessible, and dignified for citizens.

“For 2026-27, Bihar’s total budget stands at Rs3,47,589.76 crore, which is significantly larger compared to recent years. The objective of the budget is to make Bihar economically strong and developed in every sector. With support from the Central government, many development projects in the state have gained momentum,” he said.

He pointed out that the state’s budget has increased from Rs 23,885 crore in 2004-05 to Rs3.47 lakh crore now, reflecting the state’s growing economic capacity. Of the total expenditure, 35.14% is revenue expenditure and 64.86% is capital expenditure, indicating a strong focus on infrastructure. An amount of Rs22,664.83 crore has been allocated for repayment of old loans.

Total tax revenue is estimated at Rs2,85,277.12 crore. The state is expected to earn around Rs 65,800 crore from its own taxes, with GST being the largest contributor. The fiscal deficit in the budget is Rs39,111.80 crore (approximately 2.99%), which is within the prescribed limit.

In a post on X, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, “This budget will prove highly helpful in implementing the programmes under ‘Saat Nischay 3’ (Seven Resolves 3) launched by our government. We have set a target of providing jobs and employment to one crore youth over the next five years. By ensuring proper management of the state’s financial resources, the process of providing jobs and employment to youth has already begun.”

This budget is aimed at fulfilling the objectives of providing opportunities to every family, skill development for every youth, and empowerment of women. A provision has been made to provide assistance of Rs2 lakh to one woman in every household for self-employment.

A scheme has also been proposed to turn 94 lakh poor families from Scheduled Castes into micro-entrepreneurs. The government has set a target to attract Rs50,000 crore in private investments to increase income in sectors such as agriculture, dairy, and animal husbandry.

There is an emphasis on opening degree colleges and engineering colleges in every block, to upgrade district hospitals to super-specialty level, and to provide healthcare services at home for senior citizens, along with services related to birth and death registration.

A Booth Level Officer (BLO) died during a public hearing on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Saharanpur on Tuesday afternoon.

The incident occurred in the Noor Basti police station area when the officer was listening to public complaints.

The deceased has been identified as Dushyant Singh Bedi, who was posted as a Senior Assistant in the Irrigation Department and was currently serving as a BLO in the Noor Basti area. He was originally a resident of Chakharheti village. His duty was assigned at a government secondary school in the Numaish Camp area, where the public hearing was being conducted.

According to eyewitnesses, Dushyant Singh complained of severe chest pain while seated on a chair. He held his chest for a few moments and then collapsed to the ground. The staff present at the spot tried to help him and immediately arranged for an ambulance. He was rushed to the district hospital, where doctors examined him and declared him dead.

On receiving information, the police reached the spot, gathered details of the incident from those present, and informed the family members. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination.

Dushyant Singh’s wife passed away nearly eight years ago. He is survived by his elderly mother and two young children. He was the sole breadwinner of the family, and his sudden death has left the family without support.

It is noteworthy that Dushyant Singh was transferred to the Irrigation Department in Roorkee in June, but due to election-related duties and responsibilities linked to the SIR process, he was not relieved and continued to perform his duties in Saharanpur.

Dramatic scenes unfolded in the Kerala Assembly on Tuesday as the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) clashed over allegations of the Sabarimala gold theft case investigations.

The Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes as Opposition UDF members displayed placards, raised slogans, and attempted to enter the Speaker’s dais as part of their protest against the LDF government in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft cases.

As soon as Question Hour began, the Opposition MLAs stormed the well of the House and blocked the view of the Speaker by raising banners and placards, demanding the resignation of Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan in connection with the Sabarimala gold case. When the UDF members held a banner covering the Speaker’s face, the Watch and Ward forcefully seized it. The MLAs’ attempt to enter the dais was prevented by the Watch and Ward.

The House was adjourned twice following the uproar. The House was initially adjourned when MLA Anwar Sadat and others tried to jump onto the dais. Speaker AN Shamsir got up from his seat and left.

When the House resumed, the Speaker said that the action of the MLAs who tried to climb onto the dais was not correct. With this, MLAs, including Mathew Kuzhalnadan, tried to climb onto the dais. Watch and ward prevented them. In the meantime, an attempt was made to seize the banner held high by the opposition. The Opposition alleged that the Watch and Ward staff used excessive force and physically assaulted members while seizing banners.

The situation deteriorated following a verbal duel between the treasury and Opposition benches. After the UDF members sang a parody song questioning “who stole the gold,” Minister for General Education V Sivankutty retaliated with a controversial remark linking Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to gold smuggling, implying that the Congress leadership was the beneficiary of such thefts. The remark provoked the Opposition members, who rushed to the Well, blocking the Speaker with banners.

Opposition Leader V D Satheesan accused the government of deliberately delaying the filing of the charge sheet to help the accused, including CPM functionaries and prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti, to secure statutory bail.

The Opposition leader alleged there were lapses in the probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Satheesan said the High Court has stated that the accused got statutory bail because the charge sheet was not filed. “The court has repeatedly pointed out that there has been a delay in the investigation. The investigation was obstructed due to pressure from the Chief Minister’s Office. If the accused are released on bail, the remaining evidence will also be destroyed. For the first time ever, the opposition’s banner was forcibly seized by the watch and ward staff. That is why opposition members climbed onto the dais. We did not indulge in any violence. It was the watch and ward staff who tried to create violence. The Speaker is challenging us. We were not invited for discussions to cooperate with the House proceedings,” Satheesan said

Rejecting the allegations raised by VD Satheesan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the investigation in the Sabarimala gold theft case was proceeding under the direct supervision of a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court, which had expressed satisfaction with the special investigation team’s progress. He said that the adverse remarks cited by the Opposition were made by a Single Bench while considering bail applications and did not reflect the view of the monitoring Division Bench. He dismissed the protests as “antics” intended to mask the Opposition’s political insecurity.

Meanwhile, the UDF announced a boycott of the session, stating they could not cooperate with a government allegedly complicit in looting temple wealth. The Opposition continued their protest outside the Assembly hall, raising banners that accused the LDF government of “alchemy that turns gold into copper.”

Tilak Varma marked his return from testicular surgery with a timely all-round performance as India A defeated the United States by 38 runs in a T20 World Cup warm-up match in Navi Mumbai on Tuesday. Playing his first competitive game since recovery, Tilak notched up a fluent 38 off 24 balls and later picked up a wicket, easing any concerns over rustiness ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

India A’s commanding win was built on a blistering batting display, headlined by Narayan Jagadeesan’s superb 104 off 55 deliveries and an unbeaten half-century from captain Ayush Badoni. After being sent in, India A piled up a daunting 238 for 3 in their 20 overs, a total that ultimately proved beyond USA despite a spirited chase.

The innings began at a brisk pace, with the openers setting the tone in a template similar to the senior Indian side. By the time Priyansh Arya was dismissed for a 13-ball 28, India A had raced to 43 for 1 in four overs. Tilak then joined Jagadeesan for a devastating 113-run partnership off just 9.1 overs, during which USA struggled to stem the flow despite using as many as nine bowlers. Seven of them conceded at ten runs an over or more.

Tilak struck three fours and two sixes before falling in the 14th over, after which Badoni seamlessly took over the scoring. Jagadeesan, who smashed 11 fours and five sixes, fell to Ali Khan off the final ball of the 19th over, while Badoni remained unbeaten on 60 off 26 balls, with 48 runs coming in boundaries.

USA’s reply showed encouraging intent. They were bowled out for 200 in 19.4 overs, with Andries Gous providing early impetus through a 44 off 31 before becoming Tilak’s wicket. Sanjay Krishnamurthi added momentum in the middle overs with an 18-ball 41, while late cameos from Shubham Ranjane (28 off 17), Harmeet Singh (25 off 9), and Mohammad Mohsin (21 off 10) pushed the total to a competitive mark.

Among the bowlers, Ravi Bishnoi led the way with three wickets, Khaleel Ahmed claimed two, and all-rounder Naman Dhir picked up the final two dismissals. Fast bowler Mayank Yadav, returning to action for the first time since May 2025, went wicketless, conceding 37 runs in three overs, while Riyan Parag had a quiet outing on his return from a shoulder niggle.

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a significant milestone in the Bullet Train Project with the breakthrough of the second mountain tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra.

This tunnel is 454 metres long with a width of 14.4 metres, and will accommodate both up and down tracks for the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train project.

This is the second mountain tunnel breakthrough in the Palghar district within a span of one month for the Bullet Train project, the first being MT-5 near Saphale on 2nd January 2026.

The mountain tunnel (MT-6) was excavated from both ends using New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), a cutting-edge drill-and-controlled blast method. The excavation is completed within 12 months. A mountain tunnel breakthrough marks a key engineering milestone when excavation teams digging from opposite ends of the tunnel finally meet at the center, forming a continuous passage through the mountain.

The minister congratulated the entire high-speed rail team for their remarkable progress. He said the pace at which the team is working has instilled new confidence in the country. The project is drawing global attention and appreciation due to several new innovations in construction and technology. He highlighted that many advanced construction technologies and large machines being used for the project are manufactured in India.

The minister stated that the Gujarat section of the bullet train project is expected to begin commercial operations next year. He added that high-speed rail operations are expected to extend up to Thane by 2028, with the corridor reaching Mumbai by 2029.

NATM is favoured for its flexibility in complex geological conditions like in Palghar district and irregular tunnel shapes where tunnel boring machines are not that suitable. This process does not require very heavy machinery and allows real time adaptation using shotcreting, rock bolts and lattice girders.

Workers’ safety inside the tunnel was ensured using various geotechnical instruments, real time monitoring, efficient fire safety measures, proper ventilation, and controlled access arrangements.

‎Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being “frightened and compromised”, alleging that he was being deliberately prevented from speaking in Parliament to avoid scrutiny of sensitive issues such as the Epstein files, the Adani case in the United States, and India’s recently concluded trade deal with Washington.

‎Speaking to reporters in the Parliament House complex after he said he was stopped from participating in the discussion on the President’s Address, Gandhi claimed that the Lok Sabha had been adjourned for the fourth time since Monday to prevent him from raising these matters.
‎“The Prime Minister is scared. He is frightened and compromised,” Gandhi alleged. “He is afraid of me speaking certain things in Parliament — which he knows and I know.”

‎The Congress leader suggested that possible future disclosures linked to the Epstein files, along with ongoing legal proceedings involving industrialist Gautam Adani in the US, were key “pressure points” for the Prime Minister.

‎Referring to the controversy over former Army chief General M M Naravane’s memoirs on the 2020 Ladakh face-off with China, Gandhi said the issue was being used as a diversion. “The Naravane issue is only a sideshow,” he said. “The main issue is something else, and that is what the Prime Minister is afraid of.”

‎Gandhi alleged that the Adani case had wider political implications for the ruling party. “This is not just about Adani. He is directly linked to the BJP’s financial structure. The real target is the Prime Minister and the BJP,” he said, claiming that Modi was under “tremendous pressure” and that his carefully cultivated public image “could burst anytime”.

‎He also mounted a sharp attack on the India-US trade deal signed recently, accusing the government of compromising national interests under external pressure. “By signing this deal, the Prime Minister has sold out the interests of farmers and betrayed their blood and sweat,” Gandhi said. He questioned why negotiations that had dragged on for months were concluded suddenly, adding that the agreement was finalised “for reasons known only to him and the Prime Minister”.

‎According to Gandhi, the deal was “not in the interest of the country” and had been signed under pressure.

‎Raising concerns over parliamentary procedure, Gandhi said for the first time in India’s history, a leader of the Opposition was not allowed to speak during the debate on the President’s Address. “This has never happened before. The leader of the Opposition is entitled to speak. There is no question of seeking ‘permission’,” he said, objecting to the presiding officer’s reference to allowing him to speak.

‎Earlier in the day, Gandhi had tabled an article linked to Naravane’s memoirs in the House but was interrupted soon after he began speaking. The Lok Sabha was adjourned repeatedly amid protests and disruptions. “The country should understand that the Prime Minister is compromised,” Gandhi reiterated. “The people of India must think who compromised him and how.”

Australia fast-bowling spearhead Pat Cummins, who was ruled out of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup due to a narrow injury timeline, has now set his focus firmly on getting fit in time for the Indian Premier League, starting March 26, and a demanding Test season later in the year.

Cummins was left out of Australia’s final 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup, starting February 7, due to a lingering back complaint. A minor setback during his recovery ultimately meant he ran out of time to push for selection.

“We’ll just be guided by my back. We’ll have another scan in a few weeks, and if it’s good, then we’ll have a slow build-up. T20s are a little bit easier to get up for, that’s why I was so close to getting up for this World Cup,” the Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper told Australian AP.

“It was really unfortunate. I feel pretty good, just a minor setback and just ran out of time really. I’ll rest up for a few weeks and go from there. We knew after the (Adelaide) Test match we were going to need somewhere between four and eight weeks to let the bone settle right down before then building back up.

“Initially, we thought it might only be four weeks, because I was feeling really good, but just had a follow-up scan. They thought it probably needs another couple of weeks, so the timeline just became a bit too tight,” he added.

Ensuring full fitness for the IPL is also seen as a crucial step in preparing for a packed ICC World Test Championship schedule in the second half of the year. Australia face a packed calendar, with a two-Test home series against Bangladesh and a three-Test tour of South Africa before the end of October. That is followed by four Tests against New Zealand and a five-match series against India before the current WTC cycle concludes.

“We thought the first half of the year was a pretty good time to be conservative with the amount of cricket that’s coming up. We’ll get it right, then hopefully that will mean you won’t have to worry about it, and you can just go out and play all those Test matches,” Cummins said.

“Whereas, if you’re not careful with it now and it flares up, you’re chasing your tail a bit.”

While Cummins works towards an IPL return, Australia head into the T20 World Cup without their captain, despite recent injury concerns and a T20I series loss to Pakistan. They remain among the favourites and are placed in Group B alongside Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman and co-hosts Sri Lanka.

Cummins believes the Pakistan series does not accurately reflect the quality within the Australian squad and expects a strong showing in Indian and Sri Lankan conditions.

“It wasn’t our greatest few games (in Pakistan), but the guys are coming off a strong Big Bash, and a couple of guys are coming back from injury for the World Cup,” Cummins said.

“Morale is good. Chatting to a few of the boys from afar … they know how big it is, they’re desperate to get started and get into it,” he added.

Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Tuesday when BJP members displayed banners demanding the establishment of the National Law University in Jammu. The National Conference and PDP MLAs countered them by raising the incidents of alleged harassment of Kashmiris in other states.

As the House assembled, BJP MLA Surjit Singh Salathia raised the issue of Jammu University students who are on the roads in support of the demand for the establishment of the NLU here.

“We are not against granting a separate NLU for Kashmir, but also want one such university for Jammu to fulfil the demand of the students of the region,” he said.

While Salathia was speaking, other BJP MLAs also stood up and displayed placards in support of the demand and raised slogans like “NLU for Jammu”.

Congress MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat objected to the display of placards and said the recent meeting of the business advisory committee decided to maintain the decorum of the House while raising any issue.

“The action of displaying placards by BJP legislators is similar to encroachment and intrusion, which is not acceptable. The government had granted permission for NLU in Kashmir following due process,” he said.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather continued with the Question Hour amid the noisy scenes and dismissed the adjournment motion moved by PDP MLA Wahid Para to discuss the incidents of “hate crime” against Kashmiris elsewhere in the country.

Amid the ruckus, National Conference legislator Mubarak Gul alleged that Kashmiri students and traders are facing harassment and assault in different parts of the country, which is not acceptable.

National Conference MLA Saifullah Mir alleged that dozens of Kashmiris living outside J&K are not allowed to move out of their accommodations and are facing assault if they come out, which needs government intervention.

The Speaker ruled that there is no question of an adjournment motion because the issues raised can be taken up through other means in an appropriate manner without disrupting the Question Hour, which can be used to make the government accountable.

He said the J&K government has already taken up the issue of harassment of Kashmiris with various state governments and is thankful to the Uttarakhand chief minister for taking immediate action in one such recent incident.

Earlier in the morning, the ruling National Conference (NC) MLAs staged a sit-in outside the assembly, pressing for immediate restoration of J&K’s statehood—an issue they noted was conspicuously absent from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s address on Monday. PDP’s Muntazir Mehdi joined the sit-in, aligning with demands for statehood and the protection of Kashmiri students nationwide.

In a first, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) has proposed to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the pollution control mechanism.

This is in line with the resolve of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to optimise effective and positive use of AI in every field.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Tuesday between the UP Pollution Control Board and the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Lucknow, in this regard.

As per the MoU, the IIIT will develop an AI-based monitoring and analytics tool that integrates web/PTZ camera feeds, Online Continuous Emission/Effluent Monitoring Systems (OCEEMS) data from STPs and industries, and Bio-Medical Waste.

The project shall be executed in three phases: consulting, implementation, and post-implementation.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr. R. P. Singh, Chairman UPPCB, and Dr. Arun Mohan Sherry, Director, IIIT Lucknow, by Sanjeev Kumar Singh, Member Secretary, UPPCB, and Dr. Deepak Kumar Singh, IIIT Lucknow.

Dr. Bindu Singh and Kumar Sindhurakshit from IIIT Lucknow, along with Mr. Anil Kumar Mathur from UPPCB, were present on the occasion.

Samajwadi Party (SP) National President Akhilesh Yadav has levelled serious allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre for playing with the interests of farmers.

He alleged that opening up the Indian market to American agricultural products and foodgrains is a direct betrayal of approximately 70 per cent of the population that depends on agriculture.

Posting on his social media account on Tuesday, Akhilesh Yadav said that the BJP, which talks about self-reliance and Swadeshi, should tell the public how much “commission” it has taken by compromising the country’s economy.

He alleged that this decision will not only affect farmers but also the lower middle class and middle class, as it will lead to increased profiteering in foodgrains and agricultural products and create a new class of middlemen, making everyday necessities more expensive.

He expressed apprehension that the entry of foreign companies would gradually reduce farmers’ income, forcing them to sell their land to big capitalists and corporate houses. Akhilesh Yadav alleged that seizing land is the ultimate goal of the BJP and its allies.

Akhilesh Yadav termed the proposed Seed Bill as dangerous for Indian agriculture, saying that it is a product of the same anti-farmer mindset that brought laws like land acquisition and humiliated farmers by making them stand in lines for fertilisers.

He alleged that commission will be taken at every level, from seed companies to pesticide companies, silo construction, crop insurance, minimum price fixing, and crop buying and selling, which could completely devastate agriculture in the Indian context.

Akhilesh Yadav claimed that farmers, already troubled by Minimum Retail Price (MRP) issues and stray cattle, will not tolerate any more injustices.

He called upon farmers to organise protests, alleging that the BJP has been attacking farmers in one form or another, year after year.

Following nationwide protests against the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) new regulations, the Supreme Court has stayed their implementation. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, students of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) held a protest march in support of the UGC (Promotion of Equality in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026.

After the march, the students sat on a dharna near the Women’s College, holding posters and banners. Seeing the large crowd, senior police officials, along with forces from several police stations, arrived at the scene. Members of the BHU Proctorial Board and security personnel were also deployed.

The students stated that the march was organized under the leadership of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, OBC, women, and disabled students to demand anti-discrimination rules and safe campuses in higher education.

The students gathered in large numbers at the Vishwanath Temple complex and marched to the Women’s College. They also distributed a letter on campus, making serious allegations of structural caste discrimination prevalent in higher education institutions.

The letter stated that for decades, students, researchers, teachers, and employees from the SC, ST, and OBC categories have faced humiliation, exclusion, micro-aggressions, and mental harassment in processes such as admissions, evaluations, research, fellowships, hostel allocation, appointments, and promotions.

Student Jitendra Yadav said, “The new regulations will eliminate inequality in higher educational institutions. The right to equality is for everyone. Discrimination on campus will be completely eradicated with the new regulations.”

Manish Chaudhary, a student associated with the SC/ST/OBC Unity Forum, said, “The new UGC regulations are for Dalits, backward classes, and tribals. Including OBCs in this is absolutely correct. No one should have any objection.”

Former student Sandeep Patel demanded the immediate formation of an Equality Committee Center in the university in accordance with the UGC guidelines and the issuance of a notification. In accordance with the rules, the committee must include representatives from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, women, and persons with disabilities to ensure adequate representation.

Furthermore, the grievance procedure, timelines, and contact details of the Equality Committee should be publicly displayed on the university’s websit

Reacting to the Supreme Court granting bail to three accused in the 2024 high-profile Porsche hit-and-run case in Pune, the family members of Anish Awadhiya, one of the two engineers killed in the incident, called for the cancellation of their bail.

Anish’s family lives in Birsinghpur Pali town of Madhya Pradesh’s Umaria district.

Speaking to some media persons on Tuesday, Anish’s father Omprakash Awadhiya said, “We want their bail to be cancelled so that we get justice.”

He alleged that the three accused, who were granted bail, had tampered with blood samples to shield the main accused.

The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to Aditya Sood, Ashish Mittal, and Santosh Gaikwad, accused of aiding the tampering of blood samples after the accident, noting that they had already spent 18 months in jail.

According to information, Mittal is a friend of the main accused’s father, Sood is the father of the boy who was seated on the rear seat of the car, and Gaikwad is a middleman who allegedly took Rs 3 lakh to manipulate the blood report.

The Bombay High Court had denied them bail in December last year.

Twenty-four-year-old software engineers Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta were killed in an accident in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar on May 19, 2024. Awadhiya was a resident of Birsinghpur Pali in Umaria district, while Koshta hailed from Jabalpur, both in MP.

All eyes will be on Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and rising star Esha Singh as pistol shooters kick off competition at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Ranges here on Wednesday, with medals on offer in the 10m air pistol events on the opening day of the Asian Championship Rifle/Pistol.

Manu and Esha headline a formidable Indian women’s line-up that will look to give the hosts an early advantage in the continental showpiece.

Manu, one of India’s most decorated pistol shooters and a proven performer on the biggest stages, returns to competition on home soil, while Esha continues to build on her reputation as one of the country’s most consistent finalists at major international events.

India will face stiff competition from Ho Ching Shing of Hong Kong, the world No. 4 and reigning world silver medallist, who has reached the Asian Championship final four times, including a silver medal finish in 2019. Cheng Yen-Ching of Chinese Taipei, ranked 16th in the world, could emerge as a dark horse after a promising debut season that included a fifth-place finish at the ISSF World Cup in Munich. Vietnam’s Thu Vinh Trinh, a two-time Asian bronze medallist and two-time Olympic finalist, further strengthens the women’s field.

Four finals are scheduled on the opening day, featuring senior men’s and women’s events along with the junior and youth men’s finals.

In the men’s competition, World Champion Samrat Rana will lead the Indian challenge alongside world No. 2 Varun Tomar and Sharvan Kumar, who finished 12th at the World Championship. They will be challenged by Kazakhstan’s Valeriy Rakhimzhan, Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Hsiang-Chen, and Uzbekistan’s Mukhammad Kamalov.

Junior and youth shooters will also take centre stage, with India fielding a strong contingent across categories as the hosts look to make an impact throughout the championship.

India entered the largest squad of the competition with 118 athletes, followed by Kazakhstan with 35. Strong teams from Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam and Hong Kong are also expected to challenge for top honours.

A gunfight broke out between the security forces and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists this afternoon in the forests of Basantgarh in the Udhampur district, officials said.

Reports said that two to three JeM terrorists are trapped in the joint cordon of the security forces.

The White Knight Corps of the Indian Army informed on X: “In an intelligence based joint Operation, contact has been established with the terrorists by the troops of CIF Delta, White Knight Corps, J&K Police and CRPF at around 4 pm today in the general area of Basantgarh. Cordon has been established. Firefight is on. Operation is in progress”.

It is worth mentioning that the Army has launched a massive operation to flush out Pakistani terrorists hiding in the mountains of the Kishtwar, Doda, Udhampur and Kathua districts of the Jammu division. As a result of which the terrorists were fleeing from their hideouts.

The GOC White Knight Corps, accompanied by GOC Counter Infiltration Force (CIF-Delta), visited the general area of Kishtwar on Monday to review the counter-terrorism grid and assess the operational preparedness of units deployed in the region. He was briefed on the prevailing security situation, with focused discussions on strengthening the security framework and enhancing coordination among all stakeholders.

Commending the troops of Delta Force for their steadfast resolve, high morale and unwavering commitment to peace and stability, the GOC urged all ranks to remain vigilant, agile and mission-ready at all times.