With the electoral drumbeats growing louder in Bengal, Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Friday turned a public meeting at Taherpur in Nadia into a high-voltage political battleground. Framing the contest as a fight between “Delhi’s power centres” and the people of Bengal, Mr Banerjee accused constitutional and central agencies of being weaponised to intimidate voters and silence opposition voices.

Addressing a packed gathering, Mr Banerjee alleged that the Election Commission was harassing ordinary citizens under the pretext of electoral processes, while central investigative agencies were being deployed selectively to muzzle political rivals. “The Commission is troubling common people, and the ED is throttling the voice of the opposition,” he charged, drawing loud applause from the crowd.

His criticism of the Election Commission was equally caustic. Referring to the ongoing SIR (Special Intensive Revision) exercise, Mr Banerjee alleged that the process was creating undue pressure on voters, particularly the elderly. “People who cannot even walk properly, men and women aged 80 or 85, are being summoned in the name of hearings,” he said. “This is nothing but harassment of common citizens.”

Escalating his offensive against the BJP, Mr Banerjee also took up the issue of welfare schemes, particularly Lakshmir Bhandar, the state government’s flagship direct benefit programme for women. Responding to criticism from BJP leaders, he said, “Who is imprisoning whom will be clear the day the ballot boxes are opened.” He then threw down a direct challenge, declaring that the BJP would be defeated “10-0 goals” in the coming political contest.

From the same platform, he set an ambitious target for his party ~ winning all 17 Assembly segments in Nadia district ~ signalling confidence and intent as the campaign gathers momentum.

The Matua community and the long-pending issue of citizenship also found prominent mention in his speech. Mr Banerjee challenged the BJP to an open debate on the Citizenship Amendment Act, daring the saffron party to account for its record. “You bring your 11-year report card, we will bring our 15-year report card. Decide the venue,” he said, in a direct swipe at the Centre’s claims of governance.

A major fire broke out at the Gangasagar Mela site in the early hours of Friday, just ahead of the start of the annual pilgrimage, triggering panic and raising serious questions over fire safety arrangements at one of the country’s largest religious congregations.

According to police and administrative sources, the fire broke out around 4.30 a.m. at a cluster of temporary thatched sheds near Road No. 2, close to the Kapil Muni temple and the No. 2 bathing ghat. The sheds, constructed mainly of hogla leaves, bamboo and plastic sheets, were quickly engulfed by flames due to the highly inflammable materials used. Within minutes, the fire spread to several adjoining structures, reducing multiple temporary shelters to ashes.

These sheds were not meant for pilgrims but had been erected for administrative and support purposes during the mela. Several camps belonging to the police, the information and cultural affairs department, Media organisations and NGOs, including the Bajrang Parishad, were among those gutted. The NGO camps are primarily involved in assisting pilgrims and tracing missing persons during the fair. Fire brigade officials said that multiple fire tenders, including two engines and five fire-fighting bikes, were rushed to the spot soon after the incident was reported. After nearly 30 to 40 minutes of intense effort, firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control, preventing it from spreading further towards densely crowded areas.

Senior administrative officials, including Sagar block development officer Kanaiyakumar Ray and police personnel from Gangasagar Coastal police station, reached the site to oversee the situation. While no casualties have been reported so far, officials fear that the extent of material damage is significant. “The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. It could be due to a short circuit or some other reason. A detailed investigation is underway,” a fire department official said.

The incident occurred barely a day after infrastructure and facilities for the mela, were formally made operational, and just before the official start of the pilgrims start to arrive. The timing of the fire has intensified concerns over preparedness, fire prevention measures and overall safety at the fair, which draws lakhs of pilgrims from across the country every year.

Meanwhile, the fire incident comes close on the heels of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent announcement at Gangasagar, where she laid the foundation stone for a four-lane bridge over the Muriganga river. The Rs 1,700-crore cable-stayed bridge project, aimed at improving connectivity to Sagar Island, has already seen 80 per cent land acquisition completed, with the remaining expected soon. The project has undergone extensive technical studies by IIT Guwahati and IIT Kanpur.

As the Gangasagar Mela begins, authorities now face renewed pressure to ensure robust safety and emergency response mechanisms to prevent similar incidents during the peak pilgrimage period.

A day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at the office of I-PAC in connection with the alleged coal smuggling case, Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) has issued a statement calling it ‘unfortunate.’

While expressing ‘serious concern’ over the raids by ED at its office, I-PAC clarified that it extended full cooperation to the probing authorities during the searches and would continue to function following the ‘highest standards of professional integrity.’

The statement read: “It was a difficult and unfortunate day for a professional organisation like I-PAC. We believe this raises serious concerns and sets an unsettling precedent. Regardless, we have extended full cooperation and will continue to do so as required, engaging with the process in complete accordance and respect for the law. We have always upheld the highest standards of professional integrity in all that we do. Despite what transpired yesterday, we remain fully committed to continuing our work unfazed and unperturbed, with consistency and accountability guided by the same purpose that has shaped us from the start.”

The Enforcement Directorate had carried out searches at the I-PAC office and at the residence of its Director, Pratik Jain, in Kolkata, yesterday. However, while ED was conducting the search proceedings, the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the residence of Pratik Jain.

The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that the CM entered Jain’s residential premises while the search operation was ongoing. It has further accused Banerjee of taking away “key evidence,” including physical documents and electronic devices from the spot.

ED raids on I-PAC ignite high political drama

The ED raids at I-PAC office have triggered a huge political row in the state. Mamata Banerjee took to the streets in Kolkata earlier today and led a protest rally against the central agency. Many senior party leaders, ministers, MPs, MLAs, and supporters took part in the march that started from the 8B Bus Stand area.

Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), CM Mamata Banerjee said, “I never react, but if anyone hurts me, I never spare them.” She further said that she had never seen any party like the BJP before.
She accused the BJP of misusing central agencies for political vendetta.

| TMC Protest Against ED | TMC Chairperson and West Bengal Chief Minister #MamataBanerjee leads rally against the #ED today, following the raid on I-PAC yesterday.
Read More-https://t.co/jfD4RvphJE @MamataOfficial | #TMCvsED #TMC #WestBengal #BengalPolls #IPACraid… pic.twitter.com/i8wXn5Wftg

— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) January 9, 2026

Also, AITC MPs had held a massive protest outside Home Minister Amit Shah’s office in New Delhi, against the Enforcement Directorate action at the I-PAC office in Kolkata. The MPs described as politically motivated. Eight MPs were detained by Delhi Police as the protest intensified.

Breaking News

Eight AITC MPs were detained by Delhi Police on Friday after staging a dharna outside Home Minister Amit Shah’s office in New Delhi.

The protest was held against recent Enforcement Directorate raids on the I-PAC office in Kolkata, which the MPs described as… pic.twitter.com/2dBnAPzPAb

— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) January 9, 2026

Also read: BJP targets Mamata on ‘seizing’ documents, but has the proverbial ‘fighter’ just landed a poll weapon?

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has adopted a strict stance on the law and order situation in the state and made it clear that negligence in controlling crime will not be tolerated at any level.

The Chief Minister said that in police station areas where crime is not brought under effective control, accountability of the concerned officers will be fixed and, if required, stringent action such as demotion will also be taken against them.

The Chief Minister was interacting with mediapersons on Friday after the pre-Budget consultation meeting.

Saini said that he has stated earlier as well that the Haryana Police is a strong and capable force. However, if crime or the illegal drug trade is increasing in any area, the concerned Superintendents of Police and Station House Officers will have to seriously introspect.

Holding periodic review meetings, identifying the root causes of problems, and finding concrete solutions are the responsibilities of the officers concerned, he said.

He said that when common citizens, especially women, complain about crime or illegal activities in an area, it is the duty of the police and the administration to take immediate and effective action.

The Chief Minister reiterated that maintaining law and order is the government’s top priority and that no laxity of any kind will be tolerated in this regard.

Saini directed officers to intensify the campaign against crime and drugs so that people are provided with a safe environment and good governance is ensured in the state.

Former Mizoram Governor and BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan said on Friday that the investigation into the Sabarimala gold theft, whether it is a minister or a Thantri, should be carried out in the right direction.

Speaking to media persons here, he asked what happened after questioning former Devaswom Kadakampally Surendran. There are some doubts in this investigation. Rajasekharan said that the government’s stance against the investigation by central agencies is mysterious.

The BJP leader’s statement came after the arrest of the Sabarimala temple Thantri, Kandararu Rajeevaru, in the Sabarimala gold heist case on Friday.

“The investigation into the Sabarimala gold robbery case should go in its right direction. The law should take its course. Whoever it is. Whether it is a minister or a Thantri. But many doubts are arising in this investigation,” he said.

Kummanam pointed out that it is doubtful whether the investigation has delved into the crucial issues of this case.

“There is a political agenda in this. Why is the SIT unable to bring many leaders of the CPM to justice? The devotees suspect that some manipulation has taken place in this,” Kummanam said.

He said that it is shocking that a person who was the Thantri of the temple was arrested when only a few days are left for the Makaravilakku at Sabarimala.

Kummanam Rajasekharan’s statement reflects the BJP’s long-standing demand for a transparent and impartial investigation into the Sabarimala gold theft case, regardless of the individuals involved, including a former minister or the temple Thantri.

He argued the state government’s stance is ambiguous and alleges that political interference has hindered the probe.

He describes the government’s position as ambiguous, aligning with the opposition’s claims that the Chief Minister’s office has interfered with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to shield high-ranking party members.

Citing alleged national and international connections, the BJP has consistently urged a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The death toll has increased to 13 people, including the driver, who were killed after a private bus en route from Shimla-Solan to Kupvi plunged into a deep gorge near Haripurdhar in Himachal Pradesh, officials said on Friday. The death toll may rise, as rescue and identification efforts are still underway.

Naresh Chauhan, Principal Media Advisor to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, said that according to the information received so far, the bus skidded off the road and fell nearly 100 metres into a gorge.

“As per the information available at present, this was a private bus going from Solan to Kupvi. Near Haripurdhar, the bus fell off the road and plunged about 100 metres into a gorge, resulting in the death of 13 people. The driver is also among those who lost their lives,” Chauhan said. He added that the cause of the accident is being investigated.

“The cause of the accident is being probed. According to the police, so far 22 injured passengers have been shifted by police and administrative teams to different hospitals,” he said.

Chauhan said, “Around 40 people were believed to be travelling in the bus, though the exact number may be higher. It is being reported that there were around 40 people in the bus. This number could be more, as some passengers who were safe may have gone to hospitals on their own or returned home immediately after the accident, and efforts are underway to identify all passengers and ensure proper medical care for the injured.”

“Those who are injured are being provided treatment. The state machinery ensures medical facilities are available in hospitals during such incidents. Officers have reached the spot, and relief and rescue work is still in progress,” Chauhan added.

Expressing condolences, he said, “The government expresses its condolences to all the bereaved families. Our first priority is to ensure that the injured receive immediate medical treatment and are taken to hospitals, and that formal confirmation of the deceased and injured is done after initial rescue operations.”

“Immediately after such accidents, the priority is to treat the injured. After that, the bodies are handed over to the families after completing post-mortem formalities. The reason behind the accident will be established after a detailed investigation,” he added.

He reiterated that 13 deaths have been confirmed so far, but the toll could increase as more information comes in.

The Budget Session of Parliament will commence on January 28 and continue till April 2, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced on Friday, setting the stage for the presentation and passage of the Union Budget on February 1.

In a post on social media platform X, Rijiju said the session had been convened following the President’s approval.

“On the recommendation of the Government of India, President Droupadi Murmu has approved the summoning of both Houses of Parliament for the Budget Session 2026,” he said, adding that the session would begin on January 28 and conclude on April 2.

The session will open with the President addressing a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on January 28. The Economic Survey is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament on January 29.

The Budget Session marks a significant milestone for Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who will present her eighth consecutive Union Budget, outlining the nation’s fiscal roadmap and policy priorities.

The session will break for a recess on February 13 to allow parliamentary standing committees time to scrutinise the demands for grants of various ministries. The second phase of the session will resume on March 9 and continue until the final adjournment on April 2.

Emphasising the importance of the session, Minister Rijiju described the coming weeks as a crucial opportunity for “meaningful debate and people-centric governance.”

Beyond the presentation of the Budget, the session is expected to be a busy legislative period, with lawmakers deliberating on the Finance Bill and the Appropriation Bill—both essential for authorising government expenditure—along with a review of the country’s overall economic performance.

With several key legislative proposals also likely to be introduced, the Budget Session is set to play a critical role in shaping India’s economic and policy landscape for the 2026–27 fiscal year.

The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) on Friday issued closure directions to 16 industrial units located across the National Capital Region (NCR) after detailed inspections revealed gross and persistent violations.

These inspections were carried out as part of the Commission’s continuous and intensified enforcement drive to curb air pollution and ensure strict compliance with statutory directions.

“Of the 16 industrial units, one is located in Uttar Pradesh (NCR), one in Rajasthan (NCR) and the remaining 14 units are in Sonipat district of Haryana,” the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said on Friday.

The inspections revealed a range of serious environmental violations, including establishment and operation without obtaining mandatory Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO), as mandated under extant statutes; non-installation or non-functioning of Air Pollution Control Devices (APCDs); use of unapproved fuels; operation of units during restricted periods under GRAP; non-compliance of diesel generator (DG) sets with prescribed norms and visible smoke and emissions from industrial processes.

In several cases, the units were found operating in blatant disregard of extant statutes, statutory directions and environmental norms.

The CAQM has taken a serious view of these lapses and has directed the immediate closure of the defaulting units until requisite compliance with extant statutes and statutory directions is attained.

The Commission reiterated that non-compliance will not be tolerated and that strict enforcement actions, including closure and other penal actions as per law, shall continue against defaulting industrial units.

All industries operating in the NCR are once again urged to strictly adhere to prescribed environmental norms, ensure proper installation and operation of APCDs and ensure compliance at all times.

Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, is participating in the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026, being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from January 10-18.

The 9-day mega fair is being organised by the National Book Trust, an autonomous organisation of the Government of India under the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with India Trade Promotion Organisation.

Aligning with the Book Fair’s theme of “Indian Military History: Valour & Wisdom @ 75”, Publications Division is set to captivate visitors and book lovers with a diverse array of books in English, Hindi, and other Indian languages.

The books in the offering are bound to enrapture the minds of the bibliophiles visiting the fair.

The display also includes books on diverse topics such as art and culture, history, cinema, personalities and biographies, land and people, Gandhian literature and children’s literature, among others.

The Division’s premium range of books comprises ‘Rashtrapati Bhavan Series’, ‘Selected Speeches of President, Vice President and Prime Minister’, ‘The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi’ and ‘Collected Works of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya’ etc.

In addition to its riveting selection of books, Publications Division is also showcasing its popular and widely circulated journals Yojana, Kurukshetra, Aajkal, and Bal Bharti at the fair.

Visitors can also purchase annual subscriptions of journals and Employment News/Rozgar Samachar published by the Division.

The New Delhi World Book Fair is one of the most awaited events of the publishing world, which attracts participation from major publishing houses across the globe.

Besides grabbing their favorite reads, the visitors can also witness various other activities taking place on the sidelines of the fair, such as Author’s Connect, Yuva Corner, Child Authors’ Corner and other cultural events.

The Publications Division will be showcasing its books and journals at Stall Number D-08, Hall Number 5, Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

A joint team of the Surveillance Unit of West Lucknow and Police Station Chowk has arrested a wanted KGMU doctor carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head for allegedly committing serious crimes, including repeated rape on the pretext of marriage, forcing abortion without consent, and coercing religious conversion.

Acting on the orders of the Police Commissioner, Lucknow, and under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Vishwajeet Srivastava and Additional DCP Dhananjay Singh Kushwaha, the operation was carried out under the guidance of ACP Chowk Rajkumar Singh. The arrest was led by Inspector-in-Charge Chowk, Nagesh Upadhyay.

On December 23, 2025, the victim, a junior female medical student at KGMU, Lucknow, filed a complaint alleging that her senior doctor had established physical relations with her by promising marriage. She further alleged that the accused forced her to undergo an abortion without her consent and pressured her to convert her religion. Based on this complaint, Case Crime No. 302/2025 was registered at Police Station Chowk under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021, against accused Dr Ramizuddin Nayak alias Ramiz, son of Salimuddin.

During investigation, it emerged that the accused had committed similar offenses against another female medical student, including rape, forced abortion, and religious conversion. Evidence also revealed the involvement of the accused’s family members in pressuring the victim and attempting to forcibly arrange her marriage with the accused’s son. Consequently, additional serious sections of law were added to the case.

Earlier on January 5, 2026, the accused’s parents — Salimuddin (approx. 70 years) and Khateeba (approx. 67 years), residents of Khatima, Udham Singh Nagar district, Uttarakhand — were arrested and sent to judicial custody.

The main accused, Dr Ramizuddin Nayak alias Ramiz (31), a habitual and cunning offender, had been absconding continuously since the registration of the case. Due to his prolonged evasion, the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime and Headquarters), Lucknow, had announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for his arrest.

Based on information from informers and electronic surveillance, the joint police team arrested the wanted accused on Friday, at around 2:40 PM near the City Station gate in Lucknow. At the time of arrest, he was residing in a rented flat in the Thakurganj area of Lucknow, while his permanent address is in Pilibhit district, Uttar Pradesh.

Further legal proceedings are underway, and information regarding other criminal cases registered against the accused is being collected.

As many as 38 men’s and 38 women’s teams from 26 states, six Union Territories, four institutional units and three associate member associations will compete in the 58th Senior National Kho Kho Championship (2025–26), scheduled from January 11 to 15 at the Railway Stadium in Kazipet, Telangana.

This year, the Central Armed Police Forces will field a combined CAPFs team, with players from ITBP and SSB competing together in both men’s and women’s categories. The All India Police Sports Control Board (AIPSCB) team will comprise players from state police forces of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Punjab.

The participating Union Territories are Jammu & Kashmir, Puducherry, Delhi, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Chandigarh and Ladakh. Institutional teams include Airports Authority of India (AAI), Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB), AIPSCB and CAPFs, while Kolhapur, Vidarbha and Madhya Bharat will compete as Associate Member Associations.

“Best talents from all across the nation are competing in the Senior Nationals. Kho Kho is a modern competitive global sport that offers unmatched thrill and action-packed entertainment,” said Sudhanshu Mittal, President, Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI).

The championship will follow a league-cum-knockout format, with pre-quarterfinals and quarterfinals on January 14, and semifinals and finals on January 15. Matches will be played in morning and afternoon sessions under floodlights across six courts, including four mat courts.

The 57th edition, held at Puri last year, saw RSPB win the men’s title and Maharashtra clinch the women’s crown.

Star shuttler PV Sindhu carried valuable momentum into the upcoming India Open by advancing to the semifinals of the women’s singles at the Malaysia Open after her quarterfinal clash against Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi was abruptly ended, following an injury retirement by her opponent at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

Two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu was firmly in control, leading 21-11, when reigning world champion Yamaguchi, hampered by a knee injury, informed the chair umpire that she could not continue. The Japanese player, who walked in wearing a knee brace, struggled with movement from the outset as Sindhu raced to a 10-2 lead and dictated the rallies.

Although Yamaguchi attempted to slow the Indian down by pushing her deep into the backcourt, her limited mobility and mounting unforced errors prevented any sustained comeback. Sindhu needed just 12 minutes to pocket the opening game before her opponent conceded, handing the Indian her first Super 1000 semifinal appearance in three years.

The result comes at an opportune time for Sindhu, who is sharpening her form ahead of the India Open, where she will be looking to build on this encouraging run. The semifinal spot in Kuala Lumpur is also her first at the Malaysia Open in eight years, underlining a timely resurgence as the BWF World Tour moves to home soil next.

Sindhu will face either Indonesia’s sixth seed Putri Kusuma Wardani or second-seeded Chinese Wang Zhi Yi for a place in the final.

Earlier in the tournament, Sindhu had defeated 19-year-old Japanese shuttler Tomoka Miyazaki 21-8, 21-13 in just 33 minutes, marking her first Super 1000 quarterfinal of the season and setting the tone for a confidence-boosting week ahead of the India Open.

Later on Friday, India’s top pairing of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy will also look to carry form into the India Open as they take on Indonesia’s sixth-seeded duo Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri in the quarters.

The third-seeded Indians reached the quarterfinals with a solid 21-18, 21-11 win over Malaysia’s Junaidi Arif and Roy King Yap in 39 minutes on Thursday, extending their head-to-head advantage over the Malaysians to 4–0.

India’s campaign in Kuala Lumpur, however, saw an early setback in women’s doubles, with Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand suffering a first-round exit. The Indian pair went down 21-9, 21-23, 21-19 to Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Meilysa Trias Puspita Sari on Wednesday.

Authorities in Ayodhya have completely banned the sale of non-vegetarian food items within the perimeter of the Ram Temple and the Panchkosi Parikrama route.

This ban will now not only apply to hotels, restaurants, and shops, but also to online food delivery companies.

The administration has informed hotel owners, shopkeepers, guest houses, homestays, and online food delivery companies about the order and has warned of strict action against those who violate the rules.

Assistant Food Commissioner Manik Chandra Singh said here on Friday that the sale of non-vegetarian food was already banned in and around the Ram Temple area, but some hotels, guest houses, and homestays were not complying.

Complaints were received that tourists were being served non-vegetarian food ordered through online delivery services, he said.

In light of this, the administration has now also banned online delivery of non-vegetarian food in the Ram Temple area and its surroundings. All concerned establishments and online delivery companies have been informed of this order. The administration will strictly enforce this order, conduct regular monitoring, and take strong action against violators, the official said.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said here on Friday that workers of both NCPs, led by himself as well as his uncle Sharad Pawar, wish to “reunite” and that tensions within the Pawar family have been “sorted out”, six days ahead of the municipal elections scheduled to begin on January 15.

“Workers of both parties want to unite. The two NCPs are together now. All tensions in our family have ended,” Ajit Pawar told media persons on Friday evening, adding that the two parties have decided to jointly contest the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation election.

NCP Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, daughter of NCP founder Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar’s cousin, also confirmed that the two NCPs have come together for the Pimpri-Chinchwad polls, responding to demands by party workers. She, however, said, “There has been no discussion on whether this alliance with Ajit Pawar will continue.”

Ajit Pawar and his cousin Supriya Sule, who is the working president of Sharad Pawar group, will appear together for the first time on Saturday to unveil a joint manifesto of both the NCPs for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections.

“We can understand that the absence of Sharad Pawar NCP leaders in the election campaign was sending a wrong message among party workers and voters. Now, this will end as NCP chief Ajit Pawar, along with Sule, will together unveil the alliance’s election manifesto. This is the first time that the two will be sharing the political stage after the party split a few years ago,” Pune NCP executive chief Pradeep Deshmukh said.

Supriya Sule also refuted rumours of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP joining Maharashtra’s BJP-led government and her taking charge as a minister at the Centre. “Let those who are happy with such rumours spread it,” she said.

Sule went on to attack the BJP for “sowing the seeds of divisions among small parties to break them”. She criticised the developments in West Bengal where the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched the political consultancy firm I-PAC.

“Pollution, potholes and traffic problems are at their peak in Mumbai. No work has been done on the ground. The public and voters are troubled by the mismatched alliances happening in Maharashtra. How are so many leaders being elected unopposed? This is a disturbing trend,” Supriya Sule told media persons.

Odisha has become the second state after Rajasthan to offer a high level of transparency in grid substation and bay availability with the launch of the Odisha Grid Insight (OGrI) Portal (ogri.optcl.co.in), providing a transparent and unified digital view of the state’s transmission network.

The OGrI Portal offers comprehensive technical and geographical information on all 201 grid substations across Odisha. For DISCOMs and power generation companies, the portal provides valuable insights into installed transformation capacity, existing load, available margins, spare bay availability, and power take-off arrangements, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister, who launched the portal, said on Friday.

With the integration of the SANJOG application, the portal will function as a single unified platform for DISCOMs to avail new 33 kV connections in a more informed, transparent, and efficient manner. Beyond the power sector, the portal will greatly benefit investors and industrial units by offering authentic and reliable information on power availability at various locations across the state, thereby enabling informed and timely investment decisions.

Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the OGrI Portal reflects the state government’s commitment to transparency, system efficiency, and ease of doing business in the power sector. He emphasised that such digital initiatives will strengthen coordination among transmission, generation, and distribution utilities, leading to a reliable power supply and sustainable growth of Odisha’s energy ecosystem.

The event was also attended by Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma, Chairman and Managing Director of Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL), along with senior officers from OPTCL.

Days after the National Medical Commission (NMC) withdrew permission to run the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board medical college here, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Friday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the progress of ongoing and proposed health infrastructure projects across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He reiterated that strengthening healthcare facilities remains a top public service priority of the government.

The meeting was attended by the Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works Department; Secretary, Health and Medical Education; Director, SKIMS; Managing Director, NHM; Principals of Government Medical Colleges; Directors of Health Services, Kashmir and Jammu; Managing Director, HSCC; Chief Engineers of R&B; and other senior officers.

The review covered a wide spectrum of projects being executed by the Health and Medical Education Department, including works related to Government Medical Colleges, SKIMS, Dental Colleges, Health Services, SASCI projects, and flagship centrally sponsored schemes such as PM-ABHIM and ECRP-II.

Undertaking a comprehensive project-wise review, the Chief Secretary examined the physical and financial progress, utilisation of funds, and issues hampering timely execution. He issued directions to expedite approvals, resolve inter-departmental bottlenecks—particularly those related to land and utilities—and ensure strict adherence to timelines and quality standards.

Additional Chief Secretary, PWD, Anil Kumar Singh took note of project-wise deadlines and issued on-the-spot directions to Chief Engineers to resolve site-specific bottlenecks to ensure uninterrupted progress of works. Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Dr Syed Abid Rashid Shah, presented an overview of progress achieved since the last review meeting and outlined the department’s mechanism for regular monitoring of projects.

A detailed review was conducted of major infrastructure projects at Government Medical Colleges in Jammu and Srinagar and their associated hospitals, including the construction of the Bone and Joint Hospital, Jammu, and the expansion of tertiary care facilities. The progress of works at Indira Gandhi Government Dental College and Hospital, Jammu, was also reviewed, with emphasis on strengthening dental education and patient care infrastructure.

The Chief Secretary also reviewed the status of new Government Medical Colleges at Anantnag, Doda, Kathua, Udhampur and Handwara, directing executing agencies to strictly adhere to approved timelines. At GMC Anantnag, the construction of a 249-bedded Mother and Child Care Hospital at MMABM Associated Hospital was discussed.

At GMC Udhampur, issues related to space constraints for a sanctioned 50-bedded Critical Care Block under ECRP-II were reviewed. Directions were issued for early completion of NOC formalities for the transfer of ITI land and buildings to facilitate hospital expansion. Infrastructure works at GMC Rajouri, including parking facilities, strengthening of electrical systems, and hostels for resident doctors, were also reviewed.

Critical tertiary care infrastructure projects at SKIMS Soura and SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, were discussed, with the Chief Secretary directing that these high-value projects be executed seamlessly to support advanced healthcare delivery in the Valley.

Under Health Services, major works—including the 100-bedded Mother and Child Care Hospital at Lamberi (Rajouri), upgradation of SDH Billawar to 100 beds, a 50-bedded hospital at Sunderbani, upgradation of the 100-bedded hospital at Nowshera, and the 125-bedded District Hospital at Reshipora, Budgam—were reviewed. It was noted that these projects would significantly strengthen secondary- and district-level healthcare services across J&K.

The Chief Secretary directed the department to rationalise non-starter and slow-moving projects, drop unviable works after due approval, and re-propose them under appropriate funding windows to prevent blockage of funds.

A detailed presentation was also made by HSCC on the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) and ECRP-II. Reiterating that timely completion of health infrastructure projects is crucial for improving service delivery, the Chief Secretary directed all stakeholders to maintain close coordination to ensure tangible outcomes on the ground and meet deadlines without delay.

The Kochi unit of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday registered an ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report), under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). in the Sabarimala temple gold heist after the Union government gave its consent on Thursday.

The Central probe agency is expected to name all those currently under investigation by the SIT as accused. The ED has filed a case against more than 15 people, including former Devaswom presidents A Padmakumar and N Vasu. Thantri Rajeevaru, who was arrested by the SIT on Friday, will also be included in the ED’s list of accused.

So far, the SIT arrested 12 accused, all currently in judicial custody.

By invoking the provisions of the PMLA, the ED has widened the scope of investigation to trace the alleged proceeds of crime and examine possible money laundering. The agency is expected to move swiftly to complete initial procedures, including the freezing of assets linked to the accused.

Earlier, the SIT handed over the FIR-related documents and witness statements to the ED following directions from the Kollam Vigilance Court.

The ED had received information that a large amount of black money was involved in the Sabarimala gold loot. It suspects not only domestic laundering of the proceeds of the crime but also possible international transactions linked to the gold misappropriation.

The timing of the ED’s action has attracted attention from political circles, as it comes close to the build-up to the next Assembly elections. Political observers say further action, including property attachment or custodial interrogation, could have wider political implications in the state.