News Highlights: Veteran Himachal BJP leader Kishan Kapoor dies at 73; CM, governor pay tribute

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10:40 PM

Karnataka CM's political adviser B R Patil resigns

MLA B R Patil resigned on Saturday from the post of political adviser to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Patil, who represents Aland constituency in Kalaburagi district, was appointed as adviser on December 29, 2023. He submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister's Office in Bengaluru today.

10:18 PM

Delhi polls: U'khand CM Dhami targets Kejriwal over corruption, women's security during rally

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday hit out at AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal ahead of the upcoming Delhi assembly polls, alleging that while Kejriwal talks about women's security, a woman MP from his own party was beaten up at his residence. Addressing an election rally in northwest Delhi's Rithala, Dhami claimed that the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand would benefit the entire country in the future.

9:52 PM

Modi, Kejriwal alike; both came to power on basis of lies: Priyanka Gandhi

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday stepped up her attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, saying they were both alike and came to power on the basis of "lies". In an apparent jibe at Modi and Kejriwal, she said while one was busy handing over the country to "Adani-Ambani", the other was busy building 'mahals (palaces)'.

9:47 PM

Delegation of foreign diplomats visits Maha Kumbh

A delegation of 73 diplomats and foreign guests from different countries arrived at the Maha Kumbh at Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj on Saturday. The diplomats expressed happiness at the arrangements made for the trip, a UP government said in a statement. Recalling her long association with India, mbassador of the Republic of Lithuania to India, Diana Mickeviciene, said, "I always wanted to come here but never got the opportunity to visit any Kumbh. Today is the time of this special and auspicious Maha Kumbh, and it is my good fortune that I am in India." "This scene is a pleasure for my eyes and soul. I will take a holy bath here," she said.

8:37 PM

Trump fires Rohit Chopra, director of US CFPB

Trump has fired Rohit Chopra, director of the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

8:36 PM

Remain vigilant: EC tells Delhi poll officials ahead of elections

Ahead of the February 5 assembly polls, the EC on Saturday asked its election machinery in Delhi to hold meetings with top police officials to handle law-and-order situations in the most critical 72 hours before voting concludes. In its directions to the Delhi chief electoral officer, the Election Commission (EC) also said close tracking should be maintained by all enforcement agencies for all forms of misuse of money power and inducement to voters.

8:31 PM

CBI files supplementary charge sheet in online trading scam in Assam

The CBI filed a second supplementary charge sheet on Saturday against alleged mastermind of Rs 400 crore ponzi scam Deepankar Barman through his company in DB Stock Consultancy where deposits of gullible investors were siphoned away in Assam, officials said. Burman, who was arrested on October 27 from Goa, had been collecting deposits in the name of five unregulated deposit schemes promising fixed higher returns, the CBI has alleged in its chargesheet filed before a special court in Guwahati.

8:10 PM

Veteran Himachal BJP leader Kishan Kapoor dies at 73

Leaders across Himachal Pradesh paid rich tributes to Kishan Kapoor, a five-time BJP MLA and former Lok Sabha member, who passed away at the age of 73 at PGI Chandigarh on Saturday. He is survived by his wife, Rekha Kapoor, a son and a daughter.

8:03 PM

Karnataka govt forms panel to probe land encroachment in Ramanagara

The Karnataka government has constituted a five-member committee to probe the encroachment of government land in Ramanagara district. It is alleged that a powerful politician has encroached the land in Bidadi, Ramanagara district. A government order issued on January 28 stated that the panel headed by Bengaluru Regional Commissioner Amlan Aditya Biswas was formed following a High Court directive to investigate the encroachment in survey numbers 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, and 79 of Kethaganahalli in Bidadi, Ramanagara district.

7:35 PM

Munambam judicial panel temporarily winds up operations

The Justice Ramachandran Nair Commission, appointed by the Kerala government to look into the Munambam land dispute, has temporarily wound up its operations. The decision came after the state government told the High Court that the commission was neither a judicial nor a quasi-judicial body and had no power to enforce its recommendations. Confirming the reports, Justice C N Ramachandran Nair told PTI that the functioning of the commission has been halted until the High Court pronounces the final verdict in the petition challenging its appointment.

6:58 PM

Gross GST revenue rises 12.3% to about Rs 1.96 trn in January

Gross Goods and services tax revenue rises 12.3 per cent to about Rs 1.96 trillion in January, shows government data.

 

6:36 PM

Andhra CM pledges to irrigate every acre in Rayalaseema region Sambepalli

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said that his lifelong desire is to irrigate every acre in the Rayalaseema region of the state to repay his debt as the son of the soil. Addressing a public meeting at Sambepalli village in Annamayya district, the Chief Minister said he must complete this mission started by the former CM of the united state, N T Rama Rao.

6:15 PM

Eight outgoing AAP MLAs join BJP ahead of Delhi polls

Eight outgoing AAP MLAs joined the BJP here on Saturday, with only four days to go for the February 5 Delhi Assembly polls All the eight MLAs resigned from the primary membership of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday, citing reasons like alleged corruption and the Arvind Kejriwal-led party's deviation from its ideology. All the eight legislators were denied poll tickets by the AAP this time.

6:01 PM

18 security personnel, 23 terrorists killed in Pakistan's restive Balochistan

At least 18 security personnel and 23 terrorists were killed during clashes between the two sides in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province. The military said the terrorists were killed in different areas of troubled Balochistan in the last 24 hours. In one such operation in Harnai district on Saturday, national troops effectively engaged the terrorists, killing 11 militants and destroying multiple terrorist hideouts.

5:32 PM

Carmakers see mild uptick in sales to dealers in January

India's overall car sales to dealers saw a slight increase in January, data released by automakers on Saturday showed, as inflation-wary customers continued to delay purchases. Domestic sales of India's top four carmakers - which form 80% of the country's car market - rose 1.8% from a year ago, helped by sales of market leader Maruti Suzuki's small cars and Mahindra & Mahindra's sports utility vehicles. Peers Hyundai India and Tata Motors saw sales declining 5.5% and 10%, respectively, hurt by increased competition.

5:28 PM

Budget full of new schemes, programmes; many of these beyond capacity of this govt: Cong

Budget full of new schemes, programmes; many of these beyond capacity of this govt: Congress

5:14 PM

There is wave against Kejriwal's party, people will sweep it out of Delhi: Home Minister Shah

There is wave against Kejriwal's party, people will sweep it out of Delhi with 'broom': Home Minister Amit Shah

5:13 PM

AAP will lose as it's running 3G govt of scam: Shah

AAP will lose as it's running 3G govt of 'ghapla' (scam), 'ghuspaithiyon ko panah' (sheltering intruders), 'ghotala' (corruption): Amit Shah

4:58 PM

Govt expects 33% lower revenue from telecom at Rs 82,443 crore in FY26

The government expects non-tax revenue collection from the telecom sector to be about Rs 82,443 crore for FY26, almost 33 per cent lower than the current fiscal. It has also marginally tweaked the FY25 realisations for 'other communications services', pegging the revised estimates a tad higher at Rs 1.23 lakh crore, as against the originally expected 1.20 lakh crore.

4:31 PM

Govt to receive Rs 2.56 trn as dividend from RBI, PSBs in FY26

The government on Saturday projected a dividend income of Rs 2.56 lakh crore from the Reserve Bank and public sector financial institutions in FY2025-25, as per the Budget documents. In the current financial year, receipts from dividend/surplus of RBI, nationalised banks and financial institutions are estimated at Rs 2.34 lakh crore, about Rs 1,410 crore higher than the previous estimates.

4:28 PM

Eight Naxalites killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh

Eight Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Saturday, the police said. The gunfight broke out around 8.30 am in the forest in Gangaloor police station area when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation, said a senior police official.

4:22 PM

Delhi Assembly election: AAP MLA Mohinder Goyal attacked during rally

Mohinder Goyal, Aam Admi Party MLA attacked during rally on Saturday. AAP claims BJP orchestrated the attack. 

4:16 PM

Russian drone, missile attacks kill 5 in Ukraine

At least five people died overnight as Russian drone and missile strikes pounded Ukraine's towns and cities, local officials said Saturday. Meanwhile, Moscow's troops continued their grinding advance through the country's east. A Russian missile strike on an apartment block in the Ukrainian city of Poltava killed at least four people and injured 10 more, Ukraine's emergency services reported.

4:04 PM

At Kumbh, Adityanath praises saints for acting responsibly post-stampede

In his first visit to the Maha Kumbh after the January 29 stampede, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Saturday praised the saints for "acting with such restraint" that day as he took a veiled potshot at political opponents, saying they tried to besmirch the glory of the mega event so that it "becomes a matter of great global embarrassment".

3:59 PM

TVS Motor sales grow grow by 17% in January

TVS Motor Company's sales increase by 17% in January 2025.

3:46 PM

Rs 2.33 trillion allotted to MHA with bulk funds going to police forces

The Union Budget 2025-26 on Saturday allocated Rs 2,33,210.68 crore to the Ministry of Home Affairs with the majority of the fund -- Rs 1,60,391.06 crore -- being given to central police forces like CRPF, BSF and CISF which are responsible for internal security, border guarding and security of vital installations. The Union Budget 2024-25 had allocated Rs 2,19,643.31 crore to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), helmed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

3:42 PM

Encounter breaks out between Naxalites, security forces in Chhattisgarh

Encounter breaks out between Naxalites and security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, said Police.

2:55 PM

International cyber fraud syndicate busted in Chhattisgarh, 4 held for providing mule accounts

Police in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district have busted an international cyber fraud syndicate with the arrest of four persons who allegedly provided several mule accounts to Cambodia-based scammers and transferred Rs 10 crore from victims of fraud, an official said.

2:46 PM

Assam to enact new law for allowing buffalo fights, says CM Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said his government would bring a new law to allow buffalo fights in the state. Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating a bridge here, Sarma said the government will take the initiative to preserve the heritage of the state. "The buffalo fight of Ahatguri is our tradition and heritage. Even the Supreme Court had recognised it as a traditional game. Following its guidelines, we will soon enact a law allowing traditional sports like buffalo fight," he said. The state government will very soon introduce a bill in the assembly, seeking legal protection for the buffalo fight, he added.

2:37 PM

Odisha govt to construct 15,000 km of roads every year, says PWD minister

The BJP government in Odisha has set a target of constructing 15,000 km of roads every year, Public Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said. A total of 75,000 km of roads will be constructed in the state over the next five years, he said after chairing a meeting of the department on Friday. A policy on improvement of road communication will also be formulated and address various issues, including reducing road accidents, he said.