Highlights: INLD Haryana Prez Nafe Singh, associate shot dead in Jhajjar

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7:55 PM

INLD state Prez Nafe Singh, his associate; no one feels safe in Haryana: AAP leader Sushil Gupta

7:03 PM

Political news Live: INLD Haryana president Nafe Singh Rathee shot dead in Jhajjar, says Abhay Chautala

Unidentified assailants shot dead the Indian National Lok Dal's Haryana unit president Nafe Singh Rathee in Jhajjar district on Sunday, party leader Abhay Chautala told PTI. He was travelling in an SUV when the assailants, who were in a car, attacked him in Jhajjar's Bahadurgarh town, PTI reported.

6:57 PM

Three Naxalites killed in encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh

Three Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district on Sunday morning, a senior police official said. The face-off took place around 8 am on a hill between Bhomra-Hurtarai villages under the Koyalibeda police station area, where a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation, Kanker Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela said. The security forces had received inputs about the presence of cadres belonging to company no. 5 of Maoists in Bhomra, Hurtarai and Michchebeda villages, he said.

6:40 PM

It makes more sense for IOC to give 2036 Olympics to India: Anurag Thakur

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said on Sunday "it makes more sense for the IOC" to give India the hosting rights for the 2036 Olympic Games as the country is growing by leaps and bounds in every sphere including sports. Thakur, while speaking at the News9 Global Summit, said India's recent performance at mega international events, such as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, gives him hope that the country could become a top-10 sporting nation by 2036 and be in the top-5 by 2047. "We had the largest population to see the Olympic sports last time (in 2020 Tokyo) and this time, it makes more sense for the IOC to give 2036 Olympics to none other than Bharat, our India," said Thakur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already expressed the country's desire to host the Olympics in 2036 during the IOC session in Mumbai last year, and when asked if India was ready to hold the mega event and which city could play host, Thakur said, "PM Modi made it very clear during the IOC session that India is very serious to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, and before that we want to host the 2030 Youth Olympics.

6:38 PM

BJP govt cheating people of Rajasthan over ERCP, says former CM Ashok Gehlot

Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Sunday accused the BJP government in Rajasthan of creating confusion over the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project and cheating the people of the state while protecting the interests of Madhya Pradesh. A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Centre, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh -- which also has a BJP government -- last month for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the ERCP. "BJP is creating confusion over the ERCP. They are cheating the people of Rajasthan. Madhya Pradesh's interests are being protected as dams are being built there and they are getting all the benefits," Gehlot told reporters in Dausa.

6:37 PM

Chhattisgarh Armed Force personnel killed in IED blast in state's Naxal-hit Bijapur district

A head constable of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) was on Sunday killed after a pressure improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Naxalites went off in the state's Bijapur district, police said. The incident occurred at around 3.30 pm near Bechapal Padampara village under Mirture Mirtur police station limits in the Naxal-hit district when a team of CAF was out on an area domination operation, an official said. The operation was launched from Bechapal police camp towards Kutulpara village, he said. When the patrolling team was advancing through the area near the camp, Head Constable Ram Ashish Yadav, belonging to CAF's 19th battalion, inadvertently stepped over a pressure IED connection triggering the blast, resulting in his death, he said.

6:32 PM

Paytm issue may be reviewed, scrutiny on Byju's progressing well, says ICAI President Agarwal

Amid the unfolding Paytm Payments Bank Ltd crisis, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India President Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal on Sunday said its financial reporting review board (FRRB) may deliberate on issues of the fintech firm in the near future. The FRRB of the statutory body is currently conducting a review of the accounts of tech-based education unicorn Byju's over alleged governance concerns, and the exercise is progressing well, the ICAI president said. "So far, we have not considered it (Paytm issue), but the board meeting of the FRRB will take place in the near future and it will consider appropriate action if required. So far, we have not decided anything as far as this matter is concerned," ICAI President Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal told PTI in an interview. Newly elected committees, including FRRB, of the ICAI are expected to hold meetings from March onwards, he said.

6:17 PM

TMC not shielding absconding Shajahan Sheikh: Party leader Abhishek Banerjee on Sandeshkhali issue

TMC not shielding absconding Shajahan Sheikh, said party leader Abhishek Banerjee on West Bengal's Sandeshkhali issue.

5:52 PM

Congress President Kharge claims efforts on to change constitution, warns about dictatorship

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday claimed that efforts are underway to change the Constitution, and warned people that there would "certainly be a dictatorship" in India if they don't stand strong and united in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He was speaking at the valedictory of the 'Constitution and National Unity Convention -2024' here. "Many people are trying to erase or change the Constitution. If you don't stand strong and united in the upcoming election and if the Constitution is affected, it is certain that there will be a dictatorship in this country in the days to come. Whether you want dictatorship or want to lead a life with justice, (deciding that) is important," Kharge said.

5:48 PM

PM Modi inaugurates Aiims at Rajkot, Bathinda, Raebareli, Kalyani and Mangalagiri

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (Aiims) hospitals in Rajkot, Bathinda, Raebareli, Kalyani and Mangalgiri on Sunday. 

4:49 PM

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav joins Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi in Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Agra

4:06 PM

Political news Live: Congress means corruption and corruption means Congress, says Amit Shah

Resolve to form Modi-led government at Centre again by winning more than 400 seats, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah to BJP workers in Madhya Pradesh. He further added that "Congress means corruption and corruption means Congress". 

3:50 PM

Realty major DLF to launch properties worth Rs 80k cr in 4 years to encash surge in demand

Realty major DLF plans to launch properties worth nearly Rs 80,000 crore over the next 3-4 years to tap rising demand for housing and commercial projects. DLF, the country's largest real estate firm in terms of market cap, sold properties worth Rs 15,000 crore during 2022-23 and is set to surpass this number in the current fiscal going by sale bookings clocked in the first three quarters. According to an investors presentation, DLF is aiming to launch 10 million square feet of area in the next financial year having revenue potential of Rs 32,000 crore. It has also identified another 22 million square feet area with an estimated revenue of Rs 46,850 crore for 2024-25 fiscal and beyond. Most of the projects to be launched for sale over the next 3-4 years would be residential and that too in luxury and ultra luxury segments. Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Goa and Chennai would be the focus area of the company.

 

3:37 PM

BSP MPs must instrospect whether they followed party guidelines: Mayawati after Ritesh Pandey resigns

 BSP chief Mayawati on Sunday asked her party MPs to instrospect whether they followed the guidelines given to time in the interest of the party. Mayawati's remarks come after BSP Lok Sabha MP from Ambedkar Nagar Ritesh Pandey resigned from the party's primary membership ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and joined the BJP in New Delhi, PTI reported. "Along with the BSP political party, there is also a movement dedicated to the mission of self-respect and self-respect of the most revered Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar due to which the policy and working style of this party is different from the capitalist parties of the country. Keeping this in mind, the party also fields its candidates in the elections," Mayawati said in a series of posts on 'X' in Hindi.

3:31 PM

Devendra Fadnavis trying to kill me, will march right away to his Mumbai home, says Maratha activist Jarange

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Sunday said he would march to Mumbai and protest outside the residence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who he accused of trying to kill him, PTI reported. The announcement, made at the end of a speech of more than one hour in Antarwali Sarati in Jalna in which Jarange made several allegations against Fadnavis, took his supporters by surprise. "Some people are being lured and pressured to make false allegations against me. Fadnavis is behind these conspiracies. He wants to kill me. I am ready to march to Sagar bungalow (Fadnavis' official residence in Mumbai's Malabar Hill) right away," Jarange said. The announcement led to chaos at the site, where the activist's supporters had gathered in large numbers.

3:28 PM

Kerala is last outpost of religious harmony, coexistence, brotherhood: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

 Kerala is the last outpost of religious harmony, coexistence and brotherhood, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Sunday and urged the cultural leaders to combat communalism and fascism in the country, PTI reported. Vijayan said the cultural history of the country was rich with diversity. Its democracy will slip into fascism when a culture of uniformity is imposed, he added. The Chief Minister was speaking at a Face-to-Face Programme with people from the culture sector in the state as part of the Nava Kerala Sadas, government's public outreach programme. He said democracy slips into fascism when a culture of uniformity such as one language, one culture, one religion, are imposed and added that the spirit of federalism should be protected in the cultural sector as well.

3:25 PM

Vote for INDIA bloc candidates in Delhi so that your voices are heard in Parliament: Arvind Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Sunday asked people in Delhi to vote for INDIA bloc candidates in the Lok Sabha polls so that their voices can be heard in Parliament and inflated water bills are waived, PTI reported. Speaking at a protest organised by his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) against inflated water bills here, Kejriwal said on a lighter note that he should be given the Nobel Prize for running the government despite adverse conditions. "In the Lok Sabha elections, you should vote for INDIA bloc candidates from Delhi and send them to Parliament. This will create a protective shield around Delhi and no lieutenant governor will be able to do anything," the AAP national convenor said. "I assure you that within 15 days of the Lok Sabha elections and the win of INDIA bloc candidates, your water bills will come down to zero," he added.

2:27 PM

PM Modi lays foundation stone of development projects in Dwarka

Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitated in Dwarka, Gujarat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates and lays the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 4,150 crores.

2:15 PM

Fact-finding committee members arrested en route to Sandeshkhali in West Bengal

Six members of an independent fact-finding committee, on their way to Sandeshkhali, were arrested at Bhojerhat in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on Sunday afternoon.

 

Following the arrest, the committee members were brought to PHQ Lal Bazaar Kolkata.

 

Saikat Ghosh, Deputy Commissioner, Bhangar Division, Kolkata Police, said while speaking to the media, "We were requesting them to not cross from here, but they were trying to break the police barricade unlawfully. So, we had to arrest them under Preventive Sections."

 

"If there is information of a 'breach of peace', police can arrest them under preventive sections," he added.

 

The Fact-Finding Committee members were stopped by police at Bhojerhat, South 24 Parganas, while they were proceeding to the trouble-torn Sandeshkhali area in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas to investigate alleged incidents of atrocities on women there.

2:13 PM

Election of Chief Minister of Pakistan's Punjab province to take place tomorrow

As Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, is going to get elected as the first woman chief minister of Pakistan's Punjab province on Monday, the PMLN has clinched both speaker and deputy speaker offices in Punjab Assembly.

 

"The election of Chief Minister Punjab will take place on Monday (tomorrow). The candidates of CM can submit nomination papers on Sunday (today)," Punjab Assembly Secretary Amer Habib said in a statement on Sunday.

 

Since the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PMLN) and its allies have a simple majority in the House there is no problem with her grabbing the top slot.

 

The election for the Chief Minister office will be held between PMLN's Maryam Nawaz, 50, and Rana Aftab Ahmad of Imran Khan's PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) nominee.

2:13 PM

Four killed in explosion at firecracker factory in UP's Kaushambi

At least four people died after an explosion at a firecracker factory in Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambi on Sunday, police officials said.

 

The incident occurred at a firecracker factory in Kaushambi's Bharwari town under the Kokhraj police station area.

 

According to police officials, more than five people were injured in the incident and now are undergoing treatment.

 

"There has been a fire in a firecracker factory in Bharwari. As per the information, there are four casualties and some people are injured. They have been sent to the hospital for treatment. The factory is far away from the residential area... The rescue operation is underway... They had the license to manufacture and sell. 5-6 people are injured..." Superintendent of Police (SP) Brijesh Srivastava said.

1:44 PM

'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra': Priyanka Gandhi questions BJP's decade-long rule on unemployment, farmer protests

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioned the BJP's decade-long rule, highlighting concerns over youth unemployment, farmer protests, and inflation in the country on Sunday. "BJP has been in power for 10 years. Many big events such as the G20 Summit took place, everyone said that the respect of the country is increasing due to such events, even we agree to it, but I want to ask, is the respect of the country not connected with the young, our policemen, and students? There are no jobs for the youth, farmers are still sitting on roads, inflation is a burden for the people of the country," said Priyanka Gandhi while addressing party MP and her brother Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in UP's Aligarh. "During our regime, youth used to get employment through the Army, now the government has come up with Agniveer which has taken up the employment. PSUs are being sold and given to Adani. You need to understand that the common man doesn't get any benefit. Sugarcane price has been hiked by just 55 rupees in the last 8 years," she said.

1:44 PM

China says it has conducted patrols in waters near Kinmen

China's Fujian coast guard conducted patrols in waters near Kinmen on Feb. 25, China Coast Guard said. The Kinmen islands are administered by Taiwan. The coast guard said it took measures during the patrols "to strengthen law enforcement inspections in key areas, effectively maintain the order of operations in the relevant sea areas, and effectively safeguard the safety of fishermen's lives and property."

 

12:45 PM

BSP MP Ritesh Pandey joins BJP in Delhi

12:34 PM

Farmers' protest: Mobile internet services restored in seven Haryana districts

Mobile internet services were restored in seven Haryana districts on Sunday, almost two weeks after they were suspended in the wake of farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' agitation, officials said. The services were suspended in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa on February 11 and the suspension was extended on February 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23 and 24. Officials said no fresh order has been issued to extend the suspension of the mobile services in the seven districts. According to an earlier order issued by the Home Department, the curbs were imposed "to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in jurisdictions of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa, including Dabwali, districts in Haryana".

11:43 AM

Mann ki Baat won't be broadcast for next three months in view of upcoming Lok Sabha polls: PM Modi

11:35 AM

Countless people in our country dedicate their lives to serving others selflessly: Modi

In the 110th edition of 'Mann ki Baat’, PM Modi says, "A Bengaluru-based company has prepared apps named 'Bagheera' and 'Garuda'. With the 'Bagheera' app, the speed of vehicles and other activities during jungle safaris can be monitored."

11:34 AM

Youths doing great in content creation, be it related to tourism, social causes or public participation: PM

Social media has helped a lot in showcasing people’s skills and talents. Youngsters in India are doing wonders in the field of content creation. To honour their talent, the National Creators Award has been initiated: PM

11:24 AM

Due to the efforts of the govt in the last few years, the number of tigers in the country has increased: PM

"Due to the efforts of the government in the last few years, the number of tigers in the country has increased. The number of tigers in the Tiger Reserve of Chandrapur, Maharashtra has crossed the figure of 250," said PM Modi.

11:24 AM

Technology is being used extensively for the conservation of wildlife in different parts of our country: PM

In the 110th edition of 'Mann ki Baat’, PM Modi says, "A few days later, on March 3 is World Wildlife Day This day is celebrated with the aim of spreading awareness about the conservation of wildlife. This year, digital innovation has been given top priority in the theme of World Wildlife Day."