The Uttar Pradesh government will present the biggest budget in the history of the state today, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said. Speaking to ANI, he said the budget aims to improve the standard of living for women, youth, farmers, and the poor. "This is the biggest budget in terms of figures in the history of the state. It will strengthen the state's infrastructure, accelerate development, and improve basic services such as water, electricity, roads, schools, and hospitals. The most important thing is that this budget will prove to be a milestone in raising the standard of living of women, youth, farmers and the poor, that is, the common man, and will be a budget that will fulfil the resolve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a developed India," Pathak said. "We are going to strengthen the health sector a lot. From primary level to tertiary care, from tertiary care, we are now moving towards quaternary care," the Deputy CM added. Slamming the Samajwadi Party (SP), Pathak said it left UP in a backward state, but under the BJP government, the state has become a destination for investment. "The opposition has nothing to say. The Samajwadi Party left this state as a BIMARU state (an acronym for Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh). Today, Uttar Pradesh has become a better destination in terms of investment and a state which has increased the per capita income, and we are a Revenue Plus State," Pathak said. Meanwhile, describing the focus areas of the budget, UP Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said, "Our particular focus areas have been there from the beginning. Whether it's women, youth, farmers, students, the working class, or the underprivileged, they have been given special focus. The opposition has no issues, no constructive approach. They oppose just for the sake of opposing." State minister Jayveer Singh hailed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, stating that since 2017, the state has taken a "giant leap" in terms of the size of the budget. "Ever since the BJP government came to power in 2017 under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh has taken a giant leap in terms of budget size, public welfare, and development, and the result of that is that under strong law and order, we have succeeded in implementing the enhanced budget size and arrangements on the ground. Investors from the country and the world now want to invest in Uttar Pradesh. The budget is dedicated to traders, youth, farmers, everyone, and it will be an excellent, all-encompassing budget, with prospects of it being even larger in size this time," Singh said. The Budget Session, which began on February 9, will run till February 20. The state budget for the 2026-27 financial year will be presented today. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 February,2026 04:47 PM IST | Lucknow | ANILok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday questioned why industrialist Anil Ambani was not in jail, alleging that his name appears in documents linked to the Epstein case. Speaking during a debate in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi claimed that Ambani’s name figured in what he referred to as the “Epstein Files.” He also brought up Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri during his remarks. “There is a businessman Anil Ambani, I want to ask why is he not in jail? The reason is that his name is in the Epstein Files. I would also like to ask Hardeep Puri, who introduced him to Epstein. I know who introduced him, and Hardeep Puri knows who introduced him,” Gandhi said in the House as per ANI reports. Pressure on Prime Minister After his speech on the Union Budget, Gandhi repeated his claims while speaking to reporters in Delhi. He said he would authenticate the data and referred to what he described as Department of Justice files naming certain individuals. “I have said that I will authenticate the data. There are Department of Justice files on Epstein files naming Hardeep Puri and Anil Ambani,” he told reporters as per ANI reports. Gandhi further alleged that in an ongoing case related to the Adani Group, summons had been issued but the Government of India had not responded for 18 months. He claimed there was “direct pressure on the Prime Minister.” “The main thing is that no PM would do this in a normal situation… Someone would do this only when there is a certain grip on them,” he said, linking his remarks to issues such as data, farmers, energy security and defence. Government rejects earlier Epstein related claims Earlier this year, on January 31, the Ministry of External Affairs strongly rejected references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2017 visit to Israel in an email said to be part of the Epstein-related documents. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed the claims, calling them baseless and trashy. “Beyond the fact of the Prime Minister's official visit to Israel in July 2017, the rest of the allusions in the email are little more than trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal, which deserve to be dismissed with the utmost contempt,” Jaiswal said. (With ANI Inputs)
11 February,2026 03:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar on Wednesday expressed renewed doubts about the circumstances of his uncle Ajit Pawar's plane crash, suggesting the possibility of a conspiracy. According to the news agency ANI, while speaking at a press conference, he questioned the role of the aviation company. Citing statements from Manoj Pawar, the handler of Arrow company, the NCP (SP) leader indicated that poor visibility in Baramati may not have caused the crash. "Ajit Pawar was a prominent political leader in Maharashtra. People have doubts about his plane crash. We have compiled some information over the last 13 days based on our sources. We are emotional about this matter. The most important point here is that Manoj Pawar is the handler of the Arrow company," Rohit Pawar said, reported ANI. Rohit Pawar questions official explanation "Manoj Pawar mentioned that 'visibility is okay' in a group that included Ajit Dada’s PAs, the Maharashtra Aviation Director, and the pilot. VSR owner Vijay Kumar Singh stated that the aircraft was well-maintained, the pilots were experienced, and the accident likely occurred due to visibility issues. There is something inconsistent with this statement," he added. Pawar demanded that investigating agencies review the tech log and other documents to identify the officials who signed them before the flight. "A local said, 'The plane carrying Dada had a different sound and was flying low.' When the aircraft stalled, it could have been a manual stall or a mechanical error. The pilot or anyone could have reacted, as it was by Pilot Pathak. Aircraft maintenance must be performed daily. Who signed the tech log? We demand that these documents be reviewed during the investigation," he added, reported ANI. Rohit Pawar cites 2023 crash investigation delays He also flagged the lack of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) in Baramati and stated that a similar plane crash in 2023 should have been investigated promptly. "A plane crash in 2023 in Mumbai shows a flat runway. There is no ILS in Baramati; there was a crash in Mumbai despite the presence of an ILS there. The probability of an accident increases without an ILS. That 2023 crash also involved a VSR aircraft. If prior information on the probe had been available, Ajit Pawar might not have been in an accident. Even today, whether it’s our CM, our minister, or other leaders, flights using VSR aircraft are at risk. The way VSR maintains its aircraft is incorrect. As a result, both the 2023 Mumbai crash and Ajit Dada’s accident occurred. We request that no one use any VSR plane, no matter how urgent," he said, reported ANI. Criticising the aviation company further, he said the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had cancelled its authorisation over the 2023 incident, alleging that the company does not maintain its aircraft properly. Rohit Pawar raises concerns over blocked investigation The Maharashtra MLA said, "Recently, EASA sent a message to the VSR operator regarding the 2023 accident. No information was provided, not even through DGCA, resulting in the cancellation of VSR’s third-country operator license. Some senior aviation journalists informed me that the report was to be submitted to the European agency via DGCA, but one person deliberately blocked it. This person is a political figure with aviation experience." "There is a 12-hour duty gap that this company does not follow. Many of their aircraft have inactive cockpit voice recorders. We have requested data for this aircraft. They do not maintain checklists or tech logs. Aircraft health checks are neglected. The engine and equipment are not replaced on schedule. They claimed the aircraft flew for 50 hours, whereas it actually flew 100 hours. We have learned that some DGCA officials, being friends of Singh (VSR owner), had undue influence over the regulatory process," he added, reported ANI. Earlier, Rohit Pawar had alleged a conspiracy behind former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash on January 28 in Baramati, Maharashtra. According to DGCA, five people, including the crew, died when the chartered plane flying from Mumbai to Baramati crash-landed at the runway threshold. On February 7, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed they are making rapid progress in probing the fatal crash of the chartered Learjet 45 that killed Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer, the pilot, co-pilot, and flight attendant near Baramati Airport. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol confirmed that the black box from the aircraft has been successfully recovered and is under analysis. (With ANI inputs)
11 February,2026 03:28 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe CBI on Wednesday arrested a Delhi Police assistant sub-inspector for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh to resolve a property dispute, officials said, reported news agency PTI. The case was registered on Tuesday following a complaint that the officer, posted at the CR Park police station, had demanded Rs 25 lakh to ensure no legal action would be taken against the complainant in connection with the property dispute. Later that evening, the CBI conducted a raid and caught the officer red-handed, officials added, reported PTI. CIDCO officer, aide arrested in Navi Mumbai over Rs 2 lakh bribery case Earlier in January, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a senior official of the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) and his associate for allegedly accepting a Rs 2 lakh bribe from a contractor in Navi Mumbai, officials said on Thursday, reported news agency PTI. The accused officer, aged 57, was working as an assistant estate officer with CIDCO. His associate was allegedly used as a middleman to collect the bribe, the Anti-Corruption Bureau said. According to the ACB, the complainant is a contractor who deals with society registrations and property transfers. He had applied online for the transfer of a flat in Sanpada, Navi Mumbai, on June 11, 2025, and had submitted all required documents, including a valid power of attorney. However, the application was allegedly kept pending without any explanation, PTI reported. The contractor later approached the ACB on January 22, 2026, claiming that the CIDCO official had demanded Rs 4 lakh to clear the flat transfer. During verification, investigators found that the demand had subsequently been reduced to Rs 2 lakh, to be accepted through an associate. Acting on the complaint, the ACB set a trap on Wednesday and caught the associate red-handed while accepting the bribe at a hotel near Nerul railway station. The CIDCO official was later taken into custody, PTI reported. Both accused have been arrested and booked under the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, officials added. (With PTI inputs)
11 February,2026 03:28 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentDelhi's Dwarka Court has sentenced two Afghan nationals, Abdul Khaliq Noorzai and Ghulam Hazrat Mirzale, to 10 years in prison for trafficking 7.6 kilograms of heroin, a commercial quantity of the drug. The court, presided over by Special Judge (NDPS) Manu Goel Kharb, also imposed a fine of Rs. 3 lakh on each of the convicts. The court sentenced both to 10 years' imprisonment and Rs. one lakh fine on each convict under section 21 (c) of the NDPS Act (illegal possession, manufacture, sale, purchase, transport, or use of commercial quantities of manufactured drugs (such as heroin, cocaine, etc.). They were additionally sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 10 Lakh by the court under Section 23(c) of the NDPS Act (Illegal import or export of drugs). The court has also sentenced them to 3 years imprisonment with a fine of Rs one lakh under section 29 of the NDPS Act (abetment and criminal conspiracy regarding drug-related offences). While sentencing the convicts, the court stated that it is well settled that, in awarding a sentence, the Court must consider both aggravating and mitigating factors to determine the quantum thereof. "Therefore, I deem it appropriate to recapitulate the facts and circumstances of the offence in question. The convict Abdul Khaliq Noorzai was found in possession of 4.02 Kg of Heroin and convict Ghulam Hazrat was found in possession of 3.60 Kg of Heroin (total 7.62 Kg Heroin) in plastic bottles," Special Judge Kharb said on February 7. The Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) for Customs Puneett Singhal sought a sentence of 20 years' imprisonment for each accused. It was submitted that convicts are involved in serious cases of drug trafficking and act of the convicts are affecting society at large, and they don't deserve any leniency. It was also argued that the convicts may be sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment with a fine as prescribed by law. On the other hand, Counsel for the accused, Ghulam Hazrat, stated that he has been in judicial custody for approximately 5 years. His family consists of two wives and four minor children who are totally dependent upon the accused and have no source of income, nor do they have any emotional or financial support. It was stated that the accused had no knowledge of the contraband in his bag. The Counsel for the accused, Abdul Khaliq Noorzai, submitted that he has been in judicial custody for approximately 5 years. His family consists of one wife and four minor children who are totally dependent upon the present accused and have no source of income, nor do they have any emotional or financial support and a lenient view should be taken for consideration of the quantum of sentence to be imposed upon them in the present case. The case of the Customs, in brief, was that on August 8, 2021, Abdul Khaliq Noorzai and Ghulam Hazrat Mirzale came to India from Dubai to Delhi. During a search of Abdul Khaliq Noorzai's brown-coloured trolley bag, it was found that the bag contained clothes, black-coloured shampoo/hair colour bottles with broken seals, 8 paper boxes (one box for two bottles), one bottle, and old, used personal effects. On the detailed scrutiny of the bottles, all bottles were found containing black colour thick liquid total of 4.02 Kgs (including the weight of the bottle), suspected to be narcotics substance. During a search of Ghulam Hazrat Mirzale's brown-coloured trolley bag, it was found that the bag contained clothes; black-coloured shampoo/hair colouring bottles with broken seals; 7 paper boxes (one box for two bottles); one bottle; and old, used personal effects. On the detailed scrutiny of the bottles, all the bottles contained black colour thick liquid total of 3.60 Kgs (including the weight of the bottle), suspected to be narcotics substance. They were arrested by the customs on August 8, 2021. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 February,2026 03:08 PM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday stated that India’s people are its biggest strengths and underscored the importance of protecting the nation’s vibrant database for standing along with global peers; however, he added that the Union Budget has nothing substantial to protect them. Gandhi, while speaking on the Union Budget in the Lower House, highlighted three points as the cornerstone of a strong nation -- Artificial Intelligence (AI), food and Energy. He added, in the same breath, that the government has failed to address all these concerns in the Union Budget. “India’s biggest strength is its 1.4 billion people. Everybody is talking about AI. The petrol for AI is data. If you have AI and you don’t have data, you have nothing,” he said. Rahul Gandhi slams govt over trade deal, says India’s energy interests ‘compromised’ He said that it was important that India protects its energy security interests to maintain its global standing in turbulent times, but, sadly, the government has utterly failed in doing so, accusing it of capitulating India’s interests before the US while negotiating the trade deal. “Today, Energy and finance are being weaponised the world over, but our Budget is completely silent on this,” Rahul remarked. The LoP further stated that had the INDIA bloc negotiated the trade deal with the US, it would have made sure that India’s interests supersede everything, and there "remained a level-playing field and not any subjugation as done in this deal". Rahul Gandhi says INDIA bloc would have ensured ‘equal’ negotiations with US “If the INDIA alliance was negotiating, we would have said, President Trump, you must treat India in equal measure and respect the Indian people. We would have told him that our energy security is ours and we will stand for it always, and we won’t accept any compromise on our human potential,” he said. He further said that if Americans want to remain a superpower and if they want to protect their dollar, "we must stand behind our people and protect the sanctity of our data". “India must be in condition to negotiate with its 'human power'. In the 20th century, the population was seen as a disaster, but in the 21st century, it's a power, but only if due attention is given to it,” Gandhi said. (Inputs from IANS)
11 February,2026 03:05 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Lok Sabha reconvened on Wednesday and commenced with the Question Hour amid heavy Opposition sloganeering. Despite disturbances from the Opposition benches, P.C. Mohan, in the Chair, moved on to the Question Hour. Later in the day, the discussion on the Union Budget will continue in the House. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is likely to speak in the House at noon. The Opposition MPs continued to create a ruckus and disruptions during the Question Hour. Centre allocates Rs 22,000 crore for Green Energy Corridor projects: Pralhad Joshi Meanwhile, replying to a question in the Lok Sabha during the Question Hour, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi mentioned that the Modi government has allocated Rs 10,000 crore under the Green Corridor Phase-1 project, while around Rs 12,000 crore has been allocated under the Green Corridor Phase-2 project. He further stated that the Green Energy Corridor Phase-1 is under implementation in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu for grid integration and power evacuation of about 24 GW of RE. GEC Phase II, according to Joshi, will facilitate grid integration and power evacuation of about 20 GW of renewable energy (RE) projects in Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Speaker Om Birla to skip proceedings until removal motion decided Meanwhile, according to sources, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has decided not to attend House proceedings until discussion and a decision are taken on the motion seeking his removal. The issue may be taken up on March 9, the first day of the second part of the Budget Session, when the House could consider initiating discussion on the no-confidence motion, sources added. The Budget Session, which commenced on January 28, includes 30 meetings spread over 65 days and is set to end on April 2. Both Houses will take a break for recess on February 13 and will resume their sessions on March 9 to allow the Standing Committees to review the Demands for Grants from different ministries and departments. (Inputs from IANS)
11 February,2026 03:04 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentLeader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that if an INDIA bloc government had negotiated an agreement with the US, it would have ensured an arrangement on “equal” terms and would not have allowed India to be treated “equal to Pakistan”, asserting that it would have taken every possible step to safeguard India’s energy security and farmers. Participating in the discussion on the Union Budget, Gandhi sought what he described as “creative freedom” during his speech and used analogies from martial arts to explain political strategy and negotiations. "The foundation of martial arts starts with the grip. Without the grip, nothing happens. First comes the grip, then the second grip, and then it leads to the choke. The choke focuses on the neck and secures control... At one point, you can see it in the opponent's eyes, and he knows that he has lost the game, and then he taps and surrenders... Grip, choke and tap... grip is seen in martial arts, but not in politics," he said. Rahul Gandhi cites economic survey, warns of rising global instability and ‘era of war’ Referring to the Economic Survey, Gandhi said it highlighted two major global developments shaping the current geopolitical environment. "I was looking at the economic survey, and I found two points there. First, that you are living in a world of intensifying geopolitical conflict, which means that the dominance of the US is being challenged by the Chinese, Russians and other forces." "Second, that we are living in a world of energy and financial weaponisation. The main thing they are saying here is that we are moving from a world of stability to instability. The Prime Minister and, shockingly, the NSA stated that the era of war is over. In fact, we are moving into an era of war," he said. Highlighting ongoing global conflicts, Gandhi added, "You can see war is there in Ukraine, war was there in Gaza, war is there in the Middle East, threat of war is there in Iran. We had Operation Sindoor. So we are moving into a world of instability." Gandhi flags shift from US dominance, stresses data power in AI-driven world The Congress leader said he agreed with the Economic Survey’s observation that the dominance of the US dollar is being challenged. "The LoP said that he agreed to the Economic Survey's point that the US dollar is being 'challenged' and so is the 'US supremacy'. We are moving from one superpower to something that we cannot predict -- maybe two superpowers or multiple powers -- which is an unpredictable world. I agree with that," he said. Gandhi also warned about the potential impact of artificial intelligence and the importance of data in the global technology landscape. "Everyone talks about AI, but talking about AI is like talking about the internal combustion engine without talking about petrol. The petrol for AI is data. If you have AI and you don't have data, you are nothing," he said. "Which are the two biggest pools of data on the planet? The Indian and the Chinese pools. They also have 1.4 billion people; we have a bigger population than them, we allow more freedom, we allow our people to do more dynamic things, so we have, in fact, the more interesting data," he added. He said India must recognise its strengths in a rapidly changing global environment. "What you need is to move into a dangerous world; we have to understand our strengths; the central strength of our country is our people," he said. Rahul highlights gaps in Budget "The second strength... Food and our farmers. Food is abundant today. Third, energy, fuel and petrol... These are the three things that need to be protected in the turbulent times," Gandhi said. He added that while the Union Budget appears to recognise these areas, it does not adequately address them. Gandhi said the Budget “recognises” these aspects, but there is “nothing in the Budget that looks into these issues”. Speaking about the India-US interim trade agreement, Gandhi said, "In parallel to the Budget, we have made a deal with the United States. One thing I would like to make clear is something that is not well understood -- In a context between the US and China, the single most valuable asset is Indian data." "If the Americans want to remain a superpower and if the Americans want to protect their dollar, the key to that is Indian data. Why? Because the Chinese have a data pool of 1.4 billion people," he said, adding that the combined data pool of the United States, Africa and Europe does not match China’s. Explaining India’s negotiating position, Gandhi said, "If India is going to the table, what we put on the table is our people. Their wisdom, what they do, their likes, dislikes, their imagination, and their fears. This has suddenly, in the 21st century, got value. In the 20th century, it had no value." Highlighting the strategic importance of population, Gandhi said, "I remember so many people saying that population is a weight, population is a disaster. No, population is the biggest asset you can have. It's a strength. But it's only a strength if you recognise that data is important." Gandhi says INDIA bloc would negotiate with US ‘as equals’, not ‘servants’ Drawing a comparison with how the "INDIA Alliance" would have handled negotiations with US President Donald Trump, Gandhi said, "We would have said, President Trump, the most important thing in this equation is the Indian data. You want to protect your dollar. We are your friends, we can protect your dollar, but you need to understand that the biggest asset to protect your dollar is with the Indian people. Second thing we would have said that President Trump, you need to understand that you are going to talk to us as an equal, not as servants." He further said that he would have told the US leadership, "Our energy security is our energy security, and we are going to protect it," and added, "We understand that you need to protect your farmers, but we will also protect our farmers." "We would go there as equals, we would not be made equal to Pakistan," Gandhi said. He also stated that an INDIA bloc government would have responded to Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir’s meeting with the US President. Gandhi further alleged that the trade arrangement could limit India’s strategic autonomy in energy procurement. "The US will now decide where we will buy our oil from and not our Prime Minister, and if India buys oil from a country that the US does not approve of, then they will punish us with tariffs," he said. Continuing his criticism, Gandhi added, "You've weaponised energy, and you don't have any solutions to overcome this." (Inputs from IANS)
11 February,2026 03:03 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested a self-styled 'baba' in connection with the deaths of three people whose bodies were found inside a locked car near the Peeragarhi flyover, marking the first arrest in the case, an officer said. The accused, identified as Kamaruddin, described by police as a 'maulana' and an occult practitioner, has been booked for murder, he said. Randhir, Shiv Naresh Singh, and Laxmi Devi, aged 76, 47, and 40, were found dead inside a stationary car on Sunday afternoon, with Randhir in the driver's seat and the other two seated in the rear. The police said Kamaruddin had been in contact with the three for about a year and was seen in CCTV footage sitting in the front passenger seat of the car earlier that day. He is being interrogated to ascertain the sequence of events and the motive behind the deaths, the officer said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
11 February,2026 02:24 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIAmid the controversy surrounding the unpublished book 'Four Stars of Destiny' by former Army Chief Gen. M.M. Naravane, the BJP asserted on Wednesday that the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, along with other 'fake' leaders, is deceiving the nation by disseminating falsehoods. Speaking to IANS, BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh said, “To please foreign powers, Rahul Gandhi and other fake leaders are misleading the country by lying. The one who wrote that book and the one who is publishing that book are clearly saying that the book has not been published. But fake leader Rahul Gandhi, to get cheap popularity through a foreign toolkit, is repeating filmy drama, which is far from reality. Rahul Gandhi should publicly apologise to the whole nation.” Unpublished book row sparks war of words between BJP, Congress and CPI(M) BJP MP Damodar Agrawal said, “The matter is very clear. The book has not been published. The Defence Minister has clearly stated this in the House. But if someone insists otherwise, then they themselves should clarify that it is published. After that, there will be action as per the law.” C.R. Kesavan, the BJP National Spokesperson, also attacked the Congress and said, “Mr Rahul Gandhi’s fake and fraudulent book bomb has now been totally busted. The deception of the Congress party’s dirty tricks department has also been completely exposed by the former Army chief’s tweet reiterating the publisher’s stand that the said book has not been published.” On the other hand, CPI(M) MP Amra Ram questioned the government’s handling of the issue. “Whether this actually happened or not, check with Naravane. You spoke to the Defence Minister and Home Minister in 2023. The way the government is acting, it seems they are not willing to listen to the people’s voice. The Leader of Opposition is not being allowed to speak,” he said. Amra Ram also said, “I have been in the Rajasthan Assembly for 20 years. The Leader of Opposition and even the Defence Minister have no time restrictions. Whenever they want to raise an issue, they have the opportunity to respond and present the opposition’s voice.” Naravane breaks silence, says controversial memoir not published Eight days after his unpublished memoir triggered a political firestorm that continues to rage, former Army chief General (retired) Manoj Mukund Naravane on Tuesday broke his silence on the controversial autobiography. He endorsed his publisher’s stand that the book has not been published and that no copies were “printed, distributed, sold or otherwise made available to the public” either in print or digital form. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi responded on Tuesday to Penguin Random House India’s note about the memoir, which has become the focus of a sharp political confrontation in Parliament between the ruling BJP and the opposition. Penguin Random House India on Tuesday confirmed that it holds exclusive publishing rights and that the manuscript has not been published in any form so far. The publishing house said it wished to make its position clear in light of reports suggesting that unauthorised copies were being circulated. The controversy has sparked intense debate in Parliament, with the BJP accusing the Congress party of spreading misinformation, while opposition leaders have demanded clarity on the contents and circumstances related to the book. Naravane served as the Army Chief from December 31, 2019, to April 30, 2022 -- a period marked by heightened military activity in eastern Ladakh in the backdrop of the standoff along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC). (Inputs from IANS)
11 February,2026 01:37 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentNationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar was admitted to Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune earlier on Monday due to throat-related problems, persistent coughing, and chest congestion. Sharad Pawar, after being admitted to hospital, is now stable. He was admitted to Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune at around 4 pm on Monday. Briefing about Sharad Pawar’s latest health update, physician and trustee of Ruby Hall Clinic Dr Simon Grant on Wednesday said that “Mr Pawar is stable and improving steadily. His vital parameters remain within normal limits, and his overall clinical condition is stable and reassuring.” While the initial assessment by the treating doctor, Dr Abhijeet Lodha, showed stable heart rate and oxygen levels, though respiratory rate was slightly elevated. Sources said the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief, an oral cancer survivor, had experienced fatigue due to continuous travel and engagements, along with chest congestion. No oxygen support or ventilator was required, and he was admitted to a private room. Dr Grant, while clarifying about Sharad Pawar’s health condition, said, “The chest congestion observed at the time of admission is responding very well to treatment, and recovery is progressing smoothly. The condition is attributed to physical stress and fatigue, particularly due to his recent extensive travel and frequent public interactions.” Briefing further about Sharad Pawar’s improving health, Dr Simon Grant added, “Mr Pawar continues to show consistent improvement under medical supervision. Based on his current progress, the medical team is planning for his discharge in the next two days, subject to continued recovery.” While the doctors and hospital staff have been focusing on getting Sharad Pawar the best medical aid, Ruby Hall Clinic has appealed to party workers and well-wishers to avoid gathering within the hospital premises to ensure that routine patient care is not disrupted. Maharashtra Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar visits Sharad Pawar at Pune hospital Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, along with son Parth, visited the hospital on Monday evening to enquire about the well-being of the former Maharashtra Chief Minister. Sunetra Pawar’s late husband, Ajit, was Sharad Pawar’s nephew. Sharad Pawar on Monday was accompanied to the hospital by his wife, Pratibha Pawar; daughter, Supriya Sule; son-in-law, Sadanand Sule; and grandson, Rohit Pawar.
11 February,2026 01:24 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
