The opposition on Sunday dubbed the seven-day winter session of the Maharashtra Legislature an “election jumla”, alleging that the government’s primary focus was on clearing supplementary demands worth Rs 75,000 crore to distribute “revdis” ahead of the upcoming local body elections, news agency PTI reported. Leaders from across opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)’s Bhaskar Jadhav, Congress leaders Vijay Wadettiwar and Satej Patil, and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Jayant Patil, expressed disappointment, claiming the government failed to address key regional and policy issues. They said discussions during the Nagpur session focused more on Mumbai than on Vidarbha. The first phase of elections to various local bodies was held on December 2, while the poll schedule for several civic bodies, including the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, is yet to be announced. As per a Supreme Court order, elections to urban and local bodies in the state are to be completed by January 31, 2026. Addressing a press conference, Wadettiwar said nothing concrete emerged from the session, which concluded on Sunday, on critical issues such as malnutrition. He alleged that opposition demands related to farmers, irrigation and other concerns were completely ignored. “The winter session was an election jumla. The issues discussed in the Calling Attention motion were more related to Mumbai and less concerning Vidarbha, with no time restrictions,” said Wadettiwar, who leads the Congress Legislature Party in the Assembly. He also claimed that not a single new dam has been built in Vidarbha since the BJP came to power in 2014. Wadettiwar criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s concluding speech, calling it “old wine in a new bottle” and alleging it was a “copy-and-paste job”. He further alleged that corruption has increased in the state, adding that the opposition cited several examples during the session. Jadhav said the winter session yielded nothing substantial for the people of Vidarbha and Marathwada. “The session was held just to grab funds by way of approving the supplementary demands and to distribute ‘revdis’ ahead of the local body elections. That’s why we skipped the customary tea party on the session eve,” he said. He claimed that the government got supplementary demands of Rs 75,000 crore approved within two days, after which ministers began skipping the House. Jadhav also noted that the legislature functioned for an average of 10 hours a day, indicating opposition cooperation in the larger public interest, but alleged that none of the decisions benefitted Vidarbha. “All announcements were made keeping the upcoming municipal corporation elections in mind, especially in Mumbai,” he said, adding that the Chief Minister’s Assembly speech was identical to the one delivered during the budget session in Mumbai. Jadhav also claimed the CM did not mention the state’s “water drought” or farm loan waivers. Patil said the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) had signed 190 memoranda of understanding since 2022, involving an investment potential of Rs 20.62 lakh crore and an estimated employment generation of around 13 lakh, but the government failed to provide concrete answers on their status. He also alleged that the drug menace was rising in the state and crime was increasing in Pune, while lamenting that the winter session was “too short”. “The only objective of the session seems to be getting the supplementary demands approved,” Patil said. Congress leader Satej Patil said the government failed to address issues faced by cotton, soyabean and orange growers, and accused it of making big announcements without adequate financial backing. “It made so many announcements that even the supplementary demands of Rs 75,000 crore would fall short,” he said. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sachin Ahir said the last-week resolution speech was largely confined to attacking party chief and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. “By reversing old decisions, the CM and deputy CMs unleashed a barrage of announcements. They did not do justice to the issues raised by the Opposition,” he added. (With PTI inputs)
14 December,2025 07:52 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentBihar Minister Nitin Nabin was on Sunday appointed as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) National Working President, a move seen as signalling a generational shift in the ruling party and positioning him as a likely successor to party chief JP Nadda, news agency PTI reported. The 45-year-old is the son of late Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha, a veteran BJP leader and former Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA). Party leaders described him as dynamic, ideologically rooted and deeply committed to the organisation. A five-time MLA from the Bankipur Assembly Constituency in Bihar, he has served twice as a minister in the state government. Leaders said his ministerial tenures in Bihar and his role as the BJP’s Chhattisgarh in-charge were marked by effective organisational leadership. The party’s parliamentary board picked Nabin for the post, PTI reported. “Bharatiya Janata Party’s parliamentary board has appointed Nitin Nabin, a minister in the Bihar government, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s national working president with immediate effect,” BJP National General Secretary Arun Singh said in a notification. Belonging to the Kayastha community, Nabin is among the youngest leaders to be appointed to the post and is widely seen as a potential successor to 65-year-old Nadda, who was appointed in January 2020 and was given extensions to lead the party through the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. Congratulating Nabin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as a “hardworking Karyakarta” and expressed confidence that his energy and dedication would strengthen the party. “He is a young and industrious leader with rich organisational experience and has an impressive record as MLA as well as Minister in Bihar for multiple terms. He has diligently worked to fulfil people’s aspirations. He is known for his humble nature and grounded style of working. I am confident that his energy and dedication will strengthen our Party in the times to come. Congratulations to him on becoming the BJP National Working President,” Modi said on X. Shri Nitin Nabin Ji has distinguished himself as a hardworking Karyakarta. He is a young and industrious leader with rich organisational experience and has an impressive record as MLA as well as Minister in Bihar for multiple terms. He has diligently worked to fulfil people’s… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 14, 2025 Nabin has also worked extensively with the BJP’s Yuva Morcha. His appointment reflects the party’s focus on capable leadership and underlines a generational shift, leaders said. BJP president JP Nadda also congratulated Nabin, saying he was confident the party would scale new heights under his leadership. “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the dynamic BJP leader from the sacred land of knowledge and culture, Bihar, and Minister in the Bihar Government, Shri Nitin Nabin ji on his appointment as the National Working President of the Bharatiya Janata Party,” Nadda said on X. “I am fully confident that under the guidance of the esteemed Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and your leadership, the organisation will reach new heights with the sentiments of nation-building and public service. Heartfelt best wishes for your illustrious and successful tenure.” (With PTI inputs)
14 December,2025 07:05 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentCold wave conditions were reported in parts of Jharkhand as nine districts in the state recorded minimum temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday. The nine districts that recorded minimum temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius were Gumla, Hazaribag, Khunti, Latehar, Lohardaga, Ranchi, Sarikela, Simdega, and West Singhbhum, according to the bulletin issued by the Ranchi Meteorological Centre. Deputy Director of the Ranchi Meteorological Centre, Abhishek Anand, said, "North-westerly winds still prevailing in the lower tropospheric levels over Jharkhand have caused the drop in mercury." Ranchi recorded the lowest temperature in the state at 6.1 degrees Celsius, followed by Gumla (7.1) and Khunti (7.5), the IMD's weather bulletin stated. The minimum temperature in Daltonganj was 8.1 degrees Celsius, while Jamshedpur recorded 12 degrees Celsius and Chibasa recorded 10.2 degrees Celsius. 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.
14 December,2025 06:08 PM IST | Ranchi | PTIThe Maharashtra Legislative Assembly was adjourned on Sunday, with Speaker Rahul Narwekar proposing that the next session be held on February 23 next year, news agency PTI reported. During the seven-day winter session in Nagpur, the Vidhan Sabha functioned for 72 hours and 35 minutes, recording a daily average of 10.22 hours. Only 10 minutes were lost during the proceedings, Narwekar said. Of the 18 bills tabled in the assembly, 16 were passed, he added. The budget session of the state legislature will be held in February, reported PTI. Maharashtra Assembly Winter Session an ‘election jumla’: Congress Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Sunday described the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly Winter Session as an “election jumla” by the government, alleging that discussions focused more on Mumbai than on Vidarbha, PTI reported. Addressing a press conference in Nagpur, Wadettiwar said nothing concrete emerged during the session on key issues such as malnutrition. “The winter session was an election jumla. The issues discussed in the Calling Attention motion were more related to Mumbai and less concerning Vidarbha, with no time restrictions,” said Wadettiwar, who is the Congress’ Legislature Party leader in the assembly. He also alleged that corruption has increased in the state, adding that the opposition cited several examples during the session, PTI reported. The first phase of elections to various local bodies was held on December 2, while the schedule for polls to several civic bodies, including the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, is yet to be announced. As per a Supreme Court order, elections to urban and local bodies in the state are to be completed by January 31, 2026. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Jayant Patil said that 190 memoranda of understanding were signed by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) involving investments of Rs 20.62 lakh crore since 2022, but the Mahayuti Government failed to provide concrete answers on their status. He also claimed that the drug menace is rising in the state and said the duration of the winter session of the Maharashtra Legislature was too short. Earlier, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had acknowledged that the state treasury is under financial pressure, but asserted that Maharashtra continues to meet all key parameters of a strong and stable economy. Responding to several issues raised by legislators on the last day of the winter session of the assembly, Fadnavis rejected allegations that the state's finances are weakening. "We do not have an overflowing treasury, and I will not claim that we do. However, I can state with certainty that among the country's large states, Maharashtra even today qualifies on all economic indicators of a robust economy," he told the Vidhan Sabha while replying to the debate on the final-week resolution. (With PTI inputs)
14 December,2025 04:42 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentAmid tight security arrangements at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, Congress workers and leaders gathered for a protest rally against alleged 'vote chori', accusing the Centre and the Election Commission of India (ECI) of colluding to manipulate elections. The demonstration, however, also triggered controversy as several participants were heard raising objectionable slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The protest rally was organised to hold the central government and the ECI accountable for what the party described as "collusion to manipulate elections". As slogans echoed across the venue, some workers were heard chanting, 'Modi teri kabra khudegi, aaj nahi to kal khudegi' (Modi, your grave will be dug, if not today, then tomorrow), along with 'Vote chor, gaddi chhord', targeting the Prime Minister. A Congress worker from Rajasthan, Manjulata Meena, speaking to IANS, said, "We are with our leader Rahul Gandhi, who is fighting against the 'vote chori' being committed by the BJP in collusion with the ECI. People have arrived in large numbers here. We will do our best to fight against the vote chori." When asked about the derogatory slogans raised against the Prime Minister, she reiterated the chant and told IANS, "Everyone is fed up with this Hitler government. This public will strengthen its voice, and it will become the last nail in his coffin. The EVM hacking and vote chori will not be tolerated now. You can see what happened in Sri Lanka and Nepal; the public is not naive, it knows everything, and it will surely work to put the last nail in his coffin." Another Congress worker, Sonia Begum, justified the controversial remarks while speaking to IANS, saying, "We are with Rahul Gandhi in this fight. Evil comes to an end. That is why we are raising slogans 'Modi teri kabra khudegi'. We want change." Throughout the protest rally, party workers continued to raise similar objectionable slogans while holding placards and banners. "The public is not being treated right. We are with our leadership to fight for people's rights. 'Modi teri kabra jarur khudegi'. The public will not tolerate these wrongdoings like vote chori now," Sunita, another Congress worker, told IANS. Meanwhile, the Congress high command, including party National President Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and senior leaders such as K.C. Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, are also scheduled to participate in the protest. Additionally, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, along with all Congress legislators from the state and over 1,000 party workers, were expected to attend the protest in the national capital. K.C. Venugopal, speaking to IANS about the rally, said, "This protest is not against the BJP, but against vote theft. Lakhs of people are participating in the rally to protect democracy. Congress will continue to work to defend democratic values. People are clear in their minds that vote theft has occurred." Congress MP Pramod Tiwari also spoke to IANS, saying, "Since yesterday evening, the streets, hotels, and lanes of Delhi have been filled with people. The enthusiasm with which people have gathered shows they have come on a mission to protect democracy and uphold the Constitution. While the BJP sided with the British during the freedom struggle, Congress endured imprisonment, faced the gallows, and suffered atrocities to secure India's independence... We will continue this fight." 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.
14 December,2025 02:23 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSA magisterial inquiry committee has questioned original landowner Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar and Arpora-Nagoa sarpanch Roshan Redkar in connection with the devastating fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in North Goa, reported news agency PTI. Amonkar was summoned at 3.30 pm on Saturday and questioned till 10.30 pm, his lawyer Prasenjeet Dhage said, adding that the panel wanted to know "why this incident happened". "My client had a warrant of appearance before the committee," he said, reported PTI. "It was a very intensive and vigorous inquiry," the lawyer added. The Goa government has constituted a committee headed by district magistrate Ankit Yadav to inquire into the December 6 fire incident which claimed 25 lives. Arpora-Nagoa panchayat sarpanch Roshan Redkar told reporters that he answered the committee's questions. He has already obtained pre-arrest bail from a local court in connection with the case. The Goa police have arrested five managers and staff members of the club. Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, co-owners of the club, have been detained in Thailand after they fled the country, reported PTI. Two nightclubs sealed after deadly fire triggers statewide crackdown As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the fire tragedy, the state authorities on Saturday sealed Cafe CO2 Goa, a renowned club located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator in North Goa, and revoked the fire department NOC of another club. The move came a couple of days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules. An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team indicated that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found, reported PTI. The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas. A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order, reported PTI. Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls in Goa, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday claimed the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt. (With inputs from PTI)
14 December,2025 02:19 PM IST | Panaji | mid-day online correspondentDelhi battled toxic fumes on Sunday as the air quality slipped into the 'severe category with a reading of 459, according to the Central Pollution Control Board, reported news agency PTI. A thick layer of smog blanketed the city overnight, leaving people gasping for air. Delhi’s average AQI climbs to 461 According to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed to 461 at 7 am on Sunday, up from 431 recorded a day earlier. The alarming figures underscored the deepening air quality crisis gripping the national capital. All 40 air quality monitoring stations across Delhi reported readings in the ‘severe’ category, with several locations nearing the maximum measurable limit. Rohini emerged as one of the worst-affected areas, recording an AQI of 499, followed closely by Bawana at 498. Vivek Vihar reported 495, while Ashok Vihar and Wazirpur registered AQI levels of 493 each. Narela recorded 492, and Anand Vihar stood at 491. Other parts of the city also remained heavily polluted. ITO recorded an AQI of 485, Mundaka 486, Punjabi Bagh 478, Nehru Nagar 476, and both Chandni Chowk and Okhla registered readings of 470, reflecting widespread and persistent pollution across the capital city. The air quality crisis was not confined to Delhi alone, as several cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) also reported dangerously high pollution levels. Noida recorded an AQI of 470, placing it firmly in the ‘severe’ category, while Ghaziabad followed closely with a hazardous AQI of 460. Gurugram’s air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category at 348, while Faridabad recorded a comparatively lower but still concerning AQI of 220, classified as ‘poor’. As per the CPCB, an Air Quality Index (AQI) between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor' and 401 to 500 'severe'. Minimum temperature settles at 8.2 degrees Celsius On the weather front, the minimum temperature settled at 8.2 degrees Celsius, 0.4 notch below the season's average, and the maximum temperature is likely to hover around 24 degrees Celsius, reported PTI. The relative humidity was 100 per cent at 8.30 am, the IMD said. In light of the deteriorating air quality in the national capital, the Delhi Directorate of Education on Saturday directed all schools to conduct classes for students up to Class IX and XI in a hybrid mode. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked Stage-IV actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect to curb further worsening of air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR. (With inputs from PTI)
14 December,2025 02:07 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi’s Office on Sunday shared an article by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia highlighting Nagaland’s iconic Hornbill Festival, describing it as a vibrant expression of India’s cultural soul and the Northeast’s growing prominence in the national narrative. “In this engaging article, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia describes Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival as a kaleidoscope of the human spirit and a masterful convergence of the ancient and the contemporary. He reiterates that our country will rise only when the Northeast shines,” the PMO said in a post on X. Underscoring the region’s significance, the PMO added that the Northeast represents the face of a new and confident India, noting that Nagaland does not merely celebrate festivals but embodies celebration itself -- aptly earning its title as the “Land of Festivals”. Scindia, in the article, wrote that PM Modi’s vision has placed the Northeast at the forefront of India’s development journey by unlocking its vast economic and human potential. “The Hornbill Festival of Nagaland gives this transformation a cultural voice, showing that growth is strongest when it is anchored in identity,” he said. Elaborating on the festival’s spirit, Scindia noted that Nagaland’s wealth of natural reserves, spiritual heritage, sporting traditions, skills, ecotourism, cuisine and cultural vibrancy is not rhetorical but lived and experienced every day. He described the Hornbill Festival at Kisama as a powerful meeting point of tradition and modernity. “The festival was a kaleidoscope of the human spirit -- a masterful convergence of the ancient and the contemporary. Days resonated with the traditional songs and dances of the 17 Naga tribes, while evenings came alive with contemporary cultural expressions,” he wrote, adding that the energy was palpable, particularly during the Hornbill International Rock Contest, which drew talented bands from across India and abroad. Praising the Prime Minister’s leadership, Scindia said PM Modi’s ‘Act East’ vision has unlocked nearly 10 billion dollars in ASEAN trade corridors, positioning Nagaland as a key gateway in the region’s growth story. “These are not just bricks and mortar; they are lifelines -- arteries pumping prosperity into a region whose GDP has quadrupled since 2014,” he observed. At a time when nations across the world are rediscovering the importance of cultural identity, Scindia said, the Hornbill Festival stands out as a pioneering example of unity rooted in tradition. He added that the festival mirrors the Prime Minister’s mantra of “Vikas bhi, virasat bhi” -- development intertwined with heritage -- capturing the essence of India’s inclusive and culturally grounded growth model. 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.
14 December,2025 01:20 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSMembers of a committee, set up by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to inquire about the chaos during Argentine football icon Lionel Messi's event in Salt Lake stadium a day ago, reached the venue on Sunday to carry out an on-ground inspection, officials said. The panel members, headed by retired Calcutta High Court judge Justice Ashim Kumar Ray, will conduct the probe, they said. Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and Home Secretary Nandini Chakravorty are also members of the inquiry team. The members will inspect the stadium premises, crowd management arrangements and facilities provided to spectators as part of the probe into the alleged mismanagement during Messi's event on Saturday, the officials said. CCTV footage might also be probed, they said. The committee has been tasked with fixing responsibility for the lapses that led to the chaos and recommending measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents at high-profile events. What was billed as a marquee sporting spectacle unravelled into disorder as thousands of spectators protested after being unable to get a clear glimpse of Messi, triggering vandalism inside the stadium. The widespread chaos at the venue prompted the Argentine World Cup-winning captain to leave the field early. In the aftermath of the incident, the police arrested the main organiser of the event on charges of mismanagement and public disorder, and an FIR was lodged. Chief Minister Banerjee had on Saturday apologised to Messi and football fans, describing the incident as deeply disturbing, and announced the formation of the inquiry committee to ensure accountability. 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.
14 December,2025 12:48 PM IST | Kolkata | PTIMadhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said that Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve will become the new home for cheetahs in the state before the monsoon next year, following the successful translocation of the big cats from Africa to Kuno National Park. The state cabinet has given in-principle approval to develop the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, located at Nauradehi in Sagar district, as the third habitat in the state for the world's fastest animal. "We are building three large cheetah reserves. We have only released three cheetahs in the Gandhi Sagar Tiger Reserve. There could be 50. Nauradehi has just been approved (at the Khajuraho cabinet meeting). We're preparing an enclosure there. This will become a new home for cheetahs before this (next year's) monsoon," Yadav told PTI in an interview on completing two years in office on Saturday. The first cheetah habitat was opened at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur in September 2022, and the second one at the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Mandsaur in April this year. Referring to the cheetah project, Yadav said, "The entire state is open to cheetahs. Just imagine their growing population within our state. India, and Madhya Pradesh within India, is the only place in the world where cheetah rehabilitation is successful. Many other states have tried, but none have succeeded." KNP is home to 28 cheetahs, and the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary has two big cats. Eight cheetahs are expected to be brought to KNP from Botswana in January 2026, an official earlier said. Asked about the recent increase in the number of tiger deaths in the state, CM Yadav said, "When there are too many tigers, such incidents naturally occur. But we are trying to minimise this." "Tigers are also migrating from our territory to other states, and we are also exchanging wild animals. Therefore, we are trying to ensure that our tigers do not face any difficulties. The tiger is a beautiful creature of the wild. We are trying to protect it and do better work," he said. CM Yadav said his government is also working to translocate many other wildlife species to the state. "We are bringing rhinoceroses from Assam. King cobras are also found in the forests there. We have also brought them from Bengaluru. We are building a snake park. We will build rescue centres and zoos in our tiger reserves to promote tourism and save the lives of animals. We are doing many such works," he said. Asked about his and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's priority to double the farmers' income and how he will achieve this target, Yadav said, "Our formula is essentially the prime minister's." If the irrigation areas are increased and water is provided to dry fields, crop prices increase, he noted. "When farmers grow two crops and then three crops from one previously, their income will naturally increase. We have also focused on milk production. We are also focusing on fruit production," he said. Yadav also said his government is focusing on a campaign called "Ek Bagiya Maa Ke Naam" (one garden in the name of mother), aimed at developing cluster-based fruit orchards, which will benefit farmers. "We are doing many such things in the interest of farmers," he added. The government is also encouraging small-scale cottage industries and providing free electricity to farmers through solar energy, the CM said. "So, all these things will increase farmers' income and reduce expenses, which will definitely improve their lives," he added. Asked about the NCRB data indicating that ST/SC communities face the maximum atrocities in Madhya Pradesh, Yadav said, "This is not true. Wherever it seems, we take action, and the action is ongoing. If you observe, you'll notice we have welfare schemes for all sections of society in this state. We work equally for all sections, and its results are clearly visible." 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.
14 December,2025 12:48 PM IST | Bhopal | PTIFour chief ministers, including Devendra Fadnavis of Maharashtra and N Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh, will join more than 100 CEOs from India at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting next month, reported news agency PTI. Several union ministers are also expected to attend the five-day annual meeting from January 19-23, 2026, which will host a record number of nearly 3,000 global leaders from close to 130 countries, including around 60 heads of state. Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh chief ministers will be joined by A Revanth Reddy of Telangana and Mohan Yadav from Madhya Pradesh, reported PTI. Besides these four states, a few more, including Uttar Pradesh, are expected to have a significant presence in Davos during the WEF Annual Meeting 2026, which will be held under the theme of 'a spirit of dialogue', reported PTI. The names of union ministers scheduled to attend the meeting are expected to be announced soon. Business leaders from India expected in Davos for the annual congregation of the rich and powerful from across the world include Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani, Tata group's N Chandrasekaran, Bajaj group's Sanjiv Bajaj and Jubilant Bhartia Group's Hari S Bhartia, reported PTI. Other Indian corporate leaders expected to be there are Axix Bank's Amitabh Chaudhry, Godrej Industries Group's Nadir Godrej, JSW Group's Sajjan Jindal, Zerodha's Nikhil Kamath, Bharti group's Sunil Bharti Mittal, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, Infosys CEO Salik S Parekh, Wipro's Rishad Premji, Essar CEO Prashant Ruia, Paytm's Vijay Shekhar Sharma and Renew CEO Sumant Sinha, reported PTI. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia, as well as several PSU heads, including GAIL's Sandeep Kumar Gupta, SBI's Challa Sreenivasulu Setty, NTPC's Gurdeep Singh and REC's Jitendra Srivastava, will also be there, reported PTI. Global leaders attending the summit include World Bank President Ajay S Banga, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, UNESCO Director General Khaled el-Enany, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, reported PTI. From Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will also be there. Under the theme 'a spirit of dialogue', the meeting will seek to harness the need for an impartial platform that connects leaders to confront shared challenges and drive the innovations defining the future, according to the WEF. The meeting will focus on five global challenges where public-private cooperation can make a difference: cooperation in a more contested world, unlocking new sources of growth, better investment in people, deploying innovation at scale and responsibly, and building prosperity within planetary boundaries. Public figures expected to attend include leaders from G7, G20, BRICS countries and beyond, as well as heads of international organisations. (With inputs from PTI)
14 December,2025 12:07 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1765704962121_d.png "Representational Image. File Pic")
-1765701653396_d.png "Congress workers and leaders gathered for a protest rally against alleged 'vote chori', accusing the Centre and the ECI. File Pic")
-1765698348206_d.png "Prime Minister Narendra Modi. File Photo")
-1765695971487_d.png "Chaos during Argentine football icon Lionel Messi's event in Salt Lake stadium. File Pic")
-1765694959227_d.png "Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve will become the new home for cheetahs in the state of Bhopal. File Pic")
