The Delhi High Court on Friday set aside a Lokpal order granting sanction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a charge sheet against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in connection with the alleged cash-for-query row. A bench of Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar allowed Moitra’s plea challenging the Lokpal’s sanction order and directed the Lokpal to reconsider the issue in accordance with law and take a fresh decision within one month. Setting aside the impugned order, the Justice Kshetarpal-led Bench accepted Moitra’s contention that the anti-corruption body had failed to properly consider the statutory requirement of examining the comments and material submitted by the public servant before granting sanction under Section 20(7)(a) of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. The case arose from allegations levelled by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey, who accused Moitra of accepting cash and luxury gifts from Dubai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for raising questions in the Parliament. Acting on the complaint, the Lokpal had earlier directed the CBI to investigate "all aspects" of the matter under Section 20(3)(a) of the Act and submit a report within six months. Later, the Lokpal’s full bench exercised its powers under Section 20(7)(a) and Section 23(1) of the Lokpal Act, allowing the CBI to file a charge sheet and requiring that a copy be submitted to the anti-corruption body. Aggrieved by the Lokpal’s order, Moitra moved the Delhi High Court, arguing that the sanction violated natural justice and the statutory scheme since her written and oral submissions were not considered at all. Senior advocate Nidhesh Gupta, appearing for Moitra, submitted that Section 20(7) clearly mandates consideration of the comments of the public servant before sanctioning prosecution. On the other hand, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for the CBI, argued that the Lokpal’s order was passed in accordance with law and that the statute grants only a limited right to the accused at the stage of sanction. Senior Advocate Jivesh Nagrath, representing complainant Dubey, argued that Section 20 of the Act is a complete code and that the comments were properly submitted to the Lokpal. 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.
19 December,2025 01:30 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSDense fog continued to disrupt operations at the Delhi airport, with at least 79 flights getting cancelled on Friday, according to an official. More than 230 flights were delayed at the airport and the average delay for departures was 49 minutes on Friday morning, as per data from flight tracking website Flightradar24.com. The official said that a total of 79 flights, including some International services, have been cancelled. "Flight operations continue to be in CAT III conditions due to dense fog. Both arrivals and departures are taking place, though some flights may experience delays or disruptions," Delhi airport operator DIAL said in a post on X. Update issued at 11:05 hours.Kind attention to all flyers!#Fog #FogAlert #DelhiAirport pic.twitter.com/g1EYVtwWzY — Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) December 19, 2025 Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) operates the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), the country's largest airport that generally handles around 1,300 flights daily. While regretting the inconvenience, DIAL said its on-ground officials are working closely with all stakeholders to assist passengers and provide necessary support across the terminals. Dense fog blankets north India, IMD issues red alert for Delhi Meanwhile, a thick layer of fog stretching from Punjab to Bihar reduced visibility across the Indo-Gangetic plains on Friday morning, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a red alert for Delhi and warning that road, rail and air traffic may be affected. IMD officials said satellite imagery showed a dense fog cover over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, northeast Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. At 5.30 am, visibility was recorded at zero metres in Agra, Bareilly, Saharanpur and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh; Ambala, Amritsar, Bathinda, Ludhiana and Adampur in Punjab; Safdarjung in Delhi; Ambala in Haryana; Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh; Bhagalpur in Bihar; and Daltonganj in Jharkhand. The IMD issued a red alert for Delhi, warning that fog may disrupt operations at some airports and affect highways and railway routes. An orange alert was issued for several districts in Uttar Pradesh, including Agra, Aligarh, Baghpat, Bareilly, Bijnor, Bulandshahr, Etah, Etawah, Firozabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Hathras, Mathura, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Pilibhit, Rampur, Saharanpur, Shahjahanpur and Shamli. Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar in Uttarakhand and Amritsar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur, Patiala and Sangrur in Punjab are also under an orange alert. The IMD warned of difficult driving conditions and an increased risk of road accidents, adding that there is a possibility of power line tripping in affected areas. "Residents in the affected regions are advised to stay alert and take necessary precautions, including being careful while driving or travelling by any mode of transport, using fog lights, checking road and traffic conditions, staying in touch with airlines, railways and state transport authorities for travel schedules, avoiding unnecessary travel and following advisories issued by concerned agencies," the IMD said. (With inputs from Agencies)
19 December,2025 01:25 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentA leopard entered a residential building in Bhayandar on Friday morning, causing panic among residents. Confirming the incident to mid-day, Deputy Conservator of Forests Sachin Repal of the Thane Territorial Forest Department said the department had received reports of the animal’s presence and immediately dispatched a rescue team to the site. Volunteers from NGO SARRP- India are also on the spot to assist the forest department. A total of six injured were taken to the local government hospital. Repal urged locals to stay away from the building and avoid provoking the leopard, warning that any such attempt could trigger a human–leopard conflict. Watch full video | Leopard enters in Maharashtra's Bhayander residential building View this post on Instagram A post shared by mid-day (@middayindia) A leopard entered a Bhayandar residential building, injuring six people, prompting forest and NGO teams to rush in and safely rescue and contain the wild animal.Vc 📷: Special arrangements pic.twitter.com/C7uG59DJAh — Mid Day (@mid_day) December 19, 2025 A local said, "The presence of local politicians and their workers in large numbers near the building is making it difficult for the forest department to rescue the leopard."People gathered near the site as the leopard caused havoc, sparking panic among residents. Pic/Ranjeet Jadhav SGNP Director Anita Patil has sent the SGNP leopard rescue team to the spot along with Wildlife veterinarian Dr Nikhil Bangar, who has expertise to rescue the Leopard. Rescue efforts are underway. PIC/ Aditya Shinde The leopard is now trapped inside a room at the Paraijat Cooperative Housing Society. Police manage crowd as rescue operation continues at Parijat CHS, Bhayandar East. PIC/Satej Shinde.
19 December,2025 01:22 PM IST | | Ranjeet JadhavThe Winter Session of Parliament ended on Friday with both Houses -- Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha -- witnessing a noisy but productive session, culminating in several significant decisions. The 18th Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die as the House assembled for the final sitting. Speaker Om Birla announced the closure shortly after proceedings began, marking the end of a productive session spanning 15 sittings. In his remarks, Speaker Birla commended the members for their active participation and cooperation throughout the session. "All members participated and cooperated in the House, even working late into the night on several occasions," he said, highlighting the dedication shown despite demanding schedules. He noted that this spirit of collaboration enabled meaningful discussions on key legislative matters. Birla proudly announced that the Lok Sabha achieved a productivity of 111 per cent, reflecting efficient utilisation of time and focused debates. The session witnessed the passage of significant bills, including the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 (VB-G RAM G Bill), which replaces the MGNREGA with an enhanced guarantee of 125 days of rural employment, and the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, aimed at boosting clean energy through private participation. Other highlights included debates on supplementary demands for grants, air pollution, and insurance law amendments. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal also moved motions on important reforms. Despite occasional disruptions common in democratic deliberations, the overall tone was one of constructive engagement. Members from both treasury and opposition benches contributed to late-night sittings, ensuring pending business was addressed. The Winter Session, originally scheduled amid high expectations, concluded on a note of accomplishment, with the Lok Sabha demonstrating resilience and productivity. The next sitting is likely during the Budget Session in early 2026. The 269th session of the Rajya Sabha, part of the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, was adjourned sine die on Friday by Chairman and Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan, marking the conclusion of a highly productive period. As the Upper House assembled, Chairman Radhakrishnan took up listed business. After laying papers, the Chairman announced the conclusion of the 269th session of the House and expressed profound gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of House J.P. Nadda, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, and all members for their felicitations and cooperation. This was his first session presiding over the Upper House after assuming office. Describing the session as "very productive", he highlighted remarkable achievements, including an unprecedented average of over 84 Zero Hour notices per day -- a 30.1 per cent increase over the previous two sessions -- and more than 15 matters raised daily during Zero Hour, reflecting a nearly 50 per cent surge. The House sat late or skipped lunch recesses on five days to complete business, functioning for about 92 hours with an impressive productivity of 121 per cent. Key discussions included a special commemorative debate on the 150th anniversary of 'Vande Mataram', spanning over two days with 82 members participating, and a three-day discussion on electoral reforms involving 57 members. The Rajya Sabha passed eight bills, including the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024, with 212 members contributing. A record 59 Private Members' Bills were introduced, underscoring vibrant democratic engagement. Radhakrishnan praised members for utilising parliamentary tools sincerely and hoped for continued fruitful debates in future sessions, emphasising their role as custodians of democracy. 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.
19 December,2025 01:01 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSThe Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab on Friday said it would convene a special session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha next month against the Centre’s “attempt to hit the livelihoods of the poor by replacing the MGNREGA scheme”. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said, “The BJP government at the Centre is trying to hit the livelihoods of the poor by replacing the MGNREGA scheme. A special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha will be called in the second week of January to raise the voice of Punjabis against this oppression.” It is learnt that the decision to convene the special Vidhan Sabha session was taken by the party’s top leaders, including AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, on Thursday evening. Currently, Kejriwal is on a three-day tour of the state. Meanwhile, the previous session of Vidhan Sabha, which was also special, held on November 24, was prorogued by the Governor on December 17. The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB-G RAM G) Bill was passed in Parliament amidst protests by Opposition MPs. Earlier, when the Bill was introduced, the AAP had condemned it, saying it was a step by the Union government to dismantle the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and called it a “well-planned deception” aimed at weakening the rights, dignity, and livelihood security of rural labourers. AAP spokesperson Neel Garg had said the Modi government has consistently relied on “hollow slogans and political theatrics to mislead the public, while systematically eroding welfare guarantees meant for the poorest sections of society”. “This is not merely a change of name, nor is it about removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name. The real issue is that the Centre has effectively sounded the death knell for MGNREGA and is trying to hide its anti-labourer agenda behind manufactured TV debates and distractions,” he had said. Garg had questioned how rural labourers would now access employment. “Will a poor worker now have to approach the Prime Minister for work? Even reaching the sarpanch was difficult; this policy completely disconnects employment from the grassroots and centralises power in Delhi,” he had added. Even the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has expressed concern over the Union government's proposal to institute a 60:40 ratio between the Centre and viewed the introduction of a cost-sharing mechanism as fundamentally unacceptable, as it diluted the core essence of the scheme and defeated its primary objective of guaranteeing livelihood security through wage employment in rural areas. 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.
19 December,2025 12:04 PM IST | Chandigarh | IANSCongress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused the Modi government of demolishing 20 years of MGNREGA in a single day, and dubbed the new VB-G RAM G legislation as "anti village". Noting that the VB-G RAM G Bill is not a "revamp" of MGNREGA, Gandhi said in a post on X, "Last night, the Modi government demolished twenty years of MGNREGA in one day. It demolishes the rights-based, demand-driven guarantee and turns it into a rationed scheme which is controlled from Delhi. It is anti-state and anti-village by design." Last night, the Modi government demolished twenty years of MGNREGA in one day. VB–G RAM G isn’t a “revamp” of MGNREGA. It demolishes the rights-based, demand-driven guarantee and turns it into a rationed scheme which is controlled from Delhi. It is anti-state and anti-village… — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 19, 2025 The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha also said that MGNREGA gave the rural worker bargaining power. "With real options, exploitation and distress migration fell, wages increased, working conditions improved, all while building and reviving rural infrastructure. That leverage is precisely what this government wants to break," Gandhi alleged. He said by capping work and creating more ways to deny it, the VB-G RAM G Bill weakens the one instrument the rural poor had. "We saw what MGNREGA meant during Covid. When the economy shut down, and livelihoods collapsed, it kept crores from falling into hunger and debt," Gandhi claimed. It helped women the most, year after year, with women contributing more than half the person-days, the Congress leader said. "When you ration a jobs programme, it is women, Dalits, Adivasis, landless workers and the poorest OBC communities who get pushed out first," he said. "To top it all, this law was bulldozed through Parliament without proper scrutiny. The opposition's demand to send the Bill to a standing committee was rejected. A law that rewires the rural social contract, affecting crores of workers, should never be rammed through without serious committee scrutiny, expert consultation, and public hearings. PM Modi's targets are clear: Weaken labour, weaken the leverage of rural India, especially Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis, centralise power, and then sell slogans as reform," Gandhi said. Asserting that MGNREGA was among the most successful poverty alleviation and empowerment programmes in the world, he said, "We will not let this government destroy the rural poor's last line of defence. We will stand with workers, panchayats, and states to defeat this move and build a nationwide front to ensure this law is withdrawn." Parliament on Thursday night passed the VB-G RAM G Bill that seeks to replace the 20-year-old MGNREGA and guarantees 125 days of rural wage employment every year amid vociferous protests by the opposition. The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha with a voice vote late on Thursday night, hours after the Lok Sabha cleared it, amid strong protests by the opposition over the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the existing rural employment guarantee scheme and accusing the government of putting the financial burden on states.
19 December,2025 12:01 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentLow-cost Indian airline and subsidiary of the Tata Group, Air India Express, cancelled the Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam flight on Friday due to a technical issue that was identified prior to departure. According to an Air India Express spokesperson, passengers were provided with hotel accommodation and offered the option of a full refund or complimentary rescheduling. "In the interest of safety, our Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam flight returned to the ramp after the pilot identified a technical issue prior to departure. The flight was subsequently cancelled. Guests were promptly provided with hotel accommodation and refreshments. Guests were also offered options, including a full refund or complimentary rescheduling. We regret the inconvenience caused and reiterate that safety remains paramount in all aspects of our operations," said an Air India Express spokesperson. Earlier, on December 15, Air India Express issued a travel advisory warning that fog at select airports in North India may affect flight schedules. According to the airline, affected services included flights between Varanasi (VNS) and Mumbai (BOM) and Delhi-Srinagar (SXR). Additionally, Delhi-Indore (IDR), Delhi-Guwahati (GAU), Delhi-Ranchi (IXR), Mangaluru (IXE)-Delhi, Delhi-Mangaluru (IXE), and Lucknow (LKO)-Riyadh (RUH) flights were also affected by the flight scheduling. Air India Express said passengers affected are eligible for a one-time flight change without change fees for up to seven days from the original travel date, or for a full refund to the original payment method. Meanwhile, IndiGo has overtaken Air India and Air India Express in international passenger traffic during the July-September 2025 quarter, according to official data by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Data for the quarter shows IndiGo carried a total of 41.36 lakh international passengers, with 19.88 lakh passengers arriving in India and 21.47 lakh departing from the country. By comparison, Air India carried 11.79 lakh passengers to India and 11.97 lakh from India, while Air India Express recorded 8.08 lakh arrivals and 9.13 lakh departures. Even when combined, the Air India group's international passenger volumes for the quarter fell short of IndiGo's standalone numbers. This change occurred after Air India reduced its flights following a June plane crash. This reduction in flights created capacity that IndiGo quickly filled by increasing flights on key international routes. 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.
19 December,2025 11:45 AM IST | New Delhi [India] | ANIDense fog in the early morning hours across Delhi and parts of northern India continued to affect visibility on Friday, disrupting flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, reported news agency ANI. Delhi International Airport said operations are currently being conducted under CAT III conditions due to low visibility. CAT III is a category of Instrument Landing System (ILS) that offers lower minimums for visibility and decision height. CAT III allows for almost zero visibility landings in some cases. Advanced equipment and pilot training are required for CAT III approaches. "Dense fog is impacting flight schedules, and operations are currently under CAT III conditions. Our on-ground teams are working in close coordination with all stakeholders to assist passengers and provide necessary support across all terminals. For real-time flight updates, please reach out to your respective airlines. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding," said in a statement, reported ANI. IndiGo issues travel advisory Meanwhile, IndiGo also issued a travel advisory, noting that early-morning fog in Delhi and across parts of northern India is affecting flight operations. In a post on X, IndiGo wrote, "Early-morning fog in Delhi and across parts of northern India is reducing visibility and disrupting flight operations. We seek your understanding, as this is a seasonal occurrence, and flight movements are being managed accordingly to ensure safe and orderly operations. Customers travelling in the early hours may experience delays or revised timings. We recommend checking the latest flight status prior to leaving for the airport, goindigo.in/flight-status." Travel AdvisoryEarly morning fog in Delhi and across parts of northern India is affecting visibility and impacting flight operations. We seek your understanding, as this is a seasonal occurrence, and flight movements are being managed accordingly to ensure safe and orderly… — IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) December 18, 2025 The airline is monitoring the weather, coordinating with authorities, and adjusting operations to help passengers. "Our teams are actively monitoring weather conditions and coordinating with air traffic authorities. Wherever possible, we are making operational adjustments to minimise inconvenience and ensure customer support remains available across all key touchpoints. We will keep you informed and get you on your way as soon as conditions permit," post added on X. The national capital, Delhi, woke up to poor air quality on Friday morning, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 387 at around 8 am, placing it in the 'very poor' category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). A thick layer of fog stretching from Punjab to Bihar reduced visibility across the Indo-Gangetic plains on Friday morning, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a red alert for Delhi and warning that road, rail and air traffic may be affected. IMD officials said satellite imagery showed a dense fog cover over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, northeast Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. (With inputs from ANI)
19 December,2025 11:16 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, which reframed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) with an employment guarantee scheme during the ongoing winter session of Parliament. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who had earlier introduced the bill, moved it for consideration and passing. Speaking in the house Agri Minister Shivraj Chouhan defended renaming the bill and accused the opposition of deviating from Gandhi's ideals. "Bapu is our ideal, our inspiration. We are committed to following the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi Ji, which is why the Bharatiya Janata Party has incorporated Gandhi Ji's social and economic philosophy into its Panchnischay. The opposition is murdering Bapu's ideals. Yesterday in the House, I listened to the honorable members until 1:30 at night. You listen to your own words and don't listen to ours; this too is violence," he said. The Bill aims to provide a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment per financial year to every rural household, in line with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. It also focuses on strengthening rural livelihoods and accelerating overall rural development. On Wednesday, the House held a nearly 14-hour debate on the Bill, with the opposition demanding that the proposed legislation be referred to the Standing Committee, even as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly defended the Bill, calling it a decisive step towards achieving a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Opposition members pressed for the bill to be referred to the standing committee for scrutiny. Congress leader KC Venugopal told reporters that the SHANTI Bill and the bill to replace MGNREGA should have been sent to the Standing Committee. Moreover, the Bill envisions aligning rural development with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, focusing on empowerment, growth, convergence and saturation to build a prosperous and resilient rural Bharat. Under the Bill, public works will be aggregated to form the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack, prioritising water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related projects, and climate-resilient initiatives. It also aims to ensure adequate farm-labour availability during peak agricultural seasons and to institutionalise Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans for integrated, saturation-driven planning. These plans will be linked with PM Gati Shakti, powered by geospatial systems digital public infrastructure, and district- and state-level planning mechanisms. The Bill mandates a modern digital governance framework that incorporates biometric authentication, GPS and mobile-based monitoring, real-time dashboards, proactive disclosures and Artificial Intelligence tools for planning, auditing, and fraud risk mitigation. The major definitions under the Bill include adult members (aged one year or older), households, Blocks, implementing agencies, unskilled manual work, and the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan. The legislation also establishes Central and State Grameen Rozgar Guarantee Councils, as well as National and State-level Steering Committees to oversee implementation. Highlighting the need for this strengthened framework, the Ball notes that over the past two decades, Mahatma Gandhi NREGA has provided guaranteed wage-employment, but rural transformations, including enhanced social security coverage, connectivity, housing, electrification, financial inclusion, and digital access, require an integrated and future-ready rural development strategy. "To cater to the changing aspirations, stronger convergence is required to establish an integrated, Whole of Government rural development framework covering several complementary Government schemes. It is essential that rural infrastructure creation must transition from fragmented provisioning to a coherent and future-oriented approach, and it is also essential that resources are distributed in a fair manner to reduce disparities and promote inclusive growth across all rural areas of the country based on objective parameters," the Bill cites. The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission aims to transition rural infrastructure development from fragmented provisioning to a coherent, growth-oriented approach, while ensuring equitable resource allocation to reduce disparities and promote inclusive development. Any Indian citizen aged 18 or above and residing in a rural area can apply to this scheme. The applicant receives guaranteed employment within 15 days of the application date. 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.
19 December,2025 10:16 AM IST | New Delhi [India] | ANIThe Delhi government said a noticeable reduction in vehicular movement was observed on the city roads following strict enforcement of anti-pollution measures under GRAP-4, with increased public compliance with the Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms. In response to rising air pollution levels in the capital, the Delhi government on Thursday undertook a comprehensive monitoring exercise to assess the impact of the stringent measures implemented for pollution control, said an official statement. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta reviewed feedback received from her cabinet colleagues and their respective departments, and observed that the measures implemented by the government have delivered positive results on the ground. Following the government's directives, a noticeable reduction in vehicular movement was observed on Delhi's roads compared to normal days. In a significant trend, a large number of vehicle owners voluntarily obtained Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates, which the government termed a positive indicator of growing public awareness. The Delhi government asserted that it is fully complying with the directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). In accordance with these directions, Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-4) is currently in force in the capital. Under GRAP-4, intensive inspection and enforcement drives were conducted, and strict action was taken against violations, the statement said. According to a joint report of the Delhi Transport Department and the Delhi Traffic Police, a total of 210 enforcement teams were deployed for this special drive, including 126 teams of the Delhi Traffic Police and 84 teams of the Delhi Transport Department. During the campaign, stringent action was taken against vehicles operating without valid PUC certificates, with a total of 3,746 challans recorded against such vehicles. The government said monitoring and strict enforcement will continue in the days ahead to reduce vehicular emissions and provide immediate relief to public health. 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
19 December,2025 10:05 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIOpposition leaders staged a 12-hour overnight protest dharna in Parliament complex on Thursday night, while protesting against the passage of the VB-G RAM G bill that seeks to replace the MGNREGA rural employment programme and said they would take to the streets across the country. Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha deputy leader Sagarika Ghose accused the Union government of bulldozing the VB- G RAM G bill, as opposition MPs sat on a 12-hour dharna in the Parliament complex. The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill was passed by Parliament amid opposition's protests, with the Rajya Sabha giving it its nod post midnight. Ghose said the manner in which the Modi government has brought in this completely "anti-poor, anti-people, anti-farmer, anti-rural poor" VBGRG bill, and has done away with the MGNREGA. "This is an insult to India's poor, it is an insult to Mahatma Gandhi, it is an insult to Rabindranath Tagore. With just five hours' notice, this bill was given to us. We were not allowed a proper debate," Ghose said. "Our demand was such an important bill should be sent to the Select Committee and let the opposition parties examine it, let the opposition parties discuss it, let all stakeholders discuss it, but no, in a display of tyranny, in a murder of democracy," she said. "We are now going to sit on a 12-hour dharna, 12-hour dharna against the manner in which the Modi government has brought this black law against the people of India, against the poor of India, against the rural poor of India,"she said. Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala termed the day as a "sad day for the country's labour force and accused the Modi government as anti-farmer and anti-poor. "This is perhaps the saddest day for the labourers of India. BJP government has attacked the livelihood of 12 crore people by repealing the MGNREGA. They have proved that the Modi government is anti-farmer and anti-poor," he alleged. Congress leader Mukul Wasnik said, "When MGNREGA was drafted, consultations were held for 14 months. It was passed by Parliament with consensus. The scheme would put an extreme burden on states. As a result, this scheme will collapse." DMK leader Tiruchi Siva said they shifted the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and Ambedkar to the back side of Parliament, where people cannot see. "Likewise they have removed Mahatma Gandhi's name himself. Without Gandhi there is no freedom, that is the total belief in this country. Even in Britain parliament we are having Gandhi statue, but here in Indian parliament his statue is hidden somewhere, and now the scheme which bore his name, his name has also been removed," he claimed. He said the entire opposition is agitated, he noted. 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
19 December,2025 09:56 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIADVERTISEMENT
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