Several schools in Chandigarh were evacuated after they received bomb threat emails on Wednesday, said police. After the school authorities informed the police about bomb threat emails, policemen reached school premises and conducted thorough searches of the educational institutions, they said. At least five schools, including private ones, received the threat emails. Bomb disposal and sniffer dog squads were rushed to school premises to carry out searches. Students and school staff have been evacuated, they said, adding that security was stepped up around the schools. Students on way to the schools were sent back home, they said. The school authorities told the police that they received bomb threat emails on Wednesday morning and thereafter, they informed the police. The incident comes close on the heels of similar incidents in Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala in Punjab and Ambala in Haryana, where some schools got similar threats which later turned out to be hoaxes. 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.
28 January,2026 01:45 PM IST | Chandigarh | PTIPresident Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday addressed a joint session of Parliament on the first day of the Budget Session 2026-27, outlining the Union government's vision for social justice, inclusive growth, and a developed India. The President delivered her address to members of both Houses assembled together in the Lok Sabha Chamber on the opening day of the Seventh Session of the 18th Lok Sabha and the 270th Session of the Rajya Sabha. In her address, President Murmu said she was delighted to address Parliament, recalling that the previous year was memorable for celebrating India's rapid progress and rich heritage. She noted that 150 years of Vande Mataram were celebrated across the country, with citizens paying tribute to Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. "The country celebrated the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of Sri Guru Tegh Bhadur Ji. During the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, the entire country paid him tribute and remembered his tribute to the tribal community. The events related to the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel further strengthened the sense of Ek Bharat Shresht Bharat. The entire country became witness to how Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika's birth anniversary celebrations of filled the country with music and a sense of unity. When the country remembers the contribution of its ancestors, the new generation gets inspiration which further speeds up our journey towards Viksit Bharat," she said. Focusing on social justice, the President underlined that Babasaheb Ambedkar consistently emphasised equality and social justice, values enshrined in the Constitution. "Every citizen of the country should get their full rights without any discrimination. My Government is committed to true social justice," she said. As a result, she noted, nearly 25 crore people have come out of poverty in the last decade, with efforts to empower the poor being accelerated further in the government's third term. "My Government is working for Dalits, the backwards, tribal community and everyone with complete sensitivenss. The vision of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas is becoming a positive impact on the lives of every citizen. At the beginning of 2014, social security schemes reached just 25 crore citizens. With the efforts of the Govt about 95 crore Indians have access to social security schemes now," she added. The President also highlighted the new act VB-G RAM G that thas replace the MNREGA. As she praised the provisions of the act the Treasury benches thumped the tables in appreciation while opposition MPs stood and protested and demanded that the law be withdrawn. "For employment and development in rural areas, Viksit Bharat-G RAM G law has been formed. With this new reform, there will be 125 days of employment guarantees in villages," the President. President Murmu also said that with 2026, India has entered the second stage of the 21st century, and the achievements of the last 25 years have laid a strong foundation across sectors, calling this year a crucial base of the journey towards Viksit Bharat. Earlier, the President received a Guard of Honour on her arrival at Parliament of India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge were present during the address. The Budget Session will span 30 sittings over 65 days, concluding on April 2, with a recess from February 13 to March 9 for scrutiny of Demands for Grants by Standing Committees. 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.
28 January,2026 01:45 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | ANIHundreds of tourists remained stranded in Kashmir as the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway --the only all-weather road link connecting the valley with the rest of the country -- was closed for traffic for the second day on Wednesday. The closure of the highway has left many travellers stuck here. "I have been stuck here for the last two days. We had come here to enjoy snow, but it is this snow that has become our punishment," Kailash, a tourist from Rajasthan told PTI Videos. He appealed to the authorities to clear the road "anyhow" and "allow us to go as our families are waiting for us". "The flights were cancelled yesterday and now the fare has increased. They are asking for at least 20-25 thousand. We request you to clear the road as it is causing us distress. If this approach remains, then next time no tourist will come to Kashmir, we will not come for sure if it continues like this," he added. Another tourist, Mohit Sharma, said the closure of the highway for the second day has caused many hardships to the people. "They are not allowing traffic even after the weather has improved. We want to go home, but are stuck here unfortunately. It is causing us many hardships. We are forced to spend extra than our budget. We want them to allow traffic so that the people who are stranded and have nowhere to go, could leave," Sharma said. While the stranded tourists are waiting anxiously for the highway to reopen, some said that they were "fortunate" to get stuck in the snow-covered valley. "I won't say that I am stuck. I do not feel that I am stuck. Everyone is not fortunate to be stuck here, I am," Shipra Bharadwaj, a professor at Delhi University who is on her fourth trip to the Kashmir valley, said. Bharadwaj said she was advised this time to visit the valley in 'Chilla-i-Kalan, the 40-day harshest winter period during which the chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent. "I had never felt snow fall over my head. This time I did. I am fortunate," she added. The snowfall on Tuesday forced the closure of the highway and the suspension of the flight operations at the Srinagar airport. While the flight operations resumed on Wednesday after improvement in the weather, the highway continued to remain closed for traffic. The authorities are making efforts to restore the national highway (NH-44) as it continued to remain closed on the second day on Wednesday due to snow accumulation and slippery conditions, the officials said. They said snow clearance operations were in progress to restore the traffic on the highway. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) personnel are sprinkling salt and urea on the road to improve conditions for safe driving as parts of the highway remained slippery due to frosty conditions after the snowfall, they 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.
28 January,2026 01:44 PM IST | Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) | PTIThe Congress on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge remembering him as a seasoned leader who discharged his responsibilities with sincerity and astuteness. Rahul Gandhi calls news extremely heartbreaking Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi also condoled Pawar’s demise. In a post on X in Hindi, Gandhi said the news of the death of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and his fellow travellers in the aircraft accident was “extremely heartbreaking.” He said he stood with the people of Maharashtra in this moment of grief and extended condolences to the Pawar family and their loved ones. Plane crashed while attempting to land near Baramati Ajit Pawar (66) and four others were killed when the aircraft carrying them crashed in Baramati in Pune district on Wednesday morning, officials said. The incident occurred while the plane was attempting to land near Baramati. Kharge remembers Pawar as sincere, astute leader In a post on X, Kharge said the tragic death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash was deeply shocking and profoundly distressing. “It is an untimely loss of a leader who had a long and promising political career ahead. No words can adequately express the grief the bereaved family must be enduring,” he said, extending condolences to Pawar’s family, supporters and well-wishers. “Having served the people of Maharashtra in various constitutional capacities, Shri Ajit Pawar shall be remembered as a seasoned politician who discharged his responsibilities towards his people with sincerity and astuteness,” Kharge added. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condoles death of Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the news of Pawar’s death and that of others in the horrific plane crash was extremely heartbreaking. In a post on X in Hindi, she offered condolences to Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule and the entire family, as well as to Pawar’s supporters. "May God grant peace to the departed souls. Deepest condolences to revered Sharad Pawar Ji, Supriya Sule Ji and their entire family, and to the supporters of revered Ajit Pawar Ji," she said in a post in Hindi on X. According to Flight Radar data, the aircraft took off from Mumbai at 8.10 am and disappeared from radar around 8.45 am. Pawar was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati to address public meetings as part of the campaign for the February 5 zilla parishad elections. There were five people on board when the aircraft crashed at around 8.50 am, a police official said.
28 January,2026 01:09 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed deep grief over the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, describing the loss as untimely and extremely shocking. PM recalls Pawar’s grassroots connect and public service In a post on X, the Prime Minister said Ajit Pawar was a mass leader with a strong connection at the grassroots level and was widely respected for his tireless work in public life. Shri Ajit Pawar Ji was a leader of the people, having a strong grassroots level connect. He was widely respected as a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra. His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and… pic.twitter.com/mdgwwGzw4R — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 28, 2026 Ajit Pawar (66) and four others were killed when the aircraft they were travelling in crashed near his hometown Baramati in Pune district on Wednesday morning, officials said. "Shri Ajit Pawar Ji was a leader of the people, having a strong grassroots-level connect. He was widely respected as a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra. His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and downtrodden were also noteworthy. His untimely demise is very shocking and saddening. Condolences to his family and countless admirers. Om Shanti," PM Modi said. PM expresses condolences for all lives lost in crash In a separate message, the Prime Minister also condoled the loss of lives in the accident. "Saddened by the tragic air crash in Baramati, Maharashtra. My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones in the crash. Praying for strength and courage for the bereaved families in this moment of profound grief," he said. Shri Ajit Pawar Ji was a leader of the people, having a strong grassroots level connect. He was widely respected as a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra. His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and… pic.twitter.com/mdgwwGzw4R — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 28, 2026 Union ministers pay tribute to Pawar’s legacy Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Deeply shocked and pained to learn about the untimely demise of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Shri Ajit Pawar. Throughout his long public life, he remained committed to the development and prosperity of Maharashtra. He was known for his compassion for the people and his unwavering dedication to public service. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, well-wishers, and admirers." While expressing his grief, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, “The news of the sudden demise of Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar ji is extremely shocking, unfortunate, and heartbreaking. My heartfelt tribute to him. Over the past many years, while working together in the state legislature, I shared an extremely close bond with Ajit dada. His administrative acumen, developmental vision, and innate ability to connect with people have ensured that Ajit dada always holds an unassailable position in Maharashtra's politics. The untimely passing of this people's leader, who harbored aspirations for Maharashtra's development, is not just a loss for Maharashtra but an irreplaceable one for the entire nation. On this sorrowful occasion, my condolences are with the entire Pawar family. May God grant peace to the departed soul. Om Shanti.”
28 January,2026 11:47 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to take stock of the situation following the plane crash near Baramati involving Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, news agency IANS reported. According to Maharashtra government officials, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister were briefed on the circumstances of the accident and the latest developments related to the crash. Ajit Pawar plane crash Live updates: Follow our live blog for real-time updates DGCA confirms deaths of all on board Ajit Pawar, who is also the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief, along with five others, lost their lives when the aircraft crashed while attempting to land near Baramati on Wednesday morning. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that all six persons on board the plane died in the accident. Crash occurred during landing; rescue teams rush to site The aircraft went down during the landing phase, with visuals from the site showing flames, thick smoke, and the wreckage of the plane scattered across the area. Ambulances and emergency responders were seen rushing to the spot, while local residents also attempted to assist rescue efforts. Family members reach crash site, probe underway The crash occurred around 9 am, roughly an hour after the aircraft departed from Mumbai. Pawar was travelling to Baramati to attend a public meeting amid the ongoing elections to Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis. Family members of the late deputy chief minister rushed to the crash site soon after the incident. His wife and NCP MP Sunetra Pawar, son Parth Pawar, and cousin, NCP-SP working president Supriya Sule, were reportedly scheduled to travel to Baramati from Delhi. Emergency services and senior security officials reached the site immediately after the aircraft reportedly lost control while landing. Three bodies were shifted to Baramati Medical College, and the process of identification is underway, according to the Pune Superintendent of Police. A team from the DGCA has also arrived at the crash site to begin a detailed probe into the cause of the accident. Locals were among the first to reach the spot after witnessing the aircraft go down. The incident follows a series of aviation-related scares involving Pawar and his party colleagues in recent years. In October 2024, a helicopter meant to ferry NCP leader Sunil Tatkare crashed in Pune, while there have also been instances of emergency landings in the region due to adverse weather conditions. (With inputs from IANS)
28 January,2026 11:46 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentPresident Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, calling his untimely passing an irreparable loss to the nation. In a post on X, the President said Pawar would always be remembered for his significant role in Maharashtra’s development, particularly his contribution to the cooperative sector. She described the news of the crash in Baramati, Pune district, which claimed the lives of Pawar and four others, as extremely tragic. “The untimely demise of Ajit Pawar ji is an irreparable loss,” Murmu said in her message, adding that she extended heartfelt condolences to his family, supporters, and admirers. She also prayed for strength and courage for the families of all those who lost their lives in the accident. Pawar (66) and four other persons were killed after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Baramati in the Pune district on Wednesday morning, officials said. According to Flight Radar, the flight took off from Mumbai at 8.10 am and it disappeared from the radar around 8.45 am. Pawar was travelling to Baramati from Mumbai to address public meetings as part of the campaign for the February 5 zilla parishad elections in the state. Ajit Pawar's demise very shocking: PM Modi Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condoled Pawar’s death, terming it untimely and deeply shocking. In a post on X, Modi described Pawar as a mass leader with a strong grassroots connect who was widely respected for his hard work and commitment to public service. “Shri Ajit Pawar Ji was a leader of the people, having a strong grassroots-level connect. He was widely respected as a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra. His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and downtrodden were also noteworthy,” the Prime Minister said, extending condolences to Pawar’s family and countless admirers. Home Minister Shah calls Ajit Pawar's demise 'personal loss' Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's demise is a personal loss not only for the NDA family but also for him. In a message posted on 'X', Shah said, "The way Ajit Pawar ji dedicated himself to the welfare of every section of society in Maharashtra over the past three-and-a-half decades cannot be expressed in words. "Today, the news of the loss of Maharashtra's deputy chief minister and our senior NDA colleague Ajit Pawar ji in a tragic accident has left my heart deeply distressed," he said. Expressing deepest condolences to the Pawar family, Shah said that in this hour of grief, the entire NDA stands firmly with the bereaved Pawar family. "Whenever we met, he would engage in long discussions on numerous issues related to the welfare of the people of Maharashtra. His passing is a personal loss not only for the NDA family but also for me," the home minister said. "May God grant the departed soul a place at his divine feet. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti," he said.
28 January,2026 11:44 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentDelhi recorded a marginal improvement in air quality on Wednesday morning, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) standing at 273 around 7 am, placing it in the 'poor' category, as per data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Smog persists despite slight improvement The reading showed a slight recovery from Tuesday, when the city’s AQI was recorded at 294. Despite the dip in pollution levels, large swathes of the capital continued to remain under a haze of smog, with air quality conditions still far from healthy. Weather department forecasts rain and gusty winds CPCB data indicated that the AQI at Anand Vihar stood at 280, categorised as 'poor', while Patpadganj recorded a higher AQI of 304, slipping into the ‘very poor’ range. Several other monitoring stations across the city also reported worrying levels. Anand Vihar later logged an AQI of 362, Ashok Vihar 323, Bawana 332 and Chandni Chowk 340. Dwarka Sector 8 recorded 317, while Mundka stood at 323 — all falling in the ‘very poor’ category. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast rain or thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds through the day. Thunderstorms with lightning and wind speeds of 30–40 kmph are expected at various times, from morning to night. The day’s temperature is likely to hover between 19 degrees Celsius and a low of around 9 degrees Celsius. On Tuesday, widespread rainfall was recorded across the Delhi-NCR region, accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds. Several areas of Delhi received light to moderate showers during the morning hours. Official data shows that Palam received 3.4 mm of rainfall, Ridge recorded 3.0 mm, and Pitampura logged 2.0 mm between 8.30 am and 11.30 am. GRAP Stage III withdrawn, authorities urge caution In view of the improving air quality trend and favourable weather forecasts, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has withdrawn Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR. However, authorities have urged caution, noting that winter weather conditions can quickly worsen pollution levels. Citizens have been advised to strictly follow the guidelines outlined under Stages I and II of GRAP to prevent any further deterioration in air quality. As per the AQI scale, readings between 201 and 300 are classified as ‘poor’, 301 to 400 as ‘very poor’, and values above 400 fall in the ‘severe’ category.
28 January,2026 10:19 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAmid uproar over the University Grants Commission's (UGC) new regulation, Congress MP Manoj Kumar called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to come forward and make the new rules clear to the public. Speaking to ANI, Kumar, raising the issue of caste discrimination, said casteism has existed for centuries and questioned why it is being acknowledged only now. Calling for an early caste census, the Congress MP said it would present a clear picture of social realities, echoing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's repeated demand on the issue. "I think PM and HM should step forward and tell the country about the UGC Bill that has been brought. They should make the Bill clear to the country's people. Casteism is being discussed right now. I belong to the Dalit community. Are people understanding casteism only now? 3000 years ago, when brooms were tied to the feet of the people of my community, did you not understand casteism then?...When students like Rohith Vemula die due to ragging, did you not think of casteism?...You speak of Sanatana Hindu. Are SC, ST, OBC not part of this?...If you ask me, I would like to say one thing that caste census should be done in India at the earliest. Picture will be clear. Rahul Gandhi has been raising this issue on every stage. I too am saying the same...," he said. Congress leader Udit Raj also hit out at what he called a "casteist narrative" being built around the proposed equity committee in the new UGC regulation, accusing the BJP of spreading misinformation to polarise voters along caste lines. He asked why SCs, STs and OBCs are being portrayed as separate from Hindus, and said legal processes function on evidence and judicial scrutiny, not prejudice. "...I have read the gazette notification. Its committee is being discussed. It is being said that if the committee makes one-sided decisions, it can be against 'Savarna' students...Lies are being spread that the equity committee will make one-sided decisions...I believe that BJP is probably playing a game that 100% of the 'Savarnas' vote for them and it wants to appease SCs, STs, OBCs too...Why is a narrative being built? Secondly, are SCs, ST and OBCs not Hindus?...If a committee has been built to stop discrimination, it is good. But the controversy over it, that one-sided action will be taken against 'Savarnas' and how can action be taken against evidence? Be it a rape or sexual assault or dowry - all laws function just like this. Raise this question there too, that how is a case being registered without evidence? It is the court which does this. This is a wrong and casteist mindset," he said. This came after new rules notified by the UGC on January 13, which update its 2012 regulations on the same subject, have sparked widespread criticism from general category students, who argue that the framework could lead to discrimination against them. The new regulations, introduced to curb caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities, require institutions to establish special committees and helplines to address complaints, especially from SC, ST, and OBC students. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday sought to allay concerns over the new UGC regulations, assuring that the law would not be misused and that there would be no discrimination in its implementation. Speaking to the reporters, Pradhan said, "I assure everyone there will be no discrimination and no one can misuse the law." 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.
28 January,2026 10:02 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIIndiGo on Tuesday extended the cancellation of flights to Tbilisi, Almaty, Baku and Tashkent till February 11 due to the prevailing situation in Iran. Earlier, flights to these cities were cancelled till January 28. The airline said that taking into account the developments around Iran, it has made additional adjustments to the schedule of some flights. Flights to and from Tbilisi (Georgia), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and Baku (Azerbaijan) have been cancelled till February 11, according to a post by IndiGo on X. For these destinations, the airline flies over the Iranian airspace and due to the current situation, it is avoiding the region. Generally, the duration of flights from India to these cities is in the range of six to seven hours. The airline operates flights with its A320neo aircraft on these routes that do not have the range and fuel-holding capacity to operate on longer alternative routes. Tensions have escalated between Iran and the United States, and there are apprehensions that the situation could result in a military conflict. 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
28 January,2026 09:08 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIParliament’s Budget Session begins today with Droupadi Murmu addressing a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, setting the tone for the government’s financial and legislative agenda. Session to run for 65 days with mid-session recess The Economic Survey will be tabled on January 29, ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget 2026 on February 1. Compiled by the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs under the guidance of the Chief Economic Adviser, the Survey will assess economic performance and key indicators for 2025–26 (April–March), while outlining prospects for the coming fiscal year. The session is scheduled for 30 sittings spread over 65 days and will conclude on April 2. Lawmakers will break for a recess on February 13 and return on March 9, allowing Standing Committees to scrutinise Demands for Grants across ministries and departments. Budget debate, Motion of Thanks to dominate first phase In its opening phase, the session will largely focus on budget-related business and the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address. The latter half is expected to take up crucial legislative and other parliamentary matters. Opposition flags jobs, MGNREGA, SIR and state issues An all-party meeting held on Tuesday to chart the course of the session was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Leaders from across parties shared their priorities and assured cooperation for smooth proceedings. Congress MP Manickam Tagore said his party would foreground public-interest issues, including alleged vote theft, SIR, paddy procurement and the restoration of MGNREGA-related concerns, reported ANI. Ahead of the session, several leaders arrived in the capital. Union Minister of State George Kurian was seen arriving at Delhi’s IGI Airport early Wednesday. Others who reached Delhi to attend the session included Ramdas Athawale, NCP MP Supriya Sule, and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, reported ANI. BJD MP Sasmit Patra said his party flagged Odisha-specific issues at the meeting, citing farmer distress due to stalled paddy procurement, law-and-order concerns, pending coal royalty revisions, connectivity gaps and rising unemployment, reported ANI. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said members highlighted issues such as pollution, SIR and growing joblessness, reported ANI. Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal expressed hope for equitable allocations in the Union Budget, calling for correction of past Finance Commission decisions that, he said, had adversely impacted the state. He also urged the Centre to extend fair and transparent support to all states, reported ANI. AAP MP Sanjay Singh criticised the government’s handling of foreign policy and raised concerns over alleged voter deletions linked to SIR, reported ANI. Government seeks cooperation, legislative agenda on cards Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju appealed for cooperation from all parties, saying the government was open to discussing issues in accordance with parliamentary rules. He noted that debates would initially centre on the Budget and the Motion of Thanks, adding that the government welcomed constructive suggestions, reported ANI. The Centre is also expected to advance its legislative agenda during the session, including consideration of bills pending in both Houses. (With inputs from ANI)
28 January,2026 08:35 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1769582383914_d.png?tr=w-436,h-271 "Private and public schools evacuated in Chandigarh over hoax bomb threats. Representational Image")
-1769573981655_d.png "UGC regulations spark student concerns and political pushback. Representational Image")
