LIVE: Govt's intent is to privatise Railways, says Rahul Gandhi in Kerala

Rahul Gandhi is on two-day visit to his constituency in poll-bound Kerala. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today said Narendra Modi, who "ridiculed" MGNREGA when he took over as Prime Minister in 2014, was "forced to accept" the fact that the ambitious rural job scheme brought in by the previous UPA government played the role of "saviour" of people of the country during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asserted that poll-bound West Bengal has made up its mind for 'poriborton' (change). During his second visit to the state this month, Prime Minister also inaugurated the extension of Metro Railway from Noapara to Dakshineswar and flag off the first service on this 4.1 km stretch constructed at a cost of Rs 464 crore.

In a major setback for the Congress party ahead of Assembly election, the Puducherry government today collapsed after CM Naranyanswamy lost vote of confidence, two days after Congress’ K Lakshminarayanan and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) legislator Venkatesan announced their resignations. Chief minister V Narayanasamy-led government had just 12 MLAs and the Opposition’s strength stood at 14 in the 33-member House.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on BJP lawmaker Subramanian Swamy's petition challenging the trial court order regarding summoning of documents and witnesses in the National Herald case.


 

Stay tuned for the latest news of the day

11:39 PM

Case registered against ex-MP Mahadik, 2 others for violation of Covid norms in Pune

10:46 PM

Shripad Naik to be discharged from Goa Medical College Hospital on Feb 24

10:11 PM

Delhi govt launches new skill centre for free training to 800 students

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday inaugurated the eighth World Class Skill Centre at the ITI Campus in Jail Road here to offer full-time, free skill training courses to 800 students.

 

Established in collaboration with the city-based charitable organisation Sun Foundation, the skill centre aims at upskilling and reskilling students, to gain rightful employment and cater to the demands of the market.

 

"It's our dream to provide education and skill to every child. World Class Skill Centre is an important step in that direction. Delhi students will get skilled and will contribute towards the nation's progress," Sisodia said. Read more

9:35 PM

Delhi govt pays Rs 26-cr compensation to 2,221 victims of northeast Delhi riots: Report

The Delhi government has so far disbursed compensation of over Rs 26 crore to 2,221 victims of last year's northeast Delhi riots, official sources said on Monday, according to PTI. The communal violence across northeast Delhi erupted in the backdrop of the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests on February 23 last year, claiming 53 lives, injuring over 500 and causing extensive damage to property.

A total compensation of Rs 26.09 crore has been paid so far. It included Rs 4.25 crore provided to kin of 44 people killed in the riots and Rs 1.75 crore to 233 injured persons, the government sources said. The highest amount of Rs 11.28 crore was given in 1,176 cases of damage to residential property, followed by Rs 8.51 crore to 731 persons whose commercial establishments were destroyed during violence and arson, they said, as oer PTI report.

Further, Rs 5.50 lakh was paid in cases of 22 damaged jhuggis, Rs 20 lakh to three schools and Rs 4.42 lakh for losses of animals, e-rickshaws and two-wheelers, they added, PTI reported.

8:57 PM

Toolkit case: Delhi court sends climate activist Disha Ravi to one-day police custody

A Delhi court on Monday sent 21-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi, arrested in connection with allegedly being involved in sharing a "toolkit" on social media related to the farmers' protest, to one-day police custody (PC) to be confronted with co-accused in the case. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pankaj Sharmasent Ravi for custodial interrogation after police said she was required to be confronted with co-accused in the case which has transnational ramification.

 

However Ravi, who was produced before the court on expiry of her three-day judical remand, through her lawyer opposed the plea of the investigators, saying why should I (Ravi) be in police custody while those I have to be confronted with are on bail?

 

Police only got one day custody of Ravi, though it had sought five days of custodial interrogation contending that during her interrogation, she shifted entire burden on two co-accused - Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Muluk - who cannot be arrested because they are currently on transit bail.

8:29 PM

Smriti Irani buys land in Amethi to make house for herself, takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi

Union minister Smriti Irani on Monday bought a plot of land in Amethi to make a house for herself and, in an apparent dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, said no MP from here ever made the constituency his house. Without taking any name, she said the history is witness to the fact that no Amethi MP ever made his house here and stayed.

 

"The people of Amethi always wondered if their MP would ever reside here after making his house, she claimed while talking to reporters. Irani had won the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Amethi after defeating the then MP, Rahul Gandhi.

 

During the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, I had promised that I would make my house here and do all my work from here. For this I have got a plot of land registered," she added.

8:09 PM

No country can be successful without empowering its women: Rahul Gandhi in Kerala's Malappuram

8:08 PM

If you look at empowering women, their financial independence is foundation of that: Rahul Gandhi

There's no reason why our women should be scared of walking alone at night. I think if this country has to be successful, that's one of the most important things it has to focus on. If you look at empowering women, their financial independence is foundation of that: Rahul Gandhi

8:07 PM

Rahul Gandhi attacks govt on farm laws, takes out tractor rally in Wayanad

After taking out a tractor rally in his constituency in solidarity with agitating farmers, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday hit out at the BJP-led NDA government and said agriculture is the only business that belongs to "Bharat Mata" and urged the people to "force" the government to take back the three farm laws.

 

The Wayanad MP, who is on two-day visit to his constituency in poll-bound Kerala, also took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on MGNREGA.

 

The congress leader alleged Modi had "ridiculed" the rural job scheme when he took over as PM in 2014 but was later "forced to accept" the fact that the programme brought in by the previous UPA government played the role of "saviour" of people of the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. READ ON...

7:40 PM

PM Modi attacks Mamata over 'cut money' culture, insulting Bengali pride

Launching a frontal attack on the Mamata Banerjee government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged on Monday it has perpetuated "syndicate raj" in all spheres of life in West Bengal where no work gets done without common people having to pay "cut money".

 

He accused the TMC government of pursuing "appeasement politics" to protect its vote bank while neglecting its cultural heritage and icons.

 

"The state government's cut money culture has vitiated the atmosphere to such an extent that you cannot even take a house on rent without paying it....you cannot rent a house without the syndicate's permission," he said. READ ON...

 

7:25 PM

Farm laws: Rakesh Tikait to address rallies in Madhya Pradesh on March 8, says BKU

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Singh Tikait will address rallies on March 8 in Madhya Pradesh to drum up support against the Centre's new farm laws, a functionary of his outfit said on Monday. He will address farmer rallies in Sheopur, Rewa and Dewas on March 8, MP BKU general secretary Anil Yadav told PTI.

 

Incidentally, there is an arrest warrant pending against Tikait in connection with a 2012 attempt to murder and rioting case in the state's Anuppur district, said police officials.

 

Tikait had led a BKU protest against a power plant in Jaithari area, which turned violent, leading to injuries to policemen and torching of vehicles, they added. Over 100 people, including Tikait, were arrested under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with armed weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC, an official said.

7:11 PM

Rahul, Priyanka, Pilot lead farmers' agitation for Congress

Rahul Gandhi participated in a tractor rally in Kerala to lead the Congress' protest against the contentious farm laws while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is set to address Kisan Panchayat in Mathura on Tuesday even as Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot is drawing huge crowds in his farmer rallies against the farm laws.

 

Rahul Gandhi addressed a rally against the farm laws in Kerala's Wayanad on Monday saying, "We oppose these laws. We will make sure the government is forced to take back these laws. We are standing with the farmers, we will help them and ensure the BJP government takes back these laws."

 

Rahul Gandhi is set to rake up the issue in Mallapuram also where he will address a rally on Tuesday.

7:04 PM

Uttarakhand flash flood: A total of 68 dead and 136 are still missing

Uttarakhand flash flood: A total of 68 bodies found so far, of these 39 have been identified and 29 are yet to be identified. 136 are still missing.

6:50 PM

Modi govt unable to understand the pain of the farmers: Rahul Gandhi

The entire world can see the difficulty faced by Indian farmers, but the Govt in Delhi is unable to understand the pain of the farmers. We have pop stars commenting on the situation of the farmers but the Indian Govt is not interested: Rahul Gandhi in poll-bound Kerala

6:48 PM

Threat to millions of poor people who travel using our Railways: Rahul in Kerala