Highlights: 4th round of talks between ministers, farmer leaders concludes

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Another round of talks between farmer leaders and Union ministers were held in Chandigarh. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann had also reached the venue to attend the meeting between farmer leaders and Union ministers in Chandigarh. Both parties held their 4th round of discussions on Sunday. 

BJP national convention: Speaking at the national convention of Bharatiya Janata Party, Prime Minister Modi today said that 'I am not asking for the third term to enjoy power...I am living for the future of poor children.' Ahead of the upcoming Parliamentary elections, the prime minister recounted his party's latest accomplishments and highlighted the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. 'We showed courage to solve the works that had been pending for decades. By building Ram temple in Ayodhya, we ended the wait of 5 centuries,' PM Modi stated.

"In 75 years, this country has seen 17 Lok Sabha elections, 22 governments and 15 Prime Ministers... I can say without any confusion that the work of overall development, development of every sector and development of every individual has been done only in the 10 years of PM Narendra Modi," Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah said during the national convention.

Caste-based survey: Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren has given his approval to conduct a caste-based survey in the state, aligning with the approach taken by neighboring Bihar, a senior official said today. As per reprots, the chief minister has instructed the personnel department to formulate a draft Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for conducting the survey, which will subsequently be presented to the cabinet for approval.

If the proposed plan unfolds smoothly, the survey is expected to commence after the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections, according to the official. In a statement posted on X, the CM indicated the significance of the survey, saying, "Jiski Jitni Sankhya Bhari, Uski Utni Hissedari (Bigger the population, bigger the share). Jharkhand is ready." 

Farmers' protest: As the farmer protest at the Shambhu border enters into its sixth day, leaders of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee this morning said that the government has requested additional time to engage in discussions with union ministers regarding the ongoing issues. The committee's general secretary, Sarvan Singh Pandher, stated, "Today marks our sixth day at the Shambhu border. We are currently in the midst of the fourth round of talks with the government. The authorities have requested some time to deliberate on the matter with union ministers, expressing their commitment to finding a resolution." Amid the ongoing agitation by farmers demanding legal recognition of Minimum Support Price, prominent agricultural economist Dr Sardara Singh Johl has said that giving MSP on all crops "is not practical".

11:38 PM

Chandigarh municipal politics live: Three AAP councillors quit, join BJP

11:23 PM

Political update: Chandigarh Mayor Manoj Sonkar resigns amid allegations that recent mayoral polls were rigged

Chandigarh Mayor Manoj Sonkar resigns amid allegations that recent mayoral polls were rigged

9:45 PM

Kamal Nath told me he is not going anywhere, claims Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari

Around half a dozen Madhya Pradesh MLAs loyal to senior Congress leader Kamal Nath reached Delhi on Sunday, accentuating the speculation that he and his MP son Nakul Nath are set to join the ruling BJP. In MP capital Bhopal, Nath's Congress colleague Digvijaya Singh expressed confidence that his “old friend” won't forsake the party from where he began his political journey, even as a picture of a flag, with ‘Jai Shri Ram' written on it, purportedly flying at Nath's Delhi home provided enough fodder to social media users. According to party insiders, MP Congress chief Jitu Patwari remained busy through Saturday establishing contact with his MLAs and telling them that Nath and his son won't cross over to the BJP. Of those MLAs who have followed Nath to Delhi, three are from Chhindwara, while another three from the region are set to leave for Delhi, sources close to the veteran leader said earlier.

9:08 PM

Farmers protest Live: Fourth round of talks between Union ministers, farmer leaders begins in Chandigarh

A panel of Union ministers began the fourth round of talks with farmer leaders here on Sunday evening over their demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai reached the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26 for the talks. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also joined the meeting. The Union ministers and farmer leaders had met earlier on February 8, 12 and 15 but the talks remained inconclusive. The meeting comes amid thousands of farmers from Punjab staying put at the Shambhu and Khanauri points of the state's border with Haryana after their 'Delhi Chalo' march was halted by police personnel. The call for the march was given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha to press their demands.

8:54 PM

Jain seer Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj attains samadhi in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon

8:24 PM

Farmers' protest: Punjab CM reaches Chandigarh venue to join a meeting between Union ministers, farmer leaders

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann reaches Chandigarh venue to join a meeting between Union ministers and farmer leaders. Both parties are going to hold 4th round of discussions today.

7:10 PM

Kamal Nath has not thought about leaving Congress party: Sajjan Singh Verma

After meeting former Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath, Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma said, "I had a discussion with him (Kamal Nath). He said that right now his focus is on how the caste equations will be on 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh. He said that he has not thought about anything like that (of leaving the party)..."

7:06 PM

Pakistan electoral body delays notifying results of majority of PTI-backed independents: Report

Even as Pakistan political parties are deliberating to form their government, the Pakistan electoral body is yet to notify the victory of most of the independent candidates who won the National Assembly (NA) seats in general elections, Dawn reported on Sunday. According to the report, more than 101 independent candidates have won the NA seats, most of them backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), according to unofficial results. The delay on the part of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to officially notify the results of a majority of the independent candidates has raised concerns among their voters and stakeholders amid political wrangling over the numbers game for the formation of government in the Centre.

5:43 PM

PM Modi to inaugurate the Okha-Bet Dwarka signature bridge in Gujarat on February 25

5:23 PM

RBI's action against Paytm Payments Bank hasn't rattled fintech industry: MoS IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar

"This notion that the RBI regulator's action against Paytm Payments Bank has rattled fintech is, I don't think, a correct characterisation. I think it has drawn the attention of fintech entrepreneurs to the fact that you also have to know how to comply with the law. Regulatory compliance is not an optional thing for any country in the world, certainly not in India, and it is something that they should pay more attention to," Union MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar tells in an interview to PTI. 

5:00 PM

Cricket updates: India defeat England by 434 runs in Rajkot Test; lead series by 2-1

India beat England by 434 runs in the Rajkot Test on Sunday and take lead in the series by 2-1. The 434-run win is India's biggest ever in terms of run-margin. Next Test to be played in Ranchi from Feb 23. 

4:26 PM

Politics Live: Rahul Gandhi-led 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' enters UP's Prayagraj

4:23 PM

Samajwadi Party leader Saleem Sherwani resigns as general secy after being snubbed of Rajya Sabha ticket

On resigning from the post of Samajwadi Party's General Secretary, Saleem Sherwani says, "This (my separation from the party) did not happen today. This happened when the member's name for the Rajya Sabha election was announced...I thought that the topic, the issue on which we are fighting elections, our party is not at all following that motto, so why should we remain in the party...No one is serious about the INDIA alliance... The motive with which the INDIA alliance was formed is not being fulfilled..."

4:16 PM

Cricket news live: Legendary South African cricketer Mike Procter dies at 77

Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Sunday mourned the death of one of country's finest all-rounders Mike Procter. He was 77. Procter's career as a fast bowler, capable off-spinner, hard-hitting middle-order batter, and astute captain is etched in the annals of South African cricket history. Beyond his playing days, he served the game in every conceivable role - as a national captain and coach, administrator, selector, commentator, elite ICC match referee, and then dedicated his final years to coaching underprivileged children. Procter was South Africa's coach in the post apartheid era. He played as many as 401 first class games but could only feature in seven Tests due to South Africa's isolation in 1970s and 1980s.

4:05 PM

Congress' biggest sin is that it has not shied away from demoralising even our armed forces: PM Modi

Congress' biggest sin is that it has not shied away from demoralising even our armed forces, said PM Modi at BJP convention in New Delhi.