Highlights of the day Mizoram CM to present state budget on Feb 27

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11:23 PM

Mizoram CM to present state budget on Feb 27

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma will present the first budget of the new Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) government on February 27, a senior official said on Sunday.

 

The budget session of the assembly commences on February 19.

 

Assembly Commissioner and Secretary Vanlalthantlingi said during a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) held last week, it was decided that the session will last till March 13.

 

Lalduhoma, who also holds the finance portfolio, will table the state budget for 2024-25 and supplementary demand for the fiscal 2023-24 on February 27, she said.

 

Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati will deliver the customary gubernatorial address to the House on the first day, the official said.

11:06 PM

PTI-backed Waseem Qadir jumps ship, joins PML-N after victory in Lahore

Waseem Qadir, the candidate backed by Imran Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) who emerged victorious in Lahore's NA-121 constituency, has officially joined Nawaz Sharif's party Pakistan Muslim League (N), Geo News reported. In a video shared by the party, Qadir, standing alongside PML-N Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz, declared, "I have come back to my home." "Waseem Qadir, the successful independent candidate from National Assembly Constituency NA-121 Lahore, officially announced his joining of Pakistan Muslim League (N)," said PML-N in a post on X. Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had announced in a post saying Qadir is a PTI-backed candidate.

9:04 PM

Farmers' protest: Delhi Traffic Police issue advisory ahead of planned march, borders fortified

9:01 PM

Farmers' protest march: Delhi Police blocks roads, steps up security

Ahead of farmers' 'Delhi Chalo March', the Delhi Police has intensified security arrangements at Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri borders and installed nails along with barricades to prevent vehicles carrying protesters from entering the city, officials said on Sunday.

 

Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora visited different borders of Haryana-Delhi and Uttar Pradesh-Delhi with police officials to check security arrangements.

 

Police have deployed more than 5,000 security personnel while cranes and earthmovers carrying large containers to block the road were also at work.

 

Multiple security barricades have already been installed at the borders to stop the farmers from entering the national capital. Nails have been erected on roads so that if the protesting farmers try to enter the city on vehicles, their tyres can be punctured, the officials said.

 

Several teams have been formed to keep strict vigil on bus stands, metro stations, railway stations and roads to ensure that farmers do not enter the city using any other mode of conveyance.

8:40 PM

'Enough' of 132 remaining Israeli hostages alive to warrant Gaza war, Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview aired on Sunday on ABC's "This Week" program that "enough" of the 132 remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza are alive to justify Israel's ongoing war in the region.

8:34 PM

Passport cancellation, strict legal action: Haryana police warn Delhi Chalo farmers; video breaks internet

The farmers from Punjab and Haryana are preparing for the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on 13 February to demand a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for their crops. The fresh protests by the farmers is an extension of almost a year-long 2021 farmers protest against three farm laws, which were later repealed by the Union Government. The police making elaborate provisions anticipating a huge number of protesters while Opposition parties are targeting the BJP government calling it an undeclared Emergency.
 

Indian National Lokdal leader Abhay Singh Chautala on Saturday shared a video on social media in which police can be seen threatening the residents on loudspeaker and asking them to not participate in the 13 February protests. In the video, which is reported to be from Haryana, the police personnel can be heard saying that the cases will lodged against those who will participate in the farmer's protest.

7:33 PM

NCP names minister Munde as star campaigner for LS polls

Maharashtra agriculture minister Dhananjay Munde was on Sunday appointed as the star campaigner of the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

 

His name as star campaigner was announced in a party function by NCP state unit chief Sunil Tatkare.

 

"Munde's popularity among youth and his oratory skills will be useful for the party in the Lok Sabha elections. Munde has worked as star campaigner for NCP's various social outreach programmes earlier," a party functionary said.

7:31 PM

Do not create border 'between Punjab and India': Mann on barbed wire, nails laid by Haryana govt

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday accused the Haryana government of creating a border "between Punjab and India", referring to the concrete blocks, nails and barbed wire placed on some roads to scuttle the farmers' proposed 'Delhi Chalo' march.

 

He said the Manohar Khattar-led Haryana government has placed as much barbed wire at the state's borders with Punjab as there is at the country's border with Pakistan.

 

Khattar, however, justified the steps taken by his government to seal the state's borders and stop Punjab farmers from marching towards the national capital, saying the arrangements are aimed at maintaining law and order.

 

Haryana authorities have sealed the state's border with Punjab at Shambhu near Ambala district, placing concrete blocks, sandbags, barbed wire and anti-riot vehicles on the roads going towards Delhi. Elaborate arrangements have been made at the state's borders with Punjab in Jind and Fatehabad districts as well.

7:31 PM

Mithun Chakraborty 'quite stable': Hospital official

The health condition of veteran actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty has improved and he is "quite stable", an official said on Sunday.

 

Chakraborty, 73, was admitted to a private hospital here on Saturday, after he complained of severe chest pain.

 

"He is recuperating well, is fully conscious, well-oriented, active, and has consumed a soft diet. He will undergo certain investigations before his discharge," the official of the medical facility said.

 

The popular actor has already undergone an MRI, along with other medical tests at the hospital.

 

Chakraborty, who has been honoured with Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in the country, has acted in around 350 films in Hindi, Bengali, Odia, Bhojpuri and Tamil.

6:49 PM

Delhi Police Commissioner inspects security arrangements at Tikri border

More than 200 farmers’ unions will march to the national capital on February 13 to press the Centre for accepting their demands, including enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

6:48 PM

Hamas armed-wing says Israeli strikes on Gaza over past 96 hours

Israeli strikes on the Gaza strip during the past 96 hours have killed two Israeli hostages and seriously injured eight others, Hamas' armed-wing Al Qassam Brigades announced on Sunday over the group's Telegram channel.

6:48 PM

NIA raids 21 locations in Tamil Nadu

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday raided a total of 21 locations across Tamil Nadu in the 2022 ISIS-inspired Coimbatore Car Bomb blast case and the Tamil Nadu ISIS radicalisation and recruitment case: NIA

 

In the raids, the anti-terror agency arrested four persons in connection with the radicalisation and recruitment case. Searches at the locations also led to the seizure of a large number of electronic devices, material objects and documents. These included 6 laptops, 25 mobile phones, 34 SIM cards, six SD cards and three hard discs: NIA

4:41 PM

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on speculations about SAD joining NDA

On speculations about SAD joining NDA, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal says, "I am currently doing 'Punjab Bachao Yatra', our alliance is with BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party)...They (Congress and AAP) are thieves and have ruined Punjab..."

4:41 PM

Not allowing 'Ghar Ghar Ration scheme', says Atishi accusing Centre and Delhi's Lt Guv

Delhi Minister Atishi addressed a press conference in the city and accused the Centre and Lt. Governor of not allowing the 'Ghar Ghar Ration Scheme."

 

"The central government and its representative, Lieutenant Governor (of Delhi), are not allowing the 'Ghar Ghar Ration' scheme to be implemented in Delhi. Yesterday, Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann (Punjab CM) launched this scheme in Punjab. Under this scheme, more than 70 lakh beneficiaries will get the ration at their homes," she said.

4:40 PM

Section 144 imposed in northeast Delhi; Haryana-Punjab border sealed, internet services suspended in 7 dists

Farmers’ Protest Live Updates: Ahead of the farmers’ proposed Delhi Chalo march, prohibitory orders under section 144 have been imposed in the northwest part of the national capital banning large gatherings to avoid a breach of the law and order situation. The order was issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) Joy Tirkey on Sunday. Earlier on Saturday, the Haryana government sealed the state’s border with Punjab in Ambala and ordered the suspension of mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts beginning 6 am on February 11, which will end at 23:59 pm on February 13. More than 200 farmers’ unions will march to the national capital on February 13 to press the Centre for accepting their demands, including enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.