GRAP 3 Curbs Eased in Delhi-NCR as Air Quality Improves

"We don't have any interest in making an alliance with Lalu Prasad Yadav's party (RJD). We have grown with BJP and we have an old alliance with them," said Bihar minister and JD(U) leader Ashok Choudhary.

When asked whether Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will visit Kumbh Mela, Congress leader Surendra Singh Rajput said: "It is a social festival in which crores of people take a dip in River Ganga. From Pandit JL Nehru to every senior Congress leader and CMs of UP have attended this festival. If God wants, then Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi will surely come here."

On the accident near Narayangaon on the Pune-Nashik highway | Pankaj Deshmukh, Pune Rural Police SP says, " Today, on Nashik to Pune road, a tempo hit a car from the behind and then the car collided with a bus, the car got crushed between two vehicles. 9 passengers in the car were killed in this accident..."

On the statement of Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy says, "...Rahul Gandhi wants to fight with the constitution of India. On one hand, he keeps giving speeches regarding the Constitution and on the other hand he wants to fight against India, India's Constitution...I condemn this statement made against India and India's constitution..."
 

Congress candidate from New Delhi Assembly seat Sandeep Dikshit says, " Putting money into people's pocket is not exactly welfare, welfare is helping people as per their needs...the actual requirement of Delhi is the pollution, roads are damaged, development...only Congress is talking about who has done work here...there is only one party which is very different when it comes to its work"

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini says, "...Law and order, security and other issues were discussed in the meeting (Review meeting with Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police). Orders have been given to implement all three new criminal laws in Haryana by March 31. Video conferencing facilities should be made available in all the courts of Haryana. E-summons and e-challans should also be implemented in the state... The government has resolved to make the state drug-free... Orders have been given to take strict action against gangsters and people spreading drugs... Our government is committed to ensuring the safety of women..."

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says, "I am a worker of the party. All parties are going to elections. The entire board, including the Mayor, should be ours and there should be a triple-engine government...So, that development takes place at thrice the speed. There is no doubt about it. People of the Congress party can see their defeat. So, they have started saying things for face-saving. They are not receiving any support anywhere. People of Uttarakhand are going to form a triple engine govt..."

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala says, "Approval for setting up a distillery in Kanjikode in Palakkad district. This is against the rule which is prevailing in the state of Kerala from 1999 onwards. Earlier the state government had tried to give permit licences for distillery and breweries. The opposition opposed it and without considering any rules or procedures, they had given permission. Now, they have withdrawn that. One company Oasis International company has been given in-principal approval to set up a distillery and brewery and for producing ENA. This government and cabinet has not followed any rules and procedures..."

On Bihar Elections, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi says, “We are fully prepared for the Bihar elections and we will ensure that our candidates win…”

On Sealdah Court to announce the verdict of RG Kar rape-murder case tomorrow, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh says, "... We hope that the person who was arrested by the police within 24 hours of the incident, whom CBI also found guilty of the crime, gets a guilty verdict and death penalty... When the trial is about to end, CPI-M is creating confusion. Do they want the accused to get death by hanging or not?"

GRAP 3 curbs eased in Delhi-NCR as air quality improves

HD kumaraswamy hits out at Karnataka government on Bhadravathi steel plant , says karnataka government doesn't intent to revive the state plant but steel ministry is dedicated and is on the mission of revival of steel plants in several states. HD kumaraswamy said telangana CM , chattisgarh CM and Andhra CM all came and requested for revival but Karnataka govt because of political interest is letting people down who are associated with Bhadravathi steel plant. HD kumaraswamy called out the politics being played by karnataka govt on HMT plant , said karnataka govt is politicising revival of HMT plant in bangalore. 

Hubballi–Dharwad: Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, "We have not discussed anything on power-sharing. There is not even a single discussion on any power-sharing. Whatever our party tells that we are discussing. Who said there will be a power-sharing?...We all are party cadres. People of Karnataka have given us strength, we have given 5 guarantees. BJP is discussing about us because their house is in disorder. They want to create fake news. There is no question of discussing any power sharing. The entire party will work under the leadership of Siddaramaiah in the government. Mallikarjun Kharge has given me this opportunity..."

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel says, "Yesterday, we celebrated National Startup Day. This event today is a good step in order to encourage startups and FinTech startups. Through the GIFT International FinTech Institute & International Hub that has been launched today, a new chapter on FinTech startups will begin in GIFT City. I am confident that this initiative will establish Gujarat as a global destination in FinTech innovation sector."

On the naxal encounter in South Bastar Region, IG Bastar P Sundarraj says, " Yesterday, in Bijapur, after receiving information about movements of Naxalites, our security forces went for the operation...from 9 pm, the encounter took place between security forces and Naxalites. During the encounter, 5 women and 7 men Naxalites' bodies were recovered...during the encounter, Naxalites were forced to flee in a jungle car...this shows that their base has been weakened...they ave lost their strength to a large extent..."

On BJP's manifesto for #DelhiElections2025, party leader CR Kesavan says, " BJP's Delhi election manifesto unveiled today is a true reflection of PM Modi's commitment and determination to realise the vibrant vision for 'Viksit Delhi'. Even as the blueprint was released, Kejriwal started panicking. He is nervous and in utter fear because he knows that the people of Delhi have decided to boot out the corrupt AAP govt on February 5. Conman Kejriwal knows that the countdown for the end of his corrupt AAP misrule has already begun..."

Union Minister Piyush Goyal says, "We are fortunate that the automobile and transport sector have been brought on one stage under Bharat Mobility 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, Yashobhoomi and  India Expo Centre in Noida. This makes 140 crore Indians proud. During the inauguration of Bharat Mobility 2025, PM Modi encouraged this entire sector an encouraged the youth for Viksit Bharat 2047. I express gratitude to him for this. I am confident that under his guidance, our automobile sector, mobility sector will make rapid progress in the time to come. Today, electric vehicles define India. The manner in which India is making rapid progress in electric mobility, research is being done, through innovation new designs and new technologies are being built in India - keeping this in view, I think that 2-wheelers and 3-wheelers that will be sold will be electric in a year or two..."
 

AAP MLA and candidate from Malviya Nagar, Somnath Bharti says, "BJP has only deceived in the name of 'sankalp', we have been seeing this since 2014. This is the only party which calls its own manifesto, a 'jumla' after winning. People do not trust any of their poll promises. Here, there is a decisive comparison between Arvind Kejriwal and BJP. Arvind Kejriwal stands for doing what he said. When it comes to BJP, it is - jo kaha wo khud hi jumla keh diya. So, Delhi can see that they do not have their own vision, they do not have original ideas. They are copying AAP's schemes, tweaking it and presenting it to the people as their ideas. They are calling the ideas, that they were abusing, their own today..."

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal says, "...Nadda ji has now said that all schemes of Kejriwal will be continued. He said this in their sankalp patra. PM Modi is saying the same in his ads...Nadda ji announced in the sankalp patra that mohalla clinics in Delhi will be shut down. I am pained. We will go across Delhi today and ask whether they want mohalla clinics or not. Those who are in favour of mohalla clinics, vote for AAP. Those who want mohalla clinics to be demolished, vote for BJP...If they (BJP) have to do all of what Kejriwal does, why should the BJP be brought in? Kejriwal will do Kejriwal's work better because he knows it. Even the public is telling them that if you have to do Kejriwal's work then why should we bring you (BJP)? If I have to summarise their manifesto in one sentence, it is - what Kejriwal is doing is very good, BJP appreciates Kejriwal's work and if the people of Delhi give us an opportunity we will continue Kejriwal's work...They have no planning. They want to contest election on our manifesto, on our guarantees. What can be more unfortunate than this? Never in my life have I seen a party with a vision shallower than this. They have no ideas, no vision, no planning for Delhi..."

On BJP's manifesto for Delhi Elections 2025, BJP MP Yogendra Chandoliya says, "BJP does what they say...... PM Narendra Modi and JP Nadda said that they will implement all the schemes for women in Delhi, and the BJP will surely form a government in Delhi... If we would have released the entire manifesto today, they (the opposition) would have had nothing left to say..."

On BJP calling AAP as 'Aapda', former Delhi Dy CM and AAP leader Manish Sisodia says, " Clearly we are an 'Aapda' for BJP. BJP is unable to declare a CM face in Delhi as all the leaders they have are abusive, they make inappropriate remarks about women, abuse people, distribute money and sarees. So, there is an 'Aapda' in front of the BJP regarding who is credible enough to be put up against Arvind Kejriwal, there is no one...what will they give Delhi? In Haryana and UP, it is your govt, tell us if you have improved the schools there..."

BJP national president and Union Minister JP Nadda says, "Families using LPG will get a Rs 500 subsidy per cylinder, and on Holi and Diwali, they will receive one free cylinder each...we will give Rs 21,000 to the pregnant women..." 

BJP chief J P Nadda announces Rs 2,500 monthly aid for women in Delhi under 'Mahila Samridhi Yojana' if party voted to power. 

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Saturday distribute more than 65 lakh property cards under the SVAMITVA Scheme, the Panchayati Raj Ministry said.

According to senior officials of the ministry, beneficiaries from more than 50,000 villages in 10 states -- Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh -- and two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh -- will receive the cards.

An 18-year-old NEET aspirant from Odisha allegedly hanged himself in his hostel room here, police said on Friday.

Officails said that no suicide note was recovered from the room. The incident occurred in Ambedkar Colony, Vigyan Nagar area on Thursday night.

Three policemen were arrested on the charge of stashing 16 seized bottles of India-made foreign liquor (IMFL) inside the premises of a police station in Bihar where consumption, sale and storage of alcohol is banned, an officer said on Friday.

Cold weather persisted in Punjab and Haryana on Friday, the meteorological department said.

In Punjab, Pathankot was the coldest place as it shivered at 2.8 degrees Celsius. Among other places, Amritsar's minimum temperature was 6.9 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal, according to a meteorological department report.

Lok Sabha MP Dilip Saikia was elected unopposed as the new Assam BJP president on Friday.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the returning officer for the election, handed over the official appointment letter to Saikia.

A Pakistan court on Friday found former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi guilty of corruption in the 190 million pounds al-Qadir Trust case and sentenced them to 14 and seven years in prison respectively.

Judge Nasir Javed Rana of the anti-corruption court announced the verdict that had been deferred thrice due to different reasons, last time on January 13.   The judge announced the verdict in a makeshift court set up in Adila jail. 

India stands as an outstanding destination for every investor looking to shape their future in the mobility sector, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, and assured all government support to investors.

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to grant bail on medical grounds to former chairman of the outlawed Popular Front of India (PFI) E Abubacker in a case registered against him under anti-terror law UAPA.

Five people were killed after a car skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in Sikkim's Gyalshing district, police said on Friday.

The car with five people on board rolled down the hill at Ratomatey Cliff and crashed into the gorge 500 feet below on Thursday night.

The Odisha government on Friday hiked the monthly remuneration of junior teachers from Rs 11,000 to Rs 16,000, the CMO said in a statement.

This hike will benefit around 13,740 teachers across the state, it said, adding that chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi approved the proposal, which will result in an additional expenditure of Rs 89.15 crore to the state’s exchequer.

The minimum temperatures at most places in Kashmir have fallen after snowfall as the meteorological department forecast mainly dry weather over the next three days, officials said on Friday.

A delegation led by Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy began its two-nation tour with Singapore as the first destination seeking investments and various ties up in the state.

Revanth Reddy in a post on X said he met Vivian Balakrishnan, Foreign Affairs Minister of Singapore and converged on forging a broad, long-term partnerships covering infrastructure building, energy, sustainable initiatives in green energy, water management, river rejuvenation, tourism, education and skill building, and IT parks, among others.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal has demanded a 50 per cent rebate for students in Delhi Metro fares, the party said on Friday, hours ahead of the BJP releasing its manifesto for the Assembly polls in the city.

Saif Ali Khan attacker arrested by Mumbai Police after hours-long chase. Mumbai police detained one person in the Saif Ali Khan case.

Two personnel of the Border Security Force were injured when Naxalites set off an improvised explosive device (IED) in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district on Friday, police said.

The incident took place in the morning when a BSF road-opening party from its camp near Garpa village was out on patrolling, a police official said.

 Two Bangladeshi infiltrators were apprehended and pushed back by Assam police, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said.

He, however, did not specify the district where the two Bangladesh nationals were apprehended.

ingapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam is scheduled to visit Odisha for two days starting Friday, during which at least eight MoUs will be signed between the island country and the coastal state. 

Dhruv Kapoor, a prominent social activist and political figure, has been nominated as a Member of the Railway Board – ZRUCC, Ministry of Railways (Northern Railways) , Government of India. His nomination comes under the category of ''Special Interest'' by the Ministry of Railways. This new appointment marks a significant milestone in Dhruv Kapoor's career, reflecting his dedication to public service and his continued contribution to the nation’s development.

The budget session of the Kerala assembly commenced on Friday with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar reading out the Left government's policy which claimed that the state was facing a liquidity stress due to declining share of union fiscal transfers.

In his policy address marking the commencement of the 13th session of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly, Arlekar said the state "has been facing stress on government finances" despite taking "earnest measures" for revenue mobilisation and rationalising expenses.

Manipur has the highest number of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) business registrations in the northeastern region, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has said.

Singh said that according to the 2018-19 Annual Report of the Ministry of MSME, the state registered 12,438 MSME businesses between 2015 and 2019.

Bullet-riddled bodies of a man and a woman were found in a field in Bundpura village here, police said on Friday.

Very dense fog shrouded parts of outer Delhi on Friday morning, reducing visibility and disrupting traffic movement.

The city recorded a minimum temperature of 8.8 degrees Celsius, 1.2 notches above normal, while the air quality was recorded in the poor category with a reading of 294.

The police in Maharashtra’s Thane district have registered a case against nearly 40 persons, including eight female servers and as many customers, for allegedly indulging in obscenity in a bar, an official said on Friday.

India's economic growth is projected to remain steady at 6.7 per cent per annum for the next the two fiscals beginning April 2025, according to the World Bank's latest growth estimates for South Asia.

Growth in South Asia is expected to rise to 6.2 per cent in 2025-26, with the projected firm growth in India, the World Bank said on Thursday.

SC to hear a plea of former Karnataka CM and BJP leader BS Yeddiyurappa in a corruption case on friday.

27 trains originating from various stations in Delhi are running late due to dense fog.

https://www.republicworld.com/info/dense-fog-causes-delays-for-27-trains-in-delhi-check-list/

A female African baboon has died at the Delhi Zoo, the third animal fatality at the facility in as many weeks, officials said.

The National Zoological Park, commonly known as Delhi Zoo, reported that the baboon named "Chintu", which appeared lethargic earlier in the day on Thursday, was shifted to the veterinary hospital after it started shivering.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), these sub-zero temperatures are expected to persist in many areas of the state.

The blood-soaked bodies of a mother and daughter with their throats slit were found in a house in Malihabad area here on Thursday, police said.

Dense fog blankets various parts of Uttar Pradesh amid intense cold conditions. Visuals from Mathura. 

The BJP, which has launched "Samvidhan Gaurav Abhiyan" -- a nationwide campaign to celebrate 75 years of the Indian Constitution -- is felicitating Dalits across the state as part of this initiative.

 Delhi: Parade rehearsal of defence personnel for the 76th Republic Day is underway at Kartavya Path.

As cold waves grip the national capital, a few flights are delayed at IGI Airport due to fog.

A thin layer of fog covers parts of Delhi as temperature dips in the national capital. 

The BJP's Uttar Pradesh unit leaders distributed copies of the Constitution among the sanitation workers at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on Thursday. They said the religious congregation at Prayagraj is a great celebration of unity, something that the Constitution guarantees.

Over 7 crore devotees have taken holy dip at Triveni Sangam - a sacred confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and 'mystical' Saraswati in the first four days of the 45-day-long MahaKumbh2025.