'Elizabeth Gogoi Visited Pakistan Even After Marriage, SIT to Probe': Assam CM

“A call was received that 15 people had been injured in a stampede-like situation at New Delhi Railway Station. 4 fire tenders at the spot,” said Delhi Fire Service.  

“There is no stampede (at New Delhi Railway Station). It is only a rumour. Northern Railways was running two planned special trains (for Prayagraj),” said Chief Public Relations Officer, Northern Railways. 

A call was received that 15 people had been injured in a stampede-like situation at New Delhi Railway Station. 4 fire tenders at the spot: Delhi Fire Service

Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar says, "...The first thing is the safety of Hindus staying in Bangladesh, which is very important. If US President Donald Trump can say that he has left the Bangladesh issue in the hands of PM Modi, the people of India have even more trust in PM Modi...if by sitting there, Donald Trump has trust in PM Modi, then the people of India can blindly trust him"
 

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy says, "Telangana's Chief Minister Revanth Reddy spoke in an insulting manner about the caste of Prime Minister...The Congress party has no right to talk about OBCs and Dr Ambedkar. Today, for the first time, an OBC person is holding the responsibility of the Prime Minister... Today, under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the country is developing, moving forward... Whatever Revanth Reddy has said, I condemn it on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party."

On Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's statement regarding flights carrying illegal Indian immigrants from the US to Amritsar, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu says, "...After (AAP's) defeat in the Delhi assembly elections, they hatched a very big plan... How did we get defamed if the plane (carrying illegal Indian immigrants) landed in Amritsar?... Everyone is saying that Punjab is sharing the grief and giving space for the plane (carrying illegal Indian immigrants) to land... Gurus have always taught us to do 'seva'... He (Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann) is the biggest culprit of Punjab...

Punjab Assembly Speaker calls Punjab Vidhan Sabha, which was adjourned sine-die on 4 September, 2024, to meet at 11.00 AM on Monday, 24th February 2025, in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Hall, Chandigarh

Stepping up his attack on the allegations about "links" of Elizabeth Gogoi, wife of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, with ISI, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that there is "definite information" that she visited Pakistan even after her marriage and a decision to form a Special Investigation Team would be taken at the meeting of state cabinet tomorrow.

He said a regular case should be filed to investigate the alleged person's passport and visa and that the entire ecosystem, including sympathisers, will be investigated.

The Chief Minister said more and more information is coming out.

"We have definite information that Elizabeth Gogoi (wife of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi) has visited Pakistan even after her marriage. Whether she went with the MP or alone, these things will be confirmed. Many details are coming out," he said.

At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani will pay a State Visit to India on 17-18 February 2025. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Ministers, senior officials and a business delegation: MEA

On Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's statement regarding flights carrying illegal Indian immigrants from the US to Amritsar, BJP leader Tarun Chugh says, "Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should explain why they (alleged illegal immigrants from Punjab) went to the US illegally?... Instead of investigating those who sent them abroad, he is just making statements... Has he ever arrested any (illegal) travel agent?... Has he ever done anything to ensure that people from Punjab do not go abroad?... He has not done anything in any field..."

Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav says, "The duration of the Maha Kumbh should be extended so that the old people can take a holy dip"

On SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav's statement, UP Dy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya says, "Akhilesh Yadav has a phobia of BJP. He is putting up posters of becoming the ruler by 2027. Neither Akhilesh Yadav nor anybody from the Samajwadi Party, not even one person from Mulayam Singh Yadav's clan, can become UP's Chief Minister even by 2047..."

After meeting Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary says, "Bihar CM Nitish Kumar constantly worries about the development of Bihar and he works for the development of the state...We had a discussion on the positive steps taken by the state government in the field of skill development and education...The central government has given priority to skill development in Bihar and various schemes have also been launched for it..."

On BJP sweeping Chhattisgarh Civic Polls, CM Vishnu Deo Sai says, " This is a historic day for Chhattisgarh BJP and the state govt...BJP has got a historic win in Chhattisgarh Civic Polls, our candidates won all 10 seats with a huge margin. Congress has been swiped clean in the civic polls, they did not win even a single seat...we want to thank all the voters for having faith in BJP and PM Modi..."

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath to shortly inaugurate the 3rd edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam, in Varanasi.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju says, "The Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar is renowned across the world. I am very happy with the step taken by the J&K Waqf Board to renovate the Hazratbal Shrine...We will support the J&K Waqf Board...The Sufi shrines spread the message of love...We will develop more places like this...As the Minister of Minority Affairs it is my responsibility to support the Waqf Board of the states..."

On Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar's statement, BJP leader Dr CN Ashwath Narayan says, "... (His statement) is politically motivated... What does he mean by not viable? These universities are not business centres... The gross enrollment ratio in the districts (Mandya and Chamarajanagar) is below the average of the state... We have not created any new posts. Only the existing vacancies that were sanctioned with the parent university have been redistributed... We gave initial seed money of Rs 2 crores to each university because these are technology-based universities which require less expenditure... (DK Shivakumar's statements) are an insult to the youth of Karnataka, the people of the districts, the Constitution, and Ambedkar's wish..."

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has identified the circulation of a fraudulent document falsely attributed to the Council. The document, titled "Official Notification- Mandatory Minimum Fee Structure for Advocates in India," dated February 15, 2025, purports to introduce a mandatory minimum fee structure for advocates, effective from March 1, 2025.

Mumbai police are unable to trace podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia as his phone remains switched off, while they have given comedian Samay Raina time till March 10 to appear before them in a probe into the former's controversial remarks on his YouTube show, an official said on Saturday.
 

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday dismissed three government employees including a jailed policeman for their alleged terror links, officials said.

The sacked employees have been identified as police constable Firdous Ahmad Bhat, teacher in school education department Mohammad Ashraf Bhat and orderly in forest department Nisar Ahmad Khan who was earlier arrested in connection with the killing of a National Conference minister in 2000, they said.

The officials said the LG invoked Article 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution to terminate the services of the three employees after investigation by law enforcement and intelligence agencies clearly established their terror links.

Delhi Police on Saturday informed the Rouse Avenue court that it would file a chargesheet against two accused arrested in connection with an MCOCA case linked with gangster Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu by February 24. The arrested duo, identified as Rohit alias Anna and Sachin Chikara, are in judicial custody. They were arrested in November, 2024.
 

President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday condoled the deaths of Mahakumbh devotees who lost their lives in a road accident on the Mirzapur Highway in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj.

Taking to social media X, the President wrote, "The news of the death of many people in a road accident on Mirzapur Highway in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh is unfortunate. I express my condolences to the families of the deceased. I wish for the speedy recovery of all those injured."
 

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday paid obeisance at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, officials said.

Dhankhar reached Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the revered shrine, on a day-long visit to preside as chief guest the 10th convocation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University.

After attending the convocation, the vice president accompanied by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha flew to the cave shrine in the afternoon and offered his prayers, the officials said.

BJP MP Anurag Thakur strict action drug mafia and suggested that the kingpins of drug cartels should be caught and put behind bars to end narcotic smuggling in Himachal Pradesh.

Talking to reporters on Friday, he said that the society, families, government and opposition parties have to unite and mount a major attack against drug abuse.

The state government should form special teams to take action against drug abuse, he said, adding that the central government is also taking strict action in this regard across the country.

Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his cabinet will visit the Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj on Saturday and take a holy dip in the river Ganga.

Pillai, Sawant, his cabinet and core members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) left for Prayagraj on a special flight from Dabolim International Airport in the morning.

Talking to reporters at the airport, the chief minister said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in such an event.

The Supreme Court will hear a batch of pleas relating to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, on February 17.

As per the causelist for February 17 uploaded on the apex court's website, a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan is slated to hear the matter.

The Act prohibits conversion of any place of worship and provides for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have made it clear that statehood to Jammu and Kashmir will be restored in due course of time.

However, Rijiju, who holds the parliamentary affairs and minority affairs portfolios, declined to give a timeline for the restoration of statehood to the Union Territory.

"The prime minister and the home minister made clear indications in the past that in due course of time, statehood will be restored (to Jammu and Kashmir) and the powers and functions will be demarcated very clearly," Rijiju told reporters here.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday attended the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) convocation here, emphasising that national interest is bigger than any political or individual interest.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Educational minister Sakeena Firdous also attended the 10th convocation at Matrika Auditorium of the SMVDU campus.

“We are Indians and being Indian is our identity. Nationalism is our religion and it is our duty to keep nationalism at the highest level whatever the situation,” the vice president said, addressing the convocation.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday met his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference and discussed the resolution of the Ukraine conflict.

"Good to meet FM Andrii Sybiha of Ukraine on the sidelines of #MSC2025 today (Friday). Discussed ongoing efforts towards the resolution of the Ukraine conflict. Also spoke about further advancement of our bilateral cooperation," Jaishankar said on X.

The minister, who is here to attend the Munich Security Conference 2025, met several world leaders and joined Norway PM Jonas Gahr Store, Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski in a panel discussion on 'Live to Vote Another Day: Fortifying Democratic Resilience' at the event.

During his visit to Maha Kumbh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stated, "This is a congregation of India's spirituality, faith, and culture... I have for the well-being of all... It is an epitome of India's spirituality... People from all walks of life have come together irrespective of caste..."

Four persons were killed and six sustained injuries after a tourist van carrying pilgrims from the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj rammed into a stationary truck on a highway in Gujarat's Dahod district on Saturday, police said.

The accident occurred around 2.15 am on the Indore-Ahmedabad highway near Limkheda, an official said.

He said a tourist van carrying 10 pilgrims rammed into a truck parked on the side of the road.

A 33-year-old man from Rajasthan returning from Maha Kumbh died after a bus he was travelling in caught fire on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway here Firozabad district in the early hours of Saturday, police said.

According to the police, other passengers are safe.

Superintendent of Police (City) Ravi Shankar Prasad said the passengers had gone to attend the Maha Kumbh. After taking a dip at the Sangam, they went to Ayodhya for darshan and were returning from there.

To cope with the anticipated heavy rush of pilgrims during the Maha Kumbh Mela of the year 2025, Northeast Frontier Railway has decided to run two more pairs of special trains between Jogbani and Tundla stations. These special trains will operate for a single trip in each direction.
 

Security was tightened outside the Samajwadi Party (SP) office and the residence of party chief Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow on Saturday morning amid concerns over possible protests by SP workers following the recent "detention" of party leader Manish Jagan Agarwal.  Manish Jagan Agarwal is the president of the SP's Vyapar Sabha.
 

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has ordered a detailed investigation into the expenditure on renovations and luxury additions to 6 Flagstaff Bungalow, the residence of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal renovations.

The CVC has asked the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to conduct a detailed investigation on allegations that "building norms were floated to construct a lavish mansion (Sheesh Mahal) covering 40,000 square yards (8 acres).

The principal and an assistant professor of the Government College of Nursing, Kottayam have been suspended in connection with the case of brutal ragging incident in a students' hostel that triggered widespread public outcry in the state.

The principal Sulekha A T, and assistant professor/assistant warden-in-charge of the students hostel Ajeesh P Mani of the college were suspended pending enquiry for allegedly failing to check ragging and effectively intervene in the matter, a statement issued by the Health Minister's office Friday late night said.

The housekeeper-cum-security of the hostel was also ordered to be removed immediately, it said.

A special committee has been formed by Maharasthra government to look into cases of forced conversions. 

The BJP will hold a crucial meeting today after their victory in the Delhi polls. BJP President JP Nadda is likely to chair the meeting.

Keeping in view the increasing number of devotees at the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela being held in Prayagraj, new traffic and bathing guidelines were issued, as per a release.

As per the instructions issued, devotees or people coming to take a dip from the Parade Mela area towards the Sangam would be able to take a bath at the Sangam and the other ghats built towards the parade area.
 

The Centre has sanctioned a loan of around Rs 529.50 crore under its capital investment scheme for the rehabilitation of landslides hit areas of Wayanad with a condition that Kerala has to utilise the amount by March 31, state Finance Minister K N Balagopal has said and termed the stipulation as a "huge practical problem." The conditions attached to the loan under the Centre's 'Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2024-25', require that the released amount be forwarded to the implementing agencies within 10 working days.

In a joint search operation, the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police have recovered weapons and ammunition at Bandi Mohalla in the Kupwara district. The army said that the search operation, which began on Friday, is continuing.

The tally of suspected and confirmed Gullain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) cases in Maharashtra has reached 207 after two cases were detected, a health official said.

With the addition of the two new cases on Friday, the tally of confirmed cases stands at 180, of which 20 are on ventilator support, the official said.

Meanwhile, though the official death toll remained unchanged at eight as per the state health department, a suspected fatality from the ailment was reported from Kolhapur.

The Border Security Force (BSF) apprehended five Bangladeshi nationals and an alleged Indian tout at Teliamura Railway Station in Tripura on Friday, acting on specific intelligence inputs, according to a press release. The individuals were detained for around 1600 hours while disembarking from Silchar-Agartala Express.

The apprehended Bangladeshi nationals were returning from Bengaluru and had planned to exfiltrate to Bangladesh.

The Maharashtra government on Friday ordered an inquiry into the Ranveer Allahbadia controversy, specifically tasking the cultural department officials to investigate.

The cultural department, headed by Minister Ashish Shelar ordered an inquiry into the Ranveer Allahbadia controversy. This move comes after complaints were filed regarding vulgarity in Allahbadia's show, "India's Got Latent," and other similar shows that have been running without proper permission.