Name: AAP's Manish Sisodia gets interim bail for 3 days
Uploaded: 2024-02-12T16:32:40.000+05:30
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Description: AAP's Manish Sisodia gets interim bail for 3 days

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a grand welcome in Gangtok as he led a massive roadshow and joined the closing ceremony of Sikkim’s 50th statehood celebrations, unveiling major development projects worth over Rs 4,000 crore.

PM Modi leads mega roadshow in Sikkim, to attend celebrations marking 50 years of statehood

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a grand welcome in Gangtok as he led a massive roadshow and joined the closing ceremony of Sikkim&rsquo;s 50th statehood celebrations, unveiling major development projects worth over Rs 4,000 crore.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a mega roadshow in Gangtok on Monday evening after arriving in Sikkim to attend the closing ceremony of 50 years of statehood celebrations.
Modi, who wore a traditional Bhutia cap and a Lepcha coat, was received at the Libing helipad by Governor Om Prakash Mathur and Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang.
From the helipad, the PM began the roadshow, which concluded at Lok Bhavan, where he will stay overnight.
On the open vehicle, Modi was flanked by CM Tamang on his left and state BJP president D R Thapa on his right.
Large crowds lined the roads for hours, waving national flags and waiting to catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister.
As his convoy moved slowly through the city, people broke into celebrations. Some enthusiastic supporters chanted "Modi, Modi, Modi", while a few women were seen showering flower petals in his direction.
Modi acknowledged the cheering crowds by waving continuously.
Tamang was also seen urging the gathered people to cheer for the PM during the roadshow.
The route of the roadshow was decorated, with arch gates erected at several points and large cut-outs of Modi placed along the roads.
On Tuesday, Modi will visit the Orchidarium in Gangtok. To commemorate the golden jubilee of Sikkim's statehood and showcase the state's ecological and floral heritage, the 'Swarnajayanti Maitri Manjari' Park has been developed as a world-class Orchid Experience Centre.
The PM will also participate in the closing ceremony of Sikkim's 50th statehood celebrations at Paljor Stadium, where he will unveil development projects worth over Rs 4,000 crore.
The projects cover several sectors, including infrastructure, connectivity, healthcare, education, power, urban development, environment, tourism and agriculture.
Modi is also scheduled to address the gathering on the occasion.
He was expected to attend the opening ceremony of the year-long celebrations last year, but could not reach the venue due to inclement weather. However, he addressed the event virtually from Siliguri in neighbouring West Bengal.
Tamang later thanked the people for giving the grand reception to the PM during the hour-long roadshow in the state capital.
"With immense fervour and heartfelt enthusiasm, the people of Sikkim accorded a grand and resounding welcome to Hon&rsquo;ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji on his arrival in Gangtok," he said in a social media post.
Tamang said people from all walks of life gathered in large numbers to greet him, reflecting the deep respect and warm affection the people of Sikkim hold for his leadership.
"It was indeed an honour to join him during the roadshow and witness the overwhelming love and support of the people firsthand," he said.

AAP faces its biggest setback after losing Delhi, as seven Rajya Sabha MPs including Raghav Chadha, Harbhajan Singh and Swati Maliwal quit, with most set to join BJP citing internal rift and ideological drift.

7 AAP MPs quit: Kejriwal's party receives greatest jolt after losing to BJP in 2025 Delhi polls

AAP faces its biggest setback after losing Delhi, as seven Rajya Sabha MPs including Raghav Chadha, Harbhajan Singh and Swati Maliwal quit, with most set to join BJP citing internal rift and ideological drift.

Barely a year after losing power to the BJP in Delhi, AAP suffered its greatest jolt on Friday with seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs including Raghav Chadha quitting the party.&nbsp;
The seven Rajya Sabha MPs to quit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and who once formed the party's public and organisational face included Sandeep Pathak, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Swati Maliwal, Ashok Mittal, Rajinder Gupta and Vikram Sahney besides Chadha.
Addressing a joint press conference, Chadha said nearly two-thirds of AAP's Rajya Sabha MPs had quit the party and would join the BJP as a separate faction. He said several Rajya Sabha MPs, including disgruntled party leader Maliwal and Harbhajan Singh, had also left AAP.
Chadha, who joined AAP at its inception in 2012, was among the party's founding members and helped draft the Delhi Lokpal Bill the same year. A chartered accountant by profession, he later emerged as the party's television face and became its youngest national spokesperson.
Maliwal was elected to the Rajya Sabha from AAP in 2024. Before that, she served as the chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women. She became critical of the party in May 2024 after alleging that she was assaulted at the residence of then Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Sandeep Pathak, one of the MPs who quit AAP, said his academic journey began at Cambridge University before he moved to the University of Oxford and later the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He returned to India and became a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). Pathak joined AAP in 2022 and was elected to the Rajya Sabha the same year. He was also appointed the party's in-charge for Gujarat and co-in-charge for Punjab.
Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh joined AAP in 2022 before entering the Rajya Sabha. He is also known for his work as a sports commentator and actor.
Ashok Mittal, founder and chancellor of Lovely Professional University, also joined AAP in 2022 and was elected to the Rajya Sabha. In 2024, he was chosen as a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance.
Rajinder Gupta, a businessman and industrialist, became a Rajya Sabha MP from AAP in 2025. He was awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to trade and industry.
Vikram Sahney, also a Padma Shri awardee, joined the party in 2022. He had earlier received the International Peace Award from the President of Mauritius.
AAP lost the Delhi assembly elections held on February 5, 2025. While the BJP won 48 out of 70 seats, AAP was victorious on 22 seats. The BJP returned to power in the national capital after 26 years.

Tamil Nadu sees record-breaking voter turnout exceeding 84% in Assembly elections, surpassing previous highs across 234 constituencies.

Tamil Nadu surpasses previous best voter turnout, records over 84 per cent voting till 6 pm

Tamil Nadu sees record-breaking voter turnout exceeding 84% in Assembly elections, surpassing previous highs across 234 constituencies.

Tamil Nadu surpassed its highest assembly polls turnout on Thursday, when over 84 per cent of the 5.73 crore voters cast their vote for the elections to 234 constituencies across the state.
Till 6 pm, the state recorded 84.29 per cent voting, according to Election Commission of India (EC) figures.
The state recorded its highest--78.29 per cent, in the 2011 polls that the AIADMK swept.
Incidentally, through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the electorate size has been reduced from 6.41 crore recorded in October 2025 to the current 5.73 crore.
Consequently, the 2021 polls saw about 6.29 crore people registered, 56 lakh voters more than this year.
On Thursday, Karur district topped with 91.86 per cent voter turnout.
Chennai registered 83.09 per cent polling, while in Madurai it was 80.15 per cent, Coimbatore saw 84.40 per cent and the centrally located Tiruchirappalli district witnessed 85.04 percent polling.
Kolathur Assembly constituency in Chennai, where DMK President and Chief Minister M K Stalin is contesting, saw 85.63 polling till 6 pm.
At Chepauk-Tiruvallikeni, here, it was 83.58 per cent.
Deputy CM and Stalin's son, Udhayanidhi is trying his luck for the second time from this city constituency.
Edappadi constituency in Salem recorded 91.61 per cent.
AIADMK general secretary and former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is contesting from his traditional turf and is being challenged by the DMK, while actor Vijay's TVK is backing an independent after the party nominee's poll papers were rejected on technical grounds during scrutiny.
In Tiruchirappalli East, where Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay is contesting, 81.55 per cent polling was recorded till 6 pm.
Vijay is also contesting in Permbur constituency in Chennai, which registered 89.20 per cent.

Election Commission seeks explanation from Mallikarjun Kharge within 24 hours after his “terrorist” remark on PM Modi sparks political row ahead of polls.

EC issues ‘stern notice’ to Congress chief Kharge for calling PM Modi ‘terrorist’

Election Commission seeks explanation from Mallikarjun Kharge within 24 hours after his &ldquo;terrorist&rdquo; remark on PM Modi sparks political row ahead of polls.

The Election Commission on Wednesday took &ldquo;serious note&rdquo; of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a &ldquo;terrorist&rdquo; and issued him with a &ldquo;stern notice&rdquo;, officials said.
He has been asked to explain his stand within 24 hours, they said.
The notice comes a day before polling in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
Kharge on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Modi of &ldquo;terrorising&rdquo; political parties by misusing government machinery and central agencies to stifle the opposition, triggering strong reactions from the BJP, which attacked the opposition leader for calling Modi a &ldquo;terrorist&rdquo;.
Addressing a press conference in Chennai, Kharge initially referred to the prime minister as a &ldquo;terrorist&rdquo; while criticising the AIADMK&rsquo;s alliance with the BJP.
Questioning how the AIADMK &mdash; a party rooted in the Dravidian ideologies of Periyar and C N Annadurai &mdash; could justify partnering with Prime Minister Modi, Kharge said, &ldquo;How these AIADMK people, who themselves put the photo of Annadurai&hellip; how can they join with Modi? He is a terrorist&hellip;
&ldquo;He doesn&rsquo;t believe in equality. His party won&rsquo;t believe in equality and justice&hellip;&rdquo; However, when asked by reporters to clarify the context of the remark, Kharge said he meant that the prime minister was &ldquo;terrorising&rdquo; the democratic fabric of the country.
&ldquo;He is terrorising people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist (in the literal sense). Terrorising this&hellip; he is misusing his power and government machinery and abusing, maligning opposition parties,&rdquo; Kharge said.

India rejects claims of payments to Iran for safe passage after two vessels were fired upon in the Strait of Hormuz, calling crypto scam reports fake.

India denies cash, crypto payments to Iran for Hormuz passage

India rejects claims of payments to Iran for safe passage after two vessels were fired upon in the Strait of Hormuz, calling crypto scam reports fake.

India on Wednesday denied making any payments - either in cash or cryptocurrency - to Iran to secure safe passage for its vessels through the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions in the region.
The clarification came after two Indian vessels had to turn back from the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian forces fired upon them as they attempted to cross the crucial waterway on April 18.
Before turning back, the captain of Indian tanker Sanmar Herald, in an audio recording that has surfaced, is heard pleading with Iranian forces to stop firing despite prior clearance to pass the Strait of Hormuz. "This is motor vessel, Sanmar Herald. You gave me clearance to go, my name is second on your list... You are firing now. Let me turn back."
While New Delhi has consistently rejected claims of any financial arrangements with Tehran for ship movement through the critical energy corridors, some reports linked the April 18 incident to a crypto scam.
Reports suggest scammers are offering shipowners fake safe passage through the strait in exchange for crypto. At least one ship fell victim to the scam and was fired at while attempting to pass through the waterway, according to Marisk, a maritime risk services company.
At a news briefing, Mukesh Mangal, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, termed as "fake news" the report of any payment being made for the safe passage of Sanmar Herald.
"News is spreading about a reported payment by the captain of the vessel Sanmar Herald in US dollar to persons claiming to represent the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy to grant passage, and fell victim to cyber criminals. We spoke with the owner of the vessel, and he confirmed that it is fake news and no such incident had happened," he said.
He said his ministry, in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, assesses the situation before asking Indian vessels, stranded in the Persian Gulf since the start of the Iran war, to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
"This unfortunate incident (of Iranian guards firing on Indian ships) happened on April 18. There was firing on two of our vessels, that's why they had to go back," he said. "As we have been telling in past also, we do not have any new data, any confirmation on any of our vessels has paid money to any of the authorities for this purpose."
He termed as "fake news" reports suggesting that Sanmar Herald paid money to some cybercriminals, and that's why it was fired upon.
"There is no relation (between the firing and the reports)," he said. "This is fake news."
Chennai-based Sanmar Shipping denied any payment.
"It has come to our attention that there have been reports on social media about Sanmar Shipping's very large crude carrier, Sanmar Herald, flying the Indian flag, falling prey to a cryptocurrency scam.
"We would like to clarify that these reports are completely false," it said in a statement.
The shipping line said it is working in close coordination with the relevant agency of the Indian government to ensure the safe passage of Sanmar Herald.
According to shipping monitor TankerTrackers.com, two India-flagged ships, including a supertanker carrying Iraqi crude, were forced to turn back on April 18 after coming under fire.
The disruptions come as scores of commercial vessels and thousands of seafarers remain stranded in the Persian Gulf since the outbreak of the West Asia war on February 28, which has sharply curtailed movement through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz handles about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, making it one of the world's most critical energy arteries. Iran's ability to disrupt traffic through the narrow passage has emerged as a key lever in the conflict.
The halt in transit has driven up energy prices, triggered supply shortages in parts of the world and forced some countries to ration fuel, underscoring the global impact of the standoff.

Mamata Banerjee asserted that Trinamool Congress will return to power in West Bengal for a fourth term, claiming people do not want the Bharatiya Janata Party. 

No one wants BJP to form govt, TMC will return to power again: Mamata Banerjee

Mamata Banerjee asserted that Trinamool Congress will return to power in West Bengal for a fourth term, claiming people do not want the Bharatiya Janata Party.&nbsp;

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday asserted that the TMC will return to power in the state for the fourth consecutive term, claiming that &ldquo;no one wants the BJP to form government&rdquo;.
Addressing a poll rally at Haldia in Purba Medinipur district, Banerjee also urged opposition parties to come together to oust the BJP-led NDA government from the Centre.
"The BJP will not win the elections in West Bengal this time. The Trinamool Congress will again form the government. We will also throw out the BJP from Delhi in 2026 itself," Banerjee asserted.
The TMC chief said she has been extensively touring West Bengal for the last one month, and during this period, "I have understood what people want; it is clear that no one wants the BJP."
Slamming the BJP for its &lsquo;chargesheet&rsquo; against the TMC dispensation over alleged financial irregularities and other issues, the CM said she was also issuing a chargesheet against the saffron party for &ldquo;taking cut-money (commission)&rdquo; in the Haldia dock complex and adjoining industrial area.
"You gave a chargesheet against the TMC; I am also issuing one against the BJP,&rdquo; Banerjee said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had on March 28 unveiled a chargesheet against the TMC dispensation, accusing it of corruption, deterioration in law and order and facilitation of infiltration.
The chief minister, without naming anyone, said, "There is one traitor who takes cut money (commission) from truck drivers, workers' wages and companies in the Haldia port and industrial area."
She claimed that the "traitor" takes 50 per cent of the money and sends the rest &ldquo;to one of his leaders&rdquo;.
Banerjee also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for stating in a recent rally that he was the BJP candidate in all 294 seats going to polls in West Bengal.
"You have to quit the post of the prime minister first for that to happen," she said.
The assembly elections will be held in two phases - on April 23 and April 29.
Votes will be counted on May 4.
Alleging malpractice during vote counting in the 2021 election in Nandigram, where BJP's Suvendu Adhikari defeated her, Banerjee asked TMC workers to come up with the name and address of anyone who may indulge in irregularities.
"We will have to send them sweets after the counting of votes, wherever in the country they are," she said.
Banerjee said several industries are coming up in the state and healthcare facilities are being upgraded.
Addressing another rally at Jagaddal in North 24 Parganas district, the CM asserted that she would go wherever any wrongdoing takes place during the elections.
"If I am stopped, I will hold a 'satyagraha' sitting in my house," she said.
Banerjee also said that she has never seen an election for which so many central forces, observers and other officers have been deployed.
A record 2,450 companies of central paramilitary forces that comprise nearly 2.5 lakh personnel have been deployed by the Election Commission for the West Bengal assembly polls.
At Jorasanko in north Kolkata, where Banerjee addressed another public meeting, she criticised the Election Commission for imposing restrictions on riding motorcycles before polling days.
"How will people commute, go home from work if they are not allowed to take their motorbikes out?" she said.
The EC has imposed restrictions on riding motorcycles and motorbike rallies on polling days and 48 hours prior to it "for conduct of free, fair, peaceful and violence-free elections".
The TMC supremo also claimed that the BJP makes false promises to win over voters before elections, and accused the Narendra Modi government of selling stakes in public sector undertakings.
"They (the BJP) accuse TMC of being corrupt; it is you and your government in every state and everyone in your party who are corrupt," Banerjee alleged.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge intensified his attack on PM Narendra Modi, alleging misuse of central agencies to target opposition parties. He clarified his “terrorist” remark, saying he meant the PM was “terrorising” democratic institutions.

Mallikarjun Kharge calls PM Modi a 'terrorist', later clarifies his remarks

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge intensified his attack on PM Narendra Modi, alleging misuse of central agencies to target opposition parties. He clarified his &ldquo;terrorist&rdquo; remark, saying he meant the PM was &ldquo;terrorising&rdquo; democratic institutions.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday stepped up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of "terrorising" political parties and people by misusing government machinery and central agencies to stifle the opposition.
Addressing a press conference here alongside AICC General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal, Kharge initially referred to the Prime Minister as a "terrorist" while criticising the AIADMK's alliance with the BJP.
Questioning how the AIADMK -- a party rooted in the Dravidian ideologies of Periyar (EV Ramasamy) and C N Annadurai -- could justify partnering with PM Modi, Kharge said: "How these AIADMK people, who themselves put the photo of Annadurai... how can they join with Modi? He is a terrorist... he doesn't believe in equality. His party won't believe in equality and justice. And these people are joining with them, it means that they are weakening democracy."
However, when pressed by reporters to clarify the context of the "terrorist" remark, the Congress chief stated he meant the Prime Minister was "terrorising" the democratic fabric of the country.
"He is terrorising people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist (in the literal sense). Terrorising this... he is misusing his power and government machinery and abusing, malingning opposition parties," Kharge said.
He cited the alleged manipulation of voter lists through "pro form number six and seven" as evidence of this misuse, further alleging that the Prime Minister has the Chief Election Commissioner "in his pocket."
The Congress chief alleged that the Election Commission has become an "extension of the BJP office" and accused PM Modi of violating the Model Code of Conduct in the final stages of the election campaign.
He further claimed that central agencies like the CBI, ED, and Income Tax department were being deployed as tools of intimidation against political workers.
Kharge questioned the timing of recent raids, asking, "Why now only raids taking place during the election. That too against select people, select parties."
Reaffirming the strength of the DMK-Congress alliance, both Kharge and Venugopal dismissed reports of a rift between Rahul Gandhi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, describing them as "like brothers".
Kharge pointed to Gandhi's extensive "Kanyakumari to Kashmir" and "Manipur to Mumbai" marches as proof of a commitment that surpasses any other leader, dismissing rumours of a rift as "media creation."
"We have a legacy of having an alliance with the DMK for the last so many years," Venugopal added, noting that the two parties "stood like a rock" when the special session was called to "prevent" Tamil Nadu MPs from attending, in an apparent reference to last week's special sitting of Lok Sabha.
He, however, said that Congress and DMK are two different parties with their "own ambitions".
"But whenever the nation was in crisis, we stood like a rock. DMK always supported Congress, Congress always supported DMK," the Alappuzha MP said.
Replying to a question about the Women's Reservation Bill, Kharge accused the Prime Minister of "misleading" the public.
He noted that while the opposition supported the bill in 2023, the government has tied its implementation to a future census and delimitation -- a move he described as a "trap" for progressive states.
"If he truly intends to implement it, he can provide 33 per cent reservation to women within the existing 543 [seats]... Why is he not giving? He only notified the 2023 bill at 3 am on the 16th (of April), which shows his real intentions," Kharge argued.
Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women's Reservation Act, 2023) was passed in September 2023.
However, it was not "self-executing".
It contained a clause stating it would only come into force on a date appointed by the Central Government.
On April 16, the government introduced the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, proposing 850 Lok Sabha seats, which also linked women's reservation to the expansion.
However, as the 2023 Act had never been formally notified, the government could not technically move the 2026 amendments to it.
Consequently, the Ministry of Law &amp; Justice issued a gazette notification late at night on April 16, around 9.55 pm.
Furthermore, Kharge challenged the government's legislative strategy, asking why a Constitutional Amendment -- which usually requires a two-thirds majority -- was being pursued with a simple majority.
Venugopal added that the government is attempting to undermine Article 82, which provides a "safety cover" for states' parliamentary representation, by shifting that power to the Delimitation Commission.
He warned that the government's plan for delimitation would "punish" progressive states, particularly in south India, for their success in population control.
"Our population has gone down... can you punish us for following the program of the government," he asked, noting that states with exploding populations would unfairly gain seats.
"They intended to deny the democratic rights of south Indian states, north eastern states, and progressive states. Modi and (Union Home minister Amit) Shah want to punish these states for their progress," he added.
On the campaign trail, Kharge dismissed the influence of other parties, including TVK chief Vijay, reaffirming that the Congress-DMK alliance is the only force capable of protecting Tamil Nadu's identity.
He reiterated the alliance's "key commitments" for the state, including Rs 2,000 monthly assistance for women and senior citizens, Rs 2,500 monthly for families for food security, and a promise to fill all government vacancies within 300 days.

The BJP hit out at Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge for calling PM Narendra Modi a “terrorist,” rejecting his clarification and alleging it was a deliberate attack influenced by Rahul Gandhi.

Congress abusing PM Modi because he wants women's quota: BJP slams Kharge's 'terrorist' remark

The BJP hit out at Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge for calling PM Narendra Modi a &ldquo;terrorist,&rdquo; rejecting his clarification and alleging it was a deliberate attack influenced by Rahul Gandhi.

The BJP on Tuesday condemned Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "terrorist", saying this reflects the mindset of the main opposition party and people will give them a befitting reply.
The ruling party claimed that Kharge has made such disparaging remarks against Modi at the behest of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi because the prime minister wanted to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
The BJP's reaction came after Kharge accused Prime Minister Modi of terrorising political parties and people by misusing government machinery and central agencies to stifle the opposition.
Addressing a press conference in Chennai alongside AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal, Kharge initially referred to the prime minister as a "terrorist" while criticising the AIADMK's alliance with the BJP.
However, when pressed by reporters to clarify the context of the remark, the Congress chief said he meant the prime minister was "terrorising" the democratic fabric of the country.
"He is terrorising people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist (in the literal sense). Terrorising this... he is misusing his power and government machinery and abusing opposition parties," the Congress president said.
Reacting sharply to Kharge's remarks, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "The kind of words Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has chosen for Prime Minister Narendra Modi today is not only condemnable but reflects the mindset of the Congress party. Kharge called him a terrorist."
Patra rejected Kharge's clarification and alleged that the Congress president deliberately called the prime minister a terrorist at the behest of Rahul Gandhi.
"This is not a slip of tongue. It's deliberate. Even though they are giving any clarification, it is a deliberate conspiracy of the Congress," the BJP MP said in a video message.
"You must be observing that for the last few days how Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders are making indecent remarks against the prime minister. Every day Rahul Gandhi in his speech refers to the prime minister in a disrespectful manner," the BJP leader said.
Patra also alleged that the Congress leaders keep abusing the prime minister because his government is providing water to every household, houses and free ration to people under various schemes.
They have also been abusing PM Modi because his government is implementing various other welfare schemes like Mudra Yojna, the BJP leader said.
He said that the Congress president has now called the prime minister a "terrorist" just because he wanted 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
"This is the same Congress party which used to address Osama bin Laden as Osama ji and is seen standing with big terrorists but calls Prime Minister Narendra Modi a terrorist. This the same Congress party which had described Zakir Naik 'apostle of peace' but calls the prime minister a terrorist," Patra said.
"The Congress leaders must remember that whenever they have abused the prime minister, people of India have punished the Congress party. This time also they will give befitting reply," he added.

A major fire erupted near the crude distillation unit of the newly built HPCL Rajasthan Refinery in Balotra, just a day before its scheduled inauguration by PM Narendra Modi. The event has been postponed as authorities investigate the cause of the bl

Fire at Rajasthan refinery a day before inauguration by PM Modi, programme postponed

A major fire erupted near the crude distillation unit of the newly built HPCL Rajasthan Refinery in Balotra, just a day before its scheduled inauguration by PM Narendra Modi. The event has been postponed as authorities investigate the cause of the blaze.

A major fire erupted near the crude distillation unit of the newly built HPCL Rajasthan Refinery in Balotra, just a day before its scheduled inauguration by PM Narendra Modi. The event has been postponed as authorities investigate the cause of the blaze.

A major fire broke out near the main unit of the newly built Rs 79,450-crore Rajasthan refinery of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) on Monday, a day before the scheduled inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;
Thick columns of black smoke emitted from the fire that broke out near the crude distillation unit -- the primary or front-end unit that is often referred to as the heart of an oil refinery.&nbsp;
The blaze at the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd (HRRL) refinery was doused in about two hours, with no reported casualties, officials said.
But the Prime Minister's event to dedicate to the nation the 9 million tonnes a year oil refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Pachpadra in Balotra district of Rajasthan, which was scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed.&nbsp;
The Union Petroleum Ministry in a post on X announced the postponement of the event and said an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire and implement corrective measures.
Refineries worldwide are highly susceptible to fires, explosions, and catastrophic failures during the commissioning and startup phases, as this period involves introducing hydrocarbons into new or maintained high-pressure, high-temperature systems. For this reason, inauguration ceremonies are performed after all units (a refinery typically as several units that turn crude oil pumped out of ground or below seabed into fuels like petrol and diesel at high temperatures) are safely commissioned and operations stabalised.
The refinery project was scheduled to begin commercial operations from July 1, according to a Government of India statement issued on April 8 announcing approval of the Union Cabinet to enhance the cost of the project.
This is not the first time a fire broke out at a refinery under commissioning. On January 30, 2016, a major fire broke out at Indian Oil Corporation's (IOC) Paradip refinery's atmospheric vacuum unit (AVU), just over a week before its scheduled inauguration by Prime Minister Modi on February 7, 2016. No injuries were reported even then. No reasons were assigned for the fire at Rajasthan project on Monday.
"Due to an unfortunate fire incident today in the vicinity of the Crude Distillation Unit at the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL) refinery, the scheduled dedication of the refinery by the Prime Minister on 21.04.2026 has been postponed. The fire has been brought under control. There are no reports of any casualties," the ministry said in a post on X. A revised date for the inauguration will be announced in due course, it added.
The Rajasthan refinery will be India's 24th and the second most complex unit yet in India. The refinery-cum-petrochemical complex, located in Rajasthan's Balotra district, is designed as a 9 million tonnes per annum facility with a strong petrochemical focus, reflecting India's strategy to boost value-added output and reduce import dependence.&nbsp;
It features a Nelson Complexity Index of 17 and petrochemical yields exceeding 26 per cent, aligning with global benchmarks for efficiency and sustainability, according to an official statement.
Refinery complexity -- often measured by the Nelson Complexity Index -- indicates the capability to handle heavier, dirtier crude oil (which is cheaper) and turn it into high-value products like gasoline and diesel. Reliance Industries Ltd's Jamnagar refinery in Gujarat is the world's most complex and largest refinery, featuring a complexity index of 21.1 and the capability to process over 216 different crude oil grades.&nbsp;
It is designed to convert low-value heavy/sour crude into high-value fuels, processing 1.24-1.4 million barrels per day (Rajasthan refinery has a processing capacity of 180,000 barrels per day).
HRRL is a joint venture between HPCL, which holds a 74 per cent stake, and the Government of Rajasthan with the remaining 26 per cent. Once operational, the complex will produce fuels, including petrol and diesel, along with petrochemicals such as polypropylene, polyethylene variants and key industrial chemicals like benzene and butadiene. These products are widely used across sectors ranging from transportation and packaging to pharmaceuticals and construction.
The project is expected to play a key role in improving India's energy security by processing domestically produced crude, including supplies from the Mangala fields in Rajasthan, while helping cut reliance on imported petrochemicals. It also aligns with New Delhi's broader push to position the country as a regional refining and manufacturing hub.
The opposition Congress alleged that the incident showed "safety lapses". "The Pachpadra refinery is a matter of pride for all Rajasthanis. The incident at such a time is extremely unfortunate. I pray for everyone's safety," former chief minister Ashok Gehlot said.
Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Tika Ram Jully termed the incident "serious and concerning" and questioned the state government's preparedness ahead of the high-profile event. He alleged that the incident pointed to lapses in safety and accused the government of rushing the arrangements for the event. He also said there were "delays" in the project's execution.
"This landmark project, with an investment of more than Rs 79,450 crore, represents a significant milestone in India's energy and petrochemical sector," an official statement said earlier.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took a swipe at Amit Shah’s “political shrewdness” during a Lok Sabha debate, accusing the government of undermining democracy and sidelining OBC rights while pushing women’s reservation.

If Chankaya was alive, he would've been startled by your political shrewdness: Priyanka to Amit Shah

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took a swipe at Amit Shah&rsquo;s &ldquo;political shrewdness&rdquo; during a Lok Sabha debate, accusing the government of undermining democracy and sidelining OBC rights while pushing women&rsquo;s reservation.

In friendly banter, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday told Home Minister Amit Shah that had Chankaya been alive today, he would have been startled by the BJP leader's "political shrewdness".
Participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on three bills introduced for amendments to the women's quota law and setting up a delimitation commission, Priyanka Gandhi accused the government of once again wanting to "dupe" people and launching a "big attack on the country's integrity&rdquo;.
"On the one hand there is this big talk of women's reservation, and on the other hand, the rights of OBCs are being taken away. A strong structure is being erected for the next polls by reducing the influence of small states, shredding democracy to pieces," Priyanka Gandhi alleged.
"The home minister is laughing&hellip; He has made this full scheme. Had Chankaya been alive, he would have been startled by your political shrewdness (&lsquo;rajnaitik kutilta&rsquo;). He (Shah) made the whole plan, and he is laughing now&hellip; He agrees with me," the Wayanad MP said.
Hitting out at the government, she claimed the plan involved calling a sitting of Parliament during elections, not calling an all-party meeting, sharing the draft of the bill just a day before the sitting so that the opposition does not get a chance to deliberate on it, starting a discussion in media that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to take a big step for women's empowerment and put the opposition in a bind.
"Women's reservation on one hand, and independence to change the structure and neglect the OBC section on the other. It is one thing to be shrewd in politics, and probably we should be a bit more shrewd on this side of the aisle, but it&rsquo;s another thing to take the right decision in national interest, keeping aside the aspirations to remain in power," Priyanka Gandhi said.
In her remarks, she also took a swipe at Prime Minister Modi, saying that from his remarks, it appeared as though the BJP is the sole champion of women's reservation.
"Any woman will tell you that women can instantly spot men who repeatedly try to mislead them," she said.
Giving a background to women's reservation in legislative bodies, the Congress MP said, "When the Women's Reservation Bill was passed in 2023, the Congress extended its full support to it, in alignment with its core ideology. There should be no doubt whatsoever that the Congress stands firmly in favour of women's reservation.&rdquo;
Taking a dig at the government, she said the story began with a man named Nehru "but not the one you try to avoid".
"Motilal Nehru Ji prepared a report in 1928, which he submitted to the Congress Working Committee. Motilal Nehru Ji was the chairman of a committee, and at that time, he prepared a list of 19 fundamental rights.&ldquo;
"In 1931, under the chairmanship of Sardar (Vallabhbhai) Patel Ji, the Karachi session was held, in which this resolution was passed. It was then that the issue of equal rights for women was included in India's politics," she said.
&ldquo;At the same time, the principle of 'One Vote, One Citizen, One Value' was implemented in our politics,&rdquo; Priyanka Gandhi said, adding that due to this principle, women got the right to vote from the very first day of Independence.
&ldquo;In countries like America, women had to wait 150 years for this right,&rdquo; she said.

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AAP's Manish Sisodia gets interim bail for 3 days

AAP's Manish Sisodia&nbsp;gets interim bail for 3 days
Court granted interim bail to Sisodia for niece's wedding
Sisodia's interim bail from February 13-15

AAP's Manish Sisodia gets interim bail for 3 days to attend niece's wedding

AAP leader Manish Sisodia has been granted interim bail by a Delhi court from February 13-15. He has been given the 3-day relief to attend his niece's wedding in Lucknow. The former deputy chief minister of Delhi is in jail due to allegations of corruption in the liquor policy formulated by the AAP govt.&nbsp;

Mamata Banerjee accuses BJP of influencing exit polls to demoralise TMC workers, asserts her party will cross 226 seats, and raises concerns over central forces and EVM security ahead of counting.

Will win 226 seats; exit polls predictions made at BJP's behest to demoralise TMC workers: Mamata

Mamata Banerjee accuses BJP of influencing exit polls to demoralise TMC workers, asserts her party will cross 226 seats, and raises concerns over central forces and EVM security ahead of counting.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday dismissed exit poll projections, saying they were aired at the &ldquo;instruction of the BJP&rdquo; to demoralise her party and asserted that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) would win more than 226 seats in the assembly polls.
She also targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging central forces acted as &ldquo;agents of the BJP&rdquo;, and took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks made on Wednesday that "the poll results will strengthen the resolve of a developed India", wondering how he can make such a comment when voting was on.
In a video message shared on social media ahead of counting on May 4, Banerjee claimed television channels ran projections circulated from the BJP office, alleging a coordinated attempt to shape public perception.
&ldquo;I want to reassure you that what is being shown on TV, that circular was issued from the BJP office at 1.08 pm yesterday. Money was paid to show those figures. The media was forced to air it,&rdquo; she said.
Her remarks came a day after most exit polls predicted a majority for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 294-member Assembly, where the halfway mark is 148, with several projections giving it over 150 seats, a narrative the TMC chief sought to counter forcefully.
Exuding confidence about her party&rsquo;s prospects, Banerjee said the TMC would comfortably cross the two-thirds mark.
&ldquo;We will cross 226. We may even get 230. I have full faith in the way people have voted,&rdquo; she said.
Thanking voters for their participation, she struck an emotional note, saying, &ldquo;Even in such scorching heat, and despite so much oppression, the way you stood in queues to vote -- we are grateful. I am also grateful to my workers. They fought with everything they had. They endured a lot of oppression. Those who tried to subdue Bengal have themselves been subdued in the ballot box.&rdquo;
Alleging widespread intimidation during polling, Banerjee said Trinamool workers faced &ldquo;joint oppression&rdquo; by central forces and sections of the police.
&ldquo;The BJP intimidates everyone through ED, CBI. The conduct of the central forces yesterday, and some of the newly appointed police personnel who were not under my control - they beat women, they beat children,&rdquo; she claimed.
The chief minister also trained her guns on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that central forces acted as &ldquo;agents of the BJP&rdquo; during the entire polling process.
&ldquo;At direct instructions of Amit Shah, central forces have been working in West Bengal as agents of the BJP in the entire polling process,&rdquo; she claimed.
He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks on the last day of polling from Uttar Pradesh, where he had said voters are casting their vote in West Bengal this time in a "fearless atmosphere", which was unimaginable in the past six or seven decades." He also asserted that the assembly poll results on May 4 will further strengthen the resolve of a developed India.
&ldquo;How can he say Bengal is his during elections? Does he know Bengal? Does he know its soil? He knows no one here,&rdquo; she said.
Referring to the reported death of a voter in Udaynarayanpur in a polling booth, she said, &ldquo;I have no words to console the bereaved family of the gentleman who died while going to vote. We will stand by that family.&rdquo;
The CM alleged that her party workers were &ldquo;one-sidedly attacked&rdquo; but did not retreat, and that many were deliberately arrested to prevent them from acting as polling agents.
She cited incidents from areas such as Bhatpara, Noapara, Jagaddal and her own constituency, Bhabanipur.
&ldquo;Our workers were beaten so that they could not function as agents. Even in Bhabanipur, raids were conducted throughout the night. I have not slept for two days,&rdquo; she said.
Calling the exit poll predictions a &ldquo;BJP conspiracy&rdquo;, Banerjee further alleged that they were aired to influence economic sentiment and demoralise her cadre.
&ldquo;I have information that this was done to comfort the share market. If the truth comes out, the market will crash. So the BJP used the media for this last game, to demoralise our workers,&rdquo; she said, recalling discrepancies between exit poll projections and actual results in 2016 and 2021.
In a strong organisational directive, Banerjee asked party leaders, candidates and workers to remain on high alert during counting and guard strong rooms housing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
&ldquo;You must guard the counting centres. If needed, I will also go and guard my area. Candidates must guard themselves. Stay awake. If I can do it, so can you. There is a plan to change the machines while transporting EVMs. Do not take this lightly,&rdquo; she said.
&ldquo;Until I formally say so in a press conference, no one should leave the counting table,&rdquo; Banerjee added.
The TMC supremo cautioned workers against leaving counting tables unattended even briefly.
&ldquo;During counting, sit firmly at the centres. Even if someone needs to go to the toilet or eat, it should not be for more than two minutes. Leave someone trustworthy in your place, someone who cannot be bought with money,&rdquo; she said.
Despite the sharp allegations, Banerjee appealed for restraint.
&ldquo;Even if they attack you, do not retaliate immediately. There has been a lot of violence. Our workers were beaten and bloodied in Bhangar. They will be answered &mdash; but no one should take the law into their own hands. We will take action,&rdquo; the CM said.
Banerjee said she was &ldquo;100 per cent confident&rdquo; of a win and urged all TMC candidates to remain vigilant till the final results are declared.
Meanwhile, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya dismissed her allegations as a sign of nervousness.
&ldquo;She is very well aware that she is losing the polls and that is why she is making such a statement to keep her party workers charged up,&rdquo; he said, terming her remarks a &ldquo;panic reaction&rdquo; to an &ldquo;imminent defeat&rdquo;.
The sharp exchange underscores the high-stakes nature of the Bengal verdict, with both narrative and numbers under intense contest ahead of counting day.

A cruise boat carrying 35–40 passengers overturned in the Bargi River in Jabalpur after a sudden storm, leaving four dead, 18 rescued and several others missing as rescue operations continue.

River cruise boat overturns in Jabalpur district; 4 dead, 15 to 18 missing

A cruise boat carrying 35&ndash;40 passengers overturned in the Bargi River in Jabalpur after a sudden storm, leaving four dead, 18 rescued and several others missing as rescue operations continue.

Four people drowned when a cruise boat carrying 35 to 40 passengers overturned in the Bargi river in Jabalpur district after encountering a sudden storm on Thursday, a police official said.
Eighteen people were rescued, while 15 to 18 are still missing, said City Superintendent of Police (Bargi town) Anjul Mishra.
Mishra said 35 to 40 people were on the river cruise boat when it overturned because of a sudden storm.
Four bodies were recovered from the river, while an operation was on in full swing to trace and rescue the missing passengers, said the police officer.&nbsp;

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flags off first direct Vande Bharat from Jammu to Srinagar, announces plans to connect Poonch, Rajouri and Uri, boosting trade, tourism and all-weather connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir.

Vaishnaw flags off Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express, promises rail link to Uri

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flags off first direct Vande Bharat from Jammu to Srinagar, announces plans to connect Poonch, Rajouri and Uri, boosting trade, tourism and all-weather connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir.

As the first direct Vande Bharat Express from Jammu chugged into the Kashmir valley on Thursday, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw promised to focus on connecting remote areas like Poonch, Rajouri and Uri to the country&rsquo;s rail network.
Following the completion of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), Vaishnaw said detailed project reports (DPRs) have been prepared on projects to connect the Poonch-Rajouri region to the national rail network and to extend the railway line to Uri, a border town in Baramulla district.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Minister of State in the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, Jitendra Singh, were among the dignitaries present at the flagging off ceremony.
The direct train services between Srinagar and Jammu will reduce travel time between the twin capitals of Jammu and Kashmir, and boost tourism, besides providing an all-weather surface transport link.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first direct train service between Katra and Srinagar on June 6, 2025. This service has now been extended up to the Jammu Tawi Railway Station.
The work on the Rs 43,780-crore rail project, linking Kashmir to the rest of the country, began in the late 1990s, with the first train operating in the Kashmir Valley in October 2008.
Talking to reporters after the flagging off ceremony, Vaishnaw said the government will focus on connecting the Poonch-Rajouri region with the rail network of the country, besides working on a rail link to Uri.
 &ldquo;We will now focus on connecting Poonch and Rajouri with rail connectivity. We will also take up a project to connect Uri with the train,&rdquo; the minister said after the flagging off ceremony.
&ldquo;The DPRs for these projects have been made, and we will try to get work started soon,&rdquo; he added.
On the Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express, the railway minister called it a major landmark achievement, which has become the lifeline of Jammu and Kashmir.
 &ldquo;This train service is a major landmark for people of Jammu and Kashmir. The prime minister inaugurated this train service between Katra and Kashmir last year. This train is very popular with 100 per cent occupancy and has become a lifeline for Jammu and Kashmir,&rdquo; Vaishnaw said.
He said there was a huge demand for increasing the passenger-carrying capacity of the train.
&ldquo;The eight coaches ran at 100 per cent occupancy, and there was demand to increase the capacity. Now, it has been made into a 20-coach train,&rdquo; he said, and noted that the train service benefited the people of Kashmir as it has been used for ferrying goods like cement, cars and bikes.
&ldquo;I have been told that the prices of cement have dropped by Rs 50 (per bag). Around 2 crore kg (20,000 tons) of apples and other fruits have been transported through train to other parts of the country,&rdquo; he said.
Vaishnaw said the Vande Bharat Express between Jammu and Srinagar can operate in all weather conditions.
&ldquo;We can run this train in minus 10 degrees Celsius. You saw there was one foot of snow last winter, but the trains still operated. The design of this train incorporates all facilities and advanced features for passenger comfort, making it an all-weather train,&rdquo; he said.
The minister said this is the first time that a train is being operated at such a high altitude. &ldquo;This train will facilitate the easy movement of fruits, goods and all other items.&rdquo; CM Abdullah, while thanking the Railways Minister and the Centre for extending Vande Bharat train services between Jammu and Srinagar.
&ldquo;I want to congratulate and thank Vaishnaw and, through him, the central government, on behalf of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, for connecting Jammu with Kashmir through rail,&rdquo; Abdullah said, addressing a gathering during the flagging-off ceremony from the Jammu railway station.
Highlighting the railway connectivity&rsquo;s trade benefits, he said goods like cement and cars can be transported, giving a huge boost to business and trade.
&ldquo;The speciality of this train is that it has not only enabled people like us to travel but has also facilitated the transport of goods such as cement. I was surprised to see Maruti cars being transported to Srinagar and fruits from Kashmir by rail,&rdquo; he said.
Abdullah also appealed to the railways minister to set up an inland port in Jammu and Kashmir to ease customs clearance for exporting goods from the union territory.
&ldquo;I have a request for the railways minister, even as it does not pertain to his ministry, but since he has the goodwill, he can use that. I request that an inland port be set up in J&amp;K.
&ldquo;There is an urgent need for a dry port here so that we do not require customs clearance in other cities for our goods, which we want to export from here. The customs clearance should take place here in J&amp;K, it will benefit our trade and business,&rdquo; the CM added.
Abdullah said that while he would raise the issue with the Centre, he appealed to the union ministers and the MPs present there to take up the matter with the government.
Talking about the significance of the railway connectivity between Srinagar and Jammu, the CM said the people of J&amp;K had been waiting for it for many years.
&ldquo;For so many years, we had been waiting to travel by train from Jammu to Srinagar. Now, there is no need for us to travel to Katra from Jammu and the other way around via road,&rdquo; he said.
Abdullah said he had never expected the railway line to become so popular that he would have to seek favours to reserve seats on the train.
&ldquo;Thankfully, now it (train) has been changed from eight bogeys to 20 and while 500 passengers used to travel earlier, now 1,400 people can travel (at once). This is a huge thing for us,&rdquo; he added.
Jitendra Singh said the direct train service between the twin capitals of Jammu and Kashmir will propel economic growth in the union territory, besides making travel easy for tourists and pilgrims.
&ldquo;We express our gratitude to the PM. It was due to his efforts that the train between Jammu and Katra became a reality after 42 years, and the direct train between Jammu and Srinagar has now been started,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;

The Rajya Sabha Chairman has accepted the merger of seven AAP MPs into the BJP, reducing Arvind Kejriwal-led party’s strength in the Upper House. AAP has vowed to challenge the move under the anti-defection law and may approach the court.

Seven rebel AAP MPs officially part of BJP parliamentary party; AAP says ready to move court

The Rajya Sabha Chairman has accepted the merger of seven AAP MPs into the BJP, reducing Arvind Kejriwal-led party&rsquo;s strength in the Upper House. AAP has vowed to challenge the move under the anti-defection law and may approach the court.

Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan on Monday officially accepted the seven rebel Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs joining the BJP, but AAP said it will press on for their disqualification under the anti-defection law and is prepared to move court on the issue.
With this, the strength of Arvind Kejriwal-led party in the Rajya Sabha is reduced to three from 10, while the BJP's tally has increased to 113 in the 245-member House after the Secretariat included the seven MPs in the list of BJP members.
The seven MPs, six of them from Punjab, had on Friday petitioned the Chairman of the Upper House to be treated as BJP MPs after their merger.
"Hon'ble Chairman Rajya Sabha Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan Ji has accepted the merger of 7 AAP MPs with the BJP," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on X, adding they are now members of the BJP Parliamentary Party.
The minister welcomed the seven MPs into the BJP and said they have bid goodbye to the "Tukde-Tukde INDI Alliance".
"Welcome to nation-building NDA under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and goodbye to Tukde-Tukde INDI Alliance," the minister said.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said the party was hopeful that once its letter, where objections have been raised to the merger and the MPs' disqualification has been sought under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, is examined, the Chairman "would act in favour of the Constitution and democracy by disqualifying the seven members".
"If that does not happen, we will approach the court. It is wrong to break a party in this manner," he said.
AAP had on Sunday moved the petition before the Chairman seeking the termination of membership of these seven MPs.
Singh said that their petition has not yet been considered by the Chairman.
Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Sandeep Pathak, Vikramjit Sahney, Swati Maliwal, and Rajinder Gupta are the seven MPs who have joined the BJP, dealing a major blow to AAP.
Chadha had announced on Friday that two-thirds of the AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha have merged with the BJP, exercising the provisions of the Constitution.
On Monday, he alleged that the work environment in AAP had turned "toxic" with leaders stopped from working, and asserted that "one or two persons can be wrong, but not all seven".
In a video on social media, Chadha said; "Today, this political party is trapped in the hands of some corrupt and compromised people. They don't work for the country but for their own personal gain."
AAP's Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj hit back over the "toxic workplace" analogy, saying even when an employee decides to leave a company, he serves a notice period instead of conspiring to damage the organisation's image.
Bharadwaj said while people may leave companies, political parties are based on ideology and not merely workplace convenience.
The Congress, meanwhile, targeted both AAP and BJP on Monday, alleging that the Arvind Kejriwal-led party has been working as the BJP's "B-team" to counter the Congress in states like Punjab and Gujarat, and its "mask" is now off.
The party said that the Chairman's decision is not at all surprising, and the MPs crossing over was both a "surgical strike as well as a pre-emptive action" as the ED had been targeting some of them till recently.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh, said the only surprise in the decision of the chairman is that it took so long and was not formally accepted over the weekend.
"Till very recently, the BJP had serious questions on their integrity and claimed to have solid evidence on them but all that is now conveniently forgotten. The ED was raiding some of these MPs until recently but one can bet that those will also come to a stop now," he said.
"And the ED raids that may well have taken place against some others will, of course, no longer happen. It is therefore both a surgical strike and a pre-emptive action. Lotus has become Lootus," Ramesh said.
"Operation Lotus" is a term used by opposition parties to allege poaching of their legislators by the BJP.
At a press conference, senior Congress leader Ajay Maken alleged that AAP has been giving Rajya Sabha party tickets to the wealthy in exchange for money and should thus change its name to the "Arabpati Aadmiyon ki Party (party of billionaires)".
"The mask has completely come off the face of AAP and Arvind Kejriwal," he said and claimed that more AAP leaders from Delhi and Punjab will join the BJP.
"The Aam Aadmi Party is the B team of the BJP. The leaders of AAP are traitors to the country," he alleged.
BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde welcomed all seven former AAP MPs into the party fold, saying Prime Minister Modi's resolve to make India a developed country will gain &ldquo;momentum&rdquo; with their experience.
&ldquo;AAP's Seven, Now with BJP,&rdquo; Tawde, who is also a BJP Rajya Sabha MP, said in a post on X in Hindi.
&ldquo;Arvind Kejriwal's dictatorial attitude has now been fully exposed before the people of the country,&rdquo; the BJP leader said.
The Rajya Sabha website now shows that the seven MPs are part of the BJP list of members.

India and New Zealand have signed a landmark free trade agreement granting duty-free access to 100% of Indian exports, alongside a $20 billion investment commitment and expanded market access across goods, services, and skilled professionals.

India, New Zealand ink 'once-in-a-generation' trade deal; to be implemented year end

India and New Zealand have signed a landmark free trade agreement granting duty-free access to 100% of Indian exports, alongside a $20 billion investment commitment and expanded market access across goods, services, and skilled professionals.

India and New Zealand on Monday inked a 'once-in-a-generation' trade pact, giving duty-free access to 100 per cent of domestic exports, including textiles, leather footwear, and gems and jewellery, in the island nation.
The pact is expected to be implemented by the end of this year as it requires New Zealand Parliament's approval. In India, the Union cabinet approves a trade pact.
For the second time in a trade deal, India has received FDI (foreign direct investment) commitment of USD 20 billion in over 15 years. A similar commitment of USD 100 billion was made by four-European nation bloc EFTA in its pact with India.
The India-New Zealand pact, signed by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and visiting New Zealand's Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay here, is expected to help double bilateral trade in goods and services to USD 5 billion in five years.
Commenting on the pact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it will greatly benefit farmers, youth, women, MSMEs, artisans, startups, students, and innovators.
"The investment commitment of $20 billion by New Zealand will further strengthen our cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing, innovation and technology, paving the way for a more prosperous and dynamic future for both countries," Modi said in a social media post.
Describing it as a "once-in-a-generation agreement", New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said it would provide exporters with unprecedented access to 1.4 billion people and to an economy set to become the world's third-largest.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that this is India's ninth agreement in the past few years, with 38 developed countries.
"At the heart of the agreement is the empowerment for exports, agricultural productivity, student mobility, skills, investment and services," Goyal said.
McClay, who is leading a 40-member delegation, said it is a high-quality FTA. "FTA reduces friction, provides certainty, sets clear rules and makes it easier for businesses to build relationships," he added.
Back home, the Luxon government's coalition partner, the New Zealand First, has publicly opposed the deal.
Christopher Luxon (New Zealand's Prime Minister) has, however, secured the backing of the main opposition Labour Party for the agreement.
"Well, we have a majority in our Parliament to pass this agreement. All the trade agreements that have been presented to our Parliament have enjoyed a super majority of the two largest parties in Parliament," McClay said, when asked whether the pact could face hurdles in securing parliamentary approval.
The trade agreement, negotiations for which were concluded in December 2025, provides duty-free access for 100 per cent of India's exports to New Zealand, covering all tariff lines or product categories such as textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, and processed foods.
Earlier, New Zealand maintained peak tariffs of up to 10 per cent on key Indian exports, including ceramics, carpets, automobiles, and auto components.
On the other hand, India has offered tariff liberalisation on 70 per cent of tariff lines of New Zealand covering 95 per cent of bilateral trade value, while keeping 29.97 per cent of product categories outside the purview of the pact.
The products that are kept in exclusion include dairy (milk, cream, whey, yoghurt, cheese), animal products (other than sheep meat), agri goods (onions, chana, peas, corn, almonds), sugar, artificial honey, animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils, arms and ammunition, gems and jewellery, copper and articles (cathodes, cartridges, rods, bars, coils), aluminium and articles (ingots, billets, wire bars).
India will provide duty-free access of number of goods from New Zealand and that includes wooden logs, coking coal, waste and scraps of metals, wood, sheep meat, and leather-raw hides.
Similarly, on goods such as petroleum oil, malt extract, vegetable oils, selected electrical and mechanical machinery, and peptones, India will reduce levies in a phased manner over 3, 5, 7, and 10 years.
New Zealand products which enjoy tariff reductions include wine, pharmaceutical drugs, polymers, aluminium, iron and steel articles.
On certain products such as Manuka honey, apples, kiwi fruit, and albumins, including milk albumin, New Delhi has offered quota-based duty concessions with Minimum Import Price and other safeguards, ensuring quality imports and consumer choice while protecting domestic farmers.
All tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for apples, kiwifruit and Manuka are paired with delivery on "Agriculture Productivity Action Plans" which would be monitored by a Joint Agriculture Productivity Council, balancing market access with protection of sensitive domestic agricultural sectors.
On the services side, India will get market access commitments by New Zealand in about 118 services sectors such as computer-related services, professional services, audiovisual, telecommunication, construction, education, environmental, financial services, tourism and travel.
It will provide easier access to New Zealand's services market across many sectors, which can boost India's services exports.
Further 'Most-Favoured Nation' (MFN) commitment will be granted in about 139 sub-sectors to India.
MFN commitment means that if New Zealand gives better treatment to any other country in those sectors later, it can extend the same treatment to India as well.
The FTA also establishes a new temporary employment entry visa pathway for Indian professionals in skilled occupations, with a quota of 5,000 visas at any given time and a stay of up to three years.
This pathway covers Indian professions such as AYUSH practitioners, yoga instructors, Indian chefs, and music teachers, as well as high-demand sectors including IT, engineering, healthcare, education, and construction.
For the first time with any country, New Zealand has created a dedicated pathway for student mobility and post-study work visas with India.
Total bilateral trade in goods and services reached USD 2.4 billion in 2024.
Bilateral merchandise trade stood at USD 1.3 billion (USD 711.1 million and imports 587.13 million) in 2024-25, while total trade in goods and services reached about USD 2.4 billion in 2024, with services trade alone reaching USD 1.24 billion, led by travel, IT, and business services.
India exports include aviation fuel, pharmaceuticals, motor vehicles, petroleum products, readymade garments, and machinery; while imports include wood and wood products, iron and steel, raw wool, dairy products, scrap metals, coal and farm-linked inputs.

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