Virat Kohli (left), Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan (on right) (Photos by PTI and AP)

NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif has advised Tilak Varma to ignore outside criticism and focus on playing his natural game in the T20 World Cup 2026. Tilak has had a tough tournament so far, scoring 107 runs in five matches at a modest strike rate. In the match against South Africa, he tried to change his approach by playing aggressively, but it backfired when he got out attempting a big shot.

Kaif said Tilak should stick to being an anchor for the team, similar to Virat Kohli’s role, instead of trying to hit too many big shots. He pointed out that Tilak changed his style due to pressure over his strike rate, which affected his performance.“Tilak Varma has his own way of playing. He can afford to play with a slow strike rate. However, he got out while playing a big shot. There was pressure building on him for the strike rate. As a player, you do keep track of what is being said. But it is the job of the management to ask the player to stick to his role. He should play Virat Kohli’s role. He moved away from his gameplay by stepping out and going for a big shot. You’ll never be able to play if you listen to what others are saying,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.He also explained that India already has many aggressive batters, so Tilak’s job should be to stay till the end and guide the innings.“To become a chase master, you will have to first bat till the 20th over. Tilak Varma got out early, trying to hit. What is your role? Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Rinku Singh play attacking cricket. There should be at least one player who takes the game deep,” said Kaif.Tilak is expected to play in India’s crucial match against Zimbabwe in Chennai.

J Jayalalithaa (AI-generated image used for representation)

NEW DELHI: Nearly a decade after J Jayalalithaa’s death, the AIADMK is still trying to rediscover itself. Once held together by Amma’s towering authority, the party has spent years battling leadership struggles, electoral setbacks and shifting alliances, even as it prepares for another high-stakes assembly election in 2026.On Jayalalithaa’s birth anniversary, the question looms large: has the AIADMK truly moved beyond the vacuum she left behind, or is it still searching for a leader who can restore its lost dominance?Once a dominant force under Jayalalithaa’s leadership as party supremo, the AIADMK held significant influence in the state’s political landscape. But how has the party reshaped itself after her death, and how has it navigated internal infighting over her true political heir following the passing of Tamil Nadu’s leading lady in 2016?From delivering a big blow to the Vajpayee government to its on-and-off ties with the saffron party, and now a mention in PM Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Amma’s AIADMK has remained impossible to ignore — whether the BJP was vulnerable or politically dominant.

“Remembering Jayalalithaa Ji on her birth anniversary. She has made a place in the hearts and minds of countless people as a charismatic leader and outstanding administrator. Her life journey was one of immense grit and determination. As the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, she championed welfare-driven governance with a strong focus on women empowerment, social justice and inclusive development. She was both compassionate and decisive. I recall with great joy my interactions with her,” said PM Modi.With Tamil Nadu heading towards assembly elections scheduled for the summer of 2026, it will be the second such poll without Jayalalithaa’s formidable presence. The 2021 assembly elections had dealt a major blow to the AIADMK, as the party suffered a major defeat at the hands of DMK leader and M Karunanidhi’s son, MK Stalin. Not exactly the void after the strong leadership of Amma was filled as the party struggled with contenders within, for now Edappadi Palaniswamy, known for short as EPS, now in the role of captaining the AIADMK ship, established a strong eye on the Chennai’s chair.

Immediately after Jayalalithaa’s passing, senior party leader O Panneerselvam, popularly known as OPS, assumed the office of chief minister. However, he was widely away and unable to fully fill Amma’s shoes, given her towering personality and mass appeal.Her gravitas and unmatched mass connect, cultivated over the stretch of years in public life, drew oceanic crowds onto the streets as she was laid to rest at Chennai’s iconic Marina Beach, beside her political guru and AIADMK founder, MG Ramachandran.

After Amma’s, senior party leader OPS found himself comfortably succeeding to Jayalalithaa’s chair, but not for long. Within less than a year, he was demoted. In February 2017, EPS rose to the top post. Months later, OPS began serving as deputy chief minister under his new boss, this time not Jayalalithaa, but a man from a rival faction within the party, Edappadi K. Palaniswamy, who is a few years younger than him.The EPS-OPS relationship began to strain as both AIADMK stalwarts engaged in an ugly duel, gradually making the rival DMK appear stronger and ultimately paving the way for MK Stalin to claim a strong chief minister’s chair. Meanwhile, the AIADMK leadership was drawn into a legal battle, with EPS and OPS each denying the other authority and asserting their own claim to the party chief post—the position of general secretary.The dispute between the two veterans was taken up by the Madras high court and later by the Supreme Court, both of which eventually ruled that EPS was the more suitable leader for AIADMK, leading the expulsion of O Panneerselvam.

However, Amma’s death did not immediately pit EPS and OPS against each other. The real player at the center of the initial power struggle was the Sasikala family. Sasikala, a close aide of the most powerful woman in Tamil Nadu, was often described by some as Jayalalithaa’s shadow and by others as her friend. Yet it was the then-CM and party chief, Jayalalithaa herself, who spoke most kindly of Sasikala, describing her as “almost like a sister.”Sasikala, after Amma’s demise, immediately selected unanimously as the acting general secretary of AIADMK and soon after that she was selected as the leader of assembly but sitting-chief minister then, OPS rebelled against Sasikala and reported that he had been compelled to resign as Tamil Nadu CM, bringing in a new twist in state’s politics.Sasikala also installed her nephew, TTV Dhinakaran, as the party’s deputy general secretary. Dhinakaran, who later began leveraging Amma’s legacy for political currency, eventually floated his own party after the EPS-led AIADMK expelled Sasikala from the organisation. He went on to found a new outfit named after Jayalalithaa — the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK).Following her conviction in the disproportionate assets case linked to Jayalalithaa, Sasikala was sentenced to four years in prison and lodged at Bengaluru Central Prison. Before beginning her jail term, she appointed EPS as the AIADMK’s legislative party leader, paving the way for him to assume the office of chief minister.

In a dramatic turn, EPS later expelled members of the Sasikala family from the party and also removed OPS from key positions, consolidating his control over the AIADMK.After sidelining bigwigs such as former CM Panneerselvam and distancing the Sasikala faction, EPS has strengthened his grip on the party command. He now continues to position himself as the AIADMK’s undisputed leader, aspiring to reclaim the top post in the state and challenge incumbent MK Stalin’s leadership.

However, on the occasion of her birth anniversary on Tuesday, Sasikala also floated the idea of launching her own party, yet another attempt to invoke Amma Jayalalithaa’s name and legacy as political currency.

Speaking to reporters, Sasikala said, “Today there is an event for Amma’s birthday. We are conducting an event for her birthday in which good news will come.”

Amma’s last elections in Tamil Nadu, made her considerably losing control on many seats, declining the number of seats, she had won in 2011 elections. Still Jayalalithaa was able to push her boat beyond the mark of magic numbers — a majority — 118 out of 234 seats, — Amma-led party secured 136 seats, without any support of alliance, not even with the BJP — a national party which has had a bitter and sweet relations with Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK.Under Jayalalithaa’s leadership, the AIADMK won the assembly polls and made history by becoming the first ruling party in Tamil Nadu since 1984 to return to power, albeit with a simple majority.This was the last election contested by J Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi, as they passed away later in 2016 and 2018, respectively.

The AIADMK faced one of its biggest setbacks in the 39-seat Tamil Nadu battleground during the Lok Sabha elections. After the loss of its leading lady, the party was reduced to just one seat, a stark contrast to the landslide victory of 37 seats it had secured in 2014 under Amma’s leadership—clearly highlighting the impact of Jayalalithaa’s absence.However, the AIADMK was in alliance with the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who secured a commanding victory nationally and returned to power for a second consecutive term as PM. In Tamil Nadu, however, the alliance performed disastrously and delivered a shameful result. No man—neither EPS nor Modi—was able to replicate the sweeping success that a lady, Jayalalithaa had achieved in the state in the 2014 elections.

The slide continued in the Tamil Nadu assembly polls as well. The EPS-led and Amma-less AIADMK, hoping to retain power, failed to stage a comeback. After the humiliating tally of just one seat in the Lok Sabha polls, the Amma-less party saw its strength shrink further in the assembly, reduced to double digits—far from what was needed to remain in power.Stalin, meanwhile, emerged stronger despite the passing of his father and DMK stalwart M Karunanidhi. This was also the DMK’s first election without its long-time patriarch. However, unlike the AIADMK, the DMK did not witness visible infighting or petty internal politics. That relative unity may have helped Stalin consolidate his leadership and firmly establish himself in the state’s top post.

Nothing changed for AIADMK in the 2024 general elections. The party remained at the bottom and, this time, failed to win even a single seat. Once a formidable force under MG Ramachandran and later his successor Jayalalithaa, the party was reduced to insignificance in the Lok Sabha polls.

The setback has forced the AIADMK to virtually start afresh, even as several old guards continue to cast a shadow over its present. Sasikala and her nephew Dhinakaran intermittently adopt an aggressive stance in the new EPS-led era, while another veteran leader and former chief minister, O Panneerselvam, continues to launch barbs at the party leadership. For many within the organisation, these developments are a far cry from the party’s olden, golden days.

From the Vajpayee era to Prime Minister Modi’s recent tribute to “Amma” on her birth anniversary, the BJP’s ties with the AIADMK have come full circle, alliance, rupture, reunion. Even after electoral setbacks in Tamil Nadu, the saffron party has kept the door open to its old Dravidian ally, signalling once again that political necessity outweighs past differences.Union home minister Amit Shah has described the BJP-AIADMK partnership as a “natural alliance,” arguing that the 2024 Lok Sabha results would have looked dramatically different had the two contested together. “We fought together in 1998, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and in the 2021 assembly polls. But in 2024, we contested separately. If our vote shares are to be combined, we would have won 36 seats,” he said, adding that 2024 and 2025 had been victorious years for the BJP in several states and that the trend would repeat in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.For the BJP, the outreach specifies a hard truth: Tamil Nadu’s Dravidian voter base remains rooted in regional forces, primarily the ruling DMK and the opposition AIADMK. To rebuild a broader NDA footprint in the state, the party is also engaging smaller players and former allies.AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, meanwhile, has called the alliance “essential” to defeat what he terms an “anti-people” DMK regime. “AIADMK will capture power with absolute majority in 2026… Never in the history of Tamil Nadu has there been such a corrupt, incompetent anti-people government,” EPS said.This latest AIADMK-BJP partnership, led once again by Edappadi K. Palaniswami — now once again positioning himself as Jayalalithaa’s political heir and reshaping the party’s lineup, balancing longtime allies with those who keep him in check — aims to take on a strengthened Stalin-led DMK, without Amma’s shadow yet again. Whether this renewed alliance will endure or prove another short-lived truce will ultimately be decided at the ballot box, as Tamil voters weigh legacy, leadership, and promises in the months ahead.

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended sharply lower, falling more than 1 per cent, as heavy selling in information technology stocks combined with global trade uncertainties and rising geopolitical tensions to weigh on investor sentiment.The NSE Nifty declined 288.35 points, or 1.12 per cent, to close at 25,424.65 after touching an intraday low of 25,327.60. The BSE Sensex tumbled 1,068.74 points, or 1.28 per cent, to settle at 82,225.92, after plunging as much as 1,359.93 points during the session.The selloff snapped a two-session rally and came amid renewed concerns over artificial intelligence-led disruption in the IT sector, rising crude oil prices linked to escalating US-Iran tensions, and persistent global trade worries, market participants said.Market breadth remained weak, with 2,802 stocks declining against 1,422 advances on the BSE, while 143 shares remained unchanged. On the NSE, 32 constituents of the Nifty ended in the red, while 18 closed higher. Metal, Oil & Gas, Power, Energy, Utilities, Commodities, FMCG, Healthcare, PSU Bank and Capital Goods indices, however, ended in the green.Here are the top gainers and loser of the day:

Nifty50 top gainers:

Nifty50 top losers

BSE Sensex top gainers

BSE Sensex top losers

“Investor sentiment weakened amid renewed concerns over global trade developments and rising geopolitical tensions, which kept crude oil prices elevated. Moreover, continued pressure on global technology stocks and fears of AI-led disruption further dragged domestic IT shares, amplifying the decline in the benchmark indices,” Ajit Mishra – SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd, said, PTI quoted.Technology stocks bore the brunt of selling pressure, with Tech Mahindra emerging as the biggest laggard, falling 6.6 per cent. HCL Technologies, Eternal, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Larsen & Toubro, Trent, Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, Bharat Electronics Ltd and ICICI Bank were also among major losers.In contrast, NTPC, Hindustan Unilever, Tata Steel, PowerGrid, Titan, Reliance Industries, Axis Bank and Sun Pharmaceuticals were among the gainers, providing limited support to the indices.“Domestic markets registered a sharp decline, led by significant weakness in IT stocks amid renewed global concerns over AI-driven disruption and margin pressures for traditional service providers. Global trade and tariff worries resurfaced as well, with additional pressure arising from Trump’s warnings on trade deals and reports of possible national-security tariffs,” Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said.He added that escalating US–Iran tensions, including embassy staff evacuations and warnings of wider regional escalation, intensified risk aversion among investors.Broader markets also closed in negative territory, with the BSE Smallcap Select Index falling 0.68 per cent and the Midcap Select Index declining 0.54 per cent.“Weekly expiry of Nifty derivatives further added to intraday volatility, with markets reacting to a combination of weak global cues and sector-specific pressures…IT emerged as the worst performer, dropping 4.8 per cent amid continued concerns around AI disruption to large outsourcing businesses and its impact on growth visibility,” Siddhartha Khemka, Head of Research, Wealth Management, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd, said.Among sectoral indices, Focused IT declined 4.80 per cent, followed by Information Technology (4.53 per cent), Realty (2.61 per cent), Telecommunication (1.79 per cent), Consumer Discretionary (1.12 per cent) and Industrials (0.91 per cent).Asian markets ended mostly higher, with South Korea’s Kospi, Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Shanghai’s SSE Composite closing in positive territory, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng ended lower.European markets were trading weak in mid-session deals, with Germany’s DAX, London’s FTSE 100 and Paris’ CAC 40 declining up to 0.27 per cent.Markets remain highly sensitive to geopolitical developments and sector-specific risks, analysts said, with investors increasingly shifting toward defensive and domes

India‘s campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has reached a critical juncture following a heavy 76-run defeat to South Africa in their opening Super 8 match on Sunday. The loss not only snapped India’s remarkable 18-match unbeaten streak in ICC events but also pushed the defending champions into a corner.

Placed third in Group 1, India’s Net Run Rate (NRR) has taken a massive hit, plummeting to -3.800 — a worrying sign in a tightly contested Super 8 stage. With two crucial matches remaining against Zimbabwe and West Indies, the equation is clear: win both games and win them convincingly.

For a side that entered the tournament as one of the favourites, the margin of defeat against South Africa has suddenly made the road to the semifinals far more complicated. The defending champions now not only need victories but also dominant performances to repair their NRR and restore belief.

Amid rising pressure and intense scrutiny, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has weighed in with a strong suggestion regarding India’s playing XI for the must-win clash against Zimbabwe.

Irfan Pathan picks a change India must do in their playing XI for Zimbabwe clash

Speaking on Star Sports, Pathan made it clear that India should resist the temptation to make wholesale changes but insisted on one key inclusion — Axar Patel.

“Axar Patel should get in. He is a guy who can actually bowl against left-hand batters as well. So let me make it very clear that he’s very good. He’s very experienced. We can use him as a floater in batting as well. So that’s the first thing first,” Pathan said.

Pathan emphasised Axar’s ability to handle left-handers, something that could be crucial against Zimbabwe’s batting unit. Apart from his bowling value, Axar’s flexibility in the batting order adds balance to the side — a quality India seemed to lack in the previous game.

Pathan also acknowledged that the team management might be considering bringing in wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, especially with a big clash against West Indies looming. However, Pathan warned against overthinking.

“The Indian team might be thinking if they can get Kuldeep Yadav in because they must have seen the attack they got in as far as the West Indian team is concerned as well. So they might be thinking against Zimbabwe, should they get Kuldeep in and give him a go before the big game against West Indies as well,” he added.

“Apart from that, yes, they are left-handers. Yes, they’ll be thinking about Sanju Samson as well, but I don’t want the Indian team to think and tinker too much. I would think they should make only one change as far as the playing 11 is concerned. Axar should get in,” Pathan concluded.

Also READ: Mohammad Kaif explains how Tilak Varma can rediscover his lost form in T20 World Cup 2026

Defending champions face defining moment

India now find themselves at a defining moment in their title defence. The aura of invincibility built over 18 ICC matches has been shaken, and the margin for error is virtually zero.

Against Zimbabwe, India are expected to dominate with both bat and ball. The batting unit must show intent from the outset, ensuring a big total or a swift chase to improve the damaged NRR. The bowling attack, meanwhile, needs sharper execution in the powerplay and death overs — areas that proved costly in the defeat to South Africa.

The clash against Zimbabwe is not just another group-stage encounter; it is a survival test. With the high-stakes battle against West Indies next in line, India cannot afford another slip-up.

Also READ: India’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final qualification scenario after West Indies’ dominant win over Zimbabwe

At least five police officers were killed in two coordinated attacks on police vehicles in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday, officials said, highlighting a renewed spike in militant violence in the region.The first attack took place in the Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where gunmen ambushed a police vehicle and shot dead one officer. Within minutes, as additional personnel rushed to the scene, the assailants struck again, killing four more officers, local police official Kamran Khan told news agency AP.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the assault, which appeared to be carefully timed to target responding officers.The violence came just a day after another deadly episode in nearby Karak. On Monday, attackers used an explosives-laden drone to hit a paramilitary post, injuring several personnel. As the wounded were being transported for treatment, the assailants ambushed two ambulances. Three officers were killed in the attack, and their bodies were set on fire before the attackers fled. Despite suffering burn injuries, the driver of the second ambulance managed to evacuate other wounded officers to safety. Authorities later recovered the remains of the slain personnel.While no group has formally claimed responsibility for this week’s attacks, suspicion is likely to fall on Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, often referred to as the Pakistani Taliban. The group is distinct from but maintains close ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the TTP of operating from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan, an allegation both the group and the Taliban administration in Kabul deny.The latest bloodshed follows a major military operation along the Afghan border on Sunday, in which Pakistan’s armed forces said they killed at least 70 militants in strikes on suspected hideouts. The military said those targeted were linked to recent attacks inside the country.The back-to-back assaults highlight mounting security challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where militant attacks have intensified in recent months.

India’s semifinal hopes in the T20 World Cup 2026 now depend not just on winning, but on winning big. After cruising through the group stage unbeaten — including a statement victory over Pakistan — India suffered a major setback in the Super 8s. A crushing 76-run defeat to South Africa has left Suryakumar Yadav’s men under pressure in Group 1. With a net run rate of -3.800, India are well behind West Indies (+5.350) and South Africa (+3.800).For India, two wins alone may not guarantee qualification. Given their poor NRR, they need emphatic victories to stay in control of their fate.

INDIA QUALIFICATION SCENARIO

Following the heavy loss to South Africa, India face Zimbabwe in Chennai on February 26 before taking on West Indies in Kolkata on March 1.To remain in serious contention, India must first secure a commanding win over Zimbabwe. A victory by a margin of around 100 runs could play a crucial role in repairing their damaged net run rate.If India, South Africa and West Indies all finish on four points — a very realistic scenario — NRR will decide the semifinalists. With India currently lagging far behind, they must bridge the gap quickly.For instance, if India post 220 batting first, they would need to bowl Zimbabwe out for approximately 120 or less to make a significant improvement in NRR. A narrow win could leave them dependent on other results.

Scenario 1 – India win both matchesIf India beat both West Indies and Zimbabwe, they will finish on four points. And if South Africa win all their matches, both India and South Africa will qualify for the semins. If India win both matches and South Africa lose one of their games, three teams could end up tied on four points. In that case, qualification would be decided by Net Run Rate.If India win both their matches and South Africa lose both their games, then India and West Indies will qualify for the semi-final,Scenario 2 – India win one matchIf India pull off only one win, then they will be eliminated irrespective of what happens in other results of the group.Remaining Super 8 Fixtures – Group 1February 26: South Africa vs West Indies (Ahmedabad)February 26: India vs Zimbabwe (Chennai)March 1: South Africa vs Zimbabwe (Delhi)March 1: India vs West Indies (Kolkata)For the defending champions, the margin for error has vanished. The road to the semifinals now demands not just victories, but dominance.

The Union cabinet has approved three railway multitracking projects worth Rs 9,072 crore aimed at expanding network capacity and easing congestion across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand, according to an official statement.The projects includes, Gondia–Jabalpur doubling, Punarakh–Kiul third and fourth line, and Gamharia–Chandil third and fourth line, will together add about 307 km to the existing Indian Railways network and are scheduled for completion by 2030-31.The cabinet said the projects will cover eight districts and improve connectivity for around 5,407 villages with a combined population of nearly 98 lakh people.The multitracking expansion is expected to enhance line capacity, improve operational efficiency and strengthen service reliability by reducing congestion on key freight and passenger routes. The projects have been planned under the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan with a focus on integrated infrastructure planning and multimodal logistics connectivity.“The increased line capacity will significantly enhance mobility, resulting in improved operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways,” the cabinet statement said, adding that the projects are intended to streamline operations and support regional economic development.According to the government, the upgraded corridors will also improve rail access to several tourist destinations, including Kachnar Shiv Temple in Jabalpur, Kanha and Pench national parks, Dhuandhar waterfall, Bargi Dam, Chandil Dam and Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, among others.The routes are key freight corridors used for transporting commodities such as coal, steel, iron ore, cement, fertilizers, limestone, foodgrains and petroleum products. Capacity augmentation is expected to enable additional freight movement of about 52 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).The government said rail expansion would also support climate and logistics goals by reducing dependence on road transport. The projects are estimated to save about 6 crore litres of oil and lower carbon emissions by nearly 30 crore kg – equivalent to planting around one crore trees.The cabinet noted that improved connectivity and logistics efficiency are expected to generate employment and self-employment opportunities while supporting broader regional development aligned with the vision of a self-reliant India.

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to scrap the India-US trade deal, which he described as being against the interests of Indian farmers.Addressing the ‘Kisan Mahachaupal’ farmers’ rally in Bhopal, Gandhi called the interim trade deal an “arrow piercing the hearts of Indian farmers”.“After the US Supreme Court ruling on the trade deal, I challenge PM Modi to scrap it…but he won’t be able to do so,” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.Rahul’s demand comes in the backdrop of the US Supreme Court ruling against Trump’s global tariffs and invalidating it.The Congress leader also made a series of serious allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming the PM rushed into a trade deal with the United States in the interest of his minister Hardeep Puri and industrialist Gautam Adani, who Rahul said is the “BJP’s financial structure”.Rahul Gandhi claimed Union minister Hardeep Puri’s name in the infamous Epstein files was released to “threaten” the PM, and that there are “videos and messages which have not been released from the millions of Epstein files” held up in the US.In another allegation, Rahul claimed that the case against Adani in the United States is not against the industrialist but against PM Modi, adding that these two were the reasons behind PM Modi’s withdrawal from Parliament and finalisation of the trade pact with America that had been stuck for months.“Millions of Epstein files are held up in the US; there are videos and messages which have not been released. Hardeep Puri’s name was released to threaten him. PM Modi must clear his relationship Anil Ambani?… Adani is not a small company; it is the BJP’s financial structure. Adani faces criminal charges in the US. He cannot go to the US or Europe. The target of the case in the US is Modi, not Adani… These were the two reasons why Modi withdrew from Parliament,” claimed Rahul Gandhi. Rahul said: “He left and called Trump, saying, ‘Sir, I’m ready to do whatever you say’, and he sold the country… Narendra Modi is compromised; he was trapped and forced to sign the US-India trade deal.”He claimed that PM Modi called US President Donald Trump to finalise the trade deal on the same day he, as leader of the opposition, questioned the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha over ex-Army chief MM Naravane’s book. Further questioning the timing of the deal, which had been dragging on for months, the Gandhi scion stepped up his attack on the PM, saying he sealed the deal with Trump “without even consulting his Cabinet”.Rahul, repeating his “PM Modi sold India’s farmers, garment industry and data” charges, said: “I want to say two or three more things. Listen carefully after my speech ends. The moment my speech ended, the Prime Minister left the Lok Sabha. In the evening, without consulting Rajnath Singh, Shivraj Chouhan, Gadkari, in fact, without consulting his Cabinet, Narendra Modi called Trump. Trump tweeted that the Prime Minister of India had called him and said he was ready to sign the US–India deal. For four months, nothing happened, and suddenly Narendra Modi called and sold out India’s farmers, sold out India’s garment industry, and handed over all our data to America.”The Congress leader also said that the ruling NDA made a false excuse that the opposition women MP had planned to attack PM Modi during his reply to the motion of thanks on the President’s address.“I want to ask, this deal had been stalled for four months. For four months, nothing moved. Narendra Modi left the Lok Sabha; you all saw it on TV. The next day, a false excuse was made, saying there was going to be an attack on him. The truth is that the Prime Minister could not stand in Parliament and then directly call Trump. Why did he do this?” the Raebareli MP asked.Cornering the central government over General MM Naravane’s unpublished book, Rahul Gandhi said: “Former Army chief General MM Naravane (Retd) wrote a book mentioning that when the Chinese tanks were entering the Indian boundary, he called Rajnath Singh for the orders, but did not get an answer. He said that even Ajit Doval and S Jaishankar did not answer… The decision of war is taken by the Prime Minister, but the PM did not answer, he hid in his room and asked the Army Chief to do whatever he deems fit... The Army Chief wrote that he was left alone by the Indian government that day.”“Decision to go to war is political, not a military one,” the Congress leader said.