Sanjay Raut (PTI photo)

NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday raised serious doubts over the sudden and “suspicious” death of NCP chief and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, saying “something is dubious” and calling for a thorough investigation into the plane crash that killed the leader last week in Baramati.Drawing a parallel with the death of Justice Loya, Raut asked, “Did someone do something here?” while questioning the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Raut said questions were bound to arise given Ajit Pawar’s political stature. “The manner in which a leader like Ajit Pawar, a tall leader of Maharashtra, died in a plane crash and the facts which are coming to light – it should be investigated, I think there is something dubious here. These questions are being raised by Ajit dada’s party. His death is suspicious. Something did happen behind the curtains,” he said.Raut claimed that Ajit Pawar was keen to reunite the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party and had initiated talks with his uncle and party founder Sharad Pawar in the final phase of his life. He alleged that some people were opposed to this reconciliation, as it would have “shut their shops”.The Sena (UBT) leader further alleged that Ajit Pawar had expressed his desire to “return home” politically and that this move had unsettled certain sections. Referring to past controversies, Raut claimed Pawar had faced pressure over the irrigation scam case days before his death.“Ajit dada had said that he wants to ‘return home’, after that the people of BJP threatened him with Sinchan Scam files. Ajit Pawar then responded to them over the same Sinchan Scam files. He died mysteriously within 10 days of that. What do we understand from this? This reminds us of Justice Loya. Did someone do something here?” Raut asked.However, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has urged people to not politicise the death of his nephew Ajit Pawar.Also read: Ajit Pawar’s son Parth Pawar breaks down while holding father’s chair at NCP office in MumbaiAjit Pawar died when his aircraft crashed near Baramati last Wednesday. Days after the crash, the ruling Mahayuti alliance appointed his wife, Sunetra Pawar, as deputy chief minister. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis also dismissed speculation about a possible NCP merger, saying, “Ajit dada would have told us about it.”

JAMMU: Jailed Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid’s Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) said Sunday it had submitted an assembly resolution seeking citizenship and legal status for former militants’ wives and children who came from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under a 2010 rehabilitation policy. The J&K assembly’s budget session begins on Monday.Langate Shiekh Khursheed, AIP MLA and Rashid’s brother, said those who came under the rehabilitation policy continue to remain without citizenship or legal recognition, leading to denial of their basic rights including education, healthcare, employment opportunities and identity documents.The UPA govt at the Centre had announced the rehabilitation policy in 2010 during Omar Abdullah’s earlier stint as chief minister of the erstwhile J&K state. Omar had then described the rehabilitation of such militants as a “humanitarian issue with nothing sinister or dangerous”.Officials had, however, cited stringent criteria and said only 350 of over 1,200 applications were accepted. Citizenship for such families has been a long-pending demand, with PDP having backed it earlier.Addressing a news conference on Sunday, Khursheed explained the AIP’s resolution. “The resolution urges both the J&K govt and the Centre to grant citizenship or appropriate legal status, issue valid domicile and identity documents, and ensure dignity, security and constitutional safeguards for these individuals,” said Khursheed, the lone MLA of his party.Dwelling on other issues, Khursheed pushed for steps to ensure Mehraj Malik, Doda’s arrested AAP MLA, is allowed to attend the assembly session. Khursheed said he had personally handed over a letter to chief minister Omar last week requesting him to convene an all-party meeting and pass a resolution urging LG Manoj Sinha to ensure Malik’s presence in the House. Malik, AAP’s only MLA in J&K, was held last year under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) for allegedly misbehaving with senior officials during a protest.Khursheed said he had submitted another assembly resolution seeking transfer of all power projects in the Union Territory to the J&K govt. “This will help ensure cheaper electricity, strengthen power infrastructure and enhance revenue.”Khursheed lamented that he had submitted several resolutions in the 2025 budget session but none was taken up. These pertained to release of political prisoners, restoration of Article 370 and J&K’s statehood. “I am hopeful my party’s resolutions will be taken up this time,” Khursheed said.

LUCKNOW: The Union Budget 2026-27 on Sunday drew mixed reactions from the top echelons of Uttar Pradesh politics, with chief minister Yogi Adityanath terming it a welfare-oriented blueprint for building a ‘Viksit Bharat’, and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav rebuking it as an “invisible ledger” of the BJP’s corruption.In a post on X in Hindi, Adityanath said, “On the auspicious occasion of Maghi Purnima and the birth anniversary of Sadguru Ravidas Ji Maharaj, the Union Budget 2026-27, presented today by the Hon’ble Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman under the visionary guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is an inspiring blueprint for building a ‘Viksit Bharat’.

“This Budget will provide opportunities to the youth, security to farmers, encouragement to entrepreneurs, relief to the middle class, and respect to the labourers.” This was the third Budget of the BJP-led NDA government in its third term in office.The chief minister said the Budget announcements would give a new impetus to innovation, manufacturing and employment, while strengthening agriculture, rural development, infrastructure, tourism, culture and the country’s knowledge traditions, “thus realising the mantra of ‘Development with Heritage'”.“Under the guidance of the prime minister, the foundation for an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat‘ has been further strengthened by supporting MSMEs, startups and indigenous production. We are confident that this Budget, through social justice, inclusive development and good governance, will pave the way for the India of today and tomorrow,” Adityanath said, thanking the prime minister and the finance minister for a “visionary” “welfare-oriented” Budget.Samajwadi Party chief president Akhilesh Yadav, however, launched a sharp attack on the Centre, saying the Budget is meant to aid the BJP’s own people and commissions, calling it an “invisible ledger” of its corruption.Taking to X, Yadav said, “The result of the BJP’s Budget is out – the stock market has crashed. We already said that the question was not whether the stock market would open on Sunday, but how much more it would fall.” Reiterating that there was no reason to expect anything positive from the Budget, the former chief minister said, “When there is no hope from the BJP government, what can be expected from its Budget?” Yadav also said the Samajwadi Party considers every BJP budget as a “1/20th Budget” as it caters to only 5 per cent of the population.“The BJP’s Budget is meant for its own people and commissions. It is an invisible ledger of its corruption,” he alleged.Yadav also said the Budget neither mentioned nor cared for the common people, flagging the “failure” to provide tax relief to the public despite soaring inflation as “tax exploitation”.In a lengthy post, Yadav claimed that while multiple concessions have been given to the businesses and leisure activities of the rich, the plate of expectations of those struggling with joblessness and unemployment remained empty.“This is a disappointing and condemnable Budget,” he claimed.Reacting to the Budget, Uttar Pradesh Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said, “It focuses on youth and women empowerment, job creation, and strengthening education and healthcare. With sound policies and a results-oriented vision, the Budget firmly propels us towards the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.” “From manufacturing to infrastructure, healthcare to tourism, rural economy to AI, sports to pilgrimage – the Budget opens up vast opportunities in every sector.“The allocation of two crucial high-speed rail corridors to Uttar Pradesh – Varanasi-Delhi and Varanasi-Siliguri – out of the seven planned corridors, will give a new direction to the state’s connectivity, investment and development,” Maurya said.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the Union Budget 2026 as “historic”, saying it charts a clear roadmap towards achieving the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 and gives fresh momentum to India’s reform journey. He also highlighted the recently signed “mother of all deals” between India and EU in his address.Praising finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman for presenting the Budget, PM Modi said it symbolised women’s empowerment, noting that Sitharaman has created a record by presenting the Union Budget for the ninth consecutive time.“Today’s budget is historic. It reflects the strong empowerment of the nation’s women power. As a woman Finance Minister, Nirmala ji has created a new record by presenting the country’s budget for the ninth consecutive time. This budget is a highway of immense opportunities. It turns today’s aspirations into reality and strengthens the foundation of India’s bright future,” the Prime Minister said.Describing the Budget as a key step towards long-term national goals, Modi added, “This budget is a strong foundation for our high flight toward a developed India by 2047. Friends, the reform express on which India is riding today will gain new energy and new momentum from this budget.”He said India’s ambitions go beyond being the world’s fastest-growing economy. “…The 140 crore citizens of India are not satisfied with being the fastest-growing economy; we want to become the world’s third-largest economy as soon as possible,” Modi said.Referring to global engagement, the Prime Minister said India has signed the “mother of all deals” with the European Union, aimed at maximising benefits for the country’s youth and small and medium industries. He said the Budget presents an ambitious roadmap to accelerate the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.Highlighting key proposals, PM Modi said measures such as the Bio-Pharma Shakti Mission, Semiconductor Mission 2.0, the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme, the creation of a Rare Earth Corridor, emphasis on critical minerals, new schemes for the textile sector, promotion of high-tech toy manufacturing, and the development of champion MSMEs are future-oriented steps that address both present and long-term needs.“I believe the support our budget provides to MSMEs and small industries will give them the strength to grow from local to global,” he said, adding that the government has taken major steps to strengthen infrastructure. These include expanding dedicated freight corridors, developing high-speed rail, focusing on Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, and promoting municipal bonds to give cities a stronger economic base.Earlier in the day, finance minister Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for the 2026–27 financial year in the Lok Sabha, marking her ninth consecutive Budget presentation.

BLA claims 84 Pak security personnel killed in Operation Herof (Representative image)

New Delhi: Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) on Saturday commenced “Operation Herof 2.0”, a large-scale military offensive characterised by synchronised attacks at dawn. While BLA claimed scores of casualties across the region, the official count stood at 12. The local administration claimed to have neutralised 58 BLA fighters.“Fitna-al-Hindustan carried out attacks at 12 locations across Balochistan. During the clashes with the terrorists, 12 personnel of the security forces and the police were martyred,” the Pak media reported, quoting the administration and adding that the attacks were foiled due to “timely and effective action”. In a post on X, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti claimed that Pak security forces had killed 70 rebels at various locations across the province during the past two days.Spanning around 12 districts and especially targeting the provincial capital, Quetta, this offensive marks a significant escalation in regional conflict and is being regarded as the most extensive assault since 2024.The attacks involved use of suicide bombers and a significant number of women rebels at Kalat, Gwadar, Mastung, Noshki, Kharan, Turbat and Pasni where bank, govt offices and Frontier ops HQ were targeted.The attacks coincided with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) top functionary Hafiz Hamdullah’s declaring that armed groups, not the state, now controlled Balochistan.BLA’s Hakkal media also released a new video footage showing commander Bashir Zeb leading armed separatist units on motorcycles.In a statement, BLA claimed to have brought under its control several areas of Quetta, besides Noshki jail and Pasni coast guard camp, police stations and the military intelligence office. BLA’s Majeed Brigade and Fateh Squad (or Fidayeen soldiers) participated in the operation.“The Baloch nation will defeat the enemy in every city, every street and every neighbourhood,” Jeeyand Baloch, spokesperson for BLA, said. Op Herof-I was conducted in Aug 2024 and saw at least 126 Pakistani soldiers being killed and scores injured.

NEW DELHI: Sunetra Pawar was sworn in as Maharashtra’s first woman deputy chief minister on Saturday, stepping into public office days after the death of her husband, NCP leader Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash. She now faces the immediate challenge of leading the Nationalist Congress Party amid a period of political and personal upheaval.In her first public remarks after the tragedy, Sunetra Pawar said she was “overwhelmed with emotions” as she assumed responsibility in the state cabinet, adding that she would “carry forward the legacy” of her late husband and “continue to work tirelessly” for Maharashtra.

Clad in a white saree, she took the oath amid chants of “Ajit Dada amar rahein,” in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Who is Sunetra Pawar?

Sunetra Pawar hails from Tera village in Dharashiv district, earlier known as Osmanabad, in the Marathwada region. While she belongs to a political family, with her brother Padamsinh Patil being a senior NCP leader, she was not actively involved in politics for much of her life.Her father, Bajirao Patil, played a role in the Marathwada liberation movement that preceded the merger of the Hyderabad state with the Indian Union. This legacy shaped her early exposure to public life and social issues.A commerce graduate, Sunetra Pawar has interests in painting, music, photography, and agriculture. After her marriage, she took up farming in Katewadi village and became actively involved in agricultural work.She founded the Environmental Forum of India (EFOI), a non-governmental organisation focused on environmental awareness and sustainable living. Under her leadership, EFOI introduced the eco-village model in India, integrating ecological practices into rural development.A committed environmentalist, she has led campaigns on biodiversity conservation, protection of endangered species, water management, and drought mitigation. Her efforts earned her the “Green Warrior Award” in recognition of her contribution to environmental causes.Sunetra Pawar also serves as a trustee of Vidya Pratishthan, an educational institution established by Sharad Pawar. She has also represented India in international forums on sustainability and social innovation as part of a think tank of the World Entrepreneurship Forum based in France.Sunetra Pawar has spearheaded a self-help group initiative across 86 villages in Maharashtra under the Nirmal Gram campaign, transforming Katewadi in Baramati into an eco-village that promotes sanitation, health, community livestock management, and solid waste management.She also serves as chairperson of the Baramati Hi-Tech Textile Park, a multi-modal garment manufacturing facility providing employment to over 15,000 rural women.Sunetra entered electoral politics in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, contesting from Baramati, her family’s stronghold, against her sister-in-law and incumbent NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule.After losing to Sule, she was elected to the Rajya Sabha. Her elder son, Parth Pawar, has stayed away from active politics following an unsuccessful bid in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Maval, while her younger son, Jay, is an entrepreneur.

Sonam Wangchuk (File photo)

NEW DELHI: Jailed activist Sonam Wangchuk was taken to AIIMS Jodhpur for a medical examination on Saturday after the Supreme Court sought his medical report by February 2.The 59-year-old former educationist was examined for about 90 minutes before being escorted back to prison. He has reportedly been suffering from stomach-related ailments and had also visited the hospital on Friday for medical tests. Wangchuk has been raising concerns about his deteriorating health in jail for some time. Taking note of his worsening condition, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Jodhpur jail administration to arrange a medical examination by a specialist.The top court is hearing a writ petition filed by his wife, Geetanjali Angmo, challenging his detention under the stringent National Security Act. Wangchuk has been lodged in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur Central Jail since September 27 last year, three days after a protest demanding statehood for his native Ladakh turned violent in Leh, the Union territory’s capital.During Thursday’s hearing, a bench comprising Justices Arvind Kumar and PB Varale instructed jail authorities to ensure that Wangchuk is examined by a specialist doctor—a gastroenterologist—at a government hospital.Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, appearing for the Rajasthan government, informed the bench that jail doctors had examined Wangchuk 21 times over the past four months, with the most recent check-up conducted on January 26.However, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Wangchuk, objected to the submission, stating that his client was suffering from persistent stomach pain, allegedly caused by the quality of water provided in jail.Accepting the argument, the court observed that medical treatment by a specialist must be provided in accordance with the patient’s needs.(With PTI inputs)

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday alleged that the deadly Anandapur blaze near Kolkata was “not an accident” but the “result of the Trinamool Congress government’s corruption,” sharpening his attack on chief minister Mamata Banerjee ahead of upcoming elections. “The fire in Anandpur is not an accident. 25 people have lost their lives, and 27 are missing. Why did this incident happen? Whose money is invested in this Momo factory? Who are the owners of the Momo factory? With whom have the owners of the Momo factory travelled abroad on flights? And why hasn’t the owner of the Momo factory been arrested yet?” Shah asked during a rally.“Would Mamata Banerjee’s reaction have been the same if these were infiltrators? Bengali citizens have been killed; what are you doing with vote bank politics in this matter? Mamata Banerjee should be ashamed,” Shah said.

Addressing BJP workers in Barrackpore, Shah also accused the ruling party of “vote-bank politics” and claimed the state government gives shelter to “infiltrators,” linking the fire tragedy to what he described as administrative failure.The fire, which tore through a warehouse facility in Anandapur in the early hours of Monday, left at least 27 people dead, with several others reported missing. Large-scale rescue and relief operations were launched, with firefighting teams battling the blaze and police sealing the area. Investigators said 21 samples have been sent for profiling, while missing persons reports continue to be registered, as per news agency ANI. Three people have been arrested so far. A Baruipur court has granted six days’ police custody of outlet manager Raja Chakraborty and deputy manager Manoranjan Sheet in connection with the case.Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident, calling it “very tragic and saddening.” He announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.Wow! Momo, whose warehouse was affected, said in a statement that a fire from a neighbouring facility spread into its premises around 3am on January 26, leading to a complete burn-down of one warehouse unit. The company confirmed the loss of two employees and a contracted security guard, describing the tragedy as a “catastrophe.” It promised Rs 10 lakh compensation per family, lifetime monthly salary support, and education for the children of the deceased, adding it is cooperating with authorities.

NEW DELHI: Nearly 188 million children and adolescents worldwide are living with obesity, the World Health Organization (World Health Organization) has warned, calling childhood obesity one of the fastest-growing public health crises driven by unhealthy diets, aggressive food marketing and environments that push junk food over nutritious meals.In its latest global guidelines on preventing obesity, the WHO says about 390 million children aged 5–19 years are overweight, including 188 million who are obese, putting them at high risk of diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses later in life.The UN health body warns that children today are surrounded by ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt and fat, widely promoted through television, digital media and even school environments. Such exposure, it says, is shaping lifelong eating habits and fuelling a surge in obesity at younger ages.Calling for urgent action, the WHO urges governments to restrict marketing of unhealthy foods to children, improve the nutritional quality of food sold in and around schools, and ensure clear front-of-pack warning labels to help families make informed choices. It also stresses the need for healthier school meals, safe drinking water and regular physical activity as part of daily routines.The guidelines caution that obesity is no longer a problem limited to rich countries. Rates are rising sharply in low- and middle-income nations, where children face a double burden of poor nutrition and easy access to cheap, unhealthy food.Without strong policy intervention, the WHO warns, childhood obesity will continue to climb, placing a heavy long-term burden on health systems and cutting into future productivity. Preventing obesity early, it says, is far easier — and far cheaper — than treating lifelong disease.