NEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday reacted sharply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interview with news agency PTI, calling it a “carefully scripted and desperate PR exercise” and alleging that it was aimed at diverting attention from key issues.Party leader Jairam Ramesh said that the interview was timed to divert attention from criticism over the Union Budget and the Opposition’s attack on the government in Parliament.“The PM knows that this year’s Budget has been a damp squib and shows every sign of intellectual exhaustion. Markets have reacted negatively and investors have been unimpressed. Hence, he feels the need to give an interview a fortnight after the Budget was presented and a few days after it was taken apart by the Opposition in Parliament. As usual, there are Modi-style one-liners that mean little in reality,” Ramesh said in a post on X.Alleging that the prime minister was facing pressure over the trade deal with the United States and farmers’ issues, Ramesh said PM Modi was attempting to shift the narrative through media outreach.“Under siege and attack because of his surrender to the US on the trade deal, the Prime Minister is now resorting to his favourite tactic of headline management. He is trying to divert attention away from his betrayal of lakhs and lakhs of farmers and other capitulations. His so-called interview is no interview, but a carefully scripted and desperate PR exercise,” he further wrote. Ramesh added in Hindi, “Pradhan Mantri jhuke bhi hain aur thake bhi hain.”In his interview, PM Modi said that the private sector will play a decisive role in driving India’s next phase of economic transformation and asserted that reform has been a core commitment of his government “in letter and spirit”. He said the next leap towards “Viksit Bharat” would depend on bold investments by industry in innovation, long-term capacity and global competitiveness.The prime minister said the latest Union Budget was not a “now or never moment” born out of compulsion but a “we are ready” moment born out of preparation and inspiration, asserting that it reflects India’s “yearning” to become a developed nation. He maintained that none of his government’s budgets were prepared with the attitude of creating a routine “bahi khata” document.Highlighting digital growth and infrastructure expansion, PM Modi said India is a global digital leader due to reforms in transactions through the UPI platform and added that data centres would be a massive job creator. He also said India is witnessing the most expansive infrastructure push in its history and emphasised that the government will do whatever it takes to support and modernise the defence forces.The prime minister criticised the previous UPA government’s record, saying that during its rule, talks would begin and then break down, with little real substance achieved despite long negotiations. He also said political stability and predictability have restored investor confidence in India and asserted that the welfare of women guides every decision taken by his government.

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Karti Chidambaram on Sunday dismissed allegations that Tamil Nadu is “hostile” to Sanatan Dharma, contending instead that people in the state are “more Hindu than North Indians.”The BJP has frequently accused the Congress, its ally the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, and their other INDIA bloc partners of being “anti-Sanatan Dharma.” The political attack stems from controversial past remarks by Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK supremo MK Stalin. Udhyanidhi now serves as the state’s deputy chief minister.“What is Sanatan? That is not a term anyone in Tamil Nadu uses… We are more Hindu than North Indians. Per square kilometre, we have more temples. We break more coconuts every day. I personally visit more temples than many people in the BJP combined,” Chidambaram told ANI.“There isn’t a single day that I step out of my house without applying vibhuti or kundalama. ‘Sanatan Dharma’ is not a phrase we use,” he added.Addressing the controversy sparked in 2023 by remarks from Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Sivaganga MP attributed the uproar to “differing interpretations” of the term.“This issue became controversial because Udhayanidhi Stalin made a comment about the term. In Tamil Nadu, it is understood to refer to caste hierarchy—that’s how it is commonly interpreted here. He was speaking about caste hierarchy, not about the practice of the Hindu faith,” Chidambaram stated.In 2023, Udhayanidhi had likened “Sanatana” to diseases such as malaria and dengue, saying it should be “eradicated” rather than merely opposed, triggering a nationwide political debate.He had remarked, “Sanatana is like malaria and dengue, and therefore it must be eradicated, not just opposed. I thank the organisers for naming this event the ‘Sanatana Abolition Conference’ instead of the ‘Anti-Sanatana Conference.’ Some things cannot simply be opposed; they must be abolished. We don’t oppose dengue, mosquitoes, malaria, or corona—we eradicate them. In the same way, Sanatana should be eradicated rather than opposed.”Tamil Nadu is set to hold assembly elections in April. Although the Congress is an ally of the DMK, it is not part of the state government, in line with the prevailing political practice in the southern state.

NEW DELHI: At least nine people were injured on Sunday after a confrontation broke out between BJP and Congress workers in Pune during a protest over remarks made by Congress leader Harshwardhan Sapkal that allegedly equated Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with Tipu Sultan.The clash took place outside the Congress Bhavan, where BJP workers had gathered to protest against Sapkal’s comments. The situation escalated into sloganeering and stone pelting from both sides, leading to minor injuries.Joint Commissioner of Police Ranjan Kumar Sharma said that three Congress workers, two BJP workers, two police personnel and two journalists were injured in the incident.“A protest was held near the Congress Bhavan, which saw sloganeering from workers of BJP and Congress. Workers of both parties climbed onto walls and there was stone pelting from both sides. Cases are being registered against workers of both sides,” Sharma informed.Police deployed heavy security in the area to prevent further escalation.The controversy stems from Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal’s recent remarks, in which he referred to the valour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and cited Tipu Sultan’s resistance against the British as being on similar lines. The comments triggered political backlash in the state.Speaking to reporters, Sapkal said: “The kind of bravery that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj possessed and the concept of ‘Swarajya’ (self-rule) that he introduced… much later, following in that very tradition and taking inspiration from his ideals, Tipu Sultan waged war against the British.”“In that sense, Tipu Sultan was a great warrior who displayed immense bravery and was a true son of India. He never allowed any poisonous or communal ideas to sway him. As a symbol of bravery, we should view Tipu Sultan as equivalent to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” he added.A day earlier, a separate row had erupted over a portrait of Tipu Sultan displayed in the office of the deputy mayor of the Malegaon Municipal Corporation, which was opposed by Shiv Sena corporators and Hindu outfits.Pune city Congress chief Arvind Shinde said that the party has submitted a written complaint against BJP functionaries and demanded action.He said a case should be registered against Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, BJP city president Dheeraj Ghate, Dushyant Mohol and other workers.Speaking to PTI, Maharashtra Congress vice-president Mohan Joshi alleged that BJP workers initiated the violence.“During the protest, stones were pelted at Congress workers and two sustained injuries. We are currently holding a sit-in protest outside the police station in Shivajinagar seeking action,” he said.Krishikesh Rawale, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1), said that police intervened promptly to prevent the situation from worsening.Meanwhile, BJP Pune city unit president Dheeraj Ghate lodged a complaint against Sapkal at Parvati police station for allegedly hurting Hindu sentiments. A FIR has been registered.The political exchange intensified as Maharashtra Congress leader Sachin Sawant accused the BJP of “double standards” and pursuing a polarisation agenda.In a statement, Sawant cited past instances where BJP leaders had supported references to 18th-century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan in public spaces and official forums. He referred to resolutions passed in civic bodies in Akola and Mumbai and alleged that BJP leaders had earlier praised or associated with the historical figure.“What should this hypocrisy be called? Tipu Sultan used to wear a ring bearing the name of Lord Ram,” he claimed.Sawant alleged that the BJP was now portraying Tipu Sultan negatively to create religious divisions and engage in “distorted religious politics”.He further cited examples, including a 2012 resolution in the Akola Municipal Corporation to name a hall after Tipu Sultan, a 2013 proposal supported by BJP corporators to name a road in Mumbai, and a 2001 road naming in Andheri (West). He also claimed that former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa had visited Tipu Sultan’s tomb and written words of praise and that then President Ram Nath Kovind had praised Tipu Sultan in the Karnataka Assembly in 2017.

Security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir have identified and frozen over 8,000 “mule accounts” in the past three years.According to the officials, these accounts form the financial backbone of global scam networks and could fund separatist and anti-national activities.Officials described these accounts as the “weakest yet most crucial link” in the cybercrime chain, noting that without them, stolen money could not be converted into untraceable cryptocurrency, news agency PTI reported.Central security agencies have asked the Jammu and Kashmir Police and other law-enforcement bodies to consult with banks to curb the rise of mule accounts and identify middlemen commonly called “mulers” who facilitate these frauds.After the National Investigation Agency’s 2017 crackdown on illicit money flows into the region, officials said anti-national elements may have shifted to a “digital hawala” model, where commissions earned by mule account holders could be used for activities against the country.A muler typically does not contact victims or send fraudulent links. Instead, officials said, their role is arranging and maintaining a steady supply of mule accounts for scammers while concealing their identities.Such accounts often belong to ordinary individuals lured with promises of “easy commission” and minimal risk. They are persuaded to give full control of their bank accounts, including their net banking credentials.Investigators found that a single scammer may be supplied with 10 to 30 mule accounts at a time. In several cases, accounts are opened in the names of fictitious companies, enabling large transactions of up to Rs 40 lakh in a single day without immediately raising alarms.Officials said the money trail is deliberately complex, with funds quickly shifted across multiple accounts and broken into smaller transactions to avoid detection.Law-enforcement agencies stressed that even if mule account holders do not design scams or interact with victims, they remain active facilitators of money laundering. “The entire scam ecosystem depends on these accounts. Without a destination for the money, the scam fails at the first step. Those renting out their accounts are not just victims of circumstance; they are the engines of the crime,” a senior official said.A study by central security agencies also found individuals in countries such as China, Malaysia, Myanmar and Cambodia directing people in the Union Territory to create private crypto wallets. These wallets are often set up using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to avoid detection and requiring no Know Your Customer (KYC) verification. The J&K police have already suspended the use of VPNs in the Valley, noting that terrorists and separatists often exploit the technology to evade tracking, PTI reported.

NEW DELHI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that central projects worth around Rs 55,000 crore have been sanctioned for the state over the past year, marking significant progress on infrastructure commitments made earlier.
Addressing a press conference, Sarma outlined a series of projects that have either received approval or are in advanced stages of clearance. He linked the developments to the commitments made during the second Advantage Assam investment summit.
“The Centre had assured infrastructure projects worth Rs 80,000 crore during the second Advantage Assam investment summit last year, and the state has already received approval for different projects worth Rs 55,000 crore,” he said.

The ‘Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit’ was organised by the state government in February 2025 to attract investments and push major infrastructure expansion across the state.

Among the key projects, Sarma said that the government has floated the tender for the Kamakhya Ropeway Project, which will connect Kamakhya railway station to the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati.

“When the PM visits Assam next, he will lay the foundation for it,” he said.

He added that the Centre is likely to approve a Rs 1,500 crore project within the next few days to build an elevated corridor from Guwahati airport to Jalukbari, the main entry point to the state capital. The project is aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving connectivity.

Sarma also said that a major highway expansion project is nearing final approval.
“The Rs 14,000-crore project for four-laning of the national highway from Baihata Chariali to Tezpur is at last stages of approval. We hope for it very soon,” he added.

On the stalled Kamakhya corridor project, the Chief Minister said work is expected to resume soon after expert bodies found no ecological risks.

“After some people opposed the corridor, the Gauhati High Court asked IIT Guwahati and the National Institute of Hydrology to study if the project would have any ecological impact. They said there would be no impact,” he claimed.

In the healthcare sector, Sarma said expansion works worth Rs 2,200 crore are underway at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, while projects worth Rs 600 crore are ongoing at Assam Medical College and Hospital.

He further said that another strategic highway project is under consideration. The proposed route will connect the semiconductor plant at Jagiroad in Morigaon district to the Bhutan border via Udalguri and will include construction of a new bridge over the Brahmaputra river.

“This project is under active consideration of the Centre. These strategic assets will also be used by civilians,” Sarma said.

Separately, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, on Friday approved the construction of India’s first 34-km-long twin-tube road-cum-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra river between Gohpur and Numaligarh at a cost of Rs 18,662 crore.

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday continued his attacks on the Centre over the India–US trade deal, reiterating his charge that the PM Modi-led government has “betrayed farmers” in the name of the agreement. He also posed some “straightforward questions” directly to the prime minister.However, Union home minister Amit Shah hit back at Rahul, accusing the Congress leader of “spreading lies” about India’s recent trade deals with the United States and the European Union.In a lengthy post on X, the former Congress president raised five questions addressed to PM Modi. He wrote:1. “What does importing DDG actually mean? Does it mean that Indian livestock will be fed distillers’ grain made from GM American maize? Won’t this effectively make our dairy products dependent on the American agricultural industry?”2. “If we allow imports of GM soya oil, what will happen to our soya farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and across the country? How will they cope with yet another price shock?”3. “When you say ‘additional products’, what exactly does that include? Is this a sign of future pressure to open up pulses and other crops to American imports over time?”4. “What does removing ‘non-trade barriers’ mean? Will there be pressure on India in future to loosen its stance on GM crops, weaken procurement, or reduce MSP and bonuses?”5. “Once this door is open, how will we stop it from opening wider every year? Will there be safeguards, or will more and more crops be gradually put on the table in every deal?”He added that farmers deserve clarity on these issues.Rahul ended his post by raising a broader concern about India’s sovereign decision-making in trade matters, saying: “This isn’t just about today. It’s about the future too – are we allowing another country to gain long-term control over India’s agricultural industry?”Meanwhile, Amit Shah, speaking at the launch event of Gujarat’s Central Bank Digital Currency, said: “He (Rahul Gandhi) is misleading people about the FTA with the European Union and the UK, and claiming that the trade agreement with the United States has harmed farmers’ interests. I want to challenge Rahul Gandhi: set up any platform, and the president of the BJP’s youth wing will come and debate with you on who has actually caused harm.”Dismissing the Congress leader’s criticism of the India–US trade pact as “laughable lies” aimed at misleading rural voters, Shah asserted that the agreements have been carefully structured to protect core agricultural interests while expanding India’s global trade footprint.He added: “Today, I have come to this platform to tell the farmers of the country that Rahul Gandhi is lying; he is misleading them. In the FTAs with the UK and the European Union, and the trade deal with the US, farmers have been fully protected by PM Modi. No one needs to worry.”

NEW DELHI: Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday said that the debate and subsequent vote over no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will be taken up on March 9.Rijiju said that the second part of the Budget session, scheduled from March 9 to April 2, will be “interesting” as several “important” legislations and a “critical” bill will be presented in Parliament for debate and passage.He warned that if opposition parties continue their protests as they did during the first part of the session, it would ultimately be detrimental to them.“On March 9 in the Lok Sabha, we will have the debate on the no-confidence motion moved against the speaker. It is the rule to take it up on the first day. There will be a vote following the debate,” Rijiju told news agency PTI.Noting that the second part of the budget session will be interesting, he said, “If the opposition doesn’t allow the House to function, we will go for the guillotine. It will be a loss for them,” he said.He also said that if the opposition doesn’t participate in the debate, it will be their loss.Hinting at a potential crack in the unity of the opposition, Rijiju said the Trinamool Congress did not sign the no-confidence motion against the speaker. “Most of the smaller parties are not in favour of stalling the House. They want to raise their issues, especially ahead of the assembly polls,” he said.During the first part of the session, the Lok Sabha experienced disruptions from February 2 onward, following Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s disallowance by the chair from quoting excerpts from former army chief M M Naravane’s unpublished memoir, which referenced the India-China conflict in 2020.On February 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was unable to respond to the debate on the Motion of Thanks due to protests by the opposition.In an unprecedented move, the Motion of Thanks was passed on February 5 without the customary speech from the prime minister. The Speaker read the Motion of Thanks to the president for her address, and it was passed by voice vote amid sloganeering from opposition members.Birla later stated that he received concrete information suggesting that several Congress MPs might carry out an “unexpected act” near the prime minister’s seat, prompting him to advise Modi against attending the House for his address. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra refuted this claim.Subsequently, eight opposition members were suspended for the remainder of the Budget Session for unruly behaviour in the House.Last week, the speaker decided to step aside from his role as the presiding officer of the House, hours after the opposition submitted a motion for his removal from office, alleging that he had acted in a “blatantly partisan” manner.

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal on Saturday stirred a controversy after he likened Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with Tipu Sultan.Speaking to reporters on the controversy surrounding a portrait of Tipu Sultan displayed in the office of Malegaon Municipal Corporation Deputy Mayor Shan-e-Hind Nihal Ahmed, which was opposed by the Shiv Sena and other groups, Sapkal said in Marathi that the Mysore ruler had followed Shivaji Maharaj’s ideals.“The kind of bravery that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj possessed and the concept of ‘Swarajya’ (self-rule) that he introduced… much later, following in that very tradition and taking inspiration from his ideals, Tipu Sultan waged war against the British,” Sapkal said.“In that sense, Tipu Sultan was a great warrior who displayed immense bravery and was a true son of India. He never allowed any poisonous or communal ideas to sway him. As a symbol of bravery, we should view Tipu Sultan as equivalent to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” he added.Bharatiya Janata Party lodged a complaint against Sapkal in Pune following which the police booked Sapkal under sections 192, 196(1), 196(2), 352 and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.The complaint alleges that Sapkal’s remarks hurt the sentiments of Hindus and followers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and had the potential to disturb communal harmony.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis also weighed in the issue and said that the comparison was condemnable and asserted the Congress leader must feel ashamed of himself.Meanwhile, Congress leader Sachin Sawant y accused the BJP of “double standards” and pursuing a polarisation agenda after Sapkal faced criticism for ‘equating’ Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with Tipu Sultan.In a statement, the Congress spokesperson cited several instances to claim that BJP leaders had earlier supported or endorsed references to 18th-century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan in public spaces and official forums.He referred to resolutions in civic bodies in Akola and Mumbai, as well as past instances where BJP leaders had allegedly praised or associated with the historical figure, to argue that the party’s current opposition was politically motivated.The BJP earlier admired Tipu Sultan, but now calls him bad for its polarisation agenda. “What should this hypocrisy be called? Tipu Sultan used to wear a ring bearing the name of Lord Ram,” Sawant claimed.The Congress leader also accused the ruling party of engaging in “distorted religious politics” and attempting to polarise voters, while reiterating the party’s criticism of the BJP’s stand on the issue.