Srinagar: As Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra officially came to a conclusion here on Monday, absence of several top Opposition leaders from its closing event raised eyebrows on the Opposition unity. The top leaders of political parties including the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), TMC, and JD(U) did not turn up at final event of Rahul Gandhi-led the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar on Monday.

SEE A RAY OF HOPE IN RAHUL, SAY FORMER J&K CMs

Srinagar: Former chief ministers of J&K Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah said here on Monday that they see a ray of hope in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The two leaders also invoked Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary.

BUDGET SESSION

“WHAT GODSE IDEOLOGY SNATCHED FROM J&K...” MUFTI

Srinagar: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday hailed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. “I hope what the Godse ideology snatched from J&K and from this nation, Rahul Gandhi will restore it,” Mufti said in her brief speech at the Yatra.

UNION MINISTER THRASHES RAHUL FOR “VIOLATING” FLAG CODE IN SRINAGAR

New Delhi: Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday lambasted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for “violating” the Flag Code by putting his own cutout overwhelming the Tricolour while unfurling the flag at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk on Sunday, and said that the move demonstrates the “psychology of a dynast”. Rahul had unfurled the Tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Sunday.

IN PARLIAMENT

New Delhi (ANI): An all-party meeting called by the govt brought up issues like Adani stocks, BBC documentary ban and governors’ interference in states ruled by Opposition parties, ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament that commenced on Monday morning. Several opposition parties raised critical issues, including the recent stock market matter concerning Adani Group stocks. MPs asked the government to hold a discussion on the matter as it concerns the economy of the country, and therefore concerns the people at large.

SOME MATTERS CAN’T BE DISCUSSED, GOVT SAYS AT MEET

New Delhi: The govt on Monday said that matters regarding Chinese intrusion can’t be discussed in Parliament as it concerns the security of the country. According to the sources, in the all-party meeting held on Monday, the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party raised the issue of the Chinese intrusion and asked for a discussion in the Parliament. “To this, the Government responded by saying that some matters can’t be discussed on the floor of the house as it concerns security,” the source said.

Land issue: Didi stands by Amartya

Kolkata: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday stood by Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen after Visva Bharati University Vice Chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty accused him of unauthorised possession of university land at Bolpur-Santiniketan in Birbhum.

Chakraborty alleged that Sen is in possession of 1.38 acres of land which is excess of his legal entitlement of 1.25 acres. The Nobel laureate, however, has denied the charges. On Monday afternoon, the CM, after reaching Bolpur-San-

Mamata Banerjee at International Kolkata Book fair, in Kolkata.

tiniketan, went to the residence of Sen. There she handed over the land holding records of the state Land & Land Reforms Department, which shows his legal entitlement over the en-

U’Khand CM Dhami attends BJP state working committee meeting ing committee. tire 1.38 acres of land that he is occupying.

Dehradun (ANI): Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the BJP’s State Working Committee meeting, here on Monday.

In the meeting, discussions will also be held on the formation of Shashakta Mandal, active booth and Panna Committee.

“Allegations made by the university of illegally occupying 13 decimals of land was totally false and meant to malign the image of the

MAMATA TO LEAVE FOR 3-DAY TOUR TO WEST BENGAL DISTS

Kolkata: West Bengal CM

YSR CONG CALLS FOR CASTE-BASED ECO CENSUS

New Delhi: The YSR Congress demanded a nationwide caste-based economic census at the meet. It is necessary to know the economic status of backward castes who are “lagging behind” on social and development indicators, it said. YSR Congress leader Vijaysai Reddy said backward castes are over 50% of total population and census will help find their economic status. The ruling party in Andhra has joined the JD(U) and the RJD, both of which have demanded a caste census.

Odisha Guv, CM pay last respects to minister Das shot dead by cop great educationist. We will take whatever legal action required in this regard also which I will not disclose now. But I will not tolerate insult of the Nobel laureate at any cost,” Banerjee said.

Bhubaneswar (ANI): Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday paid his last respects to the state Health Minister Naba Kishore Das at the minister’s residence here.

“Paroles to Ram Rahim spreading disharmony”

The mortal remains of the senior BJD leader were brought to his official residence in the early hours today.

Das succumbed to bullet injuries hours after he was shot at by a policeman at pointblank range in broad daylight in Jharsugud district.

HC QUASHES SEXUAL HARASSMENT FIR AGAINST

2 PERSONS

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has quashed an FIR against two employees of a leading automobile company on allegations of sexually harassing an intern working with the firm, noting that the duo was exonerated by an Internal Complaints Committee. The court said if the consequential proceedings arising out of the FIR are allowed to be continued, it will be a “misuse of power and an exercise in futility”.

INTERFAITH MARRIAGES: SUPREME COURT TO HEAR BATCH OF PLEAS ON FEBRUARY 3

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday said it would hear on February 3 a batch of pleas challenging controversial state laws regulating religious conversions due to interfaith marriages. A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala noted that a transfer plea was mentioned in the morning. “We can list it, issue notice and hear it together. The transfer petition will also be numbered by then. The attorney general can also examine. We will hear all on Friday,” the bench said.

The two-day meeting which started on Sunday has been called for brainstorming on the strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha and the local body polls in Uttarakhand. BJP’s State in-charge Dushyant Gautam, co-in-charge

Rekha Verma along with state president Mahendra Bhatt and all the prominent leaders of the party are present in this meeting of the two-day state work-

State President Mahendra Bhatt had told ANI on Sunday that the strategy for the Lok Sabha and local body elections to be held this year will be discussed in the working committee meeting.

New Delhi (Agencies): Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday said repeated paroles to convicted rapist Gurmeet Ram Rahim by the ruling dispensation were spreading communal disharmony in the region. Harsimra Kaur, while giving her views at the all-party meeting on the eve of the budget session of Parliament, said

A team of doctors led by Dr Debashish Nayak immediately attended to and operated on him. It was found that a single bullet had entered and exited the body, injuring the heart and left lung and causing massive internal bleeding and injury, officials said.

They added that steps were taken to improve the heart pumping and he was provided urgent ICU care. However, despite their best efforts the minister succumbed to his injuries.

PM Modi, Amit Shah pay tributes to Mahatma

New Delhi (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary and also remembered those who sacrificed their lives in the service of the nation.

VP Dhankhar & PM Modi after paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.