Month: February 2026

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said he doesn’t like the politicisation of sports and is glad that “cricket will move” with India and Pakistan’s match in the T20 World Cup.

Shashi Tharoor’s comments came after Pakistan backtracked on their decision to boycott their group-stage World Cup match against arch-rivals India.

“I am a politician, but I don’t like politics in cricket and sports. I think sports are a different field, a different game. Let politicians do their politics somewhere else, diplomats do their work in diplomacy, and cricket players play their game. I’m happy that at least cricket will move with this match. Who will win, and who will lose? That’s another thing. Obviously, we are with our country. The match must happen,” Shashi Tharoor said.

On Monday, the Government of Pakistan directed their national cricket team to take the field on February 15 for their scheduled fixture against the defending champions, India, in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

The decision came after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, according to a statement by the Pakistan Government, briefed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the outcomes of high-level talks between the PCB, the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

Notably, Pakistan had previously decided to boycott their group-stage World Cup match against arch-rivals India in support of Bangladesh, who were expelled from the tournament after the ICC rejected their request to shift match venues outside India over “security concerns”.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister also spoke with Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to discuss the country’s support during “challenging times”. Following discussions with the ICC and other countries, Pakistan’s government has directed its cricket team to play the T20 World Cup match against India.

After the ICC held a meeting with the PCB and the BCB at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday to discuss Pakistan’s decision to boycott the T20 World Cup 2026 match with India in Colombo, BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul on Monday also urged Pakistan to play their February 15 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup clash against India.

Earlier, the official X handle of the Pakistan Government announced that the Men in Green would not take the field in the Feb 15 clash, and later Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif linked this boycott to the controversy with Bangladesh, citing it as a symbol of solidarity.

Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the 2026 T20 World Cup after their request to have all their matches played outside India could not be agreed upon by the ICC, which they put in place after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Mustafizur Rahman was removed from the squad following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) amid concerns related to atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh. (ANI)

An elderly woman died while seven other women, including a minor girl, sustained injuries after a stampede-like situation during the Kalash Yatra held as part of the Pran Pratishtha programme of Navgrah Temple in Dabra, Gwalior district on Tuesday, an official said.

The incident occurred on Tuesday morning, when a large number of women gathered for the religious procession. Among the injured, four women were admitted to the hospital in Dabra, while two women and a minor were referred to Gwalior. All the injured women were aged between 45 and 55 years old. The minor is 4 years old and arrived with her mother.

District Collector Ruchika Chauhan said, “A Kalash Yatra was scheduled in Dabra this morning, and a large number of women had gathered near the stadium to carry the Kalash. When the distribution of the Kalash began, some participants tried to collect them quickly, leading to pushing and jostling. Due to the excessive rush and pressure, severe pushing occurred. In the incident, a 70-year-old woman died of suffocation and seven sustained injuries. Four women are currently undergoing treatment in Dabra, and their condition is stable. Three women, including a girl, were referred to Gwalior andare receiving treatment.”

Regarding the arrangements, the collector stated that adequate measures were in place at the temple and its surrounding areas. All arrangements had been in place since the morning, but pushing and jostling occurred upon receiving the Kalash, leading to this incident.

“Since the event is scheduled to continue for several days, the administration will now strictly regulate crowd movement based on the capacity of each location. The crowds will be halted at different points once the permissible capacity of a venue is reached, and detailed planning is being carried out for the same,” the Collector said. (ANI)

Maharashtra is set to implement a new statewide government recruitment system, with plans to fill over 70,000 posts in phases, including approximately 50,000 through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission. The decision follows a crucial meeting chaired by Devendra Fadnavis, focusing on driving governance reforms and fast-tracking administrative changes, prioritising human resource management and transparency in the hiring process.

On X, he wrote,”Driving Governance Reforms for a Future-Ready Maharashtra. Chaired a crucial meeting on reforms in the General Administration Department in Mumbai today. A new recruitment system will soon be implemented across the state. Over 70,000 posts will be filled in phases, including around 50,000 through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission. Recruitment decisions will be based on required skills, service entry rules, eligibility criteria and the nature of work. Directed all key departments to fast-track comprehensive administrative reforms, with priority given to human resource management and transparency in recruitment. A decision regarding amendments to the state’s service recruitment rules will be taken shortly in the cabinet meeting.”

“The human resource management model presented by the Maharashtra Government at the Chief Ministers’ Conference in the presence of Hon. PM Narendra Modi Ji was widely appreciated, and other states were encouraged to adopt this reform model. This positions Maharashtra as a guiding example for other states in governance reforms. Emphasized the development of online and digital verification systems to ensure that the entire process will remain transparent, credible, and fast. A new governance reform model will take shape in Maharashtra within the next year, with every department playing a vital role. The Chief Secretary and concerned senior officials were present,” Fadnavis added.

On Monday, CM Devendra Fadnavis chaired a meeting regarding the reforms in the General Administration Department. While emphasising administrative reforms, human resource management, and transparency in the recruitment process, the CM also stated that decisions on these reforms would be made soon at the cabinet meeting. The Chief Secretary and concerned senior officials were present. (ANI)

Andhra Pradesh Janasena MP Tangella Uday Srinivas on Monday demanded that the Yuvajana, Shramika, Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) apologise to the nation, alleging that it was responsible for the large-scale adulteration of the sacred Tirumala Ladoos.

He stated that the party leader and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan had repeatedly made the claims.

Speaking to ANI, Janasena MP Tangella Uday Srinivas said,” Our leader (Andhra Pradesh) Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan has been repeatedly saying that there is adulteration in Tirumala Ladoos. For the past 5 years, under the Jagan Mohan Reddy government, there has been huge adulteration in Tirupati Ladoos. YSRCP never believe in god. This is the biggest sin in the distribution of adulterated ladoos…We are demanding that YSRCP apologise before the nation.”

Earlier, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan expressed deep anguish, stating that the SIT has clearly concluded that the ghee used in Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Swamy Laddu prasadam during the YSRCP regime was not genuine ghee.

He alleged that laddus were prepared using oil manufactured with chemicals and palm oil, severely hurting the religious sentiments of millions of devotees.

Adressing Jana Sena Party General Body meeting, he pointed out that, keeping in mind the faith of crores of devotees, the SIT did not explicitly disclose whether animal fat was present or not, and asserted that YSRCP leaders must stop spreading false and misleading propaganda on the laddu issue. He emphasised that it is their responsibility to present the truth to the public.

“Driven by greed, YSRCP leaders committed a sacrilege in Tirumala. They arbitrarily altered rules, purchased tonnes of adulterated ghee, and mixed it into the prasadam. High-quality sesame oil itself does not cost ₹400 per kg–then how could pure cow ghee be supplied at such low prices? After committing all these wrongdoings while in power, they are now resorting to lies and excuses, pretending ignorance. We must strongly take YSRCP’s misdeeds to the people,” said Kalyan.

Last Tuesday, Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Tirupati laddu adulteration case had found evidence of adulteration through the mixing of chemicals and claimed that animal fat was also involved, citing what he said was an NDDB report.

He stated that the investigation is proceeding in line with court directions and that the facts are now public.

Naidu’s remarks came in response to YSRCP chief and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who earlier asserted that the CBI charge sheet has conclusively closed the matter. Jagan said the charge sheet, relying on NDDB and NDRI laboratory reports, clearly stated that no animal fat was present in the ghee used for Tirupati laddus.

“It’s absolutely clear regarding the ladoos. SIT also said that there was mixing of chemicals, and also mixing of animal fat. This was also determined by a report from the NDDB. So, according to whatever the court decides, the investigation is also proceeding accordingly. Everything is out in the open regarding this. People know what happened,” Ram Mohan Naidu told reporters.

Ram Mohan Naidu alleged that the opposition was misrepresenting facts and attempting to mislead people. He said the Supreme Court never stated that there was no adulteration, and emphasised that the SIT report clearly acknowledged adulteration.

“But to spread false information, the opposition here and their party are trying to mislead people, to hide the facts, and are trying to bring forward false things. The public knows what is right and what is wrong. The Supreme Court didn’t say anywhere that there was no mixing, which is what they are trying to say and mislead people,” he said.

He added that the government remains committed to protecting Sanatan Dharma, temples, and cultural traditions, and would proceed strictly based on investigative findings and court observations.

“So, in this matter, we all have to carefully observe what the court said, what their report said. There has been adulteration. This is clearly stated in the report, so we will proceed accordingly. The government’s commitment has always been to protect Sanatan Dharma, Hinduism, our temples, our culture, our unique identity,” Ram Mohan Naidu said.

Jagan Mohan Reddy had earlier accused Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu of spreading false allegations over the past 18 months against YSRCP’s involvement in the Tirupati laddu adulteration case, claiming these statements hurt religious sentiments and misled the public. (ANI)

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed his delight after meeting the former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar on Monday at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, on X, said that he “crossed paths” with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and was delighted to meet him at the Delhi airport.

“Crossed paths with the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar at the Delhi airport! Delighted to meet him. @sachin_rt,” the Andhra Pradesh CM said on his X handle.

The Indian men’s cricket team are set to face Namibia at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday, for their second group-stage fixture in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

The defending champions, India, won their first group-stage match against the United States of America (USA) by 29 runs at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 7.

Coming to the match, after being asked to bat first, the Men in Blue scored 161/9 in 20 overs. Captain Suryakumar played a fantastic, unbeaten knock of 84 off 49 deliveries, and rescued India from a precarious position that they found themselves in at 77/6 in 12.4 overs.

Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan (20 off 16 balls, with one four and two sixes) and Tilak Varma (25 off 16 balls, with three fours and one six) also chipped in with the bat.

For the USA, Shadley van Schalkwyk (4/29) and Harmeet Singh (2/26) were among the wicket-takers.

In response, the USA were restricted to 132/8 as they lost the match by 29 runs. Milind Kumar (34 off 34 balls, with four boundaries), Sanjay Krishnamurthi (37 off 31 balls, with two sixes and one four) and Shubham Ranjane (37 off 22 balls, with two fours and three sixes) played fighting knocks for their side.

For India, Mohammed Siraj (3/29), Axar Patel (2/24), and Arshdeep Singh (2/18) picked wickets. (ANI)

Delhi Police are probing the case of three people, including a woman, found dead inside a car in the Peeragarhi area of the national capital, with the investigation reportedly leading to a baba seen with the victims before their deaths.

According to police sources, CCTV footage from the day of the incident shows the baba seated in the front seat of the car along with one of the deceased, identified as Randhir.

Sources said the baba had met the three victims prior to their deaths and was acquainted with them, making him a possible crucial link in the case.

However, a senior Delhi Police official clarified that as of now, no case has been registered and nothing has been established, ruling out any detention at this stage. “

“All aspects of the investigation are open. We are questioning people and trying to recreate the sequence of events to understand what might have happened,” the official said.

The incident came to light on Sunday after Delhi Police received a PCR call reporting three people lying unconscious inside a car near the Peeragarhi flyover. Upon reaching the spot and opening the vehicle, police found the bodies of Randhir, Shivnaresh and Laxmi.

Police sources said the car in which the bodies were found had been parked at the spot for nearly an hour.

Further investigation is underway. (ANI)

Penguin Random House India released a statement clarifying that it holds the sole publishing rights for Four Stars of Destiny, a memoir by former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane.

The publisher stated that the book has not gone into publication and no copies, print or digital, have been published, distributed, sold, or made available to the public.

In the X post on Monday, Penguin India stated, “In light of recent public discourse and media reporting, Penguin Random House India would like to clarify that we hold the sole publishing rights for the book Four Stars of Destiny, a memoir by General Manoj Mukund Naravane, former Chief of the Indian Army. We wish to make it clear that the book has not gone into publication. No copies of the book – in print or digital form – have been published, distributed, sold, or otherwise made available to the public by Penguin Random House India.”

Penguin Random House India further said that any copies currently in circulation, in any format or on any platform, constitute a copyright infringement and must be immediately ceased. The publisher added that it will exercise remedies available under law against the illegal and unauthorised dissemination of the book.

“Any copies of the book currently in circulation, in whole or in part, whether in print, digital, PDF, or any other format, online or offline, on any platform, constitutes an infringement of PRHI’s copyright and must immediately be ceased. Penguin Random House India shall be exercising remedies available in law against the illegal and unauthorised dissemination of the book,” said X post.

It added, “This statement is being issued to place the publisher’s position on record.”

A political row erupted after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sought to quote from the “pre-print book” of former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane during his speech in Lok Sabha on the motion of thanks on the President’s Address last week, with the treasury benches strongly opposing his remarks. After facing several adjournments on the issue, the House last week adopted the motion of thanks by voice vote amid sloganeering by opposition benches.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police has taken cognisance of information found on various social media platforms and news forums claiming that a pre-print copy of the book ‘Four Stars of Destiny’ is being circulated, and Special Cell has filed a case into the “purported leak/breach of a yet to be approved publication”.

Delhi Police officials said that an investigation has been taken up on the claims of the availability of pre-print copy of the book. (ANI)

The Unnao rape survivor on Monday expressed relief after the Supreme Court of India rejected the bail plea of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in connection with the custodial death of her father.

Speaking to ANI, she said, “I went to the Supreme Court today. I was in the court when the judge gave his verdict. I am very happy with this verdict. I am satisfied that the judge has ordered the hearing to be completed within 3 months, as soon as possible. My father is not going to come back. His brothers, Atul Singh Sengar and Jaideep Singh Sengar, killed my father. They are out of jail for medical treatment. All the police officers who were involved are out. As far as Kuldeep Singh Sengar is concerned, he has committed a heinous act against me. He has raped me. How can I prove it? Am I alive? Do I have to do this?”

The Unnao rape survivor said she has been struggling for eight years to prove the assault, adding that if she had died like Nirbhaya, her ordeal would have been believed. She urged the Supreme Court to deliver justice for her father, calling for the death penalty for Kuldeep Singh Sengar so that her father’s soul can rest in peace.

“If I had died like Nirbhaya, everyone would have believed that I was raped. I am alive. It took years to prove what happened to me. I have been struggling for 8 years. Even now, I have to prove that I have been raped. His daughter said that it was a normal accident. I did not know whether the accident was normal. I was on the ventilator. I have requested that the Supreme Court deliver justice for my father. He should be hanged so that my father’s soul can be at peace and justice can be given to him,” she said.

Earlier, the Supreme Court refused to grant immediate relief to rape-convict and former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar on his plea seeking suspension of sentence and bail in the custodial-death case of the rape victim’s father, but requested the Delhi High Court to hear and decide the matter within three months.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asked the High Court to take up the case expeditiously, observing: “We deem it a fit case to request the High Court to hear the appeal and decide the same, but not later than three months.”

Sengar had approached the Supreme Court challenging the January 19, 2026, order of the Delhi High Court declining suspension of sentence and consequential release on bail in the custodial-death case. The challenge arises from his conviction, by a March 4, 2020 judgment, under Sections 166, 167, 193, 201, and 203, read with Section 120-B of the IPC, for which he was sentenced to a maximum of 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment, with separate sentences for individual offences.

Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Sengar, submitted that the appellant had already undergone over seven years and six months of actual incarceration and that continued denial of bail was unjustified due to delays in the hearing. The Court, however, noted that the criminal appeal itself was now listed for final hearing before the High Court on February 11, rendering the prayer for suspension of sentence largely academic.

Opposing the plea, the Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, pointed out that Sengar is already serving life imprisonment in a separate rape conviction, and that no exceptional or compelling circumstances existed to warrant bail.

“In cases of conviction, the normal rule is that the appeal should be heard before completion of sentence,” the CJI said, adding that the victim’s right to pursue her own appeal could not be curtailed.

Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that courts are generally circumspect in granting bail where the accused has serious criminal antecedents, particularly in cases involving custodial death, for which a police officer has already been convicted. (ANI)

The Tibetans in-exile in the north Indian hill town of Dharamsala have condemned the claims linking the Dalai Lama and Jeffrey Epstein.

The office of the Dalai Lama has already denied these claims by saying that the Dalai Lama has never met Jeffrey Epstein.

The exiled Tibetan community expressed sadness over the false allegations and said that it is a Chinese propaganda to defame the spiritual leader after the Grammy win.

Youdon Aukatsang, a member of the Tibetan parliament in exile, told ANI, “I am really disheartened and sad and very unsettled to see people are making this false allegation against his Holiness. There is nothing that links in with Jeffrey Epstein at all. I think people are just making it up to be something that it is not and I think those who are involved must apologise. I think it’s really a handiwork of pro-Chinese propaganda, whether they are Russians or Chinese or whoever is working in collusion with China to defame His Holiness. This is their agenda. Just recently we read the good news that his Holiness is getting the Grammy award and soon after that they are using this kind of opportunity of some mention of some email by some acquaintance of Jeffrey Epstein to kind of link his Holiness. I think this is very sad. There are only references and no evidence is there. They should show the evidence. And we are 101 per cent sure that this is totally false and baseless allegation.”

Tenzin Lobsang, general secretary of Tibetan Youth Congress, told ANI, “We have gone through the whole file and that has mentioned 169 times but the reality that His Holiness, the Dalai Lama has nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein and also the private office of his holiness has given a statement that they have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein.”

“It’s quite visible that this information campaign is from the Chinese side. The moment the Dalai Lama receives the Grammy award and the first information spreads from the Russian state agency, it mentions the name of the Dalai Lama 169 times and tries to establish a link with Jeffrey Epstein. And then that’s also used by the CTJN, the Chinese state media and then deliberately used by some individuals and it has been widely spread out. We definitely condemn this report as it is clearly visible that this is a disinformation campaign from the Chinese side.”

“Some individuals have used the name of the Dalai Lama but there is no evidence and no link. They used his Holiness’ name in their resume to reach out to Jeffrey Epstein for some sort of financial aid.”

“We don’t know what their intention was but they used his Holiness as a reference as a backup or as an image-building; they used it,” Lobsang added.

The Dalai Lama’s office on Sunday dismissed reports circulating on social media that attempted to link the Tibetan spiritual leader with late financier and convicted sex offender from the United States, Jeffrey Epstein.

“We can unequivocally confirm that His Holiness has never met Jeffrey Epstein or authorised any meeting or interaction with him by anyone on His Holiness’s behalf,” said a press statement by the Dalai Lama’s office in Dharamshala.

A press statement was released stating that His Holiness has never met Jeffrey Epstein nor approved any meeting or interaction with him.

In a post on X, the Dalai Lama’s office shared a statement that read, “Some recent media reports and social media posts concerning ‘Epstein files’ are attempting to link His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Jeffrey Epstein.” (ANI)