The rush of devotees towards the Sangam Nose for the holy dip led to a stampede, as large crowds broke past barricades despite warnings. Authorities had created additional space for devotees, yet the area remained overwhelmed, with many ignoring announcements to vacate after their bath.
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BJP allocates two Delhi assembly poll seats to allies JD(U) and LJP (Ram Vilas). JD(U) to contest from Burari and LJP from Deoli. BJP fields additional 9 candidates, including Shikha Rai and Anil Vashishth. Elections for the 70-member assembly are scheduled for February 5, with results on February 8. Candidates must file nominations by January 17.
Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has released a middle-class centric manifesto for the Delhi polls, demanding the central government to ease income tax and GST rates, increase education and healthcare budgets, and provide free healthcare for senior citizens. Kejriwal criticizes the central government for neglecting the middle class and catering to industrialists.
Nidhi Tewari, a 2014-batch IFS officer, has been appointed as the private secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She is currently serving as deputy secretary in the PMO. Tewari hails from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and joined the Prime Minister's Office as Under Secretary in 2022. Her appointment has been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
The Army will induct an advanced indigenous battlefield surveillance system (BSS) from March, integrating ground and aerial sensor inputs to create a common operational picture. Developed with BEL under Project Sanjay for Rs 2,402 crore, the BSS will enhance battlefield transparency and ISR capabilities, providing real-time intelligence and decision support for commanders across the Army.
Kiren Rijiju highlighted the support of Christian bodies for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha, citing the case of 600 Christian families from Munambam, Kerala, contesting the Waqf board's claim over their ancestral land. He emphasized the misuse of Waqf Act provisions, affecting ordinary people.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin accuses BJP-led Union government of diverting Rs 2,152 crore meant for Tamil Nadu under PM Shri scheme to Gujarat and UP as political coercion. Stalin criticizes this act as punishment for rejecting the national education policy (NEP) 2020 and the three-language formula.
BJP won the Ambala Sadar Municipal Council elections with 25 out of 32 seats, including the council president's seat. Minister Anil Vij praised the result as a reward for development efforts in the region. BJP supporters celebrated enthusiastically. The victory shows BJP's growing influence in Haryana and the decline of opposition parties.
Delhi will host the world's largest innovation event, Startup Mahakumbh, featuring over 3,000 startups, 1,000 investors, and 10,000 delegates from over 50 countries. The event includes a showcase of space tech startups and a Government e-Marketplace pavilion for government engagement. Tribal entrepreneurs will also participate, highlighting the government's support for innovation and its vision for Viksit Bharat 2047.
A Chhota Rajan gang member, Vilas Balaram Pawar, who had been absconding for 16 years, was arrested in Mumbai. Pawar, involved in crimes like murder and attempt to murder, was apprehended in Chembur. He had been changing his locations to evade authorities since his release on bail in 2008.
Arvind Kejriwal blames BJP for the indefinite fast by farmers in Punjab, accusing the Centre of not fulfilling previous promises and reintroducing the controversial 2020 farm laws discreetly. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal's health, on a fast since November 26 demanding legal MSP guarantee, is deteriorating. The Supreme Court reprimanded the Punjab government for not hospitalizing him.