An Enforcement Directorate team interrogated ex-Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi and her son Tej Pratap Yadav for over four hours in connection to a money laundering case linked to the land-for-jobs scam during Lalu Prasad's tenure as railway minister. They're accused of acquiring land parcels from those selected for railway jobs.
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The Rajya Sabha continued the debate past midnight on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill with partisan alignment similar to Lok Sabha. BJD softened its stance, allowing its members to vote based on their conscience, potentially aiding the NDA in enacting the new law regulating Islamic endowments.
Tahawwur Rana, accused in the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed over 170 people, has requested US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to halt his extradition to India. He cites health issues and fears of torture due to his Pakistani background. The court will review his petition on April 4, 2025.
An avalanche hit an Army construction site near Mana village, India-China border, trapping 55 workers under six feet of snow. Twenty-two workers remain missing while 33 were rescued amid heavy snowfall and extreme conditions. Rescue operations continue, and affected workers are being treated.
The Election Commission invited party leaders for discussions to enhance electoral processes, addressing concerns over duplicate electors’ photo identity cards. It acknowledged some electors share the same EPIC number but remain distinct in demographic details and polling stations. The issue stemmed from a previously manual process, now being rectified with the ERONET 2.0 update to prevent further duplications.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the Congress party for its alleged appeasement politics and for prioritizing family interests. He highlighted instances of freedom suppression during the Emergency and accused Congress of neglecting BR Ambedkar. Modi praised his government’s policies as more inclusive and focused on 'nation first'.
The defence ministry has signed a Rs 2,960 crore contract with Bharat Dynamics Ltd for over 70 additional MR-SAMs. These missiles are for the Navy's warships. MR-SAMs are developed with Israel and are used by the Navy, IAF, and Army. The system protects against various aerial threats up to 70 km.
The Delhi high court will hear bail pleas on January 7 for student activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and others accused in the UAPA case related to the February 2020 riots. The violence, during protests against the CAA and NRC, resulted in 53 deaths and over 700 injuries.
Union Minister Pankaj Chaudhary announced the government's commitment to extraditing fugitives like Mehul Choksi, accused in the Punjab National Bank loan scam. Speaking at the National Academy of Direct Taxes, he highlighted the strict actions against tax defaulters under the current regime. Chaudhary also noted the country's economic progress, including the Mudra scheme's success and infrastructure development since 2014.
The Indian government is developing a national framework to decentralize Global Capability Centres (GCCs) to tier-2 cities, boosting employment in these regions. This initiative aims to enhance talent access, infrastructure, and regulatory reforms, with GCC units in smaller cities increasing from 5% in 2018-19 to 7% in 2023-24.
At the state funeral of ex-PM Manmohan Singh, BJP member Manjinder Singh Sirsa and AAP RS MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney paid their respects through assistance with ceremonial rites. Sirsa, noting a personal connection with Singh, remembered how the former PM had tied his son's first turban. Both expressed deep respect for Singh's mentorship and influence.