Raghav Chadha Pushes for ‘Right to Recall’ of Elected Public Representatives in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, Feb 11, 2026

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha has strongly advocated for the introduction of a “Right to Recall” mechanism in India, allowing voters to remove non-performing elected representatives such as MPs and MLAs before the end of their term.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour, Chadha spoke on the issue, emphasising that the current system lacks accountability and performance evaluation for elected leaders.

Chadha highlighted a key flaw in India’s electoral democracy: “Before the election, the leader is after the public, and after the election, the public is after the leader.”

He argued that a five-year term is too long in today’s fast-paced world, and electing the wrong leader can plunge lakhs of people and entire regions into darkness and backwardness.

The AAP leader stressed that voters deserve the power to correct their mistakes, describing the Right to Recall not as a weapon against politicians, but as an “insurance for democracy”.

He pointed out existing provisions in the Indian Constitution and laws, such as the impeachment of the President, removal of the Vice President, Judges and even no-confidence motions against governments, questioning why voters should not have similar recourse against non-performing MPs or MLAs.

Drawing international examples, Chadha noted that the mechanism exists in over 24 democracies, including Canada and Switzerland.

He cited the recall of California Governor Gray Davis in 2003, where 1.3 million constituents signed a petition amid an energy crisis, budget mismanagement, and other issues, leading to his removal after 55 per cent of voters approved it in a special election.

In India, Chadha referenced existing local-level practices, where gram panchayat representatives in states like Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan can be recalled by gram sabha votes.

He proposed safeguards to prevent misuse, including a minimum performance period of 18 months before any recall attempt, specific grounds for removal and a high threshold, such as at least 50 per cent voter approval in a recall vote.

Chadha believes such a system would force political parties to field better candidates, eliminate “non-performing assets”, mature India’s democracy, and truly empower citizens by giving them ongoing control over their representatives.(Agency)

Gujarat: 20 trapped as gallery collapses in Ahmedabad, rescue ops on

Ahmedabad, Feb 11, 2026

A gallery in the Sant Vinobabhave Nagar slum in Amraiwadi area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, collapsed on Wednesday, leaving nearly 20 residents trapped inside their homes and prompting a large-scale rescue operation by the city’s fire brigade.

The incident occurred in Block 12 of the residential slum when the gallery suddenly gave way, causing panic among residents.

Emergency responders arrived promptly, deploying multiple fire tenders and ladders to reach those stranded inside.

Gomtipur fire brigade personnel led the evacuation, with support from Ahmedabad police and the Municipal Corporation’s estate department (East Zone).

Officials reported that 8-10 residents have been rescued so far. Seven people sustained minor to moderate injuries and were provided immediate medical attention.

Authorities confirmed that no deaths have been reported. Evacuation efforts for the remaining residents are ongoing.

A fire brigade officer said, “We rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information. Our teams are working to evacuate all residents safely. Rescue operations are still underway, and we are ensuring that no one is left behind.”

Residents expressed concern over the condition of older structures in the area. One resident said, “We have been living here for years, and cracks were visible in the gallery for a long time. Today, we were lucky that no one was killed.”

The collapse comes shortly after a similar incident in the city’s walled area on January 29. In Navtad ni Pol, a house collapsed during nearby drainage work, trapping three people under debris.

Fire teams rescued the victims, however, 62-year-old Pushpaben Panchal died during treatment at Civil Hospital.

Local MLA Kaushik Jain had highlighted that many houses in the area are old and in poor condition, urging the Municipal Corporation to permit repairs and resolve disputes between landlords and tenants that hinder maintenance.(Agency)

Partially burnt body of Patna High Court lawyer found at her Rajendra Nagar home in Bihar

Patna, Feb 11, 2026

The partially-burnt body of a woman lawyer practicing at the Patna High Court was found at her residence in Rajendra Nagar locality under Kadam Kuan police station area of Patna, Bihar on Wednesday, triggering panic in the area and raising concerns among members of the legal fraternity.

According to police, the 65-year-old prominent woman lawyer in Patna was found dead under mysterious circumstances at her residence. Her partially-burnt body was recovered from the two-storey house located on Rajendra Nagar Road No. 2.

The deceased has been identified as Dr. Indra Lakshmi, a practicing lawyer at the Patna High Court and Civil Court.

Dr. Lakshmi lived alone in the house as her husband, Amarendra Kumar, resides in Ranchi, Jharkhand, while her daughter lives in Bengaluru.

Both family members have been informed about the incident.

Kadam Kuan police station SHO said that tenants residing in the building noticed the partially burnt body inside the house on Wednesday morning and immediately alerted the police.

“On receiving information around 8 am, a police team reached the spot, cordoned off the area and began an investigation,” the SHO said.

A forensic science team has been called to the scene to collect evidence. Police said the case appears suspicious and is being investigated from all possible angles.

It is yet to be ascertained whether the death was accidental or the result of a planned crime.

Police are questioning tenants and nearby residents, and CCTV footage from surrounding areas is being examined to rule out any foul play.

The body has been sent to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for post-mortem examination, which will be conducted in the presence of family members.

Meanwhile, the incident has caused unease among lawyers, and there are apprehensions that civil court proceedings may be affected in view of the incident. The lawyers’ association of Patna has demanded a thorough probe into this case.

Further investigation is underway.(Agency)

‘BJP should educate its workers too’: Shiv Sena(UBT) on ‘Vande Mataram’ protocol

New Delhi, Feb 11, 2026

Shiv Sena(UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday welcomed the Centre’s decision to formalise the protocol for the rendition of Vande Mataram at official functions, while taking a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Reacting to the development, Chaturvedi said, “In the previous session, it was advised in the Rajya Sabha that the slogan ‘Vande Mataram’ could not be raised. We strongly opposed this. Then, while discussing Vande Mataram, the term ‘Vande Bharat’ was used. So, it’s a good thing that members of the Bharatiya Janata Party will now understand the difference between ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Vande Bharat’.”

She added, “If they appreciate this good thing, they might educate their party workers as well.”

Her remarks come amid a renewed focus on the national song following the Centre’s issuance of fresh, comprehensive guidelines governing its rendition at official events.

The Union Home Ministry released detailed directives on Wednesday, establishing the official protocol for Vande Mataram. These directives specify how and when it should be performed at government functions, as well as the expected conduct of the audience, particularly in relation to the national anthem.

The guidelines aim to formalise the status and ceremonial role of the national song in public and official events across the country, placing greater emphasis on its observance during state functions and institutional gatherings.

According to the new norms, the complete official version of Vande Mataram, comprising six stanzas and lasting approximately 3 minutes and 10 seconds, is to be performed or played during major state occasions. These include events such as the unfurling of the national flag, formal arrival and departure ceremonies of the President and Governors at official programmes, and before and after their scheduled addresses at such functions.

The directive underlines the importance of maintaining decorum and respect during the rendition, aligning its observance more closely with established practices surrounding the national anthem.(Agency)

Construction work of Babri Mosque in Murshidabad’s Beldanga to begin today

Kolkata, Feb 11, 2026

The construction work for the Babri Mosque at Beldanga in minority-dominated Murshidabad district of West Bengal, masterminded by the maverick and now-suspended Trinamool Congress legislator, Humayun Kabir, will start from Wednesday.

The construction work will start today with the recitation of the Quran Sharif later in the day. The exact time of the beginning of the programme is yet to be confirmed by Kabir at the time the report was filed. However, a close associate of Kabir said that the programme will start between 12 noon and 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

This will be followed by a ‘Babri Yatra (Rally for Babri Mosque)’ starting from Thursday. The rally will start from Palashi in Nadia district with 100 vehicles. Each vehicle will have six people, including the driver. This means that a total of 600 people will participate in this rally.

The rally will cover a total distance of 265 kilometres from Palashi to Itahar in North Dinajpur district.

Explaining the need for conducting the rally, Kabir said that since several vested interests were spreading misinformation about the construction of the Babri Masjid at Beldanga, this rally aimed to counter that misinformation and inform people about this construction.

According to Kabir, the construction work will be completed within three years. “The construction of the structure will cost around Rs 55 crore. The height of the gate of the mosque will be 14 metres. It will also be 5 metres wide. The estimated cost of building the gate alone will be around Rs 5 crore,” Kabir said.

The foundation stone of the mosque was laid on December 6 last year. The Beldanga structure is inspired by the original structure at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, which was demolished on December 6, 1992.

Kabir, the legislator from Bharatpur Assembly constituency in Murshidabad district, was suspended from Trinamool Congress just days before the foundation stone was laid.

Meanwhile, Kabir had floated his political outfit, Janata Unnayan Party, and given an alliance call to all anti-BJP and anti-Trinamool Congress forces for the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state scheduled later this year.

However, except for the Asaduddin Owaisi-founded AIMIM, his alliance talks have not progressed much.(Agency)

At 80, CM Vijayan’s discipline extends from dining table to officialdom

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 11, 2026

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s public persona has long been defined by ideological rigidity and administrative control. But those close to the 80-year-old leader say that the same precision and discipline visible in governance are equally evident in his personal habits.

His habits are now being discussed more after a seer fish controversy broke out, which was put on the table by veteran CPI leader and former State Minister C. Divakaran and is now a raging hit on social media.

At the dining table, CM Vijayan is described as an unhurried and methodical eater. He relishes his food slowly, preferring to serve himself rather than being assisted, even when multiple dishes are laid out before him.

Those familiar with his routine say he dislikes being rushed and can grow visibly irritated if someone seated across from him eats too quickly.

Meals, for him, are neither ceremonial nor social performances; they are deliberate, orderly affairs.

He is particular about accompaniments as well.

Cold water is firmly off the table as he prefers hot or warm water alongside his meals.

When travelling across the state, he is said to favour local cuisine and makes it known that he would rather sample regional dishes than opt for generic fare.

The choice reflects both personal taste and a political instinct to align with local identity.

Cleanliness is another non-negotiable.

A spotless wash basin and a separate towel for wiping hands before and after food are small but essential details in his daily routine.

If these habits suggest fastidiousness, officials say the same exacting standards apply in meetings.

Despite a decade at the helm, CM Vijayan’s memory remains razor sharp. Bureaucrats attending meetings chaired by him are often on edge, aware that he can recall what they said years earlier.

Any shift in position is quickly flagged. “That is not what you said before,” he is known to point out.

And at meetings or elsewhere, his face clearly reflects whether he is happy or otherwise.

In private space and public office alike, Vijayan’s consistency appears to be both his hallmark and his message. With the upcoming Assembly polls round the corner, all these habits will be in focus as he is the star campaigner for the Left, aiming for a third successive term.(Agency)

Continue

US treated Pakistan worse than toilet paper, says Khawaja Asif

Islamabad, Feb 11, 2026

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has made a striking admission regarding the country’s historical alignment with the United States, accusing Washington of exploiting Islamabad for its strategic interests before abandoning it once its objectives were achieved.

Speaking in Pakistan’s National Assembly, Asif acknowledged the country’s controversial past links with terrorism, describing them as errors made during periods of military rule.

He stated that Pakistan often avoids confronting its own history related to terrorism and called it a “mistake committed by dictators in the past.”

The minister also described Pakistan’s participation in two Afghan wars as a grave error, asserting that the terrorism currently being faced by the country is largely the consequence of those decisions.

Asif reflected on Islamabad’s strategic realignment with Washington after 1999, particularly in the context of developments in Afghanistan, which he said caused long-term damage to Pakistan.

Highlighting the fallout of the post-September 11, 2001, geopolitical shift, Asif said the price Pakistan paid for supporting the United States in its global war on terror was enormous.

“Pakistan was treated worse than a piece of toilet paper and was used for a purpose and then thrown away,” he said.

The Defence Minister noted that Pakistan once again sided with Washington during the US-led war in Afghanistan after 2001, a move that also involved turning against the Taliban.

He said that although the United States eventually withdrew from the region, Pakistan was left to deal with the aftermath, including prolonged violence, rising radicalisation and economic challenges.

Asif also questioned the narrative that Pakistan’s participation in the Afghan conflicts was motivated by religious duty.

He admitted that many Pakistanis were mobilised to fight under the banner of jihad and said that this framing proved to be misleading and severely damaging to the country’s long-term stability.

Addressing lawmakers, Asif stated that “two former military dictators (Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf) had joined the war in Afghanistan, not for the sake of Islam, but to appease a superpower.”

He further said, “We deny our history and do not accept our mistakes. Terrorism is a blowback of the mistakes committed by dictators in the past.”

The minister emphasised that the damage suffered by Pakistan due to these policies cannot be undone.

“The losses we suffered can never be compensated,” Asif said, describing the country’s past decisions as “irreversible” mistakes.

Asif also claimed that Pakistan’s education system underwent ideological changes during these periods to justify involvement in the wars, adding that these shifts in narratives continue to influence the country’s social and political fabric even today.(Agency)

Jasmine Sandlas pauses Delhi concert midway, asks security to remove men harassing women

New Delhi, Feb 11, 2026

Known for churning out hit numbers such as “Shararat”, “Taras”, “Yaar Naa Miley” and “Raat Jashan Di”, singer Jasmine Sandlas during her recent concert in Delhi by paused her performance midway after noticing harassment in the crowd.

The Dhurandhar singer firmly addressed the situation and made it clear that she would not continue performing until women in the audience felt safe.

Visibly disturbed by the incident, Sandlas directly called out the men involved and asked the event security to immediately remove them from the venue. She stated that creating a safe and respectful environment for women was non-negotiable and took precedence over the show continuing.

She was heard saying: “Security can you please remove these two guys as they are troubling these women. I will not perform if women don’t feel safe in my concert.”

Talking about Sandlas, her first song, “Muskan” in 2008 became a hit. In 2014, she began her Bollywood playback singing career with the song “Yaar Na Miley” for the film Kick.

Her latest hits are “Taras” for the movie Munjya 2024 and “Nasha” for Raid-2 2025. She also received several awards, including the “Most Popular Song of the Year 2016”. She was also featured on the TEDx Talks, MTV Coke Studio and Spoken Word platforms.

Her latest chartbuster song “Shararat” is picturized on actresses Ayesha Khan and Krystle D’Souza, featuring them as dancers at a wedding celebration sequence in Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar starring Akshaye Khanna, Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan and Arjun Rampal.

The film also stars Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, Manav Gohil, Danish Pandor, Saumya Tandon, Gaurav Gera and Naveen Kaushik in supporting roles.

The first installment of a two-part film series, it depicts an anti-terror covert operation, where an undercover agent infiltrates Karachi’s criminal and political underworld in Pakistan.

The plot loosely joins several real-life events involving geopolitical tensions such as the 1999 IC-814 hijacking, the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and events revolving around Operation Lyari.(Agency)

Experts hail revised AI deepfake guidelines that focus on misleading content

New Delhi, Feb 11, 2026

Legal experts have welcomed the government’s amended guidelines on AI-generated deepfakes, saying that social media intermediaries will be happy with the reasonable efforts expectation rather than the earlier proposed visible labelling.

The IT Ministry has issued updated guidelines for social media intermediaries like Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, directing them to clearly label all AI-generated content and ensure that such synthetic material carries embedded identifiers.

The MeitY amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, allows regulators and the government to monitor and control synthetically generated information (SGI), including deepfakes. AI-generated or altered content is to be labelled or identified, either through visible disclosures or embedded metadata, so that a user views and consumes content in an informed manner.

“Interestingly, the amendments narrow the scope of what is to be flagged, compared to the earlier draft released by MeitY, with a focus on misleading content rather than everything that has been artificially or algorithmically created, generated, modified or altered,” said Sajai Singh, Partner, JSA Advocates & Solicitors.

On the other hand, the government has set a three-hour deadline for social media platforms to take down AI-generated deepfake content, from an earlier 36-hour deadline, once it is flagged by the government or ordered by a court.

“I think intermediaries will be happy with the reasonable efforts expectation rather than the earlier proposed visible labelling,” said Singh.

The revised norms also bar digital platforms from allowing the removal or suppression of AI labels or associated metadata once they have been applied. The social media companies will be required to deploy automated tools to detect and prevent the circulation of illegal, sexually exploitative or deceptive AI-generated content, according to the latest MeitY order.(Agency)

Centre issues detailed protocol for Vande Mataram, now a must for all govt events

New Delhi, Feb 11, 2026

The Centre on Wednesday issued fresh comprehensive guidelines establishing the official protocol for the rendition of India’s national song Vande Mataram, specifying how and when it should be performed at government functions and the expected conduct of the audience, especially concerning the national anthem.

The new directives, issued by the Union Home Ministry, are intended to formalise the status and ceremonial role of the national song in public and official events across the country, placing greater emphasis on its observance during state functions and institutional gatherings.

As per the guidelines, the complete official version of Vande Mataram, comprising six stanzas and lasting approximately 3 minutes and 10 seconds, is to be performed or played during major state occasions.

These include events such as the unfurling of the national flag, formal arrival and departure ceremonies of the President and Governors at official programmes, and before and after their scheduled addresses at such functions.

A key aspect of the directive states that whenever both Vande Mataram and the national anthem are part of a programme, the national song must be rendered before the national anthem.

The guidelines further specify that members of the audience are expected to stand at attention during both performances as a mark of respect.

The Home Ministry has also urged educational institutions to promote the singing of Vande Mataram during daily school assemblies and in significant institutional events.

The move is aimed at encouraging awareness and respect for national symbols among students and the general public.

To ensure ceremonial clarity, the guidelines recommend that when Vande Mataram is performed by a band, it should be preceded by a drum roll or a bugle call to formally signal the beginning of the rendition.

At the same time, the ministry has provided specific exemptions for cinema halls and film screenings.

According to the directive, audiences will not be required to stand when Vande Mataram is played as part of a film’s soundtrack, noting that compelling viewers to stand in entertainment venues could interrupt the viewing experience and potentially create confusion among audiences.

The move seeks to address a long-standing gap in formal protocol governing the national song. Unlike the national anthem, which is regulated through detailed executive instructions and statutory provisions outlining both rendition norms and audience conduct, Vande Mataram has historically lacked clearly defined official guidelines or enforceable standards regarding its performance and observance.

The Home Ministry is also examining the possibility of bringing the national song’s protocol closer to that of the national anthem, including expectations related to standing and other gestures of respect.

However, no final statutory amendments or legal provisions have been introduced in this regard so far.

The announcement comes at a time when discussions surrounding national symbols have gained prominence, particularly during the ongoing observance of the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram.

The milestone has revived debates over the song’s historical legacy, its significance in shaping modern India’s national identity, and whether its ceremonial observance should be expanded across public and institutional platforms.

Through the new directive, the Centre has signalled a broader effort to strengthen and formalise the ceremonial importance of Vande Mataram alongside the national anthem, reaffirming its dignity during state functions and highlighting its role in fostering patriotic sentiment among citizens.(Agency)

1...162163164...8,213 Page 163 of 8,213