Sudhanshu Trivedi slams Rahul’s ‘venomous’ charge, says LoP lowering the dignity of House

New Delhi, Feb 11, 2026
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday took strong exception to Rahul Gandhi’s distasteful and “venomous” diatribe at the government, during debate on the Union Budget in Lok Sabha and accused him and the Congress party of undermining the dignity and sanctity of the House.

BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, addressing a press conference at party HQs, soon after Rahul’s speech, left the BJP MPs seething over his bitter barbs on the Prime Minister, saying that the Leader of Opposition went on a lie-spreading spree and made repeated false accusations, driven purely by his disdain and scorn for PM Modi.

“Congress is decimated and depressed over a series of electoral defeats and is hence resorting to repeated instances of theatrics, despite being called out on multiple occasions by the House Speaker, in recent times,” Trivedi told the press.

Rahul Gandhi, speaking on the Union Budget 2026-27, claimed that the government capitulated before the US in inking the trade deal and surrendered India’s interests.

Responding to the charge, the Rajya Sabha MP said that Rahul’s claims of the nation being “sold out” is a bundle of venomous lies and then went on to dig multiple “sell-out” instances from the Congress era.

“During the oil deal with ex-Iraq president Saddam Hussein, Congress leader Natwar Singh was forced to resign, during the Indo-US nuclear deal, a Congress leader was under the lens for “money arranged” claims,” he stated.

Showing the mirror to Rahul’s claims of capitulation and surrender by the Indian govt, Sudhanshu Trivedi cited instances of Congress eras, when its own foreign ministers admitted to “intense US pressure” on record and also deferred India’s nuclear tests, slated in 1995.

“I want to ask Congress as to why it always stands against the nation and in the interests of foreign firms and entities. Be it Howitzer, AgustaWestland deal or Hindenburg, it was the Congress party which stood by their side,” he remarked.

Slamming Rahul over the memoir book row, he said that the Congress MP was fact-checked by both the former Army Chief as well as the publisher, yet he kept raising the issue with shamelessness.

He also pointed to the Doklam gaffe by Rahul, when questioning the Centre over General MM Naravane’s unpublished book.

“Rahul Gandhi wanted to speak on Galwan but kept harping on Doklam. This is what happens when you read the text given to you,” Trivedi stated.

“When Doklam happened, neither General Naravane was the Army chief, nor Rajnath Singh was the Defence Minister,” he added.

He also asked Congress why it manufactured a controversy over Naravane’s book when this marked a clear violation of the Official Secrets Act, Army Act and also reminded the party that the conversations between then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and General Manekshaw during the 1971 war still remain a secret.

He further said that the personalised hatred against the Prime Minister and repeated electoral setbacks have left the Leader of the Opposition anguished, and this was the reason that the Congress party was ‘feeling compelled’ to disregard the House and subvert long-standing Parliamentary conventions.(Agency)

CBI arrests Delhi Police ASI for accepting bribe in property dispute case

New Delhi, Feb 11, 2026
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of the Delhi Police for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from a complainant in connection with a property dispute, officials said on Wednesday.

The arrested accused has been identified as ASI Sunder Pal, posted at the C.R. Park police station.

According to the CBI, a case was registered on Tuesday following allegations that the accused had demanded an illegal gratification of Rs 25 lakh from the complainant. In return, he allegedly assured the complainant that he would “settle” the property dispute and ensure that no legal action was initiated against him.

After verifying the allegations, the agency laid a trap on Tuesday itself and caught the accused red-handed while he was allegedly demanding and accepting Rs 10 lakh as part payment of the total Rs 25 lakh bribe from the complainant.

Officials said the bribe amount was recovered during the trap operation, and the accused was immediately taken into custody.

The CBI stated that the arrest was made following due procedure and that further investigation is underway to ascertain the full extent of the alleged conspiracy and whether any other persons were involved in the matter.

Searches and other legal formalities are being carried out as part of the ongoing probe.

The arrest comes a day after the CBI nabbed another Delhi Police ASI, Om Prakash, posted at Paschim Vihar police station in west Delhi, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000. In that case, the accused had allegedly demanded Rs 25,000 to extend favours in securing bail for the complainant’s brother and was caught red-handed in Rajouri Garden during a trap operation.

The back-to-back arrests have once again brought the spotlight on corruption-related complaints within law enforcement agencies. The CBI reiterated its commitment to taking strict action against public servants found indulging in corrupt practices.(Agency)

Sadia Khateeb wraps up ‘Silaa’, recollects shooting inside cave with no phone, electricity

Harshvardhan Rane Sadia Khateeb-starrer Silaa

Mumbai, Feb 11, 2026
Actress Sadia Khateeb, who has wrapped up the shooting of her upcoming film ‘Silaa’ on Wednesday, has recollected her fondest memories from the shooting of the film. In the film, she stars alongside Harshvardhan Rane.

The actress shared her experience of shooting for the film inside the Son Doong Cave with no phone or electricity.

Talking about the same, she said, “I have too many great memories from the shooting days, but I’ll start from when we started shooting this film in the cave and four days when we were in the cave without any phone, without any electricity, without any bed. We were sleeping in tents. We’re the first filmmakers, we’re the first film to be ever shot in that cave. The experience was exhilarating”.

She further mentioned, “That cave has its own ecosystem, that cave has its own ground and sky, literally. It’s not just a flat walking cave. You have to climb mountains and all of us, all the crew used to climb mountains, walked for like 25 kilometres. It’s a long stretch though. Sweat, blood, tears, you name it”.

“We even shot a song in Gulmarg where I was dressed and presented like a full-fledged Bollywood heroine, something I hadn’t experienced before. In Shikara and The Diplomat, I was immersed in very different, rooted characters. But in Silaa, I got to embrace the classic heroine space as well, and that felt incredibly special. I’m truly grateful for that experience”, she added.

‘Silaa’ is slated to release this year. The actress will also be seen next to Kapil Sharma, Neetu Kapoor and Riddhima Kapoor Sahni.

Touted to be an intense action romance with layered characters and high-stakes drama, ‘Silaa’ has been presented by Zee Studios. It is jointly backed by Omung Kumar, Umesh KR Bansal, Pragati Deshmukh, Himanshu Tiwari, Ajay Singh, Abhishek Ankur, and Captain Rahul Bali, under the banners of Blue Lotus Pictures, Stark Entertainment, and Innovations India, “Silaa” has been co-produced by Rahhat Shah Kazmi.(Agency)

BJP claims Mahua Moitra used husband’s shell company to carry out ‘wilful’ tax evasion

New Delhi, Feb 11, 2026
BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on Wednesday raised questions about Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitra’s alleged tax evasion and “abetment” under the income tax law.

Bhandari posted documents and references on his X handle in this regard and said, “Rather than filing fake cases in an attempt to intimidate people on social media; she should answer.”

He questioned whether she engaged in “wilful tax evasion” and abetment under income tax laws through transactions linked to a company owned by her husband, former BJD MP Pinaki Misra.

In the reposted content, Bhandari demanded answers from Moitra regarding her alleged provision of “professional services” to “White Lilly”, a company controlled by Misra.

He highlighted Misra’s purported admission in a May 8, 2014, interview that the entity had no active business, labelling it a shell company.

The post asked if the firm was used to disguise payments as “professional fees” to commit fraud, and whether such arrangements between Moitra and her husband constituted tax evasion under Section 276 of the Income Tax Act or related improprieties.

Bhandari further contended that these dealings raised concerns about impropriety, potential abetment under tax laws, and a serious violation of parliamentary ethics as per the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha.

He tagged the Income Tax Department, urging official attention, and contrasted Moitra’s actions with her reported practice of filing cases to intimidate critics on social media.

The allegations come amid Moitra’s recent personal developments, including her marriage to Pinaki Misra in a private ceremony in Germany in 2025. Misra, a senior advocate and four-time former Lok Sabha member from Puri, Odisha, has family interests in several companies, including real estate and hospitality firms like White Lily Estates Pvt Ltd, Jupiter Estates Pvt Ltd, and others, as noted in earlier media reports.

Moitra, the Krishnanagar MP from West Bengal, known for her outspoken style and past controversies such as the cash-for-query allegations, has not publicly responded to the latest claims as of now.

Bhandari’s post, which garnered significant engagement, including hundreds of likes and reposts, reflects ongoing political sparring between the BJP and opposition leaders, particularly those from Trinamool Congress. Such accusations, if substantiated, could invite scrutiny from tax authorities and ethics bodies.(Agency)

Deeply Shocked: PM Modi offers condolences over Canada shooting incident

New Delhi, Feb 11, 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed grief over the shooting incident at a school in Canada’s British Columbia and offered his condolences to the families who lost their loved ones while wishing speedy recovery to those who were injured.

“Deeply shocked by the horrendous shooting in Canada. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. India stands in solidarity with the people of Canada in this moment of profound grief,” PM Modi posted on X.

PM Modi’s statement came after nine people were killed in a mass shooting allegedly by a person, possibly a woman, who committed suicide in a mining town in British Columbia on Tuesday (local time), according to officials.

The area’s federal police Chief Superintendent Ken Floyd said on Tuesday night (local time) that seven people were found dead in a local high school in Tumbler Ridge and two others in a home.

While addressing a virtual news conference, he stated that the alleged shooter was discovered dead in the school.

Floyd, who commands the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) northern district in the province, said that about 100 staff and students at the school were safe and were evacuated.

There were indications that the shooter was a woman or someone in female attire.

Citing privacy reasons and the ongoing investigation, Floyd did not disclose if the shooter was a student or an adult, but confirmed that it was the same person mentioned in an active shooter alert sent to phones in the area.

That message described the suspected shooter as a brown-haired female wearing a dress.

Two people with serious injuries were airlifted to a hospital, while 25 were checked for injuries at a local medical centre, according to police.

British Columbia’s Premier David Eby termed the incident an “unimaginable tragedy” and said the “government will ensure every possible support for community members in the coming days”.

Floyd said that they have not yet been able to ascertain the motives for the attack.

“I think we will struggle to determine the ‘why’, but we will try our best to determine what transpired”, he said.

The house was near the school, and the shootings were connected, Floyd said.

Tumble Ridge is a small coal mining town of about 2,400 people in an area famed for dinosaur footprints and fossils.(Agency)

Udit Narayan named in marital fraud complaint lodged in Bihar’s Supaul

Patna, Feb 11, 2026
Renowned Bollywood playback singer Udit Narayan has been named in a written complaint filed by his first wife, Ranjana Narayan Jha, at the Supaul Women’s Police Station in Bihar on Wednesday.

The complaint alleges marital fraud, criminal conspiracy, and mental as well as physical harassment against the singer, his two brothers and his second wife.

According to the complaint, Ranjana Jha stated that she married Udit Narayan on December 7, 1984, following traditional Hindu customs.

She alleged that after the singer moved to Mumbai to pursue his career, he gradually distanced himself from her.

One of the most serious allegations pertains to her medical treatment.

Ranjana Jha has claimed that in 1996, she was taken to a hospital in Delhi on the pretext of undergoing treatment, where a major surgical procedure was allegedly carried out without her informed consent.

She stated that she became aware of the nature of the surgery only years later after consulting other medical professionals, and has described the incident as part of a deliberate conspiracy.

The complainant further alleged that she came to know about Udit Narayan’s second marriage through media reports.

When she sought clarification, she claimed that she did not receive any satisfactory response.

Now 61 years old, Ranjana Jha stated that she is facing serious health issues along with financial hardship, and alleged that despite repeated assurances over the years, she received no support, prompting her to approach the police.

“Recently, Udit Narayan came to the village and assured me, but did not fulfil his promises. I only want the status and respect of a wife from him,” Ranjana Jha said.

Police officials at the Supaul Women’s Police Station confirmed that a complaint has been received and that the matter is under preliminary inquiry.

Officials noted that since the allegations relate to incidents dating back several decades, legal complexities may arise during the course of the investigation.

As of now, no official statement has been issued by Udit Narayan or his family regarding the allegations.

The developments in the case are being closely followed by sections of the film industry as well as the public.(Agency)

Siddaramaiah should apologise to nation for remarks on PM: K’taka BJP leader

Bengaluru, Feb 11, 2026
Senior BJP leader and former Minister M.P. Renukacharya has said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s use of the word “coward” against the Prime Minister of the country is an insult to all Indians.

He was speaking to the media on Wednesday at the BJP office, ‘Jagannath Bhavan’, in Bengaluru. He demanded that Siddaramaiah apologise to the nation in this regard and seek forgiveness from 140 crore people. He said that in 2014, Siddaramaiah had called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “mass murderer” and that the people rejected him in the elections for such remarks.

“Just for the sake of a chair, you bow before Sonia Gandhi, the immature politician Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Does an experienced politician like you behave like this?” he asked.

Renukacharya said PM Modi did not run away in fear of him. The Congress party had attempted to stage a protest through its women members. On the advice of the Lok Sabha Speaker, he did not participate at that time. “Are you speaking like this because you have a loose tongue?” he questioned.

“When it comes to the issue of power, you speak like this. It has been three years since Siddaramaiah came to power. What is your achievement?” he asked. “By speaking in this manner, the Congress party has lost its address in the country,” he said.

“Isn’t a tea seller the Prime Minister of the country today?” he remarked, adding that there was a time when it was said ‘Indira is India’. Now, Congress has no address and no future, he said.

He also pointed out that senior leaders are leaving Siddaramaiah.

“Siddaramaiah, you speak about PM Modi’s strength… The people of this country, the wise voters, did not even allow your party to become the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Didn’t the US President reduce tariffs? That is PM Narendra Modi’s strength,” he said.

“When the Pahalgam attack took place, weren’t people shot after being asked whether they were Hindu or Muslim? In retaliation, within a short period, the terrorist hideouts were destroyed — that is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strength,” he said.

“Siddaramaiah, you are a senior politician. I have respect for you. But you must tender an unconditional apology for insulting PM Modi,” he demanded.

He alleged that misinformation is being spread about the VB- G Ram G scheme. The scheme has received approval from the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and the President. He further alleged that Siddaramaiah attempted to make the Governor speak falsely and said that the Congress party is now in power in only three states.

Recently, following the passing of the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha without a traditional reply from PM Modi, Siddaramaiah had termed this “an act of cowardice”.(Agency)

T20 WC: Skipper Marsh suffers injury; Australia call up Smith as cover

Colombo, Feb 11, 2026
Australia faces another injury blow as skipper Mitchell Marsh missed the campaign opener against Ireland on Wednesday after sustaining a direct blow to the groin during training earlier this week, which caused internal testicular bleeding.

Travis Head is leading the side against Ireland in Marsh’s absence, as he did in the first T20 in Pakistan last month, with his fellow opener requiring a period of rest and rehabilitation.

Reacting to the injury, standby player Steve Smith, who last featured in T20Is in February 2024 but remains a mainstay in Australia’s Test side, has been called in to travel to Sri Lanka. Smith will acclimatise and be ready to step in if needed.

“He is experiencing ongoing pain and discomfort which is restricting his movement. Scans have confirmed internal testicular bleeding, and he will require a period of rest and rehabilitation. His return to play will be guided by symptom resolution and medical advice. Standby player Steve Smith will travel to Sri Lanka as cover to acclimatise and prepare, should he be required,” Cricket Australia said in a statement.

Smith hasn’t been officially added to Australia’s World Cup squad yet, but the 2021 champions do have a spare spot available if they need to bring him in quickly after opting not to replace Josh Hazlewood in their 15-man group.

Marsh’s injury adds another layer to Australia injury list after Hazlewood and Pat Cummins were both ruled out from the initial squad.

Meanwhile, Nathan Ellis has been declared fit after recovering from a hamstring niggle and will lead the pace attack in their first-up clash with Ireland.

2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup-

Australia squad: Mitch Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa. Travelling reserve: Sean Abbott.(Agency)

This speech is purely fictional: Shrikant Shinde’s ‘disclaimer’ jibe at Rahul Gandhi in LS

New Delhi, Feb 11, 2026
Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde on Wednesday expressed strong support for the Union Budget 2026 while launching a sharp attack on the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over his criticism of the India-US trade agreement.

Speaking during the debate on the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha, Shinde congratulated Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for presenting the Union Budget for the ninth consecutive time.

He said the scale of the Budget reflects the country’s economic progress over the past decade.

“As a youth, I would like to tell today’s generations how far the country has come. In 2013-14, the Union Budget was only Rs 16.5 crore, but now, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is Rs 53.5 crore. The victory for the third time means three times development,” he said.

Shinde also criticised Opposition MPs for repeated disruptions in the House and took aim at Rahul Gandhi over the controversy surrounding former Army chief General M.M. Naravane’s unpublished memoir.

Mocking Gandhi’s speech during the Budget discussion, Shinde referred to the LoP’s martial arts analogy.

“Even today, I only heard ‘grip, choke’. Is this a discussion on Budget or martial arts? If we were to like a martial arts class, we would surely come to you. However, I think that next time, the LoP comes to deliver a speech, a disclaimer should be flashed, stating, ‘This speech is purely fictional and has no relation to the true events,” Shinde said.

He also cited observations from former Reserve Bank of India Governor D. Subbarao’s autobiography to counter Opposition claims about the state of the economy.

Quoting the former RBI Governor, Shinde said, “Finance Ministry pressurised RBI to soften interest rates and project an overly optimistic economic view.”

He alleged that those who are currently questioning the economy had earlier manipulated economic projections.

“The people here today, who were claiming that the economy is under threat, used to do this to manipulate the picture of economic growth,” he said.

Responding strongly to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on the India-US agreement, Shinde dismissed the criticism and took a dig at the INDIA bloc’s internal cohesion.

“He was saying that the government’s policies lack grip. Along with this, he was also dreaming of the INDIA bloc making a deal with America. See, dreaming is good, but daydreaming is very harmful. Before dealing with America, the INDIA bloc allies should deal amongst themselves,” he said.

He further criticised the Opposition alliance’s political track record.

“Those whose political deal is getting cancelled in every state are talking about international dealings… they should first worry about their home, their country and then the world,” he added.

Continuing his attack on Gandhi, Shinde referred to the LoP’s remarks about choking and claimed that the Congress party has faced repeated electoral setbacks in recent years.

“He (Rahul Gandhi) was also talking about choking. People have choked his party in the past 12 years,” he said, adding that Congress has lost elections 96 times during this period.

Countering Gandhi’s claim that India’s textile sector would suffer under the trade arrangement, Shinde asserted that the sector is performing strongly on the global stage.

“They (Opposition) say, we have sold Bharat Mata, and Rijiju said that no one has the courage to sell India. However, it is worth noting that during their time (UPA tenure), who defied Bharat Mata,” he said, citing Aksai Chin and Katchatheevu island as examples.

Shinde also criticised Gandhi’s claim that the United States views India and Pakistan on equal footing. Referring to recent remarks by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Shinde said the statement highlighted Pakistan’s position in global geopolitics.

He quoted Asif’s remark that the “US used Pakistan as a piece of toilet paper and threw it away.”

“This is the level of Pakistan. However, some people try to defame India, while outside the country as well as in this House,” Shinde said.

The Shiv Sena leader praised the Budget, describing it as a representation of a “New India” where emphasis is being laid on education, healthcare and employment generation.(Agency)

Budget is ‘Sarva Mangalkari’: Anurag Thakur hits out at Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi, Feb 11, 2026
BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Wednesday praised the Modi government for the Union Budget 2026-27, calling it a ‘Sarva Mangalkari’ and ‘Sarvjan Hitay Sarvjan Sukhaye’ budget aimed at inclusive growth and national progress.

Participating in the budget discussion in the Lok Sabha, Thakur said the budget reflects the continuation of what he described as a “12-year reform express” that has moved India from “policy paralysis to policy performance”, from “leakage to delivery”, from “megabytes to gigabytes”, from “megawatts to gigawatts”, and from “corruption to confidence”.

Taking a swipe at the Congress party and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Thakur said, “Sir (Rahul Gandhi) was talking about the grip. He showed his shortcomings. During their tenure, they did so much corruption that they brought India’s economy to a trembling position.”

He said that after the Modi government came to power, India became the world’s fourth-largest economy.

Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks about Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Thakur said, “He was talking about the smile of Nirmala ji. Under the Modi government, there have been such decisions… Look at women’s empowerment — there is a woman President and a woman Finance Minister.”

Thakur congratulated Sitharaman for presenting the Union Budget for the ninth time. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving him the opportunity to speak in the House.

“I want to congratulate Nirmala Sitharaman for presenting the Union Budget for the ninth time. Not only a budget, but she has given a reason to smile for 140 crore people,” he said.

Highlighting the role of women, he said, “The Finance Minister is a woman. It is the blessing of God on women as they take care of the kitchen, save and take care of the family. Our women are skilled at the ‘ease of managing the budget’.”

Thakur said there are three main responsibilities — knowledge, power and money — and women have proven their capability in handling them.

“Indian women are born economists with rare foresight and natural accounting skills. It will not be wrong to say this,” he said.

Calling the budget “Sarva Mangalkari” and “Sarvjan Hitay Sarvjan Sukhaye”, he said it reflects the government’s intention to include everyone.

“Earlier governments ran schemes; this government runs systems. Earlier, there was file movement; now there is fund movement under the leadership of PM Modi. This budget is a beacon of hope and progress for Viksit Bharat,” he said.

Thakur said the budget is not merely a physical document but a roadmap for inclusive growth, fiscal prudence and national rejuvenation.

“In this budget, everyone is included and cared for. This government’s thought is clear — not to leave anyone behind and not to make anyone sad. There is something for everyone,” he said.

Comparing the UPA and NDA eras, Thakur said earlier budgets were prepared in “drawing rooms”, while the current government prepares budgets based on ground realities.

“Their budget was a political document, but our budget includes everyone and is like a national mission. When we make the budget, we include everyone’s expectations,” he said.

He said the Modi government’s key focus areas remain the poor, women, youth and farmers.

“This is not a budget of mere talk and promises. It is a budget of trust. This budget is like a booster dose for Viksit Bharat,” he added.

Thakur said the government has finalised three duties that form the base of the budget: increasing production, fulfilling expectations of the people, and strengthening public trust.

“To achieve this, it is necessary to maintain structural reforms. We have to make them adaptive and forward-looking,” he said.

He further outlined priorities such as making the financial sector more robust and integrating Artificial Intelligence with the economy and financial governance.

Thakur said the budget carries an “A to G reform express” towards a Viksit Bharat. Recalling 2014, he said questions were raised about whether reforms would truly come and whether the government would be anti-corruption. “The answer was yes. The Modi government did all the work. The Modi government has delivered a corruption-free government,” he said.

He also claimed that 25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty. “Modi hai to mumkin hai,” he added.(Agency)

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