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Surbhi Jyoti says ‘Our greatest adventure begins’ as she announces her first pregnancy

Surbhi Jyoti Actress 5

Mumbai, Feb 11, 2026
Popular television actress Surbhi Jyoti has announced her first pregnancy with husband Sumit Suri with an adorable social media post.

Surbhi uploaded a sweet picture of her legs entangled in hubby Sumit’s feet with a white pair of tiny shoes placed in between.

The ‘Qubool Hai’ actress further informed through her Instagram post that they are expecting their little bundle of joy by June this year.

“Om, Our greatest adventure begins…Little Love arriving this June (sic),” she captioned the post.

As the couple made the happy announcement on social media, congratulatory messages started pouring in.

Actress Shweta Tiwari wrote, “Congratulations,” followed by a kissy face emoji.

‘Bigg Boss 13’ fame Arti Singh added, “So so so happy baby (red heart emoji) god bless you both.”

For those who do not know, Surbhi tied the knot with businessman Sumit Suri in October 2024. The lovebirds got married at a hill station. The wedding ceremony was preceded by vibrant pre-wedding festivities, including sangeet and engagement.

Surbhi had treated her InstaFam with glimpses of the festivities on her social media. Many prominent names from the television industry, such as Anita Hassanandani, Rithvik Dhanjani, Asha Negi, and Karan Wahi, were a part of the celebration.

Recently, Surbhi’s feed is full of fun snippets from her married life.

In October last year, the ‘Naagin’ actress wished her father-in-law on his birthday with a heartwarming video compilation of some precious family moments.

Thanking her father-in-law for being the most amazing person and a constant source of inspiration, she penned on the photo-sharing app, “Happy birthday to the most amazing person in the world.’ Thank you for being such an incredible role model and source of inspiration. I am so lucky to have you in my life. Thank you for being you. I love you so much.”(Agency)

Surbhi Jyoti Actress 6

‘No data sold, no compromises made’: BJP’s point-by-point rebuttal to LoP Rahul’s charges

Rahul-Gandhi

New Delhi, Feb 11, 2026
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday launched a forceful counter of Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi’s litany of charges, including selling out the nation, surrendering before foreign forces and compromising India’s interests. From BJP spokespersons to Union Ministers, the party has put out facts to puncture Rahul’s claims.

BJP’s chief spokesperson and Lok Sabha MP Anil Baluni took to X to share a point-by-point rebuttal of Rahul Gandhi’s baseless and misleading charges on the India-US trade deal and also called out his “lies” on the nation’s people and data, which the Congress MP described as the most powerful asset of the 21st century.

Anil Baluni said that during today’s Budget discussion in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi chose theatrics over truth and thus misled both the House and the Nation.

“He did not merely critique the document. He misquoted it, misread it, and then built an argument on that distortion. Parliament deserves scrutiny grounded in facts, not selective readings and convenient misinterpretations. Deliberately misrepresenting the Budget weakens democratic debate and disrespects the intelligence of the people of India,” Baluni stated.

On Rahul’s claims that the government chose to give away data to the US, he termed it ridiculously false and informed that the Union Budget has proposed a tax break for companies setting up data centres in India until 2047.

“This will further India’s goal of data localisation. With more data centres in India, our IT companies will be able to deliver cloud and other AI solutions to clients in the West. More data centres in India equals more opportunities for our IT companies, and equals data localisation in the long run. The data of 1.4 billion Indians stays in India,” he asserted.

Rejecting Rahul’s claims that the Budget didn’t have any provision to fortify India’s supply chains in a globally volatile world, the BJP MP stated that there is a proposal for rare earths, a new semiconductor mission that will focus on all the levels of the value chain, and several critical mineral corridors running through Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Puncturing Rahul’s assertions on digital service tax, Anil Baluni said that the agreement clearly states that a new set of digital rules will be negotiated between India and the US.

He further slammed the Congress MP for quoting from the “older version” of the fact sheet and categorically rejected any insinuations of India opening up its farming sector for US exports.

“One, the updated fact sheet of the US Government carries no mention of pulses. Two, India imports pulses worth more than $2 billion annually,” Baluni said.

He further stated that the Commerce Minister has repeatedly stated that we are not opening up our farming and dairy sector for the USA, and the same stance has been maintained by the Modi Government during its Free Trade Agreement with the European Union.

Refuting Rahul’s claims of tariffs going up from 3 per cent to 18 per cent for India, he stated that it was an incorrect and incomplete assessment.

Baluni further accused Rahul of pushing forward his arguments on documents that no longer reflect reality.

“He is citing an older US government fact sheet that framed India’s proposed $500 billion purchases as a commitment. That language has since been corrected. By relying on an outdated fact sheet, Gandhi is presenting an inflated claim that the US government itself has walked back,” he wrote.

He also brushed aside claims of India receiving no commitment from the US on its exports and informed that since FY15, India’s trade surplus with the US has doubled from $20 billion to $40.9 billion in FY25.

Putting out facts to counter the charge, he wrote, “Our exports to the US have risen from $42.4 billion in FY15 to $86 billion in FY25. Since 2022, our electronic exports to the US have gone from almost zero to $20 billion in 2025.”

Rahul’s other big accusation against the Modi government was of the latter succumbing to US pressure and compromising its energy security interests.

Dismissing this charge, the BJP MP said that India has always prioritised its national interests and added that the imports from Russia rose from about 0.1 million barrels per day to nearly 2 million barrels per day in 2023. That was strategic autonomy, not surrender.

“The Modi government has shown that it will bypass Western pressure to secure India’s energy needs. Rahul Gandhi’s argument has already been disproven, and it is worth recalling that his own party opposed Russian oil imports at the time,” he stated.(Agency)

India’s rise, China’s structural slowdown reshaping balance of power in Asia: Report

China-India-Flag

Kuala Lumpur/New Delhi, Feb 11, 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Act East Policy, introduced in 2014, provides a strategic framework that has repositioned India as a vital Indo-Pacific power with an enduring interest in Southeast Asia’s security and prosperity.

Through deeper integration, enhanced connectivity and engagement in the future resilience and security support of the region, Southeast Asia has benefitted from a stronger counterbalance and India’s economic and security cooperation, a report said on Wednesday.

According to a report in the Eurasia Review, by re-centering ASEAN and the wider maritime stretch from the Andaman Sea to the Strait of Malacca, the policy underscores the importance of India’s strategic presence, offering reassurance to the region confronting renewed risks and tensions.

“India has long been overlooked in its power, strength, influence and role as the regional and global power and economic leadership equation, at the expense of the region and the world. The emergence now as a global economic powerhouse and a decisive balancing power in the Indo-Pacific has never been more pivotal, at the same time that China enters a prolonged period of economic deceleration and strategic friction,” the report detailed.

“For Malaysia and Southeast Asia, this transformation is not abstract, and India lies squarely at the forefront of their future economic and geopolitical net and interests, providing the pillar of stability and strength in economic resilience, security support, food and energy security, technology access, and strategic optionality,” it added.

The report emphasised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Malaysia on February 7 and 8 is strategically significant for both countries, particularly for Malaysia as it offered Kuala Lumpur the opportunity to move beyond the traditional hedging approach and recognise India as a first-tier strategic partner for decades ahead.

It stated that India’s present and future role has never been more profound and integral, with its rise unfolding alongside China’s structural slowdown, thereby reshaping the balance of power in Asia.

“For Malaysia, the choice is not between India and others. It is between either preparing early for India’s ascent or adjusting late. Both nations share similar future challenges and potential,” the report stressed.

“Prime Minister Modi’s visit is a strategic inflection point in creating a new wave of resonating ties with interwoven benefits in a multi-faceted partnership based on history, trust and shared future aspirations.

Deepening ties with India in defence, technology, semiconductors, energy, food security, education, and culture is not merely prudent, but forming the key foundational essence for the region and Malaysia’s long-term prosperity, security, and autonomy,” it noted.(Agency)

Tax transfer to states has shot up by Rs 2.7 lakh crore in Budget 2026-27: FM

Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

New Delhi, Feb 11, 2026
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said that the total resources to be transferred to the states, including the devolution of state share in taxes and releases that are made under the centrally sponsored schemes in the Budget for 2026-27 is estimated to be Rs 25.44 lakh crore, which is a Rs 2.7 lakh crore increase compared to 2025-26.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, she refuted the Opposition charge that the Centre has reduced the transfer of resources to the states, pointing out that the allocation to states has gone up. All the money due to the states has been transferred to the states, and there is no scope for doubt on this issue, she remarked.

The Finance Minister said that the Centre was transferring 41 per cent of the net proceeds of taxes to the states in accordance with Constitutional norms. The figure is also audited by the CAG, she added,

She alsosaid that this cess amount, which is not included in the net taxes, also makes its way to the states. For instance, the cess collected under various heads such as health, education, and roads eventually gets transferred to the states.

The Finance Minister said that the Budget for 2026-27 provides for a total capital investment of Rs 17.15 lakh crore, which has a 4X multiplier force that will accelerate economic growth in the march for Viksit Bharat.

She pointed out that the Centre’s capital expenditure was Rs 12.22 lakh crore, which amounted to 3.1 per cent of GDP, and represented an increase of 11.5 per cent compared to the corresponding figure for 2025-26.

After including the transfer to the states under various Centrally sponsored schemes, the capex of Rs 17.15 lakh crore works out to 4.4 per cent of GDP.

The Finance Minister said this disproved the opposition’s claim that the fiscal deficit has been kept cut to 4.3 per cent in the Budget by reducing developmental expenditure.

She further stated that the Centre has opened its schemes to all states and did not intend to leave out any state. She welcomed the state governments to approach the Centre for aid in establishing mega food parks, IT parks, smart cities and waterways, etc.

“Any state can aspire — by going through the PM Gati Shakti filters — if they have a viable proposition. Any state can request the establishment of Allied and Health Services hubs, where we intend to set up medical centres. States can seek to be part of this initiative, under which all aspects of medical education and hospitals for patient treatment can be concentrated in one area. So any state can qualify,” Sitharaman said.

This is a major, forward-looking proposition, given the medical tourism advantage that India possesses. It will become a centre for multi-purpose, multi-speciality Allied Health Services, through which we can further promote medical tourism, she added.

Similarly, all states can participate in the scheme for setting mega centres for clubbing education and skilling centres for youth.

“These mega centres will enable students to become entrepreneurs, and this kind of a mega centre can be kept next to any industrial cluster that any state has,” she observed.

“So, these mega entrepreneurship building centres as education hubs can also come up in any state. We are willing to work with states so that this mammoth higher education centre can be propped up,” Sitharaman added.

The Finance Minister pointed out that the emphasis in the budget is on labour-intensive sectors so that they can have more resources to improve, and it is also looking at the legacy industries, which are waiting for rejuvenation, and have been funded.

She pointed out that the emphasis of the budget on high-value agriculture and horticulture crops, such as coconut promotion, will benefit 1 crore farmers.

The Finance Minister further stated the agricultural sector was being accorded priority with digital support in the form of Agri stack, which will contain all details of soil and fertiliser to boost productivity and enhance the earnings of farmers. The stack will contain information on scientific agricultural practices such as the use of quality seeds and timely irrigation.(Agency)

‘Gangstran Te Vaar’: Operation Prahaar-2 Remains A Big Success; 135 POs Among 3,260 Individuals Held in 72 Hours

DGP Arpit Shukla on Fatehgarh Sahib

Chandigarh, Feb 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

The ‘Operation Prahaar-2’ initiated as part of the ongoing ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign to make Punjab a gangster free state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann remained a big success with Punjab Police conducting raids at 8278 locations linked to wanted criminals in last 72-hours.

Notably, further intensifying the ongoing “Gangstran Te Vaar” campaign, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Sunday had launched 72-hours long “Operation Prahaar-2” with focus on nabbing the wanted criminals. Senior officers from Punjab Police Headquarters have personally visited different police districts to lead the operation in which over 2,000 police teams comprising 12,000 personnel were involved.

“The ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ is a sustained campaign that will continue with full force until Punjab is completely cleansed of the gangster menace,” reaffirmed DGP Gaurav Yadav.

Sharing the cumulative outcomes of the three-day long operation, Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that a total of 7,498 individuals were rounded up across the state, of which, 3260 including 135 proclaimed offenders (POs) have been arrested. Police teams have also recovered 47 weapons, 4.8 kg heroin, 3.6 kg opium, 42,797 intoxicant pills, 68 kg poppy husk and Rs 30 lakhs drug money from their possession, he said.

He said that apart from this, police teams have also made 1,450 preventive arrests, while, 2,788 persons were verified and released after questioning.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the 72-hours-long operation has achieved its objectives beyond expectations and ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign will be continued till Punjab is free from gangsters.

People can anonymously report information related to wanted criminals and gangsters, and also share tips on crime and criminal activity, through the Anti Gangster Helpline number 93946-93946.

Meanwhile, Police teams have continued its drive against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” for 347th day with 164 drug smugglers arrested on Wednesday and recovered 11.9 kg heroin, 344 intoxicant tablets/capsules and Rs 4700 drug money from their possession.

With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 49,129 in just 347 days. As part of De-addiction, the Punjab Police has convinced 14 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

India–US Trade Deal Biggest Betrayal of the Country’s Farmers: Kuldeep Dhaliwal

Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal Punjab Minister 1

Chandigarh, 11 February, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab’s chief spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, while strongly criticizing Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar for advocating the India–US trade deal, termed the agreement the biggest “betrayal” of the country’s farmers. Dhaliwal directly challenged Jakhar to make the actual draft of the deal public instead of singing praise for it in the media.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday along with AAP leader Prabhvir Brar, Dhaliwal, citing figures, said that the Trump administration has increased tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, whereas the Modi government, completely bowed down, and reduced taxes on American goods to zero.

He questioned how this could be called a fair deal when American farmers would be able to sell their produce in India without any tax, while Indian farmers would have to pay an 18% tax in America. How is this in the country’s interest?

Dhaliwal warned that through this deal, America’s “red sorghum” would capture Indian markets, leading to the ruin of farmers growing maize, millets, and sorghum in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. He said that due to zero tariffs on American food, apple, almond, and walnut producers in Kashmir and Himachal would also be pushed onto the streets.

Taking a dig at Sunil Jakhar, Dhaliwal said that Jakhar Sahib is advocating for this deal today just as the Badal family once advocated for the three black farm laws. Today, the political condition of the Akali Dal is obvious to everyone. While serving Modi, make sure you do not meet the same fate as the Akalis. He said that earlier Jakhar served the Gandhi family while in Congress, and now, by singing praises of Modi, he is bent on selling out the country’s interests.

The AAP spokesperson said that so far, information about this deal has only come from Trump’s tweets. The Prime Minister has neither said anything in Parliament nor taken the country into confidence. He said that the Prime Minister has mortgaged the country to America.

Dhaliwal said that this fight is not just of the farmers but of the entire country. He announced that he would speak up daily against every lie of Jakhar and would continue to expose the anti-farmer face of the BJP.

FIR Registered Against Haryana-Based Firm for Storing & Selling Unauthorised Fertilizers and Insecticides: Khuddian

FIR-text banner First Information Report

Chandigarh, February 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

In a major crackdown against the sale of unauthorised agricultural inputs, an FIR has been registered against a Haryana’s Jhajjar based firm having godown in Malerkotla, for storing and selling unauthorised fertilizers and insecticides on the complaint of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Punjab.

Disclosing this here today, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that during a surprise inspection, stock of unauthorised fertilizers and insecticides were found at “M/s Unitech Crop Science” firm’s premises.

The Agriculture Minister informed that the unauthorised stock has been seized to prevent their sale and distribution to farmers apart from other necessary action under the provisions of the Fertilizers (Control) Order, 1985, the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the Insecticides Act, 1968. He added that an FIR has also been registered under Section 318 (4) of BNS at police station Amargarh in Malerkotla district.

Reiterating Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government’s firm stance, S. Khudian said that the CM Mann-led Punjab Government is fully committed to ensuring the availability of quality agricultural inputs to farmers across the state. “We will not tolerate any violation of statutory provisions related to fertilizers and insecticides. Strict action will continue against any individual or firm found involved in the manufacture, storage or sale of unauthorised agricultural products,” he asserted.

Director Agriculture Gurjit Singh Brar emphasised that the Agriculture Department has intensified inspections across the state to safeguard farmers’ interests and maintain transparency and quality standards in the agri-input supply chain.

Congress holds save MGNREGA rally at Nabha, Baghel says ‘Modi has sold out farmers to US’

Bhupesh Baghel on mic

Patiala, February 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

The Congress today staged a massive rally under the ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ at Nabha. The party also staged a separate protest in Patiala against the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

Senior party leaders including former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and general secretary in charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel and the Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring alleged that the BJP government at the centre was the biggest enemy of the farmers, the poor and the labourers. They said, the change of the MGNREGA law was proof of that.

During the protest demonstration against the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, the party leaders said that the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Bhagwant Singh Mann had completely failed in safeguarding the lives of people in the state. They referred to the frequent incidents of killing of people at the hands of the criminals and gangsters with the government being clueless.

Addressing the rally Bhupesh Baghel, congratulated the Punjab Congress for taking the lead in agitation against the changing of the MGNREGA. He said the fight was to safeguard the rights of labourers and the Constitution.

Accusing the BJP of fiddling with the Constitution, he alleged that the BJP sought to change the Constitution after aiming for “400-plus seats” in the Lok Sabha elections and accused it of undermining welfare schemes.

Baghel alleged that the BJP was intimidating Opposition leaders through central agencies such as the CBI, ED and Income Tax Department, but said Congress leaders would not be cowed down. He referred to past incarcerations of party leaders and vowed continued resistance.

Alleging that Modi had “surrendered” farmers’ interests by allowing agricultural and dairy imports under international agreements, Baghel said the Congress would oppose any move detrimental to the farming community. He said, Modi was the first Prime Minister in India’s history who had allowed the import of dairy and agriculture products which will spell doom for the farmers of the country.

He reiterated that the party would restore MGNREGA if it forms the government in Punjab in 2027 and at the Centre in 2029, asserting that the ongoing struggle was for farmers and labourers, while accusing the BJP of working for corporate interests.

Accusing the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of being the B-team of the BJP, Baghel questioned his silence against the changing of the MGNREGA.

Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring described MGNREGA as the “first law that granted the right to work” and credited former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi for introducing it to prevent “anarchy and lawlessness” arising from hunger and unemployment.

He accused the BJP of selling off public assets and favouring corporates, alleging that “80 per cent of the country’s wealth is concentrated in the hands of two individuals” while the poor are being deprived of employment opportunities.

Warring questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claims of extending work guarantees and doubling farmers’ incomes, asking whether workers had even received the mandated 100 days of employment under MGNREGA. “If they did not get 50 days, how will they get 125 days?” he asked, terming the announcements as “bluff”.

Maintaining that the Centre could have increased daily wages to Rs 700 if intentions were clear, he said the Congress would continue its agitation until the scheme is fully restored.

Targeting the AAP government in Punjab, Warring said it had failed to deliver on its promise of Rs 1,000 monthly assistance to women, asking Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to clear arrears of Rs 60,000. He urged voters to “take their money but not vote for them”, accusing AAP of making false promises.

On the issue of drug abuse, Warring said while the Punjab Governor’s anti-drug march was welcome, the flow of narcotics from across the border raised questions about the Centre’s role. He noted that border security falls under the BSF and the Union Home Ministry, holding both the state and central governments responsible for failing to curb the menace.

Suggesting that the Punjab Governor was trying to bring the BJP and the Akali Dal together, he said, this will hardly make any difference to the Congress which was bound to defeat them all, be it the Akali-BJP alliance or the AAP.

Among those present included local MP Dharamvir Gandhi, former minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Randeep Nabha, Gurkirat Kotli, Aruna Chaudhar, PYC president Mohit Mohindra, Capt Sandeep Sandhu and others.

Resurgence of Islamic State in Pakistan raises security concerns for wider region: Report

gunmen terrorists shadow Maoists

Islamabad, Feb 11, 2026
The threat posed by the ISIS-K remains a cause of concern and its potential resurgence in Pakistan could destabilise the wider region, including India, as the terror group is currently attempting to reassert itself beyond its traditional sphere of operations.

The risk, a report highlighted on Wednesday, may intensify if Pakistan covertly attempts to re-negotiate with ISKP and steer its activities towards Kashmir by enabling operations targetting India.

According to a report in the India Narrative, India must remain fully vigilant while assessing ISKP’s imprints, as Pakistan’s internal security instability could facilitate cross-border terror operations and contribute to the emergence of new terror networks aimed against India.

“After almost five years, ISIS has carried out a high-intensity terror attack in the subcontinent, targetting Pakistan’s Shia mosque, killing more than 30 people and injuring around 170. The last such attacks were the 2023 Khar bombings, the deadly Peshawar Mosque bombing in Pakistan in 2022, which killed more than 60 people, and the Abby Gate bombings during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, which killed over 170 people,” the report detailed.

“After two years, ISIS-K carried out such a high-intensity suicide bombing, that too during the visit of the Uzbekistan President to Pakistan. This may appear an episodic case of terror, but passing it off as such would be unwise, and closer attention to the Khorasanis’ struggle for their foothold in the South Asian subcontinent raises a serious alarm for regional security,” it mentioned

The report stressed that the recent Islamabad mosque bombing carried out by ISIS-K represents another instance of exploiting security vacuums in Pakistan, particularly at a time when the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) launched the second phase of Operation Herof from January 31 to February 8.

Citing reports, it highlighted that Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, entered into a clandestine understanding with ISIS in 2017, under which the terror group agreed not to attack Pakistan and to restrict its activities in Afghanistan. Despite this, ISKP carried out a suicide bombing at a Baloch Awami Party (BAP) political rally in the Mustang district in Balochistan.

“While ISKP didn’t directly target Pakistani establishments until 2020, it has been argued that through secret engagements with ISKP, Pakistan sought to cultivate ISKP as a proxy against the Taliban and the Balochis.

Allowing and tolerating ISKP’s activities in Afghanistan serves Pakistan’s dual strategic benefits: first, proxy warfare against the TTP and the BLA, and second, diplomatic brownie points through extradition and intelligence sharing on ISKP members, such as the March 2025 arrest and extradition of ISKP commander Mohammad Sharifullah to the US,” the report stated.

“However, this clandestine dual-benefit cooperation with ISKP has caused severe blowback for Pakistan’s security establishment and has become a failing gamble,” it noted.(Agency)

SC to consider urgent hearing on plea against Mahashivratri puja at Karnataka’s Laadle Mashak Dargah

Supreme Court Law

New Delhi, Feb 11, 2026
The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would consider an urgent hearing on a plea seeking to restrain the conduct of the Maha Shivaratri puja at the Raghava Chaitanya Shivling, which is installed within the premises of the Laadle Mashaik Dargah in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district.

Senior advocate Vibha Datta Makhija, appearing for the dargah management, urged Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant to list the matter before February 15, when Maha Shivaratri is scheduled to be observed.

“There is an Aland Dargah in Gulbarga. Now they want to have Shivaratri celebrations there. If we can have it heard before February 15?” she submitted.

During the mentioning, CJI Surya Kant expressed concern over petitions being filed directly before the apex court without first approaching the jurisdictional High Court.

“Why is everything coming under Article 32? The impression created is that pleas are being filed because the law is convenient, and the message going out is that the High Court is defunct. We will examine. Let’s see,” the CJI remarked, hinting that the request for urgent listing would be considered.

The shrine at the centre of the dispute is associated with 14th-century Sufi saint Hazrat Shaikh Alauddin Ansari, also known as Ladle Mashaik, and 15th-century Hindu saint Raghava Chaitanya.

According to sources, Chaitanya was the guru of Samarth Ramadas, who was revered by Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji. The premises house the samadhi of Chaitanya, on which a structure referred to as the Raghava Chaitanya Shivling has been erected.

Historically, both Muslims and Hindus have offered prayers at the site. However, tensions have flared intermittently in recent years over worship rights and the character of the premises.

The latest plea seeks to restrain the conduct of Maha Shivaratri puja within the premises of the dargah and also prays for directions to prevent any construction or alteration that may change the religious character of the site.

It contended that repeated interim orders permitting Hindu worship inside the dargah premises reflect a coordinated attempt to alter the religious character of the site.

The petitioners have sought judicial intervention to maintain the status quo and prevent any structural or ritual changes ahead of this year’s Maha Shivaratri.

The dispute had resurfaced during Maha Shivaratri celebrations last year as well. In February 2025, the Karnataka High Court permitted a limited number of Hindu devotees to perform puja at the Raghava Chaitanya Shivling under regulated conditions.

The order allowed 15 persons from the Hindu community to conduct worship during specified hours and under tight administrative and security arrangements. Earlier, too, permissions had been granted for similar worship under controlled circumstances, with separate time slots allotted to members of both communities to avoid confrontation.(Agency)