Regional

New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS) The air quality in the national capital showed a marginal improvement on Sunday morning, though pollution levels remained a concern across several parts of the city.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi recorded an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 196 at 7 a.m., placing it in the ‘moderate’ category.

This marked an improvement compared to Saturday, when the AQI was recorded at 227 at 4 p.m., falling in the ‘poor’ category. Despite a slight dip in pollution levels, a thin layer of smog continued to linger in many areas, indicating that overall air quality conditions are still far from ideal.

Several pollution hotspots in the national capital continued to record ‘poor’ AQI levels. Mundka registered the highest AQI at 266, followed by Pusa (257), Narela (247), Rohini (247), Ashok Vihar (243), Jahangirpuri (242) and Wazirpur (239). Other areas, such as Nehru Nagar (237), Shadipur (236), Bawana (231), Vivek Vihar (231), Sirifort (222), and Chandni Chowk (220), also remained in the poor category.

On the other hand, some parts of Delhi recorded relatively cleaner air. Sri Aurobindo Marg reported the lowest AQI at 126, followed by IGI Airport (131), Aya Nagar (136), Lodhi Road (139), Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium (140), IIT Delhi (141) and Mandir Marg (145), all of which fell under the ‘moderate’ category.

Sunday’s readings remained largely consistent with those recorded a day earlier. On Saturday, Anand Vihar had reported an AQI of 260, while RK Puram stood at 237, both in the poor category. ITO experienced a busy morning with an AQI of 223, while Chandni Chowk recorded 232. Other locations such as Aya Nagar (151), IGI Airport Terminal 3 (138) and Pusa (157) were in the moderate range.

As per official classification, an AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor, and 401-500 severe.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a maximum temperature of 23 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 10 degrees Celsius for the day. The weather agency has also predicted mist conditions, which may continue to affect visibility and air quality in parts of the city.

--IANS

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Chennai, Feb 8 (IANS) A massive security deployment is being planned in Karaikal, Puducherry, ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit on February 14, with nearly 500 police personnel set to be stationed across the region to ensure tight protection and crowd control during his public meeting.

According to police sources, personnel from the Puducherry Police and allied security units will be deployed at key junctions, venues, and entry points.

Security arrangements will be directly supervised by the Puducherry Deputy Inspector General of Police. Routine and street-level patrols are being intensified, while enhanced vehicle checks will be conducted along the Tamil Nadu-Karaikal border beginning Monday to prevent any untoward incidents.

Amit Shah is expected to arrive by helicopter at Thirunallar before proceeding to the municipal ground in Karaikal, where a large public meeting has been scheduled.

Officials said he may also visit the famous Thirunallar temple before departing the same day. The final itinerary is likely to be confirmed in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the BJP has accelerated preparations for the high-profile visit, viewing it as a key political event ahead of the Puducherry Assembly elections.

The groundwork for the meeting began with a bhoomi puja ceremony held on Saturday for the construction of the stage and pandal at the municipal ground. The ceremony was attended by Puducherry Legislative Assembly Speaker R. Selvam, while Puducherry State BJP in-charge Nirmal Kumar Surana participated as a special invitee.

Speaking to reporters, Surana said the party had stepped up its election preparations and was mobilising cadres across Karaikal to ensure a strong turnout. Local BJP leaders noted that this would be HM Shah’s second visit to Karaikal, having campaigned in the region during the previous Assembly elections.

Thousands of supporters are expected to attend the rally.

Several organisational committees have been formed to manage logistics, crowd coordination, and volunteer activities.

Senior party functionaries said the focus is on securing a decisive victory for the NR Congress-BJP alliance in all five Assembly constituencies in Karaikal, stressing that both parties are working in close coordination and with renewed enthusiasm.

With tight security and political momentum building, Karaikal is gearing up for one of the most significant campaign events of the season.

--IANS

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Chennai, Feb 8 (IANS) In a clear push to wrap up pending institutional appointments before the Assembly election process begins, the Tamil Nadu government has intensified efforts to fill several important statutory posts across commissions and public bodies.

The move comes at a politically sensitive time, with the Model Code of Conduct expected soon. The Leader of Opposition, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, has opted out of participating in a crucial selection committee meeting.

Among the immediate priorities is strengthening the State Information Commission, which handles Right to Information (RTI) appeals and complaints. To improve efficiency and reduce backlog, the government has decided to increase the number of Information Commissioners and fill two additional posts through a formal selection process scheduled for next week. At present, the Commission is headed by the Chief Information Commissioner and six Information Commissioners -- Md Shakeel Akhter, P. Thamarai Kannan, P. Priyakumar, K. Thirumalaimuthu, M.Selvaraj, V.P.R. Elamparithi and M. Natesan. Two more members are expected to be added before election rules restrict major administrative decisions.

A search committee led by former judge Justice K.B.K. Vasuki has already shortlisted candidates. The panel also includes retired IAS officer M.P. Sivanarul and former IPS officer K. Radhakrishnan.

Applications were invited from eligible individuals with administrative or legal experience. As per established procedure, Information Commissioners are appointed by the Governor based on the recommendation of a three-member committee comprising the Chief Minister, the Leader of Opposition and a Cabinet Minister nominated by the Chief Minister.

The meeting has been scheduled for February 13 at the Secretariat. Although an invitation was extended to Palaniswami, sources said he informed authorities that he would not attend.

Parallelly, the government has begun the process of appointing a Chairperson for the Tamil Nadu Heritage Commission. Applications for the post will be accepted until February 18, and officials expect the appointment to be finalised by month-end.

Additionally, a notification has been issued for the direct recruitment of a Principal for the All India Civil Services Coaching Centre.

Senior officials indicated that the government is keen to complete all these appointments promptly to avoid delays once the election notification and Model Code of Conduct come into force, which would restrict such administrative decisions.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Feb 8 (IANS) Karnataka Infrastructure Development Minister M.B. Patil has submitted representations to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeking approval for a Vande Bharat Sleeper Express train from Bengaluru to Vijayapura, a high-speed rail corridor between Bengaluru and Mumbai, and a daily special train service on the Bengaluru-Vijayapura route.

After launching an electronics manufacturing facility in the Hi-Tech Hardware Park at Bagalur on Saturday, the Minister met Vaishnaw at the venue and handed over the representations. The Railway Minister assured him that the proposals would be examined positively.

Describing Bengaluru as the country’s technology capital and Mumbai as its financial capital, Patil said it was essential to connect the two cities through an efficient and modern transport system. He urged that the high-speed rail corridor announced between Mumbai and Pune be extended up to Bengaluru. Vaishnaw responded positively to this request as well.

The State Minister pointed out that the distance between Bengaluru and Vijayapura is around 530 km and that the current train journey takes nearly 15 to 16 hours. He said this travel time should be reduced to about 10 hours. To achieve this, he suggested limiting halts between Bengaluru and Hubballi and operating trains via the Hubballi and Gadag bypasses. He also sought the introduction of a Vande Bharat Express service on this route.

Patil further requested the introduction of a daily special train service between Bengaluru and Vijayapura. In his representation, he stated that all three proposed services would bring significant social, industrial and economic benefits to several districts of central and north Karnataka. According to Patil, the Railway Minister responded positively to all three demands.

Senior railway officials, including South Western Railway General Manager Ajay Sharma, were present during the meeting.

Earlier, speaking after the inauguration of the manufacturing facility, Minister Patil said the new unit marked a significant strengthening of India’s capability to design, build and deliver high-reliability electronics for mission-critical applications.

He said the facility had been purpose-built to cater to critical sectors such as defence, aerospace and automotive electronics, where quality, precision and reliability are non-negotiable. With advanced manufacturing lines, clean rooms and a world-class environmental stress-testing laboratory, the unit positions itself at the high-value end of electronics manufacturing, he added.

Patil also pointed out that the state is investing over Rs 4,000 crore to extend assured Cauvery water supply to industrial areas in and around Bengaluru. This, he said, is in addition to sustained investments in roads, power and logistics to ensure long-term reliability for manufacturing units.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will address a major press conference on Sunday to reveal what he described as a wider political nexus involving Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi.

Biswa Sarma mounted a sharp political offensive against the reported understanding between the Congress and Akhil Gogoi-led Raijor Dal ahead of the Assembly elections, asserting that the Opposition alliance has no prospects in the state.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of newly constructed school buildings, earlier on Monday, Sarma said the proposed February 8 briefing would go beyond earlier allegations related to Gaurav Gogoi’s alleged “Pakistan link” and would place before the public what he termed as the “entire network” associated with it. He claimed that the press conference would contain “important disclosures” with political ramifications.

Reacting to reports of a Congress–Raijor Dal tie-up, the Chief Minister said Opposition leaders were free to form governments “anywhere else,” but categorically ruled out their chances in Assam.

Taking a swipe at Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi, Sarma remarked that the latter would not be able to form a government in Assam “even in 500 years.” He further alleged that Gaurav Gogoi was attempting to coordinate with Akhil Gogoi and Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president Lurinjyoti Gogoi in anticipation of a joint political counterattack following the Sunday's press conference.

According to the Chief Minister, these moves were aimed solely at shielding themselves from the impact of the BJP’s forthcoming revelations. In a pointed message to the Opposition leadership, Sarma said this was the “appropriate time” for Akhil Gogoi and Lurinjyoti Gogoi to negotiate seat-sharing arrangements, claiming that their political relevance would diminish after February 8.

“They should take whatever political advantage they can now, because after February 8, the situation will change,” he said.

The Chief Minister’s remarks have further heightened political tensions in Assam, with the political discourse intensifying as the state moves closer to the Assembly elections.

--IANS

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Ahmedabad, Feb 8 (IANS) The Ahmedabad Crime Branch on Saturday arrested five members of a sophisticated interstate gang involved in defrauding major e-commerce platforms, including Flipkart and Amazon, and seized goods and equipment worth Rs 20.5 lakh.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Ramlal alias Romil Gehlot (27), Manoj Kumar Mali (30), Bharat Kumar Sundesha (25), Vishal Panchal (29), all residents of Jalore, Rajasthan, and Vishal Bavri, a resident of Surat.

Two other members, Rishipal Bhati and Vinod, remain at large.

The gang operated across cities such as Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Jalore. They infiltrated the logistics chain to replace genuine electronic items with dummy products.

Using multiple fake user IDs and passwords, the gang placed orders for high-value gadgets, which were intercepted by their delivery personnel before reaching customers.

Specialised tools were used to remove genuine products carefully and replace them with identical-looking dummy items.

Orders were then officially marked as ‘cancelled’ or ‘returned’, after which the gang sold the real products in the market for illegal profit.

An official told IANS, “We are currently investigating more directions. These five were arrested as part of the primary investigation. We’ll analyse and reach the root of the case.”

Police have seized eight genuine mobile phones, 25 dummy phones, three dummy earbuds, 12 dummy gaming processors, a camera lens, an electric hair dryer, three glue remover bottles, 14 plastic syringes, two steel tools used to tamper with parcels, packaging material, and a Mahindra Scorpio vehicle used to transport the goods.

During questioning, the accused admitted to previous frauds, including the theft of an iPhone 17 Pro Max and three iPhone 16 Pro devices in Vadodara in January this year, seven mobile phones and 10 Apple Watches in Surat in October 2025, and two Apple Watches in Jalore in December 2025.

The case has been registered at the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) Police Station in the city and is being investigated under Sections 61(2)(a) and 316(5) of the Indian Penal Code.

Authorities have urged customers to remain vigilant while shopping online and warned that strict legal action will be taken against anyone found involved in such fraudulent activities.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Feb 7 (IANS) Union Minister for Railways, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Saturday, released the new two-nanometre Qualcomm chip and said that it is a major development for the country.

Speaking in Bengaluru, Union Minister Vaishnaw made the statement while inaugurating Texas Instruments' new product research and development facility in Bengaluru.

The Union Minister said, "I am very happy to share with you that today we unveiled the 2 nanometer wafer and 2 nanometre chip at Qualcomm. It's a series of developments companies are now designing end to end products in India."

"Gone are those days when most of back office development was done here, and now from the entire customer product definition to design, the final silicon, getting it taped out and getting it validated, that entire thing is being done in India," he added.

"This is a major development for our country, our industry. I would like to thank to all those pioneers here in Qualcomm, who have taken the challenge few years ago, I requested them to go ahead in the most advanced designs in India and I thank them for taking up that challenge and doing it in India," Union Minister Vaishnaw said.

Congratulations to the entire team for doing this in India, he added.

Talking about the wafer, Union Minister said, "This is the wafer in which each die contains nearly 20 to 30 billion transistors. One die, the small square you see here, has about 20 billion transistors. To put it in perspective, 20 billion equals 2,000 crore or 20 lakh crore."

Exhibiting the tiny silicon chip, he said that this is basically having GPU and the CPU within this small chip.

"The end product which comes out of this is a module which will be AI computer on the desktop of any person on the edge, meaning on the camera, within the wifi router, or within any device on the machine or any moving car or automobile or train. That kind of development is happening," the Union Minister added.

"This breakthrough has firmly placed India among countries working on cutting-edge chip design, alongside companies such as AMD that have already demonstrated such capabilities."

Union Minister Vaishnaw also said, "India is making significant progress in semiconductor manufacturing and chip design."

Though the semiconductor sector is relatively new in the country, the Union Minister said the entire semiconductor ecosystem is rapidly taking shape and preparing for large-scale growth.

The development also established India from being a software provider and a back-office to an end-to-end semiconductor product design and development hub, he added.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Congress party, accusing it of evolving into a "Jamaati Congress" through alliances with communal organisations, potentially endangering national unity and democratic values.

Also, while addressing the media at the BJP headquarters here, Trivedi criticised the West Bengal government's budget for prioritising "Maulvis, Muezzins, and Madrasas" over the Trinamool Congress's own slogan of "Maa, Maati, Manush."

He claimed this reflected the INDI alliance's relentless pursuit of appeasement politics, setting new lows in divisive strategies.

Trivedi highlighted recent remarks by Congress leader and Kerala Assembly Opposition Leader VD Satheesan, who expressed no objection to seeking support from Jamaat-e-Islami.

He noted that Congress in Kerala is already allied with the Indian Union Muslim League, an outfit Trivedi linked directly to Muhammad Ali Jinnah's pre-Partition Muslim League.

He pointed out that key figures like PK Pokker Sahib Bahadur and Mohammad Ismail, associated with Jinnah's Madras Presidency unit, founded the modern entity, where Jinnah was hailed as "Quaid-e-Azam" and Ismail as "Quaid-e-Millat."

Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's earlier description of Congress as a "Muslim League-Maoist party," Trivedi argued the party has now transcended even that, embracing Jamaat-e-Islami—a group he described as propagating an ideology to transform India into an Islamic state.

"While the Muslim League was at least a political party, Jamaat is a communal organisation," he emphasised.

He cited past instances, including Congress's alliance with Pirzada Abbas Siddiqui's Indian Secular Front during West Bengal Assembly elections and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's controversial statement equating Congress's strength with Muslims.

In Kerala, Trivedi said, this has escalated to implying that Jamaat's power bolsters Congress, questioning what "consequences" Keralites might face in return for such support.

Trivedi connected this to Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest from Kerala and his overseas defence of the Muslim League as "completely secular."

He also referenced a 2023 claim by a Social Democratic Party of India general secretary in Karnataka about an "understanding" with the banned Popular Front of India in 2018, underscoring patterns of "divisive appeasement" that have reached the extremes of minorityism, posing a major challenge to Kerala.

Warning of long-term risks, Trivedi drew parallels with Bangladesh, where the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's 2001 alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami legitimised it but later turned it into the BNP's biggest adversary.

He urged Congress to heed this lesson to avoid similar pitfalls. Quoting Rajya Sabha Leader of the House and former BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda, Trivedi cautioned against becoming "hostages to the intellect of an immature child," calling on Keralites to unite to prevent the state from plunging into crisis.

--IANS

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Patna, Feb 7 (IANS) Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that her opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is aimed at protecting illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators.

Speaking to media persons at Patna airport, Adhikari claimed that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government was shielding infiltrators for political gains.

“She is objecting to the SIR only to protect Bangladeshi infiltrators. Illegal infiltrators, especially Muslims, are being protected by her,” Adhikari alleged.

Referring to statements made by the Prime Minister in Parliament, Adhikari said that such issues had already been highlighted at the national level.

“The Prime Minister has spoken in Parliament about how courts are being approached to protect infiltrators. The SIR is not new in this country. It has been conducted eight times earlier, and this is the ninth time it is being carried out in West Bengal. It is a continuous process, but Mamata Banerjee’s protest is only to protect illegal infiltrators,” he said.

Looking ahead to the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Adhikari expressed confidence about the BJP’s prospects and invoked a historical and political narrative.

“We have won Kalinga (Odisha) in 2024 and Ang Pradesh (Bihar) in 2025. Now we have to win Bang (West Bengal) in 2026 to complete the circle of Ang, Bang and Kalinga. These regions were once part of a single state,” he said.

He further asserted that West Bengal would see a change in governance.

“In 2026, there will be a Sanatani and nationalist government in West Bengal,” Adhikari claimed.

Explaining his surprise visit to Patna, the BJP leader said he would meet senior party leaders to discuss election strategy for West Bengal.

“Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey is a central observer. He was also in charge of the BJP in West Bengal and has worked there for four years. I will meet him and other BJP leaders,” he said.

With the West Bengal Assembly elections drawing closer, political exchanges between the BJP and the ruling TMC have intensified, setting the stage for a high-voltage campaign in the State.

--IANS

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