CHAUBEYPUR (KANPUR): The spirit of youthful creativity and India's profound cultural heritage took center stage at Shri Pawan Tanay Shiksha Niketan, Sherpur Baira, during the grand celebration of its annual cultural fest, ‘Sapno Ki Udaan’. Organized with immense enthusiasm, the event served as a prestigious platform for students to showcase their multifaceted talents through a series of vibrant performances. The audience was left mesmerized by the sheer energy of the participants, particularly during a captivating rendition of the Shiv Tandav, which drew thunderous and sustained applause from the gathered spectators.

The program continued to win hearts as young performers delivered delightful dance sequences set to popular melodies including ‘Desh Mera’, ‘Papa Mere’, and ‘Suraj Ke Munh Par Malai’, highlighting both their innocence and burgeoning artistic skill. Beyond the traditional displays, the event incorporated a significant educational dimension with an engaging act centered on media awareness, providing an informative touch to the festivities. The administrative and leadership pillars of the institution, school managers Manish Kumar Srivastava and Shailesh Srivastava, ensured a seamless execution of the program while warmly welcoming the esteemed guests and dignitaries in attendance.

The significance of the occasion was further elevated by a message from Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who conveyed his blessings and expressed deep appreciation for the school’s dedicated efforts in nurturing young minds. Throughout the proceedings, various dignitaries emphasized that such institutional fests are vital for building student confidence and uncovering hidden talents. With the active encouragement of teachers and parents, the event successfully highlighted the critical role of extracurricular engagement in holistic development, concluding as a testament to the school's commitment to tradition and excellence.

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "unequivocal" peacekeeping efforts and thanked him for his firm commitment to support diplomatic talks regarding the same in the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in the Middle East.

In his remarks during the joint press meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian PM Ibrahim said, "I must express my appreciation, because my discussions with Prime Minister Modi are not just normal diplomatic exchanges, but those between true friends, full of trust and understanding."

"Therefore, I must also take this opportunity to express my regard and thanks to him for his firm commitment to support all peace efforts, be it in Ukraine-Russia or in the case of the Middle East, particularly Gaza. His efforts in peacekeeping are unequivocal," he added.

"We consider this meeting and these exchanges very vital, very strategic and critical to advance and enhance relations between India and Malaysia... We had long-standing relations since 1957, but we have elevated it to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024," he said, and highlighted the "deep historical ties, strong people-to-people linkages, and ever-expanding economic cooperation".

"We'll continue to deepen collaboration in all fields -- trade and investment, semiconductor, digital economy, trade in local currency, connectivity, energy, agriculture, food, security, defence, education, healthcare, tourism, culture and people-to-people. It is really comprehensive, and we believe that we can advance this and execute in a speedy manner with the commitment of both our governments, both foreign ministers," he said.

The Malaysian PM said that both nations exchanged 11 documents, including MoUs, in an exchange of letters which "extended beyond normal bilateral arrangements" as the peacekeeping cooperation on semiconductor, healthcare and security cooperation has also been covered in it.

Malaysian PM Ibrahim further expressed hope in expanding trade cooperation with India, extending beyond the $8.59 billion figure that was achieved in 2025. He also called the use of local currency -- the rupee and the Malaysian ringgit -- a "remarkable feat".

"India is growing by leaps and bounds, which is one spectacular rise in the international economic trade scene, and therefore Malaysia, in the ASEAN context, certainly benefits immensely if we could secure more ways and opportunities to collaborate with India to extend beyond the $18.59 billion that we achieved in 2025.

He said that the educational ties remain "pivotal" as many Malaysians were educated in India, and there is a growing number of Indian students in Malaysia too.

"Since the last decade or so under the premiership of my good friend Prime Minister Modi, you have seen the spectacular recognition of Indian centres of excellence in education. That's not only comparable, but many of them have achieved outstanding recognition beyond the known institutions in the West. Therefore, we would certainly explore this to increase the number of students in the disciplines and fields to study in India," the Malaysian PM said.

He also stressed the need to focus on tourism and connectivity.

"As a sign of our good relations, I have immediately agreed to support the decision of the Government of India to open a consulate of India in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah," he concluded.

Earlier in the day, both leaders held delegation-level talks, discussing ways to enhance bilateral ties across several sectors, including defence and security.

PM Modi accorded a ceremonial welcome at Perdana Putra in Putrajaya.

PM Modi's visit is being seen as a significant step toward further deepening the enduring friendship between India and Malaysia, rooted in mutual trust, shared values and common aspirations for the future.

Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the Tamil language connects India and Malaysia and expressed hope that the Audio Visual Agreement between the two nations will "bring our hearts closer".

Addressing a joint press meet with his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, in Kuala Lumpur, PM Modi highlighted the interest of the Malaysians in the Tamil language and said, "Shared love for the Tamil language also connects India and Malaysia."

"In Malaysia, the strong and living presence of Tamil can be seen in education, media and cultural life. I am confident that with today's Audio Visual Agreement, film and music, especially Tamil films, will bring our hearts closer," he added.

Earlier on Saturday, the Prime Minister hailed the "grand celebration of Indian culture" in Malaysia, especially the record-breaking dance performance during the 'Selamat Datang Modiji' event, which was attended by over 12,000 members of the Indian diaspora, friends of India from across the country and also Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim.

In his address at the event, PM Modi highlighted that Malaysia has the second-largest Indian-origin community in the world and noted that there is much that connects Indian and Malaysian hearts.

He also highlighted that the people of the two countries understand each other well, possibly due to the large number of common words between their languages and Malay, and have heard that Indian movies and music are popular in Malaysia. PM Modi noted that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sings very well, and also loves Tamil songs of the legendary MGR.

Prime Minister Modi reiterated that the Indian-origin community in Malaysia had preserved its traditions over centuries. He recalled mentioning the community in his 'Mann Ki Baat' programme, where he shared that over 500 schools in Malaysia teach children in Indian languages.

"The influence of saints such as Thiruvalluvar and Swami Vivekananda is visible in Malaysia, and the recent Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves are divine and comparable to those at Palani," he noted. Prime Minister Modi also said that Garba is popular in Malaysia and added that India deeply cherishes its cultural ties with the Sikh community, which continues to promote the teachings of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Stating that Tamil is India's gift to the world, PM Modi noted that Tamil literature is eternal, Tamil culture is global, and Tamil people have served humanity through their talents.

"India's Vice President Thiru C P Radhakrishnan, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr Murugan are all from Tamil Nadu," he told the large gathering.

Prime Minister Modi further said that members of the Tamil diaspora in Malaysia are serving society in various fields and noted that the Tamil diaspora has been present in Malaysia for many centuries.

He said that, inspired by this history, India had established the Thiruvalluvar Chair at the University of Malaya and would now set up a Thiruvalluvar centre to further strengthen shared heritage.

Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday oversaw the signing of six major agreements between India and Malaysia, as both nations moved to further strengthen cultural, economic and strategic cooperation during bilateral engagements in Kuala Lumpur.

The agreements were finalised following comprehensive discussions between the two leaders during PM Modi's two-day official visit to Malaysia.

The visit marked a significant milestone in advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

During their talks, both leaders explored avenues to enhance collaboration across a broad spectrum of sectors, including trade, investment, semiconductors, defence, security, maritime cooperation, energy, renewable resources, tourism, cultural exchanges, as well as digital and emerging technologies.

Both leaders shared the intent to expand cooperation across both traditional and new-age sectors of mutual interest.

Several important bilateral agreements and memoranda were exchanged during the visit, covering areas such as security cooperation, participation in United Nations peacekeeping initiatives, semiconductor development, healthcare and medicine, disaster management, anti-corruption efforts, audio-visual co-production, vocational education, and social security arrangements for Indian workers in Malaysia.

During the visit, Prime Minister Modi also announced the establishment of a dedicated Thiruvalluvar Centre at Universiti Malaya, along with the introduction of Thiruvalluvar scholarships.

The initiative is aimed at promoting the teachings and philosophy of the ancient Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, while also strengthening cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties between India and Malaysia, the MEA said.

The Prime Minister further announced India's decision to open its first Consulate in Malaysia, a move expected to enhance diplomatic engagement, strengthen bilateral relations and provide improved support to Indian citizens residing in or visiting the country.

Among the agreements signed, cooperation between the University of Cyberjaya and ITRA Jamnagar was highlighted as a key development.

According to the MEA, this partnership will focus on traditional medicine and is expected to facilitate research and academic exchange in Ayurveda, along with expanding access to holistic healthcare practices and knowledge sharing between the two countries.

As part of efforts to improve overall connectivity and economic integration, National Payments Corporation of India's subsidiary, NIPL, and Malaysia's PayNet have agreed to collaborate on establishing bilateral payment linkages, including integration through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

The initiative is expected to improve ease of doing business and provide seamless, low-cost remittance and payment solutions for tourists, students and business communities operating between the two nations.

In another significant development, Malaysia has completed all necessary formalities for joining the International Big Cat Alliance, an initiative aimed at global conservation of big cat species and biodiversity protection.

Additionally, the report of the 10th India-Malaysia CEO Forum was presented to the two leaders during the visit. The forum's report is expected to provide recommendations and insights to strengthen business-to-business collaboration and expand trade and investment opportunities between India and Malaysia, further deepening economic engagement between the two countries.

New Delhi: At least four Indian students sustained injuries in an attack in Russia’s Ufa, prompting immediate intervention by Indian diplomatic authorities.

The Indian Embassy in Moscow confirmed the incident on late Saturday, characterising it as “an unfortunate attack” in which several individuals, including four Indian students in Ufa, were injured.

The Embassy reported ongoing communication with Russian authorities to obtain further information and to ensure that the injured receive appropriate medical care.

Officials from the Consulate of India in Kazan have been sent to Ufa to provide support.

“Our team is on the way to Ufa to assist the injured students,” the Embassy stated, adding it is coordinating.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi has also been notified.

While the circumstances surrounding the attack remain unclear, Indian officials have reiterated that the safety of students abroad is a primary concern.

The incident has generated concern within the Indian community in Russia, particularly among students, who constitute a significant portion of the diaspora in cities such as Kazan, Ufa, and Moscow.

Meanwhile, parents and families in India are awaiting additional information regarding the condition of the injured students.

Diplomatic sources indicated that the Embassy is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to provide updates.

The MEA has called for calm and assured that all necessary measures are being implemented to support the affected students and to coordinate with Russian authorities in conducting a comprehensive investigation.

New Delhi: 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.

Mumbai: Skipper Suryakumar Yadav blasted a majestic unbeaten 84, and seasoned pacer Mohammad Siraj bagged 3-29 coming in as a last-minute replacement as India saved themselves the blushes with a face-saving 29-run victory over the USA in their opening match in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Mumbai on Saturday.

Coming into the home World Cup as the defending champions, India are under pressure from the huge expectations for their third title. They suffered a setback on the eve of the opener when all-rounder Harshit Rana had to be withdrawn because of an injury, and the bad news continued as pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah decided to sit out the match with illness.

The impact on the morale showed as the hosts, asked to bat first on a Wankhede pitch that offered early movement on which the ball was gripping and holding, as they slumped to 77/6 against some fine bowling by the USA.

Skipper Suryakumar Yadav led from the front as he scored a half-century in his debut as captain in the T20 World Cup and helped the team post a modest total of 161/9. Siraj took over after that with a two-wicket burst and, with Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel claiming two wickets each, prevailed over the USA by 29 runs.

The India captain continued his rich vein of form in 2026, scoring his fourth half-century in six matches and in the process completing 1000 runs as captain. He has scored 326 runs in six innings so far this year. His 84* is the second-highest score by an Indian captain behind Rohit Sharma's 92 not out off 41 balls against Australia in 2024.

This was Suryakumar Yadav's 29th half-century in T20Is and helped him. Suryakumar started 2026 with 32 against New Zealand and followed it up with 82 not out and 57* in the next two matches. His lone failure was at Visakhapatnam in the fourth match when he scored eight runs before he rounded off the five-match series against the BlackCaps with a 63 off 30 balls.

Siraj claimed 3-29, Arshdeep bagged 2-18, and Axar claimed 2-24 as India restricted the USA to 132/8 in 20 overs at the Wankhede Stadium, struggling to win their first match in Group A.

Brought into the squad on Friday as a replacement for injured Harshit Rana, Siraj was drafted into the playing XI when pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah fell ill and was unavailable for this match.

He lifted the morale of the depleted bowling attack and made a running start with a superb two-wicket burst in his first two overs, providing the breakthrough by getting Andries Gous (6) to hit uppishly to Tilak Varma at cover-point and then accounting for fellow-opener Saiteja Mukkamalla (2), who mistimed a fullish-length delivery on middle and off, which nipped in, and Varun Chakravarthy completed an easy catch.

In between, Arshdeep Singh sent back USA skipper Monank Patel for a duck as India reduced USA to 13/3. Siraj had figures of 2-18 from his first three overs.

Sanjay Krishnamurthi and Milind Kumar repaired the innings, raising 58 runs for the fourth wicket, playing cautiously against the Indian spinners and managing to score a boundary or two whenever the chance came. Varun Chakravarthy provided the much-needed breakthrough for India when he lured Milind Kumar out of his crease with Ishan Kishan completing an easy stumping. Milind scored a run-a-ball 34, hitting three fours and a six.

Krishnamurthi kept the other end going, hitting Axar and Hardik for a six each and a four off Varun. He mostly scored in singles and twos to reach 37 off 31 balls before Axar got him lashing at a tossed-up fullish delivery to be caught in the deep. Harmeet Singh fell on the next ball for a first-ball duck as the two-wicket blitz reduced USA to 98/6 in the 16th over.

Shubham Ranjane provided some late fireworks in his 37 as the United States' innings imploded due to a lack of experience and some superb bowling by the Indians. Siraj and Arshdeep claimed a wicket each in their second spell to help the team ashore.

Earlier, skipper Suryakumar Yadav led from the front with a brilliant unbeaten 84 as India extricated themselves from a precarious 77/6 to post a fighting total of 161/9.

Van Schalkwyk triggered the collapse when he got Ishan Kishan (20, 16b, 1x4, 2x6) with a slower ball in the sixth over and sent back Tilak Varma (25, 16b, 3x4, 1x6) with a short ball that got big on him, having him caught at midwicket. Shivam Dube followed off the next ball, a slower one banged short and caught the bat as Dube tried to bail out. Saurabh Netravalkar grabbed a smart catch at short fine leg, as India slumped to a precarious 46/4.

But Suryakumar Yadav showed his teammates how to bat on such a wicket as he hammered 10 fours and four sixes in his 49-ball knock to help the defending champions post a respectable total.

Surya and his deputy, Axar Patel, kept India afloat as they built a partnership to take the team to a fighting total. They hammered 21 runs off the 16th over, bowled by another local lad turned US cricketer, Saurabh Netravalkar. Patel hammered the first two balls for superb boundaries while Surya ended the most-expensive over of the innings with a four and six, powering the ball to the fence as he usually does.

The Indian skipper put on display his usual 360-degree shot-making, hitting a four and six off Netravalkar and another four and six in the same over off Shadley van Schalkwyk, the bowler who troubled India by claiming 4-25 in his first spell. He scored 21 runs off Netravalkar in the final over as India managed to reach a defendable total.

Brief scores:

India 161/9 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 84 not out, Tilak Varma 25; Shadley van Schalkwyk 4-25, Harmeet Singh 2-26) beat USA 132/8 in 20 overs (Sanjay Krishnamurthi 37, Shubham Ranjane 37, Milind Kumar 34; Mohammad Siraj 3-29, Axar Patel 2-24, Arshdeep Singh 2-18) by 29 runs

Work on the redevelopment of 172 railway stations has been completed under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, which aims to improve access to stations and circulating areas, integrate stations with both sides of the city and improve the building as well waiting halls and toilets to provide better amenities to passengers, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday.

The scheme also provides for wider foot over bridges commensurate with passenger traffic, escalators and lifts, better parking areas and passenger information systems. Besides, better parking areas, multimodal integration and kiosks for the sale of goods to passengers are included in the list of amenities.

The scheme also envisages sustainable and environment friendly solutions, provision of ballastless tracks, phasing and feasibility and creation of a city centre at the station in the long term. So far, 1,337 stations have been identified for development under this scheme, Vaishnaw said in a written reply to questions in Lok Sabha.

The minister further stated that Indian Railways accords high priority to safety of bridges across the country and as many as 8,626 railway bridges have been repaired, strengthened and rebuilt during 2022-2025 (up to December 2025).

There is a well-established system for inspection of railway bridges which are inspected twice a year by designated officials, once before the onset of monsoon and a detailed inspection after the monsoon. In addition, certain bridges are also inspected more frequently depending upon their condition as decided by the Chief Bridge Engineer.

Comprehensive technical inspection of major bridges is done in a way that 20 per cent of such bridges are inspected annually, the minister explained.

In addition, certain railway bridges are also inspected more frequently depending upon their condition. Repair is undertaken whenever so warranted by their physical condition as ascertained during these inspections. Special technical audit is also conducted and follow up action is taken.

The inspection of subways and Road Under Bridges (RUBs) is also conducted before and after the onset of the monsoon. Steps have been taken to reduce water-logging in RUBs and subways, such as improved drainage in new designs, diverting water to natural drains, providing humps and cross-drains, sealing joints, and installing high-capacity pumps at vulnerable sites, the minister said.

The methodologies of bridge rehabilitation works are provided in Indian Railway Bridge Manual (IRBM). Adherence to the quality assurance plan (QAP), inspection and testing plan (ITP) is ensured through contract management and general and special conditions of contract, he added.

Doctors at AII India Institute of Medical Sciences successfully performed a complex medical procedure to save the life of a 14-month-old girl who had swallowed a 2-inch-long metal spring, it said on Thursday.

The metal spring stuck in the oesophagus, also known as the food pipe, was successfully removed after an endoscopic surgery, AIIMS said in an official statement.

he child, a resident of Yamunanagar, was brought to the hospital after suffering from continuous vomiting for about a week and not eating for two days.

“During the examination, an X-ray revealed a large metal spring lodged in the upper part of the child's oesophagus,” AIIMS said, "with ulcerations extending along the mucosa".

“The spring was stuck on the upper part of the food pipe. And the thickness of the spring was much more than the normal spring, which we see in our pens. It was approximately half an inch wide and at least 1.5 to 2 inches long,” Professor Dr. Vishesh Jain, from the Paediatric Surgery Department, told IANS.

He noted that an attempt was made to remove it endoscopically at a private hospital in Dehradun, but due to swelling and lesions in the oesophagus, the procedure was deemed risky, and the child was immediately referred to AIIMS.

Jain and his team used advanced endoscopic techniques in the operating room. The spring was carefully rotated and removed, preventing any perforation, the statement said.

“After the surgery, the child's condition improved rapidly, and she was started on oral feeding the next day,” AIIMS said.

Jain advised parents to keep items such as springs, batteries, coins, and small toy parts out of reach of young children, as swallowing them can be fatal. He also said that if parents see a baby swallow something, they should take the baby to a doctor immediately so the doctor can assess the size of the object and decide on the proper treatment.

Describing the recent trade pact with the EU as a ‘Mother of all Deals’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday recalled the Bofors gun kickback scandal in the Rajya Sabha as an example of previous corrupt governments and Congress leaders who prioritised “filling their own pockets” over public welfare.

In his reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, PM Modi said the previous governments and leaders did not give priority to improvement in the lives of people as they were interested in filling their own pockets.

Recalling the Bofors kickbacks scandal of the Congress era, PM Modi said, “Just analyse the PM Speeches from Red Fort of the Congress era, and you will agree that they lacked any idea, vision or intent for trade pacts.”

The Bofors scandal that the PM referred to during his address was a major weapons-contract political scandal that occurred between India and Sweden during the 1980s and 1990s, initiated by Congress politicians and implicating then PM Rajiv Gandhi, and several other members of the Indian and Swedish governments.

Accusing the Congress of indulging in vote bank politics, PM Modi said, “Those focused on vote bank politics could never prioritise trade deals with developed nations.”

Crediting the latest India-EU trade deal to the government’s resolve to replace the Congress-era adhocism with future-ready policies, PM Modi said, “The nation today is riding the ‘Reforms Express’ as part of our governance philosophy of Reform, Perform and Transform.”

He recalled his tenure as the Gujarat Chief Minister and said, “I started economic reforms in the state in such a way that Japan agreed to be our partner state in the ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ event. Today, I am continuing the same at the national level, which has made signing a trade deal with India an attractive proposition for developed nations.”

Our country has become a role model for developing nations, he said.

He also raised the issue of illegal Bangladeshis in the country and hit out at parties – without naming the Trinamool Congress – which try to shield these people who indulge in crime and corner resources meant for the youth of the nation.

Targeting the Aam Aadmi Party for corruption and the alleged financial irregularities related to the renovation of ‘Sheeshmahal’ – the Delhi Chief Minister’s residence under Arvind Kejriwal, PM Modi said leaders of that party would not be able to stand in any debate related to graft.

He also referred to steps taken by the government to bring policy reforms in the banking sector and reduce the non-performing assets (NPA) in public sector banks to less than one per cent, and banks are earning record profits.

He said the era of “tele-banking” is over, as gone are the days when loans to businessmen were sanctioned on the basis of phone calls from Ministers.

India on Thursday rejected a Bloomberg report which had claimed that a meeting between National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had taken place last year amid stalled trade talks between the two countries.

The report had claimed further that it was conveyed to Washington that New Delhi was ready to wait until the end of US President Donald Trump's term to finalise a trade deal.

"There is absolutely no basis for that report. No such meeting or no such visit has taken place," said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal while responding to a question on the Bloomberg report during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, citing the historic India-US trade deal, which he said is "in the final stages of detailing", External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said that a "strong momentum" is evident in the growing engagement between New Delhi and Washington.

The EAM made the comment as he concluded his February 2-4 visit to the United States during which he also participated in the Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday.

"Concluded a productive and positive visit to the US. Thank Secretary Rubio for his warm hospitality," he posted on X.

"The historic India-US trade deal is in the final stages of detailing that will be completed very soon. It opens up a new phase in our bilateral ties, with vast possibilities for the relationship. Our critical mineral cooperation is also advancing rapidly. Expect engagement on strategic issues, defence and energy in the coming days. Overall, a strong momentum is evident," EAM Jaishankar added.

During the significant visit, the External Affairs Minister also hold meetings with senior members of the US administration.

This included separate meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, during which he held wide-ranging discussions on the India-US strategic and economic partnership.

“Delighted to meet US Secretary Rubio this afternoon,” Jaishankar said in a post on X after the meeting. “A wide-ranging conversation that covered our bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues.”

The discussions with Rubio, he stated, covered multiple pillars of the India-US relationship. “Facets of India - US Strategic Partnership discussed included trade, energy, nuclear, defence, critical minerals and technology,” EAM Jaishankar mentioned.

The External Affairs Minister said both sides agreed to move quickly on follow-up engagements. “Agreed on the early meetings of various mechanisms to advance our shared interests,” he added.

According to the US State Department readout, EAM Jaishankar and Rubio discussed formalising bilateral cooperation on critical minerals exploration, mining, and processing — an area that has emerged as a central pillar of the India–US economic and strategic relationship.

The meeting on Wednesday came a day after US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a trade deal aimed at lowering barriers and expanding market access between the world’s two largest democracies.

US Secretary Rubio and EAM Jaishankar also welcomed the agreement, underscoring the importance of the two democracies working together to unlock new economic opportunities and advance shared energy security goals, the readout said.

The discussions also focused on the regional and multilateral dimensions of the partnership. Rubio and EAM Jaishankar concluded their meeting by reaffirming their commitment to expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. They acknowledged that a prosperous Indo-Pacific region remains vital to advancing shared interests.

On Wednesday, EAM Jaishankar also met US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington. “Pleased to meet US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington DC today,” he said in a separate post.

The External Affairs Minister described the talks as productive. “Had a useful discussion on advancement of India - US economic partnership and strategic cooperation,” he said.

The twin meetings reflected the broadening scope of India-US engagement, spanning diplomacy, security, trade, and finance. Senior officials on both sides have emphasised the need for closer coordination across departments to translate political momentum into concrete outcomes.

India and the United States have expanded cooperation in recent years across defence, energy, and emerging technologies, while also deepening economic ties through trade and investment. Both countries have highlighted critical minerals and advanced technologies as priority areas, given their importance to clean energy transitions and high-end manufacturing.

The latest high-level engagements follow sustained dialogue between New Delhi and Washington on regional and global issues, including developments in the Indo-Pacific. Officials on both sides have described the India-US partnership as a central pillar of their respective foreign policy strategies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened his reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, with a sharp and direct counter to the opposition's long-standing criticism, declaring that their repeated attempts to "Modi Teri Kabra Khudei (dig a grave for Modi)" would ultimately fail.

He asserted that for 25 years they had insulted him daily with this “Kabra Khudegi” slogan, yet he remained steadfast, driven by major decisions such as the abrogation of Article 370, ending terrorism in the Northeast, surgical strikes against Pakistani terror bases, strong action against Naxals, and scrapping outdated river-sharing provisions with Pakistan.

PM Modi's invocation of the grave-digging phrase echoed earlier opposition rhetoric against him, turning it back as evidence of their failure to derail his agenda.

PM Modi asserted that the opposition cannot comprehend his rise or endurance in power, viewing the Prime Minister's post as their family's legacy. He denied the opposition's right to lecture on the Constitution, accusing them of insulting an Adivasi woman in the highest constitutional office, referring to President Droupadi Murmu.

PM Modi also alleged Congress insults to the Northeast, citing displeasure over “Bharat Ratna” (The highest civilian award) to Bhupen Hazarika as an affront to Assam, and harbouring hate toward Sikhs.

PM Modi accused the opposition of hypocrisy, pointing to their slogan of "mohabbat ki dukaan" (shops of love) while allegedly plotting against him. He contrasted this with the story of nominated Rajya Sabha member C Sadanandan Master, a BJP MP from Kerala who lost both legs in a brutal political attack 31 years ago in 1994.

The assault, allegedly carried out by CPI(M) workers when Master was a school teacher opposing their ideology in Kannur, left him permanently disabled.

During the ongoing Budget Session debate on February 2, Master had dramatically recounted the incident, displaying his prosthetics in the House to underscore the reality of political violence faced by those who challenge certain ideologies.

By highlighting Master's resilience and sacrifice, PM Modi drew a powerful parallel to his own endurance against what he described as relentless personal attacks from the opposition.

He suggested their frustration stemmed from his government's bold moves that dismantled long-standing issues in Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast, and internal security, achievements they could neither replicate nor accept.

The Prime Minister emphasised that such hostility arose because the opposition viewed the Prime Minister's post as their family's legacy and could not fathom how an outsider had risen and sustained power through public support.

The fiery opening set the tone for PM Modi's broader speech, which continued to defend national security decisions, demographic advantages, and policy reforms while critiquing the Congress's historical approach.